Walking through the picturesque streets of Cardinal Hill, you find ( danny hyun ), the ( 30 ) year old ( apothecary at mystic moon ) originally from ( new york ). Living alongside them in such a small town, you know that they're ( adventurous ) and ( cryptic ), but what you might not know is that they are a ( witch ), and that they’re hiding something… ― christian yu, bisexual, cis man, he/him. Penned by Aether.
Basics
Full Name: Daniel Hyun
Nickname(s): Danny
Pronouns: He/him
Sexuality: Bisexual
Age: 30
Birthday: April 6, 1961 (Aries)
Birthplace: New York, NY
Occupation: Apothecary
Dream Job: Punk Rocker-Enchanter
Facts/RP Hooks
Apothecary: Danny knows his shit. You need obscure materials? The best crystals and herbs for your spells and concoctions? He's got the hook up.
Punk Rocker: It's not rare to come into any of his spaces and hear punk rock blaring. He's always up for a show or to talk music and how the punk movement influences his sense of self.
Smoking Buds: He grows and smokes the most herbaceous dream. Wanna go on the best trip you've ever had? He's got your back. Danny's the kind of guy who's got several smoking pals.
New Yorker: It's only been a year since he's moved to Cardinal Hill. He rarely talks about his time in the Big Apple and prefers to focus on his life in Cardinal Hill. Still, people might pick up on the way he talks. (Anyone who spent a significant amount of time in NYC might recognize him, but we can hash that out in dms, otherwise it'd be something to bond over organically.)
Crushin': Danny's good looking and fun to be around. It wouldn't be too out of pocket to assume he's probably got a few crushes here and there, some reciprocated, some tentative, and others not. I'm open to anything, especially testing out character chemistry.
Instrumentalist: When he was younger, he wanted to be in a band, and learned how to play the drums and guitar. He can probably sing, if he really puts his mind to it, but it's been so long, he really only breaks out into song when he's drunk as fuck.
Resident: Danny's been living in Cardinal Hill for about a year, but has been establishing himself as best as he can. Maybe he's known people for about a year, or maybe he's a new face to some.
Personality
Danny (Aries AF) might sometimes come off as brash and frankly a little rude to people he perceives as being too stuck-up, or if he doesn't know someone and feels annoyed, but he's usually quick to correct himself. He's still adjusting from the big city life.
He's a fairly laid back person, but won't hesitate to jump into a little friendly competition, or thrust himself into a little adventure. His sense of impulse might sometimes lead him to making choices that grant him instant gratification, even if he comes to regret it later.
For all the brashness of him, he's actually a little sweet and fairly easy to get along with, if he's met with openness. Even so, he keeps an air of mystery about him, never quite revealing all his cards.
Danny's pretty adventurous and experimental and will try anything twice, just to be sure.
He's a night-owl, and it's not unheard of for him to be seen out and about late at night, or simply be up for anything at late o'clock.
Favorite Song: Holiday In Cambodia by Dead Kennedys
Playlist: Here!
Pinterest: Here!
Wanted Connections
Regulars: Witches he knows on sight from being regulars at the shop, or humans who buy weed from him every now and then.
Friends: Self-explanatory. Danny's in need of all types of friends and acquaintances!
Crush(es): See hooks above!
Ex(es): Danny hasn't had a relationship in the time he's been in Cardinal Hill, but back in New York, he was a regular heartbreaker. Most relationships he'd left amicably, but there may be one that ended bitterly. (We can work this out! This would be for a character also new by less than a year to Cardinal Hill.)
Anything, really! I'm open and flexible, so if you think of a connection I could fill, let me know and let's make it happen!
More coming soon! (Will update frequently, so check back any time!)
Leon’s eyes widened slightly at the effortless way the lugnuts shifted, magic rippling through the air like a low hum that left the hairs on his arms standing. He was quiet for a beat, lips parted like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure what. So instead, he stayed silent, turning suddenly as if he had been staring out at the trees that dotted the side of the road. Is everyone so open about it, here?
Thimble had clambered back up to his shoulder, nose twitching as she sniffed toward Danny’s direction with interest. Leon tilted his head to glance at her, then smiled and looked back at Danny. “She says Damaged is a solid choice,” he said, voice a touch lighter, warmed by Danny’s casual tone. “I think she prefers My War. More dramatic, y’know? Fits her aesthetic, right? I mean, look at her.” He gestured vaguely at the small creature, who stood tall like she was preening under the attention.
Leon shifted from one foot to the other, still holding the tire iron he hadn’t needed, and then gently set it down on the ground like it might offend the new-and-improved tire-changing method. “Thanks for helping… again.” he added after a second, his voice softer. “Really. I would’ve been stuck out here for a while if you hadn’t come along.”
“So, uh, you aren’t from here, are you? The accent’s a big giveaway. I’m not either. I’m from Rhode Island. Unless you watched a lot of movies or shows based in New York or something. In that case, you’d be very dedicated. To the craft, dedicated to the craft.”
Now normally, Danny would've told him 'tough shit, call a tow truck,' but this was different. Leon looked and sounded just like Lee, and maybe even if it was just his mind playing tricks on him because he missed his little brother so goddamn much, he couldn't just let him sit there with the sunset looming soon. Call it brotherly instinct, or call it just plain wanting to being a good Samaritan, he wouldn't do it. So he used his magic without thinking about it overmuch.
He glanced briefly at Leon when he seemed to either be actually communicating with Thimble, or just being funny about it. "Wait, is that a familiar?" he asked point plank, not dancing around the question at all. "Because she's got amazing taste for a rodent," he said, turning his attention back to the tire as he began to pull it off of the wheel. "Where's the spare?" he asked, looking around for it.
"Yeah, don't mention it," he said when Leon started to thank him for helping, trying to brush it off as something anyone else would've done. Even if that wasn't necessarily the case all the time.
"Rhode Island, hm? I'm from New York. Brooklyn Chinatown, mostly," he said casually. "The only thing I'm dedicated to is my work, an' I guess helpin' strangers out on the side of the road or somethin'," he joked. "Truth is, you looked like my brother. For a second, I thought I was goin' crazy," he said casually as he took the spare tire and rolled it up towards the wheel well so he could mount it properly. "You live here, or you visiting?"
Luna knelt by the riverbank with a thoughtful hum, their fingers skimming over a sprig of something green. “It’s pretty here,” they said quietly, as if raising their voice might break the stillness of the place. Their eyes drifted across the patch of soil, the shade dappling through the leaves, and then over to Danny, cheeks a touch warmer than the breeze should’ve made them–but the way that he’d brushed his hair out of his face was effortlessly cool. “I like the vision. I think you should try it, I think the forest would like it too. It feels like the kind of place that welcomes things meant to grow.”
When Danny asked what they’d do if magic were real—really real—Luna hesitated. Their gaze dropped, and their hand instinctively flew to their mouth so they could bite their nails. For a second, they almost said it. That they’d seen their nana’s handwriting change in front of them in one of the old journals. That the patterns in the margins sometimes shimmered, just at the edge of their vision. They almost said all of it. Because the way Danny asked felt different—gentler, like he was already halfway to understanding. But still, the words stayed stuck in their throat. It was hard to be brave with something so strange and fragile.
They looked back at him with a soft breath, latching onto the part of the question that felt safer. “Well, if it was possible… I think that would be kind of incredible,” they said. “I think about Thecate, and she’s like… radiant, y’know? She heals people and protects travelers and wears armor made of moonlight and rose thorns. She’s gentle, but strong. That’s the kind of magic I’d want to believe in. Not the kind that burns everything down. Not like, a lich or something.” They paused, then perked up a little. “Wait. How have we never played a game together?” Their eyes lit up with sudden enthusiasm, their posture shifting. “You’d be the best party member, I just know it. You’d like Thecate too. She’s nice.”
What they didn’t say was that Thecate was everything Luna wished they could be. Brave. Grounded. Bright. The kind of person who didn’t shrink herself, who didn’t flinch when her voice shook. She was the version of Luna that didn’t get too anxious to speak, who didn’t worry about saying the wrong thing, who could do something meaningful in the world. They gave Danny a lopsided smile, curling their arms loosely around their knees. “I think you’d make a good adventurer,” they added, quieter now. “You already kind of feel like one.”
While they were sitting there, looking up at Danny—the way the sunlight flickered through the trees and caught on the curve of his cheekbone, golden and soft—they felt a flutter in their chest that made it hard to stay still. There was something about him that made everything feel a little brighter, a little more electric, and suddenly, they were very aware of how close he was. The nerves snuck in like a tide, rising fast. A laugh bubbled up without warning, snorting and warm, and Luna clapped both hands over their mouth as if they could stuff it back in. “Sorry,” they managed between giggles, muffled by their fingers, eyes crinkling at the corners. “I don’t—I don’t know why I’m laughing.”
Danny smiled at Luna when they said that. "I agree with you. I think the forest wants more things to grow here, too," he said. It was something he could feel the forest breathing around them, as if it willed him to be its caretaker, just as he took care of the gardens at Jane's estate and the guesthouse where he lived. Just as he took care of the plants at the apothecary. It was as if he could understand without needing to hear it in a language meant for humans.
His eyes traveled down from the canopy above and around them to Luna who walked beside him as they spoke about Thecate and answered his question. He couldn't help the soft chuckle and the nod of understanding at that, and the notion that he was an adventurer. Maybe it was true in a way. "Hey, I keep telling my friends, if they need a druid in their party..." he said, waving one hand in a playful gesture. "To be honest, I haven't really had much of a social circle here. Kept mostly to myself. I have a way about me that's a little... I dunno. Blunt, I guess," he said. "Grew up in the city, so dealin' with people's sometimes a lot harder than dealin' with plants that don't have expectations. Plants are easy," he said, not meaning to change the subject to the more mundane.
Luna laughed and Danny had to laugh, too. He wasn't sure why, it was just contagious. "No, don't apologize! Please don't take this the wrong way, I swear I'm not a creep. But you have a cute laugh," he mused, slipping his hand back into his pocket.
He would steer the conversation back gently, though. He was so curious, and maybe Luna would be the one person not to freak out when he used his magic. "That kind of magic is real," he said quietly. He raked his fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his face and off to the side a little before looking over towards them again. "Magic is real," he said softly. "It's got rules, like everything else. This forest feels like it's directly over a leyline of sorts... I can tell," he said, waiting to see what their response would be to that.
Jane’s father lived on through her and the work they did at the shop. His daughter took the responsibility on herself to keep his dream alive. While she wished Danny got the chance to meet the man who made her the person she was, it was that loss that brought them together in the first place. Now, he too was part of the Alder family legacy, whether Danny knew the man who started it all or not. “See, what’s always where I falter,” she explained with a deep exhale at her own downfall. The woman did her best to learn, but with so much information, she feared the worst for the plans she inherited. “I got two mixed up the other day and overwatered one and completely starved the other.” Her best was all she could give at the time, while she continued to adjust to her new life.
“I wish I’d listened more like that when my father tried to teach me, I was far too focused on medical qualities than the plants themselves.” They were similar in that way, maybe part of what made it easier for her was knowing she wasn’t alone. “We both are. We’re learning how to do this together,” she reiterated with a smile, having settled perfectly into place. “But I think you’re doing great so far.” Jane meant it, too, not trusting just anyone with her parents' pride and joy. While it was her father who brought his dreams to life, Jane’s mother was happy to dedicate everything to the same cause. It became another way in which they, in turn, showed love for one another was through the shop that held their livelihood. That was until something came into their lives that they loved even more. “I’ve been wandering around here since I could stand.” The brunette smiled at the memory of her childhood and parents, she still could find glimpses of in through the past. “It’s been around longer than me, can you believe it?” She laughed at her own age and how much the place had grown along with the times, ever changing to Cardinal Hill’s growing community.
"What would you do without me?" Danny teased. He did his best to talk Jane through all the plants they had at the shop and even at the gardens back at the house, but he also was well aware that she wouldn't get it perfect every time, and that was okay. He was there to help and to fix things when there was a mix-up with the plant care. Jane was the sort of person he felt he could be lifelong friends with, and if he was honest with himself, he didn't mind taking the role of fixer-upper when it came to making sure the apothecary ran smoothly.
Danny chuckled and nodded at her when she mentioned how long the shop had been around for. "You're not that old now," he mused with a smile when she asked if he could believe the shop had been around longer than she had, as if it had been around for centuries. "I've got a brother probably around your age, if not older, and had one that was younger," he said with a nod. "Did you have any siblings? I've never heard you mention any, come to think of it," he said, moving over to help her organize some of the items on the table she wasn't currently busy with on the display.
Paul nodded his head as Danny spoke. The grocery store parking lot wasn’t the place to have a conversation like this and truthfully there wasn’t much more Paul wanted to disclose about his involvement with magic any further right now. Even though Danny was telling him that he could relate Paul found that incredibly hard to believe given his past.
Paul felt like he would need a drink to even scratch at the surface so the offer of one was appealing even though he wasn’t sure he’d actually take up his invite. “Yeah, drinks or something would be nice,” he stated though he didn’t make any efforts there to make a proper plan. If they ran into each other again maybe then they might arrange something and Paul would feel even less caught off guard. Besides it wouldn’t be the worst thing for Paul to socialize outside of work. He hadn’t done anything with anyone else since moving to Cardinal Hill.
He readjusted the bag in his arms as he listened to Danny’s story about dinner. It brought a smile to Paul’s face and he found it to be funny. “I mean, you’re right it’s not what I would suggest for a question like that but it's not a bad idea,” he replied. Not that Paul could really of thing of something that couldn’t be considered a stir fry to cook for dinner. Truthfully most dinners were just him tossing things in a wok for a few minutes.
Danny walked over to his car, a black Pontiac Firebird, and opened the back seat to set down his shopping bags. He'd toyed with the idea of asking Paul to come over and have some food, but something about inviting him right away after the other had just bought him apology groceries felt like the timing wasn't right. That before any of that, they had to get back to some kind of normal, maybe see each other at the bar again if Danny decided to start frequenting it again.
"Thank you for this," he said, once all the bags were safely tucked into the back seat and the door was closed. "You didn't have to, but I appreciate it. I'm sorry that things happened... the way they did," he said with a slow nod. "I'm sure you remember but I work at the Apothecary if you ever find yourself needing anything. And I'm sure we'll see each other at the bar now that I know you don't totally hate my guts," he mused. "At least I hope you don't, or it'll be awkward going back and getting you to sling me some drinks," he joked with a little chuckle.
"Anyway, I should probably get going. Don't wanna hold you up, either. But... We'll see each other soon, maybe?" he asked, gauging whether Paul would be okay seeing Danny again in any capacity.
Leon blinked at the man in front of him, taking in the sleeveless Black Flag shirt, the half-squint against the sun, and the way his tone had softened just a little when he asked for a name. Something about him struck Leon as familiar—not in a way he could place, but like the feeling you get when you hear a song you used to like without realizing it. Maybe they had crossed paths before? Had he been to the taxidermist? That was probably it.
“I, um—sorry, I didn’t mean to look so pathetic out here. I really thought I could do it myself. I brought the tire iron and everything. It's just…” He glanced toward the offending wheel with a tired grimace. “I think it’s possessed. Or maybe just stubborn. Or maybe it’s punishing me for not checking my pressure before leaving town.” The Witch wiped at his face, a sigh escaping him, before turning his gaze back toward the other.
“Leon,” he said, offering a hand without hesitation. “Nice to meet you, Danny.” He felt slightly uneasy, having just watched as the other’s gaze widened and his smile faltered. It was only for a moment, but it caused Leon to look down at himself, like maybe he’d forgotten that he was wearing some sort of embarrassing shirt. His hand moved across the fabric, as if brushing off the source of the offense.
Then, after a beat, he suddenly glanced toward the car again and moved to open the door. Thimble had stirred at some point between Danny parking and walking over. Offering a hand toward the familiar, she quickly scurried into his palm. “Okay, so, don’t freak out, but this is Thimble! She’s my fam…ily. Family.” Leon squeezed his eyes shut, chastising himself for being careless, again. “She bailed out pretty early after I tried to take the tire off. I don’t blame her, I doubt that the sun still feels good after being in it for so long.”
"So do you think it's the tire iron? Should we try yours? OH! And I like your shirt, by the way. It's a good band, huh, Thimble?"
Danny's heart panged with an ache he'd sought to forget ever since arriving at Cardinal hill. He'd never met Leon before, he knew that. He would've remembered the same ache he felt now. Even his name was reminiscent of his brother's. If it had been sooner into his arrival at Cardinal Hill, he would've likely been angry about it. About trying to escape his past and having to face it in the eyes of a stranger.
But he didn't feel that way in that moment. He wanted to help, to make sure he wasn't stranded and left to whatever was stalking the town some nights. He got a grip on himself when he realized he'd been staring for a moment, and moved towards the tire, keeping his mind focused on the task at hand and not wanting to make things weird for this guy who didn't know him.
"I um... yeah. Let me get mine an' see if it works," he said, finally breaking his own silence. God, even his mannerisms reminded him of Lee. Making friends with a rodent would've been such a him thing to do. Danny cracked a small smile and nodded. "Don't worry, she doesn't scare me," he assured him, turning to go to his own car's trunk.
When he came back, he knelt down to ensure the car had been jacked up properly before fiddling with the lugnuts. They were on there a little too tight, and Danny frowned. "These fuckin' things are on there tighter than Rambo's fuckin headband," he grunted, using all his strength to try and get them to budge. "Fuck it," he grumbled, then held his hand out, and turned it a little. "Release," he murmured, bidding his magic to loosen them, and all the lugnuts turned simultaneously just enough for him to be able to start working on the tire.
"So anyway," he said, wanting to keep the conversation focused on anywhere but what he was doing. "Black Flag's pretty fuckin' great. Damaged was a great album," he grunted as he began to change out the tire. "What's Thimble gotta say about that one?"
Elizabeth nodded her head as she listened to Danny's words, realising that that could easily have been one of the reasons why she felt so much safer in a much smaller town. It wasn't that people couldn't get away with the most horrific of crimes even in a place like Cardinal Hill - Elizabeth unfortunately knew all too well that they could - but the opportunity for trouble amongst such chaos was so much scarier, it felt so much realer. "Well I've always been a good girl," she told him with a small laugh, not at all judging him for any trouble he might have gotten up to when he was younger - assuming it couldn't have been all that bad considering how much she enjoyed his company now.
There was a pang of jealousy felt by Elizabeth as Danny spoke about his coven, the woman having no reason at all to not take him at his word, no reason to think that the coven could have been something like a gang. The idea of having a group of witches to help her in her formative years was enough to illicit a dull aching in her chest. Used to that type of ache, Elizabeth brushed it off. "I've been hearing a lot of similar stories since coming back, actually; different in their own ways - of course - but it seems like a lot of people have unexpectedly found themselves happy to call Cardinal Hill home for one reason or another. It's actually kinda nice, like it's proof that I've made the right decision to be here." But even with that assurance, a little help protecting her home would be appreciated.
Danny never really spoke about the coven he grew up in. It had all been tucked away in the back streets, in the alleys, in old abandoned buildings under the cover of night in the darkest parts of the city that nobody ever looked in. And yet, at the heart of all of those things had been the heart of nature, and the fighting spirit among them of a rose growing from concrete. He didn't know how to talk about it in a way that made sense... so much warmth and knowledge eclipsed by the need to stay protected and hidden, and the dastardly things that were done in the name of secrecy.
"I haven't really found a group here, if that makes sense, to do the same things I did back home. It's been just me. But I think working here at the apothecary makes me feel more central to everything else happening in town. People needing spells, help with brews, potions... all those things. I'm always happy to help them," he said. At the very least, he could share some of what he knew now in a place where it didn't necessarily mean life or death to know one could cast a spell. And it could make a world of a difference if he helped someone protect their homes and their spaces.
"Despite everything, I don't regret coming here either. Like anywhere else, it's not perfect, but it's good. Really good. And I'll take that over 'good enough for now' any day."
Matilda's mother always said she was born fighting, and even when she wanted to deny it, she couldn't. It was something she seemed to just know how to do, and it would help her greatly as she got older. Since leaving her career in professional boxing, Matty hasn't really had any fair fights. Her days had been filled with self-defense training until Danny showed up. The first time the two sparred, she remembered the excitement that bubbled through her body as it went on. It was something she swore she wasn't missing, doing her very best to keep that side of her locked away, but he broke it out of her so quickly, and she never looked back.
A soft giggle escaped her lips at his comment because it was true. A fun tactic she didn't use all the time was flirtation. Saving it for moments like this. Boxing like this had always felt so simple; there were no complications when throwing a good punch or kicking a weak spot. Matilda's life outside of work was complicated; the hours she'd spent doing her very best not to feel were exhausting. Some days, she'd do everything possible to not sit in silence, knowing full well her thoughts would overshadow any rationale she possessed. So to be here fighting with Danny, it felt as if she were weightless.
They fought until they were dripping with sweat, only stopping when it became clear there would be no winner. Taking a seat on the nearest stool in the ring, Matilda began the process of taking off her gear before taking a long gulp of water. After wiping her face and chest down with a small towel, she looked at her opponent with a wide grin. "One of these days, I am going to actually pin you down and win." Sure, the only way to really win a match was to knock the other person out, but she never went that far with anyone. The last time she hit someone hard enough to do that was moments before dashing into Cardinal Hill.
Fighting kept Danny sharp and ready. When he'd arrived at Cardinal Hill, he thought he wouldn't have needed to raise his fists again with how sleepy the town was until he started noticing the everything else about the town that made him realize maybe he shouldn't just put his guard fully down. Matty helped him stay sharp, even with the distractions.
Danny laughed when they were done, wiping sweat off his brow with his forearm and removing his gloves. He went to get water too, feeling each gulp rejuvenate him. "I'm sure you will!" he mused, catching his breath and idly stretching his shoulder a little. "Honestly out of everyone I've met in town, I can safely say you're the one who could put me on my ass," he said.
"I don't think I ever asked where you learned how to fight so well, have I?" he asked, bouncing on his heels a little. He felt great after all of that.
“Minari?” they echoed, the syllables gentle on their tongue, like they were testing the shape of the word. “That’s really pretty. I like how it sounds.” After a quiet moment, they smiled and gave a small nod, voice warm with genuine interest. “Okay. Sounds great. I’m excited to see it.”
When Danny reassured them that they weren’t crazy, Luna felt a small weight lift from their chest. It wasn’t that they’d expected him to laugh at them—but something about being believed, even gently, always felt like a gift. They turned to look at him, something soft lighting up their features. “Exactly!” Their hands fluttered midair, catching their excitement like butterflies. “I like that. That it’s not some big scary force outside of us, but something that’s just always been here. Like trees, or wind. Or like… the hush you feel in really old places. Just part of how things are.”
His jokes about sparkles and glowing eyes made Luna giggle, and they wiggled their fingers with mock drama like they were casting an invisible spell. “Okay, but if you do end up with sparkles, or glowing eyes, I want to be the first to know.” Their smile curved playfully, but there was real delight in it too. “I wonder if that would count as a minor illusion… hmm. Depends on the sparkle density, honestly. If it’s just shimmer? Minor. But if it’s like, glitter bomb and radiant gaze? That’s gotta be a level 3 spell, easy. Whole spell slot. Gone.” They shook their head, mock regretful. “But worth it.” Despite turning the conversation toward something more lighthearted, they mused, I wonder if he believes in magic the way I do…
At the mention of spellbooks hidden in plain sight, Luna’s eyebrows rose. “I wonder if I should pay more attention,” they murmured, half to themself. Their gaze drifted upward as if picturing a dusty shelf, a familiar shop, a forgotten corner. “I’ve definitely handled some books lately that could’ve had runes on them and I would’ve just thought it was, like, fancy lettering.” They bit the inside of their cheek, then smiled over at Danny, a flicker of curiosity dancing behind their eyes. “Do you think… they’d be obvious? Or do they just look like anything else, until you already believe in them?”
Danny couldn't help his smile as he listened to Luna's excitement. He understood them more than they realized, even if he wasn't exactly being forthcoming about his own understanding and ability to perform magic right away. It hadn't always gone well for him, and these days he was being a lot more careful about it than he had been since arriving at Cardinal Hill.
"A level three spell!" He had to laugh at the reference, and nodded at that, running his fingers through his hair and pushing it away from his face for a moment. A futile endeavor done mostly as a tick, something to do with his hand, than to really get his hair away from his face, as it fell right back into place. Part of him wondered about doing a minor illusion spell, a tiny glitter bomb in his hand like a Vegas magician to a rapt audience. But he decided against it for now, and would tuck the idea into his back pocket for another time. "What would you do if you found out such a thing really was possible? Or that there was a counter balance to that kind of magic, and found out it could be destructive, too?"
Danny caught their gaze when they looked toward him and asked if he believed books looked like anything else. He gave a slow nod, feeling the heft and weight of the journal in his pocket. "I think a spell book can look like anything. It can look like a cookbook, a notebook, a novel, an ancient leather tome with fancy filigree. I think all that matters is what's in it, if you can read it and understand it."
As they walked through the woods, they arrived at a small clearing under a canopy of trees near the river where there was a large patch of fertile soil with a few plants scattered about. "This is the spot here. The river breaks off into a little stream before rejoining the main flow further down. I imagine this bank floods from time to time if it gets rainy, but the kind of plant I'm thinkin' about putting here would withstand that seasonally I think," he said, taking a look around. "Good shade when the sun's out, good soil, plenty of water. The best hidey hole for this kind of plant."
It didn't need to be discussed but in a way, Danny had saved her. The loss of her father took a toll and his company helped her to continue forward, especially with the shop falling into her unexperienced hands. Working as a cashier during high school simply didn't cut it now and she was making up for lost time. These were the years she dove into her father's craft, the one he wanted more than anything to share with her when she was growing up. Now that the time had gone she felt ill-prepared and wondered if the choices she made were the right ones. Maybe the problem was that nothing felt complete with him gone. Danny helped fill the void as well as keep the business on its feet while she learned its ins and outs. He was knowledgeable, to say the least, having more to offer than she ever expected. Jane had seen something in him since the day they met, and now glad he'd taken her up on the offer.
"That's precisely what I was going for," she confirmed, a grin widening while observing the new setup. He'd been her eyes and the only pair she trusted with such an important job as curating the shop. A laugh bubbled up at his comment, giving a wave of her hand to brush off the compliment. "I am my father's daughter but you should've seen what he used to do. I think he defied gravity with some of his displays." He was alive and well within the shop's walls. These four walls were where he could thrive now that the job had landed in her lap she only wanted to make him proud. "It's what makes us the perfect team. I can handle the displays and you handle what goes in them. Maybe we can learn from each other not just you teaching me," she half-joked giving him a glance, her smile showing her teasing intention. Jane absorbed everything Danny told her, wanting to learn all that her father knew but in a much shorter amount of time. It was those like her friend (and co-worker) who gave her hope it was possible. "If only the botany side of things came as naturally to me as they do you."
Danny tried to imagine what sort of man Jane's father had been. Hearing her speak of him, he wondered if he had been an accomplished witch, and had little doubt that there was nothing the man couldn't do. It made him a little envious, really. Danny had only ever known two things bout the man who fathered him and disappeared, and none of those things were magical.
He laughed at Jane's joke and shook his head. "If you remember the four cardinal rules of gardening, you'll be alright. Soil, light, water, and plant selection," he said. "You need good dirt, enough light and shade, and enough water. Then adjust dependin' on what kind of plant. Once you got that, the hardest part is knowin' your plants," he mused. "I learned a lot through my mother. She was an apothecary too, and so was my grandmother, so I grew up around plants and medicines. It's how I know so much about all this. Sort of the thing I knew about growin' up but didn't think it was for me until the opportunity presented itself," he said with a smile, thankful for that because of Jane. "But I never ran a shop or anything. So... I'm still learning. And learnin' how to deal with customers," he chuckled. At the end of the day, he wasn't the worst at customer service, but there was definitely room for improvement.
"Did you grow up around the shop, or was the shop something your father had later in life?" he asked curiously.
"Oh, I can cook them," Tripps bragged. "I've got like, four or five different cookbooks at home, too. But a lot of what I know comes from my grandma, she's a wealth of knowledge in the kitchen."
His gaze lifted, looking past Danny to where he spotted his manager, staring down the aisle at him suspiciously. Tripp's lips twisted into a smug kind of expression as he pointed towards Danny in a way that clearly said he was helping someone.
"Makes sense," eyes were back on Danny. "I still never remember everything on my own," he admitted, "especially if something has like, eighty thousand steps and stuff. But that's why I got the books." He laughed to himself. Tripps appeared to give the other man's question some real consideration before he answered, "Okay, make-wise... I'll say ribs in the crockpot, because it's super easy and convenient, and shocks the hell out of people that it's possible, sometimes. Trust me," he swore, "they're fall off the bone tender."
Adjusting his stance, he brushed some hair from his gaze. "As for what I like to eat.. Honestly, I think it depends on the day and my mood, actually. Like if I'm feeling lazy, then some classic ramen or macaroni is something you can never go wrong with. But if I'm to cook, I probably make burgers, or salisbury steak. Something like that. I try to switch it up a lot." Giving Danny an amused look, he asked, "Do you always take your meals this seriously?"
Danny was pretty sure he didn't own a slow cooker. He never really needed one before, and this was the first time since moving out to Cardinal Hill that he even considered something like that. He listened to Tripps' suggestions, paying attention to what it was that he liked to make and what to eat. It was different from the way he'd grown up, and it made him wonder if he'd ever had a salisbury steak or how different that was from just a regular steak.
Then Tripps asked if he took his meals seriously, and Danny grinned, shaking his head.
"Definitely not. I can cook a few things, but this is probably the first time in a long time that I have to really think about it. Where I lived, you could always just grab somethin' already made. I don't just mean street food," he said, but he wasn't going to go into the fact that there were a couple of private restaurants that just fed him for free through his associations, or why they did it.
"But I think I've probably taken up more than enough of your time. Your manager's probably gonna come over and start chargin' me by the minute, or put me to stockin', too," he joked.
Seeing Danny as he entered had Zion grinning from ear-to-ear. Whatever the other had in store he was itching to find out. Nine times out of ten, he always ended up making a purchase. “No fucking way!” The sudden wave of nostalgia that washed over him was overwhelming. “My grandmother used to make these.” Sadly, he never got around to learning the art or reasoning behind this seemingly archaic spell creation method.
“I have never used them on my own though.” Despite this fact, he is definitely interested in learning how. Perhaps he can even dabble in making his own eventually. “This feels so nostalgic,” he admires the handiwork. “You did a great job! Have you used any yet?”
Danny grinned when he saw Zion looking so excited to try a spell scroll and whether or not they worked. He nodded and set the scroll on the counter for Zion to pick up if he wanted to. "The most effective way to use it I've found, is enhancing your already existing magic. So this ain't gonna do anything for someone who can't cast. But if you're gonna perform a spell, it makes the spell twice as strong. That's for anything. Healing, illusion, you name it. It's great for those who haven't mastered magic, but need a spell not to tax them a heavily," he explained. "Sort of like a potion. One time use, it burns up once you speak your intent into it," he said. "Great to have in your back pocket in case of an emergency."
When asked if he'd used it yet, he nodded. "I have, just to see how it would affect a growing spell. Turned a seedling into a bush in five minutes, which was great, but I may've gone too hard and had to figure out how to stop it from turning into a full tree in the back room," he snorted, remembering the momentary panic of it until he could reverse the spell.
He leaned against his car with a sigh, wiping the back of his wrist across his brow. The air was heavy with early evening warmth and the smell of hot rubber and pine needles. His sweater had been ditched a while ago, draped across the driver’s seat, and his shirt clung slightly to his back from effort. He’d spent the better part of thirty minutes wrestling with the stubborn tire, but no matter how much he jumped on it, yelled, or, tried a tiny, untested spell, the lugnuts hadn’t budged a millimeter.
It was like the wheel had decided to become one with the car out of spite.
Thimble had crawled out of his jacket pocket around the fifteen-minute mark, sniffed the air, and promptly curled up in the passenger seat, nose tucked under a paw like she wanted no part in the chaos.
Leon, on the other hand, was rapidly approaching despair.
The trees that lined the quiet roadside swayed gently in the breeze, their shadows long and slow across the asphalt, like nature had all the time in the world to waste. Leon, unfortunately, did not. He glanced up at the sky, squinting. Maybe two hours of daylight left, give or take. After that, he’d be changing a tire by flashlight in the dark, or worse, hiking back to town with a tired familiar, a sad little toolkit, and a story he’d never live down.
He bit his fingers anxiously, teeth scraping over his nail before he caught himself and dropped his hand with a groan. The tire iron clattered on the ground where he’d tossed it in a huff. “You suck,” he muttered, not at the tire iron, but at the tire itself, which gleamed smugly in the light like a forgotten god of inconvenience.
By the time he saw the glow of headlights in the distance, Leon had his hands planted on his hips and was mouthing silent, pleading prayers to the sky. He blinked at the approaching car, and when it slowed, he almost couldn’t believe it. Relief flooded his chest like a warm drink on a cold night.
“Oh, thank God,” he breathed, stepping toward the shoulder with a cautious wave, trying not to look too pathetic, but failing entirely. His smile was apologetic and exhausted. “Thanks for stopping. Really. I can’t, I’ve been trying for ages, and it just…” He gestured to the tire like it had personally offended him. “It won’t come off. I think I can get the spare on just fine once I do, but it’s like this one’s fused to the car or something.” He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down in embarrassment.
Danny didn't often drive out this far out of the main town roads, even to go home. But every once in a while, he found himself taking a drive down the more secluded roads just to clear his head. It helped him relax, despite the loud punk rock that played. The chaos of the music allowed him to think while simultaneously singing along to the music. A strange combination, certainly, but one that worked wonders for him.
He wasn't expecting to see anyone else out there while he was on his way back into town. Certainly not broken down by the side of the road. It looked like just one guy, and while he wasn't the most altruistic of people, he knew how weird things got in the twilight hours every now and then. Considering what had happened a month ago, Danny wouldn't feel right leaving someone out there when he had the opportunity to help.
He pulled over his black Pontiac Firebird, and got out of the car. It had been too hot for him to wear his usual leather jacket, so he wore a simple white Black Flag t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off. He raked his hands through his hair and glanced at the car first as the other thanked him and began to explain what was the matter. "Nothin' worse than a stubborn lugnut," he commiserated. "You got a tire iron?" he asked. "If not, I got one. Sometimes the iron itself is too dull to really have a solid grip," he said, finally looking up with a little smile.
Danny's eyes widened a little and his smile dropped for just a second as he stood there, frozen for just a fragment of a second before he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "What's your name?" he asked quietly. He knew it wasn't him... but this stranger looked so similar to Lee that it made his heart jump in his chest. Even the way he talked reminded Danny of his little brother. Part of him wished it wasn't the case. Part of him wanted to get back into his car and drive off, leaving him to his fate... But the part of him that missed his little brother overwhelmed the worse parts of him, and so he stayed. He would've wanted someone to help Lee, had it been another life.
“I’d really like to see that clearing,” she said, her smile growing, cheeks coloring with warmth. “Especially if it means I get a whole botany lesson out of it. I like the way you talk about plants.” Danny seemed as though he had a great respect for plantlife, and that was something Luna appreciated.
She tilted her head, gaze flicking up toward the dappled light breaking through the trees, and then back to Danny with a gentle hum. The question caught her off-guard - not in a bad way, just like it had tapped on a quiet door inside her chest she didn’t open very often. Her eyes lingered on the branches overhead for a breath longer, like maybe they were listening too.
“I think… yeah, I do,” she said slowly, carefully. Her voice wasn’t uncertain, just a little delicate around the edges, like it was the first time she’d said it out loud in a long while, and maybe only half expected to be believed. “Not like, okay, not always sparkles and wands and glowing eyes. Though, honestly? That would be so cool.” She smiled faintly at her own words, then dropped her gaze as she stepped in beside Danny, her fingertips grazing across the tops of nearby ferns.
Her arms folded again, thumbs brushing the insides of her elbows as she walked. Her expression had turned thoughtful. “I think the world’s full of it, magic, I mean, if you know how to look. Or maybe just how to feel it. Like it’s stitched between all the ordinary stuff. It doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it’s just… I don’t know.” She glanced at him again, a smile curling on her lips before saying, “So… no. It doesn’t scare me.” Then, after a beat, she waved her hands in front of herself again and continued, “That probably sounded so crazy. Sorry.”
They started feeling anxious again, like maybe they had said the wrong thing, but didn’t say anything further. Instead, they focused on the steps they were taking, and they pulled the tiny rock out of their pocket again, thumbing the smooth stone for comfort.
Danny smiled when Luna seemed genuinely interested in hearing more about plants. It made him feel better about that tendency he had to ramble about plants and the balances of nature. It was something he was genuinely passionate about, and it didn't take much to figure it out if one simply started a conversation. Sooner or later, the topic would end up with nature somehow. He turned to walk with Luna back towards the direction he'd come from. "Growing up, my family called it minari. It's really good for healing. But I'll tell you more when we get there," he said with a little nod.
He'd asked his questions, and Luna's response was... surprising. They walked together and he listened to their words, the reverence of the tone with which they carefully revealed their thoughts. He expected some level of fear of magic. Some sort of sense of discomfort in the unnatural. Luna seemed to understand that magic was more than that in some way.
"No, no...! Not crazy at all," he reassured. There was a kind tone in his voice, as if by their words, they'd started falling down and Danny did his best to catch them. "I've met a lot of people who are afraid of it. With good reason, most of the time. Sometimes it's debatable, but... At the end of the day, magical is natural. Older than everything else in this world," he said, his eyes drifting slowly towards Luna as they walked.
"I believe in it, too," he said, careful of his words. Given his history in Cardinal Hill, he didn't want to be too forward or open about exactly what he was capable of. "Wands? Cliche, definitely," he said with a little grin. "Glowing eyes? Yes. Sparkles? I could see it," he said, holding out a ringed hand in front of him and waving it from side to side as if he were debating it. "There's a balance in all things. In the alignment of the planets, in the cycles of the sun and moon. The placement and time on earth. I believe magic and its power shifts in accordance to all of that," he nodded, bringing his hand back to his pocket.
Danny wondered if Luna had ever paid attention to the books behind the counter at mystic moon, and smiled to himself. "You might've even already seen some spellbooks around town right under your nose. But, I mean... who knows, right?" There was a little tease in his tone. He was sort of carrying one with him now, if his journal counted.
"Sure," Paul agreed as he grabbed his bag of groceries and followed Danny out to the parking lot. He didn't know what he was going to say really but if Danny wanted to talk Paul was in a much better place to do so then he had been the last time he'd seen him. Paul had come to accept that maybe magic was just more prevalent in the world than he'd first thought and he was just going to have to deal with knowing about it's existence for the rest of his life. He just hoped for his own sake he didn't have any more run ins with it either good or bad.
Paul felt bad as he listened to Danny apologize to him. It didn't feel right to him and if anything he felt like he should be the one apologizing to him for how he'd reacted. "I, uh, already knew about magic," he said outright no one else was in earshot but he looked around their surroundings when he said it just to be sure. "I've just had uh some bad experience with it," he went on. Paul wouldn't go into any details, he couldn't, but he didn't see any reason not to be honest with Danny. He didn't need the man thinking he revealed magic to him if he hadn't been the first. That wasn't a cross that Danny had to bear because of Paul.
The follow up comment caught Paul off guard a little. "Um, I have, yeah," he confirmed. He'd had bibimbap before and it wasn't that dissimilar from dishes he grew up with and that he cooked for himself. "That sounds good," he stated. Paul didn't know what he would make for his own dinner tonight but at least he had some food now to make something with.
Danny was surprised to know that Paul already knew about magic. And when it was revealed to him that Paul's experience had been bad, things began to click into place. It lifted a little bit of the weight he'd been carrying around because of it. Paul's adverse reaction wasn't fully his fault, although he still was at fault for having used magic at all.
"I'm sorry about that," he said when he came to that realization. "This ain't really the best place to talk about it, but I understand. There's... it's a lot to talk about. I've had everything taken from me by dark magic. It's a lot, and I ain't gettin' into it here but... maybe sometime, if you're willing to, we could talk about it," he offered. It was a difficult topic to navigate with Paul, considering he wasn't sure just how much the other knew, or what he was willing to talk about.
"Maybe over drinks or somethin'. I don't mean when you're bartending," he added with a smile. It wasn't really a date. There was still a lingering feeling of apprehension in the air. They didn't really know each other well beyond a customer and bartender relationship, but Danny was willing to get to know more about Paul and see if they were even compatible as friends. After all, the crux of his existence had been the problem in the first place. What if Paul didn't want anything to do with magic, good or bad? That would throw a wrench in the whole idea.
Food was easier to talk about, though. At the end of the day, while he was witch, he was still a victim of human nature, and that included needing to sustain himself. "I was just talkin' to one of the stock boys in there for dinner ideas. I mean I walked right into it by not being specific, I take full responsibility. But I said, give me an idea for somethin' I haven't cooked before, right? I realize now that it was vague, like how the hell's he gonna know what I know how to cook, right..." he said, with a little smirk at the build up of the punch line. "He suggested stir fry. It was really funny when he realized it. I mean it was a good suggestion, but I still had to laugh about it," he laughed, shaking his head slightly.
Felix took the folded paper like it was something precious, holding it between his fingers for a beat before unfolding it with care. His brows lifted almost immediately, a slow grin spreading across his face as he took in the details. “Oh,” he said softly, like the idea had just landed somewhere deep in his chest. He traced a finger just above the page, not quite touching the lines, but clearly absorbing every bit of it.
“Mmm, yeah, this is sick,” he said, voice warming with excitement. “The layering, how it’s winding around your bones like it grew there? That's got weight to it. Feels like something lived-in. I love it, really.” He glanced up at Danny then, that glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. “You been thinking about this for a while, huh?”
With a small huff of a laugh, he added, “And yeah, definitely a lot. But I’m not scared of that.”
Felix grabbed his sketchbook from the side table and set the paper next to a fresh page. “We can definitely tweak it if we need to, especially to play nice with what you’ve already got on your hands. I like the idea of the snake hugging the forearm, but maybe we let it move a little, you know? Like it’s slipping between the vines. Could be cool.” He then slapped his hands down suddenly, looking at Danny with mock sadness. “Covering up the dragon might be the hardest part.” He sighed dramatically. “I really, really love those guys, but if we must, we must.” Then, after a beat, he asked, “What kind of dice?”
Then, grinning again as he flipped his pencil in one hand: “Alright, let’s make something wild.” He was definitely, definitely, excited to help Danny bring this piece to life. And a little honored, truly. They knew it could be a lot to trust someone with a project so large, and Felix couldn’t wait to get started.
Danny's smirk slowly spread to a smile, then a full dimpled grin as Felix's realization hit about how big the idea was, and seemed to rise to the occasion. He'd have been willing to cut out elements or downsize, to shift and simplify where needed, but Felix had ideas about it, and it made him feel damn good about the choice to go through with it.
Then Danny noted the expression on Felix's face about covering the dragon tattoo and he laughed. "Look, I'm as big a fan of traditional Korean dragons, but this one in particular... It's from a life that I don't want anymore. Something I left behind, and want to for good," he said, his grin softening to a smile. There was a thoughtful look on his face, like he considered saying more about it, but ultimately let the thought go for now.
"I imagine this is gonna be like... a few handful of sessions. I'm good for the money. Been actually doin' real good at the apothecary. That an' it helps that rent's real low," he mused. He was good for the money. In fact, it had only been a year, but it was the first time in his life he'd felt stable and thriving. Which was ironic, considering everything that had gotten him there in the first place.
"Alright, so when do you think we can get started on somethin' like this?" he asked. Not that he was impatient by any stretch of the imagination. He was just excited, and so ready to start now, if Felix was so inclined. Still, he knew it would probably take time to nail down the design of the linework at the very least. "Would it be better to start from top to bottom?" he asked, gesturing with his opposite hand from his bicep down to his hand, "Or bottom to top?" Then reversed the gesture.
Death rides a beautiful white horse while holding up a black flag with a white pattern. It is portrayed as a living skeleton, the bones being the only part of the human body existing after death. He wears armor, which gives him his invincibility - signaling that no one can destroy Death. The white horse that he rides stands for purity, as Death purifies everyone. Beneath him, all classes of humans lie in the dirt - a king, and a pauper, meant to remind us that death does not differentiate between class, race, gender.
Death is one of the most feared cards in a Tarot Deck, and it is very misunderstood. Many people avoid mentioning this card because it has that much power. Most times, people take the name of the card literally. However, the real meaning within the Death card is one of the most positive in the whole deck.
The Death card signals that one major phase in your life is ending, and a new one is going to start. You just need to close one door, so the new one will open. The past needs to be placed behind you, so you can focus your energy on what is ahead of you.
