[derrickbelmont]

kodadawson​:

           “Fire department. Yours truly is now a fully functioning member of society, at least until they see through my bullshit and send me packing,” he added with a desperate laugh, trying to not think about everything else that he was about to face with actually being back in town. Mateo had made it clear that it would be good for him, to be able to have a fresh enough start here rather than to completely start new someplace that he would be alone in, again. What had he called it? A support system. Friends and family that wouldn’t outright judge him for his inability to come home after his brother’s death. 

Though he knew that it was going to take more than time, considering that there was plenty of reason for people to be angry with him as much as he was at himself over the way things had gone down. Or how he had made a point to stay out of it all. Not that it had helped any, seeing the damage that he caused every single time that he couldn’t hold his temper back or even handle the looks of sympathy that were somehow worse than the angry ones. “You don’t ― I can afford a meal.” Though he appreciated the other’s offer, it wasn’t something that he showed up here for as he glanced back at the other with a shake of his head. “Sorry, habit. It’s been a lot of shit thrown at me from the moment I got back and not all of it good which was to be expected. But yeah, your own restaurant? Who the hell did you pay off to give you a whole restaurant?”

— ✈️ —

“Good for you.” He meant it, truly; Koda deserved a good job, a place where he could live and be happy - he’d already been through so much. But Derrick could only assume he didn’t want to hear that, so he left it at that. It was possible Koda might mess it up, but who didn’t fuck up now and again? Maybe being back in Astoria would make all the difference. Maybe he’d remember what it was like to be around family and friends...and people who cared about him. 

But of course, there was always that stubbornness, that anger that had bubbled beneath the surface since they were kids. It had torn holes in their relationship time and again, but Derrick had still considered Koda a friend; even if they hadn’t kept in touch much over the years. 

“Didn’t mean anything by it.” Just a nice gesture, that was all. But sure, maybe Koda didn’t need that. Of course he could afford a meal. “Sure, yeah. I get it.” His hands combed through his hair, not really looking for an argument right now. 

He snorted at the teasing, shaking his head a bit. “Yeah, you know, luck of the draw, I guess.” Or hard work and endless hours of effort.

[derrickbelmont]

will you ever openly admit to a room full of people that devon is the best belmont kid?

“Ha. That would be a no, and you can get right on out of here, Devon.” 

[derrickbelmont]

[derrickbelmont]

mscarleighaortiz​:

Her eyes shifted toward the windows as she did making a face lightly at the ever growing storm outside. Instinctively she tugged her jacket tighter around her. “Unfortunately yes, I don’t live far. I’m not sure I thought this through when I left for work this morning but atleast the cold can’t kill me.” She smirked at her own morbid joke but turned back to him. “Chai sounds great, I love the spice. I am sorry for keeping you though. I imagine you want to get home as well before this gets too much worse.” 

— ✈️ —

“Well as long as you don’t live too far I imagine it’ll be alright.” She’d probably make it in one piece anyway, if with a frost bitten nose and fingers. Hopefully the tea would help keep the warmth in. “I suppose there are worse things. One chai coming right up - and don’t worry about it, I’m staying until the rest of the staff have taken off, which won’t be for another little bit anyway.” He went about getting her drink prepared before returning with the steaming cup. 

[derrickbelmont]

jameshorton​:

▬

“Are you trying to get stuck in here with me, Belmont? Is this your way of saying how much you miss your friend?” It was mostly a joke, after all, it wasn’t that they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, it was just that life would get in the way, especially work, and it’d take awhile for James to keep in touch with those he cared about, which was a disappointment. At least in his perspective. “Well, if you insist,” Derrick didn’t, but it was worth joining the idea of teasing Derrick in return. “Let me finish this coffee and then, keep that tab open and bring the whiskey. Last time I did something like this…” while his words carried humor, he stopped in this midst of his sentence. Last time it was the moment he figured out about the unnamed group he had been researching about. “It was unexpected. Getting drunk while a full moon was worrying all of us.”

Arching an eyebrow, James remained in silence for a moment prior exchanging a few more words. “Something happened to her? Is she okay?” Something was always happening to so many people that James knew, even if he wasn’t too close to them.

— ✈️ —

Truly the idea of spending the night hanging around Oblivion drowning in the liquor stock wasn’t such a bad one. He’d like it if Naomi could stick around too; but of course she had more pressing things to tend to on nights like tonight. He worried about her, truth be told. Full moons always had more in store than expected. Well, perhaps not always, but often. 

“It would be my absolute honor to treat you to a glass of whiskey or two,” Derrick spoke with a dramatic flourish of his hand, half pretending to bow to his friend. It had been a while since they’d been able to sit down and chat candidly, after all; he didn’t mind the opportunity and he for one had no where else to be. That may not be true for James, though. “Unless you have better things to attend to, of course,” he slipped in.

He heaved a sigh, letting his hands drop back to the tabletop. “No - I don’t know, she doesn’t talk to me about it. I can’t blame her.” Wasn’t he the one not talking months ago with the whole ‘kidnapping’ ordeal? “She thinks she has to save everyone. I’m worried one day she’ll push herself too far and...” And she’d end up the one dead when it should’ve been whomever she was saving. Call it bias, but he wasn’t willing to lose her for some stranger on the street. “She’s reckless with her magic, pushes the limits. And I’ve no idea how to help her.”

[derrickbelmont]

babyfacebaylor​:

The question, simple as it was, caught her off guard. Sure, it wasn’t actually much but it was concern he hadn’t had to show for someone kind of being a little bitchy for no reason and she knew it. The tension in her shoulders fell a bit, some of her own rigid stress melting into something a bit more like guilt for taking it out on someone who even bothered to ask. Not many would - hell, not many do. Not that she blamed them. Not that she wanted to. 

It wasn’t until the smell of coffee invaded her senses that Bernie realized she hadn’t even answered him yet, blinking herself out of the trance she’d practically found herself in and turning her attention down to the hot to go cup. “No, yeah, I’m - I’ll be fine. Probably just walk.” She took the lid off, not at all trying to sneak as she poured a bit of a flask into the cup before replacing the lid and taking a sip with a chuckle. “Don’t worry, I don’t think the big bad wolves are gonna get me.” Bernie teased, continuing with “I can handle myself.” Though, her last words seemed to lose their humor just a bit on the way out. Bernie pulled her wallet out of her pocket, setting down the payment for the food and drinks along with a hearty tip. “Sorry for being an asshole. That time of the month and all.” Bernie snickered, sighing and shoving her wallet back in her back pocket before glancing outside for a moment. “I’m so done with snow already.” 

— ✈️ —

Strangely enough it hadn’t been the wolves that were at the forefront of his mind. Truth be told, werewolves seemed to be the least of his concerns on full moons lately; It was others in town that wanted to cause trouble, it was the impact the moon might have on himself, the witches, the vampires - no one was safe from it. Werewolves were of course a concern, but since they often were amongst packs there was a natural looking out for one another that made it seem safer. They seemed to have a handle on the transformations; as well as one could hope, anyway. 

Derrick’s fingers brushed along the back of his neck as she explained she’d be ‘fine’ walking in the storm, eyes shifting back towards the blowing snow that was already beginning to erase the landscape from their sights. Of course she could handle herself, he was not putting that up for debate, but still...he didn’t like the idea of anyone heading out there into the storm on their own. “I’m hoping you don’t have too far to go, at least?” 

She’d made no attempt to hide the spike she added to her coffee, but Derrick didn’t bother to comment. It wasn’t really as if he could blame her; he might very well do the same before leaving. “You weren’t,” he said with a lift of his shoulders, “Sorry you can’t stick around longer and avoid the storm.” 

[derrickbelmont]

frankiegreer​:

-

She wasn’t ready to be cooped up for several days. Also worried about Aleyna and the full moon, as she always was since she first found out she was bit. She settled on going to the diner for one last meal out and to write before she was forced to go home. Where she would also likely be writing music or playing something or saying fuck it and binge watching random things. Maybe Koda would be home and she could annoy him into some company.

Frankie looked up from her notebook when she heard the voice and sighed. “I suppose it’s that time, huh?” She closed her notebook and hummed while she debated on the drink. “You guys have to go cups? If so I’ll take some chamomile for the walk home.” Coffee sounded better but she knew it would keep her up all night and she should probably keep a somewhat normal sleep schedule. “You guys going to be closed the next few days or are they still making you come in?” She asked while packing her stuff in her backpack.

— ✈️ —

“Normally no, we wouldn’t be closing this early, but given the weather and the full moon and everything, figured better safe than sorry to close up and give people time to head home.” At the mention of a to go cup he hesitated, chewing on the inside of his cheek a moment. “Uh-I’ll have to check on the to go cup, let me see what we’ve got.” They had to go containers and things like that, but it had been a while since anyone requested a hot drink to go...

He smiled a bit at the question ducking under the bar to pull out a stack of cups and begin filling it with hot water. “Well, I guess it depends on what the weather decides to do or what happens tonight.” He was holding onto hope that nothing crazy would happen with the latest full moon - that everything would go smoothly and everyone would be home safe and sound, but he also knew that anything could happen on nights like tonight. “But they in that scenario is me, so...only if it’s safe for people to be out. Can I get you anything else for the road?” 

[derrickbelmont]

babyfacebaylor​:

Bernie probably should’ve just stayed her ass home that night; going out on a full moon was always a bad idea. It wasn’t that she didn’t have control by any means. She wasn’t about to shift in her booth and tear people apart. Physically, anyway. Mentally might’ve been a different story - bad mood was an understatement and usually sitting home and festering in it only made things worse. 

So, she was at Oblivion instead, until now apparently. It wasn’t her favorite place considering it was a little.. rich for her taste, but she’d had a tapas craving and they served drinks. Didn’t take much else to get her in the door. She lifted her gaze from the table though when he mentioned the storm, flicking her gaze outside for a moment and then back to him. “Coffee’s good, thanks.” She stood, finishing off the drink she’d ordered a few minutes ago and moving to a stand.

 “Don’t sound so sad to get rid of me.” The sarcasm practically dripped from her words, dry tone leaving it hard to tell if she was joking or genuinely annoyed. These days, she wasn’t even sure. Sighing softly, Bernie moved to tug her jacket on before walking to the bar where she could wait for the coffee he’d promised and pay her tab. “Is it the moon or the snow?” 

— ✈️ —

If he were honest, he wasn’t expecting any attitude returned to his statement. After all, authorities had been advising folks to stay indoors in the first place and closing up early was strongly encouraged to make sure everyone got home (or at least, got to wherever they needed to be) safely tonight. He also couldn’t tell if she was trying to crack some sort of joke or if she was genuinely annoyed by the prompt, so he decided not to play into it either way as he fetched the coffee.

“Yeah, sorry - I guess a combination of the two,” he explained as he set the promised coffee on the bar, “Blizzard is supposed to get pretty bad and with the moon tonight on top of it all - I guess the city is just taking some extra precautions. You got a safe way home?” 

[derrickbelmont]

kodadawson​:

Koda breathed out a sigh when he heard the familiar voice, trying not to visibly groan at the other’s words when it came to the straight up fear of falling on his ass on the ice and not being able to get off of there again without crawling on his hands and knees. There was a time and place for all that, but it wasn’t in the middle of an ice skating rink with plenty of his peers and supervisors around which was also why he hadn’t left already or gotten fucked up. “You first and then we’ll talk,” he managed to get out by the time the other reached his side, offering a lop sided grin before he gazed back out at the people on the rink. They at least seemed to be enjoying themselves, which was good for them ― he supposed. “About two weeks ago. It wasn’t for sure until the job came through. Then I had to pack up all my shit and fly out here a few days before.” Or else there was a good chance that he never would have come back home. “What have you been up to ― it’s been.. awhile.” And that was solely on him.

— ✈️ —

He thought to keep the teasing going, to continue ragging on Koda and drag him out on the ice if only for the novelty of it, but the expression on his old friend’s face made him think he wasn’t exactly in the joking mood. So he let it go with little more than a ‘touché’ spoken, figuring stating that he’d learned to skate as a kid wasn’t about to bring up Koda’s mood. 

It was only then that he realized this might be the first time Koda had been home since the...incident. Since his brother. Koda had always been pretty good to Derrick, but he recalled plenty of times when anger had gotten the best of him - and he could only imagine what the lost off his sibling might have done to him. Not to mention the war stories he might have from overseas now playing on his mind. Derrick couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like for him now - back home in a place so familiar and yet so very unfamiliar after all these years.

Derrick cleared his throat, pulling his hand back and folding his arms across his chest. “Oh yeah? Where’ve you landed a job?” he inquired. “I’ve been...good, keeping busy. Got my own restaurant over in Birchwood, you should come check it out. On me, consider it a welcome home gift or whatever.” 

[derrickbelmont]

jameshorton​:

▬

“If I wasn’t driving back home, I’d easily ask for whiskey, my dear friend,” he ended up sharing a small laugh with Derrick, words echoing due to the lack of people in the restaurant. The absence of a crowd which could be reasoned by the statement that advised people to remain indoors during that particular day because of the weather and werewolves shifting during the full moon at its peak.

Holding the cup of coffee in front of him once the warm drink was poured inside of it, James offered a short nod, taking a sip and savoring the warm drink. “Make sure to stay safe, all of you. I know that we, sometimes, look for adventures, but this poor mayor’s heart can’t take his friends being reckless during full moon nights,” he decided to offer a joke, even if there was some truth in it. He did worry about them all. “Maya’s with Kara, they drove to Kara’s parents and will stay there until tomorrow. I would say it makes me worry less, but I’d be lying to us both. What about your siblings? Your parents?”

— ✈️ —

“Fair enough,” Derrick agreed with a nod, “Though of course, you’re welcome to stay and sober up if you wanted that drink. I’m not in any huge rush as long as the staff are able to head out and get home safe. After all, you are, the mayor,” a teasing smirk pulled on his lips as he pressed a hand to his chest. “It would be my honor.” From Derrick’s point of view James never got much appreciation for what he did in the role of mayor - if anything, he got a target painted large on his back and little more. “We can spend the night here for all I care, I’m not that interested in driving home in this weather anyway.” 

He folded his hands on the table, nodding vaguely to the request of being safe (and maybe smart, if one read between the lines) on nights such as tonight. “You know, I haven’t really had a chance to check in with them all yet. I assume staying home in, but you never know what they might be cooking up. Devon’s got a penchant for finding trouble lately.” 

[derrickbelmont]

raine-morgan​:

“Not really I think, more like I hope. Human me hates the thought of it, but shit if I don’ Imma miss out on a good blizzard. I love some fucking weather extremes.” Raine had never locked themselves away in Seafare. Astoria was different, but it depended on whatever the pack decided. They felt adjusted enough to want to roam free every full moon, but in the end the Alpha decided.

They eagerly took the glass. “Thank ye,” they said, swirling the liquid in the glass and enjoying the sight of it. “Ah no, I am walking,” they said, then took in the sight of the other. “I am used to stormy weather, and I really hate cars,” they shared further.

— ✈️ —

“You hope you’ll be running around out there?” That was not the answer Derrick was expecting, less because of a wolf running around rampant during a full moon and more based in the idea that they seemed to want to be out in the middle of the hellish weather that was stirring up outside the windows. It was interesting to hear that description, though - that they (in human form) hated the thought of it, and yet they were...excited? about the prospect at the same time. It boggled Derrick’s mind, really, but he couldn’t say he had any experience in facing the weather other than in human form. And he loathed such a thought of spending a long night facing the predicted weather patterns that were supposed to be blowing through. But perhaps covered in fur it wasn’t such a threat. Animals did survive out in the wild during all sorts of weather conditions, he supposed, but he also imagined they sought shelter during nights such as this. 

“Well hey, I guess to each their own. I don’t think I’d want to be strolling the streets in this shit storm. Though I suppose cars aren’t exactly the safest thing either in ice and snow.”

[derrickbelmont]

kodadawson​:

where: ice skating rink who: @astoriastarter

            “Say what you will, but there is no way in hell that I’m getting on the ice.” He was more than okay with staying on land where he wasn’t going to be constantly waiting to fall on his ass. There were plenty out there already, but most seemed competent with their skating ability while Koda was fine to stay put. He had made it out there, that had to be enough before he turned around and went back to his place. It seemed that the holiday spirit that took over at this time of year, it had missed him by a mile even as he watched the skaters a beat longer. “There ain’t one person out there that looks like they don’t know what they’re doing. I don’t need to be that person.”

— ✈️ —

“Oh, c’mon, why not? You don’t want to make a complete fool of yourself?” Derrick could only imagine Koda on skates, slipping and sliding across the ice as he tried to keep his balance. It surely would’ve been entertaining, but he also couldn’t blame the guy. “They’ve got those little training rack things if you need help keeping your balance,” he teased, patting his friend on the back as he reached his side. “I’m sure that wouldn’t make you look more foolish than you already would’ve. It’s good to see you, man, when’d you get back in town?” 

[derrickbelmont]

mscarleighaortiz​:

Carleigha was planning on settling in to brace the storm. There was nothing better than a hot drink and a good book when it was snowing. All she had to do was close up the library and make her way home. Astoria was small enough she often walked, even in the snow. It wasn’t as if the cold really affected her as it did humans. Tonight however the wind was abrasive and she found herself needing a moment in the warmth of a building before continuing on. 

Settling in a booth for a moment she took an unnecessary breath. Even being the undead some things just came out of habit from her human days, those habits that made it easy to hide her supernatural condition in other areas of the world. Her head lifted as a  voice caught her attention and she offered him a smile. “Hot tea would be perfect. I just needed a moment before I brace for the rest of the way home” 

— ✈️ —

Derrick’s eyes moved towards the windows for a moment before nodding, “Yeah, it’s not really looking so great out there. I hope you’re not weathering it the rest of the way home?” He couldn’t imagine walking all the way home in this weather, even though he lived close by.

“But - what kind of tea would you like? We’ve got probably anything you could imagine...chai, herbal, green, black, fruity - whatever suits your mood. I can grab you a menu if you’d rather peruse.” 

[derrickbelmont]

jameshorton​:

All James was able to offer himself after a long day of meetings about the current full moon, was to head outside for lunch, this time by himself with none of his colleagues from work. Time was passing by faster while the cold temperature would take place outside, knowing that a snow storm would start anytime. He should definitely head back home the second he was able to, despite how uneasy this weather caused James to be while driving.

“Definitely a cup of coffee, I need to stay awake to prepare myself when venturing out there with this weather.” James chuckled, but there was no humor in his reaction. “Make sure to stay safe tonight, heading back home too?” 

— ✈️ —

A light chuckle fell from his lips, followed by a nod of his head. “Hey, I think most of us could use a coffee - or maybe something stronger - to get through such nights.” It wasn’t just the weather, of course; the moon that would soon be the forefront of the night sky (well, considering the clouds, perhaps it wouldn’t be seen, only felt) was another reason to be wary. Never had the moon been friendly to this town. 

He poured a cup for James, setting it on his table before casually taking the seat across from him. “That’s the plan, once I make sure the staff gets home alright. What about you? Movie night with Maya?”

[derrickbelmont]

raine-morgan​:

“Something with lots of alcohol so I can ignore the fact that I’ll probly be running around in this weather?” Raine asked, rolling their shoulders, already thinking about dinner plans, evening plans, and possibly having to worry about getting lost in the full moon. If that was as far as trouble went then. Because their biggest fear was for something to happen to anyone they cared about. No full moon was ever without trouble. 

“Also how soon is soon? I need at least thirty minutes to convince myself I have the strength and power to go out there.” 

— ✈️ —

Derrick surveyed them curiously before his head bobbed in a nod of agreement, fetching a bottle from behind the bar. So they must be a werewolf, he could only assume, given the idea that they might be running around in this weather later on. Derrick knew a fair bit about werewolves but he supposed they each had their own processes; was it common to run freely? Or did they usually lock themselves away somewhere for the duration of the moon? It was never his place to say, but for the safety of Astoria the latter seemed better. “You think you’ll be running around out there?” He inquired with a curious lilt to his voice, not trying to indicate anything more beyond that. 

He deposited a tumbler glass on the table filled partway with an amber liquid. “Within the hour, or so. You’ve got time. You got a ride?” Last time he blindly offered help hadn’t really gone his way so he was a bit less forthcoming with a personal offer of giving them a lift, but he couldn’t imagine they’d walked all the way here in this shit storm...right?

[derrickbelmont]

When: December 29th, afternoon  Where: Oblivion Who: Open @astoriastarter​

The Winter Carnival had been something Derrick had enjoyed in the past years, time to spend with his family and friends doing a myriad of fun winter activities. But this year he hadn’t been much in the mood for the ‘fun and games’, not to mention much of it wasn’t particularly appealing with the blowing winds and falling snow. He could probably calm the winds if he really put his mind to it - at least in a small radius for a short duration - but it seemed rather pointless in the grand scheme of things.

Given there was another full moon looming that night and the town advised businesses shut down for the safety of their employees to get home in the horrid weather conditions, Derrick was more than happy to comply. 

“We’re closing up soon,” he mentioned to the diner at the nearest table, “Anything I can get you, maybe a hot coffee or tea before you weather the storm?” 

[derrickbelmont]

bashianofonte​:

There was a quick pause as he glanced back at the other’s question before he chuckled softly under his breath. “It was more a joke between the employees than anything that we served to the customers. They were content with the beer that we had on tap that night, but those behind the bar and cleaning up ― they had requested something a bit harder,” he told the other with a smile as he pulled out the half empty bottle of whiskey. “Would you prefer a beer or shall this be adequate?” 

“I suppose being that it’s a brewery, beers being what you’ve got makes sense,” Derrick murmured, laying a hand on the bar top and combing the other through his hair. He hadn’t set out intending for the brewery, but the state of the front doors had drawn his attention enough to bring him in.

“Ah - I wouldn’t want to take away from the staff celebrations.” He glanced up at the taps, gesturing towards one vaguely. “Honestly I’ve never been much of a beer guy, I guess I prefer the stronger stuff. But what have you got? I’ve heard good things.”