Up the Wolves

Orpheus Simms. Orph. XXVIII. hermit. reluctant werewolf.

[dontlookorph]

leepackett·:

“C’mon,” he pushed off the wall and moved to pull the door open. He would get old Al to cover him on the door. “I’ll get you a drink. Promise no one bites,” Lee laughed at his own joke, of course. 

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Orph shrugged and, perhaps against his better judgment, decided to follow the other man inside. “Yeah,” he laughed slightly, hoping that his joke would land, “that might have been more reassuring a few months ago.” 

[dontlookorph]

leepackett​:

“Have you been in before?” He had no idea if the other man was a wolf, but he’d seen him in the forest and now here, it wasn’t the wildest thing to assume. “Yeah. I’m here a fair bit. Work here too, so. S”good though.” 

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“Can’t say I have.” He’d heard about it certainly, but everything about the place was... off putting. Not that it was the right word for it. Perhaps overwhelming would have been a better description. Either way it had been enough to keep Orpheus from doing anything more than walking by when he happened to be on this street. 

“Hmm, interesting.” 

[dontlookorph]

leepackett​:

So it seemed the state he’d found the stranger in in the forest was the man’s natural state. He seemed a little more calm now, but still not up for talking. Which meant Lee was more than ready to fill the silence. “You coming in?”

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Orph raised an eyebrow at the other man, and shook his head slightly. “Wasn’t planning too.” Orpheus shifted his weight slightly from foot to foot, as he gave a sideways glance towards the doors. “Dunno,” he started, “I’m not really a bar sort.” Bar? Club? Same thing he thought. Both too loud, too full of other people, and simply nothing that seemed enticing in any way when he thought about it. “Guessing this is your usual sort of place?” He nodded towards the building. The other man seemed like he belonged there, almost an extension of the building’s facade in a way. 

[dontlookorph]

leepackett​:

When: 18th September 2022 Where: Howl at the Moon Who: @dontlookorph​

Lee’s job at Howl was definitely the favourite of the three, but it was also the one he did the least and that paid the least, figures. Normally his spot was on the door, his boss making use of the pretty face to entice people in, the burlier scarier guards posted inside. Tonight was no different, and Lee was leaning against the wall out front, the busy line now all inside, when a familiar face walked by. It only took him a moment to clock it. “Hey, it’s you!” 

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Orpheus weaved his way through the somewhat crowded streets with ease. Being almost invisible was second nature at this point. He could hear the faint music coming from the doors of the nightclub, muffled in such a way that it made walking though almost tolerable. His head turned slightly when he heard someone speak, surprised to see the guy he’d run into in the forest a couple of weeks previous, and even more shocked that it was directed at him. “Hey...yep.”

[dontlookorph]

fenriksblade·:

“Constitutes talking,” said Fenrik. Granted, it was a less than thrilling conversation, but it was still the basics of how he’d define it. “I’m not trying to trip you up here. I’m not fucking talking in riddles, I don’t do that vague shit. Out. Into the world. Beyond whatever house, apartment, or fucking bridge you live under that you crawled out from.” Fenrik’s nose twitched, already feeling the mistrust set in. He thought about the presumably, nomadic siren he’d given a beeper to recently, even she had better social skills. 

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“Technically, I guess.” He replied. Orph tilted his head slightly as he listened to the stranger list off the options, unable to hold back. “And if none of those apply? Maybe I’ve lived off in the wild under rocks.” He shrugged, the smallest of smiles tugging at one side of his mouth. “I’ve come out of the closet, that count?”

[dontlookorph]

gabrielsato·:

“Orph. Are you going to tell me why you were running through the woods at such an odd time? I’d like to be able to best prepare myself should someone else come running through that path. There’s nothing I hate more than being surprised.” The truth continued flowing unabated. Gabriel liked being three steps ahead at all times. Anything less than that was a failure.

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“No one I know of.” He shrugged. Originally there hadn’t been anyone that had followed him. He’d been too focused on just running to relieve it all that he’d almost forgotten to pay attention, but he’d not heard anyone trailing him. “It’s not that odd. The time I mean.”

[dontlookorph]

fenriksblade·:

“Shit,” whispered Fenrik as he rolled his eyes. He was suddenly reminded of why he tended to keep to himself, especially when he wasn’t already accompanied by someone in his gang. “So, what do you call what you’re doing now?”

“Don’t get out much, do you?” 

Orph shrugged. “Answering.” He may not have cared much for talking in general, but his mother would have been damned if she didn’t teach him that he should answer when spoken to. ‘It’s rude not to’. 

“Depends on what you consider out.”

[dontlookorph]

gabrielsato·:

“Of course I have a name, though I’m sure you, like me, have several. We’re all different and unique to each person in our lives. Many prefer to call me Gabriel, others, I’m absolutely certain, have more colorful nicknames for me.” The kind that they wished he would never hear, or hoped desperately that he would. Some ached for the fight. Others tried to keep their loathing in check.

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Everything about the person before him seemed to exude an energy that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. The stranger’s manner of speaking seemed to invoke some manner of philosophy, and Orpheus wasn’t sure he wanted to know why. “Orph.” He answered quietly, his breathing had long since evened out as he stood a few feet from the other man. 

[dontlookorph]

fenriksblade·:

“Well, shit, should figure out where you’re going first otherwise you end up running in circles,” his finger moving in small circles as he said so. He understood the mindless wandering. Fenrik enjoyed a good drive with no destination in mind, however there was still a purpose, a motivation for it. It wasn’t unlike the hike he was on now, moving towards nowhere in particular, simply moving so that he could focus on the thoughts that weighed him down. “You always speak in some sort of riddles and shit or this just how you talk?” 

“Yeah? Should see where I’m from. Give the city a run for its money.”

He shrugged. Sometimes running in circles helped. Good way to clear one’s head. Or at least, to Orph it was a good way to do so. “That would require speaking.” He replied, as though that answered the question at all.

“Can’t imagine much of anything worse than the city.”

[dontlookorph]

leepackett·:

“I would, but you look like you’re about to pass out, ‘n the last thing I want is to come out here tomorrow and find you.” Daisy let out a bark, as if agreeing with Lee’s statement. He wasn’t about to stress the guy out more though and tell him that this spot wasn’t exactly safe if you weren’t from around here. And the man didn’t seem like he was.

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He shrugged. “I’m fine. You wouldn’t find me.” Orpheus knew how he looked. And were their roles reversed, well, he could easily see where the stranger was coming from. But he knew, mild panic attacks aside, he’d be fine on his own out here. It wasn’t the first time that he’d run aimlessly into the forest, nor would it be the last he was sure. All he needed to do was keep his wits about it. Stay focused. That’d be easier now too. If he could breathe, he could think.

[dontlookorph]

leepackett·:

Lee obviously wasn’t convinced. You didn’t need to be good at reading people to tell what the stranger was saying was a load of shit. “You sure you’re sure?”

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Orph nodded shortly. “Yep.” 

“Even if not, doesn’t really matter does it.” He shrugged. “Strangers passing one another in the woods. Why not leave it with the mystery.”

[dontlookorph]

gabrielsato·:

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“Do you have a name? You must be fairly brave to be running in these woods at night. Rather off the beaten track, I’d say.” Gabriel didn’t have a weapon to his name, and he didn’t need one, either. With age wrought wisdom, and his ability to read people was something that had yet to fail him. The man standing just in front of his person was scared of something. Or, someone. Gabriel didn’t understand that feeling. He hadn’t felt fear since he could remember, and he could remember a time when the world was much simpler.

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“I do.” He answered simply. “Do you?” He was sure the stranger in front of him did. Most people did. He’d never met someone who didn’t. But none the less something about the man before him made Orph weary. Not that he could really put a finger on it. 

[dontlookorph]

fenriksblade·:

“Why what?” asked Fenrik, as he looked around, as if trying to discern whether he was being chased or not. Though, he felt sure that after a moment or two, it was just the two of them. “Why am I out here? Just taking an evening hike. It’s quiet out here than where I’m from, so lets me hear my own thoughts better.” That much was true. “I could ask the same of you. What’re you running so fast from? Or towards?” 

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“Yeah..” Orpheus could easily agree with the stranger on that. He felt just a bit of the tension bleed out of his shoulders as it became evident it was just the two of them. For now at least. “From nothing, towards nothing.” Orph answered with a shrug. 

“City can be overwhelming at times.” He added simply as though it would explain everything.

[dontlookorph]

asher-to-ashes·:

CLOSED STARTER for @dontlookorph

Asher brushed sweat from his brow before continuing to the thread pine branches into the walls and ceiling of his makeshift shelter. Even after years spent in the company of pirates, he preferred peace and quiet. Above all, he preferred a sanctuary outside of the constant daily struggle. Maybe this was a contingency plan….just in case.

Just in case.

He truly hoped his life would not come undone again by needless violence, but at least this was a start so he wouldn’t be empty-handed if it did. Already he’d had precious items stolen from him, and while many of his comrades swore some oath of vengeance, Asher simply wanted to be done with it and left to his own devices.

The hunting here wasn’t good, but he’d learned to get by with far less. Add more branches, maybe grab some old wood from the pier…

A sound behind him caused him to startle and he pressed his back to the shelter wall as he turned. Blue eyes looked over the stranger that stepped from the trees, trying to determine if he was a threat.

“Well…guess I need to move a bit further away, huh?” he laughed nervously.

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Orph hadn’t set out with any sort of plan. He’d just needed to breathe. To get away for a day or two at most. Grabbing nothing more than a backpack with a blanket and hammock stuffed inside. Food would be easy enough to find. And if he decided to shift and hunt all the easier. It was one of the only things he’d give this new way of life if he was being honest with himself.

He wasn’t too far in when he heard something that made him curious. So far, in his experience, he didn’t tend to find people often once he set out. At least not once he’d gotten further into the woods. So when he saw someone who appeared to be building a shelter of sorts Orph couldn’t help but what in amusement. 

He wanted to curse when he stepped on a small branch that alerted the other man to his presence.

“Depends on what you’re trying to do.”

[dontlookorph]

leepackett·:

Lee too, often found himself running in Fanged Forest. Running after Daisy that is, as the chaotic great dane made as much of the time she could being off her leash where there was nothing but open space and a lot of giant sticks. He’d ditched his skate board back at the trail, hidden under a raised root and stack of branches that he’d discovered months before. After all, once the trail had been left it was way too rough to be of any use.

But that left him metres behind the excitable dog, who ran left and right, up and down, back to him and then far away again. It was rare they ran into anyone else though, especially someone who looked as freaked out as the guy they had just stumbled across. Even Daisy seemed to sense his unease, not running him to the stranger as she usually would. “You alright, man?”

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Orpheus hadn’t expected the sound to come from a rather large dog, or the person who seemed to be following just slightly behind it. Probably his own fault for not paying attention in the grand scheme of things. “Um..” That was a loaded question wasn’t it? Was he alright? No, not really. Was he about to say that? No. Absolutely not. 

“Sure.”

[dontlookorph]

fenriksblade·:

As much as Bloodhearth was built to Fenrik and ran through his veins, sometimes he simply needed the quiet serenity that the forests of Carynthia could offer. It gave him a chance to clear his head, especially when everything back at the compound was getting to be a lot, with Elba’s recent letter from her father to Flint’s search, and then his own journey to track down the murderer’s of his family, sometimes he likes to stepped away. 

On this particular evening, he found that as he walked through the forest, his senses always alert, he suddenly wasn’t alone. He crouched down among the trees for a moment so he could observe, make sure that he wasn’t stepping into something that he wasn’t meant to or something he simply didn’t want to be involved in. After all, some things weren’t worth the trouble of injecting yourself into. 

He could see it was someone who seemed to be alone and maybe even looked just as alert and dare he say, shaken. Fenrik knew how dangerous it could be to startle someone on the island. He did, though come out through the trees to reveal himself if only so it wouldn’t seem like he was laying in wait so that he could strike. “Just me out here,” he said. Would that be reassuring? Maybe not. Lying was second nature to most, but another moment or two and the other man would know it was the truth. 

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Orph turned to face the voice.  He shouldn’t have. Most every instinct in him was all but yelling at him to start running again. That’d be the best option wouldn’t it? Put some distance between them. ‘Unless he’s lying’, he thought. If he was lying, fuck, if he was lying there’s no way Orpheus could out run a group. Nor would it really be smart to try. Then again, he could get himself cornered if he stayed and the guy wasn’t alone. No decent options. Not really.

“Why?”

[dontlookorph]

gabrielsato·:

“Ah, exercise, then. It is important to stay in shape. The body can so easily break down, anything you can do to prolong its health is something that more should take seriously.” Gabriel didn’t have to worry about that, even with all of the training he did. His body wouldn’t fail him. Not when immortality flowed through his veins. 

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Orpheus took a deep breath, and studied the person before him for a moment. Yeah, sure, he wasn’t running from anything. But all things considered, Orph didn’t feel like his energy gave off a ‘running for a good bit of exercise’ vibe. Something about it all gave him an uneasy feeling. Though how much of that actually came from the stranger before him and how much was just the uneasy feeling he’d been trying to run off to begin with. 

“Yeah...exercise. Important.”