to someone from a warm climate

Rachel Ellen Su-Jin Park (Rae Elle's just fine). 29. Clerk at Broken Record [closed blog for Lunar Cove RP]

[gazingatmestarry-eyed]

closed || @earthwindandraen & Sun-Hee

It was a much needed break from her obsessive practice schedule. She wanted to be prepared, and she would be, but it was also important to rest. Sun-Hee knew real power required the mental and physical fuel to do it, so she allowed herself breaks, however rare, to eat well and stretch out. In the company of a friend was always preferred, especially because all of hers were pretty. "What do you call a fox with carrots in its ears?" The question came as Sun-Hee picked up a piece of carrot to eat.

[earthwindandraen]

"Is this a joke or a genuine question?" Rae asked, smiling as she took a bite herself. With one supreme down, most of the coven witches in town were gearing up towards some sort of trial to decide who'd be the next one. It all seemed a little much, in Rae Elle's mind. She had no desire to compete for a title like that, no desire to have that many folks looking to her as some sort of role model. More power to the ones going through it, though. It sounded like hell. "I don't know. What do you call a fox with carrots in its ears?"

[rohanxpersaudx]

"Well...as it were, some werewolves were once dark witches. And I suppose that does help in a way." Rohan said this with a smile, and while the topic had once been one which rattled him to his very core, he had, by now, settled into acceptance. "I know what you mean, though. I daresay even human can tap into things they don't quite understand from time to time. Stay away from Ouija Boards."

"Sometimes the cards reveal both query and response. And three cards sounds just right to me. Would you care to cut the deck?" He extended a hand to gesture across the table before them.

[earthwindandraen]

"Well, that means you know what you're doin'," Rae said, smiling back. Her smile turned a little lopsided. "Can't they, though? Don't worry. I'm real safe when I fool around. Don't really need a spirit board or nothin', though I guess it adds to the experience, huh?" All she really needed was to siphon a bit of magic and look through the veil, call to someone, make sure she said goodbye. It was just good manners.

There was no intention in Rae Elle's actions as she cut the deck, shuffling the cards before handing them back to Rohan. "Past, present, future. Where you've been, where you're at, where you're goin'. You can lay out my whole thread of fate if you're feelin' like it," she joked.

[thxprophecy]

josie let out a quiet laugh at that, though it lacked any real amusement behind it. her gaze drifted back toward the lighthouse for a moment, watching the slow sweep of light across the water. "yeah. i think one is enough. any more than that and it'd probably drive everybody insane."

her shoulders lifted slightly in a half shrug before falling again. tired. heavy. she looked like somebody carrying far more than she knew what to do with. "i actually just reconnected with my brother," she admitted after a second, voice quieter now. uncertain. "or... something like that." the words tasted strange in her mouth, not even close to enough to explain what had happened. "it's not exactly going well."

josie pressed her lips together briefly, eyes dropping toward the ground. "and the friend i came here with kind of just... left me here." abandoned felt too dramatic. too honest. but it sat in her chest all the same. "so i guess right now i'm not really leaning on anybody."

[earthwindandraen]

"Be a bit too much light, no?" Rae Elle asked. "Like daylight at midnight." She offered a small frown. "I'm sorry to hear that, that it's not going well," she murmured. "You two close? If it's been awhile since you've seen him, maybe there's... growin' pains." She didn't know how long it was, but "reconnected" felt like it'd maybe been awhile. It can always be a little awkward reconnecting after a long time. Pieces that used to fit don't work the same way, and there's the fact that people change. Even family.

Rae let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl. That ain't right. They just left you? You gotta number to chew 'em out over?" she asked. "That's just rude, cher. Nobody deserves to be left high and dry in a strange place." Especially Lunar Cove. Especially if they're not aware.

[cantfightmoonlight]

@earthwindandraen

"Here," Lennon wandered up to the counter, pulling out the stack of vinyls she had brought with her, and placed them down on the table. "It's our EP, and if you love me, you'll put it on the shelves. And when it sells, which it will, you give the Hex Pistols a cut of commission, what do you say? Wanna help a girl out?"

[earthwindandraen]

Rae Elle pretended to think it over, already knowing what her answer was going to be. "Hmm. I don't know... You know I don't get paid by how much I sell, right? I'm on salary, sugar. Usually the big boss buys records at wholesale then sells 'em at retail prices. How much you askin' for a record?"

[zuvaxmoyoleroy]

"Subjective, objective...what's it matter? I know you got great taste. Mmm, you pick." His fingers drummed lightly against the edge of the counter as he approached, gaze lingering on her in a way that suggested that he could never get enough. "Slow and smooth helps, but I ain't picky. Better yet, wanna hear you like these days."

At her hypothetical answer, he laughed softly. "Your lack of faith in me is concerin', I personally don't think it was that bad. There was a guy who wanted a name tattoo," he began, leaning on the counter. "Pretty standard. I did what I always do and asked if he was sure. Suggested he sit on it a week before makin' it permanent, 'cause I've seen enough bad decisions to know, and just had a feelin' y'know? Turns out his partner was already halfway out the door, break-up speech and everything. He thinks I jinxed his relationship and she thinks I interfered with her exit. Now both of them keep findin' me askin' if I could 'undo my influence' which, frankly, is a new one for me." He tried to not laugh but a snicker rolled through despite his very little effort to hold it off. "Dunno how I could ever be bad if I'm so carin' and influential, but here we are."

He tapped on the counter a couple times, "Think I could borrow sanctuary behind here, or in the back room, till the coast is clear?"

[earthwindandraen]

"I guess it's a matter of opinion," Rae joked. She hummed, pulling out the store's iPad that was set up to the sound system and messing around with it for a minute. "It's not new, but I Monster redid Neveroddoreven a few years ago. It's electropop, kind of fun, a little dreamy." She grinned. "I like most anything. I ain't picky, either."

He didn't deny it, which told Rae Elle all that she needed to know. Birds followed by the opening notes started as the first track played, and she listened as he talked about a tattoo gone wrong. She laughed. "You're just too powerful. Maybe if you tell them you put a little hex on 'em, then pretend to undo it, they'll leave you alone. You ain't gotta actually do anything, Zuva, just play act a bit and they'll buy, I'm sure." She chuckled, shaking her head and jerking it. "Come on, then. You're welcome to borrow a bit of sanctuary till they head on. If they come in, though, you gotta be real quite. Don't be disturbin' my business, you hear?"

[zuvaxmoyoleroy]

for: @earthwindandraen location: broken records

The bell above the record store door gave a dull jingle as Zuva sauntered inside whistling a tune, like he'd simply decided to grace Rae with his presence casually instead of very obviously avoiding something outside. "Mornin' cher," he greeted as he wandered further into the shop, voice warm with familiarity. "Tell me you still got the best taste in music in this whole damn town. Got somethin' I need to give a listen?"

Fingers dragged lazily along the edges of vinyl sleeves as he passed, entirely at home among the neatly cluttered rows and speakers humming low in the background. Plucking a record from the shelf at random, he made a show of inspecting the cover with exaggerated seriousness while his gaze flicked toward the front windows, catching two figures wander by outside. His movements were naturally as he turned, smile never faltering as he glanced towards Rae. "Hypothetical question for you..." he hummed, sliding the record back into place. "I know the answer is a lot, but how much do you love me today?" The grin he flashed her was entirely too charming to trust. "Before you question," Zuva added, all devilish innocence, "know that I didn't do anythin' that bad."

[earthwindandraen]

"Mornin', baby," Rae Elle said easily, grinning at Zuva and setting her book aside as she turned her attention to him. It was a slow day, though that probably had more to do with the hour than anything else. Sometimes, mornings were pretty dead, especially during the week. That ususally meant romance novels or small acts of magic to alleviate the boredom, but it seemed like something else was on the agenda, at least for a bit. "I s'pose that's all subjective, but I think my tastes is good. Depends on what you're wantin' to listen to, huh? Somethin' new or somethin' new to you?"

Eyebrow raising ever so slightly, Rae said, "I got a hypothetical answer that's also a hypothetical question: How're we definin' that bad? Still a little bad, huh?" She glanced out the window as well. "Is this the kinda that bad that means you wanna hang out behind the counter for a spell? Or is dippin' into the store enough?"

[rohanxpersaudx]

Open starter @lunarcovestarters Location: A picnic table

In some ways, a black cloud still lay over Lunar Cove, a creeping, writhing darkness that revealed itself in the frayed expressions on his neighbors' faces and in the heavy stench of turmoil, still clinging to the air. But nature did not deign notice the troubles of the insignificant creatures flitting about the planet's face. Time moved on.

Spring had planted strong roots by then, warm weather, blue skies, and the chirping of insects, sounds where everywhere else rested silent. Rohan sat now at a table on the green, spreading out a few cards from the tarot deck he'd own even before coming to this town. He looked up when a shadow fell across him. "Hm? Oh, hello. I'm afraid I can't really...it's not literal magic anymore. But humans have used these for divination as much as dark witches. Why not werewolves? Do you have a query?" He gestured at the seat across from him.

[earthwindandraen]

Rae had been fascinated in tarot long before she could actually use magic to read the cards. A childhood filled with walking through Jackson Square and seeing all the various card and palm readers, most of whom lacked the connection that she had with the magicks of the earth, had always been drawn her attention. She didn't think she could help it.

Offering Rohan a smile, she took a seat. "I don't see why a werewolf can't read the cards just as well as the next person, especially if you already know your major and minor arcana," Rae Elle said. "I don't have a real query, but would you mind a three-card spread?"

[thxprophecy]

josie let out a small breath at that, eyes drifting back toward the distant sweep of light as it cut through the dark again. “yeah… lonely,” she echoed, but softer, like she wasn’t entirely sure she meant the lighthouse anymore. her arms folded loosely across her chest, more for comfort than anything else, thumb rubbing absently at her sleeve.

she hesitated when rae asked, her mouth parting like she might say something real—something heavier... but the words never quite made it out. instead, she gave a small shrug, gaze dropping to the ground for a second before lifting again. “i don’t know… just feels like everything’s crazy lately.” a faint, almost apologetic smile tugged at her lips. “i think i’m just… adjusting. new place, new everything.” another pause, quieter this time. “it gets kind of lonely, you know?”

[earthwindandraen]

"I'd say it needs another lighthouse, but that'd be a bit too much, wouldn't it?" Rae Elle asked. Overkill. Too bright, especially if the rotation of the lights got out of sync. "I guess it's got a job to do that's a little solitary."

Rae hummed. "I get that, sugar. It's hard. Everything that's been goin' on ain't easy even if you have been in town for a bit. I can't imagine how it feels bein' new." She wondered how new this woman was. It was one thing to be new to town; that was bad enough. But there were frequently people who were new to this world. "You got any folks here? Friends? Family? That always makes the adjustment easier, I've learned. Hard to be a lighthouse when you got folks to lean on."

[thxprophecy]

josie’s smile came slow, soft at the edges, like she wasn’t disagreeing so much as wandering somewhere else entirely. she let out a quiet hum, rocking slightly on her heels as her gaze drifted back to the lighthouse, its glow brushing over the water in patient, endless sweeps. “maybe it is,” she said, almost absentmindedly, “just a lighthouse.”

her voice dipped quieter after that, something more thoughtful settling in. “but it feels lonely, doesn’t it?” she murmured, eyes fixed on that distant beam. “standin’ out there all by itself, night after night, watchin’ everything pass by without ever gettin’ to follow.” she drew a small breath, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “maybe it's just keeping ships from crashing... but i don't know.. this town feels like it's always something more than that, y'know?”

[earthwindandraen]

There was something dreamy-eyed and wistful about the other woman that Rae Elle didn't quite want to disagree with. A bubble she didn't want to burst. It was just a lighthouse to her, but she'd been living with magic, actual magic, that the mundane world made by people around her wasn't really magical. To her, there was magic in nature. There was magic in the earth that she'd sank her fingers into and pulled from the ground. A lighthouse, though, was just a lighthouse.

"I s'pose it looks a little lonely out there by itself. Singular tree still standin' in a forest. This one's just got a big light swingin' around." Rae breathed out a soft laugh. "Oh, I think this town's way more than all that." Not always in a good way. "What's got you feelin' all contemplative, sugar?"

[noyaarmstrong]

Noya paused and then laughed. "No pun intended, but damn I wish it was. Cheers to me." She lifted her glass and drank as she listened to Rae speak. She nodded. "I get that. Nice to see people outside of the work environment, especially if they're your customers, which can be a one-sided interaction."

[earthwindandraen]

"You can own it, cher. I won't tell nobody it wasn't intentional if you want," Rae Elle joked. "I try to be personable at work, but, yeah, it can be real hard to get to know folks when they've got a purpose and you're just makin' sure they find what they're lookin' for. You work in retail, too?"

[thxprophecy]

open starter for josephine howlett ft. anyone , located at lunar cove beach just after nightfall. ( @lunarcovestarters )

the sand was cool beneath josephine’s bare feet, damp from the tide that had long since rolled back, leaving the shoreline glistening under the moonlight. she stood still at lunar cove’s edge, arms loosely folded, her gaze fixed on the lighthouse in the distance. its beam cutting slow, steady arcs through the dark like it was searching for something it could never quite find.

she tilted her head slightly, watching the light pass over the water again, and again, and again. “you ever get the feeling,” she murmured, more to the ocean than anyone else, “that it’s not warning ships away… it’s trying to call something else here?” her lips pressed into a faint, almost knowing smile, though her eyes didn’t leave the lighthouse.

[earthwindandraen]

Rae wasn't much of a beach girl. Nothing against it, sure but it wasn't really the vibe a lot of the time. Still, it was always beautiful at night, and it was hard to deny the call of that. Something magnetic. Home was the swamps and the river, but the ocean was just as lovely. Not as solid as forest ground under foot, but the shifting of waves were soothing.

At the sound of the voice, Rae Elle offered a small smile. "Oh, cher, I think it's just a lighthouse," she said. "I don't think it's really callin' nothin' here, just tryin' to keep ships from crashin' into each other."

[earthwindandraen]

MYTH & MASQUERADE 2026

RAE ELLE PARK - THE MORRIGAN

[noyaarmstrong]

Noya waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, don't be. You're at work and get into the groove of things. It happens. But it's nice to finally meet you properly, Rae Elle. I'm Noya." She put out her hand to shake. "Came to socialize or just to unwind?"

[earthwindandraen]

"Was that a pun?" Rae teased. "But it's nice to put a name to a face, Noya." She looked around the bar, raising an eyebrow. "I guess unwind, but I probably coulda done that better at my house than here. Maybe a bit of both. It's nice chatting with folks sometimes, y'know? Small time quaintness. You're always gonna run into some familiar face."

[crownprincexofbees]

Ignacio clicked his tongue. "That is very American. The bootstraps. The belief that one can make themselves alone, with no help. Such is not the truth. People also need bees." He smiled brightly at that, largely because it was true. After a beat, however, Ignacio managed a more contemplative sigh, as though deep in consideration. "I have...uh, regenerated, you understand? I know this to be true. That is something the Fae can do. In a moment of fear or distress, when death is looming, they can return to the universe. Be born again for another effort." He hummed. "Fear is understandable when one encounters death only once. But I have the possibility for many efforts. I would like to imagine each becomes easier, more complete," he explained. A smile came. "In the earth and on the earth are different things. There are those who must wander. That is sad."

Ignacio gave a click of his tongue. "We have been telling stories for millennia of why revenge, it does not pay, yes? Orestes. Hamlet. The Count of Monte Cristo. Destruction, destruction." He clapped his hands together. "I am there all day, every day. The store, it opens at 7 AM. I am the hives by 5. Do you enjoy mornings?" He cocked his head to one side. "I cannot lie, so I cannot say I fear nothing. But oui, oui, fear allows learning."

He smiled. "You are kind. It does me no good in the ring." Laughing, he boxed the air a few times. "Bach. Paganini. Tchaikovsky. Hildegard von Bingen, who tapped into the eternal. Sara Teasdale, who is direct but precise. 'A little while when I am gone, my life will live in music after me, a spun foam lifted and borne on, after the wave is lost in the full sea.'" He hummed. "And what do you like for the moment, chère?"

[earthwindandraen]

"It's unfortunate, ain't it? Does it help if I say I don't believe in it? I'm more... Laissez les bons temps rouler, if I gotta have a motto. Big fan of the bons temps," Rae joked. Even if they weren't often. Even if she sometimes felt she'd left most of the ones she had left behind her. Perhaps it's a little morbid, but she finds herself asking, "You think you'd give it another go if it happened now? Regenerate and try again for a better shot at it all?" She knew what waited for her. Or maybe she didn't. Rae thought, where she was now, she'd probably be wandering a bit. Nothing felt complete. There was still so much she needed to do. "Ain't that the truth. I've met some of those wanderers. They ain't all lost, but there's usually something sad. We linger because we got somethin' holding us around. Good or bad," she murmured. And the things in between.

Rae Elle gave a slight smile. "Maybe that's the allure, yeah? The thought that you can do it better, that the revenge will sustain you, you know?" She shrugged. "It don't, though." It was better to turn to lighter subjects. "I love the mornings, sugar. I think I like just about any time." She had trouble sleeping, for the most part. Morning, noon, night, she liked most time of the twenty-four hour cycle. "It's the best teacher," she agreed.

"No? You're tellin' me your opponents don't like a bit of poetry between matches?" Rae asked, teasing. Her grin brightened. "A looker, a fighter, and a man with taste. My, my, you've just got it all, don't you, honey? I like it all. I'm not the best with poetry-- Auden and Hughes are always great, but I love music. All music. I love Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Led Zeppelin, Depeche Mode, Ghost. Anything and everything. It's all the moment. It all makes you feel, right?"

[cantfightmoonlight]

"I asked you first," Len hummed under her breath as she shot Rae a knowing look. "But, if you really want to open the floodgates of letting me give you a nickname, I can. Just know when I do, there is going to be no takebacks," She teased. Her tongue drifted across her the bottom of her teeth as if she was already mulling over ideas. "I mean if you want me to reach below the belt, all you have to do is ask," She flashed Rae a smirk of her own. "Sometimes, yes. But eating a microwave packet of ramen won't exactly kill you either. And..." She trailed off. Her first instinct was to make a joke or a teasing remark of how cute it was how much Rae seemed to worry, but for some reason she found herself stalling and instead simply said, "okay. I'll try, just no promises."

[earthwindandraen]

"Well, I love bein' called my name. Preferably just not the whole damn thing," Rae Elle teased. "I mean, I'm a little curious. You're a creative gal, I know you could come up with something original. But when you put it like that, it makes me a little nervous, cher. What kinda names you goin' for, you?" she joked. She laughed. "Now that was a low blow. A good one, though. Tease." She sighed and shook her head. "It's not gonna kill you, no, but, come on, be honest. It just ain't that good. Not unless you doctor it up a whole lot and make it better." She softened, glad that Len said that she'd at least try. "That's all I ask for, Len. You're smart. You can handle yourself. But that don't mean not to look out for yourself."

[cantfightmoonlight]

@earthwindandraen

"Hey pretty lady," Sav called out as she swung open the door of Broken Records. "I need a favor." Her shoulders slumped as she rested her head against the side of the door, feigning a silent defeat before she glided up to the front counter. "I've ran through all of my top playlists MC'ing over at On Pitch, and I'm desperate for new inspiration, so I'm here to pick your brain. Top five songs at the moment that have been leavin' ya feelin' utterly breathless. Go."

[earthwindandraen]

Rae Elle leaned against the counter, setting her book down as she smiled back at Savannah. "Coucou, sugar," she said lightly. She hummed. "Mighty big predicament. Are you lookin' for breathless from dancin' or..." She trailed off, trying to think. "And do you want modern or older? I'm sure things that folks know and can sing along to. Karaoke bar standards, yeah?"

[noyaarmstrong]

Noya looked over at the dark-haired woman and instantly recognized her from the record store. Noya played vinyl at her shop, mostly for the ambience, a little to write off records on her taxes, so she shopped often and guiltlessly at the store, when she had the time, of course.

"Definitely a little more of the former, though it is a decent rum and Coke," she said. Noya offered her a smile. "Nice to see you again." She didn't know the woman's name and felt a little guilty she never asked.

[earthwindandraen]

"Kinda hard to mess up a rum and Coke, huh?" Rae Elle asked with a smile. "Hate the day's been long, though. I think that always makes the drink taste a little different. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way, you know?" Sometimes it made the alcohol more necessary.

Rae laughed. "Nice to see you, too, cher. I'm a little ashamed we've never properly met. I usually like to get the names of some of my best customers. I'm Rae Elle, or Rae's fine. Whatever you'd like."