ISABELLE STEPS UP TO LINA , leaning forward to press a kiss to the cow’s head . while they did function as a ranch , they also functioned in a way where they were mainly living off the land surrounding their home , and izzy has had lina since moving back to starksville . the shapeshifter turns , when she notices someone approaching . she knows she has painting lessons scheduled for later in the week , but she doesn’t think she’d scheduled anything for today . perhaps they’re there for yoga , since she’d promised one of the ranch-hands his wife could host classes there , so they could save money . or for riding lessons . though the stables are on the opposite side . “ hi , can i help you ? ” izzy asks .
Luna wasn’t sure what exactly gave her the guts to visit a ranch, even on accident, but she wouldn’t admit she was feeling homesick. Maybe that was a piece of it, but the other ones? She wasn’t sure what they were. She hadn’t paid attention to her train of thought or her walking path until she heard a voice greeting her. At this, she weakly smiles before looking directly at the ground. She wasn’t sure if she should tell the truth or try to lie to herself. “I’m sorry I was trying to head back into town, but I guess I just got carried away.” That was a total lie - her car facing the direction outside of town would have laughed at that if it could. Then, she looked up and saw Lina. How did she not realize that a cow was there sooner? Luna’s entire body language opened up, and her voice sped up in excitement. “I knew there was a reason! Um, I’m sorry, I don’t think I’m supposed to be here. This place just reminds me...” No, she wouldn’t admit it, especially not to a stranger. “I totally understand if not because this is very unorthodox - can I just enjoy the nature for a bit?”
VALÉRIA HAD SLIPPED AWAY FROM her fiancé’s visiting relative , feeling a little bit overwhelmed . she had found a spot away from the other patrons , stretching — or at least , as best she could without jostling anything around herself — for a couple minutes , before someone else appeared and walked into her before she could notice .
the siren shakes her head when the other asks what she’s doing . “ i needed a minute away from my relatives . sorry , i didn’t think i would be in anyone’s way over here . ” she apologises .
“Oh, no you’re...” Luna trailed off, her shoulders slumping once she got a better look at Valeria. “I just wasn’t expecting someone over here that doesn’t work here.” As someone with unbearable family that she hadn’t seen in years, even in her state, she couldn’t judge. Just getting up and stretching seemed pretty tame, in Luna’s eyes. Luna knew she could never have been so polite. “Are they in here? Do you need some real time away from them?”
ISABELLE HAD BEEN WAITING for a while now . her daughter had promised to return from work soon , but had asked her to stay so she wouldn’t have to completely start over . when someone else asked how long she’d been waiting , she shrugged , “ about an hour . ” she sighs , grumbling slightly . “ though , i think the lady over there might start ripping her hair out from having to wait . ”
“Okay, an hour isn’t all that bad.” He’d seen it get backed up for over half a day. By this time, he would have thought he'd get some sort of special treatment for being in this town for so long, but if anything, it was always a humbling experience to be treated like every other human again. “Unfortunate that we will all have lives outside of this, right? But the real reason behind ripping your hair out from waiting here is because of the color of the walls. Something about them gets to you after a while.” He’d had too many trips of waiting to know that.
HE’D STOPPED IN TO PICK UP a couple books for his sister . “ well , i was in here for most of it , but i wasn’t exactly paying attention to your call . ” the vampire shrugs . “ do you think my sister will like these ? ” he holds up the two novels he’d picked . “ she’s a little bit picky . ” admittedly , while he did have plenty of things he’d recommended to her , she didn’t always like them , and she’d only read a handful of his own novels . but the third book he was holding was one she’d requested at least .
Well, this was a pleasant change of topic. This was something she could pick apart until she was blue from overthinking and forgetting that breathing is something she should do. With this subject change, she eyed the books before looking up at Enzo. “Picky how so?” They had to gauge this somehow. “Like only reads niche-young-adult-fiction picky, would rather exclusively read non-fiction craft books, or is she also a part of the realistic fiction isn’t helpful club?”
INTERACTION: Yelena & anyone (open starter)
LOCATION: Barn Yard Diner
Ah yes, work. Despite the great owners and general atmosphere, she found herself dreading every shift. Each day, she couldn’t pinpoint why she got that feeling of dread deep in her gut. That feeling only multiplied during her shift. Was she still sick? It was a possibility, but Luna put it out of her mind. She'd already missed so many shifts the past month, she knew she couldn’t possibly miss another for something that felt so minuscule and yet so overwhelming.
During one of her breaks, she couldn’t wait to get to a spot away from the public eye - on the opposite side of where the majority of their patrons were. She was ready to slump down in the booth and pretend nothing existed when she ran head-first into someone else on her way there. At first, she only muttered before actual words came sputtering out. “What-What are you doing over here? Haven’t you stopped by the hostess yet?”
INTERACTION: Fahad & anyone (open starter)
LOCATION: Starkville Town Hall
This was a bit ridiculous, even for this town. He had all the time in the world, but some people didn’t. Nevertheless, he bit in the inside of his cheek and slumped against the wall where numerous others were waiting for their number to be called to the town clerk. How many of them would be told to come back with another piece of paper like he had? All for one thing! “How long have you been waiting?” he asked the person next to him.
INTERACTION: Renee & anyone (open starter)
LOCATION: The Book Stop
“Why shouldn’t my mom apologize? She was the one who - I’m so sorry, Denise, I’m going to have to call you back.” She promptly tried to press the end call button on her phone, but it took her far longer as someone came up to the counter. “How much did you hear of that? Actually, you know what, let’s pretend that didn’t happen. How can I help you?”
“what are you getting?” leo asks, turning to the person in line behind him. “c’mon. i’ll buy you a coffee. what do you want?”
“What are you tryin’ to do - butter me up?” they asked as they crossed their arms across their chest. “Or can you not decide like me because you’ve had everything on the menu and it’s a dreadful morning?”
Ryland wasn’t much of a social person and so often times when he was seen out and about in town, it wasn’t for a social exchange. Much like today, he was trying to shop without getting into any conversations. That was unlikely though in a town this size. Everyone seemed to know who he was and Ryland hated that. He had his hands full of groceries, always thinking he wouldn’t need a basket when he arrived, and was trying to balance a bunch of bananas on top when the whole thing went toppling over and he cursed under his breath before kneeling down to start picking things back up when he noticed someone else rushing over to help him. “Sorry, you don’t have to help me I’m fine. I appreciate it but I don’t want to bother anyone.”
“How are you a bother? I just did the same thing!” Luna chimed as she continued to pick up the last items that rolled around the tiles. “Shocked you didn’t hear it down in A7.” Every time she went to the store, she found herself going down every single aisle, even if she only needed a few things. Perhaps she longed for adventure in a place she felt was too dull - but the grocery store out of all the places to check?! Oh, Luna. Once she had handed back the items and picked up her own basket, she gasped before pulling what she had thought to be one basket into two baskets. Had they really been stuck together this whole time? “Guess it’s your lucky day! Do you want the other one?”
heard [ yelena “luna” tiferet czerniawskia ] was in town, and she looks awfully like [ hari nef ]. word is that the [ twenty-eight ] year old [ trans woman & werewolf ] works as a [ waitress at the barnyard & is an indie singer-songwriter ]. have you heard she can be [ indecisive ] and [ complacent ]? though, depending on your sources, maybe she can be [ empathetic ] and [ cheerful ]. when you look at her, your mind gets flooded with [ the same three chords being strummed, the worn jacket you’ve kept since middle school wrapped tightly around your frame, chipped colorful nails that you keep chewing on, being the last person in the diner minutes before it closes, and the feeling of the wind in your hair while on a bike - feeling like you’re finally alive ]. we’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry.
ABOUT || SPOTIFY || PINTEREST
tw: injury, illness, teenage pregnancy
basic stats
full name: yelena tiferet czerniawskia
nicknames: lena, luna
age: twenty-eight
gender: trans woman
pronouns: she/her/hers
orientation: panromantic & ace spectrum - is actually a closeted sapphic
religion: reform judaism
place of birth: decorah, iowa
past
Her family was born farmers, and she reckons that they’ll die farmers. When she was young, she loved it - working on the farm that one side of her family held while keeping an eye on the cattle that the other side of her family kept.
She was born to two teenagers who barely knew what they were doing, let alone with a child. Her father was in the military in an attempt to provide for their growing family, but she was never quite sure what her mother did. She has a feeling she knew exactly what she did, deep down.
Her mother ran away with her when she was very young. She didn’t get very far - she got to the other side of the county but it was enough. She was still able to see her family, but they didn’t live in the same house anymore. It just wasn’t the same.
Eventually, her mother let their father back into their lives, but their lives were anything but picture perfect. While her sibling was the ideal child in school, Luna excelled in far different areas - ones that her mother feared wouldn’t get her far in life.
Even after graduating with a degree in music composition and participating in many performances in college as well as being a part of a small label under an alias, is it enough? Did she really manifest her mother’s fears?
Eventually, she found herself in Starkville as a way to gain inspiration. She’s been here for too long to call it that.
present
She has been creating and scrapping a lot of her works. She’s been focusing on more collab pieces where she focuses on the music. At the moment, she prefers not to be the vocals. She hasn’t released music under her own name in three years.
She’s a very recently turned werewolf. A few months ago, she was attacked while on her way home from a late night shift. She has no idea what happened, and she has no idea that she turns during the full moon. She still thinks she had a really bad flu (and still might be suffering from it). She has no idea the supernatural exist in this way! She’s superstitious, but not in this way.
future
Will she join a pack? Will she create a pack? Will she remain vulnerable and not understand anything?
Eventually, she will release her own music again, but she needs a push.
(Tip for anyone out there: she is a hopeless romantic AND she’s a hopeless platonic - she loves anyone and everyone even if she shouldn’t - so have fun!)
heard [ renee morris ] was in town, and she looks awfully like [ tamara podemski ]. word is that the [ forty-two ] year old [ demi woman & human] works as a [ co-owner of the book stop ]. have you heard they can be [ abrasive ] and [ conceited ]? though, depending on your sources, maybe she can be [ caring ] and [ determined ]. when you look at her, your mind gets flooded with [ the smell of old books, the sound of a fireplace crackling, switching between fashion styles on a whim, and quietly flitting around the house while the tv hums in the background ]. we’ll keep an eye on them, don’t worry.
ABOUT || SPOTIFY || PINTEREST
tw: death
basic stats
full name: renee morris
nicknames: n/a?
age: forty-two
gender: demi woman
pronouns: she/her/hers & they/them/theirs
orientation: polyamorous bi
religion: protestant
place of birth: sault saint marie, ontario, canada
past
She spent a lot of her life going between Canada and Michigan’s UP.
She has been married twice. The first time was when she was young, and it ended messily. The second time was to a vampire - and she didn’t know they were one. It’s been six years since their death in Starkville.
They ended up opening a book shop together, her and her partner, and she’s kept it running since their death.
Once they passed, she’s needed more help - so she’s taken another owner under her wing.
present
Currently, she has two children. Her eldest, Yuliya, is studying in Germany. Her youngest, Noah, is still in primary school.
Alongside the small business, she is an advocate for education. She is 1000% the PTA parent who would start an argument over something small.
future
She doesn’t know anything about the supernatural or the true reason why their last partner chose Starkville as their place of residence. She thinks it’s just a quaint town. Will someone let her in on this secret, willingly or forcefully?
heard [ fahad youssef ] was in town, and he looks awfully like [ yahya abdul-mateen ii ]. word is that the [ 427 ] year old [ cis man & vampire ] works as an [ accountant ]. have you heard he can be [ overcritical ] and [ waspish ]? though, depending on your sources, maybe he can be [ loyal ] and [ thoughtful ]. when you look at him, your mind gets flooded with [ the crumbles of marble statues that have worn away over eons, the sense of dread by watching the sunrise by yourself, keeping an eye on others from a distance but never close up, and pretending he doesn’t care but he’s the first one to try and console you ]. we’ll keep an eye on him, don’t worry.
ABOUT || SPOTIFY || PINTEREST
tw: death
basic stats
full name: fahad youssef
nicknames: n/a?
age: four hundred twenty-seven ; turned at approximately thirty-six
gender: cis man
pronouns: he/him/his
orientation: bi
religion: muslim
place of birth: claims it was detroit
past
He’s tried to keep everything about him under wraps in public, so who knows if he even knows his human life?
----------
They’ve traveled throughout the Midwest, but ultimately stopped in Michigan.
His current life started in Detroit, and he claims he’s never really left the state.
He doesn’t like to talk about his past lives or what happened in this one. He claims he went to college a few hours away up North, but it feels like he’s been in Starkville for over thirty years.... That can’t be right
present
He aids other supernaturals, especially those who live beyond a normal human lifespan, in their finances. He’s one of the people other supernaturals can go to in order to transfer their account to their new life or find ways to donate to their present families despite not being able to go near them. Of course, he can also aid them in general finances and budgeting.
Has been on the lookout for his sister, although he would never admit it.
future
It’s possible that he’s barely skating by the Council’s laws regarding financials. Could the Council do anything about it, even if they wanted to? If they did, would clients still come to him, especially when he keeps his mouth shut about who they are or who they once were? Who knows.
He’s had a pretty stable life in Starksville. It needs to be shaken up a bit by someone more spontaneous or go-getting. He’s currently trying to slip under the radar.
You guys have a "train of thought"? Like, it's on rails and shit? Going straight ahead into a predestined destination?
I've got a roomba of thought. It can move straight ahead but as soon as it bumps into something, it'll turn around and start moving into a brand new, completely random direction.
prguitarman
ellievsbear
snowghoul
stormborns
titsay
jbbartram-illu
yousharknotpass
