Full Name: Andrew Elijah Carson
Nicknames: Drew, Andy, Eli
Age: 42
Species: Werewolf, Reid Pack
Occupation: Mechanic, Holloway Auto
Gender/Pronouns: cis male && he/him
Relationship Status: Single
Sexuality: Bisexual
Birthdate: May 23
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Personality (+): Charitable, Loyal, Honest, Determined, Hardworking, Intelligent
Personality ( - ): Blunt, Withdrawn, Sarcastic, Temperamental, Distrusting, Guarded, Detached
Bio: drug/alcohol abuse, spousal death
Andrew Elijah Carson was born May 23, 1979 in the small town of Athens, Georgia. His mother, Nancy, was a single mother who worked incredibly hard and nearly to the bone to make ends meet, to provide for them both.
While his mother worked long, hard, tedious hours at a local diner, Drew did his best to keep himself occupied, taking on responsibilities that shouldn’t have been his in the first place in an attempt to ensure he and his mother stayed afloat.
From a young age, Drew knew what it was to be determined, to be driven, to work hard to make and create the life for yourself you wanted and dreamed of. Everything he did, he did with a determination to succeed so fierce it was rivaled by near-none.
Academics weren’t the easiest thing for Drew, though he still tried his best and often earned primarily B’s and C’s. Never failing, but never coming in at the top of his class either. Still, he was good with his hands, and from a young age learned that he enjoyed working with tools, learning how things worked, and how to build and rebuild things.
This lead him to a strong pull towards cars and auto mechanics from a young age. He found himself seeking knowledge on the topics wherever possible, and even began seeking information and lessons from a local man known for rebuilding the engines of old cars and trucks.
For the most part, Andrew was a good kid, he was always kind, always courteous, and always doing his best for himself and his mother. Though, at the age of 15, he fell in with a bad crowd and began to get involved in things he simply shouldn’t have. Drinking, drugs, and alcohol became his new normal, and he began to allow himself to slip, becoming involved in things he never should have.
When he was 16, Drew was involved in a party that went wrong, charged with resisting arrest and breaking and entering. He was sentenced to a year and a half in a juvenile detention facility.
When he came out, Drew was not the same as he had been when he went in, having a rougher and harder edge to him than ever before. He lived like that, changed into something his closest friends and family didn’t recognize, when he met the love of his life, Anya.
Anya was sweet, kind, loving, and everything Drew could have ever longed for in a wife. The two fell for each other quickly, and were married after only a few months of dating. Their lives were a whirlwind, though he couldn’t have pictured anything better. Drew was 35 when they married, and he’d dreamed of a life with her in it.
However, tragedy struck when a rogue wolf found its way to town, encountering Anya and Drew on one of their nightly walks. The wolf attacked, and Anya was killed. Drew, however, survived, though turned into something even more different. And, with the loss of his love, something even more vicious.
Drew made it his vow to find and kill the other wolf who had done this to his love, a promise he made good on approximately two years after Anya’s death. Once the deed had been done, he traveled around looking for a place to settle, a place to attempt to call home after losing everything he had. That was when he learned of Holloway, making his way there and attempting to make a life for himself.
Emma chuckled as he pulled out his phone. “I think the hike was meant to end back on the Lane.” She pointed, although realised she had no idea what direction she was meant to be going or was coming from. “I was. I grew up here. Left for college… I’m Emma.”
Drew nodded solemnly, his expression remaining unchanged. “Ah. Yes. You’re definitely pretty off-course.” Glancing around, he slipped his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “That makes sense. It’s a pretty similar story to a lot of folx. Emma.” He repeated, nodding. Taking in a breath, he cleared his throat, scanning the area once more before speaking again. “I’m Andrew. Carson. Most people call me Drew. If you follow me, I can take you back to the Lane.” Turning, he began walking, glancing back to ensure she was following. “What did you study in college?”
“Oh, wow”, Esmée took the cup that he was handing her, confusion painted on her face for a few heartbeats. She had neither expected to see Drew here nor that he would bring her coffee. “Thank you very much” She considered asking who he had bought the cup for originally since there was no way he could have been aware of her being here - No one knew of Esmée’s early mornings in the archives except for the janitor William. And that guy did not seem like he’d be close friends with anyone from the pack.
She looked at the other for a moment, searching for the right words or ways to start a conversation. Esmée still struggled to find her footing in this new world she had stumbled in while coming to Holloway and though her new pack had been welcoming and kind, something she had not expected at first, it was not that easy for her to strike up small talk. “Well, I went for a run in the woods before coming here, so I settled for something light and easy. And I honestly thought such a sporting activity would keep me warm, but it seems the weather here is leaning closer to winter with every day”, She settled on the weather as a topic when Drew bent down and put his own coffee away, confusing her momentarily. Then Esmée realised what he was about to do and started shaking her head, already growing a little red in her face. “That’s really not necessary, honestly I-”, Esmée could not even finish her sentence before Drew handed her the jacket.
“There is no reason for both of us being cold now”, she took it nonetheless, not wanting to be rude and first slipped into one arm, then the other, moving her coffee from one hand to the other along the way. It was too big for her, of course it was, and it smelled of him. Such a strange moment, such a sweet gesture. “Honestly, thank you very much. This is slowly turning from a pleasant surprise into a true rescue” Esmée raised the coffee cup into his direction and then took a sip of the hot beverage, “Oh this is good. No, today is like any other day. I just like to start early, get a grasp on what needs to be done today, before the assitants and the rest of the staff comes in. It’s still new to me, this position, and in a place so much bigger than the last one. I try to prep myself” Was it because she was so hellbent on perfection? Or because she was so scared of failure? Esmée could not tell, and she did not wish to discuss it with Drew right here and right now. “What about you, though? Where are you headed so early?”
Drew shrugged as he handed the coffee over, seeing the look of confusion come across Esmée’s face. A part of him considered adding an explanation for his second cup, though with or without it, it was clear she wasn’t going to turn down free coffee. Drew hadn’t ever been the smoothest of individuals, social awkwardness seemed to follow him through his interactions and relationships with others. While he was aware of the fact, it hadn’t ever been anything he’d felt the need to address, though part of him worried the entire interaction might look strange. Really, it came down to the fact that these days, the only people he even began to feel a sense of kinship with were his packmates. Having always been a bit of a loner, especially given the circumstances he’d fallen into in the times he’d gone against his nature and opened himself up to others, it wasn’t something that had ever bothered him. Though, belonging to a group, and for as long as he had, seemed to have shifted those feelings ever so slightly. “No problem.” He replied, adding no additional flourish to his response.
Nodding at her comments regarding the weather, he turned his eyes skyward momentarily before refocusing on the woman in front of him. “Yeah, well, that does tend to happen. We’re almost in November, so it’s all downhill from here. On the plus side, it doesn’t snow every year, so maybe we’ll have a mild winter again.” Naturally he heard Esmée’s protest when he handed her his jacket, though the action was already done, and not something he would’ve thought twice about had she not mentioned it. Despite his gruff appearance, once anyone managed to get to the core of him, it was no secret that Drew had a heart of gold. He simply had a hard time conveying that to the rest of the world. “It’s not a problem. I don’t need it.” It was the truth, he didn’t. Even before he’d been turned, he’d always been hot-blooded, often times not bothering with a coat or jacket at all, even in the winter months.
“Don’t mention it.” Drew slipped his free hand into his pocket before taking a sip of his own coffee. “I’m glad you think so. And, glad I could help.” Words clearly weren’t his strong suit, a fact he was sure of. Though, still not a fact that bothered him. “There’s nothing wrong with being prepared, even when you aren’t new. It shows dedication. I’d say that’s an important quality to have, no matter your position.” The question regarding his own early-rising reasoning, and he hesitated for a moment before replying. “I’m usually up early, I just usually haven’t left my house yet, by this point. But, I thought I’d stop for coffee today, instead of making it. I’m just on my way to the shop.” He said, gesturing in the direction of the auto mechanics shop where he’d worked since his arrival in Holloway. “No one else is there yet, but I thought I’d get a jump on some work I didn’t finish last night.” Pausing briefly, he glanced at the otherwise empty street around them. “It’s almost Halloween. Have any big plans?”
Emma pulled her fluffy coat tighter, it was getting cold in North Carolina now and in hindsight hiking was really dumb. “Reassuring words from the strange man in the woods.” She half laughed. “You can have this heap of junk if you want.” She held up her cell phone. “Very lost. I used to know these woods pretty well but it’s been a while… now all the trees look the same.”
Drew’s eyebrows raised, his head cocking to the side as the corners of his lips turned downward slightly, his expression conveying one of agreement. “Touche.” His eyes fell to the phone in her hands, and he shook his head. “No thanks. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to work it. What you’re calling a heap of junk, I call high-tech.” Slipping his hand into his pocket, Drew pulled a flip phone out, holding it in front of him for the other to see. Nodding slowly, he slid his phone back into his pocket, taking a small step forward. “Where are you looking to get to?” He asked. “Judging from what you said, I guess it’s safe to assume you’re from here? Originally at least.”
Emma jumped over the rock, taking out her phone. She’d lost her group about half an hour ago and was quickly regretting signing up to the hiking group. “No phone signal. Of course.” She knew she’d come into the forest by Lonesome lane but had been walking a while. She tripped as she heard a noise behind her. “I have nothing on me valuable please don’t kill me.” She blurted.
The forest was one of Drew’s favorite places in town; there was no denying he was drawn to its tranquility and beauty, but also to its solitude. Though he’d always found connections with nature, he found the statement rang even more true since he’d been bitten, and further still with each passing year. He’d heard the hiking group nearby, of course, and made a point to stay as far from them as possible, not wishing to be disturbed. Though, as he made his own way up the path, his eyes fell upon an obviously lost figure, and he sighed at his own blunder. His eyebrows raised at the other’s first statement, though his tone remained even when he spoke. “If I were going to kill you, you’d know it. Luckily for you, it is far too early and far too calm to consider murder of any sort. I won’t rob you either, I guarantee you have nothing I want that badly.” Drew’s eyes gave the woman a once-over. “I take it you’re lost?”
In recent weeks Esmée had developed a habit of going for a run before starting her day at work. The weather was growing colder and it took the sun a little longer each morning to climb into the sky, she enjoyed that crips and fresh air, with the world still hushed and everything holding its breath for a moment longer, before humanity and its bustling streets flooded her senses. She had once read about deer that grew nocturnal to evade humans and just maybe she was doing something like that, too.
But every run had to end sooner or later and so she was on her way to the museum quite early, first one at the main entrance and as always waiting for the janitor to open the gates and let her in. But this morning, to her surprise, she saw another figure on the pathway, heading in her direction. “Good morning”, Esmèe buried her hands in the holes of her sweater, shivering against the cold air, “You’re on your feet early. I did not expect anyone to come my way for at least an hour”
It was early, though in recent years ‘early’ seemed to have become Drew’s middle name. Perhaps there was a time in which he would have allowed himself more rest, more sleep, more peace, though that time had long since passed. These days, sleep seemed to evade him by a margin more with each passing year, and this morning had been a particularly early one, with the anniversary of his wife’s passing looming over him like the darkest of storm clouds anyone might ever be able to fathom. After dressing and showering, he’d started his coffee pot as he always did, though after only a few moments of brewing flipped the machine off again, choosing instead to make his way into town and purchase his morning coffee. He had time, and no desire to continue his morning in an otherwise empty house. Once he’d arrived at the shop, something had told him to purchase two, though for what purpose he was unaware. It was on his journey into his own job that brought him to pass the Museum, and a quick sniff and glance towards the front doors drew his attention to his fellow pack member begging entrance to the building. Crossing the street, he made his way over, offering Esmèe the second cup of steaming coffee.
“Here.” He said plainly, noting the chill she’d obviously taken. “Yeah, well, consider it a pleasant surprise.” Although Andrew Carson was not a mean nor monstrous man by any stretch of the imagination, he was gruff, pointed, blunt to the point of a fault, and even more so since he’d lost Anya. The time for pleasantries seemed to have long passed as well, something he still struggled to come to grips with in private. “Why didn’t you wear a heavier coat?” He questioned, sighing as he bent to place his own coffee momentarily on the ground beside him. Slipping off his own jacket, he passed it to the other, picking up his coffee once more. “Are you always here this early, or is there something special about today?”
