— SELF PRESERVATION

— Logan Lancaster — thirty, mechanic, bitten wolf. north valley. +

[loganlancaster]

selinbaris​.

+

“I’m taking it form a world wide perspective, but in America sure. I definitely see it up there.” Then again it was her opinion and she could even take into consideration sports like rugby, perhaps she should have done a Top 5 approach—that would have definitely been easier. “Yeah…I get it.” NP on the whole had to compete, if not be better given the circumstances that majority of their habitants are in. For that, Selin was grateful to have Astoria as her safe haven from the harm she and others could do to herself. “It still counts for something and those three food places are what? Just regular franchises?” She then paused and thought of another alternative to phrase her initial question. “I’m sure you’ve lived here long enough than me. Aside from your home, what’s a place that’s like your ‘go-to’? Where it makes you feel better or is a site you always enjoy visiting?” 

— 🐺 —

logan considers before offering a nod. “you’re the sports person. i’m sure you know more than i do.” perhaps, maybe, his time in new york and time as a human was influencing his opinion. though it was an interesting idea to think that species influenced sports. “oh, no. they’re local places close to my apartment. don’t get me wrong, i dig franchises too. but i do think local and home-owned places have... a different quality to them.” the young wolf grimaces slightly and offers a small smile. “truth be told, i’m a bit of a workaholic. so i spend most of my time at the shop or in my apartment. but the inner city isn’t bad to walk around in. the parks are nice, too. if not just because of the open and fresh air.”

[loganlancaster]

kodadawson​.

―

             “how long did it take you?” he asked but wasn’t sure that he wanted to know the answer, because it was bound to not line up with the shit going on in his head. or how long he planned to let it bother him. as long as his brother was gone, koda didn’t know if he would ever find a way to get over it. he glanced up and away after another beat. “yeah, it’s been a long time since i called this place home and it still feels like i’m a visitor here like it and everyone in it is waiting for me to bail.”

— 🐺 —

it’s a question he hadn’t been expecting. there’s a long moment where logan lets himself mull through his thoughts before a shrug shifts his shoulders. “after the wolf, i think. after a few months of learning to deal with him. before, when i was in new york, none of this,” he waved his hand around, “was my world. but i saw it in other people. i worked for an auto shop owned by a family of witches. i saw what happened to them once people found out who they were. what they were. acceptance of what the world is capable of is easier when you can see it right in front of you. and after the wolf,” another shrug, “i knew no amount of complaining or denial could change what i was.” there’s a moment where he doesn’t speak before, “it’s different for everyone, though. that’s also something i’ve learned.” a small grin eases across logan’s lips. “i don’t know if i’d think of it as bailing. you go wherever you have to go in order to feel comfortable.”

[loganlancaster]

skylermartinez​.

― ― ―

“Yeah, yeah yeah,” A wave of her hand dismissively before grinning. “Oh–we?” A bat of eyelashes as she mirrors Logan’s head tilt playfully. “I definitely don’t have a passion for mechanics. Probably ‘cause I don’t know a thing about cars, or bikes, and was never taught…” The only thing Skye knew was how to change a tire, and how to replace windshield wiper fluid. If her car gave out on the side of the road and the problem turned out to be neither of those two things, she’d be hopeless. “Maybe you could take me for a ride when it’s all fixed?” 

— 🐺 —

“we as in me and my bike,” he chirps back, grinning. a shrug shifts his large shoulders next. “no one taught me. i just kinda learned by myself. fucked up a lot but those kind of mistakes are the best way to learn. especially in terms of mechanics.” logan lifts an eyebrow and inclines his head after a moment. “if you want to, sure. i’m not sure how long it’ll be, but if at the end you still want to, i’m game.”

[loganlancaster]

selinbaris​.

+

Selin chuckled and nodded in understanding given that she had put him on the spot like that. Whenever she asked others that question, they’d either be die hards who are easy to spot or those who follow on the sidelines. There was no in between. “Ah, that’s nice.” she replied. Shaking her head, she dismissed him with a nonchalant wave and said, “Oh please, don’t be. It’s a niche sport in comparison to the big three, which in my opinion is basketball, baseball and soccer. Mm yeah, I’m impressed with the City overall—It’s pretty progressive and advanced in comparison to other regions.” She paused and decided to ask a random question for her convenience, “I’ve only been here for over a month now, do you have any recommendations on what I should check out?” 

— 🐺 —

his head tilts briefly. “no football in the top three?” not that logan preferred it more than any of the others. truth be told, he didn’t personally see the appeal to it. the young wolf huffs out a small laugh next. “definitely more progressive than most other places, though i think that’s to be expected considering the specific creation of this place.” new york had been fine enough for supernaturals who hadn’t been outted. but that safety was shredded the moment humans found out you were different. logan blew out a breath of air and made a face apologetically, “oh, man. i’m not the right person to ask. i don’t get out much, and when i do it’s just to the same three food places.”

[loganlancaster]

charlieekwensi​.

▬

“Ah– I see. I don’t know a lot of people in here, so I didn’t know about that” and she didn’t even think about trying to call them, the few she actually cared. Her agent had been in touch, so after that the shapeshifter knew that whatever was related to her work, they would deal with it. Charlie was just enjoying the fact her pets were there and trying to continue with life even if she couldn’t shoot scenes with part of the cast missing. “It’s a really sad thing that’s happening,” she tried to feign that emotion. It felt right in their conversation.

“So, we might be dealing with the consequences of someone being too selfish? Sounds like plenty of the issues people have faced in the world because of others being driven by power and wanting to do something for themselves and failing.” In case it was the case. “There might be something to do that will help fix it. Maybe we can’t be helpful, but whoever did this should try to find a way to fix it.”

— 🐺 —

he watches her for a long moment. there’s a startling amount of composure she’s exuding and the wolf cannot quite piece together what he makes of it. finally, he lets out a shrug. “yeah, i dunno. it’s kinda wild in the grand scope of things.” what if the people never came back? what if families had been torn apart and would forever be so? he didn’t have anyone, personally, but the thought did make a cold chill creep up his spine.

“like i said, i don’t really know. most of all this is speculation at best. but if anything, it sounds like something a witch could have a hand in. it sounds like magic.” not that he was an expert on the matter. though wolves were, at their core, beings created by some form of magic, logan knows they cannot control the power outright. “no, yeah. if anything, the covens would be able to do something about it. i think they’re the only type of people who can help right now.”

[loganlancaster]

skylermartinez​.

― ― ―

Sitting up, Skye was intrigued with Logan’s initial words. “Getting some, I’d say.” Skye said with a smirk before wincing from her pounding head. She was almost on the edge of her seat when the word disgusting fell from Logan’s lips, then groaned in disappointment. “You and that motorcycle…should really get out there in the real world, Logi. Meet someone–never know, maybe they’ll share your love for metal and introduce you to a whole new way to use oil.” 

— 🐺 —

he let’s out a humble shrug, if only to uphold the fabrication. “pretty sure that’s the whole point?” the wolf replies. “i gotta fix her up so we can go places together.” head cocks to the side for a moment, not unlike that of a dog trying to make sense of what’s just been said. “i don’t know. i think my passion for mechanics is a solitary love. not many people seem to love it as much as i do.” a lie, probably. his friend circle was small and there were a fair few people who understood cars and motorcycles as well as he did.

[loganlancaster]

kodadawson​.

―

Koda listened but he wasn’t so sure that the words were meant to sink in with him any time soon, but he appreciated them. It was enough that he had been able to pick up the extra work there so that he could afford to fix up his car. Maybe he should have let it go along with everything else, but it kept him busy on the off hours from work and the bar ― so that he wasn’t completely drunk all the time, but busy enough so that his thoughts wouldn’t find him so easily. Not to mention Logan was good to him there. “You got a better outlook on things than I can say that I’ve run into lately.” Or maybe he was only talking about himself there. “Not many places or people can say it with a straight face an’ mean it too.”

— 🐺 —

logan shrugs. “i dunno. guess shit’s been going wrong for so long i’m kinda over being sad about it.” when it came down to it, he was alive. which was more than he could say for some people like him. he’d found astoria. and even though this place had given him the wolf, it was home. truth be told, he’d never felt as comfortable in a place in his entire life. “guess this place grows on you after a bit. it just takes time.”

[loganlancaster]

selinbaris​.

+

“What are you into? Do you play any sports of your own?” Selin nodded in agreement, sports did bring people together and the unity that came with it. It’s one of the many reasons why she enjoyed being a part of it. The she-wolf glanced up at him as she honed in on his presence, he was a wolf as well. Just her luck. “Something like that.” she mused. “Pro-athlete and assistant coach for volleyball.” Dark hues averted back to the stadium, as she observed it from bottom to top. “I’ve played in plenty of stadiums and this is one of my faves. Maybe I’m biased since this city is ahead of its time, but I’m impressed.”

— 🐺 —

logan chuckles for a small moment. “ah,” he admits finally with a grin. “sports. i can’t say i keep up with many of them. i don’t watch tv a lot. but if i had to choose, it’d probably be soccer.” his eyebrows lift towards his hairline at her admission --- he was impressed. the young wolf didn’t know much about sports, but he was no fool. he’d be an idiot to think that becoming a professional anything was easy, but especially an athlete. “well shit. that’s cool. i’m kinda intimidated right now. but i guess i have to take your word on it about the stadium. you’ve been in more of them than i have.”

[loganlancaster]

skylermartinez​.

Location: Myriad Cafe, early afternoon With: OPEN @astoriastarter​

Despite Valentine’s Day having been on a Sunday, Kaleidoscope had done very well for itself the entire weekend and caused it to fly by way too fast. A blur of red and pink and white, Stupid Cupid or something to that degree. Or that was just Skye’s drunken alter ego talking–aching and full of regret. Practically clutching the piping hot mug of coffee in her hands, struggling to stay awake and not give into the temptation of just slumping across the table and taking a nap. Only gave in just a bit to cradle her head gingerly against her fingertips while waiting for the caffeine to take over her system. The scraping of chair against the floor was grating on her nerves, like grinding teeth. But Skye perked up just barely from her fingertips to say, “If you had a successful Valentine’s Day weekend I want to hear all the dirty details right after I chug this cup of coffee.”

— 🐺 —

logan slid into the seat, grinning as he sank. he’d already been up for a few hours, focusing on installing a brand new piece to his motorcycle before heading to the small cafe. “it depends on what you’d consider a successful valentine’s day,” he states, lifting his cup to take a sip of the hot coffee. though the young wolf is fairly certain he knows the implications behind her words. “if you must know, i spent a disgusting amount of time working on my motorcycle. and if you want to know the dirty details, there was an oil leak and i got it all over my hands.” 

[loganlancaster]

ashlinghanley.

“—oh.” the witched watched his nose lift into the air, assuming that that was something that he could tell, something that was pass ash’s own perception. “never here?” ashling echoed, brow furrowing further. that was…more worrying. “i mean— what other explanation is there?” though the brunette didn’t know what kind of magic could do something like that. 

— 🐺 —

“i don’t think so,” he answers with a slight shake of his head. “then again, i haven’t been here for a long time. but at least in the past few years.” the more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t turn away from the -- more than obvious -- answer. “not many. i’m not an expert in witchcraft, but if this whole damn continent was made by witches, how hard would it be to eliminate half the population of something?”

[loganlancaster]

charliekwensi​:

▬

“Werewolf? Vampire?” Though Charlie didn’t know if he would feel uncomfortable to tell her, it was worth trying to understand what he was in order to understand his words. “I didn’t see it happening, but I heard the screams when it happened. I thought it was just some fight or something bad happening over the building I leave, until I discovered it’s been happening all over the city, at least…” Because it could be worse. The province? The country? The world? She didn’t know.

Then his question made her nod in disagreement. “Never, unless it happened when I was a baby,” those years that she wouldn’t be able to remember a thing. “I’ve seen people disappear, but usually that would lead to some news a couple of days after saying that said person had been murdered or something,” some of those news were related to the pack, even if the police never caught them. “I don’t think that’s the case, unless witches can murder people by causing their disintegration. Still, what would be the motive?”

— 🐺 —

for a moment logan pauses. there’s always a fleeting second where he thinks he might have slipped up. that he’s said something he shouldn’t have. but then he remembers he’s in astoria -- and that him being a werewolf doesn’t really matter. “wolf,” he says and then sighs. a hand shifts to run through his hair and then over his mouth and beard. “yeah. it doesn’t seem to be a singular event. it... i think its happened everywhere.”

mind working a mile a minute, logan tried to process the influx of information. scents were gone. the event seemed unique. and while the option of mass death was always present, the young wolf doesn’t think that’s the case here. he’d have felt that. especially within the link of the pack. “maybe there’s no motive at all. maybe it was someone messing with something they shouldn’t have been messing with. and it just.... went wrong.”

[loganlancaster]

ashlinghanley.

Ashling was probably the least most helpful person to ask that to, a shrug falling from their shoulders. “I—have no idea.” The witch’s understanding of magic was extremely limited, but even the brunette could tell that something was horribly wrong. People just seemed to have — vanished. But the how or to where…. that was still an unknow. “People are missing….lots of people.” What could cause such a thing? Personally, Ash had absolutely no idea. 

— 🐺 —

her words don’t help to quell the rise of panic deep within his stomach. logically logan knows the amount of people who know what’s going on is slim, so he tries to reign in some control. “not just missing,” he replies finally, lifting his head a bit to get his nose into the air. “they’ve completely disappeared. like they... were never here in the first place. there are scents that should be here, that aren’t.” he turns to her then with a raised eyebrow, “magic?”

[loganlancaster]

charlieekwensi​.

▬ 

It took awhile for Charlotte to notice that something was off, the desperation of others was the answer she got early in the morning, from neighbors that were still around, because the one leaving upstairs was awfully quiet. After a long night of sleep alongside with her pets, which thankfully were around, Charlie decided to adventure outside, trying to see if someone had an answer or if those who had disappeared were, in some way, still around or just gone. For good.

People were desperately trying to hold onto theories, any conspiracy that would give them some peace of mind. But, Charlie was just lost, so when she heard his question, she couldn’t give a proper answer in return. “I have no fucking clue. Sounds like this place is messing with us again. Do you think it is something related to magic? Like… something that makes us believe that people are gone when they aren’t?” She didn’t know how powerful witches could be. But they had been able to create a country, after all. So, messing with it could also be easy if there was more than one behind it. 

— 🐺 —

magic. logan wasn’t an expert at it. hell, aside from when he caught witches doing their thing, he still found it hard to wrap his mind around. he was a simple man. a simple wolf. to him, the wolf was still a concrete thing. magic, on the other hand -- he couldn’t explain half the shit witches do. “it has to be,” he answers finally. “if it was just abductions and shit, i’d be able to tell. i’d still smell everyone.” still be able to sense everyone within his pack.\

the disconnect was the most unnerving part. logan had gotten used to having them in his head, at least to a certain point. but the static and emptiness that echoed when he thought of zoe -- it scared him. he couldn’t sense his alpha. the wolf nearly whined within him. “do you know if anything like this has happened before?”

[shimmeringjinx]

Casey Deidrick in Think About You video by JoJo

[loganlancaster]

he can’t begin to explain what’s happening, or even if the thing that is going on is wrong. all logan knows is that everything smell's different. or, rather, there are scents around him within the world that are no longer there. things he’d been used to smelling. the small of the shop owner next to him has disappeared. the woman that runs religiously every morning is gone. yet what worried him most what the lax of feeling from the bond. the link shared between him and his pack.

face troubled, logan scrubbed a hand over his beard, resisting the urge to scratch his head in bewilderment. “what in the hell is going on?”

[loganlancaster]

selinbaris​.

+

After what seemed like hours on hours on end of grueling practice, Selin can finally take a breather and call it a day. At this rate the ATC centre was practically her home, but that came with the territory seeing as this was her lifestyle. Practice was productive, she worked off a sweat and she knew she was going to be sore—temporarily at least. However, it was all worth it knowing the progress that was being made with her team. Stepping out of the stadium, she was on break before her intramural game that she was coaching at night and so, she decided to kill time and explore what’s around the place. Stopping in her tracks, she was scrolling through her phone to figure out what’s around her, when suddenly she heard a voice. Following the man’s gaze, she smiled slightly after noticing how much he was in awe. “It’s pretty huge.” she agreed with a nod. “And the same goes for the inside, ceilings are high, vast space all around—as you expect in a sports stadium.” Pointing at the building she then asked, “I take it you’re not a sports fan?…Anyways, I can confirm it does fit thousands.”

— 🐺 —

he looks over then, suddenly aware he’d spoken his words aloud. logan offers a small smile and scratches the back of his neck, returning his eyes to the stadium. “oh, no. i’m totally a fan. i just... don’t watch them often. but loads of people seem to enjoy them so that’s cool.” there’s a short moment after that where the wolf stirs within him. its caught the familiar scent of another wolf, though it’s hard to place. the smallest of furrows shift his brows before he reverts back -- it was not his place to presume someone of someone. or pry. even though the wolf was never concerned with politeness. “i assume you’re a sports fan? sports person? i don’t really know what to call it.”

[loganlancaster]

kodadawson​.

―

the other might not have wanted or needed thanks, but koda still felt the urge to say them out loud when it was because of logan that he even stood a chance to get this bucket of bolts off the ground. not to mention that the work there kept his head down and under the hood where nothing and no one else could bother him while he got himself right. or gave up entirely. “you’d be fine without me, and you know it,” he brushed off with a barely there chuckle before he glanced back at the other. “yeah, no. i can tell you ain’t doing the pity thing or else we would have had this conversation a week or two ago which would have got me giving you the finger and leaving this place behind.” an honest answer but he already tired of the looks and pity from everyone else. “so again, thanks for not doing that either. i could use this place.”

— 🐺 —

“i don’t think that’s a thing that i know,” logan replied, denying the other’s words. in truth, he might have. realistically, the wolf had done fine without help prior and could probably be fine without help later on. did that mean he didn’t want it or need it? no. he nods then, understanding the reaction and feeling a sense of familiarity. “no problem. like i said, i get it.” a pause, “regardless of what you think, this place could use you, too. just because a place would be the same with or without you doesn’t mean that’s the right place. same thing with people. they’re a lot alike once you really think about it.”