The Ghost of Graver

“As long as a light shines on Graver…” Rylan Graver | 25 | she/they City of Ruin RP

[rylangrave]

( Ruby Cruz / 25 / she/they ) — Rylan Graver has been living in Port Leiry for 19-20 years. They currently work as the keeper of Graver’s Isle, and are 25 years old. No one is sure if they’re actually a Hunter or if they’re connected to the Independent. They tend to be quite reclusive and taciturn, but can also be introspective and resourceful.

Name: Rylan Graver

Occupation: Grounds & Lighthouse Keeper of Graver’s Isle

Age: 25

Species: Hunter

Guild: Independent

Sexuality: Pansexual

Relationship Status: Single

Hometown: Graver’s Isle Who Knows

Personality Traits: Introspective, reclusive, resourceful, taciturn, responsible, grumpy, understanding, uninvolved

Bio:

001. Your first memory of the world is crawling out of that cabinet. The name Fulcher means nothing to you but…this wet stickiness comes from a woman who held you when you were sad and kissed your knees when you fell. Your next memory is your secound hand landing in the next puddle, a man who called you Poppet and would bounce you on his shoulders. You didn’t understand why the people in the other room had taken these two people from you. These two people who had shoved you in the cupboard under the sink when they came knocking. They were gone now. And as you ran out the front door of a house you barely remember, a lock clicks behind you and a match falls.

002. You are in a boat almost faster than the match fell. An inferno blazing behind you as you drift away from a home that was once yours, a blanket pulled over your head to shield you from the life you are drifting away from…..

003. The man who pulls you from the boat has calloused hands. They are practiced in the way of killing but they wouldn’t know it. Berit Graver saved you, and in the years to come you will call him Dad.

004. Graver’s Isle is big in the eyes of a child, and while the work can sometimes be hard you also have a world unto yourself. Some people come and go but for the most part the island is just yours and Dad’s. That is…

005. Until Fred comes. You’ve never seen Dad so happy, though he’s loathe to admit it. Fred’s talents extend in an arcane nature you don’t think you will ever fully grasp, but he teaches you how to use the island to survive, to help others survive, to help the animals survive.

006. They call you their mini Veterinarian. It starts after you save a squirrel with Fred’s tinctures. They don’t work as well for you as they do for him, but a combo of his potions with Dad’s medical training, you start to get a grasp on how to help the wildlife of the island.

007. Argus shouldn’t have lived. Dad said so, but Fred disagreed. They’ve been married for years but still, sometimes the divide still shows….and the dog needed your help. Fred understood.

008. You are 16 when Dad takes you on a scouting mission. Between monitoring the island, tending to the lighthouse, and Fred’s extracurriculars; you never quite gave up the idea of becoming like Dad. Adopting tattoos and keeping Graver’s Isle as a neutral area for the hunters that needed it.

009. (the Music Festival Fall out) It has always been essential to keep Fred hidden from any visitors to the island, Berit often keeps you away too, especially when he is negotiating with this hunter contacts. But for the most part the island yours to roam, and you know it like the back of your hand. That is until the Fellowship takes up in one of the old army bunker’s on east cove. You have seen glimpses of the people they have in there and know they are witches like Fred, who is more confined to the house together. For months your movements are limited and while you are able to use it to refine your stealth, the whole household isn’t able to breath until the breakout in August.  

010. You are happy. You have your garden. You have your hunting routes. You have your knowledge of tinctures, of animals. You have Fred and Dad. Until you don’t…

011. They were a pair-bond…. ever since Fred came to the island….. you should have expected nothing less. But when you find Dad and Fred hand and hand…they had to go together. You are alone now, their legacy is yours, the island and lighthouse are your responsibility now.

Wanted Connections:

What Happened to the Fulcher’s: While the werewolves or vampires who took out Rylan’s bio family are dead, burned in the fire, it might not have been a senseless act. Did you witness the inferno or do you have a hand in taking out the human family.

The Bane of Fred: Fred showed up to Graver’s shortly after Rylan did. The sight of a witch on a hunter island was strange and his slow-burn romance with Berit even stranger. Something….or someone caused Fred to end up in that Hunter Isle, and though he’s now dead, his adopted daughter is out in the world.

The Botched Chase: On one of Rylan's first patrols, she encountered a supernatural that she, as a young hunter was no match for, did they let her go or just decide she wasn't worth the trouble. This hunt has always haunted Rylan. This incident left a scar that reminds them of a failed hunt.l(1/1) @erisinblood

The Moonlit Stray: While on patrol one full moon, Rylan came across an injured werewolf and instead of reaching for her weapon she instead reached for the bag of medical supplies Fred had her carry. They tended to the wolf and waited till morning rays peaked through to ensure no other predator parties could injure them while they were down. She never saw the wolf again, but it doesn’t mean they don’t still think about it… (1/1) @parkskylar

The Tunnel Witch: Rylan wasn't fully aware of what was happening on Graver's Isle during the Summer of 2024, but with a witch in her own family, they would've explored the tunnels that connected to the old bomb shelter while the witches were being held there, she might have even been persuaded to help get one out. (0/1)

Other Hunters: While Fred and Rylan would’ve probably been a secret, Berit was stilling running the lighthouse, maintaining Graver’s, and handling shipments that came through the island for all Hunter branches. While he was probably not the most sociably guy, he was active in the Hunter community and his adopted daughter has taken up his place.

In progress….

[sammykeels]

“A farm! That explains the vet stuff, I guess it’s probably hard to get a specialist to hop on a boat and come help with things if anything goes wrong...” He looked up from his notepad where he was scribbling down the suggested books. “You’re not Brotherhood or Fellowship, right? I might drop by, if you’re not against that. I like hearing how other hunters work, and I’d love to hear more about animal medicine overlapping with the supernatural.” 

Anyone willing to talk to him about this was someone he was eager to make friends with. Rylan hadn’t even agreed yet, and he was already taking mental stock of what was in his pantry to see if there was enough stuff to whip up a quick batch of cookies to bring with him when he came to talk shop. 

“I already do medical stuff, so when I caught a vampire making a guy into a meal, that’s the angle I took it. I’m already a paramedic, I’m... I don’t know, med school is an option? Hunter stuff is starting to factor into everything else I have going on.” Sammy shrugged. “I don’t know if I have it in me to explore every avenue of this that I’m curious about, but I’m gonna keep going as far as I can until I burn out. I don’t like the idea of there being whole orders about killing supernaturals but not as much about the medical side of things.” 

[rylangrave]

Rylan nodded slowly, “Yeah, we act as a go-between between the guilds so we have to remain neutral.” They knew they were an anomaly when it came to hunter’s, while they had a code of their own that Berit had taught her, it was fundamental to the purpose served by the Graver’s to remain independent. Rylan thought they probably preferred it that way, she had seen the interpretations of the codes others chose to follow, her life on Graver suited them just fine. “And yeah feel free to drop by. It’s a hunter sanctuary so you are welcome at the farm.” Technically the Graver home was open to all hunters, though people often had no reason to visit, a coincidence Berit had used to his advantage when it came to his family.

But the boy seemed nice, eager too, the animals would probably take to him just fine and an extra pair of hands to help with the work was something they could probably appreciate.

She listened carefully to Sammy’s tale, they sympathized, vampires could be gnarly when they wanted to be, as they knew from experience. They resisted the urge to rub a fist over her heart.

“Medicine is a worthy path, there are just as many in our line of work that could benefit from healing as well as fighting.” Rylan rubbed the fingers of her left hand together, a hunter’s tattoo inked by a healer. Two sides of a coin that, in their opinion, most hunters should consider. “It was nice to meet you Sammy.”

[vidya-aves]

Her eyes lit up as the other dog peeked up from beneath the table. “Oh, my goodness, what a cutie!” She exclaimed. She glanced back over at Buttercup. “You see? He’s at least sticking to his table.”

Buttercup let out a soft bwoof and settled her chin on Vidya’s knee. Vidya rolled her eyes fondly and scratched behind her ears. “This is Buttercup,” she said, smiling at her fellow dog-owner. The food was a bit of a distractor, sure, but Buttercup’s lack of a signal let her know this was another human. “She’s a good girl, she’s just also very tempted by food, and she knows she’s allowed to eat here.”

Vidya took the burger for the dog and, as Buttercup perked up in rapt attention, set it down on the ground. The dog stared down at the burger, then looked up at her pleadingly. “Eat,” she said, with a small nod. Buttercup needed no further instruction. Vidya sat back in her seat, and looked back to the other person. “I’m Vidya, by the way. How long have you had your boy?”

[rylangrave]

Rylan laughed, sticking to his table, Argus would be making friends at every table if they would just let him, or at least that was the look he was giving her. She gave him a pitying expression as if it was not their order not to do exactly that.

Rylan then turned to meet the other dog, “Well hi Buttercup, it is lovely to meet you.” Rylan extended a hand, they had taught Argus to shake but was unsure if this woman has done the same. It was almost a relief that they could do this social interaction through animals. Rylan always had preferred the company of animals to humans. “Also its fine, I am also very tempted by food. It gets me up in the morning.”

“Rylan.” They offered as Vidya sat again, “We are coming up on the big ol’8 aren’t we Argie. Trained him since he was a young ol’pup.” They said towards their Eye. “What about you? How long have you been with Buttercup.”

[coltmercer]

Damn thing slipped clean out. Buck swore it bolted right past him with his eyes flashing red, then straight for the trees. Colt didn’t see it. He was bent over Cash, checking the old boy’s stitches, making sure the bastard wind hadn’t torn them open again. The horse looked rough, but he’d seen worse. Colt liked to joke the old man couldn’t die if he tried. As if it was touched by some spirit, or maybe just too stubborn for the reaper. It would suit his owner alright.

Still, he didn’t laugh much lately. Too much had gone sideways these past weeks. Had him sleeping with the rifle propped by the door, thumb resting on the safety as if something might crawl out of the shadows and take a bite out of him. Folks still came by the barn needing things; food, or a patch up, and he still showed kindness where he could. Gave what he had, but not without a look first. He’d study the lines on a man’s face, the color in his eyes, the twitch in his mouth or the set of his hands. Colt had always been cautious, but now he half expected to feel venom under a man’s grip when he shook it.

Pitchfork hit the dirt with a dull clang, and he was already running through the trees, following where Buck swore the damn lamb had gone. Branches slapped at his cheeks, stinging his cheeks raw. Damn it, Koko. What's gotten into you?

He forced his mind quiet and shoved the noise down before crazy thoughts could take root. There was already enough madness kicking around up there. The sounds got louder and louder. Then he saw it: a lamb hanging limp in someone’s arms. Hands that had either caused this or were trying to undo it. Either way, it wasn’t Koko. And he should’ve turned back right there. Keep looking and stay out of whatever this was. But he couldn’t.

"Y’all alright?" he called out. "Which one of you owns the lamb?" Don’t get involved. Don’t.

But he would, because if it were his lamb hanging by a thread, he’d pray someone like him would. "You haven’t seen one just like that but in better shape, anywhere around here, have you?"

[rylangrave]

Rylan turns as more chaos erupts in the woods around them, they hadn’t expected the night to be quiet but it had gone from nothing to so many people all at once. “Its not mine but its injured,” she called to the man with the cowboy hat who emerged from the brush behind them. “My dog brought them to me injured. I have some veterinary knowledge, I’m only here to help.” The lacerations on the lamb’s back legs were treatable given time and the right suturing. The tattoo on their arm did not alert that this man was of any other walk of life other than human.

“I haven’t seen another lamb, but it seems strange two would go missing in such quick succession.” Rylan whistled to Argus 2 short and high, one low jutting there chin in the new comer’s direction. Argus followed the directive, sniffing about the stranger and his horse before darting off to the East. He had a scent, he would get extra treats when they got back to the isle.

“If you lamb can be found, my Eye will find him.” Rylan nodded absent mindedly before turning back to the lamb in their care.  

[rylangrave]

Who: Open for Residents of Port Liery not currently in attendance at Port Eerie

While no one had asked her Rylan found herself patrolling the quiet streets of the mainland city surrounding the massive party that was being thrown to celebrate Halloween. While they had delivered invitations to the event, the thought of so many bodies pressed up close together and so much noise overwhelming their senses sounded torturous to Rylan.

No…at least one hunter should be on guard outside, close enough at hand if there was trouble but far enough away to supervise a city who’s supernatural activity wouldn’t be limited to the Rave.

Rylan walked the dim streets with Argus, her eye at hand, and a lamp strapped to a pole on her back. When she had been little and begged her Father and Fred to let her roam on a night like Halloween, Berrit had had Fred fashion her a lantern. It was said that lantern’s adorned with faces scared off spirits on All Hallow’s Eve, so off into the hills she had roamed, a child with a light with terrible faces painted on the sides.  

The lantern had been embellished over the years but still, Rylan held onto the charm of light left by their Fathers.

A figure stumbling from a bush on the side of the street, only ghostly illuminated by the light in Rylan’s Lamp, Rylan chin nodded at the form, “Happy All Hallow’s Eve.” They called out slowing their pace, it was possible it was nothing…but that wasn’t the only possibility.

[drownholywater-kennedy]

The Aviary was quiet, as the evening drew upon Port Leiry most of the hunters moved from the range into the streets leaving just the owner of the range to clean up. Aurelia slowly wiped down the glass counters, the repetitive movements soothing to ever-racing thoughts that seemed to preoccupy Aurelia's mind these days. The small soft jingle of the bell above the door pulled Aurelia's eyes from the rag in her hands.

A wheelbarrow just outside the door, a package, a dog and Rylan. Aurelia's lips twisting from the their usual frown into the ghost of a smile. Not an unwelcome sight if an unusual one. "Rylan and Argus, what a sight for these tired eyes. No apologizes needed I'm just happy it has arrived safe and sound." Aurelia hummed softly, fingers drumming on the counter. Twitching towards the package that had been set down before curling into the rag again "You don't typically make the deliveries. " The package was drawing Aurelia's eye, however it was better unwrapped in the privacy of her office later. There were more unanswered questions wrapped in the young hunter in front of her.

"Did something happen to Berit or did you just need to stretch your legs?" The question was soft, the older hunter having an inkling the pain that it might carry. Aurelia could feel the weight of the day on young Rylan. She couldn't imagine they made it the mainland all that often. Berit was an old stubborn bastard, mostly kept to his island but he was something of a friend, and Aurelia needed to know if there was another candle to light that evening.

[rylangrave]

Rylan sucked in a quick breath at the question and blinked rapidly as she forced herself to smile to indicate to their brain that this was not the time to cry. They had known this question was coming, they weren’t surprised. It was just…there were two many feelings, more than she thinks her body is capable of feeling all at once.

“He’s gone.” She nodded, blinking. “They’re both gone.” The smile was still firmly in place even if the corner of their mouth was twitching. “I don’t know why or how, I just found them both in bed one morning.” She tilted their head slightly up. “Its what they would’ve wanted, you know? To go together.” They then forced her lips into a line, looking at Aurelia, but not fully meeting her eyes, they weren’t ready to see it. Had had no one to share it with but Argus and the other animals in her care. “So I’ll be handling deliveries from now on. Sorry for the delay, Ms. Aurelia.” Rylan hoped the seasoned hunter didn’t hear the slight break in her voice at the end of the sentence.

[majagrim]

Nothing more irksome than a sacrificial ritual where the sacrifice gets pulled free by jaws that aren't Maja's own. A hiss, like a creature possessed, rips from her mouth as the animal retreats with a piece of her spell. It's unbothered by her disapproval of inhuman violence and disappears into the dark canopy of the trees. Maja stabs the bloodied blade into the dirt beside her, staring out into the depths where the lamb and its hero have just gone. She then glances down at the crassly drawn shape of twigs and blood; rocks with chalk runes and a hum of magic that's no longer tethered to her own.

She deals in death, and her little lamb hadn't yet fulfilled its duty.

There is something cursed about a spell with interference. Maja will not reignite the fires of the dead, nor attempt to reconcile with the flames that only act to burn. She unburies the knife and begins to hastily disrupt the circle. Shattering the beginnings of the spell by erasing runes and kicking wood out of shape; a veil she had hoped to put up around newly acquired Grimhjarta land that would warn them of unwelcome magic.

Another time, now. She will settle for removing traces that she were here at all.

She could still bring back dinner to the troupe if she got her lamb back.

Sheathing the knife, Maja unclips the talisman from her waist and knots it in her hair. It rattles when she walks when it is at her side; it informs all that she's coming. Bones are quieter when they get caught in a snare. Then, she takes off running into the night. Blood still soaked through the tips of her fingers, and footsteps were a soft rustle as she kicked leaves up in the dark.

A silhouette brings her pause and she slows. She can see the beast of a dog that had stolen her sacrifice, and someone hunched over them. Eyes fly to the bag, wraps and all kinds of ointments spilling over the edges. You mean to save what is marked to die? Maja makes herself known, from behind them.

Grimhjarta's do not take kindly to thieves. "You have something of mine."

[rylangrave]

Rylan, one hand hovering over the lamb, slowly turns their head to meet the gaze of the woman behind her. The stance and tone are nothing but combative. Rylan knows the stance of a fight well, wonders if this woman really wants to pick one.

Then the innate prickle shoots up her forefinger, fizzes, this is a witch. “I have no fight with you witch if you have no fight with me.” Rylan turns her gaze back to her patient just as they know Argus’s transfers onto the intruder. “You may either stay while I do my work or leave to continue your evening, the third option you seem to want to choose will help no one.”

Rylan means what they say but the sword at their side and the gun at their hip are both within an instants reach and the knife she will use to cut gauze in already in hand. Argus is stiff besides her.

[codie-mohren]

Codie watches as Rylan ends it, and as the lamb lay there, she reaches out a hand to its wool - smoothing it down. It's so sudden, she barely has time to react, but she doesn't mind that so much. After a brief moment, Codie whispers an old folk prayer from her Ma, then leans forward to press a kiss to the top of the lamb's head.

When she looks up, she's a little surprised by the gentle nature that this person exudes, and her smile falters - just a little - into something a little softer and easier than the bright, wide one that stretches her features. "Oh, uh. Sure! I wouldn't mind a walk back. I know there's a bridge or a boat or somethin' somewhere."

When Codie stands, she lifts the lamb up as gently as possible up over her shoulders. "You live out here?"

[rylangrave]

The person softs as the cycle of life takes hold. Every line in them, their smile, their eyes, the stiffness of their posture, it softens. A prayer to gods Rylan doesn’t know but can tell is old and even the gentleness with which the stranger scoops the lamb into their arms.

It had been an important lesson, in both Berit’s eyes and Fred’s, the multifacetedness of a person’s character. No one was ever one thing.  “I live across the way, on the island.” Rylan’s voice was low, hesitant to break the air of somberness and civility that had taken hold.

Argus’s soft footsteps could be heard following behind them. An eye constantly on the watch. “We should be able to make our way back to you home through the trees.” Rylan nods, “I assume you live on wolven territory.” Rylan could feel the wolven tingle on her arm as well as knowing they were in wolf territory already. But this person also had the unmistakable vibe of someone who grew up around magic. Rylan should know, so they thought they should at least check.

[vidya-aves]

who: open! where: bun intended when: early evening

Whatever gifts her father had as a chef had not passed on to Vidya. She could cook, but she didn’t particularly like to (and it wasn’t much better than simply edible). It was probably why the greenhouse had so easily become her territory — it kept her out of his kitchen.

All that was to say, while he was away, she had the opportunity to explore the other cuisine Port Leiry had to offer. Her favorite place so far was a burger spot with a welcoming policy for pups — something both her and Buttercup appreciated.

Normally, Buttercup was well-behaved, but she was… well, ever so slightly food motivated. So it wasn’t until Vidya felt the leash slipped out of her hand that she realized the dog was making an attempt to help herself to someone’s momentarily unsupervised meal. She tugged on the leash just in time and called, “Buttercup, back! Sit!” The dog huffed and padded back to sit by her chair. Vidya sighed and looked down at her. “You’re being so bad and for no reason, I got you your own burger,” she told Buttercup. "Stinker."

She looked over at the patron at the other table. “I’m so sorry, I swear she’s trained. She’s just a little excitable about food.”

[rylangrave]

There was a rule in the Graver household. Well…there was a rule in the new Graver Household. If Rylan was eating, Argus probably also deserved a little treat. Rylan had ordered an obscene amount of food from the local burger joint two of the four bags laid open in front of her. Of course it wasn’t all for now, the two other bags were for after the sail home. But…Rylan had been momentarily distracted, feeding ground beef to Argus who was momentarily covered by the table, when another, similarly canine figure approached their side of the food.

Rylan choked back laughter at the expression on the poor hound’s face, “Don’t apologize.” They shook her head smiling at the other owner before slapping the table top lightly, “Argus. Paws.” The paws and nose of her eyes barely poked up over the table, still licking his lips of any beef taste he could still get off of his last bite. “You don’t have the only dog who thinks Bun Intended is an exception to the training rules. This is Argus.” Two taps of her toe. “Down boy.” And he whipped back under the table to lick the floor of whatever taste it might still contain and Rylan turned their gaze to the visiting pup, “And who do we have here?”  she queried.

[sammykeels]

“Yeah, I am.” He unzipped his backpack, fitting the box in neatly and pulling it back on. “I’m trying to figure out what areas need improvement, proper case studies, stuff like that, but it’s slow going. Not a lot of real information online, and hunter books are only spread around by word of mouth.” 

He brightened at Rylan’s suggestion. He didn’t order all the books he needed in one single trip, but Farnon’s Splints hadn’t made it on his list. 

“War horses, huh? I hadn’t even thought about looking into hunter veterinary medicine, there’s probably a lot that can transfer over. I know at least horse medicine can sometimes translates over to human fingers if it’s all about the legs. Did you know that they have similar bone structure?” That’s an insane sentence to say out loud, bud. “I mean. I think I read it somewhere that they might. But... yeah, that book sounds great! I’ll put that in with my next order. Do you have an interest in supernatural medicine, too?” 

[rylangrave]

“I have an interest in animals.” Rylan shrugs. She was sure the man had never been to Graver’s but, “I have a sort of homestead farm that I take care of on the island, plus the medicine side of hunting has always kinda been fascinating to me.”

More than fascinating but Rylan couldn’t get into that. Fred might be dead and gone but the majority of the hunter community wouldn’t understand and Rylan’s love of medicine was so tied to her love of Fred.

“What about you? I was genuinely surprised to see the order come through, plus your uninked.” Rylan indicated his arms, “How does a human get into hunter medicine?”

[takeuchi-inori]

Nori nodded, gaze flickering between the person in front of her and the dog keeping watch in the aisle. “Yeah, uh, I’m aware. It’s got a warning on the bottle. I just need it for recreational use, yknow what I mean?”

As much as she didn’t care for an impromptu lecture, it was good to know it could really light up a place… and that it had other passable uses beyond drinking and arson. She’d take any excuse to play off having it on her.

“So, uh…” Nori cocked her head. “Thanks for the info. Is the dog gonna let me through…?”

[rylangrave]

Rylan’s lips tightened awkwardly at the sarcasm and then shacking her head awkwardly, “Yeah, no always glad to know someone else can read,” they said glumbly, “Oh and yeah,” she extended a hand indicating Argus, “of course he will let you through, happy recreation.”

She also moved to the side as the girl moved past and though she may be awkward but she was still a hunter, in a low offhanded tone as the girl scooted away, “Whatever recreation that may be.”

She then gestured to Argus. They still had things to pick up and then this long day would blissfully end.

[rylangrave]

Closed Starter for @gabrielismss

Where: Graver Isle/Gabe’s Doorstep

Over the past few weeks of delivering letters, news of the fall of a hunter family by the name of Castillo-Fiori had been news on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Details were hazier on what had happened to the various members but all Rylan knew was the last Castillo-Fiori was a boy named Gabe.

It was a story that had lingered on Rylan’s mind, a hunter who had once been surrounded by family now alone in the world.

Berit’s office was cluttered. For a man who claimed he had everything under control, his own child still hadn’t been able to work out whatever paranoid hodgepodge system he had decided to keep his filing system in. It almost mirrored the cluttered state of Fred’s greenhouse. ‘They had been perfect for one another’ echoed through Rylan’s mind as they went wipe a tear that had definitely been caused by dust off their cheek. Her two silly misanthropic guardians, she shook her head.

She brushed her fingers over a lock box that had been buried deep in paper under Berit’s desk and their fingers found an embossed label.

G. & A. Castillo-Fiori

Her fingers stilled, revenant for a moment before tenderly moving to the latch of the box, inside held two heavy letters one For Gabriel, the other For Gemma. Rylan took a deep breath, she’d have to check the morning tides.

She knocked softly at the door. The sun was just warming the earth and Argus was running around somewhere behind them. It took a moment before the sound of stumbling footsteps reached her ear and a dark blonde boy swung the door open, eyes still blinking. “Gabriel Castillo-Fiori? I’m Rylan Graver…of the Isle,” she added hastily, “would you mind if I came in?”

[asherbrooks]

He scribbled out a signature, pushing the notepad back into Rylan’s hands. “Here. Fix your website. I can get you in contact with a guy who does that sort of thing, if you're still that hopeless by my next delivery."

With that, he stepped back, leaving the girl (... boy? The they.) in the hall as he shut the door and turned back into his apartment. 

END

[takeuchi-inori]

“Uh…” she blinked. “Cause it’s like, common knowledge? I’m pretty sure they post that on the door, so…” She glanced at the dog again. “Do you not, like… go places?”

Whatever. She was asking too many questions. Nori snagged the bottle from her hand. “No, thanks. I’ve got stuff at home for it, I just need this.” She looked at it, considering, then back to the other. “Utility like what, cooking fuel?” It was a joke, at least… it was said like one.

[rylangrave]

Rylan shrugged, “Well like its great for laundry, I have a solution I make out of alcohol and its great for getting stains out and like…you know its great for putting on underarm areas. Its also like really flammable,” Rylan widened her eyes slightly as she used their hands to indicate big flame, “like you have to be careful of it evaporating and open flames.”

Rylan had once asked Berit about why there was a no liquor in the lighthouse rule and had received a very long lecture about how dangerous everclear and flames were.

[moonpains]

He stares up at them a moment more, confused, perplexed at what a stranger is saying to him. The words start to process as he becomes more attuned to his surroundings. More aware. People are watching him, closely, some in confusion, some in worry.

'Shit, they must have seen…' he murmurs under his breath, he can smell the faint whiffs of magic coming off the other. Magic blended with ink. Hunter. It puts him on edge, but he supposes this one is giving him an out and he has had intimate relations with a hunter before.

"Right." The word comes out on a raspy tongue from lack of use and he moves to start collecting his things. Bag shouldered as he stands and grabs his cup. "I was — uh — just waiting for you?" It comes out as a question, but he doesn't let it linger long as he follows the other, waiting a moment until they are further away to let out a puff of air. "Thanks…" he grumbles out, adjusting his bag as they walk. "Is there a reason you are trying to get me alone? I can smell your tattoo."

[rylangrave]

“Oh no no no,” Rylan shakes there hands as they talk, mindful of the beverages in each, she knew her one tattoo was relatively visible but she was still a bit surprised they had been clocked so quickly. “No…I just….you just…” She was wording bad but their hands were moving a lot as she indicated both themselves and him. “It just seemed like you might need an out.”

Her hands dropped as they shrugged, “You were attracting looks and…well I would want someone to help if I was in that situation…so I thought I would help.”

The pace was steady as they continued to walk together, a few moments passing in silence before, “Are you ok? I mean….I read a lot of veterinary literature but…the scratching…are you all good?”

[rylangrave]

🐰 RABBIT FACE — my muse's pet(s)/favorite animal(s)

Argus and Rylan

[rylangrave]

☁️ CLOUD — my muse's past

A little lost girl and the little lost island…