Paranormal Sleuth

"You saw it too, didn't you?"

[sleuthscreams]

#SLEUTHSCREAMS an independent roleplay blog for an original character set as a hawkins native in the stranger things universe, and able to be adjusted for a multitude of other verses. This muse is mixed up in a conspiracy devised by ARTOO. Still under construction, however, this blog will begin to feature verses for: SCREAM, FEAR STREET, WEDNESDAY, TVDU, and more.

A STUDY IN: smiling through the darkness, belief even in the “absence of evidence”, fitting in everywhere but belonging nowhere, unraveling the conspiracy, surviving abusive parents, running headfirst into danger - then having to run away, having a bottomless stomach, finding weird books, being a lover boy.

links: carrd. prompts. headcanons. visual. study.

[sleuthscreams]

watching Legally blonde and now the elle from the world of legally blonde is giving me ideas for some mati habits ...

[sleuthscreams]

▪ ♪ ♩ ♫ ♬ courtney ( @fierylittleniece ) sent: mistaking the other person for someone else in the dark

Oil and water. That was the best way to describe the relationship Sweets had with Courtney Slayter from the moment her rich family rolled into this sleepy, oddity-filled town. The pair didn't mix; it was practically a rule of science that they didn't. Yet, somehow, life seemed it fit to fling them together regularly.

Whenever she or her family needed work done on their cars, he was sent in place of his shitty father to get it done. Don't even get him started on how she'd affected his investigative endeavors. When he'd found out that her ditzy rich girl act was just that, an act, it was because they started crossing. He was seeking his paranormal activity, and she was digging into serial killers and slashers, or whatever the hell she did. Always accidentally stumbling into one another's territory.

Got to a point where she was the only attractive and sexually promiscuous girl in the town he'd never flirted with. In turn, he was the only handsome boy with the stamina to show her a good time she'd never shown interest in. This was how they existed. Tonight was just another night where they'd been thrown together by accident, or a twisted mix of fate. The only thing was that in the dark, neither of them could tell just yet.

Tonight, oil and water were mixing pretty well, muddied by the dark. He'd thought she was someone else, a situationship of his with a similar body shape. And she hadn't pushed him away; her body had pressed into his, they fit well.

[sleuthscreams]

▪ ♪ ♩ ♫ ♬ @bibrid sent: ❝ i told you to stop opening my mail. ❞

Oop, caught red-handed with a letter marked for her in his hand. Quick, Mateo, quick, use that larger than standard brain of yours to figure out a smooth way out of trouble. “I don't recall ever being told that before. Are you sure you weren't talking to a doppleganger, or another handsome guy with Puerto Rican descent?” Simple, sweet, smooth. Well, maybe smooth is the wrong word.

When her hand snakes out to snatch the piece of mail, he pulls out of her reach in the knick of time. Creating enough space that he could react to her surging forward in the event she tries again.

“Also, I haven't opened your mail. Opening a person's mail is a whole thing that requires steam and all that, so you don't rip the paper.” A decent amount of effort just to learn something about a witch. “Now, am I saying that wasn't my intention? I'm not exactly willing to say no, but I'm not saying yes.”

[fierylittleniece]

"Then what are ya leaving?" Pulling a tarp out from her trunk to cover up her car. Someone would come drive it back to her barn while she was gone. Georgia wouldn't feel right without him. She'd be a worse hunter during that time frame. Reckless and distracted.

Deep down, she shared some of his desires. To explore. Try new places. Hunt things outside of her jurisdiction like other hunters. Do more.

"That's only cause he's always got the dog with him. Power in numbers. If you're shaggy, I'm scooby now."

"I've got an out of town friend who's gonna watch over the state for me. She's enough of a power house that I think she can handle it." Tia was the most powerful person she knew. The witch could handle upholding protective sigils over the area while Johnnie did this small roadtrip. Leaning against his van, tugging at the strap of her bag. "Oh I'm timing ya during this whole road trip. Whatever amount of time we're gone, I expect ya to double it and that's how long you have to stay in town when we get back." Johnnie's already trying to load her bag up into his van. "I'm sure. And you haven't told me no yet so that means it's a yes."

[sleuthscreams]

“Pretty sure you're closer to Daphne, funny enough, the version of her that's all kickass and useful all the time. Like the live action movie.” Sure, Scooby is the forever companion for Shaggy, but he couldn't let her compare herself to the dog without interjecting something different. “I think it's funny that when I finally decide to get out of here for a while, it's the one time you decide it's safe to leave the state to someone else for a while.”

With a sigh, one that was for show more than anything else, he moves in to take the bag away from her. Opening up the van, he gets her things settled among the supplies he has tied down in the back. His way of telling her yes without quite giving her the satisfaction of hearing him say it out loud. There were many things between them that went unsaid out of spite alone.

Not everything needed to be spoken for them to be known. Something their town knew well.

“So if we're gone for two months, you aren't going to let me leave Georgia for an entire four months? How do you plan on convincing me to follow these terms? I know you think you're stronger, but I don't think you can overpower me every time I want to leave city lines.” They might end up putting the strength thing to the test if she plans on trying to eat through all the snacks he's bringing; some of them are worth a wrestling match.

[fierylittleniece]

"Not a chance. I'm not kicking ass in a mini skirt like her. I'd rather be the dog. I bite after all." Johnnie trails near by, still settling like a shadow. "Tia's got good timing is all. I wouldn't leave otherwise. You know this."

Her things all packed with his was a display of his full consent. They were gonna slumber party their way through this whole little road trip of his. Get it out of his system, so he could finally stay home. Right where she needed him.

"Ya have a point. I'm tripling it. I don't want to be doing this all the time. There's too many food festivals in town we're gonna be missing if we're leaving town every four months." The hunter is staring out at their home town, home sick already. She did not want to go. But she had to. "I was just gonna hog tie ya to my back. Can't wiggle away if you're all strapped in tight."

[sleuthscreams]

“She doesn't always wear a skirt, y'know,” he comments with a shake of his head, but hey, if she wanted to be the dog that was her business. Though the only thing he ever remembers Scooby-Doo biting into was food. He could definitely imagine her biting into something a lot more fatal, like a jugular.

Leaning against the van, he shakes his head. Watches how she looks out over the town like she was already missing it, like they'd already begun to leave it behind them. Was she really going to come with him for however long? There were... feelings they never talked about, that showed in different ways, but she was always tight-lipped when it came to expressing them. Coming with him was a big deal; he knows that.

Almost like she was saying she'd miss and worry about him more than she would home.

“Don't pretend there won't be food festivals in other places; we're going to find a lot of good eats out there, trust me. I'll be seeing to it.” Odds were, a lot of the savings would go to food and attractions; he'd probably have to pick up some mechanic gigs now and then to make sure they didn't go broke. “Johnnie, are you sure about this? Coming with me, I mean.”

[heartsbreaking]

dani had a sense of humor. it was just dry as all hell, she presented an outward low tolerance for jokes especially the kind that matteo was fighting not to make. she could tell it started out as a giggle when he started coughing. could he not pull it together? what she'd said hadn't been that funny.

"you swear?" dani asked, trying not to enjoy this too much. she couldn't help but enjoy that he was asking her for permission to talk and not make a joke. she narrowed eyes ringed with dark makeup and studied him. she was trying to access how serious he was.

"okay, say what you have to say and it better not be a joke."

[sleuthscreams]

she'd called his bluff. literally every comment he could think of was some sort of joke, and the way she was squinting at him told him that she was gonna hold him to that no joke promise. talked himself into a corner.

“nah you got me, i was going to make a joke.”

a finger makes a vague pointing gesture at her face. “don't think i don't know that you're only scary because of all that black makeup you're wearing. if i ever see you without it, all your magic powers are going to be gone. then what are you gonna do to keep me in check, huh?”

[onebigerror]

@sleuthscreams

teo was right in assuming it wasn’t carynn's only cross, but it was the only one with any value. all her others were simply costume jewelry; this one was real gold, not just plated. for that reason it was special, and it was the one she decided to give him. no matter how upstanding and wealthy the carver's were, their wallets weren’t as open to their black sheep of a daughter as they were to their golden boy son. she made her own clothes and worked for every dollar she had, something jason would never even dream of doing.

of course she was willing to part with it; she wouldn't be offering if she didn't want to. "you fixed my bike after jason broke it. you didn’t have to,” she stated firmly. it had a bent rim, a flat tire, and a broken chain; she was sure that hadn’t been cheap or easy. and he’d done it for her without even asking for anything in return. that wasn’t something carynn was used to or took lightly. "i wanted to give you something in return." she wasn’t taking no for an answer. "god will be looking out for you if you wear it, or keep it close at least." maybe he wouldn’t want to wear the necklace, but she still wanted him to have it. she could him something else - something she had quite the reputation for - but that didn’t feel quite right in this situation.

it was pretty, and it would look great on him. "they can be tricky. the clasps are so small." she moved forward and reached for it. if he was really going to wear it, she'd help him put it on. "here, let me help.” she often made jewelry and had steady, nimble fingers. she thought about his question and nodded. "that too. in a place like this, you can’t be too careful." carynn had grown up believing that hawkins was a safe place where everyone knew and watched out for one another. with the disappearance of the byers boy, she wasn’t so sure she believed that anymore.

[sleuthscreams]

Had he known this gesture was to repay him for a favor he'd merely done from the kindness of his heart, he might have refused it, but now the cross was properly clasped around his neck. Making it his. It would be rude to try to return it at this point, since he's already fully accepted it. His forefinger and thumb catch the cross as it swung back and forth, playing with it for a moment, a new tick activated. He notes that, while a bit petite, it was made from good metal.

“Your parents won't be upset if they notice it dangling from my neck one day, will they?” Adults were good at hiding how they treat their children behind closed doors, doubly so in a town that was blind to the plight of kids he'd been a victim of that. And he doesn't want to cause her any undue mistreatment. Not that he thinks her parents are anything like his father used to be. All the same, you never knew. “I appreciate you being thankful for me fixing the bike, but it's not worth you getting in trouble or anything.”

Mati moved so that she had a good view of him. “If the answer is no, you won't get into trouble for giving this away, you can tell me how it looks? I'll probably look in the mirror when I get to the van, but I'll trust your judgment until then.” A beat. “You also never told me why Jason broke your bike in the first place.”

[divinetenebris]

bellamy dead-eyed mateo right up to the bitter end. with it, the witch rolled said eyes and flopped her face back down. only to lift it back up to speak again. lots of wasted motion and energy. "don't hit on me when i'm hung over. i can't even flirt back properly," she groaned. "what sort of spirits? malevolent, benevolent, non-human? what're we looking out?" there was a distinct change in tone when it came time to be professional. bellamy was nothing if not professional.

[sleuthscreams]

a scoff, as if being told not to flirt was offensive to his sensibilities. “i'm just a boy with someone who is usually nicer to me right in front of him, flirting is the default setting. but for you i'll try to stifle my natural urges.” starting with answering her professional questions so that he can gather what he needs. “pretty sure i'm working with something malevolent, non-human, instincts are telling me wraith.”

[divinetenebris]

"i'm a rare breed, hun. don't you worry about it." first thorn took a picture of the set lists, then yanked out a black marker and wrote on her arm. classic charlie move in that. "the hex girls. we're the best," she followed up with immediacy. "but besides us? depends. heavier? nekrogoblikon or propagandhi. softer? elise wright or poor man's poison. but never forget- hex girls number uno."

[sleuthscreams]

hex girls, he's listened to them before; they were on the list of many bands he's played, but they did have a good sound. he does a double take, like he's looking at her for the first time since they started talking. which, well, isn't necessarily wrong. he'd been trying to get a look at the poster. “oh, shit, never thought i'd randomly walk up to a member of one of these bands. you're their lead singer... thorn, wild.” he looks around. “surprised you aren't surrounded by groupies or something. if those are a thing anymore.”

[sleuthscreams]

This is very nsft but, like...

Who is going to sit back against Mati's chest while he's pressing kisses and leaves love bites on their neck, taking time for sweet kisses, while he's playing with their breasts and teasing their nipples until they're spreading their legs and begging him to touch them because they're soaked? Because no one is doing that right now, and it's a damned shame.

[milkandsins]

“A what?” Eden blinked at him, the toe of her shoe dragging in the dirt as she slowed her pep for half a second.

“There are a few things I don’t like to fuck with,” she started with a purse to her lips and a shake of her head again. “And occultist witch women are pretty high on that list.” Her voice was playful enough to make it sound like a joke, but her heart was really going to town in her chest.

She wasn’t a scaredy-cat. Not really. She just had a very basic and very reasonable desire to not see a demon, get possessed by a demon, or have a demon attach itself to her like some fucked up spiritual parasite.

All reasonable things to not want.

“I swear, Teo, if some demon latches onto me and kills me, I will become your personal demon.” She bumped her elbow into him on purpose, shooting him a look. “Not even a guardian ghost. A nightmare one. Like moving your stuff around, whispering your name at 3am, standing in the corner of your room when you wake up. Full movie show production.”

Then she slowed down, turning fully to look at him with an expression that was only half joking.

“Did you bring, like… holy water or something?” Her brows lifted. “Because I might have some back in my bag, but that’s a long walk back, and honestly, I feel like this is information you should’ve given me before I committed to the witch woman cabin.”

[sleuthscreams]

Mateo pauses for a second; he's never heard someone be confused about being told they had a pretty face. Flattery, bashfulness, those were things that were natural. Confusion seemed a bit odd. Like she'd gone her entire life without ever being told she was pretty, that couldn't be true; he was looking at her. Someone has to have said it before. Had to.

This wasn't really the best time to open that can no worms, no matter how curious he was about it now. Trekking to a cabin supposedly owned by a practitioner of evil seems to be more worthy of attention, at the moment.

“We don't know she's actually a witch or occultist,” he states, as if it weren't a big deal that it was rumored. “Not to mention, who's to say that she's gonna hawk some of that mojo jojo or whatever on us for walking to her cabin? Maybe if we were carrying pitchforks or something, she'd at least have reason to feel defensive.”

Then he talks too much. “If she is pure evil, then maybe she would curse us for giggles, but I have high hopes.”

When she stops, he eventually does too. Making a face that could only be him, questioning the fact that she just carries random holy water in her bag. Does she bless the stuff herself so she has it on her at all times? Did a local priest do it for her? Eden was an interesting girl.

“Some, not a bucket's worth, obviously. I also have a cross, and that should do something, right? I know she isn't a vampire, but the power of Christ should be a one-size-fits-all thing.”

[wandering-different-universes]

It takes Steph an honest minute to process what was said. She tenses, ready to go on the defensive if needed as she turns around, having only caught and processed the "a shitty rumor" part fully. Her shoulders deflate as the rest of it processes. A sheepish smile forming on her lips.

A humorless laugh of relief and agreement answers his statement about everyone having better things to do. "Yeah, I can agree with that."

Another smile, this time more genuine, forms on her lips. She'd been surrounded by weirdos her whole life. That was where she felt safe. What was one more added to that? "Yeah, I... I appreciate that. And the same goes for you." She moves a little closer to the man, that way they didn't have to shout to be heard over the distance.

[sleuthscreams]

“Well, I'm just that lovable,” he jokes, though there was the chance that the comment was factual. Just about everyone at Hawkins High knew him and had some positive experiences with him. Jumping into a clique and being liked by the majority was a talent he'd perfected; there weren't many who'd think up a rumor bad enough to ruin his reputation. Helped that a guy's reputation was harder to harm.

Spread that a boy had cheated, and it hardly mattered after a week or two, but throw that onto an innocent girl on the other hand? Went without saying.

“Hope you don't mind me being so bold, I just imagine when you're stuck with a rumor you can't shake, making friends can be rough. Figured it would be easier if I made the first move.” A hand presses to his own chest. “I'm Mateo, lotta people just call me Sweets, my last name.”

[floripire]

"Hot," is all she comments, eyes twinkling, "then you'd really be my knight in shining armor." Flori beams at him as a question pops up into her head: "Wait, do you Cosplay by any chance? Or have you done so? Because I feel like you'd wear the heck out of certain outfits."

She'll even forgive the fact that the bascinet would obscure his pretty, pretty face.

"Of course it's a good idea. I always want you. Need you, even." It's very rare when you find someone who just slots into the open spaces in your life so effortlessly. And Mateo has done just that. In more ways than one. "Besides, have you seen your arms? I wanna gnaw on them."

A soft smile blooms on her face afterwards.

"I'm really glad you don't scare me. I'm also really glad that my very strange boarding school doesn't scare you, either." It's a place she loves and loathes in equal measure most days.

"Ugh, I'm throwing you so many curveballs aren't I?" she bemoans and there's an apology on her tongue. But he's told her: no apologies. So instead, she goes in for a hug. "Are you okay with this at all? It's a tall order. If not, I can figure out something else."

[sleuthscreams]

“There are still women who find the knight in shining armor trope to still be attractive,” he asks with a laugh. “Here I thought it was a dying trend, I'm more than happy to be your knight if you'll be my princess. We can do lewd things you aren't supposed to do with anyone.” A single shoulder rose in a noncommital shrug. “Nothing that I've ever been against doing, never really done it before. If you have some inspiration for what you'd want me to cosplay, I probably wouldn't tell you no.”

If they're being honest, he'd be her fucking Ken Doll if she asked sweetly enough. Make him model whatever outfits she wants until she's tired of it.

“Well, maybe a little later you can put on that scary face of yours again, and we can see what that slight adrenaline rush I get leads to,” a suggestion that makes him bite his lip in anticipation of it. They were horny little creatures, weren't they? Well, at least as both of them were unrelenting pervs, there was no one to complain. Unless someone walks in on them somewhere... that was a possibility.

Pushing the horniness to the back of his mind, he decides to focus on their conversation until it runs its course. Always time for horny.

“Well, it's less than I'm not okay with it. More that... well... you're asking me to play the dutiful and somewhat protective boyfriend role, right?” Nothing wrong with that, except one thing. “But, I'm really workin' through my memory here, but for the life of me can't recall you asking me to be your boyfriend. Now, see, there is nothing wrong with that, you can be my favorite person without us having labels and all that, but if I'm going to start pulling boyfriend duties, I'm just thinking I should be the boyfriend. Don't you think?”

An impish little grin creeps onto his face. “I am also aware that boys are often expected to ask the girl to be their girlfriend. But since you're the one creating this whole boyfriend duty request, but not the boyfriend paradox, it almost sounds like you should be asking me to be your boyfriend. With whatever cute method you choose to do that in, all I'm saying is, it should happen.”

[fierylittleniece]

"Then what are ya leaving?" Pulling a tarp out from her trunk to cover up her car. Someone would come drive it back to her barn while she was gone. Georgia wouldn't feel right without him. She'd be a worse hunter during that time frame. Reckless and distracted.

Deep down, she shared some of his desires. To explore. Try new places. Hunt things outside of her jurisdiction like other hunters. Do more.

"That's only cause he's always got the dog with him. Power in numbers. If you're shaggy, I'm scooby now."

"I've got an out of town friend who's gonna watch over the state for me. She's enough of a power house that I think she can handle it." Tia was the most powerful person she knew. The witch could handle upholding protective sigils over the area while Johnnie did this small roadtrip. Leaning against his van, tugging at the strap of her bag. "Oh I'm timing ya during this whole road trip. Whatever amount of time we're gone, I expect ya to double it and that's how long you have to stay in town when we get back." Johnnie's already trying to load her bag up into his van. "I'm sure. And you haven't told me no yet so that means it's a yes."

[sleuthscreams]

“Pretty sure you're closer to Daphne, funny enough, the version of her that's all kickass and useful all the time. Like the live action movie.” Sure, Scooby is the forever companion for Shaggy, but he couldn't let her compare herself to the dog without interjecting something different. “I think it's funny that when I finally decide to get out of here for a while, it's the one time you decide it's safe to leave the state to someone else for a while.”

With a sigh, one that was for show more than anything else, he moves in to take the bag away from her. Opening up the van, he gets her things settled among the supplies he has tied down in the back. His way of telling her yes without quite giving her the satisfaction of hearing him say it out loud. There were many things between them that went unsaid out of spite alone.

Not everything needed to be spoken for them to be known. Something their town knew well.

“So if we're gone for two months, you aren't going to let me leave Georgia for an entire four months? How do you plan on convincing me to follow these terms? I know you think you're stronger, but I don't think you can overpower me every time I want to leave city lines.” They might end up putting the strength thing to the test if she plans on trying to eat through all the snacks he's bringing; some of them are worth a wrestling match.

[hawkinsingenue]

For some reason the idea that he's in Hopper's bad graces makes a laugh bubble out of her, and Ally shakes her head a little bit. What could he possibly do to piss Hopper off that much that he is considered an enemy of the police? She's going to ask that, but he seems to pivot, once again throwing compliments at her. As much as Ally enjoys being the center of attention, sometimes compliments hit her in an odd way. So many people in her life don't mean them, or they do mean them but want something for giving them.

Her cheeks flush regardless of which of those applies to him, and she tilts her head a little. “Less attractive and less talented, huh?” Ally asks him, feeling the weight of his 'I only come here looking for you' settle as something blooms in her chest. He's charming--he always has been--but it has been awhile since she had another crush like this. She really did have a type, didn't she?

“Is this your clever way of asking to study with me?” she steps a little closer to him, fully aware that she's now flirting. Her fingertip taps on his chest, as her head tilts to the side and she smirks. “Because I never mind running lines. Practice makes perfect and all of that...” Her shoulder shrug nonchalantly at that, but there is nothing nonchalant in the look she gives him. If she's reading the situation wrong, no worries, but she's pretty sure that she isn't.

[sleuthscreams]

When the thought that he should be more careful about handing out compliments, no matter how nonchalant his delivery, it could lead a girl to think he only wants one thing, the way the cheeks and the tips of her ears redden makes it disappear. How was he supposed to control himself when she had such a cute reaction? What was a boy to do in the face of a girl who reacted so well to being told how pretty and talented she was? Clearly, she's yet to hear the compliments enough for them to become common. Means she didn't hear them enough.

But he lets the compliments sit, dance around in her mind for a while until she's moving closer instead of creating distance like before. He bites the corner of his lower lip when she touches him. They were both being flirty now, he can work with that. “Clever? I'm pretty sure I asked full-heartedly at this point.” Going over lines and singing together, there were way worse ways to study.

“You free tonight?” Mateo sets a level of urgency, though there was likely a lot of time between now and her play to fit in a study session. He wants it to be tonight; patience was never his favorite virtue. “We can even do it again, if I turn out to be a good enough study partner. I want to make sure that you're in tip-top shape before your play starts.”

[sleuthscreams]

▪ ♪ ♩ ♫ ♬ @apoprockindajock continued from here

A sigh slips, and he knows he should have said anything. Once in a while, he has a hard time keeping up with the more upbeat personality Teo holds onto so desperately. The curious lens through which he usually sees the world allows him a certain amount of whimsy; it was preferable to the darker mindset he could have adopted. Heaven knows his history would make it easy to be dour all the time.

His throat clears, and he takes a sip of his own coffee, made a little too sweet from all the sugar he dumped in. “Try not to think about it too much,” he responds instead of filling the other in on what plays through his mind. Oh lord, Conrad was looking genuinely concerned right now. What had he done? “It's your fault for letting me drink coffee, I feel mentally transported into a noir film where the main character, me of course, is all contemplative and that dark shit.”

He gestures to his coffee cup. “If this had been a milkshake, that sentence would have never come outta my mouth.”

[sleuthscreams]

not enough of y'all are kissing him, that's why i'm posting kiss memes if you were wondering