WAYWARD SOULS

but hold me fast, hold me fast / 'cause i'm a hopeless wanderer

[gazingatmestarry-eyed]

closed | @waywardesouls (rory & mika) at Finders Keepers

It seemed too good to be true. That their was an affordable shop in town, packed full of stylish threads, that actually fit her without a visit to the tailor. At five foot one that wasn't just rare. It was unheard of. "I'll need a bigger closet after this trip." Maybe one of the boys didn't need theirs, or she could hang some racks in her room. It occurred to Mika she could get her own place, but the witch liked living with her bandmates.

[waywardesouls]

“Right? Z has such amazing finds. Here, check out this one,” She plucked a cute top off the rack that she knew would accentuate Mika’s figure perfectly. “What do you think? Yay or nay?” She asked as she held it up, squinting one eye closed and attempting to imagine the witch wearing it.

[swimmingwiththefitzes]

"I never cared for swords, not just because they're archaic. They're quite cumbersome, too," Billie said. "Was your self defense a particular discipline or just learning to protect yourself generally?" Her eyes widened at the thought of actually being in the ring and putting on a show for a crowd. "No. Thank you," she added quickly. It had been bad enough being a prop in a photoshoot in a tank full of water. She did not think she'd actively like to participate in something like this, particularly when there was a chance that she could injure someone.

"Ah, yes. I don't think I'd be very good at the performance aspect of something like this. I am... not a good actor." Billie looked around at the audience, cheering or booing or just hanging onto the edge of their seats. It wasn't really important that the show wasn't good. It was exciting. Excitement outweighed authenticity. "They certainly do. It's a bit like an action movie, yes? Enjoyable to most people even if it is factually wrong." She wished she understood the hype.

[waywardesouls]

“Yeah, seems like they might be an outdated form of combat, eh? Must be why they keep the medieval theme,” She joked with a smile. Stevie shrugged in response to her question. “Just in general. My…family,” the word left a bitter taste in her mouth when applied to the hunters that raised her. “Were kinda paranoid, so they wanted to make sure I could defend myself if I got into any touch situations. It’s certainly come in handy living here the past couple months. I didn’t realize so many things could go wrong in such a tiny town.” Though her tone was lighthearted and joking, there was a pensive pull to her mouth at the thought of the danger being so close to her daughter.

She chuckled and returned her gaze to the battle. “Same. Being the center of attention isn’t really my thing. I could grin and bear it, maybe, but I’d also probably somehow humiliate myself in the process.” Acting, or rather the stage, had always been more of Malcolm’s element. She couldn’t help but think she’d much rather watch him in such a performance than even entertain the thought of herself. The fact that he’d highjacked her train of thought so easily had her clearing her throat and nearly blushing, but she shoved his stupid pretty face to the back of her mind. “Exactly. People do love their action entertainment, even when it's bad,” She chuckled. Glancing at the other from the corner of her eyes for a moment, she turned her face to her again more fully and introduced herself, “I'm Stevie, by the way. And this is my daughter, Rhiannon,” She leaned back enough to show her, though Rhiannon was so engrossed in the show that it took a brief nudge to get her attention. The young girl gave a little wave and a small smile before turning back to the entertainment, making Stevie laugh. “This is definitely more her thing, as you can see.”

[zuvaxmoyoleroy]

The deadbolt clicked into place with a satisfying thunk as Zuva gave the door to Spilled Ink a firm tug, making sure it'd catch before slipping his keys into his pocket. He'd barely moved when a familiar voice drifted across the sidewalk. "Forget about you?" he scoffed softly, turning to face Juliet. "Cher, now that'd be a waste of a perfectly good memory."

He stepped away from the shopfront, hands settling easily into the pockets of his jacket. "Truth be told, I was startin' to wonder if Sinners had decided to keep you all to themselves." His gaze lingered just long enough to take her in. The oversized coat, the faint heaviness around her eyes, the practised smile that almost managed to hide the end of a long shift. The effort, though commendable, was not convincing.

"Long night?" He didn't press when the question left his lips, his eyes already drifting down the street in the direction she was headed, giving her every opportunity to ignore it if she wanted. "Need a ride?"

[waywardesouls]

Jules’ smile grew at his words. Zuva was always fun, which was why she hadn’t felt the need to avoid him and this little interaction in favor of beelining home. It didn’t hurt that he was easy on the eyes and flirted back, too. “You know they can try, but I always manage to fly away eventually. Frankly I don’t think they’d know what to do with me if they had me all to themselves.”

She felt the way his eyes lingered for a beat longer, and knew it was a difference appraisal than the kind given by her patrons or the other odd flirtation. This one felt a little too much like being seen, but she was careful not to fidget before his eyes left her. “Aren't they all?” She replied airily with a smirk. She knew what he was doing, but this once she was too tired to be anything but grateful. “You know I won't turn down a lift from your pretty face.”

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Oh, thank the stars. What is that expression the humans like to say? The higher the heels, the closer you are to god or something or other? Well, hun, they apparently don't make heels high enough for me," Zeina teased as they motioned to the towering pair of pumps Zeina had been rocking that looked like they might break their ankle if they weren't careful. Yet, they were faring fairly well as they navigated through the crowd, letting Rory pull them along. Reaching out their hand, they let Rory help them up onto the gate before they extended the cotton candy they had bought the two of them over. "Yes, yes, I'm a trendsetter. Cotton candy?" They asked, also being incredibly in their element from it being Pride to being Z's favorite place of all, in a crowded party.

[waywardesouls]

“But they're such cute heels, though! Guess we'll just have to get you some stilts or something, huh?” Rory teased back, nudging Zeina lightly with her shoulder. The music from the parade was thumping and a buxom drag queen dressed as Dolly Parton was doing a captivating rendition of 9 to 5 on one of the floats. Rory grinned as other spectators sang along, enjoying the energetic atmosphere. “Oooh, yes please! I want enough sugar by the end of this that I feel it tomorrow.” Did that make sense? Rory didn't particularly care, and simply tore off a piece of the fluffy blue sugar and popped it in her mouth.

[malcomhowlett]

He let out a fake laugh, really enunciating every 'Ha' with a playful deadpan. "You were always amused when I tried my accents on you." How Stevie managed to put up with him, Malcolm never knew. He was a giant golden retriever to her black cat. As a child, Malcolm was desperate to penetrate the walls Stevie had built around herself. He was often asked by other kids why he wasted so much time on her when she barely offered him the time of day. His answer always remained the same; Stevie had made him feel like himself. The true self that he had locked away to fit into the mold his father had created for him. Now, where easy silence once fell between them, an awkward tension lingered in the air. Even in their younger years, awkwardness had never been a problem. There was no magic spell that could easily mend ten years of hurt and betrayal. However, Malcolm didn't need it. He would do everything in his power to fix what had broken between them. Stevie was the most important person in his life. Whatever capacity she chose to remain in it, he would be grateful.

He nods easily. His smile was as bright as it had always been around her, like the sun itself had walked into the room. Its radiance was only saved for the love of his moon. "I mean, yeah, I fit the bill, but you do too in different ways. I think it's very whimsical naming all your plants."

[waywardesouls]

“Humoring you is more like it,” She teased back with a cheeky quirk of her mouth. Ever since they were children, Malcolm was the one person who somehow had a knack for bringing a smile to Stevie's face. It was if he has innate knowledge to the inner workings of her mind and heart and the key to unlocking the doors she barred between herself and others. Try as she might to keep him at arms length he never wavered, and it was that persistence and his kindness that allowed her to become comfortable enough to open up to him. He never asked more of her than she was willing to give, but he always made sure she knew he was there, whenever she was ready. She felt some of those deadbolts unlocking and chains unraveling from her heart just being near him.

His words surprised her a bit, the playful edges of her smile softening to something more earnest. “You remember that?”

[cantfightmoonlight]

“Eh, I prefer freezing my tits off," She admitted as she rolled over from where she was sprayed out along the sand beside the other. "Then the non-existent things get all perky," She quipped as she flashed Jules a teasing smirk. Though there was some truth to her words. She was sure she could dress more similarly to the way Jules did, in clothes that cut in at a certain angle and made her appear to have far more of an hourglass figure than either of them actually did, but while Jules had always seemed to be far more at home in her body, Lennon was more than happy cover her ups underneath an oversized band shirt and a pair of ripped shorts. But thanks to the excessive heat, she'd had to step out of her comfort zone and slip on the rare red bikini she kept shoved under a shoebox bed rather than the black attire she felt far more comfortable in. "I think we may just be polar opposites, you know that?" Len teased as she scooted more under the umbrella for shade, preferring to be pasty rather than tan.

[waywardesouls]

“They look pretty perky to me in that set,” She winked. Jules knew Lennon well enough to know that this was less of her element, but also knew her well enough not say anything about it. Being comfortable and confident in her own skin was something Jules had to painstakingly learn, and over the years working at Sinners she'd become comfortable showing off her body in all manner of attire, or lack thereof. Even in instances where she felt less than secure in herself, she knew how to fake it—better that than let anyone catch even a hint of weakness. “Yeah, maybe. But what's that they say about opposites attracting?” Her smile curled into a cheeky grin as she rolled over to sit up properly, squinting against the sun.

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Thank you! That's what I've been saying," Len exclaimed. A grin found its way back across her lips as she reached out, weaving her hand through Zuri's and giving it a squeeze. "Then it's a date, Jellyfish," She tugged Zuri a little closer as she flashed the other a playful wink. "So, should we meet back here at 8 or do the whole pick each other up thing?"

[waywardesouls]

Zuri gently squeezed Lennon's hand back, delighting in the feeling of her hands in hers. “Half the fun in sneaking in is doing it together, right? Plus, you did ask me out, so you should probably pick me up, huh?” She tilted her head with a cheeky smile. “Or I could meet you at your place if you want?”

[weijunxthorne]

for: @waywardesouls - Cass location: Drop it Like a Squat

Wei looked up when Cassandra approached, continuing to wrap his hands with tape and looping it securely around his knuckles. There was something almost meditative about the routine by now, the same movements, the same quiet focus before a session began. "Hey. Ready for round one?" The familiar smile came easily as he nodded toward the gloves waiting nearby. "How're you feeling today? Any soreness from last time, or are we pretending that didn't happen?" The teasing smile that followed made it clear he already had a pretty good idea which answer he was going to get.

"Figured we'd keep it simple today. Nothing too crazy." He leaned back slightly, watching as she got settled. Cassandra had never been someone who needed help finding strength. If anything, she had plenty of it, more than he could ever imagine. "Get your stance comfortable. Focus on control. The not fun stuff."

[waywardesouls]

Since settling in Lunar Cove, Cassandra had fell out of far too many habits. Her exercise routine was one of the most glaring. Back home, she had a dedicated trainer and a strict schedule which helped clear her mind and feel in control of her body. She wasn't anywhere close to out of shape, especially given how much she'd been walking since leaving her car back in Connecticut, but meeting Wei had felt like the push she needed to get back into a proper routine.

She gave him a smile in greeting as she began putting on the gloves, double checking the feel of them and that they were properly fitted before starting some warm up stretches. “What, you mean when you royally kicked my ass? A lady never tells,” She quipped with a smirk, echoing his teasing smile. “Ah yes, the not fun stuff. My favorite. Just tell me how you want me, coach.”

[yasinlunar]

Cassandra looked just as he remembered her, and yet Yasin could not believe his eyes. In his head, after the accident, it was as if she vanished into the ether like Eda and Rosie.

Gone without a trace, Yasin told Sloane, even though Rosie had come home in the end.

Her words floated to him, twisting around and around until he at last understood them.

"Well..." Yasin's rehearsal of this answer was always as strong as he meant it. While the app offered a very real excuse for him to reside in Lunar Cove, he was here for his sisters. "To tell you the truth, I wanted to be closer to my family." What was left of them anyway.

He let out a breath, looking Cassandra over. It was still a shock to the system, finding her like this. "And you? I haven't since you since..." Yasin didn't know how to go on, so he didn't. He gestured to the door now, a bit anxious. "Would you care to join me—catch up?"

[waywardesouls]

Looking at Yasin felt as though Cassandra were looking into a time capsule, just as clear and present as the past. He was older now, they both were, but he still remained the same Yasin—at least physically, so far. It brought a warm to her chest that Cassandra had not felt in so long. She hadn't realized how cold she'd allowed herself to become in the years following her accident. She smiled softly at him, some of that long forgotten warmth peeking through. “I didn't realize you had family here. Small world, huh?”

The reminder of said accident, even unspoken, was a heavy stone dropped to the pit of her stomach. She kept her expression neutral, even as the weight of it demanded acknowledgment. “Is ‘soul searching’ too much of a cliché?” She joked, though the words felt lackluster. Her expression softened once more at his invitation, just a bit, and she nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, sure, I'd- I'd like that. It's been a while.”

[waywardesouls]

CLOSED : @sawyergrady LOCATION : Cassandra's townhouse

“Good, you're here,” Was her greeting as Cassandra all but dragged Sawyer across the threshold into her home. “A new episode of Love Island UK aired last night and I've graciously waited for you to come over to watch it. Did you bring snacks?”

[icexpackxjc]

Closed starter for @waywardesouls (Cass) Location: Downtown Lunar Cove

"Oh, hey. What's up?" JC had admittedly been walking in something of a daze, but in truth, "dazed" was beginning to feel like his typical mood. A certain dull numbness had settled into him, an awareness that he needed to temper himself or face the consequences. The greeting came politely but somewhat placidly, and the smile he tried to offer clung weakly to his jaw.

"We spoke a few months ago, and...well, I'm sorry we haven't followed up with everything that's been going on. But I hope you're doing well. And just wanted to reiterate that...the pack is here if you need anything. Or are still interested." Numbers were dwindling, in truth. Newcomers did not often wish to join. These realities were frustrating, but he bit back the emotion before it settled too strongly.

"I'm going on a bit of a...sabbatical. But I'm still around to help or answer questions."

[waywardesouls]

“Oh, hey,” Cassandra greeted in surprise. She'd been spending more time out of her townhouse as of late, hating feeling cooped up and needing the air and the sunshine. She hadn't expected to run into JC, but small towns tend to make crossing paths inevitable. There was an inkling of guilt at the fact she hadn't reached out to him since inquiring about the pack the last time they'd met, but after the masquerade she hadn't had the time to think about it.

His only apology was quickly waved away. “Don't worry about it, seriously. I'm starting to realize how easily things get crazy around here, and I can't imagine being one of the people that everyone looks to when they happen. You're completely fine,” She gave him a reassuring smile and a one-shouldered shrug. “Yeah, thank you, truly. I'm still thinking about it, don't worry. I just...To be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting to be in town this long to begin with, so I guess I'm trying to determine how permanent I want to make things, y'know?” There was no use beating around the bush in that regard—her entire reason for coming to Lunar Cove had been to find information about her birth mother, and she felt no closer to discovering her identity. Even with that disappointing knowledge, she still felt drawn enough to the town that leaving didn't seem right just yet.

“Oh? Is- everything okay? Not to pry or anything, I mean. Your business is your business.”

[cantfightmoonlight]

"I'm more just stating facts unless it is you disagree," She reasoned as she flashed Zuri a challenging look to see as though she'd say anything to contradict the fact that she was more hot than cute. "Eh, no," She scrunched up her nose at the thought of being called a 'jellyfish'. "For you, sure. You can be Jellyfish," She decided, tapping lightly on the other woman's nose. "But I'd rather be like a stingray or a Mako or some shit," She reasoned, flashing the woman a cheeky smile of her own before she finally told the woman, "The name is Lennon. So, were you actually serious about that date or what?"

[waywardesouls]

Zuri held up her hands placatingly, a dimple appearing with her smile. “No, no, you're right. You're definitely on the hot side of the hot-cute scale,” She smirked cheekily. The tap of her nose surprised a giggle from her and she swiped some of her braids back behind her shoulder. “I'll take it. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lennon,” She held her hand out, eyes twinkling with mirth and coyness as she waits for the other the shake it. “I mean...I'm serious if you are. I think it'd be fun.”

[latinamamii69]

built my walls so well so no one can get in but now i can’t get out either

[sawyergrady]

#𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗋 ›› ft. jules swan location: Sawyer's place tagging: @waywardesouls

Sawyer found himself sitting at the edge of his bed, staring at the bathroom door. Ever since he met Jules at Sinners, Sawyer had been pulled into her orbit like a moth to a flame. No matter how many times he got burned, he always kept coming back. Maybe he enjoyed the chase. The tug, the pull, this cat-and-mouse game they found themselves in. He reasoned that was why he was here once again. It could never be anything else. They both knew that. When the bathroom door opened, he perked up. If his tail had been out, it would have been wagging. "You sure you don't wanna stay the night?" he asked, waltzing his way to Jules and towering over her like he always did. "I'd be a real gentleman and let you take the bed. I don't mind sleepin' on the floor."

[waywardesouls]

Jules was finding herself in this little cycle of theirs more than she would like to admit. She knew better, of course she knew better, but all it took was their familiar banter and a few cheeky smiles from a too-confident cowboy and they were falling into bed all over again. Part of her knew he was going to be trouble the moment she saw him walk into Sinners, but a larger part of her had to admit she'd always loved trouble. She finished cleaning up in his bathroom, another familiar routine, and stole one of his shirts—entirely too large on her, to her dry amusement—before opening the door to his waiting face. She couldn't stave the twist of her lips as she crossed her arms and all but craned her neck to look up at him. “Gentleman, huh? S'cute,” She pat his bare chest idly, leaning forward further into his space. “You know I don't do sleepovers, hot shot. What makes you think I'm gonna start now?”

[waywardesouls]

CLOSED : @zuvaxmoyoleroy

Jules was exhausted. She'd only just got off the night shift, working late and well into the early morning, the siren song of her bed calling to her and her aching feet. Normally she would had changed into more comfortable clothes before leaving, but the thought of spending one more moment at work than necessary was intolerable, so she simply put on an oversized coat to cover herself and grabbed her stuff before heading out.

She hadn't expected to run into a familiar face on her walk home, but given the proximity between Sinners and Spilled Ink, she shouldn't have been too surprised. It was with practiced ease that she wiped all traces of exhaustion from her features, expression shifting to playful flirtation. “Hey handsome, haven't seen you in a while. You didn't forget about lil' ol' me, did you?”

[swimmingwiththefitzes]

Billie startled, not expecting the woman next to her to speak. She offered a tentative nod. "I'm trained." It had been made public knowledge that Billie was a former hunter, though it wasn't discussed often, so it wasn't something that people just knew unless they asked. She certainly wasn't talking about it unless she was asked. "It's, ah, it's also just physics. An unbalanced object, or, in this case, person, is incredibly likely to be knocked over. His feet were too close together when he was hit. A wider stance and proper footwork should keep him from being knocked over next time." Though, he couldn't hear her, so it was likely that he would simply repeat the same mistakes.

"I'm... sorry. I've never been to one of these. The last time there was something odd and medieval themed in town, I was not able to participate, but I'm starting to understand that the purpose of this is not good technique or accuracy, is it?" Billie had, instead, been stuck in a tank for the majority of it, so maybe that was for the best. She would have been a little judgmental of a town wide event that was this lacking in proper fighting knowledge and skill.

[waywardesouls]

Stevie caught the way the other subtly jolted and only just held back an apology rather than bring any further attention to it. She nodded along to her explanation, still watching the show from the corner of her eyes. “Makes sense. I know a little self defense, but swords are beyond me. Maybe you should've been one of the ones in there instead.” She gave the woman a smile, only half kidding. From what she was saying, she seemed to have more knowledge of the sport than the ones performing it in the arena.

She waved off the other's apology. “It's alright. This is my first time at something like this too, but from my understanding it's more of a theater experience than any actual combat. The audience certainly seems to like it.”

[gazingatmestarry-eyed]

closed @waywardesouls (Sun-Hee & Cass)

June was Sun-Hee's favorite month, even before August. Which was the month she was born in. The supreme celebrated all month long because pride was important to her. It was important for everyone, she thought, to know they belonged in the world. Even if there were still people who held hatred in their hearts and would say otherwise. "After this.." She spoke slowly, as she was being careful not to move too much while the face painter worked on her. "..wanna go see the drag show? I have a bunch of singles for us."

[waywardesouls]

Cassandra had always enjoyed Pride festivities. It wasn't until the past few years, however, that she realized how personal they were to her. Who knew it would simply take moving away to realize things about herself?

She sat adjacent to Sun-Hee, having already received her own face painting in the form of a mask of rainbow florals and swirls, and watched the painter as they worked. “Hell yes,” She always loved a good drag show, especially if alcohol was involved. Her mouth quirked in a smile as she added, “How much do you want to bet there's going to be a Gaga impression?”