look i'm woody, howdy, howdy, howdy.

@woodwardpride

155 posts

it would be nice to see bowie again, an old friend of the crowd returning back to their college town. becky quirked an eyebrow at his certainty of his circumstances. he looked like he was at odds with himself, having an internal quandary over something he didn't need to say out loud. they knew each other in a way that they didn't have to speak to know what the other was thinking. she felt her heart race at the question. she thought the guilt of feeling like she was betraying jimmy would've caught her from falling, that it would deter any form of feelings for woody. maybe it was a sign from jimmy that she didn't feel her stomach drop in dread. maybe it was his way of reassuring her from afar that this was okay. becky's eyes hadn't left woody's when she slowly shook her head. "...it's not just you"

as much as catching up with an old friend would be good, he didn't care about that at all right now. not when becky had just said what she had said. he had to catch himself for a second to make sure he actually heard her correctly and it wasn't just wishful thinking. the breath he didn't realise he was holding punched from his lungs. he didn't want to spook her. this was something but it was also new territory. woody tentatively reached out to her, moving closer to close some of the distance "becky...i'm not ever going to try and replace or erase him. he was too important to both of us for that" he had to reassure her, he couldn't risk wrecking whatever this was before it even started.

"you've not seen each other properly in years. you'll have a lot to catch up on, you never know what her circumstances are until you talk to her" she suggested to him. his words had brought the conversation to a more serious note. becky looked up at his eyes "...yeah?"

"we do have a lot to catch up on and i'm sure we will when we cross paths again. you're right, i don't, but i do know what mine are" woody wasn't sure he wanted to bring it up but then that stupid deal he made with nani ran through his brain. if it weren't for the deal he would've likely avoided the topic until the end of time. woody gazed at the woman he'd loved since they were seventeen "is it just me?"

never fear redwood hollow's police department are here, late to the party as always. approached by the chief, he gave a nod to woody "sheriff pride, if a call was made from our bar then there was a problem. however, it's since been handled on my arrival." people knew better than to behave like animals in his bar "the culprits were quickly sent on their way by my sons, paxton and patrick" the state in which they were sent on their way wasn't a need to know for woody

it wasn't surprising to him that any issues had died the moment hayden had stepped foot on the property. the man ran the place with an iron first. "right, well, since the culprits aren't here, we can take statements from your guys and go. has there been any damage? if so, do you want to press charges?"

victor gave woody a nod in return. as much as he card for his friends, it annoyed him how observant they were "i am. i mean i was, but i came here again today. i'm trying to clear my head"

he eyed his friend carefully, weighing up to see if he seemed okay and decided it was best to ask outright "are you alright? i know you've had a rocky few months. i want to make sure you're good"

hayden walked through the bustling bar of mount olympus, crowds chatting and laughing to fill the noise of the establishment. he headed towards the crowd and nodded to the bartender on the clock to pour him his usual.

@happieststarters

woody came in on a call of some rowdy patrons of the bar. it wasn't uncommon for the cops to be called when someone was drunk and making a scene, but when he entered to see everyone in the bar on their best behaviour, he know hayden bodaway was in the house. approaching the man, woody put his apprehension aside to talk to him "mr bodaway, you wouldn't know anything about the force getting a call about any problems. would you?"

since the break up with babette, victor had doubled down on his gym time to keep himself preoccupied. even with sultan running around, the house was too quiet. with his second gym trip of the day in full swing, victor finished up his run on the treadmill and headed over towards the water station to rehydrate.

@happieststarters

woody was taking part in his daily workout, a routine he wouldn't dare mess up since it seemed like his gym time was the only moments of peace and sanity he was allowed anymore. he gave a nod to victor at the water station "are you not normally in here in the morning?"

"i hear she's moving back to town. maybe she's changed" her brother had mentioned that he'd seen her announcement online that she was moving town "see? there's plenty of people in town with those qualities. everywhere you look there could be someone like that" becky looked down at her shoes and laughed as they swayed to the music "my feet are immune to them now. it has become somewhat of a skill i guess"

"maybe, but we're never going to be more than friends. i'm not interested in bowie like that" he had made it clear to her. he stayed friends with her over the years but nothing more than that was going to happen. he was too hung up on the woman in front of him. "yeah but i'm not looking everywhere." he looked down at becky, catching her eyes "becky..."

the least babette could do after the storm was help out with the clean up team. she wasn't going to get her nails ruined or anything but she helped by offering hot drinks and snacks thanks to victor and her both being in agreement for the enchanted rose café to be present in the town clean up efforts.

babette was making her rounds around the crowd with a tray of drinks and sandwiches. "hi, would you like something from the tray?"

@happieststarters

woody was chipping in with volunteering, a good number of the police department were out to assist with the clean up and to be around as additional security for safety. finishing up moving some fallen tree trunks out the way, he gave babette a smile when she approached.

"babette, how are you?" he asked, greeting her "ah coffee, you're a lifesaver, thanks." woody picked a black coffee from the try and didn't waste time in lifting it to his lips to take a sip "have you been out here long?"

themanagerisavampirex

Nani took a long, slow breath. Complicated. Everything was always complicated. Since she was 18, life had been that way. Apparently, it was the same for everyone else. Her eyes dipped as Woody mentioned the betrayal of Jimmy, and suddenly she knew the feeling too well. Many times, she had felt like she wasn't doing her parents proud when bringing up her sister, and did everything in her power now to betray their memory. Of course Woody was right to worry about betraying his best friend.

"I'm sorry..." she said, quietly. She had been too blunt with this. It was easy to see the outside and ignore that deeper turmoil. "I just hope you can both figure something out that doesn't make you both miserable." Now, Nani sighed, resigned to the fact that Woody had called her bluff. "I hate that we're doing this, but deal." Nani stuck out her hand for Woody to swear on.

the topic of becky detweiler had him knees weak, arms heavy, moms spaghetti from jump, but the thought of actually telling her how he felt (how he had felt all these years) might send him over the edge. there was too much to lose and he wasn't sure if he could risk it. becky meant too much to him to lose.

woody gave a nod in acknowledgement. she obviously meant well for her friend, but didn't have the full picture, he couldn't be mad about that. "and i hope that you and paxton figure out your situation. maybe it's wishful thinking that we all get the outcome we're looking for" nani had him backed into a corner. she was right as much as he didn't want to admit it, but that didn't mean she was in the clear. if he had to say something to becky then he was making sure nani was saying something to paxton.

he couldn't believe this was where he was at now. making deals with people to go talk to his crush but nevertheless woody stuck out his hand and shook nani's "you've got yourself a deal"

themanagerisavampirex

Nani could see the frustration in Woody's eyes. She wanted for things to be easier, but as life had proven time and time again, things rarely were. She placed a hand on his shoulder in understanding. But then he swung it back at her. Suddenly, her own feelings were being brought up and she wasn't in the position to argue.

"This isn't about me," she grumbled, hands flying up defensively. Sadly, it was a damn hard bargain. Nani wanted the best for her friends, she wanted them to be honest with each other and be there for each other the way they clearly needed... "How do you know we haven't?" (Was it obvious she was stalling?) "I'll talk to Paxton when you talk to Becky."

"it's as much about you as it is about me. you're in a similar position i am whether you want to admit it or not" she wasn't fooling him of all people. woody wanted nani to find her happiness, she deserved someone to fawn over her. "because you wouldn't be dodging the topic like the plague, it's exactly what i'm doing." he pointed out "i'll talk to becky when you talk to paxton"

"she was just a woman in love" she smiled. "maybe a little too intense about it, but a woman in love nonetheless" she couldn't blame bo for being head over heels for woody, he was the full package of what anyone would want in a partner "oh? and what is your type?" it felt like far more of a loaded question than it was intended to be "my feet live in ten and twelve centimetre high stiletto heels, you stepping on my toes won't make any difference"

not the right woman in love. the woman he wanted was right in front of him and he couldn't muster up the courage to tell her. "she was nice and all but she was just a friend." a friend who didn't get the memo of being just a friend but woody shut it down. "i...uhh...it would be someone kind, intelligent, talented..." like her. someone like her. she was right there for him to say it but the words wouldn't leave his mouth. "i don't know how you walk in those but it's a skill"

"you were never bad at dancing, woody. you know that. i remember a certain blonde being obsessed with your dancing back in college" she teased while they swayed to the music. while she was enjoying herself, becky couldn't help but wonder if there was ever a good time to talk about their unspoken situation? was this enough for them? "i don't know what you were so worried about, you're doing great"

"we don't talk about bo. i'm still traumatised" he laughed, slow dancing away with her in his arms "i never had eyes for her anyway. she wasn't my type" not that it needed confirmation but some part of him felt compelled to say it. "i don't think you'll feel the same if i accidentally step on your toes"

themanagerisavampirex

Nani wondered if she should have just kept her mouth shut. On the one hand, it was pure hypocrisy. On the other, Becky was her best friend. Becky deserved to be happy. Clearly Woody did that. But then… was prompting a man toward her who was refusing to do that, while saying he wanted to really in Becky's best interest?

"Weigh up quicker," she said flatly. "Time doesn't wait."

Nani sighed.

"At least… talk to her about it."

in any other circumstance, woody would be more open to the advice nani was offering him, but this was becky. becky and him had lost and found one another in one life time more than woody would like to count, he wasn't sure he'd survive another one.

"i know, nani. in an ideal world this would be far more straightforward than it is but it's not. i can't help how i've always felt and that includes feeling like i'm betraying jimmy by feeling this way." expressing feelings were not his strong point but there was leverage to be made "if i have to talk to becky about how i feel, then you have to talk to paxton about how you feel"

themanagerisavampirex

"And you think denying you have feelings for each other is going to give her everything? You don't think that this might be the reason you lose her?" The irony of this conversation was not lost on Nani. Later, when she was trying to sleep, she would reflect on it, make a note in her diary, and then swallow it down and forget about it for what would likely be an eternity.

"nani, you more than anyone should understand why i'm apprehensive to lay everything out on the table. you're not exactly far away from the position i'm in" he pointed out "i don't know if i'm even what she wants and i don't want to lose her from my life again. it's a risk i'm trying to weigh up." he sighed, reaching for his pint "i can't lose her again, nani. that can't be an option. if i need to feel like this for the rest of my days to have her in my life then so be it"

woodward pride. are you pretending you can't dance?" she teased "let's not forget the parties over the years we've both attended, i've seen that fancy footwork of yours" without waiting for any further protests from him, becky took his hand and pulled him to his feet, dragging him to the dancefloor. "see? not so bad"

"there's no pretending here" he answered, smiling like a big idiot "i haven't forgotten, but you might have because otherwise you would remember my bad dancing" there was many occasion where he accidentally stomped on someones foot. unable to say to no to her, woody found himself being hauled to the dancefloor and before he knew it he was slow-dancing with becky detweiler. "not bad at all"

themanagerisavampirex

Nani may have initially started this conversation out teasingly. Perhaps a way of controlling her own narrative, feeling the way that others might have felt when teasing her about her romantic life. She quickly changed her tune as Woody did try her.

Nani listened, nodding sincerely. It was clear as day that Woody cared for Becky. It was clear that it was eating him alive. There was a moment of quiet between them as Nani considered Woody's plight.

"You don't think you can give her better now?" she asked.

"It's been a long time... since Jimmy. You've both changed. You know what you'd do differently. So... why don't you?"

whether he wanted to admit it out loud or not, becky detweiler was consuming him. he was a man who had been in love with a woman since he was a teenager and didn't think he was good enough for her.

woody thought over her question and he hated that she was making sense. ignoring the problem was working just fine for him and now nani was putting the problem right in his face "i don't know...i would try my damn hardest to give her everything" he admitted "we've both lost enough people in our lives. i'm terrified i'll lose her"

she was having a good time at the wedding, a night off to not think about drama or work. babette had dragged her on the dancefloor a long time ago and was not letting her escape. eventually she managed to slip out of the crowd when the others back was turned. walking towards the table, she smiled at woody

"are you not coming to dance?"

seeing becky walk towards him had him in a daze. it took him a moment for his brain to kick into gear to respond to her question. "i don't know if i'm a dancing kind of guy" he managed to stutter out "i don't want to stamp on your toes"

look i'm woody, howdy, howdy, howdy. @woodwardpride - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag