TODD MILLER

[xthetoddinatorx]

TODD MILLER - 22 - RESURRECTED

t h e - t o d d i n a t o r

“he told me he is often the life of the party, as if he didn’t already know that to be the life of the party is the most sad and pathetic of all things to be.”

Reposting due to FC change!

TW: Death; Injury; Alcohol; Body Image

i. basics

Name: Todd Miller Gender/pro-nouns: Cisgender Male (he/him/his) Birthday & age: September 29, 1962 (Physically 22) Place of birth: Rhode Island, USA Species: Human Current residence: Shadow Lake Occupation: Personal assistant, handyman, waiter/bartender Faceclaim: Noah LaLonde Sexuality: Pansexual

ii. stats

Height: 6′2″ Eyes: Blue Green Hair: Blond MBTI: ESFP Alignment: Chaotic Good Affiliations: Resurrected by Rohan Persaud

iii. background

Todd Miller was born in a small Rhode Island town not very far from Lunar Cove. The child of a blue-collar family, he had a relatively mundane upbringing and did not lack for much, although his parents tended not to splurge on luxuries.

His father was a handyman and electrician by trade, and Todd often accompanied him on jobs, especially during the summer months when he was off from school.

Somewhat superstitious, the young Todd made up games to predict the future. He also cut his mother's catalogs and magazines to shreds, saving pictures of things he deemed luxurious or expensive, as though he could manifest them in his own life. More than anything, he wanted to be important and popular.

He had a taste of such popularity when a well-timed growth spurt allowed him to become a freshman basketball hero, although he eventually grew bored with the sport. In any case, the burgeoning aerobics craze was more exciting and would provide easier opportunities to end up on the covers of records and magazines. Todd grew into something of a gym rat, deciding he was going to compete professionally as an aerobic athlete.

He attended college near where he grew up, majoring in fitness studies, and was rather bad at school, needing to tack on a fifth year only because he brushed with failure too many times and could not graduate.

In October 1984, he and a few buddies attended a Halloween party in Lunar Cove, during which Todd dressed as a Mouseketeer. A drunken attempt at a backflip sent over a balcony to his death.

For the next three decades, Todd thus remained bound to his Halloween costume as a ghost until Rohan Persaud donned it in 2023. Possessing the witch, Todd would have liked to stay in the flesh, but that was obviously not going to be possible.

In any case, sloppy magic, an attempt to free him from his mouse-eared prison, resurrected Todd into his original form only a few months later. So much has changed; so much has stayed the same. But one thing's for sure: he's here to kick ass and chew bubblegum. And he's all out of bubblegum.

iv: possible connections

Todd is open to any and all plots and connections, but below are some potential ideas to kick off brainstorming.

Give a Guy a Break: Todd now finds himself somewhat aimless. Does your character own or work at a local business? Do they need an extra pair of hands that will be very clumsy and terrible at the job? He's ready to be hired (but won't work overtime).

Golden Years: Was your character in-town in 1984? Do they remember an outsider tumbling to his death? Did they meet him in the moments leading up to it? Gosh, it's good to see a familiar face.

You're Totes Like Batman: Todd is very unfamiliar with the world of the supernatural, despite being a ghost and now thinking of himself as a zombie. Maybe you could show him the highs and lows of vampirism, lycanthropy, and more.

This Sucks, Man: While being alive again is bitching as hell, losing so much time is a bummer. Todd misses his bros. He misses his mom and dad. Can a kind stranger help him learn to move on and take this second chance?

[readbentweenthelines]

"It's really not." Ben wasn't sure if Lunar Cove felt bigger or smaller when it was one's entire world. It certainly always seemed like a treat when a new business joined, or new residents moved in. A taste of the outside making it's way in, expanding the horizon just a little bit, even if things stayed small. "No, that wouldn't be good for you. Losing your phone would be bad." Not to mention the other horrors that would come with trying to figure out how to adjust to the modern world. Todd had done an alright job of it, but he was also in a small environment surrounded by the abnormal. Ben wasn't sure how the poor guy would make it out there on his own. "I'm alright, mate, but thanks for the offer. Another time, yeah?" Ben asked.

"The icky... the ichor, right," Ben said, nodding. "I... know it can be a little disheartening, living in Lunar Cove without any sort of supernatural abilities. But we're not helpless." Though, the matter with Prometheus seemed inclined to make them believe they needed something in order to be a part of that world. Ben had let the effects of Ichor make him lose track of what he'd believed all along: humans were still perfectly capable and able to fit into this town, powers or not. He just needed to be reminded of that.

Ben laughed, heading towards the Historical Society at a light jog. "Don't worry. Anything dangerous has better security than a large stone. You'll be alright. We'll just go to my office. Less artifacts in there."

[xthetoddinatorx]

"Hey! Maybe we can, like...stretch the magic fog a little farther or whatever!" Such an endeavor would, of course, allow town expansion and new opportunities. Not lingering too long on those possibilities, however, Todd flashed a smile. "A few local businesses pay me to, like...share things on the Link about how good they are, you know? That's hella cool, right? I got a lot of fans because I don't like wearing a shirt." Todd explained this arrangement matter-of-factly, as though he were delivering a keynote speech. "I got brains too, though." He thought better of it and seemed to grow almost bashful.

It did not last. "Whenever you want, I got you, Doc. I totes think you'd be a great Todd-robic athlete. Hey! You can be one of my backups in the next volume!" He nodded very seriously.

Todd pursed up his lips a moment later. "Yeah. I know we ain't. You're so right. I'm actually pretty good at fighting werewolves now. I was gonna make a TV pilot about that, but I'd replace the werewolves with evil robots maybe." He pursed up his lips, but for all his swagger and diversions, Todd really could not quite fight off the lingering fear and uncertainty completely. He stuck close to Ben as they jogged.

"How come they stay locked up anyway? Can any of them...like...defeat the bad guys? You got, like, a magic sword in there?"

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Huh. You seem to know a lot about Farrah Fawcett," She observed. "Yeah... it is, but oh, um, maybe? Sure? Though, are you certain that would be the best career investment? Do you even have enough money for that? I'll totally support you if you do. It just sounds like it might come with a lot of liabilities? I mean, what if someone gets hurt? They could sue you."

[xthetoddinatorx]

"Literally everyone in the world had that poster of her, doll. You know. With the red bathing suit? Oh! And she had this siccck hairspray with vitamins and minerals. I've totally never gotten all that bounce and shine ever again! Bummer, right?" Todd grinned despite this devastating loss. He snorted out a laugh. "I'll just have one my vampire friends invest. For real, for real. They got cash comin' out their ears." He hummed. "Besides, no one's gonna sue me. Everyone likes me. And even if they did, I'd make 'em sign a waiver releasing me of any and all indemnity. Jenard v. Halpin state that a plaintiff must establish a legally cognizable duty owed by a defendant to a plaintiff, a breach of that duty, proximate causation between the conduct and the resulting injury, and the actual loss or damage." He spat this all out in one breath.

[unlost]

Despite still looking young, Ewan had felt himself fall out of touch over the centuries--it happened in cycles, decades where he felt a part of the world, and others where he had no idea what was going on. Falling behind was very different, however, than actually missing out on the world. He couldn't imagine how Todd must feel, coming back to life in a different time, catching up on the past only by the accounts of others. Though then again, he supposed that was exactly what history was for. His students were a prime example: that chasm between what he told them and the feeling of actually witnessing those stories.

That was all to say that Ewan did know this song--but he also thought music these days just wasn't made the way it used to be. It was hard to be too grumpy about that, however, when Todd was in front of him, dancing with the reckless joy of someone who didn't seem to care what was playing over the speakers as long as it had a beat. "I gotta get me one of whatever you've been havin'." The only reason Ewan was able to let go and dance so carelessly was because he didn't really give a shit about anything anymore, and the whole world seemed absolutely meaningless. But he had to hope Todd wasn't quite so jaded.

It might have been hard for a human to hear over the bass, the music so loud it vibrated through the floor and walls. But Ewan was not human, and he could hear Todd's rambling just fine. He bit down an amused laugh. "Just?" He shook his head. "Nothing just about it. You came back to life, mate. And you got to keep your humanity. Not a lot of people get to say that. You're a goddamn miracle." He clapped the other man on the shoulder and gave him a small squeeze. "I'll switch places with you any fucking time you'd like." As for the people who said Todd needed a brain, "Fuck 'em! They're some gobdaw! That's the best thing about coming back to the world of the living: you can do anything you wanna. Be whoever the hell you want to be."

"Everything?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. "And what do you want?"

[xthetoddinatorx]

"Only one? Duuuuude, I had like...six." Todd seemed to physically pause in that moment, freezing in place as though he genuinely needed a few seconds to count out his revelries on his fingers. The exercise did not last very long, however; dancing was more important than math. "I didn't even pre-game or nothing. Next time I'll do that. I totes liiivvve in a bar, you know? For real, for real. I got everything you could ever need." He considered briefly that he probably was not supposed to help himself before going out to spend his liquor money elsewhere, but he would make up for it somehow. "Maybe I'll get kegs this summer. People like kegs. I know how to stand on them."

Todd broke into a fit of laughter. "I'm a vehicle? Why? Everybody gets a ride or whaaaat?" He did not actually hear Ewan but took it in stride. "I don't wanna be humaaaan, brah. I wanna be superhuman. I wanna be so big and strong and famous that everybody knows my name." There was some desperation laced in these words, as though he were clawing for something he could just not quite reach. Todd fed it to the music, throwing back his head. "You got a deal. I'd take your teeth if you don't want 'em!" He grinned, letting the bass wash over him completely. "Gob...gobbaw? What's that? I don't wanna be a gobb...whatever that is!"

Letting out a breath, then, Todd grasped Ewan's shoulders. "I wanna dance with a cute vampire boy. I like the way you say things."

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Yeah?" Savannah's eyes lifted at the man before her admission. A sentiment the both of them seemed to unfortunately share. "Well, I can't say you'd be the first. Can I ask how ya died exactly and, well," She nipped her bottom lip as she wondered, "If you died here, why exactly have you decided to stick around?" This had been the last town she had wanted to wind back up in after she had nearly faced her demise, so she couldn't help, but be curious as to why someone else would choose to stay in this hellscape of a town. "Bound to an object? In what way? Ah. So you're like a resurrected or somethin'? Yeah, well, I'm sure the ghosts aren't exactly all too great at charades either, right? If they were, you'd think more of them would've moved on by now."

[xthetoddinatorx]

Todd nodded with perhaps a touch too much enthusiasm. "Yeah. And dying's totes noooo fun. For real, for real Like, I didn't even know it happened until it was over, you know? Gag me, right?" He wrinkled up his nose. "I tried to do a sick backflip, and I was too strong and cool and went too far, so I landed bad," the young man continued very seriously. He sighed. "I'm not supposed to leave because I'm technically human even if I'm a zombie. So I'd lose all my memories and shit and forget it's not 1984. That would be bad." He shrugged his shoulders. "Like, my ghost was stuck to a hat. I couldn't go nowhere without the hat. If someone took the hat, I came with it. It was like a two-for-Todd special." He pursed up his lips. "Do you think bein' good at charades gets you to the front of the heaven line?"

[cantfightmoonlight]

Option B

"Since when do you smoke?" Leyla scrunched up her nose as she caught the sight of the joint dangling from Todd's lips. "That's a joint, right? Any chance you'd share?" She asked after a momentary beat, figuring after the day she had, she could use any distraction she could get. "I know you're closed, but I was hoping that you might be free, because if so, I think I could really use a friend?"

[xthetoddinatorx]

"Duhhh. Since always, doll!" Todd stuck out his tongue after pulling the thing from his lips. "This don't count as smoking anyway. It's hella natural. It grows outside. For real, for real." As opposed to tobacco, of course. He handed the joint over with a grin. "You know, it's...it's stronger in 2026. Back in my day, it wasn't like this." He broke into a fit of giggles. When Leyla said she needed a friend, however, Todd tried his very best to look serious and helpful, an effort that only made him giggle more. "Hmm? What's up, huh? 'Course I wanna help. I'm the best bro in the entire world! Everyone says so!"

[readbentweenthelines]

"Good afternoon, Todd," Ben said. He laughed, albeit breathlessly, as he tapped his leg, letting the thud of prosthetic sound out. "I'm the bionic man, you know. I wasn't expecting it to make me faster thank you, though. I hope you haven't been chasing for long?" Todd's antics weren't surprising at all; the confidence was good, great, even. He grinned, humoring him. "Is that so? That's an awful lot of kick, then. Quite the shame you can't use the treadmills, though. Not so much today, with as nice as it is, but still."

Despite the circumstances of the last event, Ben was mostly unaffected. "I'm doing alright. You? I know it was pretty hectic and awful. Do you know anyone that was effected terribly?" It was a shame what happened to Bobby. The guy would have never been mayoral material, but he certainly didn't deserve that.

Ben scratched the back of his neck. "Ah, yes, that's... understandable," he murmured. It was something he'd felt, too. Was actively feeling. The itch to do it again, to feel that rush of power, even from all the trouble it had caused. The last time he used it made him feel sick to think about, but he still felt that desire. "Would you like to head back to the Coalition HQ? Maybe have a bit more privacy for a chat?"

[xthetoddinatorx]

Todd smiled brightly. "Oh, don't worry, Doc. Just runnin' in the same direction is all. Lunar Cove isn't thaaaat big. You go in one direction, it's the ocean, and the others are magic fog. For real, for real. I know humans ain't supposed to, like, go through the magic fog and shit anyway, but someone said, like, especially for me. I'd totes forget it wasn't 1984 no more! That'd be hella scary! I like my phone!" All things considered, he supposed he had adapted rather well to the happenings of the 21st century. Bobbing his head from side to side, as though dancing to a tune only he could hear, Todd hummed. "It's okay. You get a better workout from Todd-robics anyway. You want me to autograph you a tape?"

Todd's brow perked. "Me? I'm cool. I feel bad for all my best friends." He made no effort to specify, but the collective unit perhaps included everyone in town. "A few humans got hurt. It sucks we don't have cool powers without the Icky-or. I guess I kind of do. I have zombie powers."

Todd seemed to take a moment to think before giving a nod. "Sure thing, Doc. I'm a little scared of the magic artifacts, though. I feel like maybe a big Indiana Jones rock is gonna fall on my head if I touch the wrong one."

[cantfightmoonlight]

"Like I did with you?" The corner of her lips lifted slightly as she let Todd help her up to her feet. "I don't know if Farrah Fawcett was out here posing with twigs in her hair, but no I didn't try to do a backflip. I was actually trying to give flying a shot again, but I seem to be failing at it," She admitted. Her bottom lip jutted out into a small pout at the thought as she moved to pluck a stray leaf out of her hair.

[xthetoddinatorx]

Todd flashed a toothy grin at that, rocking on his heels. "Hell yeah! Is there any other kind? Hmm. Maybe actually now that I think about it. Gag, right? Bad stuff totes happens all the time around here. Good stuff too, though!" He sighed, deflating a bit despite his better efforts. "Uh, one time her and the Angels had to work at a rodeo. There was abso-lute-ly, like, hay in her hair and everything." As Leyla continued, however, Todd allowed his expression to soften. "I'm sorry, doll. Practice is hard. Hey! You wanna go paragliding with me? I'm gonna open a paragliding stall at the beach maybe."

[cantfightmoonlight]

@lunarcovestarters

"Please just walk around me. This is embarrassing enough as is," The pixie groaned, running her fingers across her face as she let out a small whimper in pain. With Ken adjusting to being temporarily powerless, she was trying to give him space as to not make him feel entirely smothered by his very attentive wife and what better way to spend her time than on flight lessons with Nyra? She had only attempted to take flight once or twice before since her wing had been damaged and, unfortunately, for her flight lessons hadn't exactly been going to well as she had barely managed to make it a few feet before she plummeted out of the sky and landed her ass in a bush.

[xthetoddinatorx]

"Woaaah. Embarrassing? Doll, you look good as hell! Like...like...Farrah Fawcett. She poses like this." Todd made a show of loosening his limbs, splaying them outward a bit from where he was standing as if to emulate her. He broke into a fit of giddy laughter before extending a hand to help her to her feet. "What happened? Did you try to do a backflip? You should be hella careful about that. For real, for real. I'd have to start a petition to bring you back to life!"

[unlost]

Option A

Ewan still couldn't help but think of Todd as "that kid who died in the mouse costume." Back in 1984, when Ewan had a home in Lunar Cove but had yet to settle into it, a good party was about the only thing he did stick around for--and there was always a good party in the 80s. In the 600+ years he'd been alive, Ewan had seen all sorts of debauchery: from the "Merry Monarch" period of 1660's England, to The Roaring 20s in the Americas, to 80s nightclubs and more drugs than anyone knew what to do with, there was never quite as wild a night as one spent within the supernatural underground of Lunar Cove. There were nights so good you wouldn't remember a single minute--and then there were the nights you never forgot, even when you wished you could.

So as he ran into Todd just outside the Eclipse bathrooms, there was that memory again: Halloween night, the drinks, the fall. Ewan was there and already a vampire; he could have saved him then, brought him back. Or at least he could have tried. But he had sworn to himself long ago that he wouldn't turn anyone else, wouldn't curse another to this life. Yet here Todd was, back in the world of the living, no blood lust required.

It was a miracle he even made out Todd's words over the sound of the music blaring from every speaker, the bass louder than a heartbeat. The human was clearly drunk, clearly running from something--but then again, so was Ewan. So was everyone in this club. "Thanks for the warning," he said over the sound. And, accepting the invitation to dance, moved back with Todd toward the center of the club where most people were crammed together.

[xthetoddinatorx]

Todd grinned, an easy expression that spread devilishly from ear to ear as he followed Ewan back to the dancefloor. He did not actually know this song, but in truth, he did not know most songs. What Todd did know, however, was to not let ignorance stop him from reaching for the sun. To lose himself completely, to colors, to sensations, to this wave of euphoria that could consume and destroy dread in its wake—like a flashing, frothing, multicolor tidal wave.

Swaying to the beat, bass pounding in his ears, the young man moved somewhat clumsily, the visage of a person who both had rhythm and knew how to utilize it but who was simultaneously just a bit too overjoyed for precision. His form was frantic, driving, touched by a degree of almost reckless abandon.

In that moment, he placed his hands on the other's shoulders, moving in closer to dance with him properly. "You're...you're a vampire, right, bro? That's sick as hell, brah. I wish I could be a vampire. You're all hella strong and shit. For real, for real," he practically shouted over the music. "I can't...I'm totes just a zombie, you know? So I can't be nothing else. Don't get me wrong. Being a zombie is pretty rad! Someone said I should eat brains since I don't got one, though. That's rude, right? Whatever. I get everything I want. Who's complaining?"

[xthetoddinatorx]

Open starter @lunarcovestarters

Option A Location: Outside the Bathrooms in Eclipse

Standing in front of the washroom mirror, Todd ran his hands through his sweat-soaked golden hair, trying to push it into something at least resembling his usual flare. Ducking down, he scooped up a handful of cold water from the faucet and splashed it across his face, letting out a few low grunts, sounds meant to hype him up. He bounced on his heels, then, as if getting ready to play the football game of his life. "Woo! Let's fucking go."

The young man was not the only person in Lunar Cove to be trying to quell their bad emotions with debauchery; the thump of music and the roar of the crowd just beyond the door were proof enough of that. But a stifling kind of discontent clung to him still, a terrible emptiness no amount of drinks or good times would plug.

He shoved his way back into the club and nearly collided with someone near the entryway. "You don't wanna go in that one, dude. It's a disaster area. Dance with me instead?"

Option B Location: Shipfaced

"We're clooosseeed, brah. Can't you read the sign?" Business had been slow that evening, horribly slow, slow as hell. Part of Todd wondered if the beloved bar was hitting an unfortunate middle ground for the customers of Lunar Cove. People who were too scared to hang were staying home, and people who were looking for numbing excitement were perhaps on the hunt for a venue a little more hardcore. He had certainly spent his own fair share of time doing just that.

Clad in his tip-making crop top, an ensemble that had actually earned him almost nothing that night, Todd sighed when the door opened. A joint was dangling from his lips, and evidently enough, the pleasant high was keeping him from getting too annoyed.

"Tell ya what, I'll mix you up my specialty. It's called a Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch...Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb." He seemed to remember he was smoking on the clock inside his workplace and made some effort now to hide it. "Woaaah, who put this there? Weird."

[cantfightmoonlight]

@lunarcovestarters

Option 1: Self Harm, Minor Injury Tw

"Allah Allah!" Kiraz practically flinched as the person greeted her. "Why is everyone in this town so fucking loud," She grumbled under her breath. Her spare hand had all the while been scratching away at her skin from where she had sat at a table at the Daily Drip. Only, she hadn't realized her claws had come out at the sudden shock until her nail had nicked her own skin. "Ah shit," She cussed, reaching to grab some spare napkins to press against the small cut she had just given herself. "Sorry. Just jumpy. There's a full moon tonight and all."

Option 2:

If there was one town she had wanted to stay as far away from as physically possible, it was the seaside town of Lunar Cove. Yet, here she was, the day of a full moon, shielding her eyes with the back of her hand as she followed after some bumbling tour guide as they rattled off all sorts of inaccuracies, like how before Shadow Lake dried up, it was rumored to be home to the Loch Ness Monster of all things. Wrong. 'Nessie being here' was just some silly prank the sirens started. Or how the 80s film, The Creature of Shadow Lake, which was filmed partially in town, was supposedly cursed, with all of the cast and crew suffering ailments of some kind after filming. The ailments did happen, but that had nothing to do with a witch's curse and everything to do with the director being a nepotist-loving asshole who trespassed on other residents' properties with her cast of family members to shoot particular scenes. But the part of the tour that did catch her attention was everything she hadn't known about, like the part about all of the previous Council leaders and their rather gruesome deaths. The tour walked them along many of the different murder locations before ending the historical walk in front of the steps of Town Hall, where one of the previous Fae Queens, Marjorie, had bit the dust. "Y'all have really accumulated quite the death count in this town, now haven't ya?" She let out a low whistle as she turned toward the nearest person walking along the Town Green. She wasn't all that surprised, given the chaos that had just gone down at the Masquerade Ball. But things certainly seemed different from what she had expected.

Option 3:

"Pst, did you get anything yet?" Len whispered to the rustling sound coming out of the alleyway trash bins. "They're total assholes, so there has to be some dirt on them," She kept her voice down as she spoke to Yoko, her raccoon familiar, that was currently rummaging through one of her least favorite client's trash bins in an attempt to find some dirt on them that she could spill on her latest podcast episode. But, at the sound of footsteps approaching, Lennon sidestepped in front of the trash in an attempt to hide what Yoko was up to from view. "Hey," She flashed the passerby an unassuming smile. "So, what brings you to the, uh, alleyway in the dead of night?" She asked, attempting to make casual conversation, just as a bang came from inside the trash can behind her.

[xthetoddinatorx]

Option 2

"Huh? Oh! I died here too! That's bogus as hell, right?" Looking up, Todd flashed a wide, easy grin, rocking a bit on his heels. He thought this tour was pretty scary, but in truth, he did find himself somewhat deflated that he had missed his chance to see a sick-ass lake monster. "It was the worst, you know? I was, like...bound to an object, so I couldn't even go nowhere or nothing. For real, for real. I like taking this walk so I can see where all the other ghosts were." Bringing up a hand, Todd gave an overly jolly wave at a corner of open air. "I can still see 'em and everything, you know? We just can't talk to each other or nothing. It's sorta like charades. But I totes suck at that game." He sighed very deeply, letting a defeated roll filter through his shoulders.

[readbentweenthelines]

@lunarcovestarters

Option A Where: Joe's Pasta and Pizzeria

"Yes, I'm picking up an order for anak Bandi," Ben told the tired looking teenage running the cash register of Joe's. "No, not Bendy, like the straw. Bandi. That's A-N-A-K B-A-N-D-I." He paused. "It might just be under Ben." He was a few minutes early, which wasn't much of a surprise, so the kid told him that it'd be a few more minutes. That was fine. Could he also probably throw in some extra garlic knots? Yes, he'd pay, just let him get out some cash. The rest of the to-go order was already paid though, right? Good.

Once his order was settled, Ben went and sat in the waiting area. Usually, ordering out was only for occasions. He preferred cooking for himself and Brie, and he'd been attempting to find ways to incorporate blood into her food without the taste coming through too strongly. It was a process, and certain utensils, bowls, and pans had to be separated to keep the cooking safe. Tonight, though, was simply too busy to try and attempt to make a meal, between grading and Coalition work and trying to figure out what the hell was going on with Prometheus. Cooking was the last thing on his mind. This was, perhaps, a way to take his mind off of all that was happening. Ben glanced over at the person sitting next to him. "Have you been waiting long? I can't tell if it's busy tonight or not."

Option B Where: Downtown

A body in motion will stay in motion, and Ben sought, at least for the moment, to stay in motion for as long as he possibly could. Until some outside or inside force caught up to him. Going out for a run these days was a privilege that he no longer took for granted, one that he spent months putting in the work to be able to do again. So that was exactly what he'd done, starting off at his house before working his way through part of downtown, planning to head into one of the other neighborhoods before making his way back.

It was equal parts exercise and distraction. Ben couldn't outrun his problems; he wasn't trying to. However, he did believe that he could run off the craving for things he knew he didn't need, particularly after seeing the effects of ichor at the masquerade. A human coalition leader should not be a flame-drooling rabid dog, he didn't believe.

It was this or take up smoking again, and he didn't believe that Brie would appreciate that too much.

A body in motion will stay in motion, at least until it grows too winded and needs to take a break. Ben stopped, putting his hands behind his head and stretching up as he attempted to regain his breath before picking back up. Then, he rested his hands on his knees until he noticed someone else around. Ben offered up a wave. "Nice weather, isn't it?"

[xthetoddinatorx]

"Oh, wassup, Doc! I didn't know it was you! I've been chasin' behind ya for a few blocks now. For real, for real. You're fast as hell." Todd had been out running himself that day, and skidding to a stop now, he flashed Ben an easy grin. "Oh, yeah! It's a good day for a jog. A good day for looking good." He himself was, of course, not actually wearing a shirt and took this opportunity to flex his arms. He laughed. "They won't let me use the treadmills at the gym no more because I'm...like, I got too much kick in my legs. For real, for real. It totes hurts the traction or whatever." This was not actually true, nor did it make any sense, but in the moment, Todd thought it made him sound super cool and athletic.

He hummed. "You doing good and all? After all that bad shit that went down at the party, I mean? I was tryna help as many people as I could, but things went real bad real fast." A shallow shrug rolled through his shoulders, almost apologetic, as though he had simply not tried hard enough to save the day. After a beat, however, Todd pursed up his lips.

"When you have a minute, can I...can I talk to ya about maybe something important? For humans, I mean. I'm...uh, I'm one of the people that used the needles, and I'm a little...." He furrowed his brow. "You know."

[ignoringevery-omen]

@lunarcovestarters

option one where: broken records

He looked under the display before him, sighing as he stood up and ran a hand through his hair. This was the fifth store he had been in, searching high and low and it looked like he was coming up short, yet again. Looking to the person next to him he sighed in defeat. "Have you seen a rock, he's got a little cowboy hat, googly eyes, a moustache?" It was a prank and it was beginning to drive him insane.

option two where: echo acres woods

From a distance it would look like the witch was setting up a relaxing bonfire in the middle of the woods, a small clearing a neat stack of wood surrounded by stones to contain it. That was until the small firepit was engulfed in a giant fireball, the kind that ought to have burnt the witch, had the fire not curved around him, spreading through the small clearing, nearly kissing the looming trees before retreating to be contained by the firepit. From the outside it seemed fake, an illusion, but in Lunar Cove it was normal, or normal-ish. Flexing his hands, Mac nodded to himself, glad that his magic seemed to back to normal, enjoying the quiet crackle of the fire before he heard someone approaching from behind him. "You need a bell or something, I could have barbequed you."

[xthetoddinatorx]

Option Two

"Woaaaah. That was sick as hell, bro. It was like...boom and shit! For real, for real." Emerging from the trees, Todd flashed a grin and clapped his hands easily together, delighted, really, by the magical display. He put his hands on his hips, then, gaze drifting upward to where bits of sky poked through the canopy, as though he were hoping to catch lingering traces of flame searing across it. His brow shot up. "Hey! You ain't...you ain't supposed to meet someone out here, are you? I am. And I don't know if it's you because I've never met them before." He was being very subtle about it, in any case, and not suspicious at all. Todd fished his phone from his pocket and began tapping at it. "DeepPockets420. That's their name. Wait! This ain't a sting, is it? That would succck, brah."

[noyaarmstrong]

Noya Armstrong groaned and pocketed her phone. Figures. Stephen was canceling. Even though she was already at the Starlight Bar. Even though this was HIS idea. Even though she hasn’t really wanted to come out in the first place. But he had convinced her because, well, Stephen could convince a starving man to hand over a loaf of bread. She loved her friend and he was talented, hence why they went into business together. But he would be the first to admit he was a spoiled brat who loved getting his own way. So even though he hadn’t worked today, he dismissed the fact that Noya had and begged her to meet for drinks.

She came. She drank. She was ditched.

Don’t hate me! Have to cancel! Tell you tomorrow. Love you! came the text followed by a row of heart emojis. Noya bet he met a guy at the gym. It was always a guy at the gym.

The bartender came close and Noya got his attention. “Can I get another one of these please?” She held up her empty glass and the guy went to get it for her.

One more and she was headed home to get in her comfies and reheat her leftovers, which were her original plans. That or to find another salon to finally get her hair cut. You’d think owning a salon would put you at the top of the list to get your tresses taken care of, but alas. She was a one chair shop. Noya did all the cutting and Stephen was an expert with color. Noya’s dark hair tumbled in thick waves all the way down her back, but lately, she was sick of the length and was dying to have it cut really short. Stephen could probably do it, but clearly he was hard to nail down.

Case in point: She had traveled downtown only to drink alone rather than resting after a long day on her feet, or finally getting to someone who could take care of all this hair.

The bartender brought back her second and Noya gratefully drank.

[xthetoddinatorx]

Todd was wearing his very official disguise glasses, which, in truth, did not actually have any lenses, as he sat now in a darkened corner of the bar. He had gotten it into his head that Starlight Bar and Shipfaced were perhaps engaged now in some kind of rivalry, and while he naturally believed in sportsmanship and playing fair, he also liked winning. Shipfaced was hella better. Of course it was. He worked there, and he looked better in a crop top than any of the bartenders here.

In any case, the young man was above sabotage. Sabotage was for losers who could not conquer their opponents on their own merits, and Shipfaced totes had plenty of those. It had the ambiance. It had the specialty cocktails. It had cool cups with little scratches in them from where he dropped them. It had him. For now, he was just observing, watching the customers, trying to get a feel for what made them choose this place instead of the one he called home.

"Man, this joint would be better if it sorta...rocked underneath you, right? It's super steady. Can't get into the music at all." Shipfaced, of course, had an entire ocean down below to help patrons sway to the groove. "Someone should invent that. Like...like...a moving dancefloor." He was being hella discreet. "You ever see Soul Train?"

[itsronniebish]

"Is a berth just like a fancy name for a boat's bed?" Ronnie asked. She laughed. "Solid advice, thanks. It's kind of cool, though. The, like, being on tv shit. Are you ever worried that people might recognize you as, like, you? But not dead." Her eyes lit up. "Oh, my god. You've never watched The Devil Wears Prada? Or The Princess Diaries? She's, like, super famous and so pretty. I think you'd love her. We've got to do a movie night, now." It was easy to forget that Todd had been actually dead for awhile, and there were just... things he didn't know. He was usually pretty good about social media and being a guy in his twenties. But then he wouldn't know who Anne Hathaway was or say something a little dated, and Ronnie would be reminded again.

"It's sort of gross because it's, you know, blood, but it's nice." It made Ronnie feel helpful, sometimes. She'd never really felt helpful before. "You've still got awhile before you get wrinkles," Ronnie told him. "And I don't think you're behind. You seem like you're catching up, despite your horrible lack of knowledge on Anne Hathaway. But, like. I don't know. I always thought it'd be kind of nice to get old, even with the wrinkles," she mused. She'd just never seen it happening. It was ironic that she was right.

Ronnie laughed. "Addie doesn't like anyone, ever, but you're totally welcome to try. You're at a disadvantage because you're a dude, but, hey. If anyone could do it..." she trailed off. "You should ask. I mean, like, people with titanium hips can go through airport security, so you should be fine with, like, a magnet."

[xthetoddinatorx]

"Mhm. Unless it's a cruise ship. Then it's a cabin. Which, like, makes noooo sense, right? Cabins are in the woods. I was gonna maybe see if I could find one to chill at this summer. Grill and keg and cannonballs and all that. Hella rad, right? Like, the most. But then someone said I was Jason-bait. Whatever that means." Todd sighed very deeply but managed a brighter smile. "Nah, I got a real, classic handsome face. Like the kind movie stars used to have, you know? It totes never goes outta style, so I think everyone would just be like...woaaah, that guy is handsome as hell and so was Todd. I guess I should come up with, like, a fake name, though, right? Todderick?"

He shook his head back and forth, hair flopping around as he moved. "Nope! I thought the devil went to Georgia. I bet you're prettier. You should do movies. You wanna be in mine? But, hell yeah! Just not at the drive-in. There's, like, this really mean-ass ghost dude that hangs around there, and he's an asshole. He always has this pissed-off looking face. Like this." Todd mustered up the most Kyle-esque impression he could muster, all lip, although he did not actually know that was the guy's name.

Breaking it, though, Todd nodded along with too much enthusiasm, as if Ronnie were making complete and total sense to him. Still, letting out a breath, he shrugged. "I used to think life was over at, like, 32," he admitted softly. "But I guess I've been in Lunar Cove for, like, double that, huh?" It did not always feel that way. "Aw, thanks. I'm real good at the phone and social media. I'm gonna get a brand deal. Do you know what that is? A 'brand deal.' It's, like, a local business is gonna pay me to sell their product. It's like a commercial but funner." He hummed. "I always thought maybe I'd have Todd Jr.'s., but I can't now. That's okay, though. I have ducks."

Clapping his hands together, he grinned. "I'm not a dude. I'm the dude." He sniffed. "Why would you need a titanium hip? Like a robot? Robots are scary as hell. Did you see Terminator?"

[itsronniebish]

"Yeah? Just roll outta bed like that, huh?" Ronnie teased. "Cute." It was easier to fake confidence around an already confident person, easy to feed off of it and make it her own, too. "What's your best get rich quick tip? Inquiring minds wanna know." She smiled back at him and offered a little salute. "I'll try really, really hard. But, yeah, I mean, I'm hot. I don't know if I'd say the prettiest. Anne Hathaway's right there, you know?" She didn't think she was very nice, either. She wrapped her arm around his bicep. "Damn. Impressive as hell."

Ronnie frowned and looked away. She took a second to answer, messing with her bangs and making sure they fell just so. "I don't know. I mean, I guess I'm glad to be alive. And... sometimes it's nice that I can help people. Like, my blood can heal people. That's pretty sick. But sometimes it sucks. It's weird that most people that I care about are gonna keep aging and I'm just... stuck," she murmured. That was what it felt like. Being stuck.

Snorting, Ronnie shook her head. "She won't. But Addie doesn't like anyone, not even me, so don't take it personally." She didn't point out that she was pretty sure that Todd hadn't been abducted by aliens. "Super fucked up. Can you get a new one? You know how some people have titanium hips and knees? Can you get a titanium rib?"

[xthetoddinatorx]

"I roll outta my berth. I sleep in a berth. Like, on a boat, you know? It's a really big, roomy berth." That was not entirely true, but he thought it sounded hella swashbuckling in a cool and adventurous sort of way. Todd grinned. "Be really good-looking. I got a workout tape. And a soap opera. And I might get to do a commercial real soon." He counted out these endeavors on his fingers, and while none had made him rich (nor fallen into his lap without his own meddling), he thought they all added up to a rather impressive resume. "Who's that? Anne Hathaway? Do I know her?" He had thought he had already gotten acquainted with all the other hot people, but the quizzical moment was rather immediately lost to the gun show as he pointedly flexed. "Thanks. You can see them any time you want, you know. For real, for real."

Todd nodded. "That's sick a heeeellll. That's a cool-ass power to have. You're cool as hell." His featured sobered, however. "I know. That happened to me too. Like...I died, right? And everyone else kept living. I mean, I totes don't think I'm stuck. I think I get to keep going, but I'm a lot of years behind. It's like there's this secret language everyone but me knows." He clicked his tongue. "I'm scared of wrinkles, though." This came with vulnerability, like an admission.

"Everyone likes me!" Todd grinned from ear to ear, perhaps taking this as a new challenge. "But woah, really? I don't know. I should ask. I think I'd be kinda worried and shit of, like, getting stuck to a giant magnet, though, you know?"