atlasxmoretti

[atlasxmoretti]

It wasn't that Atlas tried to be a smooth talker, it was something that just seemed to happen. On more than one occasion, it had managed to get him out of trouble. In other occasions, it had gotten him into a lot of trouble. Right now, though? He was simply talking in the hopes of maybe impressing the woman next to him. "I'm glad to hear it. Just say the word, and I'll make good on what I've said."

He let out a soft chuckle. "No sob story is ever the same. People all experience things differently, it doesn't take away from the fact that it can still be hard just because other people have been through the same or similar." There weren't many things that Atlas hadn't seen or heard about in his long life, but that didn't mean he would ever not be a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on when someone needed it. "But, if you're sure, the offer is always there." He looked over to give her a reassuring smile before looking back at the road.

At her question, Atlas nodded his head. "Surprisingly, yes, I am. It's been a long time since I've stayed in one place this long, and I can't say I ever imagined Raven's Peak would be a place I would ever find myself settling again, but it has been nice so far. A lot of familiar faces, and plenty of new ones." For the first time in a long time, Atlas could see himself making his home in Raven's Peak again.

Maia laughed, knowing that if she didn't like Noah or her job so much she would have switched in a heartbeat. Atlas seemed like a smooth talker and she found herself wondering what it would be like to work for him, among other things. "Well you definitely have piqued my interest, I'll tell you that."

She quickly waved his concern off. "It's best if I don't think about it, to be honest. But I have no doubt you're a good listener. Plus it's nice to know that even though you've been around a lot longer you probably heard the same sob story before." Maybe people didn't change as much as they thought as time went on. Maia quickly grinned when he said they should take the scenic route. "Good, I was hoping you'd say that." She settled in, turning to look at Atlas more. "So are you enjoying being back in your home town?"

[atlasxmoretti]

"I don't see how I couldn't agree." Atlas chuckled, shaking his head. The life he lead was far from exciting, at least by Vivienne's standards he was sure. "Oh, and do you have intentions of helping me with that? I'm not sure I could think of anyone better suited to helping me find some trouble than you, Ms. Beaufort."

The slightest hint of smirk appeared on his face at her words. "When you've lived as long as I have, finding any kind of trouble that I haven't found myself in before is rather difficult. But, perhaps with the right bad influence, I could manage it." Atlas was sure that Vivienne had no issues with finding ways to keep things interesting, and if she wanted to include him in that some time, he'd be a fool to say no. "Self-indulgence has never really been a strong suit of mine, which I'm sure comes as no surprise to you. But, I'm open to suggestions."

His warm hand gently squeezed Vivienne's cold one as they continued to walk. He could see what she was hinting at, and if he was being honest, he was tempted. But, it would make for a tricky situation considering Vivienne's ties to the Morgrave family. "Well, if it would be criminal, it would be remiss of me to not take you up on whatever you're offering. I am an upstanding and law-abiding citizen after all."

Vivienne laughed, her lips curving into a smirk as she let his hand settle over hers. "Well, I do aim to keep things interesting—boring is the curse of an endless life, wouldn’t you agree? Besides," she murmured, her voice low and playful, "I think a little trouble would suit you, Mr. Moretti. Just a touch, nothing to tarnish that pristine reputation you’re so proud of.”

She glanced up at him, the faintest glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "Staying out of trouble… how very noble, though I dare say a bit disappointing." She squeezed his arm gently, teasingly, as they walked. "You’ve managed to avoid it for so long, but have you considered… a little indulgence might do you some good? After all, how often does one get to stroll through the night with such charming company?"

Her gaze lingered on him, the invitation clear but wrapped in a veil of her typical dramatic flair. "Besides," she added, raising an eyebrow, "if you’re in need of excitement, it would be positively criminal to let me slip away tonight without at least tempting you.”

[atlasxmoretti]

Stepping inside, Atlas turned to smile at Noah. He was glad to see him in good spirits after such a successful event. It wasn't even his event, but Atlas was still riding the high of the evening. "Well, I have to disagree with you there, but I did come here with every intention of celebrating, so I'll take it only if it means we'll get this bottle opened sooner." He said with a chuckle, motioning to the bottle in his hand. "Considering all I've heard about the last event that took place, I'm glad that nothing like that happened during the reopening."

It wasn't his first time in Noah's house, so Atlas made way through to find them some glasses so he could pour them a drink. "How's business been since? I imagine the regulars have all returned." He said when he found the glasses. "I've seen a few new faces at Nouveau, and I'm almost certain it's thanks to you."

All things considered, Noah didn't think there was a better way for Midnight Mirage to be brought back to it's former glory and celebrated with all of Raven's Peak. The town had truly shown up for the event and things had seemed to go off without any issue. Noah was proud of what he'd been able to achieve in such a short window of time, even if relaunching a silly little business didn't seem all that important when he considered the bigger picture of his life as a whole.

Finding Atlas at his door, Noah couldn't help but smile appreciatively at both the champagne clutched in his hand and the words spoken. "I don't think I could have asked for it to go any more smoothly than it did, so I definitely have no complaints. It's good to have Mirage open again." He steps back, offering space for Atlas to enter his home. "The success is at least in part to you and your staff, too. It seems only right we celebrate together."

[atlasxmoretti]

Atlas smiled as Beau talked about what had been going on with him. He'd always had a soft spot for Beau, ever since they'd first met. The Wolfsongs were like family, and so Atlas was always interested to know how things were going for them. Today, he was focused on Beau, but at some point he would make sure to catch up with Nathan as well. "Well, I certainly hope that I'll get to sample some of these new recipes." He smiled, lifting his eyes from the menu in front of him to look across as Beau.

His smile only grew as he started talking about Jay. "That's great to hear, Beau. Truly. There's no one more deserving of that kind of love than you, so I'm glad to hear that you've found it." Atlas was a romantic at heart, even though it had been many, many years since he'd had a love of his own. "Me? I've been well. Travelling around, working with packs around the world. More recently, I've been travelling around the states, but now I've found myself back here, and admittedly that feels a little strange. But, I'm glad to be back, and it's nice to see so many familiar faces around."

Beau couldn’t help but smile as he settled into his seat across from Atlas. It was great to see him again after all this time. “Thanks for inviting me,” he said, glancing around the country club with its polished decor and inviting atmosphere. It felt special, a nice change from their usual hangouts.

He picked up the menu and pretended to study it, but the truth was he was more excited about the company than the food. “Oh man, where to start?” he chuckled. “So much has happened! I’ve been working on my baking a lot more, and I might’ve even experimented with some new recipes,” he said, trying to keep it light. He really only told Atlas and Mollie about his baking. He knew no one else would really understand his call to the sweets, but them.

“And of course, there’s Jay—everything’s been a whirlwind with him. I think I’m falling harder every day.” He paused, taking a sip of his drink, his expression softening as he thought about Jay. “But enough about me! How have you been? It’s great to have you back in town.”

[atlasxmoretti]

It wasn't uncommon for Atlas to offer a few free drinks on the rare occasion that he found himself behind the bar. It wasn't common practice, he knew that, but he'd always thought that it helped with keeping people coming back. It hadn't failed him yet.

"An excellent choice." Atlas said with a smile as he started making the drink. "So, what brings you in tonight?" He asked, making polite chat as he worked. He wasn't in it for the tips or the money, he'd always just enjoyed making sure that people had a good time. "I don't think I've seen you in here before, are you new to town? Or maybe I just haven't been around, which is entirely likely. Though, I think I'd remember a face like yours."

Rosita settled onto the barstool, ready to kick off her night with a drink. She didn’t even have to wait—almost immediately, the bartender approached her and offered a free drink. Now that was service. She couldn't tell if the charming voice was part of an act to rake in tips, but it didn’t matter; it was effective. It didn’t hurt that he was strikingly handsome, either. She already decided he’d get a generous tip—Rosita was many things, but selfish with her money wasn't one of them. She had more than she knew what to do with.

She also didn't know the man owned the bar, ''How nice of you,'' she said, a smile playing on her lips as she considered her choice. ''A martini, extra dirty,'' she added with a playful wink.

[atlasxmoretti]

"Well, in the time I've known you, you've always had somewhat of a flair for the dramatic. So, I don't imagine you doing things any other way." Atlas chuckled, reaching with his free hand to rest on top of Vivienne's. "Oh, you know me, I like to keep my nose clean. So, I've been staying out of trouble, or trying to. With much success, which sounds rather boring to say out loud." He'd never really been someone who went looking for trouble, though sometimes, despite his intentions, trouble managed to find him. More recently, he'd managed to avoid that happening, which had suited him just find. But, it felt like all of that was about to change.

"You're just full of compliments tonight, and I thank you." He cast his gaze in her direction as they continued to walk, a hint of a playful smile on his face. "I supposed our... unique situation does have it's perks." Being able to experience so many different times had been something special, but it came with many downfalls. Though, Atlas tried not to dwell on those. At Vivienne's question, Atlas raised an eyebrow. "If I'm being honest, no, I haven't found excitement in other ways."

Vivienne’s smile grew as Atlas spoke, savoring every flattering word. “Oh, I do know what that’s like,” she murmured, giving him a sidelong glance as they walked. “Though I suspect you and I approach it a little differently. I tend to linger until the place’s charm wears thin… or until I decide it’s time to make my next grand exit.” She laughed softly, brushing her fingers along his arm as if in mock sympathy. “But it sounds like you’ve kept yourself delightfully busy. Egypt, Italy… I can only imagine the trouble you must have stirred up there, Atlas. Or did you manage to keep yourself out of it?”

Her eyes sparkled with playful challenge. “And as for your age,” she teased, “if I’m any measure, I’d say you wear those years quite well. It’s one of the finer things about being in our… unique situation, wouldn’t you say?” She held his gaze a bit longer, her voice dropping to a low, suggestive tone. "Though, I wonder if all that wandering has left you longing for… more personal pursuits.” She arched a brow, her smile turning into a smirk. “Or am I wrong, Mr. Moretti? Have you found excitement in other… ways?”

[atlasxmoretti]

"If I were able to make you blush, I'm sure that would be some kind of miracle." Atlas laughed, shaking his head. He wasn't in the business of believing in miracles, not after everything that he'd been through, but the thought of making Elizabeth blush did make him smile.

As Elizabeth moved closer to him, Atlas smiled at the familiar feeling it brought him. "I hope you do. I know of the perfect place in my home where it would look amazing." The house was still mostly empty, his possessions still packed away in boxes waiting for him to be home long enough to bother unpacking. "Well, that's just all the more reason to go." He agreed with a nod. Atlas envied Elizabeth's creativity and artistic eye, he always had. To see her at work in such a beautiful place, he couldn't think of anything he would enjoy more.

“Yes, yes,” Elizabeth chortled, touching her cheeks with a hand as if testing them for heat. Her eyes all but danced with a fun and teasing light as she pretended to scold him. “You will make me blush.”

She turned to face him and rested her hands on the very corner of his shoulder before putting her chin down on her hands. When it came to her people, she really didn’t bother too much with personal space unless they needed it. And Atlas certainly seemed to be too relaxed to worry about her getting so close. “Tuscany wouldn’t be a good match for the Nouveau, but I’m certainly going to do a landscape for you personally,” she decided. “Then when we actually go, I want to paint you there. You get such a light here,” she explained, freeing one hand so she could brush her fingertips below his eyes, “talking about it. I can’t wait to see how you look when you’re actually there.”

[atlasxmoretti]

He hoped he hadn't been to forward with his request, but time was of the essence, and he knew that the other members of the original families had a head start on him. He'd been late to the party, so to speak, and was trying to catch up as quickly as he could so that he could try and be at least somewhat helpful. His efforts so far had been fruitless, so when he'd seen Briar, he saw an opportunity to get a different perspective one things.

"If you've got some time, I'd love to buy you a coffee and talk about what you know." He offered, though he would completely understand if they were busy. "Or, some other time if you're busy. I'm afraid I'm a little behind on the latest events and I'm desperately trying to catch up before the next big thing comes along." Atlas chuckled, however there was a serious tone to it.

Briar knew she had lots of people to lean on now for help, and she appreciated it so much more than she could begin to put into words. But she couldn't help but be frustrated that she wasn't learning everything as fast as she could have. So Briar found herself at the library looking up different books on vampirism to see if there's something in there that could help somehow. But Briar worried that at this point she was just grasping at straws.

She was flipping through pages next to a shelf, determining if the book was worth reading or not when she heard a voice call out to her. "Oh! Hello!" She never imagined a Moretti would be reading her work let alone try to search her out. Briar was quick to put the book back. "Oh of course. Honestly I haven't found a whole lot, it's mostly just speculation of what actually happened. But I did find evidence of people trying to hide the truth."

[atlasxmoretti]

"A burden I can't think of any one more suited to carry." With their arms linked, Atlas let Vivienne lead the way to wherever it was that she was headed. He didn't care where they ended up, he was just glad to be ending the evening with some company. "To think that you weren't already aware of the brightness you can bring feels almost criminal. Surely you've been told numerous times that you are the highlight of many days."

It wasn't uncommon for Atlas to turn on the charm when in the presence of a lady. It didn't matter where he was in the world, it didn't matter the decade or the century, he had been raised to be a gentleman and that was something that had never left him over the years. "Well, I think it's safe to say that your time has been much better spent than my own. Time tends to drag on when you get to my age." Whatever that age was. He'd stopped keeping track a long time ago. "Me? Nothing too exciting, I'm afraid. Mostly I've been traveling, most recently through Egypt, and before that I spent some time in Italy, Thailand, and Australia. I don't tend to stay in one place too long, but I'm sure you know what that's like."

Vivienne took his arm with a playful smile, feeling a little thrill at the warmth of his presence. “Oh, I do hope you’re not saying I’ve been the highlight of your evening, Mr. Moretti. It’s a heavy burden to carry, don’t you think?” She let out a soft laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “But I must admit, it’s nice to know I can brighten up a night, especially one as bland as you describe.”

As they strolled away from the restaurant, she leaned closer, savoring the proximity. “It has been quite some time, hasn’t it? Decades can feel like mere moments when you’ve had as much excitement as I have,” she replied, her tone hinting at the adventures she had experienced. “But I’m curious about you, Atlas. What have you been up to all this time? Any wild escapades I should know about?” Her curiosity was genuine, but there was an underlying flirtation, an invitation for him to share more than just small talk.

[atlasxmoretti]

"I'm glad to hear it." Atlas was always glad to hear that people enjoyed their time in his restaurant. He'd put a lot of work into getting it open during his last trip to town, and it made him happy to see that it had been doing well, even in his absence. "That's high praise, and I thank you for that." He didn't know Vivienne well, but he knew he well enough to know that she enjoyed the finer things, and any compliment from her meant a lot.

When she agreed to let him escort her home, he offered her his arm. "Well, I must admit that up until this point it had been rather bland. But, now that I'm in your company, it's definitely taken a turn for the better." It was almost impossible not to turn on the charm, but he knew Vivienne would appreciate it. "How have you been since we last saw each other? Well, I hope. It's been what? At least a couple of decades? Maybe more?"

Vivienne frequented Nouveau at least twice a week since she first discovered it, captivated by the ambiance that transported her back to her younger days. The setting was refined, yet vibrant, echoing the elegance of a life she once lived—full of dinners, dances, and all the finery that came with it. Stepping out of the restaurant and leaning against the wall, she pulled a cigarette from her purse, a familiar habit that stirred memories of sneaking away with friends after extravagant balls to share stolen smokes and whispered secrets.

The sound of a familiar voice pulled her from her reverie, and her expression brightened when she spotted Atlas approaching. “Ah, Mr. Moretti,” she greeted, her smile transforming into a smirk. "I enjoyed myself immensely, as always. You've truly created something magical here.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze lingering on him.

“I would be delighted for an escort home," she continued, her tone light but suggestive. Though perfectly capable of handling herself, she knew well enough that a little charm went a long way in making a gentleman feel appreciated. "And was your evening as pleasant as mine? I certainly hope so.”

[atlasxmoretti]

Blind dates weren't something that Atlas usually agreed to. But, he was always willing to try something at least once, and he'd been assured by his friend that the woman they were setting him up with would make for a fun date. So, after getting the details he needed, Atlas made his way to Nightshade Park to find the woman he would be spending the afternoon with.

He hadn't given much thought as to who it might be that he was meeting, but he was surprised when he saw none other than the sheriff seemingly waiting for him. He smiled as he approached, glad that he had decided to dress more casually than he usually would have for a date.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move in the grass. "Oh, I see I'm going to be a third wheel today." He chuckled, assuming that the small creature was there with Neylani. "Who's this little guy?"

"Okay, Rupert," The woman squat down to place the turtle in a tuft of overgrown grass and flowers, to allow him to amble off and enjoy himself, "Don't wander off too far, bud." She gave his shell an affectionate pat.

@atlasxmoretti

Had she brought the turtle to sabotage things on purpose? Perhaps. The fact she had only agreed to some chit-chat in Nightshade Park rather than the typical sit down for dinner or a movie, should have tipped that off from the beginning. Neylani was not particularly motivated for this blind date -- date was a strong word for it. The last one she tried was months back now, and she'd been stood up. Sure, she now knew that Mikael might have played a heavy role in why Micah hadn't bothered, but it still left a sour taste in her mouth. As did the literal countless failed dates she'd been on in the last two decades. Her efforts these days had become fewer and far between, to the point where she was just about ready to be fine on her own. She'd been thus far, anyway.

The sheriff hadn't even taken care in her appearance this time. Ney was dressed comfortably and as she did any other day of the week, outside of work, save for the sweater because it's gotten colder these days. She plopped down on a bench that let her keep an eye on the turtle (though Rupert had mostly camouflaged himself within some bramble by this point), checked her watch, and then crossed her arms to wait for this friend of a friend to show.

[atlasxmoretti]

LOCATION: Nightshade Park CLOSED for @ivanstonehh

The season was changing, and that was always something Atlas enjoyed. The way the leaves changed colours, the coolness in the air, it always made him feel at home wherever he was. The difference this time was that he actually was home. It had been a long time since he'd been in Raven's Peak at this time of year, so he planned on making the most of it.

As he walked through Nightshade Park, he took in the feeling of it all. He wasn't sure how long he had been walking, but he decided it was time to sit down and just enjoy the scenery. Walking up to the nearest bench, he looked at the man who was already sitting there. "You mind if I join you?" He asked, motioning to the seat. "Great time of year, don't you think?"

[atlasxmoretti]

LOCATION: Raven's Peak Country Club CLOSED for @beauwolfsong

It had been a while since Atlas had had a chance to catch up with Beau. In fact, since he'd arrived back in town he hadn't seen the younger man at all. So, wanting to right that wrong, he'd invited Beau to join him for lunch at the country club. He liked to somewhat spoil those that he considered family, and so he'd chosen the country club to do exactly that. It was nice there, and a place that he wouldn't usually go. But, it was a special occasion.

He sat at the table across from Beau, sipping on his drink and looking over the menu. "So, you'll have to catch up me on everything I've missed since my last visit. Leave out nothing, I want to hear about everything that you've been up to."

[atlasxmoretti]

LOCATION: Main Library CLOSED for @fadedstarsfms (Briar)

It wasn't that Atlas couldn't remember the history of the town. He'd been there, he lived it, he was a part of it. But, with everything that had been happening lately, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something that he'd missed. So, in an attempt to try and provide some help and insight into the ongoing situation, he'd made his way to the library to try and dig up something that he might've missed.

He was browsing the shelves when he spotted Briar, who he knew to be a journalist that had recently written a piece after the summer festival demon invasion. "Hi there, I'm Atlas Moretti. I'm wondering if you might be able to help me. I saw the piece you wrote after the summer festival, and I was wondering if maybe you might be able to shed some light on what you discovered while writing it."

[atlasxmoretti]

LOCATION: Witches Brew CLOSED for @glitchfms (Banks)

Atlas was in desperate need of a coffee, and while he could've made one at home, he'd always preferred picking one up from Witches Brew when he was out and about. He was still buzzing from the success of the Masquerade and the small part he'd played in helping in the night.

As he stood in line waiting to order, he spotted a familiar face. "You're Banks, right? From Ghost Under Oath? You guys played at Midnight Mirage for the masquerade, and I thought you were great. Who would I speak to about setting up a performance at my restaurant some time?"

[atlasxmoretti]

LOCATION: Outside Nouveau Table CLOSED for @viviennebeaufort

It was just after close, and Atlas had been helping out in the restaurant for most of the night. Between checking on things in the kitchen and helping to serve drinks, it had been busy, but he'd spotted a familiar face amongst the patrons. To his surprise, as he stepped outside, he saw Vivienne was still there, clearly having been one of the last customers of the night.

"Ms. Beaufort." He greeted her with a smile. "I hope you enjoyed your evening. I'd be remiss if I didn't offer to see that you got home safely." Though he knew that she would be perfectly fine, capable of taking care of herself, the gentleman in him couldn't not at least offer to accompany her.

[atlasxmoretti]

LOCATION: Nouveau Table CLOSED for @witchrosita

It wasn't often that Atlas found himself on the other side of the bar, pouring drinks instead of drinking them, but one of his usual bartenders was off sick so he'd had to step in. He'd dabbled in bartending a few times, so he knew his way around things, but he wasn't nearly as good as his staff were. But, he was trying his best, and he hadn't managed to mess anything up or break anything, so he considered that a win.

When a woman appeared at the bar, Atlas put on his best smile. "Hi, what can I get for you this evening?" He asked in his best, most charming voice. "First drink of the night is on the house."