jonahxrivas

[jonahxrivas]

Vampires. A sigh followed immediately after that thought, he would not think such a thing normally if he could help it but now where tiredness clung to him like a constant companion, thoughts slipped from time to time, Jonah was thankfully at least he his tongue didn't slip as well. "I'm sorry," he voiced instead, feet moving again despite the intention to pause for a while, "I'm going as fast as I can manage, it's hard to compete with your endurance and abilities." He wasn't fast, or strong, or anything else for that matter, as average as a human can be, made even lower when compared to the rest of the people in town, he was someone that faded into the background and folks were fine to leave him there. Or maybe he just wasn't good at this search party business, by no means had Jonah fooled himself into thinking he'd be successful but he very much still had hope that Meena and the wolf would be found. "Not complaining though," he added quickly, "The sooner they're found the better."

The weeks felt endless. Filled by non-stop searching as Gia tried to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. Normally, the vampire loved a challenge. Games and riddles alike tended to amuse her, but not this one. There were very few people still living that the immortal cared for. A short list of others for whom she would do anything. Including climb through sewers and the woods. The latter with a very slow, human man. Whoever's idea it was to pair them up by species was on Gia's personal shit list. "Sure, no problem! It's not like we're searching for people before they're murdered or anything. Let's move at your glacial pace! I'm sure that'll be most effective."

[jonahxrivas]

"Ah…" Came the reply only to trail off when he couldn't recall exactly either, "Good question... I'm sure it's in one of the cupboards. Order and organisation is…" he looked about the current room, "A work in progress." But they'll get there, this was really the least of his worries. "I know, it's not a easy to be in a spot like that," he assured him, "But you didn't lose her." There was the almost though, he couldn't imagine what Rohan went through in that moment, and it sounded ridiculous to focus on the little positives especially he had not be subjected to that scene, but what else could he do but offer support and reassurances? A chuckle could not helped as Rohan spoke, a brief moment of ease seeping through at the mentions of the Catalyst, "I suppose there's a reason they call it the terrible twos." Of course that had no relevance to their current situation but Jonah tacked that on anyway.

He shook his head slowly, "While I'm sorry to have kept on volunteering to go and I'm not trying to be negative or dismissive off you saying all these nice things, but Ro, I was also the deciding vote, I'm in a way responsible for the injuries the Fae Queen sustained. And others too. How is that brave, love? How is that good?" And if it hadn't been Nyra, it would've been Rangi's fate he had a hand in deciding. "No no, don't be sorry. I was not expecting a conversation when we discovered her missing. Had it been the other way, I likely would not have asked you either as bad as that sounds." Jonah exhaled slowly, "I hate that you had to go, was worried you wouldn't return, but I know you had to. And I'm glad you both are still here." Pausing to think on what he said, with a shrug he offered up a suggestion, "Does it require target practise? I know during camp activities I got the hang of archery, shall we try that with knives?" He wished he had magic, but Rohan having it was more than enough, "Alongside self defence." Was it so people stopped calling him squishy? Perhaps, but it was a good skill too. He sighed at the mention of deaths, nodding with that confirmation to his earlier thoughts, "I'm sorry. Are you giving thought to other things then?"

A smile took over his features without much effort, "You need to speak Spanish more often. Y tú eres mía. You'll always have me." He hummed low, taking in what was said trying to recollect where his husband would be allowed, "I suppose he'll have to then." He wasn't about to join the pack without Rohan, no matter how much he valued JC. "I don't think you caused anything. He had a tough choice to make."

Rohan nodded distantly, squeezing Jonah's hand back. "Yeah. Yeah, we should. Do you know where the red nonstick pans are? I swore I unpacked them." This seemed to be an effort to catch a dangling task onto which to latch, as if he really could forget all their troubles by instead focusing on elusive cookware. "I just...You know, I just found her. I couldn't lose her. I don't know what I would do. I didn't want anyone to get hurt. The Catalyst couldn't even keep her motives straight. First, she blows up on us for bidding on each other, and then she forces us to turn on each other. She had the object permanence of a two-year-old." He knit his brow, but disparaging the now deceased woman was not going to undo any of the damage, part of him still knew.

"You're wrong. You were willing to go out there and do something. You volunteered. And each and every day you stay here with me is you being insurmountably brave. I love you so much." He nodded. "And I'll be selfish. Part of me was glad you didn't go, but then I left to go after Amrita. I'm sorry for that. I should have spoken with you before rushing off. You're my husband. Every decision I make I make with you. I promised that. And look...maybe we can both do self-defense training together. I can make shadow knives now. I don't know how to use them." A deep sigh erupted from his lips. "I appreciate that, babe...but there have been, like, what...four, five deaths just on the stage? I don't see how it could ever operate again. At least not with me at its head. The place is a mausoleum." He swallowed hard.

"I'm not alone. I have you. I have so many people, but especially you," he smiled. "Tú eres mi mundo." Rohan shrugged his shoulders. "Well, JC voted not to let me in the pack, as I understand it, so he can live with a little disappointment." Rohan murmured this, curling up into the other's side. "He is. I'm just sorry if I created some kind of rift for him. Not voting for Linden, I mean."

[jonahxrivas]

Jonah simply held her as she continued to cry, not knowing what else to do, not knowing if there was anything he should do. Her cries and even what felt like a scream rattled in his ears causing him to tighten his grip just a little around her, in a way he was, or had been, trying to let her know that despite things not being okay, for the moment at least Ben was still here, that he was with them, but Jonah was unable to voice that, words caught and were buried under emotion that grew to form lumps in his throat. not a lot could be done about the consistent horror that plagued this town, death, fear, destruction, they loomed overhead unrelenting shadowing whatever light and happiness they had seemed to build up. Could he even hope?

"Bri..." he spoke softly, her defiance had him shaking his head a little but he didn't say more on the matter, he understood the feeling, to not wanting to leave he'd likely be the same. "Okay..okay, I'm not going to force you to leave, I could never do that, just tell me if you want or need anything, alright?" She was right, this was not okay, the situation was in every bit horrible and unimaginable, looking over to Ben's still sleeping form relief wasn't the prominent feeling but it showed up nonetheless, a small spark, "He's still here Bri, you haven't lost him." Of course he could not speak of that feeling in the moment, when Ben wasn't there, his cousin that rarely broke composure around others, was beside herself with worry and he couldn't do much other than continue to comfort her, "You're not going to lose him."

"At least? At least?" She choked up so more. This time not bothering to stiffen her sobs as she buried her face against Jonah's shoulder. She cried and cried until she thought there was no possible way anymore tears could form and then she cried some more. There might have been a muffled scream in there too while she was at it, before she finally peeled her head up. Whipping at her mascara stained cheeks, all Bri could do is nod as she sat there. Her lower lip still quivering.

"No," She shook her head. This time more defiantly. "I'm not leaving," She insisted. Not when the last time she took her eyes off of him, he was gone. "I can't, Jonah. I can't." Her voice was hoarse. Her brown eyes, all the while, begging him not to ask her to leave again. "Please? and no. No, it's not going to be okay. Nothing about this is okay. I nearly lost him, Jonah. I can't-" She sobbed some more. Her body practically melted into a puddle in her cousin's lap as fully broke down.

She may have poorly managed to hold it together after she had killed someone that inadvertent night she had returned from the dead and again after the dreamscape and again after every god forsaken day in this town. But, she wasn't strong and she couldn't do it this time. Not when it was Ben.

[jonahxrivas]

for: @georgianaortiz location: somewhere by the woods

He wasn't lost. He was following. Or at least that was the intention.

Jonah split his time between many things lately, and surprisingly hadn't let anything drop, sure sleep was an issue and nightmare still plague him but between visiting people, helping out with search parties and giving a hand where ever he could in the reconstruction of the Pendulum, despite what Rohan had said though there was truth to it, he couldn't just let it be, Jonah was doing a great job at not being idle, or at least still enough to not let unwanted thoughts crawl back into his head and fill him with more anxiety than currently in his system.

Today's search party had paired him with a vampire, an eager one they said, to which he hadn't thought much off until he met Gia. "Hey, Gia," he called out, pausing to catch his breath, "Could you slow down a little, please? I can't keep up."

[jonahxrivas]

Wrapping her into a hug, Jonah immediately set to comfort as she began to cry, his heart breaking a little by little as tears flowed, something that caused his own eyes to well up a little too. He couldn't imagine that level of pain, magical town or not, such a injury was horrifying under any circumstance. "At least he's got painkillers," he mumbled out, gaze drifting towards Ben. "I know this isn't easy on you either." While he hadn't done much when chaos erupted, Jonah had seen Bri's state during it too, and that thought only made him hold onto her a bit longer.

"I'll be here, Bri, don't worry, I can do that much for you. I'll call you as soon as he wakes but knowing you, you'll be back. Go change at least? Get something to eat? I can't make you anything with blood since we don't have bags at our place." Not that he wanted her to leave Ben's side, she would stay here in this spot he knew that very well and could for a long time too, but he was concerned for her, she might not care about herself in this moment, but Jonah couldn't help but to worry twice as much. As she continued, he shook his head a little, "From the city? Oh Bri..." he moved to wrap her into another hug. "It'll be okay... or as okay as okay gets, yeah? I'm sorry I can't do more to help you both."

Bri had been certain that she'd eventually run out of tears to shed and, yet, the moment her cousin's hand touched her shoulder, her deep brown eyes began to well up all over again and she found herself choking up on her words. "Mhm," She barely managed to get out between the sniffles. "A little while ago, but he-" Oh, here it was again. The tears were trickling down her cheeks now as she sniffled once more. "But, he passed back out do the-" She could do it. She just needed to get the words out. "Pain. The doctors gave him some more painkillers to take though," She finally managed to say it after her third try.

But, at the mention of going home, she adamantly shook her head. "No, no. I need to be here. He could need me," She insisted, straightening up the tiniest bit in her seat as her stubbornness seemed to come in handy for once. "But, thank you for the food. I ordered some Magnolia's pudding for him, but it's coming all the way from the city so it likely won't be here until tomorrow," She admitted in between her stream of tears.

[jonahxrivas]

On days that followed horrific town events, something of a pattern by now, falling back into regular rhythms of life proved difficult but Jonah knew were he to deviate from routine thoughts would spiral into things that would do him no good. Giving his mind something else to occupy itself with wasn't difficult, not when they had a whole house to sort and tidy, and it came down to the little things now, books, trinkets, to make this place feel more theirs, such things didn't require much focus but he had enough of it to be lost at the task in hand, breaking attention only when Rohan's voice reached his ears.

"Should we make something from it to take to her? Hey no–" he spoke gently moving to his husbands side to give his hand a gentle squeeze, "Don't think like that. You did everything to get her out, the situation wasn't in anyone's favour." He couldn't imagine that moment, that pain and worry, his heart broke for both Rohan and Amrita. Settling down into the couch next to him, Jonah shook his head, "You're probably the only one in town that thinks that, but no, I didn't amount to much, there's no bravery at all." Which couldn't be denied, he didn't do anything but stand around and vote for the things to happen, to the point that he had been the deciding factor for one of them. That would never not weigh him down. "Don't say that, it's not gone. The Pendulum is a special place, it's awful that it became a target for destruction again." But he understood what Rohan might have meant by that, the essence of what made the playhouse was lost in the rubble. "I'm sorry, mi amor, it's unfair that you're left alone under such circumstances. I'm no coven but I'll always be by your side, please believe that." A smile wavered before it eventually fell, "Don't let JC hear you say that, you'll get his hopes up." It was an attempt to joke back, but that thought, to be something other than human just to assure strength had been revisited more often than not these days, "I'm glad for that, I'll forever be grateful to Nico. He's a good person and friend."

Closed starter for @jonahxrivas Location: Rohan and Jonah's Study

While some people could perhaps find solace in work, Rohan lacked such a mind. Bound by monotony, he typically found his own brain suffering under the stress of routine, filling itself with misgivings that would plant firm roots if he allowed them to. Still, determined to push through it, he had spent much of the afternoon unpacking, trying to turn this house into more of a home for the pair of them. The room was beginning to take shape, colored by the passions and the touch of both who dwelled now within it.

"Amrita gave me this cookbook," he murmured softly, flipping through one of the many tomes with which he had begun to fill the room's shelves. "I should have gotten to her sooner, Jonah. If I'd tried a little harder, she would be..." He trailed off, swallowing hard before turning around to flash his husband a smile. Cocking his head, he tugged him gently to the sofa. "I'm so proud of you, you know. Of how brave you were that night. Really. I'm in awe of you." Leaning forward, he planted a kiss to his temple. "But the Pendulum is...gone. For good this time, I think. I don't know what to do. And I just feel...very unprotected. Without a coven, I mean. Not that I don't trust...I don't know." He sighed very deeply, playing a finger along Jonah's jaw. The next remark came as a joke. "We'd make cute wolves, I think, me and you. Nico really had my back."

[jonahxrivas]

for: @cantfightmoonlight - Bri location: hospital

Despite not being of much use or help where it counted, Jonah found himself in a stupor of movement and thought as he waited for the food he had ordered to be made, it felt like there hadn't even been time to register what had happened let alone process or act on it. Scenes from the night swirled in a kaleidoscope of fresh new horrors and a scream filled his ears, jerking him back to reality, heart pounding as he went into high alert – but it had only been his name being called out, no screaming, no terrifying scenario here. But he was on his way back to place that held many.

It was unfathomable to have seen what had happened to Ben, that shock still clung to him and he knew how badly Bri was shaken up about it as well. Knocking gently he entered and shut the door behind him, "Did he wake up yet?" Jonah spoke quietly, setting the bag down before placing a hand on Bri's shoulder, squeezing it softly as she stayed by Ben's bedside exactly as she had been when he left a little while ago. He couldn't blame her, he'd be the same way. "There's food for the both of you, hospital stuff isn't the greatest." And that he knew from experience. "Do you want to go home and change? I'll stay with him, I know you might not want to, but I'll be here."

[jonahxrivas]

Option B: Elena

It seemed that whenever the situation came down to important things, he failed to be of any use, no matter how much he tried, how much he attempted to reason, he was overlooked or simply seen someone that could not help or the kind that puts others at more risk. What had he done but stand around? It was times like that he wished he could be someone different, someone better. Such thoughts weighed down heavily as he went about the day, still doing whatever he could to help with the search, whatever they'd let him do, and things outside of that had to continue too even if he didn't want to, routine becoming both a saviour and torture.

Not realising he walked past his truck, Jonah looked up with a confused expression as someone addressed him, the question unexpectedly making him laugh as it pulled him out of his head, "Not judging harshly no, rather fair assessment actually, this town is like a nightmare come to life." The chaos and destruction he had in a year and a bit of living here had been enough to scare him off, much like how she might be feeling as he took in the suitcase, "But leaving," Jonah nodded to her luggage, "Isn't really any better either." It was harder to answer if he liked the place, it was the people he stayed for, that and not wanting to experience memory loss again, "I like the life I've made here. My husband, cousin, family, friends, it's not necessarily the place but the people I love are here. Does that answer your question? Sorry, it's not straightforward but neither is this place."

Option A

Safiye was still beyond shaken up after everything that had happened to her during the carnival. She’d been so weak that she was able to be kidnapped, but now she was even weaker because her refusal to take human blood. Normally she’d go to Meena for help so she could heal faster, but with the clan leader missing she was all on her own. Which normally wouldn’t be a big deal, if she wasn’t in constant pain from the injuries she’d gotten. With a scarf wrapped around her neck so she wasn’t showing off the gaping wound she practically hobbled to park bench. 

Sitting down with an exhausted sigh and she went to take a sip of her coffee that she’d been holding until she sensed another persons presence. Rather than wait around to be attacked again she brought out her fangs and stood up. Ignoring the pain she felt because this time she’d be ready. That was until she realized who it was. “Oh it’s you.” She sighed in relief, she put away her fangs. “I thought someone was following me or going to hurt me again.” Adding the end part quietly. 

Option B

Elena had hoped this town would be the safe haven it promised to be, but the longer she stayed here the more at risk she felt. People were constantly dying and being injured left and right; it felt like she could barely keep her head above water before the next thing happened. So she’d checked flights and bus tickets all in the hopes that maybe she’d get some sign from the universe whether to stay or go. Rather than wait around Elena found herself packing up what few things she had into her suitcase once more.

As she rolled the suitcase outside she found herself taking one last look at the town only to sigh. Was she really about to leave all of this behind? There wasn't exactly great memories here to start with anyways. As another person approached Elena looked towards them, deciding this was her sign from the universe. "Do you like it here?" She asked softly. "I mean this is kinda a hellscape right? Like I'm not judging the town too harshly now am I?"

@lunarcovestarters

[jonahxrivas]

It was hard to keep track when nights blended into days into nights and more nightmares, he gave up on proper sleep a long time ago, even before Saturdays events. Little sleep became something of a norm to him, but tiredness latched onto his body and mind causing Jonah to quite literally drag his feet around as he made his way outside as he finished the remainder of... what he wasn't sure was his fourth or the fifth coffee, but either way he hoped it'd do the trick and keep him functioning a little longer. He'd have to visit the aquarium today, a task he'd been putting off to visit folks at the hospital company and help with the search however he could.

Letting yawn through, Jonah stretched his arms up for the satisfying click, and would be on his way had he not heard a voice question about something. Looking to Frankie sitting, he blinked a few times trying to get his mind working. "Sunday? No wait, the sun came up twice since then I think so... Wednesday? That sounds... no that many days can't have gone by already. It's someday Frankie, please ask me a less complicated question."

who: open | @lunarcovestarters where: somewhere outside the hospital. when: today

There were times Frankie definitely thought about moving out of Lunar Cove. Usually, those came up slowly on the heels of something resembling a trainwreck. Sometimes, she wished it was an actual trainwreck, too, but that seemed a little dark. It would've been more straightforward, though. And really, she'd made her own choices. Those choices had made her the attending on-call for what had turned out to be one of the most chaotic nights on record. And that night had been followed by a day and another night and another day and, well, it wasn't difficult to get the general idea.

Be a doctor, her brain said. It'll be worth it to help people, since you'll never be able to do with that magic, it added. Well, her brain, scrambled eggs as it was, could feel free to kick rocks.

No, she didn't know how that would work.

She was so tired when she finally left the hospital. She may have taken a few nap breaks, however involuntary. She had gotten at least one shower, so that was something. She didn't know how long ago that had been. All she knew now was she was outside, and happy to be there.

She plopped down right on the grass, well aware it was not grass-sitting season in October. She did not care. When a shadow stretched in front of her, she squinted up at the person the shadow had come from.

"Do you, by chance, know what day of the week it is?"

[jonahxrivas]

"That's true," he agreed, "I try to be conscious of things, but it's hard at times to keep all it in mind." Given his experiences were vastly small compared to others, both magical and non-magical, there really wasn't he could say and expand on the matter that would make it worthwhile of a contribution. "I get that too, I suppose some would feel forgetting, say certain events, would be easier. I sometimes wish I could too..." he shrugged, "Then again having gone through it, I don't want that again personally. I do understand the importance of the mirage though, it's needed." Jonah knew the mirage wasn't the only way to forget or keep away memories, he didn't understand how it worked but he knew there were other charms too. He nodded, "No, I know, Vampires did not start of such," he said quietly, "Finite and infinite, comparisons are part of our nature I suppose." Letting his mind wander for a brief moment and thoughts simmer, Jonah was quick to decide that likely wasn't a good idea. "Thank you," he smiled. Holding up his bottle that was nearly empty, he pointed to it, "Would you care for another drink?"

END.

"Yes, but every decision has consequences, love. Every decision you make right down to the shoes you buy to what coffee cup you drink from, affects someone or something. The consequences of magic are just more blatant is all," She reasoned. "I can imagine it wouldn't be," Her voice was soft as her empathetic gaze made its way to his. "Though, there are also people who would rather forget too, for reasons I personally would not chose, but I understand them. Just as I believe that it is a shame that the mirage exists, even if it is for the town's own safety and there is a necessity for it. And I understand. Sometimes, I envy finite personally, but being a vampire is a rather peculiar situation, given that none of us were born as such. Some of us were born with the finite, others not. But, we all were someone entirely else before we ended up as this, so even for those who don't feel stuck, it's hard not to compare your life now to the life you once had. It's inevitable really," She admitted with a small shrug, before tacting on a, "I'm glad you have him too."

[jonahxrivas]

If he had felt any sort of awkwardness in the beginning of this, it was safe to say that such a feeling had long evaporated and replaced by a smile and a more relaxed state of being. Her expression, though she might have meant it to be menacing, had quite the opposite reaction and posing it as a question only made him nod and confirm it, "You are! It's a nice thing. Just take the compliment, would you? Do you want me to say, Oh Aspen, you're so serious." Hearing his own voice back, his attempt to do a funny voice backfiring rather spectacularly, Jonah couldn't hold back the groan, "See, what I mean. I can't be funny even if I tried," he said, bubbles of laughter accompanying his words. Growing quiet however, his head tilted slightly, "If it was still there? It's no longer there?"

She pressed her own laughter back. She hated to admit that the point of the game was making itself known, but she figured — yeah, this was probably it. Aspen glowered as Jonah continued to laugh, only their names known and not much else about their person whatsoever. He seemed to find comedic timing in the smallest of moments, which she both appreciated and hated. Then again, such things were on the normal spectrum for the eldest Bishop. "I'm ... funny?" Wait, she had to repeat it as though it was a statement. "Eugh. I'm funny and I make people feel less awkward playing silly games." Though she couldn't let this slide without a comment. "Now that's something to write home about, if it was still there." Since he went with it, she opted to do the same. "I'm also silly like the game." To be fair, since it was an I-statement, she also was saying it about herself. But she had to do it.

[jonahxrivas]

"Extraordinary but not without consequence even to those that don't wield it." Though he agreed to the statement Jonah grew a little quiet when she mentioned forgetting, "Having memories altered isn't a pleasant feeling." He remembered when he drove past the town limits, past and out of the mirage, memories bursting full of things he's seen, both good and bad, of Rohan and Bri and then having those fade like waking up from a foggy dream, faces facing despite him trying to cling onto it onto something he couldn't grasp, or didn't hurt in the slightest but forgetting left an ache he couldn't place. Then it all trickled back slowly on his return, but the impact of it made him crash when he realised what he had done. After another beat, Jonah brushed off such thoughts, not wanting to bring the mood down. "I'm okay with the finite, really, it's what I've always known about life anyway before coming here. Your lives are rich with history and discovery, even if there was no action, experiencing it is enough but I do get that not everyone will see it as such though, feeling stuck is understandable." Giving her a smile, he nodded, "Yeah, might as well enjoy it. I'm glad I have him."

"Ah," A look of mutual understanding flickered across her gaze as she gave him a nod. "I might have always known about magic, but I do know a thing or two about having everyone one knew flipped on its head. It's not the easiest feeling when the ground beneath your feet suddenly feels shaky, though I suppose there is a reason so many people chose to stay in town rather than forget all this. Magic however chaotic is extraordinary, isn't it?" A soft smile danced across her lips. "They do and it's human nature to pass quick judgements at first glance. A survival tactic that we can't seem to shake, hm? Though you can and you will. I know these days it's hard not to feel like everything is finite and, in a lot of ways it is, for all of us, but there is also a reason those of us who wind up living for an eternity find ourselves envious of those like you. Your kind have a tendency to cease every opportunity and live every day to the fullest. There is an optimism you all seem all to carry day in and day out however had it may sometimes be, while my lot, we, um, we tend to find ourselves wasting centuries with little to show for it. We get stuck. When you believe you have all the time in the world, even when you don't, you lose the urgency to live it. So, while it's easy to get caught up in one's head, enjoy this time being newly weds. You've found your person. Now, you might as well enjoy it, right?"

[jonahxrivas]

"I'm not opposed to the ground," he said, smiling warmly as he sat down, especially not after the trouble she took to make the spot less rocky. "That's good, I'm glad." Still unsure on the best way to ask or bring up the topic, Jonah settled for this in-between chatter, but it wasn't to stall or any such thing, there was genuineness in wishing to talk casually with her too. Nodding in agreement, he answered, "What's not to love about a hammock in the canopy, minus the need to climb up and down trees each time, but even that to me wasn't entirely bad. Rohan said he didn't mind it much either." Despite still feeling a bit back for having him do that it had been nice for them to be up amongst the treetops and talking about stars, a peaceful night. Taking in the way he features shifted and the way she seemed to pick at her fingers, Jonah though wanting to ask if she was truly doing okay kept this light conversation going for now, "At sea is always preferred," he said with another nod, "Can't ever deny that, but I do enjoy camping, we used to camp when I was a kid so in a way it feels like that again. Have you been liking it?" Gaze fell to her when he asked, "I was worried earlier at the sporting events, specifically canoeing. You didn't have to exhaust yourself like that, you know that right? Are you feeling better now?"

Amrita had been earnestly picking at her nails ever since finding out about the sleeping arrangements. She wasn't upset at her roommate. Tommy seemed rather kind, but she couldn't still the nerves about sleeping in a new place with someone new. So, instead of enjoying the luxuries of her tent, she had sat on the ground. Hands moving swiftly as small batches of grass grew then went back to its original height. The grass continued to grow as the witch picked at her nails. A mindless action. Her brown eyes were dark and far, a clear sign that she had spaced out in her lonesome. The distant sounds of animals chattering occupied her mind reminding her that she wasn't truly alone nor was she in an unfamiliar place. She knew these woods.

The young witch took a deep breath and as she exhaled she heard him. Jonah. A voice that was so easy to recognize now. “Not at all. Please.” Out of habit she waved her hands, and the rocks littered around her went underground to leave him a more comfortable spot on the floor. “I suppose you can also sit on the log... I always prefer the ground.” A sense of warmth settled on her face at the realization that he wanted to sit on the log and not on the ground. “Uh... yeah. It's nice.” A curt reply due to her complete distaste of lies. “How's yours? Is it comfortable?” Eyes lit up as she stared at him and the frown that adorned her features eased into a neutral expression. She hadn't even realized just how tense she was until he arrived. “Do you enjoy camping? I feel like an escapade on the sea fits you more.” She teased, fingers stopping their senseless picking.

[jonahxrivas]

He felt like he could be honest so he answered truthfully after a prolonged beat, "It was a lot, the discover itself was wonderful but everything that came with it? I feel like I still haven't caught up with it all, which is stupid I know, I've been here long enough for this to not be new but..." he shrugged, "My world flipped almost overnight and I'm learning about, well, everything. But, it is wonderful though, don't get me wrong. Science and magic are about surprises and discoveries, so it's not bad." He nodded as she spoke, "I agree to that. It's not easy to shake those preconceived notions once formed, change and adjustment take time." But how much time did they all have? In a way, he was glad for these camp activities, they'd be a chance to bond or at least to know others in a fun setting. He gave her a small smile, unable to voice that he meant it in a different way, because the fact was, he wasn't sure he would even be alive for his own wedding. "I believe it," he said instead, "I was hoping for this day since that long too. I'm just hoping I can continue to make him happy."

"What was that like, if you don't mind me asking? Discovering that magic was real?" She asked curiously. "For me, this world is all I've ever known, so it's hard to imagine what would it be like to have never realize any of this existed into later in life," She admitted with a small shrug. "You say kind, I say simply the truth. But, I do believe people in this town get caught up in all sorts of prejudices from time to time, though I have a feeling that is partially inevitable." Though as his gaze dropped to his ring, her own gaze softened. While their wedding had given her insight into her friendship with Rohan, she was truly happy for them. "Really? And so we differ again. I had a feeling I'd find the two of you here eventually. I think I told Rohan such nearly two years ago if you can believe it."

[jonahxrivas]

Jonah laughed at her rather feelings on this game but he nodded all the same, "Sure sure, I'll go again, but just know this will make me laugh." He couldn't pinpoint as to why he found this so strange, perhaps it was the company that was making him seeing the funny aspect more than it normally would or perhaps it was just the nature of the game and the comedy of pairing two strangers together. Re-gaining composure was slightly more difficult than he initially thought especially as she seemed to challenge him of all things, "Alright, let's see," he pondered as gaze fell back on her, but he couldn't point out more physical attributes when he asked her to try something, so instead of phenotypes, he made an observation on her personality, "You're funny and make people feel less awkward playing silly games."

"Can't you fucking do it?" Though she sighed. She had been huffing a lot more recently than not. Calming herself back down, glaring at his snicker, she went for it again. Staring him down. One eye, narrowing slightly over the other. "I'm a guy who laughs at everything even when it's not funny." Her lips twitched, despite herself. No, she would not crack. She was not going to become that guy herself. She was perfectly in control of this, and calm, and deliberate. "Go on. Say it." Nope. She wasn't. She added in the taunt and the tease like she would to Daphne. Like she would if things were actually normal, and without doom and gloom.

[jonahxrivas]

for: @dvsconocvdo

While he had not climbed trees since he was a child, it surprisingly came easy to him now as he descended yet again from the tree hammock that he and Rohan had acquired. As lovely as it had been to sleep up in the canopies surrounded by trees and birdsong with a dazzling display of stars, Jonah, in a way was glad to have his feet back on solid ground – for now at least. He smiled at people passing by, greeting them felt less stranger as familiar faces were plentiful now but a particular one caught his eye. He had been meaning to talk to Amrita since the camp activities, specifically canoeing when he saw her completely exhausted, but he hadn't gotten a chance to seek her out and though he waved at her cheerfully it tugged on the guilt he had been harbouring. "Hey, mind if I sit?" he asked pointing at the log next to her, "How's your tent situation? You got one of the good ones, right?" It wasn't what he needed to ask, but he hoped he could ease into the conversation that needed to happen.

[jonahxrivas]

"Yeah! If you see a yellow boat on the waters any time, it's mine," he said with a laugh, "Hammock comes into play if I'm waiting on collection tanks to be full mostly but sometimes also if I'm just looking to kill time." He smiled as Wendy mentioned the oak trees, nodding at the shared sentiment, "Exactly like that, yes. Good feeling isn't it? I bet we could find some oak trees if you wanted that again." He missed that life each time he spoke on it, it wasn't as if he couldn't create it here or that he didn't consider this place home too, but know what would happen if he left, experiencing it first hand, his freedom was limited to the mirage. "Yeah, you're not wrong. It'll definitely feel strange to go back to regular life after all this." What was normal anyway? There seemed to only be worry about everything at all time, even now, the feeling lingered in the back of his head only by sheer will was he able to hold it at bay. "I'm glad that you're enjoying this time, being in nature is like that, you can't ever get enough." Realising the pun , Jonah couldn't help but help and give her a nod of approval, "That's a good one, New Leaf. I'll miss summer a lot."

"Wait, you have a boat? And a hammock in it? That sounds ideal, I can't even lie to you. That reminds me of, like, when I'd put a hammock over the best oak trees in the woods back home." Discussing their life back home wasn't something Wendy did often. Not because they didn't want to, but simply because it never came up in an organic or natural way. They felt strange about info - dumping about it. Like it was wrong to want people to get to know what had happened before Lunar Cove. Or like it was unnecessary exposition for the person that they were now. ( Except it wasn't. It had shaped everything. ) "It's kinda strange going back to normal after all that. Like, how are we supposed to just continue on? Now all I wanna do is be out in nature and camping again. It so woke that bug up, I'm like. Ugh!" Though she may choose the vacation version next time. With some solitude. Or would she? Now that she was used to being surrounded by Lunar Cove-ians, she might have changed her mind. "But autumn is coming, and I have to turn over a New Leaf with decor."