#* [conversations] 💬 ft. beau

[edenxmonroe]

LOCATION: Town square (Amidst the chaos) CLOSED for @beauwolfsong

After splitting up from Banks in an attempt to find her loved ones, Eden found herself walking around, frantically searching for familiar faces, but everyone was moving too fast for her to find anyone. Her heart was pounding, she people were moving quickly in every direction, bumping into each other and causing all kinds of collisions. And Eden was scared, which wasn't something she felt often.

As she moved through the crowds of people, she felt someone grab her arm tightly. At first, she thought maybe it was one of her brothers, or one of her friends. But when she turned around, she didn't recognise the person who's grip only seemed to tighten. They looked at her like she was a piece of meat, and Eden struggled to free herself from their grasp. "Let go of me!" She shouted, but they didn't move, they just held on and kept looking at her with black soulless eyes. Pulling harder, squirming as much as she could, she was able to free herself and quickly run away.

She wasn't able to get far before she tripped, having lost her footing in her haste to put as much distance between herself and the person who had grabbed her. Eden fell, tears in her eyes. As she was getting to her feet, she felt a presence behind her and turned to look, expecting to see those black eyes again. Thankfully, it was someone she recognised. "Beau! Oh, my God."

[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."

[edenxmonroe]

Beau's comments made Eden smile because she knew that he really meant what he said. Beau had a kind heart, she'd always known that, and that was why she cherished their friendship so much. In Beau, Eden felt like she had someone who understood her in a way that other people didn't. Her kindness was often mistaken for weakness, but Beau had never made her feel that way. "He makes me feel very special. More special than I've felt in a long time."

In the past, Eden had been unlucky in the romance department, and she was finally starting to feel like her luck was changing. And it seemed that she wasn't the only one. Beau was the happiest that she had ever seen him, and she hoped that luck would continue for the both of them.

When Beau squeezed her hand, Eden let out a soft laugh and followed him to the dance floor. "Let's show them how it's done, Wolfsong." She said in agreement, nodding her head as she started moving with him to the music. With anyone else, Eden might've felt uncomfortable, out of place, but with Beau she felt completely at ease. He was a good friend, she trusted him, and she was glad that they could share a dance together like this.

She giggled as he spun her around, easily falling into step with him, almost as if she was able to know what he was going to do next. It was easy, and it was fun, and Eden was genuinely enjoying herself. For the first time in a long time, it felt like almost everything was perfect, that everything was happening as it should. She wanted to hold onto that for as long as she could.

"I knew you would. You've always been a man of your word." She smiled up at him, gratitude and fondness in her expression. They way they moved, it was as if they'd practiced. It was nice to be able to enjoy this moment with her friend, and Eden couldn't stop smiling.

Beau's grin widened at Eden’s words, nodding along. "Well, he’s a lucky guy too. You deserve someone who makes you feel special." He said it with an easy warmth, fully believing it. Seeing her happy made him feel good, especially knowing she hadn’t always had that kind of support around her.

"You’re right. We definitely do deserve it." Beau’s tone was full of agreement, but with a little bit of pride for both of them. He could tell Eden really meant it, and it made him glad to hear her recognize that about herself.

When she took his hand, Beau squeezed her hand lightly as they stepped towards the dance floor. "Let's show these people how it’s done, Monroe." Beau led Eden to the dance floor with a confident, easy smile, gently guiding her into a comfortable rhythm. The music was soft, and the sway of their movements matched it perfectly. He held her hand lightly in his, the other resting just above her waist, keeping the motion slow and simple, just like he promised.

Their steps were relaxed, not trying to impress anyone but simply enjoying the moment together. Beau’s tall frame moved fluidly, guiding Eden with subtle shifts of his body. Every now and then, he’d give her a playful twirl, nothing too fancy, but enough to bring a laugh out of him. The lighting on the dance floor cast a warm glow around them, and Beau couldn’t help but chuckle as they found their easy rhythm.

"See? Told you I’d go easy on you," he teased with a grin, their movements synchronized like they’d done this a hundred times before. Beau could feel the simple joy of the moment, no pressure, just two friends enjoying a dance under the soft, ambient lights.

[edenxmonroe]

"Aw, do you need a tissue?" Eden teased, reaching into her bag to pull out a small packet of tissues that she kept for emergencies. "I think that's the whole point. For the kids, they're just supposed to be entertaining, but for the adults, they aim to tug at those heartstrings and trigger those memories that bring you joy." Movies like the ones they'd just seen always made Eden feel warm inside. She missed the days of childhood when everything seemed so much easier. "That sounds great to me! I've been meaning to try that place for a while now, but just haven't had reason to. So, this is the perfect time."

Beau laughed, wiping his eyes, which were probably still a little red from the emotional ending of the Pixar film. "I'm man enough to admit I was crying. These movies always hit me right in the gut. They're just so good at pulling on those childhood heartstrings." His face brightened when Eden said she could have dinner with him. "Lovely!" He thought for a moment about where they could go. "How about we try the other diner in town that's not The Golden Spoon? I'm getting kind of tired of that place."

[edenxmonroe]

Eden stayed close to Beau as they made their way towards her house. By some stroke of luck, they managed to get there undetected and in one piece and she let out a sigh of relief as her small house came into view.

When they arrived, Eden grabbed the spare key that she kept hidden in her garden and unlocked the door. She nodded her head at Beau's instruction to lay more lines of and to leave the drawing in place for the time being. "Thank you, Beau. I hope you can find your family." She said with a small smile before watching him leave, then turned to go inside.

END.

Beau nodded when Eden asked if they were safe. "Safe enough, Eden. You won't get possessed, but I’d still salt your windows and doors when you get home." He furrowed his eyebrows when she thanked him, shaking his head slightly. "No thanks necessary, Eden. I care about you. I wouldn’t leave you."

As they left the psychic shop, Beau grabbed Eden’s hand and led them towards Cherry Heights, where he knew she lived. He had them stay low but move quickly through the streets. Once they arrived at her place, Beau turned to Eden. "Please stay safe. Use the salt and don’t wash that marker off," he said, indicating the devil’s trap on her skin. He gently cupped her head with both hands and kissed the top of her head. "I’ll see you later."

Beau gave her one last smile before turning on his heel and heading towards his parents’ house.

[edenxmonroe]

Eden just nodded her head to show that she understood the instructions. While Beau focused back on the book, Eden got to work laying down lines of salt across the windows and doors of the room they were in. There was just enough, thanks to Beau's use of logic (which Eden was clearly lacking in that moment). Hopefully, for the time being, until they figure out their next move, they would be safe.

Rejoining Beau after the salt was laid out, Eden watched as he drew the shape from the book onto her wrist. The book that Beau had found intrigued Eden, and she wondered if she would be able to take it without him noticing. Her father wouldn't teach her anything, so she would just have to do it herself. Looking at Beau, she nodded her head again. "Okay, you can take me home." She agreed, getting the impression from him that he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Thankfully she didn't live too far from downtown, so the faster he got her home, the sooner he could go and look for his brothers. Eden couldn't even imagine how worried he must've been, and her guilt only continued to grow.

When he was finished drawing on her wrist, Eden blew on it so the ink would dry faster and waited while he drew it on himself. Then, once he was finished and wasn't looking, she carefully slipped the book under her arm. "Okay, so we should be okay to get out of here now, right?" Without waiting for an answer, and desperately wanting to get out of there, Eden walked towards the door. They were safe now, right? From possession at least. Before opening the door and stepping across the line of salt, she turned to face Beau. "Thank you, Beau. For not leaving me."

"Just a line, I think," Beau said, eyeing the salt in Eden's hand. "Maybe just do the windows and the doors leading out of this room," he suggested, his focus shifting back to the book. They needed as much information as possible in a short amount of time—who knew how long they had until they were found?

Beau grabbed the marker with a sigh. "Yeah, yeah, it doesn't look terribly complicated and it's better than nothing, right?" He placed Eden's arm next to the book and started drawing the symbol on her wrist. His gaze didn't waver as he concentrated on getting the details right. "I can take you home before I go to mine. I want to make sure you're safe, Eden. I wouldn't be okay if you got hurt because I didn't take you home." He paused his drawing to look her in the eye. "I don't want you hurt." His voice was firm, his concern clear in his eyes.

[edenxmonroe]

Looking at the salt in her hand, then to the windows and doors, Eden wasn't sure that it would be enough to cover everything. "How much salt is needed for it to work? Because I'm not sure there's enough here." Hopefully there was more somewhere, but what they had was a start at least.

"I don't think my Latin is good enough to pronounce this." She had moved over to where Beau was, looking at the page where the exorcism chant was written. Before she could say anything more, Beau flipped through the pages. "I saw a marker of here, hang on." Eden moved back towards where she had found the salt, opened one of the drawers and pulled out a marker. "Here, this should work, right? You can draw it on both of us, then you can go and find your brothers, and I can run straight home."

Beau's eyes brightened when Eden said she found salt. "Excellent!" he exclaimed. He quickly scanned the book, focusing on the section about salt. "It says we need to put a line of salt at the doors and windows. Demons can't pass by it because it’s pure." He smiled slowly remembering that from the stories his dad used to tell him.

"There’s also a chant here for exorcisms, but I have no idea how to pronounce any of this, and how will I know if I did it correctly?" He flipped through the pages, mostly talking to himself. "Ah, a devil’s trap." Beau furrowed his eyebrows as he studied the diagram. He began searching for a marker. "Eden, if I can draw this trap on us, it should protect us."

[edenxmonroe]

Eden kept looking around for some salt, rummaging through cupboards and draws and shelves frantically, hoping there was some there somewhere. Then finally, there it was. "I found some salt!" She wasn't sure how much they needed, but the container seemed full enough.

With the salt in hand, Eden made her way over to Beau. "Latin? A little, but not a whole lot." Her eyes were wide as she spoke. She'd studied a little bit of Latin a few years ago, hopefully it would be enough. "What does the book say? What do we need to do?"

Beau nodded as he searched the shelves. "There has to be salt around here. It's a psychic shop, right? They should have salt." His voice was tinged with desperation, grasping at straws. "And maybe a demonology book? That seems like something they'd have."

He quickly scanned the shelves, eyes darting from title to title, looking for anything mentioning demons. Finally, he spotted a book wedged between two larger volumes and pulled it out. "Eden, over here!" he called, opening the book and setting it on the counter. "Salt, devil's traps..." he murmured, reading through the pages. "Do you know Latin?" he asked, looking up at Eden with urgency in his eyes.

[edenxmonroe]

"He's very special to me." She hadn't know him that long, but it was clear that Eden really like Arthur a lot. When Beau nudged her, Eden grinned, rolling her eyes a little, but glad that he was so happy for her. There were some people around her who wouldn't be, so she wanted to make the most of the people who were.

"I guess we did. And I'm glad, because we deserve it." It wasn't often that Eden made statements like that, especially not about herself, but she did feel lucky. And she did feel like she deserved it. Beau definitely deserved it, and she loved to see the smile on his face so bright.

"I'm glad, because I'm not sure I'd be able to keep up otherwise. So, I hope you'll go easy on me." She said with a soft laugh. Taking Beau's hand, Eden nodded her head. "Now is perfect." She was sure that Arthur wouldn't mind, and hoped that he had found someone to chat to while she was gone.

Beau's smile softened as he noticed the shy happiness in Eden's eyes. "That’s all I need to hear. Sounds like Arthur’s the real deal then." He gave her a playful nudge, happy to see her in such a good place.

When she touched his arm and talked about his happiness, Beau felt a warmth in his chest. He’d known Eden for a long time, and hearing her say that made it all feel even more real. "Thanks, Eden," he said, his voice a little quieter, but full of appreciation. He glanced down, still smiling, then back at her. "I guess we both lucked out, huh?"

When she mentioned their dance, Beau laughed, eyes lighting up with amusement. "Swaying it is, then. I’ll keep it simple so no one gets jealous of our smooth moves." He gave her a wink, clearly teasing but also genuinely looking forward to it. "Should we go now?" He held out his hand towards her. If she agreed, he would text Jay to let him know where he went. He was taking a long time in the bathroom.

[edenxmonroe]

Once they were safely inside the psychic shop, Eden finally took a moment to catch her breath. It felt like they had been running for hours, for miles, even though the glow from the light of the festival were still visible from down the street.

"Salt?" After her conversation with Vicente, Eden had done some reading up about demons. She remembered salt being mentioned. "Do you think there's some salt around here? It might not stop them, but it could at least slow them down." Now that they were off the street, Eden was more calm, she could think a little straighter. Scanning the immediate area, she hoped something else could jog her memory, but salt was all she could remember. "There's got to be something here, right?"

Beau shoved the door open with more force than necessary as they arrived at the psychic shop. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one considering the door was easy to open. The shop appeared deserted as he stepped inside, quickly shutting the door behind them and leaning against it to catch his breath. His eyes scanned the room, searching for anything that might be useful. There had to be something here, right?

He tried to recall what his dad had told him about demons. They needed pure things. What was pure? Salt! Beau straightened up and looked at Eden. "Do you know what we could use to protect ourselves from demons? I remember something about salt, but that's all I've got." Beau moved to the shelves, desperately searching for anything that could help.

[edenxmonroe]

Eden didn't like being the one that needed help. She liked to be the one to offer help to those who needed it. Her whole life, she'd been made to feel like she was less than her brothers, that she couldn't help or protect the people she cared about. It was was what drove her to offer kindness to anyone she could. If she couldn't protect them, she could at the very least, make sure they knew they were cared about. Something she had not been given while growing up.

But now, she felt vulnerable, weak, useless. She couldn't even manage to get herself away from the festival without help. When Beau said he wasn't going to leave her and that he would find his brothers later, Eden felt equal parts relief and guilt. She felt selfish for keeping Beau from finding his family, but she tried to push that from her mind for now. Still shaken from being chased by the thing inside Banks, all she could do was nod her head.

She did her best to keep up with Beau. Eden's legs were a lot shorter, and she was almost out of breath. But, she knew she had to keep going. So, she pushed herself. "Yeah, it should be just up ahead." In all honestly, with everything going on, she was turned around. But, she looked for things she recognized, hoping to figure out exactly where they were.

His gaze shifted to Eden when she suggested going off by herself so Beau could find his brothers. "Eden, no. I--" He was at a loss for words. What she was suggesting was considerate, but he would never forgive himself if something happened to her. "Eden, I'm not leaving you alone. They can take care of themselves. I'm mostly..." He paused again. "I'm not sure about Nathan, but I'm sure he'll be fine." Beau believed in his brother. He was just worried. "I will find a safe place for you and then I'll find them later."

"Yeah, there has to be." Beau used his heightened wolf senses to scan for an escape route close by. People were running all over the place, but he focused on one thing: getting Eden to safety. "This way." He led her to a side street and started running up it. "I think we're close to that psychic shop? Maybe there's someone there who can help." Beau glanced back at Eden with an unsure expression, hoping his idea would pan out. Spotting the shop, he started to sprint down the street, urging Eden to keep up.

[edenxmonroe]

"He does. He's a complete gentleman." Eden said with a nod of her head and a shy smile. She was happy, happier than she had been in a long time, and she was glad to know that he friends were happy for her.

The way that Beau talked about Jay made her melt. She'd know Beau for a while, and she could recall a time where he'd looked as happy as he did in that moment. Reaching out, she gently put a hand on his arm. "This level of happy looks so good on you, Beau. It really does. I'm so happy for you both."

Letting her hand drop back to her side, Eden nodded her head. "Good, I'm glad to hear that. I promise, nothing fancy, just a simple swaying to the music would be fine. I'd hate for anyone to think they were being overshadowed by the moves I know you're capable of." It wasn't like she was a professional dancer, but she certainly tried her best when the occasion called for it.

Beau laughed when Eden couldn’t keep a straight face during her curtsy. "Arthur Fairfax, huh? Well, as long as he’s treating you like royalty, we’re good." He gave her a playful wink, glad to see her looking so happy.

Hearing her excitement about him and Jay made his grin even bigger. "Thanks, Eden. I really like him and we just have--." He paused for a moment flushing thinking about Jay. "We have such a good time together." He could feel his face lighting up just talking about it, and seeing her so happy for him made it even better.

He laughed when she brought up the dance. "Oh, I’m sure Jay won’t mind me stealing a dance with you. I mean, I can’t leave you hanging, can I?" He shot her a playful look. "But no fancy footwork—I don’t want to show off too much," he joked. Beau didn't have a dancing bone in his body, but he did have fun busting a move.

[atlasxmoretti]

Nothing brought Atlas greater joy than seeing the people he cared about happy. As he looked at Beau, took in the way see seemed almost shy to be talking about Jay, Atlas could tell it was the type of love that didn't come around all that often. Part of Atlas envied Beau for what he had. He'd had two loves in his long life, both of which were long since passed. He missed them dearly, but still held out hope that maybe he would find someone someday. Until then, he was perfectly content with seeing those around him as happy as Beau was. "Good, I'll hold you to that."

His travels kept him busy, and it wasn't often that he stayed in one place too long. It was how Atlas liked it, but coming home this time was different. "It was amazing, truly. Even for someone as old as I am, there is still so much for me to learn. It's been quite the experience, and I've enjoyed every moment of it." A fond smile spread across his face as he recalled his more recent travels. Atlas had made a lot of good friends, and he hoped he'd get the chance to go back and see them again soon. "I'll be staying for a while, the foreseeable future at least. It's been too long since I've had a decent amount of family time, so I plan on making the most of it while I can."

Beau beamed as Atlas spoke, feeling a little shy at his words but grateful all the same. Atlas had always been kind to him—one of those people who made you feel like you were worth something just by being yourself. Beau ducked his head a little, feeling his cheeks warm at the mention of Jay. “Thanks, Atlas. Jay…well, he makes me feel like the luckiest guy alive. I still can’t believe sometimes that he’s actually mine.” He rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a soft laugh. “And don’t worry, you’ll be first in line to try out those new recipes.”

He perked up, genuinely interested as Atlas shared his recent travels. "That sounds incredible, really. Seeing so much of the world and helping out different packs? It’s important work, and it suits you. But I get it…coming back here, it’s like stepping into a memory but different, you know? Things change, but there’s always that sense of home." Beau tilted his head at the older werewolf. "Are you planning on staying awhile?"

[edenxmonroe]

Home was obviously the safest place to go, but Eden lived alone, and with everything going on, she didn't really want to be on her own. But, she wasn't going to argue, knowing Beau probably wanted to find his own loved ones and she didn't want to keep him from doing that. "I can get myself home if you need to find your brothers." Sure, she'd been trying to get herself out of there for a while, but she didn't want to be a pain.

Eden let Beau lead her, doing her best not to lag behind him. Around them people were still moving quickly, some trying to get out of there, others seemingly looking to cause more trouble. She hoped more than anything that whatever it was that got Banks wouldn't get Beau. "There's smoke everywhere. And a lot of the roads are blocked. There's got to be a way out of here somewhere... right?"

Beau furrowed his eyebrows at the mention of Banks. Did he know who that was? It didn’t matter. The important thing was that Banks was now possessed. Beau scanned their surroundings, taking a deep breath. "Okay, home is probably safer for you than whatever’s going on here."

The thought of his brothers crossed his mind. They were somewhere in this chaos with their families. He had to find them, too. Gently, he grasped Eden's hand. "I’m not sure what's happening, Eden, but I know it isn’t safe here. Let's go."

He pulled her in the opposite direction from where he came. "I do know the smoke is not good," he called over his shoulder as they moved quickly away from the festival grounds.

[edenxmonroe]

Eden returned Beau's bow with a curtsey of her own, trying her best not to laugh, but failing. "Arthur Fairfax. And I can assure you he's the very definition of a gentleman." She really was feeling like a princess tonight, one plucked right out of the fairytales that she had always enjoyed when she was growing up.

When Beau blushed and said that he had come with Jay, Eden's smile only grew. "That's amazing, Beau! I'm so happy for you, and for Jay." She loved nothing more than seeing her friends happy, and it had been a long time since she had seen Beau smile the way that he was smiling in that moment. "I hope I do get a chance to dance with you before the evening is over, so I hope Jay is okay with sharing, just for a few minutes."

When Eden complimented him in return, Beau chuckled and gave an exaggerated bow. "Why, thank you, Princess Eden," he said with a playful smirk. His eyes brightened even more when she mentioned coming with someone. "Oh? Who's the lucky person?" he teased, giving her a gentle nudge with his elbow. "I’ll have to make sure they know to treat royalty right."

When Eden turned the question back on him, saying she hoped he was here with someone, it was Beau’s turn to blush. "Well, I’ll be sure to save you a dance either way," he promised, a shy smile crossing his face. "But yeah, I’m here with Jay." His grin widened at the thought of Jay and how handsome he looked tonight. "It's still pretty new, but... I’m excited. Feels good, you know?"

[edenxmonroe]

Physically she was fine, a scraped knee wasn't the worst thing in the world. Emotionally, she couldn't put her finger on exactly how she was feeling, but she was glad Beau was there. He was someone she trusted, and she hoped more than anything that it was really him and not another trick. She stayed close to him, his warmness acting as a sort of anchor keeping her grounded and in one place. Calming down, even if only slightly, she caught her breath. "I came alone, but I met up with Banks. We were trying to get out of here, but then something happened. I thought he was himself, but he wasn't. I don't know where he went." Though she was a little calmer, she still spoke quite quickly, the speed of her voice matching the speed of the thoughts racing through her mind. "I don't know where I want to go. Home, I guess. But not really. Beau, do you know what's going on here?"

Beau's eyes scanned over Eden, confirming her physical safety even as shock still gripped her. He felt a surge of protectiveness toward her, akin to what he always felt for Nathan. Tenderly, he drew her closer, brushing back a strand of her hair. "Hey, it's okay. We're getting you out of here. Who did you come with? Where do you want to go?" His voice was reassuring, aiming to steady her amidst the chaos. He looked around to make sure no one had found them yet. Wherever they were heading, they had to get out now.