#sloan 001

[rafaelcb]

WHO: Rafael & @sloaneloise

WHERE: Hideaway Market

WHEN: Creek Fest (September, 2024)

Although one would have a hard time pushing him to admit it, Rafael found working with ceramics to be quite relaxing. A time or two, he had even accompanied his mother to the ceramics place in the countryside to throw a few pieces on the wheel, see what they could create together. She was much more artsy than he could ever dream of being... but he still tried his best. When he had wandered upon the booth at Creek Fest that offered finished ceramic pieces just waiting to be painted, he knew that he had found something to keep himself occupied, dropping down into one of the seats with his chosen pumpkin piece, smiling at the person next to him. "You don't mind if I join you here, do you?"

[docolives]

WHO: Livvy & @sloaneloise

WHERE: The Swimming Beach, coastal area

WHEN: End of Summer Bash (August, 2024)

This was the best time of year to be in the water, hands down, accept no arguments. The ocean had been warmed all through June and July, and August felt perfect. Even though Livvy wasn't up on a board at that moment, she did find her arms resting on a pool noodle that she had brought along, content to just float far enough out that the water came up to her chest. The current wasn't strong, the sun was high, and life was good. And, when someone else swam out, the company was even better. "Well hey, you," she smiled as she recognized her friend. "Fancy meeting you way out here."

[jaceeverett]

"A little easier than moving here from Jamaica or something, yeah," he laughed, nodding his head thoughtfully. And Jason had seen it happen -- maybe not that exact location, of course -- where people moved to their little town from somewhere warmer, somewhere more tropical, somewhere where there wasn't snow and ice and freezing cold breezes that knocked the wind right out of your lungs. But as much as he might talk down about it, Jason loved it; wouldn't have had it any other way, now that he was there. "I like fall, a lot… but God, is it busy at the parks," he laughed, shaking his head, "so I kind of agree, I look forward to when I start seeing the leaves fall, it means less crazy days. And I happen to think the landscape here in town is just as pretty covered in snow as any other season," heading out to the coast, looking at the snow on the cliffs, the ice hanging off of park benches downtown, decorated lawns in the suburbs… winter was just pretty in Merrock, he wouldn't deny that. "Don't get me wrong, we get a few here and there -- even the most skilled, practiced hikers can't help accidents. But you're right, it's good to know. We've had maybe one, two? But we have cameras in the park trained on the trail heads, too, so normally the girls at the desk catch it." And that was a huge help, better than finding out too late that something unsavory had happened. Jason was not a big fan of unsavory, especially when working in and wandering around a state park. "Thanks," he replied with a small smile, boyish in nature, a bit shy, still unsure how to reply to that, all these years later. He had wanted the discipline, the direction, he hadn't been looking to go to war. "It's a big decision, for anyone who decides to do it." As she asked how long he had been back, he did the math quickly and nodded in the affirmative. "Yeah, I came back spring of last year, so close."

"Suppose that makes it a lot easier when you go from one kind of cold to just another place of cold." At least she figured the transition was easier, where as she had to admit, she had forgotten how cold it could get in Merrock locally. Still, she would say, she appreciated the weather a lot more than just pure heat that sometimes Arizona could bring where it felt like you were roasting even in the winter time. "They do love to put on a good appearance for the holidays but I think that's why I love it so much. Think once the fall weather started I had been counting down to all of this." Gesturing around, it had been years since she was able to enjoy any of this. Sure, other places decorated for the holidays but it wasn't the same when it was borderline tropical trees compared to actual pine trees and that familiar feeling of holiday. "Oh good, I'm really glad about that, because I would be kind of worried." That was the inner medical professional in her, "Don't want you guys sending anyone my way with frostbitten fingers and toes." That was definitely something she could put on the list of did not want. "Plus I'm sure there's a peace to knowing who is out there wandering around then wondering if someone is just out there waiting to be rescued." While she worked in a high pressured job, in a way, so did Jason. "Has anyone ever snuck by not checking in? Think that would be my nightmare right there this time of year." When he said that he had left the moment he turned eighteen, "Admirable, you know, your service. I can't speak to any of that but I've had friends who joined the military when I moved down south." A lot of men and women often went that way to have education paid for. "So what, almost two years back then?" She knew that he had been in the same class as Kellan, at least she vaguely remembered that.

[sorenrobertson]

closed starter for @sloanexlawson

location: sloane's place

"You know, stepping in here finally made me feel like I'm back home." Soren admitted with a warm smile as stepped into her cousin's house. Sloane was the closest member of her family in town, including her own father. The two had grew up almost like sisters, with Soren spending most of the time that her father spent traveling at Sloane's place. She'd been a safe haven for her without even trying, so being back home with her now as a fully grown adult, felt like Soren was doing things right. She hugged Sloane tightly. "This place is still wonderful, S!"

[ofwrxth]

SLOANE📱BLAIR

Sloane: Matt just let me know he lost track of thing one and thing two @rviner

[rviner]

@ofwrxth blair x sloane - set of hell hounds 3: death bite

-

Watching the scene before her, Blair sits in silence beside her sister and the main rig. Vesper isn't incorporeal, he's on her shoulder in full raven glory, also watching as the actors work. The unimpressed glance between sisters is momentary and fleeting, not a word uttered before Blair peels herself from the uncomfortable director's chair. "Okay, cut. What the fuck?" she flails her arms as she reaches the set, now in front of the camera. "Her head has been bitten off and you're hallucinating her fucking ghost! It's a sign of grief and insanity! What's so fucking hard about that!?" she whacks the script with her free hand and marches to join her sister again. "Take it from the top." she swirls an arm dramatically through the air, Vesper's wings expanding out in a quick flap.

Allegations of hostile work environment's aside, Blair settles beside her sister again with a huff, the director's chair squeaking beneath her which causes her to glance down as she shifts in it with more squeaks following. "Did we have a fucking budget cut on our comfort?" she remarks, glancing up to Sloane. With several more squeaks, Blair makes little jumps in her seat to etch closer to her sister, peering into the camera view as Vesper pecks at a strand of Sloane's hair. It's his version of affection, Blair not even taking any notice of it as she looks at the work through Sloane's perspective. "Tell me it translates on this thing, Slo." she pleads with a dry tone. "Is this gonna be a flop, be honest? I didn't even like the first two."

[owenryder]

"I went to the bake off in town earlier this year, and I saw some things that were of nightmares, trust me. Not that I'm saying you couldn't also achieve that! But it'll be a challenge to see if you scare me as much as some of those things did," he laughed, shaking his head. There were some tastes that he would rather untaste, specifically tied into that bake off. But, he had to give people credit. They had tried their best in a field that they otherwise didn't have any experience in, and that was more than what he had done. "Oh God… don't bring up Christmas, next thing you know, we're going to find ourselves here again, making gingerbread men or houses or something, and I have a feeling that those would be even more disastrous than this," he gestured to the mess in front of them, something that they were trying o fix. Trying being the operative word, because he wasn't sure that putting two failed experiments together made one good product -- but there was only one way to find out. "Sure!" he let out a loud laugh, watching as she mixed them together, craning his neck to see inside, "no, but�� looks like it, doesn't it?" his nose wrinkled and he found himself letting out a breath. "It'll be fine, Sloan, just… be patient. Be optimistic," be lenient on him and don't chase him out when something broke -- like her spoon. His eyes widened, shaking his head. "I didn't! You were holding it!"

"Yeah as long as you realize that bake show is going to be Nailed It! and that when I'm done making whatever they want us to make that it's going to look like a thing of nightmares, and who knows if it'll even be edible." she said knowing that was as close to any bake show they were going to get her near. One where it'd be more joking about her than actually because she has talent. "Be jolly? Jolly comes with Christmas time." she said shaking her head. "They're going to need to do a lot more if they want 'the jolly time spirit.' she laughed as she continued to work on her own dough. "Well I think we have a right to complain, not even a free cookie for the torture of this." Holding up her bowl of her dough... soup? Like at this point it has to be more of a joke to them then anything watching this all play out. "Yeah, yeah, but if it's that bad I'll just blame me that yours was the hard as a brick thing I tossed in." she said as she dumped it into the bowl. "Did you mix cement in with it?" Making a face as she tried to stir it in pressing down on it before she pressed a little too hard and heard a crack. "You broke my spoon." she said holding up the wooden spoon.

[laureljacobs]

closed: @dancingdanvers

location: the women's bathroom at the hotel

After a short rendezvous with a pretty, tall blonde in a dark corner, Laurel excused herself to the bathroom with promises to be right back. It was a lie; the blonde seemed nice enough, but she couldn't kiss for shit, and Laurel was pretty sure that she was just a drunk straight girl who thought it would be fun to kiss a woman on New Year's Eve. Laurel would have to find some way to avoid her for the rest of the night, but with the crush of bodies in the main room, she figured it'd be easy enough.

She stepped into the bathroom, putting her mask, clutch, and fourth drink down on the sink counter and grabbing a piece of paper towel. She looked up at herself and frowned — Jesus, that girl had done a number on her lipstick. Laurel wetted the paper towel, starting to dab at her mouth carefully as she faintly registered a toilet flush behind her.

The stall opened, then closed, and Laurel looked up briefly to shoot a small, polite smile at the person stepping out as she reached to move her things to the side. As she went, she did a double take, the smile falling off of her face quickly to give way to slight trepidation. She knew the face — had seen it around town, looking at her with abject terror at times, and she knew it from a past life. One where, Laurel recalled, they'd had a rendezvous of their own in a bathroom that looked very much like this one.

She opened her mouth, then closed it, then did it all again before finally deciding to speak. "This is a bit familiar for us, hm?"

[bradley-banner]

text thread | 📲 bradley x sloan

Bradley: do you have a gift registry for the baby?

[cagenewman]

"Thank you," he replied with a warm smile, nodding his head. He was proud of what they had pulled together, of how the property looked after weeks of hard work, playing around on tractors, talking his boys into helping out with yard work and planting and building. And when he sat back and looked around that night, everyone seemed to be enjoying it, having a good time. And he had been given the most beautiful back drop and ceremony to marry the love of his life. He could see no bad in that. "I'm just surprised that he stuck true to his word and didn't pull out a priest's collar at the last minute."

With a fluted glass filled with the bride's drink of choice, Sloan was off to the side, an empty table to herself taking a sip as she scanned the room. Seeing so much of the town together in one place for people she knew was refreshing. In North Carolina, people would have come together but it would have had far more women gossiping. "Yes, just a little." she chuckled, "Your ceremony was stunning Cage, reception even more so, your home is beautiful." Sloan said. "How could I not? It's a wedding, I've always loved wedding." Which was true, there was something about them that you couldn't help but love. "You and your brother clean up pretty nice, you know."

[felixalbright]

closed @dancingdanvers

location: sloane's place

Felix could hardly contain his excitement as he headed up Sloane's drive, a gift bag for the baby and a bottle of wine in hand. He could hardly comprehend that the girl he'd known since she was born, a sister in almost every conceivable way, had a baby. He had a friends with kids, sure, but this was different. It was Sloane. He was struck, in a way that almost had happy tears springing into his eyes, at how far she'd come.

He knocked to announce himself before just letting himself in, impatient as ever. Felix poked his head in, a grin spreading over his face. He stepped inside fully and closed the door carefully behind him. "Sloane," he called out, sing-song. "You owe me a hug and an introduction to my niece!"

[gwenxmorenoarchive]

open // closed for @dancingdanvers

With her daughter almost becoming a complete toddler in the matter of a few weeks, Gwen really had no business in the baby section of the boutique she was currently shopping around. Her little baby was no longer little enough to fit in the newest and latest onesies and cute summer clothes. Her hand reached out to one on the rack at the same time as someone else, instantly causing her to yank her hand back. "Oh, I'm sorry. You look at it first; I already have one similar in a box at home. I definitely need to be looking in the toddler section."

[leomlarson]

closed: @dancingdanvers

location: sea glass boutique

Leo was stressed. He had never been good at time management, but this was a new low for him. Although he'd already finished a painting for his mom and some necklaces for his sisters, he'd gotten so caught up with them that he found himself in need of presents for all of his cousins with only a few days to go before Christmas. He was in the middle of a frenzied shopping spree downtown, going into and out of stores quickly after just pulling nice things from the shelves. It was getting dark, and the shops would probably be closing soon, but he was determined to check everyone off his list.

Ducking into Sea Glass Boutique, his eyes immediately set on dress at the back of the store that he knew his youngest cousin would love. His arms full of bags that were making him take up triple the amount of space he normally would, he beelined through the aisles. Halfway there, he felt himself bump into another body that he just hadn't seen, not hard enough to hurt but enough to jar the other person. He turned to apologize, and the first thing he noticed was a baby bump. "Oh my god, I am so sorry," he started, putting the bags down unceremoniously to gesticulate and hold out his hands placatingly, a flurry of motion. "I'm such a mess, I wasn't looking-"

And that's when he realized exactly who he'd run into. Familiar and anxiety-inducing, a face that he had seen around town but avoided so actively that he'd once just turned around completely and walked quickly the other way when he saw her coming in the street. "Sloane," he said, finally stopping to breathe. "Hi. Um. Yeah, hi. I'm really sorry about...that. I'm feeling a little insane right now. Are you okay?"

[cricketcampbell]

for: @dancingdanvers

where: axel's kitchen

"Shit!" Cricket flinched at the sudden sight of Sloane in the entryway, nearly choking on the piece of pumpkin pancake she'd ripped into.

(In her defense, it'd been the first of the batch, which everyone knew never turned out right.)

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry." She laughed awkwardly, still half-choking on pancake. "I didn't mean, like, oh shit, it's you. I just meant like...shit, I didn't realize anyone else was home shit." Feeling as if she'd maybe said the word shit one too many times, Cricket scrambled for a subject change. "Are you hungry? Eating for two now, right?"

All these surprise pregnancies lately had served as a great reminder for Cricket to keep on top of her own birth control.

[borawinters]

closed for: @dancingdanvers

where: outside of neptune

"Another dinner successfully survived." Bo mused aloud, speaking around the unlit cigarette hanging between his lips as he fished around his suit trousers for the lighter that he knew was in there. He was glad to see his father happy and gearing towards love, something he had thought the man was lacking in since his mother's passing but he was starting to get irked that it was eating into his social calendar as much as it was.

Lighter found, he struck the flame and cupped his hand over the cigarette so he could light it, taking an inhale as he glanced towards Sloane. They had inherited each other as a consequence of their parents dating, and as far as almost-stepsisters went, she wasn't the worst in the world.

"You want a drag of this?" He offers, holding the cigarette out to her after he had exhaled.

[ofwrxth]

+ SILAS / SUBWAY TUNNEL

"– Like I said, this shouldn't take long," Sloane tells her youngest brother as their familiars bound ahead of them in the dark subway tunnel. She has a flashlight in one hand and several yards of iron rope looped around her other arm as they walk. "Once we find the bastards, the two of us can handle them well enough." The older Dempsey doesn't tell Silas that he's the bait, intended to lure the Goblins out. They'd taken to occupying subway tunnels beneath the city, causing delays and almost derailing a train two days ago.

@manybcdthings