Xander's Cross, Oregon: a small town ringed with forbidding mountains and misty forest. The sky may be gray, but the townspeople are welcoming to people of all kinds...and things that are not quite human as well. Here the native shifters, aliens, werewolves, and witches live in peace. They have yet to find out the new business owners encroaching on the land are also vampires.
The peace has been broken by murder, however, and things in Xander's Cross are about to become quite a bit darker.
Welcome to your new home.
is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured?
August 20, 2020
The mayor, Rowan Starkwood, was found dead less than a mile from his home. Rumors say his body was mutilated, but the state of the body has not yet been released to the public.
Post by Blake Carson on Sept 21, 2020 1:21:48 GMT -5
Blake normally invited Cal over for dinner Fridays after a long week of work. The clinic was only open until noon on Saturdays and was closed Sunday's unless it was an emergency and they were called in. They then alternated days off for Monday's and Tuesday's. Cal had been avoiding a particular subject since the day it happened, and Blake was going to pull every trick out of his bag in order to get his best friend to spill the details about how his date with a one Miss Paige Anderson had gone.
The way to do it? Through his stomach of course.
Blake had learned early on after meeting Cal that man liked to eat, and he ate lot.Which worked perfectly for them, as Blake liked to cook and when he cooked it was usually to feed an army. Tonight's dinner was going to be a real treat. He'd already made the desert yesterday where it sat hiding in his fridge and was his secret weapon if Cal still didn't budge. He didn't know what had happened with Cal's ex, or what happened to him seeing his daughter, as Blake had never pegged Cal to be the type to ditch his kid. If he had a guess, something tragic had happened, and Cal never wanted to talk about it, and Blake wasn't going to push him. Cal was the type to see a woman for a one-time thing and that it. But this time was different. This time he'd gone out with a woman. That Blake was going to push on because Blake wanted to know how he felt about Paige. Really and truly, she had to be something special to get him to go out with her. If he was being honest, Blake wanted nothing more for Cal to settle and regain a piece of his life he might have lost. Family. Cal needed a family. And as much as Blake loved Cal, there was something's he couldn't give him.
After getting home from a quick to the grocery store, Blake had changed out of his jeans, put on a pair of basketball shorts, slipped into some flip flops, and put his lakers ball cap on backward before he went out to fire up the grill. He brought out some tin foil and wrapped several russet potato's. Throwing in globs of butter and some diced garlic before he set them on the grill rack to bake. He had marinated the steaks overnight (because he'd had this planned out for at least two days) and quickly threw those on grill as well, before heading inside to his small, yet organized kitchen. He kept the screen door open and set a timer on when to flip everything and, took a beer out of the fridge. Popping the cap off before he took a swig and turned the only radio that sat on the counter on. Journey came blaring out of the speakers as Carry On My Wayward Son started playing and Blake started prepping the asparagus, and getting some broccoli ready to get steamed.
When Cal got the house he'd find "Betsy" Blake's old blue 1994 GMC Yukon GT was parked on one have of the double driveway, and he could probably smell the Steak grilling. Blake left the front door unlocked for him, not bothering to tell him to knock. Cal was practically his brother, and Blake had the mindset that "Mi casa, es su casa." If he walked in he'd find Blake singing along to whatever played on his regular oldies channel with a beer in his hand while flipping steaks on the back deck.
Friday nights were usually the best of nights, because Blake often spoiled him. Well, not that he didn't any other days, but they got to hang out and relax outside of the clinic. You would think the two would get tired of each other but somehow their friendship was still going strong. Cal always said that if he wasn't a straight man, he'd have snatched Blake up by now. But they were practically a married couple anyway. For anyone on the outside looking in would think the same.
Cal should have known what was going to happen, though. He should have known his fellow doctor was going to drill him about the diner. Yet, the wolf was only thinking with his stomach and was immediately making his way to the house. Blake would probably hear the loud rumble of his motorcycle before the sound died in the air, and Cal made his way into the house to snatch a beer from the fridge on his way out back.
Mm, steak. He could smell it pulling up to the place, and now it was assaulting his sense. He drew in a deep breath through his nose before that wide grin found his face. Cal slapped a hand onto Blake's shoulder in greeting. "Anythin' I can help with?" But knowing his friend, he probably had most of it covered already. But, it was polite to at least still ask.
Post by Blake Carson on Oct 4, 2020 22:13:27 GMT -5
Blake could certainly hear Cal before he even saw him, and it brought a evil grin the doc, now chef, face. Everything would soon be going to plan and it made him grin widely as he heard the bike turn off. There was a good minute maybe two, before he felt Blake behind him as he turned the wrapped potatoes slowly with the tongs he was using. "Just your pleasant company pookie." He responded easily enough with a chuckle. "Nah, grub is just about done." He turned the last potato before he closed the lid on the grill. Turning to his best friend.
"Actually," He said thinking about it, "You could set the table." He snapped the tongs at him like a lobster, making that clicking noise they made. He hooked a thumb towards the screen door. "All on the counter waiting for ya." He told him. Clapping him on the shoulder with a grin while he hooked the tongs on his apron. Yes, the man was wearing apron. And not just any apron but a bright red one that had little designs on it. While Cal retrieved the plates and utensils, Blake moved a few of his patio chairs out of the way and moved a few planter boxes he'd emptied the other day. Heading into the kitchen, and whistling to what was playing on the radio before he brought out a wash rag and wiped the table down quickly before poking his head back into the kitchen and did his best "three-throw" getting the rag into in the sink. "Sooooooooo, I gotta surprise for ya." He said leaning against the door frame, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Ya know Cal, you're like...my best friend right? My bro from another ho? Your mother is not a Ho btw, you know what I mean my brochacho chip." He started to say, reaching up to scratch under his ball cap before he nudged it up a bit with his thumb. "And as your brotato, you know you can tell me aaaaaaaaaaanything right? No judgement here from this brosky?" He continued. "Anyways, I just want you to know bronado, that I i love and care for you, and that I'm sorry that i'm going to have to do this but," he went to the grill and lifted it up, reaching for the ceramic plate he'd brought out earlier to put the steaks on. He unhooked the tongs from his apron and clicked them at Cal. "Your not getting a singly bite of this," He pointed at the steak, and then the potato's. "Or, what's hiding in my fridge, and it's your favorite," He pointed out. "Until," Another click of those tongs before started putting the steaks on the plate, shielding them with his body. "You tell me how your date at the diner went, I've been really good about keeping my cool these last few days, but as impatient as a teenage girl hearing about her latest boyband crush, I want details man! Details!" He blurted out in rush. "You got her file, you getta spill the details." He clicked those tongs at least three times as he pointed them at Cal, a stern look on Blakes face.
His stomach was rumbling already. Even when he didn't think he was hungry, he often was- all he had to do was smell food and his mood would change. And a good marinated steak was his weakness. And Blake knew it.
He laughed at his friend's response, snapping the cap off the beer bottle to bring it to his mouth for a quick swig. "It all smells great," he complimented before he was being threatened with the tongs. "Alright, alright..." Setting his beer aside, he drifted back inside to get what was needed to set the table, only to come face to face with Blake in the doorway when he was ready to step back out onto the patio.
Yep. Here it was. He should have known. He should have sensed it, smelled it, but all he could smell was that delicious meat.
"That's...a lot of 'bros', bro..." Cal sounded mildly concerned. A surprise? No, this felt like a trap. He just knew it, now that he was trying to force himself to ignore the steak. '...and that I'm sorry I'm going to have to do this but-' Uh oh. What was he up to?
No, not the steak!
Blake, you bastard.
If he really wanted to, he could have easily wrangled the steaks from his grasp. But he wasn't that desperate, or that much of an idiot. Not at the moment, at least. Cal looked at him with a look that shared is lack of amusement and he threw his head back with a sigh. "It wasn't a date, Blake. Y'know that whole doctor-patient confidentiality shit? I can't be dating my patients, either." He wasn't actually lying, yet he had a feeling Blake was going to think he was anyway.
Stepping back out onto the patio, he began to set the table. "She currently serves, suffers from PTSD. I went there to talk." Maybe that would work, since it had been his own initial thought for why Paige had invited him there. Cal had offered to be a sounding board if she decided she needed to talk to someone about it.
Post by Blake Carson on Dec 14, 2020 3:05:21 GMT -5
Blake wasn't going to budge. Despite the look Cal gave him, Blake had the upper hand. He had the food. The key to getting Cal to tell him everything, was through his stomach. "When has that stopped you?" He asked, with a raise of an eyebrow. He knew full well of Cal's habits, and though it might have been a while, the man hardly turned down a pretty face. Xander's Cross was a small town, Blake had quickly come to know most everyone. He'd seen the pretty blonde at the same time Cal had, and you couldn't tell Blake that Cal Hunt wasn't at least somewhat interested in the new face.
"You're a fantastic doc bro, I know your not gonna give away her medical records, it's the diner stuff I wanna know." He pestered. Who did Cal take him for? He set the plate down on the side of the grill while he worked on pulling the potatoes out and putting them on their own plate. "Uh huh," he mused. "You telling me a vet so easily talked to you about their PTSD?" He looked over his shoulder at Cal. Blake might not have been a soldier or served, but he damn well knew people. Soldiers had a certain type. They built up walls, had to have that tough persona and look. Getting them to talk about their feelings was like pulling teeth. He shook his head and let a low whistle out. "You gotta be magic my dude. Or she fell for that charming grin of yours." He was leaning more towards the latter. Cal was a ladies man...
"So how did the talk go then?" He pushed more. He lowered the grill lid, and then hooked the tongs on their hook before he picked up the steak plate. He wasn't stupid, he wasn't going to leave it where Cal could grab it. Instead he took it with him inside to get the salad he'd made earlier from the fridge before he came out with the bowl and steaks. He stared at him for a moment before he pouted. "You always get to have all the fuuuuuun, Mr. Harley riding doc, give me something. I'm living vicariously through you Casanova." He said as he came and set the salad on the table. He still held hold of the steaks, refusing to relent quite yet.
last edited Dec 14, 2020 3:23:00 GMT -5 by Blake Carson
Oh. Blake was serious. He was really going to deny him a meal, one he knew was basically his favorite, just to get details on a date that quite literally wasn't even one. The thing was, his best bud wasn't going to believe him. He just knew it.
"The diner stuff was about her records...in a sense." It wasn't entirely a lie, but he couldn't exactly tell his fellow doctor that he was a werewolf, now could he? He'd avoided that topic for years and planned on never telling him. There had been a brief moment in time where Cal thought he would tell him...but Blake didn't need to know this world. Sure, Xander's Cross was perhaps the best place to be in regards to the supernatural, but the rest of the world could be a scary place. He didn't want that for him. Once he knew, he would know a lot.
He practically whimpered every time the steak was drawn away from him, too far from his grasp. Oh yes, he could take it if he really wanted to, but he wouldn't stoop to that level. Not yet anyway. "From one vet to another that suffered the same? Yeah." He tried to lie again, although it had been what Cal originally thought she was requesting his presence for. It made sense. 'You gotta be magic, my dude. Or she fell for that charming grin of yours.' A ghost of that very grin fell on his face then, and he shrugged a shoulder. "Well, I can't really help that sometimes," he said, sounding rather full of himself.
When Blake asked how the talk went, his way of trying to goad him into specifics that didn't exist, Cal paused for a moment. Well, it hadn't started off well, and he found himself reaching up to feel for that necklace beneath his shirt, the charms that forever rested against his chest. "It, uh...was fine, I guess." Cal realized a little too late that his friend might misread his delay in response, so he tried to put that grin back on after he ran a hand down his face, moving to take a seat at the table. "There's nothin' stopping you from gettin' a bike, and gettin' out once in awhile."
last edited Jan 31, 2021 13:48:23 GMT -5 by Cal Hunt
Post by Blake Carson on Dec 19, 2020 17:27:06 GMT -5
After he set the salad on the table, Blake turned and grabbed the plate that had the baked potatoes on it. Still wrapped in their tinfoil He grabbed it skillfully while he listened to Cal tell him about the date that he was denying was a date.
He was hearing a lot of talk, and it wasn’t quite what he wanted. “Mmm hmmm.” He said in response to the PTSD. He supposed she might have actually opened up to Cal about it. Blake didn’t know, he hadn’t been there. He could assume what happened. ”Suuuure you can’t help that smile.” He chuckled lightly. It was Cal’s own personal weapon against the female species. He turned and walked towards the end of the table, farthest away from where Cal was sitting and slowly lowered himself down into his seat. Eyes narrowing as he held both the meat and the potatoes in his hands. He set them down on either side of him, and then picked up a fork, reaching over to stab one of the steaks.
He didn’t lift it up onto his plate yet, but rather kept his dark blues on Cal for a moment, studying him. Catching the way he’d paused in the delayed response, it caused an eyebrow to raise. “You didn’t have dinner did you?” He gasped suddenly. “You went straight to dessert, didn’t you?!” He asked, his jaw going slack, before a shit eating grin spread across his face. A knowing look suddenly spread across Blake’s face. Well no wonder he hadn’t wanted to say how dinner went. Cal wasn’t the kiss and tell sort apparently, but Blake was still going to be rather nosy about it.
He moved the steak onto his plate, using a knife to pry his fork from it, before he waved the fork at him. “You know exactly what will happen if I get a bike. Or need I remind you about my driving?” He asked with a raised brow. Blake hadn’t gotten his license until he was twenty one, and his instructor at the time was his old college buddy. Needless to say, Blake didn’t drive ole Betsy unless he had too, and he’d probably kill himself on a motorcycle. “Buuuuut I’m sure Paige Anderson likes your bike just fine.” He said waggling his brows at him.
It. Wasn't. A. Date. Finally, Cal was telling him the truth and the idiot wasn't listening.
"I was born with this face, and this smile, brother. Yes, I can't help it." Alright, well, he didn't have to sound so smug about it, but it was easier than being annoyed with Blake's digging and the torture of holding back food from him. He really shouldn't tease a hungry wolf like that. Cal could feel his stomach rumbling deeply again.
'You didn't have dinner, did you?' Cal blinked. "Huh?" Then Blake was gasping and talking again, 'You went straight to dessert, didn't you?!' More blinking, and he actually had a very confused look on his face in response to that. What the fuck, dude? For once in his life, Cal didn't do anything stupid like that...and his bud wasn't even believing him! He should just slap that grin right off of his face.
Cal sat back in his seat, leaning his head back as well as he let out an exasperated sigh to the sky. This man was being unbelievable. This was what happened when you denied yourself sex for...however long it was. He understood Blake's reservations on the matter, but regardless, his friend needed to get laid so he could leave his love life out of it.
"Yes, she did, actually," Cal pointed out, returning his attention back to Blake. Now he was going to be smug as fuck because he was getting hangry. If he wasn't fed, he was going to get much worse. "She really liked the ride, if you absolutely need to know, you nosey fuck." Despite the curse, he wasn't blatantly angry at him, just borderline amused, irked, and salivating from the smell of those steaks. "Happy now?"
Post by Blake Carson on Mar 30, 2021 20:12:14 GMT -5
Why was he looking at him like that! Surely Cal wasn’t so dense to not pick up what he was putting down. Cal surely had to use the Hunt charm to persuade Paige to skip dinner and get straight to desert. His friend wasn’t a man whore by any means, but Blake knew he didn’t do long term. There was no Girlfriend after Shan and Bri. Only one night stands and a fun time, but Blake always assumed he picked them up at the bar, and didn’t take them out to dinner. Had he read Cal wrong all along? For a brief second he felt ashamed for thinking of his friend in such a way. Sure Cal was a ladies man, but wasn’t that bad.
Maybe he should just give him the steak and let this torture be over… However the thought soon ended as he said she really liked the bike. Well of course she did… “Did she now?” He asked, raising a brow of insinuation, on if she really had liked the ride or not. “Cal, buddy. I love you, but you need to get laid.” He said bluntly. "And that woman is the only one I’ve seen you show even the slightest interest in. So yes, I will be nosey as fuck.” He pointed a finger at him. “I’m just doing my wifely duties of ensuring my darling husbando satisfied.” He said, giving him a pointed look. He reached over for one of the baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil, and rolled it down the table at him. His reward for the information he had so far given him but he was still withholding the steak.
“So do you like her? Is she pleasant company? Learning anything about her?” He asked with a shit eating grin as he proceeded to poke and prod the hungry man.
Why was this happening? Blake truly didn't understand the danger of this situation. The wolf was hungry, and he always got angry when he was denied food.
And his buddy was doing just that. Not a good idea.
What did Blake want him to say? Because it wasn't true, Cal wasn't about to say something crude about the woman. He figured the insinuation would have been enough to placate his friend, but oh noooo, the little perv wasn't satisfied. Out of all the times to torture him, why now? Why now while there was delicious steak getting cold?
"Don't talk to me about gettin' laid, mate," he told him delicately but pointedly. Then, Cal was looking at him with that confused look again, catching the rolling potato without having to look. "What makes you think I have any interest in her?" He had wanted to drop this topic altogether, but now he had to know why Blake couldn't seem to get this out of his head.
And the man was relentless.
Did Blake not hear his stomach growling? Soon it was going to be Cal growling at him.
He was scowling now, running his tongue along the bottom of his teeth as though he were contemplating on going full werewolf on the man. "I don't even know her...and she's a patient. I can't tell you shit." There went his stomach again and he eyed the steaks. Dammit, man!"What do you wanna hear? Yes, we skipped dinner and I fucked her out in the alley?" Cal didn't really realize how that could be misconstrued, but he was too busy standing to lean over that table, looking him straight in the eye. "You know I can wrangle that away from you..." Don't test him, B.
Post by Blake Carson on Mar 30, 2021 21:32:18 GMT -5
Aaaaah but he was testing him. Blake knew he would only be able to push Cal so far, before the caveman came out and fought him for the meet. But Sue him if he wanted to at least see how his friend was doing. Especially after what he’d gone through. Cal had a life with a little family once upon a time, and had lost it. If this was the slimmest chance he could get that even a taste of that sort of happiness back, then Blake wanted to hear about it so he could ensure his best friends happiness once more. Cal was his only family. His chosen family, and he wanted him happy.
He merely grinned as Cal pointed out the Blake’s lack of a sex life. He reached for the salad, putting a decent amount of greens on his plate before pushing it towards Cal. He shook his head slightly. Blake really hadn’t dated since Kendall. Just a few things here and there, but Blake also had his own issues, and another abusive relationship only added onto his current baggage. When he was ready, he’d know it. “Haven’t met her yet, bro.” He said simply. Indicating he was perfectly fine with waiting.
He wasn’t however, fine with waiting on Cal to tell him about how his date went. He put one of the potato’s on his plate, and those bright blues flickered up to his friend, tilting his head slightly and gave him a pointed look this time. His eyes narrowing slightly. “The way you looked at her that morning she came in. You were slightly different.” He waved his fork at him as he stabbed some lettuce. “I’ve known you for a long time pal, I can read you pretty well.” He said, clearly pleased with himself. Little did Blake know the real reason as to why Cal had been off that morning…
“Fine, fine, she’s a patient. So you can’t tell me what she told you about her health history.” Blake had already seen her chart though, even before he’d informed Cal what they were dealing with that morning. She was a lot like Cal in that she was a vet, and Blake rubbed at his jaw for a second more. His eyes looked wide in triumph then, as he grinned widely. “Well yes, but I expected more class out of you then an alley.” He admitted. Cal could be a gentleman when he wanted to be. He arched his brows as Cal stood up and leaned over, threatening to steal the steaks from him. Okay, okay, Cal was clearly reaching his limits, and Blake had at least gotten some sort of answer as to what happened. Whether anything really happened between Cal and Paige was still up in the air.
“Okay okay okay, have your meat, you caveman.” Blake said, finally surrendering as he pushed the plate towards Cal. “I’ll stop torturing you for now.” He promised as he took a bite of salad.
last edited Mar 30, 2021 21:34:05 GMT -5 by Blake Carson
He was certainly testing his patience, that was for sure. Blake was lucky that Cal loved him and would do anything for him, including indulging in these patronizing questions.
’Haven’t met her yet, bro.’ That brought him pause as he regarded his friend closely, his eyes narrowing in slight question. ”Seriously?” Cal wasn’t trying to be snarky, but did Blake not see their new hire? Did he not already know Mattie for years? ”Could’ve fooled me with how...friendly you are with our new employee.” The smirk on his face was small, but it was quite clear that he could blow this entire thing out of proportion if need be. And he saw Mattie five days a week. He could really, really go crazy if Blake wasn’t careful.
Just sayin’.
Then the other doc was waving a fork at him, going on about some look he was giving Paige the other morning. A look? What kinda- oh. Alright, well...yeah, that probably looked wrong, especially to a human who clearly didn’t understand that he had just been taken aback by another wolf. How the fuck was he supposed to get around that one?
”She’s a hot blonde, man. So, sue me. We were getting nothing but the elderly or obnoxious teens the whole week.” Well, hey, that wasn’t a lie, and it would work to cover up that slight blunder. Although it wasn’t going to help his case...because clearly Blake really thought something more happened between him and Paige.
There was that dumbfounded look again on his face. If he wasn’t careful, it might become permanent. And now Blake was grinning like a smug idiot. There was just no pleasing him, was there? Cal barely even registered that his friend was finally surrendering the rest of the food, that’s how perplexed he was.
Drawing in a deep breath. ”Sorry to be a disappointment, dad,” he mocked lightly. Then he was eagerly picking up his knife and fork to carve into the steak. He really didn’t give a crap what else he said from then on, savoring that piece of meat as he chewed. ”Sometimes, the need is just too great.” A shrug, he was cutting another piece before pausing to point the knife at him. ”It’s called being spontaneous. Take some notes. Sometimes it's not all flowers and nice hotel rooms.”
Well, he seemed to suddenly be in a better mood now.
Post by Blake Carson on Mar 30, 2021 22:55:52 GMT -5
“Mattie’s a friend. Has been since Cali. She’s also off limits.” Blake said, for once growing serious as he looked at Cal. There was some things Cal didn’t know about Mattie, and Blake was going to keep it that way. He was protective of her for good reason. Anyone Mattie decided to date would have to meet Blake’s approval. Even Cal.
“Uh huh.” Blake said as he chewed. He’d seen her, he knew, but he also knew his friend. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there had been something there. Even if Cal was denying it or making up excuses. Time would only tell, and when the time came...Blake would be telling him “I told you so.”
“At least feed the lady next time, okay?” He said with a slightly shake of his head, as he cut into his own steak. He began to snicker then, shaking his as he picked up the cut piece and put it in his mouth. Savoring the juicy taste of the meat, while his eyes looked up from his plate at Cal. Watching him as he gave him some apparently pointers. He couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. “Spontaneity. Got it. I’ll keep it in mind for next time.” He said with a shake of his head. With another bite and swig of beer, Blake narrowed his eyes slightly at Cal. “So, Paige Liked your spontaneity huh?” He asked. He would assume so given where her and Cal ended up. “Guess I’m going to have to give a try now aren’t I?” He mused thoughtfully.
If Cal was getting back in the game, maybe it was time for Blake to as well. He wasn’t getting any younger, and he did want a family with a bazillion kids. If he wanted that dream to happen, he’d have to start working on it.
Despite his friend's sudden seriousness, Cal was still grinning at him slyly. You don't immediately get that serious if there wasn't some underlying feelings, whether Blake realized them or not. But with Mattie working with them, they were bound to rise to the surface. Cal was making a bet with himself in that very moment.
'At least feed the lady next time, okay?' He opened his mouth to retort, but the words that were about to follow were far from appropriate and would have been a complete lie on top of the already big, stupid lie he told Blake to shut him up. Which, clearly, wasn't entirely shutting him up.
Cal nearly rolled his eyes when his buddy mentioned Paige again. "Yes, apparently," he replied, unabashedly with his mouth full. "As for you- yeah, give it a try, but...baby steps. Don't need you breakin' your back or anything in a dark alleyway." He snickered under his breath, but Blake would be able to hear him.
Post by Blake Carson on May 1, 2021 22:59:07 GMT -5
Nothing really shut Blake up once he got going. He was certainly a social butterfly, especially when it was with a topic he wanted to talk about. He grinned around his bite of steak, shaking his head slightly. He hadn't necessarily meant for the convo to go this far, he merely wanted to know what was so special about this girl other then the fact she was a hot blonde that Cal had decided to take her to dinner. Even if they didn’t eat…
“Are you calling me old?” Blake suddenly blurted in offense as he looked at Cal. “Your older then me!” He fired back at him, but the grin was clear on his face as he chuckled. Blake would try to be spontaneous, but not Cal spontaneous. In all honesty, baby steps were best for him. Especially after Kendal. “I’ll call if you if I need a doctor.” He shook his head slightly and with that, he dropped the subject of Cal and Paige’s date and moved onto other things.