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 Mattie Harris on Aug 30, 2020 22:10:57 GMT -5
Mattie stood with her hands on her hips as she surveyed her new office. She still needed some nails and a hammer to hang her diploma and a few paintings up on the walls (one of which was a lovely painting of the 'lovers' tarot card that she couldn't resist buying at a flea market). She liked it, so far, but it needed the paintings, for sure, and maybe some plants. She knew she'd seen a gardening shop on her way through town, and with a name like Silver Willow, she had her fingers crossed that the owner was a witch too. It might be a good chance to make some friends.
Now onto her next problem, the one she'd been avoiding. Her moving truck wasn't going to be here for another two days, and she hadn't packed any extra clothes, because it was supposed to have arrived the same day as her. In fact, it was already four hours late. So either she was going to wear dirty clothes and sleep in her car, or she was going to need to find somewhere to stay tonight, and somewhere to do laundry. Google on her phone said there was a bed and breakfast place 2.3 miles away, which should work for a couple of nights, although it was an expense she hadn't planned on. Maybe she'd just eat a bunch of ramen for the first month here. That would be alright, wouldn't it? She'd survived college on that and dining hall pizza, so it couldn't be too bad...
So, sleep, solved. Next problem: laundry. She didn't like it, but she'd have to ask Blake if she could do a load of clothes at his place. Come to think of it, she didn't know whether he had a house or an apartment, but maybe if he didn't have his own washer he could at least point her to a laundromat or something. There had to be one around here, right?
She sighed and made her way back downstairs, smiling politely at Emilia, the nurse, as she passed her talking with a patient and headed for the break room. She was pretty sure it was Blake Carson 's lunch time, since this was the time of day he'd called her most while she was getting ready for the move. Ah, yep, there he was. She swung herself partway around the door-frame, so that just the waist up was showing as she held onto the frame. She didn't realize it at the time, but as a therapist she probably would later--she was putting a barrier between herself and Blake before she gave him bad news and asked for a favor. It wasn't that Blake was a problem, it was more that she hated being the bearer of bad news. She'd much rather that everyone liked her and what she had to say all the time--even if that was impossible and she knew it. But she had to get this over with.
"Hey! So I have good news, and I have bad news. Bad news: the movers' truck broke down, and they can't get the part they need til tomorrow at the earliest, so it's going to be at least two days before they get here. Good news, there's a super cute bed and breakfast in town, so at least I'll have a bed to sleep in. Only problem is laundry. Think I could wash some things at your place so I don't stink up your whole clinic?"
last edited Aug 31, 2020 20:29:49 GMT -5 by Mattie Harris
Post by Blake Carson on Sept 1, 2020 10:54:08 GMT -5
Blake was in the break room working on his second mug of tea. Still nearly bouncing off the walls with the arrival of Mattie that day. Was he excited? Nah he wasn't excited. But the smile hadn't left his face since she walked into the clinic like the ray of sunshine he knew her to be. The clinic was growing, and that made for a very one happy Dr. Carson.
He was stirring the tea, walking over to the break room table when Mattie swung around the door frame. He arched an eyebrow at her curiously as she told him the good and bad news she had. She knew him well enough to just tell him the bad news first before she got the good part. Late moving truck? That really sucked. But what sucked more was she didn't even think to ask to crash at his place! He had the room, and Mattie was small. She wouldn't take up that much space.
A look of offense crossed his face and he was shaking his head as he slowly began to approach her. "Abso-fucking-not!" He told her, brows furrowing, before he reached down to poke her in the forehead. "Am I letting you stay in a B & B When I have a perfectly functioning spare bedroom!" He crossed his arms over his chest before sipping on the hot tea. Raising both eyebrows at her. "I don't care how cute the Lavender Moon is, I guarantee Blake's Casa es mui mas linda." He leaned against the opposite door frame. "You can had use of the washer and dryer, fridge, garden, and my spectacular personality all in one place." He grinned behind the mug taking a sip of the tea.
Post by Mattie Harris on Sept 1, 2020 11:13:30 GMT -5
Mattie's face crumpled in her confusion at first when he told her "Abso-fucking-lutely not." That wasn't like him; she didn't think he'd ever turned down helping her before. But she still wound up scrunching her nose the same way she always did when he poked her in the forehead. But then he continued, and things started to make sense. She gaped at him like a fish out of water for a moment before her face fell into a pout and she put her hands on her hips.
"You don't have to do that, Blake, really. I can take care of myself..." she tried to argue, but she could already feel herself caving. It really would be nicer to stay with him than in a hotel, even a spectacularly cute one, and it would give them more time to catch up. She'd missed him since he'd left. Blake was the one person who really knew her, and she always felt safe with him. She hadn't realized how much she'd needed that safe space until he was gone. Phone calls were alright, but it really wasn't the same. Her therapist had tried to convince her to make new friends, but really, how was she supposed to do that? She didn't go out to clubs or bars, not after what happened, so that meant she met coworkers or nothing. And she didn't really want replacement friends, anyway, just to have Blake back. She was just as excited about that as she was about having a fresh start here in Xander's Cross. The realization made her sigh and she threw up her hands in surrender.
"Are you one-hundred-percent sure it's not a problem? I don't want to impose on you all of a sudden and cause trouble. You've already done so much just bringing me here."
Post by Blake Carson on Oct 14, 2020 1:15:37 GMT -5
Blake continued to sip his tea, nodding in agreement at her. "You're right, you can. So I don't have to show you how anything works at my place." he said simply, that grin beginning to show itself again. He sighed and rolled his eyes. "You Matilda Harris, are not that big of a problem. Besides," He eyed her up and down and blinked innocently at her. "You won't take up that much space." He said sweetly, slowly moving out of the door way, before he quickly jumped out of the way of any possible jab thrown his way. She was cute and small okay? He couldn't help himself by making at least one short joke a week at her.
"You? Trouble? HA" He laughed as he came sat down at the table in the break room again. "Mattie babe, I've had to deal with Cal for a little over a year. Trust me, you won't be trouble at all. Though I should warn you," He began as he took a sip. "My dear husband does usually come over for dinner every Friday night, so if you think you can handle him for a few more extra hours on your Fridays then by all means." He went on to add.
Blake's expression softened considerably then as he took one more sip of his tea and wrapped his hands around the mug. "In all seriousness Matt, You'd be doing this more for me then you." He said. Fixing those dark blues on her. "I don't wanna worry about you in that b & b by yourself. Your place is one thing, but a place that also houses strangers? Selene is nice and all, but...." He gave her a look. That look that would tell her exactly what he was thinking. She was a sexual assault survivor and he didn't want her anywhere new (even though he knew the town) that he hadn't checked the locks on personally. So yes. He didn't mind at all that she staid with him. "Do I need to bribe you with fresh cooked breakfast every morning? You know I haven't watched Murder She Wrote since we last left off....." He coaxed. His grin returning.
Post by Mattie Harris on Oct 14, 2020 21:40:40 GMT -5
Mattie dramatically rolled her eyes at the short joke. He was certainly making up for lost time on that front. Sure she was an entire foot shorter than him, but that didn’t mean he had to rub it in. She narrowed her eyes at him as he dodged out of the way of her poking at him. She’d never seriously hit him, not knowing his history, but it was still instinct to lightly whack his arm or poke him in the stomach when he made one of those comments.
What did he mean every Friday? On her Fridays, plural? He was talking like she was going to be staying with him permanently. Had he already forgotten she’d rented a house? She’d already paid first and last month’s rent plus a deposit, so she sure as heck wasn’t backing out now. She was just about to question it when he continued, looking more serious.
He was worried about her staying in a strange place, even here in Xander's Cross? Sure, she'd had a moment of anxiety herself, but the owner was a woman, and it wasn't that far from Blake's place if she'd needed help in a pinch. She laughed softly and shook her head. This was why she felt perfectly comfortable with Blake–he knew all her worries almost as soon as she’d had them, and he was always looking out for her. It was nice to have someone who wanted the best for her, the same way she wanted the best for them. Sometimes it led to some pretty goofy arguments, but it was worth it. She knew she could rely on Blake no matter what. She just didn’t want to take advantage of his kindness, seeing as she knew first hand how much that sucked.
Ugh, waking up to Blake’s cooking? And Murder She Wrote before bed? How could she argue with that? She slapped a hand dramatically to her forehead.
“Blake Evan Carson, you are incorrigible,” she ‘complained’ even as a bright smile grew on her lips. “Alright, you win. But just until the truck comes in, and then I can stay in my own place. I’m not gonna overstay my welcome, I like you too much to ruin it by being a lousy house guest.
Post by Blake Carson on Dec 19, 2020 18:16:31 GMT -5
A cheeky grin spread across Blake's face as he looked at Mattie with triumph in his eyes. He sipped his tea rather smuggly as she complained at him. It was a complaint he didn't mind in the slightest. Mattie would be safe and sound at Casa el la Blake and they could finally pick up where they'd left off with Jessica Fletcher.
"Pfffft, I doubt you'll be a lousy house guest Matt, but you got a deal." He told her. He could handle her for a few days, and then help her get settled. Did he forget to mention that? That she was also going to find him helping her move in and do any repairs she needed at her new place? Best be a surprise then. He grinned more to himself over the rim of his mug.
"Just let me know when you're ready to go this evening and you can follow me home." He told her. She'd have to follow him on his bike, but it wasn't that long of a trip.
Post by Mattie Harris on May 1, 2021 20:06:21 GMT -5
"That's what you think! Just wait until I wake you up in the middle of the night, then we'll see how good a guest you think I am. She chuckled, but she wasn't kidding, either. She still had nightmares when she was feeling particularly anxious, and she was genuinely worried she'd wake Blake by shouting in the night. She knew he'd never blame her or be angry, but she still hated to ruin his sleep with her lingering problems.
Gods it was good to have Blake around again. Day one and she was already about to cry from sheer relief and gratitude. She knew her family wanted to be supportive, but Blake actually understood her in a way that they couldn't. Having him around put her heart at ease.
"But thank you, seriously. I knew I missed having you around, but I didn't realize how bad." Her smile took on a bit of a sad edge as she crossed to give him a quick side hug.
Post by Blake Carson on May 1, 2021 22:35:06 GMT -5
Blake wanted to tell her that her waking up in the middle of the night wasn’t an issue for him. If he was being honest, he woke up on occasion, reliving some of his past PTSD between Kendal and Carlos. It all depended on how badly his mind wanted to torture him that night. Evil ex girlfriend, or the trauma of his childhood?
He didn’t say any of that though, and welcomed her hug. Rubbing a hand on her upper arm as he squeezed her gently into his side. “I missed you too Matt.” He smiled down at her. He really did miss her, and he didn’t realize how much until she was literally right there in front of him. “No need to miss each other any more though! You’re here to stay until I say otherwise.” He tapped her on the nose then and grinned, before he heard Emillia calling for him down the hall. “Duty calls, see ya later!” He told her quickly before he was off.