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 Cameron Boehm on Sept 16, 2020 20:11:05 GMT -5
Being a Forest ranger's son, as well as little brother to one, Cam knew the lay of the forest pretty well, and it didn't take him long to the small hike to lake Dawapai. He packed in his guitar case and his small backpack that had the essentials. The reception was shit out here, but he had his radio clipped to the belt of his shorts. Those that needed to get a hold of him knew what channel he was on. The mid afternoon sun shone down through the tree canopies, shielding the worst of the summer heat. He was wearing a grey tank-top and cargo shorts, his hiking boots, and had a navy bandana wrapped around his forehead to keep the sweat out of his eyes. He took a slight detour off the trail, seeing the lake up ahead, he found the other trail easily enough and took it up the eastern part of the lake up on a small ridge looking over it. It was here where Cam liked play his guitar. It was nice and secluded. The deer didn't come up here, and as far as Cam was concerned, he was one of the main predators that frequented these parts. His wolf senses alerting him to anything that might be coming.
He came up on the old log, dropping his backpack, he rested the guitar case against the log before he pulled out the old mexican blanket and unfolded it. Laying it down on the ground, he sat on it before pulling the guitar towards him. He took it out of the case, and sat it in his lap, strumming a few chords. He put the pick between his lips, and started to tune it before he unclipped the radio, and pushed down on the side button. "High C this is Low C, I am at the location, Over." He couldn't keep the slow grin appearing on his face. They'd agreed for about three, and Cam didn't remember if he'd come to early or not. Either way, he figured he'd let the old man know the youngin had beat him today. Cam leaned against the log, crossing his ankles as he strummed a few more strings. He took his sunglasses from where they hung on his shirt and pushed them up on the bridge of his nose while he let his head fall back, staring up at the blue sky while his fingers flew across the strings. The latest song he'd been given to practice came out almost effortlessly as he waited for the static of the radio to come back to him.
Cal always tried to meet the kid at least once a week for lessons. However, Cameron was simply one of those who picked up the guitar naturally and the doc was wondering how much longer these lessons would even have to go on for. He wasn't a professional, he didn't really play gigs very often, but Cam? He could be so much more if he set his mind to it. And Cal was proud of him, wanting to see him succeed. He had the knack for this, he had the talent, he just had to push himself if he really wanted to go down this road.
Despite what the young wolf believed, Cal had already been there for awhile. He'd just been running off some of his stress, already shifted back into his human form and dressing himself when he heard the voice over the radio. He was out in the woods, but he was still nearby. Slipping the t-shirt over his head, he crouched by his things to retrieve the walkie. He chuckled at the kid's message. "Low C, this is High C. Went for a run, should be by you shortly. Over and out." Cam would know what he meant by "run", he was sure.
Slipping his boots on, he gathered up his pack and guitar (which he didn't bother putting in a case) to sling over he shoulders and head down to the lake. It was only about ten minutes later that Cal emerged from the treeline to find Cam settled there by the lake, already playing the song easily enough. "Sounds good, kid. Although I'm not surprised." Cameron would have heard him coming already even before he rounded about the log to place his things down. "How you doin'?"
Post by Cameron Boehm on Sept 17, 2020 23:19:54 GMT -5
Cam glanced down at the radio when Dr. Hunt's voice over, and he couldn't help but grin. He reached down and pushed the button. "10.4 Good Buddy." He tossed it next to him, and picked up his playing again. At this point he could play the song without having to look at his hands to make sure he was holding down the right strings. His muscle memory had picked up fast with the song. He let his mind wander as he looked up at the sky, one of his feet tapped to the sound of the music. He thought of Sidney, but what else was knew? He felt that pang in his chest that always accompanied his thoughts of her now. Before, he'd get that warm gushy feeling. But as of several weeks ago, he felt nothing but hurt.
Breakups sucked, but this one more than he thought possible. All because of what she'd said and did. He felt that sadness begin wash over him, but luckily he was able to hear Cal coming, and his mood instantly perked up. He was one of the Haven Doc's that also happened to be a werewolf. After a routine physical, Cam had started to slowly pester him namely because he was a wolf without a pack save for Dr. Carson, but he was a human. Cam thought it was strange, but before he knew it, they managed to land on a conversation about music, and he'd swindled the older man into giving him lessons. Cam couldn't have been happier. Seriously, the lessons were a nice distraction from Sidney even if they only met once a week.
One Cal was finally in sight, Cam tilted his head towards him from where it rested against the log. That easy smile appearing on his face. "Ah, it's nuthin. Just a lot of practice." He said. Cam struggled with accepting the fact he actually was good. More so now after the blow to his confidence that Sidney had given him. He pulled his sunglasses up to rest them on his head. "Doing pretty 'ight. Got today and tomorrow off so I'm not complaining. I don't have have to hear Murph hollerin at my sister about her adventure scouts." He snickered. Cameron working in the Forest Ranger Office, as more of a secretary. He took a lot of calls and a lot of the time played referee between Head Ranger Ken Murphy and his sister Rikki. "What about you? Have a nice run?" He asked, sitting up more.
last edited Sept 17, 2020 23:20:24 GMT -5 by Cameron Boehm
Cal knew about Sidney. Well, he knew some of the story, that is. As far as he knew, the girl had to move away and it left Cameron pretty heartbroken. He was young, though, and a good looking kid at that. There would be plenty of other girls throwing themselves at him, especially when one of them realized he could play. And sing. Cam was dangerous in that aspect, and Cal couldn't be any more proud. All he had to do was realize it for himself.
"You're just a natural, Cam. I keep sayin' it and I mean it." It was crazy, honestly, and he wasn't sure what else he could really teach him. Something told the wolf that this was a nice getaway for the younger one, though...and, to be honest, it was for him as well. Cal didn't really do much with his life except work, so this was a nice little escape. He enjoyed playing, and he was happy to bestow that knowledge upon someone else. It was almost like Cameron became the little brother he never had.
And he was the only other one, besides Blake, that he considered a part of his "pack".
Chuckling quietly over the bit about the forest ranger, he settled down on the log that Cam was currently resting against. "Yeah, was good," he answered his question. It had been some time since he shifted, and it was good to stretch out the legs. All four of them. "So, I was thinkin'-" Well, there it was, that usual grin that meant he had something up his sleeve. He already knew Cam was not going to like it. "What if...I got you a gig at the bar? Or, no, just one song," he was quick to clarify. Small steps were better right now, let's not get greedy. "They usually have open mic a couple nights a month."
Post by Cameron Boehm on Dec 16, 2020 17:31:38 GMT -5
Cam's big browns watched Cal as he sat down on the log. A small smile on his face as he said his run was good. Well, that was good! Cam struck a few cords mindlessly, glancing down at his fingers as he did so. He stopped though the moment Cal said he was thinking something. Cam looked up at him curiously. He saw that grin he'd seen Cal use a number of times, and something told him he was either really going to like what he had to say, or hate it.
The anticipation began to build and and get got nervous suddenly. His eyes about popped out of his head, and he was gapping. HIM? Play at an open bar? Cal wasn't serious right? It was a bar. There was no way Cam was going to be allowed in, and if his mother heard about it? It wasn't just going to Cam's ass that was grounded...
"You're serious?" He asked him, wanting to make sure he heard him right, and given their good hearing, there was no way for Cam to miss hear him. "I'm not- Nuuuuuu," He found himself looking away, his cheeks taking on a flush that wasn't from the summer heat. "I don't know if I could do it. All those people..." He mumbled. It was thing playing on the soccer team. As goalie, Cam had a lot of pressure, and it was usually a pressure he could handle, not to mention he had his teammates that were also being watched. "I'd clam up." He said reaching up to rub at the back of his neck.
Of course, Cam was underage, so getting him allowed inside a bar might be tricky...but Cal was a frequent visitor of the establishment and was sure he could pull some strings. Especially if it was just for one song. He'd figure out who he had to charm in order to make it happen, he wasn't worried.
The trickiest part was going to be to get Cameron to actually do it.
"I'm dead serious," he replied, settling down on that fallen log; his elbows upon his knees. The smile barely left his face as he was softly amused by the boy's fright, if only because it was endearing. "I'm obviously not going to make you, kid, but you've got somethin' not many people have." His gaze drifted out to the water in front of them for a moment while he thought about it. "I also don't think I have much left to teach you- you're surpassing even me. What you need to learn now...is confidence." And Cal was probably the best teacher for that.
Or the worst, it depended upon who you asked.
He reached for his own guitar and settled it upon his thigh, idly strumming the strings. What was just some random chords turned into a somewhat familiar song by U2 absently. "Just think about it. You won't know unless you try, yeah?" he added with a shrug.
Post by Cameron Boehm on Apr 1, 2021 13:14:52 GMT -5
Cam was skeptical. He might appeared to have confidence in things he did, but when it came to the guitar and singing he his confidence was none existent. Sidney had ruined him, telling him it was just a false hope and that he wouldn't go anywhere with music. So why should he try? But Cal seemed to see something in him apparently, that Cam was trying really hard to accept. An evil little voice told him it was just because he was older and being nice. That Cam had forced him into giving him the lessons in the first place, but he also had the hunch Cal wouldn't lie to him.
He watched the older man settle on the log. He felt a flush appear on his cheeks at Cal's compliment, looking down at his hands as they rested on the strings of the guitar he held. His head shot back up when Cal said he didn't have anything else he could probably teach him. What?! Really? For a split second, fear entered Cameron's eyes that this could be their last meeting. And then what would happen? Cam didn't want to be selfish with Cal's time, but the kid desperately needed this. Something to look forward too, to help him work through the mess his mind had become. "Nah, that can't be." He said with a small huff of laughter and shake of his head. Trying to play it off that it was fine, when really Cam was getting anxious.
He chewed on his bottom lip, glancing up as Cal strung along on his guitar, and Cam's fingers, mimicked him. Playing the same chords right back to him. Could he do it? Really? If he had to learn Confidence, then maybe this was the next step in their lessons? Which would mean, Cam would have to get on a stage at some point. He pursed his lips, looking out at the lake, as he let his fingers mindlessly play the beginning of House of the rising sun, as he thought over Cal's suggest. "I'll do it on one condition." He told him, as he tilted his head back and looked at him. Arching a brow as a coy smile appeared on his face. "You have to play too."
Cal tended to see a lot of things that others didn't, if only to avoid noticing shit that he was or wasn't doing. Yeah, he was one of those types.
But he meant what he said to the kid, and it was in no way meaning he was getting tired of their get-togethers and lessons. The doc didn't really have friends here besides Blake (and apparently some annoying blonde), and he had come to think of Cameron like the little brother he never had. He was a good guy, and hopefully more people would see that. Including girls that weren't bitches like Sidney.
'Nah, that can't be.'
"Maybe you should be teaching me some things, yeah? What kinda music do kids listen to these days?" He didn't really know. Cal was stuck in the 80's, with a bit of alternative 90's rock.
When Cam mentioned "one condition", Cal immediately stopped playing to look sidelong to him. He noted the coy smile on the kid's face, but little did he know was that the older wolf would not be very fazed. "Deal." Did he expect him to back down from that? The smile on his own face grew wider, as if he had somehow tricked him. "There's a town faire in a couple of weeks, and they showcase local performers. It'll be perfect."
Post by Cameron Boehm on Jul 14, 2021 12:17:06 GMT -5
Cam had hoped for some argument, but he should have realized who he was talking too. The sudden acceptance, was making him blink in surprise and then it just hit him what he'd agreed to do. He'd be playing in front of people for once. Granted, Cal would be there so it would be easier on him, but still... Oh man, oh man...Cameron was going to have to start planning and practicing. But it also meant Cal couldn't give him the slip quite yet. Not if Cam hounded him to help him practice, so maybe it was a small blessing.
He was too busy lost in his mind at the moment to realize Cal was talking about the yearly faire and that he wanted to play at that. "That's not a bar! You said a bar, bro!" Cam said exasperated. "Make up your mind old man!" He said pointing a finger up at him. The bar crowd was certainly much smaller then a faire. "Don't you dare say we can do both," He quickly added, raising his brows and giving Cal a look that Cam had learned from his mother. He lowered his arm and then played another few chords out of nervous habit. Looking at his fingers as he did so.
He chewed on his lip for a moment, and then glanced back up at Cal. "So...What should we play? We talking duet, or singles?" He asked. If Cal wanted him to play, then Cameron was going to take this shit seriously and plan as much as he could. If Cal wanted a show, the kid was determined to put one on.