[color=lightgray][center][right][sub][@LovelyComplex] & [@BrutalBx][/sub] [sub]Timestamp: After Heroes & Villains, Legado de Montero[/sub] [sub]FT: [color=FACE75]Salvador Montero[/color], [color=fccb8e]Avery Kaine[/color], [color=c0f9fd]Anthony "Oz" Osso[/color][/sub][/right] [color=fccb8e]____________________________________________________________________[/color] [color=FACE75]____________________________________________________________________[/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/LztvxWR.png[/img] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220719/cf70d3b98867987f73284a14e6d404ce.png[/img] [color=FACE75]____________________________________________________________________[/color] [color=fccb8e]____________________________________________________________________[/color][/center] [indent]It had taken a while but after many boxes moved, many moments of dodging Esteban’s wrath and Cassandra’s venom, Salvador had managed to escape from his brand new home on Scott Street and entered the limestone jungle that was Edenridge, Massachusetts. His first thought was to venture south towards what he had already heard was the worst part of town; Carlisle Avenue. ReyRey was there and the young man couldn’t wait to see his favourite older cousin. Yet, Sal also liked to think he was a smart type of cat and decided against it. Surprising R2, whilst good in theory, would be terrible in practice as the Kingsnake as some called him was known for having what one might call an unlevel temperament. Instead Salvador headed straight south towards the area known as Main Street. Immediately, the young Montero realised that the world he now inhabited was incredibly different to the one that he was born into. Miami was a different animal. Sun drenched beaches, palm trees, heat that could cool an egg on the sidewalk. Lest he forget the people. A predominantly Latin X community that looked out for each other and took care of their own. When though he had only been there for a few short hours, Sal already had the feeling that Eden was very much a dog eat dog, survival of the fittest type of place. He already had family here but they were a different breed. The Gonzalez had been raised in the dirt and thrown into the trenches. Sal and Cass were born with silver spoons and trust funds. This was not their place but they had to make it so that it was. Easier said than done. Salvador was excited to explore his new home. Edenridge was a small town but in some circles, it was a very famous town. [i]The Most Haunted Town in America.[/i] Around every corner was a new horror story to uncover. The Hangman. The Weeping Woman. The Witches on the Hill. There were so many tales to uncover and Sally could barely contain his excitement. He had been into spooky stories since he was a child watching Goosebumps reruns on Netflix. It was his fascination with the macabre which led the youngest Montero to the world of comic books, fantasy and his home with the nerds and misfits of the world. His mother understood, she was always on his wavelength but now she was gone. Dead. Crumpled in a heap on the floor of a hotel with a broken neck. Salvador had worked hard to get the image out of his head but it was proving to be a winless battle. Opening the door to Swerve Arcana, the newcomer's mouth dropped open and he struggled to pick his jaw up off of the floor. His almond eyes widened as he gazed upon the myriad of shelves of comics, graphic novels and board games. At that moment, Salvador’s nerdgasm went into overdrive. He took one step into the promised land and for the first time in what felt like forever since his mothers passing, a smile crept up across his face. [color=fccb8e]“You know, now that Jamie’s rejected me, you could totally put in a good word for me with Sissy, Ozzy boy,”[/color] Avery leaned on the counter going through an older Langley series, [i]All My Falling Stars[/i]. It was the one that got him out there in the big world. A romance story where he took actual experiences with his wife and displayed it to the world. She wondered if this would be a good story to share with Jamie. A story about two star-crossed lovers. An unassuming boy who didn’t believe he’d live past highschool and an incredibly shy girl who felt invisible to the world. It was a cute story and extremely heartfelt. A passion project of Langley’s since his other work was nothing like this, at all. Strumming on his Stratocaster to the tune of Turn the Page by Metallica, Oz raised his head up from the ground and shook it disappointedly. [color=c0f9fd]“Two things; one, no. Two, she’s dating someone right now, some French lawyer chick. Total fox.”[/color] He placed his guitar down by his feet as he checked the clock on the wall. Ozzy only had a short break from work, so of course he was going to spend it at Arcana with his dungeon party. Though half the little turd burglars weren’t even there. Did he say they could have a life outside of their quest? Absolutely-fucking-not. He would’ve gone to see Violet but she was busy with her Mom and he hated intruding on their time together. Ozzy glanced towards the door as it chimes open and in stepped a brand new face. [color=c0f9fd]“New victim for you, Aves.”[/color] Closing the comic book, Avery glanced up toward the new face. His features reminded her of one specific family. It was uncanny, honestly. The Gonzales were Southside royalty, in a sense. Well, as royal as they could get. They were fighters, survivors, and people you didn’t fuck with. They kept close ties with the people they connected with and knew everyone in this town, including her and her family. Family was everything. The way this boy’s eyes sparkled, it was like he was a kid who just walked into a candy store. Someone with that kind of spark gave her hope that Swerve Arcana would never go out of business. If it wasn’t for online sales, who knows where she and her father would be. Probably relying heavily on her badass nerd mama Zella Kaine, major larper and dungeon master back in her day who now teaches the arts at Edenridge High. But teachers got paid shit, so maybe not. It was likely the whole family would rely on her sister, Zarissa. She was too smart for her own good and for her family. The only forensic analyst this godforsaken town had and there were a lot of goddamn crimes here. She constantly pulled overtime but hey, she loved it. Thankfully there were nerds all over the world and her dad’s shop had some good finds that you couldn’t find anywhere else. Somehow, Arthur Kaine got the hookup with Langley’s agent so, like, they were one of the first stores to have his new work. She missed the days when the Midnight Society was part of Oz’s dungeon party. There was so much more life in her playground. They disbanded after the Decker incident and Oz had to adopt randos to keep his mind busy. None of the new kids were as committed as Dal, Lolly, and Dean. Those three, especially when they were with Q, were a force to be reckoned with. Dungeons and Dragons was an escape for them and they made sure to meet at least twice a week. Now though? Dal was constantly babysitting and she fell off the table top bandwagon when Lolly stopped coming. That was around the time Q got his head shot off. Dean soon followed suit, focusing on pursuing a degree in journalism, going against his phenomenal coding abilities and his love for ghost stories. He was a well rounded boy but she always thought he’d do something with ghosts. Sadly, the heart of their group was gone so they couldn’t pretend there wasn’t a void. There was no Q which means they lost their drive, their purpose, and had to recalculate what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. Lolly was likely gaming 24/7 in her bedroom, she was a recluse after all, Dallas had no end goals, simply wanting to help her town by leading the babysitters club, and Dean was [i]trying[/i] to find his footing even if it meant he wasn’t going to pursue what once was a dream. Chasing ghosts and shit. Giving Oz a nod, Avery left the register and strolled to the newcomer. She smiled when she saw him go straight to the new Langley. [color=fccb8e]“I’m excited about this one. [i]Dread[/i]. Gives me spooky Lovecraftian vibes. Madness and Horror. Brand spankin’ new. The first volume. Pretty fucking exciting, right?”[/color] [color=FACE75]“This shit is gold dust!”[/color] Salvador gingerly picked up the Langley time with such delicate care. He held the comic to his nose and inhaled the sweet smell of freshly inked pages and exhaled deeply. [color=FACE75]“Sooooo fresh.”[/color] Realising he was in the presence of another human, Sal placed the comic back down onto its pedestal and looked at the young woman that now stood beside him. [color=FACE75]“I’m sorry,”[/color] He mousily apologised. This was why he was a disappointment to his father. Cass would have read the room, calculated every obstacle and found a way to overcome it before she even took an expensive heeled area off of the Spider-Man welcome mat. Sal, well Sal sniffed a page. Yup. [color=FACE75]“This place is amazing. You have such cool stuff!”[/color] [color=fccb8e]“Why the fuck are you sorry?”[/color] Avery said rather bluntly. She was glad Violet wasn’t here or she’d scold her for her potty mouth. Her whole family talked like sailors, it was honest to goddess a challenge to not curse. She had to do better though. What if Violet left her? One of the only girls that could put up with her bullshit. That would be a travesty. Aves went from staring at the embarrassed boy to her bracelet. She loved that girl. Putting her fist to her lips, her attention back on the stranger, Aves cleared her throat, [color=fccb8e]“My b, welcome to Swerve. The place where you can legit be what you want to be and no one is going to judge you. If you are judged, well, IDK man. That’s legit never happened. Those that come here are usually in search for a place to belong, so like… we’re chill. Sniff that book all you want.” [/color] It was nice to hear that this place seemed to be some kind of safe haven for the freaks and geeks, though the freckled girl could just be trying to sell him more comics than he could afford. Which in itself was a moot point since Sal and his family had enough money to buy the place outright. [color=FACE75]“I just get…kinda locked on? Like Langley’s stuff is just so good you know? He’s one of my idols. I watched him do that live DND campaign on Youtube the other day and the guy was hilarious. I would kill to play with him.”[/color] Sal took another look around the place, taking in the ambience and feel. This was going to be his throne, he could feel it. When work and family would get too much, this would be what called to him. When the grief and sadness overtook him, when the image of her body became stuck in his head and he couldn’t escape it, this place, it would be his sanctuary, his fortress of solitude, his bat cave. [color=FACE75]“You guys got any DnD in this town?”[/color] Huh. She liked this kid. Unlike her other family members, he was a nerd through and through. “Do we have DnD?” Avery scoffed in amusement. [color=fccb8e]“DO WE HAVE DND?”[/color] She slapped her knee and started to laugh. Once a second or two passed, she turned to the cleancut metal head, [color=fccb8e]“Oz this kid wants to know if we have DnD! Oh, by the way,”[/color] Avery was back to looking at the fresh face, all the while grinning, [color=fccb8e]“I’m Avery, this is my dad’s place. That’s my boy Anthony, but call him Oz. He prefers it. He took up the dungeon master mantle after my mom focused on being a teacher. You want an in? You gotta’ convince him.”[/color] Like the Lord of the underworld he was in his dreams, Oz leapt up from behind a bookshelf and landed in a crouched position next to the newcomer. [color=c0f9fd]“Welcome young traveler,”[/color] He stood up to his full, tall, lanky frame and began to circle Salvador like a shark that could smell its victims fresh blood in the water. [color=c0f9fd]“So you wanna play a game?”[/color] The metal head spoke in his best Jigsaw impression. [color=c0f9fd]“I must tell you, what we do here is not just a game. Our DnD is a way of life. To join our party one does not just simply walk into Swerve, you. have. to. earn. it.”[/color] Ozzy stopped behind the boy and placed his skull ringed fingers gently onto his shoulders. [color=c0f9fd]“To join our party, you have to undertake a quest.”[/color] His dark eyes drifted to Avery as he held the young completely in this thrall and a knowing smile crept up across his face. [color=c0f9fd]“In the kingdom of Edenridge, there are many untold dangers. Around every corner, a new faction plots to bring our realm to ruin. Snakes in the grass, monsters in the water and above it all, our Lord whose name we doth not speak,”[/color] His final word a whisper into Sal’s ear. Oz dragged a finger down Sal’s cheek before positioning himself back at the forefront next to Avery. Pulling out a D20 from the inner pocket of his denim vest, Ozzy held it aloft between himself and the comic store employee. [color=c0f9fd]“Dare we say it, Butter Scotch? Is he worthy to be the one to reunite our team of heroes?”[/color] To give Sal insight, Avery whispered, [color=fccb8e]“I’m a ranger Tabaxi very far from my homeland in search of my long lost sister, Pepper Jack. Also kinda’ a pest. A troll. A goofball. A fucking idiot.”[/color] When she saw Oz giving her a deadly serious glare, Aves rolled her eyes and matched his dramatics, [color=fccb8e]“Let the fates decide!”[/color] She waved her hands in front of her, vertical and in the opposite direction from one another, like she was putting a spell on Sal. Taking the D20 out of Oz’s grasp, Aves’ changed her voice’s octave (much higher and with a slight lisp) and went into playful, minx mode. A character that took hardly anything seriously, [color=fccb8e]“Do it, I dare you. Triple dog dare you. Don’t be a pussy. I’m the only pussy in this party! Get higher than fifteen and we will set you on your funfunfun quest! What do you say?”[/color] [color=FACE75]”I’m in, Lady Butter Scotch,”[/color] Salvador took the D20 from Avery and held it aloft his head like a great sword of destiny. [color=FACE75]”I am Raoul of the Order of the Profane Soul. Blood Hunter. I wish to aid you on your quest to find your sister!”[/color] With a flick of his wrist, Sal rolled the dice onto a nearby shelf. He watched as the fabled die bounced in slow motion across the old panel unit until it finally stopped in front of the Stephen King section. Sally widened his chocolate eyes in shock and pleasure as the D20 showed a face of 18. Though his excitement was immediately ruined when Aves teasingly corrected him, [color=fccb8e]“I ain’t no lady, bitch. I wouldn’t be caught dead in silk and pearls. Just call me Butter. Or Scotch. Or Butter Scotch.”[/color] Oz looked at Avery and then back to Sal with a huge grin upon his face. He placed his hands into his pockets and took a step back. [color=c0f9fd]“In our world, young Raoul, there exists a group of heroes. Heroes who have time and time again, protected these lands from those that wish it ill. Sadly, in their most recent battle, our legends lost their leader and thus, without his light to guide them, fell apart. Butter Scotch and I have tried to get them together again but alas, our attempts have been met with naught but failure. If you, Raoul of the Order can convince them to band together once more, then and only then, may you join our party. Raoul, to join us, you must return together, the Midnight Society.”[/color] Pulling his arms from his pockets in a sudden motion, Heavy Metal Oz grabbed either side of Sal’s face and leaned in close. With a hushed whisper, he spoke into the young man’s face. [color=c0f9fd]”Your first task, find the Quill. The Quill will ink the words and draw the map to the path you must take. Make haste, young Raoul, for in the lands of Eden, time is very much of the essence.”[/color] In a dramatic move, Oz span away from Sal and straight out of the front door of Swerve, hopefully to return to reality. [color=fccb8e]“Translation: Find our knowledge cleric. She’s a scholar, a skill monkey, and a healer. Oz was super vague though,”[/color] Aves shook her head at her friend. Did he really think Sal could find people based on nicknames like ‘The Quill’? Knowing Oz he likely was assuming she’d take care of the rest. [color=fccb8e]“You don’t have to go too far, just go to the manga section,”[/color] Avery pointed in a direction where Rosie was likely hiding and drawing her new character concept for her fanfiction. [color=fccb8e]“Gorgeous blonde hair. A mischievous smile. Total babe.”[/color] In a swift moment, Sal broke free of the fantasy fever dream he had walked into and looked at the befreckled young woman standing before him. [color=FACE75]“Oh….cool. Thanks for letting me join you guys. I really don’t know anyone other than my family here and they’re aren’t really…well…they….yeah, no thanks a lot.”[/color] The Montero child offered up a genuine, sweet smile to Avery as he gripped a hold of his rucksack tightly, preparing himself for the next great adventure. His eyes fell upon the manga section that she had pointed to and he signed through his nose in determination, stepping onward onto glory. [/indent][/color]