YoshiSkittlez

High-Casual Hogwarts Roleplay

You've got my interest

Edit: would it be possible to make a teacher character? Or do you want specifically students?

♦ Children Of The Moon ♦ (Teen Wolf Roleplay)

@BlackPantherAlready got you covered. He spoke to Gage directly at the very end of his post :)

♦ Children Of The Moon ♦ (Teen Wolf Roleplay)

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Xerxes Arvanitis

Location: Arvanitis Household to Sky Lakes Medical Center.
^{Interacting With: Cassandra Arvanitis (@Caits), Miranda Burke (@Damo021), Syleste Vos (@Vicier), Sebastian Monroe (@December), and Gage Brooks (@BlackPanther).}

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Xerxes tried not to listen in on the girls' conversation as they came back down the stairs, getting ready to go with him to the hospital. But they weren't exactly shy about talking right in front of him, either. In all actuality, he was rather happy about that - happy that they felt comfortable enough to hold a conversation without being embarrassed if he overheard anything. It was the case with most of Cassandra's friends, he felt, which was good. Cassandra was always willing to allow him into her life. Even the girl-gossip bits.

He bid Miranda a soft, "Good morning" back to her, silently biding his time with reading the newspaper and sipping his coffee while the girls busied themselves around the kitchen as they talked about how Miranda was feeling. Part of him felt that, maybe it was his job to check up on her as well, but Cassandra seemed to be handling it well enough. He didn't want to overwhelm the young girl.

Nodding as his daughter declared that they were ready to go, he folded up the newspaper and stood from the kitchen bar where he had been sitting while he waited and issued the girls out to the garage where he kept his cars. The mustang had the top down and the Aston Martin couldn't fit the three of them comfortably. So he grabbed the keys to the Bentley Coupe and unlocked the doors for the girls to get inside. Once settled, he began the fifteen minute drive up to the hospital.

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Pulling on one of his less-used doctor's coats (since his daughter still refused to give up the one he wore last night), Xerxes quickly washed his hands at the utility sink before walking into the room that now held Syleste and Sebastian. The sirens. He took a moment to look over the two of them, letting the new fact sink in before he crossed the threshold and put on a smile - what Cassandra always called his "Doctor's face."

"Morning you two. I brought some visitors." he told them, gesturing to Miranda and Cassandra behind him. His eyes then landed on Gage. Had he been here the whole night? His heart went out to the boy - by the way he was reacting the night before, he wasn't sure just how this whole thing would turn out.

"One of the girls can run and get you something if you're hungry." he suggested, doubting that the boy had even thought of getting something to eat during the night.

♦ Children Of The Moon ♦ (Teen Wolf Roleplay)

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Damien Flores

Location: Mia and Pias Pizzeria and Brewhouse.
^{Interacting With: Zoé Flores}

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"What kind of bar doesn't sell Modelo?"

Damien stared down his sister, soaked to the bone with beer. He tried not to laugh, but it was just so good seeing her again, a flicker of a smile played across his otherwise hardened lips. He knew the kind of business she ran. He knew she would never put anything on tap other than what she made. But it was also fun to poke the bear a bit and get a rise out of her, as brothers did.

She just kept staring at him, so after a few quiet moments, Damien stood himself up from the barstool and slowly began to approach her as one would a wild animal - afraid to startle it.

Stopping in front of her, half an arm's length away, he looked down at her, his arms opening just the slightest - an invitation for a hug should she choose to take it. Or she would just slap him, he wasn't really sure.

"Zoé. It's... it's been a while..."

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Alder James

Location: Mia and Pias Pizzeria and Brewhouse.
^{Interacting With: Zoé and Damien Flores}

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Was she... was she just carrying a keg over her shoulder? Well he could do the same, if the keg was empty. But even then it was a bit of a challenge. But the second he witnessed the beer keg splitting upong coming into contact with the floor, soaking the entire bar side of the parlor, his thoughts were elsewhere on the mess now that had to be cleaned up, and a silent moment of mourning at the loss of beer.

"I'll... uh, I'll go get a mop..."

The tension was so thick in the air, Alder swore he could cut it with a knife. His hazel eyes glanced between his boss and the stranger that Zoé apparently knew. On one hand, he was rather relieved that she did. That meant that he could leave the bar while she dealt with the man. But on the other hand, he wasn't so sure how he felt about leaving her alone with him. Things were tense between the two of them, he could tell that right away. And the guy was huge - he could really do some damage if he wanted to.

He hesitated, watching the scene unfold before him before he finally managed to tear himself away from the bar to go to the back for a bucket and a mop.

No, he had to of imagined it. There was no way Zoé could have been carrying that full keg on her shoulder. He blamed his lack of sleep and slight hangover from the night before. It wouldn't have been the first time he imagined something from having no sleep.

♦ Children Of The Moon ♦ (Teen Wolf Roleplay)

@December once there is a xerses post Miri and Cassie will be at the hospital and thus interactions can begin!

@Caits

Working on a Damien post now and if I have time I'll get onto a Xerxes one. Been a bit busy helping my sister move into her new house. :)

Update: So apparently I posted for Alder too, lol. Two smaller posts to make a somewhat normal-lengh one. I rarely do that, apologies. (Perhaps a collab is in order @vicier? XD)

Anyway, working on Xerxes now. Should be done pretty quickly since I have half of it already written down in my head. Might be on the smaller side too. Ugh.

♦ Children Of The Moon ♦ (Teen Wolf Roleplay)

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Xerxes Arvanitis

and

Cassandra Arvanitis

Location: Arvanitis Household

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Having extracted herself from her father when morning came, Cassandra was at the stove, flipping a piece of French toast over, clicking her fingers, and Chewy who'd been trying to steal a piece of bacon waiting patiently for the rest of the breakfast, and the dog slunk back to the ground. Putting the bacon in the oven to keep it warm, she checked the toast again, the coffee maker happily working away.

Cassandra was more than content with the everyday, home-y task. She hummed as she worked, and giving in, she gave Chewy a piece of bacon before he could beg, too soft hearted for her own good. She glanced at the time, pleased, and finished up the cooking, skipping the pan in the sink and letting water fall on it, sizzling as it did, dishing out the food, and pouring a cup of coffee, grabbing herself some juice.

After last night, she wanted her father to have a decent meal before going back into work.

Inhaling deeply out of being startled by his alarm, Xerxes grunted a bit as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone to turn it off, having to squint a bit making the creases on the corners of his eyes deepen.

It took him a few moments to realize why he was on the couch, and then that Cassandra was gone. Memories flooded back into his mind like a broken dam. He ran his hand over his face, tugging at the skin a bit and exhaled a sigh before then realizing that the smell of breakfast had infiltrated his senses.

His little girl - made him breakfast.

Grabbing his glasses that she had taken off of him just a few hours ago, he put them back on and slowly made his way into the kitchen where he watched her quietly being busy around the kitchen. He didn’t know if he'd have time to enjoy everything she did for him, but he would sure as hell make an effort.

"Bacon smells good." he said, somewhat groggy, making his presence known.

Cassie looked over and smiled brightly, and for a small time it would be like the attack didn't happen. She tilted the coffee into a to-go mug, just in case he'd eat and run and not finish the coffee off. "Chewy thinks so too. I'll go for a run with him later." normal, and yet everything seemed to have changed. She wished her father would sleep a little more, but she knew he had to go in.

She handed him one of the plates, nudging Chewbacca as the dog wagged his tail, looking up at the plates as if they held the secret to everything. She gave a small laugh, and patted him, before sitting down at the table.

She had more questions, but they could wait. They weren't something she wanted to ask Zoé about, but rather questions that were about them. She knew her father didn't have much time, and they could wait.

"Are you okay?"

Xerxes chuckled, walking into the kitchen and took his coffee from her, taking a moment to rub her back with his free hand and kissed the top of her head.

"I should be asking you that - ooh! Bacon!" Abandoning his daughter, flashing her a quick smile and a wink, Xerxes went to the plate of bacon and popped a piece into his mouth.

"You know, with all the bacon left over, we'll have to make maple bacon sundaes when I get home from work tonight." he said in between chewing different slices. Then he gave her a more serious look.

"Why don't you come with me to work today? Miranda can come to and visit with Syleste and you can shadow me around and help me out with her a bit." Truly, he just didn't want to leave her after the night she had. But it could help her in the long run if she really did want to become a surgeon like him.

Cassie laughed, and weakening, fed chewbacca another piece of bacon, the dog practically going ecstatic at such a rare treat. "We both know I'm fine. I have to be, for my friends"

She nodded at the sundae idea, smiling, yet it faded at his look. Go to work with him? She was sure that it was an attempt to make sure she wasn't alone, and she'd probably try and spend as much time with Syleste as possible anyway.

"Sure." she said, and with a piece of French toast in her mouth, rose to go to the freezer, taking out two pre-made meals that she'd cooked and frozen, putting them on the sink, "sounds like fun" she said, after removing the toast, and giving him a smile.”I’ll go wake up Miri. If the bacon hasn’t already done that” She said with a chuckle, turning to go head up the stairs to her room.

”Miri!”

Watching her go with a small, prideful smile on his face, Xerxes relaxed back and sipped at his coffee, waiting for the two girls, his mind thinking of his conversation with his daughter when he finally managed to get home from the pizza parlor.

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A few hours earlier…

Gods it was late! Or early, depending on who you were asking. Xerxes didn't even dare look at the clock, knowing that he had to be back at the hospital by nine a.m. the next morning. If he didn't look at the clock, then his body wouldn't know just how much sleep he would be lacking come the next morning.

He wouldn't have changed the night for the world, though. After all the initial drama that had happened at the hospital that night, talking privately with Zoé for a few hours over a couple beers had been the most relaxing thing he had experienced in quite some time. She was gentle, patient, willing to answer any and all of his questions when it came to his daughter. At least… after he managed to calm her initial anger down.

Cassandra. She was his entire world. And now... now she belonged to Zoé, in a weird sort of way. His little girl... a Werewolf... He couldn't have done anything to stop it - though Zoé helped him come to terms with that, as well as many other things.

Pulling out his wallet, keys, loose change and pocket knife from the pockets of his pants, Xerxes placed them on the entry table as he came into the house, making sure to lock the door behind him. Exhausted, and hardly able to keep his eyes open, Xerxes walked heavily into the living room and upon seeing the couch, knew it would be his destination for the rest of the night. Not wanting to trifle with the stairs, he plopped himself down on the large, leather sofa in the living room, not even bothering to take his shoes or glasses off. His phone was already pre-set for an alarm, which meant he hadn't a thing to worry about, and that sleep would come soon.

Cassandra had fallen asleep leaning against the dining room table, having foolishly thought that would help her stay awake as she waited for her father, after carefully sneaking out her room when Miri had fallen asleep. Apart from wanting to make sure that he was okay, Cassandra wanted him. After everything...Cassandra was a little scared. Terrified really, about what was happening to her. Practically healed, Cassandra was exhausted, but had been adamant about staying up. It hasn't worked, and now she jolted away at the sound of the door shutting, rubbing her eyes. She blinked about a little blearily, listening but didn't hear him going up the stairs.

He'd probably just fallen onto the sofa, not bothering to take off his shoes, or glasses. Prepared for such an event, Cassie retrieved the blanket and pillow typically reserved for movie nights, stumbling into the living room herself.

"Dad?" She whispered, not wanting to wake him if he was asleep, but wanting him to know she was there if he was awake, as she put down the blanket and pillow, and watching him. To her, while everything seemed to have changed in one night, nothing had. She'd always need her dad.

Xerxes stirred slightly at the sound of his daughter's voice. He was nearly asleep, and for a moment he couldn't tell if it were something he had imagined, or reality. Forcing an eyelid to open with great effort, he peered into the darkness, seeing a silhouette he could recognize anywhere. He hadn't been dreaming. Cassie had been calling out for him.

He didn't want to... he really didn't want to move from his somewhat awkward, yet comfortable state, but Cassandra was his number one, so he forced his body to move and sat up a bit.

"Hey there, sweetheart." he said, his voice coming out a lot more coarse and lower than normal. Clearing his throat, realizing this, he pushed himself up so that there was enough room for her to sit down next to him and let his outside leg fall from the couch, instead having his foot rest on the floor beneath them. "How are you doing? Did Miranda end up staying the night?" He didn't have any indication as to whether or not Cassandra's friend had ended up over at their house, though he had hoped. It was something he had suggested when he sent Cassie home, unable to leave until he performed surgery on Syleste. He didn't want her alone.

Cassie was still wearing his coat, having bundled it about herself as she wanted the comfort of it, the scent it brought her, somehow just bringing to mind her father. She sat down, with it wrapped around her, and nodded t"Yeah, she’s asleep in my room, Chewy’s probably snuggled up against her” She thought of her other friends, and she couldn't imagine them having to tell their parents why they didn't have any injuries to show, the difficult path between deciding to lie or tell the truth. She was glad she didn't have to make that choice. She could never lie successfully to her father.

"Is Syleste okay?" While she was sure that he wouldn't have come home until that was a given, but she found she still needed the verbal answer, as if to make it real. Or maybe she just wanted to hear his voice-soothing and comforting, the voice that had read stories to her, soothed her if she woke from nightmares, that was safe. She could after all easily text Gage and ask, figuring that he would be there.

She stifled a yawn, knowing that her father must be more tired then she. She wouldn't bug him long, but she suspected they both needed the comfort of each other. It had always been so.

Xerxes sat up a bit more, just enough for his arm to wrap around her shoulders so that he could gently pull her down onto him while he laid back down on the couch. His back, sore as it was, thanked him as a bit of a grunt passed through his lips.

"Syleste is going to be just fine. Eighteen stitches total between her left ribcage and her collarbone, but she's tough. A couple days of careful observation and she'll be cleared to go back home. Probably will have to skip school for a week or so for rest, but she'll pull through." he told her, letting his hand then move to the back of her head to pull it into his chest, letting her know that it was okay to snuggle into him - that he wanted her to snuggle into him - that he needed her to snuggle into him. He stifled a yawn himself, just after Cassandra's.

"What are you still doing up?" It was a stupid question. He knew exactly why. She was freaked by the whole ordeal. The attack, the realization she was now a part of a supernatural world he never told her about, the fact that he too, was a supernatural, her friends...

Cassie nestled into him when he pulled her down, knowing full well that they'd probably end up falling asleep like that. Which was okay with her. "She is tough. She'll miss music...I wonder if I can teach her some guitar..." Cassie mused, snuggling closer, happy where she was.

"I was waiting for you." She said simply, her voice soft. "I love you, Daddy. Nothing will ever change that" she murmured, "I wanted to know you were okay, and that you got home safe" she knew that so much had happened, that while yes, her father had kept a big secret from her, she knew it was to keep her safe. She knew that now he would no doubt worry even more about her. She wanted to be able to ease his mind.

She wasn't mad. Her father was a fricking angel. She did have questions, loads of them, but knew they could wait till morning. Like why she wasn't an angel, if he was. Maybe it didn't work like that. "Besides, Miri’s there, and Chewy’s probably taken over my bed and I don't have the heart to move him"

"Chewy's a fatass and could use the brief exercise." Xerxes jested, able to pull off just enough sarcasm in his voice to make it clear that he was joking. Though soon after his words passed through his lips, he bent his head down so that his lips could kiss the crown of her head, his arm tightening around her just a bit more before easing up and laying back down, comfortably.

"I love you too, sweetheart. And I'm fine." He debated for a moment whether or not he wanted to bring up the subject of the transformation her body had gone under. On one hand, he didn't want to talk about it. Talking about it made it real. On the other, he knew that talking about it could ease her mind. But she seemed to be relatively okay, in that department. Either that, or he was missing something completely. It wouldn't have been the first time.

Cassie gave a soft laugh. "He gets plenty" she couldn't tell her father that she'd been worried what the dog would make of her now. Best to let the dog sleep till morning. She listened to his breathing, deciding that he hadn't caught everything that had happened, a good thing as it might just be another thing to deal with tonight. And she didn't want to keep him up any longer than necessary.

"What do you want to know?" Xerxes then asked after a while, suddenly, in the still silence that had been created for through the last few moments. "I spoke with Zoé tonight after I finished at the hospital. I... I may not have all the answers, but I know enough... Are you... are you okay?" he asked again, though this time it had nothing to do with her physical state, but her mental one.

She swallowed nervously at his questions. "I'm okay. A little wrung out. I'm...I'm scared" she had experienced what one wolf could do, and she didn't want to be responsible for anything like that. She didn't want to be a monster. She hesitated, before whispering "am I going to be a monster?" Just what would she miss out on, now? Could she go off to college, have a life if she was a risk to society?

"What's going to happen?"

Her statement, and then question, had Xerxes wide awake. His once tired eyes opened, and stared up at the ceiling through the darkness. His hand began to rub soft, slow circles on her back as he kept her pressed into him tightly. He thought over his answer carefully, despite that he knew what he already wanted to say. She was in a fragile state. Even though she appeared tough on the outside, she was a mess on the inside. That was more than clear to him now.

"No. You will not become a monster. Nor are you one. Cassie..." Xerxes paused to sit himself up a bit so that his head was resting on the arm of the couch instead of on the cushion, more so that he could look down at her, hoping that he could meet her gaze. "Nothing is going to happen that you don't want. The attack today... that was just some fuck, dicking around and looking to cause trouble. I haven't known you to want to cause trouble a day in your life. Just because he managed to turn you, does not mean that you have to live by the standard that he has shown you. That's... that's what Zoé is for..." his voice cracked somewhat, but he quickly cleared his throat to try and hide it. It was something he couldn't help with. To be able to control herself to the point that he was talking to her about, she needed another Werewolf's instruction. He could do nothing. And it killed him.

"She is a wonderful teacher, and can help you control any stray thoughts or emotions that lead you to believe otherwise." He lifted his free hand and pressed a finger to her chest, right where her heart was. "This... this has not changed. So neither have you. You are still my daughter, my little girl. And I will love you to the ends of the Earth and beyond. Even if you make mistakes. Even if you can't control what is happening for whatever reason. I will always be your father. And I will always be there for you."

Cassie could have easily fallen into a stupor, but she needed the answer. She needed it, needed that lifeline to clutch more than anything in the world. She glanced up, briefly meeting her father's gaze, as he spoke. The curse coming from her father, rarely used, was odd, and put her a little at ease. She hugged him tightly when his voice cracked, knowing he would give anything in the world to be able to help her with what was happening. "But she's not you" she whispered, tears causing her voice to thicken, full of the unshed emotion.

She closed her eyes, as if that would help. Away from the hospital, with only her father and the sleeping dog upstairs, Cassie felt she could be vulnerable, and god knows she felt like that. His words washed over her, and she tried to let them sink in, to believe.

"I'll always be your little girl. I'll always need you. That's never going to change." It had always just been them, that she didn't know if she could take someone else teaching her. But she nodded, pressing closer and drawing in her father's scent, reaching up to take his glasses off, in case they fell asleep.

"I believe you"

His eyes closed for a moment as she took his glasses off of his face. The gesture was sweet; he didn't even realize that he was still wearing him. Continuing to rub her back, he once more kissed the top of her head, and then moved down just a bit more to kiss her forehead.

"I know she's not me, but she knows about this much more than I do. But I will be there every step of the way. I want to learn - to know what my baby is going through, and how I can help when Zoé has other things to tend to." He sighed out, almost contently, and once more relaxed his head down on the arm of the couch. "She is a wonderful woman. Full of love, and willing to sacrifice every bit of herself for anyone in her pack. And Cassandra, you belong to that pack now. She is your Alpha. In a way... that makes her more important than even me."

"She has another wolf that I guess helps-the one that followed Gage in?" Yet the way her father spoke of the woman, had Cassie curious. She looked up, tilting her head, a slight smile crossing her face for just a moment "do you like her, Dad?" It was almost teasing, before she sighed softly, "she could never be more important to me then you. Never" if Cassandra was to be instigated into a pack, she wasn't going to let her father be isolated on the outside. A pack didn't have to mean the wolves as a pack, but...family.

She wasn't going to let it become him merely knowing and not being apart of it-he was. She bit her lip, "I don't need to be treated like I'm learning to walk, not when I have you. I know I need help, guidance, but.... She's not going to replace you as the most important person in my life. That will always be you. And nothing's going to stop me from being what I want to be. Because you taught me I could do anything once I set my mind to it" she smiled again,

At the question whether or not he liked Zoé, Xerxes furrowed his brows in confusion and maybe even slight annoyance.

"What? No, 'course not. She's... far too young for someone my age..." He said it out loud, though as he said it, he wasn't even sure if he believed his own words. He hadn't really thought about it before... did he like Zoe? Sure they had crossed paths in the past - she had approached him the moment he came to Klamath, alone, and confronted him about being an Angel. It wasn't at all hostile; she merely needed to know who he was - she was protecting the city. Something he would always admire. But that didn't mean that he liked her like that, did it?

"No one is clucking, Cassie." he then said, quickly switching the conversation. He didn't want to talk about this with her. Relationships on his part had always been a hard topic with her. No one could ever replace her mother - a woman that she didn't even know. "But to the pack, you are a newborn. There are things that need to be learned by bare basics. You simply have to be patient and allow Zoé... and her Beta, to help you through it so that you don't have to be looked after by them constantly. Ask me anything about being an Angel, and I could tell you. But Werewolves are a new subject for me." He brushed his fingers through her hair for a moment. "I taught you well. You're a smart kid and I have every faith in you. You decided to remain sober while your friends drank - don't think I didn't notice that at the hospital tonight." he lightly chastised. "You are the beacon of strength within your group of friends - a prime example. You can do anything once you set your mind to it. So set your mind to this - let Zoé and the Beta help you - it'll be just like school. You can always come back to me, and I'll always be here."

Cassie gave a shrug. Sometimes she thought her father held back from finding something with a woman because of her. But she wasn't a little kid anymore, and she wasn't going to get hurt if he started seeing someone. There were things that Cassie couldn't do, and she wanted him to be happy, yet she was willing to let it slide, lest the topic turn against her. Her and boys was not a suitable discussion before sleep. They'd had a few arguments about that before.

"They'll watch us, though, and that's the same as clucking" the thought of always being watched, of being watched because they might go out of control and need to be contained? She didn't like it. She wasn't looking forward to going back to school, and perhaps for the first time was thinking of skipping. "I don't want to be watched. It will make me...paranoid. I didn't drink because someone needed to make sure they didn't drown in the water, although why they would go in is beyond me..." even as she said those words, she frowned. Good god, was she the mother in her group of friends? How had that happened?

She wasn't too sure about the strength part...Miri was always the one to cheer her up, bring her back if she ever fell into a mood, doing so before her father could see, could know. Maybe she wasn't over not having a mother, but she'd take her father any day over having one.

"Okay. But I'm not going anywhere." The way he made it sound it was like she was leaving, and she would never let that happen.

"I'm not asking you to. Nor do I want you to." Xerxes said, almost over the top of her last sentence. He couldn't imagine a world where she would be gone from him. Spending a few days out of the week at her Aunt's ranch was one thing, but going away? No. If Zoé ever decided to take her pack outside of Klamath Falls, he'd have something to say to the beautiful woman. He gently shook his head, ridding himself of the thought. Now that Cassandra had planted the seed, it seemed to only be growing. Dammit.

He gave Cassandra a light, reassuring squeeze, holding her closer to him for a few moments before once more relaxing. No. He couldn't think of such things. Especially now when Cassandra needed him most.

"No one likes being watched. But Cassie, until you learn to control the wolf inside, I'm not so sure you have any other options for now. I know you don't want to hurt anyone - you don't want to end up like the one that attacked you and your friends. It's my guess that the wolf had no Alpha - he was a stray that had no guidance or training and was just taking it out on anyone in his path. You and your friends." He looked back down at her through the darkness. "I think it might be safe to cut school for a few days, spend some time with Zoé and really get to know her. I can write you a doctors note for the school and get your homework for you. But right now, Cassie, I just need you to focus on this one thing for me, alright? I... I don't want to see you get hurt again..."

Cassie closed her eyes once more, weariness a heavy blanket over body. He was right. She didn't want to end up wild like the one that had attacked them, but she shook her head, "Zoe said something about only an alpha being able to turn people. If that's the case, then that...that...that mutt chose to attack us. He didn't go for any kill shots-I know enough about human Anatomy to know that. He didn't do anything that would kill us before we healed" the thought had only just crossed her weary mind, and it was disturbing. She figured she was safe for now however.

Even as he spoke about cutting days, Cassie said "No. it's okay" because it would be an abuse of her father's power, and she didn't want that. "If the others are going, I will too" she needed to make sure they were okay, after all. She'd get Syleste's, and maybe Sebastian's homework for them. And plus she couldn't leave Kaylee alone on her first day of school.

"Okay" she said softly, "I'll do it. For you" her words were heavy with sleep, but she still managed to say, carefully, so her words didn't slur, "Dad? What classes do you think I'd need to get into OIT?" It was essentially saying that she was staying in Klamath Falls for good, but more than that, it was saying that she knew what she wanted, and that was to follow in her father's footsteps. She wasn't going to give the coat back. She'd wear it every day of her degree, even if she did have to alter it.

She struggled against sleep that wanted to claim her, safe and warmth she had no resistance to it.

"Thank you, Sweetheart. I have Zoé's number. I'll get it to you before you wake up tomorrow. Talk to her, learn from her. You'll be alright." He was quiet for a moment, then spoke even softer, more to himself. "...she'll take care of you..."

Almost nodding off himself, her sudden question of classes caught his attention. She was staying. But why was she staying? Not that he was complaining, but if the recent events had her too scared to go off and discover life for herself, he wouldn't know how to talk her out of it. He hoped it wasn't the case. She was smart, almost too bright for her age group. She could do anything she wanted to - she didn't have to stay here.

"...my next day off, I'll go into the school and speak with your academic counselor about it. But I'm pretty sure you're already on your way into getting in. Your AP classes help alot - and by you getting your generals out of the way now means less time in college. If you want to go to OIT, we can make it happen."

Cassie nodded, the movement slight, almost non-existent. She wanted to say that he'd take care of her. Wanted to tell him that she'd always, always, need him. "I do want to go to OIT. I don't want to be miles away from here, from you, for so long. I can travel the world, but this will always be my home" And she didn't want to be too far from her friends. She didn't want to leave them, either.

Did she say the words? She wasn't too sure about that. Maybe they were in a dream. Maybe she'd wake up, and find that this whole night had been a dream. Or maybe not.

"I love you, daddy..." she murmured as she drifted on to sleep, the brief thought that she should get up early, cook a good breakfast. Her father deserved it.

"I love you too, Sweetheart." His body was finally giving in. Her shallow breathing on top of his chest was soothing, and rhythmic. He had a moments recollection of when she was just an infant and would sleep on him the very same way she was now. Not even time could change the close bond they shared. And he would do everything he could to keep it that way.

He dozed off to sleep, knowing fully well that his alarm would he going off soon. But even just an hour would help. Tomorrow was going to bring lots of new things. But after their talk, it seemed that Cassandra and he were finally ready to take them on. Together.

♦ Children Of The Moon ♦ (Teen Wolf Roleplay)

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Alder James

Location: Mia and Pias Pizzeria and Brewhouse.
^{Interacting With: Zoé Flores and Aron Brooks and some other guy}

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So. Fucking. Tired.

Why did he keep doing this to himself? Why couldn't he ever let it sink into his thick head of his that he could not keep functioning on just a few hours of sleep? Sure if he had actually been doing his homework instead of putting it off like he had the last few weeks, that would have been an excuse enough. Even after coming to the parlor on his day off - in the middle of the night, no less - wasn't even an excuse. No, after returning back home, he could have just gone to bed and got in a solid six hours of sleep before having to open the bar the next day. But no. There were always distractions.

Ky' vie had called him on Skype not two minutes after he got back home. With the time-zone difference between the two countries, she hadn't realized how late it was. But even after she apologized and requested that he went to bed, Alder simply could not pass an opportunity to talk with the woman he had desperately fallen in love with over the last few years. He reassured her that it was fine, ignoring the fact that he needed sleep, and instead spent those few hours talking and laughing with her. What was a few hours of missed sleep, anyway, when you were connecting?

But now, as he trudged his tired ass into the front doors of the Pizzeria, eyes heavier than a sack of potatoes, Alder was starting to remind himself just how much of a moron he knew he really was. Not that he would ever regret talking to her. Hell no. She was always worth it - even if she had a boyfriend. Even if she had a boyfriend that wasn't him. God... he really needed to start thinking about his priorities.

Yawning, Alder approached the main computer and clocked himself in, taking then a paper time-card to clock in there as well. Zoé was a rather effective woman who had been running the business for a while... and she was smart. If there were ever any computer issues, the paper time cards would work as a backup when it came time for payroll. Once clocked in, he rounded the main counter to grab himself a large coffee mug and poured himself a cup, adding a few packs of hot chocolate to the mix instead of any cream or sugar.

Sipping on the hot mocha frappuccino, he dragged his tired ass back around the counter and headed over towards the bar. He was vaguely aware of Zoé and Aron talking to each other, but didn't even so much as give them a glance as he walked by, far too into his sleepy state to even say hello. They were used to it, by now. At least... he hoped they were.

Coming around the corner, Alder used his free hand to release the lock on the inside of the bar door and allowed himself into what would be his own little "cage" for the next eight hours. He was just glad that they weren't open for another thirty minutes - that gave him plenty of time to stock the ice, turn on the TV's to ESPN, and a few other general duties that he needed to get done before serving any customers.

"'Bout time. I could really go for a Modelo right now."

"We don't serve Modelo. We only serve what we make." Alder replied, strictly by habit. It wasn't until a moment later that he realized that the parlor was still closed. There shouldn't be any customers. Setting his coffee down, Alder looked up at the man who had somehow entered the parlor without anyone knowing. Kicking people out of the bar was something Alder did on a normal basis, and was about to do so when he noticed that the man sitting opposite of him was about three times his size with a shaved head, covered in tattoos and wearing a tight "I'm going to kick your ass little man" wife beater.

Alder blinked. Twice. Part of him wanted to believe that the guy looked a little familiar, but the other part was too tired, (or maybe even just a little bit intimidated) to think on it.

"Uh... Zoé? Zoé did we open early today?" Alder called over to his boss, hoping that she could at least come over and diffuse the situation. She may have been smaller than him, but he had seen Zoé tear someone down to make them feel lower than dirt with a smile on her face and not a single curse word uttered. She could be downright terrifying. He was just glad that, if this guy really wasn't supposed to be in here, she would be on his side.

♦ Children Of The Moon ♦ (Teen Wolf Roleplay)

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Xerxes Arvanitis

and

Zoé Flores

Location: Mia and Pias Pizzeria and Brewhouse.
^{Interacting With: Each Other}

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---

It was late - far later than it should have been for meeting up with someone for a simple drink, no matter how much either of them needed it. Syleste’s injuries had been a bit worse than he had initially thought, and by not being able to tend to them right away, it caused for a small infection to take place which he attended to immediately after the rest of the children had left and he was able to once more take Syleste under his own… wing.

He had remained long enough to witness the private interaction between Zoé and the two boys - the twins. But he remained silent until the moment had passed and then quietly, after slipping his wings back into his body and putting on his shirt, carried Syleste from the table Gage had placed her on, to the operating room where he was able to look her over in a much more professional way.

Eighteen stitches, antibiotics, and a small bit of internal bleeding that he was able to isolate and get under control by just himself. The nurses knew to give her painkillers if she were to wake up before he managed to get back to the hospital. She needed her rest so that her body could heal properly. She was no Werewolf - she had no accelerated healing. Though tired as he was, and knowing full well that he would be due back at the hospital in just a few hours, he could at least rest somewhat easily knowing that she would be okay.

Cassie, on the other hand… It was the only reason he hadn’t headed straight home. He needed answers. He needed a drink. Though perhaps Zoé had already headed home? He knew she was headed to the Parlor after the night they had for a drink, and had invited him along before she had left the hospital for the night. But perhaps he had already missed her? Still, he figured that it wouldn’t hurt to do a quick drive by and peek to see if her bike wasn’t still there.

There were only three vehicles in the parking lot. The delivery van, Zoé’s motorbike, and a stray car that had probably been left overnight since it’s owner needed a cab ride home from too much beer. None of that mattered, however, except the knowledge that Zoé was indeed, still there. Parking next to her bike, he hesitated for a moment, his grip tightening on the wheel. God it was late. Really, he should just go home and get some sleep… be with Cassandra… he hadn’t really been able to be at the hospital… He doubted that he would be getting any sleep any time soon, however. Not with his mind filled to the brim with questions and concerns. What kind of father could he be for Cassandra in such a distracted state? No. He needed answers. He needed to know how to help his little girl.

Getting out of the car, Xerxes closed the car door, locking it behind him and walked to the bar-side door. Surprised to find it unlocked, he pushed it open and stepped inside, looking around for any sign of the owner.

The gentle ‘clink’ of glass over the polished bar top was barely audible as Zoé placed it down, her dark eyes lifting to meet with his for only a few moments before she drew her hand back, her body turning away from his as she picked up the empty glass she had been using, the woman seeming to barely think about what it was she was doing as she pulled down on the lever, not bothering to pay any attention to the beer as it flowed silently into the glass.

“Heard you pull in… don’t know what your poison is, so I poured you a glass of Dopplebock. After the night we’ve had; I assumed you’d be wanting the strong stuff…”

Chuckling a bit, rather relieved that the woman seemed to be in somewhat high spirits (considering), his body physically relaxed some the moment that he realized that the beer she was pouring was for her, and his was already resting on the bar. So she had known that he was coming… or at least she knew him well enough to know it was his car that pulled in during the dead of night. Gods - he didn’t even dare look at what time it was.

“Your bartender told me all about it the other night when I was in. Had me try it while I waited for my to-go order.” Not wanting to cross any lines to go behind the bar with her, Xerxes instead walked to the opposite side and took a seat at the bar towards the center.

“German-style lager. Nearly a nine percent. Goes down a lot smoother than anything with that high of alcohol should.”

“Of course. It’s my brew; and I serve nothing but the best.” Turning back to him once she had shut off the tap, she leant back against the cooler, taking a few moments to hold his gaze before her attention dropped to the newly re-filled beer she had in her hand, seeming to pause but a moment before she lifted it to her lips, taking a small sip before she spoke again, her voice a tad distracted, “Speaking of which… I know I have another keg of the stuff in back, but it’s very popular with the regulars. I’ll have to shoot Alder a message asking him to drop by the brewery on his way in later this morning…”

”You run a good business here, Zoé. I’ve heard only positive things about this place.” Xerxes commented truthfully, only raising the pint to his lips for a drink after seeing her do so first. He wasn’t going to ask - nothing ever good came from asking a woman how long she had been drinking for. But gauging how long it took him to take care of Syleste, he had to figure a while.

“Thank you… but as much as I extended the invitation; I’m pretty sure you didn’t come here just to share a drink with me…”

Speaking bluntly, she once more lifted her eyes, holding his gaze for a spell before pushing away from the cooler, her glass coming to a rest over the bar before she leant forward, her arms crossing underneath her as she dropped to eye level with him, her head tilting lightly to the side causing her long dark locks to fall forward and over her shoulder, “..so, what can I do for you Dr. Arvanitis..?”

Xerxes lowered his gaze to his drink, half because of her more comfortable apparel being a bit more revealing than normal, the other half being that he simply could not meet her eye with the topic at hand. Where did he even begin to explain his concerns about the situation?

“I… may not be a Werewolf… but I can still pick up on emotions just as easily. You and your Beta were not happy with me earlier today. I… apologize. For a few moments there, it was only me and Cassie - no one else existed. I failed her as a father. I did not tell her about our world. I had… I had to do something… I didn’t want her to have to hear it from someone else...”

“..the words ‘not happy’ are a big understatement…” Frowning slightly, Zoé let her words sink in a few moments before she stood back up straight, her hand reaching to pick up the glass before she once more pressed it against her lips, allowing the strong alcohol to flow into her mouth before disappearing completely down her throat, “..you undermined my authority as an alpha.”

Unable to help the soft growl that emanated from somewhere deep within her throat, she turned her head away, cutting herself off before she once more became angry. That was the last thing she wanted- no, it was the last thing she needed. To get angry again… to lose her temper at the doctor that was caring for three members of her recently expanded pack. Cassandra… Syleste… Sebastian… they needed him. Clenching her jaw slightly, she placed the glass back down over the polished wood, the ‘clink’ louder than it had been earlier when she had given him his own beer, “What you did could have cost those pups more than you think- it could have cost them an alpha. You know nothing about me, or about wolves, and yet you chose to speak for us; to speak for me… father or not; don’t ever do that again.”

Xerxes did not answer right away. Instead, his eyes carefully watched the bubbles in his amber-colored beer rise to the surface where the carbonation was slowly lost. He thought his words over carefully, as though he were about to defuse a bomb. And in a strange, sort of way, he kind of was. After a few silent moments, he took just a moment longer to allow himself another drink, carefully setting the pint glass back down without so much as a sound.

”You being an Alpha is something I have respected ever since our first meeting. Tonight… for those first few minutes… I thought my daughter to be dead. To first start to accept that, only to find out this… Alpha or not, she is still my daughter, and she will always come first.” Finally, finding some sliver of bravery within him, Xerxes raised his dark eyes to look at her. ”Tonight… you and I have crossed paths in a way I believe neither of us ever expected. I can respect you as her Alpha if you can respect me as her father. We both want what is best for her. Had we more time to discuss this information to Cas- the kids beforehand, I am certain things would have gone differently and both to our liking. So again, Zoé, I apologize deeply for how things had gone. If I’d been a better father, she would have already known.”

As a motion that had nothing at all to do with their conversation, Xerxes’ eyes lowered back down to his glass, not because he was afraid, morso that it was something out of habit that came with deep conversations.

”You’re correct. I know nothing. But I can’t go back to that house tonight where she will be waiting for me, wanting answers I don’t have. I can’t go back to her… knowing that I can’t comfort her…” His eyes looked back up, looking more tired than they had all day. But not just physically.

”Help me.”

He was asking for her help; just as the pups had done before him. And that look behind his dark eyes… it was the same one his daughter had given to her hours beforehand, that loss that came with not knowing what it was that he was meant to do- of course. Like father, like daughter; why she believed she could expect anything less was far beyond her comprehension.

“..mierda..!”

Balling her hands up into fists, Zoé lifted her right hand up slightly, slamming it down over the counter as an exasperated sigh filled the air; a sign that she was, indeed, giving in, “..fine; alright… so what is it you want to know..?”

Flinching somewhat at her quick outburst, Xerxes let out a soft, tired sigh. Perhaps this was a bad idea - perhaps he shouldn’t have asked this of her at all. Perhaps he was a fool thinking that he might get any information out of her that night.

Removing his glasses from his face, he quietly set them down on the bar next to his beer and began to rub one of his eyes, forcing the sleep away.

”Her mother was a human… I kept my being an Angel from her too until she fell pregnant with Cassie… When she died, Cassie was all I had left of her - they were so much alike. She reminds me so much of her every day. There had always been this tiny part of me, though, that always hoped that she might have been like me and hadn’t yet shown it. That’s when I was going to tell her… but it never happened. It’s clear to me now, more than ever, that Cassie was, and had always been human… just like her mother. And now knowing that… I am glad… but then disheartened under the circumstances that told me so. But… I’m also happy to be able to let her into this part of my life...”

He didn’t know why he was telling her this. He hadn’t spoken about Cassie’s mother in a great number of years - not even to his own daughter. It was a subject they went to great lengths to avoid for no particular reason at all. But with how Zoé was responding to him… with how irate her mood swings were… perhaps just the tiniest bit of backstory would help her to understand where he was coming from. Maybe, just maybe, it might even calm her down. There was no way in hell he was going to use his emotion-altering abilities on her. Not with the already thin wire he was walking on with her.

”How much of her do I have to give up to you, now that she belongs in your pack?”

“..ninguna...” Caught slightly off-guard by the question presented to her, Zoé stared at him, her fists relaxing over the wood until eventually, they were once more resting, her fingers curling lightly over the bar; the few moments of confused and stunned silence on both their parts helping to drag her back to the present as she shook her head, repeating herself, though this time, in English.

“..none… I expect you to give none up to me; you are, after all, her father. Think of it like this; the pack is now her second family, as you have your own expectations, I too have mine. She will be expected to help out when needed; especially in dire times. But I don’t intend on keeping her from you.” Her voice was softer as she spoke, explaining to him as best as she could what she meant, though she was pretty sure she was only making it worse, “We stick together… encourage each other… and we look after one another. When I call; I give them the choice to come, I will not force them to do what they don’t feel right doing. But also know that if ever the time comes that I do end up taking her away from you… know it will be because I have no other choice.”

Her words helped to ease the growing knot of anxiousness that hadn’t seemed to go away since Cassandra and her friends first entered the hospital. But then other areas of uneasiness came - things would never be the same. Life was going to change drastically for the both of them, and he wasn’t sure if either of them were ready. Zoé could call for her at any time…

”How far does the call of an Alpha reach? If… if I were to take her away from here… we don’t very often spend our summers in Klamath…”

It was an interesting question; and one that she herself had been interested in for quite some time when she had first found herself in charge of a pack. James… Sombra… she couldn’t help but to wonder what they were doing now, especially after she had left that voicemail on his phone letting him know what had happened to his younger sister.

“My roar is powerful… now how far it reaches depends on just how much power I put behind the roar itself. I can be heard through all of Klamath, and just a little past the borders of town; but no further from what I’m aware.”

He nodded. If they went on a vacation… she would be safely his. The idea started to become more and more tempting. Just… pack up and leave. They could go to Tahoe. Aspen. Rent a cabin, do some snowboarding… anything to get away from all of this…

The next question on his mind made him visibly wince, as though it pained him. Taking another moment to himself, he once more took a drink of his beer, admittedly a much larger one than any of the others he had taken that night.

”Will it hurt her? Transforming, I mean. Will she be in any pain?”

She knew this question had been coming. She didn’t need to be a parent to understand that he didn’t want to see his daughter go through pain; and with the fact that she now, as of mere hours ago, had two boys of her own to care for and raise-... her heart went out to the guy. She would rather sit and take whatever pain they would feel for herself than to see them suffering before her very eyes.

“..the first few times will be painful, yes… maybe even the first dozen times… it’s different for each that go through it…”

Her body tensing, a slight shiver ran through the length of her spine, her heartbeat quickening ever so slightly as her mind flicked back to her first time, “..the first time I transformed; I was in excruciating pain… my body felt as though it was on fire, and all I wanted to do was die… it was hard to push through, but I made it, and I’m standing here because of it. My niece on the other hand… the pain she felt was nothing compared to mine. Each time it happens, it gets a little bit easier; and eventually, the pain will just disappear completely.”

Hesitating a moment, Zoé reached a hand forward, resting it gently over his own in an attempt to offer him comfort, “..I don’t want to see them in pain… none of them… and you have my word that I’ll do everything I can to make Cassie, and all the others as comfortable as I possibly can through this… I have sons of my own now; I don’t want to ever see them suffer again...”

For quite a while, Xerxes didn’t even realize her touch on his hand. All he heard was “pain.” His mind went a million miles a minute - his Cassie… in pain? He would rather see someone murdered in cold blood by his own hand than to see the pain in his daughter's eyes over something that she couldn’t control. His body became stiff, even after Zoé had reached out to comfort him. He almost recoiled - not because of her touch, but merely that he didn’t recognize what she was trying to do, and was instead going by his fatherly instincts…

“I can’t… she’s always looked to me for guidance… for comfort… I don’t know where, or how to go from here…”

“You need to trust me; and you need to let me do my job as her alpha… that’s the only thing you can do right now.” She knew she was being blunt; but it was the only way that he was ever going to let what she was telling him get through his head. He needed to trust her- trust that she wasn’t going to let them down… trust that she wasn’t willing to put them in immediate danger, and that she wasn’t going to let them suffer anymore pain if there was any way that she could help it. She wasn’t going to lead them down the wrong path.

“..look…” Sighing softly, Zoé shook her head lightly from side to side, her long dark locks brushing back and forth across her back as she thought on the topic. It didn’t matter what happened from this point onward, the children were always going to be her first priority, especially now that she had two of her own, “..you know nothing about what it’s like to be wolf… and honestly, I don’t know nothing about being a parent. Before I left I gave my son’s each a key to the house, then the keys to Melissa’s car so they could get home when they were ready- don’t go telling Melissa that though, she’ll kill me… but maybe-... well, maybe we can help each other…”

Xerxes quirked a brow, though his face remained otherwise placid. He could see in her eyes that she truly believed what she was telling him, that he just needed to trust her. She was right - he knew nothing about what it was to be a Werewolf. It was the exact reason he found himself sitting at the bar at Gods knew what time of night.

He let out a soft sigh, his eyes dropping to once more look at his beer before glancing over at her hand placed on his. This was going to be a huge leap of faith on his part. He had always looked after Cassandra on his own - it had always just been the two of them. His heart ached at the thought of that changing. He was no longer able to provide for her on his own. He needed Zoé’s help.

”...what… exactly, did you have in mind?” he asked, lifting his eyes once more to meet with hers.

◊ 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔓𝔞𝔤𝔢𝔰 ◊ [ Fairy-Tale/ Disney Inspired Roleplay ]

@BlackPanther Was this a curse that got put on him? A skill he learned by some old man calling himself a wizard? Or just born with it?

◊ 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔓𝔞𝔤𝔢𝔰 ◊ [ Fairy-Tale/ Disney Inspired Roleplay ]

@Apokalipse Thank you for those very kind words of your opinion (and thank you to the little posse of followers from people there have been complications with in the past for their button pushing skills. Hey! How are you guys? Been a while! Fancy meeting you here!).

Do we claim to be the most organized group on this site? Absolutely not (hell I'm a co-GM and I didn't even know about this thread until like, yesterday). This roleplay has certainly had its ups and downs. But what I can tell you is why we have so many characters spread across four different people who have been working on this roleplay for such an extended period of time. Truthfully, I started out with 4 characters the first time this roleplay was made, two years ago. We had a somewhat large group of players, but as roleplays happen, people leave unexpectedly, start getting offended at the tiniest of things and start causing problems, or even on the rare occasion, life does simply get in the way and they have to withdraw. I don't know about you, but it bothers me when someone withdraws and their character kind of just... vanishes. I for one, appreciate them either being written off, or (after permission by the player), to take them over because their story was just that good and fit in so well. And that's what this kind of boils down to. Reboot after reboot, these characters that have been kind of stuck into limbo have been taken over because of their compelling story. Yes. I have a ton of characters. But I can tell you that there are very few aside from my original four that I am playing simply for the fact that I want to play them - but because I am carrying on an important part of the story that was set up previously, or have had to create a character to help that characters story along (as an example, Scar wouldn't have much of a story without Simba, now would he?). Truthfully, I would be more than happy to hand over a lot of my characters and talk over with the player the nitty-gritty details of plot points that are detrimental to that character later. Though I haven't met a single player willing to take a day or two to talk things over with me before. Not saying that it can't happen, so you are more than welcome to prove me wrong by talking to me privately if there is a character I have laid claim to that you might be interested in.

And no, I'm not at all saying that if someone were to take over one of my characters, it HAS to be EXACTLY the way that I play them. You're free to make your own plots and twists, however us veterans to this roleplay are simply politely asking that the important things such as their backstory remain mostly the same, as a LOT of their backstories tie in with one another in very complicated ways. Change that, then EVERYONE has to change their character, and then it becomes a Writing 122 class rather than a roleplay.

A simple, healthy, PRIVATE discussion is probably the best way to go about this. I can't speak for everyone here, but Vicier and myself definitely will go out of our way to see that your needs are met in whatever way possible without taking away from the vibes that created this roleplay in the first place.

I hope this helps you in some way, shape, or form, as it appears that you are an excellent writer with a lot of potential for this roleplay. If not, well maybe I helped someone else out there that is simply lurking. And to you, oh mysterious lurker, HELLO! :)