Fantasy Original Monsters

[RhiaRaye]

The Anders Pike Gazette

Monday, August 19th 2013


Weather

Today’s weather will be partly cloudy with a 20% chance of rain, growing as evening progresses. Expect scattered showers tonight, clearing up by tomorrow night’s full moon.


Classified and Commercial Ads

For Sale. Prescription drugs and medical supplies. Please contact the Pike Memorial Medical Center at 774-0254 for details. Price - $5 to $500

Trade in your used books! Two for one special, this week only at Campbell New and Used Books

Man seeking woman who doesn’t mind weird professions please call 774-3323

Special Events

Grand Opening of Miller Groceries! Special deals on the hour, triple coupons, and evening cookout! Activities include ice cream, hamburgers and hot dogs served with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, face painting, and a bouncy house.

 

[RhiaRaye]

RhiaRaye updated Original Monsters with a new update entry:


Ready to Begin!

I've posted the rules, characters, and the first post of the Anders Pike Gazette, and we are ready to begin! Please let me know if you find any typos or errors in the resources. As soon as your audition has been approved, feel free to jump into the role play as soon as you are ready!

Read the rest of this update entry...

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner ))


Victoria stood outside the Jumping Bean Coffee Shop, staring at the OPEN sign in the door. She could see through the windows; it wasn't very busy this time of day. Victoria had no reason to be nervous. That thought did little to calm the butterflies in her stomach.


All she had to do was walk in, sit down, and order a cup of tea. It was that simple. Yet Victoria was terrified. One slip up, one look at one of her scars, and then everything would go wrong. The questions would start, and she would never be able to answer them.


But she didn’t have Odette to look after her anymore. Normalcy was all Victoria had ever wanted, and now it was the only option. The only person that Victoria could count on was herself. She had to make normal happen. This was the perfect start. Normal people drink coffee, especially students. She wouldn’t stick out, drinking tea and studying a textbook. She’d blend right in.


I probably look more suspicious standing in front of this door, anyway, she thought.


Victoria took a deep breath, then pushed open the door and walked into the coffee house.

 

[Elle Joyner]

The music sucked. She had tried probably close to twenty five times to convince Bill to change the CD, but he wasn't having it and as it was in the world of big business, so it was in a small town coffee shop... the manager's word was law. Still, after the incessant caterwauling of yet another female vocalist in yet another "indy" hipster band, she was about ready to stick her head inside the ice maker and pray for hail.


When the door chime rang, Hatti looked up and forced a smile on her face, glad to see the woman had finally walked in. Hattie had watched her for the last few minutes, standing outside the window, looking in as if she were a helpless orphan vagabond in an Oliver Twist remake and while the other Baristas had started making wagers as to what the woman might do, Hattie only wondered if she was also turned off by the monotonous tones of the obnoxious folk band.


Jim muttered a soft curse and Hattie's phony smile turned to a genuine grin. He, apparently, had bet on the wrong side.


"Hey..." Hattie offered, approaching the cash register, "What can I get for you?"

 

[RhiaRaye]

Horrible music assaulted Victoria's ears as she entered the shop. It didn't look as though the employees were fond of it much either, but that didn't really help anything. She managed to tune most of it, at least.


Victoria knew that the barista had been talking about her before she came, and the sudden realization made a tinge of redness creep into her cheeks. Oh well. Too late to back out now. The thought was tempting, though.


At least the woman at the register seemed friendly enough. Register. Oh no. Money. She forgot about money. Wait, no, she had money. In her wallet. Not a problem. Breathe.


Satisfied that she had sufficiently composed herself, Victoria approached the register. "Can I, um, have a cup of green tea, please?"

 

[Elle Joyner]

The girl seemed nervous, which was strange, because as far as Hattie could tell, it wasn't really an intense experience, ordering coffee... but social situations were different for everyone, and some people could be extremely uncomfortable in even the most harmless environment.


Tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, and flashing a bright smile she hoped might ease the girl's discomfort, Hattie nodded and rung up the tea before grabbing a cup, scribbling on the side.


"It's two dollars, eleven cents. Did you want one bag, or two? And do you want anything in it?"

 

[JoshQ]

Elizabeth looked out of her apartment window to rest her eyes from the walls of text that pervaded her monitor. The novel she was working on is shit, she knew that, but still she kept at it hoping to finally complete it. She turned towards the monitor once more and sighed, closing out of the program and decided to go outside for a bit, grabbing her purse on the way out. She looked outside, remarking on how dead the complex looked at this hour.


"A walk might help this block I have, and this migraine." She popped a couple pills to ease her headache and headed down the road, nodding to passerby's as she went. As time passed, she turned her head noticing some commotion outside of the store that was in construction at the time. She ran through her 'inventory' of food at home and shrugged.


"A little socialization would be preferable to avoid, b--" she stopped mid-thought and looked at a sign on the building "Free beverages, alcoholic and other". Her eyes light up and, with a brisk in her step, went inside to indulge herself. It's been awhile since she's had some fun.

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner ))


Funny how you forget the little details of a cup of tea. Suddenly, a single cup of tea seemed like the most complicated thing in the world to Victoria. But she had gotten this far, and she was already feeling a boost to her confidence.


"One bag. Nothing in it, thanks."


Victoria retrieved her wallet from the messenger bag that was slung over her shoulder. She tugged her sleeve down over her wrist before handing three dollars to the girl at the register.


---


((@JoshQ ))


In the time that he had lived in Anders Pike, Elliot had never been to such a big party. And this really wasn't that big of a party. It was still fun, though. And there was free food and beer. It was probably the Anders Pike Event of the Year.


He might as well as enjoy it while it lasted.


Anders Pike was not a place that Elliot considered ideal. It was boring, though. It was quiet, the nightlife was scarce, and it didn't have a lot of flavor. Though it was not the place he wanted to be, he was needed here. Elliot went where Hattie went, and for some reason, she wanted to be here. He just had to make the best of it.


Elliot drained the last of the bottle in his hand, and tossed it into the garbage can behind him. He took a bite of the hot dog in his other hand, chewing as he walked to the cooler by the store. The man there had already checked his ID, so he didn't bother getting his wallet out of his pocket.


About midway to the table of drinks, Elliot collided with a woman who seemed even more eager for free beer than he was.


"Oh, sorry," he said, shoving the half-chewed bite of hot dog to the side of his mouth.

 

[Elle Joyner]

The more Hattie watched her, the more the girl seemed nervous... almost as if she were, at any minute, going to fall apart into a shrieking mess of hysterics and panic. Somehow, the young barista doubted the girl's nerves were due to anxiety from ordering tea. She seemed uncomfortable about being out in public, but she was polite enough, and seemed perfectly capable of social interactions, so the uncertainty couldn't have been due to some sort of agoraphobic reaction. Besides... what sort of person, so dreadfully afraid of human interaction and crowds would dare to venture out into society, just for a cup of tea?


At any rate, it was none of Hattie's business, and she couldn't exactly stop in the middle of her shift to offer the woman a free therapy session. Still, she felt terrible and thought better of sending her away without at least a bit of encouragement.


"Thanks..." She said, taking the money, before she collected the cup of hot water and the tea bag, intentionally moving slower than she might have in a mid-shift rush, "First time in Le'Brew?"

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner @JoshQ @sidmaxification okay, I think we're fixed here, now. RP info is currently under the OOC tab. Sorry for the delay on everything. ))

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner ))


Victoria was idly watching the girl behind the register, each movement that came so fluid and natural. I could never do a job like this, she thought. With my luck, my arm would fall off, and I'd spill hot coffee all over someone. But then, the other girl probably had other problems in life. Everybody did.


Her mind was so fixated on thoughts of how she wanted to be incredibly normal like the girl behind the register, and have her own job, and go out and talk to people, that it took her a moment to realize she was being spoken to.


"Yeah. Yeah it is, actually," said Victoria. "I usually don't get out much."

 

[JoshQ]

As Elizabeth walked towards the free booze, she caught a man stuffing his face heading in her direction. Of course he'd stop, she's a lady, not to mention just a bit older than him. So when he collided with her she was taken by complete surprise at the manners of the young man. After his 'apology' she noticed he really didn't care at all, noting as he bit off a piece of the hot dog in his head. Pig she thought. She rubbed her temple, keeping her eyes closed as she spoke.


"Do you mind watching where you're going? " Elizabeth said in an aggravated tone. Perhaps going out was not one of her best ideas. Aside from the light tap, which wouldn't affect her had it not been for a migraine, but the screaming children and the boisterous laughter was quite a lot to handle. But there was always some weird inner sense that always told her to not let things hold her back... In a sense.

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@JoshQ ))


Elliot swallowed the chunk of hot dog in his mouth. "Look, I'm sorry lady, but I didn't see you." He couldn't help but be a little offended at the woman's tone. She couldn't have been paying that much attention, either.


He was at a loss as to how to deal with the woman, but he decided to use his manners. He'd heard that women appreciated that kind of thing. Not that it had done him much good in Anders Pike so far.


Elliott stepped aside to let the woman through to the table. "Again, I'm really sorry," he said. He was really sorry he'd run into the woman. He could have avoided this conversation.

 

[Elle Joyner]

(( @RhiaRaye ))


Hattie smiled warmly, leaning her elbows on the counter as she nodded. She'd been at least partially right suggesting the girl was uncomfortable out in public, but it wasn't unusual in Anders Pike. Really, it seemed to go with the territory.


"I totally get it... When I first moved here, I was totally lost. It grows on you, though. And you picked a great place to get out to. I'm not just saying that cause I work here, either. Other than the music blowing, big time, we've got a really great environment going on here. But if you're really looking to explore, you should check out the Grand Opening at Miller's. It's pretty much the biggest event we've had in months..."


Straightening up, she adjusted her name pin on her apron, before tucking her hair back behind her ears, "I'm heading over, after my shift ends. If you want, I'll walk over with you."

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner ))


Maybe, just maybe, being a normal person with normal friends wouldn't be so hard, after all. Victoria was talking to someone! They were going to go somewhere, do something together. Just like everyone else! Okay, sure, she still needed to be mindful of cardiac arrest and muscles giving out, but other people didn't have to know about that. If she played her cards right.


In fact, things were going so well that Victoria didn't even stop to think about the words 'biggest event' and what they might entail. It actually sounded like a good idea. She survived the fireworks ont he 4th of July, and she could survive this too. Besides, she didn't want to seem rude. That would be one giant step backwards.


"That would be great, yeah," said Victoria, trying not to seem too excited. She gripped the strap of her messenger bag in her left hand. "Sounds like fun."

 

[Elle Joyner]

Hattie couldn't be sure why she had invited the girl. All in all, she was a complete stranger, and Hattie had no obligations to make her feel welcomed or comfortable, beyond the casual duties of a Barista. Maybe it was a reminded of how she had felt when she'd first come to Anders Pike... maybe it was a bit of that ever present need to deny what her family might consider her true nature... Maybe it was just a bit of Elliot rubbing off on her... huh. Annoying. But whatever it was, the offer had been made and could not be rescinded, no matter how uncommon and strange it felt.


"Great! I get off in half an hour!" She said with a grin, then, thinking better of herself, gestured to the nametag pin, "I'm Hattie, by the way. If you go find a table, I'll come grab you, as soon as I've clocked out!"


That last thirty minutes went quickly, due to the influx of customers, swarming the register. Hattie was good at her job, but she was also grateful when it was over. Clocking out and hanging her apron up in the back office, she switched out her shoes, adjusted her lipgloss and made her way to the front room to find Victoria nursing the dregs of her tea, looking just as uncomfortable as before, "Hey! You ready?"


((@RhiaRaye ))

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner & @sidmaxification ))

Tennessee

right

This girl just invited me to Miller's grand opening. Should I go?

left

Okay? And that's... bad?

right

It's good, isn't it? But there will probably be a lot of other people there. I don't know what to do.

left

Well, do you think you would enjoy going? Or are you just being polite?

Victoria looked down at the last text message on her phone. She had remained absorbed in the distraction her phone could offer during the last thirty minutes of Hattie's shift, sitting in a corner and ignoring the rush of people. Victoria hadn't said another word out loud since telling Hattie that her name was Victoria, and then leaving so that the line could move forward.


Tennessee's response had made her think. Victoria didn't want to just be polite. She wanted to go to things and meet people and not feel weird about it. Therefore, it stood to reason that she should go with Hattie. If it didn't work out, or if something went wrong, Victoria could leave, and hide away. Probably no one would miss her.


Victoria looked up when Hattie spoke. "Sure!" said Victoria, standing from her seat. She tossed the empty cup into a nearby garbage can. "Thanks for letting me tag along."

 

[sidmaxification]

((@RhiaRaye ))

Victoria

right

I'm going.

left

Alright. Have fun and good luck.

right

You could come as well.

left

I can't. I have a thing happening later.

Tennessee felt himself starting to lean forward into his textbook. He had lost track of time and hadn't had a break since that morning to eat breakfast. The monotony of the topic caused part of his brain to shut down and fail to notice that the words were growing larger. Just before his nose touched the page, his cell phone chirped. He straightened and blinked rapidly feeling himself become alert. After a deep breath and checking his pulse, he relaxed. His phone was still lit up from the alert and he prepared himself for the disappointment of someone calling off causing him to work an extra shift. Victoria's name was staring at him instead of LeRoy's name. "That's sort of odd."

 

[JoshQ]

(( @RhiaRaye ))


The man seemed apologetic enough, and perhaps she had been a bit curt with him, but still he seemed quite young and able to watch where he was going. Her eyesight might be getting worse, which doesn't aid her reflexes in crowds at all, but she can still spot somebody texting or cheating on an essay during her class from a mile away. Books provide an amazing escape, but the repercussions for reading so many seems to have hit home a bit too early for Elizabeth's liking.


Elizabeth knit her brow and, shaking her head, looked up at the man again. "It's quite alright, I'm out of sorts today due to this abominable migraine." she smiled weakly at him "My name's Elizabeth, I'm an English Professor up at the university, and you?" she said giving him a glance.

 

[Elle Joyner]

As they headed for the door, Hattie looked over at Victoria and chuckled, "Of course. I remember what it was like, my first couple weeks here. If it wasn't for Elliot, I'd probably have gone crazy, just trying to figure out where to go. Once I got the job though, at the Jumping Bean, things sort of started making sense. I know it sounds cliche and corny, but really, there is something so appealing about a small town... and you meet some really cool people, working the register."


Tucking her hands into the pockets of her jeans, she started up the street towards Millers. It was only a few blocks, and she walked in pace with Victoria, who still seemed like she might shake apart at any moment. At any rate, she had decided to go with Hattie, and that was encouraging.


"So, I know you like green tea and have impeccable taste in where you get said green tea. What else? Where do you work? What do you do for a living? Is your family here in Anders, or just you? Sorry..." She laughed, shaking her head, "Elliot says I talk too much... but I guess I just like meeting new people..."

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner & @sidmaxification ))

Tennessee

right

What kind of thing?

left

Something I promised to do.

right

You could come for just a little while. Hattie seems nice. It will be fun!

left

Maybe for a little while, but I'm leaving at 8.

Victoria was inwardly amused. She couldn't help it. There was no way to explain the fact that she had been in Anders Pike for ten years, hidden away in a little cottage, slowly learning how to live again. It was easier to pretend she'd only just moved to Anders Pike; it sort of felt that way sometimes.


Hattie didn't talk too much. Just the right amount, actually. It was taking a lot of the pressure off of Victoria. They were pretty easy questions to answer. A few things wouldn't be the whole truth, but it was easy to cover up. "Well, I've just started helping out at the computer repair shop, and I'm going to school for a degree in computer support. It's just myself here in Anders Pike. My father works abroad."


I think that was all the questions. Pretty straight forward. "I don't think you talk too much. Um, who's Elliot?"


Before Hattie could answer, Victoria felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled the device out and glanced at the messages that awaited her. It was Tennessee, with another excuse not to leave the house. He was worse than she was.


Well, at least it's something, Victoria thought as she slid the phone back into her pocket.


---


((@JoshQ ))


"Name's Elliot. I'm a, uh, freelancer," he said, holding out his clean hand. "If your headache's that bad, why not get some pills for it? I mean, we are at a grocery store."


Elliot lifted two bottles of beer from the table and handed one to Elizabeth. "But then, this is pretty good medicine too." Elliot grinned.


Elliot's grin faltered for a moment as he remembered a time, not so long ago, when he had used a little too much of that particular medicine. His head had been killing him, too. Mainly because he had chosen the wrong woman to hit on, and her boyfriend had thrown him into a wall. He hadn't been able to get out of bed the next day. It was a mistake he was trying carefully not to repeat.


"I've never known a teacher before. D'you like it? Teaching, I mean."

 

[sidmaxification]

Victoria

right

Come be normal with me.

left

Like you know what normal is.

right

I'm learning!

left

By going to a supermarket grand opening. The social event of the season.

Tennessee sighed letting his head fall into the textbook. He knew she wasn't going to let him get away from this one from past experiences. The park service decided to renovate the lighthouse near town and was giving tours. She had nearly yelled at him when he refused to go. He only let up because she said that there wouldn't be a lot of people. Fortunately enough they did not have to take the bike and could walk. She was still somewhat jumpy when it came to his motorcycle.


"Alright... the worst that could happen is..." His thoughts halted as the several ideas floated through his mind. There were numerous worse things that could happen, but he was leaving. He slid out of his chair, picking up his riding jacket, and grabbed his keys. Taking the bike would draw attention, but it would be his best chance for getting out quick if something triggered him. Why did I ever open my front door two months ago?

 

[JoshQ]

(( @RhiaRaye ))


Freelancer? She thought, so he was a bit of a rapscallion. Typically, assumptions died with Elizabeth when she began teaching, but the thoughts still persist somewhat and they're usually always right. She nodded when he hands her the drink.


"Thank you." she said with a hint of a smile. "And it is quite a good excuse to... disappear for a moment from reality, at least. The drink that is." she added the last part quickly. Realizing that she once tried to make something vanish with an incantation only to have it, well, not do exactly what she wanted.


"As for your other question, teaching is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. It is something to see a student come into your class not knowing what to do with their life, or maybe knowing what to do, and watch them grow and experience what you have to tell them."


She takes the cap off the bottle and takes a swig in the most lady-like way possible.


"But tell me, Elliot, you've piqued my curiosity. What type of 'freelancing' do you do?"

 

[Elle Joyner]

She was more open than Hattie had expected, and it was nice. She never much appreciated being the only voice in the room, and despite the fact that she could talk anybody's ear off, she preferred to listen, more than most did.


"That sounds really neat. I've never been great at computers, myself. Jumping Bean is just a temporary thing, though... I'm really hoping to have my own business, some day. Don't know what, yet... but I want to do something. Something that's just mine... built from the ground up."


Chuckling, Hattie shook her head, "Elliot's a friend of mine... the one we'll meet up with at the market. And he'll definitely disagree with you there, but he's a huge hypocrite. Getting him to shut up... it's pretty much impossible."


((@RhiaRaye ))

 

[RhiaRaye]

((@Elle Joyner & @sidmaxification ))

Tennessee

right

You have to start somewhere. Are you coming, or what?

left

Yes... Keep your head on.

right

What's that supposed to mean?

left

It's an expression. You know, like... never mind. I'll be there in a few.

Victoria shrugged. "I can always give you a hand, if you need it." Computers were what Victoria knew best. Putting that knowledge to use helped her feel stable.


It was strange, how at ease Victoria felt having this conversation with Hattie. They hardly knew each other, but that didn't seem to be a problem. Victoria wasn't sure if she had been overestimating the difficulty of social situations, or if Hattie was just that kind of person.


"Owning your own business sounds exciting," she said, pulling her sleeves down over her wrists again. "I don't think that's something I could ever do."


Victoria laughed at Hattie's description of her friend. "Well that's all right. It's easier for me to listen anyway."


---


((@JoshQ ))


“Oh, you know," said Elliot, stalling. "This and that."


There was no way to describe what he did for a living. People just wouldn't understand. They'd probably lock him up in an asylum, and that would be a very, very bad thing. He'd never really stopped to consider what he should tell people instead, and now Elliot was silently scrambling for an excuse.


Might as well base it, however loosely, on the truth.


"I'm independently contracted by an art collector. I make papier-mâché, and it’s a favorite of his."