Fantasy Willowwood Conduits

[Prairerosethefirst]

Dawn rose along the horizon. The strong aura of wisps congregating along the border of Receiver’s and Phoenix’s. Bolt stood there with his boyfriend over his shoulder.
“How do we handle this??” Jay muttered under his breath floating just above his bond.
The two glanced at each other before clicking their tongues. Bolt knew they needed an expert.
“Well… maybe we can find someone in town? The situation is getting worse and there’s nothing I can think of to handle it.” Bolt muttered firmly as he turned and headed back towards town.
“Plus I need to restock supplies. There’s been a few new things popping into town. And I've been thinking we need more connections outside of ghosts anyway.” He moved and fixed his satchel.
“Not that I dislike talking to ghosts and you… just, I think some outsider knowledge would be better.” He moved and pulled his boyfriend down for a gentle kiss.
“Awww okay let’s hurry into town then.”

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Meanwhile in the downtown area of Willowwood Ivory flipped the open sign of her door around so the red letters of the wooden board faced the outside of the shop to show that the small store was open. The business of course was a front for her true duty in Willowwood, but did allow her to pick up information that Blue or Nana might not provide. Her green eyes flickered over the ghost of a half demon who was sprawled out lazily over the check out counter.
"Behave please, we're only open for a couple hours. " she requested taking a drink from her freshly poured mug of coffee as she stepped back to adjust the incense display.
"I'm hurt you would suggest anything else." Chester mocked sticking out his forked tongue playfully.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

As the duo entered into town Bolt gave a slight wave back to the ghost beside him. “Go invisible as we’re in town. The last thing we need is some passersby to see how odd you look and call someone…” He muttered out as he let Jay rest on his shoulder.
Once they were deeper into town Bolt grew more tense. His light blue eyes narrowied around him at everyone. Real -living people always put him on edge.
His undead boyfriend was invisible to the average eye but not him. Never him. Well unless he threw salt at his boyfriend and temporarily sent him to another plain of existence.
“Hey look at that!” Jay pointed out a small shop to the side of the more popular stores.
Bolt noticed the female inside flip the sign to indicate that she had opened for the day. Jay excitedly already making his way over.
Bolt frowned uncertainty creeping up his spine before he looked around himself in a cautious manner. Then slowly moved to follow his excitable boyfriend who was invisible to all but him.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

As he got closer the wood carved sign's atop the door, writing became visible.
Diviner's Cabinet, spirituality store. It read.
Ivory looked up noticing the approaching ghost and gave him a smile and discreet wave motioning that he was free to come inside.
"Looks like we might have our first customer of the day Chester." She declared smiling back towards her own ghostly companion who rolled his eyes making mouth movements with his hand as Ivory ignored the disrespectful movement taking another drink of her coffee and noticed Bolt following after Jay. She motioned towards Chester to indicate he would help the ghost.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt perked up and stepped inside after Jay. Cutting a glance at the counter where Chester was before looking around. Wondering if perhaps this was a good place to start for figuring out the wisp problem. His dead boyfriend coming back to his side and peering around. The two not talking to each other since Jay knew better than to put Bolt in that awkward position with a living human.
“I'm gonna peek around and make friends alright?” Jay hummed softly out.
Bolt giving a subtle nod as he watched Jay float off out of the corner of his eye.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

The shop held all sorts of trinkets clearly catered towards a new age or Wiccan audience. Different colored candles, crystals, and guides to them rest in one corner. Another wall of the shop was taken up completely by books, tarot cards, runes for divination and house grown plants with properties listed. There were some items that would definitely serve the purpose for a conduit though.
Ivory raised an eyebrow at the interaction.
"....I take it you two know each other?" She asked softly trying to gauge Bolt's reaction as Chester got up a sudden grin donning his face and floating towards Bolt to see if he would take notice.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt looked over at her and arched an eyebrow. Shifting away from Chester as Jay got between them.
“He has salt on him… I’d back up.” Jay hissed out protectively.
Bolt trying to ignore their interaction as he looked around once more. “Uhm… I was wondering if you maybe had anything on wisps? The library had a few things but nothing really detailed. I was doing some research for… school.” He cut another very subtle glance to Jay as if telling him to behave.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory made a slight cut it out motion at Chester presumably followed by a scolding over their mental link.
"That's an interesting research topic, some sort of elective course?" She asked heading behind her counter and grabbing a ring of keys from under it.
"Anyway yes I have some...not for sale though it belongs to my personal collection, I'm willing to let you read it in here though. " she said gesturing towards a curtained area with a small sign reading divination. With tarot cards laid out just barely visible on the round table inside.
"I'll have to run upstairs to my personal apartment though if you could wait here." She requested. She was clearly from out of town possessing a slight southern accent mostly hidden by a crisp pronunciation of all words.
Chester raised his eyebrows a smirk making it's way across his face.
"Oh, and I suppose you're the only reason he knows about that?"

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Elective yes… maybe just if you could write down the name of it… to make it easier for me to find. I would really appreciate that.” Bolt gave a gentle smile watching her closely.
Jay looked offended at the statement. “Bolt is plenty smart enough to figure things like that out alone.” He huffed moving to keep near his boyfriend once more. His arms gently resting around the living man.
Bolt reaching up a hand and resting it on Jay’s arm in a calming manner as he hummed thoughtfully. His gaze tearing from Ivory to Chester. Pretending to be interested in something else in the shop. Waiting for her to leave so he could talk to the hovering ghost.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

"I could certainly do that, it's unlikely you'll find them elsewhere, most books about wisps are out of print, I was lucky enough to have a friend in the Apalachians looking for someone to pass them on to." She said glancing at the two but deciding not to say anything just yet. She headed up the old wooden stairs in what looked to be the back storage area unlocking the door to her loft
"I'll be right back." She called down before disappearing from sight.
"So what I'm hearing is he accidentally dumped salt on you. Can he hear me?" Chester asked gesturing at Bolt with narrowed eyes.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt nodded filing this information away before gently pulling Jay off him. “Yes I’m very happy to let you know that I do… what is a spirit like yourself doing here? Not that it surprises me considering some ghosts try finding people to help them. Others on the other hand like to cause disruption.” He moved to observe some other things in the store. “Are you a more powerful ghost like Jay then? Is the girl your bond?” He redirected the conversation as Jay hovered by him protectively.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

"Yeah shortstack's my bond, so you're a conduit then huh? Thought there weren't any here since the old geezer croaked. Also she's a fully grown woman, don't call her girl. Shouldn't you already know how to handle whisps, pretty obvious you're lying about the school assignment by the way." He said plopping down on the counter and spinning around a silver pen.
"Anyway, we can help you ya know."

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Which old geezer? Also I will have you know that I can handle wisps… in small quantities. I’ve been doing this for years. Does that mean she’s a conduit as well then?” Bolt raised his gaze to Chester in a mistrusting manner.
Jay had gotten distracted looking at the candles as Bolt and Chester were talking. The living of the two seeming to be thinking about each word Chester said and carefully wording what he said back.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

"You know the last dude the council assigned here, he went radio silent a year ago....blood hunters most likely. How big is this wisp problem then exactly. " he very pointedly did not answer the question about Ivory being a conduit.
"Did you seriously never meet the old frog?" He asked glancing over to figure out what Jay was doing. He stretched out glancing back at Bolt with a suddenly mischievous grin.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Council? Blood hunters? Erm… anyway the wisps have a huge influence between borders in the forest, I normally keep them in check but I had gotten sick and hadn’t been out there a while.” Bolt shrugged watching Chester closely.
Jay was keeping his space letting Bolt do the discussion part as he often did. Jay really only helped when Bolt asked for it. Knowing his boyfriend disliked being interrupted.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Footsteps softly landing on wooden stairs indicated Ivory coming back. A moment later she came into sight holding about 5 books too of which looked to be old journals.
"I grabbed what I thought could be of use- ....Chester what did you do?"
"Me nothing, these two need some help though." He snickered flashing Ivory a wicked grin as she sat the books down on the counter glancing between the three men.
"...So you are a Conduit then?" Ivory asked glancing over at Bolt.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Yes ma’am I am. He behaved himself well enough.” Bolt smiled kindly walking over to the counter to see what she had brought down.
Jay floating back over and waving to Ivory with a smile. “Bolt tries keeping a low profile about it. Considering with how not many people in town are conduits… unless they…” Jay cut off when Bolt shot him a glance.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory bit her lip crossing over to her door and flipping the sign to say closed.
"...This isn't a safe conversation to have when customers might come in, do you mind if I lock the door?" She asked glancing back and looking around the room as if she just wanted to ensure there were no potential eaves droppers a flicker of paranoia dancing across the mint greens of her eyes.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Not at all.” Bolt replied a small nod to Jay who nodded back and went to do a patrol around the store. His eyes then fixing back to Ivory. A small smile on his face that he had someone other than a ghost to talk about conduit things. He loved his boyfriend but they didn’t always get each other considering the circumstances.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory nodded locking the door and turned back to Bolt and Jay.
"Alright, so for starters unless they what? What all do you know, and it sounds like you have a wisp problem? I can help with that, but I need a bit more information in regards to the cause and where." She said pocketing the keys and picking up her mug of coffee and a large journal from underneath her counter setting it down and grabbing a pen.
"Could I get you some coffee by the way?" She asked glancing over at Chester who was now leaning against the shelves looking bored

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt stuck his tongue in his cheek before sighing. “The wisps are caused by all the negative energy in the forest. Mostly by the curse on the town. Though the people in the forest don’t help. It’s difficult to explain. The wisps are normally manageable, but I had taken a break and came back to a mess.” He avoided answering the first question before politely declining the coffee.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory frowned
"The people of the forest....I believe Blue has mentioned some yes and to try and avoid them... alright, I can help with the clean up of course, that's why I was sent here....the council did suspect some sort of curse on the place but....could you clarify? What is this curse?" She questioned, jotting something down into the journal she pulled out glancing over to Chester who shrugged narrowing his eyes.
"Unless they what?" Chester spoke up, floating over with an irritated flick of his tail.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Jay came over in an instant and made sure to provide a barrier for Bolt. “Unless they’re from Everett. That’s what Jay had started saying. Look they aren’t the concern here last thing I need is them coming back for me. Or deciding they want to nab her.” Bolt replied calmly gesturing to Ivory as Jay sighed softly.
“As for the curse. A witch cast it a long time ago. Back when Carl Willow was alive. She cursed his ten daughters to become key guards and effectively made sure any and all children born here were trapped here. People can come in but many can’t leave again.” Jay piped up trying to be helpful.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory frowned jotting it down and tapping the pen against her chin.
"So that explains some things for sure...no wonder we thought there weren't no Conduits here....Everett....I believe Blue mentioned her in passing. Are you able to leave here then? Or are you also stuck here due to that curse? Chester...."
"Relax I'm not going to do anything. " He said rolling his eyes and sticking his tongue out mockingly at Jay.
"....She goes after Conduits then....is she a blood hunter?"

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt hummed thoughtfully. “I can’t leave. I was born here. Jay wasn’t. He would have been able to leave if it wasn’t for the bond. I don’t think Everett is a blood hunter… she more so collects Conduits for her own personal gain I would assume. She tries to keep them all alive for the most part.” He moved and put a calming hand on Jay’s shoulder eyeing Chester again.