Fantasy Willowwood Conduits

[Prairerosethefirst]

Jay and Bolt glanced at each other before Jay nodded gently.
“Yes… keyholders are essentially the first ten sisters. They’re in charge of different areas in Willowwood. Even parts of town. Though the ones running town aren't as insane and convoluted.” Jay gently explained. It was clear the duo didn’t have a lot to go off of with their knowledge of the keyholders.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

"I see....do the regular citizens know about this? Don't they have a problem or at least suspicions with it all?" She asked deciding to try from an angle that they might have more information on. She furrowed her brow fidgeting with the beads of her bracelets in thought.
"...Jay you said you could leave before you died...people know they can't leave I assume then if you made a point of the detail that Bolt can't, wouldn't that create a sort of suspicion or resentment towards these keyholders? How are things not in chaos?"

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Citizens aren’t aware as far as we know. Whoever is involved with the town does a good job covering it up. You’d have to be actively investigating into it. The average person moved in from outside. And because everything here is fairly cheap it’s hard financially to move out either way.” Bolt went through his bag and pulled out a notebook.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory nodded tapping her fingers against her chin thoughtfully.
"I did notice that when I made the mortgage on my store and home." She said glancing over to see what he was doing with the notebook.
"It seems like the perfect set up for corruption. I don't suppose you have any idea of the purpose of it all?" She asked curiosity getting the better of her.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt sighed as he wrote something down as he walked by her. “I wish I did… best I could guess is that whoever runs town is trying to prevent a chaotic situation here. And give a safe space for normal citizens who happened to stumble upon this mess.” He paused eyeing the dark storm clouds above them. A flicker of recognition coming across his face as he turned and waved Ivory to huddle close to a tree with him.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory gave him a puzzled look but joined him glancing up at the sky noting the storm clouds.
"...I have an umbrella in my bag, we don't have to hide out from the storm." She said opening up the messenger bag and pulling out a lavender cylinder and opening it offering it to hold over their heads.
"As to whoever is running it...that does seem to be a noble goal at least...the Mayor has to be some sort of puppet leader then...it seems likely at least. " she commented.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“No put that away… some of Receiver’s are in the area. Last thing we need is them spotting us. Jay can you please go ahead of us and make sure the way is clear?” Bolt glanced at his boyfriend who nodded and floated off away from them.
Rain slowly started pattering along the ground and thunder rolled as lightning danced through the sky. The storm seeming to come from nowhere.
“Would have to be… though I’ve never had a chance to talk to the mayor. She’s a busy woman.” Bolt muttered out biting the inside of his cheek.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory nodded quickly closing the umbrella a flicker of recognition dancing across her eyes at the name as she shoved the cylinder back into her bag.
"...Is this what you meant when you said some people here are paranormal?" She asked in a low whisper looking around for any sight of others as she stepped beneath the tree holding her bag to it to keep it dry.
"And it makes sense...mayor's typically are, running a city requires a lot of effort after all." She said with a quiet hum her voice lowered to a point that was just barely audible. Her eyes darted back up to the sudden storm and then back to the treeline.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt glanced back at her and nodded gravely. “And unfortunately it’s the one man we don’t want to be around… he’ll fry us in a heartbeat just for the sake of making us scream.” His voice was low as he watched the trees.
A glimpse of two men could be seen. Just far enough that they couldn’t see Ivory and Bolt at that moment. Unless they happened to stop.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

"Sounds like he and Chester would get along...." Ivory muttered under her breath staying as still as possible so there wouldn't be any movement to draw their eyes over to where she and Bolt were hidden.
"...I could summon Vanilla and have her act as a distraction so we can slip away." She offered in a quiet whisper, her eyes warily watching the two men as she tightened her grip on her bag ready to run with Bolt if needed.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“It’s not my fault this time!” One of the men fumed a hand being thrown out and the lightning striking a tree nearby. Bolt covering his ears as his hair stood on end. The other man simply crossing his arms. “I never said it was. How about you control that temper of yours. We can just track them down later. Now cut off the water works… I don’t want to walk home soaked.” The taller one was unfazed by the fact the storm was a cause of the golden eyed man beside him.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory winced as well her hands flying up to cover her ears at the sound as well closing her eyes to bright flash . Opening one and then another to watch waiting for the two strangers to leave. She bit her lip to keep her breathing quiet and glanced over to Bolt releasing it to mouth "them?" praying that the two Conduits were not the them the two proxies were talking about.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

The storm cleared as fast as it had appeared. The two men staring each other down before the taller went to walk off. “Well maybe if Receiver wasn’t a bitch then they wouldn’t have defected to begin with.” The man grumbled pretending to have said something else when the other glanced at him.

Once they had walked off Bolt relaxed. “No not us…” He whispered back and helped her up. “Though I’m sure he wouldn’t mind striking us down too.” He smiled softly and nodded to Jay who had reappeared.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory let out a sigh of relief dropping her hands and smiling at Jay giving him a wave.
"That was a close call....thank the goddess they didn't see us....I'm definitely starting to understand Blue's warning though." She said letting out a nervous laugh.
"...Everything go okay for you?" She asked the ghost pushing her wet hair from her face.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“We’re safe to go back to the shop. Those two were the only ones to worry over. Whoever they were chasing is long gone.” Jay smiled and floated ahead as Bolt went to follow.
The living man brushing the water out of his thick hair and sighing. “Once we get back in town we’re safe. It’s a safer place than anywhere in this godforsaken forest.” He grumbled out and smiled softly as Jay came back and kissed his cheek.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory nodded walking out from under the tree
"Let's get going then, I have some towels back at the apartment above my shop. That way you can dry off." She offered opening her bag.
"I hope none of the books got wet... some are from the 17th century." She muttered rummaging through the bag.
"You two are really cute couple by the way." She commented looking up with a smile.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Thanks.” Bolt smiled and kept up with her as Jay bumped his shoulder and floated off again. The conduit frowning a bit before giving another smile. “I’m really lucky to have him…” He muttered out as they came back out of the forest. Gravel crunching under their soles as they were walking through a little neighborhood at the edge of town.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory let out a soft aww before pausing just at the edge of the forest and casting a glance back.
"I hope whoever they were after ends up okay..." she muttered before quickening her pace to catch up to the couple.
"So how did you two meet? If you don't mind sharing?" She asked taking in the neighborhood curiously hoping the two visible didn't look too odd being wet.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“Bolt used to work at the hospital. And I was in the police force. He took enough calls that we just happened to meet at and it grew from there.” Jay had floated back over just above Ivory as he talked.
His voice sounded happy though with each word Jay had a little guilt on his face. “He quit after I died…” He whispered to her once Bolt was far enough ahead to not hear. “I think that it was too much for him. Since he can’t properly move on with me still here…”

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory let out an aww at Bolt's words clearly finding the story to be absolutely adorable. She furrowed her brow at Jay's words though softening her gaze and glancing up at the ghost.
"...That's not your fault, you know? And he seems happy with you. Does he need to move on? You're still you and here with him, just...in a different form." She pointed out empathetically.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Jay smiled and shook his head gently. “I’m more concerned about the fact he still blames himself despite my reassurance…” He trailed off as Bolt glanced back at them. “We’re back. Did you want any help Miss Ivory?” He offered gently as Jay glanced away awkwardly.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

Ivory gave Jay a sympathetic nod and turned to Bolt.
"No I should be okay, I just need to lay a couple things out to dry, do you want a towel? Or some supplies before you leave? At the very least for your hair and face so you don't catch a cold?" She offered pulling out her keys and unlocking the door holding it open to the two with a warm smile.
"Ah! Numbers we should exchange phone numbers in case one of us ever needs back up in a situation. " she suggested.

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

Bolt went to follow her in and smiled. “A towel would be nice. And yeah give me a second to pull out my phone… I haven’t used my phone in a long while so I’m not sure if it works to be honest…” There was a pause in his speech. “though I’m still paying for service to it.” He added as an afterthought.
Jay moving to look around for Chester.

 

[Keeperoftheghosts]

"Fiiiinallly, did soms wisps really take that long?....Why are you wet?" Chester asked floating to the group from the back of the store.
Ivory hurried in heading up to the stairs in the very back climbing them and swiftly unlocking the door returning in just a minute with a pair of towels and a hot cup of coffee.
"I get the phone thing, I rarely use mine as well.. although that's mostly due to rarely having service back when I was helping in the Appalachians still."

 

[Prairerosethefirst]

“We ran into a bit of trouble. Though being alive is a little blessing I guess.” Bolt shrugged and went to try getting his phone to work. Jay going and floating by Chester. “We ran into a few of Receiver’s. One controls lightning storms and happened to be throwing a little fit about something.” He hummed out.