jonahxrivas

[jonahxrivas]

His shoulders fell as a wince took over his entire being, to be on the other side of this, to be that human discovering this town and everything it held, it was something he had been through but now he was the one breaking it to her, on the receiving end of confusion and anger. Her gritted words were deserved, he was not equipped for this, but here the situation was, demanded to be explained. "I'm sorry," he repeated again, seeing her grip on to keep herself stable made him want to offer support but fear of that being the wrong move held him back. "Really, this must be..." But he couldn't comment on her feelings either, label them into things and announce this was the emotion for the moment. "I'm not sure, High chance you might throw it on my head and walk off calling me a liar, which honestly would be fair, but I'm not gonna have a good explanation, or at least not one that might make sense? I'm just thinking in that sense that at least you'll have good food. If that helps."

Her green eyes widened, wild with a mix of all the sickening feelings that made a sea-sick storm in the pit of her stomach, "No. I don't know." She whispered in strain to keep herself from tumbling over with furious grief. Daphne wanted to throw up, she maybe could right there on this very spot. All her grief and anger could spill out from her and land at this stranger's feet. She would pass out from it all if she hadn't bitten harshly on the inside of her cheeks until the metallic taste of coped tinged her tongue. She gripped the lamp post and decided she much preferred the biting mayor who insisted her sisters body was here- tricky monster, she thought violently, terror and anger mixed with her grief and she nodded towards wherever. "Please if you think a peanut butter milkshake will make this all more palatable for me by all means-"

#— convo; #c: daphne bishop #c: daphne 001 #( im sorry this is so late!! we can wrap it up or continue ur choice! )

[jonahxrivas]

for: bri ( @cantfightmoonlight ) location: their house

It had meant to be a quick stop after work, to grab a few more things he needed from his work before he headed out again. Clothes, equipment, and another round of checking on the fish, the usual things when he pulled up to the house he had with Bri and Ronnie. But exhaustion had worn him thin especially with being on dive duty -- a task he normally relished, sucked his energy dry and left him in a drowsier state than ever before. With another yawn he couldn't suppress, a quick nap he decided wouldn't be bad, replenish his energy just enough to drive again. Of course, things never went according to plan.

He wasn't sure if it was the noises his mind had created or real life things, something had startled him awake with a gasp he chocked on, hand to his neck from phantom pain. Breathing heavy and taking a full minute to adjust to his surroundings, he managed to push down the panic and wandered downstairs. The flood of relief was palpable and clear on his face as he leant against the wall seeing Bri. "Oh thank god it's just you." Moving to crash heavy onto the couch, he rubbed at his eyes, "Sorry, I think I dozed off. Haven't fully fed all the fish..." It was likely incoherent mumbles after that as another yawn hit him. He had seen Bri often enough but with him going in and out, it felt forever, "Did you just get in or have I been out for long?"

#— convo; #c: brielle rivas #c: bri 008

[jonahxrivas]

"I got you, it's okay." Things felt a little better when Rohan found him, but breath hitched drawing a small gasp when he stared into black eyes, "Oh honey..." That feeling, that dread that grew in the pit of his stomach didn't dissipate at the sight, nor at the words spoken that only set about a burst of panic but he pushed that down forcefully, this was not the time to allow such a thing to take over. "It's okay, it's okay," he repeated again, holding Rohan tight and close to him, it was all he could think to do in this moment. He pulled the other along, to be seated, to have something solid lean against and it turned to be a good move, as Jonah was forced to break their embrace with what Rohan continued to say, brows furrowing."Stop it, there's no rot to you, nor is there darkness, what happened was a mistake. Just a mistake." Interlocking their hands, he squeezed tight, "Darling, I'm never going to leave you, not now, not ever." He held up his hand, showing the ring as proof, "I'll always be here, any situation, any circumstance, I'm too in love with you to let you go."

"I ruined it, Jonah. I ruined everything," Rohan muttered distantly, panic once again creeping into his voice as he pressed the phone to his ear. The evening played through his mind in that moment, assaulting his senses with phantom glimpses and sensations. And that was the worst of it, of course. Fear and shame had now seized him, but during the actual doing, during that flash of sickeningly sweet magic, he had relished in the rush, brief and cataclysmic as it was. "It's not going to be okay," he retorted, words weak, closing his eyes.

"Okay, okay." Rohan did not say more as Jonah rushed to his apartment, but he did listen, listened to the roar of his car, the sounds of Lunar Cove. He could not say more because if he did, maybe Jonah wouldn't come. Maybe Jonah would refuse, and he would deserve it. And then, he would never see him again. There would be no wedding. How could they even celebrate with so much darkness staining him? He wanted to see him. To hold him. That was selfish, Rohan thought, lying by omission. Jonah deserved so much more, deserved someone so much better than he.

The door opened, and Rohan genuinely jumped, startled by the noise. And when he emerged from his hiding place, dropping his own phone to the floor, the witch did so with his eyes closed, hiding the terrible truth. Reaching out, feeling around, he grabbed his fiancé's arm, clinging to him for purchase, until, at last, he could meet his gaze, his own eyes black and cloudy. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I did...I did magic I shouldn't have. I'm sorry. I did the thing I swore I wouldn't, and I..." He stammered, trailing off, unable to cling to the words. "I'm rotted, Jonah. I'm something rotted. I have this darkness in me, and I shouldn't...I shouldn't have made you come here, but I didn't know what to do. And I love you so much. Please don't leave me. I just don't want you to leave me."

#— convo; #c: rohan persaud #( this is a bit shit sorry! )

[jonahxrivas]

"I'm sure, do you want anything to drink?" She hadn't sounded convinced but any explanation further on the matter stopped before it could be voiced, Jonah face morphing into something soft as Bex explained her visit. "Bex- that's... that's really sweet of you, thank you." In a way he had been a loss for words, a natural state sure, but this sentiment struck him deep, especially in this state when circumstances spelled nothing good. "You have nothing to apologise for, really, if anything I should be doing that. I'm sorry I haven't dropped by, I wanted to see you but it's just been..." Many number of things could be said here, chaotic, busy, unexpectedly horrid, all would fit, all would be accurate, "It's been a lot. You were affected too, how are you doing?" He couldn't answer on how he was, didn't want to think on it knowing if he did only unwanted thoughts would surface. So he simply shrugged, "Taking it one day at a time, I suppose, I've read up on magic and how it works but there's a lot I don't understand, so, it's both okay and not. Which sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?"

The packed bag and hurried mood did set off alarm bells in Bex's head, as her eyes dropped to the bag and the look on Jonah's face. He said it wasn't that, he was just going to Rohan's, which made sense, it did, but Bex's mind had always been really good at convincing her of the worst. Still, she swallowed and looked back up at Jonah, nodding. "Right, no, yeah, that-- that makes sense."

At his ushering, she followed him back into the apartment and watched him set the bag down, her grip tightening on the strap of her purse. "You're sure? I-- I just wanted to, I dunno...check up on you, I guess? I just...so much has happened, you know? And I guess I just...lost track of things. And what with Rohan and the coven--" she paused, and glanced sheepishly at Jonah-- "I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this. I-- are you doing okay, with it all?"

#— convo; #c: bexley beck #c: bex 004

[jonahxrivas]

With a slight shake of his head, Jonah gave the other a small fading smile. He did not believe JC, this was not nothing, but that easy dismissal was something he had understood. "You'll be okay," he replied, "I wish I could offer you something better than that, but sentiments and assurances is all I have. I'm sorry this happened to you, really, it's... it's not right." It shouldn't have been him, or anyone, threats seemed to grow and bad things continued, safety became a word that lost all meaning.

"Oh, that..that's makes sense, about the food...good thing I didn't bring any. Poisoned water is sad to hear. Well, I know in terms of wild things, like those mushrooms you asked to check, it's been a while but they turned out to be safe in toxicity reports. Bottled water well, that would be externally done." He likely knew that, folks on the council specifically seemed to have targets in their backs. "Trouble for me?" he questioned, being pulled out his thoughts, "No? Sorry, in what way?"

"Oh, uh, hey, Jonah." Looking up at the doorway, JC managed a weak smile, his whole body stiffening as though he were making a genuine effort now to look more in-control than he actually felt. He cleared his throat. "I appreciate you coming by, man. You didn't have to. I'll be okay. This is nothing." But despite his best efforts, the wolf could not make this remark sound convincing. He did not feel okay, and he was not sure if that was something he would actually be again anytime soon. He grimaced.

"Don't worry about it. I'm...uh, I'm feeling a little weird about food right now anyway. Someone poisoned my water bottle," he explained, trailing off. He spoke up again after a beat of silence. "But...uh, you probably know from experience what's actually edible here, right? Maybe you can fill me in. How are you doing? I hope I haven't caused any trouble for you."

In that Council meeting to end all Council meetings, he had gone to bat demanding consequences for Jonah's injuries. He hoped no wayward vampires would hold them against the guy.

#— convo; #c: jc carvalho

[jonahxrivas]

With a duffel bag laid open on his bed, Jonah haphazardly stuffed clothes into it, not caring for neatness or wrinkling his clothes. He put urgency on himself to do this as quick as possible, it was likely not needed but he hated to leave Rohan behind, after everything, it just didn't right but it had to be done. Throwing in a few books and journals he was in the middle of reading, Jonah zipped up the bag and headed downstairs, keys in hand ready to leave. He'd be back of course, but for the time being he needed to be elsewhere.

He didn't expect Bex to be staring back at him, in fact, being so caught up in his own thoughts and head, he likely didn't even register the knock. Blinking at her to find words, there were a few beats of stammering before Jonah managed to speak coherently, "Bex, hi! Uh.. no.. this..." Instantly his eyes grew wide, finally registering how this might look... bag in hand and about to leave, "Ohh.. oh no!" explanations rushed before she could ask, "This is not what it looks like... well I know how this looks...but I'm just heading to Roahn's!" He was not about to leave town. With a deep sigh and a rough rake of hand through his hair, he placed the bag down and held the door open wider with a proper, warm smile, "Sorry, please come in. Not a bad time."

Who: @jonahxrivas Where: Jonah's place

Bex felt as if she'd been a bad friend, lately. There'd been so much happening, she'd forgotten to check in on the people who mattered most to her. When Rohan had asked her to lunch and subsequently to officiate him and Jonah's wedding, it made Bex realize she hadn't checked in on Jonah in way too long. And after both that and what Rohan had done, what the coven had discovered, well-- now was better than ever to get back on track with it all. She really needed to catch up with Jonah.

And so she was stood outside his door, staring at the wood grain and wondering if he'd even be happy to see her. Would he be mad at her, for being complicit in Rohan's eviction from the coven? For the pain he'd had to endure while their leader took away some of his magic? She wouldn't blame him if he was mad at her. And there was really only one way to find out.

She lifted her hand and knocked.

It didn't take long for the door to open and when Bex was faced with her friend looking out at her, she could only wave, despite the overwhelming need to hug him, and say, "Hey. Um-- is this a bad time?"

#— convo; #c: bexley beck

[jonahxrivas]

Countering the stare with a laugh, Jonah's mood brightened, "Kinda like a bad hair day, huh? A bad fur day, they'd have those days right?" While he wasn't gullible to ta high degree, naivety rang true and at the comment made, Jonah couldn't defend himself. "I don't think I can help that? Things still hold that new feeling for me, so it's a mix of excitement and learning things and wanting to more. How would I even go about not looking human? Without, you know, taking the bite." Perhaps, like Suresh said, it was in the way he held himself? Except, Jonah didn't have the energy to change it now. "Honestly, admitting this might be me just digging my own watery grave or whatever, but you wouldn't be first?" he sheepishly said, rubbing the back of neck in mild embarrassment, "It would be nice if you didn't concoct notions, this town is out to get me, but it'd fully be my fault if I fall in, siren song is irresistible." With another low chuckle, Jonah shrugged, "I think that makes you a good guy. Not my pit of spikes."

Beaming now at the idea being taken on-board, Jonah felt good about this one-man focus group, "Really? Stupid ideas are all the rage right now, no doubt it'll be good! That's okay, I don't need a cut. Thoughts may count, but execution is what matters, right? In terms of movies anyway. And in any case, I can't speak Norwegian."

Suresh grit his teeth, giving Jonah another dull look up and down. "Yes, I think it grows back badly when the rest of the fur falls off or...whatever. I don't care enough to ask. Pro tip, though, try walking about looking less...befuddled? Bewildered? Wide-eyed? Like a squirrel. People can see the human in you. Unless, of course, you enjoy them seeing it, bruv. Which I wouldn't understand anyway." An unimpressed furrow rolled through his brow, and Suresh managed a noise of scoffing disbelief. "You know, mate...when you say things like 'oh, being underwater is so nice' and 'the ocean hasn't killed me yet,' the average siren starts concocting notions. You don't want me concocting bloody notions now, do you? I'm your pit of spikes. Remember that." He pretended to examine his fingernails. "I don't see why I'm the officer of teaching self-preservation skills here."

This remark, however, won a genuine full-bodied laugh. "Cheap, easy, and popular. Oh, like a few people I know. When you say it like that, bruv..." He trailed off, wrinkling his nose, annoyed maybe that Jonah was smiling at his apparently brilliant ideas. But after a beat, Suresh jumped to his feet. "Hell...volcanic eruption of sharks might just be stupid enough to be brilliant. I claim it. We didn't sign anything. You don't get any cuts. We can tag you on the official Instagram. Well, maybe. We make them and throw them away after spamming ads for a couple weeks. I have a social media bloke. You'll have to take it up with him. Only speaks Norwegian, though."

#— convo; #c: suresh sahni #c: suresh 001

[jonahxrivas]

Despite it being well into the night, sleep had not yet called his name. Heavy eyelids blinked in the darkness as minutes ticked by, even if he drifted off now, Jonah knew it'd be a pitiful night of rest which was not a surprising thing these days. Tossing and turning, staring at the ceiling couldn't be helped as restlessness grew, tonight seemed to be particularly tough one, but he didn't want to give up on it entirely, a foolish hope perhaps to continue to will himself to remain in bed but such thoughts were jolted out when his phone rang. Sleep snapped out entirely when he answered.

"Ro...?" The wavering, panicked voice was impossible to ignore, and such a tone to carry those words, that something had wrong...had Jonah up and moving already. "Hey hey, no... it's gonna be okay, whatever it is..." A terrible sinking feeling rolled through him halting thoughts but also causing a million things to race in his mind, a plethora of scenarios rising to the surface all at once, none good, none that eluded to safety of the other. "I'll be right there, you're okay you're okay. Stay on the line okay? I'm coming." He whispered reassurances as he headed out the door, driving too fast than he would but circumstances demanded it, entirely lucky that nightmares didn't project to the forefront as he sped.

He cut the phone only when he reached the building and let himself in, Jonah made a sweeping glance of the place, checking for signs of break-in or god forbid a fight of some sort, Jonah made his way inside and to where Rohan was. "Honey, it's me, I'm here. What's going on? Are you okay?"

Closed starter for @jonahxrivas Location: Rohan's apartment, shortly after Todd's resurrection

He could not even look at himself. Standing there now in the suffocating dark, catching sideways glances at his own reflection in the mirrored walls of the closet, Rohan could not bear the very sight of his reflection, his eyes blackened, staining him to his very core with the weight of what he had done. Todd had left in something of a rush when the witch confronted him. He knew it was not the guy's fault, but he supposed he looking rather frightening right at this moment. And in any case, Rohan had no way of holding the newly resurrected man here. He had texted Poppy.

And now, clutching the door frame, he was gripping his phone, taking long, heaving breaths, trying and failing to steady them as they rolled through him like crashing waves. Disgust. Panic. "Baby, baby...I need...I need you to come over here. I'm okay. I'm okay. But I did something bad. I did something really bad. I did the thing I promised I wouldn't ever do. Can you come? I really need you. It's not going to be okay. I ruined it all." His voice was weak as he murmured into the phone, wishing, in vain, he could wake up from this terrible nightmare.

#— convo; #c: rohan persaud #( ignore the shirtless gif lol )

[jonahxrivas]

for: @icexpackxjc location: hospital

On certain things, news travelled fast in Lunar Cove. Jonah was not one to listen to gossip and whispered information, at least not all the time, but if his ears pricked up on a name being voiced, he couldn't not ask on what had happened. Especially given the state of things and state of mind too, panic would only rise if he didn't quell this. But sometimes finding things out didn't always have give rise to a satisfied feeling, no, worry rose greatly now at discovering the state of his friend.

Making the detour to the hospital after work was needed, JC had been kind to him and helpful, a visit was not much to return the sentiment but it was the least Jonah could do. Thanking the nurse for pointing in the right direction, Jonah reached the room as JC stirred. With a small wave he greeted the other, "Hey. I- uh heard and wanted to drop by." Hospitals weren't strange to him anymore, the sound of machines and sharp smells, he was used to it, but he didn't like seeing someone else in those scratchy beds, "Sorry I didn't get you anything...I don't know what food you like and balloons.. well, they're not really good for the environment. How are you doing now?"

#— convo; #c: jc carvalho #c: jc 004

[jonahxrivas]

With a light laugh, Jonah patted at his hair attempting to tame it, "Uncombed is werewolf is it? But yes, you're right with that, this town has definitely shown me assumptions like that shouldn't happen but it's still hard for me to gauge a person's species." He wasn't sure if it'd ever get easier, unless, maybe if he made it a point to ask or witness a shift. "True, but it's been a constant in my life, even with its storms there's a sense of uh...peace I guess? Especially being underwater, the world just... slips away." He cast a glance towards the waves and almost sighed at the sight before turning back to Suresh with a shake of his head, "That probably sounds silly, but the ocean hasn't killed me yet, so I'll take the win where I can. Pit of spikes doesn't sound very nice."

He hummed as Suresh explained further, "Alright, I hear you, cheap, easy and popular. A focus group..of one?" he asked titling his head, suppressing a smile that couldn't be hidden for very long, "But sure, that kinda does sound fun." At the visual presented the laughter bubbled up, "I would love to see that not gonna lie, the tsunami, though, the sandstorm might be good too. Volcanic eruption of sharks? Would that be terrible? Sharks on fire? Oh! How about zombie sharks?"

Suresh scoffed at that response, a low, melodic hum echoing in his throat. "I do not look human. That's not a thing a person can look, as this town shoulda shown you by now, mate. Maybe you're bad at observation. Or maybe you just look like a siren." Taking a beat, Suresh gave Jonah a look up and down. "Well, maybe not. A werewolf maybe. They don't comb their hair." Sniffing, the man returned to the bundle of papers in his gasp, not really listening to the biological explanation nor pretending to. "Uh huh. You love the ocean, do you? Why? It hates you lot. Swallows up your ships in maelstroms. That would be like me loving pits of spikes."

Clicking his tongue, then, Suresh raised an eyebrow. "No observation skills. No listening skills. They don't have to be good, bruv. They have to be cheap and easy and popular. In your experience, do the masses ever like good shite?" Suresh sighed. "Right then. Consider yourself my first human focus group. Lucky you. But I do think the natural disaster has to not normally have sharks. A tsunami is just waves. I can make tsunamis. They might already have sharks in them. We need a shark sandstorm. A shark blizzard. Goddamn, that'll be a lot of effect rendering."

#— convo; #c: suresh sahni #c: suresh 001

[jonahxrivas]

Confusion lined his features when her tone turned cold, he had not expected this. But as she spoke on it without a hint of jest, Jonah swallowed heavy as the other side of what this could be struck. Shit. "I- no - I just mean..." But no matter how he had tired to word it all explanations sounded terrible and died on his tongue before they had a chance to fall and dig a deeper hole for himself. "It's not like that at all, I promise, I - we take murder very seriously here...death a little less given the you know...um but.. no wait, I meant to say that's also serious too." It was when his mind processed the word sister did Jonah stop talking entirely and give the poster an examining look with a slight shake of his head, vampires it could never be simple could it? "Um- do you wanna head to Peggy's or something? They really do have excellent milkshakes and fries" he tried again, "This is not a joke, I promise...there's a lot of...um.. I don't how to explain it but and this will absolutely sound weird, but you gotta believe me when I say Ronnie..is um.." He didn't know quite how to break the supernatural world to her and he wasn't sure if he was the right person either. "She's my roommate..."

Daphne was giving the man an exaggerated pout, was there any place in town where she could get something good to eat and also a mixed drink? She didn't want to go home to her empty house that was far too big for just her and lament over the fact that she had three failed marriages, an estranged complicated relationship with her parents, and a dead sister she couldn't let go. At least not if she was a little tipsy. Then it was marginally easier to deal with all the ways she had felt ruined by this life. Too bad there were no rerolls. A second chance to be born to someone else, someplace else with siblings who were alive and present and unmoored by the woes of the world. Daphne wondered if that would be better or if some part of her would always know she'd given up some innate part of herself just to undo the grief that tangled like a knot in the base of her throat.

She was just ready to wave them off, go spin in a direction, and amble towards any place that smelled good. If needed she could hit up a liquor store afterward, drink alone, and watch bad reality TV loud enough that she could almost ignore her thoughts. But then he went and said what he said and the polite smile that erased the dramatic pout of her full lips turned into a icy stone face scowl. "What did you say?" She bit harshly a bitter waiver in her tone as she tilted her head at him. "My sisters' murder isn't some fucking prank. Are you being for real right now?" She asked her voice rising louder as she kept her sharp and pained gaze on his face. "You're not funny and whatever sick kick you're getting out of whatever you're implying is disgusting."

#— convo; #c: daphne bishop #c: daphne 001 #( sorry for the extreme delay on this!! )

[jonahxrivas]

Somewhat at a loss for words at her statements, Jonah looked at her with confusion clear on his face, "What? Bri...no why on Earth would I think that you're a monster or a freak?" he asked, still shocked as why she could think he'd look at her as such, "I never did and never will. Sorry if it seems like I'm looking at you wired or something, I promise I'm not." He hoped she believed him, he didn't know how to convince her on this, "I just want to figure out what's going on. I saw others that have black eyes too, it might be connected but I don't know to what hat could be, or well, I know it's some dark magic thing, but what this time round is the question...wait.. did it effect me?" And like she had done seconds prior, he pulled out his phone to check too and noticed his stayed the same, "Maybe I'll get hit with whatever this is too? I don't know what's going on, and all I want is for you be safe and out of harm's way. Do you want to head home? We can find people and wait out whatever this seems to be?"

"Yeah, in the sky, up above. I never really paid much attention to them before," She admitted with a small shrug. "But, they seem bright. Not that I really have much to compare them to. New York City isn't exactly known for its stars. And not really, but the way you're looking at me is kind of weirding me out," She admitted as she narrowed her eyes over at him as if to tell him to spit it out already. "What the fuc- what's on my face? And why the hell did you wait now to say something? Do I have something in my teeth because if so that's so embarassin-" She exclaimed as she dug around her purse for her phone, slipping the cell out of her pocket she flipped it open to the camera so she could take a look. "What the fuc-" She gasped out, her phone clattering out of her hand onto the ground. "Oh no, no, no. You have got to be kidding me, no," Her hands were beginning to shake as she bent down to the ground to reach for her now shattered phone. "I'm a monster. That's why you were looking at me like I'm some kind of freak. Oh my god! Why does this shit keep on happening to me? What's next? I'm going to turn into some fucking bat? And can you stop looking at me like that? Fuck. Where in this town can I freaking get a new iphone at this time of night?"

#— convo; #c: brielle rivas #c: bri 007

[jonahxrivas]

To focus on the good was a good idea, but likely only in theory with the way things had gone and would potentially go, when it came to practically application good things never lasted long in this town, he'd seen and experienced it first hand but such thoughts Jonah kept to himself, not wanting to damper the moment when sweet things were being said. Putting on a smile that thankfully grew into a natural one as Rohan spoke filling him with much needed courage, "And I'm with you too," he repeated, "Does that make me Romeo? I don't know the next lines, though." With heart practically melting, he repeated the name in a whisper of sorts, letting it roll oh his tongue delicately and warmly "Rohan Rivas-Persaud, that's..again, really sweet. I'm a bit speechless at that if I'm being honest, it sounds lovely. I also have to keep mine for academic reasons but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking the same for me too, except Persaud-Rivas, to keep things alphabetically. Either way, ocean charities and contributions to theatres will appreciate it. I sure do."

Smile soon faded and he put a pin on the movie selection too as he listened, brows pulling together with concern that quickly deepened into a frown, "I love you, you know that, yes? Forever and always, and we're not married yet but Rohan Rivas-Persaud," he said, stressing on the word, a touch less softly than he had moments before as a frown took over his features, "I will divorce you if you dare give up your magic. Lay waste to all the combined named printed stationery sets you're no doubt planning. I'll do it." Despite saying such a thing though, Jonah knew he wouldn't truly go through with such an act but in the moment the threat needed to be aired along with the non-ultimatums too. He sat up further, masking a groan, grasping his hand into a reassuring squeeze, "I'll be with you through the complications, be a better companion and not bed-bound like I am and have been. I've been thinking of joining the coalition too, so I'll learn more, help ease the burden off you in any way I can. Witch or werewolf, I won't love you any less but magic is a part of you, please don't give that up. I don't need anything, you're here and that's enough."

Rohan gave a gentle shake of his head, squeezing Jonah's hand. "We've had a string of bad luck. I can't deny that. But my New Year resolution is to focus on the good. And I am so blessed to have so much good. Besides, I'm getting ready to make some major promises to you, Jonah. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health. Whatever happens, I'm going to be right here next to you." His free hand came up to gently run along the other's hair, his thumb playing over his temple. "I think it is. My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite." Rohan smiled softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling with genuine affection. "I've been thinking, you know. I have my guild and publishing agreements and all that, so I'd have to keep my name professionally. But legally? How does Rohan Rivas-Persaud sound to you, hm? For when all the ocean charities we donate to send us return labels in the mail? Would that be corny?" He wrinkled up his nose, his heart aflutter. "I will watch any animated movie you want. Only because Animal Planet can make Bustopher territorial."

Rohan nodded. "Okay. No apologies. You're right, though. A lot happened. But I will get it back. It's...well, it's a long story. I'll tell you about it later, okay? I promise." He smiled, but despite his valiant efforts, not all the heaviness could leave him. It lay draped around him like a terrible cloak. "I can live without magic. We can discuss that too, okay? I know you'd never want me to, but...witchcraft has gotten so complicated. Would you still love me if I were a werewolf with wet hair instead?" This came as a half-joke, but Rohan knew there was seriousness in it too. It was not a burden he currently wanted to place upon the other. "It will be okay. It'll be better than okay. I'll meet you misplaced optimism for misplaced optimism. But! No more apologies. We agreed. What do you need here? I can bring you anything you need. I'll sneak in the turtle."

#— convo; #c: rohan persaud #c: rohan 012

[jonahxrivas]

if I could breathe underwater you would never see me again

#— isms. #( so true!! )

[jonahxrivas]

"One of..?" But Jonah soon laughed as the explanation, of sorts, came through, causing him to hold up his hands, "No such thing, promise," he declared, "I sometimes tend to forget where I am and you look human at present but... a siren, of course, I'm sorry, the ocean is definitely yours too. I'm just someone that studied and loves the habitat. Fish? No, they're mostly vertebrates, but dolphins are marine mammals, yes, along with whales, otters, seals and a few others."

As the other talked, Jonah nodded along, details filling in the gaps bringing much needed clarity to the situation. "I see, well, that kinda sounds like fun? Sharknado wasn't that good if I'm being honest, inaccuracies aside, and same with Jaws, if we're talking horror. But that's not science fiction..." he shrugged a moment later, "Yeah, why not, there could be a market for it." Jonah found himself surprisingly invested into this conversation, being completely outside of anything that he had engaged in recently perhaps that's why he was even offering suggestions, "How about sharks in a tsunami? That's another natural disaster...or would that be too cliched since it's water?"

Suresh sighed very deeply, throwing back his head to offer a monumental roll of his eyes. "Oh, you're one of those." Out of all the humans one could run into on a beach, he thought, he had the profound luck to find himself face-to-face with a green Poindexter with a neck brace. Suresh forced a smile.

"Listen, I'm a siren, all right. Don't go throwing paint on me, bruv. My point is, the ocean's my territory as much as it is any other aquatic thing. What are they, mammals? Or is that just dolphins?" He sniffed a bit, turning his attention back to his script. "I make money off movies. Hastily pieced together television garbage, but movies nonetheless. I mostly stick to romance and thrillers of the week. Easy. Cheap. No postproduction. But I'm trying to decide if there's a market for science-fiction, eco-horror whatever. But I feel like they're going to want a tornado. You have to put the shark in a tornado these days. Can't just be a shark. Do you understand?"

#— convo; #c: suresh sahni #c: suresh 001

[jonahxrivas]

Jonah shook his head, he wasn't going to change species - at least not of his own accord - wasn't going to leave either, that was certain, may look to bringing in his mothers instead but it wasn't a thought to be brought up now, "There's a lot to learn still, about this town, its history and magic, and I can't speak on the future anymore, but at present though, no, I don't look to leaving or changing, thank you, really, it means a lot more than I can put to words how much it means that you not only gave me time to think but also gave me the option to choose. I think if I'm ever to live comfortably and not feel like an outsider, I think this is the right move." Despite knowing this is a step in the right direction, he couldn't with guarantee feel that he'd stop feeling like an stranger looking in, but much of his life had already showed signs of him belonging here: he was about to marry a witch, had close friends in the wolf pack, and his cousin was a vampire, if he said this to anyone here they'd likely not bat an eye, which in a way was also a point of shock. "I'm glad that I did something good for once," he said with a smile, "...Is- uh, is there any paperwork that needs doing? Do I need to sign something? Sorry, we're going have to chalk it up me not knowing how things work fully around here."

"You're not disturbing me, I assure you. I'm not even grading papers this time, just quizzes," Ben joked. "Which, I promise, is nothing that can't wait. There's no need to call ahead." And as for Council business... There was always a lot to deal with. He didn't think there was ever anything to not deal with when it came to his other job. But it had its benefits, like now. Ben brightened up, giving Jonah a smile. "I think that's very good. Jonah, you're always welcome to join. You're always welcome to leave. To me, the Coalition has an open door policy. We're here when people need us. If they decide they don't or that they want to leave town or that they plan to change species, that's up to them. It's up to you. But I'm happy you want to join. Ecstatic, really." He wished Jonah would see that the Coalition would benefit just as much from him being there as he would benefit from being a part of it, but Ben hoped he'd come to see that in time.

#— convo; #c: ben anak bandi #c: ben 003

[jonahxrivas]

"Oh thank goodness!" Shoulders slumped with relief when Ronnie confirmed and spotting the balloon soon after, Jonah's worries eased drastically as made his way over to them. Picking up Shelia immediately and holding her up, he talked to her as if she could hear and understand him, scolding her even like a parent would a child that refused to behave, "Why do you always do this to me, huh? A couple hours of stillness is all I ask, that's not too much, you're lucky I even let you out! Next time I'm not going take you out of the tank, I swear." He would though, he'd have to. Turtles needed to roam outside, it was good for them, healthy too, and she knew that too, since at the threat she drew her neck closer to snap her teeth at him, causing him to laugh a little, "Yeah yeah, you keep thinking you're a snapping turtle and I'll thank heavens you're just a Red Ear."

Smiling now, he faced Ronnie, not thinking into how strange that moment might have been, he nodded, "Glad you're hanging out, she's pretty fun when she's not being a menace to me personally," he joked, "Oh, yeah, it's the wheels, Sheila's missing back legs, so to compensate she has small wheels attached under her shell to make it easier to get around." He still held her and only had to swat the balloon away to show Ronnie what he meant. "I'm cleaning tanks. The other fish are separated into smaller bowls since they need to be underwater, but I let her roam. It's quicker and easier to spot a balloon than a tiny turtle. I hope she didn't cause too much of a trouble for you, she's usually good at making first impressions."

Ronnie had spent most of the day lounging (lounging! In pajamas!) around the house (a house!), making sure she went into rooms that had the curtains drawn and occasionally heading into the kitchen for a snack. She'd ventured out a few minuted before to grab a carton of orange juice and take it back to her room when she'd spotted a balloon just hanging out in the dining room. Confused, she'd gone over to it and poked the balloon. It started floating away from her. Baffled, Ronnie finally looked down to see a small turtle crawling away from her.

Squatting down to get a better look, Ronnie began following the little creature throughout the house, watching as it slowly (but surprisingly steadily) made its way around. It was only at the sound of someone else moving about that she quickly stood and wiped off her shorts, looking over to where Jonah was. "Huh? Oh, hey! Balloon and turtle found. We were hanging out. Shelia's, like, kind of fast, you know?" She looked back down at the turtle once more. "Jonah, why... why is there a balloon on the turtle?"

#— convo; #c: ronnie bishop #c: ronnie 002