this is Salem, a land filled with magic and maladies. It is a place where witches and their elemental familiars gather, a home to legend and
lore that predates time itself. Yet of all the wicked and wonderful stories the past can tell us of, the most magical are the ones yet to happen.
This is Salem - this is the start of your very own journey. Welcome to starfall
Starfall is an animaga witch roleplay set in mostly modern times. Members play as witches in a world plagued by monsters, where the only safe spots are walled cities. Starfall strives to be a character-driven roleplay with expansive lore and a highly interactive plotline. We want to allow members to
create and look back on a magical journey, and mold the site and its plot as their characters grow.
[attr="class","nabody"]"--Excuse me," She called out, bending down to pick it up.
Through a rather short stroll, returning from a day at her coven, the girl took no special notice of her surroundings. Having come to get used to these parts of Sundial, as opposed to the more prosperous parts, she took the change very matter of fact-ly. The same could be said about her personal, financial status. Ever-clean, polished floor tiles bright enough to propose one's reflection, were replaced with rugged and uneven stone paths and cheap, wooden floors. Everlasting smell of refined spices turned into rough, sharp scents, assorted of all kinds of common foods. And so on. Perhaps she was prepared to adapt from the very beginning, or maybe she never even flipped the switch in her mind.
Either way, this was where she lived now. Independently.
Not out of routine or anything, but the occasional approach to a stranger for whatever business couldn't be prevented. This specific case began with Julie's ears picking up a peculiar sound behind her, just as a young man she didn't take much from passed by. Plop. Calmly turning to check the sound, the blond immediately spotted it. Softly on the ground, as if intentionally; a brown wallet, laying down on the familiar path. Right on the street ground. It wasn't there a moment ago... So then, that must have meant it belonged to someone?
And it would probably end up being said gentleman. Quick to act through her thoughts, she reached for the item, already opening her mouth to speak out loud. She had to make sure that her own purse still held her wallet inside, giving the gray pack a light pat with her free hand, affirming it was indeed in place. It was a very light relief.
"--You dropped this." That was it. Stoically staring at the male, hand slightly stretched out to him.
everywhere i go, i am spellbound; you cannot have this control on me
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@regi
Tony was strolling through downtown sundial after running a few errands for his family. Often when he failed to escape his family's attention, they would shove all the trivial tasks which required going out on him. Especially if they knew that he had no missions to take at the moment. Living in a house of seven made privacy impossible; a long lost myth.
By the time he was done with everything, he was hungry and in need of lunch. He began heading to Hireling's Keep to see if he could get away with some free food from the kitchens. Maybe look through the board to see if there was any other mission he could take.
So busy with his own thoughts, he didn't notice his wallet slipping off his pocket and falling to the ground. The sound of a woman's voice calling out made Tony turn his head around curiously to see whether said woman was addressing him. Fortunately the way she stared directly at him, holding out a familiar looking wallet, proved as much.
Eyes widening in growing horror, he began patting himself as he checked to make sure that his wallet was indeed gone. Then he stared back at the blond haired woman, close to tears as he tried to grab both wallet and her hand to clasp them tightly together in both of his.
"Thank you!!! Thank you so much you wonderful, precious, beautiful angel. I don't know what I would've done if I lost this."
[attr="class","nabody"]On cue, the stranger began patting at his own pockets, the same way Julie just did. From his panicking expression and the frantic behavior, she easily discerned that she made the correct assumption. This was indeed his wallet. Feeling an insignificant relief in her chest, the woman's expression didn't show any change; but a light exhaling of air through her nose did, in its way, signify that her expectations were met, and that she was glad it did. Although helping the guy wasn't near a priority by any means, why wouldn't she if she could?
Despite that, she still went out of her way for it.
For just a moment, Julie took in the other man's features. Blond hair, a dirtier color than her's. Green, expressive eyes hiding behind a pair of glasses. Tall stature (taller than her, anyway). Everything was very trivial in her brief inspection, heeding no importance to his appearance. She only happened to take in several details.
Her train of thought, taking in more of the opposing's features, came to an abrupt halt; with a sudden blink of her eyes, opening slightly wider as the girl flinched. His own hands firmly grasped to hold the wallet dearly -- and in the process, clasped around her own palm. Right after, came the compliment. An awfully long, peculiar one. Juliet would lie if she claimed it didn't affect her. It was very much welcome. She felt a little warmer inside.
"It is nothing." It's just that, she wasn't sure how to react to that. As such, she ultimately ended up with a simple sigh, leaving the brown wallet in its owner's hands. Briefly taking a glance at her palm. It's still there. The sensation from that grasp. It would disappear soon enough, surely. "...You should take good care of your belongings. Perhaps a bag could help." Juliet suggested, again turning her gaze straight into the other's eyes. Remaining collected in expression, she leaned on her left leg as she pulled on her own bag's strap; as if to demonstrate.
Was there any means to that suggestion? ...Maybe. For the most part, she was looking for something to say as a reply.
everywhere i go, i am spellbound; you cannot have this control on me
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@regi
"It's not nothing! That wallet practically contains my entire life in it!" It actually didn't contain all the wealth he possessed, but he had collected a lot of discount coupons which he planned on using soon. Plus some pictures and tiny notes he collected throughout the years. They may be old and fraying at the edges, but they held a lot of sentimental value to Tony. Those, more than even the money that he would've lost, was what really mattered to him.
As she let go, he pulled his wallet towards him, hugging it close to his chest. If he had lost his wallet, never to be seen again, it would've broken his heart.
He nodded vigorously at her suggestion, glancing down at her own bag. "I probably should get one of those. Or maybe have it attached to my belt or something. I don't usually drop my wallet like that, but now that it's happened I don't want to take any chances." With a heavy sigh of relief, like the world had righted itself once more, he placed the wallet back in his pocket and nodded.
"But really, thank you so much for returning it to me." Had it been him, he would have taken that wallet and run off with the loot. Apparently his karma today was good, and he had been a well-behaved boy.
"May I please know the name of my kind-hearted guardian? Are you hungry? Why not have lunch with me? It'll be my treat." She was really cute, and he bet she would be even cuter if she smiled. It would be an interesting challenge for him to make her laugh or smile while they were hanging out together - if they hung out.
[attr="class","nabody"]What an odd person. To hug his belongings so tightly like that, he must have really been attached to the wallet. Or perhaps he was this dreaded at the idea of losing his money? --Yes, that would make sense... It wasn't a mystery by any means, but she did wonder how he fared with that. Was it just by chance? Following with her eyes, the blond watched as the opposing quickly tucked his wallet in his poc-- Oh. She only saw it by chance.
But it hit her. Why this dear wallet suddenly fell from this man's pocket. As she continued to scan the opposing with her eyes, a particular loose string showed itself. Ahh. That must be why. Not an expert per se, Julie was probably in no position to claim that. But she understood that the problem will persist if something isn't done with the matter. Though she already gave a suggestion, this posed a new solution. Eyes firmly glued to the part, she lightly pointed to the pocket to which the brown wallet was slipped into.
Effectively putting aside everything shot at her, she began. "Your pocket. It's damaged." Well, more ripped than anything. Undoubtedly, the short closing this one loose string previously provided, did the trick.
At the mere suggestion of sharing lunch together, Julie didn't show much reaction. It would have been the same as any other time. She had a problem in particular with being paid for, though, evident by the change in her passive expression, yet again. Hand lightly clenching at her bag's strap, eyebrows frowning if just a bit more; her blue eyes turned away from the stranger, and down to the path. It made her uncomfortable. "No thank you." She declined; "I can treat myself." She didn't really mean to use that word, it just went out that way.
Paying for others means winning their favor. But does it really? She came to see the ugly side to that when she was younger. Though she did act out of good will, the reward's idea irked her some.
everywhere i go, i am spellbound; you cannot have this control on me
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@regi
Her first response was to point at his pocket. As soon as she spoke, he glanced down and took out his wallet. Then he stretched out the fabric as he looked for - and successfully found - a large rip of the seams.
"Empty Night! How did that happen?!" Actually, there were plenty of ways that it could've been torn. Tony was a very active man doing all sorts of physical labor on a regular basis. He could've accidentally ripped his pants at any of those moments. "I happen to like this pair!" They had been with him for years, repeatedly sewn and stitched up when needed. It wasn't a surprise that the old fabric was falling apart again, but he wished it could've lasted him for a bit longer. Hopefully they would still be of use after he had them stitched up.
Grumbling, he slipped his wallet in the other pocket - right after making sure that there wasn't a hole in it as well. It felt weird to have it tucked in the other side, but he would make do for now.
After that was settled, the blond haired woman responded again. Tony paused as he tried to digest her words and make sense of them. She looked a bit...hostile for some reason, but her response could have so many meanings in it. While she sounded like she didn't want to go with him, she didn't say those words exactly.
"So...is that still a yes to lunch with me?" If she was offering to pay for her own food, Tony was more than happy to let her. After all, he only offered out of polite courtesy and a huge relief for his recovered wallet.
[attr="class","nabody"]Ah. A moment of silence proved that Juliet had perhaps made the opposing a tad bit uncomfortable with her declination. She wasn't going to fully decline the offer though, if she got the chance. That is to say, from experience, often times this approach awarded her with the end of an interaction, with others going about their own way. And she was alright with that; it wasn't like she herself had committed to trying to win the man's favor. It was a momentary act of kindness that resulted in a slightly longer company, now granted the chance to be prolonged further. Looking at it logically like that, there was no real need to feel bad about that.
Unusually enough, the offer still persisted. At the very least, he was keen on inviting her to spend lunch with him. That was, rather nice. "...Yes." She replied, raising her face back up to look into his glasses. She wasn't headed anywhere special; only to her apartment, where she would be cooking regardless. What difference did it make if she ate outside or alone? ---Actually...
While the answer she gave sounded perhaps a slight bit hesitant, she was fully convincing herself to find a suitable place for this pastime. She managed to, by an accidental stroke of luck, capture this man's attention at least. It was almost like in her coven, where she was invited to share company with the others for a meal. The thought was followed by a light sigh, Juliet's eyes widening a tad bit in expectation. She was, delighted. To share some time with this stranger. Being with someone, if only briefly, was perhaps better than sharing her time at home with her familiar.
Plus, it saved some money, too. "--My name is Juliet Tepache." She belatedly introduced.
[attr="class","natag"]296 ● @anthonyskies ● notes: sorry if the pocket bit seemed forced/weird
everywhere i go, i am spellbound; you cannot have this control on me
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@regi
He half-expected her to say no and tell him to get lost. When she did the exact opposite, he nearly didn't hear her answer. Even with a 'yes' he still wasn't entirely sure whether she really wanted this or if she was feeling forced or reluctant. She was such a quiet woman that it was difficult to tell whether she was just shy or being apprehensive.
The best he could do for now was stick to the plan, and stay casual and friendly. It ought to become obvious enough to him if she started showing signs of hostility.
With a smile and a grand flourish, he bowed after she introduced herself. "Anthony Skies at your service. Though I prefer Tony." As he straightened up, he was about to offer his arm for her to take when he realized that might not work so well, and instead settled with a smile as he gestured for her to walk beside him. "Shall we? I know just the place."
Since Hireling's Keep was in the area, he was very familiar with the routes and establishments here. For the more than ten years, Tony has explored and found many, hard-to-find, unexpected treasure troves of shops or restaurants that stayed hidden in corners or alleyways.
As Tony led her through the street, he decided for some small conversation along the way. "I don't know if you've heard of this place, but it's an old-looking shack that serves great homemade meals. An old couple owns it, and though it's not really what you'd consider a restaurant, they're more than happy to cook for people." Most importantly, they were cheap but delicious. He didn't know if Juliet was from a rich family or not, but at the very least she could treat the whole thing as an experience.
[attr="class","nabody"]At the gesture, Julie momentarily halted to stare at the open palm. It was a common gesture, used by gentlemen to lead the ladies forward, though this time it was made by one with a ripped pair of pants and a, shabby look, if anything. She had assumed this was more of a social invitation, than a formal one. Which called for, perhaps, a friendly act? In thought, she slightly raised and opened her hand, before quickly withdrawing it; raising her head some and moving to walk by the gentleman.
A high five? She missed the chance for that, if so.
As Tony led the way, Julie couldn't help but check out the streets she went through. Whether to memorize the path herself, or rather, moreso because-- "I have never been to this part of town before." Granted she only got herself familiar with the routes and paths as of late, after moving in, but even so.
"...I see." She started in response to his attempt at conversation. "Can you really call this a restaurant then?" She inquired. A restaurant's primary motive was to serve food for customers, is what she had known. "And if it isn't, what would you call it?" Circling in her own thoughts, Julie had grown a slight bit confused at the description. She knew some places that were ran by old people, but never one that was a restaurant-- but not quite one. Between the unknown paths and her overthinking, Juliet couldn't help but ponder to herself; Where are we going?
But ultimately, her expression went unchanged, with the exception of her slightly widened eyes. That was as much as she paid to let it show. Looking to her company, she composed yet another question. "Tony, do you often eat at their place?"
everywhere i go, i am spellbound; you cannot have this control on me
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@regi
At her question, Tony shrugged. "As long as it's a place where people can order and eat food? That could be defined as a restaurant right? Who cares if it's not fancy or if the dishes aren't made by great, expert chefs?" Some plain home cooks were even better than those who studied and spent so much just to learn how to fry meat or boil pasta. They actually put effort and heart into their creations, making it more than just something to fill up your stomach. "They have an actual, respectable business and though it's just the two of them, they're doing pretty well by themselves. And while they don't have many customers, they have regulars."
He nodded to her as he continued leading her through the streets. "I go there whenever I can. Since it's just the two of them, I come in to help them carry things or move things around from time to time. And in return, I get to eat there for free."
Today was probably not a good day to offer his help, since he was going there with Juliet and he wasn't sure if she would agree to helping the old couple out. Ah well. They would surely understand.
After a few more blocks, Tony stopped at a large, rickety-looking shack. While its walls were slightly cracking and the paint - which had been retouched so many times - was peeling off, the place looked clean and presentable. He stepped up to the door, holding it open for Juliet.
[attr="class","nabody"]While the blond didn't dwell too much on her company's words, she did listen to every word and took everything seriously. It served to lightly ease the tension she not-so-secretly built up in her chest, being led to foreign grounds like this. However, even so, she didn't think too much of it; merely accepted it all as fact. "I see." She replied, nodding every now and then as she averted her gaze from the path to Tony, then to the path again, as their stroll continued. As if she was learning new things as they went.
Once they've arrived, Julie quickly took in details from the spot she was introduced to. Paint peeled off, cracks in the wall here and there, uneven carpentry work done at the door. As one that came from high class, she immediately judged the place as relatively poor. But that was to be expected; he only just admitted to them not having many customers. A random thought ran through her head, that being. If the place had some investment, would it get more work? Or, more recognition? In the first place, was it right to come up with ideas like that for an old couple? Perhaps they weren't interested. But then, why would they start a business together? --Wherever he thoughts had arrived, if one thing was certain, it was that Juliet didn't find the place unpleasant on first glance.
How to put this... It had a welcoming vibe to it, maybe?
"Thank you." Out of habit and general manners, Julie gave a light bow of gratitude, before taking the initiative and walking up to the slightly rugged door. Reaching for the handle, she pushed the door open and invited herself in, courtesy of Tony. The inside was barely something to speak of; paint similar to the outer walls, though not exactly in better shape. A very short handful of tables and chairs spread around the place, several taken by some parties.
What caught Julie the most though, as soon as she entered, was the smell of something cooking behind the back door. It was a pleasant aroma, enough to distort her breath some. She inhaled, taking in the scent before turning to the guy behind. She wasn't really hungry when they started walking though...
[attr="class","natag"]000 ● @anthonyskie ● notes: end me im so sorry this is this late ;;
everywhere i go, i am spellbound; you cannot have this control on me
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@regi Feel free to order anything. It'll be fine \o/ XD
Tony went in after Juliet, feeling his mouth start to water at the nice scent of spices in the air. He looked at Juliet, grinning as he led her further in and moved to pull out a chair for her on one of the tables nearby.
"Smells good doesn't it? Katie is the brains behind the kitchen. Spent all her years cooking for her family. Edgar on the other hand is the muscle." Moving around to sit across Juliet, he patted the chair, then the table. "These are his handiwork. Used to be a carpenter, back when he was younger."
While he settled down in his seat, the two of them heard the sound of a deep voice from further inside. "Anthony? Is that you I hear out there?" An old, bald man appeared, not exactly well-built now that he was in his later years, but carpentry has given him a good and fit body which slowly loosened up as time passed. Approaching the two, he gave a toothless grin as he inclined his head.
"Edgar! Looking spry as ever. This is my new friend Juliet. Saved me the trouble of having to get a new wallet and losing money."
"Better to spend it here than to lose it right?" The old man cackled, then smiled at Juliet. "Nice to see Tony bringing a nice girl like you around." He pulled out a cardboard with a menu taped to it and offered it to her.
"I know what the boy wants already. What would you like to order miss?"
