awooooooo werewolves of milton

[friendsfordinner]

Who: open to all, with a special focus on #TeamMoonTouched
What: let's all get together and be a proper pack
When: forward dated slightly to late January/early February
Where: Milton, in and around the church to start with.
Content Warnings: n/a, will edit as needed

The day after the storm clears out, Hickey tacks up a note on the community hall message board. Ever since Raylan mentioned the idea of all those wolf-changed getting together to form a pack, to take down a deer or a moose in a communal hunt, it hasn't left Hickey's mind. There's at least four of them here, probably more. That's enough. They could absolutely take down a moose. They just need to get to know each other, figure each other out, and become more in-touch as a pack. Easy enough, yeah?

So he puts up his notice. And the evening of the meeting, Hickey gets his little soiree set up. He does have food: rabbit jerky, a few jars of pickled vegetables, bottles of water and a bottle of pine wine, all set out on a table he dragged out and placed near the pews. (He's a good host, dammit). The set-up is very informal: it's a place where everybody can chit-chat and get to know each other at the start. Gotta make sure everyone is comfortable before he makes his proposal, after all.

( ooc: feel free to use this as a mingle post! Make your own starters and tag around. While the note on the message board is specifically tailored to the Moon Touched folks, anyone is welcome to crash the party. )

Comments

Cornelius Hickey | ota!

[friendsfordinner]

midway through the evening
Again: Hickey is a good host. He tucks some of the food away so that he can top it off later if the snacks start to run dry. He'll make small-talk with anyone who shows up, doing his best to hide his annoyance at anyone who comes who he knows isn't a wolf, dammit, can't you read the bloody sign? The church isn't an ideal meeting place, but certain people still hang around the community center and Hickey would rather not deal with them, thank you very much.

He spends most of the evening making small talk, thanking the people who show up, enjoying the little get-together. But anybody who knows Hickey can see that there's something shining in his eyes, that he looks a little more manic than usual. This is something he really wants to succeed. And dammit, he's going to do whatever it takes to make this idea happen.

near the end of the evening
"Right," Hickey says, clearing his throat so that any and all of the assembled group can hear him. He talks like he expects to be listened to, like everyone here will listen to him and inevitably agree with his wonderful decisions.

"We've spent the evening talking and getting to know each other, yeah? But we all know there's a better way to get to know each other. So I'm going to be a wolf and do a little exploring. Maybe take down some game. Anyone who wants to join me, feel free to join me. The way I see it, the best way to get us in touch with each other and working together is to do just that: work together."

There's a pause before he points out, "And anyone who doesn't want to join me, don't do anything funny like stealing my clothes. I know what they smell like and I'll be able to find them."

Seriously, don't be a dick.

minglin' midway through

[fidior]

It doesn't take long for Little to shuffle up to Hickey while everyone's mulling around chatting and taking refreshments. While he's a bit startled to learn that Hickey's the host of their evening, Little isn't actually about to try and shut him down. He's receptive, even, and gives the other man a nod, a small plate with some jerky and vegetables in his hand.

"Mr. Hickey."

That gleam in the other man's eye.... is taken, by Little, for enthusiasm instead of anything that might be slightly more alarming. He has to admit that it's actually very laudable of Hickey to arrange something like this, and there's no judgment or even suspicion to be found in Milton's most Stressed Werewolf as he greets him.

"I must commend you for your efforts to organise such an event. How long have you been planning it?"

join the cool kids cult, little

[friendsfordinner]

Little's presence here is undoubtedly a surprise to Hickey. But though it's a surprise, it's certainly a welcome one. He doesn't seem to be doing anything. No immediate broadcast that Cornelius Hickey is a fiend that shouldn't be trusted. No immediate accusations that Hickey is here to lure people to his devious ways. Little actually seems to be receptive to this idea.

And it's his next statement, the fact that Little commends him, that takes him completely by surprise. Because Cornelius Hickey knows he has good ideas. Yeah, some of them might need work and some of them have ended up poorly, but that doesn't change the fact that they're good. To be complimented about those good ideas by someone who Hickey never suspected would compliment him...it's nice.

Granted, Little's not in the top five of Hickey's dream roster of Give Me Compliments. But still. He'll do.

His surprise is briefly visible on his face before Hickey pushes it back behind a trademark smug little smirk. "I've been thinking about it for a month or so. It's only when we were trapped inside during that blizzard that I decided to actually take action. Suspect we'd all want to stretch our legs—a good time as any to see who's amenable to this idea."

time for him to finally become a Cult Member!

[fidior]

For better or worse, Little remains a fair man. It's not that the thought of Hickey planning something didn't make something in Little initially flutter uncomfortably, but... "innocent until proven guilty" is still a thing he holds to, fiercely. And what a hypocrite he would be, to pretend as though his own hands are any cleaner, that his own past doesn't involve being responsible for the deaths of others. And as Gibson made more clear for him, if the officers had been able to protect the men better, there would have been no need for a mutiny, would there...?

There's also the fact that Hickey saved him from that creature in the lake. All of this is complicated, and part of those complications involve Little feeling genuine gratitude towards this man. Is he uncomfortable for feeling it? Yes, but... it's the fair thing. It's earnest.

And Hickey's smart, something that Little's truly been able to see over time here. It could turn to cunning, to something dangerous, but... it could also be utilised to help, couldn't it? Like now, with this. To Little, the fact that Hickey's been thinking about this for so long only adds to the merit of it. He nods, as conversational as he would be with anyone else.

"It's a wise idea, to arrange such an event. Truthfully, it's likely a bit overdue that those of us with this.... ability come together and meet one another. Our other forms do provide many advantages."

[friendsfordinner]

Getting compliments is odd. It's wonderful, of course. Part of Hickey's chest jumps with joy when he hears Little say that he had a wise idea. To be seen, to be recognized by someone who he knew would never recognize him otherwise, is a phenomenal feeling. It's a feeling he loves, he adores, he wants to hold onto for the rest of his time here (even if a small, quiet part of him kind of wishes it was someone else.)

But on the other hand. It's Little. So yeah, it's wonderful. But it is still very weird.

Hickey keeps up the casual conversation, as if there isn't any history between them, just two guys talking about turning into wolves.

"Right? And thinking about wolves in the wild, they're a pack. We can do plenty by ourselves but if we all get together and work as a group, we could do so much more. Even bringing down a deer would yield...what, forty, fifty pounds of meat? If we smoke or dry that, it'll help us through the next blizzard."

midway through the evening

[clothed]

There is a simple truth that Sansa doesn't wish to confess: she has not stepped foot in the sept that they call a church. She knows it exists, of course; the steeple is hard to ignore, as is its wide paneling that has chipped and cracked over time, even long before she had arrived. But she has a complicated relationship with faith, these days, and being reminded of the Seven only makes her think of her mother — her devotion, her love, her tragic death.

So it is that Sansa's not gone to visit the church, much less make her way past it willingly — until now.

Wolves. There is a call for wolves, and Sansa considers lying that she comes on Lady's behalf. After all, she is a smart companion, as smart as men given the opportunity, why should she be exempt? But to admit that she shape-changes seems too close to admitting a weakness of sorts.

Her only comfort is that she will know the others, too. Lady is sticking to the church steps, preferring the open air, and so she's seated near the wide doors, warming her hands. When Hickey makes his way over, she smiles lightly at him, and gives a small nod. "I didn't realise you thought so highly of wolves."

[friendsfordinner]

Hickey gives Sansa a little nod as he approaches her. He's talked with the girl every now and then. Though really, Hickey's mentally registered her as 'Lady's person' over any personality traits that Sansa herself might have. She's got a wolf. Wolves are great. And it's because she's got a wolf that Hickey doesn't immediately assume that Sansa is here because she can turn into a wolf herself. For all he knows, she might simply want to figure him and his message out.

Her question gets a little chuckle in response before Hickey muses, "This place gave me a gift. I can turn into a wolf. Way I figured it, it would be a crime to ignore something like that. And considering that wolves have packs...might as well see what we can do, yeah?"

[clothed]

So he is like her, then, and able to change his skin as desired. Sansa does not confess to the same ability just yet; he hasn't outright asked, and Littlefinger taught her well to keep her mouth shut when her words aren't entirely needed.

She does nod, however, seeing the logic in his reasoning. The lone wolf dies, while the pack survives — there is strength in numbers, and with the tensions between the Interlopers and the others that live outwith Milton, it can't hurt to build amongst their numbers a proper defence.

Even if that defence comes with fangs instead of steel.

"I did notice," she starts, pitching her voice softly, "that there are many wolves that live with us. Smart ones like Lady, and I think she's met some of them." Like Jason, or Bigby, though they're two different kinds of wolf to Sansa's knowledge.

It begs one glaring question, though. "What follows when you've arranged the wolf-kind together?"

[friendsfordinner]

"We do what all wolves do," Hickey says, like it's obvious. "We form a pack. Think about it. We don't have much in the way of ammunition here. A little bit of gunpowder, bows and arrows, but not much of anything. If all of the wolves get together, we can take down a deer with minimal damage to the beast. Drag it back to the community center, that's what, forty pounds of meat? Think of what you could make from that."

Hickey's eyes are shining as he talks. There's something enthralling about this, about the idea of a community, of everyone accomplishing great things. But there's also something enthralling about the idea of just not being fucking hungry.

"I just want people to live," Hickey says, with a little shrug. Specifically, he wants himself and his own to live, but he can keep that to himself during this conversation. "And as far as I can see, these gifts can help. Besides, be a waste to ignore them."

[tinstar]

This was no party but he'd agree that Hickey is a decent host - it was more than he expected for this kind of gathering. Still, the fact that Hickey had gone to such troubles at all was an impressive drive of .. well he wasn't sure of what, but he hoped to find out before the night was over. He already knew Hickey spoke well in front of a crowd, but the jury was out on how good a salesman he really was.

Raylan sidles up not too long after he arrives, socially acceptable drink in hand and a sly kind of smirk on his squinty face, letting the lift of his chin pass as a greeting.

"So. You got a speech planned out or somethin'? Know what you're gonna say to the attending congregation?"

[friendsfordinner]

"I'm me," Hickey laughs, looking over at Raylan with a grin. "Course I've got a speech." Honestly, he's happy to see the other man here. After all, Raylan was the first person who mentioned the idea of forming a pack. Hickey just decided to take initiative. So to have him here, at least interested in hearing out Hickey's idea...yeah. That's what he wants to hear.

"We've got a sensible group here. Explaining the merits of having a pack should be enough. Especially with that storm we just had? People'll be wanting to make sure we've got food, skins to keep warm and make clothing out of. Far as I'm concerned, everyone teaming up to take down a deer's a good way to start."

[tinstar]

Raylan scoffs a little and shakes his head.

"I've always hated public speakin'. Not very good at it, myself but your points ain't wrong. Lean into the needs of the community and people's doubts will lose out to those basic needs and how much easier they are to get when we do it all together."

He might not Do™ public speaking, but he knew the psychology of how to sway people.

"Many hands make light work an' all, right? Gotta say, I'm impressed at your spread too. Snacks and drink and all."

[friendsfordinner]

"Most of this are things I already had," Hickey muses, as he looks out towards his spread. There's a small pause before he continues. It feels like admitting a weakness, but there's so many of them here. It wouldn't surprise Hickey if almost everyone knows their story. Raylan probably knows already.

"I was hungry once. The sort of hungry that's in your bones, where you know that even if there was something rotting placed in front of you, you'd eat it anyway. I'm never going to let that happen to me again."

morning

[desperate_times_right]

Chloe has a special hatred for churches that only a bisexual Hindu who spent her teenage years in an Anglican boarding school can understand, but Hickey is her friend, and she doesn't really trust him to not get himself in trouble. Also he said there would be food.

“Hey. What's up?”

[friendsfordinner]

Hickey has a special antipathy for churches that someone who doesn't give a shit about God and who's blown off multiple funerals has. But the church doesn't usually have a lot of people around, so as far as Hickey's concerned, it's a good place for a meeting.

Also as far as Hickey's concerned, Chloe gets him. So without any hesitation, he tells her his plan.

"I want us to form a wolf pack. There's at least four of us here. Working together, we can take down a deer. Hell, maybe even a moose."

[desperate_times_right]

“A moose?” Not for the first time, Chloe wishes that Nadine was here. Her partner knows everything about animals and would know whether this proposition was absurd or not.

“You’d trust the people here at your back? As wolves?”

[friendsfordinner]

"As wolves? Yeah. Don't know about as people, but you know how it feels when we're changed. Things feel different. You talk with people in ways that aren't words, you feel connected with everyone else. We could be a pack."

And honestly, from who's appeared so far, Hickey trusts them as people. Chloe, Raylan, they're smart. They're sensible. They'll understand what Hickey's saying. Little, not so much, but Hickey believes he can convince him to his side. Hell, he's already close to halfway there.

The outlier is that girl. Lady's person. But Cornelius Hickey is nothing if not confident: he's sure he can sway her to his side as well.

Edward Little | ota

[fidior]

Given the handwriting and the fact there are only two Victorians TM who have the Moon Touched ability, Edward probably should have realised that Hickey was the one who wrote the note. He did not, however, and so finds himself a bit startled and unsettled by the reveal of the host of this little meeting.

....But he stays, and he seems receptive, and not only to be polite. As uncomfortable as he is by Cornelius Hickey facilitating anything, Little is not opposed to hearing him out on default, the way some of the others might be. Time has... shifted things, perceptions, experiences. Little's learned more truths from Gibson, and knows Hickey's resourceful and good with survival, has witnessed it all directly for himself, even. Yes, there is still a big part of him that also wants to try and smoothen down tensions between Hickey and Irving after that scuffle they'd had, and hopes that showing a good presence around him might help do that. But there are many reasons why he finds himself sticking around.

As the meet begins, Edward can be found mulling around and stepping up to chat with any of the others. He makes himself a neat little plate with a modest bit of jerky and some of the pickled vegetables, and offers to pour a small amount of pine wine or water for anyone who might be stepping up that way. Do you want to chat about this? Maybe quietly discuss how trustworthy an event by Hickey could possibly be? You might be surprised to hear First Lieutenant Edward Little actually not about to shittalk the guy!

---

Even when Hickey reveals more and proposes that the wolves all head out for a bit to explore and possibly hunt together, Little stays receptive. Because he would have to admit that this is.... genuinely a good idea Hickey has, trying to bring them together to get to know one another more and work as a team. Little's begun utilising his wolf side a bit more over time, and though still shy about it... has to admit that it's helpful. They can protect people, and hunt. Doing that together would be all the more a strength.

So after the meeting, he slips into the nearest room with a door and politely removes his clothing, tucking it away before turning into his own wolf form — a large and very fluffy black one that somehow manages to look extremely worried even without human features. He's still very anxious about publicly exposing himself this way.... but this is for the good of the community. Little slowly steps back into the church and pads around to greet people this way while waiting for the little jaunt Hickey's leading to begin.

[desperate_times_right]

It isn't about the wolf thing at all when Chloe approaches Little. It's about the faint gold thread tying them together.

She holds up her hand. “What the hell is this?”

[fidior]

Edward's brows lift and he manages to look almost comically startled by the woman who suddenly approaches him. He knows who Chloe is, but not well at all. Or so he thinks.

Which is why, when he realises that one of his threads does indeed link to her, his eyes widen and he stares down at the thread in disbelief. A string tethers him to a woman he barely knows? How indecent of him!!

"I— I apologise, madam, there must be some mistake—!"

[desperate_times_right]

He can probably feel it through the stupid string, how afraid she is of him and what he represents. That irritates her even more.

“I don't even know you!”

Yeah, he'd come to her harvest party, but so had a lot of people.

Raylan Givens | OTA

[tinstar]

Raylan was at the Community Hall and paid attention often enough to see new bits of scribbled paper and Hickey's notice has been hard to miss. A meeting was a good idea, the next step in setting up something akin to a pack, something that could get both Milton and Lakeside some real edible rewards. A good step towards them knowing one another, coming together for something that would echo out into other situations, hopefully. He didn't mind Hickey taking the initiative; it showed how serious the man was about his agreement to the idea. Either it would work out or it wouldn't.

So he walks into the meeting with a glance around and gets himself ready to get into it.

Mingle

There was never an opportunity to snack that Raylan wouldn't try to take advantage of here - he was permanently waiting for their food stores to run out and them to all be on terribly small rations, so every chance to avoid that without a hellva lot of personal work was rare and special. He got a bite or two of everything, unashamedly popping picked veg into his mouth as he looks around for someone to bother. Feeling peppy, he wasn't going to be shy, sidling up with his cup of nursed pine wine in his hand.

"How you feelin' about this little get together? Happy to meet the neighbors?"

Never mind that they were all technical neighbors and this was for the Woofs, but Raylan knows there's all sorts of neighbors.

After the meeting

Raylan agrees with this whole pack hunt thing and makes no bones about changing right there in front of god and everyone, taking off only his hat to set aside. The clothes were shaken off with all the grace of a four legged being that wouldn't have gotten into them itself in the first place, and he takes a moment to sniff around, to pick up the smells of new people and 'new' wolfs, better identifying them, before he bounds out the door.

He was a lanky dark wolf, wisps of grey working into his snout and around his face with golden honey eyes that moved around as often as his nose did. He was ready to go, eager to see how many folks would join them. Eager to see how much damage they could do to a target, and how much food they could bring back. If nothing else, those that went out tonight wouldn't be hungry tomorrow and that was always going to be an advantage.

Mingle!

[fidior]

There's some kneejerk awkwardness to approach Raylan — due to nothing that the man has ever done personally, simply for the fact that Edward witnessed him dancing so freely with Wynonna in the glow of so many candles and lanterns during Crozier's party. That memory in general is warm and discomforting all at the same time, and something Edward touches upon shyly, at times shamefully. A red mouth and his hand against Wynonna's waist. He had longed to move with her as freely as she'd danced with others, and yet he couldn't dare.... How could he even imagine such a thing?

Anyway—!

"Mr. Givens," he tips his head in a polite nod of greeting to the other man, formal as always, yet not unfriendly. There's something soft and warm and a little nervous to Edward as he makes eye contact, gloved hands grasping a plate and drink of his own.

"Ah, I do think it's a sensible idea, drawing all of us with the same ability together." Speaking so well of something facilitated by Hickey is still strange for him, but he can't pretend not to approve of it. "I must admit, I have been... less than enthused to have such an ability, but community is essential to our survival here..."

Beat, as he looks Raylan over curiously. It still seems too forward to ask directly, but it's important to clarify who here is actually one of that wolfish community. "So you are another who can transform?"

[tinstar]

Raylan had planned on approaching Little but the man had beat him to it - alls the better, to see how a man introduced conversation. He'd seen Little and Wynonna at the party, having spent more time people watching than not despite the two very kind dances he had been allowed. This was the ideal reason to get to know the man.

Tipping his head in return, one hand coming up to touch the edge of his brim, Raylan remains his easy affable self, polite and as welcoming as he can be.

"Mr. Little." Who didn't know everyone in this town after a few months.

"I'm glad Hickey took up the suggestion as far as to do all this. Though he does like the sound of his own voice, so it all tracks out." His tone edged near fondness when he said it; he didn't have a problem with Hickey, so long as lines weren't crossed. They understood one another.

"But yes, I am another who can transform. I wasn't overly pleased when it happened either. I've since gotten used to the upsides of it though, those ain't too bad. Us all gettin' together is somethin' I think will be a boon. Packs can get a lot done. Put some real food into our stores."

[fidior]

Raylan certainly has a way of speaking that's very different from Little's experience — he's very American, the drawl hazy and warm and unfamiliar. His own Victorian English TM is an almost comical counter to it, persistently formal, each word carefully chosen and spoken, never missing a beat of propriety.

Just as comical, perhaps, is how it only serves to make Little a bit more nervous in the face of him. Like March, Givens has a certain... energy, assured and confident (and cool, if Edward were to know the meaning of that word in this sort of reference).

He does manage to smile a little at the Hickey remark, although the faint strain at the edges of the gesture might make him look somewhat queasy. (That's just How Victorians Are, to be fair.)

"I must agree. If we are able to help provide more fresh meat... as you said, our stores might flourish. This might truly be a turning point for our community."

They haven't starved, but... food has certainly been scarce. It's been a constant worry; he knows what might happen otherwise.

"Have you done much hunting before this place?"