" c'moooonnnn, seriously? if you get to choose your own mugshot why would you choose a photo at all? " damon snorts as they slide up, peering over noah's shoulder to squint at the wanted poster. it's ... interesting. streets a-fucking buzz since the release of the register's press and the 'call this hotline for any tips on this bozo!' came to play. briefly they're wondering if more people care about this piece of paper than the poor woman taken too soon.
they sniff, thumb swiping the bottom of their nose. " mmmm ... " he's mimicking her earlier squint, siving the photo up before straightening up. " damn sleuthing skills, huh? should be a detective, miss. noah. " gives a sharp little laugh before a headshake. " can't decipher a killer from a fucking picture. not everyone has the ... " lifts their hands to throw them into an energized circle, " devil eyes the news likes to boast about. who knows.
crosses their arms, thumbs rubbing little circles into biceps. something about it all puts them on edge. its not heightened enough to be fear, but ... an edge. they've been checking corners, looking behind them, making sure to lock their doors and windows. paranoid, maybe, but nobody else has to know that. " think whatever that's about isn't for us to really worry about. unless, y'know, we see some shifty business. "
[ open starter ; starring ... noah li ] [ setting ; the amrak grocery store ]
it's late. it's what noah calls the dead hour where there's either no one in the store or a singular shopper wondering around the chips aisle. either way, noah doesn't do a lot at this hour. she either starts turning the soup cans around to mess with customers or reads one of the national geographics they have in the magazine racks.
"do you think he got to pick what picture they put on the wanted poster?" noah asks as her sharp hazel eyes squint at the piece of paper pinned to the bulletin board near the entrance. noah's only ever seen it littered with missing person's posters or job offerings. a wanted poster is new. exciting, in noah's opinion, but they don't say that.
noah tilts their head, letting out a curious sound through pursed lips.
"i don't think he's the killer. look at his gaze," her scarred hand motions in a circle around the piece of paper, "too sad. not the eyes of a killer, if you ask me."
eyes flicker from their phone, brows furrowing a bit. " scary and spooky makes me think of xenomorph or the freak from 'it'. if you were ghost face, i'll be devastated i didn't get to reenact the ... " the hand grasping their phone and the free one rise to their cheeks, voice pitched a bit. " NO, don't kill me mr. ghostface! i wanna be in the sequel ... " laughs almost instantly at themselves, batting the air in savannah's direction with his phone. maybe that's a bit too on the nose, crude and basic with the small town gossip stereotype. oh well, not like it didn't go through everyone elses mind. its easier to talk about this than their fucking embarrassment. wound buried beneath its mountain of salt. sugar poured into on top. a little salty, a little sweet. no, it's something bitter— " i'm yammering. lay it on me. maybe i'll spout some ideas for you next year. long as a meteor doesn't hit, add some extraterrestrial spooky shit to this creek. "
Savannah needed some time to kill before the band's set and thankfully, her initiating the conversation wasn't totally shut off. She wasn't always good at starting them, liquid courage helping her open up a bit more though.
"Yeah, I heard about it all. Small town, gossip tends to spread like wildfire," she spoke. Not trying to pour any salts in potential wounds by bringing up the events of Halloween, she tries her best at pivoting the topic a bit. "No, I wasn't really going as basic this year," she joked with Damon. "You're too cold on the guess. Think something more scary and spooky. Do I strike you as the princess type?"
immediately damon pauses, bottle almost comically suspended just inches from their mouth. leave it to kingsley to say something absolutely, positively outlandish enough to get them to pause. it has them pondering for a moment ; taking in each word piece by piece like tic-tacs. it's clear on their face they're thinking about it — the thought process is broken by a laugh. " man. colloquially. you know what, kingsley, you're alright, buuuuuuuut lets backtrack real quick. " they're taking a swig of the beer before they spin it in a circle in his directly. " how many people you drop that on, huh? giving a little ... motive drop just to see if they'd twitch? or you just spouting some shit? " it's interesting. enough so that, maybe, if damon was too lost in his cups he might be thinking: oh fuck, is it me? " i like it. it's juicy. maybe the register will get a kick outta it. "
" it'd be crazy if you were the one making everyone disappear and be murdered . " kingsley says aloud , mainly to himself , but too blase to really notice it may not be everyone's favourite topic. " like . . . you know what i'm saying ? either you're an idiot who's bad at killing and snatching people , by drawing attention to yourself . or you're a GENIUS , cause who'd suspect you now ? " kingsley shakes his head in amusement . he looks to damon and gives a small shrug . " never any trouble to me , my man who's gender non-conformity i whole-heartedly respect , and when i say ' man ' i mean it colloquially , not that i actually see you as such , per se . "
dependent blog for @ redcreekfm . the ink on the paper is running ...
𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗗 — thirty3. journalist @ the register. willa fitzgerald. 𝗗𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗘𝗟 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘 — thirty. tattoo artist @ devil's ink. samuel larsen. 𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗟 𝗗'𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗟𝗢 — fifty. co-owner of redstone bar. laz alonso. 𝗠𝗔𝗞 𝗞𝗜𝗦𝗞𝗢𝗩𝗔 — twenty6. nurse @ red creek hospital. harris dickinson.
( laz alonso . cis male . he/him ) . ⸻ abel d'angelo , a fifty year old , has survived another day in red creek where they have lived for thirty-four years . the catalyst is known for being passionate and argumentative and is often associated with old leather jackets stained with years of wear and grime ; an old motorcycle's association stitched into the back ; despite its age it looks well loved and never free from heavy shoulders / large hearts doesn't always mean soft ; something that beats so strongly has to have grit to it, it has to be able to bear burdens and that's exactly what you're known for / looking behind you is never going to get you anywhere, the only place to go is forward ; keep your eyes forward or lose them to the blinding lights of the past. . in a small town where they work as co-owner of redstone bar word travels fast . it’s hard to keep a secret , and it looks like the boogeyman knows that [ LOUD SCREECH OF TIRES ]
full name: abel joseph d'angelo. nickname(s): angel, abe. age: fifty. zodiac sun sign: taurus. birth date: may 2nd. gender & orientation: cis man, he + him & demisexual. place of birth: detroit, michigan. occupation: co-owner of redstone bar, rider with the steel wings motorcycle gang club. familial ties: spouse of 28 years ( wc tba ), two children ( wcs tba ), younger sibling ( wc tba ). height: 6'0".
CHARACTER INSPOS : jax teller ( sons of anarchy ), luke cage ( marvel ), corvo attano ( dishonored ), herc hansen ( pacific rim ).
FAST FACTS ⸻
was born in detriot, michigan, but due to abel's uncle needing to retire from ownership of the redstone bar, the family moved into red creek when abel was 16 years old. it was a relatively easy adjustment for abel, since they found themselves drawn to adventuring. as a teen abel was a bit rowdy, getting into trouble for all of the right reasons. apart of wrestling in his high school years really made him the wrong kid to let you see shoving someone into a locker or determining someone as "lesser".
often hung around redstone prior to being 18, working under the table and helping his dad with random tasks. overall, they were pretty friendly growing up in a social setting. during his time working for his father and living in red creek, eventually he briefly dated choi dasom for a total of 2 months before breaking it off. it wasn't long after their breakup that dasom went missing, making abel and his new relationship with his current spouse a bit of a rumor factory. it eventually died out once he asserted himself as uninvolved, but the thought still may remain in old red creek's residents minds. it didn't help he was a known close friend of casimir's, the charismatic musician later murdered. abel seemed to take this extremely personal and almost shut himself off from getting that close to anyone else for the entirety of the string of disappearances and murders.
an active community member who tries his damndest to be involved despite his reclusive behavior. like his father before him, he's a man of community. such is why redstone is open place to be with comedy nights still upheld, the live band, and frequent pitstops for motorcycle gangs.
sometime in the last 10 years, abel's interest in motorcycles lead him to becoming a tertiary member of a motorcyclist group called the steel wings. occasionally he will ride with them and be gone for a span of 2 months, hence his decision to acquire a co-owner for redstone bar which became zakaria singh. nonetheless, there are times he can't stand to be within the walls he once stood beside long gone friends. however, there are times you'll catch him bartending and chatting in order to keep his face and stay involved with his patrons. he likes to know what is going on and remain his own bouncer in times where shit gets too messy.
a family man above all else. despite disagreements and roadbumps with his fast marriage to [TBA], all roads lead back to family. when it comes to decisions, there is always a thought about his spouse and children present. despite everything he is a warmhearted man and this extends to those who stick around him or become regulars.
hobbies include: mechanic tinkering, boxing, morning jogs, motorcycling, life-long standup comedy enjoyer.
FOR : open ! LOCATION : bench, not far from red creek hospital.
the emergency room was always something of a toss-up. either there's whining children or elders, or a catastrophic case. one or the other, never the middle. most ruckus of the day has been a check - in for a broken leg potential ; skin angry with the pressure of a bruise. nothing out of the ordinary. though, if mak can remember, they'd had a few intakes surrounding the ... anxiety surrounding red creek. red creek. dead creek. whining elders like they'd thought — distraught and heart racing high enough to turn over a horse. well, maybe not a horse, but close enough. they've mostly detached themselves from the news, the rambling of the town, but of course its brought to their fucking doorstep. like everything in their life. tossed in, locked and keyed. learn to live with it, maksym! grin and bear it! they want out of this fucking graveyard. it's moments like this in their lonesome it weighs on their chest ; anvil, stack of bricks. a concrete object instead of a desire. the same sort of weight is what keeps them here, too.
they aren't necessarily aware when someone sits next to them. in fact, at first they don't acknowledge them at all. when they do, it's out of their peripherals and then entirely all at once. " what, looking for company or just couldn't walk ten steps down? " a grating tone to their voice ; unnecessary, but if they'd wanted a little party they'd have trekked it down to redstone. the cafe. a heavy sigh escapes. " couldn't even offer a hello either, huh? "
" well, it was a fight that's what ... " damon shouldn't be a smartass right now, but they'll blame the adrenaline crash. hands, clammy and head rightfully throbbing from a bottle crack. yeah, they're not exactly their best self. a thumb lifts to swipe at their nose ring. at least it wasn't ripped out, that would be a real pain. " well. guy shoved me. had some real force into it— mix in some good ol' jack daniels ... and bada bing you got yourself a fight. "
there's a pause with their eyes glancing down at the med kit. " look, vanessa, already put another on shitshow on halloween ... really don't think i need that. " gestures to the first aide. " probably should just suck it up and go home. " they feel a slight drip of blood down their forehead. pauses. " on second thought ... yeah. yeah, maybe. " they move from the doorframe to leave against a wall, hunching down to make it a bit easier. " i'm sorry, really. swear i ain't ... you know, like that. haven't caused shit on your shift in a minute. we cool? "
❝ ⸻ WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ? ❞ vanessa's day off and out of all nights and situation , a fight breaks out . Everyone knew she had a no fighting policy in the bad .... AT LEAST WHEN SHE WAS WORKING . not only did a fight breaking out looked bad for business , killed the vibes of the bar , and such , but she simply wanted everyone to leave the bar on a feel good note . with the first aid kit in her hand , vanessa motioned for him to follow and sit , away from everyone .
❝ how did the fight even started ? ❞ one minute she heard chatter about the body found and small laughs here and there , and the next thing she heard was a glass breaking before she broke up the fight and threatened to kick both asses . Something everyone knows she could do . ❝ Let me help you ❞
the direct and casual tone catches her off guard. even has her voicing it atypically : " oh. " it's amusing, really. the nonchalance. the ability to voice opinion, one based in earnest or not, without batting an eye. a stray thought comes to mind: kieran should make a podcast or try putting his opinions to paper. might be a damn hit. " should i thank be thanking you for that? i mean, really, this isn't some sort of indie horror flick. but, hell, you're making me curious who you are suspicious of. that's just the writer in me though. " effie's earnest at least, but she is wondering what's on his mind, who. it might even be useful to jot down— consider it for herself. yet, out of good manners, she doesn't press.
eyes flicker down to the unlit cigarette leaning close. the unspoken request met with her own lean. cigarette between her lips she lights it with the butt of her own. obverses him over it quietly. a creature of habit she is. ends it with a long drag and a collection of her bag while she stands. " thank you. i'm not really ... scared, but i don't think i want to cram myself into the bar like everyone else is. that'd really be what wigs me out. not enough room to breathe. " she adjusts her purse against her shoulder, slowly walking in the direction her apartment rests. eyes cast upwards a considerable distance. effie's never felt small before, but it's hard to ignore just how looming kieran was. that's a frame she'd never want to see in a dark hallway — a horror flick — only his shadow visible. " i have to ask though ... were you headed home or trying to snoop? no judgement. i'm no better sometimes. "
… oncoming headache was absolutely a cautionary tale against night outs, did not mean to get so senselessly wasted, especially when he only really attended that stupid halloween party for one single-minded purpose. and well, that turned out to be an utter fucking failure. but there wasn't anything quite as sobering as the news of yet another tragedy, the cogs and gears of his mind slowly beginning to turn again despite the lingering effects of alcohol and god knows what else he might have taken. “ safe as life. ” which was just another way of saying not at all, blown pupils thoroughly watching the smoke billowing from her mouth as if it was the most entertaining thing in the world. but it was a needed distraction nonetheless, something to fixate on while he attempted to get his shit together. but maybe he needed a far stronger stimulation, harshly pinching the bridge of his nose ⸻ and a groan slipped past his lips, nothing like some good ol' pain to jolt someone fucking wide awake. “ you're lucky i don't suspect you, ” said with typical nonchalance, taking out a marlboro of his own from a silver case. “ i can keep you company till you think it's safe. ” he had read way too much data and while she checked the white working class boxes of most female midwestern serial killers, a journalist like her was more likely to be the vulture circling the bodies, rather than the vicious wolf itself. he could be wrong, it wouldn't be the first time, but blame it on the alcohol, because kieran felt safe enough to lean in, tilting his head to meet her eyes, the unlit cigarette hanging from his lips as he silently asked if she'd light it off hers. maybe she wasn't the killer, but it still felt like flirting with danger : effie floyd just had that look, like she could eat you alive.
a certain restlessness has taken root in damon's bones. insurmountable energy that just couldn't be placed. maybe it was because their hands were empty ( except for their take-out piece of toast ) and the day unfulfilling in every possible way. what the average citizen of redcreek doesn't expect out of damon was how money driven they were. likely, they'd pick up just about any job. taxi service, weekender at the diner, the bar, the warehouse ... anything to add weight to his pockets. well, maybe they do. they're everywhere. also nowhere. a hard little mouse to keep track of, but a mouse after cheese nonetheless.
they're chewing with a spacy eyes, looking towards the bustling customers headed towards the car or down the street. recalls some of the faces: tyler, from the gas station. dwayne, a mid shifter getting off work from the diner, priscilla or miss. priss from the tenth fucking grade. faces and faces they'd seen from their lifelong stay in the creek. what pulls them back down to earth is the loud, recognizable voice of none other than tobias northcott. a pause of their chewing, a squint of their eyes. " what, think i'm not suitable for the public, northcott? " northcott in return for short - streak.
" think your temperature is running a bit too high there. it's fucking nipply. " they return to their piece of toast, tongue chasing the grape jelly from the side of their mouth. tobias, a goddamn blunder of a newcomer. well, not really new anymore, but maybe they will be again. also everywhere and nowhere. must be why they keep rubbing shoulders. if damon were a different person, maybe like kieran, they'd be questioning what tobias got up to in the dead oof night. thumb to mouth, releases it with an obnoxious little ' pop! ' the silence is dragged on to be just as obnoxious, dramatic. " i got a better question for you. the hell you tryin' to trip into? good standings with the waitresses? "
closed starter: @c0nnectdots — damon del valle . located @ dolly's diner & in the surrounding circumference .
arriving in town for the quintessential american breakfast means that his taste buds are open. he adapts. he blends. ( actually, this just means that dolly's is the easiest place to go after an all - nighter. ) but who pulls that kind of thing? no circles under his eyes, no bedhead, no lackadaisical jacket — surely not him. ( it's him. ) tobias, hands stuffed in the pockets of his canary - yellow letterman, blisters about as obnoxious as an off - key warbler as he coaxes his way across the diner parking lot. hey, hey, how's it going? felix, right? because he remembers those brazen enough to knock their heads getting to his dj booth on a busy, whirring night. he remembers them, all the way down to the cut of their jaw — and the distinct upturned curl of their hair — and the way ink ribbons follow their shoulders —
fuck, what the fuck is damon doing here? disguised: he releases felix's shoulders and aims both guns, they're both made of fingers, in damon's direction. “no way!” smile already curling around the greeting. “well, well. fancy seeing you here, short - streak. what kinda meet - cute bullshit are we tripping our way into?” his steps were quick before; they quicken further. golden retriever bounding, wolf in sheep's clothing grinning, it's all the same after the eleventh hour. "least you deserve, after all this not - so - radical heat burning the shit outta your neck."
" clearly those melodramatic fucking monologues still get your attention. " words are accompanied by a laugh. sure, they'd noticed the guitarist doing what he does best up on the bar's stage. strumming like there's something to lose in the strings vibrations. hard not to, given history. given damon's insistence on knowing who he was in the room with. the expression on his face shows he doesn't mind finch's appearance, but the scrunch of his nose shows he minds their tab. the snagged bottle didn't even receive that much attention. " and you're still getting me to pay for your drinks. shit just don't change. " and it never seems to. if one day the sky dusted in technicolor, letting off sparks ... maybe they'd view red creek in a different light. the corner of their mouth twitches in a smirk towards the roaming gaze— their own sharp gaze fliting towards a covered hipbone. acknowledgement. a ' F ' and a ' D '. always some sort of reminder they both were here. " well, finny, ain't that the question? what haven't i fucking done? " two fingers tap against the wood of the bar. they mimic the rhythm strummed on the bass just moments ago ; the thing that countered the slight tension in the atmosphere. maybe that was just damon's, though. anxiety they'd briefly exposed with that dramatic fucking monologue. they'll stick to biting their tongue again. damon doesn't offer a toast, but their newly opened bottle clinks against finch's with a satisfying noise. they take a moment to continue, swallowing down a long drink. just for those melodramatics finch loved to point out.
" got into a fight right where we're sitting and you'll never guess when ... fucking murder night. halloween homicide. " tattooed hand with the bottle lifts to slice a finger across their own neck, " talk about bad timing, but looks like i've skeeved my way past the consequences of my actions. " their body leans just slightly closer. it isn't enough to breach personal space, but enough to prove attention is zeroed in on the younger man. beer released and rested on a coaster in favor of leaning against their own arms. " what kinda shit you been into lately, huh? "
* ❪ 🦇 ❫ ﹕ 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 in a job well done as he worms his way through the crowd, guitar strapped against his back in an embellished shield for the A/C that threatens to dry him up like an orange peel. metal strings are splattered with the blood that seeps through the bandages pasted erratically on each slim, boney digit. ❛ what the fuck are you even chatting about ? ❜ he interjects, icy hues glancing over at the older man. a familiar face that usually serves to spark an irritable flame, but the stench of violent forthcomings demands attention from someone who relishes it, letting the conversation further rather than die out. ❛ still haven't let go of those melodramatic fucking monologues. ❜ their temper included. it's what had kept the two tethered to one another. that and, other things. finch's gaze roams their physique, seeking out the assumably faded ' F ' initial that marks his territory. ❛ what'd you do, d ? ❜ straight canines bare a lazy smile, snatching the bottle and downing it in one parched swig before tapping it against the island. ❛ two more rox, put it on their tab. ❜