happiness is a warm puppy [open to all]

[doublethepain]

He's definitely come down with something.

It's hardly cause for panic, really, just a bit of congestion; some coughing that he thinks he's done a fair job of keeping under wraps; maybe a slightly sore throat, a few pressure headaches here and there, a case of the chills; but he's fine, Spencer is sure of it. He's fine because he's got a ring on his finger and a puppy at the end of his leash, so there's nothing at all in his life that he can complain about right now.

John had most generously given him half a day off--"a wedding gift from me to you" is how his boss had put it--so Spencer had stopped back at home to get Huxley before heading in some direction or another, he hadn't really had a plan. It's not very surprising that his feet seem to take him in the direction of Crossroads, as they so often do, but a part of him hopes that he'll run into some people he knows on the way there. He has news, after all, and he's not one to call up all his friends--not that it would take long, he muses--to share even the most exciting parts of his life, but he does want people to know.

He's happy, happier than he's ever been and not just since his mother and Dane had died. He has so much to be thankful for, so much to come to look forward to, and he can't remember the last time he'd felt so optimistic about his future. He smiles to himself as he watches Huxley sniff at the grass on the sidewalk before the puppy scrambles to meet a pair of feet that's headed their way, jumping up on his hind legs to paw at the stranger. Spencer's smile doesn't fade as he lifts his head to look at the other person; in fact, it only grows wider.

"You're in for it now," he says, a teasing edge to his tone. "Huxley seems to grow attached to people far too quickly for his own good."




[OOC: Spencer's a little under the weather right now because I am, too but he's in an excellent mood so it would be a great time to say hello, whether your character has already met him or not :) Find him walking his and Joel's new puppy Huxley or catch him wherever is convenient for your character to be. As long as that place allows dogs.]

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[doublethepain]

Spencer breaks into a genuine grin and that, trying not to seem too eager in his agreement when he nods. "I've always been very fond of dusty records myself," he says, "but that might be due to the fact that I've worked in the library for... god, over a decade." The library has always been one of the places Spencer has felt safest, in spite of occasional bullies who would always just get bored by Spencer's lack of retaliation or response. He thinks he's probably more spent time at work than he has at home in the past couple years, which is just as well considering the fact that being at home only meant being alone.

He waves off the apology before bringing the hand up to run through his hair, humming more to himself than anything else when Wren comments on the legend. The legend is historical truth, after all, at least as far as the majority of Siren Cove's inhabitants are concerned, and while it's always nice to meet someone new because it means they don't have an opinion of Spencer that may have been skewed by awful gossip and dirty journalism, it also means that Spencer has to be more careful about the way he talks about the town.

He's become very much accustomed to finding out that the friends he had or the acquaintances he makes are sirens or witches over the past few months. He's married a witch, after all, and now that Joel's abilities aren't so much a well-kept secret anymore, Spencer is a little more at ease discussing the subject as a whole. Wren, though, doesn't seem to be aware of the bona fide existence of curses or magic, so Spencer just offers a shrug.

"It's an interesting place," he says vaguely. "I've lived here since I was six and that... legend has always been something that's circulated. You're right, though, the Coombs and the Thorntons are still Siren Cove's biggest names. And each other's biggest rivals. It's all a bit of a mess, to be honest, but if you ever have any questions about the town, I'd be happy to try and answer them for you."

[fairywren]

Wren grins back. "Well you'll know where to point me, then," he says. "I'm always interested in finding out new things." Though his music often keeps him busy, Wren is pretty insatiably curious and, whether it's fiction or a new topic, he's easily sucked into obsessions that can relegate the rest of the world to the background.

He nods. "Interesting definitely fits with the family anecdotes passed down to my mother. I think that's part of what drew me here, to be honest - it's a place that still has magic to it, I guess." He smiles a little. He's sure that's annoying to hear, a little touristy, but there's still a part of him that's a little kid, sitting wide-eyed in bed listening to his mother tell him about how his ancestors could shapeshift and charm with their voices before singing him off to sleep with dreams of the ocean. Still a part of him that wants to find something more than coincidence in a flock of crows or a cat somewhere they shouldn't be. He doesn't believe in much of a god, at least not one that ever gave a shit, but he hasn't quite given up on the supernatural, not if he's honest.

"Anything you can tell me about Siren Cove will be more than I know now, anyway, and I'd be happy to hear about it."

[doublethepain]

Huxley whines at his feet and walks a few feet forward, pulling at the leash, and Spencer sighs before glancing at Wren and nodding in the direction the dog's urging him to go. "Care to follow a new acquintance and his dog?" he asks with a wry smile. "I'm not sure how insightful I'll be with this little one giving me so much trouble, but I'll do my best."

He falls into a steady pace, pausing every so often for Huxley to inspect the next patch of grass or the base of another tree.

"You know, this town's a bit funny. When I was younger, I always thought something was a bit strange about it, something I couldn't quite wrap my head around, but even as I got older, that feeling didn't go away." He shrugs because he honestly doesn't know what that means, still has no clue whether he's just slightly more in tune with the magic of the town--though now that he knows for sure that witches and sirens exist, he sees the evidence everywhere, and he can't believe he'd been so blind to it all this time.

"A few months ago, something stranger happened. A big part of the town was destroyed, the library was nearly reduced to rubble, if it wasn't for--" For Joel, he almost says. It had been the first time he'd ever met Joel, the day the Hydra had come barreling through the town, and he can't believe that had only been in May. "Well, I got lucky, is the point. What the cause was depends on who you ask. Some insist that it was an earthquake, others..." He trails off because he's never had this conversation before, hasn't ever spoken to anyone who isn't already on the same page or more knowledgable regarding the supernatural element to this town.

He bites down on his lip, suddenly unsure of himself, and lets out a nervous laugh. "Others say differently. It's a quiet town, most of the time, but if you're planning to get comfortable, you should probably know that it's likely stranger than anywhere else you've ever been."

[fairywren]

Wren nods with a smile; he doesn't have any plans and he's enjoying the conversation, but even if he had an objection it'd be overruled as Inari happily bounces after Huxley, dashes past him and waits for them all to catch up.

He falls into step beside Spencer, hands in his pockets, and falls quiet, watching him as he listens.

The story of the town being nearly destroyed, that causes an eyebrow raise. It certainly seems to be recovering impressively, but the anecdote itself -- that he got lucky, and the small hesitation about what the cause could be -- that's a story. Wren isn't easily unsettled; it stirs curiosity in him, more than anything. He wants to know the secrets of this place.

"I'm glad it didn't go worse," he says genuinely, and mulls that over. "I appreciate the warning. I've never exactly been one for settling quietly; even if I tried I doubt I could." he adds with a small smile. "The strange and surreal has always drawn me in."