Tally Dor

Welcome to Havenwood

The streetlights were flickering on as a high-pitched noise broke the stillness of the darkening night. Michael was hunched over using a drill to screw down a board. He was in process of replacing the stairs leading up to his front door. The old steps were splintering and rotten. It was a project that had been on his list for a while and had suddenly moved up to a priority as he had broken through one of them the previous day and taken a tumble. Thankfully it was the bottom step, and he hadn't broken anything.

One might wonder why Michael was doing this at this hour, but when one does not get off work till its dark sometimes projects must be done at inopportune times. He was silently cursing under his breath. Havenwood woods lumber store sucked to put it mildly. Even though he only needed roughly twelve pieces for what he had in mind it had been a fight to get anything good.

"Not one fucking straight board out of forty damn pieces."

Luckily, he had been able to find some wood that was barely warped and with the drill and some screws was able to get it to lie mostly flat. As he finished the last step, he wiped his brow and sat down on the porch. A sigh escaped his lips as a cool breeze drifted across him. It was currently twilight. The darkness was chasing away the lingering orange light with gusto. Despite the calm look on his face his mind raced as he doubted himself. Wondering if there were any ways he could have done the porch better.

As his inner voice battled himself, it was all interrupted as the screen door cracked open allowing a delicious smell to waft out. A wrinkly face peered out with a joyful smile. Her voice was soft and full of affection.

"Michael dear, it looks like you did a wonderful job with the steps."

He grinned as her reassuring voice chased away his doubts. He raised himself up from the steps and turned towards her taking the door from her following her into the house. "Thank you ma. It had to be done. I can't have any of us getting hurt." Joyce nodded her head as she ladled some chili into a bowl and handed it to Michael. He took it with a smile and sat down at the dining room table and waited for her.

The smile on his face faltering as the weight he had been too busy to notice reintroduced itself in this quiet moment. Though most certainly it did not help that he could vaguely see something large and black sitting on his shoulders in the reflection of the wall mirror that was in the dark living room. Michael sighed and turned his focus away from it towards his grandmother's warm smile.

"I ain't got much money right now because of the lumber I had to buy but I'm getting paid tomorrow and hopefully I can do something about the dip in the floor in the bathroom."

Joyce just knowingly smiled, and the duo enjoyed their chili in silence. Tomorrow would bring its own headaches and Havenwood would no doubt have new shades of rot for them to deal with but now was for the living.

The Neighborhood Watch

I figured but did not want to assume ^_^

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Once Elmyra posts I think I'll post!

Out of curiosity Theyra who do you sort of recognize?

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“Oh you poor dear.” It was the first thing Morgan had ever heard from Grace as she extended her weathered hand towards him. He stood staring at the aged woman and gave her a weak smile. Normally he would have been offended at this outstretched hand.

Weakness.

It was a feeling he hated and yet he felt compelled to grab her hand and she led him to the nearest seat speaking to him about the weather and minor things like he was a grandson. Completely ignoring his limp and before he could even order she was gone.

Morgan looked around the Grotto taking note of a handful of familiar faces from school as well as a few of the townsfolk. The seat was hard but in a good way that supported his lower back. As he felt himself slightly relaxing it was like she reappeared out of nowhere with a mug in her hand.

“Here is a special drink honey.”

Morgan took a small sip of it. It was heavenly. It was sweet, warm, and milky. He had expected coffee but whatever this was it great. Within seconds he could feel a great soothing feeling running down his spine making his eyes widen in shock.

“I made yours of stronger stuff.”

His eyes locked onto her wrinkled face as her piercing, yet kind eyes looked over his face. He felt at a loss of words as his eyes quickly glanced down to see the glass was already empty. When had he downed the rest of it?

“Thank you ma'am” He spoke weakly still confused as Grace refilled his drink.

The red headed young man would be a liar if he said he did not miss Grace. Somehow despite having multiple customers she somehow made time to talk to everyone and she remembered everything. She felt like grandmother to him.

Morgan shook the pill bottle as his eyes scanned it. It had been weeks since he had taken one. The idea to sell them had briefly crossed his mind as high grade painkillers were worth money in the right hands, but he tossed it aside. Choosing to keep them as a reminder. Whatever ingredients were in Graces drinks were nothing short of a miracle. He had chosen to continue walking with a limp even if he had noticed Grace laughing at him faking it, but she seemed to understand and never said anything.

It made his mind travel to the strange experience he had about a week ago. He had been home and had locked himself in his room ignoring the banging on the door of his old man. He was drunk again and angry. Throwing out obscenities and blaming Morgan for his own failures. Eventually the noise had gone away and after a few hours Morgan left the room to go out to the dark living room to find his father passed out in his recliner reeking of booze. A frown crossed his face when all of a sudden, the air around him grew heavy and extremely humid.

It felt like Morgan's legs were threatening to give out under the strange pressure like a giant hand was attempting to crush him. Strange whispers began to assault his ears and when he felt he could stand it no longer a sudden light source chased away the darkness.The pressure and presence had lessened but came back with overwhelming force almost like it was trying to kill him but the light that had started at his hands quickly engulfed him and whatever it was fled.

The light was so pure. So comforting, it had felt like he was floating away. Even after the danger had left he didn't want to leave. Something was calling him. He could feel his consciousness slipping. His eyes had begun to see nothingness despite being wide open. It was only a sudden loud snore that had caused his glazed blue eyes to focus on the slumped figure in front of him and by extension see a family picture of his mother and father holding him.

“I.... Morgan.....I....am.....Morgan.....I am Morgan Watkins.”

No longer feeling himself floating away but now anchored the light slowly receded leaving a collapsed and sobbing Morgan. The euphoria of the light had been so intense all of his worries, pain, and existence had faded in that brief time but he knew he couldn't leave yet.

“Mr. Morgan.”

The young man jerked with a start leaving his thoughts as he looked up seeing the familiar face of the librarian looking down at him.

“Ms. Winters”

Morgan huffed out gathering his thoughts.

“People are beginning to assemble for that flyer you have been eyeballing.”

Her tone sounded slightly judgemental but her expression looked netrual. Morgan nodded as he slowly stood up and began to limp towards Study room C leaving his little office. He could already see two people here. He was hoping for some answers as he limped across the threshold and flashed his best brightest smile.

“Gentlemen!”

The Neighborhood Watch

Its not necessary! I will get my post out!

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My introduction post is done I am just waiting. Though I do really wanna post it haha!

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Mines bright like Morgan’s disposition

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Not gunna lie the first post has me quite hyped. I had wondered if there should be a bit of a flashback to Grace and you did sort of in yours so I think I’ll do something similar.

Though Morgan probably won’t have to travel much. I haven’t decided yet but he might have been working in the library on this day. Lol

A New Day; Cozy Fantasy Village Life

Chanticleer Malloy

~ Springwood Forest ~

Chanticleer took in a deep breath and sighed with great joy. The air was so much cleaner here, the grass was so much greener. Everything literally reeked of life and a slower pace, and he was all for it. Rubbing his large belly and humming a nonsense tune as he looked around. The bright blue portal he had just walked through that he had found while exploring a mountain was nowhere in sight. This suited him just fine, who wanted to be climbing a smelly sulfur smelling volcano when faced with this? He ran his thick meaty hand through his red hair as he tried to remember why he even had been on that god-forsaken hunk of rock and his brain had nothing useful to report.

Looking around him he did not see any obvious pathways, so he took to the old tried and true method.

"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe..."

With each word that left his mouth his finger pointed in a different direction and after doing this a few times he finally decided on a direction. As he slowly started walking, he reached into his knapsack and took out a piece of hardtack and raised it to his mouth before catching himself. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Chanticleer was not about to break another tooth. Placing the hardtack in the palm of his hand with some effort he crushed it and began to place little pieces into his mouth to let them soften as he passed tree after tree. Sometimes even having to push his way through bushes and briars.

After walking for quite some time and even dodging stuff moving about in the underbrush something was starting to appear in the distance. Using his hand to block the sun he strained his eyes to see better. It was indeed a town of sorts, but it looked ramshackled and destitute at best.

"Excellent!"

Grinned Chanticleer as he puffed out his chest and increased his stride. After a few feet he stopped himself and pondered a moment. Last time he went marching out into the middle of an abandoned town, it had turned out to be a haven for a den of goblins. Chanticleer had barely escaped with his life that day. No, this would require some tact and wit for the best-case scenario. So naturally he got to the highest point he could find without actually being in the town and began to yell.

"HELLO?!?! IF THERE ARE ANY GOBLINS, I BRING LOINCLOTHES TO SELL!"

Nailed it thought Chanticleer. Goblins could not resist new loincloths. Once he saw how many goblins were in this village he'd know if he should run or try to fight.

The Neighborhood Watch

U.S. East here. I usually post in the evening though I can be here on my phone anytime of the day but I only post if I’m at the computer