West

The western part of the city is often home to the poorer residents. Here there is a grunginess that permeates the town from the graffiti on the once cleaned brick buildings to the broken and unmaintained architecture. Crime runs high within the western half of town, making it the home of supernatural gangs of illicit activities. Such activities are rarely reported, however, and most residents are distrustful of individual's of authorities, and often let the powerful supernatural beings sort things out amongst themselves. Be careful wandering the Western streets after the sun falls.

What You'll Find Here

Black Market
Cull & Pistol
Noah's Ark
Syn

Black Market

Just like any city - Sacrosanct is not without it's deep, dark underbelly. Hidden in the graffiti-ridden streets of the West, behind closed warehouse doors, lies the Black Market. Forever moving, it's nearly impossible to find without knowing someone who knows someone. Anything you desire can be brought for a hefty price within the Black Market - be it drugs, weapons, or lives.

What You'll Find Here

Edge of the Circle

Cull & Pistol

Hidden within the dark alleyways of the Western Ward, Cull & Pistol is a dim, often smoky bar. With a small variety of bottled and craft beers, Cull & Pistol is a quaint little neighborhood joint. With its no-frills moto, the dingy bar offers little more than liquor, music from an old jukebox, and a few frequently occupied pool tables.

Bartender Raylin Chike

Noah's Ark

Resting upon the harbor, Noah's Ark (known simply as The Ark) is a sleek superyacht known both for its fight rings and recent...renovations, of sorts. Accessible from an entrance hidden in the shadows, The Ark is a veritable Were-playground that specializes in fighting tournaments for all creatures great and small. With both singles and doubles tournaments to compete in, the title of Ark Champion is hotly contested amongst the Were population. If anything illegal is going on in the city it's sure to be happening within the back rooms or behind the ring-side bar. Note: This is a Were only establishment. All other species will be swiftly escorted out.
Home of: Nightshade

Owner Aiden Tetradore

Co-owner Tobias Cain
Bar Manager Mira Ramos
Bartender Henry Tudor
Waitress Carolina Bedford

Syn

Within the turbulent industrial district lies this club. The warehouse doesn't look like much on the outside but it provides a memorable experience from the state of the art lighting, offbeat Victorian-inspired artwork, comfortable black leather lounges, and the infamous 'black light' room. There is a wide variety of alcohol that lines the shelves of both of the magical and ordinary variety. It is a common stomping ground for the supernatural who want to let loose and dance the night away to the music that floods the establishment. Humans are most welcome if they dare.

Owner Risque Voth

Manager Darcy Blackjack
Cats Aiden Tetradore
Cats Harlequin Westward

But all the nights are getting darker;


Posted on February 16, 2022 by HARLEY WESTWARD
West

stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns


Tobias roared as much a human could, with a thunderous fury that was directed toward none other than her. He looked almost maniacal as he bared his vampire-like fangs that made him look far more beast than man. His fists clenched tightly like he was prepared to use them. She had half a mind to yell right back at him, but she was too shocked by his surprising outburst. It was like he could at any moment lash out and maul her which was certainly not what she came for tonight. At least there was no guessing with Tobias, when he was pissed he was pissed. No middle ground. There was no wondering where you stood with the partial-shifted male who wore his emotions for all to see. Her own anger would do little but make things worse. It was doomed. At least at that very moment. She'd turned to leave and yet didn't quite make it too far before she heard the muddle, seemingly, nonsensical mutterings that blended in like droning backdrop to her ears. But he did not come for her. She slid her hands into her pockets as she faced another way, considering those far more limiting choices that were becoming her only options. Maybe this was a mistake and yet when was she ever one to simply roll over? It was the sound of feet colliding softly to the ground that alerted her to Tobias' movement a little too late. The man, if you could call him that brushed by with purpose, his anger forgotten to the cool wind. Huh?

The raven-haired woman could not help but turn slowly upon heel, to eye the man who crouched by the poolside, utterly engrossed by something she could not see. The usually entirely confident spitfire was not prepared for him to whip his attention toward her in a flash of a moment asking her what it was. A moment not entirely lost. An opportunity. Although she wasn't sure if it was one that she wanted anymore. Regardless, the woman disregarded it and drew to him, calmly eyeing the tile he was so focused on, tapping a talon against. The answer was simple and how quickly Tobias seemed to latch on to the word. He stammered over it and chanted it, tapping at the tile with intense focus. How... strange to be focused on. He looked crazed maybe, touched by madness. But really, who the fuck wasn't these days? Only the male-leopard certainly took an interesting stance.

That sudden question was the prompt that she needed and who was she to shy away from anyone? His question was still startling. She had been called many things in her life. But somehow being considered one of 'them' was by far the worst. How vehemently she answered his question, with a resounding fuck no. That wild grin that almost looked like it truly fit a lunatic at an asylum. But hey, despite its disturbing appearance and the way it contorted his features to look almost manic, she would not judge him by his smile, especially it was better than being snarled at and potentially attacked. Especially when she had an opportunity and she was no longer enemy number one. The raven-haired woman was admittedly unsure what answer she would truly get... and yet this was honestly the first real conversation with someone from that pack.... If you could call it a conversation.

Maybe she was just as crazy because she drew even closer to the man who had only minutes ago seemed ready to maul her with the fury of his inner feline. Tobias didn't seem like the kind of guy to throw and punch and let up either. Lowering herself to rest upon her backs of her feet, she half expected some kind of protest. It was a risk and yet everything was. Those words found her without her usual brand of sarcasm that he seemed unable to appreciate. It was a damn pity because that was her language she spoke so fluently. Harley, with her silver-peaked tongue was reduced to cutting to the chase, which suited her just fine. At least she would soon have her answer, even if it wasn't the one to question. His needled focus seemed to leave the tile, that dark endless, unsettling gaze seemed to meet her own. For once, she wasn't sure how he would respond. For all she knew, he would retaliate like he had before at some unseen slight on her part. It wouldn't surprise her if he all but knocked her into that pool. But she had to know. She could not resist asking. How did he do it? How did he escape?

Instead... a moment passed like he was trying to determine her words, determine an answer, like a computer stuck on a load screen. That same disjointed answer was simple... and yet not enough to go on. Didn't escape. He claimed. What was that supposed to mean? Of course, he escaped. Was that all he was going to give her? For several, long moments he seemed content to eye her with an incomparable intensity. Confusion.. perhaps, was one of the many warring emotions written upon her face. There was a clear... language barrier here. He did not understand her brand of sarcasm or what she was asking (or so she thought)... and she couldn't understand him. There was a clear disconnect even though he had been nothing but honest. Honest in his interests... which hardly considered her. And honest in what he felt no matter how strongly it was. But he seemed sense that this was not exactly the answer she was looking for. Hell, it felt like yet another fucking dead end in this endless, hopeless labyrinth she felt like she had passed the same damn walls.. over and over again. There had to be something. Maybe Tobias had no answers. Perhaps it was a childish thing to somehow tug at the tiniest fibre of hope. Maybe the reality was... there was none. Fuck that was bleak. Yet, she flat out refused to imagine that this was it. Perhaps, her resolve finally serving some good here.

Tobias swiftly drew to his feet, in an abrupt act that made her wonder if she had somehow enraged him with her rare contemplative silence. She was used to most people being taller than her and yet it was maybe a little unnerving with this volatile being before her. His body cast a shadow over her as he suddenly turned to leave. Or so she thought. In an instant his tail and cat ears disappeared just like she assumed he would. This time, she wasn't sure she would do anything to stop him.

It was time to face the facts.

She hardly expected for those words to follow with a gesture of his hand. Come? Maybe that wasn't the wisest thing to do. Well, she was here... what did it hurt. His temper seemed to be tamed and maybe it gave her a better looksie of that fancy boat. She didn't have to like Tetradore to give him credit for his expensive taste or his ability to make money. Harley drew to her feet, hands wiping at her pants. Her usual vivacity for life returned, her chin lifted in that usual defiant state and her back straightened to appear taller than she was. Because for as little as she was, she possessed more might than most men over six feet tall. "Alright, I'll go." Follow the curious wild man into that ship. Yeah... that didn't seem like a bad idea whatsoever. Yet fucks were something she didn't really have any more of, it would seem.

The tall-were led them down the seemingly endless corridors to... one door at the end of it. She remembered the layout of the other Ark.... That room wouldn't be... the alpha's. Would it? Why the hell would Tobias bring them here of all places. Fuck that. She didn't sign up for that. The last being she wanted to see was Tetradore.

Tobias told her to wait and be quiet. Did he intend to rat her out? Alright. She wasn't pissed at his random outburst before. But Tobias would know her anger if he threw her under the bus.

"Tobias. If you wanted me to leave, you could have just said it.. you don't need to involve him..." It was impressive to both yell at a furious whisper. However, it did nothing to stop the male leopard. She was quite sure nothing would. Any other words fell short as he opened the door into the darkened room... although it was light enough to see that it was obviously Tetradore's room. Alarm bloomed from her chest and spread like wildfire. She had half a mind to get the hell out of here.. there was time before the alpha even noticed she was there. However.... Tobias moved silently.. carefully as if purposefully trying not to wake him. Harley could not help but watch long enough to see what the clear madman was doing and yet allowed her gaze to swiftly scan that room. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest in silent protest of this absolutely ludicrous idea. This is what she got for following men. It almost always got her killed.

Harley leaned against the door way, watching Tobias regardless of the temptation to leave. One wrong move and that alpha was awake. One move and she would be gone. This was insane. What the fuck was she doing here? This is exactly what she wanted to avoid. Hell she almost turned on the spot but it was what Tobias was doing that made her pause. He seemed to arrange the blankets in a way that was as tender display. She did not think the leopard could ever be so gentle. But there he was. There was obvious care in all he did as he draped that fallen blanket over his alpha with the tenderness of a parent. He seemed to eye the sleeping man for a moment longer, as if checking for something.. watching out for him in a striking tenderness Harley never had known. She swore that wildness in his eye had flashed to something far more tender as he turned to prowl back and join her. The woman who wanted to be anywhere but there had been reduced to being unable to look away. There was far more to Tobias than met the eye. More than she originally thought.

Once more he drew to her side, Harley needed no prompt to leave that room but her mind was whirling and yet unable to deduce a thing. Begrudgingly, she followed Tobias down the lengthy corridor toward the commotion of where the fights were held. It was almost a relief to hear something so loud. The shouting, the spectacle was grounding. However, the pair did not cut through the crowd like she thought they would. No, Tobi led them up to this platform with a perfect view of everything below. It left the leopard and her alone, mostly.. even though the action below rumbled with life. Those fights were a spectacle to see. It would have been all too fun to watch them, especially from up here that was clearly the spot of the alpha. Away from the rest of that pack, the perfect place to survey. Tobias leaned against that railing looking all too comfortable, like this was one of his favourite places to be. One that she suspected she would not be welcomed in.

His words drew her attention from the crowd below and back to the lanky, dark-haired man. At least that she could understand. The leopard taking a new approach it would seem, in an effort to communicate. Like Risky he said as he pointed boldly to a group that huddled around that table. One with a clear leader at the head of the table. A pack. Even she could deduce that much. There was no questioning that authority. Harley noddled, her lips parted, daring speak. To at least agree. Only that power stole the very breath from her lungs. It came in hard and fast. What the fuck. She never felt anything like it. Nor would she forget it. It whipped through the room below, relentless and true, there was no hope to escape it and yet, the pair seemed untouched by it. That power moved invisibly, touching and seizing groups of weres in an instant. But it wasn't long before all hell broke loose and that was putting it lightly. "Shit." She cursed.. Fights erupted everywhere. What was once complete order and clear social hierarchy... an event was obliterated in an instant. Her dark brows rose in surprise. It took a moment to understand what was happening. Oh this.. was interesting. She reached out for the railing before her, finger tightening against the banister, leaning into it like there was some kind of pull to the chaos.

The beings below were in a wild frenzy! Intoxicated by that power she seemed to be spared from. There was far too much to see and she watched it all unfold. That power... that strong and heady power belonged to Tobias. That much was clear. That was when another blast drew from him. It near stole the breath from her lungs a second time even if her sanity seemed well intact.

Madness bred without mercy below. Harley could not help but grin at the disorder that she was spared from.

Tobias' voice came in strong and yet still remained broken and disjointed. Yet, they made perfect sense in her mind. That display more than clarifying his message. That smart madman was right. It was genius in its madness. It made perfect sense. A maniacal grin grew upon his mouth, staring at her, his face seemingly frozen in this twisted deranged delight. It was unnerving and yet she possessed no fear. If anything she couldn't help that amusement.

"You like that chaos, huh?" She stated the obvious, trying to look beyond that demented look and yet... he had done all of this to explain. It was impressive, that even despite the barrier of understand, he had done his best to get her to understand. "You are everything she is not. Tobias.. you might actually be a fucking genius." She didn't care that she grinned at him, eyeing that crowd again only to laugh at the spectacle below, imaging this at Syn.. "You probably drove her insane!" It was then that she could see the flaw in Tobias' design that became his strength.

She could not ignore the animalistic, primal sounds she had heard. Not a single person below had control of themselves... at least those that were on the floor. Some beings even began to rip off their clothes and holler like a banshee unbidden. There were more screams.. more chaos. Some fought with each other... some.... Woah there... that looked a lot like... oh yes. That was definitely not fighting. One man began dancing frantically to the music in his head. It gave a whole new meaning to dance like no one was watching. She laughed, truly, unable to help it.

It was hard to keep that laughter at bay. She should not find this funny. But she did. She enjoyed it way too much. All those people that thought they had all their shit together. She drew her hand to her lips like she was clearing her throat. Trying to tame her own mischievous gleam.

"I wish I could see everyone in Syn with this. I bet they almost took out themselves.. That's awesome Tobs." There was no hiding that awe. Yet... there was another side to that. If Risque could weaponize Tobias.... The whole city would have been fucked. It was a good thing he was exactly as he was designed. The perfect weapon, but also one that could not be wielded. Tobias couldn't be another loaded weapon for her to aim and shoot at the world. No wonder why it enraged her so much. No wonder why... they never spoke his name. He was everything she could not control. He was the opposite of it.

It was almost a pity it had to stop. Tobias had made his point and let it all fade away into utter awkward silence and baffled glances... No one suspected the man above. It was almost like there was no trace of his affinity at all and no trail of bread crumbs to give him away. Tobias maniacal grin faded away too. Wondering if that chaos affected him too. Only he was used to it.. because he was. It shouldn't have made sense, but it did. At least to her. She almost asked him to do it again... When met with a mere shrug, she wondered if he would go for it and yet doubted it.

His next words.. probably hit her harder than she would ever allow. Tobi said no to Syn. Maybe it was because she had let her armor slip. Maybe because she actually let her guard down for one moment. But she didn't care. She suspected Tobias was not her enemy. Although, it drew a clear resolve within her, sharp and focused. One that peered out of her unique, vivacious purple eyes that spoke of the resiliency that she possessed. Tobias found his way. She would too.. Or die trying. "I'm going to make Syn say no too." Those words held an strength tied to her very spirit. The way she spoke it was like a promise to the fates or a dare, she hardly knew. Although she doubted anyone was truly listening.

For a few moments she relished in that strange, newfound companionship. "Have you ever used this on Tetradore." She questioned with a bit of deviousness she could not hide. He seemed so controlled and yet... how disastrous that could be for a being like Tetradore to be unhinged.

They seemed close. That much she could tell. But it didn't add up to the man that she knew. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to hear another person's perspective.

After a while she gave into her curiousity. "Is he... Less words were better, maybe. He had tried to adapt for her. She could do the same. "like Risque?" Well that was one way to ask.

Harley Westward

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