so why'd you have to rain on my parade?

       

I'm shaking my head. I'm locking the gates.

It had been awhile since Samantha Cassidy had set foot within the city limits of Sacrosanct. Despite her absence, it was not to say that she didn't keep the sprawling metropolis close within her heart. Samantha would never hesitate to consider New York City to be the home she'd known in her human life - and even the city she briefly returned to upon fleeing from Sacrosanct all those years ago. However, Sacrosanct was certainly a hometown of hers as well. It was the supernatural city in which she had fled to upon waking up immortal. It was in the city that she'd discovered how to use the power by which she had been gifted. Before coming to Sacrosanct, she'd been overwhelmed by the onslaught of those emotions that she so readily felt, even going as far as to hide from everyone in order to simply feel peace. But it was in Sacrosanct that she had found a family. Found people who cared about her and nurtured her and made her feel like she was more than the fae girl with the pointed ears and weird abilities. It was in Sacrosanct that she had found Aiden, as well.

It had been her own naive, trusting nature that had led her to the... situation that had led to her fleeing the city thinking that her boyfriend was dead. And it had been even more shocking to return to find him alive and well. She'd fled because it had hurt to lose him, but she had to admit that she'd been relieved to find him alive and well, even if he'd moved on from her and found happiness elsewhere. But they'd parted as friends, if nothing more, and Samantha would be the first to admit that those feelings - the feelings of your first real love - would never go away. She'd always care for him. It was for that reason that she'd promised upon their last meeting that she'd at least stay in touch - something she was proving to be not so fantastic at. She'd found a love in traveling as of late, and she'd discovered how to use her gifts to make the situation financially possible. Sure, the 'mediumship' sessions she'd done with the mundane humans were maybe not the most... ethical... of options. But it was easy to read their emotions and guide them to what they wanted to hear. And then they paid her generously for her efforts. It was too easy, really.

Regardless, it had been nearly a year since she'd been back in Sacrosanct, and she supposed that she should make good on the promises she made to not disappear off the face of the earth again. So she'd taken the train into the city with the intention of a visit - though perhaps she'd stick around for a bit. She'd grown bored with Southern California, Chicago, and New York City for now. As she'd walked along the train station and took note of the sheer number of supernaturals, she couldn't help but remember what she had liked so much about the city itself. Still, it wasn't the train station she was here for, so she made her way towards the western district of the city to see the very Were that she'd come to visit. It was this part of the city that she'd once called home. She knew these streets so well, and as she turned onto a street near the water, she fully expected to see the looming iron ship that housed Aiden's were pack.

Except, there was no ship on the water today, and for a moment Samantha doubled back to check that she was where she thought she was. But no, she'd been to the Ark more times than she could count, and the reality was that it simply was not where it was supposed to be. And it certainly wasn't the kind of ship you simply moved. For a moment, she couldn't fathom what to do. Aiden had always been consistent at the boat - and if he wasn't there at the moment, it was always a matter of time before he was. Without that, she wasn't sure how to track him down in the city. However, in the moments that she contemplated, the outline of a man down on the docks caught her eye. She recognized those curls, even if from a distance. For a moment, Samantha found herself observing from a distance, watching as bags were loaded into the back of the shiny black car. She had no idea how much longer he'd be there - and honestly, curiosity got the better of her in wondering what exactly it was that he was doing. She propelled herself forward, stopping when she was maybe ten feet from the man.

"Hey stranger," Samantha called out as she waited to catch his eye. She smiled brightly when his gaze fell on her, using that moment to move forward once more and embrace him in an easy half-hug. She stepped back once more, her eyes falling to the duffle bag and the glimmer of gold that caught the light. "What kind of shady shit are you up to this time, Aiden?"

this is why we can't have nice things

       

Samantha Cassidy