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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 11, 2008 22:42:30 GMT -5
The failing light of day filtered golden through the trees, speckling the leaf-littered ground with mosaic patterns. Far from prying eyes, Gabriel was soaking in the last rays of the sun, phased into his wolf form. He was stretched out on a picnic table beside a carefully folded pile of clothes. His fur was jet black like his hair, the sun making rainbows in its inky blackness like an oil spill or raven's feathers. Although he looked like he was relaxing, his ears were twitching continually and his eyes were alert. Gabe never dropped his guard.
He had been on the roam all day, restless and bored. Tonight he would probably go out and party, fill the hours with false friends and shallow happiness. Shifting his weight, he stretched one long limb out before him and rested his head on it. Things were not as they should be. He had been wasting away his days for so long now. There was nothing in his life to fight for, nothing attainable anyway.
Gabe hadn't seen Vanessa for a long time, now. Last time they'd run into each other, he had come on a little strong. As usual. She had gotten upset, and the meeting had ended up in a bit of a shouting match. He had felt badly about it, but he didn't go looking for her to apologize. It would only have made her more upset. The only time they really did see each other was when it was accidental. She didn't like seeing him, and he couldn't hold back from being a little childish around her.
A sudden noise caught his attention, breaking his chain of thought. His head lifted to follow the flight of a bird in the sky. It had broken cover, surprised by something, and his ears flicked quickly in the direction the bird had come from. There was something moving through the woods in his general direction, fast and agile. He flared his nostrils, but the wind was blowing the other direction. Standing on all fours, he braced himself on the picnic table, ready to meet whatever was coming.
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Post by Vanessa Aldaine on Nov 11, 2008 23:11:53 GMT -5
For a long while, Vanessa lay in the fading light. The shimmering rays that the sun was barely emitting made her white pelt shine. Shadows criss-crossed her body as the white fur shifted to and fro in the breeze. Her mind wandered, never settling on one thing for very long. Her agitated state was unsettling, for she'd been so calm for so long. She felt like a druggie who'd used up the last of whatever drug she was using and had come off her high, seeking more but not finding any. With a sigh, she stood and paced in a circle. Her large paws shifted the leaves and for a moment she played eagerly with the leaves, kicking them up before pouncing on them. She nipped at them, relishing her playful attitude. A gentle breeze caressed her and had her chasing after it, giving over her senses to just the pure joy that had finally found a place within her. Only two nights ago, she'd learned how to surf and she'd met Opal... and Damion...
Slowly, she relaxed into a light step. She tossed her muzzle now and then, sniffing the breeze but finding nothing to be wary of. Her long, thick tail swung to and fro with her stroll. At the same moment a bird was sent fluttering wildly into the air by her sudden appearance, the strong scent of a male wolf hit her with sudden force. Vanessa froze. Her glass-blue eyes shone with startled uncertainty and uncomfortableness. She took a deep, calming breath - which did little to calm her - and continued walking forward. She knew that scent. Gabe. Her heart panged painfully in her chest as she thought of him. They'd had a brief fling, but she'd ended it when it looked like he was going to try and make it serious. She'd fled after a blow-up between them, and hadn't seen him since. She dreaded seeing him now, but knew it had to happen sooner or later. She loped forward, hoping to get it over with quick - like how you should rip a band aid off quickly instead of letting it slowly drag at you.
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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 11, 2008 23:30:09 GMT -5
The wind gusted from the direction the creature was approaching at the same moment that she came into view. Snow white, wild, and beautiful. Her scent as familiar to him as his own. His hackles raised automatically in his surprise, muscles tensing as he narrowed his eyes. What the hell was she doing here? She padded out confidently into the clearing, and didn't seem surprised to see him. His scent had alerted her to his presence, but she hadn't run in the opposite direction. That was a good sign, right? He relaxed a little, cocking his head at her, the question of her deciding not to avoid him clear in his eyes.
With an easy, rolling motion he lept from the table and padded towards her, head down, ears lowered in a friendly manner. Circling her, tail wagging hesitantly, he whined out a hello. He couldn't speak in this form, but his happiness at seeing her was obvious. His mind could be opened to her so that they could speak that way, as he had once been a temporary ally of her pack, but he didn't like allowing others access to his mind. He didn't like others seeing how insecure he really was.
When it was evident that she was not going to immediately take off, he trotted to the table, grabbed up his clothes in his jaws, and fled into the trees. After he had phased and dressed, he ran a hand through his hair. He was nervous, and didn't know what to say to her or why she was not running far away from him. "Maybe she doesn't hate me," he thought with a thin hope. Stepping out into the clearing once more, buttoning up his black dress shirt, he rose his eyebrows at her. "Hello, beautiful." He winced. "Sorry. Hello, Vanessa." Gabe tended to be very flirtatious, and he had to remind himself to cut it back around her. "What are you...How you been?"
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Post by Vanessa Aldaine on Nov 11, 2008 23:48:22 GMT -5
Vanessa watched mutely as Gabe leapt off of the picnic table and came towards her. She dug her claws into the ground to keep from taking off. She owed him this much. Her ears lifted as he whined a hello, but she remained silent, her face an empty mask, her mind blank in case he tried to listen to her thoughts. His obvious happiness at seeing her astounded the young she-wolf. She sat back on her haunches, eyes warily watching him, waiting for him to leap at her or do something normal. But, then, they weren't normal. She cursed mentally as he padded over to his clothes and disappeared behind a tree. She could hear the brush of material on skin and narrowed her eyes. She remained sitting as he came back into view, sliding into a black shirt and beginning to button it up. In silence, the white wolf listened to his words. She had to give him credit for changing 'beautiful' to 'Vanessa.' And then of course he had to ask a question that would necesitate an answer.
With a short bark of annoyance, she turned and loped quickly back through the woods, shifting just as she reached her clothes. Her hands flew as she buttoned her turquoise-blue shirt - leaving two of the top ones undone in her haste, revealing her lime green bra. Her cami was left unnoticed under the leaves. She grabbed her jeans and slid into them, buttoning them as she began running back to Gabe. She moved quietly into the clearing, her long blonde hair looking as if she'd just finished rolling in the leaves. However, the slightly disheveled look, along with her pink cheeks, suited her as she sat on the table part of the picnic area, ignoring the bench. She stared at Gabe for a moment with startlingly dark blue eyes before raising a brow and speaking in her sweet voice. "I've been just peachy. You?"
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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 12, 2008 0:03:47 GMT -5
Her lack of reaction to his advances did not bother him. She could be unresponsive, and he didn't really blame her. She had made it quite clear that she was disinterested in him, and he just couldn't seem to leave things alone. He did, however, feel badly that he had annoyed her when she ran to get changed. As he waited for her, he shoved his hands into his pockets and paced the clearing. His heart was thudding a little faster than normal in his nervousness, but as she came back out, he kept his face carefully composed. It was rare for him to show how nervous she made him, and he was very good at keeping on his usual confident air.
However, a flash of color caught his eye and his cheeks colored slightly as he noticed what the green was. Determinedly keeping his eyes on her face, he watched her go sit on the picnic table. He had always thought she looked prettier after phasing or when she was annoyed or distracted. She seemed reluctant to talk to him, which wasn't really a surprise, but she was still being civil. He was at least grateful for that. Straddling the bench at the opposite end of the table, so she wouldn't feel crowded, he shrugged. A big smile was offered to her, and he began the lying he was so good at. "Perfect. Things have been going pretty great." He paused, then let a little honesty slip through. "It's good to see you. I'm sorry about...you know. The last time I saw you. I didn't mean to make you upset."
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Post by Vanessa Aldaine on Nov 12, 2008 0:15:40 GMT -5
Vanessa saw his cheeks redden just after a flick of his gaze and glanced down. Ah, hell. She sighed but made no move to button the buttons. Her eyes followed him as he came to sit at the opposite end of the table, on the bench. Again, guilt flooded her. He was obviously trying to tone it down and make her comfortable, and here she was - giving him barely an answer to a perfectly normal question. She rested her chin on her palm and stared silently into the forest, listening to his falsly cheerful words. At his apology, she froze. Her long blonde tresses fell forward to hide her face for a moment before she turned to him, eyes gentler than before. Her lips were curved up a bit in an attempt at a smile, and her body was more or less relaxed as she spoke.
"You know, you've always been a terrible liar. Well..." She looked away for a moment. "Not terrible. Just... not the best." She flicked her gaze back to him. "Or at least not to me. Why are you lying?" She ignored his apology, choosing to disregard what happened rather than face it and possibly have another confrontation arise. She kept her gaze on him, even as her mind wandered. Damnit. What was with her today? Her eyes focused again, losing their far-away look as she tried to focus on just him.
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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 12, 2008 0:36:02 GMT -5
One of his hands strayed to the tabletop, prying up a splinter of wood distractedly. She was displaying all of the obvious body language that she didn't want to be here, staring into the trees. However, after he spoke, he seemed to have struck a chord. She visibly relaxed, and she turned to look at him. He softened a little as she smiled. It was not a full smile, but he would take what he could get. At least she was trying. She really didn't have to, but he greatly appreciated it.
"Why are you lying?"
On the one hand, he was flattered that she knew him well enough to recognize his lying, but it also put him in a tight spot. He stroked his beard, sighing. "I'm only lying to keep us from arguing. To spare you the details of my pathetic life." His voice was amused, his eyes flicking to watch her as he gave her a genuine smile. There. He hadn't lied, but he hadn't given her the reasoning behind it. There was no reason to go into how his life was the same as it had been before her. No friends, no contacts, no plans. She didn't seem to be focusing on him, but as he watched, her eyes cleared. He didn't mention it, and decided not to let it bother him.
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Post by Vanessa Aldaine on Nov 12, 2008 0:52:29 GMT -5
Vanessa watched him silently. A small crease formed between his brows when she asked why he was lying. She nearly laughed at how funny it was to her. She idly stretched, her bare feet touching the ground as she lifted her arms up and back, making a sliver of her tan skin visible between the raised hem of her shirt on the start of her low-riding jeans. She slid down onto the bench, tilting her head back, eyes closed, tresses spilling across the table behind her. I'm only lying to keep us from arguing. To spare you the details of my pathetic life. She let his words seep in, mulling them over, taking them apart. All of this happened in mere moments. She took a deep breath before sitting up and turning towards him, lifting one long leg up onto the bench to tuck beneath her as she gazed at him, head tilted slightly to the left. She lifted a slender hand to her neck, graceful fingers gently probing it before she realized she'd left her necklace at home.
She bit her lip before she spoke. "Gabriel, I... She dropped her gaze and tried again. "Why do you do that? 'My pathetic life.' When her eyes met his again, there was a mixture of sadness and anger in their depths. If it's so pathetic, do something about it. She opened her mouth to say more but turned away, her hair making a curtain between them once again. "I'm one to talk. It's the pot calling the kettle black. Just... don't lie to me." She glanced swiftly up at him. "Please." She stared at her hands, surprised at the slight tremor in her voice. Damn it all to hell. "And you don't have to be worried about a fight. I can hold me tongue now."
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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 12, 2008 1:12:11 GMT -5
He couldn't help but watch her as she stretched and came down to his level on the bench, her hair flowing out behind her. Inwardly cursing, he tried to turn his attention elsewhere. His gaze turned to the sky, watching as it darkened. It was like she was teasing him, but it wasn't her fault she was beautiful. Then she sat up and turned to him, and his smile slipped away as she spoke.
"If it's so pathetic, do something about it."
He crossed his arms, shrugging. He hadn't expected such a response to his joking attitude. "'Nessa..." His voice trailed off; he didn't know what to say. He'd called her 'Nessa occasionally for as long as he'd known her. "My life is the same as its always been, with the one exception. There's no other way for me." Their time together, short as it was, was the exception. He couldn't live his life any other way, didn't know how to trust people. They would leave him, everyone would, if he let them get close enough. She wouldn't understand, because he could not articulate that. The shake in her voice caught him off guard, and he studied her face carefully. "Sure thing. No more lies. And, thanks," he said softly, referring to her holding her temper. "I'll try to hold my tongue, too." It had, after all, been his flirtation that had started the problem.
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Post by Vanessa Aldaine on Nov 12, 2008 1:22:48 GMT -5
Vanessa started at his casual use of her old nickname. She turned wide eyes on him but said nothing. She sat silently, feeling the warmth pulsing from him, as she stared into the shadows. No lies. Good. She hated it when people lied to her, for she could usually tell in their eyes if they were lying or not. But then she backtracked, mind whirring wildly.
My life is the same as its always been, with the one exception. My life is the same as its always been, with the one exception. My life is the same as its always been, with the one exception. Over and over, the words kept repeating themselves, with the one exception ringing louder with each coherent thought. What exception? She licked her lips as she turned to him, eyes wary. She wouldn't invade his privacy, but it was clear in her eyes that she was wondering.
She drummed her long fingers on her knee as she thought. Her eyes roamed over his face, the familiar light beard, the more-or-less open eyes. She opened her mouth once, twice, three times - and felt like a fish out of water. Finally, she breathed, "What are you doing tonight, Gabriel?" Her voice tremored once again as she asked.
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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 12, 2008 1:38:36 GMT -5
His use of her nickname had surprised her, he could tell, but she didn't seem to mind it. His lips turned up slightly at the corners at that little triumph. She seemed willing enough to talk to him and be close to him this way, and although he would always want more, he could be content with this for the time being.
He glanced over at her and noticed her tongue slide over her lips, obviously deep in though. Cocking his head, he furrowed his brow. There was only one thing he had said that she could be questioning. "...one exception." He clasped his hands in his lap, looking out at the trees. "You, silly." He said, another smile tugging at his lips. He would have thought it would be obvious; he had made clear his feelings for her.
Feeling self-conscious as she looked him over, he pretended to focus on the trees still. He sensed she was working herself up to say something, but when she finally spoke it was not what he expected. His breath caught in his throat and he cleared it with a slight cough, his blood running hot in his veins. "No plans," He said casually, though he felt like his heart was thumping through his chest. "Why's that?" He really shouldn't be getting his hopes up. She was probably just making conversation.
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Post by Vanessa Aldaine on Nov 12, 2008 1:50:33 GMT -5
Vanessa's breath caught in her throat. Her chest hurt with sudden force and she could barely contain a gasp and had to hold her hand down to keep from clutching at where the throbbing sensation was. She turned away from him, again hiding her face as she fought back sudden tears. With a voice that was far from even, though she fought it, she said, "I'm not silly, you goofball." V ran a hand through her locks, pausing at the crown of her head as she pushed back the tears. With a shuddering breath, she turned to him and looked close to composed. The idea that she was the exception in his life was both flattering and completely discombobulating. She ran a hand up her arm, rubbing it gently as she regained composure and smiled with fake cheeriness at him.
"Well, it's almost dinner time, and I'm starving, so... if you wanted to go grab a bite to eat, we could?" Her voice wavered with uncertainty. He was being sweet and nice to her, so the least she could do was go with him to get some food from one of the restaurants. She tugged on her earlobe, an obvious sign of nervousness. Since she was young, she had always tugged on her ear when she was unsure. Her gaze flickered back to him. "We don't have to, though." Feeling like a complete moron, she stared at her hands.
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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 12, 2008 2:06:02 GMT -5
She turned away from him and he shifted his weight, having to hold himself back from going to comfort her. Obviously what he had said had upset her, but it was equally obvious that she didn't want him to know. So he remained seated, fingers digging into the wood of the bench as he tried to ignore the waves of emotion roiling from her. She tried to convince him that she was composed with her teasing words and the way she held her composure as she turned back. "Yeah, you are. A little." He smirked, holding up one hand to illustrate with his thumb and forefinger how much "a little" was. Her smile was definitely fake, and he frowned slightly. Now who's lying? he thought. She wasn't using her words to lie, but her lips. However, he didn't mention it. She was being open with him, and he didn't want to scare her away now by asking her to make the same promise he had.
A wave of heat rushed over him as she asked him to get some dinner with her. He struggled to remain casual, but it was extremely difficult. "That sounds great, 'Nessa," he said. It was his turn for his voice to shake. He had answered with no hesitation at all. He must be a masochist. He was only setting himself up for a letdown, but it'd be worth a night hanging out with her. She seemed nervous, which baffled him, but he wasn't going to badger her about it.
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Post by Vanessa Aldaine on Nov 12, 2008 2:22:42 GMT -5
Vanessa laughed softly, the light sound amused while being annoyed. "I don't know why I'm being so emotional. PMS, probably." She grinned, sliding her eyes sideways at him and raising her brows, wondering if it made him uncomfortable. When he said she was a little silly, and held up a hand to prove how much, she broke out in giggles. She bit her lip, holding a hand to her lips as if she could hold in the laughter that had bubbled up and broken free. She sobered immediately when she thought of how long it had been since she'd really let go. Even when she was surfing the other night, she hadn't just burst out laughing. She shook her and and slid her gaze to him, confused as to why he of all people was having this affect on her.
Dinner. Together. Crap. She hadn't actually thought through what she was asking. She had figured he wouldn't accept, or... or something. But there he went, saying 'sure, why not' and using her bloody nickname. She could almost feel her insides turn to mush. She glared at him for a moment, but her eyes were bright with amusement. She rose slowly and gracefully, standing on her bare feet in the leaves. She held a hand out to him, smiling hesitantly.
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Post by Gabriel Hartwick on Nov 12, 2008 2:39:10 GMT -5
She seemed to have guessed that he had noticed her emotion, and tried to pass it off as PMS. Of course, he couldn't be sure it wasn't, but for some reason he had a feeling that it wasn't. "Oh. Well, that sucks." he commented, with just the right amount of discomfort a man would normally have in talking about such matters. Her laughter brought a smile to his face. He hadn't heard her laugh like that in a while. Maybe she was coming around, starting to feel comfortable with him again. He had felt like she didn't like hanging around with him since their fling.
When she glared at him, he could see the amusement glinting in her eyes, and he smiled. She stood, and he hesitated for an instant when she held out her hand to him. However, it didn't take him long to give her his own hand. Her hand was familiar and his own hand fit perfectly over it. He stood up next to her. "Um..Where do you want to go?" He asked, one hand playing with the hem of his shirt nervously. This was surreal, and he had to keep looking at her to make sure it was really happening, and that they were getting along for once.
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