“It might have been nice to be in the middle, sometimes I feel like a barley know my sisters there is so long between us.”
Reign didn’t think there was anything at all odd in what he’d said, in fact around here didn’t even mean out of the country to her. It just meant he wasn’t a local, and neither was she. For all she knew the people up state thought five kids was normal.
“So where are you from then that large families aren’t that odd. I’ve traveled a bit and they seem to be less and less common no matter where you go.”
Long walk...
How in the world had it gotten to be so late. Reign looked up bleary eyed from her mountains of notes and noted that it was nearly midnight. Well hell nearly a whole day shot and what had she accomplished, precious little. Irritably slamming the book shut and throwing her pen across the room Sirius looked up at her from his near by spot on the floor, his head cocked in question.
"Yeah I know immature and pointless but you deal with this mess."Â?
The dog's gaze was steady almost asking Reign to continue.
She only sighed at him and stood, stretching and cracking her back slightly.
"Ok you win, you've been good."Â?
Knowing what that meant the big Shepard was immediately on his feet and waiting expectantly at the front door. Snapping the leash to his collar they both headed out finding their way to the C John Apollo Park and Nature Preserve.
Pop would have approved of they guys name, Reign mused but other than that it meant nothing to her. She noticed a baseball stadium and thought there might be hope for this place yet, a minor league team was better than no team at all.
However, Reign headed down for the beach. She liked being near the water, it always calmed her. Sirius, however, kept tugging at his leash, obviously wanting to run.
"Sorry boy-o. Leash laws and I didn't bring a Frisbee anyway."Â?
Reign
18 years ago
William
18 years ago
Will smiled around the oyster in his mouth. He finished the tiny morsel. He was really enjoying Reigns company, and hoped there might be more to this than one evening of dinner. He'd really like to get to know this woman. He'd be sure to give her his card before leaving. He didn't use telephones, if he could help it, but he would make an exception for this lovely creature.
"I'm from the Netherlands. A very rural area, my Pa was a farmer, I started work very young as an apprentice to a master carpenter, it was so different from the work I grew up around that I came to love it dearly. It also gave me the opportunity to receive an education. I fear I would be a poor farmer dead by forty-five had I not been sent away."
Will realized he was rambling and he's said much more than he'd planed. He stilled his tongue by putting food on it.
"I'm from the Netherlands. A very rural area, my Pa was a farmer, I started work very young as an apprentice to a master carpenter, it was so different from the work I grew up around that I came to love it dearly. It also gave me the opportunity to receive an education. I fear I would be a poor farmer dead by forty-five had I not been sent away."
Will realized he was rambling and he's said much more than he'd planed. He stilled his tongue by putting food on it.
Reign
18 years ago
Wow very rural apparently. Reign couldn’t conceive of not getting an education, it was perfectly natural right up there with breathing. The apprenticeship didn’t seem as odd, electricians, plumbers and the like still served them.
“No child labor laws in the Netherlands then?”
She asked with a slight tease in her voice as she reached for her final oyster. It was more likely that his version of very young was sixteen or eighteen, something like that.
Dead by forty-five seemed odd as well and she couldn’t quite explain that to herself, unless he was kidding.
“I had no idea farming was so dangerous. Is it the cows or the stress that causes you to keel over so young?”
“No child labor laws in the Netherlands then?”
She asked with a slight tease in her voice as she reached for her final oyster. It was more likely that his version of very young was sixteen or eighteen, something like that.
Dead by forty-five seemed odd as well and she couldn’t quite explain that to herself, unless he was kidding.
“I had no idea farming was so dangerous. Is it the cows or the stress that causes you to keel over so young?”
William
18 years ago
Will had to laugh. He did not have an abrasive sense of humor, but he appreciated it in others. Sarcasm did not sound right coming from his mouth, so he left his humor to the laughter side of things.
"I'm sure that there are, but when you live in the middle of no where they don't apply." He had no idea what a child labor law was, nor if Gelderland had one. He would assume that if everyone else had then, so did his home land.
He'd made another mistake. The life expectancy was much longer now than it had been in the sixteenth century, forty-five was old then. Well he could salvage that.
"Well, when a man works from sun up to sun down three hundred and sixty-five days a year, he tends to wear himself out much faster than a man who works for only eight hours five days a week for fifty weeks a year."
He offered Reign a smile, before putting his final oyster in his mouth. He was sad that their dinner had come to an end. He's like to sit here and talk to her for as long as she would sit with him. The waitress came and put a slip of paper on the table. With out thinking, Will pulled out his wallet and paired bills with the numbers at the bottom, including a tip. The tip thing was not new to him. People have been giving an extra bit of money for a job well done for as long as there has been money traded for goods.
"Would you care to walk along the beach for a while?"
Will glanced down at his watch. He still had three hours before dawn. That was plenty of time to walk with Reign a while longer and get home before the sun kissed his skin.
"I'm sure that there are, but when you live in the middle of no where they don't apply." He had no idea what a child labor law was, nor if Gelderland had one. He would assume that if everyone else had then, so did his home land.
He'd made another mistake. The life expectancy was much longer now than it had been in the sixteenth century, forty-five was old then. Well he could salvage that.
"Well, when a man works from sun up to sun down three hundred and sixty-five days a year, he tends to wear himself out much faster than a man who works for only eight hours five days a week for fifty weeks a year."
He offered Reign a smile, before putting his final oyster in his mouth. He was sad that their dinner had come to an end. He's like to sit here and talk to her for as long as she would sit with him. The waitress came and put a slip of paper on the table. With out thinking, Will pulled out his wallet and paired bills with the numbers at the bottom, including a tip. The tip thing was not new to him. People have been giving an extra bit of money for a job well done for as long as there has been money traded for goods.
"Would you care to walk along the beach for a while?"
Will glanced down at his watch. He still had three hours before dawn. That was plenty of time to walk with Reign a while longer and get home before the sun kissed his skin.
Reign
18 years ago
The middle of nowhere, Reign mentally shook herself. Summers in Wisconsin had been bad enough and they weren’t way out in the boonies. She had to admit to herself she was a city girl, being alone while surrounded by people was a rather comforting. Add to that the apparent nonstop work of a farmer and that sealed it, she could pass on the whole lot.
“There’s something soulless about working in a cubicle most of your waking hours but if it gets you past forty five I might just be willing to deal with it.”
Although she much preferred her solution.
She hadn’t anticipated him reaching for the check so fast and was rather uncomfortable. It was strange not to pay her own way, hold her own and so she took a long swallow finishing her drink to cover the awkwardness.
He had a nice smile, it seemed easy and sincere but not over kill or unnatural.
“I could still stand to stretch my legs.”
She smiled back at him, it was as encouraging as she was likely to be at least on a first meeting.
“There’s something soulless about working in a cubicle most of your waking hours but if it gets you past forty five I might just be willing to deal with it.”
Although she much preferred her solution.
She hadn’t anticipated him reaching for the check so fast and was rather uncomfortable. It was strange not to pay her own way, hold her own and so she took a long swallow finishing her drink to cover the awkwardness.
He had a nice smile, it seemed easy and sincere but not over kill or unnatural.
“I could still stand to stretch my legs.”
She smiled back at him, it was as encouraging as she was likely to be at least on a first meeting.
William
18 years ago
Will leaned over to check on the dog, and was amused to see him lying fast asleep at his mistress' feet. Chuckling, he stood and pushed his chair into the table. He'd moved to help Reign with her chair, but she was already standing. That put him off a step, but he recovered quickly enough by gesturing that she go before him.
The girl that seated them, wished them a good night and they were back out in the sand. Sirius barked a couple of times, announcing his freedom. Will laughed at the dog's antics. They started along the beach, back the way they'd come. It was closer to Will's home to go that direction. Not that it mattered, he was planning on running full out to get home anyway.
He was careful to maintain a comfortable distance from Reign so that she wouldn't feel crowded, but close enough that they could speak comfortably. However, he found he had nothing to say. He did not want to leave the silence long, or it would become uncomfortable, but he could not think of a single thing to say. Well, beyond, 'so have you read any good books lately?'
((permission given to move Reign))
The girl that seated them, wished them a good night and they were back out in the sand. Sirius barked a couple of times, announcing his freedom. Will laughed at the dog's antics. They started along the beach, back the way they'd come. It was closer to Will's home to go that direction. Not that it mattered, he was planning on running full out to get home anyway.
He was careful to maintain a comfortable distance from Reign so that she wouldn't feel crowded, but close enough that they could speak comfortably. However, he found he had nothing to say. He did not want to leave the silence long, or it would become uncomfortable, but he could not think of a single thing to say. Well, beyond, 'so have you read any good books lately?'
((permission given to move Reign))
Reign
18 years ago
She was never on to wait for a well mannered gentleman, she often plowed through situations that tact would accomplish much better. Still Reign was comfortable with how she handled things.
She rolled her eyes at the mutt as he played and was half tempted to turn him lose again, but refrained. It wasn’t that she thought Will would do anything unseemly or threatening, but it never hurt to have a large dog about to make sure.
It was hard, if not impossible, to not notice the silence and she was content to leave it for a while. There was nothing wrong with silence, it let you think and could communicate as well as words. Finally, though it got to her. Not in the manner one might normally expect, Reign burst out laughing.
“I’m not very good at first dates either. I’m never sure what’s appropriate conversation and every thing comes out wrong.”
She rolled her eyes at the mutt as he played and was half tempted to turn him lose again, but refrained. It wasn’t that she thought Will would do anything unseemly or threatening, but it never hurt to have a large dog about to make sure.
It was hard, if not impossible, to not notice the silence and she was content to leave it for a while. There was nothing wrong with silence, it let you think and could communicate as well as words. Finally, though it got to her. Not in the manner one might normally expect, Reign burst out laughing.
“I’m not very good at first dates either. I’m never sure what’s appropriate conversation and every thing comes out wrong.”
William
18 years ago
Will couldn't help but laugh. Reign had broken the tension that had begun to build in a most unexpected way, and his estimation of her grew.
"I seem to have that same trouble."
He continued to chuckle as he bent down and picked up a drift wood stick. The dog barked at him, which he expected, so he tossed the stick ocean ward. The funny mutt bounded after it.
"He's a good dog. Do you know what his mix is?"
It was as good a topic as any and he was oddly enough, interested.
"I seem to have that same trouble."
He continued to chuckle as he bent down and picked up a drift wood stick. The dog barked at him, which he expected, so he tossed the stick ocean ward. The funny mutt bounded after it.
"He's a good dog. Do you know what his mix is?"
It was as good a topic as any and he was oddly enough, interested.
Reign
18 years ago
Well she hadn’t offended him. That was a step in the right direction. More than once her directness had chassed off a would be price charming, not that she minded. That type of squeamish guy wasn’t worth the effort in her mind.
Reign was also pleased he seemed to like Sirius. Dogs were often good judges of character and she placed a certain amount of faith in her canine to weed out the bad sorts.
“Registered Shepard. He was a present, supposed to be a watch dog of sorts I guess.”
He actually was good for that, no one skulked around her place without Reign knowing about it. Even when she was on tour Sirius had often come, when the hotels would allow, and kept an ear open there.
“He’s good company most of all. Not very demanding short of being feed and walked and he gets me out of the house.”
Reign was also pleased he seemed to like Sirius. Dogs were often good judges of character and she placed a certain amount of faith in her canine to weed out the bad sorts.
“Registered Shepard. He was a present, supposed to be a watch dog of sorts I guess.”
He actually was good for that, no one skulked around her place without Reign knowing about it. Even when she was on tour Sirius had often come, when the hotels would allow, and kept an ear open there.
“He’s good company most of all. Not very demanding short of being feed and walked and he gets me out of the house.”
William
18 years ago
Will studied the dog, that was now soaked from diving into the waves. She had called him a mutt and so had assumed he was just that. He didn't seem to have offended her by calling him mixed. Not that Will could tell the difference between a mutt and a pure breed. He had never really cared one way or the other so had not spent much time reading dog books. Will grinned at her getting out of the house comment.
"Then I should perhaps get myself a dog, not much get's me out of the house these days. I am glad that this was not one of those days."
Will ducked his head and smiled a bit shyly at Reign, as that damned lock of hair swept down in front of his face again. He pushed it back into place and concentrated on not letting his cheeks color. He'd done really well about not being shy with this woman and he didn't want to start now, though sometimes he just could not helo his reactions.
"Then I should perhaps get myself a dog, not much get's me out of the house these days. I am glad that this was not one of those days."
Will ducked his head and smiled a bit shyly at Reign, as that damned lock of hair swept down in front of his face again. He pushed it back into place and concentrated on not letting his cheeks color. He'd done really well about not being shy with this woman and he didn't want to start now, though sometimes he just could not helo his reactions.
Reign
18 years ago
At one point in her life Reign would have blushed bright red at a comment like that. Maybe she was getting jaded or she simply didn’t care. No, that wasn’t it, she decided it was just more experienced. She was flattered and pleased by the comment and the company just not embarrassed.
They way his hair kept falling in his face made her smile. It was rather endearing. That and it reminded her of someone, she just couldn’t think who. It was a good memory but she couldn’t place it.
“Men with dogs are much more approachable. You just have to find something you like that isn’t one of the huge intimidating dogs but not one of the tiny sissy dogs.”
She whistled at Sirius and clipped his leash on again. Bad timing as he took right then to shake himself dry. Well she’d wanted to give him time to dry off before heading home, now they both needed it.
Reign cringed, this time she was embarrassed, and turned to Will.
“He didn’t get you did he? I didn’t think about the shake factor.”
They way his hair kept falling in his face made her smile. It was rather endearing. That and it reminded her of someone, she just couldn’t think who. It was a good memory but she couldn’t place it.
“Men with dogs are much more approachable. You just have to find something you like that isn’t one of the huge intimidating dogs but not one of the tiny sissy dogs.”
She whistled at Sirius and clipped his leash on again. Bad timing as he took right then to shake himself dry. Well she’d wanted to give him time to dry off before heading home, now they both needed it.
Reign cringed, this time she was embarrassed, and turned to Will.
“He didn’t get you did he? I didn’t think about the shake factor.”
William
18 years ago
The front of him was covered in wet dots. He had seen the dog tense and had hopped back a step, but did not miss all of the flung water.
"Not to worry, I won't melt."
He gave her a big 'see, I'm just fine' grin, and at the sight of her own soaked clothes, couldn't help but laugh. He had not meant to laugh but the absurdity of the situation got the better of him. However a little voice in the back of his mind began to worry for her. The night had turned a bit chilly, and he did not want her to catch one of those pesky human colds.
"Perhaps I could walk you home, instead of along the beach. You need to get out of those wet things, before you catch cold."
That had come out wrong, but he couldn't take it back now, and explaining would make it worse, he could only hope she didn't take it badly.
"Not to worry, I won't melt."
He gave her a big 'see, I'm just fine' grin, and at the sight of her own soaked clothes, couldn't help but laugh. He had not meant to laugh but the absurdity of the situation got the better of him. However a little voice in the back of his mind began to worry for her. The night had turned a bit chilly, and he did not want her to catch one of those pesky human colds.
"Perhaps I could walk you home, instead of along the beach. You need to get out of those wet things, before you catch cold."
That had come out wrong, but he couldn't take it back now, and explaining would make it worse, he could only hope she didn't take it badly.
Reign
18 years ago
Reign attempted to look crossly t Sirius but he was giving her his best dog grin and she failed and just shook her head. She did, however, giggle at the sight of Will being vaguely damp and her being mostly soaked.
Giving her dog a firm pat to reassure him she wasn’t at all angry she raised an eyebrow and tried to smother a smirk of sorts at Wills comment. It was probably perfectly innocent but so very easily misconstrued. She deliberately chose to take it the wrong way, but in good humor.
“A little sure of yourself for a first meeting aren’t you?”
She hoped he’d see the humor in it and play along. Although watching a guy try and explain himself was also fun.
Giving her dog a firm pat to reassure him she wasn’t at all angry she raised an eyebrow and tried to smother a smirk of sorts at Wills comment. It was probably perfectly innocent but so very easily misconstrued. She deliberately chose to take it the wrong way, but in good humor.
“A little sure of yourself for a first meeting aren’t you?”
She hoped he’d see the humor in it and play along. Although watching a guy try and explain himself was also fun.
William
18 years ago
Will turned bright red from forehead to collar and probably down to his toes. He had not meant it that way at all. He needed to explain, but words had decided to fail him at that moment. Instead he stared at her dumbfounded as his mouth worked, giving his best impression of a fish.
Realizing he probably looked as stupid as he felt, he closed his mouth, cleared his throat and pushed at the hair that had fallen into his eyes.
"I'm terribly sorry Reign. I had only meant that you needed to change your clothes."
Will finally met her eyes again and saw humor then and blushed again at his second mistake. He could probably say something now that would add to the humor or it would dig him deeper in the hole. Perhaps he'd just be better off with a wait and see attitude.
Realizing he probably looked as stupid as he felt, he closed his mouth, cleared his throat and pushed at the hair that had fallen into his eyes.
"I'm terribly sorry Reign. I had only meant that you needed to change your clothes."
Will finally met her eyes again and saw humor then and blushed again at his second mistake. He could probably say something now that would add to the humor or it would dig him deeper in the hole. Perhaps he'd just be better off with a wait and see attitude.
Reign
18 years ago
He blushed! That was unreal and something Reign had not and never would have expected. The guys she hung around with did not blush. It took a second but she decided it was cute and wound up giggling slightly at his embarrassment.
“I know. Really I do.”
It was odd not to get a friendly banter out of him, that really was what she had been expecting and prepared for. She didn’t know what to make of his serious take of her quip., not that either of them could be expected to know exactly how the other would react at this point.
“I’m probably a little punchy you know…”
“I know. Really I do.”
It was odd not to get a friendly banter out of him, that really was what she had been expecting and prepared for. She didn’t know what to make of his serious take of her quip., not that either of them could be expected to know exactly how the other would react at this point.
“I’m probably a little punchy you know…”
William
18 years ago
Will sighed, he'd messed up the entire mood. He really hated not being able to control his reactions some times. One would think after four and a half centuries of life would be long enough to correct that little flaw. He ran the palm of his hand over his hair, as a means to calm himself. It worked until his ring finger caught in the piece of leather holding his hair back. Frustrated, he jerked the finger and instead of pulling free he pulled the leather free of his hair. Blonde waves fell about his face is a fluffy halo, just another perfect addition to a quickly southern headed evening.
"Tell you what, let's start over, shall we?"
He shoved the leather into his pocket and held out his right hand to Reign. "Hello, my name is Will Timmerman, complete buffoon, lover of long walks on the beach and a man interested in getting you home so that you don't catch a cold. However, I must warn you that I do indeed have ulterior motives, but will not act on them unless invited to do so."
One side of his mouth quirked into a smile. His cheeks still burned, but he hoped that the color had faded from them.
"Tell you what, let's start over, shall we?"
He shoved the leather into his pocket and held out his right hand to Reign. "Hello, my name is Will Timmerman, complete buffoon, lover of long walks on the beach and a man interested in getting you home so that you don't catch a cold. However, I must warn you that I do indeed have ulterior motives, but will not act on them unless invited to do so."
One side of his mouth quirked into a smile. His cheeks still burned, but he hoped that the color had faded from them.
Reign
18 years ago
And yet again, her big mouth could send things off in a bad direction. It was a gift, pure talent and one Reign had never really shied away from. If folks got squeamish around her or misunderstood, they needed to ask for clarification, she was tired of trying to explain herself all the time. Although, oddly enough, she felt rather bad about it here.
Grinning as he started over she accepted the offered hand. She very nearly blushed, but years of hustling had taught her to control such reactions and only the tips of her ears turned red, and that was covered by her hair.
Reign certainly hadn’t been expecting that! She could count the men in her life, well romantically in her life, on one hand. She also knew full well most people would consider her ‘on the rebound’ but by the same token… after all she wasn’t dead, just divorced.
“Reign Sorensen, fine purveyor of awkward moments. A pleasure to meet you. Why don’t we start with a walk home?”
Was the place fit for company? Could she at least invite him in for a drink? God only knew what state she’d left things in, all Reign could remember what the dinning room was a mess.
Grinning as he started over she accepted the offered hand. She very nearly blushed, but years of hustling had taught her to control such reactions and only the tips of her ears turned red, and that was covered by her hair.
Reign certainly hadn’t been expecting that! She could count the men in her life, well romantically in her life, on one hand. She also knew full well most people would consider her ‘on the rebound’ but by the same token… after all she wasn’t dead, just divorced.
“Reign Sorensen, fine purveyor of awkward moments. A pleasure to meet you. Why don’t we start with a walk home?”
Was the place fit for company? Could she at least invite him in for a drink? God only knew what state she’d left things in, all Reign could remember what the dinning room was a mess.
William
18 years ago
Will's lips curled up into the easy smile that felt at home on his face. He liked this woman, after just one meeting, and wanted to spend a great deal more time with her. He was not certain if he was attracted to her physically, but he attracted to her mind and personality. He had never been much on socialization, and getting to know the humans around, but this one intrigued him. Then again he really had no idea if she was human or not, he suspected so, but with out some specific questions, he would remain in the dark. Perhaps that was best as he wasn't ready to be that pointed yet.
"It would be an honor to walk you home, Miss Sorensen." He made an exaggerated bow at the waist, straightened and offered her his arm.
"It would be an honor to walk you home, Miss Sorensen." He made an exaggerated bow at the waist, straightened and offered her his arm.
Reign
18 years ago
Bloody hell she’d lost her mind she was letting strange men escort her home. Although having a large dog did wonders for a gal’s confidence on that point. Strange that all of a sudden she was having doubts.
Reign snorted to herself. That was stupid, she was quite capable of taking care of herself. That said she smiled, managed an odd awkward facsimile of a curtsy and only hesitated slightly before taking his arm. She then turned and started them back towards her neighborhood.
“Are you all this polite and formal in the Netherlands or is this a special occasion?”
Reign snorted to herself. That was stupid, she was quite capable of taking care of herself. That said she smiled, managed an odd awkward facsimile of a curtsy and only hesitated slightly before taking his arm. She then turned and started them back towards her neighborhood.
“Are you all this polite and formal in the Netherlands or is this a special occasion?”
William
18 years ago
He noted her hesitation, and filed it away to go over later, as he wasn't sure if it was out of fear or uncertainty. He grinned broadly at her question. It was one he was asked often by human women. There was no doubt in his mind now that she was such, another vampire did not ask such questions, unless of course they were clanless or one of the orphans. Not that one ever expects much from an orphan anyway.
"No, I fear that the Netherlands is as impolite and informal as the rest of the world. I just can not bring myself to treat my fellow man with such disregard. I have been told it is because I've read one to many night in shining armor novels." He effected a falsetto, "King Arthur's court does not exist in the real world."
He grinned at her, pushing hair from his face. "It's a pity that, for the women were treated as goddesses and the men were gallant and loyal, well every one except Lancelot and Guinevere."
He was not naive to the sinfulness of men and women since the beginning of men and women, however he did miss the times when men and women were more civil, even when being underhanded, they were polite. When each treated the other with outward respect, regardless of the thoughts and opinions behind the smile. He missed women who expected to be treated as princesses no matter their station in life, and men who did their damndest to treat them as such. Yes he, William the Timmerman, was a hopeless romantic.
"No, I fear that the Netherlands is as impolite and informal as the rest of the world. I just can not bring myself to treat my fellow man with such disregard. I have been told it is because I've read one to many night in shining armor novels." He effected a falsetto, "King Arthur's court does not exist in the real world."
He grinned at her, pushing hair from his face. "It's a pity that, for the women were treated as goddesses and the men were gallant and loyal, well every one except Lancelot and Guinevere."
He was not naive to the sinfulness of men and women since the beginning of men and women, however he did miss the times when men and women were more civil, even when being underhanded, they were polite. When each treated the other with outward respect, regardless of the thoughts and opinions behind the smile. He missed women who expected to be treated as princesses no matter their station in life, and men who did their damndest to treat them as such. Yes he, William the Timmerman, was a hopeless romantic.