Having traveled quite extensively himself, Bastian had been using chopsticks for years now, and never really considered eating Asian food any other way. He found it cute when Aishe admitted she didn't know how, and deferred to Kem for instruction. Thinking further, he couldn't remember if there had ever been anything Reign had asked him about. Well, possibly with the exception of sex, since he had been her first lover. But that wasn't the same at all.
"A woman wise beyond her years." Bastian chuckled, and turned just enough to wink at Reign. There really was nothing about her he would change, yet that didn't stop him from considering how he might feel if she were to look to him on occasion the way Aishe looked to Kem.
Setting a plate down in front of everyone, Bastian then sat down next to his, and took one of the cartons closest to him, leaving the others to do the same.
"So...you both look well. Don't suppose you've seen any stray wolves in the neighborhood?"
Tact wasn't something Bastian was unfamiliar with, and could use it just as well as the next guy, if he thought about it, and deemed it necessary. Tonight didn't appear to be one of those times. His impatience was prodded by his concern for Reign, and his weariness of the evenings earlier events. Why beat around the bush when cutting to the chase should work best.
Pick a Home, Any Home (Attn:Bas)
Reign flopped on to the couch with little or no grace, pushed her glasses up on to her forehead letting the world go fuzzy and popped the cap off a Newcastle. Sirius was snuffling about somewhere. He had been, off and on, since they got here this morning. The worst of it had been when they came in, he liked the smell of something in the yard. Stupid dog. Reign figured he was just glad to be home, or maybe some wiseass neighborhood cat. Whatever.
She half blindly fished about for a remote and managed to turn on a movie, she could tell by the dialog it was one of the Ocean's movies. But she wasn't sure if it was Eleven Twelve or Thirteen and quite frankly she didn't care. She'd driven up here to practice early today and must have been at the table for twelve hours. If the rumbling in her stomach was to be believed twelve hours straight.
"Why didn't you remind me to have lunch?"Â?
She demanded of her mutt as he rounded a corner. The dog, however, didn't answer and just lay down beside the couch. Sirius was doing much better since her visit to Xeph. They'd moved more of his things, and her things, out to Bastian's. In fact, even though she hadn't formally accepted his offer to move in, she was staying with him more and more often. Her house, however, was much more convenient to the city meeting with Hans or Janie or one of her favorite pool halls. That and her table wasn't exactly a small easily portable piece of furniture so she always wound up here to practice.
Reign sighed. The real problem wasn't that she didn't want to move in with Bas, it was she liked her house and didn't have a clue what to do with it if she should move in with him. This would not be a problem if she'd rented a place like Janie suggested.
Rubbing her eyes Reign muttered.
"Maybe I should learn to take advice huh? Just a little?"Â?
Bastian
16 years ago
Reign
16 years ago
Reign grinned at Aishe and the chopstick lesson.
“I usually have to give up and use a fork on the fried rice, something about not being able to use chopsticks like a pool cue.”
She shrugged before setting her chopsticks down and poking Bas in the side. She had half an idea what he might be thinking and in short it wasn’t her fault she was a smart ass know it all, it was part of her charm.
Every one settled, check, every one had food, check, next on the list was casual conversation leading up to the random question about wild animals in the neighborhood. Instead, Bastian just jumped right in and Reign choked on her chow mien a bit.
Apparently, her wolf didn’t feel like going the 007 routes tonight and it caught her more than a little off guard. Getting everything under control, she offered a weak smile and a bit of a joke.
“Its not a trick question or anything. You get to keep the dinner no matter what.”
“I usually have to give up and use a fork on the fried rice, something about not being able to use chopsticks like a pool cue.”
She shrugged before setting her chopsticks down and poking Bas in the side. She had half an idea what he might be thinking and in short it wasn’t her fault she was a smart ass know it all, it was part of her charm.
Every one settled, check, every one had food, check, next on the list was casual conversation leading up to the random question about wild animals in the neighborhood. Instead, Bastian just jumped right in and Reign choked on her chow mien a bit.
Apparently, her wolf didn’t feel like going the 007 routes tonight and it caught her more than a little off guard. Getting everything under control, she offered a weak smile and a bit of a joke.
“Its not a trick question or anything. You get to keep the dinner no matter what.”
Aishe
16 years ago
Aishe wrestled with her chopsticks, watching Kem carefully, succeeding in bring a few bites up to her mouth without dropping too much. Gaining confidence she tried for a few smaller bits and pieces, feeling secure in the fact that if she were stranded on a desert island with a pair of chopsticks she might not eat quickly, but she wouldn't starve.
Reign's quip about her pool cue made her laugh and drop her carrot slice, so she gamely tried it again, refusing to go the "skewer" route.
Bastian's question was so sudden that at first Aishe thought he was joking, a la "How about them Yankees?" But the expression on his face was quite serious, even intense.
Furrowing her brow, Aishe tilted her head at him, glancing at Reign. "That's an... odd question," she said. "Why would we have seen a wolf? I don't think wolves live around here."
Putting her carrot slice down to readjust it, she paused. "Do they?"
Aishe looked back and forth from Reign to Bastian again. "And aren't all wolves stray by definition?"
It was a very odd question. Particularly because of the subject mater both she and Kem had been studying over the last few weeks. So much for Kem leaving work at home, she reflected sadly. This was a chance mention, perhaps, but any mention of wolves was bound to bring the topic back to the fore of his thoughts.
Aishe suddenly began to wonder if her neighbors were asking, in their not-so-subtle way, if the two of them knew about werewolves? Or if they were werewolves? Wait... were Reign and Bastian werewolves?
... Or was she simply reading way too much into this as a result of werewolf-on-the-brain?
Reign's quip about her pool cue made her laugh and drop her carrot slice, so she gamely tried it again, refusing to go the "skewer" route.
Bastian's question was so sudden that at first Aishe thought he was joking, a la "How about them Yankees?" But the expression on his face was quite serious, even intense.
Furrowing her brow, Aishe tilted her head at him, glancing at Reign. "That's an... odd question," she said. "Why would we have seen a wolf? I don't think wolves live around here."
Putting her carrot slice down to readjust it, she paused. "Do they?"
Aishe looked back and forth from Reign to Bastian again. "And aren't all wolves stray by definition?"
It was a very odd question. Particularly because of the subject mater both she and Kem had been studying over the last few weeks. So much for Kem leaving work at home, she reflected sadly. This was a chance mention, perhaps, but any mention of wolves was bound to bring the topic back to the fore of his thoughts.
Aishe suddenly began to wonder if her neighbors were asking, in their not-so-subtle way, if the two of them knew about werewolves? Or if they were werewolves? Wait... were Reign and Bastian werewolves?
... Or was she simply reading way too much into this as a result of werewolf-on-the-brain?
Kem`Raaisu
16 years ago
Kem nodded solemnly at Bastian's remark about Aishe. "I can't even begin to describe," he said with sincerity. Aishe was wise beyond her years, and he was actually looking forward to seeing how the decandes improved her. There was still that strain, that slight worry, that the years passing by would merely pile up on her shoulders as they had upon his, but the more time they spent together the more secure he became in the truth of her happiness.
Sitting next to Aishe, he watched as she tenaciously chased a carrot slice around her plate, successfully raising it, dropping it, and picking it back up. It didn't even dawn on him until a few seconds had passed, what Bastian's question had been.
"Huh?"
For a moment he was very confused, thinking they'd somehow known what was on his mind. But then he did a double take and realized they were... being interrogated.
Looking at Aishe, Kem shrugged his shoulders, tacit agreement with what she'd said.
"Funny you should mention that, though," he said slowly. "No... we haven't seen any wolves or even dogs bigger than Sirius. We were actually going to ask if he might have gotten loose a couple nights ago."
Kem went on, explaining and asking the question Aishe had meant to ask at some point tonight. "We have a family of raccoons under our back porch. Aishe's very protective of them. But a few nights ago one of them disappeared, and we haven't seen anything but a few tufts of fur to show for all of our searching."
It was an odd coincidence. He couldn't explain, of course, that Aishe's raccoons had pretty much told her their denmate had been devoured. How to explain that? "No, we haven't seen any stray wolves but my girlfriend talks to raccoons!" They could get their point across without that.
"So it's odd you should ask. I think we'd both assumed perhaps Sirius had been running around..."
Kem just let the sentence taper off there. let Bastian make what he wanted of that. It seemed work did not stop at home. Even here and now he potentially had the chance to gather some information. How many chance wolf sightings could there be in Nachton now?
Sitting next to Aishe, he watched as she tenaciously chased a carrot slice around her plate, successfully raising it, dropping it, and picking it back up. It didn't even dawn on him until a few seconds had passed, what Bastian's question had been.
"Huh?"
For a moment he was very confused, thinking they'd somehow known what was on his mind. But then he did a double take and realized they were... being interrogated.
Looking at Aishe, Kem shrugged his shoulders, tacit agreement with what she'd said.
"Funny you should mention that, though," he said slowly. "No... we haven't seen any wolves or even dogs bigger than Sirius. We were actually going to ask if he might have gotten loose a couple nights ago."
Kem went on, explaining and asking the question Aishe had meant to ask at some point tonight. "We have a family of raccoons under our back porch. Aishe's very protective of them. But a few nights ago one of them disappeared, and we haven't seen anything but a few tufts of fur to show for all of our searching."
It was an odd coincidence. He couldn't explain, of course, that Aishe's raccoons had pretty much told her their denmate had been devoured. How to explain that? "No, we haven't seen any stray wolves but my girlfriend talks to raccoons!" They could get their point across without that.
"So it's odd you should ask. I think we'd both assumed perhaps Sirius had been running around..."
Kem just let the sentence taper off there. let Bastian make what he wanted of that. It seemed work did not stop at home. Even here and now he potentially had the chance to gather some information. How many chance wolf sightings could there be in Nachton now?
Bastian
16 years ago
Odd, but Bastian didn't think either Aishe or Kem were at all surprised by his question, even if Aishe said she had no knowledge of any wolves being sighted. While that response wasn't what he anticipated, it really didn't mean much...necessarily.
Not that Bastian had any reason to doubt the neighbors, and Kem's reaction was more expected. It wasn't news Bastian wanted to hear, but it was news Bastian was prepared for.
As Kem spoke of suspecting Sirius, and the missing raccoon, Bastian's hand stilled, a chunk of spicy chicken suspended between the chopsticks, and his lips.
"Reign and Sirius have been spending most of the time out at my ranch...that we're here today was sort of a fluke."
There was no way he could admit to most of what happened tonight, without giving too much of himself away, but he felt he needed to offer some words of caution. The only way he could do that was to let Kem and Aishe know about the wolf he encountered earlier. At least he could tell them the basics, leaving off the fact that he had fought the intruder. He may have looked tired, but any scratches he got in the scuffle would have healed by now, as they wouldn't have been deep.
No...his pride was wounded way more than his body had been.
"But because we were here today, we saw this wolf...out in the yard...a big motherf..." Bastian normally cussed in Italian, but the longer he spoke and became comfortable with English, the more he now spouted things the other three in the room would recognize immediately. "Sorry...but he was much larger than your every day wolf."
Was that enough? Should he go on, or leave it at that? It was plain that Bastian was rattled by the meeting with the wolf...but if it had been just an ordinary wolf, would he have been as rattled?
He began eating with a bit more gusto, thinking if he had food in his mouth, no one would expect him to say more, and right now he thought that might be the safest thing to do.
Not that Bastian had any reason to doubt the neighbors, and Kem's reaction was more expected. It wasn't news Bastian wanted to hear, but it was news Bastian was prepared for.
As Kem spoke of suspecting Sirius, and the missing raccoon, Bastian's hand stilled, a chunk of spicy chicken suspended between the chopsticks, and his lips.
"Reign and Sirius have been spending most of the time out at my ranch...that we're here today was sort of a fluke."
There was no way he could admit to most of what happened tonight, without giving too much of himself away, but he felt he needed to offer some words of caution. The only way he could do that was to let Kem and Aishe know about the wolf he encountered earlier. At least he could tell them the basics, leaving off the fact that he had fought the intruder. He may have looked tired, but any scratches he got in the scuffle would have healed by now, as they wouldn't have been deep.
No...his pride was wounded way more than his body had been.
"But because we were here today, we saw this wolf...out in the yard...a big motherf..." Bastian normally cussed in Italian, but the longer he spoke and became comfortable with English, the more he now spouted things the other three in the room would recognize immediately. "Sorry...but he was much larger than your every day wolf."
Was that enough? Should he go on, or leave it at that? It was plain that Bastian was rattled by the meeting with the wolf...but if it had been just an ordinary wolf, would he have been as rattled?
He began eating with a bit more gusto, thinking if he had food in his mouth, no one would expect him to say more, and right now he thought that might be the safest thing to do.
Reign
16 years ago
“Sirius? No he’s never out unsupervised, well some times in the back yard but there’s no way for him to get out.”
That was something Reign had made very sure of when she’d first moved in, that Sirius had a yard to run in and she didn’t need to worry about him getting out.
“And like Bas said we’ve been out at his place most of the time. I’m sorry about your raccoon though.”
OK this was just way to fucking weird. Shouldn’t Aishe and Kem be laughing at hem? Reign tried to imagine how she’d react if some one in her old neighborhood had asked her if she’d seen a wolf about. Yes, she would have treated them like they were crazy.
Although, if like Bas said this critter had been around a bit and then Kem and Aishe had had a bit of a run in of there own perhaps it didn’t sound so odd. Course she felt a bit bad about Sirius’ wounded reputation, but that couldn’t be helped.
“But if ya’ll have had trouble too I guess we’ll just have to call animal control.”
Not that animal control would be able to manage or even –find- a werewolf but it was the appropriate comment to make.
That was something Reign had made very sure of when she’d first moved in, that Sirius had a yard to run in and she didn’t need to worry about him getting out.
“And like Bas said we’ve been out at his place most of the time. I’m sorry about your raccoon though.”
OK this was just way to fucking weird. Shouldn’t Aishe and Kem be laughing at hem? Reign tried to imagine how she’d react if some one in her old neighborhood had asked her if she’d seen a wolf about. Yes, she would have treated them like they were crazy.
Although, if like Bas said this critter had been around a bit and then Kem and Aishe had had a bit of a run in of there own perhaps it didn’t sound so odd. Course she felt a bit bad about Sirius’ wounded reputation, but that couldn’t be helped.
“But if ya’ll have had trouble too I guess we’ll just have to call animal control.”
Not that animal control would be able to manage or even –find- a werewolf but it was the appropriate comment to make.
Aishe
16 years ago
Aishe smiled apologetically at Reign. "I'm sorry. It was dark out, and such a big animal, the only thing we could think of was a large dog, and the only one we know of around here is Siruis. I didn't really think it was him, but I didn't know what else to think. A wolf?" Aishe shook her head. "I thought they lived in packs. And howled. Maybe it's just passing through?"
She nodded at Reign's suggestion next. "Yes, animal control would be the proper wway to go, especially if it's as big as you say."
Pushing her food around a bit, she affected a worried look. "I'd hate to lose another raccoon though. They're still young, only a few months old. I leave food out for them; they're really very cute."
Aishe was doing her best to employ her particular sort of empathy, wondering if Reign and Bastian knew something more... but although she was getting a handle on using it when she had direct contact with someone and starting to get better at employing it from a short distance away, she couldn't manage to do so tonight. Frustrated, she let out a little sigh.
[I can't get a feel for either of them... but it sounds fishy to me, don't you think? Should we tell them what we know?]
She nodded at Reign's suggestion next. "Yes, animal control would be the proper wway to go, especially if it's as big as you say."
Pushing her food around a bit, she affected a worried look. "I'd hate to lose another raccoon though. They're still young, only a few months old. I leave food out for them; they're really very cute."
Aishe was doing her best to employ her particular sort of empathy, wondering if Reign and Bastian knew something more... but although she was getting a handle on using it when she had direct contact with someone and starting to get better at employing it from a short distance away, she couldn't manage to do so tonight. Frustrated, she let out a little sigh.
[I can't get a feel for either of them... but it sounds fishy to me, don't you think? Should we tell them what we know?]
Kem`Raaisu
16 years ago
Kem listened to Aishe, Reign, and Bastian discussing the wolf. Finally he said, "Did the wolf do anything?"
When Aishe looked up he shifted his gaze to Bastian. "You said you saw it in the yard. Whats the worry, if it was just standing there?" Brows drawing together, he said, "it's rare that a wolf would attack a person. Aside from watching out for your raccoons, Aishe, and keeping Zoe inside, why not let it alone?"
He shook his head. "Animal control will euthanize a wolf if they impound one. If it hasn't done anything harmful, why call them down on it?"
Holding up his hand to forestall Aishe's next comment he said, "I know he ate your raccoon... but a hungry wolf does that sort of thing. Can you blame it? We'll put some fencing up around the base of the porch to keep the little ones from wandering out too far, and Zoe can stay in for a while."
To Aishe, he silently responded, [No. I think they're jumpy enough about wolves to start blathering about werewolves. Which we couldn't do without saying something about ourselves, either. We'll keep an eye out. If it is a werewolf, it might have a reason for being here.]
When Aishe looked up he shifted his gaze to Bastian. "You said you saw it in the yard. Whats the worry, if it was just standing there?" Brows drawing together, he said, "it's rare that a wolf would attack a person. Aside from watching out for your raccoons, Aishe, and keeping Zoe inside, why not let it alone?"
He shook his head. "Animal control will euthanize a wolf if they impound one. If it hasn't done anything harmful, why call them down on it?"
Holding up his hand to forestall Aishe's next comment he said, "I know he ate your raccoon... but a hungry wolf does that sort of thing. Can you blame it? We'll put some fencing up around the base of the porch to keep the little ones from wandering out too far, and Zoe can stay in for a while."
To Aishe, he silently responded, [No. I think they're jumpy enough about wolves to start blathering about werewolves. Which we couldn't do without saying something about ourselves, either. We'll keep an eye out. If it is a werewolf, it might have a reason for being here.]
Bastian
16 years ago
Bastian almost choked on that, knowing it would take a great deal more than one or two animal control agents to capture a werewolf, and one of this size had probably been around a while, and ...
...he did cough then, but pretended to have just swallowed wrong. Staring intently at a place in the air before him, he absentmindedly drank his beer.
Could this wolf be a pack leader...an Alpha? Size didn't always indicate these things, but often did. Together with the fact that this were knew exactly how to disarm Bastian, and never seemed to show any fear of the situation he was in...it could be coincidence, but it could mean more just as well.
Realizing he was in his own world, with people around him, Bastian snapped himself back to the present.
Damn but he wished he could just call another one of the Vyrusher now, and would have if he'd had a phone number to use.
Bastian's gaze settled on Kem. Oh how he wished he knew these two better. It would have helped a lot to confide in them. But he didn't, so he couldn't.
Baffled at how he should go about reinforcing the threat of the wolf, without giving anything away, Bastian hmmm'd and haw'd a second or two longer than he should have, and finally admitted as much as he could.
"He was threatening...he stood his ground, and might not have ever backed down if Reign hadn't thrown water on him. He lunged toward me a few times...I was honestly worried for a few moments there, then Reign appeared out of no where, bucket of water in hand, and seemed to cool him off. I swear though, when he left it was almost like it was because he'd grown bored...and I know I saw him smirking."
Uh oh...that was a bit over the top he realized now. If Aishe and Kem didn't think he was bordering on insane before, they certainly thought so now.
Seeking Reign's gaze, Bastian looked to her now for some assistance. He wasn't sure what she could do to repair what he'd done, but he hoped she had something to pull out now.
"And I did call both the police, and animal control earlier. They both assured me no one had reported any stray wolves in the area."
Bastian shook his head. "This wolf has an agenda...and as sad as the loss of your raccoon is, I think that was a lark...I sincerely believe he has a much larger purpose here."
That was enough. He had said so much more than he planned on saying, even if he had yet to say a word about werewolfs. If he was still able to get out of the evening without the neighbors finding out things they'd wish they never had, he would be way over due in his luck spending department.
Reign;43646
“But if ya’ll have had trouble too I guess we’ll just have to call animal control.”
Bastian almost choked on that, knowing it would take a great deal more than one or two animal control agents to capture a werewolf, and one of this size had probably been around a while, and ...
...he did cough then, but pretended to have just swallowed wrong. Staring intently at a place in the air before him, he absentmindedly drank his beer.
Could this wolf be a pack leader...an Alpha? Size didn't always indicate these things, but often did. Together with the fact that this were knew exactly how to disarm Bastian, and never seemed to show any fear of the situation he was in...it could be coincidence, but it could mean more just as well.
Realizing he was in his own world, with people around him, Bastian snapped himself back to the present.
Damn but he wished he could just call another one of the Vyrusher now, and would have if he'd had a phone number to use.
Kem`Raaisu;43648
"Did the wolf do anything?"
Bastian's gaze settled on Kem. Oh how he wished he knew these two better. It would have helped a lot to confide in them. But he didn't, so he couldn't.
Baffled at how he should go about reinforcing the threat of the wolf, without giving anything away, Bastian hmmm'd and haw'd a second or two longer than he should have, and finally admitted as much as he could.
"He was threatening...he stood his ground, and might not have ever backed down if Reign hadn't thrown water on him. He lunged toward me a few times...I was honestly worried for a few moments there, then Reign appeared out of no where, bucket of water in hand, and seemed to cool him off. I swear though, when he left it was almost like it was because he'd grown bored...and I know I saw him smirking."
Uh oh...that was a bit over the top he realized now. If Aishe and Kem didn't think he was bordering on insane before, they certainly thought so now.
Seeking Reign's gaze, Bastian looked to her now for some assistance. He wasn't sure what she could do to repair what he'd done, but he hoped she had something to pull out now.
"And I did call both the police, and animal control earlier. They both assured me no one had reported any stray wolves in the area."
Bastian shook his head. "This wolf has an agenda...and as sad as the loss of your raccoon is, I think that was a lark...I sincerely believe he has a much larger purpose here."
That was enough. He had said so much more than he planned on saying, even if he had yet to say a word about werewolfs. If he was still able to get out of the evening without the neighbors finding out things they'd wish they never had, he would be way over due in his luck spending department.
Reign
16 years ago
Reign frowned.
“Well I don’t want him put down. Shame they don’t have a relocation program.”
She was trying very hard to keep treating this as if it was a random wolf in the area, rather than a werewolf. But Bas seemed to be having a harder time with that guise than she was. Of course, he’d actually tangled with the critter… er… person…
Seeking Bastian’s hand, she held it under the table, willing him to be calm about all this and not give too much away.
“He did seem to laugh at them the way Sirius does when he knows he’s gotten the better of me but I wouldn’t say it was a smirk. But I guess if dogs can laugh wolves can, they are members of the same family after all.”
OK she couldn’t dismiss Bastian’s other suspicious so easily so she just ignored it. Let the others make of it what they would.
“But I think you’re right Kem we just have to keep every one inside for a while.”
“Well I don’t want him put down. Shame they don’t have a relocation program.”
She was trying very hard to keep treating this as if it was a random wolf in the area, rather than a werewolf. But Bas seemed to be having a harder time with that guise than she was. Of course, he’d actually tangled with the critter… er… person…
Seeking Bastian’s hand, she held it under the table, willing him to be calm about all this and not give too much away.
“He did seem to laugh at them the way Sirius does when he knows he’s gotten the better of me but I wouldn’t say it was a smirk. But I guess if dogs can laugh wolves can, they are members of the same family after all.”
OK she couldn’t dismiss Bastian’s other suspicious so easily so she just ignored it. Let the others make of it what they would.
“But I think you’re right Kem we just have to keep every one inside for a while.”
Aishe
16 years ago
Kem's solution to the problem was better, Aishe thought. While animal control would probably have been her first reaction, she didn't want to be responsible for kililng a wolf. Weren't they already endangered? And if it was a werewolf perhaps it really was just wandering around.
Bastian's description, and, moreover, his enthusiasm, made AIshe do a bit of a double-take. Was she reading too far into it, or was Bastian overly knwoledgable? And was Reign covering up for something he'd said? As she watched him speak, her on-again off-again empathy finally kicked in, and what she saw surprised her... but not much, at this point. The shapes coming from his mouth were sharp-edged, a mix of bright red and dark muddy blue. Surrounding them was sort of a grayish cast. Aishe closed her eyes a moment and recalled the colors she'd seen and worked with in the last year or so. She recognized all of these.
Red - anger, frustration, negative emotions.
Dark blue - some sort of fear. Fear of the future? Fear of truth? She couldn't remember exactly. It had multiple meanings.
And the gray overcast she knew well; any time she practiced with Pak, the SIamese's emotions were covered in it. It was guardedness, protectiveness.
She glanced at Kem.
[I think there's more happening here.]
What if they were sitting in the den of two werewolves here and now? In the interest of double-checking, Aishe looked directly at Bastian.
"Is there something you're not telling us?"
She looked down, fidgeted with the food on her plate again, and murmured, "About this wolf? About... you, maybe?"
Then, in case that was a bit too forward, she added, "Did something happen with a wolf sometime? You just seem... very edgy."
((ooc: Permission to use empathy on Bastian, permission to discuss empathy-experiments on Pak))
Bastian's description, and, moreover, his enthusiasm, made AIshe do a bit of a double-take. Was she reading too far into it, or was Bastian overly knwoledgable? And was Reign covering up for something he'd said? As she watched him speak, her on-again off-again empathy finally kicked in, and what she saw surprised her... but not much, at this point. The shapes coming from his mouth were sharp-edged, a mix of bright red and dark muddy blue. Surrounding them was sort of a grayish cast. Aishe closed her eyes a moment and recalled the colors she'd seen and worked with in the last year or so. She recognized all of these.
Red - anger, frustration, negative emotions.
Dark blue - some sort of fear. Fear of the future? Fear of truth? She couldn't remember exactly. It had multiple meanings.
And the gray overcast she knew well; any time she practiced with Pak, the SIamese's emotions were covered in it. It was guardedness, protectiveness.
She glanced at Kem.
[I think there's more happening here.]
What if they were sitting in the den of two werewolves here and now? In the interest of double-checking, Aishe looked directly at Bastian.
"Is there something you're not telling us?"
She looked down, fidgeted with the food on her plate again, and murmured, "About this wolf? About... you, maybe?"
Then, in case that was a bit too forward, she added, "Did something happen with a wolf sometime? You just seem... very edgy."
((ooc: Permission to use empathy on Bastian, permission to discuss empathy-experiments on Pak))
Kem`Raaisu
16 years ago
Kem agreed with Aishe here, all the way. The way she sent to him that something else was going on, made him aware that she'd managed to pick something up from one or both of their neighbors empathically. Her next question made him sit up just a little straighter.
What the hell was he supposed to say to that? She was right. There was something else going on here, and he had a feeling it was going to have something to do with werewolves. One incident at the mall, and suddenly his life was werewolf this and werewolf that. Go figure.
The truth was, though, he thought the likelihood pretty high as well. But the possible scenarios were endless. Was Bastian a vampire looking for werewolf information? Was he a were himself? Was Reign? What about the wolf in the yard? How idd they seem to know so much?
Interesting neighbors he had. Pity he'd never attended the block party before this.
Aishe's question was blunt; not as blunt as Bastian's had been, but she made it clear she suspected there was more to this than met the eye. So Kem tensed slightly. Whatever Bastian's or Reign's reaction, if anything happened he wanted to be prepared. For what? To protect them? Did he really think something might happen?
Food forgotten, he simply waited for Bastian's reaction to Aishe's question.
What the hell was he supposed to say to that? She was right. There was something else going on here, and he had a feeling it was going to have something to do with werewolves. One incident at the mall, and suddenly his life was werewolf this and werewolf that. Go figure.
The truth was, though, he thought the likelihood pretty high as well. But the possible scenarios were endless. Was Bastian a vampire looking for werewolf information? Was he a were himself? Was Reign? What about the wolf in the yard? How idd they seem to know so much?
Interesting neighbors he had. Pity he'd never attended the block party before this.
Aishe's question was blunt; not as blunt as Bastian's had been, but she made it clear she suspected there was more to this than met the eye. So Kem tensed slightly. Whatever Bastian's or Reign's reaction, if anything happened he wanted to be prepared. For what? To protect them? Did he really think something might happen?
Food forgotten, he simply waited for Bastian's reaction to Aishe's question.
Bastian
16 years ago
He held onto her hand under the table as if it were a lifeline. Reign seemed to take all this werewolf business in a much better light than Bastian; however, he knew part of her ability to do that was caused by her lack of belief. Sure she had seen him change, and was having less and less difficulty with his 'affliction' all the time, but she had never seen some of the horrors Bastian had. He would do whatever he possibly could do, to prevent her from seeing those brutalities, yet he also knew from past experience...there was only so much he could do.
"Something we're not telling? Like what? We were nearly killed by this wolf tonight, and..."
Again he shoveled food into his mouth. He was pretty stuffed by now, but kept eating if for no other reason than to stop talking. He was really doing an awful job of going about getting information, while trying to maintain his own anonymity. At the rate he was blurting things out, he wondered if it wouldn't just be easier now to tell them...'I'm a werewolf, and I was attacked by this other werewolf earlier tonight, and would probably be dead in the yard now if Reign hadn't come to my rescue.'
But that couldn't happen...hell, for all he knew, Kem and Aishe might be in on this with the other wolf...maybe they were part of his pack, and were here trying to find out just what Reign and Bastian knew.
"Like I said...I heard a noise, went outside, and spent several minutes trying to scare a wolf away...I don't know why he didn't kill me, but until Reign intervened, he didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. I thought the most neighborly thing to do was to let you all know, just in case you were taking to sleeping outside on your deck...I'm sorry about your raccoon, but a little more concerned with losing the lives of people..."
And none of that was a lie. It was just mixed in with enough truths that Bastian hoped the neighbors bought it.
It was apparent he wasn't going to hear what he wanted tonight. So for now he'd retreat into social niceties, and hope Kem and Aishe were okay with that.
"As for edgy...yea...nearly being eaten by a wolf seems to have that effect on me."
He managed a small chuckle, before finishing his beer, and standing to retrieve another.
"Can I get anyone anything while I'm up?"
"Something we're not telling? Like what? We were nearly killed by this wolf tonight, and..."
Again he shoveled food into his mouth. He was pretty stuffed by now, but kept eating if for no other reason than to stop talking. He was really doing an awful job of going about getting information, while trying to maintain his own anonymity. At the rate he was blurting things out, he wondered if it wouldn't just be easier now to tell them...'I'm a werewolf, and I was attacked by this other werewolf earlier tonight, and would probably be dead in the yard now if Reign hadn't come to my rescue.'
But that couldn't happen...hell, for all he knew, Kem and Aishe might be in on this with the other wolf...maybe they were part of his pack, and were here trying to find out just what Reign and Bastian knew.
"Like I said...I heard a noise, went outside, and spent several minutes trying to scare a wolf away...I don't know why he didn't kill me, but until Reign intervened, he didn't seem to have any intention of leaving. I thought the most neighborly thing to do was to let you all know, just in case you were taking to sleeping outside on your deck...I'm sorry about your raccoon, but a little more concerned with losing the lives of people..."
And none of that was a lie. It was just mixed in with enough truths that Bastian hoped the neighbors bought it.
It was apparent he wasn't going to hear what he wanted tonight. So for now he'd retreat into social niceties, and hope Kem and Aishe were okay with that.
"As for edgy...yea...nearly being eaten by a wolf seems to have that effect on me."
He managed a small chuckle, before finishing his beer, and standing to retrieve another.
"Can I get anyone anything while I'm up?"
Reign
16 years ago
"Deep breath Lupo. Would you grab me another beer please?"Â?
It wasn't that Reign wasn't concerned with the matter or not taking it seriously. She'd just put her game face on is all. Dealing with stress, deception and in general psyching out your opponent, or dinner guest, wasn't forgein to her. Hell it was bread and butter.
"Little bit of adrenaline. I really did intend for a friendly dinner and a heads up about the wolf is all."Â?
She laughed at Aishe playing 007 asking if there was something about them they hadn't told. Well hell yes there was and ten points to the other woman for picking up on it. Of course it made Reign wonder if there wasn't something similar to be said from the other side of the table. Hell maybe one of them was a wolf, although she didn't think so. If that was the case they would have known about the big guy and probably known for sure who had eaten the raccoon.
"I'm not a natural blonde?"Â? She quirked a smile. "OK that's a lie, I am."Â?
OK so they must know something about werewolves. Now that could be good or bad. It could be they'd be able to provide she and Bas with more info. It could be they'd come armed with silver bullets and try and take them out. Did silver bullets work? She'd have to ask Bas later.
Both of her dinner guests were much too intent on this subject. Granted so was Bastian and they might be responding to that but Reign didn't think it was just that. Now if she could just find a good way to ask them what they knew about werewolves or a good way to change the subject.
"I guess I'm just surprised to hear he's probably been about the neighborhood before. I mean I've heard of coyotes in the streets with trash cans and such but I didn't think wolves had the same sort of thing going."Â?
It wasn't that Reign wasn't concerned with the matter or not taking it seriously. She'd just put her game face on is all. Dealing with stress, deception and in general psyching out your opponent, or dinner guest, wasn't forgein to her. Hell it was bread and butter.
"Little bit of adrenaline. I really did intend for a friendly dinner and a heads up about the wolf is all."Â?
She laughed at Aishe playing 007 asking if there was something about them they hadn't told. Well hell yes there was and ten points to the other woman for picking up on it. Of course it made Reign wonder if there wasn't something similar to be said from the other side of the table. Hell maybe one of them was a wolf, although she didn't think so. If that was the case they would have known about the big guy and probably known for sure who had eaten the raccoon.
"I'm not a natural blonde?"Â? She quirked a smile. "OK that's a lie, I am."Â?
OK so they must know something about werewolves. Now that could be good or bad. It could be they'd be able to provide she and Bas with more info. It could be they'd come armed with silver bullets and try and take them out. Did silver bullets work? She'd have to ask Bas later.
Both of her dinner guests were much too intent on this subject. Granted so was Bastian and they might be responding to that but Reign didn't think it was just that. Now if she could just find a good way to ask them what they knew about werewolves or a good way to change the subject.
"I guess I'm just surprised to hear he's probably been about the neighborhood before. I mean I've heard of coyotes in the streets with trash cans and such but I didn't think wolves had the same sort of thing going."Â?
Aishe
16 years ago
Bastian's response was interesting. AIshe blushed a little at the force of it. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply... you just didn't seem too worried about it before. You didn't say he had tried to kill you."
She'd been under the impression the wolf in question had sounded... bored, really. Or playful. All that talk of smirking, and laughing. Bastian hadn't said he was in fear of his life! "I really am sorry. If he was aggressive, of course I'm worried. As far as I know a wolf won't come near humans unless he's really hungry, or... well, maybe he was someone's pet that got loose and wandered off? Or even rabid?"
That wouldn't be unheard of. Aishe winced inwardly; obviously their reaction to the news had not been strong enough for Bastian. How could he know they'd both spent the last few weeks drowning in werewolf lore? Of course they were a bit worn on the topic, and maybe paranoid. It had made them jump to conclusions. People around here owned wolf-hybrids illegally, she was sure. It really could have been someone's lost "pet" roaming around.
"Was he foaming at the mouth or anything? Maybe we should call animal control after all."
To Reign she just smiled, appreciating the woman's efforts to ease the tension. But as Bastian disappeared into the kitchen for another beer, she turned back to the woman and slowly said, "Why, if you don't mind my asking, do you call him Lupo?"
Aishe wasn't convinced that there wasn't more going on here. She had pressed, Bastian had snapped, and she had backed off. That was how this game worked. But more and more, she felt like she and Kem were involved in something a little more than "a friendly dinner."
She guessed Lupo could have been Bastian's last name. But what an odd coincidence. Reign had referred to him as Lupo several times now. It was an innocent question. Right? Get them off the topic of the wolf in the yard? Maybe?
She'd been under the impression the wolf in question had sounded... bored, really. Or playful. All that talk of smirking, and laughing. Bastian hadn't said he was in fear of his life! "I really am sorry. If he was aggressive, of course I'm worried. As far as I know a wolf won't come near humans unless he's really hungry, or... well, maybe he was someone's pet that got loose and wandered off? Or even rabid?"
That wouldn't be unheard of. Aishe winced inwardly; obviously their reaction to the news had not been strong enough for Bastian. How could he know they'd both spent the last few weeks drowning in werewolf lore? Of course they were a bit worn on the topic, and maybe paranoid. It had made them jump to conclusions. People around here owned wolf-hybrids illegally, she was sure. It really could have been someone's lost "pet" roaming around.
"Was he foaming at the mouth or anything? Maybe we should call animal control after all."
To Reign she just smiled, appreciating the woman's efforts to ease the tension. But as Bastian disappeared into the kitchen for another beer, she turned back to the woman and slowly said, "Why, if you don't mind my asking, do you call him Lupo?"
Aishe wasn't convinced that there wasn't more going on here. She had pressed, Bastian had snapped, and she had backed off. That was how this game worked. But more and more, she felt like she and Kem were involved in something a little more than "a friendly dinner."
She guessed Lupo could have been Bastian's last name. But what an odd coincidence. Reign had referred to him as Lupo several times now. It was an innocent question. Right? Get them off the topic of the wolf in the yard? Maybe?
Kem`Raaisu
16 years ago
Kem observed Bastian's reaction with a frown on his face. He knew Aishe hadn't meant to insult the man, and her question hadn't been out of line. Although, had he just fought of a large wolf, he might be inclined to be snappish too if his neighbors were more curious than concerned. The drawbacks of being nearly immortal, he reflected, were that things like random wolf sightings just didn't cause the concern they might have oh, nine hundred years ago.
It seemed even Aishe had picked up some of that habit, but she was able to get herself back on track and react more like a human neighbor would. Kem watched with some admiration as she made apologies for her evident mis-reaction, then followed it up as Bastian left the room with yet another observant question.
Yet again he sat back and listened. Aishe seemed to have quite the handle on this conversation, and he wasn't about to interfere. He had half a mind to just call it a night and get her out of there but she really did seem to like Reign, at least, and he didn't want to be rude to their hosts.
It seemed even Aishe had picked up some of that habit, but she was able to get herself back on track and react more like a human neighbor would. Kem watched with some admiration as she made apologies for her evident mis-reaction, then followed it up as Bastian left the room with yet another observant question.
Yet again he sat back and listened. Aishe seemed to have quite the handle on this conversation, and he wasn't about to interfere. He had half a mind to just call it a night and get her out of there but she really did seem to like Reign, at least, and he didn't want to be rude to their hosts.
Reign
16 years ago
Damned it damned it damned it. Reign was not happy but she was -not- going to alienate two perfectly nice people who may or may not have information on large werewolf types.
She grinned her thanks to Aishe for her apology. Yes she understood why Bas was upset and part of her wanted to excuse herself to the kitchen to check on him, but she couldn't make herself abandon her guests... their guests.
"My fault really... well that and bad timing. But no, I don't think he was foaming at the mouth. He was acting a bit strangely, more than a bit given he and Bas' reaction to each other. I guess we do have to call animal control."Â?
Reign did a double take at Aishe's question. It was a perfectly innocent story but given the topic of tonight's conversation she should have censored the pet name. oh well too late. That and no one else she could remember had ever asked.
"Its left over from when we first met. I accused him of being a wolf in sheep's clothing being all sweet to get me to go out with him. When I did go out with him he was... not shy. I flat out called him a wolf. He's from Italy, the Italian for wolf is Lupo... voila! Instant pet name. And not nearly as embarrassing as snuggy bear or something."Â?
It was a bit of an oddity but Reign blushed slightly. Both at the story and the memory of naming him Lupo, it had been a rather intimate, not naked intimate but intimate, moment on a beach. She had been just starting to trust him and he was trying so hard to go slow it was sweet.
She grinned her thanks to Aishe for her apology. Yes she understood why Bas was upset and part of her wanted to excuse herself to the kitchen to check on him, but she couldn't make herself abandon her guests... their guests.
"My fault really... well that and bad timing. But no, I don't think he was foaming at the mouth. He was acting a bit strangely, more than a bit given he and Bas' reaction to each other. I guess we do have to call animal control."Â?
Reign did a double take at Aishe's question. It was a perfectly innocent story but given the topic of tonight's conversation she should have censored the pet name. oh well too late. That and no one else she could remember had ever asked.
"Its left over from when we first met. I accused him of being a wolf in sheep's clothing being all sweet to get me to go out with him. When I did go out with him he was... not shy. I flat out called him a wolf. He's from Italy, the Italian for wolf is Lupo... voila! Instant pet name. And not nearly as embarrassing as snuggy bear or something."Â?
It was a bit of an oddity but Reign blushed slightly. Both at the story and the memory of naming him Lupo, it had been a rather intimate, not naked intimate but intimate, moment on a beach. She had been just starting to trust him and he was trying so hard to go slow it was sweet.
Bastian
16 years ago
The trip to the kitchen served two fold. It got Bastian another beer, which he was in dire need of, but it also got him a few minutes to himself. He desperately needed time to cool his ire, pull himself together, and think of a way to either stop the mess he had gotten himself into.
Setting the empty beer bottle on the kitchen counter, Bastian grabbed two more and noted there was only one left.
"Merda". He mumbled, half slamming the refrigerator door, then cussing again because of it.
Should he go get more, or just deal with the rest of the evening as is. If worse came to worse he could start in on the wine. They had enough of that to keep him pleasantly buzzing.
He removed the bottle tops, and tossed them into the waste can, but remained in the kitchen, taking deep breaths as Reign had suggested. He had to go back into the living room, if for no other reason than to say good night to their guests. Though he knew damned well he'd not leave Reign to entertain the neighbors on her own.
Entertain...was that what it was? Was it as simple as Aishe finding the subject matter entertaining? In all fairness, he had downplayed the wolf encounter at first. It wasn't fair of him to get all bent out of shape now, when they wanted to know more, and didn't see things in quite the same light as he did.
It was the idea that Aishe and Kem thought he, and/or Reign, were keeping things secret. Of course they were, but that was beside the point. It was for a good cause, and Bastian was concerned that now he and Reign would be looked upon as having evil ulterior motives.
"Merda". He said again, and a little more loudly, but probably not loud enough to be heard outside the kitchen.
Having used his time wisely, Bastian was now much more calm and ready to face more questions. He returned to the living room looking a bit sheepish.
"I must apologize. This whole thing with the wolf has left me slightly rattled...okay, more than slightly. First it was the break in, and then it was this discovery tonight...as kind as you both have been, I have to say I won't rest easy until Reign leaves this place, and moves in with me permanently."
Having come in just as she was ending her recount of one of their initial meetings, Bastian favored Reign with a smile he hoped she would recognize.
"Though I keep telling her I really wouldn't mind snuggly bear either."
He set the bottle down, and resumed his seat, and winced.
"Guess maybe I pulled something out there, trying to dodge that guy."
Wolf...not guy...wolf. He hoped neither Kem nor Aishe saw anything in that term. He was ready to give up the whole pretense and come clean, as it would have been so much easier.
"Maybe I can get you to rub some liniment oil on me later?" He hoped changing the subject might help, and put a little bit of an intimate tone on his question, to try and refocus everyone's attention. Looking back to Aishe, then Kem, Bastian grinned in a wry way he now hoped Kem might pick up on.
"She has great hands."
He chuckled and sipped his beer.
Setting the empty beer bottle on the kitchen counter, Bastian grabbed two more and noted there was only one left.
"Merda". He mumbled, half slamming the refrigerator door, then cussing again because of it.
Should he go get more, or just deal with the rest of the evening as is. If worse came to worse he could start in on the wine. They had enough of that to keep him pleasantly buzzing.
He removed the bottle tops, and tossed them into the waste can, but remained in the kitchen, taking deep breaths as Reign had suggested. He had to go back into the living room, if for no other reason than to say good night to their guests. Though he knew damned well he'd not leave Reign to entertain the neighbors on her own.
Entertain...was that what it was? Was it as simple as Aishe finding the subject matter entertaining? In all fairness, he had downplayed the wolf encounter at first. It wasn't fair of him to get all bent out of shape now, when they wanted to know more, and didn't see things in quite the same light as he did.
It was the idea that Aishe and Kem thought he, and/or Reign, were keeping things secret. Of course they were, but that was beside the point. It was for a good cause, and Bastian was concerned that now he and Reign would be looked upon as having evil ulterior motives.
"Merda". He said again, and a little more loudly, but probably not loud enough to be heard outside the kitchen.
Having used his time wisely, Bastian was now much more calm and ready to face more questions. He returned to the living room looking a bit sheepish.
"I must apologize. This whole thing with the wolf has left me slightly rattled...okay, more than slightly. First it was the break in, and then it was this discovery tonight...as kind as you both have been, I have to say I won't rest easy until Reign leaves this place, and moves in with me permanently."
Having come in just as she was ending her recount of one of their initial meetings, Bastian favored Reign with a smile he hoped she would recognize.
"Though I keep telling her I really wouldn't mind snuggly bear either."
He set the bottle down, and resumed his seat, and winced.
"Guess maybe I pulled something out there, trying to dodge that guy."
Wolf...not guy...wolf. He hoped neither Kem nor Aishe saw anything in that term. He was ready to give up the whole pretense and come clean, as it would have been so much easier.
"Maybe I can get you to rub some liniment oil on me later?" He hoped changing the subject might help, and put a little bit of an intimate tone on his question, to try and refocus everyone's attention. Looking back to Aishe, then Kem, Bastian grinned in a wry way he now hoped Kem might pick up on.
"She has great hands."
He chuckled and sipped his beer.
Aishe
16 years ago
Aishe only half-listened to Reign's story, not disbelieving it but fairly certain there was more to it.
[Have you heard enough?] she asked Kem. [There's definitely more happening here, but if they... or he... isn't comfortable saying anything, I'm sure not going to pry further.]
Aishe had heard enough. Between what she'd been reading lately, Bastian's nickname, and his minor slip-up, she was reasonably certain that he was the wolf in question, and whoever had been in their yard earlier had been more than some roaming wolf. Add to that the interesting empathy involved and a score of other factors, she was happy it wasn't common knowledge that she and Kem were anything but human. Who knew how that might turn out?
"That is cute," she agreed with Reign when the woman was done telling the story. As Bastian returned, Aishe gave a little laugh at his comment.
"I think Lupo suits you far better than Snuggy Bear," she said with a small smile.
Standing, she added, "I think it's about time that Kem and I got going. Thanks for having us. And thanks for telling us about the wolf... dog... whatever it was. We'll let you know if we find anything out."
Setting her plate down with a smile, Aishe made her way to the door with a last scratch behind the ears for Sirius.
[Have you heard enough?] she asked Kem. [There's definitely more happening here, but if they... or he... isn't comfortable saying anything, I'm sure not going to pry further.]
Aishe had heard enough. Between what she'd been reading lately, Bastian's nickname, and his minor slip-up, she was reasonably certain that he was the wolf in question, and whoever had been in their yard earlier had been more than some roaming wolf. Add to that the interesting empathy involved and a score of other factors, she was happy it wasn't common knowledge that she and Kem were anything but human. Who knew how that might turn out?
"That is cute," she agreed with Reign when the woman was done telling the story. As Bastian returned, Aishe gave a little laugh at his comment.
"I think Lupo suits you far better than Snuggy Bear," she said with a small smile.
Standing, she added, "I think it's about time that Kem and I got going. Thanks for having us. And thanks for telling us about the wolf... dog... whatever it was. We'll let you know if we find anything out."
Setting her plate down with a smile, Aishe made her way to the door with a last scratch behind the ears for Sirius.
Kem`Raaisu
16 years ago
Kem gave a short laugh at Bastian's quip, returning the grin with a quick, unaccustomed one of his own.
[Definitely,] Kem responded to Aishe. [I'm good.]
Standing when Aishe did, Kem held out his hand once more to Bastian and Reign. "We appreciate your warning about the unwelcome visitor," he said. "It's always good to know. I'm glad you were here to chase him off. Those guys can be pretty tough."
It was said with his usual ghost of a smile; his own way of acknowledging Bastian's interesting turn of phrase. "I do have to be getting to Meridian, but if you see or hear anything else, Aishe should be around."
He looked at her as she said it and she nodded in response. "I have an errand to run, but after that I'll be in."
With that they both headed out with a smile and a wave... and as they headed back down the road to their own house, Kem couldn't help adding, [Isn't it nice to have neighbors stranger than us?]
Aishe just punched him on the shoulder in response.
((ooc: Aishe and Kem out))
[Definitely,] Kem responded to Aishe. [I'm good.]
Standing when Aishe did, Kem held out his hand once more to Bastian and Reign. "We appreciate your warning about the unwelcome visitor," he said. "It's always good to know. I'm glad you were here to chase him off. Those guys can be pretty tough."
It was said with his usual ghost of a smile; his own way of acknowledging Bastian's interesting turn of phrase. "I do have to be getting to Meridian, but if you see or hear anything else, Aishe should be around."
He looked at her as she said it and she nodded in response. "I have an errand to run, but after that I'll be in."
With that they both headed out with a smile and a wave... and as they headed back down the road to their own house, Kem couldn't help adding, [Isn't it nice to have neighbors stranger than us?]
Aishe just punched him on the shoulder in response.
((ooc: Aishe and Kem out))