No way in hell was he subscribing to the newspaper, just got going to happen. And going out to buy one every day seemed silly too, he only wanted one section after all. Besides, he was doing some unofficial, and superficial, research on Meridian as well. It never hurt to be prepared. Maybe his supervisor would give a pop quiz or something. Or maybe a company that big would just expect you to know stuff. That and he wanted to see the library. Call him odd, but Drew liked libraries.
Bounding down the stairs, he was off to catch a bus. He’d found an add for a car he was interested in and the owner said he’d be around the rest of the day and as such Drew was carpe’ing the deim as it was. Glancing around to get his bearings, he caught sight of Jillian.
“Hola chica!”
He grinned and turned his head in an odd direction to try and get a look at the title of what ever she was reading. But he couldn’t quite make it out.
“What’ya working on? Or is it work?”
Damned nice day out for work, although he didn’t fault her at all. If he were still in school, he’d have a hard time staying inside. It was a wonder he’d ever graduated now that he thought about it.
Beowulf...boring or brilliant?
"Ugh"
Jillian had read the last passage three times, and still had no idea what it was about. To go to the library and study seemed a good idea at the time. Where else could she find quiet, and anything she might need for her class on English Lit. Studying in the library had lasted all of about fifteen minutes before she gave that up and came outside to sit by the fountain. The sun felt so good, and warm, and conducive to learning about the epic poems of Old English literature. But Beowulf was turning out to be nothing like she had expected, and much more difficult for her to get interested in than she had hoped.
Intending to just take a quick break, Jilli had rolled up her jeans, kicked off her sandals, and stuck her feet in the cool water of the fountain, setting her book aside, and tilting her head up toward the cloudless sky. She was fortunate to have naturally dark skin, and not susceptible to burning but still never took that for granted, and rarely stayed out in the sun for more than a half hour or so at a time. After a bit she was going to go sit under a tree, on a patch of grass alongside the library wall, but not she was enjoying her short respite.
When several minutes had passed, Jillian pulled her feet from the water, turned, and picked up her book again. Sighing, she started reading, and soon was reciting the poem out loud.
" The words of the poet,
the sounds of the harp,
the joy of people echoed.
The poet told how the world
came to be, how God made the earth
and the water surrounding,
how He set the sun and the moon
as lights for people
and adorned the earth
with limbs and leaves for everyone.
Hrothgar's people lived in joy,
happy until that wanderer of the wasteland,
Grendel the demon, possessor of the moors,
began his crimes."
She considered the passage, and found it more interesting now. Excited, she continued on.
"One night, after a beer party,
the Danes settled in the hall
for sleep; they knew no sorrows.
The evil creature, grim and hungry,
grabbed thirty warriors
and went home laughing.
At dawn, when the Danes learned
of Grendel's strength,
there was great weeping.
The old king sat sadly,
crying for his men. Bloody
footprints were found."
Now the sun was starting to feel hot against her neck. Jilli grabbed her sandals, and with book in hand moved to the shade of a large Magnolia tree, where she plopped down and continued reading...really beginning to enjoy the story so much more now.
Drew
16 years ago
Jillian
16 years ago
Jillian's head snapped up at the familiar voice, and she beamed happily. She hadn't been in Nachton long, and to recognize anyone was a pleasant surprise.
"Hey Drew! I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you would be all ensconced in the bowels of that place where you're working."
Seeing he was trying to read the spine of her book, Jillian held it up to give him a better view.
"Beowulf." She said, trying to hide her boredom, not wanting to appear too lacking in the appreciation of what she had been told by her professor was 'fine literature'.
"It's required reading...not my favorite, but not too awful." And it wasn't...TOO awful...just middling.
"I was hoping for Shakespeare, but I found out that will be later in the term."
Positioned on her stomach, feet in the air, Jilli now sat up. The crick she was getting in her neck from looking WAY up at Drew, starting to worsen.
"Hey Drew! I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you would be all ensconced in the bowels of that place where you're working."
Seeing he was trying to read the spine of her book, Jillian held it up to give him a better view.
"Beowulf." She said, trying to hide her boredom, not wanting to appear too lacking in the appreciation of what she had been told by her professor was 'fine literature'.
"It's required reading...not my favorite, but not too awful." And it wasn't...TOO awful...just middling.
"I was hoping for Shakespeare, but I found out that will be later in the term."
Positioned on her stomach, feet in the air, Jilli now sat up. The crick she was getting in her neck from looking WAY up at Drew, starting to worsen.
Drew
16 years ago
“Don’t tell any one… I escaped.”
He teased cheerfully.
Seeing/being told what she was working on he visibly flinched and groaned for dramatic affect as she sank to his knees.
“God I couldn’t handle that stuff. I swear the previous generation forces it on you just because they had to do it. Noting at all to do with actually merit or interest, just ‘tradition’.”
Now if you asked him he could go off at length about the grand oral tradition of his people and the stories and poems handed down. But he hadn’t been asked so he didn’t offer.
He companionably settled himself into a sitting position. It was easy enough to stand up and take off if she wanted to be left alone.
“Wait until the force The Canterbury Tales on you. I swear I still have nightmares about that, never could get the flow of the language.”
He teased cheerfully.
Seeing/being told what she was working on he visibly flinched and groaned for dramatic affect as she sank to his knees.
“God I couldn’t handle that stuff. I swear the previous generation forces it on you just because they had to do it. Noting at all to do with actually merit or interest, just ‘tradition’.”
Now if you asked him he could go off at length about the grand oral tradition of his people and the stories and poems handed down. But he hadn’t been asked so he didn’t offer.
He companionably settled himself into a sitting position. It was easy enough to stand up and take off if she wanted to be left alone.
“Wait until the force The Canterbury Tales on you. I swear I still have nightmares about that, never could get the flow of the language.”
Jillian
16 years ago
Jilli giggled to hear he had escaped his job, even if she didn't believe him. Chances were he either hadn't started yet, or was on some kind of break. She wasn't sure why, but from the little she had seen of him at dinner, he seemed too conscientious for anything less. He had treated Nikhila and Xeph with respect, and to Jilli that was a sign of a decent person.
"I know, I just spent the last half hour reading, and re-reading this passage, and still have yet to retain it. It's crazy! I understand it fine, but its like my mind is rebeling, and won't let the words sink in." Closing the book with no further to do, Jilli put it in her lap, and leaned back on her hands, face to the sky.
"It doesn't help that its such a wonderful day either. Having to study, or work (she added for his benefit) on days like today should be a crime. I can think of a dozen better things to be doing." Shaking her head she leaned forward again, and looked at him. "I've heard of the Canterbury Ghost...is that part of it? I can't say I'm familiar with it."
Curious to know his interests, she barely took a breath before she questioned him.
"What would you read if given a choice?"
"I know, I just spent the last half hour reading, and re-reading this passage, and still have yet to retain it. It's crazy! I understand it fine, but its like my mind is rebeling, and won't let the words sink in." Closing the book with no further to do, Jilli put it in her lap, and leaned back on her hands, face to the sky.
"It doesn't help that its such a wonderful day either. Having to study, or work (she added for his benefit) on days like today should be a crime. I can think of a dozen better things to be doing." Shaking her head she leaned forward again, and looked at him. "I've heard of the Canterbury Ghost...is that part of it? I can't say I'm familiar with it."
Curious to know his interests, she barely took a breath before she questioned him.
"What would you read if given a choice?"
Drew
16 years ago
Drew couldn’t help but laugh. He knew that feeling and it was pure frustration nothing fun about it at all.
“I’m pretty sure people thought I was crazy in my Lit classes, I’d read stuff aloud and then write it down in my own words. I have no gift for that sort of thing.”
And he was OK with that.
It was a great day out, still warm (not to him hot, not nearly) but you could feel the sun was hitting things a bit differently and had lost some kick. Not quite fall but you could sense it was coming. He wondered if the leaves really did change colors out here. Well they must but he had no idea what it would look like. Something to look forward to.
“That’s why they don’t put windows in new buildings. They’ll tell you its energy efficient but it’s to keep you from getting distracted and daydreaming.”
Drew hated that. In some of the new buildings on campus, he’d get extraordinarily disoriented. Not just direction, but he’d forget if it was sunny out or cloudy and god help him if he started in the afternoon and left after dark. That was always a rude shock.
“What’s a Canterbury Ghost? Nah the tales is a bunch of people on a pilgrimage and they each have their story and blah blah blah.”
He grinned a lop sided and semi apologetically for being so opinioned.
“Does the sports page count? Actually, aside from what I’m working on and a few journals, I’m not much of a reader. Never got the bug.”
“I’m pretty sure people thought I was crazy in my Lit classes, I’d read stuff aloud and then write it down in my own words. I have no gift for that sort of thing.”
And he was OK with that.
It was a great day out, still warm (not to him hot, not nearly) but you could feel the sun was hitting things a bit differently and had lost some kick. Not quite fall but you could sense it was coming. He wondered if the leaves really did change colors out here. Well they must but he had no idea what it would look like. Something to look forward to.
“That’s why they don’t put windows in new buildings. They’ll tell you its energy efficient but it’s to keep you from getting distracted and daydreaming.”
Drew hated that. In some of the new buildings on campus, he’d get extraordinarily disoriented. Not just direction, but he’d forget if it was sunny out or cloudy and god help him if he started in the afternoon and left after dark. That was always a rude shock.
“What’s a Canterbury Ghost? Nah the tales is a bunch of people on a pilgrimage and they each have their story and blah blah blah.”
He grinned a lop sided and semi apologetically for being so opinioned.
“Does the sports page count? Actually, aside from what I’m working on and a few journals, I’m not much of a reader. Never got the bug.”
Jillian
16 years ago
"What's even stranger...math and science are a breeze for me. My mind soaks up those things like a sponge. I can read a theory once, and put it to practice...or an directions for an experiment, and its a done deal." A quick snap of her fingers for emphasis, and Jillian was nodding her head in agreement.
"Totally. I've got six classes at the university and the only class in a room with windows is math!" She half stuck her tongue out at that, knowing full well the work in math was much too interesting to allow her time to day dream...windows or not. "I guess it is logical though, to try and keep students focused...AND...it still must be energy efficient...two birds and all that. But whatever the reason, if I can be outside, that's where I'll be. Growing up outdoors makes it really hard to stay inside long now. I'm not claustrophobic or anything, but probably teetering on the edge."
Her memories of the Cantebury Ghost went back to a VERY OLD black and white movie that they used to show on the side of the general store building when the evenings were nice. Mr. Blackswan had received a whole crate of old movies in an auction purchase, and started showing them for free a few years back. Everyone would buy snacks and drinks from his store, then sit on blankets and old folding furniture as they watched the movies. It was a fun time, and one Jilli was already missing. But she knew well enough, it was her parents who made those evenings extra special, and no matter what, those movie nights would never be the same again.
Catching herself staring off into space just over Drew's shoulder, Jilli blushed.
"Well that proves it. Doesn't take much to distract this mind. Sorry."
Trying to look stern, Jilli lost it and smiled. "No, the sports page doesn't count, but I know what you mean about reading. Anything that requires me to sit still for very long just never was big with me. I CAN do it, and sometimes even enjoy it if my mind is being occupied well, but no, I'm with you there too.
Your job must involve reading though, right? Forgive me but beyond hearing something at dinner about you working in the archeological field, I don't remember what you said you did? I was a little out of it that night."
She now returned his lopsided grin as a way of offering up an apology. The pink in her cheeks deepened more too, as she recalled having fallen asleep at the dinner table. When she awoke she was properly mortified, and had now gotten past it mostly. But seeing Drew now reminded her, and some of her embarrassment returned.
"Totally. I've got six classes at the university and the only class in a room with windows is math!" She half stuck her tongue out at that, knowing full well the work in math was much too interesting to allow her time to day dream...windows or not. "I guess it is logical though, to try and keep students focused...AND...it still must be energy efficient...two birds and all that. But whatever the reason, if I can be outside, that's where I'll be. Growing up outdoors makes it really hard to stay inside long now. I'm not claustrophobic or anything, but probably teetering on the edge."
Her memories of the Cantebury Ghost went back to a VERY OLD black and white movie that they used to show on the side of the general store building when the evenings were nice. Mr. Blackswan had received a whole crate of old movies in an auction purchase, and started showing them for free a few years back. Everyone would buy snacks and drinks from his store, then sit on blankets and old folding furniture as they watched the movies. It was a fun time, and one Jilli was already missing. But she knew well enough, it was her parents who made those evenings extra special, and no matter what, those movie nights would never be the same again.
Catching herself staring off into space just over Drew's shoulder, Jilli blushed.
"Well that proves it. Doesn't take much to distract this mind. Sorry."
Trying to look stern, Jilli lost it and smiled. "No, the sports page doesn't count, but I know what you mean about reading. Anything that requires me to sit still for very long just never was big with me. I CAN do it, and sometimes even enjoy it if my mind is being occupied well, but no, I'm with you there too.
Your job must involve reading though, right? Forgive me but beyond hearing something at dinner about you working in the archeological field, I don't remember what you said you did? I was a little out of it that night."
She now returned his lopsided grin as a way of offering up an apology. The pink in her cheeks deepened more too, as she recalled having fallen asleep at the dinner table. When she awoke she was properly mortified, and had now gotten past it mostly. But seeing Drew now reminded her, and some of her embarrassment returned.
Drew
16 years ago
Drew had to laugh, he couldn't stop himself.
"Hey a guy gets a few faults, I day dream on occasion."Â?
He shrugged it off easily enough.
"Yeah I'll grant you this whole city thing has me a bit off my game. I swear even most of the University was outside, at least that's how I remember. Could be that I skipped classes a lot more than I remember too. Where'd you grow up?"Â?
She didn't have an accent, at least not one that he could hear or place but that didn't mean a lot out west people tended to sound the same unless you'd started out speaking another language. He was told occasionally he'd pronounce a word or phrase oddly, but it wasn't a regular thing. And usually it was because he'd either been thinking or speaking in another language right before.
"Sometimes good ideas sneak up on you when you're distracted."Â?
There was an effort to look contrite at her stern tone, but it didn't last long and it sure as hell didn't take.
He waived away the apology.
"It sounded like you came in from a bit of a trip that sort of thing can wipe you out. But I just finished my masters and managed to get an internship with Meridian. Not much, really a glorified go-for but its dang nice to put on the resume and networking isn't to be over looked and I'm not sure I want to go for my PhD in archeology... maybe even at all. But if you repeat that last bit I'll deny it with my dying breath and I've got at least four people in line to kill me if I don't at least try for it."Â?
Hmmmm, that number was probably higher. Drew started to do some mental math on that point and his face scrunched up oddly. Yeah that number was getting high, maybe he should try, what was a year or two going to hurt?
"Hey a guy gets a few faults, I day dream on occasion."Â?
He shrugged it off easily enough.
"Yeah I'll grant you this whole city thing has me a bit off my game. I swear even most of the University was outside, at least that's how I remember. Could be that I skipped classes a lot more than I remember too. Where'd you grow up?"Â?
She didn't have an accent, at least not one that he could hear or place but that didn't mean a lot out west people tended to sound the same unless you'd started out speaking another language. He was told occasionally he'd pronounce a word or phrase oddly, but it wasn't a regular thing. And usually it was because he'd either been thinking or speaking in another language right before.
"Sometimes good ideas sneak up on you when you're distracted."Â?
There was an effort to look contrite at her stern tone, but it didn't last long and it sure as hell didn't take.
He waived away the apology.
"It sounded like you came in from a bit of a trip that sort of thing can wipe you out. But I just finished my masters and managed to get an internship with Meridian. Not much, really a glorified go-for but its dang nice to put on the resume and networking isn't to be over looked and I'm not sure I want to go for my PhD in archeology... maybe even at all. But if you repeat that last bit I'll deny it with my dying breath and I've got at least four people in line to kill me if I don't at least try for it."Â?
Hmmmm, that number was probably higher. Drew started to do some mental math on that point and his face scrunched up oddly. Yeah that number was getting high, maybe he should try, what was a year or two going to hurt?
Jillian
16 years ago
"Do tell? About pretty girls?"
Jilli teased Drew about his daydreaming. Ever since dinner she had been mildly curious about Drew's single status. Not that he looked over the hill just yet, but considering both her parents, and overtwo thirds of the couples back home got married before twenty, it was a little odd to see someone escape that fate so far. She pried no further considering a break up might have been partially responsible for him picking up roots and coming to Nachton. Whatever it was, it was his business, and not her concern.
His not so subtle change of topic made her giggle. His line of thought seemed to mirror her own process a little. Before she answered Jilli quickly muffled a yawn that hit her suddenly.
"Elko, Nevada. Home to the first commercial airmail flight in the United States, back around 1926...27, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and the National Basque Festival!" Lowering her voice, Jilli continued with some of the lesser 'acceptable' things the town was known for. "As well as four brothels, and a bunch of casinos"
Not that Jilli considered either business anything more than just that...businesses...a means of income to the city. Prostitution was legal in several parts of Nevada, and the taxes they paid helped the town out. Besides, she tried really hard not to judge people, even if she didn't always succeed.
Elko was just a tiny speck on the map compared to Nachton, or what Jilli had seen of the city since she arrived, but she knew probably as much about her hometown as anything else. Sadly, after her parents died, she had little else to occupy her time, and spent a great deal roaming the streets of the town, as she had the countryside. She learned probably everything there was to know about Elko, but it helped to distract her from the pain, and was something she was glad she took the time to do.
"I was born across the border in California, but my parents weren't happy there, so they went against tradition, and 'went east'. I loved it there though, in Elko..." Jilli couldn't help but feel the memories tug at her heart, but she held her head up and didn't succumb to them. Now wasn't the time.
"You might be right about distractions, but mostly I find they give my soul a rest these days."
Ugh! If that didn't sound maudlin, Jilli didn't know what did. Shaking off those feelings was difficult, but she persevered.
Another yawn hit her, and this time she nearly missed covering her mouth.
"Sorry...I have this thing...some times I have pretty vivid dreams, and don't always sleep well." They were really more like nightmares, but Jilli didn't like to give people reason to be alarmed about her mental well being. "Because of that I try to take naps, but the night I met you I had been on the road all day long, and, well, you saw what happened."
He had been so nice to not give her a bad time about that, that Jilli felt like she could let him in on that weakness of her's, which she normally tried to cover up. "And if you repeat any of that to anyone...I'll do likewise."
Though she enjoyed talking, she didn't usually make such a point of talking about herself. She hoped she wasn't boring Drew.
"You? I know you said something about Colorado at dinner...is that where you're from?"
Jilli teased Drew about his daydreaming. Ever since dinner she had been mildly curious about Drew's single status. Not that he looked over the hill just yet, but considering both her parents, and overtwo thirds of the couples back home got married before twenty, it was a little odd to see someone escape that fate so far. She pried no further considering a break up might have been partially responsible for him picking up roots and coming to Nachton. Whatever it was, it was his business, and not her concern.
His not so subtle change of topic made her giggle. His line of thought seemed to mirror her own process a little. Before she answered Jilli quickly muffled a yawn that hit her suddenly.
"Elko, Nevada. Home to the first commercial airmail flight in the United States, back around 1926...27, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and the National Basque Festival!" Lowering her voice, Jilli continued with some of the lesser 'acceptable' things the town was known for. "As well as four brothels, and a bunch of casinos"
Not that Jilli considered either business anything more than just that...businesses...a means of income to the city. Prostitution was legal in several parts of Nevada, and the taxes they paid helped the town out. Besides, she tried really hard not to judge people, even if she didn't always succeed.
Elko was just a tiny speck on the map compared to Nachton, or what Jilli had seen of the city since she arrived, but she knew probably as much about her hometown as anything else. Sadly, after her parents died, she had little else to occupy her time, and spent a great deal roaming the streets of the town, as she had the countryside. She learned probably everything there was to know about Elko, but it helped to distract her from the pain, and was something she was glad she took the time to do.
"I was born across the border in California, but my parents weren't happy there, so they went against tradition, and 'went east'. I loved it there though, in Elko..." Jilli couldn't help but feel the memories tug at her heart, but she held her head up and didn't succumb to them. Now wasn't the time.
"You might be right about distractions, but mostly I find they give my soul a rest these days."
Ugh! If that didn't sound maudlin, Jilli didn't know what did. Shaking off those feelings was difficult, but she persevered.
Another yawn hit her, and this time she nearly missed covering her mouth.
"Sorry...I have this thing...some times I have pretty vivid dreams, and don't always sleep well." They were really more like nightmares, but Jilli didn't like to give people reason to be alarmed about her mental well being. "Because of that I try to take naps, but the night I met you I had been on the road all day long, and, well, you saw what happened."
He had been so nice to not give her a bad time about that, that Jilli felt like she could let him in on that weakness of her's, which she normally tried to cover up. "And if you repeat any of that to anyone...I'll do likewise."
Though she enjoyed talking, she didn't usually make such a point of talking about herself. She hoped she wasn't boring Drew.
"You? I know you said something about Colorado at dinner...is that where you're from?"
Drew
16 years ago
“Maybe once in a while.”
Drew didn’t even bat an eyelash at that. He was a guy after all. Not an obsessed or totally hormone-ridden guy, well not always hormone ridden any way, but a guy. He knew all the girls in the Pack and it just didn’t seem right. None of the other girls on the Rez would have a thing to do with him and college didn’t seem right. Way too much to explain if things got serious. Not that he hadn’t tried but Drew had always made it a point to keep things casual.
Her rambling about her hometown made him smile. He started to laugh but bit back on that lest it be taken the wrong way.
“Distractions make it worth getting out of bed in the morning from where I come from. Never know what’s going to happen.”
It wasn’t that he was unsympathetic, but the tone of the conversation thus far hadn’t been sorry for her self down on her luck and so he didn’t want to force her down that road. If Jillian went, or wanted to, he’d be a good listener.
“The Old Dude is like that too.” Lord his grandfather had horrific nightmares and it used to scare the hell out of Drew when he was younger. “And one or two of the brothers… a bit.”
‘The brothers’ being his uncles.
But the point was he understood and sympathized. They all had their quirks, high and low, but quirks and some were shared.
“But I won’t say anything about your naps if you keep the PhD thing under your hat. Damned shame I don’t go in for blackmail though.”
He grinned wickedly, although he knew she had way more on him than he had on her.
Laughing he shook his head at her.
“Nope. I’m sure there are some spots in Colorado that aren’t –too- different but I’m from the middle of nowhere Arizona. Actually outside of a tiny place called Bitter Springs, that’s actually an important point as there is a Nowhere, Arizona. Never been though.”
Hard to picture anything more isolated than home though, even if it was called Nowhere.
“We don’t even have a brothel.”
He teased her.
Drew didn’t even bat an eyelash at that. He was a guy after all. Not an obsessed or totally hormone-ridden guy, well not always hormone ridden any way, but a guy. He knew all the girls in the Pack and it just didn’t seem right. None of the other girls on the Rez would have a thing to do with him and college didn’t seem right. Way too much to explain if things got serious. Not that he hadn’t tried but Drew had always made it a point to keep things casual.
Her rambling about her hometown made him smile. He started to laugh but bit back on that lest it be taken the wrong way.
“Distractions make it worth getting out of bed in the morning from where I come from. Never know what’s going to happen.”
It wasn’t that he was unsympathetic, but the tone of the conversation thus far hadn’t been sorry for her self down on her luck and so he didn’t want to force her down that road. If Jillian went, or wanted to, he’d be a good listener.
“The Old Dude is like that too.” Lord his grandfather had horrific nightmares and it used to scare the hell out of Drew when he was younger. “And one or two of the brothers… a bit.”
‘The brothers’ being his uncles.
But the point was he understood and sympathized. They all had their quirks, high and low, but quirks and some were shared.
“But I won’t say anything about your naps if you keep the PhD thing under your hat. Damned shame I don’t go in for blackmail though.”
He grinned wickedly, although he knew she had way more on him than he had on her.
Laughing he shook his head at her.
“Nope. I’m sure there are some spots in Colorado that aren’t –too- different but I’m from the middle of nowhere Arizona. Actually outside of a tiny place called Bitter Springs, that’s actually an important point as there is a Nowhere, Arizona. Never been though.”
Hard to picture anything more isolated than home though, even if it was called Nowhere.
“We don’t even have a brothel.”
He teased her.
Jillian
16 years ago
"Phd...that sounds SO far away. Years, and years away..." Her tone was wistful now, talking about something she knew her parents would want for her, but not sure it was what she wanted for herself. "I'm having a hard time thinking of my masters even." She admitted. "You're so lucky to have all that behind you."
But that was life, and deep down inside she knew that when she was on the side of twenty that Drew was on now, she would be equally as far along. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't at least respect her parents wishes that far.
It was quite strange, but in a calming way, to hear of Drew's connection to nightmares, even if it wasn't direct. "Old dude?" Jilli wasn't sure if that was his father, or maybe another alpha from his pack back home. "One or TWO of the brothers? How many brothers do you have?" Her envy at his coming from a big family wasn't serious, but she had always wondered what it might have been like growing up with someone closer to her age to share things with. That idea became even more acute after her parents died, and she felt so alone. The feelings passed rapidly though, since it was the only life Jilli had ever known.
"Damned shame...we're both so upstanding." The easy kidding was nice. Jilli was glad Drew had bumped into her this afternoon, it reminded her of another reason why she was in Nachton...to make friends, and become at home with her new family.
"Bitter Springs? Do you have them?" Places were often named after some landmark, but a bitter spring?
"Nowhere...sounds like a lonely place. I'm glad you're not from Nowhere. Do you think if they had a brothel, maybe they could have been called 'Somewhere'?" It was a totally random thought that just rolled out of her mouth, and which she immediately waved off, and 'pshawed' at, since it was so silly, but she also grinned mischievously thinking perhaps it could have been a good idea once.
And that was the extent of Jilli's talk on sex, in any way, shape, or form. It was difficult enough to discuss things she was familiar with, but to broach a subject alien to her was beyond consideration.
But that was life, and deep down inside she knew that when she was on the side of twenty that Drew was on now, she would be equally as far along. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't at least respect her parents wishes that far.
It was quite strange, but in a calming way, to hear of Drew's connection to nightmares, even if it wasn't direct. "Old dude?" Jilli wasn't sure if that was his father, or maybe another alpha from his pack back home. "One or TWO of the brothers? How many brothers do you have?" Her envy at his coming from a big family wasn't serious, but she had always wondered what it might have been like growing up with someone closer to her age to share things with. That idea became even more acute after her parents died, and she felt so alone. The feelings passed rapidly though, since it was the only life Jilli had ever known.
"Damned shame...we're both so upstanding." The easy kidding was nice. Jilli was glad Drew had bumped into her this afternoon, it reminded her of another reason why she was in Nachton...to make friends, and become at home with her new family.
"Bitter Springs? Do you have them?" Places were often named after some landmark, but a bitter spring?
"Nowhere...sounds like a lonely place. I'm glad you're not from Nowhere. Do you think if they had a brothel, maybe they could have been called 'Somewhere'?" It was a totally random thought that just rolled out of her mouth, and which she immediately waved off, and 'pshawed' at, since it was so silly, but she also grinned mischievously thinking perhaps it could have been a good idea once.
And that was the extent of Jilli's talk on sex, in any way, shape, or form. It was difficult enough to discuss things she was familiar with, but to broach a subject alien to her was beyond consideration.
Drew
16 years ago
“You’re not just kidding. Even now it sounds far, so I wouldn’t call me lucky, well not as far as my academic career goes, just yet.”
Because, now he was being forced to make a decision and he just wasn’t sure what the answer was. How much was a PhD going to help him? Not a hell of a lot as near as he could tell. Maybe he should go back and start over, pick a different field, something more practical. He’d think about it later.
His people could be very odd about names, so for Drew it was just habit to talk around them. But he probably should explain.
“The Old Dude is my grandfather, Old Man is reserved for my dad. The Brother’s are dad’s brothers, my uncles. There are three of them but only two of them have odd dreams. I’ve got two sisters, both older though.”
He rolled his eyes. There was a friendly animosity between the three of them. Drew wasn’t home sick, but he did miss his family even if he had lost count of all the generations and the exact family ties.
“You know I’m not sure. Probably had them at one point but there’s a dam now. I’d have to ask one of the old timers, they’d know.”
Oddly enough, he’d never thought to ask that question. Home was just home he didn’t know why it was called what it was called.
He laughed at her ramblings. It was kind of funny.
“Maybe. But there might already be Somewhere, I know there is a Why. I swear the settlers showed up in Arizona and got their brains fried, couldn’t come up with decent names for anything.”
He didn’t say anything about home, not really. Nowhere might sound lonely but Bitter Springs, especially the reservation –was- lonely. So much so, that it had to be seen to be believed. Drew was fairly certain if he tried to explain she’d either not believe him or, at the very least, think he was exaggerating possibly looking for sympathy. And he wasn’t.
Because, now he was being forced to make a decision and he just wasn’t sure what the answer was. How much was a PhD going to help him? Not a hell of a lot as near as he could tell. Maybe he should go back and start over, pick a different field, something more practical. He’d think about it later.
His people could be very odd about names, so for Drew it was just habit to talk around them. But he probably should explain.
“The Old Dude is my grandfather, Old Man is reserved for my dad. The Brother’s are dad’s brothers, my uncles. There are three of them but only two of them have odd dreams. I’ve got two sisters, both older though.”
He rolled his eyes. There was a friendly animosity between the three of them. Drew wasn’t home sick, but he did miss his family even if he had lost count of all the generations and the exact family ties.
“You know I’m not sure. Probably had them at one point but there’s a dam now. I’d have to ask one of the old timers, they’d know.”
Oddly enough, he’d never thought to ask that question. Home was just home he didn’t know why it was called what it was called.
He laughed at her ramblings. It was kind of funny.
“Maybe. But there might already be Somewhere, I know there is a Why. I swear the settlers showed up in Arizona and got their brains fried, couldn’t come up with decent names for anything.”
He didn’t say anything about home, not really. Nowhere might sound lonely but Bitter Springs, especially the reservation –was- lonely. So much so, that it had to be seen to be believed. Drew was fairly certain if he tried to explain she’d either not believe him or, at the very least, think he was exaggerating possibly looking for sympathy. And he wasn’t.
Jillian
16 years ago
Shifting positions was what Jilli did. As she got older she learned how to make those shifts more fluid, and less obvious, but her body was still almost always in a state of movement. When she had been younger, people always said she was 'fidgety', and it bothered her enough to try and stop. Unfortunately, whether because of a fast metabolism, or something else, she had yet to conquer this issue any more than back porch psychoanalysis had conquered her bad dreams.
Moving onto her side, she propped her head on her hand, and tried to concentrate on being still, while listening to Drew at the same time.
"That's neat...the names for your relatives AND that you seem to have so many. We had several large families in our pack back home." She giggled softly and shook her head. "I need to stop saying that I guess...here's home now. In fact, I was the ONLY only child in any of the families. I don't know if all packs are the same or not, but I was always just as welcome in any of the other families that most of the time it was like we were all related."
And that was one reason why Jilli had never even dated once. The boys her age all considered her like a sister, which never bothered her one bit, since she felt the same way. Without more exposure to the world outside the clan, she never had opportunities to meet other boys.
"Was it like that for you too? Or are some packs like the outside world." Not that she was an expert on the outside world, but seeing places like the suburbs, where everyone seemed to have their own little world in their individual houses, was nothing like the almost communal way Jilli grew up. Everyone had their own homes, but they were small, and built somewhat like the Den, except in circular buildings that faced the countryside on the outside, and the community center and small lake on the inside. It was comfort to her to find the Den resembled home as much as it did.
Moving onto her side, she propped her head on her hand, and tried to concentrate on being still, while listening to Drew at the same time.
"That's neat...the names for your relatives AND that you seem to have so many. We had several large families in our pack back home." She giggled softly and shook her head. "I need to stop saying that I guess...here's home now. In fact, I was the ONLY only child in any of the families. I don't know if all packs are the same or not, but I was always just as welcome in any of the other families that most of the time it was like we were all related."
And that was one reason why Jilli had never even dated once. The boys her age all considered her like a sister, which never bothered her one bit, since she felt the same way. Without more exposure to the world outside the clan, she never had opportunities to meet other boys.
"Was it like that for you too? Or are some packs like the outside world." Not that she was an expert on the outside world, but seeing places like the suburbs, where everyone seemed to have their own little world in their individual houses, was nothing like the almost communal way Jilli grew up. Everyone had their own homes, but they were small, and built somewhat like the Den, except in circular buildings that faced the countryside on the outside, and the community center and small lake on the inside. It was comfort to her to find the Den resembled home as much as it did.
Drew
16 years ago
Drew grinned and had to very much remind himself –not- to give poor Jillian a run down on the clan system and family structure relative to his own back ground. From fighting with Beowulf to getting hit with Navajo culture, yeah that would be a –great- change.
Scratching his head thoughtfully, he considered, finally shrugging and giving up.
“Well I can’t rightly say if all Packs are like that. I know we are, but mostly because to one degree or another we are all related. Don’t get me wrong you get way out into in-law territory and second third and fourth cousins but we’re mostly family.”
And a damned fine defense it was too. There were a few odds and ends. His mother hadn’t been related to any of them. She’d married his father despite all the odd talk and rumors that surrounded them… despite the truth too if you thought about it. He had an uncle and a cousin by marriage that were from out side of the Pack as well, but it was few and far between. Thinking about what he’d said he held up his hands and shook off any banjo music she might be hearing.
“We don’t in breed and we’re not hicks or anything. Its –nothing- like Deliverance. I swear I’m not betrothed to my sister or first cousin or anything. Its just a big –very- extended family; with a nice healthy gene pool. I mean most of us have all our teeth and speak in complete sentences even.”
Hmmm… that was a bit more than he’d planed on saying. But it was too late to take it back now.
Another short laugh.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not your best gauge of the outside world. Heck this is as far from home as I’ve ever been.”
That and part of his clan’s goal was to protect themselves from the outside world. Very hard to get a read on things that were ‘normal’ when you lived in your own little world. Not that he was what you’d call sheltered, just protective of home and family. That, of course, extended to any Kadzait under any circumstances.
Scratching his head thoughtfully, he considered, finally shrugging and giving up.
“Well I can’t rightly say if all Packs are like that. I know we are, but mostly because to one degree or another we are all related. Don’t get me wrong you get way out into in-law territory and second third and fourth cousins but we’re mostly family.”
And a damned fine defense it was too. There were a few odds and ends. His mother hadn’t been related to any of them. She’d married his father despite all the odd talk and rumors that surrounded them… despite the truth too if you thought about it. He had an uncle and a cousin by marriage that were from out side of the Pack as well, but it was few and far between. Thinking about what he’d said he held up his hands and shook off any banjo music she might be hearing.
“We don’t in breed and we’re not hicks or anything. Its –nothing- like Deliverance. I swear I’m not betrothed to my sister or first cousin or anything. Its just a big –very- extended family; with a nice healthy gene pool. I mean most of us have all our teeth and speak in complete sentences even.”
Hmmm… that was a bit more than he’d planed on saying. But it was too late to take it back now.
Another short laugh.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not your best gauge of the outside world. Heck this is as far from home as I’ve ever been.”
That and part of his clan’s goal was to protect themselves from the outside world. Very hard to get a read on things that were ‘normal’ when you lived in your own little world. Not that he was what you’d call sheltered, just protective of home and family. That, of course, extended to any Kadzait under any circumstances.
Jillian
16 years ago
Jilli listened as Drew seemed to open up a little, and share more of his home life with her. It was different from how she grew up, yet she seemed to sense similarities too.
"Ack! How silly! I would never think such a thing."
His comparison of his huge family struck her completely off guard, and cracked her up. While she didn't really like the movie Deliverance, finding it just too raw, and abusively harsh, she had seen it, and did understand what he meant. She wondered if anyone in his past had ever suggested such a thing to him. Jilli knew people could be awful, but she hoped Drew had been lucky like she had been, and hadn't suffered much at the hands of such bullies.
"If you're any indication, you have nothing to prove to me."
Still laughing, Jilli leaned forward and grabbed his arm, and gave him a slight shake. Jilli was the type of person who, once she knew someone well enough, became fairly demonstrative. She may not have grown up with blood relatives around her, but the people of the pack were every bit as close as she imagined real aunts, uncles, and cousins might be.
Loving how easy it was to tease Drew, Jilli suddenly began squinting, and leaning closer to him, focusing on his mouth.
"Although...are you sure you didn't get those from the dentist's office?"
She thought he had a marvelous smile, and hoped to see it again with her little joke.
"It also seems to me that the more I hear from you, for all our differences we have a lot in common, with Nachton being our first travel from home." She nodded, even though as she did she considered how they were different in that way too. Drew still had family in Arizona.
"Ack! How silly! I would never think such a thing."
His comparison of his huge family struck her completely off guard, and cracked her up. While she didn't really like the movie Deliverance, finding it just too raw, and abusively harsh, she had seen it, and did understand what he meant. She wondered if anyone in his past had ever suggested such a thing to him. Jilli knew people could be awful, but she hoped Drew had been lucky like she had been, and hadn't suffered much at the hands of such bullies.
"If you're any indication, you have nothing to prove to me."
Still laughing, Jilli leaned forward and grabbed his arm, and gave him a slight shake. Jilli was the type of person who, once she knew someone well enough, became fairly demonstrative. She may not have grown up with blood relatives around her, but the people of the pack were every bit as close as she imagined real aunts, uncles, and cousins might be.
Loving how easy it was to tease Drew, Jilli suddenly began squinting, and leaning closer to him, focusing on his mouth.
"Although...are you sure you didn't get those from the dentist's office?"
She thought he had a marvelous smile, and hoped to see it again with her little joke.
"It also seems to me that the more I hear from you, for all our differences we have a lot in common, with Nachton being our first travel from home." She nodded, even though as she did she considered how they were different in that way too. Drew still had family in Arizona.
Drew
16 years ago
“You’d be amazed what people think.”
Was all he said, that was more than enough as far as he was concerned. Some day maybe he’d make a list of all the misconceptions he’d dealt with and random rumors he’d heard muttered. Drew mentally shrugged it off, he had lots of practice of that.
The idea of getting his teeth from a dentist did indeed make him smile, and easy relaxed grin. That couldn’t be farther from the truth but he opted to play along with it.
“You got me! Totally bought these had to test drive like three pairs and they did custom work for the exact shade of white I wanted. Money well spent if you ask me, six more payments and these babies are mine.”
Now that sounded like Nikhila, at least a bit. She always seemed to find similarities, of course he tended to do that too. It was easier, better if you could see what was the same and bring people together rather than drive them apart.
“Nothing wrong with that. I mean everyone has to start somewhere.”
Was all he said, that was more than enough as far as he was concerned. Some day maybe he’d make a list of all the misconceptions he’d dealt with and random rumors he’d heard muttered. Drew mentally shrugged it off, he had lots of practice of that.
The idea of getting his teeth from a dentist did indeed make him smile, and easy relaxed grin. That couldn’t be farther from the truth but he opted to play along with it.
“You got me! Totally bought these had to test drive like three pairs and they did custom work for the exact shade of white I wanted. Money well spent if you ask me, six more payments and these babies are mine.”
Now that sounded like Nikhila, at least a bit. She always seemed to find similarities, of course he tended to do that too. It was easier, better if you could see what was the same and bring people together rather than drive them apart.
“Nothing wrong with that. I mean everyone has to start somewhere.”
Jillian
16 years ago
The day was passing, and as it was the sun did what it did, and moved across the sky. Soon there were shards of sunlight streaking through the trees, and poking Jilli in the eye. After dodging the light for a while, she got up and moved over to where Drew sat, and turned so she was facing the same direction, now needing to turn her head to see him when he spoke.
And the more he spoke the more Jilli wanted to know; however, she still didn't want to pester him, and make him feel like every time their paths crossed, he would want to walk on the other side of the street. So she kept her questions to a minimum, and tried not to bore him.
He was nice enough, playing along with her crazy thoughts, but Jilli's interests kept going back to him...
"And what does Mr. Andrew Benally enjoy doing, when he's not working, or reading about sports...oh yes, or studying for his Phd?"
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Beowulf was speaking, but so far he was still too quiet to pay any attention to. Besides, since that dinner the night of her arrival, Jilli hadn't seen any of her new family, except in passing, if at all. Beowulf would be there after Drew left, so he could just sit and wait.
Now that she wasn't seeing him with the sun at his back, which had left his face very shadowed, Jilli paid more attention to Drew, the man. His skin was darker than her's but not by a lot. She knew he was several years older than she was, but he didn't really look it. But then again, even though Jilli felt all of her eighteen years, she had heard often enough to know she looked younger too. It was something her mother had repeatedly said was a gift, but right now it seemed more like a curse.
His hair was black, and though her's was technically dark brown, for all intents and purposes it looked to be about the same color. It was long by a lot of standards, but the guys in her pack back home wore theirs long too, so she barely registered that difference. His eyes were brown, but she knew hers were darker, almost a reversal of their haircolor. And like nearly all the Kadzait males, Drew was very tall. Though she was only of average height now, she rather expected she hadn't finished growing, and wouldn't be surprised if she shot up another couple inches in the near future. At least that was another thing her mother tended to remind her of.
And then she had the feeling that he had caught her staring. Though Drew gave no real indication that Jilli was doing anything silly, she blushed and looked off to the side anyway. If he hadn't caught her, it was all good, and if he had, she'd just admit to the truth. She had no reason to lie. She wasn't doing anything wrong.
"Do you miss home yet?"
The question was a bit out of left field, but with the way Jilli's head flitted back and forth even still, she had to know it that was normal, and she had no one else to ask, who might think her ungrateful for all she had been given since coming to Nachton. Not that she really considered that much of a risk - Xeph, Nikhila, even Hammer had been more than kind. Maybe, in truth, she just wanted to see if they had even more in common.
And the more he spoke the more Jilli wanted to know; however, she still didn't want to pester him, and make him feel like every time their paths crossed, he would want to walk on the other side of the street. So she kept her questions to a minimum, and tried not to bore him.
He was nice enough, playing along with her crazy thoughts, but Jilli's interests kept going back to him...
"And what does Mr. Andrew Benally enjoy doing, when he's not working, or reading about sports...oh yes, or studying for his Phd?"
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Beowulf was speaking, but so far he was still too quiet to pay any attention to. Besides, since that dinner the night of her arrival, Jilli hadn't seen any of her new family, except in passing, if at all. Beowulf would be there after Drew left, so he could just sit and wait.
Now that she wasn't seeing him with the sun at his back, which had left his face very shadowed, Jilli paid more attention to Drew, the man. His skin was darker than her's but not by a lot. She knew he was several years older than she was, but he didn't really look it. But then again, even though Jilli felt all of her eighteen years, she had heard often enough to know she looked younger too. It was something her mother had repeatedly said was a gift, but right now it seemed more like a curse.
His hair was black, and though her's was technically dark brown, for all intents and purposes it looked to be about the same color. It was long by a lot of standards, but the guys in her pack back home wore theirs long too, so she barely registered that difference. His eyes were brown, but she knew hers were darker, almost a reversal of their haircolor. And like nearly all the Kadzait males, Drew was very tall. Though she was only of average height now, she rather expected she hadn't finished growing, and wouldn't be surprised if she shot up another couple inches in the near future. At least that was another thing her mother tended to remind her of.
And then she had the feeling that he had caught her staring. Though Drew gave no real indication that Jilli was doing anything silly, she blushed and looked off to the side anyway. If he hadn't caught her, it was all good, and if he had, she'd just admit to the truth. She had no reason to lie. She wasn't doing anything wrong.
"Do you miss home yet?"
The question was a bit out of left field, but with the way Jilli's head flitted back and forth even still, she had to know it that was normal, and she had no one else to ask, who might think her ungrateful for all she had been given since coming to Nachton. Not that she really considered that much of a risk - Xeph, Nikhila, even Hammer had been more than kind. Maybe, in truth, she just wanted to see if they had even more in common.
Drew
16 years ago
Drew stretched hugely, from his feet through the tips of his fingers. He wasn’t used to having lazy days. It was a nice change of pace, he couldn’t handle it everyday but a day or two here and there might be good for him.
“Me? Oh ordinary stuff I play a little baseball, I used to brew back home beer, pretty good stuff too if you want an opinion. Mess around with a car here and there.”
A one sided half grin crept across his face.
“In fact that’s what I started out to do this afternoon, see a guy about a car. Sounded like it needed some work, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Xeph might have an issue with it though, depending on how bad it was. Hell, he should check on that, or see if he could find a do it yourself type garage in the city. Yeah that would probably be best.
He let her size him up. She wasn’t the first, but this wasn’t hostile. Ok it wasn’t the first time he’d been sized up in a non-hostile manner either. She probably hadn’t made up her mind about him and if giving him the once over helped, well she was welcome to.
“What about you though? It can’t all be studying. I mean you just moved and are starting to get back into the swing of things… or make up a new swing. Don’t tell me you’ve been hold up back at the Den the whole time.”
He’d given her an opportunity to talk about things if she wanted, softly touching on the issues but not so much that she’d have to. And not so aggressively that he actually asked.
“I’m not sure miss is the right word.” After all, it would be there when he got back. “Its strange not being there though. Even when I went to school I wasn’t –that- far away. I don’t think its caught up with me yet. Give me a few months. Its not quite the same for you though is it?”
OK that was more aggressive, but no one ever said he was subtle. Observant yes, delicate and tactful, not always.
“Me? Oh ordinary stuff I play a little baseball, I used to brew back home beer, pretty good stuff too if you want an opinion. Mess around with a car here and there.”
A one sided half grin crept across his face.
“In fact that’s what I started out to do this afternoon, see a guy about a car. Sounded like it needed some work, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Xeph might have an issue with it though, depending on how bad it was. Hell, he should check on that, or see if he could find a do it yourself type garage in the city. Yeah that would probably be best.
He let her size him up. She wasn’t the first, but this wasn’t hostile. Ok it wasn’t the first time he’d been sized up in a non-hostile manner either. She probably hadn’t made up her mind about him and if giving him the once over helped, well she was welcome to.
“What about you though? It can’t all be studying. I mean you just moved and are starting to get back into the swing of things… or make up a new swing. Don’t tell me you’ve been hold up back at the Den the whole time.”
He’d given her an opportunity to talk about things if she wanted, softly touching on the issues but not so much that she’d have to. And not so aggressively that he actually asked.
“I’m not sure miss is the right word.” After all, it would be there when he got back. “Its strange not being there though. Even when I went to school I wasn’t –that- far away. I don’t think its caught up with me yet. Give me a few months. Its not quite the same for you though is it?”
OK that was more aggressive, but no one ever said he was subtle. Observant yes, delicate and tactful, not always.
Jillian
16 years ago
"Beer?" Jilli laughed a little nervously. Sure the pack wasn't dry, and people she knew drank alcohol, her parents included, but she had never touched the stuff, and was now a little irritated with herself to not have even tried it. After all, most kids her age had. But then, most kids her age had done a lot of things she never had.
"Oh wow, you fix cars? That might not have been the best news to leak out to me. My car is pretty new, but if anything were to ever go wrong with it, I wouldn't know the first to do...except call you now."
She still didn't know Drew well, but she knew she liked him, and, well, she usually had good instincts when it came to people.
"Me? Pretty much, yea, I've been keeping to the Den, and school exclusively. I like to explore, but not when I don't know the area well." She shrugged, not really upset or anything about her lack of 'fun' time in Nachton. It would come eventually, she knew, when she began feeling more familiar with her surroundings. "But for now, I'm content to get my footing and work out a pace with school. When I have that down I'll probably start venturing out more."
Then too there was her age. While eighteen was considered adult in most cases, there were still places that barred Jilli from entrance. Not that she had any burning desire to visit those places to begin with, but she knew she'd probably die a thousand deaths if she were to ever be turned away from anywhere. So she decided long ago to just avoid those places for now, period.
"Anything done outside is something I either already love to do, or would love to learn. I've always been somewhat athletic, and I don't mind getting dirty." Again she shrugged, as if to say that had explained it all.
And when 'home' came up, because she had stupidly brought it up, Jilli gave Drew a sad smile.
"It is strange, though really, as far as I'm concerned...while I keep calling it home, it really isn't anymore. That's pretty much just habit."
Talking about her parent's death wasn't so common place that Jilli wasn't still affected by it. It would probably hurt for sometime to come yet. But it was something she knew she had to talk about, to help her deal with it until the day came when it didn't hurt quite so much.
"I don't know if Xeph said anything..." With her being such a child in the grand scheme of things, and knowing Xeph was such an important man, it only made sense that he wouldn't have made a point about explaining her circumstances to anyone.
"But I came to Nachton because my parents were both killed in a car accident some months ago, and there really wasn't anywhere else for me to go."
The sun had again moved, so Jilli turned her body to face Drew again, feeling a crink start to form in her neck.
"My mom was Alpha for our pack, and once a new Alpha had been chosen, it just felt wrong for me to be there..." Holding up her hand, to stave off any possible comments, Jilli went on. "...and I know, yes, those feelings were mine, and not based on anything the pack did. In fact, they all couldn't have been any more loving, and supportive if they had tried. It was all me. Probably in part I knew the change would be what I needed to bring my life back together... Anyway, some people told me that Xeph had met my parents, and who he was, and that I might want to contact him...and that was how I got here."
Her sad smile had turned more positive as she made her way through the memories, but anyone who knew her would see see her eyes laced with a little pain.
"But hey! I shouldn't keep you...you need to go see about that car!"
Jilli really didn't want him to leave, but she also didn't want to be responsible for him missing an appointment.
"Oh wow, you fix cars? That might not have been the best news to leak out to me. My car is pretty new, but if anything were to ever go wrong with it, I wouldn't know the first to do...except call you now."
She still didn't know Drew well, but she knew she liked him, and, well, she usually had good instincts when it came to people.
"Me? Pretty much, yea, I've been keeping to the Den, and school exclusively. I like to explore, but not when I don't know the area well." She shrugged, not really upset or anything about her lack of 'fun' time in Nachton. It would come eventually, she knew, when she began feeling more familiar with her surroundings. "But for now, I'm content to get my footing and work out a pace with school. When I have that down I'll probably start venturing out more."
Then too there was her age. While eighteen was considered adult in most cases, there were still places that barred Jilli from entrance. Not that she had any burning desire to visit those places to begin with, but she knew she'd probably die a thousand deaths if she were to ever be turned away from anywhere. So she decided long ago to just avoid those places for now, period.
"Anything done outside is something I either already love to do, or would love to learn. I've always been somewhat athletic, and I don't mind getting dirty." Again she shrugged, as if to say that had explained it all.
And when 'home' came up, because she had stupidly brought it up, Jilli gave Drew a sad smile.
"It is strange, though really, as far as I'm concerned...while I keep calling it home, it really isn't anymore. That's pretty much just habit."
Talking about her parent's death wasn't so common place that Jilli wasn't still affected by it. It would probably hurt for sometime to come yet. But it was something she knew she had to talk about, to help her deal with it until the day came when it didn't hurt quite so much.
"I don't know if Xeph said anything..." With her being such a child in the grand scheme of things, and knowing Xeph was such an important man, it only made sense that he wouldn't have made a point about explaining her circumstances to anyone.
"But I came to Nachton because my parents were both killed in a car accident some months ago, and there really wasn't anywhere else for me to go."
The sun had again moved, so Jilli turned her body to face Drew again, feeling a crink start to form in her neck.
"My mom was Alpha for our pack, and once a new Alpha had been chosen, it just felt wrong for me to be there..." Holding up her hand, to stave off any possible comments, Jilli went on. "...and I know, yes, those feelings were mine, and not based on anything the pack did. In fact, they all couldn't have been any more loving, and supportive if they had tried. It was all me. Probably in part I knew the change would be what I needed to bring my life back together... Anyway, some people told me that Xeph had met my parents, and who he was, and that I might want to contact him...and that was how I got here."
Her sad smile had turned more positive as she made her way through the memories, but anyone who knew her would see see her eyes laced with a little pain.
"But hey! I shouldn't keep you...you need to go see about that car!"
Jilli really didn't want him to leave, but she also didn't want to be responsible for him missing an appointment.
Drew
16 years ago
He nodded. Yup beer. He wasn’t exactly sure how old Jillian was and yeah he hadn’t waited until he was twenty-one but he didn’t press or even offer. If she asked that would be different. Instead, he laughed at the car thing.
“I’m not necessarily good with the new ones, so many computerized things and what have you. But any time I can give you a hand just shout. Worst case scenario I can keep a garage from robbing you blind.”
Note to self, get Jillian the hell out of the Den for a bit. If any one knew about not knowing where they were going it was Drew. But he’d managed to find a number of fun places.
“Heck yes.” He said adamantly “I’m not saying I’m an expert on the city but I’ve found some fun places, we’ll get you out. Maybe you can find some things I’ve missed. Besides it wouldn’t be exploring if you knew where you were going would it?”
That’s what he’d thought he’d picked up. He was hopping he’d been wrong but apparently not. Drew simply couldn’t imagine losing both his parents that fast and together. He knew his grandfather would die and both his parents but he also took their long life spans for granted. He also couldn’t imagine leaving his Pack just because there was a new alpha. Home was home.
Without even thinking about it Drew leaned over and gave the girl, pack mate, sitting beside him.
“I am so sorry. That has to be rough.”
The offer to help, to talk further wasn’t made for him it was a given.
“Car? What car I don’t remember any car.”
He’d call the guy later and apologize and try and get out tomorrow. It just wouldn’t be right to run out on her after that.
“I’m not necessarily good with the new ones, so many computerized things and what have you. But any time I can give you a hand just shout. Worst case scenario I can keep a garage from robbing you blind.”
Note to self, get Jillian the hell out of the Den for a bit. If any one knew about not knowing where they were going it was Drew. But he’d managed to find a number of fun places.
“Heck yes.” He said adamantly “I’m not saying I’m an expert on the city but I’ve found some fun places, we’ll get you out. Maybe you can find some things I’ve missed. Besides it wouldn’t be exploring if you knew where you were going would it?”
That’s what he’d thought he’d picked up. He was hopping he’d been wrong but apparently not. Drew simply couldn’t imagine losing both his parents that fast and together. He knew his grandfather would die and both his parents but he also took their long life spans for granted. He also couldn’t imagine leaving his Pack just because there was a new alpha. Home was home.
Without even thinking about it Drew leaned over and gave the girl, pack mate, sitting beside him.
“I am so sorry. That has to be rough.”
The offer to help, to talk further wasn’t made for him it was a given.
“Car? What car I don’t remember any car.”
He’d call the guy later and apologize and try and get out tomorrow. It just wouldn’t be right to run out on her after that.
Jillian
16 years ago
The conversation was turning out to be as enlightening as it was nice.
From the little time with Drew, Jilli could see he wasn't big into elaborating...something she thought ALL guys were into, especially when talking about themselves. The boys she had grown up were like that, always boasting about this or that, and way into themselves. Refreshingly, Drew wasn't at all like the boys of her pack, and ironically she now wished he was, a little.
But she hoped maybe, once he knew and trusted her more, he would come to realize she was as easy, and acceptable to talk to as he was turning out to be.
"And giving me some help with a mechanic would be every bit as welcome. Thank you for the offer. I just hope I have no need of it in the near future." Her smile was coming more frequent, and easily now, as was her trust.
"True, in theory what you say is right...part of the reason for exploring is to discover, but there is just something a little intimidating about marching out into the total unknown. Even if I just had a little more time to get my bearings...get to know the parameters of the area, so if I do get turned around, I can at least right myself again on my own. Nachton is just so HUGE compared to Elko."
His offer was exciting, and it was hard for Jilli not to jump in and start planning an outing. She did though...she would take some time, and maybe check a few things out on her own, then make some suggestions. Then, hopefully, Drew would see her as the adult she was, and not some silly, needy, kid.
His hug was sudden, and surprised Jilli, but she didn't pull away, or even tense up. The comfort she felt was too welcome to try and escape. Until she felt his arms she had forgotten it had been so long, and how she missed the feelings they evoked.
"I can't imagine anything rougher, or more unfair." Hating that the conversation had turned bleak, she tried to stop her voice from trembling, or her eyes from tearing, and succeeded.
"Then, who said life was fair? I mean, look at us, we have already been given a gift of life beyond most...its not fair of me to ask for more either. Indestructibility would just be greedy." It was a discussion she had with herself often lately, and intellectually it made sense...emotionally, not so much.
Looking up at Drew, Jilli felt like a door had opened, and she was now freer to move about her new life in Nachton. Somehow she would find a way to thank the sweet young man before her. For now she would concentrate on just enjoying his company.
"Okay then...you're a big boy...as long as you don't get mad at me later for possibly losing you some money." Unaware of his financial situation, Jilli didn't know if he was depending on his mechanic abilities to supplement his income with Meridian, or just being a nice guy to someone else. Since she was now responsible for her own finances, something not too easy to get used to, but necessary, she was more aware in general.
"Speaking of the Den...are you all moved in and settled? I am going to brave the big city long enough to go shopping for some homey type decorations later, and would be glad to either help you find something, or even pick up anything you might want."
It was a small offer of payback, but one she knew she could follow through with. Most boys didn't like shopping, and shopping for decorating things was probably the lowest thing on their agendas. Not that she relished shopping herself, but when something was needed, she didn't usually procrastinate much.
From the little time with Drew, Jilli could see he wasn't big into elaborating...something she thought ALL guys were into, especially when talking about themselves. The boys she had grown up were like that, always boasting about this or that, and way into themselves. Refreshingly, Drew wasn't at all like the boys of her pack, and ironically she now wished he was, a little.
But she hoped maybe, once he knew and trusted her more, he would come to realize she was as easy, and acceptable to talk to as he was turning out to be.
"And giving me some help with a mechanic would be every bit as welcome. Thank you for the offer. I just hope I have no need of it in the near future." Her smile was coming more frequent, and easily now, as was her trust.
"True, in theory what you say is right...part of the reason for exploring is to discover, but there is just something a little intimidating about marching out into the total unknown. Even if I just had a little more time to get my bearings...get to know the parameters of the area, so if I do get turned around, I can at least right myself again on my own. Nachton is just so HUGE compared to Elko."
His offer was exciting, and it was hard for Jilli not to jump in and start planning an outing. She did though...she would take some time, and maybe check a few things out on her own, then make some suggestions. Then, hopefully, Drew would see her as the adult she was, and not some silly, needy, kid.
His hug was sudden, and surprised Jilli, but she didn't pull away, or even tense up. The comfort she felt was too welcome to try and escape. Until she felt his arms she had forgotten it had been so long, and how she missed the feelings they evoked.
"I can't imagine anything rougher, or more unfair." Hating that the conversation had turned bleak, she tried to stop her voice from trembling, or her eyes from tearing, and succeeded.
"Then, who said life was fair? I mean, look at us, we have already been given a gift of life beyond most...its not fair of me to ask for more either. Indestructibility would just be greedy." It was a discussion she had with herself often lately, and intellectually it made sense...emotionally, not so much.
Looking up at Drew, Jilli felt like a door had opened, and she was now freer to move about her new life in Nachton. Somehow she would find a way to thank the sweet young man before her. For now she would concentrate on just enjoying his company.
"Okay then...you're a big boy...as long as you don't get mad at me later for possibly losing you some money." Unaware of his financial situation, Jilli didn't know if he was depending on his mechanic abilities to supplement his income with Meridian, or just being a nice guy to someone else. Since she was now responsible for her own finances, something not too easy to get used to, but necessary, she was more aware in general.
"Speaking of the Den...are you all moved in and settled? I am going to brave the big city long enough to go shopping for some homey type decorations later, and would be glad to either help you find something, or even pick up anything you might want."
It was a small offer of payback, but one she knew she could follow through with. Most boys didn't like shopping, and shopping for decorating things was probably the lowest thing on their agendas. Not that she relished shopping herself, but when something was needed, she didn't usually procrastinate much.