It was good he was so positive. That was a very hard thing to do in the light of such an injury, especially if he was talking about being lucky to have his leg. It must have been pretty bad. Marie found herself liking Julian a little bit more as they talked. She wasn't sure if he was safe or not, but she liked him.
"Strong like bull ferocious like tiger?"
And then Julian slipped, she felt Garnet start to shy a bit from the sudden movement but Marie didn't let that happen.
"And that you have a decent sense of balance."
Marie added to proving his own point.
Her eyes widened a bit as he told her a bit about his accident. That would have been terrifying. She nodded agreement and tried to think of something to say, but failed. It was something of a relief that he didn't dwell on the details. Her best guess was neither of them wanted to go into too much detail.
It didn't take much to respond to his humor. Marie let herself laugh a bit.
"I would have thought that a shot gun in your shin would have made more sense. You couldn't fit anything more than a derringer in your patella and those are practically worthless."
Perhaps she'd been around Ambrose too long. Marie was rather shocked with herself Ysabel never would have said anything like that. She'd just have to keep trying to live up to her vampire's example that was all.
Footprints in the Snow (Attn: Marie)
Julian wasn't the biggest fan of the cold but he still enjoyed winter sports. It was a New York thing. He didn't avoid the snow, he just bundled up nice and warm for it. Of course, snow sports were kind of tough given the state of his hip, so instead of getting in over his head and trying to cross-country ski or something equally catastrophic Julian was simply walking. The trails in the Preserve were more or less cleared, but he could still see prints. They looked well-traveled.
He could see that someone had, indeed, come through on skis recently. There were also plenty of footprints, and some hoof prints. Julian hadn't realized the park was so popular but it was the largest open area in Nachton. And while it was wintry-chilly out, the sun was up and shining and there wasn't a lot of wind. It didn't feel as cold as it was.
Bearing in mind that there was a lot of traffic here apparently, Julian kept toward the side of the trails as he walked slowly across them. On flat ground his limp wasn't bad at a normal pace but here on the snowy trails it was much more pronounced. This was good exercise though, so he resolved to walk for another mile or so.
Marie
12 years ago
Julian Stephenson
12 years ago
"Sure, something like that. I don't know, it might be ferocious like fluffy kitten, but we can say 'tiger' and let me hang onto some pride."
Julian found it easy to talk to Marie. Well okay, he found it pretty easy to talk to most people but Marie was enjoyable and he loved walking along next to the little horse.
When Marie casually analyzed the possibility of a firearm in his anatomy Julian stood up straight and whistled at her, a low 'I'm impressed' sound.
"Wow, well if I do have a desire to hijack a plane with a hidden weapon I know who I'll consult beforehand. You're remarkably well informed."
For a teenage girl in college. It was sort of creepy. But hey, it was good that she knew her way around a gun, right?
Julian raised his eyebrows at Marie warily. "You're not, uh, 'packing heat' now, are you? I swear, I'll have you home before sundown."
He'd heard of the proverbial dad on the front porch with the shotgun, but he didn't usually have to worry about his date carrying a weapon, even a hypothetical date that wasn't, and would never, happen. Marie was way too young for him, and now she was also far too dangerous.
Julian found it easy to talk to Marie. Well okay, he found it pretty easy to talk to most people but Marie was enjoyable and he loved walking along next to the little horse.
When Marie casually analyzed the possibility of a firearm in his anatomy Julian stood up straight and whistled at her, a low 'I'm impressed' sound.
"Wow, well if I do have a desire to hijack a plane with a hidden weapon I know who I'll consult beforehand. You're remarkably well informed."
For a teenage girl in college. It was sort of creepy. But hey, it was good that she knew her way around a gun, right?
Julian raised his eyebrows at Marie warily. "You're not, uh, 'packing heat' now, are you? I swear, I'll have you home before sundown."
He'd heard of the proverbial dad on the front porch with the shotgun, but he didn't usually have to worry about his date carrying a weapon, even a hypothetical date that wasn't, and would never, happen. Marie was way too young for him, and now she was also far too dangerous.
Marie
12 years ago
"Some people name fluffy kittens Tiger?"
Marie said with little to no convictio, but she did rather want to let Julian keep his pride. Marie couldn't think of a man any where that wanted to be called 'kitten'. Some how that had become a feminan endearment. Maybe she could write a paper about it.
Apparently her take on firearms wasn't exactly normal if Julian's reaction was a decent gauge. Well, the last few years of her life hadn't been quite normal aand she'd learned a lot of odd things. Still, Marie flushed prettily at his question.
"No, not tonight, not when I'm riding. Besides this is a city park and there are rules."
But, she could shoot. Not brilliantly, but well enough. She didn't exactly enjoy it but she felt better having that particular skill.
Marie said with little to no convictio, but she did rather want to let Julian keep his pride. Marie couldn't think of a man any where that wanted to be called 'kitten'. Some how that had become a feminan endearment. Maybe she could write a paper about it.
Apparently her take on firearms wasn't exactly normal if Julian's reaction was a decent gauge. Well, the last few years of her life hadn't been quite normal aand she'd learned a lot of odd things. Still, Marie flushed prettily at his question.
"No, not tonight, not when I'm riding. Besides this is a city park and there are rules."
But, she could shoot. Not brilliantly, but well enough. She didn't exactly enjoy it but she felt better having that particular skill.
Julian Stephenson
12 years ago
"No no," Julian insisted good-naturedly, "we can totally stick with tiger... for whatever the reason. Makes me look better."
He smiled to himself as Marie blushed at the gun thing. Really, it was a good thing. Not enough women knew how to defend themselves. If Marie knew about guns and how to handle them she was doing pretty well.
"Always good to follow the rules. And thank you, it's nice to know you're not carrying a weapon."
He looked at the little mare, Garnet. "Does she mind guns?"
Julian wondered if the horse would be bothered by it. She seemed like a nice calm horse, and seeing them in the movies with guns being shot and such, well, obviously they could be trained not to mind it.
As they walked along he couldn't help but ask. "So how is it you know so much about guns? Just a hobby?"
He smiled to himself as Marie blushed at the gun thing. Really, it was a good thing. Not enough women knew how to defend themselves. If Marie knew about guns and how to handle them she was doing pretty well.
"Always good to follow the rules. And thank you, it's nice to know you're not carrying a weapon."
He looked at the little mare, Garnet. "Does she mind guns?"
Julian wondered if the horse would be bothered by it. She seemed like a nice calm horse, and seeing them in the movies with guns being shot and such, well, obviously they could be trained not to mind it.
As they walked along he couldn't help but ask. "So how is it you know so much about guns? Just a hobby?"
Marie
12 years ago
"I wouldn't think you'd need to much help with looking better."
It wasn't flirting, it wasn't a come on. Really it wasn't. But Marie did think Julian was cute. Limp and scars included he was rather attractive and charming. She understood why those cougars were hitting on him, especially as she'd seen him play as well. Even though he'd talked about bullies at school and such Marie couldn't help but think he'd been relatively popular.
Even if she had been carrying a gun, which she never did, Marie wouldn't have told him. Apparently the entire point of carrying a concealed weapon was to keep it hidden and admitting you had it was defeating the purpose. It was possible Marie had heard this conversation before.
Marie frowned a bit at his question, thinking.
"I don't know. If I know Ysabel at all she doesn't though."
While Ambrose tended to stick to riding Midnight Ysabel was an excellent and very thorough trainer. No doubt she would have all her horses ready for anything. Especially if that anything was her vampire's cowboy, gun totting fiancee. Ysabel was more prepared than anyone she knew.
"Ysabel's fiancee taught me. He is very interested in shooting and he showed me some."
She could hit what she was aiming at, but like Ysabel felt that while acceptable to protect herself if she had to, it wasn't a proper pursuit for a lady. However, Marie could run away like nobody's business.
It wasn't flirting, it wasn't a come on. Really it wasn't. But Marie did think Julian was cute. Limp and scars included he was rather attractive and charming. She understood why those cougars were hitting on him, especially as she'd seen him play as well. Even though he'd talked about bullies at school and such Marie couldn't help but think he'd been relatively popular.
Even if she had been carrying a gun, which she never did, Marie wouldn't have told him. Apparently the entire point of carrying a concealed weapon was to keep it hidden and admitting you had it was defeating the purpose. It was possible Marie had heard this conversation before.
Marie frowned a bit at his question, thinking.
"I don't know. If I know Ysabel at all she doesn't though."
While Ambrose tended to stick to riding Midnight Ysabel was an excellent and very thorough trainer. No doubt she would have all her horses ready for anything. Especially if that anything was her vampire's cowboy, gun totting fiancee. Ysabel was more prepared than anyone she knew.
"Ysabel's fiancee taught me. He is very interested in shooting and he showed me some."
She could hit what she was aiming at, but like Ysabel felt that while acceptable to protect herself if she had to, it wasn't a proper pursuit for a lady. However, Marie could run away like nobody's business.
Julian Stephenson
12 years ago
Julian turned to Marie, a little surprised at the compliment. "Thank you," he said, with a little smile that made the corners of his blue-green eyes crinkle a bit. "I figure I can use all the help I can get."
Modesty never killed anyone. Julian didn't really suffer any insecurity over his looks, which were well enough he supposed. He wasn't overly muscular but he was also not soft. He guessed he was pretty average in most regards, maybe with nice hair, but he was never really sure how people would take the scars. It didn't much matter. They didn't really define him... or, well, they were doing that less and less.
"Who's Ysabel?"
He'd never heard Marie mention her before. A friend with a fiance? Marie was awfully young to have friends getting married, he thought, but some kids got married young. He'd never really thought about it himself but his last few years he'd been somewhat preoccupied.
"It's a good skill to have. I've shot a beebee gun a few times but that's about it. Seems like the sort of thing everyone should learn. Not often you get to handle a gun I guess, but in that case I think more knowledge equals more safety."
They were coming up on the main front area of the Preserve now. Julian hadn't seen a truck and trailer there, or anything, so he wondered how Marie had gotten there. There were other parking lots, so she could have easily arrived from someplace else. He knew there were some large homes that bordered the Preserve as well. A lot of the Symphony patrons lived around there.
He hadn't planned on walking all afternoon. He didn't actually have a rehearsal tonight but exercise was exercise. If he did too much of it he'd be stiff and sore. There was a fine line between enough and way too much, and walking in snow was a little more trying than flat even pavement.
"I think this is my stop," he said, indicating the Park's main gate, beyond the baseball field. It was still a ways off in the distance, but he wanted to let Marie know he wasn't planning on heading back into the trails just in case she cared to plan her escape.
Modesty never killed anyone. Julian didn't really suffer any insecurity over his looks, which were well enough he supposed. He wasn't overly muscular but he was also not soft. He guessed he was pretty average in most regards, maybe with nice hair, but he was never really sure how people would take the scars. It didn't much matter. They didn't really define him... or, well, they were doing that less and less.
"Who's Ysabel?"
He'd never heard Marie mention her before. A friend with a fiance? Marie was awfully young to have friends getting married, he thought, but some kids got married young. He'd never really thought about it himself but his last few years he'd been somewhat preoccupied.
"It's a good skill to have. I've shot a beebee gun a few times but that's about it. Seems like the sort of thing everyone should learn. Not often you get to handle a gun I guess, but in that case I think more knowledge equals more safety."
They were coming up on the main front area of the Preserve now. Julian hadn't seen a truck and trailer there, or anything, so he wondered how Marie had gotten there. There were other parking lots, so she could have easily arrived from someplace else. He knew there were some large homes that bordered the Preserve as well. A lot of the Symphony patrons lived around there.
He hadn't planned on walking all afternoon. He didn't actually have a rehearsal tonight but exercise was exercise. If he did too much of it he'd be stiff and sore. There was a fine line between enough and way too much, and walking in snow was a little more trying than flat even pavement.
"I think this is my stop," he said, indicating the Park's main gate, beyond the baseball field. It was still a ways off in the distance, but he wanted to let Marie know he wasn't planning on heading back into the trails just in case she cared to plan her escape.
Marie
12 years ago
Ysabel was a trifle hard to explain. They looked so similar in age now she couldn't really say that Ysabel was her guardian any more. Certainly explaining the whole vampire familiar relationship was out of the question.
"She's a friend of the family. She and and her fiancee are letting me live with them while I go to school. I couldn't afford tuition and room and board. It's a big help."
The lie was oddly easy to tell. She didn't often have to explain Ysabel and the answer tended to vary depending on who she talked to. For the most part Marie kept her home life and her social life, such as it was, quite separate. That and she wasn't inviting Julian to tea or anything so how much detail could he really need?
"It isn't a bad thing. I will say I feel a lot less nervous around them or even with the idea of guns since I know what I'm doing."
Personally she didn't count a bee bee gun as an actual fire arm. Of course, it was hard to think of it as a weapon once you'd shot a .45.
She and Garnet had ridden here rather than loading the little mare in a trailer and driving and since they hadn't pushed it wouldn't be much of a push to ride home.
"It looks like it. It was very nice to talk to you. I hope we run into each other again."
Undoubtedly she would see him play again but she didn't mention that. Marie didn't want to be lumped in with the 'cougars'.
"She's a friend of the family. She and and her fiancee are letting me live with them while I go to school. I couldn't afford tuition and room and board. It's a big help."
The lie was oddly easy to tell. She didn't often have to explain Ysabel and the answer tended to vary depending on who she talked to. For the most part Marie kept her home life and her social life, such as it was, quite separate. That and she wasn't inviting Julian to tea or anything so how much detail could he really need?
"It isn't a bad thing. I will say I feel a lot less nervous around them or even with the idea of guns since I know what I'm doing."
Personally she didn't count a bee bee gun as an actual fire arm. Of course, it was hard to think of it as a weapon once you'd shot a .45.
She and Garnet had ridden here rather than loading the little mare in a trailer and driving and since they hadn't pushed it wouldn't be much of a push to ride home.
"It looks like it. It was very nice to talk to you. I hope we run into each other again."
Undoubtedly she would see him play again but she didn't mention that. Marie didn't want to be lumped in with the 'cougars'.
Julian Stephenson
12 years ago
"Oh." Julian brightened at the idea of Marie staying in town with a friend. For some reason, it made him feel better... Marie had spoken a little bit of her family but not a lot. Still he'd gotten the impression she was sort of on her own in Nachton. It was good to know she had a good friend around. She was a nice kid.
God, he sounded old.
"Yeah that must be nice, being able to stay with a friend," he said with a smile.
As they neared the baseball field Julian turned to face Marie. He raised his gloved hand and patted Garnet on her nose.
"It was nice to talk to you too, Marie. Ride safe. I've been out here a few times so maybe we'll bump into each other again."
Julian hoped so; he liked knowing a lot of people so the more friends he had here in the city the happier he was. He turned to go, careful about each step but turning back to give the younger woman a little wave.
"Bye Marie!"
With that he made his way to the edge of the park, stomped some snow off his hiking boots, and headed back to his studio to change clothes and shower. He had no rehearsal tonight, so it would be a great night to head out into the city. He thought Jan was playing somewhere... he would look for him and see if he turned up anything promising.
((ooc: Julian out))
God, he sounded old.
"Yeah that must be nice, being able to stay with a friend," he said with a smile.
As they neared the baseball field Julian turned to face Marie. He raised his gloved hand and patted Garnet on her nose.
"It was nice to talk to you too, Marie. Ride safe. I've been out here a few times so maybe we'll bump into each other again."
Julian hoped so; he liked knowing a lot of people so the more friends he had here in the city the happier he was. He turned to go, careful about each step but turning back to give the younger woman a little wave.
"Bye Marie!"
With that he made his way to the edge of the park, stomped some snow off his hiking boots, and headed back to his studio to change clothes and shower. He had no rehearsal tonight, so it would be a great night to head out into the city. He thought Jan was playing somewhere... he would look for him and see if he turned up anything promising.
((ooc: Julian out))
Marie
12 years ago
"It really is. I don't know how I would manage without her."
She didn't either it. Marie hadn't ever thought that far a had when she'd run away. She couldn't have gotten a job or an apartment or anything really. Ysabel had saved her life, and it wasn't an exaggeration. No wonder Marie loved her.
Marie smiled when Julian remembered Garnet as he made his farewells. She didn't trust people who didn't take the time to take acknowledge an animal.
"I promise not to run you over when we do."
They were out often enough that it was very probable. Of course she also probably wouldn't be riding the delicate little mare and it might be a touch harder not to run him over but it would be nice to have company. The odds were good that, if he was as nice as he seemed, eventually Marie would feel comfortable enough with Julian not to need to be mounted.
Standing in the stirrups a bit she waved back.
"Later Julian."
Garnet tossed her head and Marie laughed. She decided to let her trot part of the way home. It had been a nice walk but maybe not as much of a work out as the horse needed.
((OOC... Marie out))
She didn't either it. Marie hadn't ever thought that far a had when she'd run away. She couldn't have gotten a job or an apartment or anything really. Ysabel had saved her life, and it wasn't an exaggeration. No wonder Marie loved her.
Marie smiled when Julian remembered Garnet as he made his farewells. She didn't trust people who didn't take the time to take acknowledge an animal.
"I promise not to run you over when we do."
They were out often enough that it was very probable. Of course she also probably wouldn't be riding the delicate little mare and it might be a touch harder not to run him over but it would be nice to have company. The odds were good that, if he was as nice as he seemed, eventually Marie would feel comfortable enough with Julian not to need to be mounted.
Standing in the stirrups a bit she waved back.
"Later Julian."
Garnet tossed her head and Marie laughed. She decided to let her trot part of the way home. It had been a nice walk but maybe not as much of a work out as the horse needed.
((OOC... Marie out))