Boy]
it was slow, but it was certainly noticeable.
The first day, the boards were taken off the windows. Grafiti on the outside was scrubbed off as best they could manage. The locks were all fixed.
The second day there was hammering. There were repairs to the door frames and windowsills. There were pieces of abandoned furniture dragged from somewhere to there. The furniture whent inside before it rained.
The third day there was more hammering. And Drilling. And sacks of torn out, moisture stained drywall was piled up in front of the house.
The fourth day the garbage was picked up. The lights were turned on. The Water was too, but only in certain rooms. There was still a lot of work to do, but things were coming along nicely. The house looked less like an abandoned house and more like a home everyday.
And now, there was a Boy upstairs, by himself. He'd set up a bookshelf, sort of. It was really just cinder blocks and planks of wood. But he was putting books on it, smiling to himself. And here he stopped, took one off the shelf, and began reading out loud.
[Wendy Berber]
*Its far too hot for her bulky sweater, but she's wearing it anyway, grateful that the night will be cooling soon. She knocks at the door timidly, hoping the light upstairs hasn't just been left on. She didn't entirely trust the wiring.*
[Boy]
The house was quiet. Then, from within, the sound of someone trotting heavily down the stairs. His head appeared in the window first, the one with old bedsheets for curtains, and he smiled at Wendy before heading over and opening the door.
He was dressed as he always was. Always. Except for the mis-matched shoes, which he'd left somewhere or the other and forgotten about, not finding them very important except to avoid strange stares. He smelled like sweat and dust and wood. He smelled like he'd been working all day, but his smile as he opened the door, welcoming her in, didn't show a single hint of fatigue.
"Hi Wendy. C'mon in. I'm sorry, I meant to get you a key. I'll take care of that tomorrow."
[Wendy Berber]
Well, um, thanks. *She says quietly, ducking her head and noticing his bare feet as she does so. Maybe the house was ready?* is it.. ok now? to stay? or not for awhile? *The tall kin enters, shutting the door behind her with a creak of wood. She wipes a little sweat off her brow, and looks around.* It um, it looks really g-good.
[Boy]
"Almost. Mm. If it were up to me I'd replace that door with something more solid, and maybe do something with the windows. But that stuff all costs money. Plus, its a lil bit paranoid, really. It's as safe as any other in this neighborhood. Just a bit bare and rugged."
His head turns suddenly as if he'd heard something, and he's staring at the top of the stairs for a long moment.
[Wendy Berber]
M-Maybe we could... *Wendy was about to say something, trailing off as boy stares at the upper landing. She clutches her books to her worriedly, drawing in a frightened breath. What do I do if the crack fiends are back!*
[Boy]
And then he nods, apparantly having understood the upper landing perfectly, and turns back to Wendy with a smile.
"Sorry about that. You were saying something?"
[Wendy Berber]
... its o-k-kay? *She brings a finger up to her mouth and nibbles it, face tight with confusion and worry as she looks from the stairs to Boy.* Its not the people that were here before.. its your f-f-friend.. right?
[Boy]
"The people? Oh, you mean the 614. No, not them. We're taking care of them. I don't think they'll be back. Friend though? What friend do you mean?"
[Wendy Berber]
um.. *Shy suddenly, she drags her hand through her shaggy mop of hair and shifts her weight, plucking at a thread with her other hand.* the.. person, you sometimes talk to..*A deeper blush as she looks intently at her unravelling sweater yarn.* the one I um, sat on. Accidentally.
[Boy]
He was looking at her pleasantly, but in doing so he looked strange for a moment. For a moment he wasn't looking at her. His eyes seemed to dilate and he looked past her, through her, and all without changing expressions.
And then he was back and saying "Hey, you wanna see the rooms?"
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy's eyes get wide behind her spectacles, as Boy goes strange on her. She presses her lips together and nods in agreement to his question, suddenly wondering what exactly she's gotten herself into with the strange young garou. It was easy to forget he was garou, but the skittish kin now suddenly reminded. So what new trick was this? She swallows and nods again.* K-Kay..
[Boy]
"Great!" He says with a grin and he's turning and running up the stairs. He stops at first, turning to look back at her and then he heads down to lead her up by the hand.
The last time she was up here, if she had ever come up here, it was a mess. The walls and ceilings were water damaged, and where they weren't they were either broken from ware and tear, or had been defaced by the intruders. The floor was covered with old, musty carpeting, and the smell of abandonment filled the air.
All that was gone now. The carpeting was removed to reveal hardwood floors. The drywall hadn't been covered or repainted, but had been replaced with solid panes of new walling. And the lights were on in the hallway. It was a vast improvement.
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy slips her hand in his tenatively, cheeks pinking slightly as she moves up the stairs. He didn't want to speak about whatever was going on with him.. and she welcomes the change in topic. A deep breath as she loks around.* W-Wow.. it, um. it smells better.
[Boy]
He grins at that response, still holding on to her hand, and leads her into one end of the house, opening the bedrooms on that end They were pretty bare, but they were clean. The light fixture in one room swung free from its molding. In another some of the walling was missing, exposing the studs and wiring that led up to the ceiling.
And then he was dragging her over to another pair of rooms. One had most of the walls missing, but he still had his tools in there. All his tools. On one side, a hand held drill and drill bit set rested on the floor. On the other was a bag of nail and a hammer. In the center, an old rusted can with water, and a still green tree branch.
None of this seemed strange to him. Wat was strange was what he found in the fourth room. He swung the door open excitedly. In one corner was a bundle of sheets and a pillow, much like she had seen under his bed at the Brother hood. In another corner was a makeshift bookshelf with cinderblocks and planks for shelves, and a small collection of books resting neatly on them.
At least, that's what should have been there. But the bookshelf seemed to have been knocked down, scattered on the floor, along with some of the books.
Boy's eyes knitted as he looked at the mess, and Wendy might have felt his rage swell just there. He seemed, for the most part, as confused as he could possibly be.
[Wendy Berber]
*She's been quietly following him from room to room, wondering if one of them would really be hers, considering the warmth of his hand over hers. When his rage swells at the fourth room she's quick to make amends, letting go of his hand and stooping to right the bookcase that seems to be confusing and offending him. Anything to stop the fount of rage that makes her so nervous.* S-Sorry... *She says quietly, crouching as she begins to reassemble the bookcase.* .. n-nothings um, nothing broken...
[Boy]
"Don't...Don't apologize...I mean....Why would you do this?"
Was that directed to Wendy? Well, there wasn't anybody else there.
"I'm just...I'm trying to make us a home here. I don't understand. Why? Wendy. Just leave it. It just a...It's nothing. I'll take care of it later."
[Wendy Berber]
*Its already half reconstructed when Wendy does as she's told and stands up and backs a little away from Boy, so very confused. The long length of her frame is tense with worry, hands clasped together shakily. She opens her mouth to speak, then shuts it. Unsure that she's willing to risk it. She instead takes a deep breath and tries to do what she's best at. Thinking.* ((Int + Occult))
[Boy]
to Wendy Berber
((No cold spots, no electrical disturbances, none of the usual signs of anything odd in the room. It's just a messy room and a garou talking to himself.
Though he IS garou, so who knows. Maybe he's just better at it that she is.))
[Boy]
He was crying. He'd never tried hiding it before, but he was crying, and angry, and confused, and suddenly so, so tired. He reached out for Wendy's hand again, pulling her out of the room before slamming the door and slumping against the wall, sliding himself down.
"I don't understand. I thought I was doing the right thing. Why would she..."
[Wendy Berber]
*She's pulled, stumbling out of the bedroom, jumping as the door slams, frightened kin suddenly looking down at a crying garou. Wow was she ever out of her element here. It didn't seem right to be looming over him, and so Wendy sits down beside him, nibbling her lip nervously. She didn't entirely understand what was happening, but she did understand Boy was sad. She steels herself and moves her hands to his shoulder and knee, half expecting violence for her trouble.* Boy..
[Boy]
Instead he shudders, looking at her, looking away, and looking back again with even more tears in his eyes. His hands find her hands, her arms, her shoulders, and he's burrying his face in the arm of her shoulder now, leaving the moisture there.
He sobbed in response. It wasn't so much an answer, but she certainly had his attention.
[Boy]
to Wendy Berber
((Boy Int+Crafts: Home improvement number 1))
[Wendy Berber]
*And so Wendy gently wraps spindly arms around his frame and holds him as he cries. She swallows nervously, worried as she strokes his back with pale spidery fingers. The skinny bookworm tries her best to comfort, focusing on her own breathing. Do not panic from proximity. Poor Boy doesn't need that right now..* Its ok.. It'll all be ok.. *Would it? She didn't know, but it seemed the right thing to say.*
[Boy]
"She..."
Did all garou really cry like this? No, probably not. He was special afterall. And so different.
"She doesn't like it here."
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy just continues to hug, her own face sorrowful. Maybe she wouldn't get a chance to move in after all... she nibbles her lip and nods sadly. Was this her fault?* I'm sorry... Boy. I'm s-sorry.
[Boy]
He sobbed.
He panted.
He gulped.
And he calmed down. He pulled back from her, looking rather sheepishly.
"It's not your fault. This...Change is hard."
[Wendy Berber]
*She lets her hands fall off of Boy's shoulders, looking between them rather than at him. She sniffs and nods, not sure what to say.* .. Are you, um. ok?
[Boy]
"No...But I haven't been for a while. I'm sorry you have to see me like this. You must think..."
He doesn't finish the sentence. He just stares at his own hands this time, lost in himself again. Or perhaps just thinking about the mess still in the other room.
[Wendy Berber]
*She traces a design on the hardwood, trying to focus her thoughts. What did she think? Its a few long awkward moments before she speaks.* um.. I think.. that I don't like to see you sad. And, I'm sorry.. she doesn't like it here.. um, as much as I do. *She catches her bottom lip in her teeth, and takes off her glasses to rub at her eyes.*
[Wendy Berber]
.. thats all I think. Kay?
[Boy]
He looked up at her, a little bit confused, but slowly that grew into a smile, and half a laugh. And the next moment he's leaning in, quickly, and leaving a kiss somewhere on her face before recoiling quickly and...blushing.
"Thanks, Wendy. You're...you're nice to me."
[Wendy Berber]
*She doesn't have time to react before she's kissed, shock fading to shyness as she burns red and smiles a little smile at the floor, her hand coming to touch her cheek where his lips were, perhaps partially to cover her blush.* th-thanks . Boy. you are too. Nice... to me, I mean. *She fusses with her glasses in her lap.*
[Boy]
And he liked this. The closeness of it. Few people allowed him to get this close. He allowed even fewer to do the same. But this felt right somehow. It felt safe. It felt like he could say...
"It's my sister. She did it."
...Anything.
[Wendy Berber]
*She tucks her hair back behind her ears, and slips her glasses on, still pink from the peck to her cheek.*
I'm s-sorry she doesn't l-like it here. M-maybe.. she'll like it better, um later on?
*She's a smart girl, for all her awkwardness, and it didn't seem right to bring up the strangeness of him having an angry invisible sister.*
[Boy]
And that was so the right thing to do. He smiles wanly, shy, even. And slowly he stands.
"This isn't right. I'm supposed to be taking care of you, aren't I?"
He extends a hand down to help her up.
[Wendy Berber]
I think.. um.. historically its sorta both.. of us. *She ducks her head and takes his hand, rising to her full height and rubbing the back of her neck with the hand not in his.* It just.. doesn't happen that way. you know. alot.
[Boy]
He chuckles, still a bit unsure of himself.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe...maybe we should get out of here. I've been here too long and I...I need to do laundry. Oh! Or! Or we can start bringing your stuff over? What do you think?"
[Wendy Berber]
Really?! I would like that. um, very much. *She exclaims, smiling excitedly.* I coud um, show you the internet.. if you'd like..
[Boy]
"Finally!" He says, and he's headed toward the stairs, then stops and turns back for her once again, only this time he holds his hand out, suddenly aware that grabbing and dragging her was probably not the best of ideas.
[Wendy Berber]
*She pinks a little and takes his hand, heading down the steps with him towards the door, speaking excitedly, and rapidly losing the stutter as she does so.* Its really v-very interesting.. you can um.. find anything on the internet.. alot of its lies but you kinda, um, learn whats a reputable s-source and whats not..
[Boy]
--Magic movie wipe to: Wendy's Apartment/Attic at Mag Mile--
((Let's just say Boy put shoes on before they left))
[Wendy Berber]
(can do. Nice font!))
[Wendy Berber]
*The cab would pull up in front of a thin brick building, rusty sign proclaiming "James Odd and Rare Books" proudly in the light of a nearby streetlight. Wendy fusses with her keys, suddenly nervous as she unlocks the front door, and leads Boy through the bookstore towards the back room. THe bookstore itself is a high ceiling'd musty smelling place, with tall wooden book cases and rolling ladders to access the higher shelves. There's a display case set up with rarer books, and a big wooden counter with an old fashioned register. Once Wendy pushes the back door open, they're in the back room. Its a small cramped space with an employee washroom, (no shower) and rickety wooden staircase leading to a hatch in the roof. Wendy slips through the stock crates and up the stair case, pushing the hatch open and emerging up into her apartment. If you can call it that. Its too small for more than 5 people to stand comfortably spread out, 7 towers of books leaning against the walls. There's a hotplate set up on a half stack of books by the window, and a thin mattress in the corner with a laptop sitting on top of it. A lamp glows nearby*
[Boy]
The driver seemed nervous all the while, constantly checkig the rearview mirror for the moment when he knew, he just knew, that the Teenage boy in the back seat would completely lose it and attack either the girl there or try to attack the drive.
Boy didn't notice any of this. He was busy looking out the window at the city as it went by. And when he wasn't, he was looking at Wendy.
But never so she could see him, of course.
He didn't say anything on the way up. Through the book store and the back room he only let his eyes do the wandering, but followed Wendy wherever she led. Once they were in the attic itself he let himself wander around. He perused her books, he sniffed at hot plate and at the mattress, and he nodded his head approvingly.
"I used to live in a place kinda like this. This is nicer though. Warmer, for one thing."
But with the heat of the day, how could he really tell?
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy sits down on the mattress, her back tucked in the corner as, she watches Boy do his thing, shy as he sniffs around.* Its um, small.. but its good enough for me.. *She drags the laptop to herself, fingers flickering over the keys as it lights her face blue.* Um.. this is the internet..
[Boy]
He lowers himself gently onto the mattress. He didn't throw himself down or even flop. He knew the dangers of sudden movement. He does get close, however, sitting next to her and rubbing shoulders as he tried to understand what she was doing.
"That's it? That box?"
[Wendy Berber]
This is, um, this is a portable computer. Its a laptop. *She takes a deep breath, sweltering in the stuffy attic in her sweater.* Um..Do you wanna name something you want to know about.. I'll find it for you. *She pushes her glasses up, blushing a little as his shoulder brushes her. Such close quarters.*
[Boy]
"Um..."
He seemed to really have to think about that. What was there really that he wanted to find out about?
"Nicky" He said eventually. Thoughtfully. "Nicky Ramirez."
[Wendy Berber]
Um.. Ramirez is a pretty common, um name.. we might get alot here.. *Wendy nods, her spindly fingers pattering over the keys, bringing up a search, then editing it down a little. Probably not looking for a senator. nor a movie star... faces flicker by until there remain a few thousand Nikki's to sift through. A minute of so passes quietly as she continues to narrow her search down until they're staring at a page that mentions both a Jeremy and a Nikki Ramirez. Missing persons, focused mostly on Jeremy* Is this alright?
[Boy]
He tenses for a moment, seeing his own name. No, not his name. Just the name they tried to give him.
"No..."
And then he relaxes. There was nothing to worry about. There was no one to take him back to that godforsaken place. They'd taken care of that. They'd already taken care of that.
"No, I don't want to see that. Can we...look at something else?"
[Wendy Berber]
oh. kay. I'm sorry boy. *She frowns at herself, thinking a moment, then typing in something else. Audio books pop up.* Um.. these are books that they read for you. You just listen, and um, follow along.
[Boy]
He cants his head to one side, looking puzzled.
"But...what's the point of that? You read to get knowledge. To come by it through your own discovery and understanding. Why would I let someone else read it to me?"
[Wendy Berber]
*Now its Wendy's turn to cock her head at him.* S-sometimes its fun to be read to. I think.
[Boy]
"Mm. Maybe. I'd rather read though. Hm. What else is on this internet thing? What about the house? Can it find the house?"
[Wendy Berber]
I can. *She goes to google maps and zooms in on the top of the house, then the street.* um.. this picture is a few months old...
[Boy]
His eyes widen and his hand grips the corner of the screen for a moment. He leans in, peering.
"Wow. You weren't kidding. Everything's on the internet. Can we see a picture of it now?"
[Wendy Berber]
I don't um, think so. that picture was taken by a satellite in space.. *She nibbles her finger a moment, before dropping her hands to the keyboard on her lap. She's watching him, lips curling into a pleased smile.* They'll get a new one when the um, satellite passes by again, i think.
[Boy]
"When's that gonna be?"
He did seem enthused by it. Amused at the very least.
"Oh, look at taht roof. I've gotta fix that."
[Wendy Berber]
I'm not sure but I can um, email and ask. *She admits sheepishly.* yeah..it'll get leaky. But we can put down, um, pots, for awhile... oh hey, it plays um, movies and tv and things too.
[Boy]
"Movies? What kind of movies? Like those Disney movies?" Which is the only kind he really knows about. "Gabbie doesn't like those much though."
[Wendy Berber]
All kinds of movies.. G-Gabbie? *She's punching in a url, tilting her head at him in nervous question.*
[Boy]
"Mm...My sister. She's..."
She's invisibile? She's imaginary? She's actually nonexistent?
"She's not like other kids."
[Wendy Berber]
We don't have to um, watch a movie then. *Wendy closes the laptop, face shadowed suddenly as she leans back into the corner of the room.* If she doesn't want.
[Boy]
He looks at her confused.
"Wendy...she's...not here. I'm sorry. This is too strange isn't it. I wish I could explain it. i wish i could make it make sense. It hardly even makes sense to me. Lets just...lets not talk about them for a while, okay?"
Yes. Let's not talk about them.
[Wendy Berber]
Its ok. I just.. I can't tell yet. that's all. *But she drops the subject, shifting on the mattress with what she hopes is a reassuring shrug. More than one ..whatever they were.. That was ok. She nods to herself. She would take a kind strange garou, over a cruel normal one anyday.* um... are we done with the internet for now?
[Boy]
"Yeah, I think we are."
He sat back against the wall and looks at the shelves. The Door. He looks at anything except her.
"So what's next?"
[Wendy Berber]
I'm um.. give you a tour but.. well. *She shrugs, rubbing the sticky back of her neck, attic swelteringly warm.*.. there's not much to um, see. Books, Internet, Me. Thats it. *She looks at her lap, pushing the laptop off the mattress with a thud that makes her jump.* S-Sorry..
[Boy]
"You do that a lot. Apologize I mean. You haven't done anything wrong. How come you do that?"
[Wendy Berber]
*She picks at her skirt. Her turn to be awkward and strange now. Thinking.* i, I dunno really. .I mess up alot,,and Its just better to be sorry than.. well. not. Its safer, I guess.. *Her brows knit together, and she frowns as she looks up to Boy. Worried what he'd think.*
[Boy]
"I haven't seen you mess up yet. You got us a place to stay for free, and you know about the internet. You're smart. And you're good. And...listen."
He turns himself to her, both hands on her shoulders as he regards her seriously.
"Listen. If you've got something to say, if its to me or to Marrick, if you've got something to say and you think you're right about it, then say it, okay? And don't apologize for it."
[Wendy Berber]
*She was blushing a little, but when he comes face to face with her the skinny kin tenses, meeting his eyes and listening carefully. Its a moment before she remembers how to talk.* um.. okay. I'll.. I'll try.
[Boy]
"Do, Wendy. Do."
He nods at that, satisfied with himself, and releases her shoulders.
"This place is alright. A little small but...not bad."
[Wendy Berber]
yea.. just.. crowded,, when lots of people um, come up. *She frowns to herself, remembering Alex lounging cockily on her bed, uninvited, like he owned the place.* I like the house better.
[Boy]
"Good. That'll be our home. You'll be safe there, I promise."
He nodded to himself, confident in that promise.
"I'll take care of you Wendy. You don't have to worry."
[Wendy Berber]
(wp)
[Wendy Berber]
*She blushes furiously, watching Boy for a good long moment, expression fond. She slips spider fingers over her lips, and nods shyly.* Thank you.
[Boy]
And there was another one of those shudders, and a deep swallow as his hand moved to hers. He was what? Sixteen? Sure he was strange. He talked to people that weren't there and cried openly at all manner of things. But he was sixteen, and he shuddered when she touched him like that.
"Wendy...I've never...Can I...kiss you?"
[Wendy Berber]
*A shy nod, a heated blush crawls down her neck, as she tucks black hair behind her ears with a nervous swallow. One would never guess she was older than him by watching the way they interact, clumsy and unsure.*
[Boy]
And with that he moves in with slow caution, and with absolutely no idea how any of this worked. But he'd seen it done. And he had a pretty good idea that his lips...went to her lips...and lingered there.
Was something else supposed to happen?
[Wendy Berber]
*She shuts her eyes tightly behind the glasses, trying not to imagine fangs and muzzle, and all the terrible things that could happen if- OH. Warm lips on hers. The heat of his breath against her skin, Boy so close to her she could feel his tenseness radiating off him, to match her own. She kisses him back timidly, heart suddenly rattling in her chest.*
[Boy]
And he sighs, still close to her, his nostrils flaring as he took in her scent. This close. They've never been this close.
"Wow" He whispers. "That was...nice."
[Wendy Berber]
Yeah.. *She breathes, lingering with her skin all a-tingle... She's not sure what to do next, charged silence stretching between them several long seconds, before she leans forward hesitantly, and kisses, rather than being kissed. Drumming up moxie from somewhere.*
[Boy]
This was a something; this trembling, this painful want. This must be the something that was supposed to happen. For a while there was a fight, a struggle as to who was being kissed and who was kissing who, until he realized somewhere that it really didn't matter.
His hands reached out and the laptop was pushed aside.
His hands reached out and he was pulling at the mattress, pressing himself into her. Onto her.
His hands reach out and he's fumbling dumbly at her sweater. He smelled of sweat and wood and she smelled so...so...good.
His hands reached out and...
--Fade to black--
it was slow, but it was certainly noticeable.
The first day, the boards were taken off the windows. Grafiti on the outside was scrubbed off as best they could manage. The locks were all fixed.
The second day there was hammering. There were repairs to the door frames and windowsills. There were pieces of abandoned furniture dragged from somewhere to there. The furniture whent inside before it rained.
The third day there was more hammering. And Drilling. And sacks of torn out, moisture stained drywall was piled up in front of the house.
The fourth day the garbage was picked up. The lights were turned on. The Water was too, but only in certain rooms. There was still a lot of work to do, but things were coming along nicely. The house looked less like an abandoned house and more like a home everyday.
And now, there was a Boy upstairs, by himself. He'd set up a bookshelf, sort of. It was really just cinder blocks and planks of wood. But he was putting books on it, smiling to himself. And here he stopped, took one off the shelf, and began reading out loud.
[Wendy Berber]
*Its far too hot for her bulky sweater, but she's wearing it anyway, grateful that the night will be cooling soon. She knocks at the door timidly, hoping the light upstairs hasn't just been left on. She didn't entirely trust the wiring.*
[Boy]
The house was quiet. Then, from within, the sound of someone trotting heavily down the stairs. His head appeared in the window first, the one with old bedsheets for curtains, and he smiled at Wendy before heading over and opening the door.
He was dressed as he always was. Always. Except for the mis-matched shoes, which he'd left somewhere or the other and forgotten about, not finding them very important except to avoid strange stares. He smelled like sweat and dust and wood. He smelled like he'd been working all day, but his smile as he opened the door, welcoming her in, didn't show a single hint of fatigue.
"Hi Wendy. C'mon in. I'm sorry, I meant to get you a key. I'll take care of that tomorrow."
[Wendy Berber]
Well, um, thanks. *She says quietly, ducking her head and noticing his bare feet as she does so. Maybe the house was ready?* is it.. ok now? to stay? or not for awhile? *The tall kin enters, shutting the door behind her with a creak of wood. She wipes a little sweat off her brow, and looks around.* It um, it looks really g-good.
[Boy]
"Almost. Mm. If it were up to me I'd replace that door with something more solid, and maybe do something with the windows. But that stuff all costs money. Plus, its a lil bit paranoid, really. It's as safe as any other in this neighborhood. Just a bit bare and rugged."
His head turns suddenly as if he'd heard something, and he's staring at the top of the stairs for a long moment.
[Wendy Berber]
M-Maybe we could... *Wendy was about to say something, trailing off as boy stares at the upper landing. She clutches her books to her worriedly, drawing in a frightened breath. What do I do if the crack fiends are back!*
[Boy]
And then he nods, apparantly having understood the upper landing perfectly, and turns back to Wendy with a smile.
"Sorry about that. You were saying something?"
[Wendy Berber]
... its o-k-kay? *She brings a finger up to her mouth and nibbles it, face tight with confusion and worry as she looks from the stairs to Boy.* Its not the people that were here before.. its your f-f-friend.. right?
[Boy]
"The people? Oh, you mean the 614. No, not them. We're taking care of them. I don't think they'll be back. Friend though? What friend do you mean?"
[Wendy Berber]
um.. *Shy suddenly, she drags her hand through her shaggy mop of hair and shifts her weight, plucking at a thread with her other hand.* the.. person, you sometimes talk to..*A deeper blush as she looks intently at her unravelling sweater yarn.* the one I um, sat on. Accidentally.
[Boy]
He was looking at her pleasantly, but in doing so he looked strange for a moment. For a moment he wasn't looking at her. His eyes seemed to dilate and he looked past her, through her, and all without changing expressions.
And then he was back and saying "Hey, you wanna see the rooms?"
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy's eyes get wide behind her spectacles, as Boy goes strange on her. She presses her lips together and nods in agreement to his question, suddenly wondering what exactly she's gotten herself into with the strange young garou. It was easy to forget he was garou, but the skittish kin now suddenly reminded. So what new trick was this? She swallows and nods again.* K-Kay..
[Boy]
"Great!" He says with a grin and he's turning and running up the stairs. He stops at first, turning to look back at her and then he heads down to lead her up by the hand.
The last time she was up here, if she had ever come up here, it was a mess. The walls and ceilings were water damaged, and where they weren't they were either broken from ware and tear, or had been defaced by the intruders. The floor was covered with old, musty carpeting, and the smell of abandonment filled the air.
All that was gone now. The carpeting was removed to reveal hardwood floors. The drywall hadn't been covered or repainted, but had been replaced with solid panes of new walling. And the lights were on in the hallway. It was a vast improvement.
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy slips her hand in his tenatively, cheeks pinking slightly as she moves up the stairs. He didn't want to speak about whatever was going on with him.. and she welcomes the change in topic. A deep breath as she loks around.* W-Wow.. it, um. it smells better.
[Boy]
He grins at that response, still holding on to her hand, and leads her into one end of the house, opening the bedrooms on that end They were pretty bare, but they were clean. The light fixture in one room swung free from its molding. In another some of the walling was missing, exposing the studs and wiring that led up to the ceiling.
And then he was dragging her over to another pair of rooms. One had most of the walls missing, but he still had his tools in there. All his tools. On one side, a hand held drill and drill bit set rested on the floor. On the other was a bag of nail and a hammer. In the center, an old rusted can with water, and a still green tree branch.
None of this seemed strange to him. Wat was strange was what he found in the fourth room. He swung the door open excitedly. In one corner was a bundle of sheets and a pillow, much like she had seen under his bed at the Brother hood. In another corner was a makeshift bookshelf with cinderblocks and planks for shelves, and a small collection of books resting neatly on them.
At least, that's what should have been there. But the bookshelf seemed to have been knocked down, scattered on the floor, along with some of the books.
Boy's eyes knitted as he looked at the mess, and Wendy might have felt his rage swell just there. He seemed, for the most part, as confused as he could possibly be.
[Wendy Berber]
*She's been quietly following him from room to room, wondering if one of them would really be hers, considering the warmth of his hand over hers. When his rage swells at the fourth room she's quick to make amends, letting go of his hand and stooping to right the bookcase that seems to be confusing and offending him. Anything to stop the fount of rage that makes her so nervous.* S-Sorry... *She says quietly, crouching as she begins to reassemble the bookcase.* .. n-nothings um, nothing broken...
[Boy]
"Don't...Don't apologize...I mean....Why would you do this?"
Was that directed to Wendy? Well, there wasn't anybody else there.
"I'm just...I'm trying to make us a home here. I don't understand. Why? Wendy. Just leave it. It just a...It's nothing. I'll take care of it later."
[Wendy Berber]
*Its already half reconstructed when Wendy does as she's told and stands up and backs a little away from Boy, so very confused. The long length of her frame is tense with worry, hands clasped together shakily. She opens her mouth to speak, then shuts it. Unsure that she's willing to risk it. She instead takes a deep breath and tries to do what she's best at. Thinking.* ((Int + Occult))
[Boy]
to Wendy Berber
((No cold spots, no electrical disturbances, none of the usual signs of anything odd in the room. It's just a messy room and a garou talking to himself.
Though he IS garou, so who knows. Maybe he's just better at it that she is.))
[Boy]
He was crying. He'd never tried hiding it before, but he was crying, and angry, and confused, and suddenly so, so tired. He reached out for Wendy's hand again, pulling her out of the room before slamming the door and slumping against the wall, sliding himself down.
"I don't understand. I thought I was doing the right thing. Why would she..."
[Wendy Berber]
*She's pulled, stumbling out of the bedroom, jumping as the door slams, frightened kin suddenly looking down at a crying garou. Wow was she ever out of her element here. It didn't seem right to be looming over him, and so Wendy sits down beside him, nibbling her lip nervously. She didn't entirely understand what was happening, but she did understand Boy was sad. She steels herself and moves her hands to his shoulder and knee, half expecting violence for her trouble.* Boy..
[Boy]
Instead he shudders, looking at her, looking away, and looking back again with even more tears in his eyes. His hands find her hands, her arms, her shoulders, and he's burrying his face in the arm of her shoulder now, leaving the moisture there.
He sobbed in response. It wasn't so much an answer, but she certainly had his attention.
[Boy]
to Wendy Berber
((Boy Int+Crafts: Home improvement number 1))
[Wendy Berber]
*And so Wendy gently wraps spindly arms around his frame and holds him as he cries. She swallows nervously, worried as she strokes his back with pale spidery fingers. The skinny bookworm tries her best to comfort, focusing on her own breathing. Do not panic from proximity. Poor Boy doesn't need that right now..* Its ok.. It'll all be ok.. *Would it? She didn't know, but it seemed the right thing to say.*
[Boy]
"She..."
Did all garou really cry like this? No, probably not. He was special afterall. And so different.
"She doesn't like it here."
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy just continues to hug, her own face sorrowful. Maybe she wouldn't get a chance to move in after all... she nibbles her lip and nods sadly. Was this her fault?* I'm sorry... Boy. I'm s-sorry.
[Boy]
He sobbed.
He panted.
He gulped.
And he calmed down. He pulled back from her, looking rather sheepishly.
"It's not your fault. This...Change is hard."
[Wendy Berber]
*She lets her hands fall off of Boy's shoulders, looking between them rather than at him. She sniffs and nods, not sure what to say.* .. Are you, um. ok?
[Boy]
"No...But I haven't been for a while. I'm sorry you have to see me like this. You must think..."
He doesn't finish the sentence. He just stares at his own hands this time, lost in himself again. Or perhaps just thinking about the mess still in the other room.
[Wendy Berber]
*She traces a design on the hardwood, trying to focus her thoughts. What did she think? Its a few long awkward moments before she speaks.* um.. I think.. that I don't like to see you sad. And, I'm sorry.. she doesn't like it here.. um, as much as I do. *She catches her bottom lip in her teeth, and takes off her glasses to rub at her eyes.*
[Wendy Berber]
.. thats all I think. Kay?
[Boy]
He looked up at her, a little bit confused, but slowly that grew into a smile, and half a laugh. And the next moment he's leaning in, quickly, and leaving a kiss somewhere on her face before recoiling quickly and...blushing.
"Thanks, Wendy. You're...you're nice to me."
[Wendy Berber]
*She doesn't have time to react before she's kissed, shock fading to shyness as she burns red and smiles a little smile at the floor, her hand coming to touch her cheek where his lips were, perhaps partially to cover her blush.* th-thanks . Boy. you are too. Nice... to me, I mean. *She fusses with her glasses in her lap.*
[Boy]
And he liked this. The closeness of it. Few people allowed him to get this close. He allowed even fewer to do the same. But this felt right somehow. It felt safe. It felt like he could say...
"It's my sister. She did it."
...Anything.
[Wendy Berber]
*She tucks her hair back behind her ears, and slips her glasses on, still pink from the peck to her cheek.*
I'm s-sorry she doesn't l-like it here. M-maybe.. she'll like it better, um later on?
*She's a smart girl, for all her awkwardness, and it didn't seem right to bring up the strangeness of him having an angry invisible sister.*
[Boy]
And that was so the right thing to do. He smiles wanly, shy, even. And slowly he stands.
"This isn't right. I'm supposed to be taking care of you, aren't I?"
He extends a hand down to help her up.
[Wendy Berber]
I think.. um.. historically its sorta both.. of us. *She ducks her head and takes his hand, rising to her full height and rubbing the back of her neck with the hand not in his.* It just.. doesn't happen that way. you know. alot.
[Boy]
He chuckles, still a bit unsure of himself.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe...maybe we should get out of here. I've been here too long and I...I need to do laundry. Oh! Or! Or we can start bringing your stuff over? What do you think?"
[Wendy Berber]
Really?! I would like that. um, very much. *She exclaims, smiling excitedly.* I coud um, show you the internet.. if you'd like..
[Boy]
"Finally!" He says, and he's headed toward the stairs, then stops and turns back for her once again, only this time he holds his hand out, suddenly aware that grabbing and dragging her was probably not the best of ideas.
[Wendy Berber]
*She pinks a little and takes his hand, heading down the steps with him towards the door, speaking excitedly, and rapidly losing the stutter as she does so.* Its really v-very interesting.. you can um.. find anything on the internet.. alot of its lies but you kinda, um, learn whats a reputable s-source and whats not..
[Boy]
--Magic movie wipe to: Wendy's Apartment/Attic at Mag Mile--
((Let's just say Boy put shoes on before they left))
[Wendy Berber]
(can do. Nice font!))
[Wendy Berber]
*The cab would pull up in front of a thin brick building, rusty sign proclaiming "James Odd and Rare Books" proudly in the light of a nearby streetlight. Wendy fusses with her keys, suddenly nervous as she unlocks the front door, and leads Boy through the bookstore towards the back room. THe bookstore itself is a high ceiling'd musty smelling place, with tall wooden book cases and rolling ladders to access the higher shelves. There's a display case set up with rarer books, and a big wooden counter with an old fashioned register. Once Wendy pushes the back door open, they're in the back room. Its a small cramped space with an employee washroom, (no shower) and rickety wooden staircase leading to a hatch in the roof. Wendy slips through the stock crates and up the stair case, pushing the hatch open and emerging up into her apartment. If you can call it that. Its too small for more than 5 people to stand comfortably spread out, 7 towers of books leaning against the walls. There's a hotplate set up on a half stack of books by the window, and a thin mattress in the corner with a laptop sitting on top of it. A lamp glows nearby*
[Boy]
The driver seemed nervous all the while, constantly checkig the rearview mirror for the moment when he knew, he just knew, that the Teenage boy in the back seat would completely lose it and attack either the girl there or try to attack the drive.
Boy didn't notice any of this. He was busy looking out the window at the city as it went by. And when he wasn't, he was looking at Wendy.
But never so she could see him, of course.
He didn't say anything on the way up. Through the book store and the back room he only let his eyes do the wandering, but followed Wendy wherever she led. Once they were in the attic itself he let himself wander around. He perused her books, he sniffed at hot plate and at the mattress, and he nodded his head approvingly.
"I used to live in a place kinda like this. This is nicer though. Warmer, for one thing."
But with the heat of the day, how could he really tell?
[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy sits down on the mattress, her back tucked in the corner as, she watches Boy do his thing, shy as he sniffs around.* Its um, small.. but its good enough for me.. *She drags the laptop to herself, fingers flickering over the keys as it lights her face blue.* Um.. this is the internet..
[Boy]
He lowers himself gently onto the mattress. He didn't throw himself down or even flop. He knew the dangers of sudden movement. He does get close, however, sitting next to her and rubbing shoulders as he tried to understand what she was doing.
"That's it? That box?"
[Wendy Berber]
This is, um, this is a portable computer. Its a laptop. *She takes a deep breath, sweltering in the stuffy attic in her sweater.* Um..Do you wanna name something you want to know about.. I'll find it for you. *She pushes her glasses up, blushing a little as his shoulder brushes her. Such close quarters.*
[Boy]
"Um..."
He seemed to really have to think about that. What was there really that he wanted to find out about?
"Nicky" He said eventually. Thoughtfully. "Nicky Ramirez."
[Wendy Berber]
Um.. Ramirez is a pretty common, um name.. we might get alot here.. *Wendy nods, her spindly fingers pattering over the keys, bringing up a search, then editing it down a little. Probably not looking for a senator. nor a movie star... faces flicker by until there remain a few thousand Nikki's to sift through. A minute of so passes quietly as she continues to narrow her search down until they're staring at a page that mentions both a Jeremy and a Nikki Ramirez. Missing persons, focused mostly on Jeremy* Is this alright?
[Boy]
He tenses for a moment, seeing his own name. No, not his name. Just the name they tried to give him.
"No..."
And then he relaxes. There was nothing to worry about. There was no one to take him back to that godforsaken place. They'd taken care of that. They'd already taken care of that.
"No, I don't want to see that. Can we...look at something else?"
[Wendy Berber]
oh. kay. I'm sorry boy. *She frowns at herself, thinking a moment, then typing in something else. Audio books pop up.* Um.. these are books that they read for you. You just listen, and um, follow along.
[Boy]
He cants his head to one side, looking puzzled.
"But...what's the point of that? You read to get knowledge. To come by it through your own discovery and understanding. Why would I let someone else read it to me?"
[Wendy Berber]
*Now its Wendy's turn to cock her head at him.* S-sometimes its fun to be read to. I think.
[Boy]
"Mm. Maybe. I'd rather read though. Hm. What else is on this internet thing? What about the house? Can it find the house?"
[Wendy Berber]
I can. *She goes to google maps and zooms in on the top of the house, then the street.* um.. this picture is a few months old...
[Boy]
His eyes widen and his hand grips the corner of the screen for a moment. He leans in, peering.
"Wow. You weren't kidding. Everything's on the internet. Can we see a picture of it now?"
[Wendy Berber]
I don't um, think so. that picture was taken by a satellite in space.. *She nibbles her finger a moment, before dropping her hands to the keyboard on her lap. She's watching him, lips curling into a pleased smile.* They'll get a new one when the um, satellite passes by again, i think.
[Boy]
"When's that gonna be?"
He did seem enthused by it. Amused at the very least.
"Oh, look at taht roof. I've gotta fix that."
[Wendy Berber]
I'm not sure but I can um, email and ask. *She admits sheepishly.* yeah..it'll get leaky. But we can put down, um, pots, for awhile... oh hey, it plays um, movies and tv and things too.
[Boy]
"Movies? What kind of movies? Like those Disney movies?" Which is the only kind he really knows about. "Gabbie doesn't like those much though."
[Wendy Berber]
All kinds of movies.. G-Gabbie? *She's punching in a url, tilting her head at him in nervous question.*
[Boy]
"Mm...My sister. She's..."
She's invisibile? She's imaginary? She's actually nonexistent?
"She's not like other kids."
[Wendy Berber]
We don't have to um, watch a movie then. *Wendy closes the laptop, face shadowed suddenly as she leans back into the corner of the room.* If she doesn't want.
[Boy]
He looks at her confused.
"Wendy...she's...not here. I'm sorry. This is too strange isn't it. I wish I could explain it. i wish i could make it make sense. It hardly even makes sense to me. Lets just...lets not talk about them for a while, okay?"
Yes. Let's not talk about them.
[Wendy Berber]
Its ok. I just.. I can't tell yet. that's all. *But she drops the subject, shifting on the mattress with what she hopes is a reassuring shrug. More than one ..whatever they were.. That was ok. She nods to herself. She would take a kind strange garou, over a cruel normal one anyday.* um... are we done with the internet for now?
[Boy]
"Yeah, I think we are."
He sat back against the wall and looks at the shelves. The Door. He looks at anything except her.
"So what's next?"
[Wendy Berber]
I'm um.. give you a tour but.. well. *She shrugs, rubbing the sticky back of her neck, attic swelteringly warm.*.. there's not much to um, see. Books, Internet, Me. Thats it. *She looks at her lap, pushing the laptop off the mattress with a thud that makes her jump.* S-Sorry..
[Boy]
"You do that a lot. Apologize I mean. You haven't done anything wrong. How come you do that?"
[Wendy Berber]
*She picks at her skirt. Her turn to be awkward and strange now. Thinking.* i, I dunno really. .I mess up alot,,and Its just better to be sorry than.. well. not. Its safer, I guess.. *Her brows knit together, and she frowns as she looks up to Boy. Worried what he'd think.*
[Boy]
"I haven't seen you mess up yet. You got us a place to stay for free, and you know about the internet. You're smart. And you're good. And...listen."
He turns himself to her, both hands on her shoulders as he regards her seriously.
"Listen. If you've got something to say, if its to me or to Marrick, if you've got something to say and you think you're right about it, then say it, okay? And don't apologize for it."
[Wendy Berber]
*She was blushing a little, but when he comes face to face with her the skinny kin tenses, meeting his eyes and listening carefully. Its a moment before she remembers how to talk.* um.. okay. I'll.. I'll try.
[Boy]
"Do, Wendy. Do."
He nods at that, satisfied with himself, and releases her shoulders.
"This place is alright. A little small but...not bad."
[Wendy Berber]
yea.. just.. crowded,, when lots of people um, come up. *She frowns to herself, remembering Alex lounging cockily on her bed, uninvited, like he owned the place.* I like the house better.
[Boy]
"Good. That'll be our home. You'll be safe there, I promise."
He nodded to himself, confident in that promise.
"I'll take care of you Wendy. You don't have to worry."
[Wendy Berber]
(wp)
[Wendy Berber]
*She blushes furiously, watching Boy for a good long moment, expression fond. She slips spider fingers over her lips, and nods shyly.* Thank you.
[Boy]
And there was another one of those shudders, and a deep swallow as his hand moved to hers. He was what? Sixteen? Sure he was strange. He talked to people that weren't there and cried openly at all manner of things. But he was sixteen, and he shuddered when she touched him like that.
"Wendy...I've never...Can I...kiss you?"
[Wendy Berber]
*A shy nod, a heated blush crawls down her neck, as she tucks black hair behind her ears with a nervous swallow. One would never guess she was older than him by watching the way they interact, clumsy and unsure.*
[Boy]
And with that he moves in with slow caution, and with absolutely no idea how any of this worked. But he'd seen it done. And he had a pretty good idea that his lips...went to her lips...and lingered there.
Was something else supposed to happen?
[Wendy Berber]
*She shuts her eyes tightly behind the glasses, trying not to imagine fangs and muzzle, and all the terrible things that could happen if- OH. Warm lips on hers. The heat of his breath against her skin, Boy so close to her she could feel his tenseness radiating off him, to match her own. She kisses him back timidly, heart suddenly rattling in her chest.*
[Boy]
And he sighs, still close to her, his nostrils flaring as he took in her scent. This close. They've never been this close.
"Wow" He whispers. "That was...nice."
[Wendy Berber]
Yeah.. *She breathes, lingering with her skin all a-tingle... She's not sure what to do next, charged silence stretching between them several long seconds, before she leans forward hesitantly, and kisses, rather than being kissed. Drumming up moxie from somewhere.*
[Boy]
This was a something; this trembling, this painful want. This must be the something that was supposed to happen. For a while there was a fight, a struggle as to who was being kissed and who was kissing who, until he realized somewhere that it really didn't matter.
His hands reached out and the laptop was pushed aside.
His hands reached out and he was pulling at the mattress, pressing himself into her. Onto her.
His hands reach out and he's fumbling dumbly at her sweater. He smelled of sweat and wood and she smelled so...so...good.
His hands reached out and...
--Fade to black--
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