Meatloaf

Boy - Lake View (Northside)

[Boy]

Boy had been busy lately. It seemed like only yesterday Marcus had moved out, no longer sleeping on their couch and adding to the general amount of Rage around the house, even if just slightly so. His presence was still felt though. While Wendy and Marrick were at work, a small tool shed had somehow been erected in the back yard, and there were now power tools in the house; brand new shiny ones as well as not so new ones that had been scrap one day and worked reasonably well the next. Boy came in from the back yard, trying hard to wipe the machine grease off of his hands and onto an old rag he'd found. He took the fight to the bathroom where he scrubbed at his fingers and palms. Glancing up, he was still surprised by the lack of reflection there."

[Wendy Berber]

*The click of a lock at the front door, Wendy hauls herself in from work. She sets her satchel inside the door, sighing audibly as she locks it behind her. Home. She leans against the wall and stretches her neck back, looking at the ceiling a few moments in quiet exhaustion.* Whew.

[Boy]

He was coming down the stair now, still trying to wipe his hands clean but only managing to spread the black grime around. "Hi Wendy. Welcome home. Oh. What is it? You have a rough day?"

[Wendy Berber]

Um, just long. Long day. *She looks back down, tall girl standing up and brushing a nonexistent bit of lint off her shirt.* But money, right? thats good? *A boney shrug as she tucks her perpetually messy hair behind her ears, frowning in consideration at his greasy hands. * Is that m-machine grease?

[Boy]

"Uh, yeah." He says, frowning at his hands. "We bought a lawn mower, me and Marcus. But it doesn't quite work right. I was trying to fix it all day. And this stuff...it just won't come off." He sighed, stuffing the rag in his back pocket and tilting his leg to one side as he regarded her. "C'mon. Lets sit in the living room for a bit. You look like you need to get off your feet."

[Wendy Berber]

Have you tried r-rubbing alcohol? That'll maybe work? *She bites her lip in consideration.* Or um, maybe the stain remover stuff downstairs in the laundry room? Its for um, grease on clothes.. but maybe? *She moves to the livingroom with him, offering a small appreciative smile.* Its just weird sitting all day, and then b-being on my feet at the book store..

[Boy]

"It's okay, I'll deal with it eventually." He doesn't sit on the chair, unsure of what kind of grease may be elsewhere on his clothes. No, he drops comfortably on the couch, leaning against one corner of the couch and patting the couch near him in invitation. "Yeah, the two jobs thing must be rough. You think you can get through it though?"

[Wendy Berber]

*Long skinny legs bring her round the coffee table to fall gracelessly onto the couch beside him. She shrugs halfheartedly, one tired teenager.* yeah, I think I'll b-be ok. I'm just not sleeping very well lately.. so I get kinda tired easy. It'll be ok.

[Boy]

His expression is a touch more serious at the mention of that. "Have you had more nightmares? Have you spoken to anyone else about it?"

[Wendy Berber]

No, um, no more nightmares. *She shakes her head quickly.* Just, kinda restless I guess. I s-still have to speak with Wahya.. I'm sorry, I just kinda got c-caught up with all the work.

[Boy]

"Its okay. I'll talk to him for you, and maybe he can come here. I'm sorry, I should have done that already." He purses his lips, and for a moment she can see him glancing off elsewhere. After a single nod he turns her. "Tell you what. You take it easy for a little while. I'll make dinner tonight, deal?"

[Wendy Berber]

*A surprised Wendy blurts the first thing that comes to her head.* You can cook?! *Blinking owlishly behind her glasses. The thought had never occurred to her until this very moment. That Boy, might be able to make his own food. Both a boy, and a Teenager, and a garou. These things seemed to exclude cooking entirely in her mind.*

[Boy]

"Yeah. Of course. Why not?" He frowned slightly. "I just never...well...you seemed to enjoy cooking. Its something you and Marrick had in common. I figured between the two of you..." And he shrugged, as if that was a respectable conclusion to his statement. "But yeah, I can cook for myself. Sorta had to learn, y'know. That, or starve."

[Wendy Berber]

Oh yeah. No. Of course. *She shakes her head, blushing. Why had she never thought of that before. A nervous laugh, before she pushes her hair back off her face and tilts her head.* Um. sooo.. whats for supper chef? *A goofy grin.*

[Boy]

"How about...meatloaf? And baked potatoes?" He looked at her through slanted, wary eyes, gauging her reaction.

[Wendy Berber]

Wow really? *Her eyes roll skyward a minute, lips pressed thin. Thinking.* yes. Um, we have bison in the freezer. Its just a little pack but I'll talk to Mr. Fontell when he c-comes in to pick up his books on f-friday. Maybe we can get some more. *She blinks, eyebrows pinching suddenly as she notices Boy's wariness.* .... Whats wrong? *a Finger comes up and is nibbled anxiously.*

[Boy]

"Oh. Nothing. I just wasn't sure if you'd like that. Bison huh? That's a new one, I'll admit. Guess I better get started."

[Wendy Berber]

Oh hey.. um.. Before you get all started... *She fidgets. A deep breath before looking up at the teenager beside her.* I was thinking at work. And i'd kinda like to um, w-write Alex a letter? or Something?

[Boy]

His brows seem to have a hard time coming together, and when they do its less out of any anger or annoyance. Its complete and utter confusion. She can hear it, even now, in the way he says "Why?"

[Wendy Berber]

Well.. I think I'm not going to um, go to the B-Brotherhood anymore, but .. If he - *A purse of her lips. Wendy raises her eyes to Boy's confused face, skin prickling a little. She shouldn't have brought this up on a moon so full.* Well.. He knows where i w-work and I think - what if he's mad about what happened? He keeps asking me why I do this, and why I do that. And maybe.. if I answer him.. he'll forget about me? Maybe it'll make him less broken? *She shrugs bony shoulders.* or at least, not as .. insistent. *Alexander Vaughn was not having sex with her to prove his ugly point. Whatever his point was.*

[Boy]

He shakes his head. "No. There's no fixing him. And even if there was, he doesn't do any of the things he does because he wants to be fixed. You give him this kind of attention and it'll just fuel him. I'm not gonna let him treat you the way he does. I'm not gonna..." He sighs. His attention drifts. His eyes carry toward the stairs and linger there. "Right. Right, okay." Boy sighs again, his eyes close, but at least he's facing Wendy now. "He is your Kin. Keeping you away from him is foolish but I--I'd prefer if you stayed away. What would you say to him anyway?"

[Wendy Berber]

*She looks to the stairs, expecting to see nothing and seeing just that. A nibble of her lip, curious as she looks to Boy.* I don't want to see him either. Thats why I thought.. a letter? He can't talk all over a letter. He just.. has to r-read it. And If I ask him n-not to bother me.. and I make a copy, and he d-does.. well.. then whoever he b-belongs to knows whats happening. And Alex can't do his talking thing he does and make it all t-twisted around. *She scowls into her lap, remembering another night at the brotherhood not so long ago.* I thought maybe.. it might m-make it better?

[Boy]

"You're clever. And...wise. And good. I know you're trying to help but...Alexander Vaughn...might be beyond help." He purses his lips, his head shaking slowly. "Like I said, I can't keep you from communicating to your kinsman. That'd be wrong of me. But I'd advise against it." He sighed again, and although he was facing her he still hadn't actually looked at her just yet. He was tense, trying hard to hold on to himself. "Alexander fucking Vaughn!" He could do to try a little harder.

[Wendy Berber]

(Wp - you can do it Wendy!)

[Wendy Berber]

*Wendy flinches as Boy curses, looking at him in shocked silence a moment. The moon was heavy in the shy, and this was a touchy subject, one she was a fool to have brought up on such an evening. She doesn't move confidently. But the thin girl does move, sliding slowly closer to Boy until her thigh touches his, leaning timidly and wrapping herself around him in a hug, as though she could contain his rage within spindly arms. Her movements slow and very careful.* I'll take your advice.

[Boy]

His eyes popped open the moment she touched him, and finally he looked at her. She could feel him tremble ever so slightly at her touch. His shoulders and arms tensed and then-- and then they relaxed. Boy's chest heaved and he nuzzled at her awkwardly. "I'm just...worried. About you. I don't want him hurting you."

[Wendy Berber]

*A sigh of relief as her mate relaxes rather than growing dangerously irritated, Wendy letting out breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She's nuzzled and blushes in response, holding boy a little more tightly. The spindly nerd murmurs.* Me neither. Its ok. It was just an idea.

[Boy]

"Alright. So, is there anything else, or can we get to that meatloaf now?"

[Wendy Berber]

Meatloaf is good.