Balance

[Boy]
It was long work, hard work, getting this house together. But it was work that Boy enjoyed. Even now, as the sun set and one of the few working streetlights on this block came on, Boy was outside carting huge garbage bags filled with broken down walling that had been replaced, and adding it all to the huge pile. He stood on the stoop, on his stoop, for a while, breathing in the first air of the evening and overlooking what would be his territory. Soon. Very soon.

[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy had been through the house earlier, carting some books. She'd even stayed long enough to cobble together a makeshift bookshelf out of scrap wood, before leaving again to get the last of her library. Her cab pulls up and she pokes a skinny leg out, hauling a box along with her and setting it on the ground, before unloading several others.*

[Boy]
He doesn't need to be asked. Boy hopped down the few short steps. He leaned over to get a look at the cab drivers face, and immediately threw his arms around the box, hefting it up onto his chest.

"Hey Wendy. What's all this?"

[Wendy Berber]
um, just the last of the um, of my library. *She gives Boy a shy smile, stacking a smaller box on top of the one boy's holding, and hugging the last one herself.* H-hows the house? *She asks, staggering towards the porch*

[Boy]
She said 'her library' and he was already grinning, about to say something when the extra box was stacked up, blocking his face. Boy had to walk sideways back toward the house and up the steps.

"Its going great. We have walls now. Everywhere. But wait...you have a library? Like your own library?"

[Wendy Berber]
*She nods, following him up the steps and opening the door for him. Then she realizes he likely can't see her and adds. * I do, I um, well.. thats all I have. Thats what all the boxes are..

[Boy]
"Well...wow." He walks through the door, edging sideways beyond the foyer and to the bottom of the steps where he leaves the boxes.

"You bringing your internet too? I think that might come in handy around here."

[Wendy Berber]
*WEndy pushes the door shut behind her, wobbly as she does so. Her box is set where boy put the others, and she stands up, dusting her hands on her skirt. She tucks black hair behind an ear.* Yes, I'll have to um, set it up. But We'll have the internet s-soon, if you'd like.

[Boy]
"I think that'd be great." He says with a smile, and in the next moment he's throwing his arms around her in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're gonna be here. This is gonna be the best house ever."

[Wendy Berber]
Oh! *She squeaks in surprise as she's hugged tensing a moment before letting her muscles relax, hands coming tentatively to the Boy's sides. She blushes, ducking her head to hide red cheeks.* Yeah.. um. I'm excited too. *She nibbles her lip.* Um, have you decided who sleeps where yet?

[Boy]
"Umm...Not really. I think the big room should go to Marrick. She really needs her space for her...girl stuff...I guess. I think she had a big room back home. When she had a room at least. Oh...unless you wanted the big room. Do you want the big room?"

[Wendy Berber]
n-no.. but um.. *She gets a little shy, looking into the empty space that would later be the livingroom.* Would it be ok, if i put my books on shelves out here? Just some of them.

[Boy]
"Yeah, of course. I mean...I think people will touch them if they see them there. Read them. If you don't mind I don't mind. I don't think Marick will mind and...No, I don't think it'll be a problem."

[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy nods, nibbling her lip.* SO... um. Can I help? With anything?

[Boy]
He looks around the place. The walls were still bare, but solid and whole. Clean compared to how it had all looked before. The lights were on, even if they were without their fixtures to hold in the wiring.

"I can't really...think of anything. Lets just...lets just sit for a while, okay?"

[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy nods, standing at the base of the stairs and looking for a clear spot of ground to sit on. She folds herself into a cross legged position, fixing her skirt with a spindly hand. * You m-must be tired, huh? The house looks really good. *She looks around with a pleased curl of lips.* I think we'll pass that, um, the inspection.

[Boy]
"I dunno. I don't really get tired. It's weird. Yeah, I think we might. I just have to put those exposed wires away."

He smiles at it all, mimicking her expression.

"I've never had a place like this. Not to myself at least."

[Wendy Berber]
Oh.. yeah. *She'd forgotten about him not being, well.. entirely harmless and human. She shifts and hugs her knees, chin resting on top of them. She swallows and adds.* I've never really had a real house with rooms and things either. Not since I left M-Maine. I do think Marrick should get the b-big room. *She nods in agreement.*

[Boy]
He frowns at that casting his eyes down to the ground.

"Marrick got kicked out of her house after her first change. Her dad...her dad didn't think she should be with us. And then, when the well blew...Well, she's sort of lost her home twice so far. She needs a place, 'yknow? What's it like Maine? That's on the east coast, right?"

[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy nods, frowning and murmuring softly into her knees.* I d-didn't like it there.

[Boy]
He knew that simple, quiet reaction. Perhaps a little bit too well.

"Well...you're here now. You don't need to worry about anything back there. You've got me now. And Marrick. We can be you're real family. Y'know, take care of you. The way family ought to."

[Wendy Berber]
*She raises her face up to him, noticing he hasn't sat down, offering a weak smile.* Well, um. You two as well. r-right? I'm here to, um help.

[Boy]
"Umm...I been thinking too...You may need to learn some...defense." He looked relaxed enough, standing there and leaning up against the previously shaky banister.

"Nothing too serious. Just so you can be a little bit more safe for when we're not here."

[Wendy Berber]
..like a Taser? *She says perhaps a little too enthusiastically.* Eyes bright behind her glasses.

[Boy]
"Uh...you mean those shocky things cops use?"

It was vaguely frightening that he was familiar with them in that respect.

"I dunno where we'd get one of those. But maybe a gun."

His eyes flit over her narrow frame. Those skinny arms and legs.

"A little one."

[Wendy Berber]
A gun?! *Her was the girl who three seconds ago was all set to electrocute some stranger, turning white at the idea of using a pistol.* Oh. um.. really? . *She gulps, eyes wide on Boy. Her voice small. *Ok

[Boy]
"You...you don't like that idea? I was shooting since I was about ten. O'course, they wouldn't leave me with that many bullets."

He shrugs.

"How about...I dunno. Well, what do you think? You ever thought about it?"

[Wendy Berber]
We, uh.. well. *She frowns, nibbling her lip. Defending herself was something she wasn't used to.* I usually just curl into a b-ball. *An apologetic look up at him.* I d-don't know how to fight at all Boy. I tried once.. *A shadow passes across her features, and she looks down into her knees.* I'm n-not very good at it.

[Boy]
"Mm"

He seems to be thinking of it for a while, looking around the house as if trying to find the answers there.

"A safe room then. Somewhere to run to. I don't know if...Do they get twisters here in Chicago? Either way, we ought to use the..."

And a thought comes to him. No, a memory. His eyes take on that far away look again and his breathing comes fast.

"No. You need to..." and then his mind seemed to come back to him. He presses the heels of his palms into his eyes. "Yeah, we'll take care it. They're not...they're not...they're not gonna take you."

[Wendy Berber]
*Wendy stands slowly, watching him get flustered and panicked. She pushes her glasses up, considering him with a tight worried expression.*

[per emp]

[Boy]
Have you ever seen someone try hard to remember something. Have you ever seen them remember something when doing so was the last thing they really wanted? Have you ever seen someone try so desperately hard to forget? That's what Boy was doing. All three at the very same time. Its not anger that grips him, but fear and panic. And then an unexplained desperation not to let it show.

[Wendy Berber]
*She reaches a thin hand to him tentatively. IF she was going to be his, well.. his mate. It was worth her life to learn his moods. She sets her hand on his as he rubs his eyes, blushing at herself.*I'm N-Not going, um, anywhere... ok? Unless you w-want me to. *She bites her lip nervously, watching him from under a shag of hair, face glowing pink*

[Boy]
He starts at her touch, at least at first. But slowly he seemed to be getting used to this. Getting used to having her there. As if he was still in shock he lowered himself rigidly to the ground next to her and, once again, buried his face in her shoulder.

"We can't keep doing this. I have to stop. I have to stop thinking about...Oh...Don't let Marrick know, okay?"

[Wendy Berber]
*She shakes her head. She wouldn't tell Marrick, thin arms circling around him as she's lowering herself to the ground to hug him. One spidery hand presses his head against her shoulder.* Its ok.. um. Sometimes its ok just to be sad. .. Kay? You don't have to try and pretend for me.. if you don't want. *She speaks quietly against the side of his head.*

[Wendy Berber]
(Aim is a bitch tonight)

[Boy]
"Sometimes, yeah. But not all the time. I think...I think there's something wrong with me. Marrick's a warrior. She hasn't stopped. She won't stop. I'm supposed to be a warrior but I c--I ca--I can't. Ever time I think about....I don't know how to handle this."

[Wendy Berber]
Marricks different. *She says quietly. She hugs tighter, head resting against Boys as she speaks.*

y-Your different. Different moon. I think, maybe you j-just need time. kay?

*He's so close she can smell the sweat and drywall dust all over him, hair ticking her nose a little. He can likely smell dust and books and soap. A very Wendy smell. Her voice murmurs against him, shy but insistent.*

I d-don't think anything is wrong with you Boy. I like you.

[Boy]
He sniffs, once, wipes his face in her shoulder. "Are you...s-sure? I see the way you look at me sometimes. Like I scare you. You wouldn't look at me like that if you didn't think there's something wrong."

[Wendy Berber]
Boy! *She exclaims, hugging his head and frowning to herself.* Y-you scare me cause you-re trueborn.. It me.. not y-you.

[Boy]
He was quiet after that, except for the occasional shuddering on exhale. His hands reached further around her, pulling her close to him as she in turn held him.

"Like Gabbie. Now I know how Travis felt. He was always so sad. And Gabbie...she would scream...and scream and scream and scream. It broke his heart. What would happen if...if we..."

Another shudder.

[Wendy Berber]
I'm g-getting better.. I promise..

*She says held tight against him. Wrapping tight and wrapped in turn. Travis, Gabbie, all names committed to memory as she makes small soothing noises in her through, strokes Boy's hair as he shudders.*

ShhShh.. I - Boy... I've n-never been like this with one of you before.. kay? its all.. been bad, before this. but.. we're, well.. We're hugging.

*She says quietly, as though that is of monumental importance, heat of her blush warm against him.*

And I'm sc-scared when you cry that you'll l-lose your temper.. thats all...

[Boy]
And one last shudder before he whispers.

"Okay..."

And that seemed to be the end of that.

[Wendy Berber]
*The skinny kin girl holds him, curled against him and stroking his hair quietly. Just breathing and being there as he calms down. Eyes shut.*

[Boy]
And eventually he does calm, and begins to pull away. Assuming she lets her go he sits back on his own heels, looking her in the eyes.

"You're right. I have to maintain balance. And I can't do that when I'm so...emotional. I realize that now. I realize that's why they all...well, they were afraid of me. Except for my pack. Marrick, and Kyle, and..."

And for a moment he looks like he might be going off again, but his eyes come back to her quickly, as if he was willing himself through the thought of it.

"Emily. Danny. I shouldn't run from the memory. That's not honoring their names. I'll be strong for them...for you. As long as you can do the same for me when I need it. And I will need it."

[Wendy Berber]
*She's loose limbed as soon as he pulls away, curling her arms around herself and meeting his eyes reluctantly. Somewhere in her clever mind is a voice screaming that eye contact is a form of challenge among wolves. But she ignores it, swallowing and taking a deep breath. He seemed to need this. Emily. Danny. Travis. Gabbie. All names stored away in that brain of hers, clues to a puzzle she's going to eventually need put together. For now she simply nods.* I'll tr-try my best.

[Boy]
With her response he's moving forward, hands and knees on her ground as he moves in to eat her face to plant a kiss on her. Gently. Softly.

[Wendy Berber]
*And she twitches away from him a fraction of an inch before his lips find hers and she's kissed. She blushes as he leans back, offering a timid smile. pleased. Wendy's hand comes to her lips and she ducks her head, murmuring shyly.* Wh-what was that for?

[Boy]
"For...well, for everything. I know I make you nervous sometimes but...You care. And that's important. And I thought...I thought it would be nice. Kissing I mean."

He pursed his lips peering at her hand as she felt her own.

"Was that wrong?"

[Wendy Berber]
N-no.. no. I liked it. th-thank you. *She's blushinng even more furiously now, hands falling to her lap.* just.. not very good at this, I guess. *She offers an apologetic smile, laughing nervously.*

[Boy]
"Well...me neither. I just...just go with how it feels. Instinct, I guess. I mean, that night at your place I...I still don't have any idea what I was doing, honestly."

[Wendy Berber]
OhmygoodnessBoy. *Eyes get wide as he brings up that which should never be spoken of, her face reaching a shade of red previously unknown to man. She brings her hands to her face and before taking a deep shakey breath and moving towards her boxes of books.* um.. maybe we should t-t-take these up-upstairs?

[Boy]
"Okay. Yeah, maybe we should. I've got those."

And he did get them, hefting them to his chest again once he was standing, and the two of them disappeared upstairs.

[Wendy Berber]
-------but not for scandal! Ftb!------

First Kiss

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--

That guy...doesn't love himself

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.