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Post by Races The Night on Dec 26, 2005 15:24:57 GMT -5
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Post by Races The Night on Jan 17, 2006 7:39:19 GMT -5
After explaining to Jezza just what Walkabout was, they all bundled into Daine's car, a very tight squeeze in back for Anthony. They drove off into town and parked on the upper storey of BHs and ducked into Walkabout, the pub next door.
After ordering, Anthony tried to make conversation with Daine, but his fellow wolven was preoccupied with the vents that would unflold tonight. Turning to Jezza they talked about anything and everything until their food was brought out to them. Daine almost dived onto his plate, ravashing his all day breakfast with a fervour he seldom showed about anything these days.
After eating, Anthony dragged them all off to Forbidden Planet, where Daine idly flipped through some comics and magazines while his younger companion ranted and raved about the new issue of Michael Turner's Fathom. The walk around town was relatively short and upon returning home, Daine recieved a cell phone call from Mikhail. He disappeared into the other room to converse.
When he returned, he was even more sombre than before. "Orders from Mikhail." He confirmed. "Mikhail, Christine, Nicolai and I are going to meet Jake tonight. You," And he stamped down any interuptions that were coming his way from thet wo on the sofa, "Are going to stay safe and away from the Four Aces." He checked the clock on the wall before excusing himself to go get changed into something more suitable for...a confrontation.
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Post by Maira on Jan 17, 2006 7:48:47 GMT -5
Just as Daine dissappeared upstairs there was a slight creaking noise and then the sound of something dropping near the front door. Curious, Jezza looked questioningly to Anthony before going over to see what the noise had been. Lying on the floor by the front door, right under the mail slot, was a plain white envelope.
Looking over her shoulders and up the stairs to make sure Daine wasn't on his way back down yet, Jezza quickly bent to pick up the envelope. Tucking it into the pocket of her hoodie, she halfran back over to the couch and flopped down next to Anthony before pulling it out.
The envelope had been laying face down when she'd picked it up so she hadn't seen the single "J" on the front. Even with just that one letter, Jezza knew exactly who it was from. Unwilling, and more than a little nervous, to open it, Jezza shoved the envelope at Anthony muttering, "Open it." She refused to watch but after a moment of silence she heard the tearing of paper as Anthony opened a letter obviously addressed to her.
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Post by Races The Night on Jan 17, 2006 8:41:03 GMT -5
Anthony took one look at the envelope, frowned and handed it back to her. "Its for you, look, there's a 'J' on the front."
((omg *dies* soooo short))
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Post by Maira on Jan 17, 2006 8:52:22 GMT -5
Jezza wanted to smack him. What part of 'open it' was Anthony not getting? Well, he was after all, not female and so likely didn't understand that little habit many girls picked up. Foisting off possibly bad news into somebody elses hands so they'd read it first.
Not looking at her Packmate, Jezza reached over and grabbed the envelope and tore into it none to nicely. The envelope in tatters, Jezza held up a simple piece of lined paper and read the note that was written on it in very familiar handwriting:
Jess,
The Packs are meeting tonight and since I'm not crucial, I don't have to go. If you don't either, I would really like to talk to you. There's a lot I need to clear up. Meet me at The Crown in an hour if you can.
Andrew
Reading the note two and then three more times Jezza sat staring at nothing while she thought. Daine had said that she and Anthony were supposed to stay away from Four Aces wolves. If it was just Andrew by himself that hardly counted right?
Hearing footsteps coming down the stairs again, Jezza promptly sat on the note and the shredded envelope. As an after-thought, she grabbed for the TV clicker and started flipping channels casually as she could.
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Post by Races The Night on Mar 8, 2006 11:01:13 GMT -5
"What are you two scowling about?" Daine asked from the living room door, throwing a heavy leather jacket over his shoulders. "You look like you've been hit by a Custos."
The zips and buttons snapped into place as he fastened them and adjusted it all. "I'm off to meet Mikhail and get this over with. You," And he pointed at Anthony. "Are going to keep her safe at all costs. If I come back and find out so much as a tiny scratch has appeared on her person, you're the one paying for it. Got that?" Anthony nodded, his face going a paler shade of white.
Dasiniel passed one last look over the two and left, shutting the door behind him. A few minutes later, the roar of his car purred into life and the rubbers squealed down the street.
Anthony turned to Jezza. "I-I really can't let you go to The Crown tonight, Jezza. You know what Dainiel's like, he'll have my head if he finds out you weren't at home all this time."
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Post by Maira on Mar 8, 2006 16:10:35 GMT -5
Jezza listened to Daine lecturing Anthony and she couldn't help but smirk. Andrew wouldn't do anything to her, nor could he. He was too honor bound to hurt a woman, let alone one that had been his friend.
As soon as she could no longer hear Daine's car, Jezza was up off the couch and was heading for her own jacket by the door. When Anthony said he couldn't let her leave Jezza just looked at him, one eyebrow raised. "You don't have to let me go Anthony. Go to the bathroom or something and I'll sneak out and you can follow me." Her solution seemed perfectly logical, even Daine couldn't blame Anthony for something like that. Slipping into her shoes, Jezza opened the door and stepped out onto the front porch. She was halfway down the walk before she heard any noise behind her.
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Post by Races The Night on Mar 10, 2006 5:42:07 GMT -5
Before Anthony could manage to push a complaint through his mouth, Jezza had disappeared out of the front door. Scurrying off the couch and grabbing his own jacket from the arm of his chair, he stumbled across the living room and out of the door. Locking it with his set of spare keys he closed the distance between them and grabbed Jezza's arm to spin her around.
"Jezz, don't be foolish, I'm the one who's going to boil in oil for this." His expression was earnest. "Daine won't tolerate playing around with your safety, especially tonight. When she glared at him and anger flashed in her pretty eyes, he recoiled slightly - never the one to go up against a woman alone.
They stared off at each other for a long moment before Anthony jammed his fists into his trouser pockets and pouted. "You dare get into an ounce of trouble, young lady, and I'll skin you myself." He said, fatehrly. "But you're not going alone, I'm coming along with you incase this Andrew guy does anything...unsocial..." A slow, evil smile formed on his sculpted lips as Bloodmoon savoured the thought of having an excuse to rip the man limb from tender limb.
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Post by Maira on Mar 10, 2006 6:18:21 GMT -5
As she was spun about, Jezza had to resist the urge to hiss at Anthony. The look in his eyes stopped her though. Instead she just glared at him. She wanted to grumble and gripe and ask just why on Earth would Daine care about a 'pup' like her. After all, she'd been dumped on him and he'd probably be glad to get her out of his house.
All those thoughts running through her mind, Jezza continued to glare at Anthony until he shoved his hands in his pockets and started to pout. She couldn't help but notice how cute he was when he pouted. When he threatened her she just wanted to laugh. Instead she hugged him and assured him, "Andrew is, believe it or not, a gentleman. He may be an idiot and a bastard but he is a gentleman. He won't do anything unsocial."
Everything settled, Jezza slipped her arm through his and asked cheerfully, "Which way to The Crown?" She thought she had a basic idea of which way it was to that part of town but she wasn't sure. And since she had a guide and body guard, unwilling though he may have been to have to guard her against percieved threats, she might as well take make use of him. She wasn't overly excited to be going to see Andrew, she just wanted more than anything to not be sitting home like a bump on a log.
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Post by Races The Night on Mar 14, 2006 10:26:24 GMT -5
Anthony heaved a resigned sigh and turned them around. "You're going the wrong way to begin with." He murmured, setting off in the opposite direction and Linthorpe Road. "The Crown is right on the corner of the main high street, Linthorpe. If you follow this road we're on now, all the way, you'll come out right next to The Crown." he explained.
They walked in silence for a long while before Anthony finally asked, "So what is it you think he wants?"
***
Dainiel pulled up in front of Mikhail's home. He didn't have a chacne to get out of the car before his Alpha swung the door open, his face stormy. He wore the mantle of Leader this evening, an invisible aura that would make lesser Wolven shy away in submission. Out of courtesy, Dainiel would play the game, but even Mikhail knew that Dainiel's loyalty and subversive attitude were only there aslong as it suited the True-Born.
"Wait there, we're just about to leave." He said. "We're taking the car tonight, its too far to traverse on paw."
Dainiel nodded agreement, settling back into the driving seat and firing the ignition again. Mikhail and Christine slipped into the front of Mikhail's BMW, followed by Nicolai, in the back seat. Daine would not join them, he preffered to be the driver, not the passenger. Instead, he would tail them to the designated meeting point, which, by the looks of things, was out near the suspension bridge, where the train tracks came into Middlesbrough. There was a remote field near it, a pylon centred in it. this was a place sacred to the Pack, a place where magiks and rituals were often carried out. It was the formal place for Howlings and communication with neighbouring, friendly Packs aswell as the retelling of their own cultures and beliefs. In times of war or unrest, this was also the ground onwhich treaties were formed and peace restored. It was only befitting the battle should take place on hallowed ground such as this.
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Post by Maira on Mar 14, 2006 22:18:38 GMT -5
Jezza smiled sheepishly at Anthony when he turned them around and explained she had been going the wrong way. He also explained the correct way to get there and she made a mental note in case she ever needed to go there again.
The walk was pleasant enough, the quiet between her and Anthony didn't bother her as she was kind of lost in her own thoughts. When the older man asked her what she thought Andrew wanted Jezza shrugged and didn't answer him for a few more minutes. Finally, after he had probably given up on getting an answer, Jezza said softly, "I have a funny feeling he wants to apologize for getting me into all of this. Even though it was partially my fault..." Her voice trailed off, she didn't really want to explain just how Andrew had been involved in infecting her. It was complicated to say the least and the last thing she really wanted to talk about was her life before the Change. Luckily the walk to The Crown wasn't too long and Jezza gave a sigh of relief at seeing it. She had just about spilled everything to Anthony and while she liked and trusted the guy, she'd already dumped on him about just how she had met Andrew.
When they crossed the street and made their way inside the club, Jezza almost immediately felt a hand on her shoulder farthest from Anthony. Turning, she saw Andrew standing with a wary grin on his face and she couldn't help but smile back. Grasping at Anthony's arm before he walked away without her, Jezza made the introductions and then asked if they could find a seat somewhere.
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Post by Races The Night on Mar 17, 2006 6:16:57 GMT -5
Anthony glowered at Andrew, deliberately towering over the stray wolven to assert territory. With a hand on the small of Jezza's back, he lead them to the tables opposite the bar and sat them down. There was a live DJ at the top of the stairs and it looked like there was going to be a band on stage later, instruments and amps were strewn all over the raised stage. The crown used to be an old cinema house before it closed and was reopened as the pub. It still retained its huge domed ceiling and vast space but many of the original features had been taken out - which wasa shame in Anthony's mind because he imagined the decorative border work would have been beautiful in its day.
He took the seat next to Jezza, forcing Andrew into the one opposite them. Anthony never took his eyes from the younger Wolven while his charge talked to him.
***
The drive was made short by the fact that Daine teared up the road on a regular basis. Never one to keep to the speed limits on motorways, Daine was a firm believer that the national speed limits should be reassessed.
Mikhail was slightly later in arriving, letting Dainiel have his time to scent the area for signs of any traps. They all bundled out of the car just as Daine returned from scouting the area. He knew that Jake and his crowd were nearby.
By Mikhail's side, Christine was uneasy. "Something's not right. The Spirits here are uneasy."
Nicolai stepped up beside her. "She's right, something's not wuite right about tonight. I haven't had a vision, but I feel uneasy about this whole thing.Are you sure this place isn't trapped, Daine?"
Dainiel nodded. "Positive, I've scanned the area several times, Jake wouldn't try anything on our Soil."
"Lets just get this over with." Mikhail advised. "You did leave Jezza with Anthony back at yours, Dainiel?"
"Yes, with strict instructions to keep her there or else I'd skin Anthony alive." Daine replied with a merciless grin.
***
Meanwhile, Anthony was grumbling to himself about being among so many humans. Their scents were overwhelming the wolf inside of him and bringing his less kinder side to the surface. He felt fractious and edgy.
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Post by Maira on Mar 17, 2006 8:05:50 GMT -5
Kate had debated whether she wanted to attend the meeting with the rival Pack that was in their territory. The people who were seemingly after their own newest member Jezza. It was finally Natalie who convinced her to go.
Their Alpha Mikhail had given all the Pack members a choice of going and Kate had wanted to stay with Jezza. Mikhail had reassured her though that Jezza would be taken care of. Natalie was the one that finally told her that Anthony would be staying with the girl. Sometimes Kate cursed her habit of worrying and this was one of those times. Anthony was fully capable of watching Jezza and the two of them, from what she had seen, seemed to get along alright to boot.
The girls arrived at the meeting place just after Mikhail and the others that had ridden in his car. Kate parked the car and got out, going over to stand with the rest of the Pack.
Natalie was a little slower to exit the car. She had been Walking since a few minutes before reaching their destination. She wanted to double check on a level that the others wouldn't be able to, on the situation surrounding the meeting. Once she was satisfied that nothing seemed too out of the ordinary Natalie let her spirit be drawn back into her body. As soon as the typical disorientaion passed, Natalie got out of the car and joined the others letting Mikhail know that things looked fine.
*****
Jezza rather liked the feel of Anthony's hand on her lower back and let herself be led to one of the tables opposite the bar. She had to resist the urge to laugh as Anthony took the seat next to her, practically hovering over her, as if to protect her from Andrew who was being the perfect gentleman.
Andrew did not miss Anthony's body language and where Jezza found it amusing, Andrew understood quite well the other male's reaction. He had heard the other male instructing this one to watch Jezza and the male was determined to do so. Not to mention, Andrew was a stranger infringing on the other male's territory.
When Anthony took up the seat next to Jezza, Andrew took the one opposite her. Almost as soon as they were seated, he began to talk. Many of Jezza's suspicions about why he wanted to talk were true Jezza realized as Andrew begane to speak. "Jess, I know things haven't been easy for you lately and I"m sorry for that. I'm sorry that I wasn't thinking and got you into this whole mess in the first place." Jezza couldn't help but be grateful that Andrew at least had the tact not to mention that it had been her willful rebellion against her parents that had caused her to come on to him in the first place...
Andrew talked for a while, explaining why he had left Jezza in the forest alone for her first Change and every other possible thing she could have construed as a misdeed from Andrew against her. When the other man finally took a breath, Jezza held up her hand to stall him for a moment and turned to Anthony and asked sweetly, "Could you get me some water or something Anthony? I don't think Andrew is going to do anything bad do you?" The second question was asked in more of a teasing tone as by Andrew's actions already it was quite apparent he was harmless.
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