Routine [Jersey]

[Peter Parkman]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Peter Parkman> Peter’s worse fears had come to life, and he knew when it had started. It was the night of the fae attack. Many of his mental problems then, to begin with, he’d blamed on the head injuries. It was only near the end when the head injuries had all but healed up that he realised something else had gone wrong. As if the injuries themselves had unleashed the disease that he’d thought he might have been rid of forever. As if, when he was turned, whatever medicated state he was in would be frozen forever. Maybe, whatever the fae had done, they’d taken away that part of his brain that had been frozen and content, and now, as the brain had grown back, so had the disability. The curse that had made his childhood hell, until the adults figured it out.

He had no idea about the logistics or the science of it. He had long since stopped trying to figure it out. There was no point. Although he had two new childer, he still didn’t abandon his routine. Sure, yes, he factored them in, now, or had for a while, as they were still learning. As they gained their independence, however, Peter slowly slipped back into his old ways.

The sun had set. He had got out of bed. He had subconsciously counted the steps to the bathroom. He had a five minute shower – no more, no less. He had dressed – pants with the pleat neatly ironed in, shirt neatly tucked in, sweater over the top. No tie tonight. Tonight was not a tie night. He brushed his hair – ten sweeps of the brush. And, right on time, the doorbell chimed. The blood had arrived. Again, subconsciously counting his steps, he strode toward the front door; he greeted the delivery boy with a bright smile, paid him, tipped him, and sent him on his way.



<Jersey> Peter siring had surprised her. There had been initial possessive thoughts – she had first thought Whit was a female and felt annoyance rise, but things had relaxed after Peter explained. Although, she made it a point out two childer as he had started to give her own grief about siring two so soon after Jersey herself had been sired. She wasn’t really a possessive person regardless, but he was the exception at this point.

She lingered in bed for a few moments after he got out to do his routine before getting up to brush out her own hair, changing out of her nightshirt into a simple denim skirt and a long sleeve white shirt and then went to feed the dogs while he showered, returning to make the bed as he went to get the blood. She walked out and blinked, a soft smile playing across her features as he came into her line of sight. “Good morning.” She greeted.


<Peter Parkman> "It's not morning," Peter stated, simply. It might be cute, to call it morning seeing as they had both just woken up. But, it wasn't morning. It was very solidly evening, and Peter couldn't think of it as anything else. Still, the sight of Jersey had him smiling, and he passed over one of the Styrofoam cups. This was the worst part of his night, always. Although he knew he craved the blood, he simultaneously hated it. He had to try not to think about where it had come from when he drank it. He just had to pretend that it was some gross, through slightly appealing morning smoothie that was vital for his health. Of course he was aware that the worsening of his OCD had affected Jersey, somewhat - he assumed that sooner or later it would push her away. But she was still here, for now, and that was okay. "Dinner," he said, gesturing to the Styrofoam cup with an arched brow.


<Jersey> “Good evening, then.” She corrected before she leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek and tried not to crinkle her nose at the cup. How much longer was it until Kallista could boost her blood so she could quit this all together? She couldn’t remember. Pushing the thought out of her mind, she took it from him and tried to think of something pleasant that could be inside rather than blood. It was something she did often, especially after being wounded somehow. “Thank you.” And then she lifted the straw to her lips, her green eyes focusing elsewhere as she ignored the taste, the sound, and the guilt that accompanied the fact she was drinking blood.


<Peter Parkman> As Jersey brought her own stray to her lips, so too did Peter. And as he drank, he didn't take his eyes from Jersey. Rather than think about what else it could be - strawberry, or mango, or a nice sweet chocolate milkshake - he instead remembers the night that he had lost control. He recalls the way he had bitten into Jersey's skin; the taste of her blood, as compared to the stale blood that he now swallowed. The way that it had made him feel. It was easier, somehow, to still believe that he was drinking blood, even if it wasn't the blood that he wanted. Always a man of reason, he knew that blood was what he would be drinking from now until eternity. He would have to get used to it somehow - and had already, to some extent. It was just a thing that needed to be done. No more, no less. When he was finished, he waited for Jersey to finish, too, and held out his hand for Jersey's empty cup.


<Jersey> Jersey felt his eyes on her and pretended to be oblivious as she continued to drink before finishing the second the straw began to make a loud noise, no longer finding anything else to suck up. If it was possible, she would have turned a light shade of green and turned her attention back to Peter where she then gave him her cup. The blonde lifted her knuckles to her lips, closing her eyes as she waited a few moments to be sure that the blood would stay down before she spoke, “Mm. Did you sleep well?”


<Peter Parkman> "Like the dead. As always," Peter said. He'd never known it to be otherwise. As soon as the sun came up he was out like a light - no tossing and turning, no drifting, no waking up in the middle of the night. No dreams. Just darkness, until he woke up again as the sun set, bright and energetic, as if he'd never been sleeping at all. As if there was some 'off' switch that was times to the sun's rotations. He took the cup and physically twitched as he entered the kitchen and made his way to the sink. He took a deep breath and held on to it - he needed to rinse the cups. Needed to. He didn't know why, but he knew he couldn't throw them away without rinsing them. And so he turned on the tap and quickly popped the lids, diluting the leftover blood clinging to the edges of the cups as much as he could, the hot water quickly going to work to flush the remnants down the sink. He tried not to watch; and dared not to take a single breath.


<Jersey> Tucking her hands into the back pockets of her jean skirt, Jersey rocked back onto her heels as he walked away and closed her eyes for a moment before taking a step forward. A frown played across her lips as she watched the twitch, concern playing across her features. Idly, she considered the idea of trying out the memory sharing she’d learned, but decided against it for the time being as she leaned into the counter and out of his way. “And how are the boys?” She inclined her head, “Ivan and Whit?” Her green eyes showed genuine curiosity. She waited for him to answer once was done holding his breath, of course.


<Peter Parkman> Peter doesn't answer the question until all the dirty water has swished down the drain, and the rinsed cups are safely in the bin. When he does release his breath, he tentatively sucked in air before answering, making sure there was no lingering scent. That particular task over with, Peter stands idly on the other side of the counter. He didn't like standing idle. Time was ticking by, and it was as if he was counting the seconds in his head. He couldn't stop, even if he wanted to. He railed against it only because he knew time didn't matter anymore - but it was still there. Ever present. Omniscient. Never changing, or slowing, or speeding up. He couldn't help but be slave to it. "They're fine, I think. Fine," he said with a slight frown. He would check on them later - not right now. It wasn't time for that just yet. He remembered the telepathic message he'd got from Jersey, after he'd welcomed the two of them on the Vedarian Crownet. The frown only deepened. "I didn't mean for it... I didn't plan it. It just happened," he said. Probably another two reasons, right there, why he was the way he was. Why his condition had worsened, recently.


<Jersey> She walked over to him once he had turned, her hands lightly going on his hips as he spoke and she gave them a soft squeeze, giving him enough room to go away if he wanted; she wasn’t trapping him in. When he frowned lightly, Jersey lifted her hand faintly to rest against his jaw. Had she been bitchy in that message? She really hadn’t meant to if so. “Peter, love. I know. You told me, and you don’t have to explain yourself. It’ll be okay, it’ll work itself out.” Her thumb moved to rub at the corner of his lip. “This will always be a learning curve. You were a Professor before you had this life, you’re still a teacher now.”


<Peter Parkman> Peter's hands landed on Jersey's shoulders; one fingers slipped into the blonde locks of her hair, gaze drifting and narrowing. He almost wanted to count how many hairs were on her head. How many did he hold between his fingers, now? But he doesn't. He refrains. "I'm not worried about that," he said. And it was true. He wasn't at all worried about teaching them, or making sure that they were taken care of. Yes, he had his doubts, because even he was still figuring things out. But there were plenty of people who Whit and Ivan could go to, who Peter could send them to, who could help when he couldn't. If Jersey were to ask what he was worried about, he wasn't sure he'd be able to tell her. He wasn't sure how to explain it, without sounding selfish. And so he tried a smile, and a nod. "I know. It's going to be fine," he said, brushing a kiss against Jersey's forehead before extracting himself; he wandered over to the door, where the leads were. It was time to take the dogs for a walk.


<Jersey> She enjoyed it when his hands were in her hair, watching him quietly as she studied his features and considered how things had changed since he’d gotten attacked by the fae. She couldn’t see anything different, he had healed and that was that. But then his OCD had kicked in. As the thought crossed over her mind, she had to avoid pushing her eyebrows together like she had multiple times while she got used to it. Her lips parted to ask what he was worried about and then pressed them softly together when she closed her eyes at the kiss to her forehead and then felt a smile tug at her lips as she turned to watch, and then went to collect a pair of socks to put on with her sneakers. She came back out of the bedroom a few moments later, holding her hand out in offer to take a lead or two.


<Peter Parkman> There was that twitch again, as Jersey came to join Peter. As she held out her hand for a couple of leads. He licked his lips - the first thought that came to mind was that they needed another dog. The leads could then be split evenly. There was a shelter, not too far from here - closer to the city, but still on the outskirts so that the dogs taken in had plenty of room to roam. Even as Peter reluctantly handed over two of the leads - KD's and Lady's, as they were all clearly marked - he had already decided. "I think we should make a trip to the shelter. You can pick one," he said. He just assumed that Jersey would understand. And, to keep himself from thinking too much about the uneven split of the leads, he opened the front door and made his way out, waiting for Jersey to join him before locking the door behind them.


<Jersey> She reached up lightly and gave a small rub of his shoulder after she saw that twitch. It seemed it was going to be another one-step-at-a-time period with him until she was completely used to everything. When he mentioned the shelter, her eyebrow lifted lightly and she considered the idea of getting another dog as she followed after him. “As long as you pick one out with me?” Jersey asked, her gaze looking him over quietly. She reached up to brush some of her hair behind her ear, waiting with a curious expression as she knew she would already hand back over one lead, so he would have an even number in his hand.


<Peter Parkman> Peter was aware that a lot of people thought that owning five dogs was a little crazy. He was waiting for Jersey to argue with him - to ask him why, or whether he was sure it was a good idea. She was nothing but amenable, however, which had Peter pausing just briefly. He cleared his throat as he rounded the corner and opened the gate where all the dogs were kept. They were already waiting, swarming at the exit with wagging tails and lolling tongues. He laughed as they then swarmed out of the gate, as soon as he opened it, dropping down on his haunches to try to attach the leads to the appropriate collars. "Sure. But it's more about them picking you, too, then the other way around," he finally answered.


<Jersey> She wondered if it was because of her accident that she was able to adapt to things a bit more than most. She had something taken away from her, so she had to find a new pace at life. Before she could think about it more, however, she nudged the thought of her mind and walked after the man. A light smile crossing her lips as she watched the scene, recalling the night that they had met in the moment. “Then we’ll just have to let the next one pick us.” She shrugged lightly, moving over to scratch behind KC’s ears when the excitable animal greeted her. It made her smile widen as she attached her lead, and then Lady’s as she repeated the action. When he’d get back up, Jersey would hold out either for him to pick. “Do you remember you introduced them to me, before yourself?” It was random, but a nice topic.

[Jersey]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--


<Peter Parkman> Peter attached the leads to Jack and Ellie, first - the two most active dogs and yet they always sat very still for their leads. They liked going for walks, and they knew this was a necessary action before they'd be allowed to go anywhere. Hunter, docile as usual, was easy. When he stood back up, Jersey tried to hand him a lead; he looked at it for a moment, before shaking his head near imperceptibly. She'd reminded him of what he'd been able to forget. It wasn't about holding an even amount of leads. Even and odd meant nothing to him. They were all numbers. It was the split that had him concerned. It was uneven, and would always be uneven with just five dogs. "No. Yes," Peter said, finally. He started to walk, without having taken the lead offered to him. "I probably rate them as more important than myself. I am not their master. They are master of me," he said.


<Jersey> She scratched behind each dog’s ears, leaning to press a kiss to the top of Hunter’s head after Peter had straightened and shook his head. It was more confusing, but she supposed she’d learn everything as time went on. She made a mental note to do some more reading later on. The small woman then looked at him once more, silently sighing as he begun to walk before she hurried up to catch up with him. Beside her, Lady and KC sniffed the ground once they’d fallen into a normal pace. “Understandable.” She watched the group of dogs for a moment and then turned her green eyes back up to Peter.


<Peter Parkman> Peter had subconsciously started to count, as they walked. As if counting his steps was a tether to reality and if he lost count, he'd spin out of control. It had gotten to the point where he didn't realise he was doing it; always a background process in his mind, even as if he was thinking and doing other things. It only meant that his words, his conversation, was a bit disjointed. A bit segmented. He did not want to lose count. Ivan is what happened, the last time Peter had lost count. He glanced sideways at Jersey. He could feel her watching him. "What?" he asked, curious.


<Jersey> “Nothing, just looking at you.” She explained with a chuckle and then looked back down at the dogs. It was hard to believe that not too long ago she would have blushed for it and she smiled a bit to herself, “And thinking.” When KC and Lady would stop to sniff, she would stop as well for a few moments and then followed the two. While she’d walked the dogs during the day, she’d think about the evenings spent with him and then the evenings that followed, she’d think about her turning. About him. About Kallista, and then her two siblings. He was often on her mind, the blonde realized.


<Peter Parkman> Peter frowned. Just looking, she said. Looking seemed like such an innocent thing; but in his own experience, looking was never done without accompanying thoughts. Then Jersey says, too, that she was thinking. There it was. The two of them hadn't ever discussed his mounting OCD; the way it was getting worse. It was a conversation he assumed would have to happen, sooner or later. "What were you thinking about?" he asked as Jersey stopped for KD and Lady. Hunter kept to Peter's side, while Jack and Ellie always strained and their leads, choking themselves in their eagerness to explore.


<Jersey> When they started walking again and were within reach of Hunter, Jersey reached out to scratch the large dog’s back and looked up at Peter before she eyed the frown and gave a soft shake of her head, “Nothing bad. I learned a power recently that still confuses me, but... it’s helpful so I guess I’m just trying to figure out what I’d like to share to demonstrate it later on.” The smile she then gave him was sheepish, embarrassed before she gave a soft chuckle.


<Peter Parkman> A wave of shame passes through Peter. It seemed to be getting worse, lately. He was far too focused on himself; on making sure that everything was just right, that he sometimes completely forgot that the people around him had their own woes. Their lives weren't just all peaches and cream. "What kind of power?" he asked, then paused, still making sure to keep focused on the numbers in his head. Just how many steps it had been since they'd left the cabin. He was also focused on where they were going, making sure that the path they took would lead them toward the shelter. "What does it do?" he asked.


<Jersey> "It's another one of the telepath ones... 'm not sure what it's called, but it's pretty neat." She smiled as they walked, thinking about it once more and switched the leads to her opposite hand while watching them. When he paused, she took a few seconds to try and figure out how to describe it, "I can show you one of my memories just like I can speak into your mind. Be it the first night we kissed," It was one of her favorites, "or the way you look at me." She wondered, too, if the feelings remained intact and whatnot.


<Peter Parkman> "What?" he asked, though it was a rhetorical question. He didn't need Jersey to repeat herself. He knew what she meant, but it took him a couple of seconds to truly appreciate the implication of what she had told him. He blinked. "My shadow turns into a sword and stabs people. And I can hide really well. You can... project memories into other people's heads?" he asked. He shook his own head. Again, he had to internally slap himself. He cleared his throat. "That's... interesting. How'd you figure out you had it?" he asked.


<Jersey> “I was talking to Kallista and randomly projected one of the times she fed on me onto her.” She explained, lifting her hand lightly to rub at her neck as she thought about it and then glanced at him gently. “Which... considering I could have projected something else, I suppose it’s a good thing?” That expression was sheepish. “It happened while you were injured. And, I can make people stupid?” Alright, so that wasn’t the best way to describe it. “And read memories... haven’t figured that out.” She pushed her eyebrows together, “It all confuses me.”


<Peter Parkman> Peter wondered whether the projected memory in any way made Kallista feel bad, or guilty about what she had done. About how she had gone about it. He would have asked the question, but refrained. He knew the way Jersey felt about her sire, and knew it was never a good idea to show any dislike toward the woman. It wasn't that Peter disliked her anymore for what she had done - Jersey was happy, and Kallista appeared to be a kind and caring sire. That was all that mattered. These days, if Peter disliked the woman it was more to do with her own dislike of him. Mutual, maybe. Maybe something he should try to sort out - try to actually talk to the woman, if she would be open to it. "My memories aren't very interesting," Peter said instead, maybe a little too hastily. "I wouldn't try that one on me," he added, glancing sideways.


<Jersey> “I wouldn’t do it without your permission anyway,” She said idly, shrugging her shoulders before she looked up at him and studied his features, remembering the ruined eye and rip in his cheek, “Well, unless you were injured and I could use it to figure out what happened if you couldn’t tell me. But, I couldn’t do it when you did. I had to guess at that.” The neck wound had been the worse of it, she thought, because she hadn’t been able to hear what he wanted. “We were talking about the fact I wasn’t upset with her about my turning.” She explained, which should be the answer to any unanswered questions. Kallista had felt bad enough and Jersey didn’t like that. She didn’t like it when he felt bad either.


<Peter Parkman> They'd managed to clear the wilderness at this point, and Peter relaxed where he hadn't been aware that he had been tense. Peter nodded. He knew that Jersey wasn't upset with Kallista; that wasn't a conversation that they needed to have again. But, still, the statement aroused Peter's curiosity. "She thought you were upset with her?" he asked.


<Jersey> "She felt bad for what happened," That was one memory she didn't know if she'd be able to share with Peter, "but she's known I don't, it's just something that comes up every now and then. I was bringing her oil and told her about your injuries. I tell her I'm happy, things like that. I thank her." She shrugged and then looked around before back to her other half. The blonde considered telling him about their fight and then decided against it, not wanting to fan any possible flames as she knew it'd give her a headache.


<Peter Parkman> Peter smiled, rather than focusing on anything different. "Sounds like a conversation I had..." he paused, head canting the side as he made sure the footsteps were still being counted. Thankfully, one of the dogs stopped to have a good sniff, and Peter stopped too. "...with Keara. I think she worries, too. That I still hold it against her. Her and Enver," he said. "I don't."


<Jersey> "It's more me being worried that she's worried that she secretly thinks that I dislike her because of what happened rather than she think it." Jersey admitted, stopping as well and watching him for a moment, and then looking at the dogs. "The only thing I dislike about my turning is that I didn't tell you because it has now led to..." She hoped he understood as she frowned lightly and then looked down at the dogs, "Anyway. Yes, sharing memories. It's... very different, but it just makes me wonder if you'll be able to see yourself from my perspective when it happens or not." She grinned.


<Peter Parkman> Peter cringed. The sentence was convoluted, but he thought he got the gist. Kind of. It was all about reassurance. They all needed to be reassured about every little thing, and Peter understood. More than anyone could know. He appreciated a bit of a reassurance, every now and again. "Didn't tell me what?" Peter asked, then. "Led to what? I was angry in the beginning. Only because she'd inadvertently put you in danger. But you're happy now, and she seems to care about you, so I don't care anymore," he explained, slowly. It seemed to be a recurring theme, as if he had some deep and hateful grudge against Kallista for turning Jersey, when that wasn't the case at all. He cringed, too, because he wasn't sure he'd like looking at himself so much. "I think I get enough of my own perspective of myself..." he said, tentatively.


<Jersey> She pressed her lips softly into a thin line as she considered on how to describe it, at least the way it looked from her point of view as she looked down at the dogs in thought. "She's upset because of the way it happened, I thought you disliked her because of it. Maybe I was just in my own little world of panic." She waved her hand, a show of dismissal before she leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Mm. Your perspective, not mine." She mumbled before setting her lips once more to his in a light kiss before she almost fell over when she moved to step back. It made her think once more about the Spiderman conversation and she eyed him lightly in wonder, debating on bringing it up.


<Peter Parkman> Peter glanced skyward, breath escaping his lungs as he figured out how best to explain it. "I was upset with how it happened. Definitely. But I got over it, after I realised you weren't unhappy. And that she was... well, trying to make up for it. It makes me feel better if she's still upset about it," he said with a non-malicious smile. "Don't worry yourself about it. I'll talk to her, one of these days, and we'll figure it out. So long as she is open to talking to me, and doesn't ignore me completely like she has thus far," he said, slow and deliberate. Calm, and collected.


<Jersey> "Not about how I was turned, about your reaction." She clarified after a moment, "It's..." She trailed off, listening to him after he gave the smile and quietly thought about how she loved and hated that smile of his. She loved it because it made her worries melt away, and she hated it because if she wasn't careful it would distract her and make her forget what she was going to say, like now. "Well, she did say 'Peter' after who I pointed out who you were in the raid." She frowned, before sighing, "I love you and I appreciate it, I really do."


<Peter Parkman> Peter wasn't following. They'd stopped walking completely - probably because he was afraid of conversing while walking, lest he lost his count. "She was upset about my reaction?" he asked. "And... after what in the raid? She said my name?" he asked, clearly very confused.


<Jersey> "Reaction of concern, feeling like you were being an ***... when I was turned initially." The blonde then paused and shook her head. "When you talk to her, maybe she can explain it better." She inclined her head after, watching him, "When you offered the key, I pointed out Danton and Kallista, and you to them. She said 'Peter', which wasn't technically ignoring you."


<Peter Parkman> Peter closed his eyes, struggling to recall. He felt that familiar panic begin to rise. Was he forgetting things now, too? Or had he been so distracted that he hadn't heard? He shook his head; he didn't want to think about it anymore. "I can see how I might have come across as an ***. But I was just... concerned. It doesn't matter anymore, does it? I'll talk to her, it'll be fine," he said. And he started to walk, the counting beginning again from where it had left off. He was beginning to doubt himself a little more. At leas the numbers were a comfort to him.


<Jersey> She watched him quietly and pressed her lips together before she gave a sigh, "Alright." She then followed after him quietly once more, watching her feet for a few moments as she reached down to scratch at Lady and then KC's fur. And then she quietly wondered what other type of dog they'd be getting, looking at Jack and Ellie, Hunter, and then KC and Lady in wonder. It also made her think about ages... and deciding to leave him to his quiet, she continued to think for the time being.

[Jersey]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Peter Parkman> Just like everything else in this city, the shelter stayed open late. How late, Peter didn't know - whenever he went there these days, he went early, almost as soon as he'd woken. But it was still dark. It made him wonder how many vampires there had to be in this city for simple businesses to be open at such an hour - surely, foot traffic would dictate their opening hours. With a shrug, Peter meandered his way down a small side road the closer they got to the city - the one that would lead to the shelter. They had fallen into silence, and that was okay by him. When they reached the shelter, it was open, but there was also a sign out the front - 'for sale'. Peter frowned.

<Jersey> Silence with Peter had been something that Jersey had found to never be awkward, he was quiet where she was... on occasion, quiet. She didn't like to sit still for too long, or was always fidgeting when she needed to. If she did, she became uncomfortable and would adjust to find a more comfortable position. "What?" She asked softly, after spotting his frown - Jersey had been looking at him again and then tore her green gaze from the man's features to the shelter. Her lips, too, turned into a frown and she leaned forward to scratch behind Hunter's ears. "Is this where you got them all from, Peter?"

<Peter Parkman> "Yes," he said, nodding as he glanced up at the shelter; it was warmly lit, and from within he could hear the barking of all the different kinds of dogs. He knew that within the building there was also a separate area for the cats, and a few other different niches for the different kinds of animals that the place rescued. "It's for sale though," Peter said, pausing just before the entrance. His own five dogs had started to get very excited, straining on their leads, their tails wagging. Ellie had started to whimper because she could not hold on to her excitement. Peter smiled down at them. "Maybe it's best if I stay out here with them..."

<Jersey> She lifted her hand lightly to his shoulder, squeezing the muscle beneath as she listened to the barking while holding onto the leashes with her freehand. "Such a shame..." The woman frowned as she wondered what they were going to do with the animals inside, looking up at him with a curious expression. "Are you sure, handsome?"

<Peter Parkman> "Yes," he said with a smile, banishing the ponderings about the sale of the Shelter for a moment or two. The smile that he gave was indulgent, and genuine. He held out a hand to take the leads of KC and Lady from Jersey. "I'm curious to see who you'll pick. Or who will pick you," he said. Maybe it was a way for Jersey to feel more welcome at the cabin, too; to have a dog there that is 'hers', in a way. Peter dug his wallet out of his pocket and handed it to Jersey. "Go wild," he said.

<Jersey> "I don't understand why you insist on paying everything. I do have money." She chuckled before she handed over the leads, taking his wallet - she wouldn't tell him that she'd use her own money for it. Leaning up lightly, she pressed a kiss to his lips in thanks. "Any type in particular you aren't fond of?" Even if she doubted that was possible, she didn't think it hurt to ask.

<Peter Parkman> Peter glanced around at the five animals flocked around him. They varied in size and breed. Sure, KD and Lady might have been similar, and Jack and Ellie often were mistaken for each other. And then there was Hunter - they were all different to each other. Peter laughed and shook his head. "No, no preference," he said.


<Jersey> "Alright, I'll be out in a little bit." She chimed gently before leaning over to press a kiss to each of the dog's heads, giggling when Hunter's tongue ran over her cheek and she crinkled her nose. "I think some of his slobber got up my nose." She chuckled, "I'll be back." Jersey looked over them softly, inclining her head before turning to head inside.

<Peter Parkman> Peter found himself a bench seat, and tugged the excitable dogs along with him. They strained after Jersey, wanting to go with her into the shelter. He figured they'd cause far too much of a ruckus if they were to go wandering the pathways inside. They crowded around his feet, settling in after a few minutes. He sat there, calmed, a little. He stared at the 'for sale' sign.

<Jersey> She took her time quietly, talking to the woman behind the desk before the two went into the back to look at the dogs. She toyed idly with the wallet, looking at the different breeds in wonder. When one would whine and paw at the door, barking, she'd move over to kneel down and ask about its history. She did this several times before eventually finding one that greeted her more enthusiastically than the rest.

<Peter Parkman> There was a phone number on the 'For Sale' sign. For far too long, he was preoccupied with the numbers, canting his head to the side as he added them all together, divided them up, played around with them inside of his head. Until he finally caught his wits and, pulling out his phone, added the number to his contacts. He could probably go inside and ask about it, but he wanted to think about it, first. He pushed his phone back into his pocket and reached down to pick up Ellie, cradling the dog in his lap, patting her, soothing her overly excited nerves while he waited.

<Jersey> She decided with a content expression playing across her features, removing her own wallet and watching the woman lift her eyebrow as she rifled through bills. It took her a moment to realize she was holding his still and she laughed awkwardly, "He's sitting outside with our other five, gave it to adopt this one." Jersey would have gone red if possible before tucking Peter's wallet into her backpocket before looking at the medium-sized animal fondly as the woman said something she didn't quite catch. While the two went to sign the papers, Jersey wrote contently as they discussed the adoption.

<Peter Parkman> As the time passed, the dogs settled down around Peter. Jack jumped up on the bench beside him, and he and Ellie fought for grooming control. Hunter crawled under the bench, hunching his huge body down into the small space, his head nudging out at Peter's feet. KD curled up in front of Peter's feet, while Lady sat alert, ears raised, watching the entrance to the shelter, waiting for Jersey to come back.

<Jersey> After a little bit longer, Jersey came out with a black australian shepherd mix trotting happily at her side on a red lead and smiled lightly, glancing down at the dog and then the others, finally lifting her gaze to Peter's. "Meet Bear." She gave a sheepish smile, "He lived with a military family until they had to relocate and couldn't bring him with."

<Peter Parkman> Having spent a fair bit of time each in a place like this, the dogs surrounding Peter were not aggressive toward the newcomer, but instead only excited, welcoming, and curious. They all jumped, crowded around, all wanting to get to know Bear. Some were a little tense, but that was okay. Peter was tense, too - sometimes, it didn't go so well, introducing new dogs to each other. He sighed, happily - another boy. He grinned. "Welcome, Bear," he said, leaning over to pat the newcomer.

<Jersey> She reached over and lightly scratched behind Bear's ears, watching the others carefully while they got to know each other. After, she felt it would be alright, she stepped over to remove his wallet from her pocket and tuck it back into his. "He's good with other dogs, and cats. He's completely housebroken and trained, and they asked for him to go to a loving home."

<Peter Parkman> "He'll be loved as equally as the rest of them are," Peter said reassuringly. The way he looked down at the dogs, as he stood straight again, was the kind of way a man might look at his children, if he had any. Peter didn't have any children, and so often these days he wondered what kind of father he might have made. Maybe that was why he'd been so willing to take Whit under his wing. Ivan, too, after the deed was done. Some kind of latent instinct. He reached for Jersey's waist and tugged her nearer, so that he could brush a kiss against her lips.

<Jersey> "Hope so, I put your name on the document too." She blinked at him innocently before she smiled softly as she watched the dogs once more. She liked the way they seemed happy, accepting of the newcomer. It made her relax even more. Feeling his hand, she moved to comfortably lean into his side before tilting her head back as she pressed her lips to his contently.

<Peter Parkman> More often than not, the OCD was debilitating. It dictated Peter's life more than he wanted it to, but it was a force that he could not ignore. Like a demon inside of him that he hadn't the power to resist. And if he did? He would go insane. And nobody wanted that. He even shuddered to think what he might do, if he ignored the whims of this specific demon. But sometimes, the demon went quiet and he could be happy. And he was happy, standing there now - maybe it was the addition of one more dog. Not the even number, but the even split. He handed Jersey to leads - this time, for Jack and for Hunter. Nice and balanced.

<Jersey> She was really glad that Hunter was well-behaved, because something told her that even as a vampire, if the large dog would take off, she'd fall flat on her face. Bear sniffed both Hunter and Jack before sitting down, getting back up when Jersey lightly pulled on his lead. "Ready to go?" She asked curiously to Peter, "And I take it I did good? Although he was the most enthusiastic to greet me, so he definitely picked me first." She sighed contently.

[Peter Parkman]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Peter Parkman> "it's not about doing good or bad," Peter said, nodding as she asked whether he was ready to go. The ladies all followed obediently, all still very curious and excited about the newcomer. All in all, however, they were all very well behaved. He'd spent the majority of his spare time with his dogs, so he'd taken that time to teach them some manners. "I don't think, in this, there's room for disappointment. I love all creatures, big or small," he said with a smile.

<Jersey> Jersey chuckled softly and then slipped her leads into one hand, offering her free one to Peter. "I couldn't agree more with you. He'll have siblings to play with, both of us loving and doting on him." She then wondered about something with a curious expression, "It'll be interesting to see how we all fit up on the bed though." The blonde looked up at Peter after, inclining her head while she pictured how it was already.

<Peter Parkman> "We might just have to buy a bigger bed," Peter said, smirking as he, too, transferred all his leads to one hand so that his long fingers could slip between Jersey's, smooth skin sliding against smooth skin, temperatures the same, as the meandered back the way they had come.

<Jersey> She lifted their hands to press a kiss to the back of his before lowering it, squeezing affectionately. There were a few things to say to that, one that would likely get him to look like a deer in headlights, and Jersey decided to simply reply with a chuckle. "Hm... what do you remember from being injured?" She asked after a little while, watching Hunter and Bear take turns sniffing each other as they walked.

<Peter Parkman> Peter frowned. The remembrance had him adroitly darting a glance into the shadows of the forestry, as if expecting an attack at any moment. But they were sticking to the road, and thus seemingly out of danger, for the time being. "Bit and pieces," he said. "I try not to remember. Why?" he asked, curious.

<Jersey> She watched him look about and then squeezed his hand softly once more in reassurance. "I'm just curious which bits and pieces." She chuckled, keeping her eyes softly on the dogs, before smiling a bit at what she liked to remember. "Some of it scared the hell out of me, but it wasn't all bad. I didn't like being away from you for too long even though I knew you were safe."

<Peter Parkman> Peter knew exactly which bits she was talking about. It didn't ashame him as much as it could have; regardless of how little intimacy the two might have in certain areas of their relationship, there was still a closeness. He wasn't ashamed that she had seen him naked; only, perhaps, ashamed in the way that it had happened. Being a history teacher, sometimes he got stuck in the past - regarding morals, and manners, and honour, he was very much stuck in the past. "I remember enough," he said with a small smile, a little sheepish. "I'm afraid I might have scarred your poor sensibilities."

<Jersey> "You reached out for me when I first came into the room, right after I spoke and you got done slapping Enver." She squeezed his hand lightly once more, but this time she was doing it subconsciously and her lips turned up into a soft smile. The blonde chuckled, "And why, Mr. Parkman, do you think that?" She questioned, turning her head to make sure Jack hadn't gotten caught between Hunter and Bear before looking back up at Peter. Jack had moved more towards Ellie, making her chuckle softly once again.

<Peter Parkman> Even though the dogs might have been split equally by sex, it didn't matter. It didn't keep them apart, and Jack and Ellie were brother and sister. They were rarely parted; they liked to keep each other's company. It was more the things near the end of his internment that Peter remembered; the things at the beginning were blurry. "I slapped Enver?" he asked. He couldn't remember that bit. Couldn't think of a reason why he should slap the guy - and thought maybe he ought to apologise. He shook his head. "If I recall correctly, you seemed quite shocked. I was acting like a deviant child. I apologise for that," he said, sincerely.

<Jersey> "I have no idea why," She shrugged, trying to think back to what she'd walked into but Jersey pushed it aside. If he wanted to know more about it, he could probably ask Enver and she felt her lips twitch in amusement. "It was more of a tap... maybe you added force, maybe you didn't. I was more focused on you at that moment." She smiled sheepishly, and then it dawned on her. "Oh. That. Well, it wasn't more so shocked... as much as it was I didn't expect the view. When I recovered, and now, I can't exactly say I'm put off." She shrugged softly, "But apology accepted. I did smack you for it."

<Peter Parkman> If Peter really thought about it, he might be able to remember. But it hurt his head to try to think what he said or did beyond remembering how he felt. And he'd prefer not to think about that. He shuddered, just slightly. "You should be," Peter said sternly. As if his dangly bits were barbed and infested with poison. She should be put off.

<Jersey> The blonde gave a small shake of her head and then looked up at him, "We can have this conversations twenty-ways to Sunday, and our stances will never change on the matter." Her thumb rubbed over his knuckles lightly, "And my comments will always be the same." Her green eyes moved to the dogs for a moment before she bumped him with her hip lightly. She didn't want to disrupt the counting.

<Peter Parkman> Peter hadn't been counting on the way back. The demon had subsided, which it did, sometimes, for reasons that Peter could not really fathom. He supposed it had something to do with distraction; or maybe the demon wasn't as strong yet as it could be. Or maybe, because he had counted the steps TO the shelter, and he now knew them, knew that measurement for what it was, he didn't have to measure it again. This ground that he had tread was now familiar. Measured. Safe. Peter only cleared his throat, however, and didn't respond. It was a conversation they had had several times before, and it didn't need to be brought up again.

<Jersey> She gave him a look that clearly stated, 'I win' before it went back to her usual expression with a soft smile. It was then, however, that Jersey remembered something else that had been said and she pushed her eyebrows together softly. She parted her lips to ask him a question, but then seemed to decide against it as she looked back down at the dogs curiously. "But, it didn't bother me. I mean, you've seen me - kind of. Not completely other than when I change in the room. I like what I saw." She was rambling; she knew it and then simply decided to change the subject, "I'm off work today, by the way. I'll probably stay with Bear and the dogs, get them all settled in if you have anything else to do. So I'll be home when you get back."

<Peter Parkman> And maybe, Peter thought, he should come back with a bigger bed. More room. As much as he liked to wake up spooning Jersey, at least with more room, there was more possibility of the dogs getting between them. Of more distance, as bad as it sounded - he loved Jersey, he did. So much so that he would do anything to prevent bringing her any kind of harm. Emotional, or physical. He nodded. It seemed like it should be a good idea to return the compliment, to say that he liked what he'd felt, but that might sound too encouraging. "I think I might buy the shelter," he said, to change the subject completely. "What do you think?"

<Jersey> It wasn't that she needed that intimacy, Jersey actually thought that they were doing pretty well. They were intimate in other ways, weren't they? And he changed the subject. It was something that one of them did usually, and this time, she was grateful for it coming faster than usual. "I think that's a great idea." She blinked, and then looked up at him as she brushed her thumb over his knuckles again. "Different, but you love animals... you have the patience to deal with it all. And you could bring the dogs to work with you. Not to mention you'll be able to give love to animals that are just a little bit short of attention right now."

<Peter Parkman> "I'll have to hire people to work during the day," he said, musing out loud. His fingers closed a little tighter around Jersey's petite hand, subconsciously responding to the brush over his knuckles. He hadn't thought about that, just yet - that he would be able to bring the dogs with him. He wouldn't have to leave them behind. And his routine could be a little more secure. "Yes. I think I'm going to. I'll go to the bank after we get back..." he said, still musing out loud.

<Jersey> She squeezed his hand in return and she stepped closer to him, listening to him as he spoke. The blonde pondered on it quietly. Jersey actually liked the idea for him, "Maybe take a day - evening, to think on it?" She questioned, lifting her eyes to study the tree line for a few minutes. At least it wasn't a long walk from the cabin, and she knew it was something that he would enjoy. "Unless you're absolutely positive?"

[Peter Parkman]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Peter Parkman> Peter shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "I'm fairly positive," he said. He didn't think that it would be too hard - he had a mind for numbers, regardless of his previous profession. He knew how to take care of dogs, and had been taking care of five of them by himself for quite some time. To buy said business, he would acquire staff, to help him. Sure, it made him twitch internally to think he'd have to trust other people to do things to his specifications, he knew he would be able to find people to trust. "I need to make sure it's financially viable, first..." he trailed off.

<Jersey> "Call when we get home, perhaps see why they're selling in the first place?" She suggested, looking over her shoulder and then at their six dogs as she considered it again. It wasn't that she doubted his ability to do it, of course, but more the stability of the job. The blonde looked up at him and lifted her lips into a warm smile, "I know you'll do great at running it, Peter. You know I'll support whatever you decide, too."

<Peter Parkman> He hadn't thought to consider why they were selling it. He already knew that the people who ran the place were getting on in life - he just assumed they'd want to retire. And, given this city and its inhabitants, a more reluctant thought was that one of them might have died. But, yes, he conceded - it might be good to know if there was some other reason. Some detrimental reason. "I will," he said. "And I know," he added, leaning over to brush a kiss against Jersey's temple.

<Jersey> She squeezed his hand, smiling softly before she let go and slipped her arm around his hips while leaning into him slightly. She watched and chuckled as Bear looked after a squirrel as it ran across the road before she whistled lightly to bring his attention back. "He's going to blend into the dark one of these days and if you hear me yelp after waking up, I tripped."

<Peter Parkman> Peter grinned. "Maybe. Maybe he'll be conscious of it and will make sure not to trip you. But we can see in the dark just as well as they can, remember?" he said. He, too, glanced into the trees, the shadows within which the squirrel had disappeared. As a human, the darkness would have been murky, undistinguishable. Now, however, the shapes were clear and concise, and Peter knew that if he were to step into the darkness, he'd be able to pick his way through without tripping. Each tree limb, each fallen branch would be clearly defined. It was kind of cool. An obvious perk that he enjoyed.

<Jersey> "Yes, but I'm still a bit of a ditz when I first get up. It's why I linger in bed until my senses are good." She laughed, but grinned. She knew he had a point and she pressed a kiss to his chest lightly while she hummed and listened to the sounds around them. "Mm, I like it out here. And I know I say that often, but... it's just peaceful and refreshing. Just you, the dogs, and the great outdoors."

<Peter Parkman> Peter shook his head. "I liked it a lot more out here... before. When I didn't think I'd have my head gnawed and my neck slashed simply because I'm alive, and different," he said, eyed narrowed at the darkness between the trees as if daring the fae to hear - as if they might be reasonable creatures, open to discussion. Of course they wouldn't be. He doubted they adhered to any human sense of honour or regard. But still. He couldn't go for a nice quiet wander anymore, along the paths he used to take. Not without fear of attack.

<Jersey> She gave a visible shudder and simply stepped closer to him as he mentioned it. "Mm. I hurry and don't take the same path twice, after seeing the after math of that, it just bothers me about those things. I owe it to you telling me about them before I was turned otherwise I might've gotten my *** throttled by a fae coming back to you." She chuckled faintly, although she scanned the darker area quietly before looking up at the sky.

<Peter Parkman> He nodded. Luckily, neither of them had suffered any untoward incidents since the last time; he remembered the suggestion that he move closer to the city, somewhere less far out. He hadn't like that suggestion. He was used to his home and would prefer not to deal with the upheaval that moving house required. Of getting used to a new space. Of measuring it out. "I'm sure Kallista would have warned you, if I hadn't," he said. At least, he hoped that Kallista would have.

<Jersey> It had been a spur of the moment suggestion brought on by her concern, and as Jersey thought about him getting attacked, she considered mentioning it once more... but decided against it as she rubbed his hip with her thumb idly. "She did, but I just remembered I hadn't thanked you after it. Kallista was very thorough and patient with me, she's actually thinking of ways so drinking blood will be a limited thing for me." She explained softly before she hummed softly in consideration. Jersey fell quiet at that, her thumb still moving in small circles.

<Peter Parkman> "That would be nice," Peter said. He disliked the nightly ritual of having to drink blood from a cup, delivered or not. With all the perks of this life, there were also the downfalls, and blood was one of them. Always, he was an impasse - he couldn't deny that drinking the stuff immediately made him feel better, but oh... especially with Ivan, it was so hard not to pass out completely. He stopped; one of the dogs had stopped for a number two.

<Jersey> "Mhm, it was one of the things I asked her upon being sired. If there was any way around it..." She dug around in her pocket, wondering if she had a plastic bag as they stopped and she studied the man's features quietly. It still amazed her, how perfectly the wounds had healed and how his eye had returned back to that beautiful shade of green. "She mentioned a power... but it would be a while. I told her I didn't mind at all."

<Peter Parkman> Peter shook his head as Jersey went looking for some kind of plastic bag. "We're out in the wilderness, love. I don't think people are going to think twice about a bit of dog poo," he said. By now they had got further away from civilization, and further into the part of the world that was by animals, by the wild. For all anyone knew these droppings could come from a fox, rather than a domestic dog. "And I mind," he said. "For me, I mean. I think we're allowed to mind things we dislike. There's always going to be things we dislike." he pondered.

<Jersey> "Habit." She explained, stopping her actions after he finished talking before she lifted her head to look up at him again. Afterwards, she shrugged softly with a small frown playing across her lips, "I don't think it wouldn't be so difficult if I weren't afraid of blood..." She looked down at her feet and thought about it for a few moments, about Nakia's and Danton's turning. "But I agree with you. It wouldn't make any sense for us to like everything and anything about this life."

<Peter Parkman> "No," Peter said. And, because he was accustomed to thinking around and about everything, he'd already figured out how their particular dislike of blood could be seen as a positive. "Imagine, though - what if it was the opposite? What if we had an insatiable hunger? How much harder would it be to be wanting blood all the time, to enjoy it. It could become an addiction, and people could get hurt," he said. "I have the same fear of blood but look what I did to you - just because I had been deprived for a couple of nights. That thirst is still there regardless of how much we like or hate blood...do you see where I'm going with this?" he queried.

<Jersey> "Point made." She reached up and lightly tapped her fingertip against his nose, frowning. "That would be complete and utter hell, and dangerous." She didn't point out that she was the reason he hadn't been feeding up to that point, that she had distracted him. She had also given him permission, knowing he needed it. "Drinking blood is a necessary evil, it keeps our need under control."

<Peter Parkman> "It is. And it does. But if there was an addiction involved, it wouldn't just be a need. It would be a want. We don't want it, which helps us, specifically, to keep our need under control," he said. He did agree. It would be hell, and it would be something that he could not control. That his OCD would try to control, and no one wants that. The OCD didn't adhere to morals or right and wrong. It just wanted things to be organised. He shuddered, to think what he could do if he had a want that amounted to an addiction.

<Jersey> "I don't really want to think about it either, it'd be entirely dreadful to have to rely on blood. Always wanting it, always desiring it..." She frowned, leaning up to press a light kiss to his lips, "I'm really glad that I have all of you to keep me balanced." After a few minutes, Jersey gave a soft hum before she felt Hunter's nose pressing up into her palm. Chuckling, she looked down at the large dog with a smile and scratched him behind his ears.

<Peter Parkman> Some of the dogs were panting; they were excited, and maybe getting tired, but were no less eager to keep walking. "There are better things to want and desire," Peter said. He didn't know why he said it. He had to laugh at his own observation, and that of Jersey. "I'm not nearly as balanced as you might hope me to be. I am glad that you have not only me, but others. With me, you might drown," he said.


<Jersey> She lightly tugged him to start walking by the waistband of his pants, noticing that the one that had begun to use the bathroom had finished. Jersey felt a comment on the tip of her tongue but bit it back as she chuckled and gave a soft shake of her head, "I've known what I was getting into, and I'm adaptable to things. You may not balance me out, but you do complete me." She lightly tapped to where her heart would be, "Right here. I'm happy to have the others, too, but I don't know what I'd do without you." It was a little mushy, but it was how she felt.

[Jersey]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

<Peter Parkman> He smiled, only because it was the better thing to do. Because that was the reaction that Jersey would expect. He smiled because her admission made him happy, but at the same time it worried him more than he would care to admit. He hated to think what might happen were he to somehow get thrown off the deep end. He knew that what he suffered now was only the beginning, and that if he didn't keep himself balanced and calm, it could only get exponentially worse. He lived in fear of some disruptive force that would come along and rupture everything. "And you keep me sane," he said, truthfully. Because Jersey did help him to forget, at times. But he shook his head, that smile turning down just a little at the corners. "And you didn't. You don't... know how bad it could get," he said, referring to the OCD, assuming that she would join the dots.

<Jersey> She moved to stand in front of him, holding the three leads behind her in one hand while she reached up to cup his cheek affectionately. She wanted to kiss him reassuringly, wanted to tell him in that kiss that everything would always be alright, but she didn't as she listened to him speak and watched the corner of his lips turn down. Her thumb softly traced over one of the corners. "I meant about the vampirism and other things, but you're right, I don't know how your illness can get," She paused, looking up at him in concern, "but you do know how much of a stubborn jackass I can be, and how patient I am. If it gets bad, we'll handle it when it gets to that. I do know that I'm going to stay right at your side, because I'm your girl. You'd do the same
<Jersey> for me, I bet."

<Peter Parkman> Peter knew that he would do the same, but that didn't stop him from hesitating, from gazing down at Jersey with doubt clouding his brow. But he also knew there was nothing they could do about it now. He could just be happy, that she had been warned; that it wouldn't come down on her like a ton of bricks. He tilted his face a little into her touch and sighed. He nodded. "I know, but I'll let you know now that I won't judge you if you do. If you leave, that is. I won't hold it against you. I'll understand," he said, slowly. Reassuringly.

<Jersey> She stroked her thumb lightly over his skin, acknowledging his words with a small nod of her head before she frowned softly. "It's a very big, and a very unlikely 'if'," Jersey leaned up to press a kiss to his lips, "as in, I'm pretty positive it won't happen. I might get frustrated... and if I do, I apologize now will likely when the time comes but, I won't leave you." Behind her, Bear gave a little whine and a tug, making the woman stumble slightly and chuckle as she moved her hand back down to his.

<Peter Parkman> There were plenty of things, Peter knew, that Jersey had to be frustrated about. Things that he didn't mention, because it was yet another conversation that they'd beaten to death with a stick. Bear tugged the woman away from him, however, and they resumed their walk - they were nearing home. Bear's new home. Peter's fingers easily twined again with Jersey's. He laughed. "You picked an impatient one, I see," he said.

<Jersey> "What happened to he picks me?" She questioned, although she pulled back on the lead and huffed. Her hand gave his an affectionate squeeze and she fell easily into step with her other half. "He's still young, under a year. He's going to likely get big too, his paws are huge."

<Peter Parkman> Peter smiled. "Maybe he saw something in you - thought you were likely to let him get away with his impatience," he said. And then, glancing around at the rest of them, he wondered whether Bear's size would compare to Hunter's. "And that's fine. It's all equal, see - we'll have two small, two medium, two large. Three male, three female. It all works well," he said with a decisive nod.

<Jersey> "Pfft. Maybe right now, but he'll have to learn to be patient with five other dogs around." She grinned up at him before she then looked at the others with a thoughtful expression, "Very true. He seems very content at the moment. I'll have to go get him a kennel later on." She hummed, glancing in the direction of the cabin afterwards.

<Peter Parkman> "Maybe. Maybe they'll teach him how to be," Peter said, gesturing to the rest of them. This was his little family. He was proud of them all, in their good times and in their bad. He was sure that the newcomer would settle in quite nicely; would never be lonely, that was for sure. "We'll let them stay inside tonight. Tomorrow..." he said. The newcomer would have to get used to sometimes being locked up inside all day. To living somewhat nocturnally.

<Jersey> Jersey gave a nod in agreement and smiled softly while she relaxed, content and happy at the moment. Her thumb traced over Peter's knuckles. The blonde couldn't think about anything negative, not that she did often anyway, preferring to push any sense of it out of her head immediately. She knew his OCD had been getting more noticeable, but she meant what she said and she was adamant about not leaving him for that.

<Peter Parkman> Home twinkled through the trees. Although they had 'neighbours', they were far apart. From their cabin they couldn't see the other cabins. They may as well have been alone out here in the wilderness, which was how Peter liked it. As soon as they'd abandoned the main road to take the smaller one, Peter had picked up the pace. This was where the mad dash was required; where the fae could ambush, if they so wished. A couple of the dogs had fallen behind, tugging at the leads to sniff at the base of a tree. Peter let loose a harsh whistle and pulled at their leads - thankfully, they came when asked. They continued to trot at his side.

<Jersey> When Peter whistled, she picked up her pace and stepped closer to him, letting the two larger dogs move out in front while Jack tried to keep pace with Ellie. She kept an eye out for bears and wolves, listening for any of the birds or other creatures to go quiet in case of a predator - although, she mused if they went quiet at that moment if she and Peter counted for a second before pushing it out of her mind. This time, she squeezed his hand firmly for reassurance and comfort as they went.

<Peter Parkman> He almost wondered whether the dogs would keep them safe. Whether, as living creatures, they became a living force-field around the two vampires. The fae would have nothing against dogs, would they? Maybe, but it was not something that he wished to test any time soon. He didn't instigate conversation through this part of the woods, if only because he was afraid it might draw attention. It didn't take them too long to reach the cabin, and Peter was only breathing freely as soon as the door was opened and they were safely inside, dogs and all.

<Jersey> She usually whistled while walking through the wilderness, but then again, she usually was running and not paying any mind to her surroundings, wanting to get out where it was safe. When they were in the yard, Jersey removed her key - having found it in the couch cushions the night she was settled back in the cabin - to unlock and open the front door, stepping back to let the dogs in, and then Peter while tucking it back into her pocket. "Welcome home, Bear." She stated, setting her hand on Hunter's back as she leaned forward to remove his lead.

<Peter Parkman> They set about removing the leads, and one by one the dogs bounded free. The others knew where they were, and where their favourite places were. Bear, however, would have to get a feel for the place. Peter could tell the newcomer was a little wary, a little unsure, but he was certain it wouldn't take long for the big guy to settle. Peter stood near the couch after the leads were neatly lined up and hung behind the door. He pushed his hands into his pockets as he just watched, for the time being, smiling, laughing a little under his breath as the new dog interacted with the others.

<Jersey> She simply handed him the leads she had in her hand, letting him do with them what he wished before scratching each of the group before straightening back up and watching Bear. The blonde toed off her shoes lightly, bending over to collect them once she'd stepped back and then went quietly to put them by the door. After, she chuckled and watched them quietly in amusement, moving her gaze afterwards to Peter with an equally soft expression. 'Thank you, for Bear.' She spoke lightly into his mind, a grin on her lips.

<Peter Parkman> The voice isn't unwelcome in his head. It's something that he's used to, and is so soft and familiar that it doesn't startle him as much as it once did. He doesn't know why she insists on using the power in the house, when there's no need not to speak it out loud. But he doesn't ask why she does it. Instead, his eyes lift to find hers, the smile still settled on his lips. "Come here," he said, holding his hand out for Jersey as he leans back against the couch.

<Jersey> She wandered over to him contently, pausing only to pick up a toy that had been left out by one of the dogs and tossed it off to the side so that someone could chase it. Setting her hand in his, Jersey stood in front of him and chuckled. "Yes?" She asked, listening to claws skittering after the toy.

<Peter Parkman> "Nothing," he said with a smile. He used that hand to tug her a little closer, shifting one knee aside to allow proximity. He then wrapped that hand around her waist, the other curling up into her hair, cradling the back of her head. Peter kissed Jersey, then; not a chaste kiss, or a hasty one. But a slow one, tongue sliding across her lips. He was getting better at this; this intimacy thing, without falling over the couch or running for cover at the first stirring of desire.

<Jersey> Stepping forward as she was tugged closer, Jersey returned his smile while she lightly leaned into him and set one hand on his hip while the other went to rest on Peter's collarbone. She melted into that kiss, returning it slowly and contently. Her fingertips lightly grasped his sweater from habit as Jersey let out a soft sound of appreciation and approval from the kiss.