The small gym was a dive in the back alley neighborhood and it suited his purpose perfectly. He wasn't about to dance in the spotlight any more than he had to.
He wore sweat pants and a t-shirt as he bounced about the gym. His moves and speed denying his appearance of a man nearly in his 60's. His fists lashed out, repeatedly punching the hanging bag as he kept his feet moving.
"Cross uppercut." the girl who stood on the opposite side suggested and the man quickly replied with his hands. "Good, Double cross combo." She hung onto the bag tightly as the man kept trying to beat the daylights out of it. A final punch that moved both her and the bag and the man stood down. She watched him grab a towel to dry off with. "Not bad, Andy. But why?"
"What do you mean why?" Andrew McGee took a seat and grabbed his water bottle. "If you gonna dance with monsters, you best know how to put them in their place."
"Good fighter, but vampires cheat. Use powers, weapons, mind tricks. They won't box you."
"I seem to recall I have access to some of those things as well, Skippy" he winked at the girl.
"I still ask why, Boss Andy." the fledgling vampiress took a seat next to him. "Everyone will know who you are and what you can do. Even worse if you win or go deep into the tourney. Vampires no like human competition. If you do good, they will remember you and hate you for it. Maybe hunt you. Try and hurt you. Kill you if they can. Nothing is better than they are. So they think. You show them otherwise? They make you pay for it."
"Yeah, there is that," he admitted. He wasn't sure why he signed up for it. Seemed like a good idea at the time. The girl clung to his arm and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Who will keep Skippy out of trouble if you in the hospital?" she whined.
"You worry too much, kiddo. Besides, can't back out now."
"Says who? Vampires? They lie."
"Darlin', I hate to be the one telling you this, but you a vampire too."
"I don't lie to you, Boss Andy." she sighed.
"I know, kid. I know." he patted her shoulder and stood back up. Andy approached the bag again and began to work on some combination punches.
"They going to make you regret this." Skippy pouted.
"Maybe, but one at a time." he laughed as he let go several shots.
"Not talking about stupid tourney. Talking afterwards." she whispered to herself as she watched the paladin put himself through his paces.
Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
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Andrew McGee
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Andrew McGee
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Re: Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
(Round One)
Needless to say, he was surprised. He arrived at the place he was told to go and showed his pass for admittance. Not one off look did he get when he walked and began to pick out a spot to set his gear up. Skippy followed him carrying a bag that held some additional gear that might be required. McGee looked up at the large board that showed the grid for the completion and who the first round matches would be. "Wolffyn?" he grumbled around his cigar when he found his name on the board set against the one he would compete against. "Wasn't that a bad movie back in the 80's?"
"I don't know, Boss Andy," Skippy apologized.
"Never mind, Skippy," he relit his cigar and sat his bag down to get ready. He saw a few other names he knew quite well up there as well. He sat down and checked his gear and waited calmly. Some others were up working out and practicing, so he spent his time watching them. Depending on how far he got he might see these guys and girls again, so it never hurt to pick up clues where he could. He felt better about this the longer he watched. Some were just as clueless as he was while others were downright dangerous, so a good cross section was in place. Of course, it meant in the end only the biggest and badassed of the lot would remain to play for the prize unless there were some upsets. The odds favored him winning a couple rounds at least.
"Can still go home, Boss Andy," Skippy fretted as she handed him a water bottle. She was really freaking out over all of this so far.
"What? And miss Elvis and Mini Butt out here in action?" he laughed before taking a drink. He checked his gun then whispered a blessing over his sword. The blade glowed for a moment before settling into his hand like a contented cat. He was as ready as he would ever be, he supposed, so he sat and smoked and watched till the section of the board his name was on lit up. He stood up, holstered his gun and walked out onto the game floor, sword in hand, looking around for who he was supposed to fight.
She found him, actually. A fiery mop of hair and an attitude ready to deal with an annoyance. 'First round and I draw a skippy. Lovely' he thought as he took his stance and waited for the signal to begin.
Needless to say, he was surprised. He arrived at the place he was told to go and showed his pass for admittance. Not one off look did he get when he walked and began to pick out a spot to set his gear up. Skippy followed him carrying a bag that held some additional gear that might be required. McGee looked up at the large board that showed the grid for the completion and who the first round matches would be. "Wolffyn?" he grumbled around his cigar when he found his name on the board set against the one he would compete against. "Wasn't that a bad movie back in the 80's?"
"I don't know, Boss Andy," Skippy apologized.
"Never mind, Skippy," he relit his cigar and sat his bag down to get ready. He saw a few other names he knew quite well up there as well. He sat down and checked his gear and waited calmly. Some others were up working out and practicing, so he spent his time watching them. Depending on how far he got he might see these guys and girls again, so it never hurt to pick up clues where he could. He felt better about this the longer he watched. Some were just as clueless as he was while others were downright dangerous, so a good cross section was in place. Of course, it meant in the end only the biggest and badassed of the lot would remain to play for the prize unless there were some upsets. The odds favored him winning a couple rounds at least.
"Can still go home, Boss Andy," Skippy fretted as she handed him a water bottle. She was really freaking out over all of this so far.
"What? And miss Elvis and Mini Butt out here in action?" he laughed before taking a drink. He checked his gun then whispered a blessing over his sword. The blade glowed for a moment before settling into his hand like a contented cat. He was as ready as he would ever be, he supposed, so he sat and smoked and watched till the section of the board his name was on lit up. He stood up, holstered his gun and walked out onto the game floor, sword in hand, looking around for who he was supposed to fight.
She found him, actually. A fiery mop of hair and an attitude ready to deal with an annoyance. 'First round and I draw a skippy. Lovely' he thought as he took his stance and waited for the signal to begin.
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Wolffyn
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Re: Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
The small redhead glanced up at the sun overhead and scowled. Even though it’s rays no longer burned her skin, Wolffyn wasn't a fan. One of these days, she planned to ask Serenity for permission to dig a hole down into the sewers from the Estate’s tool shed. It would be good for members of the family that still couldn't tolerate being out in the daylight and give her an excuse to rip **** up. Dropping the heavy grate of the sewer’s lid closed behind her, Wolffyn landed softly on her feet and started to scout for prey.
The pocket of her hoodie started to vibrate and the badly tempered shadow grabbed out the offending cell and prepared to toss it up in the air, with her sword at the ready.
“Careful….” Came the annoying whisper of the wraith that claimed to be Fionn. “Remember what happened the last time you sliced your phone in half.”
The shadowy image in front of Wolffyn danced off to the side as she growled deeply, she was sick and tired of being reminded of the missed call that might have led her to meet a human brother and find out more about who she was. Of course then she probably would have had to kill or turn him.
Someone else had saved her from that moral dilemma, however. That young man had just vanished with no trace. And shortly after; Wolffyn found herself with a wraith, who insisted that he was that same Fionn. And just when Wolffyn had decided she didn't give a **** who she had been before.
Wolffyn was about to just shove the cell phone back in her pocket when the wraith danced back into view. The redhead rolled her eyes and checked the screen. It was a text from The Gauntlet and her match had been drawn. “Meet me there.” Was all she said gruffly to Fionn before taking out her Tome and heading home.
Not that what she changed into looked any different once she was leaving the Lunar Lake Estate. Just a few less rips and a couple slightly smaller holes. Wolffyn would rather run naked in the sewers with the hunters than to go shopping. A quick burst of speed, left the redhead just outside the Quarantine Zone, where she wouldn't be spotted arriving.
A block away stood the building that the Tourney was being held in and after showing her membership card inside the Gauntlet, Wolffyn asked someone to point out an; ‘Andrew McGee.’ Her opponent's name meant nothing to the shadow but she was still thrown for a loop when the figure singled out to her was that of an old man. An old HUMAN man.
This was going to be a cakewalk, the redhead chuckled and got into her place. She stayed in shadows until the old man was looking for her, and then the 5’3” shadow stepped right up to Andrew McGee toe to toe and eye to eye. A low but deep growl that carried throughout the room as Wolffyn watched the human, alert for him to make the first move.
The pocket of her hoodie started to vibrate and the badly tempered shadow grabbed out the offending cell and prepared to toss it up in the air, with her sword at the ready.
“Careful….” Came the annoying whisper of the wraith that claimed to be Fionn. “Remember what happened the last time you sliced your phone in half.”
The shadowy image in front of Wolffyn danced off to the side as she growled deeply, she was sick and tired of being reminded of the missed call that might have led her to meet a human brother and find out more about who she was. Of course then she probably would have had to kill or turn him.
Someone else had saved her from that moral dilemma, however. That young man had just vanished with no trace. And shortly after; Wolffyn found herself with a wraith, who insisted that he was that same Fionn. And just when Wolffyn had decided she didn't give a **** who she had been before.
Wolffyn was about to just shove the cell phone back in her pocket when the wraith danced back into view. The redhead rolled her eyes and checked the screen. It was a text from The Gauntlet and her match had been drawn. “Meet me there.” Was all she said gruffly to Fionn before taking out her Tome and heading home.
Not that what she changed into looked any different once she was leaving the Lunar Lake Estate. Just a few less rips and a couple slightly smaller holes. Wolffyn would rather run naked in the sewers with the hunters than to go shopping. A quick burst of speed, left the redhead just outside the Quarantine Zone, where she wouldn't be spotted arriving.
A block away stood the building that the Tourney was being held in and after showing her membership card inside the Gauntlet, Wolffyn asked someone to point out an; ‘Andrew McGee.’ Her opponent's name meant nothing to the shadow but she was still thrown for a loop when the figure singled out to her was that of an old man. An old HUMAN man.
This was going to be a cakewalk, the redhead chuckled and got into her place. She stayed in shadows until the old man was looking for her, and then the 5’3” shadow stepped right up to Andrew McGee toe to toe and eye to eye. A low but deep growl that carried throughout the room as Wolffyn watched the human, alert for him to make the first move.
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Andrew McGee
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Re: Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
Nimble little minx, he had to give her that. From the start, this Wolffyn chick was all guns blazing causing him to duck for cover in the confines of the battle zone. How exactly this place worked he was not sure, but everything seemed a bit too real not to react to things as they happened. He was getting bored avoiding bullets, so he reached out and used a little gift the paladins taught him. Incitement. He had never used it on a thinking target before, and almost backed up as the girl lost all control and ran straight for him. As he was about to strike, suddenly she was behind him and he narrowly missed being tagged. He swung back and blinked as a large gash crossed her stomach. Was this real or not? He tried to press his advantage but missed again. Another use of power caused her to freeze up but again he was to slow, and then she tagged him.
Real or not, the sudden feeling that his throat had been sliced caused him to panic for a second. A few more attempts at fighting and it happened again. How was he doing? Lousy! This actually hurt. She managed to put distance between them again and out come the guns. Suddenly McGee was falling as the new feeling of being shot echoed in his chest.
'Enough!' he snarled in silence. He pulled his own gun and began to return fire. Once, twice, he managed to return the favor. If the girl wasn't so damned determined to keep this a shooting match she probably would have had him. He bid his time and finally took a few more shots. He saw the girl fall, then suddenly the bell sounded and the lights returned to normal. Andrew glanced up at the board and saw his name had been pushed to the next round bracket. He checked himself over and could not find a single wound.
"What the ****?" he was still confused. He looked for the red head but she had already left the area. Meanwhile, he could hear Skippy squealing and cheering from the sidelines. She had taken a magic marker and turned her t-shirt into a 'Team McGee' shirt, but had wrote it from her perspective and the printing was upside down. He also saw Dominique watching as well. Oh boy, he had some explaining to do now.
"I need a goddamed rulebook. Now!" he grumbled as her made his way off the battle grid. How the hell did this work and who decides how someone won? To him, they had taken pretty much the same damage but somehow it decided he won this one.
Real or not, the sudden feeling that his throat had been sliced caused him to panic for a second. A few more attempts at fighting and it happened again. How was he doing? Lousy! This actually hurt. She managed to put distance between them again and out come the guns. Suddenly McGee was falling as the new feeling of being shot echoed in his chest.
'Enough!' he snarled in silence. He pulled his own gun and began to return fire. Once, twice, he managed to return the favor. If the girl wasn't so damned determined to keep this a shooting match she probably would have had him. He bid his time and finally took a few more shots. He saw the girl fall, then suddenly the bell sounded and the lights returned to normal. Andrew glanced up at the board and saw his name had been pushed to the next round bracket. He checked himself over and could not find a single wound.
"What the ****?" he was still confused. He looked for the red head but she had already left the area. Meanwhile, he could hear Skippy squealing and cheering from the sidelines. She had taken a magic marker and turned her t-shirt into a 'Team McGee' shirt, but had wrote it from her perspective and the printing was upside down. He also saw Dominique watching as well. Oh boy, he had some explaining to do now.
"I need a goddamed rulebook. Now!" he grumbled as her made his way off the battle grid. How the hell did this work and who decides how someone won? To him, they had taken pretty much the same damage but somehow it decided he won this one.
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Dominique
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Re: Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
Dominique stood in the place that she had finished sparring in. She could pretend to wipe the sweat that should be on her face for fighting as hard as she had but there was no reason to. Around her were a collective bunch of sharp biters and a few that obviously were well aware of the undead presence. There was no way that all that participated and sparred could claim otherwise. You could hear the sounds and see the otherwise unexplainable take place in each match. For the duration of the event both sides were civil and abided by the rules. If only it could always be that way. Sliding her recently acquired sword back into a safe place of containment her focus drifted over to a voice that took hold of her attention.
Andrew McGee. The paladin she affectionately called Uncle Andy was in the house. It appeared he was doing rather well as her eyes caught a glimpse of the current brackets. She wasn’t surprised in the least. If the man set his mind on something he did it. The rough years that he had been witness to were not enough to slow him down and neither was half of Harper Rock. She smiled his way as she zipped up her hoodie. A brief nudge of each sleeve had her permanent ink on display up to her elbows where the cuffs were staying.
Dominique was out of the tournament. She successfully made her way through the first round with Anemoi. It was a match that had her trying out guns versus her preferred blade. It went in her favor despite her less than perfect aim. Following that she went up again Minsc and barely started when Minsc quickly finished it. She told herself that was likely why she hardly worked up a sweat. It was over before it began. Some may have taken slight to losing to a paladin but she didn’t. She had no issue cheering for one as well and in that case her money if she was betting it would be going to the one who beat her and the one who she didn't waste time closing the space between and giving him a gentle hug. She cared less who was watching. No one within the walls had any ground to pass judgement.
“Doin’ well.” Dominique stepped back and gripped his bicep giving it a gentle squeeze. “You been working out.”
Dominique had seen the female bouncing around like a misplaced cheerleader during the tourney but it was the first time she had seen the shirt that now was displaying the message “Team McGee”. That was hardly the reason she felt compelled to track the females movements. The message was clearly upside down. She raised a brow.
Andy was as charming as any male could be. Women flocked to him and he always was the gentleman that had you thinking he was the very last of a dying breed. Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant and Andrew McGee. Sure Andrew had his own style with a touch of blue humor added to spice things up. But you sure as hell remembered him once you met him. The list could go on of her favorite silver screen actors that reminded her of the man her grandfather had been. She figured Andy and he would have got along really well. Both veterans, both determined to do the honorable thing and yes at least Andy was still alive and kicking. She was grateful for that. A sound of a giggle caught her attention. Her head cocked slowly to make sure she was reading the t-shirt right as her thumb lifted and hooked towards the woman’s direction as she disappeared..
“She need help with that?” She offered to fix the t-shirt. The woman bounced back with some papers in her hand. “Hi.”
Dominique stuck ‘HOPE’ out towards the woman to introduce herself. As soon as the cool hand gripped her own her eyes shot to Andy in silent question. It would seem he had a new fan she had not been introduced to.
Andrew McGee. The paladin she affectionately called Uncle Andy was in the house. It appeared he was doing rather well as her eyes caught a glimpse of the current brackets. She wasn’t surprised in the least. If the man set his mind on something he did it. The rough years that he had been witness to were not enough to slow him down and neither was half of Harper Rock. She smiled his way as she zipped up her hoodie. A brief nudge of each sleeve had her permanent ink on display up to her elbows where the cuffs were staying.
Dominique was out of the tournament. She successfully made her way through the first round with Anemoi. It was a match that had her trying out guns versus her preferred blade. It went in her favor despite her less than perfect aim. Following that she went up again Minsc and barely started when Minsc quickly finished it. She told herself that was likely why she hardly worked up a sweat. It was over before it began. Some may have taken slight to losing to a paladin but she didn’t. She had no issue cheering for one as well and in that case her money if she was betting it would be going to the one who beat her and the one who she didn't waste time closing the space between and giving him a gentle hug. She cared less who was watching. No one within the walls had any ground to pass judgement.
“Doin’ well.” Dominique stepped back and gripped his bicep giving it a gentle squeeze. “You been working out.”
Dominique had seen the female bouncing around like a misplaced cheerleader during the tourney but it was the first time she had seen the shirt that now was displaying the message “Team McGee”. That was hardly the reason she felt compelled to track the females movements. The message was clearly upside down. She raised a brow.
Andy was as charming as any male could be. Women flocked to him and he always was the gentleman that had you thinking he was the very last of a dying breed. Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant and Andrew McGee. Sure Andrew had his own style with a touch of blue humor added to spice things up. But you sure as hell remembered him once you met him. The list could go on of her favorite silver screen actors that reminded her of the man her grandfather had been. She figured Andy and he would have got along really well. Both veterans, both determined to do the honorable thing and yes at least Andy was still alive and kicking. She was grateful for that. A sound of a giggle caught her attention. Her head cocked slowly to make sure she was reading the t-shirt right as her thumb lifted and hooked towards the woman’s direction as she disappeared..
“She need help with that?” She offered to fix the t-shirt. The woman bounced back with some papers in her hand. “Hi.”
Dominique stuck ‘HOPE’ out towards the woman to introduce herself. As soon as the cool hand gripped her own her eyes shot to Andy in silent question. It would seem he had a new fan she had not been introduced to.
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Wolffyn
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Re: Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
Wolffyn didn't exactly slink away with her tail between her legs but as soon as the match was over, she melted into the shadows mortified. The old man had kicked her ***. She couldn't hide from that annoying wraith of hers however, and soon enough Fionn's voice was nagging in her ear about how she had been over confident and then lost control.
The redhead had briefly considered offering her opponent her congratulations but he was already being surrounded by groupies and it looked like his next match was about to start pretty soon as well. Wolf21 was his next match, and she was another Vampire. Maybe she would take that %!*&! Paladin down.
Finding a seat in the back of the room, Wolffyn sat down to watch the rest of the tourney and crossed her fingers for her fellow redhead. Briefly she considered placing a bet on Wolf21 on the next round but had to admit, she had sorely underestimated Mr. Andrew McGee. She would remember his name and never make that same mistake again.
The redhead had briefly considered offering her opponent her congratulations but he was already being surrounded by groupies and it looked like his next match was about to start pretty soon as well. Wolf21 was his next match, and she was another Vampire. Maybe she would take that %!*&! Paladin down.
Finding a seat in the back of the room, Wolffyn sat down to watch the rest of the tourney and crossed her fingers for her fellow redhead. Briefly she considered placing a bet on Wolf21 on the next round but had to admit, she had sorely underestimated Mr. Andrew McGee. She would remember his name and never make that same mistake again.
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Andrew McGee
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Re: Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
"Ah, well if it isn't Mini Butt," he called her by his favorite nick name for her before giving her a hug. Unlike the majority of those who called themselves paladins, he did not see Dominique as a threat or some stray dog to put down. He'd been in a war, came home a veteran, wounded too. Some of the others came back in less pieces than he did. He never liked the way the government turned a blind eye to their problems after what they did for their country. In his view, Mini fell into the same situation. A wounded veteran, not an animal suddenly to be killed. He had promised himself if he ever saw her acting like those asshats who were all 'We rule the world and humans are simply cattle' he would take her out himself, and even then with dignity. It was the reason why, despite being a member of the paladin club he broke ties with the Order proper.
"You were doing good yourself there," he endured a hug from Skippy and sat down. He pulled a flask from his bag and took a drink before offering it to Dominique. He was still sorting himself out from what had happened. Skippy shoved water bottles and granola bars to both of them before bouncing around some more. He saw the look from Mini and cleared his throat. "You want to know about my lil vampire there, I am guessing."
The board was changing again as other matches concluded. He saw a new name slip into the slot with his. Wolf21. "What in the hell is with the Canuis Lupis theme here? 21? He/she got 20 brothers and sisters and their momma named them all Wolf? Christ's testacles!" he laughed softly. Had to be another vampire. He took a couple bites from the bar, swallowed some water, and turned his attention back to Dominique.
"I found her in the gang slums. Laying in an alley. No clue who her sire was and her own powers were driving her crazy. She's a telepath. Not a good one, but she is. I was doing an experiment at the time so I took her in. And what kind of experiment you might ask?"
Andy quit talking and began to whisper in Dominique's thoughts instead. "An experiment that lead me to being able to do things like this. Don't hate me, Mini Butt. Let's face it, we were getting our asses handed to us out there. I felt any kind of edge would help. I met one of those blood thieves and made a deal. I stole Skippy's powers, learned how to use them then taught her how to as well. Now I got a live in maid I never wanted. Suppose I could just dump her somewhere, but she means no harm."
"She's much better now." he spoke aloud again as she continued to hop about. "I'm being serious here too."
"You were doing good yourself there," he endured a hug from Skippy and sat down. He pulled a flask from his bag and took a drink before offering it to Dominique. He was still sorting himself out from what had happened. Skippy shoved water bottles and granola bars to both of them before bouncing around some more. He saw the look from Mini and cleared his throat. "You want to know about my lil vampire there, I am guessing."
The board was changing again as other matches concluded. He saw a new name slip into the slot with his. Wolf21. "What in the hell is with the Canuis Lupis theme here? 21? He/she got 20 brothers and sisters and their momma named them all Wolf? Christ's testacles!" he laughed softly. Had to be another vampire. He took a couple bites from the bar, swallowed some water, and turned his attention back to Dominique.
"I found her in the gang slums. Laying in an alley. No clue who her sire was and her own powers were driving her crazy. She's a telepath. Not a good one, but she is. I was doing an experiment at the time so I took her in. And what kind of experiment you might ask?"
Andy quit talking and began to whisper in Dominique's thoughts instead. "An experiment that lead me to being able to do things like this. Don't hate me, Mini Butt. Let's face it, we were getting our asses handed to us out there. I felt any kind of edge would help. I met one of those blood thieves and made a deal. I stole Skippy's powers, learned how to use them then taught her how to as well. Now I got a live in maid I never wanted. Suppose I could just dump her somewhere, but she means no harm."
"She's much better now." he spoke aloud again as she continued to hop about. "I'm being serious here too."
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Dominique
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Re: Says who? [Winter 2015 Gauntlet Tourney]
Granola and water pushed through otherwise empty space towards them as a flask appeared with Andrew McGees's assistance. Dominique held up the offerings and gave a wider than usual grin until the woman bounced around. Andy opened the drink source of his choice and took a pull from it. Soon it was handed to her and she was not one to refuse her own flavorless sample of what he had brought with. The liquor left a bite down the lining of her throat in it’s wake. It worked it’s magic and hit the spot. She winked handing it back to him. One was enough. Andy could drink her under a table in no time at all. She quickly found the stuff was hell on her to the point she swore she was cursed if she had any amount close to what she used to tolerate. She was not enthused with the possibility of giving up a couple nights to discomfort that the vapors clouding the outside of her lips certainly promised. She was good with moderation and settled back.
The air was warmer for the first minutes that passed as she sat close to the man. There was a comfort in it that was always welcome. The kind that leaves it easy to think the world will never change no matter how much she had. Andy was a significant source of that energy, humor and optimism. That much she knew as the words weaved an explanation of what her eyes tracked slowly. The female in question gave him a hug and she didn’t move but felt the subtle roll of her shoulders finally kick the joints back to press against the flat hard surface behind each one.
Dominique's dark eyes floated towards his face as his message seeped into her thoughts then finally ceasing. He did this at Verne's funeral. He never stepped into the cathedral but she heard him say he was there. A slight chill changed that warmth that she attributed to him. It wasn’t Andy that brought on the unexpected coolness to her colder exposed skin. It was more of the truths she had not seen back then. It was also her concern for what she was discovering. She felt the need to swallow and did so while she absorbed what he was saying. The misplaced cheerleader was in fact his. Her eyes drifted over to the vampire he referred to as Skippy and wasn’t quite sure what to say.
So, he met a blood thief, made a deal and he didn’t want her to hate him.
Dominique felt a sinking inside her stomach, perhaps her chest too. It had been a while since she experienced both. She was quiet for a minute while her hands tugged at the cuffs of her hoodie and pulled them back down to fit loosely around her wrists. It was a change. A huge one she didn’t expect. Andy was full of surprises and this one topped them all. He was serious. Of course he was. She could confirm his claim in his eyes as her chocolate orbs shifted back to fix on his. Her lips pressed together and her teeth nibbled gently at the inside.
In the silence between them she heard the words said the night she stood in front of The Order. Words of support and acceptance spoken with the tone of concern came back to her. Now maybe she could start to appreciate what they must have felt. Those that truly cared about her anyways. Perhaps not fully but still did it matter?
Andy was one of the few that always had her back no matter what hell she found herself in. He was honest. Skippy was certainly a far cry from what she was familiar with as far as the vampire population went. Perhaps something was amiss in the turning process. She caught herself before she winced in the thought. Most vampires would not be accepting of being a human’s...she blinked wondering what the term for Skippy was. She really needed to get with the program and get informed.
Dominique looked down at her hands as the permanent ink words 'HOPE' and 'LESS' on the top of her hands did a single rise then falling flat on the tops of her thighs. She gripped her legs and held on as if the earth was about to take a huge spin. If it didn’t the hold she took reminded her she was in her own skin and she was expected to say something...anything.
“We can talk about the how, why and what if later.” Dominique looked to the female in the shirt cheering Andy on then finally back to Andy himself. “I can’t hate you. Never. I can be concerned and confused but there is no room for hate. Not for you.” She felt the lift of the right side of her mouth offer up a partial smile. “Everything changes and so does our capacity to accept. I cannot expect that from you if I cannot be capable of the same. You, Verne, Kenlie, Leona, Mona and the others taught me that.”
Dominique reached out her hand and placed the cool center of her open palm over the top of his hand and curled her fingers over the top. She felt the warmth beneath his skin, the pulse of life still there and that was what mattered at that moment. The rest they could discuss at a time when the rest of the world around them was not waiting for another round of the living and the undead in the gauntlet tourney.
“I take it you haven’t told Mona?” Hope brushed over her nose and itched at the bridge of it lightly. She was not entirely sure she would want to see that exchange. Mona finding out her old man was tapping into the immortal power source. “In fact I would bet money on it. Oh...” Her hand lifted from the top of his finally. “I don’t donate.” She wasn’t sure how it worked but she had no fangs to use and would never allow a set to find themselves under her skin if she had any say in it.
The air was warmer for the first minutes that passed as she sat close to the man. There was a comfort in it that was always welcome. The kind that leaves it easy to think the world will never change no matter how much she had. Andy was a significant source of that energy, humor and optimism. That much she knew as the words weaved an explanation of what her eyes tracked slowly. The female in question gave him a hug and she didn’t move but felt the subtle roll of her shoulders finally kick the joints back to press against the flat hard surface behind each one.
Dominique's dark eyes floated towards his face as his message seeped into her thoughts then finally ceasing. He did this at Verne's funeral. He never stepped into the cathedral but she heard him say he was there. A slight chill changed that warmth that she attributed to him. It wasn’t Andy that brought on the unexpected coolness to her colder exposed skin. It was more of the truths she had not seen back then. It was also her concern for what she was discovering. She felt the need to swallow and did so while she absorbed what he was saying. The misplaced cheerleader was in fact his. Her eyes drifted over to the vampire he referred to as Skippy and wasn’t quite sure what to say.
So, he met a blood thief, made a deal and he didn’t want her to hate him.
Dominique felt a sinking inside her stomach, perhaps her chest too. It had been a while since she experienced both. She was quiet for a minute while her hands tugged at the cuffs of her hoodie and pulled them back down to fit loosely around her wrists. It was a change. A huge one she didn’t expect. Andy was full of surprises and this one topped them all. He was serious. Of course he was. She could confirm his claim in his eyes as her chocolate orbs shifted back to fix on his. Her lips pressed together and her teeth nibbled gently at the inside.
In the silence between them she heard the words said the night she stood in front of The Order. Words of support and acceptance spoken with the tone of concern came back to her. Now maybe she could start to appreciate what they must have felt. Those that truly cared about her anyways. Perhaps not fully but still did it matter?
Andy was one of the few that always had her back no matter what hell she found herself in. He was honest. Skippy was certainly a far cry from what she was familiar with as far as the vampire population went. Perhaps something was amiss in the turning process. She caught herself before she winced in the thought. Most vampires would not be accepting of being a human’s...she blinked wondering what the term for Skippy was. She really needed to get with the program and get informed.
Dominique looked down at her hands as the permanent ink words 'HOPE' and 'LESS' on the top of her hands did a single rise then falling flat on the tops of her thighs. She gripped her legs and held on as if the earth was about to take a huge spin. If it didn’t the hold she took reminded her she was in her own skin and she was expected to say something...anything.
“We can talk about the how, why and what if later.” Dominique looked to the female in the shirt cheering Andy on then finally back to Andy himself. “I can’t hate you. Never. I can be concerned and confused but there is no room for hate. Not for you.” She felt the lift of the right side of her mouth offer up a partial smile. “Everything changes and so does our capacity to accept. I cannot expect that from you if I cannot be capable of the same. You, Verne, Kenlie, Leona, Mona and the others taught me that.”
Dominique reached out her hand and placed the cool center of her open palm over the top of his hand and curled her fingers over the top. She felt the warmth beneath his skin, the pulse of life still there and that was what mattered at that moment. The rest they could discuss at a time when the rest of the world around them was not waiting for another round of the living and the undead in the gauntlet tourney.
“I take it you haven’t told Mona?” Hope brushed over her nose and itched at the bridge of it lightly. She was not entirely sure she would want to see that exchange. Mona finding out her old man was tapping into the immortal power source. “In fact I would bet money on it. Oh...” Her hand lifted from the top of his finally. “I don’t donate.” She wasn’t sure how it worked but she had no fangs to use and would never allow a set to find themselves under her skin if she had any say in it.