♪ New Friends ♪ (Closed)

[Skylar]

I laugh. I can't help it. I'd give him a book on dating if I thought he might read it but since he's pretty damn sure he doesn't date I doubt he'd even pick it up; unless he needed to use it as a paperweight or something. That’s about the only use I think he’d make of a book like that.
"I'm kinda relieved to hear you say that I don't sound crazy. I mean it seems dishonest in some ways but like you said... what he doesn't know and all that."
I take a sip of my drink and mull over the idea of telling Ric. I can be ballsy when I wanna be, but I'm not sure I'm ready to drop that bomb just yet.
"I'm sorry I dumped this all on you so soon after we sat down and everything. It's just I don't really have all that many female friends to talk this stuff through with and well... You're his sister and you're important to him and I guess I was thinking that it was a good idea. I mean yeah, he’s an icebreaker topic in some ways but you probably just learned way more than you wanted to."
I think about what she said though, as she has some valid points. She's right. If Ric didn't want me around, I wouldn't be around. He's not exactly subtle or anything. I'm pretty sure he'd tell me to **** off if he wanted to, so I’m probably safe. Kinda. Maybe. Till he figures out what’s going on and then **** knows how he’ll react.
"And yeah... I may have to draw him a diagram or something. Whatever I do, I know I'll have to spell it out to him in some form or another. He'll argue it likely too, and probably try and remind me that he doesn't date. But..."
I shrug.
"I'll just tell him to suck it up or something. I mean he's doing pretty well at this dating thing for someone that, A: doesn't date, and B: doesn't know he's dating."
I laugh and take a sip of my drink.
“Anyways. Enough about him. Let’s talk about you. You dating anyone? I mean Ric’s really not told me all that much about any of his family. He’s not exactly a talker. Which I guess works out well for me… cos in case you hadn’t noticed I don’t seem to tire of the sound of my own voice.”
I laugh again. I can be self-deprecating at times believe it or not. I’m a strange mix of confidence and insecurity; I just do a better job at hiding the latter over the former.

[Juliet]

“Ric’s smart, he’ll figure it out at some point, I’m sure.” She gave a warm smile, “It just... takes a while. But no, you don’t sound crazy.” And, given that she’d spent such a long time working on her relationships with others, moping before sending herself to the shadow realm, Juliet was glad to see others being happy. Especially Roderic, with how long he’d stayed by her side as her brother. He’d taken more initiative to make sure she was okay more than others, and that meant a lot to her.

Taking another drink, she listened to Skylar and gave a soft shake of her head, followed by a warm smile. She understood and didn’t mind it. “It’s alright, really. You are always welcome to talk about what you need to with me.” And it was true, even if they had only met. “Learning is an important thing, it shows my brain still works.” She laughed, the same smile on her lips, “And I can always store things away for the time being.” She stirred the drink lightly with one of the decorations, thinking that a diagram might work and giggling at the thought of her sibling continuing to argue the concept without realizing it. “Well, then you should simply remind him that research is important to being able to back up his argument otherwise it would be invalid. That’s when you give him the book on relationships.”

When the question about her own dating life came up, Juliet paused in her actions and a thoughtful expression played across her features. She wasn’t even sure on that. “It’s... I don’t know. I have feelings for someone, deep feelings and she knows. We’re just kind of,” Her hands came up and she made a motion that showed conflict. “It is very complicated.” Thinking about Jamie, she lifted her hand to brush some of her hair away from her neck and looked back down to her drink for a moment before her green eyes returned to Skylar. “I work a lot to keep my mind off it, really, until I can figure out what will happen.”

She waved her hand idly, “There is nothing wrong with being very quiet, nor about talking a lot. You two balance out, and so long as you two remain happy, I’m happy for you.” She smiled, “You are very pretty with a kind personality from what I can see and he cares for you, even if he doesn’t show it.”

[Skylar]

I'm done talking about Ric. Or I should be. I may not be able to help myself but damn it if I'm not gonna try and keep a lid on that topic of conversation. I’m here to get to know Jules and I can't really do that if all I do is ask about Ric all night. I mean yeah. I know there's stuff to know about him but he likes his secrets and I don't mind learning bit by bit. I mean that's what dating's about right? Sussing the other person out. I'd say he's lucky cos most women hide their crazy and I kinda wear mine on my sleeve, so in that way he has no nasty surprises coming but well... yeah... I am holding back on the affection front. I'm pushing boundaries but I have reeled in that side of myself around him a little. No need for him to be uncomfortable or anything.
I probably should say something about being pretty and stuff. I mean that's kind of her. I know I'm nothing special but I rock what God gave me. I'm not the sort to go for plastics or anything to improve myself. okay. So yes. I have a few tattoo's but that's more for me. I mean what kind of self-respecting artist wouldn't want to mark their living canvas? Tattoo's represent who we are. or mine do. And nope. I didn't even get them while I was drunk I put a lot of thought into mine and I'm planning a third. I want one to represent the changes of who I am. I mean i know now that my markings stick so yeah... gotta be done.
"Thanks."
That's all I say about Ric and I balancing each other out and him liking me even if he doesn't know it. I know I drive him nuts too but he enjoys it. I don't really give him much choice in the matter.
"So this girl... The one you like... Tell me about her. What's she like? I mean looks, personality and stuff. How'd you meet?"
Yeah maybe I sound a bit too eager but maybe she wants to talk about her girl as much as I want to talk about my guy. At least it would let me get to know her a bit better. I mean if I know the kind of chick she goes for.
As I wait for her to tell me about the girl, I try to recall if I knew she was into women. I think I knew that. I think Ric told me. Or she did. Or maybe I just caught that vibe off her. At least I don't need to worry about her hitting on Ric. Not that I'm all that worried about that kind of thing, Ric's kind of oblivious to the kind of thing. Though he may be figuring that stuff out what with having me hanging around all the time. Whatever. Doesn't really matter, she's his sister and Ric doesn't date family. I'm pretty sure he's said as much.

[Juliet]

She smiled politely, “You’re welcome.” Juliet pulled a piece of lint off her shirt. Where had it come from, she had no idea. It was like hair, sometimes. She found it in the weirdest of places on her clothes and a lint brush was a needed purchase. Cassadee had one at some point, but Juliet had thrown it away when going through the woman’s apartment - her apartment, now. It was in the process of being boxed up so that she could move things to her boat.

Jamie.

Thinking about her ex, the woman that had almost been her wife, Juliet would have blushed had she been able to. Even so, there was a bit of adoration in her expression. Where should she start? How they met?

“Her name is Jamie, but it was Athena when we first met. She’s another one of my siblings, under Phoenix.” She tried not to call her sire Nixy in front of others, to save confusion. “And we met that way after my first break up.” A laugh was given, “Right after, oddly enough.” She drummed her fingertips softly against the wooden table, trying to think back, “She’s not much of a people person, but I used to always bring her out of her shell. Smart and funny.”

Juliet paused to take a drink of blood, licking her lips afterwards. She would need to come to the bar more often. “She’s beautiful. Dark hair, stunning eyes.” She wondered if she actually still had the picture of the two of them on her phone, but didn’t go looking for it. She had found the old device hidden away on her boat not too long after she’d returned.

[Skylar]

I listen as Jules talks about her gal. Love is love, no matter what races and genders are involved. I smile. It's nice to see someone else loved up. A female at that. I don't really do the whole female bonding thing but I'm giving it a go for 'he who shall not be named.' Sounds like the girls have history and although I keep smiling, I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. History isn't always a good thing, but for Jules' sake I hope for the best.
My mind briefly wanders with the whole sibling thing. I'm not sure what to make of that. I don't have any siblings that I know of. Well I'm sure I do, but I haven't met any. Not like legit, blood siblings. And the one I have met, is female. So not my thing. But yeah. I mean I have blood-blood siblings but I grew up with them, we're related on a cellular level. I'm not sure if vamps work the same way but it's that way in my mind. Another reason Ellie's choice of mate freaks me out. I mean who fucks their mum? Yuck! But I don't say anything. Ain't my place. Who am I to judge?
Okay, I said I was done talking about him, but obviously I was lying to myself cos well he's never far from my thoughts and the first words out of my mouth seriously ******* betrayed me. I'm such a ******* girl sometimes, I disappoint myself.
"Hate to say... but she kinda sounds a bit like Ric. So I get the attraction of the whole 'not a people person' thing. She sounds kinda shy too. Gotta love the shy ones. I'll admit their kinda a pet project of mine. I love tormenting the quiet ones. Ain't nothing better than riling them up and watching them react to ****. Though I tend to steer clear of the female variety. Guys are just easier to talk to."
I shrug at that last statement. It's true for me but I'm sure Jules is the opposite, given that she's into women and all. Not that sexual preference is the be all and end all. I mean it ain't. I can get along with pretty much anyone. Well I can play nice if I have ta. It's just women seem to dislike me. Not sure why. Possibly cos I'm so relaxed around guys and they're relaxed around me. Ain't my fault. I totally blame Brett. My brother was my hero growing up and I hung out with him and his mates whenever I could. I'm more one of the guys, than one of the girls. Don't ever see that changing.
"Jamie sounds like a sweetie. What's she like in the bedroom? She a wild one? Gotta watch them quiet ones."
I laugh. Yep. I went there. I asked what is probably one of the most inappropriate questions out there. Like I care. I mean I'm not into that kinda thing but hearing about it won't have me throwing up or running for the hills or nothing. You hang around with guys and you're gonna hear all kinds of **** that makes you wanna bleach your brain, so I'm pretty confident I can stand to hear whatever she might say next. Besides. She ain't my sister. We're not related or nothing. Totally not an uncomfortable conversation to have, if you're me. I watch though to see how Jules reacts.

[Juliet]

“Funnily enough, Ric hates her because she up and left one day, I got hurt.” She didn’t mention that the day she’d left, the two had planned to get bound. They had the rings and everything, and she knew that Jamie still wore them on her neck. “Men are easier to talk to, I get along better with my male siblings better than I do the female variety.” It didn’t help that Juliet had found the new found female siblings to be a bit odd. She got along with Pyper really well, and had been close to Jamie from the beginning. “My best friend growing up was my cousin, April, though. We were troublemakers in our own right.”

Thinking about April, Juliet felt her lips twitch softly. The woman was probably rolling in her grave at the fact that Juliet had almost gotten married, as they had sworn when they were younger that they hadn’t. Her gaze dropped to the drink and she used one of the decorations to lightly stir it. “I don’t think he would have liked Aldric, though, either. I dated him before Jamie and Ric came into Altaire.” The emotions, however, had been different, the reactions.

When Aldric had left, Juliet had been able to push through. She had worked, but she hadn’t worked obsessively like she had when Jamie had left, and she hadn’t gotten as depressed as she did. She hadn’t been needed to be forced out of places, either, or set up on play dates by her sire, although she was still sure it had been wanted to be a date-date. “I’ve never really been very lucky when it came to love, but I was with her.”

The question had thrown her off, but it didn’t put her off. Juliet wasn’t really a closeted person, nor was she a prude and her lips twitched in amusement. “I wouldn’t call her a sweetie, really. I think Ric has more friends than she did.” A shake of her head was given as a chuckle fell from her lips, “She was… considerate. Compassionate, focused on me and I her.” She spoke in past tense because she wasn’t entirely sure what was going on with Jamie. Were they together, or where they together? Juliet had kissed her, they had made out in the sewers.

Roderic had given her ‘the look’ that told her that he was watching them enough in passing when he found them in corners. “She was the sinner to my saint.” She explained with a soft shrug of her shoulders before she finished off her drink and set it off to the side, where she wouldn’t be able to bump it.

[Skylar]

Ric hating someone. That's new. Wait. It's totally not. I'm not sure why he even likes me most of the time. There's a strong possibility that I'm just tolerated because I refuse to go away. Still. I'm not gonna complain about that. Baby steps are the key to getting that guy where I want him.
I listen and nod. Most girls are close to other girls growing up. By all rights I should have been tight with my sister, I just... well... wasn't. Brett was my buddy. Or rather I was his shadow. What can I say. I was a born stalker, apparently. Much like Ric, Brett didn't seem to mind my presence.
I listen to her talk about how Jamie might have less friends than Ric and can't help but smile. Ric's kinda easy going in some ways. He's just overly honest which makes him a bit of an arsehole. Ain't nothing wrong with that though in my book.
"Yeah men are easier to talk to. Unless, you know, they're named Roderic, and then getting a conversation out of them is like trying to wring blood out of a stone."
I laugh.
"Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration."
I admit. I wrap my hands around my glass, tapping the glass with the nails of my right hand.
"I'm not all that lucky in my love myself. Though to be fair I'm not sure I've ever really been in love. Lust I'm familiar with. Lust and me we're like that."
I say this while raising my right hand and twisting my middle finger over my index finger, to show just how tight me and lust are. It's in saying this that I realise that I might have asked about Jamie cos I have my own thoughts about what Ric might be like in bed. He's as quiet as they come. And a real freak as it is.
"Considerate and compassionate are good."
My words come out a little dreamy, as I'm trying to recall the last time I had sex because I really wanted a guy and not just because I'd drunk too much and was horny as ****.
"You know..."
At some point in my daydreaming I looked down at the contents of my glass, so I look back up at Jules.
"I think you and I have the same type. We like 'em bad. Ric's like the typical bad boy. It's beyond sexy and he doesn't even see it."
I shake my head slightly, as I wonder how I ended up following a guy around like a puppy and dating him without him knowing.
Yep, I'm pathetic.
My emotions have gone up and down as I've spoken and they're down again now. This allurist thing sucks. Having permanent PMS is a right *****.

[Juliet]

“It depends, sometimes you just need to find a topic he can talk on.”

Juliet thought about the conversations she’d had with her sibling. Maybe it was because she herself talked a lot, or because the most time they spoke, there was something serious involved - or he was worried she’d fall back into depression again, but getting Ric wasn’t too difficult for her to talk.

“I used to make sure he wouldn’t be near the patients in the clinic, however.” She thought about the clinic and mentally frowned, wondering if she could ever get it back up and running. Cassadee had the business savy attitude, as did Juliet, but she had only managed it. It had been important to her for people to be able to have a place to go to when their previous hospital visits had been less than ideal.

“No, it can be quite true depending on his mood.”

Juliet laughed, shaking her head before she listened to Skylar and gave a nod, following the words. She understood. “I wonder sometimes if it had been lust for my other relationships versus love.” The admission wasn’t something Juliet had considered previous. She’d always just assumed it was terrible luck.

“They are.” She agreed softly, smiling gently. “We probably do.” Juliet laughed, “I mean I don’t intentionally go for the bad ones, but I end up with them. Used to drive my mama crazy, but she always said as long as I didn’t turn out like my cousin, Lola, she was happy.”

Thinking about it for a few minutes, she bit her bottom lip idly. “I think what I’m more attracted to is just those who don’t bother to hide themselves or change who they are for others.” She shrugged softly, thinking about it. “I don’t really have a preference towards gender… well, I do. I get hurt by men often.” She crinkled her nose, “Ric thought I was a lesbian for the longest time. Even Nixy forgot I was with a man when I was sired to her.”

[Skylar]

Yeah. But I can out talk most people. I think this, though I don't say it. It's true but I I'm not gonna draw attention to the fact that I'm a conversation whore. Spend half an hour with me and it's usually pretty obvious. I'll talk to anyone about damn near anything. As for Ric, I'm already getting a handle on the guy. He spends a lot of his free time with me these days, so I know I'm not doing too bad at holding his interest and ****. I'm sure he talks to me more than anyone, though I half suspect he talks to make me be quiet.
I smile when she says she kept him from the patients. That's a smart move if ever I heard one. I don't know how Ricky runs a business as it is. Though I guess the kind of people that want a taxidermist are odd and expecting a little odd in return. My smile widens at that thought. Ric really is an odd little thing, god bless him.
I nod to show I'm listening. I'm not gonna interrupt. It's nice to hear what his sister thinks of him.
"Oh I seek the bad ones out."
I'm happy to admit this. It's no secret. In fact I'm probably a little proud of it. I'm a good girl up until a point and they do say opposites attract, no truer words have ever been spoken when it comes to Ric and me, I'm sure.
"Always have."
I continue.
"I used to do that to piss my mum off, then I guess it became habit or instinct or something, because I never grew out of it. The day I saw Ric, he looked all kinds of wrong and I could see he was a vampire right off. I'm not ashamed to admit, I've never wanted anyone so much in my entire life. There was instant attraction on my part. S'why I chased him down."
I laugh. I've got nothing to be ashamed of as far as I'm concerned. Who wouldn't run after a cute guy and strike up a conversation. Then kinda follow them where they're going, while talking their ear off. Sounds reasonable to me. But then again. What do I know. I can't say I love Ric. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Who knows what the future brings. I just know I seriously wanna get that guy naked and have my way with him. I'm holding back from saying that. Go me!
"Gender don't matter if you ask me. Not that I swing both ways myself. I just think love is love, or lust is lust, or whatever. Each to their own and all that. If you prefer women, there ain't nothing wrong with that. But... I'm curious... What was so wrong with this Lola?"
I have to ask. I'm curious by nature. It's a fault, maybe, but it's who I am. I don't censor much of anything unless I really have to and even then, mistakes happen. About the only secrets I manage to keep are the ones that aren't mine. Like the fact that Ric bites. Not that I mind. I ******* love it actually but it's not something I can talk about with anyone but Ric and he sure as hell don't wanna hear it.