the promises we keep [Grey]

[Every]

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


<Every> She looked down at the locations that Jesse had suggested she check for Grey, a frown dancing across her lips as she asked Adelaide to search the residences before heading in the direction of the mall. “If you see her, don’t say anything. Just report back.” She called, watching the spirit briefly over her shoulder. Ignoring the looks received from the way her arm was bandaged down to the elbow and with each breath she took, a wince was given, Every took the transit from Honeymead to Wickbridge while whistling various tunes that popped into her head. Auto Doc.

She had never been in the shop before, not needing to with a sire for a mechanic for what she couldn’t fix on her Camaro, but she knew where it was from mapping things out. Stepping off the platform, her hazel eyes looked at the mall with a curious expression as she tried to remember what Grey looked like, thinking back to the few times that she had seen her. “You better be keeping my childe sane, Fforde.” She sighed under her breath, wary as she tucked her hands into her pockets and hoped she’d find the woman she was looking for.

<Grey> The woman that emerged from one of the many mall's exits had a blank look on her face. Though she was guarded, those light blue eyes in the reflection of the street lights barely even blinked. It was not quite three o'clock in the morning, but Grey had punched out anyways and left the doors of Auto Doc secure and chained like normal. Grey's pale lips twisted up into an almost malicious smirk. Normal, she thought. Nothing was normal. Nothing felt normal. It was all just another bad dream. It was another nightmare.

She couldn't even hear his voice in her mind. She couldn't even remember the last words that he had said to her. She couldn't even remember what he was wearing when he had gotten up to kiss her goodnight one more time before she trapsed herself to work for her shift. Bitter. Hurt. But, one wouldn't know it by looking at her. No, they'd just see a painfully pale woman about five seven and bundled up underneath that baggy black hoodie and jeans, they wouldn't be able to tell exactly how much she weighed. Though the skin underneath those crystal, clear blue eyes was dark, the only other thing out of place was the black and blue mark over a gaunt cheek. It was obvious that Grey had nothing more than a run in with a tool to the face. Most likely it was one of her heavy wrenches and a stubborn lug nut or bolt.

She had looked around, over her shoulder before she started south away from the mall. She crossed the street in those steel toe boots and normally would have made a habit of stopping at the Wickbridge bank. However, there wasn't anything that she didn't need or couldn't at least use her bank card for. So, with those scratched up and bruised knuckles, she adjusted the plain olive green satchel that crossed over her body. Her appearance might have just screamed out trashy dyke, but all her long brown hair had been pulled up into a messy bun behind her head. The long hairs and the flyaways that had freed themselves during her shift now teased and caressed her colorless skin of her cheeks and at the nape of her neck. The bilateral Rook piercings to her ears shone, the surgical steel screaming out against a likewise Industrial piercing to just her left ear. That was new.

And as if to check that the metal was still there despite the slight ache of the reminder, Grey reached up from the sachel to run her fingertips against the ends of the ball there at the cartelidge. She had it done before work that night. Sure, she wore her other two piercings in the actual lobe of her ear too, but this one was certain. This one she got for the two times he had left her - unintentionally. With her mind occupied, Grey ignored those around her and blended into the crowds that continued to walk the streets in that busy downtown area.

<Every> “Clear!” Adelaide’s voice shouted into Every’s mind, intrusive through the bond that allowed her to see into the other’s mind, to hear what she had to say and what she was seeing. A headache, a constant headache. That was the easiest way for the petite woman to think of her wraith as she lifted a hand to brush it through dark brown waves, running her nails out to remove a few stray tangles that had been made since she combed it after a shower. She pursed her lips briefly and replied back without much need to say anything. “One place down.” She murmured through peach colored lips, removing the sticky note to cross out what would need to be checked. “Check Veil now, Adelaide.” She instructed before tucking it back into the pocket of her jeans.

Every felt tired and sore. The wound in her chest from where Alexandrea had stabbed her was no longer critical, but to get out of going to the luau, she had stubbornly chose not to heal it or the gash running down her arm before going to it anyway. At this point in the evening, she would usually hide in The Eyrie up on her branch and then retreat to the hut that Velveteen had given her when she first entered the faction, but this week didn’t permit it. This week she had to check up on others, make sure they were alright. She had to be herself, when she wasn’t in a mood. She had promised Jesse that she’d keep an eye on Grey and be there for her, so she would do it.

In reality, she wasn’t much of a social person. She hosted events to make others happy, but would prefer to be behind the scenes. As of late, she’d reclused to speaking only when spoken to, and as she stepped off the curb to cross the street, Every swore as a car sped past and a glare was given in the driver’s rear view mirror despite the fact it wouldn’t be seen. “I hate idiots.” She shook her head. Starting to step out once more, she checked the road before taking sight of the female she was looking for and she lifted her hand in greeting. “Hey, Grey!” She felt awkward, “It’s Every. Micah’s childe? Do you have a moment?” A frown danced across her lips as she took in the other’s appearance, “Or several?”

<Grey> Would it be rude? Would Jesse frown at her for ignoring the call of her name? It wasn't Velveteen's voice. It wasn't the wounded woman that had come to her that night and told her just about forty-eight hours ago that Jesse wasn't going to be home for a while. The bleep of the speeding car's horn barely even registered. The call of her name was just that. A call. It wasn't a demand. It wasn't a sound she would stop dead in her tracks for. It wasn't Jesse's exasperated sigh when she had done something to irritate him or a chuckle accompanied with the whisper of her name in her ear when he came home.

No, it was just a shout. Her fingers left her ear and she wrapped both sets of digits around that satchel strap across her chest. The lightening crowds on the street bumped into her and nudged her along towards the wall of the building out of the way of the traffic's flow since she had stopped. Black and blue eyes from the lack of sleep seemed to look right through Every for a moment. Nothing registered with Grey until she had introduced herself as Micah's child. Micah. He had been the one warm presence since Grey had been turned. He had been the one she looked forward to meeting up in the sewers. Though he was not Jesse, she wondered if it was just that family relation that had so easily set Grey's once burned nerves at ease.

She gripped the satchel strap tighter. Her mouth was so dry. She hadn't fed in days. She wasn't hungry. She wasn't even really thirsty. Instead, she had turned to face Every's greeting and stilling close to the building so that the woman wouldn't think that she hadn't been heard. No, she just might only get louder and she didn't care for anyone else to hear her name screamed on the street. There was no smile. There was no welcoming grin or a pleasant warmth to her face. She blinked.

"Every." She said in greeting to the woman. Grey didn't fidget. Grey wasn't wearing a hundred pound dress of beautiful orange and red satin with her hair done up and heels that bit into her toes. No, she was standing in plain clothes on a sidewalk, sure she'd be able to check and make sure Larch Court didn't need any picking up or cleaning before heading back across the proverbial street to the Towers and her own apartment. She didn't leave room for Every's concern. She didn't leave room for that uncomfortable small talk. Velveteen had been uncomfortable. They didn't know her. The Andras was family, but they still didn't know her. "Can I help you with something?"

<Every> Her first thought at seeing Grey’s expression was that she was going to simply kill Jesse if he ever died again to leave the woman alone. Would it be counterproductive? Probably, but as she frowned briefly before covering up her own discomfort with a small smile, Every didn’t particularly care at that moment. She looked her over lightly, the running sneakers she wore keeping her steps near silent while she moved across the street and straightened out her tee-shirt from habit. Comforting people was not something that she did very well, but at least Grey wasn’t a crying man, nor was she crying at this point. Then she would go to the Shadow Realm and throttle her adopted-sibling the moment she left the woman’s side.

“Actually, I’m here to help you… or more so just try to say hello, see how you are.” She glanced down at the satchel, noticing the way she gripped it before lifting hazel eyes back to Grey’s features with a curious expression. Concern went through her features and she reached up to push her hair over her shoulders as she considered what to say. “And to tell you if you need anything, not to hesitate to come find me.” She wet her lips, feeling incredibly awkward. There was a reason she liked to hide. Death, even with this life, was something that made her uncomfortable and after she swallowed, she parted her lips to speak once more. “I figure you know by now that Jesse’s away for now, maybe we can discuss it elsewhere? I have a bottle of some of Arbor Vitae’s finest with me.”

That’s what people did to try and help the grieving process, right? They bring food - or in this case, blood? She adjusted the bag she carried over her shoulder. She didn’t like how pale the other was, even for a vampire. Although, Every herself seemed healthy and human for a reason she still didn’t quite know. “Maybe catch up a bit, I haven’t seen you since the masquerade.”

<Grey> Every. This was the woman who Andras considered third in command. This was the woman who came to find her. Her. She wasn't anyone important. At least, she didn't feel important. They were a large faction and a large family. Grey couldn't even muster a sad smile to match the woman's pained, little grin. She was trying, Grey thought. This was the woman who remained factual and calm upon the Crownet, and aloof in person. With another blink, Grey could barely recollect what the woman wore the last she saw her at the grande party.

But, this oddly calm and blank look remained upon Grey's face. She needed help? She wasn't sure that she needed help. Grey took a moment to look down, seeing Every's clothes for the first time, her bandaged arm, and her wiped out expression every time the woman took a deep breath. Guarded, Grey still clutched the strap of her satchel tightly. She had made up her mind that she would save the Zombie hunting until tomorrow. Maybe. She had been painfully slacking upon her training and she felt that old lethargy seeping back into her bones with the lack of some form of exercise. "I'm okay. Jesse's okay."

She said that, almost in a puppeted way. After all, that was how Velveteen had told her. She had said that Jesse was okay. Even though she didn't believe it, it was easier to say a lie upon her tongue. Jesse, after all had once commented on how easy it was for her to lie. She could lie through her teeth and still get smiles and out of handcuffs in a heart beat. She had to, that is, for once not too long ago getting everything she had at a five finger discount. "What is there to discuss? He's gone for a little while. I have his phone."

The look when she said those things was so blatantly cold that it was surprising her face didn't crack. Her knuckles by now where white and she lifted her chin for a moment to Every once she saw those sneakers. Now, the facade of a smile turned up the corners of her mouth a little bit. "It looks like you need that Vitae more than me. You should be taking it easy, not out trying to track me down. I'm okay." Though it was the second time she said it, Grey was just barely starting to believe it. "I haven't been doing much. Just work and training, Every. Yourself?"

Grey didn't do well at small talk. She stood right there, hovering close to the building while she waited for Every's response. It seemed the powerful women of the family didn't do well with a lot of small talk. Though they were social in their gatherings, they seemed to struggle with their personal ability to one another. Grey just looked away from Every. It was more comfortable for them when she wasn't holding eye contact. Perhaps that was why she had been so attracted to Jesse in the beginning. He never looked away from her.

[Grey (DELETED 5068)]

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



<Every> Again, Grey gripped the satchel. Every’s eyebrow lifted as she began to shove her discomfort away into the little box at the back of her head like her sire constantly instructed her to with her anger. It kept her from breaking, from shattering and crying. At this moment, it was keeping her from running at top speed back to the Eyrie. She heard the tone used and cocked her head slightly the side like a dog would, her hazel eyes moving to Grey’s face and locking her gaze. “Oh, I know Jesse’s okay. Actually, the egotistical jackass seems more cheerful than most I’ve seen in that place, but then again, I never really know what that man is thinking. I saw him the other day.”

A shoulder lifted and fell in a shrug. She didn’t say Shadow Realm, although she knew that the streets were relatively empty. She pursed her lips as Adelaide shouted “clear!” into her head before she summoned the wraith to her side. Hazel eyes lifted to the taller dead vampire, seeing and frowning. “Can you stop shouting, Adelaide? I already found her.” She then looked back to Grey, “Sorry. Loud mouth keeps yelling in my head. Anyway. I apologize for this, but I don’t think you’re okay.” She nodded at the satchel, “Not at the way you keep grabbing that and the fact your knuckles are tightened. Not to mention, you’re paler than others I know. Are you eating?” Every asked, frowning, “And if you lie, I will ask him if you have any tells.” She inclined her head once more.

“He asked me to come check on you because he cares for you, and you are my family, too. Even if he hadn’t asked, I would have likely come anyway.” She knew that the reason she had done it now rather than later was simply that. Grey had been on her list to come see if she survived the duel with Alexandrea. Kirill, Aksel, Jayden. She still needed to check on Damian. When Grey mentioned that she needed it more than her, Every shook her head softly, “I’m fine. I’ll heal in a few days or whenever I get irritated of wincing every time I move about. Fed recently anyway.” She didn’t really know how to take it easy, either. She was already back to killing fadebeasts.

“I found you, so there’s no issue in me relaxing now.” She pointed out before glancing to Adelaide, “And I can always just have her keep you company. She sings though, so I apologize if she gets loud.” Every’s gaze moved back to Grey and she gave a soft, sheepish expression. “Work and training, too. And clearly trying to track you down, as well as plot against Jesse about how he should have given me warning about how it might’ve been. I think I’ll scold him for that when I visit next.” A small laugh escaped past her lips before she winced, giving a soft annoyed sigh. “But yeah. He’s fine. Likely with Zoey and Reanna right now.”

<Grey> The woman before her spoke, but Grey had a hard time processing her words. She acted as if for a moment she was actually talking to her, but then she mentioned someone named Adelaide. Though Grey had never met such a soul before, Grey had a hard time recollecting what this person may have looked like as she thought too about her egotistical male slumbering it away and reeling overs back from insanity. Yes, Grey saw Jesse the other day, too. She missed him. It was beyond fierce. It was beyond anger and pain and sadness all wrapped up into a burning ball of screams and tears.

He would be back. It would be different right now if he wasn't coming back. She would have fallen apart. She would have left. She would have been on the first available bus out of town, bag packet and bank account drained. She couldn't live with his things around her if there was no chance of his return. She just wouldn't be able to do it. Though her eyes filled, no tears dropped over. The liquid was clear and not even holding any tinge of a redness. As Every demanded someone to stop shouting at her, she wondered where this Adelaide was. Was this woman a wraith that Jesse had briefly spoke of? There was so much Grey didn't know or understand about being part of the undead society.

"I'm not hungry." It didn't answer Every's question. Jesse particularly hated that about Grey's person. She would always answer something in a round-a-bout way. No, Grey wasn't eating. She had gone days before without splicing a blood pack open or fighting with humans. Humans. That seemed so cynical when she was just one a few months ago. "I have leftovers at home though. There are a few packs I have stored. I will have something for dinner later." Though she said it, Grey didn't mean any of it. She didn't care to drink. She had no appetite. She wanted Oreos and milk and fatty French fries and cereal. She didn't want blood. There was a lift to her shoulder, a shrug if Every would so accept it. As if, of course, to report to Jesse that she was lieing.

"I do appreciate it. It is very thoughtful that you check in with the members of the loved ones that were hurt and injured. But, I want you to know that I am fine. I have a job. I have a family to see to. I'm not Jesse, but I hope they know I would be there for them like you are their for yours, Every." The sad smile returned, and Grey watched as she pointed to the air next to her. Obviously, this Adelaide was privy to Every's eyes only or Grey wasn't strong enough to see this ghost of a presence. So, despite the brief look of confusion, Grey gave a little nod of her head as if to say hello. And, above all, Grey still didn't really know who Zoey and Reanna were. "They are part of the faction too?"

It was a general question. Every might not have even been able to answer it. With all her training, she still was no where near strong enough to compete with the more powerful members of the family. No, but Grey needed to get back to doing her best even if Jesse wasn't there to kiss her aches and pains at dawn. She needed to reassure Every that she was fine. Because, she was okay on the outside. "You'll tell Jesse I love him when you do see him, yes? Please." Grey's face remained stoic, even if her eyes were glossy and she barely loosened her grip upon the satchel that carried Jesse's phone.

<Every> “She’s pretty.” The wraith chimed and Every shot Adelaide a look that clearly said that she’s not helping. Something told her that Grey was going to be continue to be difficult and with a frown dancing across her lips, Every debated as she looked back to the other vampiress. “That’s not what I asked.” She said pointedly. She sighed and closed her eyes, lifting a hand to rub at her temples as she considered exactly what she’d be asking and telling Jesse when she visited him next. She would also be texting Kirill and asking him to appraise Grey’s blood levels later for her as she moved closer to the other. Even if Grey was feeding, Every knew that she’d never hear the end of it from her faction mate if she even suspected otherwise and didn’t do anything.

She took in the way that Grey’s eyes seemed filled and shifted her weight idly as she silently pleaded to whatever would hear her for the other to not start crying. Every didn’t do well with tears. In fact, she didn’t even do well when she herself was crying. She’d done it only a few times in Harper Rock and none of them had been wanted. Velveteen had upset her after she returned from the Shadow Realm once, there had also been another time when she felt Zoey and Lia had been ganging up on her, a time where she felt she had lost a good friend and more recently, she’d cried when she felt that Micah had hated her. None of them were pretty, but all of them were short lived.

“Do you want me to stay with her?” Adelaide asked in her mind and Every glanced up to the wraith from her height of five-foot-five before giving a brief nod, tilting her chin downwards for a moment before she returned her gaze to Grey. “She’s my wraith.” It was the easiest was for her to explain as she caught the look of confusion, “I summoned her not too long ago.” To which Adelaide chirped out, “Hello Miss Grey!” cheerfully and Every considered dispelling her for the time being. When Grey asked about the faction, she nodded her head softly. “Zoey’s better known as Nemesis. She’s Micah’s daughter and childe, my sibling. Reanna is my adopted childe and she is married to my childe, Kirill. They’re both members of Tytonidae... Jesse took out the one that had gotten them, as I did to Alexandrea, who had gotten him.”

The shadow nodded, stepping forward to gently set her hand on Grey’s shoulder after a moment of hesitation. She wasn’t big on physical contact unless she was comfortable with another, but as she did, Every began to blood Grey as high as she could just in case the other hadn’t been feeding. She gave a brief squeeze, “I’ll do that.” She gave a small smile to the taller woman. “And I’ll relay whatever he tells me to you.” When she was done, Every stepped back and let her hand drop to rest against her own thigh.

<Grey> While she lifted her eyes to hold her gaze upon Every's face, Grey could feel the overwhelming need to go. She wanted to leave the sidewalk and Every's presence. Talking about Jesse was hard enough let alone talking about normal, every day things. The bruise across her left cheek has darkened instead of lightening in the other woman's presence. She hasn't fed. She hadn't drank. She hadn't visited the shop to pay any recent outrageous prices for blood packs stolen from the local area hospitals or the Red Cross. So even while Every's voice sounded clipped, Grey was almost immune to the irritation. She had, after all, grown up with an abusive mother and the tone that Every took with her just a moment ago didn't even cause her to open her mouth for a rebuttal or an appropriate answer.

The voice that came out of nowhere however seemed to catch Grey off guard. So much so, it caused her to take a step backwards and let her back meet the closed shop. As the building front dug the rough stone into her back, now Grey wondered if it would be too rude to just escape one direction or the other. Her head was pounding, her eyes were so tired. All she wanted to do when leaving Doc's was to curl up once again within the apartment and get to sleep. She would be paid another day for her work. Not letting the man that took a chance on her and gave her a job down was quite important to Grey. Even if she felt like ****, it was important to make sure the overload of cars were caught up and that there were no sticky fingers after dark.

She was just about to open her mouth to thank Every for at least sending the woman to the Shadow Realm. When she squeezed her shoulder, she didn't barely flinch. She had made no move to leave the touch. No, there between the buildings brick and Every, she stayed still as still could be while she did something that she had only ever felt Jesse do to her before. Her throat wasn't so dry now. Her head didn't pound so hard. She nodded her head, and managed a bit of a smile to the woman. Her bruise along the left cheek on her face gently faded colors slightly until the blood that Every had infused through touch alone had been used up like a starved dog to a bone.

"Thank you. For everything. I know it's hard. I hope you and yours heal soon and well. May your own strength return with no limits, Every. And all he needs to know is just that. I love him." The small smile upon her not as pale, bloodless lips appeared with the thought of him safe.

<Every> Looking back to Adelaide, she frowned, “Perhaps quieter, loud mouth. Not everyone is used to invisible things talking to them.” Her wraith responded, “I am not a thing!” in an annoyed tone. It was days like this that she missed Cypriana, at least that wraith didn’t give her lip back. Stepping back as Grey did, she dispelled the wraith for the time being, looking as if she touched thin air randomly. Adelaide squeaked before vanishing and she gave a shake of her head. “Sorry about her. We’re still working on volume and where I’m quiet, she is the opposite. How people dealt with her other voice, I have yet to figure out. Mystics are confusing sometimes.” She stared at the empty space before sighing.

Her anima had been full, so that had been… four. Four pints boosted. Every did the math in her head as she felt spiritually drained, but it was worth it. “They’ll all be back in a few days, if I remember right he’ll be able to come out easily over there.” She then pointed in the direction of the Morgue, “For some reason, we all return from Vel’s morgue - don’t ask me why, after two years I’m still clueless.” Every moved her hand to rub at the back of her neck, cautious as she listened to their surroundings. In the distance, there was the faintest sound of gunfire before she looked to the other once more, “Also… feed. You may not be hungry,” She tapped at her own face where the bruise on Grey was located, “but your body proved otherwise when I boosted what I can today. Don’t punish yourself for him going out in a fight, if anything, just wait until he returns and throttle him. Not eating makes you weaker and it makes it a little bit more aware of what we are.”

Seeing Grey give even the smallest of smiles caused her to relax just a bit, “I’ll come see you after I visit with him, either here,” She motioned at the shop, “or at your place. Please feed, even if just so I stop nagging you.” She’d also have Adelaide sit there and keep Grey company - of course she’d tell the wraith to keep her mouth shut - while she was gone. “I’m sure you have things to do… so I won’t take up any more of your time. And thank you.” Every gave a small smile in return, making a mental note to definitely shut down her discomfort again at a later note as it made things easier, “Take it easy.” She waved, turning to head back to Wickbridge station.

<Grey> The brief argument between Every and her wraith had Grey blinking. She stared at the woman who illicited the squeak from the dispelled wraith. Grey tried to understand what it would be like to have another ghost follow her around, take orders from her, and act in a manner to assist her. Her mind was left blank. What Grey needed, she often managed herself. "No apology needed. She is lovely, I'm sure."

That being said, Grey wanted to hug her arms around herself. She wanted to step sideways, excuse herself, and run away. Grey would have months ago. Then again, no one would have known her name. No one would have the knowledge that she was someone else's. She was Jesse's and already Velveteen had done her part by dropping Jesse's unexpected trip to the Shadow Realm in her lap and going to heal herself up. Grey had been without Jesse before. She had survived days and weeks without him. But, this time was different. It was so different. Without him, Grey felt lost. On autopilot, Grey didn't even think to avoid the clasp of her shoulder from Every.

As Every lectured her quietly about feeding, Grey's eyes wandered off. She looked in the direction that Every had pointed. The morgue was a place that Grey had passed by on her journey around the city. She still knew she hadn't seen every place here, but the sewers were quickly becoming memorized when she had traveled below the standard shops. "I will try. I know you are busy. You don't have to check back with me. You have your own family to look in on." Grey's words were distant. Quiet. They seemed cold and frail, as if she had all the pain and anger tucked away. Jesse didn't know he was going to die that night. He didn't know that he wouldn't be coming home for a handful of nights. There was a deep breath finally taken, Grey seemed to come back to herself instead of continuing to let her mind wander. "Thank you, Every."

But, when Grey had looked back, Every had already moved back and away. She had given a wave and the lithe woman was off to take care of her own business. Oddly enough, she felt a little more bereft. She felt just a little more lonely when the kind woman had come upon her, even wounded, and introduced herself again. Somehow, though, Grey knew that this happening in the past couple of days had been a fluke. It had been a mistake. Jesse's death had been a simple ... Blip.

Grey turned and continued on her way. She blended back in with the crowd, a dust of pink lightly touched her cheeks as the black and blue on the left was fading away. She didn't need to feed now. No, not when Every had taken to completing that task. Bundling herself tighter, her grip still upon the satchel, Grey headed down Larch Court's development. The woman didn't even notice the wetness that trailed down her cheeks. She was thankful that both times she had managed to control herself in front of Jesse's cohorts and family.