EINFÜHRUNG [BIRDEE]

[Alaric von der Marck]

WEARING

Alaric von der Marck could not drive – and nor did he want to learn. Frankly, the bulking vehicles the others drove around scared him. When in the city, he tried to stay away from the busier streets due to that one time he’d nearly got run over. He had more sense, now, to look left and right and left again before crossing the street, but he still avoided the possibility as much as he could.

Relying on the others to take him to where he needed to be, however, if he ever needed to be anywhere in a hurry, was taxing. If there was one thing that Alaric had learned recently, it was that he did not like to be condescended to. Though he did not accuse his family of ever doing such a thing, it remained in the back of his mind that though he still needed help every now and again, he did not like being seen as helpless, or useless, or as some bumbling toddler who could not make his own way in the world.

No, he would not learn to drive a car, not yet, and hiring a driver only solved half the issue. He liked being a passenger in those contraptions about the same as he liked being condescended to. Not at all. However, cars were not the only means of transportation and though he’d have liked to get himself a horse (though he was already in contact with someone who’d be able to find him a fine specimen, so that he could ride around the estate and on the quieter back roads leading out of the wilderness) he thought that riding a horse through the city might bring him too much attention. A bike, however – a bike was a different story. A regular bike with pedals, not those machines that growled and roared, offending one’s senses.

To kill two birds with one stone, Alaric waited for the right evening; he waited until Birdee was staying on the Estate. He knew absolutely nothing about her except that she was Louvel’s half sister. But she was young, and she seemed capable enough. Alaric wanted, finally, to properly meet her and get to know her but to call her into the library as some official meeting was too… intimidating. This would do just fine.

His steps carried him to Louvel’s cottage, and he knocked on the door. He knew that Birdee was inside. The night had just begun.

[Birdee]

She had no plans since Cricket had gone back home last night and Birdee didn't work. Typically, Birdee spent the weekends at Louvel's farmhouse on the 'family' property and stayed at her own apartment in the city during the weekdays. It was easier, and meant nothing against Louvel. Her, Leonie and him were golden.

So, she planned on doing a lot of nothing, other than drinking the beer that was on the coaster on the coffee table in front of her, as Birdee flipped through a magazine and nitpicked internally at all the money ugly clothing cost. She would probably get bored of this after ten more minutes and then flick on some television to pass the time. Lou was busy working or something to do with the farm, which wasn't really her thing. Animals were cool and everything, but Birdee wasn't adapting well to the life outside the city. Lou was happy and content with it, and to each their own, but Birdee found it to be pretty boring. Nothing really inspired her in the place, no matter what Lou tried, with the exception of being near Lou and getting to know her brother.

She had just set the glossy magazine down when there was a knock on the door. No one really came out these ways except Lou, her and Leonie. Maybe Leonie forgot her key...was it locked? Birdee couldn't remember, which meant she was going to have to get up off the cushion she parked it at about forty minutes ago. “Coming.” She said, loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough to be obnoxious. “Think it's open...” Birdee said, swooping down to grab her beer with her left hand, before heading to the door. Her right hand opened it, hoping it was Leonie and not someone else. Everyone else was probably alright, but she wasn't the best hostess, unless it involved getting drunk or high. But then, everyone was drunk or high at that point and nothing that was said really mattered anyways.

Her right hand grabbed the knob of the door and gave it a turn. She flung it open, still expecting it to be Leonie, and started speaking. “Told ya it was-Wooooooooah. Hi.” She stopped herself mid thought when Birdee saw who was at the door. At first, she barely recognized the guy. She had seen him once, briefly, face to face. Christmas. When he was dressed up-when everyone was. “Leonie's not here, and Lou's out doing...something.” She obviously had no idea. Louvel had told her on his way out, but Birdee had been buried in the magazine. “I can tell them you stopped by.” She offered, leaning against the door frame, freeing up the hand with the doorknob, so she could pull at the over-sized coat she may, or may not have gotten off one of her friends a few weeks ago when she crashed at his place.


Wearing

[Alaric von der Marck]

The elder was expecting no one else to answer the door but Birdee. He knew that neither Leonie nor Louvel were there. The door was open, he heard Birdee call from the inside, but he had a feeling that she was expecting someone completely different. Someone she knew. Someone she was familiar with. When finally the door opened, her surprise was expected, too.

As casual as Alaric looked, he still stood with the air of a man who was used to standing formally. His hands were clasped behind his back, his own wide gaze looking somewhat stunned even though he had no reason for being stunned. His eyes were glued to Birdee’s face, no comment made on her attire, the low dip of her blouse below her jacket or the uncovered legs. Leonie had, several times and more, schooled him on modern etiquette and the freedom that women now enjoyed. He couldn’t tell women to cover up. It was old-fashioned and could be considered misogynistic.

”I am not looking for Louvel or Leonie,” he said, nodding his head in a half-body bow. ”It is time that you and I met, officially,” he said. ”I am Alaric. I hear that you are family,” he said. Had he been told, face to face? Or was it one of those things he’d picked up in one of their minds, before he’d stopped poking around in them for his own gains? It didn’t matter. He knew, and it was time for an introduction.

Although he had come to see if Birdee wanted to go out for a while, to help Alaric find somewhere from which he could buy a good bicycle, he waited first for the woman’s reaction, wanting to read it like a book. His eyes – sometimes green, sometimes blue – were steadfast. A man of confidence, even if he was still so unsure about so many things.

[Birdee]

He wasn't looking for the two people Birdee thought he should be looking for. "Shoooot. Really?" She asked, before clapping her left hand over her mouth. "That's not what I meant. Sorry. I mean...okay." Christmas had been ages ago and it had been...interesting. A lot going on and she had ducked out early from it all. And while she only lived here on the weekends, a lot of weekends had gone by and neither had made the initiative to meet the other. Birdee wasn't offended or bothered by it-she knew that of all the Von Der Marcks, she stuck out like a sore thumb. Louvel didn't mind, probably because of the single fact that she was his sister, and neither did Leonie, because, well...she was with Louvel and so it was kind of like Birdee was coming along for the ride.

Birdee looked around him as he bowed, as if looking for something...only she didn't know what she should be looking for. Maybe a hidden camera or something. Or a way to escape. She had been a busy Birdee and no one knew that for good reasons. "Please don't do that. That bow thing. Want to come in, or?" Birdee laughed, not sure if she should be bowing or something in return, but she had told him to not bow and hopefully, should they ever meet up again, he wouldn't. Frick. Has she put her bag of weed away? Things Birdee didn't have to worry about until now. "And...yeah. I guess. I mean, I am." Birdee said as she stepped aside in the doorway to let him in if he was coming in, eyes glancing around for that bag of pot from last night. It wasn't seen, so she must have. So far, so good.

[Alaric von der Marck]

The woman seemed so surprised that Alaric had come looking for her. Why? From what he’d seen of her, and he had not seen much, she seemed like the sort to stick to the edges and not bring attention to herself. Maybe Birdee didn’t think herself important enough to be seen. But, if it was all true and she had von der Marck blood running through her veins, then to Alaric von der Marck, she was important enough to be known.

Where the girl stumbled over her words and laughed in what he thought was a nervous way, Alaric stood his ground. There wasn’t an awkward bone in the man’s body, though he had every reason to have grown them. He was a man out of time and knew that his slight bows were out of place, but they were habit. And some habits were harder to shift than others. Getting the man to dress in casual clothes had been a feat, though as soon as he’d realised how much more comfortable casual clothes were, he had conceded. The elder knew that he was a man out of time, however, and he would not apologise for his quirks. And thus, he had an air of complete, in-control confidence.

”Nein,” he said, glancing at the inside of the cabin as he shook his head.

”I would like to buy a bicycle. I was hoping that you might help me,” he said, body turned toward the path that would lead back to the estate, and to the road that would lead out of it. Did Birdee have a car, or some mode of transportation? They were a fair way out, but Alaric did not mind the walk. He never had. And if they had to walk tonight, then so be it.

[Birdee]

He declined coming inside, which had Birdee shrugging her shoulders. He was here to see her, but didn't want to come in. This would be interesting. Then he started to explain himself, and Birdee nodded her head. It made more sense now. Still, didn't people stop by, even for two minutes an come inside someone's house? Well, it wasn't her house, but Louvel's so maybe he felt strange about coming in the guy's home when he wasn't actually home. "Like, a real bicycle?"

Birdee asked, looking slightly bewildered. Did people even use those anymore? She hadn't even seen a kid on one in months-granted they had just gotten over winter. But back home, even in sunny California, she rarely saw a kid on a bike. She laughed. "What I mean is, the kind you petal, or the kind that has an engine?" She clarified to make sure she knew just what he was looking for, before holding up a finger. "Give me a minute?" I'll grab my car keys and purse. I know where I can get either one with no problems.

A few seconds later, Birdee came back with a small canvas camo bag that was slung over her shoulders, and keys to her turquoise colored car in the drive. It was a late nineties model, had some rust spots, but at least the car ran good and wasn't a plastic piece of garbage. She moved to the driver's side and unlocked her door, before unlocking his. "So, we going for the one you do all the work, or going to go for the one that brings out the dare devil in you?"

[Alaric von der Marck]

Alaric opened his mouth to answer the question posed to him, only to be silenced by a single finger. Frowning, bewildered, unused to such energy in one so young, he waited like a good elder on the doorstep of the cabin. Soon, Birdee returned and Alaric followed her to the car that he hoped was not hers, and that he hoped they would not be riding to the city. These were one of the things, however, he was trying to school himself to get used to.

”Nein, no engines…” he said as he opened the door that she had unlocked for him and folded himself down into the passenger seat. The way he looked at the car, it was as if it was a wild stallion whose nose he was petting, carefully, making sure that it was tame enough to approach. One question he had never thought to ask was whether people were required to have a permit for such mechanical beasts. Could he trust Birdee not to run them off the road?

”I have no devil in me,” he said, slowly, finally tearing his eyes from the dashboard to look at Birdee. He could say he wanted to watch what she was doing to make sure she was doing it right, but he had no idea how these contraptions worked, and so would not know what the signs of danger were, in a driver.

”It is a thing I tamed many years ago. I do not wish for it to return. I would like a bicycle. No engine. Danke. Is this machine safe?” he asked, nodding to the steering wheel that Birdee would soon be using. It sure wasn’t as sleek as the other cars he had ridden in.

[Birdee]

Birdee didn't speak a lick of German but nein seemed to be close to 'no' so she assumed Alaric meant no, and had it confirmed with a solid 'no' about the engines. She nodded her head, and followed up with a "Okay. Cool. I know where to go." She assured Alaric, pausing when she was standing across from where he stood.

She cracked a big smile and even laughed when he claimed to have no devil in him. Birdee couldn't help it. It was funny, as much as it was...not. He couldn't know, right? What did people even say back when he was alive-before vampire stuff happened to him? "No, no. I know. It's a saying. Sort of?" Birdee tried to clarify, before shrugging her shoulders. She could tell him later, if Alaric really wanted to know.

Then he went on to explain about his 'devil,' and Birdee just said...'huh.' If Alaric had any shred of 'devil' in him, then what did that say about Birdee? Nothing she would think too long about, but she did think about it. Even for a second. "Safe?" She took a step back from her metal car and gave it a good look over. "I know she doesn't look like much, and sometimes she breaks down, but when she runs, she's solid. I think she's a lot safer than the newer things on the road. Full metal body, compared to the plastic people have nowadays. Only a semi would crunch her to bits."

"Super safe." Birdee nodded her head, as her eyes moved to Alaric. "We could walk and take a train, if you want. Trains are safe. I've not heard of too many train crashes." She assured him, fine with walking to the nearest station too. What else did she have to do tonight? Not a log. "Which would you prefer? The turquoise tornado, or the train?"

[Alaric von der Marck]

Alaric barely understood half of what Birdee was saying. She, she kept saying, and Alaric wondered if another person had snuck into their conversation. Metal bodies, plastic, semis, someone was solid. Turquoise Tornado? Alaric shook his head, realising that this particular von der Marck was different to the rest. She was a whole other league.

”We can go,” he said, fingers curling around the handle of the car that he still didn’t entirely trust, even though he was half sure that Birdee had spent the last three or four sentences defending it. The door opened and he slid inside, taking position in the passenger seat. There were things in this life that a man had to do. He could be afraid, but that fear shouldn’t hinder him. To be strong, a man had to overcome his fears. Alaric von der Marck, who’d lived through wars and diseases, who’d watched numerous loved ones die of old age, of illness, by murder and accident – this man could ride in a car with a woman whom he struggled to understand. This, he could do. And he would live through it. In the end, he would survive. And he would know Birdee better. And he would have a bicycle, upon which he could travel, thus allowing him to rarely have to get into another car.

”I am sorry, I did not understand. We can go?” he said from the car. It would be an adventure, he told himself. An adventure that was required.

[Birdee]

Birdee didn't really need a second invitation to get going. Once Alaric seemed to be okay with going in the turquoise tornado, she was sitting in the car, and moved to pop open the passenger door open for him a little. Only, Alaric seemed to be able to know what he was doing and did it. Good on him.

She put the key in the ignition as he spoke, Birdee only nodding her head to his question. Before she went on to explain what she had just said, in finer details. "Well, some people are fond of their belongings. The things they own. She-the car, may be old, but we've been through a lot together. When I came here from California, we spent a lot of time bonding. Practically lived in her." Birdee said, as she dropped the car into reverse, looked back at the driveway and then started pulling them out of it.

"It's like...you had to have owned a horse at some time, right? Ever feel a kinship to it? It was dependable, sometimes your only friend on the journey to wherever you're riding off into the sunset at. When people get fond of things-some of us name our cars. My mom's car was Shea, and this, right here..." Birdee reached the end of the driveway, then put it into drive once she was a good distance from it, and turned to head to the main city area. "She's the color of Turquoise. And she's one of the most solid things on the road today. If we are ever in an accident, like I was saying-I'm not too worried about how we'd end up. The other guys in the plastic have a lot to worry about. She'd plow right through it like a tornado. Like her name. Turquoise tornado." Birdee laughed, then lifted her shoulders up to shrug.

"If you don't find anything you like at this chain...we might have to look online. There's this real sweet bike place not too far from my apartment. Maybe two miles down, but they close at eight and...well." Birdee trailed off, giving Alaric a quick sideways glance. "Nothing we can do about some things. How you holding up? The radio doesn't work-a cd is jammed in there from my road trip. I need to get a new one that's not so cheap." She explained, letting him know the only sounds in the car he would be hearing was his voice, or hers.