run with wolves | open post.

[thelittleone]

Characters

Asil, The Moor
A very, very old wolf and a member of the Marrok's pack.

Jang Eun
Previously of Carmel Valley, sent to Aspen Creek by her former Alpha.

Jesse Hauptman
Daughter of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack

Joshua Brennan
Burden-bound. A Sin-Eater paired with the ghost of a long-dead soldier.

PREMISE

All the stories are true. Years ago, the Fae came out because technology was making it harder and harder for them to hide, and it's been a couple of years since the werewolves did the same. The world is changing day by day. Humans and the paranormal live side by side, but it's not easy nor is it simple. While the Marrok has taken great lengths and care to preserve the werewolves' PR front, everyone - wolf, fae, vampire and other - know that it's only a matter of time before the humans start thinking that perhaps the other stories meant to warn of the dark are true.

This is an open post set in the universe of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. The books are amazing and you should definitely check them out. More information via this Wiki link. The rules are simple: Drop a prompt, leave a tag, and let's play!

THREAD TRACKING

© tessisamess

Comments

[nosco]

[ He rests his own cheek against his palm, unable to help the half-helpless, half-amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. ]

It is alright, mi amor. But yes, truthfully - I have been feeling a little out of my depth once we moved into more serious territory.

[ An apologetic look now. ] Perhaps we can begin again? I believe the words for this kind of situation is “let’s start over”? At least where understanding where we are is concerned?

[lastcall]

[Excuse her, she is too busy feeling like an over-emotional idiot to lift her face from her hand. She’s no coward, but she definitely needs a minute because everything feels good and properly screwed up and now she just doesn’t know how to feel at all. The saving grace of this moment is that rather than be upset that she didn’t pick up on what he was saying and misunderstand him, he seems somewhat amused by this comedy of errors.

She does not recover so quickly from the emotions she felt, she is not disarmed by the revelation, but the humor from him and the extension of a new start helps a great deal. Eun turns her head on her hand, still half-hiding her face and not caring how squished it looks as she still rests against her palm. Her expression is a mixture of miserable embarrassment and hope.]

Pretend this morning’s conversation from...perhaps where I asked about mating bonds never happened?

[The earlier portion was fine. Discussing pack dynamics, the logistics of a move up to Montana, all of that was just fine. In retrospect she probably should have stopped while she was ahead.]

[nosco]

Or perhaps, if you are amenable to it, we can set aside that part of the morning's conversation until we are both ready to revisit it.

[ A pause. ]

How does that sound?

[lastcall]

[Eun wonders how long it would take them to ignore the elephant in the room, but she's not against trying. She squeezes her eyes shut a moment before pushing herself up to sit upright again.]

Only on the condition that you tell me when you're ready. Because I think if we leave this in my hands at all I will make a muck of it.

[Again.

She doesn't trust herself to be the one to initiate the conversation so soon after the first one. If he is the one with all of the experience, better to let him take point.]

[nosco]

[ There is something about the way she moves and the phrasing of her words that prompts concern on his end.

Tentatively, he asks: ] What is wrong, Eun? It feels as though there is something else on your mind.

[lastcall]

[There is. There are several things on her mind. Currently, it's a whirl of thoughts that linger on the upheaval of her emotions, the miscommunication, her apparent inability to catch read between the lines when it comes to him, her worries about her inadequacies and so much more. But at least at this point she recognizes that she's off-balance and that now isn't the time to go into it all. So she turns to face him again at last and offers him a tight smile.]

I'm still feeling stupid, which is making me feel a little sorry for myself. It'll pass.

[It is a short answer, and an honest one even if it doesn't cover everything that is on her mind. It works well enough to encompass the basics.]

Did you have any thoughts about the rest of the day?

[nosco]

[ He rises from his chair just enough to press a tender kiss to her forehead. ]

If you need to need to air some thoughts, then just know you can do so with me. And I will not consider your concerns trivial in the least.

As for the rest of today, my schedule is open.

[lastcall]

[Her eyes close gently at the kiss to her forehead, and Eun takes to leaning against him once more, as she had when she first returned from her walk.]

I know that I can, but airing my thoughts is the opposite of setting aside this morning's earlier conversation.

[Her fork switches to her left hand, and she reaches for his hand next to her with the right.]

Since your schedule is open, however, I'm going to be greedy and claim all of it like I'd intended when I woke up this morning. [Each word takes her further away from the insecurity and embarrassment of earlier, and back into familiar, comfortable territory of her more familiar self. It shows in her tone, in the gradual easing of tension in her body.] I was thinking we might go back to the part where we spend time together and try our very best to not overthink any of it for now.

[nosco]

I am amenable to this.

[ He leans back in his seat and takes a brief sip from his glass. ]

What did you have in mind?

[lastcall]

[Eun considers his question as she eats more, casting a glance over to him. She has ideas, many of them involving the bedroom, but at the same time it's not what she's leaning toward first. Last night was enough to satisfy her for the moment, and even she knows better than to try and use sex as a band-aid.]

Mm, a movie, maybe? A game? [Her thumb slowly brushes over the back of his hand.] I'm open to suggestions, of course.

[nosco]

[ He smiles at the gesture, and turns his hand over to thread their fingers together. ]

No games come to mind just yet, but perhaps we could browse through the subscription I maintain for movies.

[ A quick kiss over Eun's knuckles at that. ] Would you join me inside?

[lastcall]

[Her hand slips out of his to cup his cheek then. The expression on her face fond and faintly amused.]

Is that your way of saying you have Netflix?

[She does rise, however, picking up her plate to clear to the kitchen when they leave.]

[nosco]

That and a few others that Kara takes advantage of watching on her laptop.

[ Picking up his own plate and then offering her his arm for her to tuck her own into. ]

Perhaps you have recommendations on what we can enjoy for the rest of the afternoon.

[lastcall]

[Eun slips her hand into the crook of his arm, carrying her own plate back into the kitchen with Asil. She casts him a side-long look as she attempts to keep a wider smile off her face. Because she simply can't help herself:]

So, then would you say we're just going to...watch Netflix and chill, then?

[She lifts an eyebrow, tone mild as can be. The reference is old and yet she has to wonder if it's made it to Aspen Creek and absolutely cannot resist making the joke. Especially since she won't mind explaining it.]

[nosco]

If that is what you wish. [ He says it lightly, taking the initiative to wash the dishes in the sink with the practiced, routinary motions of someone who keeps his space tidy. ]

Would you like snacks for when we start watching?

[ He has popcorn. Kara was very fond of popcorn, and he maintained that it was healthier than potato chips. ]

[lastcall]

[His lack of reaction suggests that he hasn't heard the reference, and Eun puts it on a mental list of things she'd enjoy explaining to him later. Not to mention that now that she's used the phrase, she runs the risk of him repeating it if someone asks how they spend their time together. She doesn't object to the pack knowing they're intimate in that way, they'll smell it without them ever saying anything, but she thinks Asil wouldn't appreciate stating it outright in that way unknowingly.

Her arms slip around his waist as she considers his question, chin resting lightly against the back of one of his shoulders.]

Sure, whatever you have is fine. What do you feel like watching?

[nosco]

[ A smile creeps into his voice when he feels her arms wrap around him. Whatever rocky start the morning careened towards has been averted, and he is happy to focus on the moment. ]

I confess I have not had an opportunity to explore the library. The most I have been subjected to are shows of Kara's preference, which thus far consists of teenaged drama of the supernatural to the superhero variety.

[ It did not help that since Anna had once come over to introduce them to her shows of preference, all he had been getting based on the algorithm reflected police procedurals. ]

[lastcall]

[Eun grins. She adores Kara and even enjoys shows of the same genres. Next time Kara comes over to watch Teen Wolf, she will be there to join them for sure. Poor Asil, sandwiched on the couch by two of his favorite ladies pushing him to watch unrealistic werewolf teen dramas.]

We have all day so we can take our time to explore our options, add them to your watch list. [Bit by bit, the bad feelings of earlier are continuing to dissipate, and Eun is happy to say good riddance to them. With her arms around Asil, the sense of normalcy is coming back to her.] How about we throw out options for genres instead? I think if we do a movie, something like an adventure or an action flick could be good. How are you with things set in previous decades and centuries? I'm sure that they get things wrong but does that bother you or can you enjoy what you're watching despite that?

[nosco]

I can hold my tongue. [ Teasingly, as he sets the last of their dishes away. ]

Unless you would otherwise enjoy commentary. But for the most part, I am not overly picky with movies. Sometimes films can be commebtary, sometimes they are just entertainment.

Perhaps, you should choose. I would like to know more of what you enjoy.

[lastcall]

[As he finishes up, Eun lets her arms slip back to mere hands on his waist, to allow him better range of movement if he needs to slip away to prepare snacks.]

I'll pick the first one then, and as for commentary I'll let you know in advance if I want you to pick out inaccuracies or add context I might miss? [She pauses a beat, and then grins.] There's actually one I have in mind but it is far from historically accurate and it's by no means a quality film but it's campy and fun.

[So what if it's the reason why Hollywood didn't make pirate movies for almost a decade after because it flopped so hard at the box office?]

[nosco]

Then by all means. [ Turning around and dropping a kiss on her mouth. ] Let us set up on the couch and you and I can enjoy historically inaccurate Hollywood shenanigans.

How are you with crispy fried mushrooms for movie snacks?

[lastcall]

[His easy acceptance pleases her, and Eun returns the kiss with hints of a little more eagerness than normal, automatic acceptance.]

It would be a first but if you're going to indulge my terrible pirate movie then I'm willing to try something new. Do you need any help getting things set up here? Or should I dig around the living room for blankets and such?

[nosco]

[ It feels as though they are finally, gradually, returning to more even ground. This pleases him immensely. ]

Go on and set the living room up. I will be with you shortly.

[ His kitchen experiments with food means that he has been able to set aside snacks. He'll busy himself with putting a tray together for them of assorted mushrooms, some popcorn and potato crisps and then follow her to the couch. ]

[lastcall]

[Eun's hand slides off of his waist by way of briefly sliding over his ass with easy familiarity. There's a faint gleam in her eye as she heads off to the living room to get things set up.

It doesn't take her long to find a large blanket for them both, nor for her to rearrange the pillows to make a comfortable little nest for them on the couch. She casts the couch a brief look in remembrance of that first breakfast together, and smiles. Since they are leaving this morning behind it's becoming easier to linger more on all of the good things they have had together. Her thoughts wander back to the night before as well, and she sighs. They do have a long way to go, but despite the complications along the way she is still certain of the fact that she wants him. Wants to be with him.

By the time Asil is ready to join her in the living room, he'll find her settled at the center of the couch, using his remote controls to pull up Netflix and find the movie for them.]

If you enjoy this one, there's a western that I also watch sometimes that's another mid-90's guilty pleasure of mine.

[nosco]

[ He settles the tray of food on the low coffee table in front of them and promptly squints at the title of the movie. ]

Cutthroat Island. [ Easing himself onto the couch beside her at that, eyes fixed on the summary blurb. ] "A female pirate and her companion race against their rivals to find a hidden island that contains a fabulous treasure."

I am now officually intrigued.