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]

Rare. [ He sounds a touch apologetic. Only just.

He glances over to Anna and Charles inquiringly, and the latter shakes his head.

"You have a beautiful home, Mr. Jang," Anna smiles, taking a sip from her glass of water. "This outdoor set up makes me wish a little that we had warmer weather in Montana." ]

[lastcall]

[Eun grins, patting his hand. While Anna speaks, she leans over to kiss his cheek and murmur:]

I liked my steak rare before. It's okay.

[Eun's father, meanwhile, turns to Anna with an easy smile, perfectly comfortable with his werewolf guests somehow. Even with Charles being as tall and intimidating as he is.

"We don't have as many warm days as the rest of the state, as close to the coast as we are," he says. "But doesn't Montana have some warm weather during the Summer?"]

Montana rarely gets above the 70's in Summer, apparently.

[Her father laughs, turning back to Anna. "How cold and snowy in Winter?"]

[nosco]

[ "Sometimes as low as fifteen degrees in the evenings. But daylight hours range between forty to fifty." Anna briefly smiles at Charles. "We've been looking into expanding the back of our property to include a glass enclosure but I haven't decided on the look I want for it yet."

The knowing look the Omega sends his way makes Asil laugh.

To Eun's father, he goes: ] I recently did renovations over the last year to broaden the hothouse I maintain. Anna and another of our younger wolves drop by to help me tend to my roses on occasion.

Gardening is... a passion of mine. And I have been experimenting with technology to allow for plants and blooms that require warmer climates than what Montana allows.

[lastcall]

[Eun knows she should get back upstairs to help her mother with the rest of the food, but until she's called back you couldn't pry her away from the group easily. Her hand slips into Asil's, fingers curling over the edge of his.

She can see her father perk up with interest at the mention of yard renovations and hot houses, and even notices when he reacts ever so slightly to the mention of wolves. Eun knows he'll have taken note that they call themselves wolves with ease instead of people. Better still, Asil's mention of technology certainly piques her father's interest.

"This one," he starts, gesturing to Eun with a lift of his chin, "has always been partial to milder weather. Bundles up when it drops below sixty. She'll live in that hothouse through the Winter if you're not careful."]

Dad.

[Her father feigns an expression of surprised innocence. "Eun," he replies in an imitation of her protesting tone, then grins to Asil and Anna. "Tell me about this technology you've developed? And the expansions you're considering?"]

[nosco]

[ He holds his tongue at the mention of Eun spending time in his hothouse, chuckling because it might as well be true. He falls into easy conversation with her father and Anna, noting how content Charles is to nod and pipe up when Anna describes the kind of modest indoor patio she'd like to build. ]

Good ventilation is key. And I am afraid I do not automate as much as others I have spoken to. I am old fashipned in that respect, and in some ways I prefer to give my blooms the attention they require.

[lastcall]

[Eun is content to let her father handle the conversation, to stand at Asil's side holding his hand as he and Anna talk of hothouses and ventilation.

Her father mentions something about how good ventilation must involve good air circulation without losing the heat, and that it's admirable that Asil has the opportunity to give his flowers more attention than most hobbyists--when Eun's mother knocks against the kitchen window overlooking the backyard. Eun's attention moves up there at once, and she looks back to the group with a little smile.]

Duty calls. We'll be down in just a little bit.

[Unthinking, she leans in to kiss Asil's cheek once more before releasing his hand, heading up the stairs quickly to help her mother finish preparing the food for the grill. There's no question of whether or not Asil will join her, he's talking with her father and truthfully Eun thinks that she and her mother will probably finish faster if Eun isn't distracted by him.

He is, after all, such an excellent distraction in the kitchen.]

[nosco]

[ He watches her go with a smile and settles into conversation with her father, with Anna and even Charles. They go into the specifics of what Anna hopes to build, to the kinds of plants she hopes to populate her garden with. Having caught the knowledge and confidence in their host's voice and body language, Asil takes the opportunity to ask after what Eun's father can recommend on current agricultural technology. Laughter comes easy. So when talks ventures into inquiring about werewolves, responding comes easy and casual.

He (and Charles) let Anna guide the conversation, happy to have her speal for them. When Charles indicates in subtle looks and shifts in posture that Asil is welcome to chime in, he fills in the gaps that Anna needs him to. ]

I am, admittedly, not originally from America. I came here a few years ago from Spain.

[lastcall]

["I like him," her mother says the moment she steps foot indoors again. "He's not so tall, but he carries himself so well I didn't realize at first."

"He does have a presence," Eun agrees, quickly returning to work the way she and her mother had many times over the years when Eun still lived at home.

"His gift was very thoughtful," her mother continues, glancing over at the window box and the herbs inside. "You seemed surprised."

"He didn't tell me he was bringing it. It was all his own idea," Eun explains, then pauses to look over at her mother. "He's...he puts his heart and soul into the things he grows in his green house. It's my understanding that he does not give away flowers or anything of it to almost anyone."

Her mother considers what Eun says, a look of understanding in her eyes. The gift was thoughtful and meaningful. A gift from a man who cared for her daughter.

"But he gives these things to you?" her mother asks, and Eun wonders if it's just her hearing her ask if Asil gives Eun pieces of his heart, not just the flowers.

"Yes. Bouquets. Single roses. We eat meals with vegetables he's grown. He even came here with me," Eun replies with a little quirk to her smile. Thinking about it now, it does feel as if she gets so much more from Asil than she gives. Perhaps this trip she can change that.

"He's not what we expected, the first man you bring home to meet us," her mother continues, still working quickly, efficiently as the vegetables are prepared for the grill. "Better."

Eun lifts an eyebrow at her mother.

"You think we didn't know about the kinds of men you would date in the city?" the older woman counters. "Your father said he didn't think you were serious about any of them so we didn't say anything. But this one is good. He looks at you with respect, not just affection. He listens when you speak."

"He's patient, too," Eun says softly, glancing out the window as her father grows animated in the conversation with Anna and the other men. "And amazing in bed."

Her mother lets out a sharp laugh of disbelief that Eun said that, and playfully tosses the stems of a few carrots at her daughter, which Eun lets hit her with a laugh of her own.

"Don't let your father hear anything about that. He wants to feign ignorance," she says.

"Tell him the other truth then, that he makes me happy."]


[Down in the backyard, Eun's father is absolutely ignorant of the conversation upstairs, far more intrigued by Anna Smith's plans for her own greenhouse, and Asil's assessment of some ideas of how to best manage it. When he feels comfortable, he asks some of the questions his daughter couldn't answer of the werewolves. He knows he ought to have waited for his wife, but the conversation led somewhat naturally to it. Okay, it didn't, he'd taken a few creative leaps to get it there, but none of them seemed to mind. If anything they expected it of him, and so Eun's father spoke with them all frankly.

"How do you like it up there in Montana?" her father asks, glad to have an opportunity to speak more directly to the man who his daughter is seeing. "Were you living in the countryside as well in Spain before you moved?"]


[Eun hears her father ask the question as she and her mother begin heading down the stairs with large platters, covered in foil wrapped skewers that are ready for the grill. Not about to interrupt, she sets them down and begins placing a few over the fire. She tries to pick up a pair of tongs to flip the steaks, and laughs as her father darts in and steals them back from her. Eun sticks out her tongue and wipes her hands off on the towel resting by the grill. A few short steps take her back to Asil's side, slinging her arm behind his waist. She murmurs quietly, aware that Anna and Charles will hear also:]

It's our thing.

[She offers nothing like that, wanting to let Asil answer her father despite her distraction.]

[nosco]

[ He notes the way Eun sets a few steaks over the fire. The exchange between father and daughter concerning the tongs. It's a heart-warming sight: the smile on her face, the laughter.

When she comes to his side, he smiles and directs his attention to answering Mr. Jang's question. ]

I traveled a lot. The cities are beautiful. But with tourism on the rise, I find I prefer crowds in small doses. There is a lot of peace and quiet in the countryside.

[ That, and the need to patrol the border of Spain and France in order to keep Jean Chastel from expanding his territory onto his home. ]

[lastcall]

[Eun finds she's growing more and more comfortable showing affection to Asil in front of her parents. None of it is above a PG-rating, but it's more than she's ever done before, as it's a new situation for all three of them. Her parents are remarkable low-key about it, which she appreciates as she gets used to it herself.

It's still a little bizarre to be standing there between her lover and her parents and seeing them interact. Eun's so much more used to compartmentalizing her social groups...

"There isn't much countryside or wilderness around here, you have to get off the peninsula for that, but there are plenty of state parks and beaches if you need a break from the city." He gestures to Eun with a lift of his chin. "But she probably wouldn't take you to the tourist spots anyway unless you asked."

Eun shrugs her shoulders.]

The bridge is always worth seeing, and I like the Palace of Fine Arts and the Legion of Honor, but the last two are barely considered touristy hot spots anyway.

[She glances over to Asil curiously.]

I don't think we talked about the big tourist spots of San Francisco and whether they would interest you or not. [Her gaze slips to Anna and Charles then.] Or you two, either.

[nosco]

[ "You don't have to worry about Charles and me," Anna laughs, leaning into her husband. "You and Asil should plan something though. We have enough time to go around."

Asil chuckles at that, content with the feel of Eun at his side and comfortable under the otherwise subtle gaze of her parents. ] I have not ventured outside of Montana. And new experiences are rather rare for me these days, so I do not see any reason to object to Eun handling the itinerary.

[lastcall]

I'll pick good places. I had a few in mind last night anyway.

[Her father gives a nod of agreement before using the tongs he stole back from Eun to flip the steaks. They sizzle on the grill as Eun's mother uses oven mitts to take some of the vegetables off the grill and put other foil-wrapped portions on instead. It doesn't take them long to finish cooking dinner, and with four werewolves at the table it similarly does not take long for them to finish consuming dinner either.

It's by far one of the best meals she's had at home, and Eun feels confident that it has nothing to do with missing home cooking. It's just that delicious.

The food isn't the only highlight of the evening, at least. With everyone settled down to eat, Eun's parents feel freer to ask their guests more questions about werewolves, Eun's old back, her new pack, life in Montana, and any number of things that curious parents would want to know.

Eun is relieved that they get through the night without them asking embarrassing questions of Asil, or trotting out embarrassing childhood memories to share with her pack. As the evening winds down, Anna and Charles make their farewells and head back to the hotel with the intention of sight-seeing the next day. Eun's parents offer Asil space in the downstairs guest room if he'd like to stay overnight instead of at the hotel, but leave him to think about what he'd prefer and inform Eun when he's come to a decision. Sitting on the couch by his side, she lifts a hand to stroke through his hair, idly touching him in the quiet of the house. Her parents are preparing for bed, leaving Eun and Asil to discuss sleeping arrangements.]

Do you want to stay here or go back to the hotel?

late reply 4ever but huhu hello

[nosco]

I am happy to do either. [ He leans into her touch, relaxed and content to defer to her preferences. ]

It would make your parents happy to see you here in the morning.

[ He does not mind staying over if that is what Eun wishes. ]