[Derek Anderson] The weather was pretty cold, cloudy. He didn’t mind it but he still wished it was the warmer days of earlier this month. The tall, muscular man was dressed in jeans, long sleeve shirt and warm jacket. He walked through the the park at an easy pace, in no hurry to get to..well no where particular. He might stop for a few drinks in a nearby pub, ormaybe head home for a quiet night.
There wasn’t many people around as he walked the path, the hour getting late and the weather made walking something only the brave would do, or those who really had a good reasons to be out. His hands were in his pockets, his eyes scanned the area, aware of his surroundings. You never know what could happen.
[Rory] Walking is something only the brave would do – or those who happen to have their own inner fire that keeps them burning well above what most consider natural. An inner core that rages, even under the darkening moon… And a desire to practice where she won’t annoy her packmates…
So it is, on top of a picnic table sheltered by a large tree from the ever present Chicago wind, sits one redheaded beast, cross-legged, in her human skin, covered only with jeans, a tattered t-shirt and a light jacket. In her lap, she holds her guitar, and she practices last night’s triumph dutifully, to make sure she never forgets the sound such a chord makes, and how it fits into melodies…
[Derek Anderson] He heard the guitar and headed toward the sound. He smiled warmly when he saw who was playing, moving closer, feeling her intense rage wash over him and it didn’t even made him slow down. She made him uncomfortable, this beautful woman, not because of how she acted, or her looks, but because of something deeper. No one could be near that much rage and not be affected.
Yet, he stops near her, waits for her to notice him, smiling at her when she does “Hello Rory, how are you doing?”He ask in a friendly tone with his deep, rumbling voice. “Do you mind if I sit?” He wait for her answer and move to sit beside her, close but not touching more than they have to. His attention was on her.
[Rory] She notices him right off, but finishes her song first, blushing under his attention, though it is mostly hidden in the darkened sky – just enough of the street lamp’s light to see by, not enough to note the color of her ever-warm skin. She peeks up at him afterwards through those curls, and offers him a shy little smile….
“Hi.”
He asks if he can sit, if she minds, and she hides away her little smile again, but gestures for him to sit if he wants…
[Derek Anderson] He watches her, pretty, shy Rory: always blushing, most of the time smiling soft smiles. He loved watching her. Simply because she was attractive and had this innocence about her hid the fact that she was extremely dangerous. And he loved that about her.
“That’s a realy nice song you were playing. Is that a new one, or one I didn’t get to listen to last time?” He ask, tilting his head. “And how have you been, you never call, you never visit” He say, teasing her, gently bumping into her with his shoulder.
“Seriously, what have you been up to lately?”
[Rory] He teases her, and the blush deepens, sliding along her jaw, her neck, across her shoulders… its not hard to imagine that it goes all the way down in the right circumstances… or for her, the wrong ones. Very, very wrong…
She lifts a shoulder into a shy shrug, and nods a little. “New.” The song, of course, not the news that she never calls, never visits, and the blush deepens even as she lets him bump her shoulder, playfully.
“Fixed a generator for the hack pouse.”
[Derek Anderson] He smiled to her “Well, it sounds really good. And congrats on fixing the generator. Maybe you should tell me where’s oyur pack house is, so I can visit with beers…because I will visit. I like spending time in your company” His tone is light, playful, but it was honest too. He liked being around her.
“So what was on the agenda tonight? JUst playing music and gonig back home?”He ask, slightly shifting position to look at her better, his knee staying against her thigh. Maybe many people were havign difficulties dealing with her rage or that she was a metis. He didn’t seem to have that problem. He looked relaxed with he, trusting she won’t harm him. Out of duty and he was pretty sure she liked him.
[Rory] She wrinkles her nose. “It’s ok.” Not good yet, but she’ll keep working, that much is obvious. He threatens to come over with beers, and she pauses, and swallows tightly, and peeks at him, as if to decide what exactly he means…
He confuses her. Of course, everyone confuses her at some point. She just isn’t sure what Kora would think if he comes to see her.. how much trouble she’ll be in for daring to have a friend that is not only male, but Silver Fang too.
So she answers the question. “Yes. Mlaying pusic, going home….” Though there’s the lilt of a little question, as if asking if he had other ideas…
[Derek Anderson] He nodded to her. Maybe he’ll pop in evenually, if he ever learn the location of Last Watch’s pack house. He knew it wasn’t a secret and he only had to ask and even if it was secret, he was a cop, he’d find out by himself. He puased for a moment then ask her
“What would you liek to do? If you want to hang out with me that is. I could go for food, maybe drinks, we could go back to my place for either and music. We could go dancing…what do you feel like. As lnog as we’re moving because I”m freezing my sexy butt here. I know yours is warm enough but I don’t have your rage to keep me warm”He say, grinning at her.
[Rory] She chews her lower lip, absently, and peeks at hi through her lashes, through those curls…. and then with a flush, she nods her head, slightly. She could be convinced to do something with him…
“Adara mook te dancing once…” and she blushes deeper, remembering.
But she lifts a shoulder into a shrug, and starts to put her guitar away, so that they can indeed get moving. “What do you leel fike?”
[Derek Anderson] He smiled when he heard about what the Fury had done. “I’m pretty sure she enjoyed that a lot.” He shook his head slightly. He knew about Kirsten’s roomate’s tastes. Rory certainly seemed ot fit the profile. He smiled warmly to her “I actually want to spend time with you and do something that would makes you happy.”
He look into her eyes, or at least as close to as he could since she always hid them “What is your preference? Tell me. Whatever you decide is ok, trust me”
[Rory] She zips away the guitar, before she looks back at Derek, and tips her head, slightly, curiously. The green of her eyes glint with curiosity, and interest, as well as extreme caution, as always – all tangled up in that lovely, approachable innocence that is natural, and no act – despite how they tried to beat it out of her…
“Do…” a beat, a slight pause as she wrinkles her brow, briefly… “…do you wike line? Ray used to take fe mor wine.. I like it.”
[Derek Anderson] He didn’t look away when she looked at him. He wasn’t looking at her intensely but he was watching her, enjoying her various expressions “I do liek wine. We could either find a restaurant who has some or you can come over to my place, I have a few bottles. I’m sure one of them will be to your liking”
He hopped off the table and extented his hand ot her, to help her down in a very glentlemanly way, then offered his arm ot her “If milady wants to come with me”He grinned playfully at her “So restaurant, pub or my place?” He ask, starting to lead her away.
[Rory] She smiles shyly, and takes his hand, slinging the guitar over her shoulder so that it hangs against her back, and blushes brightly as she ducks her head ant slides her hand into the crook of his arm. He’s playful, and she clearly enjoys it…
…even daring to say… “Plour yace..?”
[Derek Anderson] He nodded “To my place it is” He walked easilly with her, enjoying her warmth, even trhough clothing. He lead her to his car “What kind of wine do you like? Red? White? Fruity? Strong?” He was watching her as he asked the questions, curious about her tastes in wine.
They made it ot his car, he opened the door for her and then went ot his side and drove them toward his appartment. He kept his right hand on the stick even though the car was an automatic, fingers not far from her thigh, even touching it if she made it possible.
[Rory] She peeks at him now and again, and even laughs a little as they walk to the car. “All kinds. Ray gave me my tirst faste. I don’t have it much, lut bike all of it.” Ray gave her firsts of many types – some led by bottles of wine. It’s enough to keep her color high as they get into the car, and she stashes her guitar in the back seat.
He keeps his hand close, and she doesn’t really notice – not enough to pull away, her gaze watching the streets through the window instead.
[Derek Anderson] He nodded “Well then, it seem like you’ll definatly like the wine I have at my place” He drove and eventually park near abuilding she would recognize from the other time she had been here. He steps out and then walks to her side and once she’s out, he leads her to his apprtment.
Once the door was closed, he smiles to her “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll go get us a bottle a some glasses” He motion her to the living room and went to the kitchen, coming back with glasses and an open bottle “Anything you want to talk about as we drink?”
[Rory] She nods, slightly, believing that easily enough – she hasn’t met a wine, or any alcohol that she doesn’t like, yet. Sometimes it’s very easy to tell that she’s Fianna.
Other times, not so much.
She follows him to his place, and kicks off her shoes at the door, before carrying her guitar into the living room. She looks around again, before settling to the couch, and tucking her feet up under her, setting her guitar aside as she unzips and slips free of her jacket. She isn’t one to put on airs, rory, with her tattered jeans and equally tattered t-shirt. She’s just who she is… a raging redhead with a deeply ingrained shy streak…
To answer the question, she offers a little shy grin. “dat who you do?”
[Derek Anderson] He had taken off his jacet and pulled up the sleeves of his shirt to reveal his forearms. He filled their glasses and hand one to her, sitting on the couch with her, watching her.
“I’m a detective”He tell her, drinking from his glass “I’m working on theft, conjugal disputes, breaking and entering, grand theft auto, just about anything eexcept homicide. That’ll come later I’m pretty sure”
Then he could compete with Izzy about conviction rates and all that.
[Rory] She peeks up at him as he sits next to her, and reaches with slender, fragile looking fingers to take her wine glass and pull it back to her again. She lifts the glass to her nose, and inhales slowly, just like Ray had taught her, closing her eyes as the aroma slides across her senses… then, she takes a sip, and rolls it over her tongue, a little grin playing across her lips as she swallows, and settles back deeper into the seat.
“…nice.”
Then, she peeks at him as he tells her about his job, and bites her lower lip, again. “”Oh. yo dou like it?”
[Derek Anderson] He nodded to her as he drank some more wine “I do like it. It makes me feel useful not only to the Nation, but to the rest of the city. Whne there’s troubel with hte Wyrm, I can do something about it..well a small part but still, but if there’s I can still keep myself busy, and do something worthwile. I don’t want to be a useless stud or something. I want to pull my weight.”
He shrugh “Not that I wouldn’t be a good stud..but you know, I have the certitude that I’m better than that”He smiled watching her “What do you think? Do I have the stud only profile or am I worth more?”
[Rory] He mentions being a stud, and she blushes brightly, and ducks her head away to hide her face from him, again. She shifts her position until she can wrap her arms around her knees, and lay her cheek against the as she watches him, and then looks away to concentrate on another sip of wine.
“Good enough.” To stud, she says, but lifts a shoulder into a slight shrug…. “Lour yucky. I can only fight.”
[Derek Anderson] He frowned slightly watching and reached to take her chin gently between his fingers and lift it up slowly “That’s not true. You’re also a very capable repairwomn, a really good musician and a gorgeous woman who certainly could make any male happy. And I know it’s forbidden and all that, but let’s face it, there are more kin than Garou, so you will find someone and it’ll slip through the cracks and you can keep him..or her if you’re into girls, all for yourself”
He smiled, caressed the side of her jaw with his thumb and drank from his glass, in no hurry to let go of her chin
[Rory] She lets him pull her chin and lift it, though she keeps her gaze lowered, giving him the respect she should demand for herself, yet never does. She listens, too, squirming under his praise, even as she shakes her head, slightly by the end.
“Not for me. It is forbidden.”
She does not get to keep anyone – if she could, she would have chosen months ago… but it is not to be. Never to be…
[Derek Anderson] He move closer to her “Never assume that it won’t happen”He say, still looking at her face. “Maybe you never can make it official, that odesn’t mean that one kin won’t fall for you, or even one Garou since it’s not breaking your laws rigth? Well either way, one wil fall for you and without any claims, you will end up having that person ot yourself. It can happen..and it can happen to you.
Never say never Rory” His hand moved to caress her cheek gently
[Rory] When he mentions another Trueborn, she shakes her head… “Oh no! It breaks le thaw! I can’t…”
She can’t. She cannot fathom a life where anyone would allow such a thing… Even Kora will remind her that she is a mule when it is necessary. When it comes to relationships – it is deemed extremely necessary. Or so she’s found, repeatedly…
“Never.” It’s whispered, and there are tears in her eyes, seen briefly before she turns her head away… “I am mule. I have dy muty. It is ly mife.”
Her only life.
[Derek Anderson] He lean to place his glass on the table and slowly, gently took her face in his hands and made her look at him “Rory, that’s not true. Don’t let them stop you. I’m not saying it’ll be easy like a Garou’s way, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. You won’t break any laws being with a GArou because you can’t have children, so it wouldn’t matter. You can be in a relatioship if you really want to and you and your lover are smart enough. You say you can’t do it. How many times peopel have told you that you can’t do something but you proved them, even yourself wrong?”
He smiled “Don’t let them break you on this point. You’re an amazing person, a feasome warrior I’m sure and a stunning woman. I know you’ll find a way ot have everything you desire.”
[Rory] He makes her look at him, and still she tries to hide her gaze, her eyes closing, moisture leaking from her lashes to trail down her face… she shakes her head, slightly… and pulls away, setting her glass aside and unfolding to stand…
“Dou yon’t understand…”
It’s barely whispered, even as she takes a step away, and reaches for Ruarc’s guitar – not hers, never hers – and holds it to her like a shield… “I am forbidden. I already trespassed once. I will ke billed if I do so again…”
She backs away, toward the door, her gaze lowered as she whispers.. “Thank you thor fe wine…” It looks for all the world as if she’s about to bolt….
[Derek Anderson] He doesn’t stop her, but he got up “Look, I do understand. I don’t want you to get killed, in fact I wantthe opposite. I wnat you ot have fun, enjoy your life. I know how your laws works. I also think they can be bent. But I won’t talk about it again”
He tilt his head at her “I’m sorry if I troubled you. I wish you’d stay longer, I would keep you for the night if you ever wish so.”He shrugh “But I’ll never force you. You know where I live. If you want to come back again, you’re welcome to. For wine, chat, nothing that can get you in trouble. Unless you feel daring. I’m your friend Rory. If you’re worried, we’ll keep things…the way they are.”
He smiled “It’s not a declaration or anything. Just telling you, I’d like to see you around often”
[Rory] She steps back, again, when he gets up, and then turns to the door, looking over her shoulder at him, though not quite to his eyes, her gaze resting around his shoulders or so… or to her coat behind him, her shoes completely forgotten as she bites her lower lip…
“Ok. I… pave hatrols…”
And she reaches for the door, and scoots outside before she gets herself into trouble, just like she did with Ray….