Alex Marsters (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
allthesame2me) wrote2011-07-01 01:22 pm
allthesame2me) wrote2011-07-01 01:22 pm
4th [Audio/Commentlog]
[Alex happens to be up on those wall walks later in the afternoon; a werecat that enjoys heights. Who'd'a thunk it, right? There is just the faintest of breezes in the air, but on the wind is something else and his nostrils flare widely.
His blue-grey eyes scan the horizon and narrow slightly at the darkening clouds that seem to roll in from the north, growing larger and taking up more of the blue sky almost as he watches.
He's got his journal on him, as always, and though he's a mind to just accept it as an everyday storm ..]
I don't know if anyone's noticed .. but it looks like a storm's rolling in. With how other things seem to work around here you might want to be cautious.
His blue-grey eyes scan the horizon and narrow slightly at the darkening clouds that seem to roll in from the north, growing larger and taking up more of the blue sky almost as he watches.
He's got his journal on him, as always, and though he's a mind to just accept it as an everyday storm ..]
I don't know if anyone's noticed .. but it looks like a storm's rolling in. With how other things seem to work around here you might want to be cautious.
no subject
My, uh. We're not connected to the moon. The Changes come whenever they feel like. Or I guess, for older wolves, just when they haven't done it in awhile.
[And by 'older,' he really means, 'more experienced,' but he doesn't really want to admit he's actually only had his first Change a few months ago.
He listens as Alex talks about the pack, and can't help but feel a sense of longing. Not for a pack like that, specifically - all right, not really for that - but mostly because that reminds him of his dad, his family.]
Sounds like my dad. Took me in even knowing what I was, and taught me everything he could.
[Despite not being a werewolf. Then he frowns as something else Alex says registers.]
People know about supernaturals in your world? No one does, in mine. Or at least, not the general public.
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Yeah, we can change anytime we want, but on the full moon we change whether we'd like to or not. Hell if I could explain the mechanics of it at all, but it's happened here the same as it ever did back home.
Ed and the wolves would run out in the mountains and I'd usually head out in the opposite direction until the next day. We can't control our animals on the full moon, so even if we know each other we're at risk. No memory of the shift or anything, so we'd keep our distance until we shifted back the next day. Any other time we'd shift and run together .. [He grins a bit at the memory and then he smiles at Derek.]
Sounds like your dad is a pretty cool guy, then.
[Then he tilts his head slightly at the last before nodding.]
They know, yeah .. but it's a pretty recent deal; supernaturals announced themselves worldwide this past February. [His expression is rather wry as he smirks.] You can imagine how well that went over, right? Lots of folks have taken it in stride, but there's always bigotry in one shape or another, so not everyone is cool with it. It's .. a work in progress.
[One that could take a terrible turn if the registration act was approved.]
no subject
Did the wolves still run together on the full moon?
[There's a moment's hesitation, then when he speaks next, his tone is carefully neutral.]
What was it like? I've - only met two other werewolves, and neither of them were interested in running together.
[The mention of his dad gets a smile, perhaps the first real one since Derek's been here.]
Yeah. He's - there's not a lot of people like him.
[Which is a shame. The world'd be a lot better place if there was. He grimaces slightly at Alex's comment about how well that went over, snorting in agreement.]
That's another reason why the supernaturals in my world keep themselves secret. Hell, we can't even get along amongst ourselves.
/creeps in as life allows a brief respite
The wolves do, yeah .. They'd treat me like any predator encountering another predator, though .. and with a pack of eight to twelve I know my chances would be kind of grim. No, I tend to make my way out into the mountains near home, away from everyone, and see where I wake up in the morning. [A slight grin at this.]
It's .. pretty awesome. I'm sorry you haven't had the experience of sharing a pack run. I'd .. Well, I know I'm not a wolf, but I'd be more than happy to run the forest with you. I'm open to it pretty much anytime that's not the full moon. [He gives a half shrug, but his posture and tone indicate nothing more than genuine interest in doing so.] I hav- [Did you catch that slip, Derek?] .. had a buddy here that changed into a panther .. We hung out quite a bit and I was showing him the ropes. I don't know where he went, but he's not here anymore ..
[Ouch .. hurt to admit that one out loud. Alex's smile has slipped and his thoughts look like they've pulled inward before he makes himself focus on Derek's words again. He actually snorts softly in bemusement.]
Supes get along fairly well back home .. I mean there's a few here and there making things harder on everyone, but for the most part it's recognized that we're the minority and we should try not to make things harder on ourselves than need be, you know?
[Except the vamps .. the vamps were big old attention whores. :\]
/loves on
Yeah, going up against a pack of werewolves isn't top on my list, either. There's only one pack in my world, and they're not too friendly to wolves that don't belong to it.
But if you're serious, then. Yeah. Sure.
[Have an almost hesitant smile, that fades as Alex goes on. Oh, yeah, he's caught that slip. The one that says Alex hasn't adjusted to thinking in past tense yet. Derek shifts his weight awkwardly, suddenly wishing Simon or Chloe were here. They'd know how to be comforting, or whatever.]
I'm, uh. Sorry about your friend.
[That's about the best Derek's got when it comes to being comforting. Okay, that and resisting the urge to ask a few likely insensitive questions about the exact circumstances of the disappearance and if that happens often. But Simon'd say that not being insensitive didn't count as comforting.
Alex's snort actually makes him grin a bit.]
Sounds like your world's supernaturals need to shake some sense into mine. A lot of 'em are trying to be like that, but there's things like the feud between sorcerers and witches that keep getting in the way.
[Vamps are total attention whores. Not that Derek's met any of the ones in his world, but he's heard stories.]
/d'awwwwwws <3 You guys make rp so much fun!! <333
Totally serious. See this .. this is my serious face. [He poijnts to his face, maintaining a degree of seriousness for all of two seconds before his smile steals in across his lips once again. As Derek apologizes for Nick's disappearance, Alex's smile fades but does not disappear completely and he sighs a bit.]
It's alright .. people come and go around here, but thankfully not too often. When they leave, I guess they go back to their own worlds, but there's the chance they might come back again .. [He trails off and even he can't force the smile at what he says next.] They don't remember being here when they come back, though .. it's all new to them again. Nick might come back though .. I just gotta keep that hope, you know? Keep that hope and keep helping others that show up in the mean time.
[His gaze settles on Derek again, and he looks less strained as he says the last.] I'd rather help than sit around twiddling my thumbs .. especially when folks come here all turned around.
[Then he grins wryly and shakes his head.]
You'd think that it'd be a case of 'band together in the face of adversity', but no .. they just find new things to argue about. Coven and pack boundaries .. feeding rights on the mortals .. It's the kind of shit you'd never think would happen in real life until you're facing it first hand.
<3<3<3 Oh god Alex is ADORABLE
Yeah. I can see that. Gonna get far with that one.
[And then Derek's back to being a bit awkward. He considers saying something like, 'hey, if they're back home, better for them, right?' but that seems too much like that, 'oh, they're in a better place' crap that Derek's always hated.
But of course, that means he ends up saying nothing, which might be worse. He shifts his weight again, unconsciously shifting a bit closer to Alex as if to rest a hand on his shoulder or something, before he catches himself and stays put.
Alex's starting to remind Derek a bit of Chloe, and a bit of Simon. Which might not be a good thing, but there it is.]
Yeah. I'm not one for sitting around doing nothing, either. And, uh. Thanks. Considering I'm one of those coming here like that.
[He snorts again, and responds to Alex's head shake with one of his own.]
Petty arguments and prejudices by petty people who're too set in their ways to want to change. Guess they're just not happy unless they've got something to fight about.
FFFFFFFFfffff .. Bros .. that's all there is to it. :Db
I know, right? I'm amazed that people even speak to me with how foreboding and unpleasant my very aura is.
[The awkward silence and shifting is noted, but Alex is grateful when Derek moves easily onto another topic. Nick had been a fast and true friend and losing him to whatever fate his world had suffered .. yeah, it wasn't something Alex particularly wanted to muse too long about.
Then a soft laugh and he waves away the thanks with one hand.]
People were pretty welcoming to me when I arrived .. only right to do what I can. I'm not helping anyone, including myself, if I'm a passive aggressive dick. [Not that there were any of those here. Nooooooooooo, not a single one.
And then Derek earns a first class eye roll and Alex shakes his head again.]
Life's too damn short for all that petty bullshit .. seriously. I've lived with it my whole damn life .. being here .. [He gestures around as if to include the place as a whole.] Seems to at least have earned some fashion of a reprieve from all of it.
/brofist Aw Yeah
Compared to you, I'm downright friendly.
[Derek is the master of being awkward about things and then jumping on a subject change. So far the tactic has been - marginally successful, considering the only people he really cares enough about to actually stick around for the awkward things are Chloe and Simon.
He smirks a bit when Alex brings up passive aggressive dicks.]
Right, don't be a passive aggressive dick. I'll work on that.
[Derek knows exactly how that feels. He snorts, giving a smile that's not quite bitter and not quite rueful.]
Yeah, so've I. Wish more people thought like you.
[He considers Alex's last words for a moment before nodding.]
Guess that's one way of looking at it. Least no one I've met has tried to kill me yet. That's a plus.
no subject
See? What'd I say? Serious face for a serious man. [He jerks a thumb at himself.] That'd be me.
[Alex won't mind said awkwardness, as it's a fairly normal chracter trait to not want to deal with things that make one uncomfortable. It works pretty well as a tactic, unless you have someone with a stubborn streak. However, Alex is pretty easy going and he gets it, so he's not going to harp like a mother or wife.
Then he barks a short laugh, grinning widely.]
Yeah, you might wanna reign that in.
[His next smile is rueful and he nods in agreement.]
Yeah, and not even to float my own boat .. everything'd go one hell of a lot smoother if they did. [He sighs and shakes his head, giving a half shrug.] Things would just work easier, you know? But .. can't have that, now can we?
[A dry laugh, but there's a bit of genuine amusement in there, however macabre it might be in essence.]
Color yourself lucky .. It's not fun, no matter the circumstances behind it.
no subject
Just don't get too serious, man. They're a drag to hang out with.
[The (non-existent) grin's back when he makes Alex laugh, and this time he looks vaguely pleased.]
It'll give me something to do while I'm stuck here. Better myself as a person.
[He smirks. The comment sounds just as bullshit-y as it actually is. Though in truth, Derek does know when to be as polite as he can. He's been on his best behavior here.
Might be a little sad that his interactions so far are actually his best behavior, but, still.]
Who wants things easy? Easy's just boring.
No, it's not. This is practically a vacation in comparison, really.
[Except that Chloe and Simon and his dad aren't here. But he's doing okay with that, since he has himself convinced that just meant they were back home, with each other and safe.]
no subject
I shall try to restrain myself from being too serious; I wouldn't want to be a drag.
[So says the cross-dressing bi-sexual wereleopard. AHAHAH! XD
He doesn't miss the grin's reappearance and it's rather pleasing to see spreading across his companion's face. From what he's learned of Derek so far, he's fairly certain the youth is fairly serious himself. So, it's a bit of a relief that he can get a smile out of him so soon after meeting.]
Well, it's better for social interactions, that's for sure. Not saying that there's not something wonderful about a well timed smart-assed retort or a general attitude of 'fuck 'em all', but it's good to keep your options open.
[Bullshitting or not, Alex was still glad Derek was listening to him at the very least. Beneath every level of bs, there was a degree of truth, so it was likely advice well given.
Then another bark of laughter and a wry grin curls Alex's lips.]
Yeah, god forbid anything go the easy route for a change; wouldn't want that at any point.
[And then a slight shifting in attitude as death becomes a topic centerpiece.]
On that note .. just .. be careful around here. They like to punish in a rather medieval manner here and they won't really give you an idea of the offense until it's too late. Try to avoid hurting anyone or damaging the Keep, at any rate .. I know those ones end poorly.
no subject
He grunts slightly, tilting his head in agreement with Alex's comment about keeping his options open. Definitely wouldn't do Derek any good to piss everyone here off, at least, not as long as he could help it. He usually manages to end up doing that anyway, no matter how hard he tries, but he's going to suck it up and try anyway.]
I'll keep it to a minimal. Maybe just a 'fuck most of 'em' attitude.
[He snorts a bit.]
Oh, no. Why would anyone want a break from difficult and complicated? Then they'd have to look at their own lives instead of poking into everyone else's.
[He nods, shifting his weight slightly. Medieval punishments don't exactly sit well with him.]
Yeah. I've been warned about that. Definitely not planning on getting in any fights any time soon.
[Another reason he's been on his best behavior, actually. Though he has much better control over his strength than a year or so ago, he's not willing to chance it in this place.]