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echoes, silence, patience & grace (fatebites) wrote in halcyon_halls,
@ 2008-08-05 12:20:00

Entry tags:

sam, sasha

Week Fifteen: Wednesday
When: Late
Where: Outside in the garden
Who: Emo!Sam and Open

Something had been bothering Sam and while she knew what it was, she didn’t want to admit it. An attempt to focus on anything but her own person problems was made but it all seemed to be in vain. Try as she might, that little voice in the back of her head kept whispering to her whenever things got too quiet. That voice belonged to her mother. If only she could try a little harder, stand up a little straighter or swim a little faster, then she would be good enough. Except of course that she never had succeeded.

Sam had tried to tell herself that she was getting all worked up over nothing but she couldn’t help it. Yes she understood that it would take time and that she really didn’t even deserve what time she was being allowed but…it was hard not to think of it as one-sided. Small fingers toyed with the bracelet on her wrist as she wandered around the grounds. The small token meant the world to her but it still felt as if Easton was slipping away. It was ridiculous really, because he had responded to her notes but at the same time, he didn’t seem to really initiate much contact between the two of them.

The moisture in the air clung to her exposed skin and a nice mental pat on the back was given for having decided to go with a pair of shorts and a light top. The last thing her hair needed was to be out in the humidity but she could tame the giant ball of poof that would inevitably follow after she had her fill of some fresh and slightly heavy air. Clearly she was losing her mind if she was questioning the status of the relationship she didn’t even deserve to have in the first place.

After an hour or so of wandering around, she finally found herself in the middle of the school’s elaborate garden. Slumping down in defeat, she took a seat on one of the stone benches and just stared off at nothing. Everything was going to be fine, or that was what she was going to keep telling herself anyway. Come hell or high water she was going to prove herself to him. An audible sigh parted her lips as she toed the ground with the tip of her sandal and if she didn’t have her supernatural hearing, she would have never picked up on the footsteps headed her way.

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-05 03:28 pm UTC (link)

Due to the threat of rain, and then the actual rain, Sasha spent all of Tuesday hiding indoors. The stress wasn’t fun; it was a potent reminder of how much her Achilles' heel had yet to heal. Come Wednesday, eager to rinse the claustrophobic feel out of her head, she planned to spend the day outside—if not for the damn heat. The sticky, soggy, sweaty, stupid heat.

Exasperation, thy name was Susa—Sasha.

Thank Providence evening muted the humidity into something civilized and bearable. Restless, Sasha had barely taken the time to swap her modish sundress for a relaxed floral print. She also looped a leash around her hand, much to Dreizen’s disappointment.

“Nothing personal, pup,” she told the sulky Doberman as they headed outside. “But until us both get our bearings, and learn to keep them steady, some extra restraint is in order.”

The firm tone didn’t quite erase her guilt, which is why she had a tennis ball in her other hand. Dizzy’s moping lightened a bit at that. If he were a lesser dog, there’d be tail wagging or pawing at her skirt. But Dreizen was Dreizen; his enthusiasm resigned itself to bright eyes and a brisk pace.

Reluctant to face the ocean so soon after the storm, Sasha headed for the school gardens instead. A bit of fresh greenery would do much good. She juggled the ball from hand to hand, laughing at how Dizzy’s head swiveled to follow the little yellow target.

“Ok, ok, no more teasing. Ready?” Looking around and not seeing anything too fragile, she cocked her arm and drilled the ball over a low patch of—ferns?—shrubbery. “Fetch!”

Dreizen was off like a shot, leaping over the short hedges nimbly and vanishing around a green wall. Sasha was pleased. The garden was a suitable obstacle course for the dog and would vent some of his frustration. Last thing she needed was a Doberman with an ulcer.

Her satisfaction lasted right until the point when she heard Dizzy’s excited bark…which meant he didn’t have the ball but had found something else interesting.

Well, she reasoned hurriedly, turning the curve, if he’s barking then he’s not biting. “ Dreizen, down! I said down—quit licking the girl this instant!"

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fatebites
2008-08-05 04:19 pm UTC (link)

The pace and stride of the footsteps told her that whatever was coming, that it wasn't human. That was interesting. However it wasn't until the breeze brought the creature's scent to her nose did she rule out anything supernatural or very large and scary. A dog she could deal with because a dog wasn't a bear and she was practically like family or something. After all, she and Prince shared an interesting and deeper bond so the whole werewolf thing would probably work in her favor with whoever was currently running toward her.

Sam turned just in time to see the Doberman appear and she sat silent while she waited to see what the animal would do. Apparently that would be practically jumping into her lap after barking at her. "Well hello to you too!" she laughed as she turned her head to the side. Sam was cool with dogs but any French kissing was strictly saved for own puppy. At least with prince she knew that he was eating those Greenie things and got his teeth brushed on occasion.

"Oh it's okay," she said as she squeezed one eye closed. Tongue to the eyeball wasn't fun either. "Nice to meet you...Dreizen was it?" she asked once the dog had finally hopped down. "Cute dog." Overly friendly, but cute. "I'm Sam and I take it that this guy belongs to you?" Reaching out she gave him a nice scratch behind the ears.

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-06 12:32 pm UTC (link)

I take my eye off him for a second…and here he was trying to lick off someone’s eyebrows. Sasha was starting to seriously consider the possibility of genuinely worrying about her dog’s attitude as of late. He wasn’t supposed to be this keyed up, this often. True, she’d been less than the most attentive company in the past year but…

Great. One more thing to stay awake about.

“Dreizen,” she said in a tone brooking no argument. “Platz.” This time the Doberman slid off the girl—Sam—fast as water. Scooping up the ill-timed tennis ball, Dizzy padded over to Sasha without the slightest trace of guilt in his tail.

“Hopeless,” she told him. To Sam: “Sasha. I’m sorry—embarrassedly so—about the big galoot here. His manners are still a few time zones away. Are we—I’m sorry, did you mean to be alone here? Please, I’d hate to intrude.”

(Dreizen, meanwhile, wasn’t thinking about manners. He was thinking about earth and mud and fresh and ball ball ball and volk and good scratch scratch ear and the fact that SASHA wasn’t scared/sad but was going to play, going to chase, going to throw the ball ball ball.)

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fatebites
2008-08-07 12:12 pm UTC (link)

Once Dreizen was off of her, she wiped her cheeks off and the smoothed her hands over her shorts. Dog slobber wasn't something she minded getting on her, Price did do his part in sharing his, but when it dried it got all sticky and that wasn't the greatest feeling in the world. Add that in with the current weather and that would just be one nasty mess. So her shorts got to take one for the team.

"Don't even worry about it," she said with a wave of her hand to dismiss the apology. "My dog gets the same way on occasion, it's not big deal." Now if he had attacked her and tried to get a nice maiming in then there might be something to apologize for. But no harm no foul.

"Hmm? Oh no it's fine, I don't mind the company." Wandering around alone wasn't doing anything for her mood anyway so having someone to talk to would probably help distract her at least. Sam was very attentive when talking to someone so her own problems seemed to just fade away and stand forgotten for however long she was engaging with someone else. It was quite possibly her fatal flaw but oh well. She was what she was, right?

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-08 10:25 am UTC (link)

“They are a mixed blessing, the wicked beasties.” Sasha bounced the ball on the gravel and watched Dreizen try to snatch it out of the air. “But there’s no better company to be fools with. Still, sorry about the wardrobe…upset.”

The girl’s eyes were the exact color of chocolate, Sasha noticed. Semi-sweet. Judging from Dizzy’s friendly behavior, Sam wasn’t one of the nocturnal set. Of course, that still left a daunting number of possibilities, many reasonably no less dangerous than vampires, but the thought reassured Sasha, nonetheless. Whatever her earlier composure with Kin, it didn’t change her stand on the undead and thirsty. She wasn’t in the mood to be generous.

Especially not after the rain.

“This is a pretty little wilderness,” she observed, looking around the garden with a sharp eye that went completely at odd with the pleasant tone and smile. “I guess it’s to be expected—the whole island seems in good eco-health—but it’s still nice that they’d keep a separate piece of grounds like this. Do you know if the students take part in maintaining the property?”

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fatebites
2008-08-08 09:59 pm UTC (link)

Sam nodded in agreement and then shrugged. "Clothes can be washed." Even if they had somehow been ruined it really didn't matter. Accidents happened and there was no reason to get all upset over them. There were more important things to spend her energy worrying about. Material things weren't even close to being on that list.

Even though she had only been a werewolf for a year now, she was getting better at distinguishing smells. Vampires had a certain scent that wasn't quite "alive" but not necessarily "dead" either. Demons also carried their own scents though they varied with the many different kinds. Sasha didn't smell like either but she didn't smell entirely human either. Interesting.

"I know we have a groundskeeper," she answered as she too looked across the land. "And I also know that Cassandra comes out here to plant things. So long answer short, yes, I do believe the students help." Sam couldn't say how many others helped, but she at least knew of a couple. If she had a guess, it was probably more of those tied to the earth.

"How are you liking your time here so far?"

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-11 02:42 pm UTC (link)

Clothes can be washed, but… “Colors run, stains set, and zippers war with dryers.” Sasha smiled neatly, curious and offbeat—and a material girl from hairline to hemline to lip line to toe tip. When “on the clock” she was unmistakably put together; it’d take a lot more than heat wave to melt her polish.

“Cassandra?” Sasha tilted her head to the side, curious and teasing. “Does Halcyon house prophets as well as malcontents?” (Sasha had learned much, much, too much mythology as a child.)

She patted the ground with one sandaled foot, feeling the soil spring beneath her sole. Good dirt, good sign. Maybe she could petition to plant some herbs here. Simple pleasures are the last refuge of the complex, Josiah would say. “My compliments to the gardener. This is fine stock.”

When Sam asked Sasha’s opinion, it made her pause. Lips pursed, she considered how much truth to include in the answer.

“It’s not quite like home,” she finally said. “Nobody’s been unkind and everybody’s taller than me, which breaks about even, really. The lunches are good and the plumbing is sound. Otherwise…” She shrugged. “Too much water, not enough shoe shops.”

All throughout the conversation, Sasha’s hands seemed independent of the rest of her, playing fetch with Dreizen automatically. Each time the dog fetched the ball, she accepted it with her left hand, threw it with her right—and never spared at glance down at the matter. Surprisingly, her throws had yet to collide with anything problematic. She acted familiar with the layout of the shrubbery surrounding them, as if visiting an old haunt.

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fatebites
2008-08-12 11:00 pm UTC (link)

Sam smirked. "All which can be replaced." There was more to life than always looking flawless, at least in her opinion anyway. Not to get her wrong, Sam like dressing up just as much as any other girl, but a snag or a stain wasn't the end of the world.

"You're actually not too far off." Sam had never asked Cassandra outright about her abilities, but she had heard a thing or two and was able to put a few things together. Appropriately named it seemed. "She's also one amazing cook. Anything she bakes is like heaven on a plate." So a green thumb and a wiz in the kitchen, Cassandra had it all in the bag.

A nod of her head was given as Sasha gave her assessment of the school. All sounded about right to her. "I think considering we're on an island that there are enough shops to keep everyone occupied," she said with another thoughtful nod. "And if all else fails, there's always the internet." Sam loved to shop and shopping online would probably be her downfall one of these days.

"Dreizen seems to be settling in well." Animals were always pretty amazing like that it seemed. "Actually now that I think about it, I don't remember hearing about any of the animals that have been brought along having any problems." Case in point right there.

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-13 01:40 pm UTC (link)

“Not all replacements are sewn equal,” Sasha joked in a lofty tone.

Possibility of culinary skill was more interesting to Sasha than that of foretelling. Heck, seers were a dime a dozen (if you knew the guy who dealt the right sort of change) but a good baker, well, that was special. “Heaven is dandy, but does she do tarts?”

…that came out a wee bit wrong. Sasha nimbly sidestepped the gaffe and continued. “Where’d you find the heart in eBay? On eBay, maybe, but never in. Besides it’s not real shopping until at least one salesclerk is on the brink of a nervous breakdown. That’s how you know you’ve scored a valid bargain.”

For all her smiles and ribbons, Sasha was too often the ~~bad~~ wicked thing that happened to good salespeople. It kept the game worth chasing.

“Dreizen’s adept at adjusting…when he puts his muzzle to it.” She looked at the now soggy tennis ball in her hand, then at the bright-eyed dog dancing in wait. “I don’t think he’ll encounter here anything too different from what he’s met before. Except maybe a weregoose. He’s not very good with geese. Seems to have declared war with the entire species when he was a pup. But aside from that—and paranormal tigers—he should be fine.”

Ok, there was the problem of vampires but that was a reflex in regards to her rather than anything faulty in Dizzy’s psyche.

Distractedly, Sasha glanced up at the darkening sky. “New moon’s almost here, time to prepare a year end’s wish.” She paused, thoughtful. “Do they really lock us when it’s at full?”

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fatebites
2008-08-13 11:12 pm UTC (link)

Sam had to think on the tarts question for a minute, after coming up with an inappropriate comment that she ended up deciding to keep to herself. "Not that I can remember but I'm sure she could. Perhaps you should ask her?" Cassandra was always eager to try something new.

"My kind of shopper." A sly smirk turned the corners of her lips and there was a devious glint in her eyes. Sam did like to haggle, came with the whole desire to be an attorney. "But at the same time, there's nothing like getting a big box in the mail full of wonderful shoes and/or purses." Especially since Sam tended to forget what she ordered right up until the package was opened. It was sort of like Christmas in a way.

Sam nodded. "Geese are evil." They seemed to attack for no reason, it was the strangest thing. Paranormal tigers? She probably didn't want to know and therefore chose not to ask. "He looks like a trooper. We should see if he would get along with my Prince, maybe they could play together."

Talk of the moon caused a slight chill to settle in her bones and caused her pulse to react. "Well they lock you up, I get to run around and chase things." Run around, turn into some hideous werecreature, whatever. "So yes, the school goes on lock down. Even the area we get to run has boundaries." Have to keep the city and various residents safe after all.

"But at least it only lasts one night, right? And I hear that if you get up early enough you can see everyone shift back and then walk around naked." A small shrug was given. You know, if she was interesting in witnessing that sort of thing.

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-14 01:05 pm UTC (link)

“Oh, if she’s a cook we’ll cross paths eventually,” Sasha said amiably. “This place only has one kitchen worth conquering, after all.”

“Unless it’s two boxes?” she suggested.

“Prince?” A play date would distract Dreizen. However fierce his appearance, Sasha’s pet was a sociable creature, even motherly in his own doggy way. (He nursed the park squirrels for Christ’s sake.) “If you don’t mind, I’d love to accept the offer. Big Bad here could use more friends; I don’t want him adopting rodents again.”

Darn squirrels.

Ah. Was that a note of telltale bitterness spicing Sam’s tone? It would explain Dreizen’s reaction to the girl. The guard dog was trained to have a particularly keen awareness of were-anything.

“Dreizen, hier.” The Doberman obediently backpedaled to her side. Kneeling down, Sasha rubbed his muzzle and whispered a “special” command. The next moment Dizzy was dancing by Sam’s side, sniffing. His nubby tail wagged energetically. He gave one short, specific bark before rejoining Sasha to beg back the tennis ball.

“Wolf?” Sasha asked, head tilted slightly as if memorizing Sam from a different angle, her curiosity friendly and light. Bitten, went unsaid. Josiah received only marginal business from the were-crowd crowd, but still Sasha met enough to recognize that glint of anger as something unlikely in the natural born shifters. But the ones who were turned—infected—changed, oh yes, in them the ember was kept warm.

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fatebites
2008-08-14 05:32 pm UTC (link)

"There's a second kitchen I think but I believe it's for staff use only." It wasn't like there was enough room for the staff to prepare three meals a day while sharing it with students who wanted to fend for themselves.

Sam smiled. "Yeah, Prince is my Husky puppy. Though he's not so much a puppy anymore but a gangly teenager." He was just growing up way too fast! Pretty soon she'd have to start thinking about a bigger bed if he was going to continue to claim a spot on it. "Cool, we'll have to set something up then."

Chocolate eyes watched the interaction between pet and owner and even though Sasha was whispering, Sam could still hear it. Granted she didn't understand, but the whole increased supernatural hearing thing didn't work well when it came to whispers that were only a foot or two away.

"Impressive," she said with a nod. A dog who could smell out were-creatures was definitely fascinating. A year into her turning, she was still pretty angry about the whole thing even if she didn't verbalize it often. But what reason was there for her to be upset? The fact that her mother was dead or that she had passed the curse onto her sister? Nope, she really should be all peaches and cream.

"So my secret's out," she continued with a smirk. "What about you? What brings you to Halcyon?"

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-18 10:42 am UTC (link)

She shrugged. “Cleaning out and rigging one of the abandoned fireplaces would serve in a pinch. But then there’s the matter of firewood…splinters. Unpleasant.”

“Oh, a Husky!” Sasha’s face lightened. “That’s marvelous. I’m guessing you don’t have a roommate then? Frankly, it’s been a miracle of geometry getting this guy—”She made Dreizen dance for the ball again—“settled in. They don’t grasp the concept of personal space, agreed?”

Dreizen was impressive, but then Sasha’s opinion of her guard was affectionately biased. It was rather fine to hear someone else praise the beast. “Can’t take credit for that particular skill, I’m afraid. He had…remarkable teachers while growing up.” We both did.

“This and that, the typical teenage uncertainty.” she said. A vampire tried to rip my throat out. I’m turning crazy—and can’t stay out of people’s pasts. Everything I thought meant home is false. My therapist think I’m plotting murder—and isn’t entirely wrong. “I heard Michelin gave three stars to the cafeteria. And my bonus flyer miles were due to expire, so it was either here or Honolulu…” She gave a dazzling smile, its lines just a little crooked. “Or how about: Betty Ford had a six month waiting list.”

Idiocy, of course, but served with the sort of bright, spic-and-span irrelevance available to expert frauds and tea-time charmers.

“Well. Werewolves, vampires, witches, elementals, a kettle of demons and demonic whatnots, some psychics, I think, at least one prophet, dogs, faeries, bottle blonds, perhaps shifters, cooks, and—what, a gaggle of angels in the attic?” She paused, tilting her in faux consideration. “Is that right word for it, do you think? Maybe it’s a bevy of angels or a brood, or a descent—no, wait, that’s for woodpeckers.”

Actually, the most suitable term was host and Sasha well knew it. But it was a disarming way to tweak the subject.

“What do you think they call us, Halcyon’s crowd: a colony of curiosities? A gaggle of quirks?” Her eyebrow quirked. “I’d bet the faculty has used the term “herd” at least once. I think I’d like to be a bouquet or a party, anything other than a murder or an unkidness.”

Bouquet for pheasants, party for jays, neither avian group owning anything Sasha identified with. Yet wasn’t that the very appeal? They sounded frivolous and easy, appealing but without purpose. Sasha didn’t come to Halcyon seeking blackbirds, after all…

…just to flee one.

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fatebites
2008-08-21 01:47 am UTC (link)

Sam cocked her head to the side. "And that is exactly why I don't cook." Sure she could keep herself from starving but she by no means when out of her way to make some sort of fabulous meal. That was what takeout was for!

"Yeah, he's a handsome boy," she said with a nod. "I had a roommate in the beginning but I moved out. It was safer for my sister that way. I might have killed her if I hadn't left when I did." It was probably more likely the other way around but, details. "Actually Prince is pretty good with space. I'm sure it will get worse the bigger he gets."

Now Sam was usually pretty good at following people when they started rambling, but Sasha seemed to be in a world all her own. And not any world in this galaxy. Did she even answer her question somewhere in the middle of all that? Sam wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to try to figure it out. Way too much brain power required on a night where she had been ready to mope about and not think too much on anything.

"I like bouquet," she finally added. At least there would be some sort of implication of smelling nice to go along with it. And that was pretty much all Sam had to reply with. Anything other than that and she was at a loss. Hmm. Yeah, she had nothing.

"Well it's getting pretty late and I'd hate to take away any play time from Dreizen," she said as she pushed up from the bench. "But we should definitely get our pups together sometime next week. Just let me know when you're free."

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vintage_fraud
2008-08-25 09:43 am UTC (link)

… my sister…I might have killed her if I hadn't left when I did…

It was like a dead spot in a gem. For a moment, Sasha’s happy face turned perfectly, heartlessly blank. Automatically, she hid, kneeling down to rumple Dizzy’s ears and skate the ball across the lawn. “They shoot up like weeds. Dreizen seemed to stretch out triple when he was growing.”

…might have killed her… No. Stop. Concentrate. This garden, this air, the smell of loam and summer flowers, pacific heat. This girl, Sam, with her sweet eyes and sad shadow, Dreizen’s plush under her palm, this now. The sudden beat of silence was like a pebble in Sasha’s throat. She smiled brighter to push it down.

“For pheasants when flushed,” Sasha clarified, her tone inviting a joke. “Or for academic peasants expelled from normalcy.”

In farewell, Sasha offered her hand to Sam, hoping the skin wasn’t as cold as she suspected. “It was a pleasure meeting you—Dreizen, shake goodbye—and thank you for the conversation. My speaking tends to be...unconventional; I apologize if it put you off in any way. Do let me hear about your boy, will you?”

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