Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "take me to your leader"

Doctor Carlisle Cullen (doccullen) wrote in labyrinth_rpg,
@ 2009-04-09 16:17:00

Entry tags:

carlisle cullen, complete, day five, edward cullen, juniper golding

WHO: Carlisle, Edward and Juniper
WHEN: Day 5 around midnight
WHAT: Father-Son reunion
WHERE: B Dorm, just outside #218
RATING: PG/PG-13 at most
STATUS: Complete

Carlisle’s first day in this new land was spent trapped in a library, avoiding the sun. Now, while normally the learned man would have rejoiced at nothing to do with his time but read, he was not happy with the situation he found himself in. Because all he wanted to do, now that he’d learned that his lost son was in this place as well, was to find Edward.

Despite his panic and excitement, Carlisle was a smart man. He first went to the main offices of the dorms and requested Edward’s dorm and room number. When he didn’t find his son there, Carlisle made a quick run in the woods nearby, looking to see if Edward was out hunting. When that was fruitless as well, Carlisle had to do some thinking. He’d spent a great deal of his time in the library perusing the journal he’d been given, and Carlisle had a very good memory.

Edward had apparently found a friend in this place, a human girl that he cared a great deal for, given his protective comments toward her. Perhaps he was with this Juniper Golding. Carlisle didn’t bother attempting to get her room number from the goblins, as he’d had to provide proof of kinship to get Edward’s information, and even then, it had been a fight. So instead, he acted methodically, searching each floor of each dorm building for his son. Of course, he didn’t go knocking on doors, not wanting to bother anyone sleeping, but instead used a far more direct approach.

Walking down the second floor hallway of the B dorm, Carlisle did the same thing that he’d done a dozen times before. If this didn’t work, he didn’t know where he’d look next, but somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to use the journals.

Edward, where are you, son?

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

doccullen
2009-04-09 06:29 pm UTC (link)

Carlisle had gone a few steps past the door that Edward had come out of by the time he heard his son's familiar step in the room beyond. If his heart could have beat, it would have stopped, right then, even before turning around.

"Edward..." he breathed, staring at his son for just a moment before taking the couple of steps to close the distance between father and son, and wrapped his arms around his first child, in every sense of the word.

"I was so worried," he cried, his voice shaking slightly, squeezing Edward tight before holding him at arm's length to get a good look at him. There have been smiles on this face... he thought, with a grin on his own.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-09 06:39 pm UTC (link)

Edward practically ran down the hall to meet his father and happily went into his arms. Carlisle was so much more than a father figure to him. He was his mentor, his best friend, his conscience and his hope that there was some purpose for their continued exsistance, hope that they weren't damned. He hugged him tightly before stepping away at the same moment, needing to see him to believe that he was really there.

Edward frowned at the tone in the other man's voice and looked somewhat guilty. Carlisle had been worried about him, clearly, and here Edward had been behaving as though things perhaps weren't as bad as all that simply because he had found Juniper. He owed his family much better than that. "I have missed you," he told him looking a bit embarrassed. "Did Alice understand the message that we sent? Did she pass it on? I wasn't sure she'd understand exactly what was happening."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-09 06:45 pm UTC (link)

"Of course she understood it. Whether or not the rest of us did..." he said with a slight laugh and a roll of his eyes. "All we needed to know was that you were safe, and that's what you got home to us, however you did it," he said with a shake of his head. "Of course that wasn't good enough for Esme, but when is anything but you within reach?" he asked, in far too good of a mood now to scold or anything else. Even if he felt so inclined, which he didn't.

"Stop looking like you've been caught with your hand in the cookie jar," he chuckled, putting Edward's face in his hands and looking at him closely. "You've been happy here, and really, that's all I've ever wanted for you. Come on," he smiled, heading toward the door that Edward had come out of. "You can tell me--" Then he heard the heart beating, and the steady breathing of someone sleeping. So that's the reason for the smiles... he thought, turning to look at Edward with his eyebrow raised.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-09 06:52 pm UTC (link)

Edward looked a bit sheepish and more than a little embarrassed. He'd never been swayed by a pretty face in over eighty years that he'd spent with Carlisle and now he'd caught him coming out of a woman's room at night. It was a little awkward. "It's all very proper. She . . . well I'll introduce you to Juniper in the morning. You can come in if you like, I doubt we'll wake her. She's very exhausted and she's given blood twice that I know of unwillingly to vampire. Not one of our kind."

That brought a more familiar frown to Edward's face. "Carlisle, this place is very strange. There are people here . . . so many of them seem to be characters from books or movies . . . I don't pretend to understand any of it, but there are others of our kind here who are so very different from us. More dangerous if that is even possible."

Carlisle had mentioned Esme earlier however and Edward's mind flickered back to her with an expression of pain. "Esme . . . she must be in a state. First my disappearance and now yours. She must be panicking by now." He looked at his father with true sympathy. "I'm so sorry."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-09 08:24 pm UTC (link)

Carlisle let him dance around the girl that clearly made Edward care enough to watch over her while she slept, and then frowned. "Not our kind..." he muttered, shaking his head. He thought to the legends, to the human answers for what they were, and recalled all of the literary and popular culture options for what Edward was speaking of. But it was ridiculous. They were stories, not fact.

"We'd better discuss this inside," he nodded, gesturing for Edward to lead the way. "Don't worry about Esme. We'll get a message to her the same way you did to us, and whenever we get home, we'll be on house arrest for the next decade, but she'll get over it," he promised, patting Edward on the shoulder.

Once they were inside, Carlisle's main concern was primarily for Juniper. He moved to the bed, quickly but silently, and looked down at the little redheaded human for a moment, brushing her hair aside to investigate the bites on her neck. Fangs? he thought, raising an eyebrow at Edward and shaking his head. I've never seen anything like this...What happened to her hand? he asked, and then froze when she shifted in her sleep, in response to his cool touch. A little smile played over her lips and she shifted again, rolling to her other side, her hand going out as if searching for someone that should have been there. Carlisle chuckled quietly and moved away, sitting in a nearby chair. Then he just watched his son, knowing that whatever Edward did would tell him a great deal more than asking.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-10 04:32 pm UTC (link)

"That's what I thought at first and while I might have said the same thing once, I've seen the evidence though I have yet to actually meet the fiend in question." There was a bit of a bite to Edward's tone as he responded to his father's train of thought. He nodded at the suggestion, however and lead the way inside trying not to think about the look of panicked relief that would cross Esme's face once they finally did return home.

Edward nodded in answer to the question. When he spoke it was quickly and in a tone so quiet it wouldn't wake the sleeping girl though Carlisle would have no problems picking out the words. "Yes, and what's more she tells me his name is Armand. As in Anne Rice? It's ridiculous I know but I've met others from other works of fiction as I've said and they were all very much real so I'm inclined to believe her especially after having seen the evidence." When he asked about her hand Edward made a face and then immediately went to Juniper's side when she started looking for him in her sleep. When he answered it was with a tone of guilt.

"I was supposed to be protecting her but I stepped out to hunt. I didn't realize she wouldn't be safe inside her own room. It was foolish and she was attacked and ended up hitting him." A wry smile crossed his face as he thought about the fact that she'd punched a vampire and he chuckled shaking his head. "She's difficult."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-10 05:40 pm UTC (link)

Carlisle caught the tone in his son's voice and sighed. Remember who you are, Edward, was his only advice. He didn't like the idea of Edward going up against this vampire for the sake of the girl, but he could also understand Edward's inclination to do so.

His eyebrow jumped up his forehead and he gave an almost silent chuckle. You couldn't possibly be serious-- he started, but from the look on Edward's face, he was nothing but. This whole place is ridiculous he thought with a shake of his head, but he didn't disbelieve his son. More the circumstances they found themselves in.

Carlisle propped his ankle up on his opposite knee and folded his hands in his lap, watching Edward and listening to the story. The girl had stilled the moment she'd found his hand, and Carlisle smiled. Clearly, whatever happened here had been good for the both of them, and that was not something he could argue against. The best ones are, he smiled, thinking of his own love.

Don't feel guilty, Edward. You didn't know, clearly, and if we're going by the mythological laws, she should have been safe in her room. There was no way for you to know, he reminded him. How did you find yourself caretaker of her in the first place? he asked, interested.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-11 12:19 pm UTC (link)

"Don't misunderstand me. I would prefer to keep things peaceful however from what I know of this vampire I doubt very much that will be possible. I have no desire to fight him but I will do what needs to be done to keep Juniper safe." Edward happened to like the peaceful existence that he had been fortunate enough to live until just recently and despite the strangeness of his new surroundings, he would like to return to his routine as soon as possible.

Edward chuckled at his father's reaction and offered him a small smile. "You don't have to tell me that. I spent the afternoon acquainting myself with Doctor Who," he laughed and shook his head. It was exciting and yet completely bafflingly ridiculous. Interesting though. Definitely interesting.

Hearing the answer and following his train of thought behind it, Edward rolled his eyes. "Esme's about as undifficult as they come. So long as she knows we're all safe and sound and happy she's practically skipping around the house and singing everyday." He laughed thinking of his mother and her typically cheery look at life.

He squirmed a bit at the next question. "I'm not even sure. It all happened very fast. I ran into her after leaving that ridiculous ball, which by the way you should be thankful you missed. She started off telling me what she knew about the place we're in and then ..." Edward looked a touch embarrassed and his eyes flicked down to Juniper guiltily. "And then I sort of attacked her I guess you could say."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-11 04:10 pm UTC (link)

"Doctor Who?" Carlisle replied, astonished enough to speak aloud, though they were trying to be quiet for Juniper's sake. Granted, he was still silent enough to human ears, but that was beside the point.

Carlisle smiled slightly at the thought of his wife and shook his head a little bit. All women are difficult in their own ways, Edward. Trust me, he internally chuckled. Of course, there were extremes in every case, and from the sound of it, Edward had found himself one of those instances.

Attacked her? he repeated, raising an eyebrow. He knew Edward well enough to know that he didn't mean in the violent sense, but he still felt the need to ask for a bit of clarification. He was curious at this life Edward had formed for himself, after all.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-11 04:40 pm UTC (link)

"Yes," Edward confirmed somewhat amused that Carlisle had been surprised enough to forget himself. "Doctor Who, complete with the TARDIS, Rose Tyler, and Jack Harkness and apparently Robin Hood and some people from Harry Potter are around somewhere as well. If it hadn't been happening to everyone else I'd think I'd lost my mind."

Edward rolled his eyes. "You have no idea." Difficult was really putting it lightly. Juniper made him feel guilty about feeling guilty about things he should feel horrible about. There was just an air about her that made him want to be happy all the time and it was completely against his nature. He was either in store for a complete attitude adjustment or a lot of bickering.

Edward looked a bit uncomfortable, but tried to think of a way to answer his father directly without being too blunt or too graphic about describing the all encompassing lust which had a tendency to override his self control when Juniper was involved. "Remember my reaction to the Swan girl? Who is here by the way. Of all the torturous things that could have happened if I was to be kidnapped why couldn't she at least have been left behind? Anyway, it was something like that only the urge I felt was less violent and more . . . a need to express . . . physical . . . affection . . . so to speak."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-11 04:44 pm UTC (link)

Carlisle just stared at him for a moment before deciding that he didn't need to continue to get into that conversation. After all, there was only so much he could take before he cracked, and it had been an odd day to begin with.

Ah, he nodded, looking at his son fondly. You are so lucky that Esme isn't here, he thought with an amused little smile. She'd been so worried about Edward, after all, and to find that he wasn't broken somehow was going to send her over the moon.

There's nothing wrong with that, son, he smiled. As long as you're careful, and of course, respectful to Juniper's wishes - not that I'd think you anything else - I don't see a problem with it. She makes you happy, clearly. Who am I to fault that?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-11 04:53 pm UTC (link)

Edward gave him a somewhat disparaging look. "I'm fully aware of Esme's concerns and they are of course ridiculous." He shook his head. Of course he had found various women attractive over the years but he'd never met a one of them he felt he could completely or even remotely bond with until now. He'd given up eventually but it wasn't as if he didn't feel the pangs of loneliness. He was just better at hiding his unhappiness than most because he knew that it hurt his mother and that was unforgivable.

"It's Juniper's wishes that are the problem. As much as I would like to believe that someday I might have the control to push our relationship farther I have enough difficulty just kissing her without bruising or breaking her. The thought of what I might do to her in a fit of passion terrifies me so badly I'm almost afraid to touch her at all. Not that any of that matters right now anyway. I've never been a man interested in casual lusts and even if she does strike a certain chord in me there's no reason to get carried away. I still hold the same principles I always have." And those principles would hopefully keep him from snapping any more of Juniper's bras or other clothing. He was a man after all, a rational thinking creature and not an animal or a savage.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-12 12:13 am UTC (link)

Carlisle was at war with himself. On the one hand, he wanted desperately to encourage Edward, to advise him to take the blessing he'd found in Juniper and run with it. He'd been alone for so long, and Carlisle hated to see his son lonely. But at the same time, how could he discourage caution? The pair were so different, and though Carlisle wanted to believe that anything was possible with the right amount of compassion and understanding, he didn't want to see Edward hurt if it went badly. Finally, he sighed and shook his head.

Keep your concerns in mind, I suppose, but don't deny yourself happiness either, if you've found it in this little girl, he thought, standing to move to his son's side, squeezing his shoulder and looking down at the sleeping human. I know it's soon, Edward, but I see such a change in you... he shook his head and rolled his eyes, internally laughing. What a time to wonder what Alice would say...

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-12 09:19 am UTC (link)

Edward smiled reassuringly at the turmoil running through his father's mind. He understood Carlisle's desire to see him happy, and to see him embrace love as he had ignored it for over eighty years. He did have his concerns and doubts but whatever his feelings and worries he would try. He would do his best to embrace this strange, lovely girl who had found her way into his heart and all the things that she had to offer. That didn't mean he wouldn't choose caution first, but though their relationship might move so slowly as to frustrate Juniper to tears some day, Edward would stay with her until she told him to go away.

"I don't intend to father, for better or for worse I love her already and I would be lying if I said that the relief from the loneliness I've felt for years wasn't staggering. To be without her, I think would be incapacitating." He laughed silently at the thought of Alice who would be practically crawling all over the girl in his arms. "I'm a little afraid of what Alice's reaction might be, actually."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-12 09:31 am UTC (link)

At Edward's words, Carlisle's smile changed from encouraging to ecstatic. He loved her. And really, that was all that mattered. Carlisle had seen enough in his many years to know that beyond steel or stone or their very selves, love endured and fortified those that embraced it. He squeezed Edward's shoulder again and moved to brush a curl from Juniper's face. You love her, and that makes her family, he told Edward with a soft smile. Finally.

He joined in the quiet laughter and shook his head. She'd love her for your sake, I'm sure, he commented, not needing to see what Edward was thinking to have the same opinion. Alice would be on the girl like Velcro.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

juniper_golding
2009-04-12 09:48 am UTC (link)

Juniper slept next to Edward peacefully as the men spoke, not bothered in the slightest by their words, as her feeble human ears couldn't even hear them. Instead, she dreamed.

Stalks of grass undulated in the breeze, the blanket of green broken up prettily by bright splashes of colour, the same wildflowers that the little girl gathered in her hands. Her dress was plain and dim, recalling the early fifteenth century, and her hair, tucked under a modest cap, bore streaks of auburn in the sun. She stopped her play and froze, looking up to the sky and smiling. The flowers dropped at her feet and she raised her arms to the heavens, tears of joy running down her face...

A battlefield painted with blood. Soldiers dying all around, crying for their mothers and begging God for deliverance. A woman in white armour was at the head of the charge, bearing her banner and urging them all on, for God, and for France...

The church crucifix weaved slightly in her vision, the beginnings of what would be the funeral pyre splintering her skin. A voice very much her own, but somehow separate begged for her executioners to be forgiven, even as the smell of her own burning flesh filled the air. The faces of both the enemies and the friends of the Maid of Lorraine were blocked out by smoke...

Night now, the darkest point before dawn, and she walked into the arms of Death, his pale skin shining even in the moonless dark. His fangs glimmered with blood, even as the vampire prepared to take more. Despite Juniper's brave insistence that she was not afraid, her body began to shake. His fangs pierced her neck...

Juniper's eyes flashed open, and the first thing to become clear was Carlisle's face. She shot into a ball, covering her head, and screamed.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-12 11:30 am UTC (link)

Edward had been about to reply to Carlisle's thought about Alice when Juniper screamed. He had been completely caught up in the conversation, touched by his father's quick acceptance of the girl he loved as family and so he was surprised by her sudden waking and outburst of terror.

He caught Juniper up in his arms and pressed his cool lips to her temple. "Juniper, love I'm here. You're safe. You're safe with me." He spoke reassuringly and turned her in his arms so that she could see that he was there holding her and that she wasn't in any danger.

He was unsure if she'd woken because of a dream or if they had been louder than they realized and even more uncertain whether the root of her fear was a bad dream or waking to find a strange man leaning over her in her bed. In any case he rubbed her back and cradled her close to his chest so that she would feel safe and taken care of. You're alright, my love. I promise that you're not in any danger.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

doccullen
2009-04-12 12:03 pm UTC (link)

It was pretty hard to startle a vampire, but Juniper had managed to do it to not one, but two of them. Carlisle jumped back about a foot when she screamed, and then gave a fleeting glance to Edward before zipping into the bathroom and out of sight.

I'm just going to stay here until she calms down, he thought to his son, his tone laced with worry and guilt for scaring the poor girl.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

juniper_golding
2009-04-12 12:08 pm UTC (link)

Wrapped up in Edward's arms, Juniper both calmed down and finished waking up. Her eyes were closed and she took in a few deep breaths, listening to both his audible and silent comforts, and after a moment, her shaking stopped. "Just dreaming..." she breathed thankfully against his neck, where she was hiding her face for the time being. "It was Armand...thought..." she shook her head and let out a sigh.

Then Juniper blinked and sat up fully, looking around. "Wait a tick...Did I see your dad?" she asked, looking at Edward with a comically confused expression.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

edwcull
2009-04-12 12:26 pm UTC (link)

Edward chuckled at the sudden mood swing and nodded. "Yes, he just arrived. I invited him in so we could speak and I could still watch over you. I'm sorry if we woke you and even sorrier that you were frightened." He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips in comfort. "Carlisle stepped out for a moment, he's even sorrier than I am for scaring you, I think. Are you alright?"

He checked her over a bit and then decided she looked suitably calmed down. She changed moods so quickly he could barely keep up with them. "If you think you're ready I'll ask him back in and introduce you?"

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -