Cordelia Helena Atherton (liafae) wrote in light_of_may, @ 2010-01-06 05:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | 2009-06-28 |
This is morning
Who: Ammo and Lia
When: Sunday Midmorning
Where: On the way to coffee
It felt like an early morning, but that might have been the staying up, drinking beer and catching up last night. After a quick look around Torque's kitchen, Ammo had decided to go on a walk for morning coffee. He decided to leave Ulf and Roque in the apartment, since bringing them along seemed more of a bother than it was worth. And after having shared Torque's couch with the two animals, Ammo was more than happy to have some time to himself. On the way out the door he grabbed his sunglasses, which completed his usual casual outfit. The dreads where just long enough to be tied back so he had done that and he was in shorts, sleeveless old tee and flip flops as usual. Not bad for being him, at least he was wearing a shirt.
Double checking that he had wallet and cell phone he finally closed the door to the apartment and headed for the outside. He was intending on getting himself some coffee and maybe pick up some treat for the princess as he had renamed the kid within moments of meeting her. It was either that or kitten and princess fit her better. He hadn't spent a lot of time at home the last decade, but certain things, like spoiling people you never forgot. Ammo was the oldest and had done plenty of the spoiling over the years.
When he finally reached the door, he was met by another person. Smiling Ammo opened the door for her "Good morning" He had nothing against being a gentleman every so often, especially not when it was a pretty girl and the day was already going so great.
Lia had spent most of the last few days in her apartment. Not having anywhere to go and worried because she'd seen how badly Torque had been hurt by the demon that attacked him, she didn't see any reason to leave. And it kept Alwyn calm, which she appreciated. It meant he was quiet and off with Cat in a corner, leaving her alone. This, of course, meant that her draft for her writing class was completed. And there were a few readings she had done, most of which had been along the same lines as the reading she'd done the day the demons came to town. She was glad Torque and Patience had stayed the night with her and was more than happy to watch her on Saturday. There hadn't been much time to talk when he'd come to pick her up, saying a buddy of his from the 13th was in town and crashing with him. Lia understood and managed to hide her disappointment well.
When Sunday morning rolled around, she wanted to get out. There hadn't been any major demon attacks and the knowledge that there were people out there, trying to keep those who couldn't fight for themselves safe made her feel comfortable leaving her apartment. Besides, she needed some sunshine. So, donning a pair of shorts, a purple tank top and flip flops, she opted to walk to find coffee and perhaps some delicious treat that would be her breakfast. There was a man, one who was unfamiliar to her, by the door and she smiled when he held it for her. "Good morning. Thanks." She pulled her sunglasses out and put them on, heading off in the direction of the bakery.
It took her a moment to realize that he seemed to be heading in the same direction. Glancing over at him, she smiled. "Are you new to the building?" she asked conversationally.
It took Ammo a few moments to realize they were going the same way, but then he smiled. It seemed like he wasn't the only one with a bad enough coffee craving, or at least a breakfast craving, to be forced out of the house. "Yeah I am. I am staying with a friend of mine for a couple of days, gonna see if I can get my own place." Scarlet Oaks seemed as good of a place as any to spend a while, and with the Torque, him, Patience, Ulf and Roque is was getting crowded in Torque's apartment. Ammo didn't mind the close quarters with Torque, it was more the fact that Ulf and Roque had decided that the couch Ammo slept on was a perfectly good place to sleep. It was hard to get proper sleep when there was either a wolf-dog or a giant lynx on you. Why couldn't he have gotten a smaller familiar. Like a house cat or a dachshund or something. The time he had mentioned this to Roque the lynx and nearly taken his face of.
"I am Adrian, by the way, though everyone calls me Ammo" He had just kept the old nickname, he almost liked it better than his given name. Mostly because it was given to him for things he had done, not so the family could honor some old grandfather, or was it great grandfather. Still the only people who called him Adrian were his family. "Going out for coffee?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lia." She smiled and adjusted her purse. Company would make Alwyn feel a little better about the fact that she left the apartment. And she didn't mind having someone to walk with. Someone clearly strong and with a nickname like that, she wondering if he was Torque's friend. The possibility was definitely there. "I am. There is a little bakery I like to go to; great coffee, killer doughnuts and the best bagels I've had since I left New York. It's a bit of a walk, but I could use it. And it's a nice morning."
Lia spent a few moments trying to figure out if he was Torque's friend. He looked like he could have been a Marine. "Ammo is an unusual nickname," she said thoughtfully, wondering if he would supply the story behind it.
"Oh, good bagels sound like a nice treat. Haven't had good ones in forever." Ammo didn't mind the walk at all. Give him a day or two and he might go back to long morning jogs anyway. And having someone who could show him the way to somewhere he could add in on the route would be nice. In Boston he had lived just across the street from a bakery, and while it had been shady at times, he had gotten used to fresh baked goods in the morning, or whenever he had gotten up really. More often than not it had been late afternoon.
"I got the nick name in the military. Back when I was still training my officers said I used to be a bit trigger happy and it sort of stuck. I did grow out of the triggerhappyness but the nickname didn't. And then when I quit about a year ago, I decided I liked that name better than my given name so I kept using it." The story was also a great icebreaker, Ammo was pretty sure it had been responsible for several rather good one night stands.
They walked along and she smiled at her neighbor walking his dog. It felt like it was getting back to normal and she was grateful for that. Living in fear was not something she was a fan of, by any means. "I think the owner lived in New York for a while or something, cause they're really good. Nothing ever beats a New York bagel, but these are close." And she'd heard more than one person agree with her. Lia had yet to find decent pizza though. But now pizza brought to mind the night she'd spent in Torque's bed and that brought a faint blush to her cheeks.
Lia laughed a little at that. "Trigger happy, huh? Interesting. Glad you outgrew it." She smiled at him. Military. That seemed to add to the possibility that he knew Torque. "What branch?" she asked.
Ammo smiled, he agreed that nothing beat a proper New York bagel, but even things that came close where pretty damned good. He chuckled at her comment. "Marines for most of it. Was a part of a squad called the Phoenixes for the last... Oh, I don't remember how long, feels like several life times." It really did, both in a good way and in a bad way. There had been times when he counted the hours until he was on rest and away from the rest of them, but most of the time he would be counting hours until he got to go back. Even T and his yelling had been welcome at times. "As I said, I quit about a year ago, and have been living in Boston since." Mostly because the idea of living anywhere closer to home had been more than a little off putting. Ammo loved his sister dearly, but there was only so much time he could spend with his parents before something blew up and he rather not owe his parents a new car.
"I know a Marine, actually. Nice guy." She tucked her wavy hair back behind her ear. The chances of him not being Torque's friend were now slim. Extremely slim. But she didn't say anything. At least, about that anyway. "From Boston to Scarlet Oaks, huh? That's almost as random as New York to Scarlet Oaks." Lia laughed. "At least until I say I came here for school." She shrugged and crossed the street. Leaving New York still seemed strange, but she wasn't the only one who had done it. Remy had done it. And it turned out that so had Ammo. Well, Boston for him, but still. Everyone had their reasons for turning to a small town. Everyone's was different.
Ammo glanced over at her. She knew a Marine, and she lived in the same building as Torque, if where he had met her was an indication. The chance that she knew another Marine was small. But he didn't want to burst out with it, would seem a little bit strange, wouldn't it. "Oh, where do you go to school?" He smiled a little. "I came here to help out a friend of mine, it is his place I am staying in right now. Not the most comfortable couch I've ever slept on, but not bad. I might be going back when he doesn't need more help, or I might stay, haven't made up my mind yet."
"University of Michigan. Trying to finish my English degree. Want to teach." For an English major, she wasn't so keen on full sentences at the moment, but she'd just met him and it seemed that they were both sizing each other up. So it was a quicker way to give stats. "Does it at least pull out?" she said with a grin. "Scarlet Oaks kind of grows on you after a while. I never expected it to but it does." And that had nothing to do with her sexy as all hell neighbor whom she had rather amazing sex with. She actually kind of like the small town.
"If it does, the idiot of a friend have not told me. Then again I would not put it past him to not tell me." Ammo smirked, practical jokes had been a large part of what they. "I bet it does, I have only been here for twenty four hours or so. Came in yesterday morning. It was one heck of a drive from Boston. I did most of the drive on Friday and then the last little bit yesterday." Ammo glanced at her with a smile. "English teacher huh? For what level?" He had always sucked at guessing people's jobs. "How is it going? Enjoying it?"
Lia laughed. It wouldn't surprise her either, if she knew anything of how guys were to their friends. Not that she knew much, but that she had observed in the past. She nodded when he said he'd spent most of the past two days driving. She knew how much the drive from New York sucked. But it had been necessary. After all, she couldn't leave the Jeep there. "High school. Haven't really gotten to the education classes. I got my associates degree in New York and I'm just taking a summer class for fun right now. The hard work starts in the fall." But she was enjoying it. Her class was fun and challenging and she liked campus.
"I can imagine it will be." Ammo smiled, he would never understand why anyone would want to teach high school but it was good that someone did. And from the look her, she would make a nice teacher, at least a good looking one. "So it will be a while until you actually get to teach then?" Spotting what he guessed had to be the place he pointed it out "That is it?" From what he could see it was a nice place. Knowing how much Torque ate, he should probably bring enough to feed a whole family.
"At least two years. I will eventually have to get a masters too but if I find somewhere that will let me teach while I'm working it, I'm golden." She flashed him a bright grin and then looked up. "Yep. My favorite bakery. It's like a slice of heaven or something." She held open the door, letting him go in first, the smells of bakery already hitting her. There was a woman behind the counter Lia knew to be the owner and she smiled and waved, at the older woman. She walked over to the bakery case to see if there was anything new she wanted to try out or if she was going to go for a bagel again.
"That sounds like high praise" Ammo walked inside and looked around. The smell was very appetizing and he was thinking about what he wanted to pick up. Finally he picked up a bunch of bagles and something sweet for Patience, since Ammo felt like bribing her to like him. It helped that he had brought pets into the household, not that she needed it, but Ulf seemed to enjoy her company at least. Last he got a cup of coffee and sipped it while he watched Lia finish her shopping. "I figured I should pick up breakfast for everyone" Fair enough that it would seem that he was picking up food for an large family.
Lia's purchases were much smaller. Really just a large cup of coffee for herself and a bagel. She wasn't supposed to be babysitting Patience today or either the little girl might have gotten a treat. But she did noticed the sweets that Ammo added to his order. "Everyone? How many people are at your friend's?" she asked curiously. This would really tell her if he was Torque's friend or not. "Is there someone you want to make sure likes you?" she asked, eying the sweets. And there was enough food for a small army, which she found kind of amusing, given his military history.
"Me, Torque eats like a house, Patience, and Ulf, my dog. Rock, my familiar, is picky and prefer food he has captured himself" Ammo smiled and shifted the bag a little so it would be easier to sip his coffee. "And I figured I could spoil the princess... Patience that is. I just met her and I am sort of bribing her to like me. I figure that is the fast and easy way as I am living on their couch." For a moment Ammo was jealous of Ulf. The dog had a much easier time making friends with the girl. But he guessed that came from actually being a pet. Pets usually had an easy time making friends.
So he was Torque's friend. "Tell me about it. The other night I made meatloaf when he and Patience came over and I'm pretty sure he ate most of it." Lia held up her hands so he could see how big it was. "She's a sweet kid. Easy to get along with once she's comfortable about you. And if you have animals, then she's definitely going to be a good chance at being on her good side." She smiled. "Suppose we know the same the same Marine." Picking up her coffee again, she headed towards the door.
"You made him... Oh you know him?" Was she the girl Torque had mentioned? Seemed likely enough. She was cute and Ammo was pretty sure he'd have done her if she seemed willing. And Torque and him didn't have that different taste in women. Maybe a little, but not too much. "I really only have Ulf, my dog. Roque would claw my eyes out if I said I had him. But yeah, Torque eats a lot, have as long as I've known him." Ammo chuckled and held the door for her again. Even if she was off the market it didn't mean he couldn't be nice.
.
Lia blushed a little. "Yeah. I met him not long after I moved in. He was nice enough to save me and my groceries in a rain storm." Among other things. She nodded her thanks as he held the door again. Seems like all of Torque's friends were nice. At least, the three Marines that she had met before Torque had almost left seemed nice for the few moments she'd met them. "Really? What kind of animal is Rogue?" she asked, curious. Did he have a familiar?
"Roque is a lynx, he's my familiar." Ammo followed her, heading in direction of the apartment building. "That sounds like the sort of thing Torque would do. I meet him what would be the usual way for us, it's been years now. We have been through a lot of strange things. I could tell you stories, but I figure he will kill me if I do" Ammo smiled, maybe not quite kill, but not too far from it. "Torque was the one who taught me most of what I know about cars and bikes, I was never really that into them before meeting him, but he converted me. So you know Patience? Any tricks and such you can teach me to win her heart?"
Familiar. Interesting. "Huh. Mine is a black cat. Which would be kinda funny if I was a witch." She smiled as they walked back. Lia could almost picture them meeting and she wondered exactly how long it had been for them. She knew what it was like to have a good friend. It made her miss Marie a little. "Well, wouldn't want you to be killed for stories," she said with a light laugh. "As for Patience, she likes to play ponies. They always have different names, but she loves them. And very likely Roque and Ulf will serve as mountains and other landscapes for her ponies."
"Yeah I discovered that she liked ponies yesterday." Ammo chuckled slightly at the memory of the girl being all excited about Ulf being as big as a small pony. "She hinted that Ulf might make a good pony. But I am sure they will service as landscapes both." When he had been a teenager, he had often helped his father build model landscapes for his model trains. Maybe that could be an idea of something he could build for Patience. He would have to check with Torque though, mainly to see if there was enough space, these things tended to take up plenty space. "Oh so you are not a witch then I take it?"
She shook her head. "No, elemental. And I don't usually just randomly share that. Must be because you're friends with Torque," she said, half joking. Lia was finally comfortable in her own skin. It had taken a while, but she didn't mind what she was or what kind of blood was running through her veins. It was something to be proud of, having a gift like she did. "How big is Ulf?" she asked curiously, trying to picture everyone that was staying at Torque's apartment. That wasn't the biggest. Could two full grown men, two large animals and a small toddler all fit comfortably? It was an interesting image in her head.
"You're not alone then. I'm one too" Ammo glanced at her. It was still strange saying that, he still hadn't completely accepted what he was, or rather that he was more than he had always thought. "Ulf's a mutt, or at least I think he is, about the size of a small pony. That might be one of the reasons Patience likes him so much. I don't actually know what breed he is. I found him wounded in the forest, looked like some sort of trap had gotten to him. That was close to ten years ago I believe. I took him home and then he just sort of never left. He kept my sister company when I was away for long periods."
Interesting. She smiled at him. Sipping at her coffee, she listened to him describe his dog. He sounded big. "Those are always the best dogs with kids," she said thoughtfully. "The ones who are loyal. It's terrible that he'd gotten stuck in a trap. I'm glad you rescued him." Cat was an animal rescue. They were the best kind of pets to get. "I've only had Cat like four years, but I rescued her from a shelter in the city. She's the best cat I could have asked for. But I'd love to meet Roque and Ulf sometime. If you're staying with Torque a while, I'm sure it'll happen."
"Yeah, for now I am free pretty much all the time. I do need to see if I can get a job, but not for a couple of days." Ammo sighed, he hated job hunting but if he was staying here it would have to happen, he couldn't camp out on Torques couch forever. He took another long sip of his coffee, contemplating that for a moment. Right now, with everyone freaked out about the demons it shouldn't be too hard to get a job and it would get him a proper bed and not the couch. The couch wasn't bad in anyway, it was just that it was a couch in his buddy's living room. He didn't think he would mind sharing a space with Torque and the Princess, but it would have to be bigger than this. "I don't know how long I'll be staying at his couch though. But pop by sometime and you can meet them"
"I'll be sure to do that." Their walk back was shorter, it seemed. Lia unlocked the door and held it open for him to pass through. "Been a crazy couple of days for everyone or I'm sure we'd have bumped into each other already." She smiled and balanced her bag and her purse. "But it was nice to meet you and to have company on my walk." Despite the fact that there had been fewer demon attacks, having someone with her had put her mind at ease.
"Yeah, and thanks for showing me that place, it had really good food. "Ammo smiled and fished out the keys he had borrowed from Torque as he walked past her. "I actually only arrived yesterday so it is not so strange. Anyway, pleasure to meet you and hopefully we'll do this again." Leaving her, he headed to Torques apartment. He expected that the others would be hungry by now and probably wanted fresh bagels.