InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "got it memorized?"

The Lee-Dee-Yaaaaa!! (enjoytheadorbs) wrote in wariscoming,
@ 2013-04-11 13:50:00

Entry tags:

john mitchell, lydia bennet

Who: John Mitchell and Lydia Bennet
What: IDK being adorbs or something ~~and soooo many complicated feels~~
When: Today! Mid-afternoonish?
Where: Le Pierce House
Warnings: A for Adorbs! And probably PG-13 for language, innuendo, adult situations, brief nud...well, no probably not all that, but just in case stuff

The nerves running through her weren't all that surprising, really. But they weren't 'going to the home of three vampires and a ghost' kind of nerves. Maybe they should have been. Yeah, it was dangerous. She didn't know Katherine very well at all. And she did know Mitchell and Hal and she knew that, if it all came down to it, they could be incredibly dangerous. The sad part was, she didn't care. Oh, she didn't really want to die. Again. And more so, she didn't want to be in the position of them turning to that point, anyway. All their hard work, down the drain. The thought was an awful one. Because she really did care for the two big idiots, whether they wanted her to or not. And Hal, he was wonderful. When he wasn't doing the Lord Harry thing? Possibly one of the best friends she'd ever had. Kind and loyal and noble and good.

And Mitchell... Fine. She was crushing, and hard. And she may have only met the man once, but she knew him. Hours of talking online and silly jokes and sweet comments and god, he'd called her beautiful. Guys didn't say things like that about Lydia Bennet. They called her hot or sexy, maybe pretty if they were being generous. But beautful? Could she be blamed for swooning a bit? Really?

Besides, she didn't do commitmenty type things. Ever. Because really, look what happened when she did? She'd tried to do the noble thing and let Peter off the hook so he could go back to Gwen guilt-free and it had only made her bitter and hurt. And she'd liked Stefan, really liked him, but he was clearly still dealing with too much where Elena was concerned. And back home? Well. She tried not to think about it. Two serious boyfriends, both gone within months. And then there was Wicks and she couldn't think on that too long. Because there was way too much there, too much to think on, and it scared her. Part of her wanted to know. Wanted the truth, wanted her 'ending'. But she just couldn't.

So those were the nerves she was filled with as she stood at the door, waiting for someone to answer, hoping it wasn't Alex because being friends with someone you couldn't see or hear was just awkward and she felt badly about it, but what could she do? Her nerves weren't from fear of biting or blood draining or Hal correcting her grammmar all afternoon. It was knowing she was about to get some time alone with a guy who she had serious feelings for. And feelings? Were scary and complicated and, in this case, possibly quite dangerous.

And she was, in fact, armed with a packet of gold star stickers. Stickers for not biting house guests were worthy, she thought.

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onthefringes
2013-04-11 06:15 pm UTC (link)

The house was actually disturbingly quiet. Alex had vanished off somewhere and Mitchell had thought to ask Hal what was going on there, but saw the look on the older vampire's face and decided better of it. Those two were, he decided, borderline insane. Dysfunctional didn't even come close to it. So Alex was off somewhere, and Hal and Katherine seemed to be finding a non alcoholic way to drown Hal's sorrows, and that left the Irish vampire somewhat bored.

Yes, it was the boredom that had resulted in him setting up all the dominoes, even during non dominoes hours. All there, in a neat little spiral that covered the table. And with that last tile in place, he was fast running out of other ideas, because he really did not want to be cleaning the already spotless kitchen.

He was distracted from the boredom by the sound of the doorbell. And as ever, had that moment of hesitation. He no longer just saw blood when he looked at people, his restraint was pretty firmly in place. But that didn't stop him questioning himself on a regular basis. Hal always seemed so convinced that one day he himself would fail, and that made Mitchell wonder if there was a chance in hell of him succeeding where an Old One couldn't.

Still, there was someone, on the doorstep. Waiting for something. Overthinking later, people facing now. "Coming," he called out, sidestepping the table with the dominoes on the way to the door. The curious look on his face as he opened it changed to a huge smile when he saw it was Lydia. "Hey, come in."

The grin on his face wouldn't budge. And in his head, Mitchell could hear all the warnings from Hal about getting too close, about hurting her some day, and Mitchell knew that. And when he was alone, he kept telling himself that he'd find a way to back himself out of this, to protect her, to keep her safe from the monster he could be. But then the instant he saw her or heard from her, that resolve melted away. Lydia had the ability to just make him feel good about himself. The closest he'd ever felt like that before was with Annie, but even then, even with her, there had been that tinge of guilt. The taint of the Box Tunnel 20.

Lydia was different though. She knew he'd done horrific things and stuck by him anyway. Made him feel that there was something worth fighting for in himself. Not to mention just how beautiful she was when she smiled.

"How come I'm so lucky to see you today?" He stood to the side slightly, letting her move inside, though he wanted to hug her. Really wanted to, but didn't quite want to freak her out. "You want a drink or anything? Coffee? We do have more than just tea in this house after all."

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enjoytheadorbs
2013-04-11 07:04 pm UTC (link)

The one good thing about a man who had put himself in exile was, she knew he'd be home. Well. There were a few good things about him, quite a few great ones, but whatever, it was on the list. And she was probably interrupting at least two or three things on the schedule, but she found it hard to care.

And Lydia found it even more hard to care when the door opened and his smile was instant on seeing her. Which just made her smile all that bigger and that little feeling, like her tummy had just flip-flopped over and oh dear god, who was she right now? She was feeling shy? Who ever thought they'd see the queen of bold and upfront flirting all shy? But this was different. This was over a month of putting themselves out there finally tapered down to just the two of them, one on one, in person where anything could go wrong.

"I don't work tonight, I may have finagled for Alex to go off on her own for a while, and...well, the invitation was there." She probably should have made sure he'd actually wanted to see her first, though. What if he hadn't? What if he really just wanted to be alone? God, she was doing this all wrong. "Maybe I'm the lucky one actually getting to come see you, think of that?"

There. That was a bit more 'her'. Somewhere in this ridiculous bundle of what-the-hell and nerves, the real Lydia lay dormant. She just had to find her. That was the girl Mitchell had been talking to all along, that was the one he deserved now. If she was too forward, he'd never have kept talking to her anyway, right? God, she hoped so.

"Hal allows things other than Earl Grey?" she teased, stepping inside but sticking close. She could do this. There was that fine line between friend and flirting and she could cross it with ease. She always had before. This time was just a really good looking guy who typically flirted right back and oh, right, could actually rip her throat out if he felt like it. But it wouldn't be that way. Not for them. "Honestly, no, I'm fine. Really. Thanks, though."

What was the proper way to greet someone you'd been talking to but only met briefly, surrounded by people? Frankly, she knew what it was she wanted to do. And if she was channeling the real Lydia, she knew she had to do it. No matter the risks. And god, there were plenty. So she reached up, placing her arms around his shoulders and giving him a quick squeeze. "So...hi."

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onthefringes
2013-04-12 12:22 am UTC (link)

Really, he should have been more worried. He was alone in a house with a human. It had been a long, long time since that had happened. Werewolves were toxic to him, the vampires here were older than he was, and ghosts were already dead. But a human, a living, breathing human, with no one else around, just in case he lost control. He could hear her heart beating, could see the way her pulse fluttered in her neck....

But more than that, he could see the way she smiled, hear the lightness in her voice, and those were the things that drowned out the rush of blood. Because she was Lydia and she was brilliant, and being near to her just made him feel more.... human. Alive again.

"Well, we don't offer out standing invitations unless we mean them." Because really, she was welcome any time she wanted to see him. Them. See them. Because she was Hal and Alex's friend too. "Though the Alex finagling, don't tell Hal you managed that one, he'll want to know your secret. Not that I'm complaining." After all, he was a little old for a baby sitter. About a century too old. "Definitely not complaining."

Nor was he complaining about the hug. Yes, it put his teeth close to her neck, but he knew he could control himself. It was the fact she was willing to take the risk that meant a lot, and that showed through in the way he hugged her back tightly. "Hi." His voice was slightly muffled by her hair, and he could smell the scent of her shampoo. So very her, and something he could easily get hooked on. "I'm glad you came."

A moment later, he let her go, the grin on his face genuine and relaxed. As was the rest of his body language. They had gotten through the first big test, the unsupervised hug. And now he felt pretty damn good about himself. "Hal does sometimes allow something other than Earl Grey," he commented as he led the way to the living room. "But he pouts. He actually pouts. Like a kicked puppy. Which he also does when I go outside to smoke. And when I spill crumbs on the floor. And when I forget to rinse the bath after a shower. And possibly other times when I try to make him give me the kicked puppy look." What? Provoking an Old One couldn't possibly ever go wrong, right?!

In the living room, the proof of his boredom was obvious, the spiral of dominoes, and Mitchell looked sheepishly at Lydia. "He's a bad influence on me. See, this is the real reason I'm glad you're here, you have saved me from domino hell. And thus the proof that I am definitely the lucky one here. Much rather see you than play with these tiles any more."

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enjoytheadorbs
2013-04-12 05:51 am UTC (link)

There was that brief moment of panic, of fear that she was pushing him too far too soon and if she survived at all, it'd be as one of them. But the moment passed quickly because finally she was touching him and god, it was perfect. Fine. She was that girl. Were this a horror movie, she'd be the one easily seduced into getting her throat cut out and her fingers sent to her sisters or something. But how could she resist when she'd seen so much of him? When he'd put himself on the line time and again and still trusted her regardless? When he knew what he had the potential to be and still let her stubborn self in the house? How could she walk away from him?

And the fact that his whole body relaxed at her touch didn't hurt either. It was a start. A huge step, really. Physical contact and he hadn't so much as exposed a fang. That had potential. So screw everyone and their doubting. If they really tried, they could work on this.

Right? If he wanted to, that was. Yeah, sure, his whole face lit up in her presence, but maybe that was just because he was finally getting to be with people who weren't Hal, Katherine, or Alex. Nice as they may be, only being with the same three people for over a month would kill anyone.

"Alex and I enacted the girl code. She's probably around somewhere just in case we need her to break any horrible awkward silences, but she's promised to keep mostly to herself." And, of course, the other reason Alex wouldn't stray too far. Which Lydia loved her for. Oh, she desperately hoped she'd never need to rely on her for that. But she appreciated knowing there was help if she needed it. "She did mention you were the messy one and Hal's the neat one. Which I feel means you're probably messier than usual for the luls, you know?"

She followed him, resisting the urge to take his hand in hers as they walked. Because that wasn't forward or anything. And possibly unwanted and most likely too soon but he had great hands and she couldn't be blamed for that, okay?

The sight that greeted her in the living room was an amusing one. She rolled her eyes playfully and gave him a 'look'. "Do you two even realize this isn't the proper way to play dominos? It's something to do with the numbers and lining them up and... Eh, whatever makes him happy."

But the look on her face grew from teasing to downright mischievous as she grinned. "But he's not here. And what he doesn't know..." And walking up to the display, she took the tip of one perfectly manicured nail and ever so gently, pushed the first domino down. She didn't even try to hide the little giggle that escaped as they all went down in perfect succession. "Oops?" she offered, shooting him an innocent smile. "My bad. I was never here, I don't know what you mean."

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onthefringes
2013-04-12 06:29 pm UTC (link)

It definitely wasn't because hers was the only face other than those in the house he'd seen in weeks that made Mitchell smile. It was because it was her face. Well, also the rest of her. The entire Lydia package really. And okay, what happened to the suave vampire who once claimed he could actually talk to women without setting fire to himself? George had once mocked him for turning into a 12 year old where women he actually cared about were concerned, and it was entirely possible that the werewolf was right. Not that he would ever have admitted it if George showed up.

"Girl code?" Now those were two words to make any man's blood run cold. "As in the most terrifying code known to man kind, that girl code? Remind me not to do anything to piss you off, Alex will do something like throw cold water over me in bed or something." The Scottish ghost had a mean streak when she wanted it. "Also remind me to never piss you off because it would be bad. And make you sad. Which would be really bad." Was he... yes he was actually babbling. Like a teenager. Now, he could either try to gloss over it and try to make it worse, or do the grown up thing and admit it. Grown up thing. Any second now.

"I swear, I used to have a cool rep. You're a bad influence on me, Lydia Bennet." The best kind of bad influence.

Even if that did include tipping the dominoes.

"I'm supposed to look disapproving. I think. Is it bad that I'm impressed? It takes skill you know, tipping them all neatly like that. And now I want to see you doing that to one of Hal's set ups." Purely for the scandalized look that would be on his face. Which would never not be funny. "And for the record, never tell him that he doesn't play it right. That way lies long, long explanations about why the game isn't the point, it's about control or OCD or some strange thing like that." Mitchell waved his hand around vaguely. Admittedly, Hal's schedule did make sense, as much as he hated to admit it. Controlling his environment did help him control the urges. And maybe it was time he stopped living like a student, with barely functioning furniture and smoking roll ups and eating Pot Noodles. Okay, so he hadn't given up the smoking roll ups yet, but he was working on that part. He'd cut down, that gave him some credit, right?

"Have I mentioned yet it's good to see you? Because it is, I mean. Good. Even if you're probably going to get me into trouble."

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enjoytheadorbs
2013-04-12 07:56 pm UTC (link)

She rolled her eyes playfully at him and shook her head. "Come on, we're not that bad. Girl code as in, I wanted some time alone with you and I'm getting it because Alex is awesome." And there it was. Out in the open for him to judge. She'd personally arranged to get time alone with him, choosing to carefully avoid Hal and Katherine both and making sure that Alex would stick to...some other part of the huge house. Not right there under their noses checking in every five minutes.

He was babbling. Bless him, he was actually rambling and acting adorable and oh dear god, could he be any cuter? In her head, she knew Mitchell could kill her as soon as look at her. But it was really hard to put that image with the freaking precious pile of rambling standing in front of her and apologizing for rambling. He was always going on about not knowing what he'd done to deserve her. But just then, it was Lydia wondering what she'd done to deserve this.

"You have to stop acting like I'm changing your world here, Mitchell," she said, her voice teasing but her smile genuine. "It's just me and just you and seriously, we're cooler than this, I know we are." But it was just so nice. Having him thinking she was so incredible she was worthy of babbling.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head at the mention of knocking over Hal's sets. "I'm not crazy, thank you. He'd pout at me. Or get really pissed. I'm not looking forward to either one." She knew the reasons Hal 'played' the way he did. It was a calming technique. One she didn't entirely get because there were a million better ways to stay calm, but she appreciated that he had one, at least. More so, she appreciated him taking Mitchell under his (figurative) wing and teaching him, too.

Delicately, Lydia perched herself on the arm of the couch, feeling Hal roll his eyes and scold her from wherever he was. The arms weren't meant to be sat on, the couch was for sitting, and why would she do such a thing? It was even fun infuriating him when he wasn't even there, Alex had been right. "Now why would I get you into trouble, hmm? You act like just because I'm so terribly rebellious and wild and off-the-wall that trouble just follows me. Oh. Right. Well. I wouldn't do it intentionally, at least?"

And it was good to see him, too. But that? Well, that should've been obvious.

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onthefringes
2013-04-12 11:32 pm UTC (link)

"No, no, see girl code is the thing that mystifies and terrifies all men. Science proved it. And it's been true since the dawn of time, ask Hal!" But the smirk on his face showed how much he was joking. Mostly. Because women were a mystery, and any man who claimed otherwise was obviously lying. "Well, whatever this particular type of girl code that you invoked was, I'm glad of it. Alex enjoys throwing things at my head far too much, and Hal and Katherine are off being all old or something." Because he himself was not old. Quite yet. Just. "Besides, if they were around, they'd be trying to hog your attention and that would make me sulk and that's not a pretty sight, believe me." Because yes. He wanted alone time with her too. As scary as that was, being alone with a girl who could make him babble like a teenager, who made him feel good about himself.

"Slight problem there, though, you do change my world." He spread his hands in a 'what can you do?' gesture. "Before you, there was no Disney appreciation, no nicknames, no making me laugh my coffee up my nose, and yes you have made me do that before, don't gloat." She made him feel like just a guy, and that was quite possibly the best feeling in the world.

"Hal's pouting isn't nearly as bad as people seem to think it is. I actually find it entertaining. The pissed part though," Mitchell did have to wince a little, just slightly. "If the stories I used to hear about him are even a little bit true, none of us want to see Hal Yorke angry." Lord Harry, the Old One, the one who could make even Herrick look uncomfortable. It had been a shock to Mitchell to turn up and actually meet the legend and find out that he was actually a decent bloke.

He sprawled himself on the couch, his shoulder bumping playfully against her hip. Another pose that would have made Hal scold them, telling him to sit up properly. But he was comfortable, and he was closer to her, which was actually the point of the exercise. And where she was delicate and elegant, he was all sprawling and casual.

"Oh all kinds of trouble," he looked up at her with a grin. "I can see you talking me into daft stuff like making prank calls, or meddling with Hal's very very strange tidying system in the kitchen. Or, I don't know, running through the park naked or playing knock down ginger with the neighbours! Acting like I'm on some sort of sugar high, but without any actual sugar." Light hearted stuff. Ridiculous ideas that she would somehow make sound like great plans.

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enjoytheadorbs
2013-04-13 09:17 am UTC (link)

He had the power to make her do that smile. The one that showed she actually did have feelings buried beneath the always happy, always bouncy, determined to never let anything show exterior. The bashful little smile where she ducked her head and laughed quietly and her cheeks flushed pink. "I think you're just trying to get out of being called HottieVamp by giving me that mental picture. You'd think you'd know by now not to drink anything when reading the words of one Lydia B. Bennet!" She sounded so much more confident than she actually felt. But really, that was Lydia's way. Never show your fears. Always show confidence, even when scared. And let no one see you cry.

A little chill went down her spine at the thought of Hal becoming Lord Harry on them. And, really, that was probably for the best. A healthy fear of him should probably always stay in place. Never get too sure of him. Never think that Hal was some giant teddy bear. Because he was...he just might not always stay that way. And he'd scoff at them for forgetting that. "It'll be fine," she reassured, as she set her jaw in defiance. "He'll be fine. We'll get him through, it doesn't have to happen again. Not for a very long time, anyway."

Lydia couldn't stop the grin splitting across her face as he sat himself next to her. For a one hundred plus man, he still sometimes acted like the twenty-four year old he'd been when everything had changed. And it was completely evident in his posture. Though she liked being that close to him. She liked that hint of a touch even, just that light little brush that proved he was right there beside her. And the laugh that came with it. She'd brought that laugh in him. And she loved it.

And she fought the urge that the Lydia from home would've given into, to say screw it and slide down to rest rather comfortably in his lap. No, Hal had reminded her she didn't need to be that girl. She could be an adult, she could flirt without being a slut, thank you.

"I'd be the one talking you into it but you're the one with the ideas. I now have a horrible urge to go rearrange the spice rack. Or his DVDs, tell me he alphabetizes his DVDs. Actually, it's Hal, does he know DVDs exist? I had to teach him online shopping, Mitchell." And that brief moment of letting the image of the running through the park naked prank... All better. "Besides, it's still too cold for running anywhere naked, except maybe in front of a fireplace. Which, really, just awkward." And didn't vamps not do well with fire? She really should research more. His world's vampires. Not just any.

Absently, she found her finger twisting through one of his dark curls. He really did have some amazing hair. "I could probably get you on a sugar high. There's a cupcake place in town, dangerous though. Had to spend an extra hour in the gym. Though I'm guessing your metabolism isn't affected anymore, is it? Do your bodies even have the ability to change now?"

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onthefringes
2013-04-14 12:03 am UTC (link)

"Uh huh," Mitchell drew out both syllables with a cheeky grin. "I think I know you well enough by now that telling you stuff like this just encourages you. If I'm not careful, you'll start doing stuff like trying to beat the number of times you make me do that in a day or something." Not that he was complaining, not really. Okay, so snorting drink up one's nose from laughing so much wasn't the most dignified thing in the world, but it was also the first time in his long life that someone had been able to make him do that.

Mitchell dreaded the idea of Lord Harry. Not only for the sake of Hal, but for himself too. What would it mean if even an Old One couldn't keep control? And would he be able to resist the temptation of Lord Harry tried to push him off the deep end. "His friends kept him going before, I like to think we can do the same here. As long as he doesn't keep doing stupid things like talking to Lucifer." Really, he lived with a couple of idiots in that regard.

His eyes closed for a moment, and he even made a contented noise that was almost a purr at the feel of her finger toying with his hair. He'd missed that sort of casual touch in his life, found it incredibly soothing. Without even realizing he was doing it, he tilted his head slightly more in her direction, his body relaxed more with her touch.

"He's aware of DVDs, don't know if he has any. And seriously? Even I know about online shopping and I didn't have the internet at home." Couldn't afford the broadband bills, not on their salaries. "Tell you what would drive him more mad though, because I know he has books. Figure out what his system is, like alphabetized by author name or something, and rearrange them into a different but equally valid system. Or the spice rack, arrange them by colours or something. Different systems, they're key." Not that he should encourage teasing. But the mental image of Hal's face when faced with some wrong system was too hilarious.

"Fireplaces don't exactly leave much room for running. Maybe that one will have to wait until the summer. Are there lakes nearby? Because I am now fearing what you might come up with if there are lakes around when the weather's warmer." Though, that could also involve her wearing swimming appropriate clothing and okay, time to stop his brain going down that direction.

"Yeah, our bodies can change. Just takes longer for us. Like a bad hair cut? Takes me forever to grow out. Really, the 80s were just embarrassing." He didn't mention that it was easier when there was blood in the vampire's system. It was a non issue for him since there was no blood allowed. Simple. End of story. "Anyway, what do you need to go to the gym for, you're gorgeous."

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enjoytheadorbs
2013-04-14 04:02 am UTC (link)

Actually, Lydia quite liked knowing she had the power to make him laugh so much. When she'd met him, he'd seemed so dark. So hurt and angry. A man who'd sacrificed himself, who'd begged his friend to kill him rather than become the darkest thing imaginable. That man had desperately needed some light in his life. And...well, maybe that light was her. Maybe she'd meant to be the one to reply to that post. To talk to him, to be silly with him, and Hal, too. They needed someone to give them a boost. They'd had that Annie back home, here...well, here they had her. Plain, ordinary, human her. "Promise to keep a tally sheet?" she teased, her smile wicked.

She couldn't think about Lord Harry. Because she knew what she'd promised and she knew what it might all come down to. Putting herself in the lives of these men meant risk. Not just the risk of her death, though that was up there. She could be used against them, whichever turned first. Or she could be turned herself, made into one of them and forced into the life they both were currently fighting against. She hated it. Hated thinking about it, constanly worrying about it. So she didn't. It was in the back of her mind at all times, always something to consider. But she didn't let it rule her thinking, either. So she simply nodded her agreement, keeping her face neutral.

Besides. How could she think about Hal going dark at a time like this? When he was making those so sweet sounds and relaxing into her touch and she found she wanted to bring this out of him more often. Lydia Bennet, the flirt, the one famed in the books for being far too forward for her time. So she continued the gesture, one strand of hair and then another, just lightly touching; gentle reminders that she was there and that he meant a hell of a lot more to her than she really wanted him to.

"You're a terrible influence, you know. You say I'm going to get you in trouble, but I really think it's the other way around. His books being alphabetized by title, now they're done by author, hmm? Or my favorite, wander around the house moving something out of place every few feet. Not a lot, just subtle enough to drive him crazy." Which she'd only ever do if he deserved it.

Okay, so she may not have to act like a total whore. But he had opened himself up to it. "Oh, lakes? You want to go skinny dipping, is that it? Only been once before, believe it or not, but I am always up for a repeat performance." And, admittedly, the grin on her face was entirely too wicked for words. Let him sit with those images. Let him imagine a day in June, hot summer sun and the much cooler waters of a local lake under the moonlight. If she played her cards right, if this all worked as she hoped, he'd be hers by then anyway.

And there he went again. Being so sweet and so good and ugh, was it any wonder she already had plans to win his heart? "If I'm going to stay gorgeous, the gym is a necessity. Especially after three cupcakes. Let me tell you what a day of regret that was. Probably a bit like the entire 80s for you."

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onthefringes
2013-04-18 03:50 pm UTC (link)

"Okay, I'll keep a tally sheet for you, if you don't get too smug every time you reach a certain target." And Mitchell mentally facepalmed, accepting that he had just encouraged her to make him laugh and relax more often. But really, was that such a bad thing? He had tried to be normal in the past, tried to be 'human', but every time it had backfired, and he'd ended up hurting the people around him. But maybe this time could be different. This time there was a human involved, yes, but one who knew what he was and seemed to like him anyway. And there wasn't the guilt he had had with Annie. Oh Annie, he had loved her. Part of him probably always would. But she hadn't understood him, and hadn't really wanted to. She had feared that side of him and had pushed him into being arrested, drawing the attentions of Wyndham, pushing over that last desperate ledge. Mitchell had wanted to be better for her, but in the end, had never been enough. Annie, like Lauren before her, was someone he would forever associate with so much guilt and regret.

Not like with Lydia. Who could make him almost purr like a cat and make him feel so soothed just by her presence. The sound of her heartbeat wasn't like a taunting reminder of blood, but a reassuring presence that she was right there and calm with him.

Also she was a genius. And he glanced up at her with a smirk, even though he didn't move his head so much that her hand could lost contact with his hair. "We should totally do that one. Katherine and Alex probably wouldn't even notice, which would just drive him even more crazy, trying to work out just where everything should be again." At some point down the line, Hal had stopped being the Old One he should have been in awe of and had become the roommate he wanted to wind up. Weird life.

And that mental image made his brain practically short circuit. Lydia in a lake, water dripping, giving him that grin, it was enough to make his unneeded breath catch for a moment. "Better hope the weather warms up enough soon then. Because we should find a lake." Really really find a lake. Nice and private, just the two of them and okay, needing to make his brain focus again.

"Oh really? The 80s had shoulder pads. And the worst hair styles and punk music that was less music and more shouting, which I never really understood as a genre," he grinned up at her, eyes bright with the memories of it. "Though we did also have Freddie Mercury back then, and he made so many things worth it. Queen were gods."

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enjoytheadorbs
2013-04-19 10:21 pm UTC (link)

"Me? Smug? John Mitchell, I'm hurt! Have you ever known me to be...um. You know what, just strike that sentence from the record, would you?" Because she was smug. Sometimes, she was so very smug. Right now, she was exceeding prior levels of smug. How could she not? She had a man feared in his world turning to putty in her hands. He melted into her touch, making soft noises of contentment. And she wasn't blind, she saw his reaction to her comments about lakes. Her teasing little words on spending time in those lakes. One thing Lydia did know was men and his expression wasn't exactly difficult to read. For his tough exterior, he wanted her.

And all she could do was smile about it. Yeah. She was smug. But it was deserved.

"You know, I think we might actually share the title of bad influence. You jumped on that way too quickly." Both things. Tormenting Hal and an old-fashioned round of skinny dipping. Oops. Not that she minded influencing him. Not like this. This? Wasn't dangerous. This was fun, light-hearted teasing. Silly things like this might just be the difference between the 118 year-old trapped in a college frat boy's life and the terror that he'd caused so many times before it.

Which was what made her breath catch and she paused in her petting, letting it sink in. What if Hal was right and it was her who would cause him to lose it? But what if she was the one who could help him keep it together? Was there any possible way to know before his teeth sank into her? If there was even a chance that she could help him, was it fair of her to walk away?

It was that simple. She just...wouldn't. She would stay, for as long as he let her, anyway, supporting him. If he tried to push her away, she'd just do what she could to weasle her way back into his life. And if the day came where she was made to regret it... Well, she only hoped somehow, Lizzie and Jane and Robin and Much and Hal...especially Hal...they'd be able to forgive her.

"So tell me more about the 80s," she insisted, forcing the smile back into place. She wouldn't let him see her worry. Not now, not about this. "I wasn't even born yet, you know. I mean, I know who Queen is, I'm not that stupid. But I always thought they were the 70s."

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