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Post by Jude on Jul 8, 2010 8:33:19 GMT -5
Ear buds in, music low, he was in a slump the entire day. It felt like he wasn't there, even though he'd heard everything Lena and everyone else was saying to him. He felt like a ghost. Eyes low, head tilted, music softly bellowing into his ears. He was trying to figure it out. He'd been walking since four, and it was already eight at night. Sighing, he found himself standing outside of Per Se. Spyra works here. Looking around, he took the short steps closer until he found himself opening the door. Walking inside, the place wasn't empty. But it wasn't exactly buzzin' with clients either. Eyes scanning the place, he finally spotted her. Far off in the back, doing... something. He noticed people were starting to stare, and realized this might seem a bit odd for someone to just waltz in and not sit down. Just.. some guy, standing there, in the middle of the establishment, while everyone tried to eat. Yeah... weird. Turning, he grabbed the closest seat to him and sat down. Eyes scanning, he found her again. She was moving, walking, talking, smiling. He could wait. It wasn't like he had anything else to do. Besides... he was here for a reason, right? Right.
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 8, 2010 15:28:13 GMT -5
Spyridoula Areleous was no longer a waitress. She was moving up in the culinary world. That's right, ladies and gentleman. Spyra was, at the ripe age of seventeen years and two months, a hostess. Which meant just about nothing except that she made ten and a half dollars and hour instead of eight and didn't have to wear the white-on-top, black-on-bottom uniform of a waitress. Also, as long as she was sneaky about it, she could bring Heron to work. He had to stay in her bag under the top of her podium but it was better than having him home alone in his cage while she worked for six hours. Moving to the back, Spyra called into the kitchen, falling into the Spanglish that most of the chefs their spoke. " Vamonos, muchachos! I got customers complaining about the long wait! They want their cenas quickly, you know?" After receiving their laughing but respectful replies, Spyra shook her head and moved back to the front. She made several stops along the way, checking in with customers, smiling that winner smile, laughing at the bawdy jokes made by the table of drunk businessmen. Wonder if they knew she was young enough to be their daughter? A waiter caught her then, asked something about tips, hit on her... She just smirked and patted his arm flirtatiously before heading back for the front. She didn't make it there, though. Table three had been empty when she headed back to the kitchen but it now had a single occupant. Brow furrowed, Spyra moved a little closer. Who had been seated in the three minutes she was gone? Glancing to a clock, she saw that it had actually be a good fifteen minutes, if not more. Christ. Being a hostess was hard. Edging away from the table, she was nearly to the waitress podium again when she noticed who exactly the Table Three patron was. Jude? Jude, who she hadn't seen in... God knew how long. A smile finding her face, she signaled to the other hostess that she would be back in a few minutes and then moved up to him. "Hello there, sir. How may I help you this evening?" she said, using her standard greeting when dealing with customers. Shaking her head, she giggled a little and cocked her head to him. "Seriously though, hey." Pursing her lips but not disturbing her smile, she asked, "You're not here to see me, are you?"
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Post by Jude on Jul 8, 2010 15:41:50 GMT -5
His eyes never left her. Only for a moment when she started to walk back to the podium. Turning his head slightly, he wondered if she realized it was him or not. Of course they hadn't seen each other in awhile... But, he couldn't forget her.
"Hello there, sir. How may I help you this evening?"
He smirked, arms leaning on the table. "Seriously though, hey." His smirk turned into a grin as one hand reached out and pulled out the ear buds. "You're not here to see me, are you?"
"Actually." he paused, smiling softly. "I am. I wasn't sure what time you got off, and I wasn't certain on your address cause that was awhile ago..." He was rambling. Shut up.
Taking in a breath, he sucked his lips in as well. "So um, what time do you get off?" He asked gently. Jude's tongue darted out, licking at his lips as his eyes flicked over her. She looked beautiful tonight.
Somewhere between his brain, that single thought, and his mouth; the wires got tangled up. "You're beautiful." It came blurting out, green eyes looking up into her brown orbs. "You are..."
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 8, 2010 16:24:03 GMT -5
Spyra had to pretend her heart didn't give a little flip when he said he was there to see her. She had been certain he was there to meet some other girl, for a date. That would be much more...Jude Carter. But then she had to remember that he had proved himself to be more than just some man-whore... She nodded in response to what he was saying, a soft smile finding her face. he sounded...nervous? It was endearing, really.
"Uhm," she glanced at the clock and actually checked the time. Whoa, when had it gotten to be quarter past eight? "Just, like, fifteen minutes. But..." Spyra paused, craning her neck around. She could just spot Molly, her replacement for the next shift, coming in. Perfect. "I can duck out a little early. If you wanted to wait, like, three seconds?" Her head dropped to one side, eyes on his as she waited for a response.
The compliment took her off guard. She was preparing to walk off, grab her bag and come collect him to leave. And then he just threw that out there. Soft laughter dropped from her lips as a surprised smile graced her face. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself." The smile turned to a teasing grin but her eyes stayed on his, sincere. Pressing a hand to his cheek gently she asked, "You all right?" Compliments from Jude were not that unusual but...with that tone and that look in his eyes... It just seemed off.
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Post by Jude on Jul 8, 2010 21:37:00 GMT -5
"Just, like, fifteen minutes. But... I can duck out a little early. If you wanted to wait, like, three seconds?"
She was so cute when she dropped her head to the side and looked at him with that smile. "Um, yeah. I think I can wait." he laughed gently, nodding. "I mean if anything I might wait outside." His thumb pointed at the door.
"Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."
He smiled softly, and just when he thought he had saw it all. She cradled his cheek with her hand. "You all right?" His eyes closed a moment, a breath going in as his hand covered hers. "Yeah." He answered slowly, eyes opening and a sigh escaping before his lips gently pecked her hand. "Yeah, I'm okay."
Realizing he was still holding her hand, he smirked and let go, fingers snaking up the back of his head to rub through his hair. "Yeah, so." He chuckled. "I'll meet you outside?"
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 8, 2010 22:35:14 GMT -5
She chuckled a little as he said he could wait outside if worse comes to worse. Shaking her head, she said, "I mean, like, literally three seconds. I just gotta run to the front and grab my bag." And Heron, couldn't forget him. "Then we can boogie." She shot him a genuine, wide smile, already edging toward the front. She was eager to learn what had prompted this visit.
His hand covered hers and the weight and warmth sparked something in her chest. "All right," she replied softly, smile touching the corners of her mouth when he kissed her palm. She wasn't entirely convinced yet, that he was okay. But he said it was so she would leave it at that for now.
Giggling softly, she pushed her own hand through his hair, mussing it up a bit. "Just come with me, dude." She waved a hand gesturing for him to follow as she wove her way back to the hostess stand. "Yo, Shannon," she said, addressing her partner that evening. "I'm ditching now but Molly's here already in back." Shannon just nodded, sending a pointed, scandelous look to Jude and then back to Spyra before nodding. Spyra only rolled her eyes, but grabbed her bag and moved through the front door, breaking into the warm night air. Heron squeaked slightly in her bag from the sudden movement but Spyra waited a moment before checking on him. Waited for Jude to say or do something.
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Post by Jude on Jul 8, 2010 22:43:36 GMT -5
"I mean, like, literally three seconds. I just gotta run to the front and grab my bag. Then we can boogie. All right,"He smiled, watching as she started off. " Alright." He was already taking to his feet and walking to the door to wait for her. He didn't feel right sitting there and not ordering anything. Besides, people were still starring, which made him feel off even more than he was. One ear bud in, and the music on low he waited for her to return. Smiling he looking back and saw she was heading towards him. " You ready?" Smiling lopsidedly, he offered the one earbud up to her. " I've been listening to this playlist all day. Just walking." Taking in a breath, he stretched a bit. " Kinda just want to keep walking. I don't really know what made me stop here." He offered up honestly. " I'm glad though, y'know?" He paused, looking over at her. " So..." Smiling, showing a slight dimple, he shoved a hand into his pocket. " Walk with me?" He said looked back up at her. " Talk with me." he laughed, swaying a bit.
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 8, 2010 23:06:42 GMT -5
"Mhm," she hummed in response to his question of being ready. She took the offered earbud, popping it in and leaning close to not stretch the wire. A smiel came to her face at the sounds of the slow jam, head bobbing a little. "Nice. Walking? Walking where?" She glanced to him from the side, smilng softly.
"Oh! Hang on." Ducking her head, she opened her bag and peered inside. Heron blinked up at her, nose twitched. She laughed a little and shook her head. "Sorry buddy," she apologized. Reaching in, she scooped the hedgehog out of the bag and propped him on her shoulder. He had ridden there plenty of times and seemed to be enjoying the fresh air at that moment.
"Walking's good," Spyra declared with a little nod. Meeting Jude's eyes, she smiled. "I'm glad too." She bumped her hip against his softly. So... Walk with me? Talk with me." Spyra laughed softly but nodded. "Sure. What've you been thinking 'bout while walking all this time?" she asked conversationally.
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Post by Jude on Jul 8, 2010 23:16:19 GMT -5
"Nice. Walking? Walking where?"
"Anywhere." He answered back with haste. Smile looming on his lips as he looked over at her. "Oh! Hang on. Sorry buddy," He grinned, finger reaching up to gently pet the hedgehog on the head. "Cute."
"Walking's good,"
"It is." He answered back with a lopsided grin, one hand in his pocket as he slowly started walking. "I'm glad too." He laughed, walking to the side a moment before joining back with her quickly. "Good." He answered with a goofy smile.
"Sure. What've you been thinking 'bout while walking all this time?
This is what he loved about her. She was just ready to go. Whenever, wherever. Ready for the journey, the ride. " Everything; Life. Cause you know I'm a philosopher of sorts." He grinned. "But yeah, everything." Lena, the baby girl they were expecting. The bond he shared with Lena that he didn't want to break. But then there was Spyra, and they had something too, didn't they?
"I, um." He swallowed hard, head dipping down a moment. "I'm gonna be... a dad soon." No use in trying to walk around the subject. It wasn't like he could either, Lena was already eight and a half months into it. Unnamed-Carter was going to be born any day.
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 9, 2010 0:03:57 GMT -5
She smirked, watching as Heron closing his eyes softly while Jude pet him. Laughing a little at her pet's antics, she tucked both her hands into the back of her belt, stretching her back out a little. He sent her an exaggerated grin then and she shook her head, laughing openly. Head tossed back a little and eyes closed. "You're such a goof," she told him, giving him a little shove.
She snorted softly, raising her eyebrows at him. "A philosopher?" she asked. Gentle smile coming to her lips, she added, "I thought you were my not-quite knight in shining armor." The smile curved over her lips as she recalled the first night they had met, all those months ago...
"I, um." Immediately, Spyra picked up on his change in demeanor. No longer joking or playful, Jude seemed tense. Nervous. She looked to him patiently, if also a little worried. "I'm gonna be... a dad soon." Bomb. Holyyyyy shit, talk about dropping a bomb... Spyra's face and mind went blank a moment, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. She blinked onve before touching a few fingers to her forehead, steadying herself.
"What?" she asked, out of reflex. "I mean, not what. I did hear you and I know what that means..." Blowing out a steady breath, she began again. "Congratulations?" That wasn't meant to be a question... "Congratulations." She managed a smile. "That's... I mean, wow. It's... How...far along is she? The mother?" Who was the mother was a better question, but not quite appropriate. Heron skittered over her shoulders, behind her hair then and onto the other shoulder, causing a shiver to run down Spyra's spine.
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Post by Jude on Jul 9, 2010 10:56:01 GMT -5
"You're such a goof,"
Grin wide, he laughed, walking off to the side again as she shoved him. "A philosopher?" He nodded, looking over as they walked. "Yeah, a philosopher." He chuckled. "I thought you were my not-quite knight in shining armor." Head tilting back, he laughed out loud. giving off a lopsided smile he looked at her, biting as his bottom lip. "Can't I be both? Multi-layered."
"What?" she asked, out of reflex. "I mean, not what. I did hear you and I know what that means..."
She stopped. He quickly put on the brakes as well, head slightly lowered and lips sucked in his mouth. "Congratulations? Congratulations." Deep intake, loud sigh. "Thanks." He replied softly, voice hoarse.
"That's... I mean, wow. It's... How...far along is she? The mother?"
A hand reached up, covering his mouth before wiping down his chin just to land back at his side. "Eight and a half months.." He answered honestly, his voice soft as he slowly moved towards the sidewalk. "Not like we asked for it. Neither of us are ready."
Course she didn't want to hear this. Shit. Eyes closed tightly before turning back to her again. "Felix says hi." He offered softly, hands digging into his pockets as he smiled faintly. "I mean, literally." He paused. "New power or something, I don't know. It just came along with the .. other news."
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 9, 2010 20:14:44 GMT -5
Something about the way he was biting that lip... Spyra shook her head softly, smiling. God, the things he did to her... "Can't I be both? Multi-layered." Laughing in surprise a little, she nodded. "That sounds about right. I recall something about you being more than just a one-dimensional character."
All right. Well, he didn't seemed thrilled by this. But, really, why would he be? He was only a bit older than her. A kid at this age was just...not ideal. And the mother was nearly due! Christ. Spyra pressed a hand to her forehead, adjusting to the news. Why would he tell her that? Well, actually, thinking a bit further, she appreciated it. They were... Well, they had something; whatever it was. And if he had just shown up one day with a baby on his hip... Yeah, Spyra would have been less than pleased. It was an awkward position though. Was she allowed to be mad at him for this? It wasn't as if they were together or anything like that...
She nodded softly as he spoke further, brow furrowed, and started to walk again. She was desperate to ask who this other girl was. Probably a mutant. Someone he could relate to deeper, share things in some subtle, biological way. Spyra had the brief and stupid desire to be a mutant, and not just for the awesome powers.
But then again. He was here, with her, now. He was talking to her and had someone else somewhere else with his baby in her. Was this... Was he...breaking up with her? Or, well, not really breaking up. They weren't in a relationship so they couldn't break up. End things. Was he here to stop whatever it was they were doing, was going on between them?
But then he was talking about Felix, like it was nothing. Like he hadn't just rocked her world. She laughed shortly, a little disbelievingly. "Does he, then? Well, tell him I say 'hi' back..." Shaking her head a little, she sighed. "You mutants. I would kill to know what Heron was thinking most days." She tilted her eyes to the side, looking to her hedgehog.
Swallowing, she decided to breach the topic lingering beneath them again. "So. Boy or girl?" she asked in a would-be casual manner, eyes dipping to his.
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Post by Jude on Jul 9, 2010 23:01:05 GMT -5
"That sounds about right. I recall something about you being more than just a one-dimensional character."
Jude laughed softly, balancing himself on the curb of the sidewalk as a cab came up besid him, honking it's horn. "I have layers." He smiled, nodding his head as he turned to look at her. He was wondering what she was thinking. Did she have questions? If so, why wasn't she asking him? Of course they weren't an official couple. But they had something, right? There's a spark between them, he found himself hoping she felt it, and it wasn't all just his imagination.
Things grew silent, and he found that they were just standing there, across the street from Per Se. His eyes landing on her, she looked beautiful. Beautiful and confused. Taking in a deep breath his shoulders dropped, moving a bit closer as it looked like she was going to say something.
"Does he, then? Well, tell him I say 'hi' back..." Shaking her head a little, she sighed. "You mutants. I would kill to know what Heron was thinking most days."
A smile slowly crept across his lips as he looked on Spyra's shoulder. "Pissed about closed quarters. But he's content now." Hands deep in his pockets he raised his shoulder, catching her eyes as he laughed gently.
"So. Boy or girl?"
"Girl." He answered softly, moving to walk around her a bit. he was never ending with movement the entire day. Of course he wasn't going to stop. His mind was reeling, and his body was quick to follow suit.
Hands slipping from his jean pockets to his neck as he took in a deep breath. "I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry." He whispered out in a large sigh. "I can understand if you don't want to.." Swallowing roughly his eyes caught hers again. "Y'know, never see me again." Brows furrowed, he waited for a reply...
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 9, 2010 23:18:21 GMT -5
"Pissed about closed quarters. But he's content now." Spyra's eyes widened immediately feeling bad. "Oooh," she cooed to her pet. "I'm sorry, Heron. You were such a good piggy for me too." She fussed over the little animal a few seconds more before turning back to Jude. Right. Slightly more important things at hand.
Spyra nodded at his response, eyes on the ground. "A girl," she repeated. "Girls are nice." He was going to have a daughter... Shit.
She shook her head a little as he apologized. "No, it's okay. I mean, it's your business. And..." She tipped her head back, eyes on the sky. All right, time to just go for it. "And I know we've got....something here. Don't really know what," she paused for a soft laugh here before continuing, "but it's something. But, I mean, this is your thing. And... I'm just glad you told me at all."
She met his eyes then and considered that a minute. "Of course I want to see you again, Jude. I would hate to not. But... You're gonna have a daughter with another woman... I mean... Is she... Does she know about...me? Or anyone else? Like, are you gonna get married to her or something?" Because Spyra was certainly not going to be "the other woman," that was for sure. And she wouldn't want to complicate the matters of custody and confuse a little girl.
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Post by Jude on Jul 10, 2010 14:00:46 GMT -5
"I'm sorry, Heron. You were such a good piggy for me too."
He chewed on his lower lip as he listened to her talking to Heron. Did she think it was weird? That he was weird because he could do this? But she said she thought it was cool.. He reminded himself of the night they met.
"A girl," she repeated. "Girls are nice."
"Yeah." He smiled softly, head bowed, hands in his pockets. What was she thinking of him? Why was his heart beating so fast right now? He felt scared to know what she was thinking about him, about... everything.
"No, it's okay. I mean, it's your business. And... And I know we've got....something here. Don't really know what, but it's something. But, I mean, this is your thing. And... I'm just glad you told me at all."
He wanted to kiss her. Right here and now, but knew it was no where near the time. Or maybe it was... He was just happy she felt the same thing he did. Though neither of them knew what it was. He knew what he wanted it to be, hoped it to be, wished it to be. Swallowing hard, he licked his lips. "Spyra.."
"Of course I want to see you again, Jude. I would hate to not. But... You're gonna have a daughter with another woman... I mean... Is she... Does she know about...me? Or anyone else? Like, are you gonna get married to her or something?"
Bam! Whatever sense of romantic-ness that was in him at that moment he said her name, was dwindled down to nothing. "No." He answered quickly, and then realized how that could be taken. "No, we're not going to get married. Nothing," He sighed. "Nothing like that." His hand reached up, rubbing at his nose as he walked around a bit more.
"She knows there's someone. But..." His eyes closed, shoulders slumping. "I made promises to her, and to myself." He turned around then, catching her eyes. "She doesn't know you. No.." He whispered softly. "All I know is.."
"It's like you said..." He said softly, walking towards her, one hand coming out of his pocket. "There's something between us." He motioned with his hand as he inched closer. "It's... electric, the sparks.. I mean.." Jude's head dipped low a bit, locking eyes with her. "Can't you feel it?" His eyes closed, forehead resting against hers.
"Please tell me you do, and that's worth... something." He whispered. "Enough to hold onto. Enough to make you not walk away."
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 10, 2010 22:50:25 GMT -5
"No. No, we're not going to get married. Nothing," He sighed. "Nothing like that."
Was it wrong? Was it wrong that when he told her that, Spyra immediately felt something a lot like hope spring in her chest? He wasn't marrying her. He was having a baby with her, yes but... There was still some hope. It was probably very stupid of her to believe that. Very stupid. Because he was having a baby with her and that was kind of a huge deal.
He went on a little bit then and Spyra dropped his eyes to the ground, hearing him approach her. "It's... electric, the sparks.. I mean.." She tipped her face up then, immediately getting caught in her gaze. "Can't you feel it?" She snuffed out a little sigh as he rested his forehead against hers, eyes closed. She kept hers open though, flicking over his face. Could she feel it? Of course she could. Of course. How could she not? It (whatever "it" was) was constantly there, always humming, thrumming between them.
"Please tell me you do, and that's worth... something." He whispered. "Enough to hold onto. Enough to make you not walk away."
She licked her lips, eyes squeezing tightly shut then. Oh gosh. What did she say to that? Could she take that chance? Could she run the risk of getting hurt? Getting rejected and tossed to the side in favor of a "real family"? ....Apparently she could.
Spyra found herseld tilting her head up the slightest bit, so her lips touched his. And they were kissing and she was leaning into him and Heron was scurrying from one shoulder to the next and then hiding behind her hair. Spyra sighed through her nose softly, and deepened the kiss a little. Enough to make her not walk away.
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Post by Jude on Jul 11, 2010 0:43:07 GMT -5
Things slowed to a neat halt as he waited for her to say or do anything. He was hanging out there out on a limb, clinging to what hope he had left to have the rights to hang onto her. Brows furrowed, and he swallowed roughly. Thoughts and images of what could happen ran around in his mind.
But then there it was. Her lips against his. His hands reached up, one holding her by the neck as the other caressed her cheek. Then just in a second, she was deepening the kiss, making him lean more into it. Breaking a moment later for air, he smiled, eyes still closed as he held her by her cheeks, kissing her forehead.
"What does this mean?" He whispered, eyes looking to her as he grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers together. He just wanted to be near her, to touch her. To know she wasn't going to quickly change her mind and run away from him. "I mean," He spoke again a moment later.
"This isn't a normal relationship." He shook his head. "Far from it. Guy having a kid with another girl, practically begging for another not to leave." He smiled softly. "It's a trip." He snorted out a soft laugh.
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 11, 2010 1:05:19 GMT -5
The kiss to her forehead and the hands on her face made Spyra shiver. He was so close... She could feel his breath, practically hear his heartbeat. She knew she could feel her own breaths, rushing in and out of her lungs in labored takes. And she could certainly hear her own heartbeat, thudding loudly against the walls of her skull, forcing blood through her body, to her cheeks where a blush raged.
"What does this mean?" She shrugged a little, chewing on her lowerlip, unsure. What did it mean? Were they together? Was this more of the same; nonexclusive fun? She laced their fingers together, finally opening her eyes. Meeting his gaze, she rubbed self-consciously at her upper arm with her free hand. "I..." was all she was able to get out before he went on. It didn't really matter though. She hadn't really known what to say anyway.
She nodded at his assessment of the situation. Yeah, it was quite the trip... And suddenly she knew what she needed to know. "The mother..." she began, eyes on the ground again. "Is she... Is there something special there with her too? Was she just a fling or am I just the fling?" Which role would she play here? "Or... Or is it far more complicated in that we're both kind of equal?" God, she couldn't believe she was actually asking this. She still felt a little out of line, as if this wasn't her business.
A blush touched her cheeks and nose and she cradled Heron in her palms, one finger stroking carefully over his silky face and through the quills. Wincing, she somehow summoned up the courage to look him in the face. "I just gotta know where this is going, you know?" She was entited to that at least, she thought.
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Post by Jude on Jul 11, 2010 1:41:11 GMT -5
Despite the silence, he could see her mind was reeling. "I..." He swallowed roughly, and licked his lips. "Yeah?" He asked softly, head dipping down to look at her.
"The mother... Is she... Is there something special there with her too? Was she just a fling or am I just the fling? Or... Or is it far more complicated in that we're both kind of equal?"
"It's-" A sigh pushed from his lips. He stood there, unable to move though that's all he wanted to do was move. To just go. Walk, anywhere. Taking a deep breath in, he looked up at the sky. "It's... complicated, Spyra. I met her before you, and... yeah, i mean she started out like a fling. But the more you stick around someone the more you start to care, and..."
His head dipped down before rolling to the side to look at her. "You're not a fling." He whispered. "I just gotta know where this is going, you know?" He nodded slowly. "i know."
He wanted to say so much more, but wasn't sure how to not make it sound fucked up. "I'm not the best... person in the world. I come from a violent home, and I have no idea what love is." He started softly, eyes to the sky. "But I'm trying to make it right. Standing up to my... responsibilities." His head fell to the side, looking at her with a faint smile. "I'm sorry."
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Post by Spyra Areleous on Jul 11, 2010 1:58:44 GMT -5
"It's- It's... complicated, Spyra. I met her before you, and... yeah, i mean she started out like a fling. But the more you stick around someone the more you start to care, and..."
She nodded. All right, so it wasn't exactly the answer she had been hoping for. Because she had gotten her hopes up; wanted to hear that the mother was just a fling and that she was the something serious. Which was ridiculous. She had gone into this with her eyes open, all those months ago. He was a player, she had known that from the get-go. But something had adhered him to her heart and she found herself wanting to be more that just another girl on Jude Carter's list. She wanted to be the girl.
"You're not a fling." She nodded, eyesbrows knitting together but wasn't quite sure that she believed him. Yet, at least. At any rate, they needed to be moving again. She needed it and she could tell that he did as well. Taking his hand, she tugged on it a bit and urged him to walk with her. Heron went back on her shoulder to ride as Spyra started off down the sidewalk again.
"I'm not the best... person in the world." Hell, who was? Certainly not Spyra herself. She sensed a big admission coming though and stayed quiet. "I come from a violent home, and I have no idea what love is. But I'm trying to make it right. Standing up to my... responsibilities." She nodded, face focused. Spyra was strongly considering everything he told her. She didn't know about that, his home life, and hearing about it made her just want to take him in a tight hug and not let go. She settled for lacing their fingers together again, pulling close so that their sides touched. As for the rest, well...
She could appreciate that, and respect it. He was stepping up. It was a lot more than most others in his position would do. Most would have turned tail and fled at the first mention of the word "baby." He was better than that. And he might not be the best person in the world but he certainly was a good one at least.
"I'm sorry." Spyra shook her head softly, confused. "What're you apologizing for?" Pursing her lips a little, she stayed close, dropping her chin to rest on his shoulder as she kept walking. "You're a good man, Jude Carter," she murmured, voice full to the brim with sincerity.
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