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Please Please Me. (Open)
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Post by Tempest on Aug 28, 2011 15:50:27 GMT -5
Renata stood and brushed off her shorts, chuckling as she noticed why the man had shoved her off his lap. She turned and started walking in the direction Jaime had gone in once more. The man had showed her some disdain, which made him another viable target for her plans, but she figured she had caused him enough trouble for now.
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Caroline didn't stop walking. She shook her head when Tobias asked her where she was going. "Home. I'm going home." She paused midstep, realizing that home was in the opposite direction. "Or maybe I'm going to the ABC store. What the fuck do you care?"
She shook her head again, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "What is there to explain, Tobias? I... was willing to try. But you'll have to dream on if you think I'm going to share you with other women. Sorry if I didn't give it to you in writing. Didn't think I needed to make that aspect of things any clearer."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2011 16:14:46 GMT -5
Tobias growled and raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t want to be shared with other women!” he shot at her angrily. “I didn’t ask her to do anything! That woman.” He grabbed onto Caroline’s arm and that old fire burned beneath his ice chip eyes. “I was just talking to her to distract her from, Jaime or something. Your brother’s brother. Ask him!” Tobias had known there were no threads of blood connecting Caroline to Jaime, but he had hoped their relationship was as good as otherwise he’d be in trouble.
He set his jaw and let go of Caroline. “Mother of God,” he breathed out after a minute of silence. This was what she wanted. It suddenly made since. “You’re the one who doesn’t want to move forward. Otherwise, you wouldn’t jump to such conclusions.”
With a heavy sigh, Tobias tilted his face toward the late morning sun and scratched the stubble on his chin and neck. Caroline’s tears weren’t helping either. It made him feel guilty and that was no good at all. What good was he? What had he learned in his sabbatical with his father, in his father’s parish, if not learn only that he was trouble and that was it? It wasn’t a leap to understand why she wouldn’t want to be with him.
Tobias shoved a cigarette into his mouth, knowing it was a vice of his to add insult to injury but not caring because he needed it. He flicked his bic and it sputtered and died and he mumbled a curse chucking it away. The unlit cigarette found a safe place behind his ear, hidden by his quickly graying hair. “Dammit Caroline. That was not my intent, but whatever. You have your moody. And I’ll make sure to find a new place today so I can get out of your hair.”
Defeated, he turned and his hobnail boots scuffed against the pavement as he trudged away from her.
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Post by Tempest on Aug 28, 2011 16:37:30 GMT -5
Caroline stared at his retreating back, mouth slightly open. What could he have possibly told the woman that would imply that a kiss of that kind would be acceptable? She fumed, both at Tobias and at this mystery woman.
She stormed after Tobias, speeding up so she could move in front of him and aim a punch at his jaw. She growled, "What conclusion was I supposed to jump to, Tobias? Would you rather me show no emotion whatsoever when I see a woman straddling you in public?! As for moving forward, you've never given any indication whatsoever that that's what you wanted. Can you really imagine us in any sort of stable anything anyways?" She aimed a kick at his shin.
Her eyes gleamed. The woman deserved some of her fury as well. Fuck her and the boat she rode in on- things with Tobias had been wonderful for a day or so and then... and then this shit happened. "Move out if you want to, you coward. I never told you I wanted you to leave, but if you're going to run, then by all means run." With that, she grinned dangerously and started sprinting in a beeline towards Renata.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2011 17:25:40 GMT -5
If it’s one thing he couldn’t stand, it was being called a coward. Tobias had every intention to put her right but then she kicked him in the shin. The shin of all bloody places! As sensitive as his muscles and bones were, on the verge of a second shift, the pain she caused was insurmountable.
Again the wildness inside him grew and he punched blindly at the wall nearest him. The bricking cracked slightly and the second round of pain shot through him, but cleared his vision in time to see Caroline charging the woman. Good God, he could barely handle one Latin woman. Tobias snarled and staggered after Caroline. “Where do you think you’re going?” Tobias shouted after her and he followed the question up with a string of rude words.
What in the world was going on? There was nothing to be had with Caroline’s reaction. In all their arguments, it had never ended so strangely or abruptly. He caught up to her sure enough and grabbed her again. “Hang on! You can’t just say those things and then run off with no reason!”
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Post by Tempest on Aug 28, 2011 17:44:07 GMT -5
She was going to catch up to Renata and... and... well, she wasn't sure yet, but it was probably going to earn her a reprimand from her superiors (if not a sanction) and she would probably regret it later. She was just so angry. It was hard to say when she had been this recklessly pissed.
Though she was moving at a good clip, it wasn't long before Tobias had caught up to her and impeded her progress. The rude words brought more color to her cheek and she felt like slapping him. "Like Hell I can't! You were going to do the same, you big Irish coward," she spat, jerking away from him. "Besides, I have a reason to run off. I'm going to show that woman why it was a bad idea to kiss you. If this is not your fault, then it's hers. Also, if you EVER decide to say anything that foul to me again, I'm just going to stop listening to you altogether."
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Go ahead and have the last word, I'll just be over there kicking the ass of a woman you were distracting."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2011 18:17:41 GMT -5
Tobias raised a hand to strike her face but she had wrenched herself free, which was probably a very good thing. Slowly raising his hand. No…no…he had been taught anger management. A muscle twinged in his locked jaw, Tobias let out another ragged sigh. “I’ve made my peace and I’ve counted to three,” he shot at her, unable to conceal the rage that was still building up inside of him. It would have been easier to rein in this control if it weren’t for the full moon.
“You go,” he said, still angry. Their fight had caused a few shoppers and shop owners to stop in their tracks and watch the unfolding fight. They shook their heads as if to say that normal people would have the decency to fight in the privacy of their home. Tobias didn’t care though and he ignored the onlookers. The muscles in his arms ached to aid in throwing a punch at something.
“Go on!” Tobias repeated through fanging teeth. “And you have a ball with that Reta woman, or whatever she’s called!”
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Post by Tempest on Aug 28, 2011 19:02:26 GMT -5
Caroline stared at him defiantly. If he struck her, that would be the end. There would be no ifs, and, or buts about it. She had enough self-respect not to stick with a man who would hit her. It was a weird double-standard, what with her having punched and kicked him, but that's the way it was.
She was going to allow him to have the last word, perhaps only because she was running out of new things to say. They were going through the same old song and dance and she was just sick of it. Sick of all of it.
When he mentioned the name, she frowned. It was very similar to the name of one of her brother's exes... "Renata? That was Renata?" She didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or sob hysterically. She cast a look at where the other Cuban woman had been, but she was gone now. "Dammit, now that I know who that was, I really want to get a shot at her."
She felt a pang of remorse about doubting Tobias... and then remembered all that he'd said and was mad all over again. The fact that he accused her of not wanting to go forward sort of implied that he had, which made no sense at all to her. There was nothing to indicate it, nothing to go on. Besides, this was about the ceiling they always hit before tumbling back down into the antagonism area.
"You know what? I don't give a damn about the kiss she gave you anymore. It just knocked off the mask of bullshit over our not-really-a-relationship. Not even two days this time, Tobias. That is pathetic. I told you once that I'm sick of this dance routine. Get your stuff out of my apartment. I never want to see you again." Tears started rolling down her cheeks once more and she brushed them away before running off.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2011 19:26:50 GMT -5
Tobias didn’t have time to process all she had said and stop her from leaving. He rubbed his eyes, his contacts sliding in and out of place as he did so. She was still in his eyesight and Tobias ran after her, although it felt like he was begging. Despite the fact that there were still onlookers, Tobias had to give up his pride.
He didn’t know what he had done, but Tobias knew something he had said to make her cry. He didn’t what that. He had never wanted that. “Caroline! Caroline by Jesus!” Calling after her did him no good. She had gone. Part of him knew all she needed was time, but this was just cruel. This was unfair!
He turned back to collect the few things he left at the café. All she needed was time and in the state Tobias was in, he wasn’t going to win her back. This was the thing that perhaps enraged him the most.
Why couldn’t he just get a hold of the monster? He had always been so close, but never had he succeeded. He shoved his Altoid tin roughly into his pocket, and the spare pack of smokes that he had left lying there when he chased after Caroline. Then with a roar he turned over the wire table and chair. It didn’t make him feel any better and now people were staring at him again.
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Post by Tempest on Aug 28, 2011 19:47:50 GMT -5
Jaime was incredibly confused. His eyebrows shot up at Tobias's willful overturning of coffee shop table and chair and he said wryly, "Maybe I should have told you about Renata. Didn't know she'd be that bad." Now that they were both standing, the difference in their heights was almost comical. Jaime, of course, was not bothered by it in the slightest. He was completely comfortable with his physical appearance.
He waved at the people staring at Tobias and called out to them, "Move along. Don't you have better things to be doing right now?" He picked up the chair. "Sorry, hombre. I'd offer to get you another coffee for your trouble, but you probably don't need the caffeine."
Jaime tilted his head. "Do you drink decaf? You can tell me what she did to make you this mad. Hell, you can blame me if it makes you feel better. I did leave you to deal with it." He was genuinely worried about this and his sincerity came out in his tone of voice, though he continued to be as tranquil as ever.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2011 20:38:52 GMT -5
“No I don’t drink decaf!” Tobias snapped and he picked up the chair and set it roughly back into its original spot. “And unless you have a lighter on you or you can magic up fire…friend I’m fresh out of luck.”
His long fingers raked back and forth over his scalp and his dark hair stood on end briefly before falling back into place, though it left him looking slightly disheveled. “That woman!” Tobias shouted suddenly, gesticulating toward the direction Renata had disappeared too. “And that woman!” his gestures turned toward where Caroline had been. “Trouble! Mother of God they’re all trouble.” Tobias’ eyes flashed dangerously and he retrieved his cigarette from behind his ear. Even though he couldn’t smoke it, he could still chew it up. That was something anyway.
“Look, that what was yours…Renata…she bloody well straddled me she did. And Caroline caught me in a complicated possession. Anyway,” the anger was beginning to fizzle away, but only just. It was now about midday, but time would just fly by before he had to lock himself up again and let the wolf loose. It would happen sooner if Tobias stayed in this state.
He looked down at Jaime, and sat to close the gap between them. “She’s gone and kicked me out in addition.” Tobias knew that he had money back in his account now because he had asked for an advance in his paycheck, but he had hoped to save that up a little while longer.
He paused and worked his tongue over his sharpening teeth. He’d been doing a hell of a lot of talking the past couple of days. For a man who often spoke very little, this was a strange addition and his mouth felt tired and drawn out.
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Post by Tempest on Aug 28, 2011 21:09:35 GMT -5
Jaime took a seat, listening to Tobias rant about what had just happened. Between what was said and what he could put together, the picture was ugly indeed. He wasn't the kind to rise to the bait- Tobias was clearly under a lot of stress and telling him to take a chill pill was more likely to make him angrier.
He didn't say anything right away. Instead, he pulled out another flavored toothpick and chewed on it thoughtfully. "So, let me get this straight: you no longer have a place to live?" He folded his arms and drummed his fingers on his skin. The bit about his sister kicking Tobias out was really unfortunate, but it could be fixed. He'd talk to her at the next possible chance, maybe explain that this wasn't the man's fault. She'd come around, eventually.
Jaime wasn't sure why Renata would straddle Tobias, but he hoped that it was a sign she was only here by chance. And if that were the case, then all of this really was his fault. He'd set Tobias up for a whole lot of drama. He knew that there was at least one thing he could do in the immediate future to make amends. "Look, Tobias, you can stay with me. I was going to look for a housemate anyways. Nik's rooming with Emilio and it's more cost effective than paying for all the unused space."
He changed the subject. "And, just to set you straight: Renata was never my anything." Jaime shrugged, leaving the story untold. It wasn't his business to be spreading it around. If Tobias was really the kind of person who wanted the whole truth, he'd have to ask Emilio. "Sorry to get you and Caroline involved in her crap."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2011 21:58:47 GMT -5
Tobias pinched the bridge of his nose. He was about to say that he didn’t need anyone to hash out favours, but this was one of those times were pride had to be swallowed. With his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, Tobias let out yet another aggravated sigh. “Didn’t mean to assume.”
He shifted his weight and his boots scratched the broken cup and saucer. He knelt and scooped up the mess he made. The chipped false porcelain cut into his finger. It could have been something to get angry all over again, but at last his anger seemed fizzled out. After depositing the pieces onto the table, Tobias brought the cut finger to his mouth and sucked the blood out.
“You’d be doing me a great service,” Tobias said to Jaime at last. “But we’re going to be short on time. I need to either get my bag by five o’clock. Or early tomorrow morning.”
Did Jaime know about Tobias’ condition? It seemed like Emilio had talked plenty about Tobias’ personal life. “Uh…yeah. So if we’re going to be flatmates, I got to be straight with you,” he removed a chewed up cigarette. “I get into rages…obviously you’ve seen, but it’s sort of the condition I was born with. Anyway, full moon comes around and I change. Fair warning.”
He shrugged. “I think I’ll take you up on that decaf shite.”
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Post by Tempest on Aug 29, 2011 12:20:05 GMT -5
Jaime shrugged. "Easy enough mistake. She's sort of an equal-opportunist life-screwer."
His eyebrows shot up when Tobias started talking about rages and having to get his bag within a certain time frame. Slowly, but surely, he was able to put two-and-two together and he blurted, "Esperate un momento, por favor! Wait, wait. You're a were-" he glanced around and lowered his voice, "-wolf?"
Jaime rubbed his hair and it stuck up in the back. "Right. Okay, well, thanks for letting me know. I don't really care what you are as long as you don't take out these rages on my stuff." His moment of surprise had passed remarkably quickly and he stood up. "Be right back."
He would have offered to heal Tobias's cut, but it wasn't nearly serious enough to bother. As much as he enjoyed using his ability, he believed that it should be utilized on less frivolous things. Showing off was something he used to do. The new, improved Jaime Cardenas was much more responsible.
He went into the coffee shop, only to find that the barrista was somewhat leery of Tobias's continued presence out front. His display had been attracting the wrong sort of attention. Jaime ordered a decaf and another regular black coffee. Without a word, he dropped a couple extra bills into the tip jar.
When he returned outside, he placed the coffees on the table and took a seat. While it didn't bother him to share an apartment with a person who admitted to monthly bouts of rage, he was no longer sure he wanted to encourage Caroline to get back with this person. In the end, he decided not to do anything on that front. It really wasn't his business anyways.
"I'll see about getting you a key after I leave here. The school hasn't called me in to work yet so my day's looking pretty free."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2011 16:50:55 GMT -5
Tobias waited until Jaime had returned with the coffee to clarify. “Not a werewolf,” he said quietly and he fished Caroline’s spare key out of his pocket. “They’re made. I’m born.” It ended there. Tobias could have continued to specify, but if he were Jaime, he wouldn’t like hearing that someone like Tobias had to fight this violent nature every day. Caroline knew these particulars, which was why Tobias couldn’t be truly mad at her for not wanting to stick around. Still, he was frustrated with the whole damn situation.
“Man, you got a light? I really could use one right now,” muttered Tobias. He slid Caroline’s key across the table to Jaime. There was another question pulling at the tip of his tongue but he wasn’t sure it would be stepping across boundaries to ask Jaime. What else was there but to ask then?
Again he ran his hands through his hair. “Look, when you collect my stuff...it’s just one bag…would you maybe tell Caroline that I see this only as a temporary thing? I’d like to work it out…if I can.” First Nikolai and now Jaime. It seemed Tobias was asking a lot of favours on behalf of his issues with Caroline. Well, it wasn’t like he could talk to her himself.
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Post by Tempest on Aug 29, 2011 19:32:58 GMT -5
Jaime tried not to think too hard about the implications of being a natural Were... or not-Were. Undoubtedly, it was confusing and probably not applicable to his life whatsoever. He took another drink of the coffee and winced as it scalded the inside of his mouth.
As for the request for a light, he was pretty sure he didn't carry a lighter anymore. He checked his pockets, though, and found that he still carried a battered old book of matches in a hidden pocket of his drum strap. It was from a hotel he'd never visited and had a phone number and a single word written inside it. Adriana had been a sweet girl, but things had ultimately turned sour when he'd gotten into a fistfight with her male relations.
He tossed the matches on the table between himself and Tobias. "Don't know if they're still good." Given that it had not been more than a year since he'd changed his lifestyle, they probably were.
Jaime took the key and turned it over in his hand before slipping it into a pocket. "I will pick up your bag for you, but as far as things between you and Caroline go, I am Switzerland." He gave Tobias an apologetic shrug. "I might be able to set you up with a place to live, man, but you just told me you have... errrr... rages on a regular basis. If Caroline decides she wants you back, then all the better, but I'm not going to sway her in any direction." He paused, then added, "If that were even possible. If she's got her mind made up, nothing I can say will persuade her otherwise."
He downed about half of what was left in his coffee cup, thankful that it had cooled rather quickly. Then he got to his feet. "I guess I'll see you soon. Or tomorrow. Take it easy, Tobias." That said, he picked up his drum and headed off in the direction of the apartments.
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