Born with missing pieces

 Alicia found herself rolling her eyes at his statement, of course it was just a house to him. Doubting he could really understand the emotional value to a thing, or more it was obvious he couldn’t understand. He lacked the emotions to value it. The idea of anything happening to her home could actually make her shudder, she put so much work into it. And hopefully the next person could appreciate it as much as she did. Maybe in a few years it would need updating but who really cared about the then when right now she got to venture around a new place. Laughing a bit at herself - the train of thought gradually falling apart. “I could think of 20 more things you could have done with that money.” Retorting as she let him pull her which ever way - it didn’t seem to matter in the moment as she had no idea where she was going it made sense for him to ‘guide’ her. “Maybe to you but – fine.” She stated simply with a shrug. “I’m sure other people could say the same thing. I guess I kind of get it - I just put too much work not to care at this point. Your place could use that ‘touch’.” Glancing over at him with almost an offering look, she loved updating houses - the destruction, creation cycle was way too much fun for the girl.

“Maybe don’t offer to mess with someone’s house when you’re far from sober, Red. Sure way not to get someone to agree.” Not that Darren would have anyway. As he had said- a house was just a house. He didn’t have a reason to care about his enough to want to anything to it. It suited his needs just fine and he was going to keep it in a good enough state that one day when he needed to he would be able to sell it. Other than that? He didn’t see much of a reason to care. “The plan was never to stay here forever anyway, Red. My mother just wanted me back for a while after my dad died. But when she’s done with wanting me here…I'm going to head out again. No point in messing around with a house that’s only supposed to be temporary anyway, right?” New Orleans had always felt that way. Temporary,a stopping point in his life. A layover station when he was going from one place to another. It had never really felt like home though admittedly no other place had. And he wasn’t even sure what made a place feel like a home. Perhaps it was one of those things that eluded him along with emotions. Or maybe it eluded him because of his lack of emotions. Either seemed probable. Keeping his hand in place to guide her along and through the kitchen doorway the werewolf shrugged. “Don’t know if I’ll even be here this time next year. Depends on my mother's mood.”

The notion of someone not wanting to be related to another was all too familiar, but Melanie knew how the elders would react if she ever did such things. “Aren’t you a tease.” Brows pulled together for a momentary pout before a laugh bubbled from the witch. Did anyone in New Orleans actually like their family? Themselves? She was doubting this place was the happiest to be at when you’re a local. Maybe that’s why so many people left… But there’s just too much here, too much pulling everyone back eventually. “Yeah that’s Jezzy.” Nodding with a knowing smirk, the blonde was more or less a superhero for the sister. “I’m starting to notice gossip is a thing. Been out an about for a few weeks now and I swear everyone knows everyones business here like some kind of teenage drama show–” Squinting at his words, “–Hm…. Someone kill your soulmate now you feel empty on the inside? Or… Did you get cursed now you’re immune to… something.” Slowly her brows raised as she spoke, Melanie was getting close to giving up she thought her original one was pretty spot on. The witch couldn’t tell what the vibrations coming off of him were.

“Guess that’s one thing they don’t teach you in high school- the need for drama doesn’t end when you get that diploma. People still crave it regardless.” Darren himself had never really seen the need for all that drama. The lives of others rarely interested him even when he was surrounded by teenagers throwing tales about the others around. He had always just been bored by it. Even with his pack he often had trouble even pretending to care about the talk they threw around about each other. It was far easier just to not pretend to care, back the alpha and be done with it. He supposed he was lucky though- his pack had known him for most of his life and knew what he was like so they didn’t expect much of him in that regard. “What makes you think I even have a soul, little witch?” the werewolf questioned, one eyebrow raising in questions though after a moment he shook his head. “No dead soulmate, no curse.Just born the way I am. Which is probably why it’s a good thing there’s no soulmate running around. Being bound to someone like me would be a damn shame.”Though he knew in theory he had a soulmate out there somewhere. He just sort of hoped for their sake? The two of them would never meet. What a disappointment he would be for them.

Well every time she opened her mouth something stupid seemed to come out, Alicia had no idea what to say around him. Nothing was really clear on what was ‘okay’ to say and ‘not okay’, Darren just reacted with no real reason. God, Alicia was acting like some stupid chick. There was a reason why she was friends with so many guys because she was actually decently good with being a ‘dude’. This kind of talk – situation – friendship was left field for her. “I’m not trying to set you off so it seems being quiet is the better option.” Then again she was quiet for 2 seconds and he got bored. This was just all entertainment for her right? Why was he even wasting his time - he even said himself pack duties, fuck this was her life now, was Jez going to start saying she had ‘witch duties’ to handle. Kai didn’t seem that into the idea of duties at all so credit to him Alicia couldn’t see the words coming out of his mouth. Her whole life was a question mark now, what’s to come next. Maybe she’s gonna be best friends with a demon and they’ll be some cuddly puppy, or a fairy who actually likes dancing and sparkles.  And.. touching again. Alicia just let him - there was no use in leaning again - no room would be a logical excuse. “Fine but – god just… don’t assume to know what I’m thinking you might be lacking emotions but I’m pretty sure I lack a proper connection between my brain and mouth so.”  

“That’s possible.” He was teasing her in the slightest, most mild way he possibly could. But there did seem to be a disconnect there, a difficulty in determining what should and shouldn’t be said. Of course, he couldn't really judge. Normal social interactions eluded him more often than not. He tried over the years; had faked it many times over the years. But it had never been something he was truly able to perfect. So while he never completely knew what to make of how Alicia’s brain worked?He couldn’t really judge it. He had a tendency to fall short of what people considered normal in most venues. “But like I said- you don’t need to shut up. I'm kind of used to you talking.” And she talked a lot. He figured that out the first night they had met. Yes, she had been drunk but she had been able to pretty much talk his ear off. He could have stopped her; he could have ignored her or stopped responding to end the conversation. But he had kept the conversation going; he kept reacting to everything she said; he kept talking to her, teasing her. If her constant talking really bothered him then he could very easily just ignore her. He could go back to acting like he didn’t know her. It wasn’t like he was the type to form connections anyway. He never really stuck around long enough to do so. And yet he just kept hanging around her. Maybe at some point he should question why that was but for the time being? He was content with not asking too many questions about it or looking into it too much.

“You’re aware I’m about the least social person there is, right? So unless I’m going to end up doing something with my pack? Not something that will happen even in a hypothetical.”

“If she wants me to, I will. She’s perfectly capable of opening her mouth herself and letting me know if she wants me to.” @maxnormalcy

“Plan isn’t to stay in NoLa very long. Just until my mother decides she doesn’t need me here.”

 “Houses are your skin to skin, at the end of the day you bring your ass here for a reason. You gotta like it on some level.” Maybe she was just too stubborn to think of her house as simply that a house. Her savings went into the place and it still wasn’t totally done, top it off she knew it wasn’t her dream home but it was the place she’d be living for right now and it was a dream. IF asked she couldn’t even lie about the time it took to keep the original flooring and simply update it. Contractors were pissed when she declined evaluations in the beginning, why pay when you can do it yourself? She wanted to spit a remark about how she didn’t know where they were going but she moved anyway. “Just entertain me wolfie.” Replying softly with a shrug, her feet felt like a melting piece of gum but at least walking was keeping her alive in some sense. “Besides I feel like you’re missing out on all the fun things when owning a house - one is house tours. Be proud dude this is your place.” Giving him a light push as they walked.

The werewolf merely raised an eyebrow as she pushed him as though it was going to actually do anything at all. He didn’t stumble, didn’t pause in her movements. Sometime he wondered if she underestimated the difference in strength between the two of them- or if perhaps she just didn’t care and was going to act however she wanted to regardless. “Maybe that’s what your house is to you. But my house is just a house to me. A place to stay. And it was a way to spend some of the money I earned instead of letting it linger and go to waste. Getting attached…not my thing.” Perhaps a part of that was because while he had returned due to his mother’s bidding he truly didn’t have any desire to stay.His plan was to leave as soon as his mother had dealt with the loss of her husband in a way where she didn’t feel the need to keep the son she was so disappointed in close by. Getting attached to the home he was staying in during that? It had never crossed his mind. “For me, homes are just buildings,” he explained, one hand reaching out and going to her side to turn her slightly, angling her in the direction of the kitchen first as they continued walking.

He dismissed things - all the time. Why was she even trying? Right? Darren obviously knew what he wanted – she just wished he could see what she was doing because to be honest she didn’t. Alicia was putting herself in a line of fire, she wasn’t good with serious. And that’s his whole vibe when it came to actual conversation. If she was questioning him about the supernatural, no biggie. They were relaxed and… now? Why was everything a damn roller coaster - no pun intended. “You don’t know what it’s like to have someone there - I mean, come on you said the only person who never really judged you was your grandma and not that I’m trying to be your grandmother but.. I’m sure as shit not judging you.” She tried to counter, there were too many questions popping in her mind. Not even for him, it’s for herself. Why does she keep trying? Trying to get to what? Maybe it’d make more sense to take a break from everyone, Lacey suggested space. Why wasn’t she including Darren in that – he was the one who opened the door. “That’s not really living then. And I don’t mean that as an insult but that’s – sad. I get you don’t feel it but it is. No one regardless of feelings or not, supernatural or whatever should have that kind of life.” Was he really fine? Maybe them constantly running into each other was fates cruel way of making her crazy and him uncomfortable. Alicia pushed - she pushed, and pushed like actually trying to get people to their limits, she was annoying. Unknowingly Alicia leaned a bit into the touch - perhaps too caught up in her thoughts to actually realize what she’s doing, straightening up as she pulled away. “Um – I don’t know – but I mean if you go on walks and you like it then we can… I guess go on one and I’ll just shut the hell up the whole time. But I really don’t want you thinking I believe you’re broken.”

“No one said anything about you talking or that you shouldn’t be talking, Red.” Why did he keep coming around the somewhat strange human he had run into at random that night? Logically speaking it made no sense. People were generally only known in passing to him. He didn’t care if they were alright; didn't care if they were happy; didn’t care if he upset them or hurt their feelings. And yet somehow…a part of him did care she felt hurt by anything he had said. It was a strange feeling, almost an uncomfortable one. More uncomfortable than the sparks of amusement that sometimes came with talking to her. The amusement, though surprising, was something he could process easily, normally. He didn’t have to question where it came from; he didn’t have to try to analyze it or figure out how to react to it. The amusement was instantaneous and fleeting, so fleeting that by the time it fully registered he had laughed or smiled? The feeling was already gone. So that was easy. But caring? Oh, that was difficult. He couldn’t even remember actually caring about another person and what they felt before. Had he even cared when it came to his grandmother? He wasn't sure about that either. But he also couldn’t figure her out either, let alone whatever sparks of feelings would flutter through him. It didn’t make any sense that she kept sticking around him. Most people would have booked after the first day. Lacking emotions was something that tended to push people away. And he couldn’t imagine that Alicia encountered many people like him. Or people in his line or work. Or people who just dropped a bombshell like he had on her. Most people would have taken a giant step back if not booked it the hell away. So, why did she keep coming around? It wasn’t logical.And it was so very confusing. “I don’t mind when you talk. That’s not an issue,”he assured her, subconsciously reaching out once more and brushing a couple of stray strands of hair away from her face. “You don’t have to stop talking around me.”

Her brows furrowed at his words, she didn’t know him sure but it wasn’t his place to point fingers and act like he knew what was going on in her mind. Let alone in a place where the girl really had no where to run to. “I don’t think you’re broken. At least not really. You can’t go and judge me saying I don’t know you when you don’t know me either - you have no clue what I think of you.” Retorting she was tempted to poke him in the chest but the last time she reached out, it wasn’t exactly a welcomed motion. “I just thought… you could use somebody. You know especially in a city you seem to not like having a person there is better than being alone.” Perhaps it didn’t matter to him, and to be honest she had no idea why it mattered to her. No one to care if you made it home safe, no one to reach out to, look to,  the list could go on but something specific didn’t sit right with her when it came to Darren. She kept thinking she didn’t see it as fair, then he seemed to think this is how his life was meant to be because he lacked emotion, or something else but she couldn’t pin point it. Biting her inner cheek when he spoke again, there was no winning - not for either of them. “Okay well maybe that’s what you do – I mean co– Fine I’ll rephrase, what do you do when you’re not working, you’re telling me even in your free time you’re drowning in that stuff and like it? You don’t get drinks at a bar? Or read? Go for walks? Shit I mean if you like camping I’ll even give it a go but – this is what people do when they are trying to get to know you, not fix you or whatever you think else I’m trying to do.”

“I’ve been alone for a very long time. I can handle being on my own.” To others that may have been sad to admit, that being alone was far more normal and comfortable even than being with others. But that was simply Darren’s reality. No personal connections ever stuck; he never wanted them. Knowing people in passing had always worked out better for him. Once they got to know what he was? People had a tendency not to stick around anyway.He absolutely wasn’t the type of person people flocked to or befriended; he wasn't the type people cared for and that was just fine. Friendship and caring- even familial love- was all only something Darren could understand intellectually but not on a personal level. He had never felt it before. Most days he wasn’t even sure he could feel anything. Except every so often he felt something when around her. Nothing he could identify, nothing he tried looking into but something. And perhaps that was why he kept coming around her. It was another thing he tried very hard not to look into too much. After all, he never got attached to people. Not just because he had yet to be able to form emotional attachments but because in the end? He wasn't someone people stuck around. They grew tired very quickly of his inability to feel. “It’s not about liking it. It's simply what my life is made up of. Being second in command is a lot of responsibility towards my pack. My job takes time and dedication. It’s what my life has been.” It was all his life had been the for the most part for the better part of his adulthood- though returning to his pack and gaining the position he had was newer. But his job had been taking up the majority of his time for almost two decades. “I go to a supernatural bar and try not to talk to anyone; I walk on my own. Sure, I spend time in the bayous but most of the time I’m not in human form. My life hasn’t been about enjoyment, Red. It’s been about doing what I need to do. When you don’t have people in your life, when you don’t connect? Things take on a different meaning, a different urgency. I spent most of my time growing up here pretending to be like everyone else in my pack. Being what they call ‘normal’ but it was always going through the motions and I never enjoyed any of it. I’m not even entirely sure I’m capable of enjoying things. I don't know if I’m capable of anything outside of my job and what I do for my pack. Most of it involves feeling. And I don’t feel things. Only-” The werewolf cut himself off, shaking his head slightly. He wasn’t going to go into the fact that sometimes he felt things around her. Because he couldn’t explain it and she'd probably question why or what he felt. But he had no name for what he felt either. “I’m not sure what answer you’re hoping for, Red.” Almost without thinking he reached out and brushed the tips of his fingers down the side of his cheek, not sure once he realized it had been done if he was trying to be comforting or kind; not sure of his motive at all. But just as quickly as it happened he had dropped his hand back down.

A quiet sigh escaped her, of course it was weird. If everything he said was true - most of it was so far - then she really shouldn’t logically like spending time with him. Not like he could go to seconds without teasing her about something. To be fair Alicia didn’t know a lot about the supernatural and most of the time she was making some reference which was surly out of the box from ‘reality’ in Darrens world, giving him credit too for at least knowing most of them. Pulling her wrist back she didn’t bother checking it, supposing there was no bruising. He wasn’t rough, at least not enough to hurt her on any level. There was a moment where she just stared back at him, unsure really what to say. So obvious that the whole situation was not-not weird. “Well… says the guy who told someone the first night they met he’s a mercenary.” She finally got some words to come out but it wasn’t anything like she was feeling. She didn’t know how to put those into real language. Eyeing him over for another moment she dropped her hands to her sides. “If you’re — not enjoying it here. Then.. show me what you do enjoy.” Her shoulders lifted, it didn’t exactly sound right but she didn’t care. Alicia didn’t know how to fix the situation.

“You don’t actually want to know anything about me,” the werewolf replied, turning his gaze back to her. “You, like everyone else, look at me like I’m broken. Like I need to be fixed. But there’s nothing broken inside of me. I’m exactly like I was supposed to be. And I am a mercenary. I was honest with you. I have been this whole time.” For a few moments Darren just watched her, not entirely sure he wanted to continue talking, not entirely sure he wanted to stop either. Continuing to speak seemed pointless as did remaining there. Sometimes he wondered why he had kept going back and speaking to her after that first night. Perhaps because it was the closest thing to normal he had in that city. Perhaps it was something else entirely. It wasn’t something he thought too much on. He wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to look too deeply at much inside of him. There was darkness in there that even he didn’t look too much into. He simply embraced who he was without question- but that didn’t mean the darkness was something he looked at willingly. Not many people did want to look at their own darkness. “My life consists of pack business and work. Neither of which you want to involve yourself with, Alicia.” His gaze stayed on hers for a few beats. “Even if you might think on a whim you do. Pack business is no place for a human- and my work is far too dangerous.”

She flinched at the sudden movement, how fast was more what took her off guard than him grabbing her - in fact it didn’t hurt. Alicia was simply shocked he even saw it coming. Maybe it seemed all out of reach, sure he told her about the supernatural but there was some box she was inside of. Like so far nothing had done harm to her or anyone she knew. How easily it was for the box to get holes in it, a realization he could probably hurt he without blinking or trying. “Fine..” She barely got the word out, knowing well her heart was only ready to run away because of what tension was slowly forming. Not having really meant to set him off or even knew what it was that caused this reaction, she actually thought they were having a ‘nice’ moment. Why should it have been? He’s… him, right? Maybe he really was just having some pitiful moment and entertaining her out of boredom. Hearing it didn’t lighten the weight growing on her. Swallowing some odd lump in her throat, she actually felt bad he thought that. Giving a small tug on her arm to pull it from him. “Because maybe I thought you would like it…” Alicia responded having to resist the urge to sass - it felt far from appropriate. “Maybe I do, is it really that weird?”

“Yes.” The answer was instantaneous, something he didn’t even think about before answering. His grip on her wrist lingered for a moment longer before he finally let her go, fingers loosening first before his hand completely moved away from her and returned to the makeshift ladder. He didn’t need to grip it with the other hand as well but it was more to keep his hand away from her. By then he was well-aware that she wasn't a fan of him touching her- and yet he seemed to have a tendency to do so anyway. Most of the time it was innocuous enough that he didn’t seem too bothered. But other times she reacted like he had just put his hands around her neck and squeezed. For some people that reaction would make sense. Some people had seen the darkest and most violent side of Darren that he had to offer. But Alicia hadn't so when she reacted so viscerally it was always confusing. He supposed it was safe to say she confused him as a general rule. Though it seemed safe to say he confused her as well- but he also had a tendency to confuse most people.“Yes, it is that weird.” For a long moment Darren just kept his gaze locked on her face before letting his gaze move past her towards a random spot over her shoulder.

 “Well duh – but I’m not down playing that. I think here… there’s not just a life of the people moving, like … there’s a deeper connection to just everything around. I mean you’ve been in New York City,” Glancing over at him, “Don’t tell me it feels exactly like being here because it doesn’t it. With New York, you just move about your daily life not really carrying about the in betweens. For a city – here – it just doesn’t feel like a city.” Finally looking away she rolled her eyes, knowing it was stupid to even try to explain something to him. Of  course he’d just play it off with some sassy comment it, all to ironically like she did at time but none the less Alicia did momentarily try to give a shit. “Or maybe they don’t exist anymore – good at hiding, so on. You know Ninety Five percent of the sea is still undiscovered, there could totally be mermaids out there.” It was a long stretch but Darren could turn into a fucking wolf she wasn’t going to say Ariel wasn’t floating around in the sea that the humans were oh so casually destroying in the mean time. Letting out a slight sigh as he got up, for a guy who didn’t have emotions he sure as shit gave her whip lash. However then again she was a bit… off when it came to normal people so her attitude could have done the whole idea in. “Hey! You can’t leave yet– you have to write your name up here wolfie.” Alicia did her best to move fast on the steps and grab a hold of him. “And you can’t lie and say you’ve already done it because then you’re gonna point it out to me.”

He could see her move out of his peripheral vision and reacted without even thinking about it, his free hand stretching out and grabbing onto her wrist while the other gripped the makeshift latter. All too aware of how easily he could snap something in her arm if he didn’t watch himself the werewolf tugged once, slightly, moving the human closer to him before his gaze fully lifted up towards her. “I have no intention of signing up name on this thing.” His voice was monotone; his face stoic. Darren wasn’t even sure there was anything going through his mind at that point except for the idea that he was done with that little adventure she had decided to drag him on. “I humored you and climbed the rollercoaster. But sitting on a rollercoaster in an amusement park I walked through as a child and gazing out at the city I grew up in but never liked? It doesn't interest me. And it if interests you that’s fine. But don’t except me to enjoy it.” For not the first time since meeting her Darren found himself wondering why it was he spent so much time around her. Her blatantly obvious attempts at getting him to emote were bothersome at best and more often than not she was just confusing. Especially given any time he acted even remotely similar to what normal people acted like she reached as though he had literally just sprouted an extra head. It was exhausting at times spending time around her. And yet he always seemed to go back. Perhaps it was time to consider not always going back. At least not for a while. “Why did you bring me here, Alicia?” he questioned after a moment, hand still gripping her wrist. “Clearly it wasn’t because you enjoy my company. No one does.”

 “Forgive me here I was thinking someone without emotions was way more serious.” Replying with her words laced with sarcasm. “I have a very likable personality, I think you are quick to shut down my ideas. Besides if not werewolves then… maybe I’ll go to Ireland and get some leprechaun buddies, Greece is full of tales of nymphs - mermaids - hot demigods. I could go there if we’re talking purely supernatural visiting base but my main goal is  Syria they have possibly the oldest castle in the world, people think it was built around 3000 B.C.” A soft sigh came from her at the image, god the world beyond their country was just so… magical. Some irony is the fact she knows magics real now. Who knew maybe she could get to see these places sooner than she planned? Alicia needed to make up her mind soon - travel the world or try and start something in New Orleans. Glancing back at him with a brow raise. “No thank you I think I’ll risk my life with closer friends.” Biting her inner cheek to stop a smirk as she glanced back at the view. You could see the side of New Orleans they left earlier, the city was different from New york. There every building was trying to top the other, here? It was like a guessing game which was which sometimes. Rolling her eyes as he bumped her shoulder. “Well for one I’m here,” Returning the gesture. “But… A place like this - you just look over the building tops and think how much crazy shit this city as gone through, the really dark shit and the really good. It’s not just the view you’re look at - you’re looking at survival. The city has a life to it, this one is… I guess ancient feeling almost. Nothing like the Big Apple, it’s always so lively there. I think here it’s more… resting. I don’t really know how to put it in words.” Her shoulders lifted slightly, how beautiful NoLa was – the kid who was always writing at the Cafe could probably describe it better than her.  

“New Orleans is a city of the dead, Alicia. We cherish our cemeteries more than we do the people here.”All at once he remembered why he hated living in the city so much. People had a skewed prospective of it. They saw the lights and the sounds and the old culture; they saw the hum of people moving along Bourbon Street. They saw Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest and a city that rebuilt itself after Hurricane Katrina. They never saw the bloodshed and the darkness lingering around the street corners;they never saw the dark deeds and the even darker people. They gazed at the city through rose-colored glasses and rejected the reality of it in favor of the sparkling image the city worked so hard to maintain so that the tourists would keep rolling in. “And hate to break it to you- but most of those creatures don’t exist. Humans love to make up stories.” For a long handful of moments the werewolf just gazed out at the city but really saw nothing. Nothing worth praising; nothing to be in awe over. Perhaps some may chalk it up to know the city as well as he did, to having grown up there. That maybe it made him desensitized to the wonder of it all. But really? He had never seen it. And it had nothing to do with what he felt or couldn’t feel. The city had just always gotten under his skin in terrible ways. It was a place that was always his home and yet never felt like home; a place where he should have felt welcomed but had always felt like he wasn’t. Had his mother not asked him to return after his father died the odds of him ever stepping foot back in that city again would have been slim to none. It was why he hadn’t been back in over a year. He had never wanted to.“Maybe bring one of your close friends next time,” he suggested after a moment,not upset at the implication or even annoyed. And then without a second thought he moved off of their makeshift seats and back over to the railing to begin the descent back down to the ground.

For a second - briefly she felt her heart race a little. Maybe going to Romania wasn’t the best idea if werewolves were lurking to bite a head off. But she wasn’t going to give him any satisfaction from the momentary fear. “Are you fucking with me?” Alicia called over her shoulder, eyes taking on the taller point - it was another fifty or so steps. At least she was getting some kind of work out while they did this. Imagining if she was the type of kid to keep in touch with her parents how the conversation would go about what she did in her day would be interesting ‘oh just focused on getting an emotionless werewolf to feel something and climbed a roller coaster’. Yeah her dad would flip a ship. “I’ve said nothing about doing anything on purpose. Just stating what’s happened in previous – ships of mine.” Nodding with a small laugh, before she actually realized what he said. “Did you just call me little human? Dude you’ve only got like..4 inches on me.” Her brows furrowed wishing momentarily he could see her face. “And just so you know – I think you’d totally save me. I’m too precious to die here.” As the words slipped out she stopped at the top. It looked like a landing, corner at the highest point of the coaster just before the drop. Alicia let go of the railing and took a spot on the ground letting her legs hang off the edge. “Okay wolfie – what do you think?” She wiggled her brows a bit, giving a motion to the view. “Is this not one of the best views you’ve seen.”

“You should know by now,Red- I’m usually fucking with you in some way. But they are more feral than the wolves here and you’d probably end up pissing one off so probably not a good idea. Especially if you went alone.” Darren didn’t, however, comment on her reaction to the nickname that had simply slipped out. She could split hairs if she wanted to but the nickname fit- she was smaller than him, younger than him and by the virtue of their different species also weaker than him. Calling her‘little’ had just seemed to fit and yet even if she hadn’t snickered it off like that? He couldn’t see himself using it again. As a general rule nicknames slipped out to tease- or to categorize. Red had simply stuck though he wasn’t sure why- perhaps because her equally as silly nickname for him seemed to be sticking as well. Fuck his life had gotten so weird. “You sure you want to test the theory on whether or not I’d catch you?”the werewolf questioned instead, opting to focus on that part of that conversation beyond the others. Her mind was like one of those hamsters spinning on a wheel, going and going and going and yet not really understandable . sometimes it was easier to just reel it back. Still, he followed her up that rollercoaster and took a seat beside her, looking out at the city he had grown up in. “You do remember I've seen a lot of places, right?” he teased, angling his torso sideways towards her so his shoulder bumped against hers teasingly. “I’ve seen a lot of good views. You want me to call this one a great view? Sell me on it.”

“Yeah-yeah, I was barefoot in the worst places think this is easy.” Doing another attempted wave at him without looking at him. To be honest it had been a while, alicia didn’t even talk to the friend she was referring to. In fact she was pretty sure he was in France now on some scholarship, everyone goes to France like how unoriginal. With that she rolled her eyes nearly jumping when he poked her back. “Well aren’t you sweet looking out for little old me — Oh maybe I should visit seems like I get along great with you — make some new friends, have a few laughs.” Shrugging as casually as possible alicia moved, taking a hold of what was left of the railing and moved up the stairs. “Not yet,” Alicia replied , smirking even though they didn’t face one and other. “Think I might be on to something with this — like a summer project. I’ve got the free time now.” Speaking as if she was thinking out loud, planning out what was to come in the future. In reality it was vague, who really knew what she was talking about. “You know from everything you’ve told me I guess I should same I am very honored not to get on whatever nerves you have.” Trying to sound as serious as possible.

“Trust me, you wouldn’t bode well with the wolves of Romania. They make the ones here seem like friendly little puppies and most of us aren’t. They don’t have to hide as much out there. There's more space, more freedom. They can embrace the more feral side of their nature if they want to. You’d probably piss one off and lose your tongue.” Though Alicia couldn't see him as he grabbed onto the railing and began following her up there was the slightly smirk on his face and while he doubted- as usual- she could hear it in his tone of voice? He was absolutely teasing her. “Might want to be careful, talking about trying to annoy me. Get on my bad side and if you slip? I won’t save you, little human.” Except…somehow he knew that was a lie. In the short time he had known her for some reason he had grown accustomed to having her around. And if she was going to be reckless and ended up falling from that damn rollercoaster? He thought he would probably miss her a little bit. That was definitely something he didn’t think would happen when he met her but there they were. Strange how things happened sometimes. One might think he had a soft spot for her but he wouldn’t necessarily say that was true.Though he wasn’t entirely sure he would know it if he did.