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Post by JONATHAN WARNER BRASS on Aug 19, 2011 22:22:23 GMT -5
Hm. She just gave a straight up answer. Paul was somewhat surprised, looking for more ammo as he listened. When she mentioned the pegasus he glanced away, expression going a bit sour. He didn't like to be caught unaware with information about that freak school of theirs, but it wasn't hard to fix it into a mildly interested smile.
"Wow, so he pretty much stalked you, huh?" He couldn't see the draw of his brother, but maybe he was someone totally different at school. He doubted it though. His sharp blue eyes followed Jon as he rose, muttering to Scarlet that he would be right back before dissapearing through the porch door and into the kitchen.
Paul tilted his head, cocking a brow. "Well, good for you then, I guess." He shrugged, suddenly chuckling as he reclined against one of the posts behind his back, taking a sip from the cup of soda he held in his hand. "I'm just surprised, is all. No offense, but the guy isn't really dating material, am I right?" He cast her a sympathetic head nod, smirking. He honestly wasn't this judgmental with most people, but this was a special occasion. Still, he wasn't about to stir up any real trouble- he was smarter than to beg for a fist to be sunk into his face.
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Post by SCARLET JOOK-LIANG LANCASTER on Aug 19, 2011 22:54:36 GMT -5
Scarlet watched as Jonathan left, blinking after him as her eyes found his butt, before looking back to the bright-eyed gaze of his brother, staring her down, begging for information on their relationship. Jonathan hadn't stalked her; he had been worried.
"No." The small girl corrected firmly, staring at Paul with a stern look. "It's not called stalking. It's called concern for someone who refused to eat, move, or make any social contact for a week." She tilted her head and blinked at him with a puzzled look on her face. Was Paul... Jealous of Jonathan for going away and having abilities? She bit her lip and tilted her head, watching him curiously, before laughing at his next question.
"He's an amazing boyfriend. He treats me well. Bought me tickets so I could meet his family, and so I could go visit my father." She nodded and put her chin into the palm of her hand, looking over Paul's shoulder at the kitchen, where Jonathan was standing, talking to someone-presumably his mother. After a few seconds of watching her boyfriend, she looked to Paul and smiled weakly.
"And he actually talks to me. Like, really talks. I could go my entire life without money, as long as he stuck around to be part of it." She mumbled softly, looking down at the table, before smoothing out the table cloth. "I know you're trying to find something bad for me to say, but... Anything bad he's done, I've forgiven him for. And it's not that big of a list." She tucked some hair behind her ears and laughed a bit, looking right at him. "I love your brother." She said in the most matter-of-fact voice she had ever spoken in.
"Anything else to ask me?" Scarlet blinked, tilting her head with that same curious stare. She wasn't sure Paul was used to being told the truth. He seemed the type to be lonely inside.
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Post by JONATHAN WARNER BRASS on Aug 19, 2011 23:29:47 GMT -5
While he could find it in himself to feel sorry for what she must have gone through, he wasn't convinced that the story was as romantic as she seemed to think it was. Then again, for all his charm and self-proclaimed wit, Paul wasn't into grand displays. That didn't concern him though- he wasn't looking for anything serious, and the girls he went out with knew it. He wasn't just going for one night stands, but it wasn't like he was looking for 'the one'. He pursed his lips, hearing that she loved Jonathan, tiring of all the sentimentality.
"Fascinating. Be sure to send me a wedding invite, will you?" He wasn't cold, or uninterested in longer-term relationships, but as far as he was concerned, now was the time for people to have fun. She wasn't much older than himself- why settle, unless you had no hope that someone better would come along? He was going to university in the fall, and fully intended to take advantage of that. Yes, he was dating someone right now, and yes, he cared about her, but he didn't know how long that could last when they were halfway across the country. He and Chloe had been seeing each other for around three months, but had reached an understanding that if things changed while they were at school, they owed it to themselves to tell the other. Which he was going to do, if that happened. He wasn't a scumbag or anything, he was just interested in knowing his options.
"Anything else to ask me?"
"Not really. Why, are my questions bothering you?" He seemed to genuinely find this funny, but there was something still likable about his grin, that while he was obviously trying to provoke a certain response, he wasn't trying to hurt anyone. "Oh, well, unless you want to tell me the best way to diffuse a bomb." He nodded to the door, where Jon had stepped out after yanking it open, looking a little less relaxed. He stomped across the deck to sit next to Scarlet, shooting Paul a glare, daring him to speak. Paul just held up his hands with a locked grin.
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Post by SCARLET JOOK-LIANG LANCASTER on Aug 20, 2011 0:12:16 GMT -5
Scarlet stared blankly at Paul, blinking a bit at his sudden sarcasm. It bothered her, but she just smiled and laughed softly. "We'll see. I'd love for you to come. Jonathan might not be so happy about it, but he'll deal." She nodded and looked up to Jonathan as he stomped out of the house, casting him a worried look, before looking back to Paul. "The last two answers to your questions; no, they don't bother me. Not at all, actually. I've dealt with much, much worse." She tilted her head before smiling weakly and glancing to Jonathan. "As for the last question..." She looked back to Paul, grinning. "You don't. You just wait until it goes dormant and expires, and never set it off." She stood up and brushed her hands on her pants, wiping any dirt that collected on the bottom of them.
"I'm going to help your mum with the dishes. You coming in?" She motioned to the door and tilted her head, not really waiting for a response. She wanted to get a bunch of girl-time in with Mandy before she left; because she knew being stuck in a house full of men was a little mind-numbing at times. So, she walked right into the kitchen and picked up a towel, smiling brightly at Mandy. "I came to help for a bit, if that's alright..." She smiled weakly and took a plate from the older woman, drying it like it was the happiest moment of her life. She was genuinely happy to be doing dishes; it was like every mother's dream to have a child like Scarlet. Every mother but her own. Not that she let it matter, but it still hurt when she thought about it.
Humming excitedly, she made little piles of all the dried dishes and put the piles away while Mandy was washing the next bunch. "So..." Scarlet started slowly, glancing to the two brothers on the deck. "I take it Jonathan doesn't get along with Paul almost as much as the rest of the world, yeah?" She looked to Mandy and laughed half-hearted, feeling like the little surrogate family was going to be some trouble, with Jonathan so angry all the time. Would it ever be normal for him? He had spent so much time being told he wasn't normal... Scarlet sighed softly and bit her lip, putting a stack of plates away.
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Post by JONATHAN WARNER BRASS on Aug 20, 2011 1:30:25 GMT -5
Paul was impressed by Scarlet if nothing else. He didn't know what sort of secrets she harbored, what powers she possessed, but she seemed to be a damn sight more social than Jon, and that was reassuring. He had to hand it to her- she responded to him just as wittily, and seemed to be able to withstand Jon's moodiness with an extraordinary calm.
Jon scowled between Scarlet and Paul, having caught the tail end of their conversation, and having no idea what they were talking about. To see both of them grinning at an inside joke was a bit unnerving, and he couldn't say that at the beginning of this trip he would have ever pictured it. When she asked about dishes, he opened his mouth to respond, caught off guard, but she was already heading through the doorway. Mandy looked up from the dishes, pleased to see that Scarlet had joined her. "Oh, don't feel you have to sweetie. There aren't very many, since I just put all the leftovers in the fridge." She smiled kindly, not wanting to make Scarlet think she was trying to send her away. Mike had disappeared to somewhere else in the house, if the soft sounds of the tv were any indication.
Slowly he turned to Paul, who just sighed and took another drink, looking away to the empty yard. "What did you say to her?" Jon demanded, eyes narrowing dangerously. Paul sat bolt upright, mouth gaping incredulously. "Me? I was just talking. You saw her, she was almost laughing." He brandished a hand toward the kitchen window that overlooked the backyard.
From the window Mandy could see Jon's angry retort and sighed, nodding slowly to Scarlet's question, not taking her eyes off her boys. "You'd be right." She shook her head, looking a bit disappointed. "But I don't remember much of a time when they weren't like that. They're just so different." She smiled a little then, forcing herself to brighten. "Still, it's an improvement over never seeing each other." She finally looked away from the window, expression earnest. "I really am glad he's met you though sweetie. I don't know what he's like back in Seattle, but believe it or not, he seems to be on good behavior this weekend." She laughed, looking genuinely relieved. "With the whole event last time, well...I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. He's almost...cooperative. Although I did wonder why he came back in the first place, that time a month or so ago, even though he had his apartment and everything." She looked down to the sink, rolling her eyes as she scrubbed a plate, handing it gently to Scarlet when it was clean. "Strange, sometimes-" She stopped, having just looked back out the window. It was lucky she hadn't had a dish in her hands, since she smacked them down on the rim of the sink, looking severely put out as she wheeled around Scarlet and marched to the door, yanking it open.
Both Jon and Paul were on their feet. Jon had his back turned to the kitchen, shoulders tensed, but Paul was evidently standing up to whatever the threat was, though he looked admittedly less confident than he had before while talking to Scarlet. "So say it to my face-" Jon was almost snarling the words, fists clenched, looming over Paul who glared at him. "HEY!" She didn't know what made her do it, but Mandy whipped the sponge in her hand at Jon's back, stepping out onto the deck. The man turned, confused, but his eyes flitted past his mother to Scarlet in the window, and he instantly took a step back, expression going a bit blank. Mandy marched past to grab Paul by the front of his shirt, and then Jon as well, yanking them back toward the house. They must had realized they were in deep shit, because two guys that size could have easily planted their feet and let her struggle, but they didn't. Mike was peering around the hallway again, brought out by the raised voices. He took one look at his wife's face, and knew it would be useless to retreat, so instead he made his way slowly to the kitchen, to offer...moral support, or something.
Jon was taken by surprise by all of this. He knew his mother had it in her to be the authoritarian, but it didn't usually happen with this severity, if at all. In the past he just had the impression that the rest of the family was a bit too wary of him to stand up, and somehow that hurt so much more than it should have. At the moment however he was still a bit worked up, but he knew guilt was on its way. Mandy sat Paul down in one chair, and tried to do the same to Jon, but he just stood there resolutely, looking at the floor with a frown. She let him be.
"Way to ruin the evening, boys." There was no hysterical edge to her voice, and even though she sounded angry, disappointment was still at the forefront. She looked at each of them slowly. "You're lucky I only caught you shoutin' at each other." She sounded a tad dangerous now, an arm shooting out to point at Scarlet without looking away from the culprits. "We have a guest in our home, and this is how you behave? Paul, just once would you try not provoking someone." He looked like he was about to respond, but she held up a hand to stop him, and his mouth snapped shut. "And Jon." She hesitated, brows pulling up over wide blue eyes. "Honey I know how you get, but for the love of god would you just knock it off with the attitude? Even for your girlfriend?" She shook her head, shaming them both. Silence lingered, and she turned toward Scarlet, but her gaze slid toward her eldest son again. "Sweetie how would you like to come spend the day with me tomorrow? We'll get our nails done, that sort of thing, and get you back in time for your flight." Jon finally looked up in alarm, this at least warranting a reaction. Mandy, pleased to have made an impression, now turned her full attention of Scarlet again. "So how about it?" She looked like she wanted to add something like 'my work here is done'. Mandy appeared rather proud of herself; she hadn't believed that she still had a handle on those boys.
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Post by SCARLET JOOK-LIANG LANCASTER on Aug 20, 2011 11:12:57 GMT -5
The young girl was about to reply to Mandy when the older woman took off like a bat out of hell, throwing her sponge at Jon's back. It warranted a laugh, but Scarlet kept her mouth shut and watched as Mandy picked up the shirts of the boys, dragging them back into the house. They could have sat there and let her struggle, but instead they just followed obediently, as if their mother was some sort of magnet, dragging them along a flat surface. Scarlet stared wide-eyed at the three of them, standing beside Mike, before taking a step closer to him, and a little bit behind. She wasn't used to yelling or needing to be disciplined so outwardly, so it scared the crap out of her. Her teeth found her lip and ground into it quietly while she watched the events unfold. When she was directed a question, it took a few moments to register in her mind, and she stood there, looking a bit stunned herself. At one point, she needed to close her eyes to keep from stunning everyone in the room, because she was so nervous.
"What?" She blinked rapidly, taken aback by the sudden question, and stared, wide-eyed, before shaking her head a bit as the question finally registered in her mind. "Oh, well I..." She glanced to Jonathan, as if she needed permission, before frowning slightly at herself. No. An older, motherly figure had asked her to do something completely girly, with no hint of sarcasm in her voice. This was going to happen for her, and no man-come hell or high water-was going to stand in her way, even if it was Jonathan's mother, and not her own. They could share, right? And what was with this blank look? He only actually showed some sort of response when his mother threatened to take her away for the day. Scarlet looked back to Mandy and smiled sweetly, walking over very, very slowly.
For a few seconds, she just stood there, staring. It lasted all five seconds in entirety, before her arms encircle Mandy and hugged her tightly. She felt like she was going to cry. "I haven't had girl-time in 6 years." She mumbled quietly, more for Jonathan to overhear, rather than Mandy. Obviously he hadn't informed his parents that she had no actual blood-related parents taking care of her.
Quietly, she pulled away from Mandy and smiled a bit more, before stuffing her hands into her pockets, shyly. "I think I'll go lay down for a bit..." She suddenly felt very worn down. Walking past Mandy, she took Jonathan's hand, leading him away silently, eyes fixed on where her feet were stepping. When she reached the basement, she pulled him into her room and crawled onto the bed, curling up on the covers. "I'm sleepy." She closed her eyes and sighed loudly, before opening an eye at her boyfriend. "So... What did you say to Paul to make him look so... Not like Paul?" She smiled weakly, raising an eyebrow at him, watching his every movement.
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Post by JONATHAN WARNER BRASS on Aug 20, 2011 19:06:18 GMT -5
It was hard to miss the way that Scarlet cringed away from being addressed, though Jon had to admit it looked a bit odd in contrast with his and Paul`s reaction to Mandy`s outburst. He could however guess what was coming, so when she looked to him, he just stared back evenly.
Before she really registered what was happening, Mandy felt Scarlet`s thin arms circle her shoulders, hugging her tightly. The older woman was confused at first, but a sympathetic smile soon flickered across her face, and she returned the gesture. It was hard to say how she felt about her son`s girlfriend. Obviously she liked her, but she hadn`t been expecting someone so eager to really ingratiate themselves with the family. That felt like the sort of thing that happened after many visits and holidays, once the ground rules were settled and everyone got a feel for each other. Then again, she couldn`t really hold anyone with Jon to the usual standards of couples. He hadn`t been her 'baby' in a long time, so she was perhaps not as obsessed with hovering as some parents might be. He was independent- he had always been that way.
As Scarlet pulled back, Mandy smiled, touching her gently on the shoulder. "Don't worry sweetie, it'll be great girl time. Go ahead and get some rest, we'll have a long drive tomorrow." It could have been the sudden change in volume, but the room seemed so much more at peace. Paul was slumped in his chair looking bored again, and Mike had edged toward the fridge. Jon was at a loss, but Scarlet took his hand, murmuring about being tired before leading him away.
He felt it was best not to say anything yet, though it could have been because he didn't know what to say exactly. He was bracing himself for anything, but his main concern was that she would be angry. It was a bit alarming then when she went and curled up on the bed, softly asking for details about his little standoff with Paul.
Slowly he walked to the bed, lying down on the other side of her, frowning at the ceiling. "Nothing." He knew this wouldn't cut it. He cleared his throat. "I honestly don't even know. Well, I mean...I was just asking what he had said to you. I don't know. We sort of got talking about us, and..." He shook his head, turning to look over at her. "Did you know he's moving to Seattle?" He sounded accusing, but he wasn't sure why exactly as he looking away, back up to the ceiling.
"Are you feeling alright?" He was apparently in one of those moods, scowling as he flipped open his phone, determined to not look at her again. "It's not even late." He was avoiding the topic of her little excursion tomorrow. He had seen how much it meant to her....was he selfish for withholding that opportunity for her until now?
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Post by SCARLET JOOK-LIANG LANCASTER on Aug 20, 2011 21:49:17 GMT -5
Scarlet smiled when Jonathan crawled into bed with her, but there was an unusual tenseness to the way he was moving. He wouldn't look at her, and he kept looking at his phone. Frowning, she kept from touching him as he spoke, listening to every word, and clinging to it with her mind as she processed what he was asking her.
"What did he say about us?" She paused and looked a bit surprised when he mentioned that his brother was moving to Seattle. This was a strange turn of events... A city with two Brass boys... It would be in ruins by the end of the first hour upon Paul's arrival. She laughed dryly at the scene in her head, before looking over Jonathan's face. He was staring blankly at anything but her, before looking at his phone again. Frowning, she flipped on top of him, pressing his hands hard into the pillows with her own. He could have easily overpowered her in this situation, but he just gave her the same blank stare.
"I'm fine. I'm just tired from being out all day." She gave him the same hard stare back, golden eyes blazing from the pupil outwards. It was like they were moving around. "What is with the stare?" She demanded quietly, leaning down closer. Her eyebrows knit together slightly in an upwards arch shape, and her face softened a bit. What was wrong with Jonathan? "If you don't want me to go tomorrow, just tell me. I hate it when you're like this. I don't want to upset you." She sat back on her heels and his legs, looking at her hands as she fiddled with the rings on one of her fingers, before switching over to the opposite hand to fiddle with those rings. Above all else, she just wanted to make him happy. She bit her lip and yawned to herself, stifling it by sending it through her nose. Her eyes raised to his, and she shrugged slightly, not sure what to say to him.
"I don't want to make you feel sad..." She looked like she would cry, before slipping off the bed and standing up to get some nightclothes out of her bag. She set them on the bed and put her hands to her hips, eyeing the bedclothes. She had recently bought some new furniture for the apartment, but she hadn't told Jonathan about it yet. It was a surprise, since he had told her she could decorate however she wanted to bring a little more life into the place that they called their home for the time being.
Without really saying much, she sat on the bed and rubbed her arm quietly, before looking at Jonathan, blinking. Her emotions were fucking everywhere. She needed to take a damn test and get some peace of mind. Soon.
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Post by JONATHAN WARNER BRASS on Aug 20, 2011 22:14:37 GMT -5
He studied her blankly as she rolled over on top of him, asking questions and looking progressively more and more worried. When she started fiddling obsessively with her rings he moved to stop her, but she just slid from the bed, hiding her face as if she was about to cry.
For a moment he didn't say anything, but slowly sat up in the center of the bed, meeting her gaze when she sat back down on the edge with her clothes. Still looking rather somber, he reached out to pull her toward him until she was almost in his lap. He just let his arms circle around her slight frame with a sigh. "It doesn't make me sad. I want you to enjoy yourself. It's just a lot to get used to." That sounded a bit off, considering she was the guest here, but whatever. Scarlet just had a better time getting to know people, because she put in the effort. And he could tell himself over and over that he was going to change that, and whenever he didn't, that it wasn't his fault but he knew where that got him.
When had there ever been this much of a disconnect between them? It felt like every second word was lost in translation, and neither side was any closer to deciphering it. He leaned away from her while still managing to keep his arms around her, the better to see her face.
"You don't have to do anything to make me happy. You don't owe me that." His voice hardened, eyes narrowing, trying not to focus on the way her gaze burned back at him. "I just mean- don't worry about the decisions like that. I'll be fine, one way or another, so don't let any of that influence you. Do it for you. Not for me."
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Post by SCARLET JOOK-LIANG LANCASTER on Aug 20, 2011 23:23:13 GMT -5
Smiling a bit, Scarlet played with Jonathan's fingers gently, wiggling them around with her own. She let out a simple laugh and looked up to him, eyes soft. "Thank you. It means a lot to me that you trust me with myself. 'Cause not even I do, lately..." She shrugged in a matter-of-fact manner and looked at their hands, running her finger tips along the soft skin all over them. Her mouth tugged into a soft smile, and she sighed through her nose, clearly content with just sitting here, playing with his hands. But there were matters that needed to be discussed. Feelings to be talked about. They couldn't go on like this without becoming angry with each other. Scarlet was going to communicate with him whether he liked it or not.
Biting her lip, she turned so she was facing him a bit more, still sitting in his lap. She raised one hand to his face and kissed him softly, closing her eyes to rest her forehead on his chin. "We need to start talking more. And I need to start letting you know what's going on, because my mood swings are really, really starting to freak me out." Scarlet sighed, not opening her eyes. This was really starting to scare her now. She didn't want to accept the fact that she'd have to take a test to see if she was late for a certain reason that started with "f-" and ended with "-etus." In fact, she was terrified. Would Jonathan be mad at her? Would he feel sad if it came up negative? Would she feel sad if it came up negative? She opened her eyes and sighed softly, looking up at him with a sad expression, mixed with a bit of fear. The next words were something she never thought she'd ever hear herself say.
"I need to take a test, Jonathan."
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