Courier run

[cian_oneill]

Odd jobs was definitely a part of Cian's work description, but he didn't mind this sort of thing so much. It gave him a chance to get on his bike and ride, even if it was just up to Searchlight.

He pulled up outside the library, opened the pannier on the side of his bike and pulled out the bundle of books that had to be returned. Some family had forgotten the concept of borrowing from the library meant actually returning them at some point, and had just left them in the room at the resort when they had checked out.

He took off his helmet and leather jacket, leaving them on the seat of the bike, and tucked the bundle under his arm. The heel of his boot crunched on the gritty pavement outside the library, and the rush of cool air that hit him as he walked inside was welcome. There was no-one at the counter when he walked in so he stood and waited, making the most of the air conditioning, before heading back outside on his next errand.

Comments

[cian_oneill]

"It's no trouble," Cian replied, giving the librarian a lazy smile before turning to leave. As he did his senses picked up something he hadn't come across in a while, and there was only one person in his vicinity it could be.

He still had his sunglasses on, his eyes concealed behind them, giving him the chance to run his eyes over the young woman in front of him. He knew he hadn't come across her before without having even seen her face, and her scent was definitely not one he was familiar with.

Rhiannon did say there were a lot coming into town, looks like she was right.

"Miss," he said, putting his hand out to catch another miscreant book that was about to head to the floor.

[wolfs_daughter]

A strange, unnameable Something shivered its way up Echo's spine when she looked up into the stranger's face, and she was so startled that she almost dropped all of her books at once. She couldn't even see his eyes, but it was there, unable to be missed.

Kinship. She wasn't sure if she was elated or terrified.

"Uh." Oh, real intelligent. He was very handsome, even she could appreciate his looks. "Thank you. I should get a backpack if I'm going to check out a bunch of books, I guess."

[cian_oneill]

There was no doubt in his mind now, the sudden increase in scent easily detectible to him. "Would probably make 'em easier t' handle," Cian agreed, reaching over smoothly and taking the bundle from her, large hands quickly and deftly shuffling them back into submission.

He was curious to see the titles of some of them, and reached up with his empty hand, lifting his sunglasses up and propping them on top of his head. "Y' returnin' 'm all?" he asked, indicating the desk where he'd just left the bundle he'd brought back.

[wolfs_daughter]

"Y-y-y-yeah, I was going to check out some new ones," Echo said, jamming her hands into her pockets when the stranger did her the favor of arranging her books into a manageable stack on the counter. He didn't smell like the Wolf, not like Papa did. She felt ridiculously small standing next to him.

"I haven't seen you before." The words leaped out of her mouth and into the silence of the library before she could grab them back. "In Searchlight, I mean. I know I don't know everyone here or anything, but I'd have..." Smelled you.

"I'd have remembered your face."

[cian_oneill]

Cian's smile widened and his nose twitched with amusement at her.

"I'll try not t' be hurt," he said, his voice soft and yet clear. "I'm Cian, work down 't Cottonwood Cove, so not really here more'n a couple of times a week," he told her. "Can't say 's I've come across y' before, s' what's got y' t' this part o' the country?"

[wolfs_daughter]

His good humor calmed her nerves a bit, a balm on her agitation, and she lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "I can't afford to live in Las Vegas, and a town this size is more my speed anyway. At least until the tourist crowd gets word about how cool it is to live in the middle of nowhere, anyway."

Were they supposed to shake hands? It was what humans did, but neither she nor Cian were entirely human and they both knew it. Echo dragged one hand out of her pocket, raked it through her hair, touseling the dark strands. Then she extended it in his direction, a slightly dopey smile on her face.

"I'm Echo."

[cian_oneill]

"Hi Echo, nice t' meet y'," Cian replied, taking her hand and feeling the warmth of her skin.

"Some interestin' readin' material y' got there," he said, a small jerk of his head indicating the pile of books he'd placed on the counter.

[wolfs_daughter]

"I like mythology, especially since Mama named me after someone in one of the stories," the brunette said, letting her hand be dwarfed by his. His body heat was markedly different than a human's, as if he'd just stopped warming himself by a fire. Werecreatures were natural heat producers, even walking on two legs. She sniffed at the air again. Familiar, yet also different.

"I'm guessing you're not American," she remarked once the handshake was over. "Where in the UK are you from?"

[cian_oneill]

"Small place in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland," Cian replied, the Irish lilt clearer now as he emphasised a little for her.

"And you? Where w'd y' family be from?" he asked, eyes on hers as he continued to assess, fairly certain she was lycan, but not about to leap to any conclusions. He'd known a few over the years and each had their own scent.

[wolfs_daughter]

"Came down from Seattle, found this wide place in the road and decided to stay a while," Echo answered, waving her free hand in the direction of the trailer park before putting it back in her pocket. "It's a small place, but it's a comfortable kind of small."

What would he think of her if he knew her mother was human and that she was a half-breed? He might not be so friendly then. But there was something about Cian's manner that said he might find it not worth ostracizing her over, which would be a relief. Living in the twilight between two worlds was difficult enough. She didn't need reminders of her status.

"I went out to Cottonwood Cove to sit down by the water last week," she said, shaking off the reverie. "Did some sketching, had lunch, waded a little. It's a nice place to make a day of visiting."

[cian_oneill]

"Aye, it's good f' that. Y' c'n find plenty o' places for some peace 'n quiet, and privacy. Good for going for a run." The last part was accompanied by a twitch of one eyebrow, his eyes fixed on hers as he said it.

[wolfs_daughter]

Was he trying to dominate her? Papa did that stare thing sometimes, usually when he was annoyed by poor service at a restaurant or someone was less than prompt in answering his question. Echo was too shy to be much of an alpha, and she wasn't uncomfortable when she ducked her head in response to Cian's close look, giving the taller were the respect he deserved.

"I didn't learn to swim until I was a teenager," she said, looking up at him again. "But I like being near the water, especially around here where it's always so hot."

Looking for something else to say, no matter how inane, she looked down at his feet. "I like your boots. Do you have saddlebags on your bike to carry books in?"

[cian_oneill]

He huffed a soft laugh, the young female clearly curious, but unsure of him. He didn't mean to make her feel this way and shook his head, indicating the bike outside.

"Used to, but they always filled up wi' dust. I use panniers now, seals keep everythin' inside nice 'n clean. Y' c'd do wi' a good bag y'self," he noted, knowing she'd already mentioned it but trying to put her a little more at ease.