After Dark
Sep. 22nd, 2013 09:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valerie_vause in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
birthright_rpgThings unravelled in the oddest of ways. Everything that had happened since she’d gotten to UNLV had been quite unusual. With so many different things happening Valerie had pulled away, secluded herself and thrown her focus into school and patrolling. Not that it really helped, because Brian was there in her thoughts, just under the surface. Reminding her of the dangers that being with him could lead to. The fact that there was a Watcher where she spent her daylight hours unnerved the blonde and she had to wonder if the woman would be against her seeing anyone. The Council liked their girls to concentrate on the supernatural entities. Then something happened, a change began to take place as she came to the conclusion that since Rhiannon also patrolled, taking a night off wasn’t a crime.
Valerie had felt the anxiety shift to something else, not anger, but a restless energy that she turned into purpose. Her entire life since she’d been called had revolved solely around her duty. Time for a change. Time for her to get a life of her own. Gathering up a few things, gum, wallet, keys, the blonde hesitated and turned to open the mini fridge freezer. Fingers caught the thin metal case she’d kept under the ice cube tray and slid it into her back pocket. All in all it was a bit bigger than a pencil case, half an inch thick, with a little clip to keep it locked.
She strode out of her room and through the dorm before it occurred to her that she hadn’t changed. It doesn’t matter. The voice in the back of her mind said, and Valerie nodded and continued onward into the night. Jeans spattered with paint, torn in places, and streaked with blood from accidents happening in patrol. After a few washes the dried crimson had turned orange, and most people chalked it up as some sort of paint or that she’d wiped pasta sauce down them. Blonde hair was hidden by the hoody, underneath it a clean t-shirt sported the same kind of artistic abuse as her jeans.
Legs might have been short but they carried her at a fast pace, and within half an hour she’d managed to walk straight to Brian’s apartment building. Valerie tilted her head back to take a good look at it, street lights casting it in a pale glow that seemed to emphasize how old it was. Small chips and cracks could be seen, the faintest hints of moss clung in sparse patches further up, and she splayed a palm against the bricks to feel the rough texture. Old, but oddly beautiful. Both hands lifted then to push the hood down as the blonde took in a slow breath and checked her watch. Nine at night wasn’t that late to show up unannounced, was it? Only then did she realise he might not even be in. Why hadn’t she called? Oh, right, fear.
Shaking herself out of it, Valerie gathered herself as best she could and knocked three times on Brian’s door. If he didn’t answer at least she’d followed through on her impulse, and that was better than nothing.
Valerie had felt the anxiety shift to something else, not anger, but a restless energy that she turned into purpose. Her entire life since she’d been called had revolved solely around her duty. Time for a change. Time for her to get a life of her own. Gathering up a few things, gum, wallet, keys, the blonde hesitated and turned to open the mini fridge freezer. Fingers caught the thin metal case she’d kept under the ice cube tray and slid it into her back pocket. All in all it was a bit bigger than a pencil case, half an inch thick, with a little clip to keep it locked.
She strode out of her room and through the dorm before it occurred to her that she hadn’t changed. It doesn’t matter. The voice in the back of her mind said, and Valerie nodded and continued onward into the night. Jeans spattered with paint, torn in places, and streaked with blood from accidents happening in patrol. After a few washes the dried crimson had turned orange, and most people chalked it up as some sort of paint or that she’d wiped pasta sauce down them. Blonde hair was hidden by the hoody, underneath it a clean t-shirt sported the same kind of artistic abuse as her jeans.
Legs might have been short but they carried her at a fast pace, and within half an hour she’d managed to walk straight to Brian’s apartment building. Valerie tilted her head back to take a good look at it, street lights casting it in a pale glow that seemed to emphasize how old it was. Small chips and cracks could be seen, the faintest hints of moss clung in sparse patches further up, and she splayed a palm against the bricks to feel the rough texture. Old, but oddly beautiful. Both hands lifted then to push the hood down as the blonde took in a slow breath and checked her watch. Nine at night wasn’t that late to show up unannounced, was it? Only then did she realise he might not even be in. Why hadn’t she called? Oh, right, fear.
Shaking herself out of it, Valerie gathered herself as best she could and knocked three times on Brian’s door. If he didn’t answer at least she’d followed through on her impulse, and that was better than nothing.
no subject
on 2013-09-23 01:28 am (UTC)The ache in his cheeks told Brian he was smiling like an idiot. He reluctantly went to his refrigerator and opened the door, sneaking another quick look at the weapons before he stored the box in his freezer, right next to the Hot Pockets. Damn, that was awesome. He let the cold air cool off his face, which was overheated from the other awesome thing Valerie gave him. Jesus, he was worse than a kid going through puberty. He flashed back to his first kiss, a girl named Kim who planted one on him at the skating rink while the Bee Gees blasted from the speakers and a disco ball spun overhead. He was so startled that he wiped out.
This better not be like puberty.
He shut the freezer and went back to the living room, where Valerie perched on the couch. He sat down opposite her on the coffee table. The papers crinkled under his thigh.
He slouched and linked his hands together, still stuck on that monologue she gave when he opened the door. Just because she kissed him, didn’t mean she was convinced it was a good idea. Maybe the practice weapon was a way of letting him closer on a trial basis, seeing if he could handle himself.
“Um,” he swallowed, “Could we uh…. Could we go back to that thing where you feel alive for the first time?” Brian asked. “Because I’m crazy about you and I just want you to know I wouldn’t get in the way. I mean… I’d try really hard not to get in the way if you wanted to—”
no subject
on 2013-09-23 02:13 am (UTC)The tone was bemused as she watched him go to the fridge, and in those precious seconds when he wasn’t looking Valerie gave into the impulse to brush fingers through her hair, gave it a tussle to make it sit better. Hands then went to her t-shirt, straightening it out so it wasn’t bunched, only to discover a large gash was across the middle, a sliver of skin exposed. Oh god, she looked like some sort of tramp. And not the kind men paid money for. It was too late to put on her hoody because he was already walking over and Valerie tried not to fidget when he sat on the table. Their knees bumped and she smiled mischievously.
“Uh…” The sound left her throat as he continued to talk, the blonde tilted her head and studied his features, her own a mixture of pleased and apprehensive. Brian’s words sent a wave of excitement through Valerie and she tried very hard not to grin like a fool. It was ridiculous how much it all meant to her. “I don’t think you’d be a liability.” She cut in quickly. “I… I’ve just never dared, no, never wanted to date anyone.”
For someone so confident Valerie sure felt timid as she reached out with one hand to trace her fingers against his clasped ones. Eyes found his while she confessed quietly,“Until you.” It felt important to tell him that. She wasn’t one to just run off with strangers, but she couldn’t deny how he made her feel. To know it was mutual only instilled the notion that it was right. How could anyone disagree? The Council be damned. “Whatever consequences, and I seriously hope none, I’d rather face them as your girlfriend than die with regret over never having the experience.”
Valerie blinked, repeated her words in her head, and spat out nervously, “I mean if that’s what you meant! Want." She pressed two fingertips against the bridge of her nose and sighed, "Fraggle…"
no subject
on 2013-09-23 02:59 am (UTC)“Hey.” He coaxed the hand away from her face, ducking down to get a better look at her. But he wasn’t satisfied that she was close enough, so he got down on his knees and put his hands on her hips. They tugged her to the edge of the couch cushion. “I want it,” he said.
Nerves sputtered and kicked. Stomach lurched. The words came out of his mouth, and they were spoken in his voice, but he had a hard time believing this was his life. How long had it been since his last girlfriend? Six years back, in high school, when girlfriends were more conceptual than real responsibility. Shit, was he any good at being a boyfriend? He was going to find out.
Brian swallowed past the panic and stroked her back. The solid feel of her grounded him. “God, you’re pretty,” he whispered. He smiled and asked, “What are you doing with me? Don’t change your mind but…”