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Post by Silverstripe on Mar 14, 2018 17:54:48 GMT -5
The Cheshire only shrugged and smirked at her statement. "The rides here are pretty tame in this world." He didn't take notice of the attention he gathered from the normal humans around him normally. But here, it threw him off whenever he saw someone else with strange attire. It was as if the roles were reversed. "And it would definitely be longer than five years." He added to further tease the dark-haired girl.
Cana watched as Turner carefully tucked away the bills and followed him through the hall to the little girl's room. Looking over the piece of furniture, she nodded again and smiled, moving to stand in front of it. With a quick crack of her neck and stretch of her left shoulder, she reached down and slid her hand underneath the trunk. She gave a faint hmph and hoisted the trunk up onto her shoulder without much difficulty
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Post by Lostwhisker on Mar 24, 2018 7:40:34 GMT -5
The girl shrugged, "well, no human would survive the rides that you're used to. Those are actually insane." It scared her enough just looking at them from the ground but to be on a roller coaster in Wonderland? Hard pass. Jamie scoffed at Boris but a smile still curled her lips, "that's if you could remember that long." She gave a short laugh then slipped her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Turner had to blink a few times then shook his head, "uh, okay, that seemed easier than I thought. I'm going to grab the toy chest from the boys' room." When trying to lift the wooden structure, he found it to be a bit more difficult than Cana had made it look. He grunted and was able to carry it as far as the archway leading into the kitchen but he had to set it down to take a break. I feel a little pathetic in comparison, he thought but had to remind himself that Cana probably receives strength from her wolf form.
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Post by Silverstripe on Mar 29, 2018 23:14:19 GMT -5
Boris chuckled and returned her light squeeze with one of his own. "And just what does that mean?" He inquired with a smirk. Leaning in and down a bit, he continued to question Jamie. "Are you trying to say something about me? Because last time I checked, I'm not the kind of guy you want to mess with." The Wonderland native rarely reverted to his past nature, one that would take a life without hesitation. However, old habits die hard and it occasionally poked its head out from time to time. Like at this moment when his eyes had narrowed slightly, as if trying to go back to a cat-like manner.
It wasn't long before Cana had carried the trunk outside, carefully setting it down on the ground as not to leave any scratches or other marks. After seeing Olivia, she knew she'd want her precious chest completely perfect and the 'shifter was going to keep it that way. She stretched once again and waited for Turner, expecting him to be right behind her. When he didn't show, she went inside and met him at the entrance to the kitchen. She rocked on the balls of her feet as she looked at him, grinning widely as usual. "Need a hand?"
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Post by Lostwhisker on May 10, 2018 11:29:29 GMT -5
It took a moment for Jamie to register what Boris was alluding to but her hand went a bit limp in his hand once she did. Witnessing Boris's feral side was frightening to say the least and she had seen more of it when observing him in Wonderland with Alice. She shook her head and squeezed his hand tightly in return as though she was never going to let go; "I don't think you'll ever act in such a way around me." She smiled confidently at him and wasn't about to take anything else as an answer.
Being stubborn as always, Turner shook his head and bent to lift the trunk once more. He heaved it upward and placed it in the back of the truck with an unceremonious thud. He let out a breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead by bringing the bottom of his shirt up. On his stomach there were visible scars from beatings and even some suggesting cigarette burns. He dropped the shirt and glanced over everything that had been loaded so far, "just one more and I think we'll be good to go. Everything else we need is in storage and I have the only key." That was an important fact since it was one lock Chad couldn't change without Turner being present. We'll have to clear it out fast. I don't have enough to pay rent and another monthly payment for the storage container. There was a lot to be done but it would be worth it in the end.
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Post by Silverstripe on May 13, 2018 22:35:33 GMT -5
Boris didn't fail to notice her slightly wavering tension of her hand in his. With a flick of his ear, resulting in a light 'click' of his piercings hitting each other, his eyes returned back to their dormant state. His smile grew a bit forced as he gave a stiff nod, returning the tighter squeeze. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He stated, adding some of his usual joking tone though it carried hesitancy. As carefree as the boy was, he wasn't totally oblivious to his actions. Even now, he couldn't always look past everything that had happened before.
The shapeshifter couldn't help but trace his abdomen with her eyes, noting the marks scarring his pale skin. Her ears flattened against her head and a frown crossed her lips as she was reminded about her friend's condition in life. She definitely couldn't leave him or his siblings; she wouldn't leave him to continue this on his own. Not if she could help it. Besides, being around people again felt better than she could have imagined. Turner's words pulled her out of her thoughts and her ears perked back up, erasing any suggestion she had been anything but her normal mood.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Jun 20, 2018 14:07:00 GMT -5
Tension filled the air between them but Jamie was refusing to let it ruin the day; she continued to hold his hand and have a small smile on her face. "You know, I'm actually feeling kind of hungry. Should we get something to eat instead?" She was hungry but she was also nervous about the ride they were waiting for. The dark-haired girl knew she couldn't admit her fear to Boris without being teased mercilessly so she tried passing it off. The girl looked up at him with pleading violet eyes and batted her eyelashes, "pleaaase? I'm sooo hungry." She swung his hand gently then stuck her tongue out at him, dropping the childish act of begging.
The final item was loaded and Turner began rounding up the kids into the rusted truck. Turner was busying himself with strapping Olivia into her car seat when he heard the screen door to the front of the house slam open against the siding of the house. "What do you brats think you're doing!? You can't take that stuff!" The man stumbling from the house was livid but unsteady on his feet as he was hungover and already nursing a new beer for the day. Turner left Erik to finish strapping Olivia in, closed the car door, and stood beside Cana, "get in the driver seat and start it up." He slipped the keys into her hand before she could protest and strode towards the disoriented Craig, his hands curled into fists at his side from anger but his face was a clean slate -- almost stoic. He stopped in the middle of the stretch of land to separate the abusive drinker from the truck, "we're leaving. If you follow us then you'll find yourself in a whole bunch of trouble." His voice was steady as he spoke and he didn't even flinch when the blundering man through his half-filled beer can in his direction, spraying the piss-smelling contents across his jeans; "you're not goin' anywhere, wise-[butt]. I'll seen the cops after ya!" The shadow-wielder nearly laughed at that: "do that and I'll provide enough proof for the police to drown in to show the mistreatment we have experienced -- from you and our mother."
At this point, a frail women in a nightgown was standing behind the now closed screen door. Her arms were crossed but as though she was hugging herself for comfort while witnessing her children being ripped from her. Though she appeared upset, she didn't make a move to convince any of her children to stay. She didn't even shout for her boyfriend to stop when the grimy older man charged at her eldest son; though, she did scream when a wall of pitch black shadows sent Craig flying backwards when he came withing two feet of Turner.
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Post by Silverstripe on Jun 21, 2018 0:04:19 GMT -5
Of course, Jamie was right to know how easy it was for Boris to tease her at any and every opportunity. A smirk crept on his lips as he pondered the thought, clearly aware of this situation. However, after seeing her childish façade, he let out a low chuckle. He would save it for later. The foreign cat was also feeling his stomach knotting up, not because of the ride of course, but he was reminded by a twang in his abdomen that it had been some time since they had last eaten. With a nod of his head, he slowly pulled out of the line with her. "Alright, but don't think I'm letting you chicken out just because you can make a cute face." Sometimes he cursed himself for being so weak to her. It was just that easy for her to change his mind with a few words and expression.
Cana had heard the heavy, uneven footsteps making their way closer before the door had even opened. She turned her head to look only moments before the door slammed wide open. with a shift in footing, the girl had taken a defensive position beside the truck. While she stood between him and those packing to leave, her ear twitched when Turner walked up beside her. When handed the keys, she had nearly dropped them, clearly not expecting to be handed anything while she was focused on the man whose stench irritated her nose even from such a distance. "Turner." She murmured, confusion crossing from her gaze into her voice. She hesitated only long enough to see the expression on his face. Seeing the strength that lay beyond his anger broke her from her daze. The metal in her palm was warm as it carried heat from its' previous holders hand. She curled her fingers around it and gave a brisk nod, moving to the other side of the truck before jumping in on the driver's side. Sitting there, she was hit with a wave of reality. She had no idea how to turn it on. Had the air not held the tension it did, she would have groaned aloud. Come on, think. You must have seen someone do it before right? It can't be that hard, right?" During the exchange between Turner and Craig, Cana wracked her brain and fumbled with the keys. She figured it out shortly, shoving the key into its respective slot, turning it forward so the engine roared to life while she exhaled in relief. Tilting her head up caused her to spot the rear-view mirror where she could see the two males. After seeing the drunken man make a move toward her newfound companion, she would have jumped out of the car with instinct driving her. But before she could, shadows shot him back, far out of range for any kind of attack now. For now, she had started the tuck and checked the corner of her gaze to make sure the younger family members were ready to depart. Looking back to the mirror, she could only watch, her muscles tense from her readiness to defend.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Oct 1, 2018 16:30:05 GMT -5
"Okay but just know I win this round with my cute face-making skills," Jamie teased in return. She ducked under the bars separating the long line from the crowds of people milling about the park. The girl narrowly escaped being mauled by a few sugar-hyped kids that were making a beeline for one of the mascots with their parents in tow. Jamie let out an amused snort, "I could never imagine doing that," she looked back to Boris, "ya know, the whole parenting stuff." She reached back for his hand and weaved the both of them through the tides of park-goers until they stood in front of a brightly decorated restaurant with delicious smells wafting from inside; Jamie's mouth began to water.
"Turner," the woman on the steps choked out past her tears, "please don't do this." Turner's blazing eyes turned to his mother and pain flickered behind his rage. The two stared at each other for a moment but a groan from Craig -- sprawled on his back on the front lawn -- broke the connection and son turned from mother to leave her and his childhood behind. "Don't come after us or there will be consequences," he barked at the two miserable creatures before climbing into the passenger side of the truck and slamming the door behind him. "Drive," he breathed to Cana without looking up from his lap. The three in the back remained silent as well as Turner; they only had each other now and know real parents to lean on for assistance. Tears ran down Turner's cheeks but he didn't make a sound or any move to look at the woman that was supposed to protect him from anything and everything. There would have been no one to look to if he had glanced up for the misguided woman had returned inside to drown her sorrows in her own liquor to forget ever having children.
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Post by Silverstripe on Oct 2, 2018 17:18:35 GMT -5
A snicker was drawn from Boris at her quick comeback. It was something that he found attractive in the young lady; her ability to keep him on his toes with her fierce personality he could never hope to control- not that he'd ever want to. His senses were sharp enough for him to steer clear of the children that seemed capable of moving faster than him in their sugar-hyped state. However, her comment had caught him off guard long enough for one of the stragglers of the pack of small people to nearly bump into him, earning a fleeting apology from the girl's mother who was rushing behind her so she didn't lose sight. Boris tilted his head slightly as Jamie looked to him and briefly glanced her over. It wasn't something he had thought of before, but she had gotten him thinking about it. After all, it didn't seem all that bad, at least as long it was with her. Some heat started to settle at the base of his neck, something uncharacteristic for the cat. His grip on the raven-haired girl's hand tightened for just a moment as he opened his mouth to speak, "I dunno, I think you'd be- Ack!"He cut off his own words as his whole body stiffened. Behind him, a little girl had grabbed and tugged on his tail that had been swaying a few inches off the ground. The color drained from his face even after the mother pulled away the child. Boris was prompted to sigh, slight pain still lingering on his pale face, "Actually, I agree on the whole twerp thing."
The shapeshifter's ears pressed against her head as she looked to Turner's state of sorrow, upset with herself for not knowing how to comfort him. For now, it was all she could do to simply nod and turn her attention back to the task before her. She had never driven nor even been in a car until this point, but it didn't appear that the shadow-user was in any shape to drive either. Swallowing the lump that rose in her throat, she let out a shaky breath to try and calm her nerves. Even with her foot pushed down, the truck wasn't moving so she resorts to the stick next to her that appeared to be labeled. With a few shifts, it seemed to work when she moved her foot to a different pedal. The truck lurched forward before stopping again and then started at a slow pace once she had partially pieced together how it worked. The girl didn't drive quickly, but they were traveling at a fast enough pace that the house that held so many terrible memories for the band of siblings disappeared over the horizon. Her hands tightly gripped the steering wheel as she passed stop signs and a few red lights that- thankfully- no one else had been at.
(Ah, this can only end well)
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Post by Silverstripe on Dec 30, 2018 19:35:20 GMT -5
(Boomp)
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Post by Lostwhisker on May 13, 2019 10:05:46 GMT -5
Jamie glanced back and laughed when he was interrupted by a child tugging on his tail. She gave a kind smile to the mother that took the girl's hands off Boris's tail; embarrassment then confusion flickered across her face and she quickly pulled the child away from the human-cat-hybrid. The dark haired girl stuck her tongue out at the judgmental mother's back then shook her head at her Cheshire, "some people are so quick to judge someone." She glanced at his tail and tilted her head, "maybe we should do something about that.. Don't want anyone to step or pull on you again."
After a few minutes of driving, Turner rasped, "pull over to the side here." His gesture to the sidewalk was weak and he didn't meet Cana's eyes. He only glanced to the rear-view mirror to check on his siblings that were sitting in their own somber silence. Olivia, surprisingly, wasn't throwing a fit nor tearing up -- it's not like she really had a strong bond with our mother anyways, he thought. Once the truck was on the side of the road and brought to a stop, the lanky young man opened the passenger side door and rounded the front of the vehicle to open Cana's door. Finally, he looked her in the eyes but his were aged beyond his years, "get to the other side. I'll drive the rest of the way since I know where we're going." He didn't want to risk being dazed while heading in the opposite direction of their new home as it would just make the whole situation more miserable than it already was. His fingers rapped on the door and his eyes dropped to the ground as he was lost in his head again.
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Post by Silverstripe on May 23, 2019 22:07:05 GMT -5
His statement had been silenced and he chose to believe there was a reason to be interrupted though he wished it hadn't been that painful. Boris swayed his tail, curling it with a faint wince. Despite how young the kid was, he had a strong grip. With a shrug, he slowly raised his tail and wrapped it snuggly around his waist. While he hated to do it, Jamie was right in her suggestion. Even with his sharpened reflexes, children here were unpredictable in their movements. He took a step forward to try and figure out his balance without his tail. It was just another reminder that despite how human he appeared, he still retained his cat-like instincts features. "What are these kids even made of? They're crazy fast." He stated with a huff, flicking his ear in annoyance as he temporarily forgot what they had been discussing only moments ago.
Even without much of a motion to guide her, the shifter was eager to pull over, coming to a bit of a rough stop a little farther than he had meant for her to go. She took a deep breath, leaning back and taking her hands off the wheel before turning the key to turn it off. As Turner opened the door to her side, she could feel her hands shaking. Driving was definitely not high on her enjoyment list. The stress had gotten to her and she couldn't imagine doing it again. Running or flying is so much easier. She thought to herself as she met his gaze. The burden his eyes carried struck her soul and she frowned. Cana was still seeing the effects of the past and she knew how much the past could continue to haunt. As she turned her body to step out, she stood and instinctively took his free hand in both of hers. Despite how much her hands were shaking, she continued to do what she knew how to do and offered a smile. From her experienced, nothing good came from everyone frowning so she would carry a smile for them so no one else would have to shoulder it. The moment didn't last long and she released his hand and went around the front of the car to find a place where he had been sitting.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Jul 26, 2019 10:04:36 GMT -5
Jamie gave a large, dramatized shrug, "sugar, spice, and everything nice?" She gave Boris a grin that rivaled his own Cheshire smile which she adored. The young woman looped her arm with Boris's to appear as a couple to outsiders but to allow her assistance in balancing him without seeming suspicious. "You're like a fish out of water," she teased him mercilessly. She only released his arm when she stepped forward to order their greasy, amusement park meals, "I'll have... The loaded nachos with lots of jalapenos and and a large water-" Jamie looked over her shoulder to the Cheshire for his own order.
Turner was heavily questioning his decision to leave: what if I'm a worse provider than those couple of worthless- did I do the right thing? Will my siblings resent me for taking them away? I'm only trying to do the right thing but I- His train of self-doubt halted when Cana took one of his hands in hers. He lifted his gaze once more to hers and gave a weak smile in an attempt to reassure her that he was okay. Once she released him, he lifted himself into the driver's side and adjusted the seat slightly, fidgeting with the rear view mirrors. He peeked back at his siblings one last time before shifting the car into drive and pulling away from the sidewalk. Driving kept him focused and redirected his thoughts temporarily which he was fine with the break from second-guessing himself. His eyes briefly flicked to the hand that Cana had held, his skin still warm from her touch yet he convinced himself that shapeshifters run at a higher temperature anyways. The drive wasn't much longer from where Turner and Cana had swapped seats; the apartment building was old but sturdy and none of the bricks seemed to be crumbling - yet. He smoothly pulled into a parking spot and the rest of the time went by in a blur: everything was moved in quickly and the kids were passed out on their mattresses strewn across the floor of the second bedroom. The furnishings were sparse but better than nothing and rent was cheap for an apartment with three bedrooms. Turner's shoulders finally relaxed when he saw the peacefully sleeping faces of his siblings and he softly closed the door before collapsing on the somewhat tattered couch, an arm draped over his eyes.
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Post by Silverstripe on Aug 12, 2019 23:00:19 GMT -5
Boris rolled his eyes at her reply but was amused regardless. His steps were unsure until Jamie's arm was with his, a helpful guide that he was more than willing to accept. "I'd like to see you try walking through this mess without a sense of balance." He snorted but the smile that followed portrayed an unspoken thanks. They stuck to each other's sides, the Cheshire beginning to collect his bearings without his tail. While not as graceful as any other being, when she released him to order food, he could step forward on his own without falling flat on his behind. "I'll take a chili dog." A grin turned his lips upward, his teasing gaze landing upon his companion. "And perhaps a saucer of milk?" The young teen at the window, a part-timer no doubt, opened his mouth to say something on the matter. Boris cut him off by looking back with a chuckle. "Another water." The teen scrambled to put their order together, pushing it forward while the parkgoers continued to bustle around them.
Being in the passenger seat was far less stressful than the driver's. The truck didn't lurch like it did when she was behind the wheel and rode smoothly now that there was and experienced driver controlling it. While Turner drove, Cana looked out the window, watching the scenery go by and occasionally turning her head a bit when something caught her attention. Each time that happened, the side mirror would reflect just a peek of the children in the backseat. At that time, she used the glance provided to check up on them, her ears perking a bit just in case there was something happening she couldn't see. Pulling into the apartment, she did what she could to help get them unloaded, carrying some of the larger pieces with some help from her shifter strength. Even the siblings had carried in a bit and their exhaustion showed when they fell asleep once they laid down. Cana entered the room, wiping sweat from her brow after having done a quick scope of the area around the building before she could rest easily. It had been a long day for everyone but especially for the eldest son who, upon spotting him flopped on the couch, could only assume to be drained. With her hands behind her, she smiled and stood in front of him, glancing around the dusty room. "It looks a little rough, but it's sturdy." The shifter stated. "And outside is safe too. You found a good place Turner." She said, hoping to put his mind at ease. All through the trip, she could feel the worry and doubt rolling off of him in waves.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Aug 15, 2019 22:21:02 GMT -5
Jamie chuckled at the unbalanced Cheshire, "now you know how I felt in Wonderland." Her tone was light and teasing but it stirred something within her that sent a chill down her spine. She rubbed her arms to brush away the goosebumps that now speckled her skin. The strange feeling left as quickly as it had come and she flashed a genuine smile at Boris's suggestion of milk. She waved a dismissive hand to the server to let him know it was just a joke. The girl huffed when the boy told her the total and she handed over her debit card reluctantly and muttered, "you'd think the fee to enter this place would be enough to cover food expenses." The boy returned the debit card and handed their food through the serving window with a sheepish smile. Jamie grabbed her nachos and smirked at Boris, "as if we had to even pay to get in." Her powers certainly made traveling cheaper.
He lifted his arm off his eyes briefly to peer at Cana before dropping it back into place. Normally, he'd brush off her statements as patronizing bullsh- "certainly better than letting them stay in that house." Turner sighed then sat straight, no longer covering his tired appearance, "thank you... for uh, helping us out." He still wasn't used to relying on others but it was a nice change to have someone helpful stick around. He stood suddenly and began turning the couch into a makeshift bed: covering the cushions with a sheet and tucking a thick blanket at the end for warmth before tossing a pillow on top. "You can sleep here until we can get a little more organized," he looked away and rubbed the back of his neck, "I'll be sure to put your room together in the morning." The silver-haired man felt like he should say more but didn't know what; he was grateful beyond what words could express but was still somewhat apprehensive of having another person live with his siblings. After all they been through, himself included, he couldn't stand another disappointment or be abandoned again. Turner cleared his throat, "goodnight, I guess," he grabbed a sleeping bag and pillow for himself, glanced at Cana from the corner of his eye, then made his way to the largest of the three bedrooms.
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Post by Silverstripe on Aug 26, 2019 23:09:41 GMT -5
The boy behind the counter held his forced smile, remaining from rolling his eyes at the exchange. Boris watched as Jamie handed her card over to pay for their food. It was something that had been on his mind lately. She seemed to pay for her own and more often than not his needs as well. The subtle ear twitch gave him away as he thought over the matter. Despite living in this world for some time, the cat had yet to grasp how everything here worked. Still stuck in Wonderland I guess. A short, low sigh left his lips before being his sense of smell pulled his attention to food he reached for following his companions lead. Her statement brought a smirk that mirrored her own as well as an additional snicker. An elbow shot out to playfully nudge her. "What a bad girl, taking advantage like that." He teased with a familiar low purr. He couldn't make too much fun of her since he did the same with his own powers.
Cana didn't say much, instead opting to nod in agreement. He hadn't told her the full story and he didn't have to. From what she had observed in the short time with the family of siblings, she had pieced together some of the hardships they endured. The sight of the scars marring Turner's torso were a reminder of just that. She naturally straightening as well when he sat up, her smile softening when he thanked her. Her head tilted upward when he stood, moving to prepare a place for her to sleep. It was inviting and she couldn't resist climbing under the warm blanket and curling up as soon as he stepped away. Old familiarity sank in as she laid there. As he began to leave with a few parting words, she spoke in return, her eyes closing. "Goodnight. See you in the morning." Maybe the last part wasn't necessary, but it was her way of cementing that she wouldn't get up and leave like she feared they had been through before.
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Post by Lostwhisker on Sept 5, 2022 10:53:23 GMT -5
Jaime caught the sigh Boris had let slip, but she didn't try prying anything from him. There were too many instances in their pasts of trying to pull truths from each other, and thought it was better to let him voice them in his own time. She chuckled in return when he teasingly elbowed her, and she allowed her arm to hook around his as they walked; it is still shocking how comfortable this is after so much time apart, she thought. "Ya know, it's not my fault that big corporations are greedy. I'm a poor college student, after all!" She snorted at her own remark as it wasn't short from the truth. Her arm slipped out of his as she reached for a cheese-covered chip and crunched down on the salty, greasy goodness, "man, I would always kill for a good plate of nachos. They're like heaven." She held out the now grease-spotted boat of nachos to Boris to offer him a bite while asking, "what are we gonna do next?"
Turner paused as he was closing the door to his room, allowing his eyes to linger at the back of the couch. He still couldn't quite figure Cana out which irked him to no end: Jamie and Rey were never complicated, neither were classmates or teachers... He shook his head and quietly closed the gap between the frame and his door. Turning to the empty box that was his new room, he huffed out a sigh and allowed himself to truly feel the exhaustion of the last-minute move and the responsibilities that weighed heavily on his shoulders. He tossed his pillow and sleeping bag on the ground, thinking sleep would come to him easily, but he found himself tossing and turning on the hard, cold floor. The nagging feelings of regrets and "what ifs" overwhelmed his mind: what if they hate me for moving them? What if they retaliate and try to take them from me? What if I can't make rent? The loop was endless and allowed a dull headache to form between his eyes. With an agitated grumble, Turner tossed aside the top of the sleeping bag and slipped from his room. He creeped past the couch, relying on his powers to hide his presence in the shadows, and snagged his keys before escaping from his anxieties, and the apartment, to escape into the brisk night air for a head-clearing walk.
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