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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2018 5:13:55 GMT
She nodded and sighed. “All right. But I don’t like the idea of someone knowing we are here before we know how they know.” She knew that didn’t really make any sense, but couldn’t think of any other way to put it.” After a few moments, she smiled. “You wanted to know about things. Do you still need to learn more? I think I am rested enough to give you more if you want.”
He pulled her close with a sound very like a purr. “You think so hmm? What I want has nothing to do with mental exertions.” He thought about how Geir might have known. “Your world has all kinds of unseen eyes. Likely someone saw and said something or...he could have been keeping up on your bloodline and simply been waiting for you to be where I was and such.”
She found that a little hard to swallow. “You think someone was keeping track of me and my family? I doubt he would track me. The man I inherited the place from was some weird uncle on my mother’s side I have never even heard of till the lawyers showed up.” She felt she wasn’t anyone worth following so she couldn’t imagine anyone bothering. “But maybe they were keeping tabs on the house and knew when I moved in. If they knew I moved in, it wasn’t long after that you stepped outside, easily seen. And then even if they didn’t know then, us together in town yesterday was pretty obvious.” She was running thru plausible scenarios in her mind as she leaned into his embrace, her cheek on his chest.
As his purr like growl made every bone and muscle in her body tighten in desire. Her voice was soft as she smiled, “As to exertions, what did you have in mind?” She looked up at him with a shine in her eyes he was coming to learn was meant for his eyes only.
He scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder with a laugh. “I think you’ll have fun finding out. I seem to recall that tub in the much bigger room being the size of a lake.”
The ideas of what he planned to do would likely make her blush.
She cried out, her feet kicking behind her as she grabbed his waist for balance. “SORMR!” Her laughter filled the house as he carried her upstairs to the Master Suite in the room next to hers. She had been cleaning it at some point with the plan of them moving rooms eventually. The bathroom was clean, though the rest of the bedroom was still caked in layers of years of disuse. Once settled in the bathroom, she showed him how to fill the tub and even added the bubbles to it to surprise him.
The bubbles did surprise him and quickly amused him. He scooped some up and blew the foam at her just because he could. “You could turn this bathroom alone into a place to live in… My room at the keep had been a bit less than this.”
A single window had brought in light, a single bed, the images of a room with hardly any personal touches came to her mind. Of course, he hardly spent time in it and he was more soldier than partner, but to him the house alone was quite a luxury.
She smiled and laughed at him as he blew the bubbles. His images of the small place tugged at her heart. “Well now you have the whole house. And the bed holds us just fine.” She didn’t say my bed, because she had come to realize it was their bed.
She stepped away from him and smiled with teasing eyes. “So … I am sure you can come up with some ideas on how to learn about the world now.” She began undressing with the shirt being the first to fall to the floor. “But what if us poor mortals have changed?” Her boots and pants were the next to go. She stood before him in matching panties and bra in a color of blue so deep as to almost be black. “I think, perhaps, you should investigate and be sure….” the smile broadened as her hands went to her hips. “You know… can’t be too careful…”
His mind came to a total blank when he saw her standing there in the blue undergarments. He understood the reasons behind the apparel, even without the extra information he had gleaned, but the sight of all that skin and the bits of her they both liked being played with covered, sent thought flying off into the twisting nether. “Yes, exploration is a must.”
They would soon come to find that play in a tub was slippery, but just as enlightening as breaking in a shower.
Sor later was lazing in one of the old and comfortable chairs sometime later. The thoughts running through his mind mostly had to do with the land around them. A number of things to build would come to mind, specifically an obstacle course for her because training was a must. He was used to horses, but with her car that became a big disappointment because the car moved faster. He still preferred the horse, but that came from the fact the metal machine made him want to claw free and take a torch to it. A greenhouse, because he liked the convenience of having their own herbs instead of just wasting good coin buying them.
All sorts of projects that would, he idly wondered, might add to the place and benefit them. Uncertainty on whether or not Anna would wish it so and then his thoughts turned to the house itself and what more needed to be cleaned. He even had a plan of attack for those things, for he planned to clean them in the night because otherwise he would get restless. For her sleep and night was a time to relax, but for him it meant time to fill because otherwise he would have nothing to do. Anna would quickly come to realize that a large part of why he fed his mind was because he had far more time up and active energy than she did.
The night had always been his time to do what he wanted, within the limits of the boundaries decreed. Anna had given him his freedom, which meant he had far more things he could do, especially when she was resting.
Ann came down into the living room as he was sitting in the chair. In her arms was the box from upstairs. “So what all is in here?” She set it down on the floor and sat cross legged before it. She was in jeans and a tshirt with the matching blue undergarments back on that drove him insane. This time she was merely in socks without her usual boots. In the house it seemed ridiculous to put them on again after their bath and love making.
She started pulling items out and unwrapping them as she looked up at him.
When she pulled out a necklace that held a polished bit of amber he stopped her. “Wear that at all times, it's got a few protections on it, especially one that keeps you from being dazzled when you make eye contact. A vampire's primary attack is to catch the gaze of someone and draw them in. The other, though you will likely not thank me, is that you can see what lies under illusion or glamor. The rings too, but they will have to be resized I believe.”
Ann rolled up on her knees and scooted the few feet to Sor's chair. A smile lit her face as she handed him the necklace. “Your turn…” she sat back on her heels, kneeling before him, with the necklace out for him to afix around her neck.
Everything else was really mostly to do with combat and for the moment mostly useless as she needed experience.
“There was a jeweler in town that had resizing abilities posted in his window. I can take them in next time I go to town. But why do you say I won't thank you? Are you not what you appear?” A sadness filled her eyes and hesitation filled her mind. Thankfully, because it seemed such a crazy idea to get, her mind didn't come up with visual possibilities of what he may be with the glamour down.
He slipped the necklace around her neck with a snort. “I am what I am, no glamor or illusions lass, you’ve seen enough of what goes on in my head. Have more faith in me, I am mildly offended you think I have lied to you. Especially as you have seen every inch of me quite intimately. I meant in regards to the Fae more than anything… Both aspects of the Fae can be quite grotesque, though admittedly it is the darker Fae that are...usually the worst. As for the rings, again, these will require a mage-smith as these are not mundane trinkets. To fight unusual and difficult things requires more than just something you’d fight another human, though there will be times we might have to do that too.”
Ann bit her lip as she held her hand up. “I’m sorry, Sor. I know you aren’t, grotesque or anything. Actually,” she dropped her hair back down once he was done and turned to face him, her hands resting lightly on his knees. “I was wondering if perhaps you were doing the opposite of glamour. Hiding yourself from me because I’m not as beautiful a creature, being mortal, as you are.” She smiled, but it wasn’t her usual smile. “I guess, for a moment, it was a feeling of inadequacy that colored my mind.”
He cupped her face with both hands and for a moment she would see herself through his eyes. The woman she saw was far more beautiful than she saw herself. “Hush with that. You need but peer into my mind to see just what I think of you and how, I believe that considering my age I have better judgement than you.”
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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2018 5:41:34 GMT
When he showed her, her eyes welled up with desire to weep. He saw her as so beautiful, yet she didn’t feel that way. But when he spoke of knowing better, she managed a smile. “I guess you would. I will take your word for it.” While she was seeing herself in his eyes, she managed to show him a glimpse of how she saw him. The strength, sexual attraction and intelligence of him were obvious in her feeling.
He smiled at the image and leaned down to kiss her with a smirk. “Thank you, it is good to know I look like a sex god or something. At least I do not look as old as I feel.”
When he spoke of the rings needing special smiths, she frowned. “I don’t know where in this time you can find the folks you need. I wouldn’t even know where to start.” She had the feeling she was drowning again. He had skills, knowledge and things that needed seeing to and doing, and she had no way to help.
Which didn’t bother him at all that, for now, she was inexperienced. Considering the circumstances he’d be more surprised if she had that experience than the fact she didn’t. “That is why we are going to meet Geir and find out if he is still the ally I once knew. If he is not, then he is either neutral or an enemy and for his sake...he better not be an enemy. I have means to find what we need, it is just easier to talk to the man who sent us the invitation.”
She nodded and moved back to the box, her hand absently fingering the new pendant on her chest. “I know you said you didn’t need to feed for a while. But we have been busy with lots of things lately. Do you think it prudent to perhaps feed this night so you are prepared for whatever happens tomorrow?” She wasn’t sure what they were going to expect. But she knew between his mind probing and their boisterous love making, she was pretty rung out. She imagined he may be in worse shape since he wasn’t eating as often as she was.
He showed her how he felt, which in comparison to herself, was far better. He had a surplus amount of energy and he was quite recovered. “Sorry about wearing you thin… You should just tell me no, otherwise I would happily devour you. I think it is simply due to the fact you want to get close to me and need the comfort. I can just smother you by keeping you in my arms till you say otherwise.”
“No!” She blurted out at his apology and smiled. “I mean, I love every little thing you do to me, Sor. Honest. I don’t want you to stop. But I can replenish with a lunch or dinner. You need more. I don’t want to be a hindrance to you. I will learn to protect myself as soon as you are willing to teach me. But I don’t want you to waste energy on me if you can’t replenish in an emergency.”
She put the pieces aside that he said needed smithing and special attention. Her voice cracked slightly as her cheeks colored crimson. “I don’t think I’d forgive myself if you were hurt because our love making, or you cleaning the house, had worn you out the day before. Does that make any sense?”
He took a small knife from his boot and neatly sliced open his hand, but as he did so she would see that it barely bled and that it was slowly healing as she watched. “You can’t physically hurt me, not as you are right now and probably not for quite a long time. You on the other hand do not heal nearly as well as I do and it is my duty to keep you alive, even at the cost of my life. I know you will disagree, but whether or not you accept it will change nothing. I am not going to do anything more save touch, until you feel okay. You need to stop pushing yourself in a misguided attempt to fill shoes that do not exist. You are you and those that came before you are very dead. You will come into your own, in your own way when you are meant to do so, not any sooner than that.”
She watched him cut himself and hissed. But then as it healed, she was amazed. But then her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “Wait… what do you mean ‘not as I am right now’? There are only two ways those will equal… I get stronger, I change, somehow. Or you grow weaker, and change, but not in a good way.” She didn’t like the idea of the latter. “So which one is it?”
Sor laughed. “You will grow stronger and I will stay the same. You will gain experience, confidence and whatever else, that is what I meant. As you are right now, you could not fight at my side, but once you have training? Eventually you will be able to.”
She stood up and moved over to sit on the arm of his chair. “I don’t want you to stop making love to me.” She stroked his hair and smiled. “I promise I will stop pushing myself afterwards. I will sleep in in the morning, eat better, and let you take over more in the house. Would that make you feel better?” Her hand slid over his shoulder and came to rest on his arm.
He pulled her into his lap with a huff. “No, not immediately. I want you to start now not tomorrow.”
She fell into his lap with a laugh, her arms going around his neck. “Well… since I will be learning from you, why don’t you teach me.” Anna lifted his hand to inspect the place he had cut. Her fingers caressed the spot that was fading before her eyes. She kissed him and whispered softly, “So teach me what I need to know. I promise to rest afterwards anytime you tell me.”
She’d feel his desire, both physically and through the bond, but he didn’t give into it. “Too many distractions and for what I want to do I need supplies and man power. As soon as the house is in order, I can set to working the land how I want it. Meeting Geir is a cornerstone in how the rest of things will play out. For now, settle for rest and getting ready for tomorrow. I am not going to just...not show you affection at all lass, I am just not going to keep you up till the crack of dawn either.”
“Fair enough…” she nodded and relaxed in his lap. “I’m willing to settle for midnight.” She laughed and ran a hand down his chest. “So what else would you like to do today?”
“Today, more cleaning, then a bath, then bed. We set out after you eat breakfast, we’ll just see if ‘our convenience’ truly means so.” He said with a smirk. “Now… Let us see about giving you what you want and making me happy, hmm?”
The rest of the day was spent first with a bit of a satisfying distraction and then getting down to work. Progress was made and rest, actual rest and no deviations, was had. During the night however Sormr kept working after Ann had gone to sleep. Too much energy to stay stationary, he worked on the house some, but spent the rest of the night just walking the land and getting a feel for it.
When Ann woke up, he was next to her as if he hadn’t left.
The laziness of the day suited Ann just fine. She was more tired than she thought. When they had finished making love the final time, she had fallen asleep with no problem and had stayed out for the entire night.
As light started to warm her body, she stretched languidly and curled against Sormr. “Still morning? I wonder if you didn’t wear me out more just to be sure I wouldn’t get up early.” She laughed and sighed. “You know, there may be something to this being lazy thing. Especially if it includes waking up to you this way every day.”
Sor chuckled and pulled her close with a sigh before reluctantly sitting up and stretching. “I told you, my duty is to take care of your every need, within reason. Relaxing and letting me do the work is what you are supposed to have me do. Just don’t expect me to cook, I am awful at cooking and I have had people try to teach me. Most I can do is heat water, skin animals and roast meat to the point it is cooked enough to eat.”
Rolling against his body, she laughed. “Well if you keep this up, I will be completely useless accept as a pleasure toy for you.” She boosted herself on an elbow and looked at him with eyes full of mischief, “Though I could get used to that as well.” She laughed and kissed his cheek. “I guess while you are a lousy cook, I am a lousy lay about. So can I get up now? I promise to take it easy, follow your lead and let you do all the heavy lifting.”
He snorted and sighed. “Yes, you may, because after you are washed, clothed and fed, we go and see if my old comrade is infact a new foe or if he is still mostly trustworthy. After that, shamelessly make use of whatever stuff he has so we can get this house fixed and protected without much hassle. I could build a house the way I know to build one, but this would not do for now.”
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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2018 5:42:54 GMT
She laughed at him, kissed his neck and rolled out of bed. “Then I say let’s get going.” She moved off towards the bathroom as she shook her head. “I think building a home to your specs is a bit redundant since we have a perfectly good home in this place. Let’s just see what other specifications you are lacking and make them happen. The good thing about contractors these days is that things of eccentricity are merely the run of the norm now. No one thinks twice about dungeons, watchtowers or even motes.” She glanced back to see what his reaction would be.
“Also, whose brilliant idea was it to not only educate the plebeian masses, but give them a tool that makes structured learning mostly redundant? This internet thing sounds like it should be kept out of reach because of rampant misuse. I also very much want to get my hands on it.” He commented after he had got out of the bed.
When he mentioned the internet, she laughed out loud. “Welcome to the 21st Century, love. Yes, in some cases it can be a hindrance, but in some cases it can be a help. Once we get downstairs, I’ll show you.” She shook her head, still laughing and started the shower.
She would hear in her mind <Later we can poke at it, bath, clothes, food and then we go. The sooner done, the quicker back.> He then slipped into the bathroom behind her with a smirk. “I could use a bath myself.”
It was after the bath while she was eating that he finished getting dressed. His mind darted about over all kinds of things, but mostly it was too fast to catch. He was anxious about this meeting, just because of the uncertainty involved. The passage of time makes all being meek and helpless and he was indeed feeling meek and helpless in the face of it.
Once they were on their way, as usual Sormr was still not fond of the car ride. Through the bond, she would get a clearer idea why. Only part of it was the confined space, everything else had to do with how fast it was. How noisy it was. The other vehicles on the road. It also made him nauseous and dizzy. Once it was over he slipped out of her car with relief and stood a moment to let the discomfort pass so his stomach wasn’t ready to climb out his throat.
The club was the tallest structure around them and wasn’t overly ostentatious. When they got to the door with the bouncer the man eyed Sormr and Anna before letting them pass without a word. It was empty of people on the inside, tables with chairs casually stacked on top of them. The lights were on and while it was elegant inside, it clearly wasn’t open for business yet. From a set of stairs a man descended, he was dressed comfortable, but in slacks, nice shoes, faded grey shirt and jacket. Sormr immediately recognized Geir and Anna would sense that this man, was who they were to meet.
She would also, through the bond, get a sense of how Sormr was different compared to the man. Sor heard no heartbeat, heard no breath, there was also this incredible sense of wrongness. Like a dissonance, something not and yet was. The vampire stayed a respectful distance away, letting Sormr get used to him all over again for everything he was conflicted with the vibrant life of the Spirit and magic that made up what Sor was. Her partner was basically stomping down his entire being that screamed for the twisted being to be unmade so that the twisted magics would be laid to rest.
Geir was the antithesis to life itself, Sormr’s polar opposite. Eventually he got his instinctual urges under control, but now Anna would understand why it wasn’t in Sor to fully trust this man, even if he fought beside him. Geir wasn’t even all that intimidating either. He was only a little bit taller than her, his auburn hair was brushed back from his face in a longer cut that Sor’s but still business-like. His eyes were a bright amber gold and whereas Sor was built solid, Geir was more lithe, like a feline or snake compared to Sormr.
He would likely also be very familiar to Anna, being a figure who had been there for her when no one else could have. Unbeknownst to her however, Geir had had a hand in her life since she was born. His amber gold eyes looked to Sor and he tilted his head. “I must be certain it is you, show me the brand.”
It was a familiar formality and easily accomplished. Sor simply turned around and lifted his shirt and Geir nodded. “Ah good. Twas a while back that someone found a passable likeness to you, but by scent, blood and lack of sign, they failed in their attempt. As such, I opted for future caution, though my nose and instinct alone proved easily enough. Cannot ever get used to the urge to try and devour you just as I note, you were keen to destroy me. So many centuries, so little has changed. And yes Anna, you know me which comes to playing a question and answer game, go ahead child.”
Sormr for his part looked to Anna with interest for he didn’t know she had already met Geir. He simply waited for answers instead of saying anything, he did move closer to her however, in case she needed him.
Anna didn’t realize her fists had been balled until Sormr raised his shirt to show the tattoo. When they two came to an agreeable impasse, she relaxed a bit. “So you two know one another… but still desire to slay one another. Perfect…” she shook her head and crossed her arms. The fact someone had come to Geir trying to impersonate Sormr made her take notice though. She’d tuck that inquiry away and ask him about it later.
But then Geir told her to fire away with her questions. She had come with the intent of being silent and simply listen and learn. She was nowhere near ready to be the center of attention of the immortal before her.
“Wait… you want me to ask questions? The only one I can think of is why do you look so familiar? I mean, I have images of you in my head from years ago, decades even. But you look exactly that same. So that can’t be right… can it?” She was confused and scared and Sor would sense that uneasiness in her, though it was obvious to anyone who was looking.
Geir gave her a patient smile. “I have not changed since that very first time, nor since the last. I have looked this way, minus different affectations, hair styles, so on, since the day I died and woke again. You are not the first to feel uneasy by the changelessness, nor the last. Believe me when I say that even I had to digest this fact, but eventually it goes away.”
Sor pulled her close and sighed. “The worst part about his not changing? His personality is still very much the same. Did you have some hand in Anna dropping at my feet?”
“Is that what happened?” Geir replied thoughtfully and then shrugged. “My firm has long had dealings with a certain bloodline and my family as well. I, and we, are the reason the bloodline still exists and how your prison came to be part of the ‘collection’. There was a powerful seal upon where you resided, it did erode enough that someone could have gone to you, but someone set up some wards. I really don’t know how long ago, time being a tricky thing, but when the old man died well… I saw to it that a certain young lady was given something she badly needed. Simply put, she had the magic and I could smell it and I knew it would eventually draw you both together, I just saw to it it happened faster. And no Sormr, I didn’t kill her family, that just happened on its own.”
Which had been a suspicion of his. “You could have…”
“True, but I didn’t. Why would I cull a family I did my best to save, hmm?” Geir replied exasperated. “Ah, which reminds me. I have something that belongs to you Sor, though nowadays you won’t find much use for it against humans. Your gear is safe, though it was a pain to get all together. Samial was a cunning little cockroach.”
Sor closed his eyes and sighed, the pain aching in his chest. “How did he die?”
“I killed him.” Came the simple reply. “The only time I raised my hand against her blood, but he needed killing. He was responsible for many innocent lives being burned, though I consider myself lucky in the fact he was why my original family died. That being the only thing useful and good he had accomplished.”
At the mention of having killed someone in her bloodline, Anna growled under her breath. Had Sor not been holding her, she probably would have done something foolish. As it was, while her mind raged, another part of her warred with it. She had no idea who Samial had been as a person and it was entirely possible that killing him was a good thing. But not knowing the details, all she could do was be upset and wary. The fact the admission hurt Sormr didn’t help her mind any.
Sor made no comment about that and shook his head. “So, I assume you will have my things brought to the house?”
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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2018 5:43:27 GMT
“Certainly. I assume you will have other things you need as well, which I am obligated to arrange free of charge.” The golden eyed vampire then put his hand above his stilled heart. “I put myself and my family in your service Annabelle, just as I aided in the past, so will I continue to do so with whatever means I have available. I’d bow or kneel, but honestly, this is one of quite a few formalities I am happy to leave buried in the past. Never was one for making obeisance, always irked my pride, even before I died.”
“I don’t want you to kneel to me, Geir.” The woman shook her head slightly. “I believe I should thank you for your looking out for me. Though I can only recall a few times where you, or perhaps someone in your employ, helped me, I can say I would not be here were it not for you.” Her hand tightened in Sor’s shirt at his back. “And for that, I will either owe you one or we are even. But either way, thank you. I will ask that I desire someone to clean out and excavate the place below the house where Sor was chained. I want to know what else is down there that he, or I, may need to have again.”
She looked at Sor then and nodded. “And anything else, Sor will see to in my name.” She looked at Geir and an intensity in her eyes made the look one of sincerity. “I need to know if you are a threat, Geir. From your own lips you have admitted to a desire to slay Sor, and you already said you killed one of my kin.” She let go of Sor and stepped towards the Vampire. “Do I need to sleep with one eye open?” There was a determination in her to protect Sor that he would sense in the bond. While she was mortal and no match for either man, it was certainly in her mind that she would claw Geir’s eyes out if Sor was so much as scratched by the man before them.
Geir’s amber gold eyes brightened and he tilted his head to the side. “Child, something like me is always a threat. As far as you and Sormr are concerned, I keep my word. Even Sormr knows this and as long as he is not ordered to kill me, I don’t see a reason why he and I would ever clash.”
Sor smiled and chuckled. “I see plenty of reasons why we would ‘clash’, but he does speak true, he hasn’t broken his word at least, in my memory. I do not know what deviance he could have gotten up to while I was locked away.”
“What he calls ‘deviance’ I call ‘fun’, he has always been a party pooper.” Geir said with a sigh.
Their friendly bickering was also, she would note, a common trend between them. Yet despite his instinctual dislike, Sor was fond of Geir and she would feel it through the bond as well as see it between the two men.
Anna crossed her arms as she listened. The fact that the bond between her and Sor didn’t hackle up with warning was all the assurance she needed. “Thank you, Geir. I will keep that in mind,” she said as he reminded her he was certainly a threat.
“I am sure, Sor… that if he played naughty while you were away, it was merely because you were not here to keep him honest. Such things are much better now, aren’t they?” She grinned and winked at Geir. Despite her desire to hate the man, something in her mind said he had been an invisible shelter for her despite her inability to remember how or when.
The auburn haired Vampire simply sighed dejectedly, though humor glinted in his eyes as he spoke. “I’ll never get to have any fun now… Goodbye deviance, hello straight and narrow. Goodie.”
*Can we go home, now… or is there more you two need to discuss?* She reached behind her to Sor in her mind and her body turned to walk back to him, not wanting to deign Geir with her backstepping like a fop.
<Soon, there are other arrangements to be made, but shouldn’t take too long.> He pulled her close for a moment to reassure her before looking at their elder company. “I have a whole list of things to be done and supplies to be had.”
Geir moved to behind the bar and pulled out a notebook and pen, then walked back and handed it over. “I assumed something like this would be necessary. I would say ‘just shoot me an email’ but alas, you cannot do this. So, slow and mundane it will be till you have speedier methods.”
Sor huffed. “I blame him, he is definitely the one responsible for such a creation. It all makes sense now…”
One dark eyebrow rose as Geir looked to Anna. “What is he on about? What did I create?”
Sor meanwhile was writing down his list ignoring him.
“The internet. He is learning that such things are the downfall of humanity and decency.” She laughed and nodded to Geir. “And I wouldn’t say straight and narrow… there are plenty of things of mischief and mayhem you can get away with still, I am sure.” She let Sor write his list and smiled at the man before her. “Somehow I doubt you would ever be bored or in a goodie type environment that wasn’t of your own making.”
Geir snorted and shook his head. “I did no such thing, but I won’t hide the fact I have made quite a bit of money from its conception and, well after it became so widely used. I have always loved technology and now there are so many new toys to play with.”
WIth Sor’s silent acceptance of the man, she started to consider him in a different light. *Do we invite him to dinner sometime, or prefer not to have him at the house?* She whispered to her lover’s mind as she bantered with Geir.
<Considering you would be the only thing on his menu and if he even looked to be trying to lure you in for a bite I would do my damnedest to annihilate him? Would you really like an answer for the having him over for a meal? Knowing him, he’d be all polite and ask if I’d be willing to ‘share’ in a meal of you.> His mind-voice however was colored in such a way as to make it clear the option of sharing her was unpleasant and made him feel violent. However the having him in the house didn’t bother him in the slightest. <He could be allowed to come, but no meals.>
*I hadn’t thought of that.* Her mind shuddered at the idea of Geir sinking his teeth into her and she made sure Sor felt it. “I’m glad technology wasn’t such a bane to you.” She said to Geir and laughed. “And I do hope you will come visit. Would love to have you see the place not only as it is now, but as it will be soon with your help.” She smiled and nodded her head with respect at the vampire.
She watched as Sor thought and scribbled his desires and needs on the paper. The list grew before Anna’s eyes and it surprised her that there was far more than she ever expected or imagined.
Geir smirked at her but said nothing, just leaning against the bar and looking over the list. “Eesh, you really didn’t lie when you said you had a list…”
Sormr didn’t respond, his attention fully on the paper. Images, words, random thoughts, all buzzed in the bond, but after a while and three pages he set the pen down. “I believe I have everything down.”
The golden eyed man picked up the papers and then sighed heavily. “I think I know what you’ve got in mind, I’ll have it arranged. Getting all the plants will take some time, but I’ll look around and see who can be hired on to make sure they thrive. Pretty sure a lot of it or all of that can be automated. In any case, I will come by tomorrow night with some people to help clean, is this acceptable Anna?”
Anna nodded. “I would recommend at least two dumpsters. Three if you are into recycling and want to separate the paper out or something like that.” She smiled letting him know it wasn’t that big of a priority to her.
Geir blinked and looked at Sor bemused. “She’s adorable Sormr, she thinks it’s as simple as recycling. Things are going to be interesting for quite some time, now I have fewer regrets about introducing you two. I am excited about not being bored.”
Leaning on the nearest table, she shrugged. “I can’t think of anything else. Unless you happen to know an inexpensive computer place as well.” She laughed and glanced at Sor. “I know he’s not crazy about the internet, but my laptop isn’t going to be enough once he really figures out how handy it is. I’d like to get one of the rooms set up as an office for him.”
One dark eyebrow rose. “Psh, I’ll just see to it something is bought for him. Child, I know you haven’t had much money, but lets do start getting you to think like a rich woman hmm? You literally just need to make a request and throw money at people, but to get him into the internet? I’ll be doing yet this other thing for free. Gods, I wish I could have been there to see him wake up and see everything.”
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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2018 5:44:03 GMT
She knew Sor would probably fight her on it. But in this day and age, she was sure.. In time… he would see her wisdom in this.
Sor looked between the two not really knowing who he wanted to speak to. He had any number of things warring in his head instead he settled for putting a hand over his face. “I hate you even more now than I thought possible Geir. Why is it the vermin manage to survive chaos so well?”
“Cockroaches, Twinkies and apparently Immortals… the things that shall survive all apocalyptic events.” She laughed as she felt Sormr’s anxiety at what they had planned.
“Now I am being insulted by a child..” Geir huffed. “You really need to educate her instead of holding back Sormr, otherwise the next centuries will be very very slow and difficult for her.”
Sor didn’t comment instead he was watching Anna. “There are far too many things that need to be done before we get to that. Things that she needs done that cause unnecessary stress. Once that is dealt with, the rest will come.”
“I am standing right here.” She half growled with indignity. She looked from one to the other realizing she was still missing something and it troubled her she didn’t understand.
Anna looked at Geir and smiled. “Perhaps we shall have to become better friends. I am definitely not used to having money. And merely throwing it at people to get what I want isn’t exactly my style.” Her head filled with a flash of the manor as it was in its original grandeur. But then went back to merely being painted and cleared out of the garbage and rot. Like anyone born and raised to be frugal, the place in its original state was a dream. But the reality is more likely to be how she would ask for it to be.
The vampire blinked. “Friends hmm… This will be a first, I can see why he is so protective of you.”
Sor simply pulled her close resting his forehead on top of her head with a sigh.
“First off, it was not an insult, Geir. And I am no child. I may not be as old as you are but I promise you I am still above what you think.” She winked and gasped slightly as Sor pulled her close. His protectiveness seeped thru her every pour without the need of the mental connection. She closed her eyes a moment and whispered to his mind, *I will be careful, love… always….*
The golden eyed Vampire huffed. “Forgive an old man his mistake, even though he has been watching your whole life. Hard to break a habit when you were born far before your conception was even in the wings.”
Anna then opened her eyes and looked at the vampire. “When I said what I did, it was a compliment. It merely meant that things of resilience tend to stand the test of time. You and Sor, both.” She hadn’t seen the harm in her comment, but apparently those of aged persuasion saw things differently.
Geir smirked. “I believe he used to call me a cockroach, but old sticks generally weather most things well, even the modern age it seems.”
Sor rolled his eyes. “Let’s go, before I beat him to bloody mush.”
“Pulp. I believe ‘bloody pulp’ sounds better?”
“Ugh… Shut up…”
Ann smiled at the men's banter. It showed that despite their animosities, they would do as they promised. But she couldn't help but whisper, “It is pulp, dear… Just for the record.” But the thought behind it was cheerfully teasing. “Thank you, Geir. We'll see you soon.” His comment of having been watching over her this whole time, her whole life, in fact, she ignored as she tried to remember seeing him as she had grown up.
There were bits and pieces as she concentrated, forgetting her mind was linked to Sor. She remembered being nearly mugged one night. Running and screaming for help in a deserted park she'd ventured into. The man behind her nearly within arm's reach, but then silence. She had paused mid flight, and turned to see someone, Geir perhaps, nod once to her and go the other direction as if they had merely passed and exchanged glances.
Another memory, as a child, very young… a man touching her cheek with a tenderness she had never forgotten. His thumb brushing away a tear from her cheek because of… something. She blinked and he was gone, other grownups fawning, crying, coddling, taking his place.
She didn't realize how far in her thoughts she was till she was outside and the sun beat her back into the present. She turned to Sor, “What did you say?” Her mind letting the memories fade back into the far reaches of her mind.
“I said we passed the car several buildings ago.” He said with a laugh. “However, I don’t mind, you were lost in thought. It bothers you that your memories are not clear, I think it was intentional… I got the feeling you have some memories that are unpleasant. I wonder if he had softened their teeth for you. I saw him do it once to a child whose parents died brutally. He might have also done it to keep a distance, to not grow too attached.”
Ann bit her lip and glanced back where the truck was. Sighing, she turned back towards the parking lot. “Sorry.”
As her lover made the suggestion that the vampire had alerted her memories, hazing them so they weren't completely clear, she frowned. “That seems wrong, somehow. I mean, don't things like that help build us into who we become?”
Memories of his own came through the bond. Seeing Geir sitting with children on his knee only for him to later, while they sleep, give that child to a family that might care for them. Always he did so with a smile, but every so often he would go off by himself after, some children were harder to give away. Truth was, Sormr had also grown a bit attached. “Bad luck has always followed on the heels of the family I am tied to… I’ve wondered in the past if it was the attachment to me or merely the work we do.”
She stopped as they reached the truck. Crossing her arms, more as a barrier, she leaned on the Montero. “You didn't know me… growing up, I mean.” He's mentioned being in that place beneath the house for a long time.
Suddenly she wondered. Cocking her head to the side, she stared straight at him. “Sormr… how long were you down there? Below the basement, I mean. You said you've guarded my family. But you aren't in any of my memories.” There was a bit of panic in her voice as she wondered just how he'd gotten down there and why.
“I protected your family from a few hundred years after the fall of Rome, to just before I was betrayed and sealed away a bit after the inquisition started. Geir would have a better idea of how long I had been in that cell than I.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before letting it fall. “I’m sorry…”
Suddenly she was uncertain again and distrusting and he was helpless to be able to ease it. He felt like he had failed her somehow.
So he hadn’t been around. It made her feel better that her mind hadn’t been tampered with to that extent. “You shouldn’t be sorry.” Her voice was soft, forgiving, and deep with the sound of surrender. “It seems we are both a bit out of our element, now. Aren’t we?” She tried to smile in hopes he would understand she was just trying to put things together.
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Post by Admin on Dec 8, 2018 5:44:31 GMT
“I feel like I’m drowning, Sor.” The admittance was a hard thing for her and he would realize that from the bond. “I have no idea what’s happening. You and Geir talk of things so old I can’t even wrap my head around them. He claims there are things I should know. You claim there are things that have to come first.” She shook her head then leaned it back against the truck, her eyes closing as she exhaled. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do… much less how to feel or act or anything else.”
She was closing her eyes to keep both the afternoon sun out, as well as to keep the tears at bay. She hated having weaknesses and being forced to admit it was so far out of her comfort zone that it wasn’t even on her personal map. It wasn’t a place she liked being.
He pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back. “I am as lost as you are lass… Geir thinks I am taking things too slow. Except that I can feel what you feel and I can only hope that I am doing what is best.”
She let him hold her this time. Taking a deep breath, the smell of him already embedded in her brain to impart the feeling of safe and wanted, she sighed. “Let’s go home. I think it’s time we talk about the future.” She reluctantly broke the contact and moved around to get in the vehicle.
The drive home was a quiet one. Sor was more miserable than when they arrived and it leaked over. Truth was, he was incredibly out of his depth. He wasn’t used to being close to the one he protected, not at all like he was to Anna. Her desire to talk about the future concerned him because he didn’t know what the ‘future’ would entail. She was unhappy with the state of her home, he wanted to get that fixed and then work on training her as they both wanted.
Relationships weren’t something he was accustomed to, usually he was merely a detached observer. When they arrived he slipped out of the car and stared at the house. He didn’t know what to say or do now, was he even doing the right thing?
At home, there was an odd silence between them as Ann moved to make herself some lunch. As she finished making her sandwich, she leaned on the counter and half nibbled on it. She knew she had to eat, which was the only reason she was doing it. She wasn’t feeling hungry at the moment and wanted nothing more than to ignore basic needs. But she also knew Sor wouldn’t allow her to.
“So what things did Geir want me to know, that you said I’m not ready for? And what things am I supposed to know first?” Her voice was steady, but the undertone and mindset were anything but. She was confused because she didn’t like being talked about like she wasn’t there. And she was more upset that there was an opinion that she wasn’t ready for whatever was ‘to come’.
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