"Lock yourself up? Hardly." Xeph made a derisive sound at that idea. "A little bit of caution though, that would be all right."
He inclined his head at Reign's statement about cliff diving. "I guess it is," he acknowledged, "but at least you're a step up from those who have it forced on them."
Xeph thought Reign might be overthinking the matter at least a little bit, so he continued. "It's not all that life-changing, really," he said. "Three nights out of the month you find an excuse to not be around small children and housepets. The rest of the time it's pretty fun. You're something bigger than just you. You have another family, another set of brothers and sisters. We don't always get along, but that's just family stuff."
Xeph reconsidered it. He knew he was coming from the perspective of someone who had grown up with weres and knew his own Gifting was inevitable, but he considered himself fairly normal. His lifestyle was made more unusual by his family's social status than by his genetics.
He laughed at the idea of a quota though. "If we had one, I'd be dropping the ball. I've only Gifted twice since my own."
Paranoia (attn: Xeph)
"God damned it."Â?
Reign swore to herself as she missed another shot. There was no denying it, her stroke was off. She was still tense and upset and very worried.
About a week ago she'd gotten a call from her father in the middle of the night and had basically run straight from Drew's rooms at the Den jumped in her car and gone home to Chicago in a hurry. Not that there had been much she could do at that point but she also wasn't going to sit down in Nachton and not do anything.
Her father had called to tell her that the house had been broken into, no one had been home at the time and the following day after a late night at work her mother had been the target of an attempted car jacking. Thank god her mom had lived in a big city all her life. She was able to get away shaken up but unharmed. Still even though every one was physically OK Reign felt she had to be there. She was the oldest, she needed to do something to make it OK, to protect them.
There had been nothing she could do. She'd spent the time at home fussing at her mother, who finally yelled at her to back off, and helping to fill out paper work and clean the house. It was a nasty feeling to be so helpless and so far from home. Finally though, after repeated assurances from her sibs that everything would be OK and from her oldest brother that he'd be keeping an extra close eye on the folks Reign had decided to come home to Nachton. She'd been back a day now but hadn't really made contact with any one, maybe tomorrow she'd call the boy. He and the mutt could run and then maybe he'd help her work off some of this edginess. Drew was good for many things but two of the best were taking care of excess energy and listening, she just had to call him was all.
As she lined up another shot Sirius rose from his favorite spot in the hall way, he lurked there most of the time when she practiced, and looked expectantly at the door. Apparently they had company.
Xeph
14 years ago
Reign
14 years ago
"Caution I can handle."Â?
And she would be a bit more careful. Truly, she hadn't even considered that the other Pack would have any interest in her after she and Bas split. And it wasn't as if they were out hunting her now, it would probably be an accident, but one that could be prevented.
Lord, having it forced on you? She couldn't even imagine.
She laughed as he simplified things a bit. Since he was knocking things back to basic arguments, Reign countered with something equally basic.
"Fair enough, but I already have that."Â?
Maybe even twice over. He was making some good points and well, the Doc had charisma you had to give him that. But she was determined not to be swayed by enthusiasm alone. It did need to play a part in the decision, but shouldn't be the only reason.
"Don't believe in packing the jury do you?"Â?
Reign respected that. It would be far too easy to bring in a majority that supported you and bully the others into doing things your way. Not that she was under the impression wolves were democratic, but...
If she understood him right though, the door was open. If she were to ask it probably wouldn't be hard to find a Gifter.
And she would be a bit more careful. Truly, she hadn't even considered that the other Pack would have any interest in her after she and Bas split. And it wasn't as if they were out hunting her now, it would probably be an accident, but one that could be prevented.
Lord, having it forced on you? She couldn't even imagine.
She laughed as he simplified things a bit. Since he was knocking things back to basic arguments, Reign countered with something equally basic.
"Fair enough, but I already have that."Â?
Maybe even twice over. He was making some good points and well, the Doc had charisma you had to give him that. But she was determined not to be swayed by enthusiasm alone. It did need to play a part in the decision, but shouldn't be the only reason.
"Don't believe in packing the jury do you?"Â?
Reign respected that. It would be far too easy to bring in a majority that supported you and bully the others into doing things your way. Not that she was under the impression wolves were democratic, but...
If she understood him right though, the door was open. If she were to ask it probably wouldn't be hard to find a Gifter.
Xeph
14 years ago
Xeph lifted his shoulders at Reign once more. "I'm not here to try and convince you one way or the another," he said. "I just thought, given recent events, the topic might be on your mind. And if you choose it, you should choose it for the right reasons."
He didn't want her making that decision, thinking she would become her family's sole protector, and then realizing that Amaroq or not she was still mostly human and able to make mistakes. Too many humans looked at the idea of the werewolf myth as either something to aspire to, some sort of superhuman being that had no drawbacks, or something to be despised, universally evil and consumed with bloodlust. How disenchanting for either party, to discover they were nether - just as fallible and prone to do things wrong as the next Joe.
Xeph didn't think Reign belonged to either camp, but he couldn't hide the fact that he did think she was capable of alpha leadership someday. She was spirited and strong. If she asked him to, he would consider Gifting her, if she reached that choice and there was no one else she wanted for the role.
He didn't want her making that decision, thinking she would become her family's sole protector, and then realizing that Amaroq or not she was still mostly human and able to make mistakes. Too many humans looked at the idea of the werewolf myth as either something to aspire to, some sort of superhuman being that had no drawbacks, or something to be despised, universally evil and consumed with bloodlust. How disenchanting for either party, to discover they were nether - just as fallible and prone to do things wrong as the next Joe.
Xeph didn't think Reign belonged to either camp, but he couldn't hide the fact that he did think she was capable of alpha leadership someday. She was spirited and strong. If she asked him to, he would consider Gifting her, if she reached that choice and there was no one else she wanted for the role.
Reign
14 years ago
"Do you get to be psychic as well as a wolf? Positively unfair."Â?
She flashed a teasing grin at him. He was quite right, she had been thinking about it off and on Reign, however, couldn't seem to get off the fence.
She was still convinced that her family, families, both of them, were the right reasons. It was a balancing act now and was the good of becoming a wolf better than the good of remaining human. Who the hell else could she talk to about this; the boy certainly. Any one else? Maybe not, but Reign had faith in her ability to make her own decision.
"I promise not to make any rash decisions. If I decide its what I want you'll be one of the first people I talk to."Â?
She flashed a teasing grin at him. He was quite right, she had been thinking about it off and on Reign, however, couldn't seem to get off the fence.
She was still convinced that her family, families, both of them, were the right reasons. It was a balancing act now and was the good of becoming a wolf better than the good of remaining human. Who the hell else could she talk to about this; the boy certainly. Any one else? Maybe not, but Reign had faith in her ability to make her own decision.
"I promise not to make any rash decisions. If I decide its what I want you'll be one of the first people I talk to."Â?
Xeph
14 years ago
"I'm only part psychic," Xeph returned in all seriousness. "The rest of me is completely clueless."
He could sense the truth in Reign's promise, so he just nodded and polished off his second teeny beer, repeating the cleaning of the bottle and eyeing the fridge as he considered the ramifications of a third. he hadn't come here solely to talk business; he liked Reign and in the past few months they'd started to develop less of a client/doctor relationship and something more like a friendship, or mentorship... Xeph wasn't sure.
So, shrugging and mentally promising himself to refill Reign's stash soon, he grabbed a third beer and pointed it out to the living room and the accompanying pool table.
"So show me how this works," he said. "I'm a pretty firm believer that any game involving a stick should leave someone with bruises, but I'm willing to have my mind changed."
He gave Reign his biggest grin, pretty sure it wouldn't be too hard a sell.
He could sense the truth in Reign's promise, so he just nodded and polished off his second teeny beer, repeating the cleaning of the bottle and eyeing the fridge as he considered the ramifications of a third. he hadn't come here solely to talk business; he liked Reign and in the past few months they'd started to develop less of a client/doctor relationship and something more like a friendship, or mentorship... Xeph wasn't sure.
So, shrugging and mentally promising himself to refill Reign's stash soon, he grabbed a third beer and pointed it out to the living room and the accompanying pool table.
"So show me how this works," he said. "I'm a pretty firm believer that any game involving a stick should leave someone with bruises, but I'm willing to have my mind changed."
He gave Reign his biggest grin, pretty sure it wouldn't be too hard a sell.
Reign
14 years ago
"Damned! A male willing to admit he hasn't got a clue. Unless there is something about you I should know Doc..."Â?
Reign broadly and very unsubtly hinted.
They both seemed to sense they'd reached the end of the topic, at least for now. And Reign made a mental note to find out what kind of beer the Doc favored. Her stash was very often random, and she had no issues catering to a friend's preference.
Which reminded her...
"You know before you get to into that one... The Boy left me a couple. They're in the vegetable crisper. The last batch was a brown ale."Â?
Drew had been borrowing some of her space to try and get his brewing up and running again. Reign didn't feel bad charging a fee as it were, and they were pretty good.
Cheerfully hopping off the counter she made her way to the table, closely followed by the mutt. As she'd been practicing her competition stick was laying on the table, she broke it down and put it away.
"You hit any one with my sticks and I'll have to hurt you. Sorry those are the rules."Â?
She'd been playing straight, but racked for eight ball; one two and three in the corners and then alternating stripes and solids around the edge with the eight tucked cozily into the center.
"You sure about this? I mean I'll try and be nice but..."Â?
Reign was paid to be cut throat. It was, however, clear she was playing. She nodded at the rack of 'house cues' on the wall indicating he should help himself.
"The ones closest to the window are the heaviest."Â?
Reign broadly and very unsubtly hinted.
They both seemed to sense they'd reached the end of the topic, at least for now. And Reign made a mental note to find out what kind of beer the Doc favored. Her stash was very often random, and she had no issues catering to a friend's preference.
Which reminded her...
"You know before you get to into that one... The Boy left me a couple. They're in the vegetable crisper. The last batch was a brown ale."Â?
Drew had been borrowing some of her space to try and get his brewing up and running again. Reign didn't feel bad charging a fee as it were, and they were pretty good.
Cheerfully hopping off the counter she made her way to the table, closely followed by the mutt. As she'd been practicing her competition stick was laying on the table, she broke it down and put it away.
"You hit any one with my sticks and I'll have to hurt you. Sorry those are the rules."Â?
She'd been playing straight, but racked for eight ball; one two and three in the corners and then alternating stripes and solids around the edge with the eight tucked cozily into the center.
"You sure about this? I mean I'll try and be nice but..."Â?
Reign was paid to be cut throat. It was, however, clear she was playing. She nodded at the rack of 'house cues' on the wall indicating he should help himself.
"The ones closest to the window are the heaviest."Â?
Xeph
14 years ago
"The Boy..." Xeph snickered at Reign's nickname for Drew. It fit. It probably drove him nuts, too. Poor Drew. Did he ever get a date that didn't end up thinking he was cute and sweet? "I'll bet he loves that."
He rummaged around and found one of the brown ales though; he'd tried Drew's experiments before and they were usually pretty decent. Replacing the other bottle and taking one of Drew's he cracked it open and followed Reign into the living room as she was taking apart another cue.
"I want a heavy one, right?" He wandered over to the cues and selected one that seemed to fit the bill. "Breaks skulls better, they tell me."
He watched Reign rack the balls and paid attention to the pattern. Lifting a shoulder at her he cocked his head. "Progress through adversity, that's what I'm all about."
He rummaged around and found one of the brown ales though; he'd tried Drew's experiments before and they were usually pretty decent. Replacing the other bottle and taking one of Drew's he cracked it open and followed Reign into the living room as she was taking apart another cue.
"I want a heavy one, right?" He wandered over to the cues and selected one that seemed to fit the bill. "Breaks skulls better, they tell me."
He watched Reign rack the balls and paid attention to the pattern. Lifting a shoulder at her he cocked his head. "Progress through adversity, that's what I'm all about."
Reign
14 years ago
"We may have had words about that particular identifier."Â?
She couldn't help it. He looked much younger than she was and, even though she knew better, he had this air of innocence about him. So, she had started calling him Boy or Boy-o and it had stuck.
"But until he can come up with something that really pisses me off he's stuck with it."Â?
Unfortunately for Drew, she'd been called a lot of very nasty names in her day.
"Again with the violence."Â? She cocked her head at him both curious and concerned but in such a way that it could be taken as friendly banter. "Are you repressing?"Â?
Pulling the triangle off she let him pick a cue and selected one of her favorites.
"It depends. Light is good for finesse, if you're going to be playing for a while or if you're out of shape. I tend to use a mid-weight one in competition but my break stick and jump stick are both on the heavy side for the extra power."Â?
From her own experience though men tended toward heavier sticks, only an ounce or two. Apparently, it was a macho thing.
"The adversity starts when I get to the table. Why don't you break. Eight ball, after the break you had best call your shot, no slop and no bad hits."Â?
It was how she'd learned to play and still did when she was in a casual setting.
She couldn't help it. He looked much younger than she was and, even though she knew better, he had this air of innocence about him. So, she had started calling him Boy or Boy-o and it had stuck.
"But until he can come up with something that really pisses me off he's stuck with it."Â?
Unfortunately for Drew, she'd been called a lot of very nasty names in her day.
"Again with the violence."Â? She cocked her head at him both curious and concerned but in such a way that it could be taken as friendly banter. "Are you repressing?"Â?
Pulling the triangle off she let him pick a cue and selected one of her favorites.
"It depends. Light is good for finesse, if you're going to be playing for a while or if you're out of shape. I tend to use a mid-weight one in competition but my break stick and jump stick are both on the heavy side for the extra power."Â?
From her own experience though men tended toward heavier sticks, only an ounce or two. Apparently, it was a macho thing.
"The adversity starts when I get to the table. Why don't you break. Eight ball, after the break you had best call your shot, no slop and no bad hits."Â?
It was how she'd learned to play and still did when she was in a casual setting.
Xeph
14 years ago
The idea that Reign had saddled Drew with such a nickname amused Xeph to no end. He grinned just thinking about the hell he could give the Boy later on. Heh, heh.
He raised his brows at Reign's next question. "Repressing? Me? No, I thought I was pretty blatant about wanting to smash things with a stick. How is that repressing?"
He took a batter's stance and made a few practice swings with the cue, more to scare Reign than for any other reason. When she suggested he break he nodded at her. He'd never actually played pool before but he kind of sort of knew the basics.
Hoping to start out strong he took aim and fired away, with the result being that balls went everywhere. Literally, everywhere. A few of them rocketed off the table and one of them narrowly missed clobbering him in the forehead as it passed.
Xeph counted how many balls were left and then looked at Reign. "That's four home runs. What do I get for that?"
Okay, so finesse wasn't just for pussies. He'd have to remember that. Maybe the lighter stick was a better option. Apparently he didn't need any more power.
He raised his brows at Reign's next question. "Repressing? Me? No, I thought I was pretty blatant about wanting to smash things with a stick. How is that repressing?"
He took a batter's stance and made a few practice swings with the cue, more to scare Reign than for any other reason. When she suggested he break he nodded at her. He'd never actually played pool before but he kind of sort of knew the basics.
Hoping to start out strong he took aim and fired away, with the result being that balls went everywhere. Literally, everywhere. A few of them rocketed off the table and one of them narrowly missed clobbering him in the forehead as it passed.
Xeph counted how many balls were left and then looked at Reign. "That's four home runs. What do I get for that?"
Okay, so finesse wasn't just for pussies. He'd have to remember that. Maybe the lighter stick was a better option. Apparently he didn't need any more power.
Reign
14 years ago
She just raised an eyebrow at him, fairly certain he'd just answered his own question. But as he was going the banter route so would she.
"Dear god!"Â?
Reign both cringed and ducked trying to keep out of the way of the balls. Sirius, however, thought this was much better than the games Reign typically played and barked happily a few times and wound up retrieving what turned out to be the twelve ball dropping it at the Doc's feet wagging his tail.
"Great, you've taught him a new game."Â?
Without even thinking about it she thwapped him upside the back of his head, much as she would one of her brothers, before snickering.
"I think it's a very good thing I don't play hockey for a living. However, you get to rack again and we have to start over. No rule I have ever read covers so many balls jumping off the table on the break, so I think you either lost or forfeited."Â?
"Dear god!"Â?
Reign both cringed and ducked trying to keep out of the way of the balls. Sirius, however, thought this was much better than the games Reign typically played and barked happily a few times and wound up retrieving what turned out to be the twelve ball dropping it at the Doc's feet wagging his tail.
"Great, you've taught him a new game."Â?
Without even thinking about it she thwapped him upside the back of his head, much as she would one of her brothers, before snickering.
"I think it's a very good thing I don't play hockey for a living. However, you get to rack again and we have to start over. No rule I have ever read covers so many balls jumping off the table on the break, so I think you either lost or forfeited."Â?
Xeph
14 years ago
Xeph picked up the twelve ball and thanked Sirius with a pat on the head. "Careful, you'll chip a tooth," he warned the good-natured shepherd before putting the ball back on the table.
Reign's smack made him grin a little sheepishly, and he exchanged the heavy cue with a very light one. Maybe that would remind him to be gentler. When she mentioned the result though, he yelped in surprise.
"Forfeit? Aww... that just isn't right. Not my fault if I don't know my own strength."
Except that he did, and he should have restrained himself. They racked the balls up again and he behaved himself on the break this time, giving the balls an authoritative whack and sending several of them cruising toward pockets. He didn't notice which ones went in; Reign was quicker than he was in that regard.
Reign's smack made him grin a little sheepishly, and he exchanged the heavy cue with a very light one. Maybe that would remind him to be gentler. When she mentioned the result though, he yelped in surprise.
"Forfeit? Aww... that just isn't right. Not my fault if I don't know my own strength."
Except that he did, and he should have restrained himself. They racked the balls up again and he behaved himself on the break this time, giving the balls an authoritative whack and sending several of them cruising toward pockets. He didn't notice which ones went in; Reign was quicker than he was in that regard.
Reign
14 years ago
Reign could only grin with satisfaction as she discovered an unknown but unsurprising competitive streak in the Doc.
"OK we'll just call it a loss then. Did I mention this was a race to seven?"Â?
She watched wearily as he broke again with a lighter cue. She was a bit nervous he'd shatter a perfectly good cue. OK so Reign had never seen such a thing happen but it could, maybe. At least she thought it could once you added an over zealous werewolf into the mix.
The balls obligingly scattered all over the table, but -stayed- on the table. With the exception of the six and the nine. He must have really nailed the rack for those to sink.
"Much better! One of each, table is still open."Â?
Sirius leaned up against her leg and she absently rubbed his head while mentally lining up a few shots. She wouldn't offer advice unless asked though.
"OK we'll just call it a loss then. Did I mention this was a race to seven?"Â?
She watched wearily as he broke again with a lighter cue. She was a bit nervous he'd shatter a perfectly good cue. OK so Reign had never seen such a thing happen but it could, maybe. At least she thought it could once you added an over zealous werewolf into the mix.
The balls obligingly scattered all over the table, but -stayed- on the table. With the exception of the six and the nine. He must have really nailed the rack for those to sink.
"Much better! One of each, table is still open."Â?
Sirius leaned up against her leg and she absently rubbed his head while mentally lining up a few shots. She wouldn't offer advice unless asked though.
Xeph
14 years ago
"Seven what?" Xeph wasn't dumb but he wasn't sure how the scoring went. Points? Balls? How did it work?
He assumed if the table was open it meant he could hit anything he liked. He knew one player shot solids and one did stripes; presumably he could choose his by sinking the correct ball first.
Surveying the table, it looked like the stripes were in the best overall positions, but he was too new to be picky. The solid blue two ball was poised on he lip of the corner pocket, and he decided to take that one. He lined it up and pounded the cue ball into it. The white ball probably would have followed the blue one into he pocket, but the amount of force Xeph had put into his hit caused it instead to hit the far lip of the pocket and bounce back onto the table.
"Two points! Or a goal. Or whatever," he said, jerking his thumb at the corner pocket and the still-spinning cue ball. Reign was likely to slaughter him at every game, so he figured he'd better get in his shots while he still could.
He assumed if the table was open it meant he could hit anything he liked. He knew one player shot solids and one did stripes; presumably he could choose his by sinking the correct ball first.
Surveying the table, it looked like the stripes were in the best overall positions, but he was too new to be picky. The solid blue two ball was poised on he lip of the corner pocket, and he decided to take that one. He lined it up and pounded the cue ball into it. The white ball probably would have followed the blue one into he pocket, but the amount of force Xeph had put into his hit caused it instead to hit the far lip of the pocket and bounce back onto the table.
"Two points! Or a goal. Or whatever," he said, jerking his thumb at the corner pocket and the still-spinning cue ball. Reign was likely to slaughter him at every game, so he figured he'd better get in his shots while he still could.
Reign
14 years ago
Reign blinked, the term was so basic to her she really hadn't thought about him not understanding it.
"Seven games. We could do best of seven if you'd like instead. You do know the rules right Doc?"Â?
Hey, she would be just as lost trying to be a vet so... no worries right?
His power was a bit frightening. However, she couldn't help but laugh. It was so refreshing to see some one so happy about an easy shot. Most of the people she played with wouldn't even have stopped to blink after sinking the two they would have had three more shots lined up in their heads and be adjusting their strategy for an unexpected roll of the queue or something.
"No point! Win or lose the game, then you get a point. Unless were playing straight. But you do get to go again. If you are gentle about it you can bank the four into the side and then have a decent shot at cutting the three down the rail."Â?
Well she hadn't meant to give advice, but there it was. Apparently, she couldn't keep her mouth shut. Ah well. Maybe it was self preservation or.... Oh, she was trying to teach him to harness his power. That was it. That was a -good- reason.
"Seven games. We could do best of seven if you'd like instead. You do know the rules right Doc?"Â?
Hey, she would be just as lost trying to be a vet so... no worries right?
His power was a bit frightening. However, she couldn't help but laugh. It was so refreshing to see some one so happy about an easy shot. Most of the people she played with wouldn't even have stopped to blink after sinking the two they would have had three more shots lined up in their heads and be adjusting their strategy for an unexpected roll of the queue or something.
"No point! Win or lose the game, then you get a point. Unless were playing straight. But you do get to go again. If you are gentle about it you can bank the four into the side and then have a decent shot at cutting the three down the rail."Â?
Well she hadn't meant to give advice, but there it was. Apparently, she couldn't keep her mouth shut. Ah well. Maybe it was self preservation or.... Oh, she was trying to teach him to harness his power. That was it. That was a -good- reason.
Xeph
14 years ago
"Sure I know the rules!" Xeph said, gesturnig vaguely at the table with his stick. "You just hit the balls into the holes, and then you hit that ball into a hole."
He was being deliberately obtuse, goading Reign into laughter.
Following her advice, he managed to sink the next ball but that was it. From there, however, it was a simple matter for them to goof off and spend the evening fairly enjoyably. And why not? He'd come to Reign's place to discuss one thing, and that had been accomplished. The seeds had been planted long ago; he was just guiding their growth along the healthiest path he knew.
Reign was Pack whether she remained Illamar or became Amaroq. She would be loved and valued no matter what. But if she did decide she wanted to be Gifted, he had a feeling she would eventually learn to be an Alpha too.
((ooc: both out))
He was being deliberately obtuse, goading Reign into laughter.
Following her advice, he managed to sink the next ball but that was it. From there, however, it was a simple matter for them to goof off and spend the evening fairly enjoyably. And why not? He'd come to Reign's place to discuss one thing, and that had been accomplished. The seeds had been planted long ago; he was just guiding their growth along the healthiest path he knew.
Reign was Pack whether she remained Illamar or became Amaroq. She would be loved and valued no matter what. But if she did decide she wanted to be Gifted, he had a feeling she would eventually learn to be an Alpha too.
((ooc: both out))