LT hustled it, pushing what felt like the remaining dregs of his energy to catch up to the Commander. Physically he was twenty five and the Commander was closer to forty in that regard, but for someone over one hundred and ten years old, the CO was the most fit of all the Pipers, neck and neck with the Beta in stamina and strength. Runs like this were easy for LT, to a point, but the men were already starting to fall behind and succumbing to exhaustion. Something was bothering his Uncle, so LT sprinted forwarded to ask him.
His uncle had already pulled away about thirty feet from his pack when he turned around to yell at the men, forcefully encouraging them to catch up when LT caught up to him and matched his stride.
'Uncle Brian?' LT panted but quickly regretted saying when his Uncle turned a sharp eye toward him. No relations during formation or in uniform, that's how it always was, so LT corrected himself quickly. 'Sir? We've gone about ten miles at the pace, twenty five total.'
The Commander kept his eye on LT as they ran up another hill. LT felt the aches in his side complain and saw the men drop back another ten feet.
'Should I lead them back, sir?'
They crested the hill and finally the Commander slowed to a stop at the top. The men moaned as they slowed, some falling forward onto the ground.
CO - 0, Fixer - 0 PRISON RULES
The Kadzait property stretched for acres behind the Den, composed of trees, small lakes, grassy knolls (minus sharp shooters), and rolling hills. At seven thirty in the morning, the summer sun had begun to peak above the treetops, promising a blistering hot day in the 100's, full of sunshine and humidity. Morning runs when on active duty were a daily occurrence, save for weekends, and the men were up, dressed in work out pants or shorts and very little else for a twenty mile, two legged run. Wolf runs were saved for after the sun set and mother Luna had risen.
Charlie's job was to maintain the CO's pace during a two legged run and bring up the rear as the LT held the center, and the Commander led. The CO's pace was usually a sustainable 15 mphs, but this morning...
'Christ almighty...' Charlie muttered to himself as he pushed on one of the Piper's backs that was starting to fall behind. The CO was running top speed at just short of 25 mph and had been for the past 10 miles. The property was large, but he was certain they were circling it at its most challenging points and pushing fucking hard.
Charlie caught the LT's eye but he just nodded forward and they both watched as the CO began to pull away from the pack. He lifted his hands and shrugged at the LT. What the hell? he mouthed silently.
Lothias LT Jameson
13 years ago
Brig Jameson
13 years ago
Brig stopped at the top of the hill and looked back at his men. He was winded, but not near as exhausted as the rest. LT was even breathing hard. With a shrug, Brig faced the men and yelled down at them.
'I'm at least twice, if not three times your age.' Pointing at the men angrily, he chastised them harshly. 'This is what inactivity does. It makes you weak, gentlemen. It makes you soft.' His men all stood and made it to the top of the hill.
'Easy jog back, then. Is 10mph slow enough or would you like me to carry you idiots back instead?'
The men walked around Brig and LT, silent in their wake as they picked back up a slow jog back to the Den. LT stayed behind and just stared at Brig, his eyes confused.
'What?' Brig asked with an angry snort.
LT just held up his hands and shrugged.
Brig turned and felt the guilt settle onto his shoulders again, weighing him down. The men were wearing jogging pants, sneakers and either a black under-armor shirt or nothing at all. LT and his sergeant kept their shirts on, but had regulation jogging pants as well. That morning, Brig put on a pair of old, yet still crisply creased BDU pants, his black combat boots, and a black under-armor shirt for the run, something he had not done in years, certainly not since they had come to Nachton. It was the day after Vivienne Sena's unexpected and unwelcome appearance on the property and he could not stop thinking about her.
Wiping his face with his forearm, he nodded for LT to join the men, himself opting to bring up the rear. He'd let LT set the pace, even though 10 mphs was nothing for werewolves. Brig was pushing them, as hard as he was pushing himself, and they had no idea why.
Neither did he, for that matter.
He let the men get a good quarter mile ahead of him before he ran down the backside of the hill to join them.
'I'm at least twice, if not three times your age.' Pointing at the men angrily, he chastised them harshly. 'This is what inactivity does. It makes you weak, gentlemen. It makes you soft.' His men all stood and made it to the top of the hill.
'Easy jog back, then. Is 10mph slow enough or would you like me to carry you idiots back instead?'
The men walked around Brig and LT, silent in their wake as they picked back up a slow jog back to the Den. LT stayed behind and just stared at Brig, his eyes confused.
'What?' Brig asked with an angry snort.
LT just held up his hands and shrugged.
Brig turned and felt the guilt settle onto his shoulders again, weighing him down. The men were wearing jogging pants, sneakers and either a black under-armor shirt or nothing at all. LT and his sergeant kept their shirts on, but had regulation jogging pants as well. That morning, Brig put on a pair of old, yet still crisply creased BDU pants, his black combat boots, and a black under-armor shirt for the run, something he had not done in years, certainly not since they had come to Nachton. It was the day after Vivienne Sena's unexpected and unwelcome appearance on the property and he could not stop thinking about her.
Wiping his face with his forearm, he nodded for LT to join the men, himself opting to bring up the rear. He'd let LT set the pace, even though 10 mphs was nothing for werewolves. Brig was pushing them, as hard as he was pushing himself, and they had no idea why.
Neither did he, for that matter.
He let the men get a good quarter mile ahead of him before he ran down the backside of the hill to join them.
Vivienne Sena
13 years ago
Viv was sitting crossed legged on one of the work out benches located on the outskirts of the pack's forest. Next to her were two large blue coolers filled with ice and bottled water. In her lap was her notebook which was perched neatly on top of the Ipad the pack had provided her. The property was covered head-to-toe in apple equipment and she didn't quite understand why.
Viv was a windows 7 girl, herself.
Looking down at her notebook, she typed in the start of her first evaluation, although the Subject heading was blank. She hadn't decided yet who would be first, hence why she was outside and in line with the Piper's run path. Viv had been up at five am and lounging on the deck of the Den when she heard them file out and head toward the Tikerak for their morning run at five thirty. Two hours later, she had moved closer and waited patiently with handy wireless gadgets in hand.
Viv heard the thumping of feet before she saw the dust of dirt whirling above the tree tops, not that she was looking. The men came out of the forest walking instead of running. Looking up, Viv watched as they filed out, exhausted, shirtless in most cases, and sweating through their jogging pants. The sun beat down on them, even this early in the morning, but her own jogging suit provided protection from exposure but was thin enough to keep her cool. It was sleeveless and form fitting made of a breathable diamond golden weave against black lycra. She wore black Nikes with a flat sole and round toe.
Viv had something she liked to call jungle sense. Her eyes passed over each Piper, sizing them up, and mentally calculating the odds of who the stronger of the present pack might be. She recognized their faces from the profiles given to her by Vigo, and of course she had met Charlie and one other Piper already. It appeared command was bringing up the rear, so her eyes glazed over and she measured each man for his worth.
Of the front five, the Piper in the back lit up in her mind - that would be Charlie, the sergeant. He was pulling his tucked under-armor shirt out of his jogging pants and wiping his face with the bottom of it. His chest was hairless, save for that treasured line that started at the top of his six pack and lazily dived down into the front of his pants. The others had gradual strengths, but in those five, Charlie was the strongest and ideal target to kill first.
Chuckling she corrected herself, he'd be ideal to interview last.
Several feet behind Charlie appeared the LT, Lothias Jameson. His glow was brighter than Charlie, forcing the latter to fade. LT of the six walking in was definitely the strongest, but she hadn't met him yet, so physique and natural balance was all she could really go by. Curiously, Marthinus T. Steyn walked next to him, showing no glow at all being one of the newest, but Viv saw experience when presented with it. Maybe him first?
The men gathered around in front of Vivienne and she focused her attention on the front. Smiling she stood up and opened the coolers, tossing cool water to each of them. A few settled onto the ground in a heap and drank the water quickly. She smiled as they tried to cool down.
'Mr. Hammond,' she smiled at Charlie who drained his water and then nodded toward Viv. 'Mr. Deardon.' Red smiled at her, squinting against the morning sun. Looking at the rest she introduced herself properly as the LT and Steyn joined the men.
'Mr. Steyn, LT Jameson. A pleasure.' Putting down her notebook, she picked up the Ipad and held it in front of her. 'I've met a couple of you already, but for those that I haven't, my name is Vivienne Sena and I'm here to ask you some questions.'
Viv was a windows 7 girl, herself.
Looking down at her notebook, she typed in the start of her first evaluation, although the Subject heading was blank. She hadn't decided yet who would be first, hence why she was outside and in line with the Piper's run path. Viv had been up at five am and lounging on the deck of the Den when she heard them file out and head toward the Tikerak for their morning run at five thirty. Two hours later, she had moved closer and waited patiently with handy wireless gadgets in hand.
Viv heard the thumping of feet before she saw the dust of dirt whirling above the tree tops, not that she was looking. The men came out of the forest walking instead of running. Looking up, Viv watched as they filed out, exhausted, shirtless in most cases, and sweating through their jogging pants. The sun beat down on them, even this early in the morning, but her own jogging suit provided protection from exposure but was thin enough to keep her cool. It was sleeveless and form fitting made of a breathable diamond golden weave against black lycra. She wore black Nikes with a flat sole and round toe.
Viv had something she liked to call jungle sense. Her eyes passed over each Piper, sizing them up, and mentally calculating the odds of who the stronger of the present pack might be. She recognized their faces from the profiles given to her by Vigo, and of course she had met Charlie and one other Piper already. It appeared command was bringing up the rear, so her eyes glazed over and she measured each man for his worth.
Of the front five, the Piper in the back lit up in her mind - that would be Charlie, the sergeant. He was pulling his tucked under-armor shirt out of his jogging pants and wiping his face with the bottom of it. His chest was hairless, save for that treasured line that started at the top of his six pack and lazily dived down into the front of his pants. The others had gradual strengths, but in those five, Charlie was the strongest and ideal target to kill first.
Chuckling she corrected herself, he'd be ideal to interview last.
Several feet behind Charlie appeared the LT, Lothias Jameson. His glow was brighter than Charlie, forcing the latter to fade. LT of the six walking in was definitely the strongest, but she hadn't met him yet, so physique and natural balance was all she could really go by. Curiously, Marthinus T. Steyn walked next to him, showing no glow at all being one of the newest, but Viv saw experience when presented with it. Maybe him first?
The men gathered around in front of Vivienne and she focused her attention on the front. Smiling she stood up and opened the coolers, tossing cool water to each of them. A few settled onto the ground in a heap and drank the water quickly. She smiled as they tried to cool down.
'Mr. Hammond,' she smiled at Charlie who drained his water and then nodded toward Viv. 'Mr. Deardon.' Red smiled at her, squinting against the morning sun. Looking at the rest she introduced herself properly as the LT and Steyn joined the men.
'Mr. Steyn, LT Jameson. A pleasure.' Putting down her notebook, she picked up the Ipad and held it in front of her. 'I've met a couple of you already, but for those that I haven't, my name is Vivienne Sena and I'm here to ask you some questions.'
Kai
13 years ago
Kai's sleep the last few days had been been plagued by more nightmares than was usual, and she felt strung out, tired, and grumpy. At four that morning, she'd finally hauled her bedraggled ass out of bed, packed clothes for work in a duffel, dressed in boyshort cut bikini bottoms and her half wetsuit, and drove out to the Marina. She, her surf board, and Brett had driven like the devil himself was after them in the speed boat to the island, and Kai had surfed for several hours.
Finally feeling like herself, she and Brett drove back to the mainland and in the process, part of what was bugging her had her pulling her blackberry from the duffel bag. With it she quickly texted Brig. She didn't have an attachment to him, not really, but she'd also not heard from him since he'd left the island. It irked her a bit, and while she had no delusions of love springing eternal, a girl deserved a call after what had happened in the forest.
~Hey, is everything alright?~
It was the best she could come up with, but it would have to do as she hit send, and went back to feeling the wind in her face as they sped toward land.
Finally feeling like herself, she and Brett drove back to the mainland and in the process, part of what was bugging her had her pulling her blackberry from the duffel bag. With it she quickly texted Brig. She didn't have an attachment to him, not really, but she'd also not heard from him since he'd left the island. It irked her a bit, and while she had no delusions of love springing eternal, a girl deserved a call after what had happened in the forest.
~Hey, is everything alright?~
It was the best she could come up with, but it would have to do as she hit send, and went back to feeling the wind in her face as they sped toward land.
Brig Jameson
13 years ago
The strain of his run was beginning to creep up on him; he'd certainly feel it tomorrow morning. Brig slowed his run down to a jog, then finally a slow walk as his heartbeat thumped loudly in his head. Blowing air out of his mouth, he felt the sweat running down the sides of his face and inside his shirt.
He had adjusted the Piper regiment to something just short of a hellish boot camp pace, concentrating on endurance and their speed. Nachton had made them weak, all of them, and with the appearance of Vivienne Sena, it made him aware at just how feeble the men were becoming. Even with the Alpha reactivating them, finally, he had been shirking his duty in getting them back to top performance, but even he had to admit that his recent behavior was a 180 of how he would have done it three weeks prior.
Rubbing his hands through his hair, he realized that it was the only thing he was not keeping regulation. The severe flat top he usually kept had grown out and the horse shoe crown was starting to get long enough to comb back. He rather liked it, actually, and it gave him a bit of rebellion in his otherwise constrained life. As he considered maybe a trim later, his phone chirped at him in his back pocket.
He had put the men on a cell phone ban while in uniform, but they still carried it for contact purposes, no personal calls though. Pulling his iphone out of his back BDU pocket, he thumbed through the alert and saw a message from Kai.
Brig's heart sank. It had been two almost three weeks since he had seen or spoken to her. In fact, he had completely forgotten about her since Hammer dropped his bomb. So much had happened in the short amount of time; Hammer's little confessional, Brig's ultimate snitching (he regretted contacting the families some days, although the days he saw Hammer and Lily together, he did not), and of course meeting (and mating with) the Vyusher R'asa female, only to find out that she would be recommending whether or not he kept his job and lived out the rest of his life in shame.
Yeah, busy month.
Stopping just before the trail petered out into the clearing, Brig replied to Kai's message.
He had adjusted the Piper regiment to something just short of a hellish boot camp pace, concentrating on endurance and their speed. Nachton had made them weak, all of them, and with the appearance of Vivienne Sena, it made him aware at just how feeble the men were becoming. Even with the Alpha reactivating them, finally, he had been shirking his duty in getting them back to top performance, but even he had to admit that his recent behavior was a 180 of how he would have done it three weeks prior.
Rubbing his hands through his hair, he realized that it was the only thing he was not keeping regulation. The severe flat top he usually kept had grown out and the horse shoe crown was starting to get long enough to comb back. He rather liked it, actually, and it gave him a bit of rebellion in his otherwise constrained life. As he considered maybe a trim later, his phone chirped at him in his back pocket.
He had put the men on a cell phone ban while in uniform, but they still carried it for contact purposes, no personal calls though. Pulling his iphone out of his back BDU pocket, he thumbed through the alert and saw a message from Kai.
Brig's heart sank. It had been two almost three weeks since he had seen or spoken to her. In fact, he had completely forgotten about her since Hammer dropped his bomb. So much had happened in the short amount of time; Hammer's little confessional, Brig's ultimate snitching (he regretted contacting the families some days, although the days he saw Hammer and Lily together, he did not), and of course meeting (and mating with) the Vyusher R'asa female, only to find out that she would be recommending whether or not he kept his job and lived out the rest of his life in shame.
Yeah, busy month.
Stopping just before the trail petered out into the clearing, Brig replied to Kai's message.
Hey, Kai...
Everything is fine. Been busy is all.
- Brig
Everything is fine. Been busy is all.
- Brig
He looked at the message and frowned at it. Yeah that was friendly, but as he began to erase it and try again, a familiar scent gently wafted toward him. Brig immediately felt his both his hackles rise and southern regions wake up.
'Oh no, no no,' he murmured and began to think of baseball as he just went ahead and sent the message to Kai as is.
'Oh no, no no,' he murmured and began to think of baseball as he just went ahead and sent the message to Kai as is.
Kai
13 years ago
The phone buzzed in her hands as the docks became discernible in the near distance. Sighing she looked down at the display, and thumbed open the message from Brig. That was it? Huh, well they were communicating via text message after all, and perhaps he was in the middle of something. Still the irked feeling was still there. She shrugged, perhaps it was for the best, but damn it she had begun to like him.
~Alright, well if you can swing it, how about lunch sometime?~
It was typed out before she'd really registered what she'd written. Did she mean that, or was it better to just not try at all. She had no idea, relationships were not her strong suit, but honesty was and honesty said she wanted to try and at least maintain a friendship with the big guy.
~Alright, well if you can swing it, how about lunch sometime?~
It was typed out before she'd really registered what she'd written. Did she mean that, or was it better to just not try at all. She had no idea, relationships were not her strong suit, but honesty was and honesty said she wanted to try and at least maintain a friendship with the big guy.
Brig Jameson
13 years ago
'Baseball...baseball...baseball with zombies...baseball with naked zombies...'
Brig continued trying to calm himself down as Vivienne Sena's scent became more intense the closer he got to the clearing. He could hear the men as they gathered there and undoubtedly she had stopped them. He was just about to turn the corner when his phone chirped again.
Reading the message, Brig frowned and then shrugged.
Brig continued trying to calm himself down as Vivienne Sena's scent became more intense the closer he got to the clearing. He could hear the men as they gathered there and undoubtedly she had stopped them. He was just about to turn the corner when his phone chirped again.
Reading the message, Brig frowned and then shrugged.
'Sure. Lunch today maybe, if you're around the Den?'
Kai
13 years ago
They were slowing into the Marina, when her phone buzzed again. Today? What time was it? She found the little numbers, just after eight...yeah she could swing lunch at the Den, maybe she'd just take the afternoon off, try and catch up on sleep. That actually sounded perfect.
~I can do lunch today. It'll be closer to 1:00, have to wait for my assistant to get back from her lunch before I can leave work. See you then. *K* ~
She wouldn't be able to change from work clothes or shower, but that would be alright, if she shut herself in her office that morning and didn't visit the floor. It lessened her chances of returning home smelling like fish or worse. They docked, and Kai thanked Brett with a hug and the rest of the day off, and headed to the boat house to shower and change. She made it into her office with out inccident and was determined to remain there.
((Kai out))
~I can do lunch today. It'll be closer to 1:00, have to wait for my assistant to get back from her lunch before I can leave work. See you then. *K* ~
She wouldn't be able to change from work clothes or shower, but that would be alright, if she shut herself in her office that morning and didn't visit the floor. It lessened her chances of returning home smelling like fish or worse. They docked, and Kai thanked Brett with a hug and the rest of the day off, and headed to the boat house to shower and change. She made it into her office with out inccident and was determined to remain there.
((Kai out))
Vivienne Sena
13 years ago
'First, let me get everyone's names straight.' Pointing at the LT, she started with him.
'Lothias Jameson, LT. Then we have Chester,' slight snickering from a few men that received a smack on the back of their heads, 'Hammond, Charlie. Eric Dreadon, Red. Matthew Kearney, Lewis.' Viv paused and smiled. 'From the isle of Lewis and Harris, right? Northern part of Scotland?'
Lewis grinned and agreed. 'Yes, ma'am.'
'Wikipedia is a wonderful thing,' Viv said with a wink. 'Continuing! Harris Doughan, Dougie. Marthinus T. Steyn.' Viv paused. 'Pup?'
'Oh no,' said Charlie. 'He's...'
'JOOOONNEEEESSSS!!!!' Yelled Red at the top of his lungs.
With a startled snort, Viv shook her head and changed it on her ipad. 'Right then, Marthinus T. Steyn, Jones. I look forward to hearing that story, Mr. Steyn.'
Marthinus gave her a polite nod and smiled gently at her.
'Joseph Markovic, Marko.' The present Russian, and closest Hammerthynn relative was one of the tallest men, but did not register higher than Charlie on her estimation...still, he was a tall drink of water at six foot seven.
'Finally, and most recently, Phillip Domingo.' Viv looked up and pulled a sad face. 'The newbie, is it?'
The crowd snickered softly, but Domingo stepped forward and gave her his most charming and grand bow, gently taking her hand and kissing it.
'At ease, Piper,' Viv chuckled and shooshed him back in line. Domingo held his hand over his heart, wounded no doubt, but took his place back in line with a smile.
'So, now that we have that all figured out, finally, did you leave your Commander in the dust or did he not join you today?'
As soon as Viv invoked his title, Jameson's scent came in on the breeze coming from behind the trees. It made her skin immediately break out into a sweat and she literally felt her pupils dilate. The Commander walked slowly from the path in the trees, fully dressed in crisp BDU's along with boots and a black shirt. Said shirt was currently being pulled out of the waistband of his BDU bottoms and he lifted it up to his face to wipe the sweat, exposing the ridiculously lean and muscled torso that most certainly did not belong to a man his age.
Looking down at her Ipad, she double checked the information on Jameson. Mouthing quietly she said to herself, there is no way that man is one hundred and ten. He made his way lazily to the group, pushing through the men as he checked his phone quickly, then tucked it back into his pocket. Viv gave him a bland look, ignoring the delicious sweet and salty scent he was emitting, and pointed to the water. Helping himself, he grabbed a water bottle and twisted it open as he ignored her presence.
Viv rolled her eyes slightly. 'Commander Brian Jameson, Brig.' He tipped his water bottle in her direction, neither smiling or snarling, just swallowing his water in a way that made her blush.
'Right then. As I said, I did have a few questions for you all, so if you all didn't mind, I'd like to talk to you one on one.'
'Lothias Jameson, LT. Then we have Chester,' slight snickering from a few men that received a smack on the back of their heads, 'Hammond, Charlie. Eric Dreadon, Red. Matthew Kearney, Lewis.' Viv paused and smiled. 'From the isle of Lewis and Harris, right? Northern part of Scotland?'
Lewis grinned and agreed. 'Yes, ma'am.'
'Wikipedia is a wonderful thing,' Viv said with a wink. 'Continuing! Harris Doughan, Dougie. Marthinus T. Steyn.' Viv paused. 'Pup?'
'Oh no,' said Charlie. 'He's...'
'JOOOONNEEEESSSS!!!!' Yelled Red at the top of his lungs.
With a startled snort, Viv shook her head and changed it on her ipad. 'Right then, Marthinus T. Steyn, Jones. I look forward to hearing that story, Mr. Steyn.'
Marthinus gave her a polite nod and smiled gently at her.
'Joseph Markovic, Marko.' The present Russian, and closest Hammerthynn relative was one of the tallest men, but did not register higher than Charlie on her estimation...still, he was a tall drink of water at six foot seven.
'Finally, and most recently, Phillip Domingo.' Viv looked up and pulled a sad face. 'The newbie, is it?'
The crowd snickered softly, but Domingo stepped forward and gave her his most charming and grand bow, gently taking her hand and kissing it.
'At ease, Piper,' Viv chuckled and shooshed him back in line. Domingo held his hand over his heart, wounded no doubt, but took his place back in line with a smile.
'So, now that we have that all figured out, finally, did you leave your Commander in the dust or did he not join you today?'
As soon as Viv invoked his title, Jameson's scent came in on the breeze coming from behind the trees. It made her skin immediately break out into a sweat and she literally felt her pupils dilate. The Commander walked slowly from the path in the trees, fully dressed in crisp BDU's along with boots and a black shirt. Said shirt was currently being pulled out of the waistband of his BDU bottoms and he lifted it up to his face to wipe the sweat, exposing the ridiculously lean and muscled torso that most certainly did not belong to a man his age.
Looking down at her Ipad, she double checked the information on Jameson. Mouthing quietly she said to herself, there is no way that man is one hundred and ten. He made his way lazily to the group, pushing through the men as he checked his phone quickly, then tucked it back into his pocket. Viv gave him a bland look, ignoring the delicious sweet and salty scent he was emitting, and pointed to the water. Helping himself, he grabbed a water bottle and twisted it open as he ignored her presence.
Viv rolled her eyes slightly. 'Commander Brian Jameson, Brig.' He tipped his water bottle in her direction, neither smiling or snarling, just swallowing his water in a way that made her blush.
'Right then. As I said, I did have a few questions for you all, so if you all didn't mind, I'd like to talk to you one on one.'
Brig Jameson
13 years ago
Brig's slow gait was not for show, but out of necessity. His heart was racing, even after walking a cool down of a mile, at the sight of Vivienne Sena. Vivienne's scent was crisp, mixing in with the summer tree foliage, yet soft like night blooming flowers...all mixed in with her acidic sweat that gave it a bit of an edge. He felt himself lick the sweat off his lips as he looked at her.
Pulling his shirt out of his pants, he wiped at the sweat on his face, but felt it trickle down his stomach. He saw her attention snap over at him and inwardly he smiled.
Vivienne was affected by him as much as he was by her.
Closing the distance to the men, they parted to allow him a direct path to the water coolers behind her. She raised an eyebrow and pointed out the water for him, which he gladly reached for as his phone chirped again.
Lunch at one with Kai.
Tucking it back into his back pocket, he reached for a bottle and twisted it open. Vivienne read off his formal name and nickname, to which he tipped his bottle in acknowledgment and let the cool water wash out his dry mouth. She bristled with annoyance but he could smell the sweat on her as it shone brightly on her arms.
'Right then. As I said, I did have a few questions for you all, so if you all didn't mind, I'd like to talk to you one on one,' she said looking away from him.
Brig interrupted before she could continue. 'What do we call you?'
Vivienne looked back at him, sizing him up from head to toe. If it weren't for the odd interaction between them the day before in her new quarters, he'd swear she really did not like him.
'Miss Sena. Ma'am. Vivienne.' She shrugged at him.
He nodded, deciding on calling her Viv without telling her, or getting her approval. 'The men prefer their nicknames.'
'Really?' Viv said looking back at the men. 'I've been addressing them by their given family names. That a problem, gentlemen?'
There was a chorus of 'not at all, ma'ams'.
Viv looked back at Brig and gave him a gloating smile.
'I didn't receive your qualifications on my desk by the end of yesterday's business day,' he said jumping right into the fire, hoping to annoy her further. 'Did you forget?'
Pulling his shirt out of his pants, he wiped at the sweat on his face, but felt it trickle down his stomach. He saw her attention snap over at him and inwardly he smiled.
Vivienne was affected by him as much as he was by her.
Closing the distance to the men, they parted to allow him a direct path to the water coolers behind her. She raised an eyebrow and pointed out the water for him, which he gladly reached for as his phone chirped again.
Lunch at one with Kai.
Tucking it back into his back pocket, he reached for a bottle and twisted it open. Vivienne read off his formal name and nickname, to which he tipped his bottle in acknowledgment and let the cool water wash out his dry mouth. She bristled with annoyance but he could smell the sweat on her as it shone brightly on her arms.
'Right then. As I said, I did have a few questions for you all, so if you all didn't mind, I'd like to talk to you one on one,' she said looking away from him.
Brig interrupted before she could continue. 'What do we call you?'
Vivienne looked back at him, sizing him up from head to toe. If it weren't for the odd interaction between them the day before in her new quarters, he'd swear she really did not like him.
'Miss Sena. Ma'am. Vivienne.' She shrugged at him.
He nodded, deciding on calling her Viv without telling her, or getting her approval. 'The men prefer their nicknames.'
'Really?' Viv said looking back at the men. 'I've been addressing them by their given family names. That a problem, gentlemen?'
There was a chorus of 'not at all, ma'ams'.
Viv looked back at Brig and gave him a gloating smile.
'I didn't receive your qualifications on my desk by the end of yesterday's business day,' he said jumping right into the fire, hoping to annoy her further. 'Did you forget?'
Vivienne Sena
13 years ago
Oh seriously? Viv thought annoyed by the immediate show of testosterone. Holding her ipad against her chest, she turned and looked at Brig. 'I kind of meant 'on your desk' figuratively. Check your work email?'
'That's not what you said.'
Viv paused and clenched her jaw. 'You really want to do this?'
'Yes, I do,' he replied automatically and in a monotone voice.
'Right now?'
Nodding, 'Right now.' The Commander turned and looked at LT who immediately gathered the men up into formation and began to jog them back to the Den. None of them dared to look back at their CO or Vivienne.
'Right now,' Vivienne said in a matching monotone voice.
The Commander raised an eyebrow at her.
Viv turned and set her ipad down on top of her notebook, freeing up both her hands. Pulling down on her top, she stepped back within a foot from the Commander.
'What, you want me to come to your office and print it out for you? '
'I will also be present for the interviews.'
'Not happening.' Turning, Viv gathered up her electronics and began to walk away. She left him standing there, his hands on hips, and made it about fifty feet before he ran after her. Before he reached out to grab her arm, she turned on her heel and pointed at him.
'Listen, I'm just here to do my job, but let's get one thing understood here. You facilitated this entire thing happening. For whatever reason you blew the whistle on the Beta, your cousin mind you, and I'm absolutely shocked that you did not see this review coming. A complaint from a Piper Commander, THE Piper Commander about the Pack Beta does not result in the Beta's father coming to town to ground his son AND, mind you, his Beta. If there is an issue with the Beta from the Commanding Piper, then the chain of command must be evaluated. You all but requested that your jobs be scrutinized.
'Your best bet is to let me do what I came here to do so I can leave. If you want my recommendation, than I suggest you not fuck with me while I'm here. I don't want to break up the Nachton Pipers, nor do I want both families looking for another reason to give the Elder Hammerthynn more of a reason to cut me off. Either way, it'll look like, with a good recommendation, I'm just trying to get in good with the families, but with a bad recommendation, I'm just trying to fuck over the group that killed my family...'
The Commander held a hand up, trying to stop her. 'Wait, what?'
'So really we're both fucked here. What you did started a chain reaction that has to happen. So please, lay off the Commander bullshit with me, the political word play, and this thing....'
The Commander frowned and said, 'What thing?'
'You're doing. I honestly don't have the time or the patience. And neither do you, for that matter.'
He looked at her and said quietly, 'Who are you? How does a Vyusher R'asa even get close to the Elder?'
'That's the least of your problems, Commander. Your best bet is to use your head,' Viv slowly turned and began her retreat back to the Den, but muttered quietly, 'not your penis.'
'That's not what you said.'
Viv paused and clenched her jaw. 'You really want to do this?'
'Yes, I do,' he replied automatically and in a monotone voice.
'Right now?'
Nodding, 'Right now.' The Commander turned and looked at LT who immediately gathered the men up into formation and began to jog them back to the Den. None of them dared to look back at their CO or Vivienne.
'Right now,' Vivienne said in a matching monotone voice.
The Commander raised an eyebrow at her.
Viv turned and set her ipad down on top of her notebook, freeing up both her hands. Pulling down on her top, she stepped back within a foot from the Commander.
'What, you want me to come to your office and print it out for you? '
'I will also be present for the interviews.'
'Not happening.' Turning, Viv gathered up her electronics and began to walk away. She left him standing there, his hands on hips, and made it about fifty feet before he ran after her. Before he reached out to grab her arm, she turned on her heel and pointed at him.
'Listen, I'm just here to do my job, but let's get one thing understood here. You facilitated this entire thing happening. For whatever reason you blew the whistle on the Beta, your cousin mind you, and I'm absolutely shocked that you did not see this review coming. A complaint from a Piper Commander, THE Piper Commander about the Pack Beta does not result in the Beta's father coming to town to ground his son AND, mind you, his Beta. If there is an issue with the Beta from the Commanding Piper, then the chain of command must be evaluated. You all but requested that your jobs be scrutinized.
'Your best bet is to let me do what I came here to do so I can leave. If you want my recommendation, than I suggest you not fuck with me while I'm here. I don't want to break up the Nachton Pipers, nor do I want both families looking for another reason to give the Elder Hammerthynn more of a reason to cut me off. Either way, it'll look like, with a good recommendation, I'm just trying to get in good with the families, but with a bad recommendation, I'm just trying to fuck over the group that killed my family...'
The Commander held a hand up, trying to stop her. 'Wait, what?'
'So really we're both fucked here. What you did started a chain reaction that has to happen. So please, lay off the Commander bullshit with me, the political word play, and this thing....'
The Commander frowned and said, 'What thing?'
'You're doing. I honestly don't have the time or the patience. And neither do you, for that matter.'
He looked at her and said quietly, 'Who are you? How does a Vyusher R'asa even get close to the Elder?'
'That's the least of your problems, Commander. Your best bet is to use your head,' Viv slowly turned and began her retreat back to the Den, but muttered quietly, 'not your penis.'
Brig Jameson
13 years ago
Brig did not chase after her. Instead, he checked his watch and noted that Hammer would be finishing his run about now, coming in from the opposite side of the Tikerak. They used to run together, but of course that had changed.
Quickly he trotted over to the opposite clearing and waited for Hammer to make his appearance. He was almost starting to wonder if he missed Hammer when his cousin appeared, jogging slowly from the tree line. Hammer saw him immediately and slowed his jog to a walk, closing the distance slowly.
Brig stood with his hands on his hips, the sweat beading up on his face again. The sun was beating down on the both of them as Hammer walked slowly by Brig without a word.
Brig didn't turn to face him as his cousin passed, but he spoke to him just the same. 'Vivienne Sena.'
Hammer stopped and they both turned to look at each other. His expression was neutral.
'Who is she and what is she talking about when she says we killed her family?'
Hammer took the bottom of his tank top and wiped his brow and beard with it. His jogging pants were gray and thin. 'Vigo and his Pipers took blood retribution on two of their males. We wiped out their pack. What about it?'
Brig wasn't sure why he was surprised at Hammer's nonchalant attitude about the Pipers killing an entire family pack, but 'blood retributions' were rare, and if the old Elders decreed it, there was a good reason.
'You were there?'
Quickly he trotted over to the opposite clearing and waited for Hammer to make his appearance. He was almost starting to wonder if he missed Hammer when his cousin appeared, jogging slowly from the tree line. Hammer saw him immediately and slowed his jog to a walk, closing the distance slowly.
Brig stood with his hands on his hips, the sweat beading up on his face again. The sun was beating down on the both of them as Hammer walked slowly by Brig without a word.
Brig didn't turn to face him as his cousin passed, but he spoke to him just the same. 'Vivienne Sena.'
Hammer stopped and they both turned to look at each other. His expression was neutral.
'Who is she and what is she talking about when she says we killed her family?'
Hammer took the bottom of his tank top and wiped his brow and beard with it. His jogging pants were gray and thin. 'Vigo and his Pipers took blood retribution on two of their males. We wiped out their pack. What about it?'
Brig wasn't sure why he was surprised at Hammer's nonchalant attitude about the Pipers killing an entire family pack, but 'blood retributions' were rare, and if the old Elders decreed it, there was a good reason.
'You were there?'
Iov Hammerthynn
13 years ago
Hammer looked at Brig with an appraising eye. He couldn't quite understand what Brig wanted to know, much less why he picked this topic as the first thing they had spoken about alone and without the pretense of professionalism. Vivienne Sena wasn't personal, not to Hammer, and certainly not to Brig, so why did he want to know about her life before now?
Hammer shrugged. 'I was.'
Brig half rolled his eyes and Hammer knew exactly what his cousin was thinking. Hammer just wasn't a man of many words or conjecture. Brig asked 'a' question, so, he answered it.
'What does it matter who she was?'
Hammer shrugged. 'I was.'
Brig half rolled his eyes and Hammer knew exactly what his cousin was thinking. Hammer just wasn't a man of many words or conjecture. Brig asked 'a' question, so, he answered it.
'What does it matter who she was?'
Brig Jameson
13 years ago
'She's Vyuasher R'asa. It's not who she was, it's who she is.'
Brig had no idea where he was going with this line of questioning, or why he was even questioning anything about Vivienne. As far as he was concerned chemically, his body reacted to her as if she were a mate and maybe that's what was troubling him. Someone so his polar opposite having that much of an influence over him, physically and possibly emotionally.
Hammer looked up to the sky for a moment with his lone eye and then shrugged.
'We killed her family, Hammer, how could she not be holding onto that?'
Brig had not been with Hammer and Vigo's Pipers that day. It was during the time that the previous Alpha, Liam, was running rampant on a fool's errand, leaving Hammer behind to protect Lily and Brig to take Hammer's place. He bristled thinking of it, but let it go for the moment. Brig could only recall that two females had been killed and the Pipers had been sent out to gain retribution against the Vyusher R'asa pack that had done it. It resulted in the killing of 16 men, women, and children. Why Vigo spared Vivienne was beyond anyone in the tight inner circle of families, but it was a non-issue and never spoke of again, at least not to Brig.
Brig had no idea where he was going with this line of questioning, or why he was even questioning anything about Vivienne. As far as he was concerned chemically, his body reacted to her as if she were a mate and maybe that's what was troubling him. Someone so his polar opposite having that much of an influence over him, physically and possibly emotionally.
Hammer looked up to the sky for a moment with his lone eye and then shrugged.
'We killed her family, Hammer, how could she not be holding onto that?'
Brig had not been with Hammer and Vigo's Pipers that day. It was during the time that the previous Alpha, Liam, was running rampant on a fool's errand, leaving Hammer behind to protect Lily and Brig to take Hammer's place. He bristled thinking of it, but let it go for the moment. Brig could only recall that two females had been killed and the Pipers had been sent out to gain retribution against the Vyusher R'asa pack that had done it. It resulted in the killing of 16 men, women, and children. Why Vigo spared Vivienne was beyond anyone in the tight inner circle of families, but it was a non-issue and never spoke of again, at least not to Brig.
Iov Hammerthynn
13 years ago
'Because she would have killed Vigo if it mattered. First chance she got.'
Maybe this was why he had resigned himself into accepting Vivienne's presence, maybe not accepting her totally, but Hammer maybe thought Vivienne meant it when she called Vigo their father.
'We killed them all. Vigo and I killed the males and some of the females. The others - the children. Their twin boys, the older ones, they raped and killed our females. You remember. We wiped them out, all of them. Personally? I would have killed Vigo, if in her position.' He shrugged again, confused. 'She shown nothing but absolutely devotion to the man who exacted that revenge and killed her birth parents. But what does it matter what she was, Brig. To you?'
Brig stood quietly, seemingly confused by Hammer's question, it wouldn't be with his own answer, would it? Hammer considered the possibility...then dismissed it. Brig loved women, but he wasn't stupid. Not with a outsider female bred from another pack sent to evaluate his position and livelihood. He couldn't be that stupid...or hypocritical.
Hammer gave Brig a final look and waited a moment, seeing if Brig had something else to ask or hopefully say. Brig finally just nodded and looked away from Hammer. Turning without a word, Hammer left things as they were with Brig, unable to fix what was broken or even possessing the necessary skills to even try.
((OOC - Everyone out))
Continues - Lunch
Maybe this was why he had resigned himself into accepting Vivienne's presence, maybe not accepting her totally, but Hammer maybe thought Vivienne meant it when she called Vigo their father.
'We killed them all. Vigo and I killed the males and some of the females. The others - the children. Their twin boys, the older ones, they raped and killed our females. You remember. We wiped them out, all of them. Personally? I would have killed Vigo, if in her position.' He shrugged again, confused. 'She shown nothing but absolutely devotion to the man who exacted that revenge and killed her birth parents. But what does it matter what she was, Brig. To you?'
Brig stood quietly, seemingly confused by Hammer's question, it wouldn't be with his own answer, would it? Hammer considered the possibility...then dismissed it. Brig loved women, but he wasn't stupid. Not with a outsider female bred from another pack sent to evaluate his position and livelihood. He couldn't be that stupid...or hypocritical.
Hammer gave Brig a final look and waited a moment, seeing if Brig had something else to ask or hopefully say. Brig finally just nodded and looked away from Hammer. Turning without a word, Hammer left things as they were with Brig, unable to fix what was broken or even possessing the necessary skills to even try.
((OOC - Everyone out))
Continues - Lunch