Before Dusk((lock))

Jeeves carried her bag into the house for her. She bit her lip, to keep from saying anything. It was just one bag, she could have carried it. As soon as Jeeves shut the door to her and Aron's room, she began to undress. 'Whoa, when did it become my room?' She looked around her, a pair of her shoes sat next to the new dresser, and her jewelry was layed out on top of it. Yes, it very much had become her room, shared with Aron. 'Well there's a first time for everything.'


She tugged off her boots, skirt, shirt and underclothes. From a drawer she pulled out a pair of lycra/spandex bike shorts, and a matching sports bra. She pulled them on, and fished out her new socks and shoes. Meegan sat down on the edge of the bed to pull on the footwear.

Meegan 18 years ago
Meegan depressed the speaker button and sat staring at the phone for a moment. What in the hell was she going to do? This was getting more and more complicated and she didn't like it one bit. Slowly she uncurled from the chair and went in search of Jeeves, her sandles making a soft click on the floors as she walked. She found him, unsurprisingly, in the kitchen.

"Jeeves, will you go pick up Rachyl from her apartment?" She took a pad of paper and a pen out of a drawer and wrote the address on it, handing it to him.
"Yes, Lady Meegan." He put down his sponge and pulled off the yellow gloves that were protecting his hands, as she began to write on another piece of the paper. She handed that one to him as well.

"There's a place that can fill that, about six blocks west of Rachyl's place. If you woldn't mind stopping."

"But, Ms. Meegan I can prepare all of this here for you."

She tried very hard to hide her smile, but a small part of it curled the edges of her lips. "I know that, but you will make it healthy and it will taste like I should pay a hundred dollars a plate. What I want is the stuff that is terrible for my body, and tastes like heaven on chopsticks."

He sighed softly. "Very well, m'lady. I shall return as quickly as possible, keep the doors locked."

She stuck her tongue out at his back, and went to sit in the library by the fire to wait...for Rachyl to arrive and Aron to wake.
Rachyl 18 years ago
Jeeves held the door open for her when the car arrived outside her apartment. Rachyl gave Ronnie a hug and told the guardwoman to take care.

She thanked Jeeves and climbed into the car, Dill following her somewhat reluctantly. She held the mutt close on her lap as they drove back to Mr. Swiftwood's mansion.

The faint aroma of chinese food could be detected through the air conditioning; luckily Jeeves hadn't put it in the back with her.

They entered the grounds and came to the front door.
Aron Swiftwood 18 years ago
Arons senses noticed several things. First, that smell of chinese fastfood. Second, a third person. He made a qualified guess that the person was Rachyl. The food was a slightly larger mystery, and made him notice he was hungry. Very hungry.

"Well, dinner was just brought to the door..."


"Very amusing.... I somehow doubt either of them would take it very kindly if I got Rachyl for dinner"

He would have to get something to eat later in the night, which probably ment leaving the girls alone. Not exactly ideal. Ofcourse he wouldn't be much good to anyone if he wasn't fully fed.
Well, a bath might be a good way to start the evening. Rachyl and Meegan would probably need some time alone.
Meegan 18 years ago
She heard the front door open and the sent of chinese nearly drew her from her spot in front of the fire. She then heard water running trough the pipes, a sound that made her grin as it meant Aron was awake. She stood only when the library door opened and Rachyl entered. It took everything she had not to run across the room. It would not due for Jeeves to see her act like a child. She could and would control herself until he was out of the room.

"Shall I serve dinner in here, Lady Meegan."

Jeeves stood at the door with a large paper bag in his left hand, as Rachyl walked past him into the large book lined room. As the two women approached each other Meegan looked past her best friend to Jeeves.

"Yes please. Will you tell Aron that if he needs to go out, I will wait for him in here."

"Yes, m'lady." He left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Meegan closed the gap between her and Rachyl with a quick trot. She drew the smaller woman into the circle of her arms and held her tight as silvery tears made tracks on her cheeks. It felt so good to hold her again, had it really only been three days?
Rachyl 18 years ago
Rachyl whispered into the nook of Meegan's shoulder, "Hard to imagine three days ago everything had been perfect."

Nuzzling the designer's shoulder for a few more moments, she swallowed her tears and cleared her throat. "I don't know about you, but I'm stuckin' farvin. I've barely eaten in two days. And I want you to introduce me to this wonderful world of Chinese food."

She wrapped an arm around Meegan's waist and guided her to the seating area. She noticed the obscene lack of food baggage on the coffee table. "I guess Jeeves will be bringing it back in serving dishes or something?"
Meegan 18 years ago
"I take it you've meet Jeeves before then." Meegan chuckled softly and leaned into Rachyl's arm. When they reached the small grouping of armchairs, she curled into the one still warm from her bottom being in it just a few minutes ago. She curled her legs beneath her, her gaze directed to Rachyl.
Rachyl 18 years ago
Rachyl furrowed her brow as she gazed at Meegan, sitting comfortably in the chair. "Yes, the same night I met Mr. Swiftwood and Nyra and that other woman Serena. A couple weeks ago? When Nyra cut her hand on the ornament at the mall?"

She hoped her rambling reminders helped bring the memory back to Meegan.
Meegan 18 years ago
Meegan nodded her head, she did remember. It had not occured to her that Jeeves would have been a presence on that evening. It seemed out of character. She took a moment to let her mind settle on one thing, and it settled on Panos being in her house. She didn't want to talk about that so instead she turned her attention to the small whimperings of her dog. She patted her leg and he jumped happily into her lap, squirmed a bit then settled into her stroking hand.

When her hand glided down his side he gave a slight wince. Her eyes flew to Rachyl's


"Why is Dill hurt?"
Rachyl 18 years ago
Rachyl knew the jade green of her eyes would be tainted with apology, disgust, and anger as she replied to Meegan, "He was growling at Paul-Panos when I was accosted. Panos kicked him."
Meegan 18 years ago
If Dill hadn't been in her lap she would have been on her feet. Instead she settled for yelling.

"He did what! That son-of-a-bitch is fucking going to answer for that. What the hell would posses him to kick a dog, MY dog. God damnit, Rachyl!" No she really shouldn't blame Rachyl, but she just happened to be sitting in the room with her at the moment.
Rachyl 18 years ago
Rachyl's hand reached out and lay gently on Meegan's forearm. "If you want someone to blame, blame me. I should have run as soon as I felt something was wrong. He just... didn't feel right. Of course, Mr. Swiftwood doesn't quite feel right to me either," she mused, "but Paul-Panos felt completely wrong. Kind of how..." Her gaze became distant, and she pushed the memories that Meegan had done her best to cleanse her of, to help her realize they weren't her fault, but she would never truly forget, never lose the feeling of complete wrongness of her assailants.

"It felt kind of familiar in a bad, bad way." She vaguely wondered if she sounded like a child when she described it like that, but didn't much care. She gave Meegan's arm a light squeeze.
Meegan 18 years ago
Meegan continued to stroke Dill's fur, avoiding the spot that made him wince. Slowly she began to calm. She didn't trust herself to say another word until she could do so with out yelling.

"I don't blame you, Rach. How could you know he would attack you, or Dill. What in the hell did I hire bodyguards for if they can't keep you from harm. Shit Meegan, this whole damn thing is so fucking screwed up. It makes me want to fight and vomit all at the same fucking time. I can only wish for a time machine so that I can prevent that monster and his pissy girlfriend from ever entering the damned building."

Her words died as Jeeves knocked on the door and entered carrying a tray laden with covered dishes, plates, glasses, what looked like chinese wine, and chopsticks and other utensils. He set the tray on the table. Bowed to Meegan and Rachyl with just his head and left in silence. Meegan guessed he was rather ticked at her for the take out, but she couldn't care less, really.
Rachyl 18 years ago
"I can only wish for a time machine so that I can prevent that monster and his pissy girlfriend from ever entering the damned building."

Rachyl leaned over and stretched an arm around Meegan after Jeeves left.
"I myself would wish that you had said 'yes' to me asking you out, this way you'd not have been there at all."

She leaned her forehead against Meegan's, her green eyes boring into Meegan's own. She desperately wanted to kiss Meegan, to feel good - if only for a moment - very very badly, but settled for the intimate gaze. She didn't know how Meegan's new boyfriend would react... how Meegan would react.

She gently pet Dill's head as they seperated. She decided to let Meegan broach the subject of their relationship... and knew that, while her heart may end up twisted or broken, Rachyl didn't care much, and just wanted to keep the other woman as her friend.


"So. Tell me. What would you suggest first?" she asked, leaning back into her chair, surveying the food.
Meegan 18 years ago
Meegan had to let it go, she had to or it would start to tear her up inside, and Panos would have won. She took several long deep breaths, pushing the oxygen into her muscles, letting it relax her. She put Dill on the floor, where he scooted under her chair and put his paw on top of her sandled foot. She smiled at him, and began to take covers off dishes.

"Start with chow mien, that's the noodles and vegtables. Then just pick a direction and try them all. I didn't get anything gross, I promise. That is sesame chicken." As she spoke she pointed at each dish. "And sweet and sour pork, crab rangoon, General Tso's chicken (that one's spicey), steamed vegetables, fried rice and egg rolls. There's enough here to feed about five teenage girls, so we should get more than stuffed."

Meegan smiled at her friend, and she heard the water stop running.
Aron Swiftwood 18 years ago
Walked out of the shower, dried and started finding something to wear. He ended up deciding on what he was fairly certain, was a silk shirt in a shade of green he had been told went well with his eyes, and a pair of loose black pants.

The hunger was drilling a hole in his stomach, and at some point even he would give in to it on the nearest warmblooded creature. Perhaps the smartest course of action would be to leave Meegan and Rachyl to their catching up, while he seduced something pretty with fresh blood. He had made his way just outside the door to the room where Meegan and Rachyl were located, knocked on the door.
Meegan 18 years ago
Meegan waited a moment and when the door did not open, she knew it was Aron. She put her chopsticks on her plate and her plate on the table. Murmuring, 'Please excues me.' to Rachyl, she crossed the room, and opened the doors. She gave Aron a small smile, before stepping into the hall with him, closing the door behind her. Silently she wrapped her arms and rested her cheek on his chest.
Aron Swiftwood 18 years ago
"Hey Princess"

He smiled as he saw her, put his arms around and hugged her tightly.

"I don't want to disturb you two...so I was thinking about going out to get a bit to eat. Unless you want me to stay ofcourse"
Meegan 18 years ago
She hugged him tightly and shook her head against his chest. What she really wanted would be rude to Rachyl and it might make him forget she was his dinner yesterday. She nearly chuckled, but managed to refrain.

"No, you should go out. Just don't enjoy it -too- much." She leaned her head back enough to grin at him, before pressing her lips softly to his.
Aron Swiftwood 18 years ago
In the embrace of their kiss he felt her desire, and it was an effort not to put his teeth in her and taste it.

"You know, there's fresh blood just beyond that door..."

He ignored May completely, and broke the kiss gently.

"Don't worry, I won't be long"
Meegan 18 years ago
She smiled at him, and pressed her hand to his cheek. "Just be careful."

She gave his cheek a small pat and pulled away from his embrace to open the door.

"We'll most likely be in here when you get back."