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 Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:06 pm
He frowned at the closed door. Paced a bit, debating whether he should simply knock it down.
He was annoyed. A little more than annoyed.
What the hell was Quinn trying to pull?
This wasn't fair. What, was he some sort of pet to be locked out? Something you can just close the door on?
He thought, he'd thought they'd been, that things were getting better.
It didn't change. He sighed, and slunk to the floor as he crouched down unhappily. It would never change. Their relationship seemed to be set in stone. Something between love and hate, selfishness and care, and no matter what they were always enemies.
But Valeriu couldn't walk away. He could never muster up the strength to just leave. Always, always, always--
He frowned, resigned himself to his fate, and the shadows pulled under him. He slipped down, down, down - and it was freezing and dark. He couldn't feel anything, couldn't see anything, and he hated doing this trick. He convinced himself he was walking (but he never knew he was was), and seconds later he was pulling out of the shadows on Quinn's wall behind the jerk, a disgruntled scowl upon his face as he shook off the feeling of walking through the damn Valley in the Shadow of Death (at least it always felt like it).
But it was better than breaking Quinn's door and getting bitched out after.
"The hell, Quinn?" he growled, and Valeriu didn't often curse aloud. But he felt he was entitled. "V'hat do you think I am? An animal you can just leave in the hallv'ay v'henever you damn v'ell please?" Two in one day.
It didn't bode well.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:24 pm
Quinn leapt out of his skin when Vale practically materialized next to him. <********!" He reflexively shot out two bolts of lightning from either palm at Vale as he fell to the floor. "The door wasn't locked, you a*****e! And I'm sorry if I don't feel like talking about my mom right now. Bcause that's all you'd come in here to do. I don't need cheering up, Vale. I've been doing fine on my own." He pushed himself off of the floor and brushed himself off.
"I don't need a mom, Vale, and I don't need you to act like one."
I also don't need to be talking to myself.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:38 pm
The lightning took him by surprise; his shadows never could block them very well, and Quinn's lightning bolts were more like little javelins of fire. They left nasty burns and shocked his system - at that point, he'd already backed far, far off with a yelp of pain, nursing his wounds in the corner and glowering at Quinn angrily like a kicked and furious puppy.
Or a kicked and furious, nearly two-hundred-pound jaguar man.
His lips pulled back to bare fangs in what may or may not have been and idle threat, snarling in affront and looking like he wanted to beat Quinn down then and there if not for that lightning.
"I'm not going to act like your mother, you <********> p***k," he spat out, fingers clenching in annoyance and staying pressed to his corner warily. "V'hy didn't you tell me?"
He wasn't going to let the hurt show. Anger, anger, anger - that's all he wanted.
Quinn didn't trust him. Quinn hadn't been honest with him, after Valeriu had been more than upfront about everything.
Even pets got more respect than that.
"I thought you v'anted--" What? What had he thought Quinn wanted? An actual relationship? Based on trust and care? No. Only Valeriu wanted that.
Only Valeriu was stupid enough to want that. To think that it was possible. No, Valeriu had always known what it was Quinn wanted; exactly what he had proposed, before.
"I'm sorry for your loss," he finally said, stiffly, formally. It was hard to relate; his parents were still alive somewhere. But he did feel sorry.
He felt more angry than sorry, right now, though.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:51 pm
"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to sound like a whiny b***h. Your parents are already gone, what do I get out of complaining about mine? Nothing. There was no reason to complain to you, and I'm sick of crying. I'm sick of crying in front of you." He was advancing toward the corner Vale had stuck himself in, slowly.
"Because you're stronger than I am, and you're already taking care of two other people on your own, and you haven't had a parent in years. I need to prove I don't need that. Don't need her. Otherwise I'm just another weakling. And you know what happens to weaklings? They get eaten. Like Seth." Quinn's glare intensified.
"Oh, yes, Count Dracula, why don't you tell me what you thought I 'v'anted'? Because, you know what I wanted? I wanted Marie Moreau to not die. I wanted my father to not leave me as a kid. I wanted to never be a part of this ******** game, and I wanted to ******** you in the living room." He turned away from Vale and banged his head against the wall, resting it there.
"But we don't always get what we want."
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 1:09 pm
"My parents aren't gone!" he snapped, growling uneasily when Quinn came nearer. He didn't like feeling that he was on the defense, and he didn't want another lightning bolt turning him into barbecue. The burns on his arms hurt enough as it was.
He glare didn't budge during Quinn's rant, though the shadows had gathered around him like a sort of blockade. He watched and waited, warily, angrily, for the next jab.
Oh, this was going straight to hell. It was a slap in the face - monster, monster, monster. Mocking him. Hurting him.
He snarled, and lunged, knocking Quinn to the ground and staying crouched over him with fury twisting his lips back. Showing off all his sharp teeth.
"Then v'ould you like for me to end it for you now?" he hissed, digging his fingers into Quinn's shoulders. Not yet claws, but the sentiment was there. "Since everything is so, so terrible for you. Maybe the other side is better."
No, no, he knew this wasn't quite right. Quinn didn't - Quinn didn't deserve this. He'd gone through something no one should have to endure. It wasn't his fault, Valeriu shouldn't be so angry. So angry that there was a burning in his eyes at the thought of it - Like Seth. Count Dracula. Could end it for you now. We don't always get what we want.
It was strangely disconcerting to realize how hot the tears were upon his face compared to the chilliness of his skin. For some reason, he'd been expecting them to be ice cold.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:35 pm
Quinn didn't fight being pushed back much, just enough to not be completely slammed into the ground. He winced at the fingernails digging into his skin.
"They aren't?" Quinn tried to shift his shoulders, and loosen the grip. "Because they sure aren't here."
He tossed his head back and glared at the cieling. "See?" He sniffed, "This is why I didn't tell you. Because, because, you'd think I was just complaining. Just like you're doing now." He bit at his lip. He was trying to remain strong. He was so scared.
"So, if you're just going to threaten me, get the hell off."
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:51 pm
"Stupid," he muttered, and he wasn't about to let Quinn up. The frown was back on his face, hard and defiant. "You're stupid. Don't say things like that."
Don't talk about his parents like that. His parents, probably in another City, maybe kidnapped, were fine.
"I v'ant you to talk to me." He glared, shifted, sat down with a heavy and purposeful thump that probably bruised Quinn's stomach and ruptured a spleen or two. "I v'ant to help you v'hen things like this happen. I v'ant you to tell me things. To not hide things."
Now that he'd pinned Quinn beneath his weight, he felt it safe to lift a hand off one of the shoulders, just high enough to punch Quinn right where it'd been resting in a harsh slug.
"But I do not v'ant you to insult me." Because it hurt, because it made him angry, because he didn't want to be reminded so easily. He didn't care for the heat upon his cheeks, stopped now, but still warming them uncomfortably, and the snarl that curled his lips said so. "I do not like it. T-things like Dracula. Even if I am - am - am," he couldn't quite find the words, and instead settled for a harder glare.
"And if you v'ant me to get off, make me. Hit me again v'ith your stupid lightning. I'm just a monster, aren't I? You don't have any trouble v'ith hurting me, do you? Do it. And I v'ill leave, and you v'ill not have to deal v'ith me and my demands."
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:46 pm
"It's not that easy, Vale. What would you do to help? Nothing. She's dead. You wanna help? Build a ******** time machine and save her from getting murdered."
Quinn winced at the punch. "******** you," He muttered, glaring right back at Vale. "You aren't a monster, and I'm tired of hearing that bullshit. No one thinks that. Not me, not Tepin. Not Seamus, or Murphy. Or Sydni. Not any of the important people. So get over yourself, and get off of me."
He left it up to Vale to get off. It wasn't worth the lightning.
"You aren't a monster, but you are pretty ******** abusive. I'm gonna be covered in bruises tomorrow. Thanks."
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:08 pm
He frowned. Oh, how he frowned.
"You v'on't even trust me," he reminded, quite bitterly, "v'ith the fact that your mother died. And you can't even see the look on your own face right now." He smiled, and it was not a very nice smile, more frowny than anything. "You. Tepin. Seamus, Murphy. You can't see yourselves v'hen you look at me. Calling me Count Dracula."
He shifted again, but still wasn't about to get up, instead folding his legs Indian-style in an outright <******** you as he crushed Quinn's liver.
"I hope it hurts," he added, spitefully. "I hope you are very, very bruised. Because here," he jabbed at his chest righteously, vengefully, finger pressing against the obsidian glass over his heart, "hurts just as much."
It was probably the corniest thing he had ever said, and he'd managed it with a straight and serious face.
"You're a jerk, Quinn. A snake in the grass. An abusive, uncaring, selfish," he was listing off now, and it didn't seem like the list was going to end, "self-centered, over-dramatic, insane, PMS-y," the list continued, "disloyal, lying, cowardly jerk. You need a punch once in a v'hile, or else karma v'ould kick your a**," he explained, solemnly.
"But even v'ith all that, doesn't it matter to you at all that I still care? After all you've done?"
He scowled. Quinn had done a lot. Had hurt him, a lot. By all rights, they shouldn't even be having this conversation - if he were a stronger man, he'd have killed Quinn the minute the other showed up rather than speak to him, ever again.
"Or does my friendship mean nothing to you?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:21 pm
Quinn winced at the pain of being squished down by Vale, and breathed hard. "It was a joke. A ******** joke. I was referring to your accent, a*****e." He took another breath. "Yeah, well, Seamus, Murphy, Tepin...They'd all do anything to protect you. So trying to make yourself look like the bad guy isn't working. We know you, Vale. And we know what you're not."
"Abusive? Who's attacking who right now? Of course your friendship means something to me. At least I would be upset if you died. At least I would cry for days if something happened to you. You would just find a way to make it look like my fault. Like now, you find out my mother is dead, and instead of trying to help like you say you want to, you're insulting me and attacking me." He wriggled some, trying to untrap himself. "Hell, maybe I deserve this. Maybe I deserve being beaten up, and having a dead mother, and knowing my father is alive and avoiding me. Maybe I deserve it." He turned his head to the side, and closed his eyes.
"Karma's already kicked my a**."
"If you want me to talk to you about things, maybe you should give me reason to. And punching me isn't a reason."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:35 pm
Quinn was right. Right?
No, no, this wasn't right -- why did he feel bad? Why had he felt angry? There was something not adding up, and he didn't know what it was, and it was something distinctly unfair. It didn't make sense--
But it did, didn't it? Right? He shouldn't be doing this to Quinn. Shouldn't be squishing him, hurting him. It was unjust. This wasn't, he wasn't supposed to--
He backed off, carefully, making sure not to accidentally dig a knee or a heel into Quinn's side, ears laid flat and tail curled nervously around his ankle.
He'd felt so justified before. Thought he - thought he was doing the right thing. Because Quinn had, Quinn didn't--
But his mother had died, and here Valeriu was callously being rough with him. Tackling him, punching him in the shoulder - that wasn't okay with normal people. Saying cruel things, too.
Wasn't, wasn't, wasn't--
"I'm sorry."
- but wasn't it unfair -
"I didn't-" Didn't what? Didn't mean to? He'd meant it. He knew he had.
"I should go," he finished lamely, palm already flat against the door behind him and searching for the doorknob. He wanted, sort of, to stay. Because Quinn deserved better out of him. Deserved much better.
But after what he'd done, it was best to leave. The other Godling didn't need this, on top of all that.
"Good night, Quinn. I v'ill - v'ill try and see v'hat I can do v'ith that shadow." He had the vaguest idea, but wasn't sure if it was a good or safe one, but he could try.
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:41 pm
Quinn frowned. No, no, this wasn't right. He wasn't supposed to back down like that. It was unexpectedly easy.
"Vale, no!" He jumped up and reached out to grab the man's arm. "Don't...Don't leave like this." He did his best to get ahold of the man's arm with both of his hands.
Vale looked so deflated, suddenly. His ears so flattened, his tail so motionless...He looked like a...like a hurt, adorable animal.
"Don't leave upset. You...You're right. I should have told you. I shouldn't have shut the door on you."
Backpedal, backpedal, backpedal, Quinn. Backpedal.
Oh, shut up.
"I'm sorry. And you shouldn't go."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:04 pm
It would have been laughably easy to shake Quinn off.
But he couldn't. He wanted to pull away; didn't want Quinn to be forced to touch him. It was uncomfortable, and he hesitated, but it was far more effective than any leash would've been. He stayed still, instead.
Maybe, if he didn't move, Quinn wouldn't know he was there.
Of course, he couldn't know for sure; he couldn't even make eye-contact again, instead staring at the floor and his bare feet and the things lurking under Quinn's bed.
"I'm not upset," he murmured, worrying at his lip without a second thought. He shook it off, stopped, forced himself to look at Quinn (without averting his eyes so fast), and just as carefully urged Quinn to let go of his arms. "You shouldn't apologize! You did nothing v'rong," he reassured, and patted Quinn on the hand.
"I just - it's very late at night." He couldn't think right. "I think it is best if I go home, da? I promise, I v'ill do everything I can so that you can keep that shadow that you like." He grinned, and everything was okay. It had to be.
No more fights. He didn't want that. Quinn was right, Valeriu had done a bad thing. He could accept that and get over it.
"I v'ill come see you in a few days, v'hen I get it fixed, okay?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:24 pm
Quinn didn't let go of his arm. He wrapped his arms around Vale's torso. "Okay," He mumbled, "But I'll come visit you in a few days, too. I'll come over to your house soon. Because I want to. Because I like to be with you."
He kissed whatever he could find, quickly, aiming for the man's neck.
"I said some mean things. I'm sorry. I just need to get over this thing. With my mom. I will. Eventually. It's not your fault."
He smiled. "You're sweet. Thank you. Canster will be very glad, won't you, buddy?" The small black blob wriggled into a cute little smiley face with ears, and nodded.
"And next time I see you, I'm going to talk your ear off so much you'll wish I didn't want to to tell you things."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:31 pm
He relaxed into the hug, and the kissing, relievedly snaking his arms back around Quinn's waist in a quick hug back. No bites, no bites; he was careful about that, kissing his ear with the utmost gentility.
"Anytime," he reassured, partly amazed. "I don't mind."
It worked, it worked, it worked - it's okay. It's really okay. He just - he had to remember this. Remember what to do. Remember what to say, so that it would be okay. He'd never had a relationship before, had never learned what to do before.
He'd found out, thank God, he'd found out.
"Good night, Quinn. Sleep v'ell," he wished, fervently and sincerely and still muttering a mantra of praises to the gods that be that something had worked this time. It had worked, right? Yes, yes, yes it did. That's all he needed to believe.
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