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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 2, 2012 1:24:02 GMT -5
Claire didn't find it to be as big of a deal as Griffin did about him being there during the full moon. But she knew that was because she was used to what happened during the full moon. It was boring for her, being cooped up all night with nothing to do except prowl the small studio apartment and chase Luna around. For Griffin this was a new experience. He was always so fascinated in everything and she'd be a fool to think he'd be any different about this. Claire's face flushed when he thanked her and she shook her head.
"Really, it's no problem. It'll be fun! I mean as fun as it can be I guess. As long as you like cats that is. But if that's the case then can I ask for a teensy tiny thing in return?" Claire held up her thumb and index fingers and they were nearly touching as she tried to show just how tiny this 'thing' was. She knew she shouldn't be nervous asking this but for some reason she was. It was just all so new to her that she didn't know how to feel so nervous and embarrassed were always her default.
"Either before or after we eat and all.. can I see them again?" She was pretty sure that Griffin would know what 'them' meant. It wasn't as if she was just going to bellow out 'Hey can you whip those wings out for me to see that are growing out of your back?!' for the entire city to hear. Her eyes stayed on him but her head turned a bit almost like she was shying away a bit.
Of course the kiss on her knuckle had made her smile like a moron but lucky enough there was a distraction! The festivities were about to begin! She turned her attention to the direction of the speaker but her mind was very much still there on their conversation. Even though she wasn't looking in his direction she scooted a little closer to Griffin and grinned to herself. She actually wasn't making a fool of herself! Maybe it was the distraction of the festival and all the people around them that was helping her out in this situation. Whatever it was she was grateful for it.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a woman screaming out a name. It was obvious that it was her kid and Claire's smile began to falter and soon turned into a frown. She didn't have kids of her own but she knew what it felt like to lose someone. She'd gotten separated from Cheyenne once when she was young and was so scared she cried and had a total breakdown. Of course Cheyenne was just on the other side of the clothes rack, as they were at the mall. But still! "You know some people think that those child leashes are ridiculous but I think they're a good idea. He couldn't have gotten far though, right?"
Even though Claire wasn't getting up and it wasn't her problem she let her eyes scan around for any random child that was running around. But there were so many kids running around! There was no way for her to know what kid was hers and decided she'd just hope that she found the kid.
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Post by CUPCAKE on May 2, 2012 8:02:50 GMT -5
"So I say we take all those failures and let downs and burdens and lets torch ‘em!" The crowd erupted and the young speaker stepped off the podium and grabbed a torch, making her way towards the boat.
In the back of the crowd a woman, frantically pushing an empty stroller, was screaming. "HAYDEN! HAYDEN, WHERE ARE YOU!" Her eyes looked everywhere as she attempted to locate her missing toddler. Did he run off? Had someone taken him? Her heart was beating fiercely in her chest. She felt dizzy with fear. "HAYDEN!" She screamed again in a panic.
Several people stopped to stare, but the young master of ceremonies had taken the torch and was heading towards the boat. Many people in the crowd cheered, excited to see the boat burn.
Meanwhile Hayden was crawling around the bottom of the boat. "Oooohh..." He cooed at the things that were lying around. He found an old teddy bear that looked like it had been ripped apart by a dog, and snuggled him close. "Bear!" He chirped and then swung it around. "Beeeaar ona booooat" He sang to himself, bopping the bear around now.
The woman with the torch never saw the boy as she tipped the stick on fire to the boat which had been sprayed with chemicals to help it ignite. In a flash the front of the boat lit up, causing Hayden to look up, first in awe, then in surprise. He was on the boat and there was FIRE!
Fear finally gripped him and he began to panic. "Momma!" He yelled, his screams laced with fear as he let out a screech, scooting further towards the center of the boat as the perimeters all caught fire. Tears streaked his face and he began coughing. "MOOMMMAAAAA!!!"
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Post by GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT on May 2, 2012 8:29:34 GMT -5
When she asked for a favor he gave her a warm, quizzical look. Didn't she know he would probably happily do anything she wanted? There was no need to be bashful with him, but he nodded with a soft smile creasing his lips. "Either before or after we eat and all.. can I see them again?" He knew exactly what them meant. It was only fair, and though he felt a little uneasy, he knew she was exposing herself to him for an entire evening which couldn't be a very easy thing to do. There was a great deal of trust involved in that so again he nodded.
"If you like I'll keep them out all night." He told her, his voice kind as ever. "It's only fair I expose myself as much as you." He knew it wasn't exactly the same, but she was going out on a limb for him. Plus he trusted her enough to show them to her for an extended amount of time. "Just don't gnaw at them." He teased, beaming at her and then chuckled.
Griffin looked around for the boy when the woman began to scream and nodded gravely at what Claire said. He didn't think children needed to be leashed, but he supposed it wasn't a terrible idea if you had a runner, which this woman apparently did. Then again, Avisaille children weren't like human children.
There were too many kids around to know which could be hers. His eyes moved to the boat as it went up in flames and he pointed it out to Claire. "It's beginning." He told her, draping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close for warmth. In the far distance he heard a sound. "MOOMMMAAAAA!!!" came the distressed sound of a child and Griffin perked up, tensing slightly. He looked at the boat. Could the boy be in there? No, someone would have noticed a child climbing in. It was hard to tell from their distance.
"I hope she finds him." He said softly, snuggling Claire closer. He couldn't even imagine being separated from his child, not that he had one, but if he did? The thought was sickening. "Perhaps I'll leash my child if I ever have one." His tone was borderline amused, but slightly serious. "I would love to be a father." He said softly into Claire's red hair.
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 4, 2012 23:42:54 GMT -5
"Maybe keeping them out all night wouldn't be a good idea. I mean, I might try to bite them." Claire told Griffin about his wings and smiled at him. It was true though. If they got a little too playful she might try to gnaw on them and that wouldn't end well. What do you say to that? 'Oh sorry I used your wing as a chew toy.' That just.. the sentence didn't make sense on a normal day!
"Maybe while we eat. Just before the sun goes down." Claire grinned like an idiot again. It seemed to be her new default expression. Or at least for the night. Her attention went back to the festival for a moment and watched as the boat went up in a blaze! She had to cheer with the rest of the crowd but then she heard the woman screaming again. She still didn't find her kid and Claire began to frown a bit. She almost felt bad for having fun.
"Her kid couldn't have gone far though right? I mean it's so crowded how can someone not see a missing child?" Claire said as if she were trying to convince them more than just saying it as being true. But it was true, right? Kids just didn't go missing like that.
Griffin snuggled close to Claire and she couldn't help but enjoy it. Not that she was much of a cuddler but sometimes it was nice and she could never say no to it! But men weren't usually that comfortable with it. Then again this was just a first date. Or was it a date?
"I would love to be a father."
Whoa Nelly! Had she missed part of the conversation? She was starting to think she did. Maybe when she was thinking about the kid. Claire didn't want kids. At least not anytime soon. Not only did she think they were expensive and she just wasn't ready, but she wouldn't even know how to be a mom. Her own mother wasn't really around when she was a little girl and Cheyenne was the best she could be, but Cheyenne was never a mother figure for Claire. She didn't have a mother or father figure. Although she turned out pretty okay. Or at least she thought so. So what if she talked a lot and didn't have a filter, she wasn't out robbing liquor stores and old ladies!
"Really? Well, then again. You're really old so I guess I can see that." Claire teased him a little and even relaxed into his arms. "I don't know how I feel about kids. This world has enough of them. I mean some people just shouldn't have kids but they do anyway, and they end up in broken homes. Some don't have any at all! It seems almost cruel that people keep popping out babies. But that's just me. I mean, yeah.." She trailed off realizing maybe this wasn't the right subject to have right now.
"So! How about that boat? It's uh.. burning.." Nice subject change, Claire.
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Post by GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT on May 5, 2012 10:12:55 GMT -5
"Really? Well, then again. You're really old so I guess I can see that." Griffin raised a brow and pulled his head away to look at her, grinning. Was she taunting him? The thought amused him and he chuckled, shaking his head at her. He said nothing as she moved the conversation on to her not being sure if she wanted children of her own.
The more she spoke, the more he actually agreed with her. There were enough children in the world who needed homes who didn't have them. Griffin's mind wandered to those poor kids, unwanted by the world, rejected by society. They had no positive influences, no one to care for them, tuck them in and tell them they are genuinely loved and wanted. In his travels he'd met orphaned children in poorer countries, and his heart suddenly ached at the reminder.
"So! How about that boat? It's uh.. burning.." Something about talking about children had caused Claire to hide in her shell once more his brows furrowed slightly. She was such a mystery sometimes. Was it because he wanted children and she did not so she felt like they should end the topic? Or was he making her uncomfortable? It was so hard to tell with her.
"There are too many children. I think you're on to something with it being cruel to make more." He offered, his arm still protectively around the redhead. "Perhaps one day I'll take one in. Someone who needs a father, instead of creating a new life." He looked at the boat instead of Claire, sighing. "Perhaps I'll take in an orphaned Guardian." He suggested, his voice almost a whisper so only Claire may hear it. His arms rolled in a light shrug. "Just a thought. Not now.. just, maybe one day." Griffin squeezed Claire's shoulder to let her know he was done if she wanted to be and stared at the burning boat.
"Next year we should bring marshmallows." He said softly, his famous gentle smile back once more. "I've always thought it would fun to roast marshmallows at the Burning Boat Festival. Honestly, someone should be selling s'mores. Those sound good right now." He nudged her lightly with his shoulder. "Maybe we'll indulge on them during the full moon."
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Post by CLAIRE MCLEESTER on May 16, 2012 21:10:36 GMT -5
"Perhaps I'll take in an orphaned Guardian."That actually sounded like a really good idea! Claire would never want children and had no parenting skills whatsoever, but the thought of giving a home to an orphaned Guardian? That was something special. And Claire was pretty sure that Guardians couldn't just go home with anybody! Well, maybe some did. But then what would happen if a Therian reached that age and they shifted into something like a monkey? The adoptive parents would be in for one big shock! "That's not a bad idea. I mean it's a great idea. Could you imagine a couple taking a little boy home and when they go to give him a bath it's like BAM! There's wings on his back?" Claire slapped her hands together when she made the BAM sound and it actually scared herself a little bit. Including a man who was walking by at that moment and gave her a startled look before he moved on. "Whoops." "Next year we should bring marshmallows."Marshmallows were a good idea! And even though the boat was going up in flames and the crowds were cheering, Claire suddenly had no interest in watching the boat anymore. A part of her wanted to know when Griffin was going to kiss her again. Then there was another part of her that couldn't wait until the full moon. Then there was the other part of her that just wanted to go back to his place and read through his journals and learn more about him. No matter what it was, everything that she couldn't wait for were things that had to happen in private. And she figured her best bet would be the kiss first if she could get them out of the open. That's when what he said came as a good scapegoat! "You're right! In fact, how about we go buy some right now? Lots of marshmallows!" Claire jumped up to her feet and reached for Griffin's hand, figuring he'd allow her to take it. She had a feeling he wasn't going to pull away or tell her he wanted to stay if she felt like going. That just didn't seem like the type of person Griffin was. And as she pried him away from the bench she started to make her way through the crowd. To the market they'd go and gather things for their new adventures to come!
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