A New Chapter [Claire/Griffin] - CLOSED

[CUPCAKE]

By the time the clicks of Claire's heels disipated into the rest of the museums background noice, he had already lost himself in the displays. His mind wandered to another time, a time long ago when his ancestors had known nothing of this world and had been living a more simple existance elsewhere. A time when the city's inhabitants knew nothing of the white men that would come to plague them. The people here had lived peacefully, worshiping the land, worshiping each other, worshiping the tree... it had been simple then, for everyone. The horrors locked deep within the tree were nothing more than a nightmare. The thought made him sad as continued to clean, but he knew the city would never exist as it did today had those events never happened. He might not exist, his parents may not have fallen in love with one another in the other land, but with someone else. He wouldn't have this museum stocked with all its treasures, and he would have never met the lovely girl who was going to get him an application.

As he thought of her he heard her reenter the room and his head turned slowly to watch her, his entire disposition radiating calmness and perhaps wisdom. He watched her come to him and looked at the paper she presented. Slowly he reached for it, looking it over as she told him to stuff it into his pocket. His brows wrinkled slightly towards his nose as she said this, and his eyes moved back up to hers. How could he stuff the paper in his pocket? Surely it would get ruined that way!

Instead of do anything with it at that moment, he simply held it, careful to hold it gently to keep it crisp and fresh. It would reflect poorly on him to turn a ragged looking application in, as if he didn't care about this opportunity at all. "Really, it's my pleasure." He assured Claire, feeling bad that she felt the need to continuously thank him. He wasn't doing this for her, which made him guilty for accepting the gratitude. This was purely selfish.

He couldn't help but grin, though, when she mentioned she was glad to see someone else appreciate it, he couldn't help but smile. "This is our history." He said slowly, looking around the room. "This exhibit especially. My family has been in this city for several generations. I'm not native to this land.." He licked his lips, his eyes growing wide for a second, "Scriptor Bay, that is. We.. migrated here." He inwardly chuckled at the thought of his family migrating there like birds. The irony. "Still, this city has always been home. It's important to know your home. Past and present, and if there were a way to know future, well I would certainly want to learn that as well." There was a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke passionately about the land he loved from the heart. He had visited many places and there were a great deal he liked more than Scriptor Bay, but Scriptor Bay was, and would always be, home. At least, he thought, until the day he would get to go back to his home land, if that day ever came.

"Perhaps it's my turn to show gratitude." He said softly. "As much as you appreciate my help, that's how much I appreciate you allowing me to be here this afternoon. It means a great deal to me. Not only that, but you've offered me an opportunity to wander these halls more often." He waved the paper lightly, grinning gently. "Thank you, Claire."

[WHISKEY]

As soon as her mystery guest took the application from her, Claire started to wonder what it would be like if he worked there. She always found new employees to be interesting, giving her a chance to meet new people. It didn't happen often and most of the time it was always older men and women who applied to work at the museum. She believed half of them were older than the relics that were hung on the walls behind glass cases. Someone who seemed to be younger than the old blue haired ladies and the toupee'd men would be like a breath of fresh air. She was sick of everyone coming to the interviews smelling like mothballs.

Although Claire decided to move towards one of the displays that was still covered by a plastic tarp and began pulling it off, she could still hear Griffin and listened to everything he said. She gripped the tarp in both her hands and pulled it off, bringing to close to her body and pressing it against herself so she could flatten and begin to fold it up. It turned out to be more of a ball than anything and she tossed it over into the corner where the other plastic sheets were being thrown for the time being. The display that she uncovered was to remain in the center of the wing. It was a statue of a Native American. Sculpted out of some sort of material that gave it a very lifelike look to it. She stood in front of it, noticing that a smokey smell came off of it. It must have spent some time next to a wooden fire and the smell was actually comforting to her. She liked the smell of a bonfire and she closed her eyes for a minute and just took in the scent before opening them again, bringing herself back to reality.

"Migrated, huh?" The female asked to show that she was listening to what he said even if she wasn't looking at him. "Why Scriptor Bay? Although there's some history here, most of it is considered myth. The great Tree, the Native Americans and the pale faces. You know, us." She looked over her shoulder to see if he was listening to her now, and to see if he was looking at the statue that she was looking at. She knew the real history. The one that people called a myth, and she knew that it was true. She had been told through her mother and her sister, along with learning a few things on her own. She'd even met a Gargoyle once, which was both interesting and frightening at the same time. He had been a whole new level of jerk. "Our history isn't that colorful."

She shut up long enough, listening to him say how he was thankful for the opportunity and she watched him, her mouth closed but she gave him a little partial smile followed with a slow nod. "You're welcome. We need more people like you around. It gets kind of dead in here. It isn't exactly Disneyland."

[CUPCAKE]

Claire had his full attention as she spoke up the history. She probably had no idea how colorful the city's history actually was, but who was he to tell her otherwise. Either you believed the story or you didn't. Considering the feathered growths on his back, naturally, he was a believer. "The story fascinates me." He said with sincerity, moving to where Claire was by the statue. He looked up into the face of the indian statue, almost as if he might have known that man.

"Just imagine... what if the myths were real?" He looked at Claire with delicate eyes for a moment before back at the Indian. "What if that tree truly had cracked and there had been evil within? What if the tree really did release guardians to protect the city?" He was quiet for a moment and then chuckled lightly. "If the myths are true, this place is far more colorful than anyone could ever imagine. And far more fascinating than Disneyland."

Griffin sighed, turning to look at Claire once more. There was something both kind and wild in her eyes, something he couldn't really describe. She came off as both delicate and strong, and he found that he liked this about her. His head lowered and he shook his head. "What proof do we have, though?" The wings on his back served as proof enough, but their existance were a secret. But for how long? When would the world know of the strange going ons of the inhabitants of Scriptor Bay, Oregon?

"I suppose... the world will never know." His shoulders slumped slightly and he turned back to the displays he'd been cleaning, having answered his own question. The truth would never come out.

[WHISKEY]

Claire's eyes moved over towards Griffin, looking at him without turning her head in his direction even in the slightest way. Her body was still positioned in front of the Indian statue and soon her eyes were fixated on it once again also. Her arms didn't really know what to do with themselves so after swinging them by her sides and then clamping her hands together they still weren't satisfied. She eventually managed to get them up and fold them over each other comfortably and became content standing there with her arms crossed, her weight moving from being leveled between both of her feet to shifting to her left foot, making her left hip stick out a bit and her right foot turn outward a little. She looked impatient in that pose but she was quite the opposite. She was content and was fine with just standing there chatting and looking at the beautiful statue.

"I think this is my favorite." Claire confessed in a quiet tone to Griffin, chancing another look at him before her green hues rested on the statue once again. She knew what the statue represented and she had heard the 'stories' of Scriptor Bay's history. How could she not hear them? In grade school they taught history in classrooms and they didn't leave it out. Of course they always said there was no proof and it was only a myth. But it was a big part of the history whether people chose to believe it or not. Claire was living, breathing proof that it was more than just a myth.

"Yeah I guess you're right. IF there was proof that the tree split itself in half and shot out a bunch of alien species this place would be way cooler than Disney." Claire nodded showing she agreed with what Griffin was saying. "Then the tree just magically mend itself back up and all was well. Its a bit ridiculous don't you think?" She asked him and scrunched up her features a little, her head tilting towards the right and nodding to enforce her words. She couldn't be certain that the Tree was how they actually came to be. There was skepticism even for her. She knew what she was and what her sister and mother were, but it didn't mean their ancestors came shooting out of a tree. Still, she knew the stories and she knew that it was their job to protect the Tree. Even if she was sure that whether they were there or not, the tree would do what it wanted. If it held evil, it was going to throw it at them whether her and her sister were there or not.

"Evidence. That's what we need. Without it nobody believes anything." Claire said meekly and stared at the Indian. Maybe they'd get an opportunity one day to learn more about the Tree and see what potential it really held. But for not it remained dormant. She didn't see it happening again in their lifetime. Why would it start now?

[CUPCAKE]

"Ridiculous?" He repeated, his lips pursing gently and his shoulder rolling in a light shrug. "I suppose." He always found what others thought of the myth fascinating, even if he didn't often get to hear others takes on it. Griffin was quiet by nature, but could speak easily if prompted. It wasn't as if he didn't enjoy speaking, but simply had no reason to. It wasn't until someone gave him a reason to talk that he had anything to say, whether it be of any amount of importance or not would be determined by whoever's ears his words happened to fall upon. "I suppose some might consider it ridiculous. Not me." There was something gentle in the way he smiled at Claire before looking back at the statue they stood before them.

Having traveled and learning the different cultures of the world, Griffin had gained a new perspective on myths and legends and life in general. There were so many ideas behind why life existed, why things were as they were. After hearing so many different things how could he possibly believe in any single one of them? How could anyone say one is more true than another? Who was to say there was one God, ten Gods, a thousand Gods or more...or none at all! No one could. No one alive, at least. Perhaps there were answers upon death, but that would only be if life after death truly existed or not. It could all be true for all he knew. Either way it fascinated him greatly.

"You see, the present is based on stories with little to no evidence." He started, his voice soft, collected and seemingly wise. "Take the bible for example. Words written by God. Or rather, the words spoken by God written into a book. Is it true? Is there evidence? Certainly there is a great deal of evidence that certain events took place when, in fact, the bibles notes them to have, but were they the work of an omnipotent being or perhaps just chance?" He looked to the girl, unsure if she were devout in the religion in which he spoke of. "There is also talk of future events having happened many years after the bible came, but it wasn't until said events happened that others were able to find the words described in the worlds oldest book. Does that mean a God actually predicted these things or have people assumed one thing meant another?" His arms folded over his chest, staring at the Indian again. "I do not assume the stories are either true nor false. Many believe with no proof other than here say, and that is enough for them. It allows them hope for the future, faith when things are not as they want them to be. Who am I to say their faith is based on myth, myth they insist is fact. In the end, they weren't there. They don't know if it's fact or not. No one does." He hoped this wouldn't open into a discussion about religion and how he should be a believer. He didn't know if the bible was true or not, as any didn't know if the myth were true or not. For all he knew it was lie passed from generation to generation. He chose to believe it, though, for the simple reason that nothing else made sense. "The myth of Scriptor Bays tree is no more ridiculous than the bible, or any other religious scripture."

[greenpanda]

Claire listened to everything that Griffin had to say and although she initially had been looking at the Indian while he was talking, using her ears to listen as soon as he started to talk about religion her full attention was on him. She watched him with her eyes, her lips parted just enough to say that her mouth was open. Might not be the most lady like but she was sucked into what he was saying. "Yes! Exactly!" She pointed at him just needing to move her hands around and gesture while she spoke. "Who is to say anything is fact or fiction unless there's solid evidence to back it up or they were there themselves to see it. The bibles been translated every which way possible from what I understand." She shrugged a little bit to show that she wasn't completely sure how many times it had been translated but she knew there were different versions. Old and New Testaments? How did that even work? She'd read parts of the bible though and even gone to church a couple of times in her life to see what it was like and if it was for her. But it wasn't long after that she knew religion wasn't for her at all.

"My biggest pet peeve is when someone spouts religion to me and says that all the facts are in the book." Claire rolled her eyes a bit, not trying to act dramatic about it or even show off to him. She just sort of did it without thinking about it. "Personally I don't believe in anything unless there's evidence to back it up. Like this museum!" She said a little louder than she meant to, causing an echo to bounce in the wing and she had to look over her shoulder towards the roped off area to see if anyone took notice of them before clearing her throat and looking back at the Indian falling silent for a moment.

"I would have liked to have been there though. If the Tree's myth is real? I mean its not like it was a party or anything. There was death and all this bad stuff happening. Blech! But if the whole thing about the tree opening up? That would have been a sight to see." Claire nodded slowly and awkwardly, her hands moving to her waist and she turned back to the Indian once more. Just sort of watching it as if she was expecting something to happen with it. She tilted her head to the left and kept looking at it. "Hm. Maybe if it was a little more to the.. left?" She said and stepped in between the Indian and Griffin so she could put her hands firmly on the Indian's side and start to push it a little but it was heavy and hard to budge. "Come on.. move!" She told it and gave it a light smack.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

The amount of passion in her voice both amused and excited him. It was nice to hear a young lady agree with his ideas, ideas that he had taken so much time to really form and understand. It was amusing to watch how animated she was while showing her passion towards these very ideas. Griffin couldn't help but respect the young lady for showing intelligence beyond her years. She certainly was a remarkable person and he chuckled lightly at her.

"It's difficult to have a conversation sometimes with someone who believes so firmly in the bibles stories. They're so quick to discredit anything you have to offer, for their faith is blind." He let out a gentle sigh, relaxing as he stood with the girl.

He was curious about her interest in being at the tree during the time of the massacre, though. He had never heard anyone tell him they would have liked to be there and he raised his brow at her. "I would think it would have been horrifying. Nothing about the story makes me wish I could witness it." He licked his lips and looked her over like a curious child. "A great many people died that day. Darkness spilled upon the city and the people. There was terrible pain and suffering." He reminded as if she somehow could have forgotten those very tiny details. He looked back at the Indian a little more sad this time. "I think I would have liked to witness the forthcoming of the guardians, but I don't think I could ever bear to see so many people tortured to death by the evil." He didn't even know what the evil would have really looked like, or what it was even like.

He watched her try to move the statue and stepped forward, sliding his hands around the Indian and pushing with her, trying to keep it steady as it slowly moved over. "Do you believe the story? Do you believe there are guardians?"

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

"In my own, personal opinion? Man created God. They needed something to believe in and give them hope. Because without hope they would have nothing. They needed someone there for when they felt down and like they were lost, someone to look to who would without judgment love them." Claire said, starting to trail on about the religious beliefs that humans seemed to have which she found to be ridiculous and yet, not at the same time. "Buddha, Allah, God, Jesus.. they're all the same thing aren't they? I mean its some head honcho sitting up in the clouds looking down at us going 'hey, treat each other nicely. Unless, you know, they don't believe in me. Then it's a crime." She laughed lightly at the very image of it, picturing Zeus with a bolt of lightning in his hand pointing down at mankind.

"I believe everyone needs something to believe in. But to become blind to anything else is over the top." She stepped onto the platform that the Indian was on once it was in place and just sort of stood there for a moment before getting down once more. There was no reason for it other than to just be doing something.

"The myths say there was a lot of death and it was all morbid. That part I would be fine missing. Its the Guardians I would have liked to see. You know, if the story was real that is." Claire always wanted to know how the Guardians got there. How they came through the tree but she kept that curiosity to herself most of the time.

"I believe that if they were real, we would have known about them by now, don't you think? How can something so different hide in plain sight for so long?" Claire asked and looked at Griffin, wondering where he stood with the whole Guardian thing. "I think this city likes to believe in the tree as holding some kind of magic. To a lot of people, I think the tree is like a way to be close to God."

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

He was interested in her perspective and her curiosity of the guardians. It was the part of the story that inspired the most hope; the invisible heroes who saved the day. The guardians who flew from the sky, patched it up, made life livable once again. These creatures who saved the lives of those remaining, sacrificing the life they had for the humans of this world. What had it looked like? It was impossible to ever know, but Griffin liked hearing about how Claire would have liked to have seen such a site. In all honesty, he would have too and the calm, gentle smile on his face should have let the young, restless lady in front of him know that he agreed.

"I've often wondered the same." He admitted. "How the guardians would be able to hide in plain sight." He chuckled and leaned close for a moment, his eyes darting from side to side as if to check if anyone was coming, like he was about to reveal some sort of huge secret to her. "They're probably sneaky." He said, his tone playful and the twinkle in his eyes showing he said it in jest. He leaned back, his arms folded in front of him calmly. He noted that Claire had a hard time keeping still and wondered why. Was he making her uncomfortable? Was she fidgety by nature?

"I've never heard anyone say the tree is that spiritual, but I think you make a good point. I could see how many would find it a way to be closer to God." He looked briefly at the Indian statue, wondering what sort of secrets those Indians had. "To each their own. Some find comfort in inanimate things strictly because they need to feel as though someone is watching over them. I can't fault them for it. Sometimes I wish I could do that." But he couldn't. He knew too much.

A sound from one of the hallways made Griffin turn his head, looking as the sound of footsteps started to echo closer. The loud, clear voices of men joking around echoed through the halls. "I believe your workers have decided their break was over." He told Claire softly, offering a sad smile. He was enjoying her. "Perhaps I should allow them to finish the job in which they were paid for. But... I intend on coming back." He promised, lifting the piece of paper she had brought to him earlier. "Bob? That's the gentleman I ask to see, right?"

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

The jest about the Guardians being sneaky actually made her laugh. It wasn't just a polite little chuckle or a 'ha ha', either. It was a genuine, loud laugh. It had been so loud, in fact, that it echoed through the wing and she ended up shutting her mouth and looking around with just her eyes nervously. That.. was embarrassing. But it was a good joke! Because it was true! At least to her it was, because they were sneaky with their changings, but he wouldn't see it that way and she felt like a royal fool for the little outburst. "Sorry I don't get told a whole lot of jokes around here. Chief here isn't the stand up kind of guy." She patted the side of the Indian and pursed her lips together to try and hide the humiliation she felt.

The way Griffin went on about the tree being spiritual and the way he agreed with her, she couldn't help but be completely in awe. Someone else who actually agreed with her beliefs and her reasoning? It was unheard of! But the last little comment made her a little more curious but then she waved it off as if it were nothing. She didn't find the tree or any inanimate object to be spiritual either. Did it make her a bad person? She didn't think so. And she was pretty sure he wouldn't, either.

The noise of the workers coming back made her head whip in the direction of the noise and she inwardly groaned at the thought of having to deal with those airheads again. But she knew that if they were coming back then Griffin would not be able to stay there and help her out. She'd get into a heap of trouble, having someone who wasn't an employee touching the displays. When he spoke again she blinked a few times, looking at him but not answering as if the words didn't register in her head. Finally, she seemed to snap out of it and nodded, bursting out a "Yes!" in her awkward attempt to make it seem like she hadn't just gone in a daze. "Ahem," She cleared her throat, " I mean, yes. Like I said before we're hiring. You've got a good chance of getting a position." She nodded and her hands somehow managed to find their way to her hips, her elbows out in an awkward sort of angle making it look like she was a chicken, her head bobbing up and down in a slow, dragged out nod. "..mmhm." I'm such an idiot. She thought to herself and knew it had to be true.

[GRIFFIN CARTWRIGHT]

Again, the tranquil smile seemed to pass over his lips as the young woman talked. Griffin couldn't help but like Claire. She interested him, and was charming to boot. If he got the position he was applying for, he was sure he would have a comrade to eat lunch with, or possibly do tours with. It would be fun, he was certain of it. "I'll make sure to bring it back tomorrow afternoon, so I can have a shot at the open positions." He said slowly, his eyes moving to the men as they entered, a glint of sadness in his eyes. He had wanted to see more of the exhibit, but he was sure he would get to see it just fine when it was open to the public, or possibly before if he did, in fact, get the position in which he was aiming to.

Griffin looked back at Claire and bowed his head respectfully to her. It was a soft bow, his eyes never really leaving her. "It was a pleasure meeting you." Came the hushed voice. "Thank you for letting me help. You truly made my afternoon." He held the paper up and backed away from her, eyeing the men once more before giving Claire another little grin and a half wave, turning away from her and heading towards the corridor in which he'd come down in the first place.

His mind fluttered with excitement at the possibility of having an excuse to visit the museum on a more regular basis. He knew it would be a short lived dream. Eventually he would need to stop coming, for his age would become the topic of interest, but until then there was no rule stating he couldn't enjoy himself and make some money doing it. Museums always needed people, didn't they? And he already had one friend, if Claire could even be considered a friend yet. She was an awkward little thing, but it amused the ever calm Avisaille.

Griffin walked into the main part of the museum and looked at the exhibits he'd seen a thousand times. His feathers bristled excitedly and he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself from filling out the application. How could he focus on all the wonderful artifacts when something so exciting was available? He chose to leave instead, knowing tomorrow he could look around once more. This afternoon was devoted to getting a job

[CLAIRE MCLEESTER]

Claire's lips were tightly closed but she nodded to show she was listening to Griffin. She knew that if the workers were coming back then her work was going to become easier and complicated all at once. When Griffin started to walk away she opened her mouth to speak. "Yeah, you too. Good luck on getting the job." She said and waved her hand at him a little awkwardly and then let it fall back down to her side and just stood there watching him leave.

She turned to look back towards the Indian statue and let out a long sigh, her bottom lip protruding enough so that when she blew it made a few of her long bangs lift off her forehead. "Well, it looks like it's just you and me now." She told the statue and then rolled her eyes. She had work to do. She was on a tight deadline.