Tree Bark? What kind of Color is that? {Amarant}

[*Amarant Blades]

Amarant smiled slightly, trying to hold back the laughter that was bubbling up in her at that thought. Honestly, some women just never got the message that they were driving the entire male population crazy and should just get a bunch of cats and resign to having them only, so they wouldn't drive anyone to go to the funny farm. "I think after the first three I would have started thinking that maybe it was me, not the guys, and just give up...I don't know, maybe become a lesbian or something, see how that worked out for me." She shook her head, her ice blue eyes catching the light for a second, reflecting the light back at Connor before she shifted her head again.

She listened to him describe the woman, building a mental picture of the shop keeper in her mind. She shook her head in agitation. The shop keeper should be focusing on her own kids, raising them, rather than trying to find another man for herself. The woman couldn't even use the excuse that she was trying to find a "father figure" for her kids, not if she was being honest with herself. Did she not realize that the constant stream of men coming in the house, allowing them to get their hopes up that this next one would work, only to be let down...Did she not understand that the let down would be worse on the kids than not having a man around at all? She shook her head again, women like that annoyed her to no end.

The last comment that he made in that sentence caught her attention though, and she grinned, wondering if he even meant to inform her on some of the requirments that his mate would have to have to survive in the kind of life that he led. "I doubt even the big bad wolf such as you would be able to handle being in a relationship with someone who gets into as much trouble as I do. You'd be forced into a premature grave before it was all said and done."

She sighed and laid her head on the table, trying to look put apon by Saphire's antics. "They just don't understand, do they? We're the alphas, and they're supposed to listen to us...Maybe their sense of pack dynamics is messed up or something. We have to do something about this before it goes to their heads." She said, whispering in a conspiratorial whisper, as if Connor's sister and Saphire would be around and could hear them.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't wish that I'd never been turned into a lycan...Not that I even remember how that happened, but still. The wolf is a very big part of my life, half the time I'm more wolf than human. I live by the rules of a wolf, not by the laws of humans, with the exception of a few. Most cops would rather take on a pissed off gang than take me on when I'm really pissed. The one time that a cop in New Orleans tried to talk to me about assaulting a guy in the middle of the street who couldn't keep his bear claws that he calls a hand to himself, all I had to do was look at him and he backed off. The wolf has gotten me out of a lot of tight positions that would have gotten me either hurt or killed had I been human. If I lost her and had to be completely human, I'd go insane. I just wish that I remembered how the first couple of years of my life went.

She smiled as he grabbed her hand in his own, and she absently laced her fingers through his, not even thinking about it. She nodded at what he told her, she very well knew that. "I know, and most of the time I don't even think about it, it's just that sometimes I think it'd be better to know if my family was murdered, whether they threw me out, anything, rather than looking at everyone I see and trying to see if I find a resemblance of me in them, or see if it triggers any memories. Always wondering how my life would have turned out if I had lived with them instead of a vampire. I definately wouldn't have enemies on both sides wanting me taken out, always being hunted...Not that it really matters. They can come at me all they want, they haven't gotten me yet, be they vampire, human, or lycan."

She had finished her last burger and, releasing his hand--though rather reluctantly--and went to throw away her trash. She flashed him a quick grin, gently tugging on his shirt sleeve. "Come on you big baby, we have to go brave the big scary lady. I promise, if she so much as pats you I'll growl at her and scare her away." She said, her ice blue eyes flashing her amusement at him, her mood suddenly picking up again...She had a habbit of doing that, her mood one minute being sad and down, then the next she was back to being her fun loving, mischevious self.

[xtwinxtragidyx]

Connor chuckled dryly and shook his head, “Honestly I think she said two have died… one divorced her… the other one she divorced him when he bruised her three year old son and then lied about it.” He shrugged some, he didn’t see a problem with her husband list, it was her life let her live it how she wanted and she didn’t have eyes on every man that walked threw the room least not that he thought, it seemed he was the only one. Every time he was in there she offered him dinner or a snack or something. He’d never seen her flirt with other men like she did with him, but then he didn’t usually watch her… or other men. A Wicked grin crossed his face when she told him anyone who got wrapped up in her would go to an early grave, shaking his head the grin stayed. “Don’t tempt me sweetheart. Challenges like that are what I live for. I may just take you up on that offer… see if you can put me in my grave.” He purred, shifting from flirting to alpha talk easily going with the flow so to speak. He chuckled again and shook his head his wild hair falling in his face again. “I think… that they think it’s the other way round.. our pack dynamics our messed up. They let us feel big and important while they run the show.” He grinned.

Connor listened to her and nodded, The wolf was him, the wolf was her. Without the wolf they wouldn’t be who they were… their lives would be empty and void. Yet at the same time the wolf put things on them that normal human beings never had to worry about. “If they threw you out… it’s better you don’t know… that way you don’t have to carry the pain, and let it haunt you all day.” He growled tightening his hold on her hand for a moment before relaxing and easing the tension in his shoulders. He hated to think her parents dumped her on the side of a road like a worthless puppy or something… hated to think she might have gone threw the same pains he had. At least she didn’t remember and for the most part didn’t have to worry about it.

When she pulled her hand away he reluctantly let go, he found he liked the small soft appendage in his, he liked touching her, made him feel some how more real not some walking protector which was what he felt like most days… he felt more man.. and wolf. He grinned and playfully pouted at her, which was quite what you would normally see on a man like him. “But… but I don’t wanna.” He said standing and stretching his large six foot frame before trailing behind her to the paint store not to far away but far enough.

“Okay… she wanted apple blossom pink… Cotton candy blue… Tree bark gray…. Mauve what ever the hell that is. And some special mix of charcoal and eggshell.” His nose wrinkled in something close to disgust as he thought over her list. “So.. she wants a flower… candy.. and ash and eggs… and something I don’t even what to touch on.” He said giving Amarant a cocking grin. Shifting he caught the door for her allowing her to walk in first, might as well have some manners and use then while he had the chance. Not many women did much of anything with him any more. The tiny bell over the door rang and a soft but high voice called out saying hello and asking if they needed help. Her head was tucked under the counter making her words muffled but Connor caught them. He cringed knowing he had to answer but he’d rather walk around and ignore her. “No I’ve got a list… and some help, thanks.” He said shifting closer to Amarant hoping if the shop lady should look up, she be discouraged from see him with another woman though it hadn’t worked before… he can always home.

{Ooc~ your welcome to play with the shop keeper too… if you think of something she should do or not…. And sorry it took me so long... had a busy weekend}

[*Amarant Blades]

Amarant smiled when he told her not to tempt him, though she left that alone for right now, unwilling to push him past his boundaries. This one was interresting, and he brought out a curious nature in her that she hadn't known was there before. She actually found herself wanting her hand to be in his, to feel the rougher skin of his hand covering the smoothenss of her own. Instead she focused on his alpha comment. She growled playfully. "I'm telling you, we'll have to show them who's boss. I'm alpha in my house, whether Saphire wants to admit it or not." Even as she said it, she wondered exactly how much of that was true. Sure, she acted the part of alpha, but when Saphire demanded something of Amarant, the little white wolf usually bugged the crap out of her until she did whatever it was. And Saphire always really did what she wanted to do...Amarant shook her head, smiling, her white teeth flashing.

Amarant laughed at him, shaking her head as she watched him appreciatively as he stretched out to his full height--quite a bit taller than her, so she had to glance up at him. "Aw, don't worry, I wont let her touch you, I promised, remember?" She said, walking towards the paint shop. She could tell that he really didn't like the idea of going in there alone, and knew he was grateful that she'd come with him. Amarant knew that she wouldn't take too kindly to the shop keeper putting her hands on Connor, though she didn't want to annalyze that information too much at the moment..She would have plenty of time to do that once she got home. She listened to Connor name off the colors that he needed, not being able to hide the grin on her face.... Poor Connor, he seemed so confused. She knew all the colors he was talking about...Until he got to one. Mauve? What the hell is mauve? She didn't know what the hell that color was...But she was gonna find out.

When she walked in the door, the short shop keeper looked up when Connor said that they didn't need any help, a greedy smile on her face. The woman didn't even spare Amarant a single glance, but came over and practically pushed Amarant out of the way, going straight to Connor. She wrapped her arms around Connor's back, hugging him as she cooed greetings to him, and her hand began to slide lower towards his butt. That was when Amarant stepped in, grabbing the womans hand and very gently...but very firmly removing her hands from Connor. She then stepped inbetween Connor and the woman, a smile pulling at her lips, though it was more like she was showing her teeth to the woman. She stared the woman down, her ice blue eyes going grey as the woman stared back at her.

"There's no need to offer any help, I've got Connor taken care of." She said, letting her hand slide slowly down his arm before taking his hand on hers, entertwining her fingers through his, making sure that the woman saw. She turned around and led Connor away, leaving the shop cleaner glaring daggers at her back, shocked that the other woman would show such disrespect.

After they had gotten away from the womans sight, Amarant smiled sheepishly, releasing her fingers, and allowing him to pull away if he wanted to...though she sitll kept her hand so that he could continue to hold hers...she couldn't stop herself from trying. "Sorry if I came on too strong, you said protect you...And that was the only way I could think of at the moment." She said, shrugging slightly as she turned away to hide the faint color stealing up her neck into her pale face. She began looking for colors. She found cotton candy blue easily, then the treebark grey, then after about five minutes, she found the apple blossom pink...But the mauve was proving difficult. She had to look at each of the lables to find that one. Finally she found it, smiling as she handed the dirty pink colored paint to Connor.

"See, I told you that I would be of good help." She said, grinning as she walked towards the counter so that Connor could buy the paints. She stared down the sales lady the whole time, watching to make sure that she didn't do anything.

[xtwinxtragidyx]

Connor was alpha threw and threw there was no doubting that… yet it seemed the leader was more servant than actual leader. It was his job to make sure his pack small as it was, was completely comfortable and happy, that she knew she was cared for and loved. So if running into the market place, getting a good thorough rub down by an aging woman was what he had to endure to make sure his little sister was happy… so be it. No matter how much he cringed and gagged along the way. I suppose the old saying was true, To be a leader you need to know how to serve. Honestly he knew that if it was important that Connie would heel but for the most part she enjoyed toying with him, the pack member toying with the alpha… bending him to her will. So he was really a love-able puppy that enjoyed being cuddled deep down wasn’t every man? Just most men didn’t hide it behind six-foot five inches of pure male adrenaline and muscle. He was like the perfect model for REAL Men, none of the sissy buff models you saw on magazine who only had muscle for show. No every inch of Connor was toned and exorcised to give him maximum results on his job. One false move and he was gone… part of the reason he loved it so much.

Connor Flash Her a small grin, something between thanks and weariness. He hated being in that store, for the simple reason that woman couldn’t keep her hands off him, she was glued to his side stroking and petting him from the minute he walked into the store till the minute he walked out. He Prayed that Amarant would do as she said and keep the woman off, if not he’d at least be happy he had someone on his side. Connie didn’t believe him when he’d tell her the shop keeper was a leach, she said he was over exaggerating and to be a big boy, which he took with good grace but to have Amarant see and know gave him hope maybe she could persuade his sister to buy her paint else where. “I hope so” he muttered as they neared the store.

He’d actually hoped that he woman would back off with Amarant with him, I mean obviously he was ‘busy’ with her… if you wanted to look at it like that. Yet his whole body tensed every muscle locking up as she neared. Nostrils flared tasting the enemy, a shudder slithered down his spine as she attached her small plump body to his long lean one. He tasted something close to bile as he shifted trying to wiggle out of her grasp. He offered her a sick weary smile as she cooed at him, “Connor, back so soon? Sister need more paint or are you looking for something else?” Ya Connie really needed to buy her paint else where, the woman just got more and more obvious every time and that was about every other week. He swallowed and nodded “ Just paint” he told her, he may hate it here may hate how she acted but he couldn’t be mean couldn’t hurt the woman, his job was to protect not ripe to shreds. He kept hoping beyond hope some other hunk would walk in and catch her eye putting him a thing of the past, so far no six foot walls of muscle and hotness had graced her door to buy paints, yet… and probably never would if he was honest with himself.

He about jumped a mile when her hand slide down his back, nails and all dragging down in an act to entice when it just made him want to crawl under a rock. He was all but about to force her off when Amarant his saving Grace stepped between him and… Margretta? He shifted closer to Amarant smiling softly at her; now he could really kiss her. Actually the idea wasn’t at all a bad one but he didn’t think Amarant would like that very much. So he just intertwined their fingers and played to part of a very happy man as he followed Amarant around, allowing her tug him away from the shop keeper. He practically laughed though when the woman’s face flushed pink at her words, Margretta took Amarant’s words in totally the wrong direction. He was sure That the woman could only guess what kind of help he needed and how she was ‘taking’ care of him.

Shaking his head he kept a hold on her fingers and she somewhat apologized for being a bit forceful. He grinned his mischievous playful grin. Giving her small delicate hand a reassuring squeeze. He watched the most amazing blush steal across her cheeks and he was fascinated, he wanted to touch and feel… but that way lay madness of the best sort. Shifting his stance he couldn’t help but press a quick kiss to her forehead, just in case their ‘friend’ was watching. “Sweetheart, that about the only way to get her off and your welcome to take care of me anytime, I’m beginning to think I need someone to keep the big bad hunters off my tail.” He said in a soft voice smiling down at her before letting her go on the hunt for paints while he held and followed like all men were suppose to do when shopping.

Taking the dark pink he scowled at it and twisted the bottle around looking at it. “So this is Mauve?! Well I now know something no man has ever been able to fathom in all the centuries and all it cost was being attacked by a man hungry woman and protected by a gorgeous she-wolf” he flashed her a grin following her to the counter and setting the bottles on the counter, the woman was glaring at Amarant and sending him coy looking out of the corner of her eyes as she worked in silence. He tensed the minute he felt her small dainty foot connect with his knee cap, Damn he’d forgotten about the cloth covered counter which was really an old high top side table. He shifted back a step closer to Amarant, and ran his fingers up her arm, feeling the delicate skin that was beginning to torment his senses. The woman backed off at least, “Oh!” he said shifting and darting back to the back corner of the store and grabbing something and returning with a small porcelain doll with alabaster skin cornflower blue eyes and golden blonde curls, she was wearing a Victorian creation of pink silk with pail blue embroidery on the hem. Smiling he set in on the counter and the woman smiled a gentle smile. “You spoil her” she muttered softly for the moment forgetting her man hunt. Connor nodded, “ I know but she deserves every thing I can give her” he said handing the woman a twenty a ten and two ones, when the total rang up 29.45 he might as well tip the woman to help her feed those kids. “Keep the change” he said grabbing the plastic sack and turning to Amarant. The Porcelain doll wrapped securely in the bag so she wouldn’t break.

Connie had started collecting the things when she’d shifted into human form to stay, and since then he’d been buying her one every time he could, sometimes he had to hunt down one she didn’t have but he always bought her a new one. “You were more then good… you were wonderful… now I only have to soak for fifteen minutes instead of an hour and scrub with lye soap.” He grinned teasingly at her. He frown some though, now it was time to say good bye and go about there ways. Connor realized he wanted to drag her home, keep her close to him as long as he could. He wasn’t sure if he liked that fact he felt needy for he company or if it was just overactive hormones, I mean it wasn’t often me met both a beautiful Woman that was both Lycan and funny and didn’t turn tail and run the minute she spotted him. Shifting casually to hide the awkwardness he felt he looked down at her.