WE NEED TO GO SLOW: THESE NIGHTS WON'T LAST [open]

[ameliae]

Hehlo always made it a point to do something constructive, educational, and fun with her son on a daily basis. Usually Tully was in bed by this time of night, sleeping soundly with a smile that only said, "I'm wrapped up in the warm, comforting wings of an angel." Unlike most children his age, Tully did not become grumpy due to a change in routine and he couldn't get enough of his mother, so tonight was bound to be good for both parties.

Lo had planned the evening with Tully earlier in the day, whilst they sat over coffee- the boy had a decaf mocha latte, and his mother drank a doubleshot hazelnut french vanilla iced latte- in the Starbucks down the street from their apartment.

Hehlo slowly stirred her drink, carefully pushing around unmelted icecubs with the tiny red coffee straw. She smiled across the table at Tully, who sat up straight in a booster seat and mimiced his mother, stirring just a bit more carefully because he'd been told, "Now don't you drink that as soon as you get it. It'll be very hot and I won't be rushing you to the hospital today if I can help it." He'd agreed quickly, remembering a time he hadn't listened and his tongue felt strangely numb for days.

The young mother quirked an eyebrow at her son, who seemed to be staring down his drink in calculation. She stretched an arm over and tested the coffee with her finger. "Still too hot," she confirmed. "Do you want an ice cube?" He shook his head, of course, intent on doing this on his own.

They began to talk about what the day would hold- Where the boy wanted to go, what he wanted to do. They agreed on the beach at night, horseback. Tully loved Bulletproof, Hehlo's large gelding. "Will we take Goose?" she'd asked the boy. He shook his head and smiled. "We'll have to watch him and won't have as much fun!" His mother could only smile and nod. "You're very right."

----

Hoof prints lead from a trail in the woods from the stable to the sand near the tide where the two sat now. The horse didn't stray, even without being tied or in-hand. Lo could trust the horse with her life, and often times did. Bullet kept his head down, lipping at the lace on his partner's top. Lo had her legs stretched out, the tide washing her feet with every wave. Tully sat a little farther back, building a sandcastle with limited tools. Had they decided to come by car, the castle could have been much more impressive, but horseback just has little room for baggage.

"Did you pack your flashlight?" Lo asked the boy. He answered with a quick nod. "How about you look for some shells in the sand to decorate your castle? That sound good? I'll give you a treat if you find a really different one." Tully jumped at the offer. Treats from mommy were always wonderful, whether they be a date with the tickle-monster or a brand new toy that no one else had.

"Stay where I can see you," she warned before fixing her gaze on the wandering child.

It was not long before he'd gone out of her sight. He always had a tendency to wander too far, or to forget what was said to him. After a glance away, Lo's eyes could no longer find her son. Panic rose in her gut and up into her throat, practically choking her. "TULLY!" she cried out, jumping to her feet when he did not answer. "Alexander Tully!" She glanced at the horse and leapt on bareback, easily pulling herself up despite her small stature. "Tully!"

She rode a short length of the beach then combed the edge of the woods. "Help!" she cried out, although she saw no one on the beach. It was beginning to look like she was on her own...

[trojandownloader]

ATTIRE

Alexander Matthew Arnor had just grabbed a man kicking and well, trying to scream into a crevice under some rocks. He was low, and he felt like he had diabetes, as he was sluggish and tired. At least he wouldn't go into a coma if eh didn't get what he needed. He would just die. again.Which didn't sound too appealing right now.
He pulled out a packet of cigarettes before taking one and pushing it into his mouth. "Stay quiet and I wont kill you."Alexander addressed the man currently immobile under the weight of one of his feet. Too anyone watching, this sure looked funny. A tall, very skinny man, was holding down a man twice the size as him. He was sure as hell that the man himself was confused, but also scared. He could hear the racing heartbeat pummeling his ribcage.
What he said, was obviously a lie. He knew the guy would hold on to whatever hope he had right now. But if he thought he was lucky enough to get away, well, his luck had just run out.
Broken neck? Easier to cover up, Less struggling, well. its that then.
He put both pale hands on the side of his head, in what seemed to be an embrace, but in a matter of seconds the man was dead. It was that easy, just like breaking a pencil. Did he feel an over whelming emotion of guilt? No. if that made him somewhat of a sociopath, then so be it. He just care to wards other people. Just the way humans cared about animals, yet they still eat them.
He got on his hunches and pondered where to start drinking. In the end he just went for the wrist of the corpse and bit into the flesh like he was biting into some steak. He closed his eyes and smiled a bit. He needed this, Plus it was still warm and enjoyable. Like your favorite food in the whole world. Of course, this persons blood could taste just a bit sweeter. But he wasn't bothered. he wasn't going to waste.

He opened his eyes with a jolt whenever he heard his name being called, or at least part of it. Alexander trully? truly?
He had got his top-up that he need, and now he was more interested in who this person was that was calling his forename. maybe someone had drowned or something, since they where calling for help. Now Alexander, was a well-mannered Vampire, even if he did kill people.

He rubbed any remaining blood off of his mouth and got up, dusted himself down and pushed the corpse further in to the blackness, before leaving carefully. I'll deal with that later. Nyeeeh.

He ran to wards the sound of the distressed voice before finding the back of a blond woman.
"Uhh, What's the danger?" He said looking confused and looking around.

[ameliae]

At the sound of the man's voice, Hehlo literally jumped up and had to wrap her arms around the horse's neck to keep from falling. She was shaking in panic, her eyes scanning every bit of the beach that she could see. Tears had been welling since she'd realized her son was missing, and now she couldn't hold them back any more. She sobbed, sliding easily from the horse's back onto the ground, despite her small size.

Facing the man, she tried to get her words out, but she was losing her grip, and her control. She all but slammed into him, her arms gripping him tight. Her accent thick, she tried to speak. "Oh-- th-th-thank youuuu!" The "you" turned into a high pitched squeal at the end, then she broke into sobs again. Her face pressed against the stranger's shirt, muffling her voice significantly. Tiny hands clenched into fists full of fabric as she tried to get out more. "He-- he just-- he's-- I can't find him.. You have to help.. p-pl-please!"

At this point she just collapsed at the man's feet, her arms wrapped loosely around his legs. "My son..." she wimpered, then let out a bit of a shriek. "Alexander Tully!" Gasping for air, she tried to explain the situation. "We.. we were sitting by the tide.. and I told him to find shells-- He was making a castle." She pointed in the direction of the barely visible sandcastle not far from them. "I told him to stay close, where I could see him. He.. He.. I looked up and.." She shook her head, gripping the man's legs tight. "Oh, please! You have to help me find my baby..."

It was beginning to feel like defeat to little Hehlo, like she'd just lost her entire world. "Tully, please come back," she whispered, calming down significantly now that she seemed to have some help. "I told him to find a shell that was really different," she added. "And, I just don't know where he could be. He should be on the beach, and I didn't see him go into the water. I was watching the waves then he was gone." She was still shaking slightly, but only gentle tremors. Tears still ran down her cheeks, but she was becomming more coherant. "Do you think he could--"

----

"Momma?" a quiet voice came from behind the duo. "Momma... why are you crying?" Tully was soaked from head to toe and smelled very salty. Sand was sticking to his pants and hands, which held a very peculiar looking sea shell.

Lo jumped up and turned, her eyes wide. She grabbed her son up into her arms and held him tight, kissing his face and wet hair. "Xander, where on earth.. You went into the ocean? How could-- It's freezing! You're freezing! You know b-- oh it doesn't even matter!" She set him down and took his shirt off, then her own soft button-up sweater. The sweater draped over his shoulders and wrapped around him like a towel. She didn't even notice that he was trying to show her something.

"Mommy, don't you want to see the neat shell?" He looked up at the man. "Who are you?" he said inquisitively. "Are you mommy's friend?"

[trojandownloader]

Alexander's eyes widened as the woman latched onto him after falling. Crying woman crying woman, what to do? He thought a little nervously, trying his best to make sense of what she was saying, while lightly rubbing her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down,though he knew that wouldn't work. Who is his guy? Her boyfriend or brother or something? Then his mouth formed an 'o' as he received the answer he was looking for. A son eh? Looks can be deceiving.
Well he could find him pretty easily, if he didn't wander far, and wasn't, well, dead. But he highly doubted if there was anyone that would kill a child out here tonight.
Her obvious distress was alarming him, He really didn't know what to do other than find the little guy. And the way she was carrying on, he was going to get all emotional too if he couldn't find him.

He was about to speak, as he listened carefully to what had happened in the first place. It was pretty common for children to run off. Just recently parents seemed to wrap them in cotton wool much more. Then again, The whole world seemed to get more dangerous.

He did open his mouth, and emitted a quarter of a word before he heard a child's voice. He turned around and ran a hand through his own messy brown hair before smiling at the relief on the womans face. It was cute really. Just mothers were so amazing. He could never really understand it. It was obvious the kid took center of her life. Just the way his laptop took center of his. Sad really. Yet he could laugh at the fact it was like a baby to him.

He paid more attention whenever the kid asked him a question.
"Uhh. I'm Alexander. Not you of course, but Yeah, I share the same name." He grinned. " Nice to meet a deep ocean explorer." He said with an admiring smile.
He looked at the woman before looking back at the small child.
"Uhh....Freind? Um. Well, I just met her..." Alexander said, rather preferring to be blatantly honest to the kid. I haven't even got the chance to speak to her yet haha...

[ameliae]

Tully's eyes opened wide and he seemed to have completely forgotten about the odd shell he held in his hands when the man spoke his name. A big, goofy smile was almost slapped across his face and he pulled away from his mother, suddenly quite interested in this guy. He teetered the short distance to Alexander and began tugging at his pants, obviously wanting to be picked up. Tully could be such a child sometimes-- Granted, he was only four years old. "Really? he exclaimed, literally bouncing with excitement now. "I never met anyone with my name before!"

Hehlo could hardly contain her laughter. As sheltered as her little boy was, he was also very social-- More so than one might think a boy like that would be. He was also easily amused, which came as an advantage to his mother and any other caretaker he may encounter.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, moving a hand out to tug at her son who slapped it away just as quickly. He really wanted to get to know this guy. "Oh, would you like to come for a drink or something?" she asked, knowing full well that Tully wouldn't be satisfied if she said it was time to go home just as soon as he'd become intent on this stranger.

"Unless you're busy.. I'm just so grateful, really, that you came to help. Even though he showed up on his own.." she was blabbering now, unsure of what to say to this stranger. What to say, what to say... Of course! Introductions!

"How rude of me," she began. "Hehlo," she said her name, but forgot that people tended to be a bit confused when she said it for the first time.

She turned after smiling politely to Alexander to keep an eye on her horse. Her hand ran across his shoulder and she turned and gave another smile, watching Tully to make sure he didn't begin to climb his new "friend". At least, that's what Tully would surely be calling him from now on if they ever ran into each other again.

"I can cook, if you're hungry," she said. "I think I do okay, but I really never have guests to test out on..." She gave a sweet smile and turned her attention halfway back to the horse.

[trojandownloader]

Alexander did laugh as he watched the boys face light up.
"We might share freaky mind powers or something."He said an equally goofy smile forming on his own face. That would be kinda cool actually.
He chuckled quietly to himself whenever the kid slapped his mother hand away. Hahaha. Violence is not the answer
"Its okay, I Love kids, gives me a chance to be more of the retard i actually am."Alexander smiled widely at the woman.
"You and the dad must have great fun with this guy." he said looking down at the kid tugging on his jeans.

"A drink sounds good. Thanks for offering."He replied dipping his head slightly in thanks.
"and yeah, You soaked my shirt a little."He joked, smiling.

His expression became more thoughtful as soon as he heard her name. It was foreign, no doubt about that, but where from? That was the thing that he was mostly thinking about.
"Hehlo?, That sounds eastern European. Pretty name at that." Alexander said taking more notice of her voice now. There is an accent hidden in there.. Unlike his own, which fully blasted 'London twat' whenever he spoke. "Well you know my name, Just call me Alex." He said adjusting the bottom of his shirt a little.
"Experiment away. But really, I don't mind." He said politely. He really was surprised at how nice she was to a complete stranger. Maybe she had good judgment. Even though he did feel a bit shabby in an old band t-shirt and some jeans.
He noticed the horse and looked at Hehlo with an amazed smile. Women and horses where always impressive. He himself had Riding lessons whenever he was a child and teenager, as the Victorian age was filled with cars and steam, but in the end it was cheaper just to ride about on a horse. It also got you into shape pretty quickly.

"You know what Alexander means?" He said rather seriously to the little boy. "Totally awesome!"He grinned.



ooc: Sorry its lacking somthing. My muse is kinda off today >.<

[ameliae]

Tully's eyes opened wider, if that was even possible, at the mention of "freaky mind powers." He was practically coming out of his skin now, almost to the point of unglued. He was bouncing more than ever and seemed to have begun to climb Alex.

"Tully, down," Lo chimed in, throwing the look his way. He obeyed, but still bounced as he stared up at Alex. You and the dad must have great fun with this guy. Upon hearing this, Lo flinched and glanced away, obviously rather disturbed by the mention of Tully's father. Her demeanor suddenly became quite serious and almost melancholy.

"I don't have a daddy," the boy blurted out, not bothered at all by that fact. His mother had only slightly explained why, and refused to ever give him the full story on how he came to be. Perhaps if Alex pried, she'd let him in on it a bit more than Tully, but definately not the story in it's entirety, unless she ended up drunk. Alcohol tended to cause her mouth to open more than it should.

Lo nodded when he accepted her offer for a drink, then gave a short giggle at the comment of his shirt. "Yeah... Sorry about that," she frowned, obviously sincere. "I'm sure I have something dry and not girly that would fit you," she added with a smile.

Tully was consumed in Alex once again with those words: Totally awesome! Lo had to practically pull him away from the man to launch his bottom onto the horse. "He will calm down," she stated in apology for her more than hyper child. "He just gets so... up... when he meets new people."

Lo pulled herself up onto the too-large horse in a single fluid movement. "Do you ride?" she smiled sweetly, patting the spot behind her.

[trojandownloader]

"Do I ride?" Alex asked with a proud smile forming his face.
I used to be the Mr. Friggen' Darcy in my day. Maybe that's an overstatement. Yeah. It is.
"Used too. I just couldn't find very many places to ride one. Maybe its just because i'm lazy and couldn't be bothered looking. But Yeah, It was a while since I've rode..."
I think the last time was 1954, and that was just a one day thing on the beach.

He looked at the spot she patted, and bit his bottom lip in concentration. He was hoping it would all come back to him, as it really wasnt something you'd forget, but knowing him, he probably would.Luckily he remembered the memory's of his teenage years and joined Hehlo on top of the horse swiftly. It all went to plan and he didn't make an ass of himself.

I almost forgotten how it feels to be on a horse. Maybe i should take the habit up again." Alexander pondered aloud. I just made it sound like a vice.

"Uhh. Where do you want me to hold on to? 'Cause i don't know if i would be violating your personal space if i held onto you."He said rubbing his hair and watching the kid at the front. He must have a fucking great life He thought, smileing a little, Though remebering the comment of the no fatherness. He was curious, but well mannered enough not to nosy unless they mentioned something about it first. The obvious pain on her face whenever the father was mentioned meaned it was bound to be something messy. But the kid seemed happy enough, obviously she had hidden whatever past the father had well from him.

[ameliae]

Lo gave a quick nod to Alex when he claimed to know how to ride a horse. It sounded like he may have been unsure of himself now, but proud of his riding skills in the past. "Do you know how to hold on?" she teased playfully just before he jumped onto the horse behind her.

She nodded when he said he should take up riding again. "I've got another horse in the stables you could use if you like," she offered politely. "He's less spirited than this one, but he's very smart and knows what he is doing in saddle." She patted her horse's neck and tugged on the reins when it decided to move itself. No, no. You'll stay put, she thought, smiling silently.

He asked where he should hold on to, rather politely for a man. "The feet, of course!' she teased yet again. Oh, Hehlo, you're such a playful devil. She had that glint in her eye that just screamed that she was feeling mischevious and naughty. "You can hold onto me," she stated matter-of-factly. "Just don't go holding onto the wrong thing," she added, again teasing. Surely such a polite one wouldn't act in such a doggish way, but one never knew what screw a person might have loose in his head these days. Hehlo knew that all too well... But that was for another conversation entirely.

She barely moved on the horse's back, but he took it as his cue to fly, and fly he did. Lo held onto the reins with one hand and kept Tully held to her body with the other arm. She was short enough that the hanging branches of the forest would not scrape against her head, but she called out gentle words of warning to Alex. "Watch your head," she said with a laugh. "I'd like to not hurt my angel guarding tonight." She shook her head in amusement at her own comments. Alex really had no idea how true it was, though. He'd come from nowhere to help her, and her son had showed up just moments after. To her, he was indeed an angel tonight.

[trojandownloader]

Alexander held on to her waist carefully, "If I wanted to grope you i would have done it while you where clinging on to me earlier." He joked laughing quietly poking her stomach lightly. He knew plenty of guys would use the 'oops didn't mean to touch there' excuse to get a good feel, which really was unnecessary as you would probably got more if you kept your hands to yourself.

An overwhelming guilt came over him whenever she mentioned him being a guarding angel, almost distracted by it to dodge the low-lying branches, that was until the last minutes whenever he ducked his head.He bit his lip, what he usually did whenever he was deep in thought or thinking over something. She had no clue that he took away life, rather than guarding it, and it was a sure thing that if there was a hell, If he did ever die, he was going to the deepest darkest levels of it. Ironic really.
He often wondered why people failed to notice he was a monster, maybe it was because he looked so normal, and smiled like a dork. But the man he had killed tonight only saw dark features and a cruel glint in his eyes. It was there, only hidden. The way he preferred.
"If angels wear jeans and a band T-shirt, well, they sound like cool guys"

He swallowed the guilt and thought about the comment of the horse at the stables. His usual smile formed on his face, and he knew the horse would be laughing its ass off if he got on it and tried to get his bearings. "Hmm. About that horse. We could race." And you would win. "Maybe I'll let you win..."He teased.

[ameliae]

So, Alex was a joker, was he? Lo could temporarily fix that for now. She tilted her head to the side to glance at him from the corner of her eye, barely able to see him for the wind whipping her hair around her face. Her elbow jutted back on cue, nudging him in the ribs just a bit-- Not enough to hurt him, but enough to let him know that he shouldn't push it. . . At least not quite yet. A smirk flitted across her lips before her head turned back so she could see where she was going and guide the horse through the path to the stable where her car was waiting for her.

Lo began to gnaw furiously at her lip as they slowed. Although she'd taken the path what seemed like a million times before to and from the barn, in the black of night it seemed almost invisible. She had to stop and back up, retracing her steps a couple of times before she found the correct path. How embarassing, she thought to herself, gnawing her lips harder until the skin finally broke. I can't even find my way back to my car. She sighed and didn't notice the blood puddling on her lip, too distracted when she'd finally seen the hint of lights from the stable in the distance to think about anything else. She needed to get Tully home as soon as she possibly could to get him bathed and dried off and warm. The poor child was practically shaking in the saddle.

She glanced back, now walking the horse to the nearby barn, at Alex's suggestion of a race. "I'll take you on anytime," she proclaimed with a quiet bout of laughter. "Except tonight. I've got to at least get him cleaned up and dried off and in bed--" the last part was really a bit of scolding herself. "And if my memory serves me, you did agree to having a drink. . ." She was gnawing again, unsure exactly what she was nervous about at this point in time.

[trojandownloader]

ooc: Soooo sorry, i didn't post in ages. My INTERNET was being a gremlin, until now xD


Alexander climbed off the horse slowly and ran a hand threw the bush on his head. Thank you mother fucking nature.
He wasn't vain yet he didn't need to look like he'd been through hell. "I forget how easily kids tire. Being little people and all. Their filled with so much energy."He said thoughtfully. He barely remembered being as young as tully was. Just the bright vivd images of his mother dominated most of his younger memories. There wasn't much else worth remembering. His cast iron bed, and a warm fire nearby. And his mothers songs. Thats all he wanted to remember from his childhood. Thats all he needed. But of course you couldn't pick memory's. This Young mother was bring back all his good ones though.

"How do you manage it?" He asked admiring her, with a small small. She seemed as if she never stopped going till tully was happy. So much hard work. But in the end you got something great out of it. But she was on her own. How did she support her small family, and did she even get support from her family. She seemed to manage it somehow. Though he was taking facts out of thin air. He decided to push all his thoughts to the back of his mind instead of being nosy.

He hugged his jacket closer to his thin frame and looked around him at the area. He hadn't actually ventured this far, he had only been here a few days....for a few days Trip. He was also distracting himself from the smell of blood. His senses where being greedy,. He had already fed tonight, it just smelt so much better than whoeverthehell that guy was he drank from. He had self control, and it was basically a matter of ignoring it. He ignored it and the urge went away. it was so common, it was normal to want to eat someone every now and again. Just like whenever you had a big dinner that gave you all the energy you need and filled you up, but there was a slice of sweet creamy cake in front of you. He could handle it.
"What kind of drinks are you serving?" he pondered. Cocktails? Milk? Coffee? Beer? he didn't really mind. They all tasted good.

[ameliae]

"How do I manage it?" she repeated Alex's question, unsure of what he'd meant by it. Was he speaking of how she lived life as a single mother, giving Tully everything he could desire and keeping him happy as she could? Or was he talking about her skill on horseback? That didn't seem logical, so she'd assume he meant the former. "With a lot of hard work," she admitted, dismounting the horse as they came upon the barn. She lifted Tully from the horse's back and set him on the ground, leaving her son with Alex for the time being to release the horse back into it's pasture along with her other equines.

She walked back briskly, more than eager to get little Tully home, dry, and warm in bed. Lo's hand waved for Alex to join her at her silver Audi. Tully came running first, displeased when his mother lifted him to set him in his safety seat. She buckled him in snug, amused that she had to do so with a child that could code entire webpages and hack computers at only age four. Her dome light turned on, lighting the way for Alex, as she slid into the driver's seat and pushed open the passenger side door for her companion of the night.

"That all depends on what you want to drink," she finally answered, smiling toward Alex with that sweet smile that said she couldn't ever hurt a fly. "I've got just about the whole bar and then some in the fridge," she stated quietly with a shrug. Although only twenty, she had her ways of getting things and couldn't imagine life any other way. She'd had to fight to get where she was, but money was no object to her now, although the way she spent her free time might beg to differ. "What's your favorite? I know I'll be having vodka and skittles. . ." That was a favorite of her's. She loved straight vodka, but the fruity taste the skittles gave the drink and the nice candy treat when the glass was empty was just oh-so-delightful.

She jammed her key into the ignition and started the car, waiting for Alex to close his door.

[trojandownloader]

Alexander jumped into the car and closed the door carefully, He was always wary of breaking something. His favorite drink? Millers genuine draft. That was a nice beer that didn't taste totally like piss in a bottle. That or G&T, as he liked to keep things simple yet strong. "Just a Miller would be nice now Thank you."He said with a grateful quick smile. "Planning to get me drunk and tie me up somewhere with that bar of yours?"He joked, followed by a 'heh'. He was tempted to try the vodlka and skittles, Hell, he might have all three if she was offering. It wasn't as if he could get drunk easily. Alcohol, did have an effect on Vampires, just the way coffee, or nicotine, or drugs would. But it would have to be a fairly large amount to get him rolling on the ground. He would do that anyway if it made someone laugh. He did hate pretending to be drunk though.

"Do you have a job as a bartender or something?" He asked out of curiosity, Making cocktails and various other things sounded fun. And If she had a big bar she could practice making new and different ones. He would have took it up if he had people skills, which he was slightly lacking in, and well, he didn't drink alot. What was his job? He didn't really work. More of a freelancing computer technician. Not the most glamorous job, But it got money when he needed it. And that was fun, It seemed only to him though.

"Y'know, someone told me that women drivers are the ones most likely to crash."He joked, grinning, while he put the seatbelt in and got a little comfortable. If she did crash, he wouldn't be snookered, but he still practiced basic safety in the car. Just habit, and then the safety of those around him.

[ameliae]

Lo whipped out into the streets, which were much too crowded for her liking. She reached over in front of Alex and opened her glovebox, glancing over to notice the neon lights of her car's interior glowing off of his skin. This brought a little smirk to her face, which she hid when she looked back to the road and set her radio in a cupholder, flipping the switch "on". Miller. . . she thought, running through her inventory of alcohol she kept at home. "Yeah, I should have some of that for you," she said sweetly, making a sharp turn into an alleyway to cut away from the traffic.

He asked if she was a bartender, and she shrugged, watching the road intently. "No, I've never had a job as a bartender," she said, pausing to take a sharp right turn back onto one of the traffic-filled roads. "But I've been around a time or two." She took a sharp left turn and sped down the quiet suburban road. Although it was a longer route, she preferred it to being stuck behind fifteen cars at a stoplight that just wouldn't turn green. "And I read a lot. I always figured that making drinks would be pretty fun. . . And it is," she said with a little more enthusiasm in her voice.

She managed to ignore the crash comment completely, and it was easy since her radio was speaking at her harshly. Evidentally something had gone completely awry, and she hadn't been there to pick up the pieces. "Whoops" she murmered sarcastically to one of the comments they'd made about her lack of appearance. She picked up her radio and spoke into it, all the while weaving onto the road to her condo. "Nobody sent me the memo telling me that I had to be there to watch you guys get slaughtered." Laughter erupted when a french sounding man's voice began screaming obscenities at her. "Oh, tush tush. You guys should be able to take care of yourselves. Besides, I'm just a little useless girl, right?" Her laughter was louder this time and she shook her head. "Shutting you guys up before you teach my son that language," she commented. "Over and out." And just like that, her radio was off and back in her glove box.

She looked back at Tully while she was driving, amazingly staying in the right lane of traffic at the right speed. "Now, Tully," she pointed a finger at him. "Don't you go saying the stuff you hear those poofs saying, kay, sweetie?" The boy nodded and stuck his tongue out. "You've only told me not to say that stuff like a ga-gillion times now momma!"[/i]

Lo turned her head just in time to make the left turn into the parking lot of her condo. She parked smoothly in her reserved spot and opened her door before the car had even completely shut off. Tully's door was open, Lo pulling him from his safety seat. "Home sweet home!" she called out to Alex as she set Tully on the ground and started off toward the entrance of the building.

Revolving doors allowed the trio inside. Tully was at his mother's side just as soon as he grabbed a candy from the reception desk. Lo had already made it to the elevators and was standing inside one, holding the door open for Alex and her son. The little boy had to scramble to make it in before Lo let the door shut. She pressed the button "9" and watched as numbers flashed on the screen above the door. Her foot tapped impatiently-- the ride was always a little too slow for her. "I'm looking to buy an actual house at this point. . . The elevator is horrible, especially after grocery shopping," she said, making something of small-talk.

The elevator finally came to a stop and the door opened into a small landing with a rather grandeur door greeting the three. Tully was the first to scramble out of the elevator. Lo stepped forward and pulled out a card-key and an actual little metal key, using them in order to unlock her door. She stepped inside, kicking off her shoes and waving for Alex to follow her. "Want to get into a dry shirt?" she offered with a gentle smile. "I'll show you to the closet. I'm almost sure I've got something that's not at all feminine that will fit you. . ."

The condominium was rather simplistic-- Absolutely free of clutter with clean lined furniture and decor that all looked, well, sterile, except for the large merle great dane resting stretched across the floor in front of a black sofa. The scent was fresh, though, with a light hint of jasmine and amber, and the air didn't at all feel stale as many homes were prone to. Everything was in it's place, which might have caused most people to feel like they were walking into a showroom or a photograph from an urban corporative magazine.

Lo glanced over at her son, whom was doing anything but what he should be doing to get out of those wet clothes. "You, mister, need to get out of those clothes and take a bath. That salt water will dry you out and you'll be itching and peeling for days," she commanded gently. Tully obliged and went running for the master bathroom. Lo stopped him promptly. "In your own bath."

She looked back to Alex and beckoned him toward her bedroom. "I don't bite," she teased, trailing away into her room and into the large walk-in closet. "Are band shirts your usual?" she called out, waiting patiently for some reply.