Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotionsooc: Considering the thread is primarily in the team dorms I'll just put it here so we aren't posting two or three times and then jumping.. if you want I can move this to the front hall.
Since the operation last Tuesday things went very slowly for Riley, not that it was such a drastic change from the previous week, there seemed to be a constant stream of events that forced Riley to sit back and remain as inactive as possible. Wednesday appeared to become his lay in bed day as for the second Wednesday in a row he was confined to med bay, though this time things had been far more toned down in all areas. Thursday he got to spend some time with everyone but it was only Friday that Riley really got people off his back, not that he didn’t appreciate it, he loved his family all the more just having them around to be supportive meant the world and for the last few days it seemed Riley let his worries flow away and just accept things as they were.
Seeing Catherine helped him, having his family there helped just as much and Emily had really grown on him all the more. Still, Riley couldn’t understand what it was that Emily saw in him which forced her to even defend Rye from her own brother, whom everyone loved without question, despite Ben’s anti-mutant anger. With Ben’s arrival last Tuesday Riley was torn between his emotions, part of him had almost hoped that Ben was there to see that everything went ok with the operation, only to find out last night that he wanted to take Emily back to Iowa so she can return to her classes and hoped the others would follow suit instead of lingering around here any longer then they needed to. The way it was worded didn’t sound malicious, and yet the way Ben had just come into Riley’s dorm room and announced it out of the blue when Riley asked if he wanted a drink or something to it, it just wasn’t a reply Riley would have expected ten years ago. This wasn’t the Ben Riley remembered, the goofy red head that always got Riley in trouble with their mischievous fun and games, the one who went swimming in the duck pond with him, the one who raced along side Riley across the fields on their beloved horses and milked Cammy the cow at dawn, collected chicken eggs and helped with chores…
Why did Ben change so much? Why did someone who used to be one of Riley’s best and only friends suddenly hate him so much? The things Ben said last Christmas, the things he said after the baby died… they were so cruel, so malevolent. It took all of Riley’s strength to just suck up the pain and head out to have dinner with them, which just ended up in yet another fight though this time it was between Ben and Emily, the younger teen refusing to leave and wanting to stay longer both at the school and with Riley while he was sick. Martha and Jonathon had done their best attempt at diplomacy, which ended with Ben storming off for the night and Emily running out of the guest apartment, leaving Riley to find her when he excused himself and returned to his room. It had been a tough night but after he called his parents to tell them Emily was safely with him, the cousins ended up talking for a little while, strangely enough Emily often stumbled back onto the topic of Catherine and Riley’s relationship with her.
The morning was just another promise of yet more classes which he was to miss, which resulted in Riley arranging to meet his two old friends, Graham and Forrest. They spent about an hour and a half from nine at night till about eleven talking in Riley’s room, and even though Riley drunk far less then usual it was apparent he had more trouble holding his liquor since last time they had met. Without the Initiative’s interesting cocktail swimming around inside Riley’s blood system that meant that there was nothing to break down the alcohol which entered his body like he was accustomed to and none of them realized any of that actually occurred so it wasn’t something that was expected. At first the guys just assumed Riley was on a buzz from the days spent lazing around and that he felt restless and over energized, which resulted in them heading out for the pool around eleven to give the other members of the team dorm some peace as the night drew on.
The water was cold, the wind grazed against their skins occasionally but left a cool touch that was enhanced by the moisture on their skin, and since they hadn’t originally intended to actually swim it meant that Riley hadn’t bothered changing and neither had his friends. Instead they swam in their briefs and tops, Riley and Forrest having singlet under their shirts and Graham sticking to his t-shirt. For an hour it seemed they mostly just talked, and Riley held off drinking with the others only because he was so absorbed in the things they were discussing, though he was starting to shiver while the other two got a riddling of Goosebumps.
"You’re shivering like a terrified school girl," Forrest commented as the bottle in his hands was brought to his lips, the three sitting on the edge of the pool with only their legs in the water. Graham had suggested they head in half hour ago but neither Forrest or Riley wanted to end the night and with Forrest making it seem as if Riley was too weak to stay up longer it only brought out a defiant stubbornness in Finn. Though it was all done in a more playful manner and Forrest nudged Riley with a shoulder, mumbling something in Rye’s ears as Riley fumbled his grasp on the bottle and splashed a mouthful onto his knees, which resulted in the two breaking out into a laugh and a mock a fight.
"Knock it off Forrest," There was almost a sigh in Graham’s tone as he once again felt like he was some sort of middle brother separating the two squabbling siblings. As jealous as Forrest got at times over Riley that didn’t stop the fact that they were all good friends and in a pinch they’d all be there for each other. That didn’t stop the fact that Forrest got annoyed feeling as if he was growing up in Riley’s shadow, a farm boy from Huxley who dreamed of being a hero entering the Initiative with such reluctance and yet thriving within the halls while Forrest, eager as hell, seemed to always fall short in comparison regardless to Riley’s apparent short comings.
The gentle sprinkle of rain went ignored for the moment as they busied themselves talking amongst one another, more focused on each other then what was around them and the last few hours they must have discussed every issue imaginable from Catherine to Riley’s family to the Initiative to interesting new foods or drinks they’ve been exposed to.
"Knock what off?" Despite holding Riley with a head lock Forrest sounded innocently confused, with Finn’s legs pulling out of the pool in order to try and help wiggle free in a clumsy attempt to get some sort of foot hold, which ended up being Graham. "Riley, it’s been fun, but you’re shivering bad now, you shouldn’t push things after the surgery." They may have mucked around for the last few hours but now Graham was getting serious because the last thing he wanted was to get Riley sick so soon after his medical emergencies. "I’ll go get the car, we paid for a motel so we might as well make use of the damn thing, we got it pretty close so we can come visit again soon, ok Rye?" While Graham tried to talk on a more serious note, unaffected for the most part by the large sum of alcohol he had consumed, Forrest and Riley talked between themselves and continued to falling into bursts of laughter.
"Ok.. ok." A deep breath from Riley finally addressed Graham’s concerns and Riley broke free of Forrests grasp, another brief laugh as he struggled to get to his feet, an effort that didn’t go by unnoticed by Graham who watched on a little confused. Forrest easily helped Riley up and then with a deep playful growl tried to shove Riley into the pool, the moments long wrestling match swiftly ended with Riley being pushed away and falling over the edge into the waters.
"Forrest!" The angry irritation came simultaneously with Graham’s chocolate coloured hand hitting the back of his taller companions head, causing an annoyed ‘what’ to come defensively from the other as Graham climbed into the pool after Riley. "I think he’s drunk." There was a scoff from Forrest, who almost laughed at the idea even as Riley splashed a little too wildly while Graham helped drag the younger of the three out of the pool, a few coughs and gasps coming from Riley while taking a minute to recover.
"Don’t be stupid Ham-man, he’s barely had anything," The dismissive tone chimed happily as a firm hand grabbed at Riley’s hair, strong fingers ruffling the wet strands as Riley tried to protest by hitting them away. "Come on my Finnster, lets get you back safe and snug in your cosy bed… wouldn’t want you over working yourself now." And there it was, the instant Graham pulled away to find the car, Forrest shot a volley and as usual Riley responded, the two already wrestling on the ground. The guest passes were issued earlier that day and they had done all they needed to get access to the school, arriving so late assured they’d leave after lock up and though Riley suggested they spend the night they preferred not to as they felt awkward with the whole institute thing still.
By the time Graham returned the rain had picked up and the two others now ceased their play fights and busied themselves at the doors of the institute, both were laughing again over something and Graham raised his brow slightly in suspicion as he noticed Riley petting down his damp jeans which he hadn’t put back on though they had still gotten smeared in mug from his rolling about before.
"The idiot left his keys inside," Forrest confirmed with another laugh and Riley looked amused as he tried to think of another way in, the suggesting to just use the intercom to talk to the security staff on duty at this time was quickly shot down though Graham tried to press the matter.
"No no no… it’s ok," He didn’t want them letting him in while he was half undressed! They most likely saw him already on the recordings but people didn’t always stay in the security rooms, they had bathroom breaks, distractions watching other screens… for now they mustn’t have seen the trio on the doorstep otherwise their voice would have come over the intercom to ask what was going on. "I got my…my phone.. I’ll call Catherine." There was a nod as he pulled his flip phone from one of his jean pockets, not considering the risk he had of having lost it and how lucky it was that he actually still had it.
"Any excuse to call her." Came the tease as Riley opened his phone book and squinted to find her name in the list, his numb hands shook slightly and he felt his teeth chattering, there was a momentary silence while the phone rang, being almost one went amiss as Riley waited for her to pick up, if he had been thinking more he might have realized she could very well be asleep, and even if she wasn’t he’d have sms’d her first to see if she was up instead of ringing first.
"…Catherine? Hey sorry but-" As Riley began, his voice slightly stammering from the cold and not as well defined due to the drinking, Forrest cut in by yelling over Riley’s attempts to communicate. "Hey Catherine!" At Forrests shout Riley turned around to try and continue on undisturbed, though Forrest didn’t make that easy and Graham chuckled as he watched. "Rye wants to know what you’re wearing." Forrest added mischievously and the breath Riley drew was large enough a hint to suggest that was definitely not something he expected Forrest to say nor wanted Catherine to hear.
"Will you shut up for a moment," It wasn’t exactly annoyance but Riley seemed rather taken back, though quickly turned his focus back on Catherine. "Honey, I left my keys in the room and got locked outside the institute," The words were interrupted by shivering breaths and an attempt at trying to be serious for the moment, though Forrest made various hand gestures and mumbled something that Catherine had no hope in making out yet caused Riley to laugh.
"He got locked out Catherine, he looks like a drowning puppy, only you can save him!" Again Forrest called out, though Riley still tried to continue addressing Riley, despite Forrest in the background making things hard.
"Can you came meet me in the front hall… with a towel? Please?" Again something caused Riley to get distracted and struggle to withhold a laugh that threatened to spill forth again, Forrest’s voice could be heard talking to Graham and then it was Graham who rose to address Catherine. "You can’t leave him out here, it’s raining and he’s only half dressed, he’s drenched and it’s cold." The back of Riley’s hand rubbed water away that dripped into his eyes, a smug of dirt on his right cheek now added with a faint smear on his left before Riley rubbed his muddied hands over his white dirtied shirt. "Can you come down Catherine? Every part of me is cooooold and numb… every part!" Riley added, stressing things in a hopefully vague manner though his loose tongue caused him to hint at things he’d otherwise never had done.
Re: Saturday (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotions
The shrill ringing of the sleek, silver phone cut though darkness and dream. The golden haired woman awoke, lying upon her back, the covers of the bed only across her legs. It took a few moments for her brain to register what the sound meant. The knowledge that her phone was ringing was quickly followed by curiosity and slight irritation at the thought of who would be calling her at this time of night. A quick glance at the illuminated hands of her bedside clock told her it was just gone one.
A sleepy hand extended to her bedside table to pick up the electronic device. Cat's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the name *Riley* flashing up on the screen. What on earth could her ex be doing ringing her at one in the morning on a Saturday night. It was especially surprising since the two of them barely ever spoke upon the phone... there was no need when they saw each other every day.
'Riley?' His name was mumbled into the receiver as she flipped the phone open, accepting the call. "…Catherine? Hey sorry but-" His voice sounded a little odd, but before she could begin to fathom why she heard someone shouting in the background. "Hey Catherine!" ... "Rye wants to know what you’re wearing." It was ten past one in the bloody morning, what did he think she was wearing! She hardly went to bed dressed in high heels. Catherine thought that the voice that had shouted sounded very much like Forrest.
"Will you shut up for a moment," There was a definite slur to Riley's voice that she'd not heard before. The thought surprised her, it almost sounded as if he were drunk ... but then she didn't think Riley was the heavy drinking type, she'd never seen him intoxicated before. Cat was reckoning without the influences that the implanted chips had had. "Honey, I left my keys in the room and got locked outside the institute," And what ... he wanted her to traipse around the school in the dead of night to let him in. If she got caught wandering around after hours by any of the teachers she'd be in serious trouble. With a silent sigh she waited for the request, loath to leave the comforting warmth of her bed. "He got locked out Catherine, he looks like a drowning puppy, only you can save him!" A drowning puppy? What on earth was Forrest talking about, it wasn't raining outside, if anything it was a nice pleasant night, she'd even got the window open.
"Can you came meet me in the front hall… with a towel? Please?" A towel? Ugh she so didn't need this at the moment. Wouldn't he be better off ringing one of his team mates? They'd probably be more than happy to let him in at this time of night.
"You can’t leave him out here, it’s raining and he’s only half dressed, he’s drenched and it’s cold." Graham this time by the sound of it, him and Forrest always seemed to be joined at the hip. The appeal from the more sensible of the two men was more successful at arousing her sympathy, though it did leave her wondering what Riley was doing wandering around half dressed. She tried to push aside the image of Riley being semi unclothed because some woman had undressed him. Telling herself she couldn't start to think in that manner she crawled out of her bed and slipped on a dark blue dressing gown. "Can you come down Catherine? Every part of me is cooooold and numb… every part!" She sighed out loud this time, telling rather curtly that she'd be down shortly. Catherine hung up without waiting for his reply, deciding on a choice few words she was going to say to the two men he'd obviously gone out with that evening. Her slender hands tugged the sash of the robe closely around her narrow waist.
It only took a few minutes for her to carefully make her way through the silent halls of the institute. It seemed almost eerie, with the moonlight pooling through the windows and giving her the only light she had to see by. She didn't dare turn the lights on in case she should attract attention to herself. Cat found herself jumping at small noises and casting frequent glances over her shoulders as she walked, trying to ignore the slightly creepy feeling which was stealing over her. It was one thing to creep giggling though the moonlit halls with Charlie after a night of drinking, but to walk them yourself sober was a new experience.
Thus she found herself very glad to reach the entrance hall without anything untoward happening other than stubbing her toe on a step which she'd misjudged. Inserting her key into the lock she twisted and pulled the door inwards, the light blue towel she'd taken from her bathroom held within one small hand which looked ghostly pale in the moon's glow.
'In!' The word was more a order than a request, not pleased at finding him dripping from head to toe. Though her exterior didn't show it, some part inside her went slightly fuzzy at seeing him standing dripping wet before her. It almost seemed like something from a movie, only he needed to clutch her to him and kiss her whilst begging her to take him back.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
Ooc: My post got attacked by an error, I fixed most of it, but the first half was entirely eaten and from having half a page before Graham speaks I only have Riley’s ‘Catherine?’ and ‘Hmm..’ comments.. sorry if that causes any discrepancies I may have missed. The typos in here are mostly from the error that happened.. words got chopped and altered and hacked and I might have missed some but I'll come back after my shower to read over it again. "Catherine?" The phone conversation seemed to have cut off as sooner then Riley had hoped for and considering they rarely spoke and only usually SMS’ed each other when either were bored or something, he shouldn’t be all that surprised yet it didn’t stop the former demon hunter from pouting. "Hmm.." folding closed the phone Riley held it in his hand with a slight sulk hitting his tone, though he quickly moved on as Graham continued.
"We‘ll give you a call on Sunday Rye, see when you have time for another drop in, it‘s really hard getting in and out of here unseen but for now things seem to be easing off in these areas, we should take advantage of it while we can." Graham suggested, Riley not really in any frame of mind to think strategically on the dangers his friends faced simply visiting him here, concerns only recently really began to rise again, after the Initiative appeared to have packed up and moved the former agents had slowly begun to let their guards down. As a result they put their lives at risk and yet they were tired of confining themselves and joining a national basketball team was just another form of rebelling in a sense. Death didn’t matter to them.. they grew up around it, being remembered was what the trained warriors really cared about, and as far as the world cared the heroes who put their lives on the line for the human race were as fictitious as the Easter bunny.
"We should have a part next week, we never have parties.” Catherine could come.. and Aiden and Icarus, Conner and Heath and all his other friends! He was making friends now and even is team mates were growing on him! We well toned youth finding himself mustified by the secrecy of May and enlightened by the strength of will Michael showed, even Lexi was ok and Ben… well Ben seemed ok, Riley didn’t really say much to the guy. "I could introduce you to everyone!" There was a buzz to Riley’s voice as he got excited over the idea, they could have a get together, everyone could come! Maybe a pool party then… the area was large enough, everyone could get together and do their own thing but still in each other’s company!
By the time Catherine arrived at the hall, all three boys were laughing hard, not that it was for anything specific as far as Riley knew, since they’d been talking about various ways to make up invites for the party and different styles of parties they could do. None of them really were very creative with ideas since they’d only ever had a frat party at the end of their academy years and unable to get drunk like the other guys left a few handful of the group sober while others were either getting sick or passing out by the end of the night. Riley and the other two ended up playing console games on the TV all night until they got bored and left for their routine patrol that started at about 2 in the morning.
Other then parties from when they were just kids it was hard to rely on experience for ideas, though the thought of a dress up party had its humour and with comments on Forrest going in a gorilla suit was more then enough to set Riley off into another fit of laughter. With a shoulder resting against the door to help support him Riley momentarily lost balance as it suddenly pulled away when Catherine unlocked it on the other side and opened the door. A quick grasp from Forrest had Riley supported and more sure on his feet by the time Catherine fully opened the door.
With shoes and socks having been removed earlier when Riley had put his feet into the pool, it meant he was bare foot and as of yet no one noticed he hadn’t grabbed them up when he picked up his jeans. Just because the alcohol evaporated faster in Graham and Forrests systems didn’t mean they were completely as sober as they felt and their focus was a little off, and more-so for Forrest as he had a fair bit to drink and it was dark and Graham just wanted to get Riley back in bed. Shivering as Riley faced Catherine, a grin plastered on his face despite how cold he looked, there was a thrill of excitement as she stood there, Riley just glade she came and part of him wanted to do something with her, something fun, he didn’t care what… in half hour he’d likely to start getting tired and an hour or two he’d pass out and remain dead to the world till no sooner then lunchtime, but for right there and then he felt so energized and he didn’t want to sleep, he could take on the world and run a hundred miles and all Hank’s warnings to take it wasy went entirely out the window. The demand was still striking and direct, making it sound as if Riley was in trouble and yet at the same time he looked almost amused by her stance and the authority she had displayed. A shaky hand raised to salute her in amusement while he stepped in through the threshold of the doorway.
"Right then, well catch you guys later, see if you can organize anything next weekend and we’ll be there Rye.” Graham added before saying his ‘bye’ and turning to head back to his car, Forrest waved and Riley turned about and raised his arm to wave back as his friends left, his voice raising unnecessarily to call out to them.
"Yep! Bye!" The slightly muddy smeared arm lowered again and he drew them close to his front, the pool itself hadn’t been so cold as the cleaning system doubled as a heating system and while it wasn’t on high like during the day when students were more likely to use it, the water was still a lukewarm temperature and it seemed far more pleasant in there then out here in the cold. The mud was colder then the pool, though Forrest got dirtied up so it was easy to see that Riley and Forrest had gotten up to something that the still clean Graham avoided. The showers which fell randomly all the day helped dampen the soil but at least it wasn’t too sloppy!
"Shhh! Bye!" the call back from Forrest was in gest as he was laughing as he placed his finger over his lips, which Riley mimicked with a laugh of his own, and his stomach started aching from all the laughing and for some reason that in itself was also funny to Riley.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
Elegantly arched eyebrows gathered in a frown as she watched his mocking salute. She'd been drunk too many times herself not to interpret the signs in Riley. The slightly slurred words, fuzzy expression in his hazel eyes and unsteady movements. Cat couldn't help feeling disapproving that Forest and Graham would return him to the school in this state ... without even his shoes!!! Her eyes widened as she took in his bare feet, where had they left his shoes? She fought back a momentary worry that he was shoeless because some girl ... no... hussy had removed them. Surely he'd be more likely to loose his pants that way rather than his shoes.
"Right then, well catch you guys later, see if you can organize anything next weekend and we’ll be there Rye.” Shooting a black look at Riley who was mockingly saluting her and another at the boys who were beating a hasty retreat now she'd arrived. That was just perfect, they were just going to run off and abandon her with her intoxicated ex.
"Yep! Bye!" Taking hold of Riley's arm she tried to pull him over the threshold of the Institute, ignoring the Forests reply to Riley's goodbye. Making an impatient noise she tried tugging harder, but he seemed overly amused with something. She didn't mind being with people who were drunk as long as she'd been drinking too, but it just wasn't amusing when you didn't get what was funny.
'Riley... come inside' Her feet were getting cold and she was beginning to loose patience. She didn't want to have to explain to someone like Doctor McCoy why she was in her dressing gown at one in the morning letting in a drunken man who was supposed to be a teacher.
ooc: Sorry, I wanted it to be longer, but I've run out of time, I've got to go to bed now since I'm on the early shift tomorrow!!
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
As Riley watched the retreat of his friends it took a moment longer to realize that he was now standing with Catherine's hands laced about his arm. The first reaction was that she was attempting some form of affection in her touch but the way Catherine tugged at him made even his foggy mind rethink things. The laughter dwindled down to a flow of chuckles and half restrained giggles before Riley was finally able to let out a deep breath and restrained himself as best as he could.
'Riley... come inside' He was coming! Why Catherine to was tugging him about baffled Riley but in yet another amused way which caused more soft laughs while he gently petted her hand with his other hand, his fingers icy cold and shivers still sending shakes through his body. She was so cute the way she tried to drag him around, maybe she was a little jealous he had been with Forrest and Graham instead of her and she was just eager to get him away from them? The idea would have been a relatively absurd notion if he hadn't been intoxicate but for now it remained highly plausable and it felt really nice to think along those lines.
"Ease up Kitty-Cat," It sounded like he was about to chuckle again, his voice soft and his smile bright, flopping the jean sover his shoulder Riley freed both his hands and reached for the towel to take from her. "Always trying to push me around you are, at least there aren't any pillows to strike me with this time." Another chuckle given as the towel was wrapped about his body, the ends of which though held in his hands, his fight fists drawing the ends of the towel to his front as he still shivered. Damp spiked hair produced a few drops that slowly dripped down his face, which were ignored much like the rest of the water, leaving a light trail of wet foot prints as he shifted around.
"Unless you want to do something?" Riley asked eagerly, drawing back towards her with an unsteady step that caused him to sway a little to the side slightly, the swift return of balance only causing him to laugh again..Which made him crouch a little, his hands holding themselves firmly against his stomach with the ends of the towel clutched in his fingers. During this he noticed his shoes and the fact that he was now without his drink and recalled they all must still be down by the pool, drawing a groan from the slightly older youth as he remembered it.
"...Damn, I left my things by the pool," Another round of laughter seemed to resonate in his chest though he had to try hard to contain it as he was speaking. "I left my shoes." This seemed highly amusing he looked as if he was having trouble standing with the effort he put into both laughing and trying to stop at the same time.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
There didn't seem to be much of a response to her gentle urging, Riley was too occupied with watching his friends leave. Why did he have to get himself into this state tonight? She had to go into work tomorrow morning and the last thing she wanted was to turn up looking and feeling haggard from lack of sleep.
Finally he responded to her, his drunken eyes turning to look down at her smaller frame. "Ease up Kitty-Cat," Cat made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat in response. God knows why he was finding this funny... she just wanted to get him inside and into bed in the quickest time possible... Into bed as in him getting into bed, not them getting into bed she told herself whilst struggling to keep a faint blush from rising into her cheeks.
"Always trying to push me around you are, at least there aren't any pillows to strike me with this time." There was a small smile in recognition of the other night when he'd come to her room to watch video's with him. She'd rather unsuccessfully tried to initiate a pillow fight with him... not that him tickling her instead had been in any manner unpleasant.
"Unless you want to do something?" Her eyes rolled slightly as she watched the older man double up with laughter, feeling irritated that his friends thought they could just get him drunk and abandon him upon her whilst they went home. It should be them dragging Riley back up to his dorm room not her. "...Damn, I left my things by the pool," Catherine darted swiftly around his large frame and had the door locked before he'd commented about his shoes. She was dammed if she was waiting around for him to go wandering barefoot around the grounds looking for his shoes which in all probability weren't even at the pool. Slipping the key into the large pocket of her dressing gown she turned to face him, drawing herself up to her full height.
'Riley... you can get your shoes tomorrow, were going up to bed now.' She reddened at the words the moment she realised how they might sound to him.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
It was so cold here, even up in Washington whilst it had been snowing he hadn’t felt this cold! The chill was causing Goosebumps, creating shivers, numbing his skin with an icy feel, the trickling of water only worsening the situation. The towel was warmer then the measly shirt and briefs he had, both of which were soaked through at the moment, and his damp jeans were icy to the touch and he had no desire to even try and slip them back on, he was cold enough as it was!!
There was a sudden movement from Catherine that almost seemed blurred by Riley, and she vanished entirely from his peripheral vision which was far more limited now due to the level of alcohol in his system. Distraction stopped Riley from turning around for the moment as he struggled with his footing, staring down at the pool of water forming about his bare feet which was making the floor beneath him slippery. A misstep and he could fall, though the thought was only half way recognized before yet again he was distracted, this time however by Catherine’s voice.
'Riley... you can get your shoes tomorrow, we’re going up to bed now.' There was an unsteady movement as Riley looked up from the ground, his feet slipping a little despite not trying to even walk yet. A glance over his shoulder was given to stare at Catherine, her petit form standing firm where she had just recently scooted about to, and with awkward balance Riley half turned towards her, the gleam of laughter fading away from his features as swiftly as the energy also seemed to drain away.
"That isn’t fair." A hand raise, the corner of the towel still in its grasp though a finger pointed out, his serious tone trying to drive while his body seemed an unwilling passenger. "I didn’t call you for that," But that’s what she thought obviously, he was just sexed up and eager, expecting her to apparently be on call whenever he wanted, well, if that had been the case they’d hardly have spent a night apart! Careful steps were made to move off towards the stairs, she had insisted they go to the rooms now and part of Riley was responding to the order regardless of his attempt at speaking. "I’ve been very good." And he’d throw a fit if anyone said otherwise! "I’ve given you space, and time…I’m waiting." There was a nod as Riley began to climb the stairs, his phone still clutched in his right hand with the edge of the towel also entangled in his hold. "Like when you organized our room… I know we talked about it, and I wanted it, but you did it, and so that made it better…so, if I be good, you can decide when you are ready." The way his voice lowered slightly sounded as if he was mostly talking to himself, not quiet enough to go unheard but still in a way that seemed to exclude her from the conversation.
Fumbling feet dropped Riley awkwardly to the stairs, his phone hitting the stair but by luck managing to remain intact as hands supported his fall, an almost stiff motion had him shift to sitting down on the steps, the phone left on the step beside him as his hands drew the towel about his front. There was a groan as he leaned back, and closed his eyes, nothing seemed straight, the ground itself seemed to be shifting beneath his feet.
"I can’t walk." He sound almost exhausted and defeated by the tone of voice that came, though a chuckle lightened his expression as he found it relatively amusing that he had such difficulties with it. "It wasn’t this cold when we were in the snow…I liked the snow.." He decided, not thinking about how it had been the drugs his entire life that effected his body to a degree that even temperature changes were numbed by his body.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio"That isn’t fair." Ignoring the movement of his hand she wondered what he was talking about? That it wasn't fair that she wouldn't let him go wandering around the school grounds in the dead of night, wet through looking for his shoes? Or that she'd locked the door? Either way she wasn't about to give into him. Catherine had no intentions of wandering around the gardens in the middle of the night looking for a drunk man's shoes. "I didn’t call you for that," Brown eyes rolled slightly as she pretended to humour him, trying not to let the irritation she felt show on her face.
Catherine didn't suspect that he'd taken her words the wrong way, in his present state she'd have expected him to blush and make some direct comment to it. She followed him as he began to make his way over towards the wide, sweeping staircase which led to the upper floors of the school.
"I’ve been very good." Standing at the bottom of the stairs she eyed her ex who was standing a step or so above her. It wasn't a question, but she felt as if she should give him some sort of answer. "I’ve given you space, and time…I’m waiting." The colour drained from her face as she realised what he was trying to tell her... he was waiting... for her...
The paleness disappeared the next moment as a furious blush rose across her cheeks. She'd hoped and prayed something like this might happen ... but she’d never really thought it would. That she should be allowed another chance with Riley. "Like when you organized our room… I know we talked about it, and I wanted it, but you did it, and so that made it better…so, if I be good, you can decide when you are ready." She didn't know where to look ... the floor, the stairs, over at the banister, anywhere but at Riley. Her manner openly hesitant, half of her wanting to grab him by the arm and rush him up to her dormitory room, the other part knowing full well she wasn't ready for an intimate relationship with Riley. She just wanted to take things slowly with him and try not to repeat any of the mistakes she'd made before. Catherine knew she wanted to be with Riley, but she didn't know if she was ready too be with a man again after everything that had happened to her over the past six months.
Shooting a shy glance at him she watched as he slumped down into a sitting position on the stairs. Her hands nervously played with the end of the material cord which held her dressing gown done up. She needed time to get used to the idea that Riley still liked her, and to work out what she was going to do about it. Cat decided that tonight she'd just concentrate on getting Riley into bed, after all trying to discuss their relationship with a drunken man wasn't going to get her anywhere.
"I can’t walk." His tone reminded her of her own voice when she got sulky, the thought made her blush in the darkness. She was glad of the cover of darkness, it made it difficult for Riley to see the effect that his words had had upon her. "It wasn’t this cold when we were in the snow…I liked the snow.."
Taking his elbow in her hand she tried tugging at him in an attempt to get him back up on his feet again. 'Riley... if you don't get up I'll have to go and fetch Doctor McCoy.' She hoped that the gentle threat would be all that was needed to get Riley back onto his feet again. He was too heavy for her to carry and she wasn't going to leave him sitting in only his pants in the middle of the hall. What if one of the younger students came past?
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am):Under The Influence of Human Emotion
There was a groan as her hands yet again took hold of Riley's arm, his skin undoubtedly cold to her touch and yet the warm hands of hers almost sent shivers down Riley's spine. Dazed eyes looked up at her, the pretty face half lost in shadow,he didn't want to move, though he'd not mind going back out... or he was feeling peckish..maybe a swing by the kitchen?
'Riley... if you don't get up I'll have to go and fetch Doctor McCoy.' That got Riley's attention and the name cut through the fog of alcohol like a brick hitting water. She wouldn't do that! Hazel eyes peered up at her.
"Nooo." He prolonged the word in an almost groaning fashion that was rather unlike his usual self. "I'll probably get expelled for breathing without supervision." The sarcasm was wrapped into his words yet more of a sigh then malicious retort. The hand free of Catherine's grasp petted the step about his feet in search of the phone, giving another protesting groan as he stood up.
"Can you hold this, I've lost my pockets." The phone was guided into her hands by his larger, colder ones, his path unsteady as they moved resulted in him walking gently into her. "Thank you!" For all Riley knew after he slipped it into her hand she could have tossed the thing off over her head and he'd not have noticed. Too busy in hugging the towel close to his front and then tucking his head down to let his hands partially try and rubbed the corners of the towel over his hair to try and dry it off a little. The attempt caused Riley to lose all sense of direction for a few steps and he swerved off to the side.
Riley gave up though looked a little disorientated as he glanced about for Catherine, who was now on the otherside of him. He wondered what she was all worked up about, tugging at him all the time, carrying on as if they coudln't sit in one spot for too long.. She was acting awefully odd, but that didn't matter, she could be as nutty as a nut and he'd still love her. Which reminds him...
"You know... it's the anniversary of the first day I every met you, in.." There was a pause for him to try and calculate when the 23rd of April was in comparison to the current date.. it was surprisingly difficult. "..a..few weeks.. can I give you a present? Well.. I have to give it to you coz it's not mine.. it's yours but I can't give it to you yet.. and you can't give it back, coz it's not mine." His attention seemed to wander off for the moment though he continued speaking. "I'd gotten it from home.. it was for you but I couldn't give it to you and since then there's.. trouble.. so I couldn't give it to you since then either." It was a gift from his great grandmother, a sort of welcome into the family gift from her to Catherine who was having the child of her great grandson. The old locket played a lovely lullaby when opened with a place for a cropped photo on the inside of the lid. Though Riley didn't realize he was rambling on and not making the clearest of sense but one would hardly xpect him to in his state.
Martha's grand mother gave it to Riley in the hospital but Riley never managed to find the time to give it to Catherine and he's just stowed it away with her ring in a small box in his bed side draw. The gold ring that was his though had her name engraved inside the band still hang about his neck as always though beneath his clothes to keep it hidden. Sometimes he contemplated placing both rings on the chain Catherine had gotten him for his present but it wasn't his ring to wear.. it was hers and only hers and if she would not wear it then it would remain unworn by any other.
"It's a secret though so you can't tell.. well you'd know but you're not meant to know, it's a surprise and I'm keeping it with your ring till the 23rd when I surprise you." Finishing off with a nod, he had no idea what he was on about now, off on his own little trail off thoughts that he hardly realized he was saying everything but what exactly the item was for now and he'd be upset if he realized he was ruining his own surprise, not that he thought about it a lot but time in med bay allowed for some heavy thinking.. what with the extreme bordem and all. A soft humming came from Riley once he finished speaking, random tunes finding their way into his head, different lyrics that he'd been listening to all week replying softly in the back of his mind since they started walking by the stairs.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am):Under The Influence of Human Emotion
There wasn't really any other option other than to threaten him? She had no intention of spending her Saturday night on the cold steps of the Institute because that was what her intoxicated ex chose to do. However if she was going to choose any teacher to come and escort Riley to bed she wouldn't have picked Hank, she didn't quite like the idea of waking him up in the middle of the night. But the doctor's name had the desired effect upon Riley who's gaze flew to her as she spoke.
"Nooo." She rather wished that her mutant power focused around lifting heavy objects, then she would have had no difficulty in getting Riley back to the team dorms. Fighting back the desire to tap one foot upon the floor in an impatient gesture she listened as he continued talking. "I'll probably get expelled for breathing without supervision." Cat felt she could sympathise with him there, she found Hank to be stricter than she liked and he had no hesitance in reprimanding her if the occasion required it.
Why did he have to be drunk? If he wasn't they could have discussed what he'd just said about waiting for her, but then she supposed that if he was sober he wouldn't have told her. Perhaps she should discuss things with Charlie, her friend often had a good deal more common sense than Catherine and had dated more people. That was it... tomorrow after work she'd tell Charlotte about things and see what her opinion was.
Her attention flicked back to the tall man as he clambered unsteadily to his feet, his hands stretching out for hers as he shoved his phone into her hands. Catherine found herself blushing slightly at the contact. "Can you hold this, I've lost my pockets." He was cute, when he was drunk she decided... and completely hopeless. She pocketed the phone along side the front door key she was carrying.
"You know... it's the anniversary of the first day I every met you, in.." .... "I'd gotten it from home.. it was for you but I couldn't give it to you and since then there's.. trouble.. so I couldn't give it to you since then either." She'd not really given much thought to the fact that she'd been at the Institute for almost a year, the time seemed to have flown past. The thought of him wanting to give her a gift caused the colour to rise into her cheeks yet again. It wasn't often that she was given presents... and like most women she rather liked the idea. Catherine found herself wondering what it was that he planned on giving her. She hazarded a guess that he'd tell her if she asked but she'd rather it was a surprise.
"It's a secret though so you can't tell.. well you'd know but you're not meant to know, it's a surprise and I'm keeping it with your ring till the 23rd when I surprise you." She felt awful ... as though she'd come upon the gift by accident and ruined his surprise. What was she going to do? If he remembered what he'd said in the morning he'd be really upset and if he didn't she supposed she'd have to pretend that she didn't know he'd got a gift for her. Little was she to know what the future held and that in a couple of weeks she would no longer be living at the Institute.
'I sharn't say anything Riley... will you come up to bed? ... please.' Her voice was unusually soft and gentle from the shadows of darkness. Moonlight slanted down across her arm, turning her skin to glowing ivory as she held out her hand to Riley, waiting for him to take it, so she could lead him back upstairs to her room.
ooc: I would have liked to have written a little more but it's bedtime (yawns and waddles off to find Nicholas Nickleby)
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
'I sharn't say anything Riley... will you come up to bed? ... please.' Riley’s humming softened slightly from the distraction of her comment, his eyes returning to her, struggling to remain focused on anything particular for any length of time. So long since the last time she held out her hand for him, so long since he felt close and comfortable, and yet here she was, reaching out for him, waiting… beckoning. There was almost a cautious air about him, want being beaten back by unseen pain, he’s always been much too keen and here she was, calling him to bed, it didn’t make sense!
You know what? This had to be a dream! One of those realistic dreams, he’s gone and fallen asleep somewhere and his mind is just playing things out as it always did. That had to be it, right? He did feel rather off at the moment… things did seem blurry after all. Fingers reached out timidly for her hand, his hazel eyes dropped to watch as his finger tips touched her hand, something so affectionate in the caution of the hand as it brushed against her skin. Catherine definitely felt real, soft.. warm, especially against his still cold hand.. silken to the touch, god he missed her so much.
As Riley’s fingers took a gentle hold of her hand he seemed to give an anxious laugh, half having expected her to just vanish the instant he took hold of her, perhaps he’d wake up in a cold sweat or worse all worked up, alone in his bed, swallowed by an emptiness that echoed around him. For now he’d let Catherine guide them towards her room, he’d follow obediently and not stray from her side, not intentionally anyway, his walk would be off balance and wobbly at times.
"I didn’t lie to you," When he had told her he was orphaned, he wasn’t lying, he twisted the truth slightly but that side there was also the memory of his parents dying, two different ones, and so there was a two out of three chance that the real memory was one which they had passed away. Not that Catherine would have any idea what he was randomly choosing to say, and as quickly as the rogue thought came it seemed to slip away. "People don’t like me…" There was a casual tone to his voice however lacking emotion at the same time. "I mean, fair enough, that’s their right, sometimes I don’t like me, but I have my reasons, and you have your reasons, and they have their reasons… but what reason does Ben have?" Riley’s memories were messed up, but not his earliest childhood or the last year of recovery. Those memories were his own, untouched by the Initiative and in the early years Riley’s cousin had doubled as a best friend, even if they started growing apart as far as interests go when they hit thirteen. Ben got caught up in girls and Riley got caught up on helping around the farm, but they had fun, they always had fun, out of everyone Ben was one of the only guys who would make the trip to Riley’s farm regularly which meant a sacrifice of Ben’s entire weekend most of the time.
"I remember when we were younger, we got on great, best friends…now I’m a mutant and he hates me." There was a touch of bitterness at his comment, most likely however Catherine would not click that Riley was saying he was a mutant instead of pretending to be one, it still hadn’t come up in any conversation and Riley was waiting for the weekend once he recovered properly. Things kept going wrong and he didn’t want to be laying down weak and fragile when he told her about Hank’s findings, though Riley had told Catherine there was something important he wanted to tell her, but would wait for a few days till he got better. At least that way he could say he really did have intentions to tell her should she somehow discover it before he told her.
"I have a degree that gives me the right to legally say he’s screwed up." There was a pause, because he started laughing, not entirely at his own comment but at the reaction he could imagine Ben making at having Riley make such a comment.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
ooc: This may be a short reply cause I've got a TV programme on in half an hour and I can't get my video to record.
She heard him laugh as he slipped his hand into her smaller one. The sound surprised her, it wasn't often that Riley laughed, the thought made her wonder if perhaps he should drink more often. Not that their lives had afforded them much to be joyful about in the past few months.
"I didn’t lie to you," Dark eyes, looking almost black in the darkness regarded him? Lie to her? She couldn't remember a time she'd ever suspected that Riley had lied to her. As it was, it didn't seem likely that she would find out what he was talking about as he branched off to discuss something else. "People don’t like me…" That was their loss as far as Catherine could see. Perhaps some guys didn't like him, but then some men felt threatened by men who were more attractive than they were. "I mean, fair enough, that’s their right, sometimes I don’t like me, but I have my reasons, and you have your reasons, and they have their reasons… but what reason does Ben have?" Her first thought upon hearing the name Ben was to attribute it to his team mate. She felt a wave of indignant anger bubble up inside her, her mind instantly wondering what Ben had said to him.
"I remember when we were younger, we got on great, best friends…now I’m a mutant and he hates me." It suddenly clicked that he was talking about his cousin rather than his team mate. The resentment she felt towards Ben dwindled, to be replaced by the other dislike of Riley's cousin that she'd acquired during her trip to Iowa. "I have a degree that gives me the right to legally say he’s screwed up." Pulling him up the stairs behind her, she directed her words behind her, to Riley.
'Thats just because some people don't like mutants.' She didn't want to talk about Ben, and she definitely didn't want to think about him ... he was connected rather too much with a time in her life she'd rather forget. The wood beneath her feet felt cool to the touch, reminding her of the soft, warm nest of blankets she'd left behind in her dorm room.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
It seemed he was being lead along now and Riley stumbled slightly as he tried to follow her pace up the stairs. So much rush to Catherine's movements, Riley wasn't really sure why but he let her tug him along anyway and he was bothered by the attention given to him from her just now.
'Thats just because some people don't like mutants.' The retort came almost bitterly and Riley didn't reply to it right away, instead he kept quiet and tried to focus on not tripping over. There was a time where Catherine hated mutants, and back then he seemed to have comforted her with the fact that he wasn't a mutant.. but that wasn't true any more, not from what Dr McCoy was saying.
Sticking to Catherine's heels Riley seemed to fall into a distracted and quieter mode, growing slightly more tired as the alcohols high started wearing down, slowly but surely as it always does. The comment Catherine had last spoken left Riley thinking... both towards the fact that she really didn't sound happy and with the timid desire to see if Catherine was still one of those people who disliked mutancy. The year had seen her progression in quite a few ways but Riley couldn't be sure of anything withoug doubt due to Catherine's inconsistancy with remaining at the school.
The walk was blurred in Riley's mind and by the time they arrived to her dorm he had randomly burst into soft chuckles and displeased mumbles on at least three different occasions. The slightly older youth's body seemed to draw rather close to Catherine's as she fiddled for her key and he didn't swagger off from her side even as he was guided to her room. He gave shiver whilst wrapping the towel firmer about his shoulders now as the two entered Catherine's room, Riley's stomach felt a bit queasy, however his eyes were caught upon Catherine's bed.. There was enough room, not the most spacious of beds but hardly tiny, Catherine had not invited him over to share her bed for the night while she'd been in this room.. It felt both strangely daunting and thrilling at the same time..
"You won't care if I'm a mutant?" Torn between a statement and a question, Riley's voice sounded tired, his body stepping back a few feet to rest against the wall, tense from the cold and lightly shaking, the vague stammer effecting his already slightly slurred words.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
Feeling a lot happier now they'd left the dark hall behind them she relaxed slightly, her pace slowing down from her hurried walk. Questions would be easier to answer if anyone bumped into them near the dorms. Cat glanced back at Riley, suddenly wondering how she'd explain him being soaked through and half undressed. So long as Hank didn't find them wandering around semi dressed she wouldn't mind too much. After all his talks with her on using contraceptive she'd rather not stir up any further questions into her personal life.
Riley's team dorm was opposite hers, so it was only the work of an instant to reach over and try the handle of the entrance. It was locked, she presumed that he'd misplaced all his keys since he kept them together. Instead she turned the handle of her own dorm rooms, it swung open without resistance. She'd not locked it again after herself when she'd left only a few minutes ago to collect her ex.
Holding a finger up to her lips in a gesture for him to be quiet she silently led him passed the rooms of her other team mates. There were no lights under any of the doors so she presumed they were all in bed.... just where she wished she could be.
Thankfully Riley seemed to be obeying the quiet command as he made no effort to talk to her until she'd opened and locked her door, drawing him into the room after her. She'd left her bedside lamp on, casting a soft light over the rather messy room. Cat glanced at him and then away at the room, feeling slightly uncomfortable at him seeing her room this messy ... she couldn't account for the feeling as he'd been in her room many times before when it had looked like this. Yet all of a sudden she felt suddenly like an unclean person having it this messy.
She disappeared off into the small ensuit which the school provided for all students in team dorms, picking up the large cream towel which was hanging over a chrome bar. Catherine heard Riley talking as she moved about, waiting until she walked back into the room she spoke in reply.
'Of course I wouldn't mind.' In her mind she'd decided that the slightly slurred sentence was a question. It had never occurred to her that Riley might be a carrier of mutant genes. Not that it would really have bothered her, she often forgot that Riley wasn't a mutant since she was surrounded by them on a daily basis. She never really thought of him as being a human, though Catherine wasn't really one to make that distinction anymore. To her humans and mutants were just people, people who were better categorised into those who were good and those who were not.
ooc: Sorry it's lame, but I'm shattered and I just want to sleep (curls up on computer chair)
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio-feels horribly sick and lounges around, doing Rye post before waddling off to watch anime Josh sent her-
Where Riley's room looked bare and more often then not almost unlived in, Catherine always seemed to have more things on the floor then in their shelves or draws. It never bothered Riley yet, when they had lived together even if just briefly Riley had picked up after her and they never got into any fights like he and Forrest had, but then again Riley had spent a far longer time with Forrest then he had been with Catherine and there was always the chance he just hadn't worn down her patience yet.
There was no annoyance in Riley when it came to dealing with Catherine's mess, he didn't care at all, if anything he missed it, the loose items scattered around that reminded Riley that he wasn't alone, she was close by and always near. As Catherine walked off while Riley spoke half of him wanted to follow and the other half found that his feet wouldn't move. There was a groan from him but at that point Riley wasn't bothering with following his highly desired young woman and merely started removing the icy cold items still wet against his skin. The black briefs were clumsily wiggled off and the slightly damp towel only hastily attempted to dry the moister from his chilled legs.
All Catherine would have seen as she walked back towards Riley were his hands securing the towel around his waist, a tired smile came easily to his lips as the undeveloped mutant fumbled for the base of his t-shirt.
'Of course I wouldn't mind.' A chuckle came from Riley as he unsteadily leaned back against the wall, "Great." He seemed to struggle a moment with his shirt, wiggling a little and then leaning forward to try and peel it off, he wasn't doing the best job simpley because he wasn't pulling at it correctly. "But don't tell anyone just yet, I wanted to tell you first, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." There was a grunt made as the shirt was finally pulled off, his sense of balance was lost though and he stumbled sideways a few steps before his legs seemed to just fold beneath him and send him down into a kneeling position on the floor. "Dr McCoy says we just have to wait and see.." His arm shook for a moment, the shirt caught and wrapped about his arm and hand, there was a laugh again as he meekly waved his hand in a useless attempt to get the shirt off. It was really very easy, the water helped it wrap around but it was hardly glueing the thing in place and Riley shaking his hand about was what wrapped it about his hand in the first place.
Finally the shirt was discarded, right beside the briefs, not something he'd usually do with wet clothes, he always hanged them in the bathroom, if it was late he'd just drap it wherever but other then that he'd unfold a clothes rack and let them dry on it. His fingers went to fiddling with the chain about his neck, straightening the ring and centring it, though leaving his hand clasped about the large of the two rings they once shared.
"We should go get Katie and take her for a walk," There was a strong shiver which Riley partially ignored, petting the ground as he raised his voice a little. "Walkies." There was a pause before a mumbled "oh yeah.." came, his eyes scanning the room again remembering that Katie wouldn't be in here with them if this was Catherines room.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
ooc: Hope you feel better soon!! *Hands you a nice Riley posty instead of a bag of grapes*
One hand rested on the dark wood of the door, her gaze lingering upon her ex, moving over his muscular legs, watching as he used the towel to dry himself. The corner of her lips curved in a slight smirk, feeling a smug satisfaction at the knowledge that many girls in the school would have given a lot to be in her position right now. She wondered what they'd think when the rumours that Riley had spent the night in her room started to spread. Catherine had no doubt that they would, trying to keep anything secret at the school was nigh on impossible.
The young woman let her hand slide over the wood as she moved further into her room, her hands holding the soft creamy towel in their grasp. "Great." Her lips curved further as he responded to her words. Cat's eyes which until now had been gazing at his face dropped lower, catching sight of the boxers lying discarded upon her floor. A furious blush spread out over her cheeks, making her face burn... she'd not expected him to start getting undressed in her presence!! Struggling to look no lower than his midriff she held the towel out towards him. She didn't want him to think she was checking him out.
"But don't tell anyone just yet, I wanted to tell you first, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." Catherine didn't really understand what he was talking about, not picking up on the fact he was trying to tell her he was a mutant. Her brow furrowed slightly, taking another step closer towards him and motioning for him to take the rectangle of material from her. Riley, however, seemed more interested in getting his top off than in drying himself.
She wondered what she was supposed to do with him? He could sleep in her bed... but then where was she to sleep tonight? Her eyes moved over towards the door which led to the common room. Making a makeshift bed for herself on the couch was the only thing she could think of, though she was loath to give up her bed. She couldn't let herself think that Riley might want her to share her bed with her and it wouldn't be fair to let him make that decision while he was drunk.
"Dr McCoy says we just have to wait and see.." What was he talking about now? she thought, half moving forwards as if she were about to help him off with his shirt. Before she had the opportunity he managed to wrestle his top off him, though in the process he half fell onto her floor. Cat found herself hoping he wasn't kneeling on anything breakable. She watched as he dropped the top onto the floor beside his pants... it was an action that was very out of character for him, emphasising the effect the alcohol was having upon him.
"We should go get Katie and take her for a walk .... Walkies .... oh yeah.." The pretty young mutant dropped gracefully to her knees before him. Her hands reached out with the towel, rubbing the fabric gently over his shoulders and back. There was a tenderness to her touch and expression which seemed almost alien to her face. She'd never really felt comfortable enough around him to do something as simple as this. But some of his slurred sentences had touched and softened her heart.
Catherine's quick eyes saw he was wearing a necklace, though what was on it was obscured by his large hands. She stretched out her fingers, running them down the chain, gently pulling the golden stand free from his grasp. The cool metal of the rings felt like a shock to her system. Her eyes stared down at the rings for several seconds before her brain began to function again. She'd no idea he still had these rings, even less that he kept them on him. Catherine felt a confused swirl of emotions race through her. 'Oh Riley.' The sadly spoken words seemed to hang in the air between them.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
The alcohol high was waning thin in his system but sleep was not yet there, the buzz to run in circles had faded to be replaced by a calmer mood. Near on impossible for anything else really as Catherine appeared beside him, her body sunk to her knees and her arms reached for him, the warmth of the dry towel brushing against his toned shoulders. The touch was uncommon, if not completely new… his breathing soothed, hazel eyes closed lightly, the cold skin tingled with a few more minor shivers while the towel moved to his back. The tired gaze flickered open, looking over her delicate face before closing again, content for once in quite a while, though the sensation of this being a dream only grew stronger, but felt too real to be consciously thought at this point.
Her fingers brushed against Riley’s, which slowly loosened their grasp about the treasure he kept close to his heart. However Riley wasn’t thinking of that as he let his fingers uncurl, letting them return the touch of Catherine’s hand, even if she had just being trying to see what he had attempted to hide from her. There seemed a stillness to Catherine now however, even Riley’s dazed mind could pick up on it, his eyes opened again, her dark stare acutely focused at the base of his neck.
'Oh Riley.' The words were so sensitive, possibly a tinge of sorrow etched into her words… he didn’t want Catherine to take them off him, the rings were his, and if she didn’t want to wear one then he’d take care of it, Dawn said if Catherine saw he was still clinging to the rings then she’d get angry with him for being such a child. Not to mention the collection of paintings he did which involved her somehow… Dawn was so adamant that Catherine would freak out, Riley had to believe her, he was hopeless with relationships in his mind and as far as he cared anyone else knew better then him and he’d listen to his friends even if they were just saying things because they were angry. The thing with the rings however was a sensitive matter with Riley… he knew they were his and Catherine’s, and he knew Catherine discarded it because that was mentioned in a diary entry, but there was no mention of who gave the rings in the first place, if they did it together or if one of them did it. The engraving of their names and the double hearts joined by an arrow made it bluntly clear that these rings had been a gift of affection and it made Riley strong whenever he found himself alone and distant from Catherine yet needing her support.
"I just need a piece," The larger hands recoiled to the once hidden golden bands which hang from the Christmas chain Catherine had gotten him, his voice soft and slightly pained "It doesn’t hurt as much if I just have a piece for when you’re gone." Didn’t she understand? None of the others seemed to but they weren’t her, they wouldn’t have an idea what was going on, Catherine had to understand, she had to know he wasn’t coping… Surely she had to know, it felt as if his world was crumbling for the last year, the ground, the walls, the sky the very air he breathed, all falling apart as massive changes continued to occur like a domino effect, one after another and the pace just as fluid and quick.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio"I just need a piece," A piece of what? She didn't really understand what he was trying to tell her. Catherine let the slender golden chain slip from between her fingers. Her eyes watched the rings as they swung back to rest against Riley's toned chest. There was an overwhelming desire just to wrap her arms around her ex and draw him to her, but she fought back the feelings. This time she wanted to think things through properly before jumping into a relationship. She was sure that them not taking their time getting to know one another properly was at the route of them splitting up so often. Or rather the route of her breaking up with all the time, she wanted to get used to relying upon Riley rather than simply pushing him away whenever things turned ugly in their lives.
"It doesn’t hurt as much if I just have a piece for when you’re gone." A piece of her? There was such a look of pain and confusion in his befuddled eyes that she couldn't hold his gaze. She'd put that expression on to his face, his suffering was her doing. Catherine rocked back onto her heels, her eyes looking down at the soft blue folds of her robes.
'I'm so sorry... I didn't m...' But she couldn't finish the sentence, she had meant to hurt him. She'd wanted him to feel the pain she felt, to be drawn into the dark pit she felt closing in around her. How could she tell him she hadn't meant to hurt him when she so obviously had. One hand lifted to her brow, rubbing against her edge of one elegantly curved eyebrow, fighting back tears which threatened to fall from her eyes. She'd not only ruined her own life with her destructive manner... but she'd destroyed Riley's too.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
(bleh… hope this is ok and doesn’t upset things too much.)
The rings were his way of holding Catherine, his way of speaking to her, his way of having her near, it didn’t matter how distant she was, even when physically the girl was right next to him there were times where he felt he couldn’t reach her. But as long as he had the rings close enough to touch then he was safe, he felt secure in knowing there was a moment where things seemed perfect.
'I'm so sorry... I didn't m...' Was she sad? Catherine sounded sad, the tone lured Riley’s eyes to lift and stare at her face, her slender hand had moved to obscure it from his sight. Why? Was she upset he still had the rings or was she upset for some other reason? What other reason though? Was Dawn right, is this Catherine freaking out? Dawn had said he should put them away and move on, Angela hadn’t, the blonde had even gotten them gold tags with both their nicknames one them for a Christmas present to replace the silver Initiative tags, Riley gave one to Catherine and kept the other one but he never saw her wear hers…he didn’t even know if she took it with her or not when she left the farm.
The fact Catherine also said she was sorry was a change, one Riley knew was important and yet his ability to focus was strangely blurred and he was only just realizing how difficult it was to try and stick on a serious topic. Another shiver rippled through him and Riley was drawn towards the new towel Catherine held, discarding the now damp one as it only increased the chill he felt. The larger hand released the rings and reached to let the tips of his fingers brush against the back of Catherine’s hand that covered her features, he wanted to make her happy, he was so tired of seeing her hurting. The phone made a humming noise, signalling a message was received, one from Graham just saying goodnight again and hoping everything went all, the silver phone had dropped to the floor earlier when Riley tripped down. However Riley seemed to ignore the phone entirely.
"I don’t want you to leave," The palms of Riley’s hands rested on the floor, one of Catherine’s discarded socks was barely felt beneath his hand as the slightly older youth, "But I don’t want you to be unhappy either." His voice sounded off, his eyes closing for moments at a time and his body looking clumsier then even before. One hand tugged at the end of the towel, drawing it towards his lap, as if trying to cover himself so she wouldn’t notice while at the same time not realizing Catherine would have bluntly noted the fact he was undressed. "There’s so much I don’t understand… people kept dying… I made so many shallow graves. Then I met you and I never had to bury anyone since then… I know you’re hurting, and it makes you angry, but when you forget your pain, you’re so gentle… I know I let you down at times, and things get away from us but…" It looked as if Riley was content in trying to lay down there and then, trying to cuddle down on the floor in front of the door, he was getting pretty tired, he wouldn’t mind just a moment to rest. "I…I just need a piece, no other piece will fit, if I can’t have everything then just a piece of you, I don’t want anyone else, they’re not like you, they’re not you at all…I want to know what makes you happy…I want to try, I just have to wait, and if nothing happens, I’ll always have that piece."To Rily it sounded as if he was being serious and honest, and while that was partially correct he was also rambling on and sounding half asleep on top of drunk.
But see? did she understand now? As long as Riley had something that not only once belonged to Catherine, but the two of them had actually shared, then that meant he'd always be connected to her. And no one else would feel like that with him, because no one else went to the lengths Catherine had to be with him, and he only hoped she'd get the feeling that no one else would go to the extremes Riley would gladely venture to in order to support and help her.
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio
Letting her hand drop away from the side of her head she peered over at Riley, fighting back and mastering the threatening tears. They'd never really talked like this about things, and she was saddened that they could only do so when Riley was intoxicated. She was ashamed at herself for not realising how her words and actions had affected him. He'd needed her support and she'd turned her back on him, instead concentrating on nurturing her own pain.
"I don’t want you to leave," Catherine hardly heard the ringing of Riley's phone all her attention was riveted to his face, wondering what he'd disclose to her next. "But I don’t want you to be unhappy either." She wasn't so unhappy... not like she had been three months ago, back then she'd been heartbroken, but now she was beginning to heal herself. Her hands rested down upon her knees, conscious of the softness of the fabric beneath them.
"There’s so much I don’t understand… people kept dying… I made so many shallow graves. Then I met you and I never had to bury anyone since then… I know you’re hurting, and it makes you angry, but when you forget your pain, you’re so gentle… I know I let you down at times, and things get away from us but…" The reference to shallow graves made her shiver, a chill of cold creeping into the room as she saw once again the two granite headstones of her parents graves. Her eyes saddened slightly, no need to bury someone, but the need to mourn the loss of something they'd never gained.
She felt her cheeks flush slightly as she noticed he had removed the towel from about his waist, slowly replacing it with the cream one she'd given him. It was distracting to say the least that he was almost completely naked in her room. "I…I just need a piece, no other piece will fit, if I can’t have everything then just a piece of you, I don’t want anyone else, they’re not like you, they’re not you at all…I want to know what makes you happy…I want to try, I just have to wait, and if nothing happens, I’ll always have that piece." Cat wasn't really sure where he was going with what he was saying. He seemed to almost have rambled onto a tangent topic.
'Come on, you can sleep in my bed tonight.' Her hands guided the large man up from the floor, supporting him slightly as he wavered upon the spot. It really was odd to see Riley acting like this, he was usually so in control. If they hadn't been discussing such serious topics she'd have found herself temped to laugh at him. Pulling the covers aside on her bed she let Riley sit down upon the bed's edge, hoping that the towel he had on wouldn't fall off. *That* area of a man was something she could do without seeing, she could deal with torsos, legs and even butts ... and thing but that. It was ... after all hardly the most attractive part of him.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Saturday 31st (1am): Under The Influence of Human Emotio'Come on, you can sleep in my bed tonight.' Any bed would do right now, the floor would have been ok as far as he cared right now. The covers were thrown back for him, Riley's body leaned more towards Catherine merely for the comfort the close proximity offered. It felt so good to collapse on the edge of the bed, one hand tugged very protectively at the towel, holding it tightly... he didn't want it to fall off, how humiliating would that be? And yet at the same time half his thoughts hardly registered the fact that he'd already been rather careless and considering his state was bound to continue being so.
"I do feel a little tired." Riley admitted with a chuckle that seemed out of place, "Have you ever driven a tractor?" The question may have appeared out of the blue but Riley was connecting it with his youth when he would get home exhausted after working the fields with his father or even his father's friends if they needed the extra hands.
"I should show you.. it'll be fun," The exclimation was given with a tinge of excitement that seemed worn down by both his attention diverted to looking for the corner of the blanket to pull it back towards him and try and slide his legs under the covers while also trying to focus on keeping his eyes open.
"I'm not that tired actually." It wasn't at all convincing and yet Riley had managed to fool himself for the moment as he got the impression Catherine may end up leaving at this point.. He didn't want her to go away, he'd get lonely and have no one to talk to! "I'm a little cold, but I'm not tired." The blanket was pulled further up to his front, Riley's head drooped forward slightly, his eyes having remaine closed for most of the last sentence he spoke. Instead of leaning backwards Riley seemed to fall sideways, his eyes remained closed for a moment, only forced open as his hand moved to pet around his head for the pillow. "Where's..?" There was a twist of his body and his hand found the head of the bed where the pillows were mounted, his upper body flopping about to bury his face into one of the pillows, straightening his body up slightly as he wiggled into oposition with what appeared to be a lot of effort before remaining still.
"Catherine?" The usually curt and well spoken voice was muffled in a tired and somewht slurred manner into the pillow, the threat of sleep looming too close overhead to deny the fatigue that effected him. With his face in the pillow though he couldn't see Catherine anymore, he didn't know if she was still there or not.. what if he looked now and she was gone? What if none of it had been real like so many dreams before? His face turned a little, allowing one eye to strain open and seek her where she had recently been standing.
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