Tuesday morning 11 am....
The chantry proper is quiet as most of its cabals and inhabitants are in the Horizon realm, except two...Peter Falling-Stars and Kassandra. Peter is, of course, reading a book in the living room, stretched out on the couch. He's been here a day and he's still recovering a bit from a wound the spider queen gave him. He touches his side and winces a little. Broken rib, it's gotta be. Perhaps he should let one of the girls take a look at it, he thinks. "Hey Kassandra?!" he calls to her.
Kassandra's in the kitchen experimenting with some new recipes. Now that Richard's well on his way to getting his new shop set up her spirits have been lighter because she can see a light at the end of the tunnel of her jobless days! She USED to sleep in every day when she first got here...depressed and directionless...but ever since being hired on by Richard she's become a morning-person again. So then suddenly being deprived of a place to work has left her aimless in the mornings.
She glances up when she hears Peter calling her, looking down at her flour-covered hands. She quickly wipes them on her apron as she goes to the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.
"Did you call me?" she asks cheerfully.
"Yeah," Peter says a little bashfully. "I think I broke a rib. I wasn't sure until today. Could you check it for me and make sure? I don't think it's a bruise." he says. "It wouldn't hurt this bad." he says. He smiles at her. "Rick likes you a lot."
Kassandra had already started walking into the room with a purposeful nod when he asked if she could heal him-- feeling useful and content-- so then his comment about Rick stopped her in her tracks for a moment!
She gives a big smile and blushes. "He does?? What did he say?" she asks, looking excited and anxious at the same time.
"Yeah, when you went into that other realm he and I talked and he just wouldn't shut up about you. 'Isn't Kassandra hot? Isn't Kassandra great? She's so smart, she's the best, did you see her shoot at that spider.'" Peter says with a smile. "He's pretty taken with you I'd say." he says.
Kassandra covers her mouth and giggles girlishly, her cheeks bright pink and butterflies filling her stomach.
"Wow! He said all those sweet things??" She stands there looking day-dreamy for a moment, gazing off at nothing. She'd felt really stupid in the spider-battle at first because none of her magic would affect the little spiders, so she'd been really worried that Rick was going to be disappointed in her, but when she finally pulled in all her determination and concentrated everything she had on the big spider, THAT'S when her spell went off...with quite the powerful affects!
She finally comes out of her daydream when she hears Peter shift a little on the couch. "Sorry...I guess I'm...pretty taken with him, too!" she flushes again. She hurries over to his side and kneels down. She pauses for a second. "I just wanted you to know that this doesn't happen to me very easily. I'm a little skittish about men...especially ones I don't know particularly well yet." she explains a little breathlessly. "About being taken with Rick, I mean!"
She doesn't have her feather with her, but she can also use her saliva to heal just as well. She tentatively pulls his shirt up to expose the area he's pointing to, and then spits into her hands, rubs her hands together, and places them on his side very gently so she doesn't hurt him. She closes her eyes and concentrates hard. She doesn't want to make any mistakes around any of the werewolves, lest it get back to Mother Theresa that they're a bunch of unskilled novices, or something.
Her forehead furrows. "One broken rib..." she says. "It must have been really painful for the last day! Let me fix that..." She bites her bottom lip, continues concentrating, and moves the rib back into place with her magick and knits it together with the other broken edge. Then she opens her eyes. "How does that feel now?"
"Yeah," Peter says smiling broadly. "It does feel better. Thanks Kassandra!" he says happily. "I feel like a new man." he winks. "So are you two going out any time soon? I know Rick is calling today," he says. "He told me if we get out of this, I'm gonna call her," he says in a Rick voice. "He'll prolly ask you then."
Kassandra beams at him. "Really?? Do you know when he's supposed to call?? I was really hoping he would! He told me he'd call, so I didn't want to be the one to call in case I was bothering him! And with the funeral and everything I didn't know when it would be a good time, anyway!" she says, clasping her hands together and talking in a fast, anxious voice. She gives a nervous, apologetic laugh. "Sorry...we're probably driving you nuts!"
"Yes," Peter nods seriously and then smiles. "But that's alright. I like Rick. Just don't hurt him, he may not seem to be sensitive but I know better." he says. "He's a big teddy bear inside." he says. "You all did very well against the spider queen yesterday. I'm sorry about your friend. He seemed a gentle soul...they are always the ones who get hurt the most."
Kassandra looks surprised when Peter tells HER to be careful with RICK and not to hurt HIM! HER!! Of all people!! Then when he moves on to say he's sorry about Darcy she nods sadly.
"Yes...I know what you mean. I feel really bad for him. He always tries to stay out of the fighting and just heal people, and then something like THIS happens. We want to try to work on his face more, but for some reason Aidan wants to wait until he wakes up. I know if *I* were Darcy, waking up to a missing arm would be so bad that I wouldn't be able to handle it if my FACE were messed up on top of it all! I think we definitely need to fix his scars!" she says emphatically.
"You did really well against the spider-queen, too. You're very powerful in your pack...I can tell." she says seriously. "If I'm not being rude, how old are you? Were you just born really powerful?" she asks curiously.
"They say I'm an old spirit. A past life inhabits me sometimes, is what it is. I am only twenty-eight, but there are times when I feel so old, you know?" Peter says. "I'm what's called a theurge. It's basically a shaman. That's what I do for my pack." he says. "What are you?"
Kassandra nods quickly. "I'm also the shaman for my pack-- I mean cabal! We don't have an official name for that position, but the elemental title in the cabal is Spirit Leader...something like that. We have someone that represents Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit, and I'm Spirit. Aidan-- Sulla-- is Fire, Kaiden is Water, Kyril is Air, and Voldia is Earth." she tries to explain. "I didn't know you were 28! I'm 26! You have a younger look to your face. If I do, too, it's because I'm also a Life mage, so I try to keep myself from aging on purpose." she says.
"Your eyes have an age to them." Peter says. "Don't take offense to that." he says. "It's true. Your eyes say that you are older than you look," he says.
Just then the phone rings. Peter smiles and shrugs. "I wonder who that could be?"
Kassandra is mystifying over how her eyes could look old, and yet John and her dad treat her like she's incredibly young and naive! She wants to ask Peter more about this when her thoughts are interrupted by the phone! EEEE!
She puts her hand on Peter's arm. "Don't worry...I have no intentions of hurting Rick...ever. I'M usually the one who's hurt." she says quickly.
"Well then you have nothing to worry about. Rick is the sweetest guy I know. Now answer the phone before he loses his nerve!" Pete says shooing her to the phone.
At Rick's place...
Rick paces back and forth in the kitchen...why isn't anyone answering???
Kassandra-- in a state of nerves-- actually runs back into the kitchen and picks up the HOUSE phone and cries, "Hello?" into it before she realizes it's her CELL phone that's ringing! She lets out a noise and quickly puts the phone back on its cradle and grabs her cell phone and presses it on before it can go to the voicemail.
"Hello?" she says, trying to keep her voice from sounding as flustered as she's feeling-- almost missing his call like that!! How could she be so stupid after waiting for it for so long!!
"Hi...it's Rick? I mean yeah. It's Rick. Hi Kassandra...how are you?" Rick asks suddenly stopping his pacing. He winces, 'what an idiot,' he thinks. 'You sound like a moron calling on his first date...'
"How's your friend Darcy doing?"
Kassandra smiles, walking back out into the entryway and pacing back and forth slowly. 'It's him it's him it's him!' she thinks to herself giddily.
"Hi Rick! Well, it's a little complicated. He's alive...he's stabilized...but he has some bad scars on his face and chest that Aidan doesn't want us to heal until he gives his permission first, for some reason. We did get his hair to grow back on the right side of his head, though. But he lost his entire right arm." she says sadly. "And that's not the end of it. Something attacked him mentally when the spider-queen attacked, so he sent his conscious self deep inside his own mind to hide, and now he's stuck and Aidan's trying to find him and unstick him. She's been getting proficient at Mind-magick. Good thing, it looks like." she says.
"That's terrible," Rick says. "Poor guy, I liked him." he says. "Wow...well this seems rude to ask but ahh...well given the timing and all...but how about that bike ride today? Are you feeling up to it? I find that a good ride can make you forget about everything and unwind."
Kassandra's face lights up. "I would LOVE to do the bike ride today!" she says excitedly. "What time? And where would you like to meet? Here?" she asks, trying to keep her voice relatively calm. "Do I need to wear leather?" she teases with a little smile on her face.
"Sure!" Rick says. "How about I meet you there in...say an hour?" Rick asks hopefully. He starts pacing again excitedly. He's so happy she said yes! This is gonna be the best ride he's ever taken!
"Yes!! Leather would be great! I mean...you can if you want..." he says hopefully.
Kassandra hears the excitement in his voice and it makes her feel so relieved and excited and happy all at once!
"OK then! An hour sounds perfect, and I'll see what I've got in my closet!" she beams. She's so proud with how calm and cool she's sounding! Almost as calm and cool as her mom!
"I'm glad you called." she adds, leaning her back against the wall and twirling a piece of hair around her finger.
"Me too...glad I called that is." Rick says. "Alright then...I'll see you in an hour," he says. "See you then, Kass...in an hour..." he says and then hangs up. "Gah I'm such an idiot!" he says and runs to his closet.
Meanwhile...
Peter leans over the couch. "Rick I take it?"
Kassandra grins and closes her phone. "Yes!" she says, twirling around on one foot with her arms out. "We're going for a ride on his bike! I'm so excited! I've never ridden on a motorcycle before!" she says beaming. She stops twirling for a moment and gives Peter a smile.
"For the record, I'm very glad that you're our liaison. I don't mean to be disrespectful of Seth at all, but...you fit in better with our chantry. You're more open and personable, and it was nice seeing you out here on the couch when I came down...like a regular member of the household. I always got the feeling from Seth that he was only here because he was assigned to be here, and that he spent the minimal amount of time with us as he felt he had to...you know what I mean? We all liked Seth...and we...assumed that werewolves must all be like him. So...you and Rick were a nice surprise." she adds, hoping she's making sense.
"He was a Glass Walker...and a good friend. He was critical of our alliance with you...however the more he knew you and yours, the more he saw the wisdom of our joining together. He was particularly fond of Darcy. I felt he was a gentle soul much like us, the Children of Gaia." Peter says.
Kassandra bows her head a little and nods. "He was a good person and a good friend. He gave his life for our city." She stands there quietly for a moment. "You're worried about Rick being hurt. Has he been hurt a lot before, or something?" she asks in a quiet voice.
"Yeah," Peter says nodding. "He has. But enough about that," Peter says waving it off. "Where are the two of you lovebirds riding to? Or is the ride the date?" he asks. "It must be special, he doesn't let anyone touch his bike and on the first date he's letting you ride it."
Kassandra smiles. "The ride is PART of the date! I told him how liberating it would be to ride on a motorcycle, and asked if he'd ever ridden to the desert, and he said he had, and I commented on how wonderful it would be to get away from everything and just ride in the desert...maybe even do a ritual there in the peace and privacy...and he said it IS wonderful, and asked if I'd like to do that with him sometime, and I said of course! So I'm assuming that's what we're going to do! If it's safe to go out alone and do that. I HOPE it is! I've never gotten to go that far outside the city and I think it's about time I did!" she smiles, the excitement back in her eyes.
"You'll be safe. Rick won't let anything happen to you." Peter says. "He'll be here in an hour huh?" He looks down at his watch and then looks at her. "You'd better get changed and wash all that flour out of your hair," he says with a chuckle.
"Oh! You're right!" she exclaims, touching her hair self-consciously. She pulls off her apron and makes to throw it onto the couch, but her father's good breeding quickly intervenes and she runs into the kitchen with it, laying it over the back of one of the chairs. Then she runs back out into the living room. "Thanks Peter!" she calls, waving over her shoulder at him as runs back into the kitchen to enter the horizon realm.
Once she reaches her house she uses her control over Time to speed up her actions. She throws her clothing on the floor, rushes into the shower, washes, dries, and curls her hair, put on her make-up carefully, and then rushes back into her bedroom to select what she's going to wear! She's SO SO glad her mom made her borrow some of her clothing!!
Peter watches her run off and chuckles to himself. He lays back down and opens his book.
Meanwhile...
Rick was already dressed and ready to go when he called. Although he'd never tell her that. He's wearing a white shirt and leather vest with leather pants and boots on. He turns down the highway heading into San Fran. He's been on the road for a little bit and will reach her house soon. He hopes that he doesn't seem too eager!
Kassandra steps over the pile of clothes left in her wake and stands in front of the mirror that John-Bird aka Matthew had suggested she put in her room. She'd been trying to figure out what look to go for! Low cut blouse and tight pants might make her come off as something she's not, but they DID look sexy! But turtleneck shirt made it look like she was trying to conceal and protect herself! She can't believe how many tight things and leather things and lacey things her mother had snuck into Kassandra's trunk!
She'd finally decided to wear a pretty, classy-looking pair of white shiny leather pants with a short matching white leather jacket that looked more vinyl than leather to her, and a tight burgundy red tank top under the jacket. She had on black leather boots under her pants. The pants were snug-fitting, but not skin-tight. Definitely flattering, but not hoochy-woman-looking! She hopes she's pulled off a feminine look while not looking TOO girly...with a hint of "tough!"
She stands there looking at her reflection for a minute, and then suddenly realizes that if Rick shows up and she's in the horizon realm there's no way Peter would be able to tell her! He can't come in here, and her cell phone doesn't work in here! Butterflies in her stomach, she grabs a long-strapped purse and slings it diagonally over her chest with her foci inside it, and then hurries out of the realm.
She peeks into the living room and sees Peter still laying there reading. "Pst!" she calls. "Is he here yet?" she whispers, hiding behind the wall.
"Not yet!" Peter calls. "Why are you hiding behind that wall?" he ask. "Is there something I'm not supposed to see?" he asks with a laugh.
Kassandra flushes a little and steps out from behind the wall. "NO, Peter!" she laughs. "But if he was in here or in the next room I wanted to try to make a dramatic entrance, or something!" She hurries over to the front window and pulls the curtain to the side, peeking out. Then she quickly drops the curtain back in place and starts pacing around again.
"This is so scary!" she confides. "I haven't been on a date like this in forever! I mean with someone I like but don't know really well yet! Not since high school! I did go out with Beamer a couple of weeks ago, but I've known him for a while and he's a family friend so I knew I could trust him. Eeeee!" she cries, clasping her hands together. She suddenly turns to Peter. "Do you have a significant other?" she asks.
"No I don't," Peter says. He furrows his brow. "Who's Beamer?" he asks. "Is he a chantry-mate or is he a high school friend?" he asks. "Look how nervous you are. Relax, it's just Rick!" he says shaking his head.
"Oh sorry! Beamer is a chantry-mate! He just moved in after the sweeps because it was safer for us to all live together instead of apart where the technocracy could pick us off. He's an inventor-- he lives in the lab. He's really nice! You'll like him! He, Richard, and Darcy are a cabal." she explains, talking and talking due to her nervousness.
"He may be 'only Rick' to you, but I don't want to mess this up!" she adds. "Everytime I start to like someone, something throws a monkey wrench into the works." she sighs sadly, flopping down into an overstuffed chair.
"Well that shouldn't be a problem, Rick's good with tools," Peter says. "Beamer is a scientist? I thought you guys were against science and reason. Isn't that Techno stuff? Like the enemies we're fighting right now?"
Kassandra gives him a smirk when he makes the joke about tools, and then listens to his question. "The 'tribe' he belongs to-- the Tradition called the Sons of Ether-- USED to be a part of the Technocracy, but they split off a long time ago. Now the Sons of Ether use technology AGAINST the Technocracy. You wouldn't believe they stuff they can make or modify! For example, when we fight in Fae we have to fight with arrows and swords and stuff, so we got Beamer to modify our weapons to shoot faster...to not break...to be more deadly...that kind of thing." she explains. "Kyril is another technology-mage, but his specialty is computers and the internet. His Tradition is called the Virtual Adepts. I think they used to be part of the Technocracy, too-- I can't remember-- but they're the good guys now."
Peter nods, "You'll be fighting the Fae. They are tough when they get riled. Be very careful against them, Kassandra. They can be sneaky and use you for their own gain. I've learned the hard way in this." he says.
Kassandra is nodding while he's talking, and then looks at him with big eyes. "Really? What happened? I'm worried about that, too, because Iago kept hinting that he knew there was a secret about me that he and the baron both wanted to find out, and that they were interested in me and all this stuff! I have NO idea what they're talking about, but I'm glad Iago's gone and we're no longer pretending to be friendly with the baron! What did they do to you??"
"They tricked me into believing that this Sidhe was evil and that he needed to be taken care of. They said that after all the help they offered that I owed them. They had this whole story wrapped up and it sounded believable." Peter says. "What did they try with you?"
Kassandra nods quickly. "That's what they're doing to us, too! They said that there's this group of rebels who stole money from the baron and broke oaths to him and stuff, so after the baron helped us with fighting the spiders, we owed him a boon in return or no more help! We came to find out that the so-called-rebels were Jagyr, this noble Seelie Sidhe named Rolland, and pretty much every other Seelie fae in the area! The baron is UNseelie, and so are most of the fae who live here! So they were just trying to get us to kill off the rest of the Seelie fae for them! Did you end up killing your Sidhe?" Kassandra asks worriedly.
"Yeah...I did..." Peter says. "I didn't talk to him and found him and shot him before he could say a word." Peter says his voice filled with regret. "I didn't know, but when I found out...I refused to deal with the Baron anymore. Our alliance fell to lip service."
Kassandra looks sad, wondering who this poor Seelie Sidhe was...and feeling bad for Peter. "So if the baron tricked the werewolves, too, do you think the werewolves would help us fight the baron and his Unseelie fae? Oh wait...Rolland said that if the werewolves fought in Faerie that they wouldn't be able to change into their big fighting-wolf-form...that they'd be regular men. Maybe you guys shouldn't get involved in this...but...if we could restore the freehold to be Seelie, then we'd have a REALLY strong 3-way alliance! Right now the Fae are the weak link!" she cries.
"Only one would come with you, Kassandra and that's Rick. Perhaps Guts-The-Wyrm as well, but I can't vouch for him." Peter says. "I can't let my people risk themselves without their weapons. We are small enough as it is, I can't let anymore die this way." Peter says.
Kassandra looks alarmed when he says only Rick would come with them. "Oh then I can't let Rick come! I can't let anything happen to him!" she says with panic in her eyes. "We totally understand why the werewolves wouldn't come...that's why we didn't bring it up to Mother Theresa...but I couldn't let Rick come and be so vulnerable!" she frets, squeezing her hands together tightly.
"Exactly, so I wouldn't mention it to him or anybody else for that matter, Kassandra." Peter says. "Garou can be very loyal friends, but they can do reckless things when their friends are in trouble." he says. "I'd love to have them help you Kassandra, but I just can't."
Kassandra calms down a little and nods. "It's OK, Peter. If WE were going to have to fight as regular humans, too, we would never go, either. Most of us are pretty squishy without our magick. I can shoot really well thanks to Dad, but if someone got really close to me I'd be done." she says. "In fact, I think the only reason we ARE fighting is vengeance for Jagyr and hatred for the baron. But for me there's another reason." she says, her eyes looking haunted. "One of the baron's wives is a Seelie Sidhe who he's keeping prisoner...trying to get her pregnant...making her be his cook..." she says, her voice growing a little fainter with each sentence. "I have to get her out of there..." she practically whispers.
Peter nods, "He is a cruel man who will hopefully get what's coming to him. So when are you going to attack?" Peter asks. "I can keep the others busy that day so they don't hear wind of it."
Kassandra blinks her eyes and clears her throat, coming back to herself. "We're waiting for the re-enforcements to arrive. The rest of the Seelie Fae abandoned San Francisco when the baron took over, so we're bringing them back to help take back their freehold!" she smiles excitedly. "They told us it should take a little over a week to bring them, so we're just waiting for them!"
"Have you been practicing your skills in melee weapons? You'll need those skills to survive the battle Kassandra. The fae will go straight after you and your friends. The last thing they want are mages on the battlefield healing and tossing spells about." Peter says.
Kassandra looks worried again when she hears this news. "Luckily I've already been trained really well in long-range shooting and my faerie-weapon is a bow, but I'm not very strong, so I've been doing a little weight-lifting so that I can shoot the bow harder." she says, flexing her arm-muscles and then wincing a little-- her arms a little sore from not being used to weight-lifting!
Peter chuckles, "Well keep it up then," he says.
Just then there is a knock on the door and in Kassandra's mind a little alert sounds.
"Rick's here..." Peter says with a smile.
"EEEE!!" Kassandra eeks, jumping up from the chair, hurriedly straightening her clothes and patting her hair. She runs for the kitchen and hides again, and then peeks out.
"Maybe you should let him in so I can do my entrance!" she whispers. This was something her dad used to do when a guy would come to pick her up for a date-- her dad's very old-fashioned and into the proper way of doing things. Then she thinks for a moment and shakes her head.
"No, no...I'm being silly! Eeee!" she squeaks again, and then gives a nervous laugh. She takes a deep breath, shakes her hands, and then lifts her head and walks with feigned confidence to the front door and opens it.
Rick stands there with a bouquet of flowers. He smiles and hands them over. "Hi...here you go!" he says excited. He looks her over and smiles. "Wow you look great, Kass! You look like one motorcycle mama! I...I mean that in a good way you know!"
Kassandra beams a big smile at Rick when she sees him, and then her eyes get soft when she sees the flowers. 'Flowers...it's been so long since a guy brought me flowers...' she thinks, trying to keep herself from getting too emotional over it!
"Oh these are so beautiful..." she oohs as she takes the flowers from him and buries her nose in them, inhaling deeply. "Thank you Rick! This was so thoughtful! And thank you for the compliment!" she smiles at him over the flowers. "I've never seen a biker-chick wearing WHITE leather before, so I thought I'd be the first!" she grins. "I hope it doesn't look TOO girly! You look--" she says, looking him over in his tight black leather pants and blushing a little. "--really good in leather." she finishes. What she'd WANTED to say was "you look HOT!" or "you look SEXY!" but she'd lost her nerve!
"Thanks," Rick says smiling sheepishly. "Nah nah, you look great in the white leather. Really great," he says. "Hey I though we could pack a lunch." he says pointing to the bike outside. "I got us some sandwich meat and rolls and chips. Is that alright?"
Kassandra nods excitedly. "Sure! That sounds great!" she says, cheeks pink. "I'll just put these in a vase really quick!" she says, hurrying into the kitchen and finding a vase. She fills the vase with water and arranges the flowers in the vase, grinning from ear-to-ear and bouncing a little on her heels. She puts the vase in the middle of the kitchen table, gives it a final look, and then bounces back out of the kitchen.
"Should I grab anything to drink?" she asks, standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room.
"Yeah! I kinda forgot to bring drinks." Rick says. "We'll take a ride and I know this great park at the edge of town and we'll stop there and eat and then ride around some more. How's that sound?" Rick says.
Kassandra smiles and nods. "It sounds great!" What she's thinking is 'it doesn't matter WHERE we go as long as it's with you! And on the bike!'
"Be right back!" she calls, hurrying back into the kitchen. Her tummy-butterflies are back! They're about to leave! They'll be alone together! She wonders if John would be proud of her, or if he'd even realize what a big step this is for her. Especially since she just couldn't go through with the one-night-stand idea, and had abandoned it in order to find a real relationship.
She looks around in the fridge and finally settles on some bottles of pop. If Rick's going to be steering she probably shouldn't bring anything alcoholic! Hmm. Maybe one beer! He seems like the beer-type! She grabs the pop and beer, puts them in a sack, and then grins and grabs something else and puts it in the sack. Then she comes back into the living room.
"OK, I'm all ready!" she announces.
"Awesome!" Rick says. "See you Peter!" he says waving to Peter. He leads her out to his bike and smiles. "Whattya think? Isn't she great? It's a classic. I restored her from scratch, took me two years to track down all the parts and put them together." he says.
"Wow...I would love to watch you work on a bike or a car sometime! I can't even imagine how to begin! This bike is HUGE!" she says in awe, walking up to it and touching it. "If I tried to ride that by myself, it would ride ME!" she laughs, and then blushes a little and turns her eyes back to the bike, smiling and touching it curiously.
"That's the best part of these big bikes. You can fit two people on it no problem!" Rick says smiling at how impressed she is. "And look over here," he says pointing at the Harley Davidson symbol. "The original logo. It took me years to find it. Oh they have replicas and all, but no I wanted the original."
Kassandra doesn't know anything about motorcycles, but she loves Rick's determination to find the very best! She nods and inspects the symbol when he shows it to her.
"I love how hard you work to find exactly what you want! That says a lot about your personality!" she smiles. "Some people would have given up when they found out how hard something would be to do, but you don't! I think that's great, Rick." she says seriously.
"Thanks, Kass. You know I think if you're going to do something...do it right you know." Rick says. "I saw this bike at a fair once when I was a kid and I vowed I'd have one and here it is." he says. "She runs well and gets you where you're going and does it in style."
Kassandra smiles and nods. "I agree! With doing something right! And with this bike getting you around in style!" she adds with a laugh. "Do you ever get any comments from other bike-experts when they see your work?" she asks.
"Oh yeah, they say it's incredible. I had one guy offer me twenty-five thousand to do his bike. Of course I said yes. Finished that a few years ago." Rick says. "Alright," he says swinging his leg over the back. "Hop on let's go!" he says excitedly.
Kassandra grins excitedly and puts the bag of drinks into one of the side-carriers. She looks at the bike a little nervously. It is REALLY big! She puts her hand on Rick's arm to steady herself, and then climbs on carefully behind him. She gets her feet up on the foot rests, and then wraps her arms around Rick's waist tentatively...and then a little more firmly. She likes how muscular he feels under her arms...how masculine he smells. It's exciting!
Off they go as Rick hits the engine and they ride down the hill towards San Fran. Rick points out the park as they head down the hill. "There!! See it! That's the park I was talking about!!" he says as they rumble on.
"Is it a Garou-controlled park...like the one you guys guard? Or a regular park?" she asks loudly so she can be heard over the rumble of the engine.
"Nah it's a normal park!" Rick says over the engine hum. "How's it feel to ride a bike?? You like it?!" he shouts. He turns down the street heading towards the park. "It's not far from here-- a few miles!"
"I love it!" she calls. "I wish we could go faster and not have to stop for lights!" she laughs. "This is great-- I love this!"
His long hair-- pulled back in a ponytail again-- is whipping around, and she laughs and presses the side of her face against it to keep it from blowing into her face and is only semi-successful!
"I knew you would!" Rick says as he continues to drive. The buildings go by block after block until they get to a red light. He stops and leans over to keep the bike standing.
"Isn't this great? The best part about it is no helmet law here in California. Helmets are good for protecting your head, but not much fun."
Kassandra laughs. "That's some interesting logic, but I know what you're saying!" She pauses, building up some courage. "Peter said you'd never let anything happen to me, and I believe him."
Rick looks back. "Of course I wouldn't let anything happen to you." They start rolling again once the light turns green. "You've been talkin to Peter? What else did he say?" he asks.
Kassandra grins. "Oh he didn't say too much..." she teases. "Why? Did you tell him something?"
"No...I was just wondering if...you know...he said anything about me to you...not that I said anything...cause I didn't...you know." Rick says hoping it sounded smooth, but sure it didn't.
"Uh...so...Kass...he didn't say anything bad did he?"
Kassandra impulsively hugs him tightly around the middle. Poor Rick! She's got to let him off the hook!
"Not at all! In fact, just the opposite! He thinks you're an incredible guy, and wanted to make sure I was good enough for you!" she grins, teasing him. "Well, he wasn't being THAT harsh! I think he's just protective, and I'm glad. That's what friends are for, right? He's a good friend. I'm glad he was picked to be our liason...although I have to admit I was kinda hoping for you..." she smiles, glad he's facing forward so he can't see her blush!
Rick smiles. "You know honestly I asked to be, but Mother felt it was best to have Pete do it. I can't blame them. He's an awesome speaker and he has a lot more patience than I do," Rick says. "Look look! A biker bar," he says and guns his engine.
Kassandra laughs and does her best to look sexy and cool as they pass the bar so Rick will look good in front of the other bikers! She glances around to see if anyone's watching...to see their reactions to Rick's bike, and see if there are any other women around so she can see what they're wearing.
The bikers standing outside the bar all hoot and holler and give Rick the thumbs up. Rick smiles proudly and guns the engine some more as they ride by. "I think they liked the bike!" he says. "Or they liked the beautiful rider I have with me today!!"
Kassandra laughs and smiles, feeling pleased. "I'm glad to hear it!" She leans forward and rests her chin on his shoulder, and then impulsively nuzzles the side of his neck with her nose-- not realizing this is one of her mother's favorite little gestures to do to her husband as a sign of affection.
Rick smiles as she nuzzles him. He sighs happily as they continue to ride towards the park. "Almost there!" he says. "Rides smooth doesn't it? Hey ever been to a biker bar?" he asks as they round one more corner. The park is just up ahead as Rick slows the bike down.
"No..." Kassandra says. "I'm very shy around strangers...especially men. I get really nervous when guys hit on me, so I never go anywhere anymore without a group of people with me...or someone who I know will protect me..." she adds. "If...we went to one...and you said I was with you...would the guys there respect that and leave me alone?" she asks almost timidly.
"Yeah they would, or I'd break their fuckin legs." Rick says darkly. "Oh sorry, Kass didn't mean to cuss in front of a lady," he says. "Yeah they'd leave you be. I'd make sure of it."
Kassandra feels a little tingle of excitement race up her spine when she hears how protective Rick would be. And then a feeling of relief washes over her. Someone who will protect her...who will be there for her. Who WON'T just run off to England or wherever whenever he wanted to and expect her to understand! And something...something about Rick reminds her of her dad...in a way that she likes very much.
"Don't worry, Rick! My dad's an Italian from New York! Our house was always filled with colorful language!" she laughs, squeezing him around the middle again. "I like that you're so protective. I like that very much."
'So will Dad, I hope!' she thinks to herself.
Rick smiles again to himself. Everything so far is going so well! He pulls the bike into the park and parks it. He waits for her to hope off and then he follows suit. He grabs the basket and smiles at her. "I brought a blanket, too," he says lifting up the seat and pulling the blanket out of the box.
Kassandra grabs the bag of drinks and smiles at Rick. He IS a big teddy bear! And a romantic one, too! AND spiritual! And an incredible fighter! What more could she ask for? Her parents BETTER like him-- werewolf or not!
"You think of EVERYTHING, Rick! I'm impressed! And flattered that you did all of this." she says sincerely, taking his arm and again marveling at how strong and muscular it feels.
Rick smiles at her. "Hey you know I thought, 'what makes a picnic a picnic?' A blanket, good food, good fun and especially good company." he says. "And since I've got good fun and good company we needed a blanket and good food!"
Kassandra laughs loudly and squeezes his arm as they walk. "I wanted to tell you something, but didn't think you'd appreciate hearing it in front of the other Garou." she says, glancing up at him. "I hope this doesn't come out wrong, but you're a very pretty wolf...your fur is beautiful. I didn't think it would be white! It's so soft, too." she says in a low voice so no one will hear.
Rick smiles broadly. "I'm glad you didn't say that near them." he says with a laugh. "They'd tease me endlessly." he says with a chuckle. "You looked pretty too. I liked the rainbow you had around you."
Kassandra smiles happily. "Thank you! I think it's because I worship the rainbow-serpent loas. I've...been able to change into a rainbow-serpent since I was 16." she says softly. "So I guess we're similar that way! We can both change into an animal!"
"Can you get any bigger? I mean like we do? Or are you a bigger snake? Like a half woman half snake?" Rick asks looking her over. "Have you tried to do that?"
Kassandra looks surprised at this question. "Wow...no...I've never tried to do that! I wonder if I could!" She was about to say that her mother can do that...can make herself part-snake or full-snake if she wants...but catches herself in time.
"My snake-form is boa constrictor-size...a big, full-grown boa constrictor...probably the size you'd see out in the jungle rather than in a pet, but not like in "Anaconda!" I'm bigger than my pet-snakes, and a little bigger than my spirit-snake." she tries to explain.
"Nice," Rick says laying down the blanket. He takes the food and lays it out as well. He helps Kassandra sit down and then he sits down too. "Alright we've got turkey, ham and roast beef," he says pointing to the meat slices. "I've got ketchup, mustard and mayo, some tomato, lettuce an well that's it. Oh and rolls."
Kassandra smiles and has this sudden urge to kiss his cheek, but decides to hold off on it! "This is incredible, Rick!!" she exclaims, looking at everything. She takes the pop bottles out of the bag, and also the beer. "I didn't know if you were a beer-man or not, so I brought a couple of these just in case!" she says, waving the beer bottles and then setting them down.
"Thanks, I didn't know what meat you liked so I go all three, and hey if you liked them all we could make club sandwiches," he says getting out the silverware. "Hey a beer! Great," he says taking one of the beers. "You thought of everything," he says.
Kassandra laughs. "ME?? I hardly did anything!" she smiles, nudging his arm playfully. "But I did bring dessert." She gets the last thing out of the bag. A blueberry pie. "I made it this morning...kind of as a good-luck charm in hopes that you'd call! And it worked!" she beams, setting it down.
Rick smiles and shakes his head at her. "Gods a pie too! Blueberry! Aww Kassandra you are the best! You baked a pie, you brought pop and beer! This is going to be the best picnic!" Rick says excitedly.
He sniffs the air, "Good afternoon air...well as good as you can get in California."
Kassandra laughs and nods, and then makes herself a big, juicy sandwich. "Ooh...maybe I can make sandwiches for Richard's new shop!" she says, thinking. "Oh! That reminds me! We own that head-shop with the node now! We thought it would be safer if we could run our shop out of a building that the Garou control-- safer for us AND the Garou who would be guarding it. Do you think Mother Theresa would mind? Don't worry, we don't need the node-- ours is too big for us as it is!" she adds.
"That you'll have to bring up to her," Rick says. "So you and Richard own the shop now huh." Rick says looking a little worried. "You and him...are you...friends?" he asks smiling at her.
Kassandra cocks her head and looks at Rick for a moment, and then a big smile breaks out on her face. "OH! Hahahaha! You mean THAT kind of friend don't you! Rick, as nice as Richard may be, he'll never be attracted to me. He's gay. He has a thing for Kaiden." she explains, reaching over and taking Rick's hand in hers. "He's the perfect boss, if you think about it! He has impeccable taste without the female jealousy or male urge to flirt with me!" she grins.
Rick sighs in relief, "Right right ok he's gay." he says slapping his forehead. "Wow a shop huh. What are you going to do there? Just coffee and sandwiches?" he asks. "I'll be there everyday!"
Kassandra laughs and beams. "I hope you will! That would be fantastic! Yeah-- he owned the coffee shop that was burned down during the sweeps, and I did the baking in the back. It was so successful that he decided we should sell more than just cakes and pies and breads when we re-open! Oh shit..." she whispers, her face paling and her eyes wide. She looks at Rick in fear. "We left those 4 Technocrat-bodies in the shop! They're still there! Maybe! Oh no..." she moans, holding her forehead.
"That's not good. So I'll have some people check it out. Maybe no one's noticed yet or gone in yet." Rick says. "How's that? Would that make you feel better?" Rick asks trying to be helpful.
Kassandra nods quickly. "I can't believe we could be so careless..." she sighs. "Thank you Rick." She looks down at her sandwich and quickly picks it back up and smiles. "I'm sorry! Let's get back to good times with good people!" she says hopefully. She takes a bite and mmms over how good it is. The two eat for a moment, and then Kassandra looks at Rick curiously.
"I have more questions, if that's OK! About how you change. It looked like all you had to do was concentrate and you could easily change between man, wolf, and werewolf forms. Is that true? Does the moon have anything to do with your change?" she asks. "That was probably a dumb question!" she laughs in embarrassment.
"It doesn't actually. And yeah I can change when I want to whichever form I want." Rick says. "It can be instantly or if I have time it can take a half a minute." he says. "I like the half man half wolf form best, it feels powerful and it's able to do a lot more than any of the other forms."
Kassandra nods. "I agree-- I like that one better than your wolf-form, too, because of how powerful it is, and because you can still hold objects and talk to me...it was really exciting to see you like that." she says, her cheeks pinkening a little. She looks down, trying not to smile and blush but failing. "When you...umm...when you mate...which form do you use? One of them? Any of them?" she asks blushing furiously.
"I use this form. Anything else would hurt," Rick says. "And be a little weird," he laughs. "Why do you ask? Are you...oh oh I get it. No no, Garou cannot mate with Garou. It's against our mother's wishes." he says. "We cannot mate with Garou because they are kin. It would be like mating with your brother or sister."
"Aaah..." Kassandra says nodding. "So when you have the rites and then everyone runs off to mate with someone, it's not OTHER werewolves you're mating with! Judging by the female werewolves I've met, I was a little worried that...that mating with a female werewolf was the ideal thing to do, or something! So when the Garou run off to mate, they're looking for a kinfolk to mate with, I take it? So...so humans...are not too delicate for Garou then? Or do you need to find a hearty human?" she asks, still blushing like there's no tomorrow!
"No humans aren't too delicate. We Silver Fangs marry humans, while the Red Talons mate with wolves, which isn't so gross since they were all born wolves to begin with." he says. He smiles at her, "Why all the mating questions?"
Kassandra flushes-- unable to meet Rick's eyes-- and nervously tucks a piece of hair behind her ear, giving a little laugh and smiling shyly. "Well uh...you know...I mean...I just wanted to...you know...umm...here! Let me cut you a piece of pie!" she cries, leaning forward to get a knife to cut him a piece with.
"Yeah pie sounds good," Rick says suddenly very hungry. He makes himself a sandwich while she cuts him a piece. "So Kass, tell me more about your parents. I'd love to hear it."
'Oh god...' she thinks. 'Maybe I shouldn't have changed the subject!' she thinks to herself nervously. She wonders which one would be easier to talk about!
She hands him a piece of pie on a little plate, and then cuts herself one, too. "Well, they met in New York...moved around a little...decided they wanted to settle down somewhere safer, so they moved here." she gives a little laugh. "Pretty ironic NOW, huh? Anyway, Mom is also a voodoo mambu. She didn't think she could have children, so she did a ritual to the rainbow-snake loas-- Ayida Wedo and her mate Dumballah-- and they heard her and accepted her offering and that night she got pregnant with me." she says, wanting to at least give Rick THIS much background so that later if he gets the rest of the story he'll at least have a good starting impression of her parents.
"Mom is beautiful. She's really funny, and fun to be around. She loves to dance, and is the one who taught me how to dance. Dad is really sweet, and an incredible cook, and very protective of us. He's the one who taught me how to shoot a gun. Those two are so romantic and affectionate with each other...growing up I always walked in on them kissing or hugging or whispering to each other...amoungst other things!" she laughs in embarrassment. "They taught me what real love is."
"That's sweet," Rick says. "Sounds like they really love each other," he says. He looks down at his hands and then takes a bite of his sandwich. "You come from a great home, Kass. That's nice." he says. "So after all of this is done, what are your plans?"
"You mean after the war here? Well...I suppose continue learning magick, keep working at the coffee shop...that kind of thing. Maybe expand a little and do catering with Dad. And...well..." She glances at him and smiles, and then looks down shyly again. "I'd like to keep seeing you...if you felt the same way." she says bravely. "What about you? What are your plans?"
Rick smiles and thinks a moment. "I'd like to continue working with the caern, maybe one day be master of ritual, and keep seeing you. And go to your coffee shop everyday." he says with a smile. "How's that sound?"
Kassandra laughs and looks happy. She nods her head. "That sounds great." She looks at him a moment, and then reaches up and touches his cheek. She wants to kiss him so badly!! EEEE...but she's too chicken!! She strokes her fingers along his short-cut beard, and then lets her hand fall back slowly. Her stomach feels like it's filled with all sizes of winged creatures right now!
Rick looks at her with serious eyes. He nods slowly and leans over and kisses her. Softly and tenderly and his heart jumps a beat. This is what it feels like then, he thinks. He touches her cheek with his hand as they kiss.
Kassandra feels waves of what can only be described as tingling energy wash over her entire body. She'd NEVER felt that before...never. Not like this. Not even close.
She scoots closer to him without breaking the kiss, and holds his arms with her hands. She doesn't want the kiss to end!! Oh she KNEW it would be incredible! From the moment they danced at the party the weekend before she knew it would be!
The kiss does, however, end, and Rick shakes his head and looks at her with a warm smile. "That was great...that was...better than any kiss I've ever had...that was great." he rambles. "Hmm I mean so...I'd like to see you more. Wait we covered that...why don't you speak now," he says with a laugh.
Kassandra laughs, looking at him with sparkling eyes, still sitting close to him. "I have to admit, I've been fantasizing about kissing you since we danced at the party! I've never had a fantasy be even better when it happens in real life!" she laughs. She looks up at him with serious eyes. "I just want you to know...I am so attracted to you. I'm not...very experienced at this, but...being close to you makes me just--" She breaks off her sentence and finishes what she's trying to say by kissing him again, this time with some of the passion that's been boiling under her surface.
Rick kisses her back, with great passion and holds her close. He breaks the kiss. "I know...I've wanted to kiss you since I met you. Now even more. Kass, this is wonderful. If you're inexperienced I can't tell."
Kassandra laughs and lowers her eyes, holding him in her arms. "I'm not...a virgin..." she says with a hint of regret in her voice. "But close enough, I guess. Not that there's anything wrong with being experienced or not...I just wanted you to know that this-- this doesn't happen to me. So if I seem a little forward, it's because I just can't help myself around you!" she laughs again. "Not because I'm this way with everyone. I hope that made sense!"
"It did, it does," Rick says. "Tell me, have you been in a long term relationship before? It's ok to tell me I won't get upset." he says. "I just want to know."
Kassandra takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. "One. And it wasn't my choice. It lasted for 3 years and ended a few months ago." she says, keeping her voice calm. "It was an older man...he knew I had real magick whereas he was only a hedge mage. He took me as his apprentice because Uncle John had been gone for over a year...he pretended he was a real mage...he...he tried to...to seduce me, but I thought of him as a teacher...I was very flattered...but I wanted to...to save myself for...someone I loved. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He..." Kassandra closes her eyes even tighter, tears forming.
"He drugged me using this stuff that makes the victim very suggestible...it makes you feel like you're in this underwater-like dream...he told me he loved me and that I loved him...and I believed him. He...convinced me to sleep with him, and then kept me as his...I don't know WHAT you'd call it...pet mage, maybe. He kept trying to get me pregnant, sure that a child of ours would be incredibly powerful. Something kept me from getting pregnant...probably me, subconsciously...or maybe the loas. I was so lucky for that..." she says softly, and then sits there without moving or speaking, eyes still closed.
Rick's face turns a dark red. "Is he still here...in San Francisco? I'll kill him, I'll tear him limb from limb," he says. "Where is he Kass, tell me and I'll take care of it." he says angrily. She can even hear a bit of a growl in that last bit.
Kassandra feels a little shiver and suddenly snaps back to the present. She opens her eyes and blinks.
"He's dead." she says. "John finally came for me...he used magick to suddenly appear there, and he used magick to teleport me out while Papa Ghede took care of him." She blinks again, and now the trance is completely broken and she focuses her eyes on Rick, wrapping her arms around him again.
"Don't worry...there are a couple of other people who were upset to find out that he was killed before they could get to him. I wish I could have gotten a punch in, myself, but it took me three days to detox. As you can see there are still some flash-backs, but I've been working on controlling them and I'm getting better." she says, suddenly feeling a huge regret that she just burdened Rick with all of this right after such an incredible kiss.
Rick nods, "Stick with me, Kass, and no one will ever hurt you again," he says. "I'll make sure of it. I'll protect you, so don't worry." he says. "You're completely safe with me." He holds her for a long while in silence.
Kassandra holds him back quietly, grateful for how well he handled that story, and for how wonderful he's been, and for how nice it is to just be held silently like this. She wants to apologize over and over again for bringing down the mood-- yet again-- and that she has such a dark past that he has to be burdened with. She wishes she could be a normal girlfriend for him! But sooner or later he's going to find out even darker things about her history. Namely her family. She gives a little sigh.
"What about you? Have you had long-term relationships? Or short-term relationships? Like you said, it's OK to tell me everything. I won't be mad, either. I just want to know everything about you."
"Nah just short term. There was this one girl, Susan. She was the longest, about a year. She just couldn't understand why I would leave and not be back till morning after we moved in together. It didn't work out. I'm over her now...it's been eight years." he says. Rick nods to himself. "It's hard being with a mortal whom you just can't tell your big secret to."
Kassandra nods in understanding. That's why she never dated high school guys for very long...kept things light and casual if she could. Uncle John always told her to try to find a mage to date, but there were no other mages at her school.
"Wow...eight years ago...you must be feeling frustrated with women by now! I know I've been frustrated! So...tell me more. When you guys do the mating-ritual-rite-thing, were you one of the guys who ran after kinfolk? Have you had a lot of short-term relationships? And...are there...any...little Ricks out there somewhere?" she asks, a touch nervously. "It's OK...you can just tell me." she adds.
"No, I wasn't," Rick says. "As one of the guardians of the caern I had to stay back and guard the caern. No, I don't think there are any little Ricks running about. I've always been responsible about that sort of thing. I always wanted to raise my own child and not leave it out there to fend for itself." he says.
Kassandra nods in understanding. After what Rick had to go through as a child she can see why he'd want to raise his own kids. She finds that very relieving and admirable.
"What about short-term relationships...one-night stands...that sort of thing. I don't mean to sound nosey, I just really am curious. Trust me...I can't be shocked! Not after living with the people I live with, and being raised around Uncle John!" she smirks. "If he had a relationship-title, it would probably be 'Mr. One-Night Stand!'"
"I've had one or two of those. Nights when you're drunk and lonely and hey things are right at the moment." Rick says. "You do what you can to feel less lonely right?" he says.
"Your mentor. Is he a teacher or something?"
Kassandra nods as he describes the loneliness, and holds him a little closer so he'll know she understands.
"Yeah...a mentor is a mage's most important teacher. They wait for us to Awaken so they can protect us from the Technocracy and teach us all the basics...get us started on our paths. Your mentor is pretty much your mentor until you die. Even if you surpass them, you always have that bond...kind of like a parent. Usually a mentor is the same Tradition as you are, but in my case Uncle John was my mom's friend and was there when I was born, so he knew what I was going to become, and he knew I was going to follow Mom's path rather than his, but it still worked having him as my mentor. If we'd been in the same Tradition he probably wouldn't have left me to study with other teachers, but I can't blame him because he just didn't know some of the Spheres of study that I needed to learn. I'm lucky he stuck around and taught me for so many years before he finally said I needed additional teachers." she explains.
"He seems nice. You said he travels a lot huh? Does he ever get you souvenirs or something?" Rick asks. "Your parents sound nice, and your mentor sounds like he really cares. You've had some good people in your life."
Kassandra smiles, looking down at her lap. 'Please, gods...let him still think that AFTER he meets them!!' she thinks a desperate plea to any deity-allies that might be listening!
"Thank you Rick! I admit...I get a little resentful at Uncle John for traveling so much...especially since it's usually while he's gone that bad things seem to happen! But yeah...he's always there for me...even when I'm bothering him!" she gives a little smirk. 'Which is MOST of the time!' she mentally adds.
"You know...no! He's never brought me a souvenir! I'm going to have a word with him!" she laughs. "What about you? Do Garou have mentors? I heard that Garou don't have their first change until around puberty...kind of like us. Is there a teacher waiting there for you to teach you what you are and how to use your powers?"
"At first we have teachers, but after a while we're put in a pack and left to our own devices. We learn by doing. Sink or swim I guess. In our society there is no coddling the weak. You learn to fight or you don't..." Rick says shrugging.
Kassandra nods, listening. That makes sense for werewolves. They have to be tough fighters right from the start.
"I hope Garou don't think we're too wimpy for having life-long mentors!" she laughs. "Although compared to you guys we ARE wimpy! Physically, anyway!" she grins. "Well...MOSTLY wimpy..." She looks into his eyes and takes his face in her hand, leaning in and kissing him again. She can't get enough of this! It's like she's a teenager, or something! She just wants to go somewhere private and make-out for hours! Or something!
Rick smiles as she kisses him again. He feels himself burn inside and so wants to go make out! But no no, 'take this slow and easy,' he thinks. He kisses her back and when they break he shakes his head. "What did you just ask me?" he says with a chuckle. "It just left my mind there."
Kassandra gives a distracted laugh and pushes a lock of hair out of her face. "Did I ask a question?" she asks in a floaty-sounding voice, thinking. "Oh I can't remember what it was if I did!" She smiles and reaches up to push a piece of loose hair out of Rick's face, touching his cheek softly. These are little relationship-type things that she's never been able to do before, so she's savoring each moment. She can see the same little battle of willpower going on behind his eyes that's going on inside of her, too.
"This has been a great picnic hasn't it!" she grins. "You're wonderful, Rick." she says sincerely.
"This has been the best picnic," Rick agrees. "And it's all because of you, Kass. You're the best." he says. The couple continue to spend their time in the shade of the tree, kissing, talking, and just being together. Finally they pack up their blankets and food and get back on the bike.
Kassandra doesn't know where Rick wants to go now, but she does know that she doesn't want their date to end yet! She tightens her grip around his middle and rests the side of her face against his back as the wind whips around them. "Rick? Could we go outside the city a little ways so we can race through the desert? I want to see how fast we can go...to feel that freedom we were talking about earlier...if you think it would be safe, that is." she adds.
"I've been told to stay within the city, Kass, or I would. I don't want to take you too far from home, remember there are enemies still about." Rick says over his shoulder. "When this is all over, I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll drive all the way to Vegas how's that?"
Kassandra beams and gives his waist a little squeeze. "That sounds really great..." She has a visual of the two of them riding down the strip at night with all the lights everywhere...sharing a hotel room together...she smiles dreamily and closes her eyes. "Yes...that would be really nice..." she says in a soft voice.
"So if we can't leave the city, where are you taking me good sir?" she smiles.
"Around the block for a little bit and then home," Rick says. "I don't want anything to happen to you, so you're safe at home and with me," he says. "Oh and if you see anything that looks odd, tell me and we're gone, ok?" he says over the engine.
Kassandra gives an undetectable sad sigh and rests her head against his back again. "OK...I will..." she says loudly enough to be heard over the engine and wind. As they pass by cars on road, the passengers gaze at Rick and Kassandra and comment or think about how sweet the couple looks...the woman cuddled against the man's back and looking so content.
Meanwhile Kassandra's wishing she could use Time to make this ride last as long as possible!
Rick smiles as they snuggle close. He wishes the ride could last all the way to Vegas now...but that's just not possible. It's too dangerous-- hell even this picnic probably wasn't a smart idea, but...he couldn't resist. And he's glad he didn't. He drives slowly around the block and through a few neighborhoods, staying silent and just enjoying the feeling of closeness.
After a while of pouting silently about how restricted she and Rick are due to the stupid Technocracy, Kassandra finally calms down and enjoys riding with Rick. She loves how it feels to wrap her arms around his waist and how it feels to sit so close to him. She rubs his chest with her hands, and then reaches up with one hand and strokes his ponytail as it blows behind him. She lets out a contented little sigh. She's going to leave some kind of incredible offering to the Apollo-statue in her garden at the next possible chance!!
"Rick? Thank you for not giving up trying to talk to me at the party. I can see that it was probably my fault that I was lonely...I never gave anyone a chance...before you."
Rick smiles, "Well thank you for giving me the chance and hearing me out, Kass." Rick says playfully. "Nah a lot of guys think beautiful girls are already taken and so never say a word to em. I decided to take a chance and say hello. Who knew thinks would work out so well?"
Kassandra smiles and gives a happy laugh. 'He thinks I'm beautiful!!' she thinks giddily.
"Tell me about it! I feel sick when I think about what I would have been missing if we hadn't met! I would really love to meet your snakes, by the way. I can speak to snakes. I can tell you if they're happy, or if there's anything they want." She gives a little snort. "My spirit-snake has gotten so demanding lately! I had no idea she was bored! She never let on at all!"
"Yeah they get bored easy!" Rick says. "I have a little mouse maze they like so they can chase their food. It's great, I made it myself. Do you want me to make one for you too?" he asks. He takes a turn and then heads down a straightaway. He looks at all the passersby and smiles.
Kassandra's eyes light up at the thought of a mouse-maze! "Oh that's perfect, Rick! Seriously! I never thought of that before! Yes, I would LOVE if you made a mouse-maze for Andromeda! And she will, too! That's all she wants to do lately-- chase mice and rats and other prey! She's becoming more and more like a physical snake all the time!" she smiles. "I love that you know how to do all these things with your hands-- fixing and building and creating. It's really great."
"Yeah, hey when all you ever do is work with your hands and love it, you get new ideas how to build things." Rick says. "I like working with my hands, Kass. I never had the chance to use much of what's upstairs, you know." he says as he turns the bike towards the chantry. "Alright time to head home, Kass."
Kassandra lets out a disappointed moan and rests the side of her face against Rick's back again, holding him tightly. She has a mental-picture of Peter having to come out and try to pry her off of the back of the bike after they pull up to the chantry! 'That wouldn't be very attractive, would it!' she thinks to herself wryly.
"I wish we didn't have to..." she sighs. "I wish we didn't live in a world with a Technocracy. Don't they realize that all we want to do is just have normal lives? I mean, we just went out for a couple of hours and neither of us ever even THOUGHT to use our magick the entire time! Nor do we plan to unless we HAVE to! I mean, what do they think? That if they weren't out there we'd be casting spells all over the city right and left? Or that you guys would be running around the streets in full werewolf-form, terrorizing the citizens? I guess SOME people might do that, but none that I know of!" she huffs angrily.
"They want to control the world is what I've heard. They don't care about us, all they want to do is make sure is that there is no one around to challenge them," he says. "As long as we exist we're a threat, Kass. They can't afford that." he says.
Kassandra nods bitterly and falls silent again. She sighs and rests her head on Rick's shoulder and rubs his chest slowly as she calms down. 'He's so muscular...' she thinks in amazed attraction. 'I cannot wait to see how he looks under his clothing!!' She blushes a little. 'IF I get to see him naked...I HOPE I will...he's so wonderful...and I've never ever had sex with a clear mind...sex when I wasn't on that drug. It would finally be MY choice...it would finally be ME moving and reacting and experiencing everything.' she thinks excitedly.
He pulls up their driveway and finally stops near Darcy's van. He cuts then engine and smiles back at her. "I believe this is your stop," he says with a wink. "If I didn't have guard duty in twenty minutes I'd come in," he says. "But tonight is my shift." he says regretfully.
Kassandra actually has to blink away tears before he can see them! She was SO hoping that she could at least invite him in! She didn't expect that he would have to leave right away!
She sits on the back of his bike looking at him with undisguised sadness. Maybe Peter WILL have to come wrestle her off the bike after all! Oh but if John were watching her he'd shake his head and roll his eyes, not surprised at all, and later comment on how she IS still immature. Willing herself to get off his bike and say good-bye will have to be another one of those painful life-lessons, it looks like. She HATES when those she feels safe with and relies on for protection leave her...and it looks like poor Rick has just earned his spot amoungst the other of her victims, right along side John and her father.
She reaches up and runs her hands down the front of his shirt. "I was hoping you could come in...but...I understand." she forces herself to say. "Boy, you sure do leave a girl wanting more!" she laughs sadly.
Rick nods at her. "I know, I'd much rather come in, but it's something I have to do. But I can see you in a couple of days when I no longer have to guard." Rick says. He smiles. "Thanks for the compliment, and yes I'd like there to be more today. I had a great time Kass." he says leaning over and kissing her.
Kassandra holds his face in her hands, kissing him back with longing. When the kiss finally breaks she's embarrassed to find that her eyes are trying to fill with tears again. She looks down and gives an embarrassed laugh, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear to disguise the tears in her eyes.
'Kassandra Grimaldi, this is ridiculous! You're going to freak him out! Now stop crying right now!' she thinks commandingly to herself.
She lets him help her off of the back of his bike, and then gives him a last quick peck on the lips. "Stay safe. I'll be looking forward to seeing you again soon!" she says, again exerting all her willpower to just let him go without any more pouting.
Rick smiles at her. "Don't worry, Kass. I'll be back. I had a great time and we'll go out again when I get off guard duty." he says. He hits the engine and turns the bike around. "I'll see you soon, Kass! I'll take you out to dinner next time!" he says. He waves and rides off.
'What a great date! She was really really sad that I was leaving! She must really like me!!!' he thinks as he tears off happily down the drive and onto the street.
Kassandra waves and watches as he drives off, and then finally turns and walks slowly back to the manor.
'Phew! You're so lucky he didn't think you were psycho after that little display!' she thinks to herself chastisingly. 'He even wants to take you out to dinner!'
"Mmm...out to dinner with Rick...that will be so romantic..." she murmurs to herself, a little smile growing on her lips. She has little flashes back to each kiss they shared-- especially the very first one-- and by the time she opens the door and steps back into the chantry the big, dreamy grins is back on her face.
Pete looks up from the couch. He smiles at her as she walks in. "Well don't you look like the cat that ate the canary," he says as he gets up off the couch. "So tell me, how'd it go?" he says crossing his arms and looking at her thoughtfully.
Kassandra grins. "Perfect..." she sighs happily. "Well, if he didn't have to leave to get back to guard-duty it would have been even better, but I really can't complain. It went so much better than I dreamed it would!" she says, twirling around on one foot and laughing.
She stops twirling and looks at Peter. "There are few mysteries never fully explained. Like the Bermuda Triangle...who shot Kennedy...and HOW in the world Rick could possibly be single??" she says with a grin. "He's perfect, Peter! Seriously!"
Peter laughs, "He was single because he was supposed to be with you, Kassandra. Just think of it that way and it's really not a mystery is it." he says. "Well I'm glad it went so well, Kassandra. Rick will be intolerable for the next few days," he says putting on his coat. "I'll get all the grimy details from him," he says. "I'm on guard duty tonight, too."
Kassandra runs up to Peter and takes his arm. "Oh will you? I would be ever-so-grateful! And you can tell him what I said, too!" she grins. "And I apologize ahead of time if we drive you insane! I owe you big-time! I'll make you your favorite meal when you come back! Five course meal, even, so be thinking about what you want! And don't think I'm kidding!" she says waving her finger at him.
"It's a deal!" Peter says with a big grin. "Alright Kassandra, I'll get all the info for you," he says walking to the door. He opens it and turns to her with a smile. "And I'll tell him just what you said. I'm sure he'll appreciate it." he laughs and closes the door behind him.
Kassandra laughs excitedly with a little squeal, and then does a little dance after Peter shuts the door. This is so exciting having a new relationship!! One where BOTH parties feel the same about each other! OK, she's feeling much better now. Maybe one day she'll get over all her weird phobias and be a normal person! Well...as normal as she can come!
As a last little bit of icing on the cake, she decides she wants to text message John. She gets out her phone and types in about four lines of the most sickeningly-happy-looking smiley-faces she can find, and then sends the message to John to see how he responds to this one!
The return text reads...
get laid did we?
Kassandra reads it and laughs hard. 'Uncle John, you're the best!' she thinks to herself, still laughing. She hits "respond" and types in:
"Even better! I have a boyfriend! Although I'm really hoping the "get laid"-part will follow shortly-- as I'm sure everyone else is, too! Don't tell Mom yet. He's a werewolf."
Right...a werewolf...well take care of fleas then, Squirt. Off to San Fran soon, see then. Tell Sunshine I'll see her in a bit.
Kassandra makes a face when she reads the first part, and then smiles when she reads that he'll be back soon. She hits "respond" again and puts a line of emote-faces sticking their tongues out. Then she types:
"Good! I have a LOT to tell you but want to do it in person! Mom and Dad are still out of state, but I'll tell her next time I call. Love you Uncle John!" Then she types in another two lines of happy female smiley-face emotes with bows and eyelashes and lipstick and adds, "I am happy." at the end of the last line.
I'm happy for you, squirt. Take care, be safe...Uncle John...
Kassandra smiles and puts her cell phone away. John IS a good person, and she IS lucky to have him. Rick's right. Time to go research what offering she should give to Apollo for sending Rick into her life. She walks into the kitchen and touches the flowers Rick gave her as if they were the most delicate and valuable things on earth. Then she picks up the vase, cradles it in the crook of her arm, and makes her way to the Horizon Realm.