[oom] The Second Full Moon

[hell_in_highheels]

She started as soon as he left, working through the afternoon and into night.  Bar was very accommodating, and seemed to take a bit of enjoyment out of her list of possible ideas.

They started with the basic floor plan.  An open floor plan, doubling the size of the flat.  Ceilings pushed to twelve feet, harsh edges softened with a gentle organic line.  For the floors, a beautiful dark hardwood.   Hand hewn beams for the four massive columns (cover, not just concealment) that marked the corners of the living area, with the fireplace at the focal point.  Persian rugs in reds and golds, and a proper seating area, leather couches, overstuffed and deep.  A low table (more surfaces for books).

The picture window grew and curved outward to become a window seat big enough for both of them to stretch out in at the same time.  Curtains and cushions all a palette of dark greens, the walls in a warm ivory.  Art would come later, she thought.

A kitchen with a table and two chairs, ample counter space to cook.  She thinks about the fact that she hasn't cooked in ages, and how nice it would be to cook for the two of them.  And friends even.

In a smaller but still open alcove beyond the main room, she places a broader bed on a low heavy platform, also in dark wood.  Big enough for two people and a large dog.  The requested dressers on each side of the bed.  An oval free-standing long mirror .  A bathroom with two sinks, a shower and a large clawfoot tub (Are those wolf paws?) tucked into a niche.

Back in the main room, bookshelves along one wall.  She pondered that for awhile.  They can always add more if they need them.

About two o'clock in the morning, Bar refuses to rearrange the rugs again.  Yes, you're right, she thinks. Time for sleep.

~~~

She woke at their usual time and it took a moment to remember why the other side of the bed was cold and empty.  She showered quickly and dressed, thinking she'd go down and eat something.   She ended up sitting in the picture window, looking out over the lake, into the forest beyond, wondering where he was.  She drew the shawl around her and picked up a book (William Blake, today).

It wasn't long before she was dozing sitting up.

Comments

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

There was a knock on the door.

...again mun tries to describe personality with a knock. Again fails. It's... knocking. Even, regular, and just wanting to be heard.

[hell_in_highheels]

River starts awake. No, that wasn't a dream.

She places a marker in the book and walks to the door in her bare feet, wrapping the shawl around her shoulders.

She opens the door. "Yes?"

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

Deitmar looks at the door number once more, at her, and casts one more glance at the room behind her.

"You must be Dr. Song. I'm," just a shade of hesitation, "Deitmar. I didn't think Ryan would be in?"

It is a question. Ryan might have changed his habits somewhat; there is a window.

[hell_in_highheels]

"Deitmar, hello, so nice to meet you." Pack, Richard said. That word held weight for him. She opens the door wide.

"Please come in, and call me River. Richard won't be back until tomorrow, some time."

Of course, he already knows that. She knows he knows that.

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

"You don't try to go with him." That was definitely a shade of approval in his even, precise tones. Deitmar enters, taking in the full extent of the remodeling with a glance.

"Ryan mentioned you're fairly new to the place, as time here goes. I trust the experience has been pleasant enough."

[hell_in_highheels]

River closes the door behind him, raising an appraising eyebrow. Someone fancies himself an alpha. She watches him as he eyes the changes, one hand at her hip.

"It has been it's own kind of adventure. Can I offer you something to drink? I was just about to put the kettle on."

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

He was just thinking that! With a slightly different pronoun, and much much much more willingness to let it happen--the position of Ryan's mate was completely uncoveted.

"Milliways is often like that, at the beginning. Thank you, that would be generous." She'd looked a little tired, to him, but he didn't want to interrupt a morning routine.

[hell_in_highheels]

She steps into the kitchen, hoping and praying that Bar at least stocked the tea tins. Yes! Thank heavens. Milk and sugar too. She offers up a silent thanks as she fills the kettle from the tap.

"Were you expecting Richard?"

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

"Not with any great sense he'd be here." He crossed over to look at the light projection on the wall over the desk with some curiosity, then reached out to tap the moon phase. "I know.

"But I wasn't expecting to disturb you."

[hell_in_highheels]

"Mmm." For some reason, she's not certain she buys that.

She swirls hot water in the pot and pours it into the sink, following it up with a few spoons of loose tea leaves. She lets her hands go through the motions as she watches the young man.

"This feels rather awkward without him here to intermediate, don't you think?"

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

"No," said Wesker, although whether that was because he was sensitive like brick to emotion in the air, or whether he really didn't mind crashing in on his... adopted alpha's girlfriend was open for interpretation. "We would bore Ryan anyway as soon as one of us began talking about something of academic interest." He glanced over the books on the nearest shelf. "Not that I think I have much news for you. My world's time is in the nineteen-seventies."

[hell_in_highheels]

Well, then.

She fills the kettle and finds two mugs, assembling a tray with all the accoutrements, bringing them to the small table.

The shelves he's looking at are filled with an assortment of books, most names and even languages he has never seen before. But there is also some Shakespeare, Emmanuel Kant and someone called Stephen Hawking.

"That depends on what kind of academic interests you have. I'll admit, he doesn't care much for quantum theory, but that's the point at which physics almost become philosophy anyway, so we find our way. Mid twentieth century. Earth, then?"

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

The glance she gets is nearly surprised. "I can make his eyes glaze over in something under a minute," Deitmar says, joining her at the table and leaving the lovely books he wants to read ♥. "I'm a biologist, with a narrow focus on cellular biology and genetics.

"Yes, earth. From conversation with other patrons, mine is not too far outside the range of most at the same time. Average technology, for the most part."

[hell_in_highheels]

"Interesting. Cellular biology and genetics. Were you as curious as I was when you first found out he was a werewolf?"

She pours their tea, and leans on her elbows, rather curious to hear his answer.

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

"I convinced him to go down to the clinic the first chance I got so that I could guess whether he was infectious or not," Wesker admitted, "and checked his brainwaves while I was at it--we didn't know how his state and 'werewolf' interacted. But I wasn't permitted to keep data or samples, then, and we had a time limit to answer minimal questions. I was able to do very little further.

"I think much of that time was still while he was adjusting to it himself. There were many things to learn." His face is cold, his eyes are hard with some memory. But then it's gone. He sips tea.

[hell_in_highheels]

River listens intently. She meets his gaze, blinking occasionally. She can hear/see Richard's description of the young man again. Pack. She knows why now.

It warms her to think that Deitmar was here to take care of him before she arrived. She's glad there was someone for him, in that horrific period of adjustment.

"Did you ever get a determination on whether or not he's infectious?"

She leaves the words 'Thank you' unspoken. She's not sure he'd appreciate them.

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

"Given the behavior of his cells, there is no reason to think that he couldn't infect someone through biting," Deitmar says. "But other vectors are much less clear."

He doesn't really want to explain about what a difference being dead makes.

[hell_in_highheels]

River can be clinical as well, when she is in the mindset.

"And by 'state', you mean deceased in his world, correct?"

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

Deitmar can all the time.

"Correct. After leaving his mouth--we verified this with different dyes--the cells became damaged, dead. I would guess that implies a lack of ability to infect oneself through a needlestick, or any similar incident where his body was not immediately present."

[hell_in_highheels]

"I'm assuming he wouldn't let you attempt to directly infect living cells."

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

"I believe at the time he would have been wary of my motives in trying. He had me destroy every sample afterwards."

He's very curious to see where she will take this.

[hell_in_highheels]

That gets an impressed little smirk out of her. "He would. Stubborn bastard."

Her hand strays to the side of her throat, where she adjusts her turtleneck gingerly.

"And we are left wanting for empirical evidence." She sips her tea. "Though you can hardly blame him. I understand it was his government that put him in harm's way in the first place, for that very reason."

Science, you are a cruel mistress.

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

Deitmar nods a little at the stubborn comment. "Suzi has... met him outside. I did something similar once."

He pretty much passed out after Suzi, in a Sue-provoked envy fit, set him off and made him kill a tree. And then Ryan came and slept curled around him. Not that he wanted to go into that wreck of a time in detail, thank you.

"I never took a camera. The flash would have irritated him; he has excellent night vision."

[hell_in_highheels]

River sips her tea, listening intently. "He's asked me to stay here. I have to respect that."

Her eyes stray to the picture window and linger for a long moment.

"I like to think he would know me, but I've been told one can't be sure."

[hatchingviper.livejournal.com]

"Neither incident was intentional. Although they went well, I still would have preferred neither occurred. And they were hardly in early days." Deitmar shakes his head. "I think respecting the request is an excellent idea."

[hell_in_highheels]

River's lips press into a thin line, but she holds her tongue. Different subject.

"So please, tell me about yourself. I am curious to know all about the young man Richard holds in such high esteem."