((Taken from RP)
)
The man came to the library like so many do. He asked Brit for books regarding the history of his kind. In time, he filled out a library card application, sat down to color with her, and told her a little bit about himself. While watching her color, he struggled to remember how he left this world the first time around. He described an abyss-like existence. Then he started to tell her about the centuries old war between his people, lycans, against vampires. Brit was stunned as she thought of many. Omega, Nikita, and Ethan to name but a few. Besides, Brit had not seen such a war. Perhaps it was over, and so she told him that all vampires were not cruel. Larissa and Lorne had come in time to see his shock as he wondered what had happened in the past five centuries to make people sympathetic to those he considered the embodiment of evil.
Brit explained, “Ethan is my beloved…my one and only. And he would not hurt you or anyone else.” The man looked at her incredulously.
Lorne looked up from the book he was reading to Brit. Creasing his brow, he said, “He bloody well would hurt people. He would kill people. Or has he taken to loading those enormous guns of his with flowers and music, and replacing his claws with marshmallows and happiness?”
Pouting, Brit replied, “You and Ethan don’t like each other. So… what happens with you and Ethan is…um…different.”
The man interjected, “I’m in too weak a state to make any boast or threat. But I hope you are right. Eventually, I’ll regain my strength. I’ll return to the war in full and hope that your…vampire idol never enters the reach of my claws.”
Tilting her head, Larissa commented softly to all in hopes of soothing the growing discomfort. “I would say he seems to be a great warrior, but someone wise once said that wars do not make one great.” Brit heard nothing Larissa said as she processed and felt the man had just issued a threat. It unsettled her. Plus, she knew that idols were not supposed to be good things. Larissa continued “What is this war you are talking about, if I may ask. There are so many.”
The man smirked as he mulled over thoughts himself. He told Larissa the war was one of the originals between the bats and the wolves. Larissa smiled to Brit, “And is Ethan a…bat?”
Lorne’s brow creased a bit more and, before she could answer, he said, “You said Ethan would not hurt anyone else. If someone gave him reason to, he would. I am someone else. Disliking someone does not justify gunning them down like he did with me.” The volume of his voice increased, “Ethan sat on the throne of the Shadows, killed them one by one, and cursed him with nightmares. You would have chosen to die rather than live without him, and he would have died thinking he failed you even though you were not benefited in any way by the violence he sewed.” Lorne was all but yelling. He sat back adjusting his chair and scowled at Brit waggling a finger at her. “He is good with a strong heart and noble spirit, but do not presume to mislead strangers into believing he is harmless and non-violent. It simply is not so.”
Brit stared at Lorne clearly hurt. Whether by his tone or his words, it mattered not. She never intended to mislead anyone! The man drummed his fingers along the spine of the history book and he handed it to Lorne saying he did not feel he needed to borrow it after all. Lorne took several deep breaths releasing each one slowly and accepted the book silently looking it over. Larissa blew some cool hair on Lorne’s heated skin and stayed silent while watching him seem to boil. After a moment, Larissa straightened and smiled to Brit. Brit stood and filed the library card application then fled upstairs obviously very upset.
“An intense day, it seems,” said Larissa quietly The man said low that some people do not see what they do not wish to see. “Perhaps,” replied Larissa feeling concern. The man offered apologies, exchanged some words with Lorne and Larissa, and then left after a few reassuring words from Lorne that said no offense was taken. Larissa struggled whether to go after Brit, but she stayed massaging Lorne’s shoulders and neck.
Watching Brit’s empty chair, Lorne clasped Larissa hand. “Some simply see what is there. It is an overwhelming way to live.” He continued to hold Larissa’s hand that had been massaging his shoulder. His thoughts rolled over and over his words and he wondered at the flare of emotion. Not anger. Pain.
)The man came to the library like so many do. He asked Brit for books regarding the history of his kind. In time, he filled out a library card application, sat down to color with her, and told her a little bit about himself. While watching her color, he struggled to remember how he left this world the first time around. He described an abyss-like existence. Then he started to tell her about the centuries old war between his people, lycans, against vampires. Brit was stunned as she thought of many. Omega, Nikita, and Ethan to name but a few. Besides, Brit had not seen such a war. Perhaps it was over, and so she told him that all vampires were not cruel. Larissa and Lorne had come in time to see his shock as he wondered what had happened in the past five centuries to make people sympathetic to those he considered the embodiment of evil.
Brit explained, “Ethan is my beloved…my one and only. And he would not hurt you or anyone else.” The man looked at her incredulously.
Lorne looked up from the book he was reading to Brit. Creasing his brow, he said, “He bloody well would hurt people. He would kill people. Or has he taken to loading those enormous guns of his with flowers and music, and replacing his claws with marshmallows and happiness?”
Pouting, Brit replied, “You and Ethan don’t like each other. So… what happens with you and Ethan is…um…different.”
The man interjected, “I’m in too weak a state to make any boast or threat. But I hope you are right. Eventually, I’ll regain my strength. I’ll return to the war in full and hope that your…vampire idol never enters the reach of my claws.”
Tilting her head, Larissa commented softly to all in hopes of soothing the growing discomfort. “I would say he seems to be a great warrior, but someone wise once said that wars do not make one great.” Brit heard nothing Larissa said as she processed and felt the man had just issued a threat. It unsettled her. Plus, she knew that idols were not supposed to be good things. Larissa continued “What is this war you are talking about, if I may ask. There are so many.”
The man smirked as he mulled over thoughts himself. He told Larissa the war was one of the originals between the bats and the wolves. Larissa smiled to Brit, “And is Ethan a…bat?”
Lorne’s brow creased a bit more and, before she could answer, he said, “You said Ethan would not hurt anyone else. If someone gave him reason to, he would. I am someone else. Disliking someone does not justify gunning them down like he did with me.” The volume of his voice increased, “Ethan sat on the throne of the Shadows, killed them one by one, and cursed him with nightmares. You would have chosen to die rather than live without him, and he would have died thinking he failed you even though you were not benefited in any way by the violence he sewed.” Lorne was all but yelling. He sat back adjusting his chair and scowled at Brit waggling a finger at her. “He is good with a strong heart and noble spirit, but do not presume to mislead strangers into believing he is harmless and non-violent. It simply is not so.”
Brit stared at Lorne clearly hurt. Whether by his tone or his words, it mattered not. She never intended to mislead anyone! The man drummed his fingers along the spine of the history book and he handed it to Lorne saying he did not feel he needed to borrow it after all. Lorne took several deep breaths releasing each one slowly and accepted the book silently looking it over. Larissa blew some cool hair on Lorne’s heated skin and stayed silent while watching him seem to boil. After a moment, Larissa straightened and smiled to Brit. Brit stood and filed the library card application then fled upstairs obviously very upset.
“An intense day, it seems,” said Larissa quietly The man said low that some people do not see what they do not wish to see. “Perhaps,” replied Larissa feeling concern. The man offered apologies, exchanged some words with Lorne and Larissa, and then left after a few reassuring words from Lorne that said no offense was taken. Larissa struggled whether to go after Brit, but she stayed massaging Lorne’s shoulders and neck.
Watching Brit’s empty chair, Lorne clasped Larissa hand. “Some simply see what is there. It is an overwhelming way to live.” He continued to hold Larissa’s hand that had been massaging his shoulder. His thoughts rolled over and over his words and he wondered at the flare of emotion. Not anger. Pain.
I really like the verbal conflict. Can feel the tension and the heightening intensity. Also refreshing to hear from an detractor and a different perspective on the blessed Ethan Everlasting. Gives some nice backstory to help contradict the deluge of smitteness in the pieces prior. Also, even if it hasn't unfolded yet, ther is an anticipated predicability for the reader - great pplot device.
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