[center][color=#807B84][sub][i]There once was a woman who lived a life so strange it had to be true...[/i][/sub][/color] [color=#816C90][sub][b]╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗[/b][/sub][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/aB6HrnE.gif[/img] [color=#816C90][sup][b]╚════════════════════════════════════════════ J Ä G E R B O M B ═══════════════════════════════════════════╝[/b][/sup][/color][/center] [color=#816C90][indent][sub][B]Location[/B] [COLOR=SILVER][I]Unit 814, Ruthven Heights[/I] - [I]Milk Street[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Post #2.20 / 5.02:[/b] [COLOR=SILVER][I]If Three’s A Crowd, Then Four’s A Party[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][hr][INDENT][COLOR=#816C90]|[/COLOR] [color=#807B84][B][sub][i]A Collaboration with [@Junkmail] & [@Silver Carrot][/i][/sub][/B][/color] [INDENT]Despite Ellara’s first instincts, hiding in her room and waiting for Natalie to leave for work wasn’t the appropriate course of action to take. The pair of girls had been living together for over eight months, one of them was bound to bring home a bedmate after one too many drinks by now. It did not however, mean that she had to like it. Tossing Cal his jeans and shirt, Ellara grabbed a nearby bra, giving it a quick sniff before lifting her tank top and slipping it on. Allowing herself one last look at Cal’s rippling form, Ellara moved to exit the room before catching a glimpse of herself. Quickly running her fingers through her tousled brown hair, she did her best to alleviate the appearance of ‘sex hair’ before emerging from the bedroom. [color=#816c90]“Did you want some coffee, asshole?”[/color] She asked Cal before turning towards the cupboard, only to pause as she noticed the word ‘kahvi’ in her own writing, quickly scribbled onto her and Natalie’s grocery list. [color=#906f6c]“Are you always this charming in the morning?”[/color] He replied with a smile watching as Ellara’s head turned away from the fridge in evident confusion and towards a box that had been left atop the counter, haphazardly tossed aside and very obviously empty. [color=#816c90]“Only after a go-”[/color] Her words were cut short as Ellara registered what the box was. [color=#816c90]“[i]Motherfucker[/i]!”[/color] Ellara cursed before looking back at Cal with a sheepish look. [color=#816c90]“...Or not,”[/color] She muttered before turning back to Cal, [color=#816c90]“No [i]fuckin’[/i] coffee I guess...”[/color] Her voice trailed off as Ellara looked around the kitchen again before tossing a chair beside the counter. Determined to have her morning cup of coffee, Ellara climbed atop it before rummaging through the cupboard quickly to ensure that she and Natalie were in fact completely out of coffee. Despite her best efforts however, Ellara drew back from the cupboard empty handed as she looked around the kitchen one last time, her eye settling on a bottle within arm’s reach. [color=#816c90]“Bourbon?” [/color]She joked, offering the a nearly empty bottle as she picked it up, its remaining contents sloshed around as it was lifted into the air. [color=#906f6c]“I’m good, really.”[/color] Cal replied with a wide smile as he held the palms of his hands towards Ellara. [color=#816c90]“Suit yourself,”[/color] She replied with a shrug, finishing the bottle. It was at this point where Natalie Ellis emerged from her bedroom, in full Freckles’ uniform, and headed into the kitchen. The moment she saw Ellara with a guy, she immediately breathed a massive sigh of relief, before her eyes drifted to the open cabinet, and she gasped, before facepalming. [b][color=#c0c0c0]”Shit, I forgot the coffee! I am so sorry, El! I got a bit sidetracked last night,”[/color][/b] she explained, hoping that Archie would rear his head sooner rather than later. She gestured to Cal, whilst grinning at Ellara. [b][color=#c0c0c0]”So aren’t you going to introduce us?”[/color][/b] Ellara was taken aback by how forward Natalie was this morning. The girls barely spoke on most days, and the first time Ellara has a guy who didn’t jump out the fire escape, Natalie was acting as though they were Ellara was bringing her college boyfriend home for the holidays. Though, Ellara could tell there was something off about Natalie this morning too. The girl was flustered, and it wasn’t because of forgetting the coffee. No, she was [i]giddy[/i]. A foreign smell reached Ellara’s nose as it twitched in response to the unknown smell. It was definitely the smell of another person. Another person who was inside their apartment and based on the direction of the smell, was inside Natalie’s room. Her eyes darted towards the other girl’s room, listening for sounds on the other side of the door before realizing she had yet to answer Natalie. [color=#816c90]“Uh, yeah this is, uh...”[/color] Ellara looked back quickly towards the male as he mouthed his name towards her.[color=#816c90] “Cal.”[/color] She added hastily before her eyes turned towards Natalie. [color=#816c90]“Is there someone in your [i]fuckin’[/i] room?”[/color] She asked bluntly, looking past the taller girl towards the cracked door. As if on cue, Archie gently pushed the door open and stepped out into the open. Upon realizing that everyone’s attention was on him he froze and gave them a sheepish smile, raising his hand in greeting. [color=#ffa500]“Uh, good morning.”[/color] He said, trying to break the ice. He looked between Cal, Ellara, and Natalie and remembered that Nat had just asked Ellara about Cal’s name. He predicted Ellara’s follow up question and followed his greeting with an introduction. [color=#ffa500]“My name is Archie. I- uh, I know you.”[/color] He said, meeting Ellara’s eyes. He shifted his gaze to Cal, who was simply staring at him. [color=#ffa500]“You, not so much. Nice to meet you.”[/color] Cal seemed… [i]uncomfortable[/i]. But not the kind of of awkward uncomfortable that would normally be associated with this situation. It was the kind of tension that was usually associated with two predators interacting with one another for the first time. In Cal’s mind, alarm bells were going off, because Archie wasn’t like him. He [i]knew [/i]the smell of members who shared the beast blood. Archie on the other hand, didn’t feel anything especially odd other than a burning sensation in his chest that was usually associated with [i]the other guy. [/i]He wasn’t particularly worried, as [i]it [/i]tended to be particularly ornery in the mornings whenever he woke up. As if it didn’t enjoy being dragged out of bed itself. That being said all of his transformations to date, aside from one, had occured in the evening. Archie’s ignorance to the situation translated as general ease to Cal, which was unnerving him more and more by the minute. [color=#906f6c]“Er, likewise, Archie.”[/color] Cal replied, tacking on his name as if it were an afterthought. He was too busy trying to read Archie’s expression and body language for something- but was largely unsuccessful. Something in Archie decided to give Cal a smile that was all teeth, and Cal finally broke Archie’s gaze and looked away quickly. Then the heat in his chest disappeared quickly. Odd, but not exactly something that could be mentioned in casual conversation. Not that he wanted anyone in the room but Natalie to know about his, er, [i]condition[/i]. Ellara's eyes shifted from Natalie to Archie and then to Cal and back again as she kept careful watch on all three, especially the two men. Never before had the girls’ apartment felt so small as it did while the two males were sizing each other up, practically circling each other in the middle of the kitchen. Ellara had seen it happen more than a million times at the bar, two men ready to fight over little more than a few misspoken words and aggressive body language. But, she was more than ready to step in should a fight break out between Archie and Cal. Natalie was also watching the proceedings with baited breath, sensing the tension. She had no doubt she’d be able to hold the men apart if it came to that, but then she’d have to explain herself to her housemate, and she didn’t want Ellara thinking her a freak from now on. That would make living together so much more awkward. Thankfully, the situation didn't escalate and nothing else happened. Cal looked away from Archie before slumping lazily into a nearby chair, leaving Ellara free to address Archie's earlier statement. She had no doubt in her mind that it was his words that had triggered the testosterone fueled chest pounding between the two larger males. [color=#816c90]“What did you say like a [i]fuckin’[/i] minute ago?”[/color] Ellara asked looking up at Archie. [color=#816c90]“You said you knew me, but look, I don’t know what the [i]fuck[/i] you meant by that, ‘cause no offense to my roommate here but I'm sure as [i]hell[/i] you and I never knocked boots before.” [/color] Her words exhibited a subtle sigh of relief from Cal, one that was near inaudible to anyone else in the room, save Ellara and her enhanced senses. Archie laughed, shaking his head at Ellara’s insinuation. [color=#ffa500]“Not like that. You work at the bar. I go there pretty regularly.”[/color] He explained. The image of Ellara and Archie knocking boots was now firmly lodged in Natalie’s brain, and she tried desperately to get it out. It did surprise her that the thought was making her a little jealous, which she knew made no logical sense. She nervously chuckled as she made introductions, accompanied by gestures. [b][color=#c0c0c0]“Archie, this is my housemate Elara. Ellara, this is Archie. We, uh, met last night. Now, I need to have breakfast, then get to work.”[/color][/b] She left the two, heading past Cal and over to the fridge. As she passed the unfamiliar man, she gave him a small, polite yet uncomfortable smile. She didn’t look back over to him, or to El or Archie, as she set about preparing herself a bowl of cereal. The awkwardness of the moment was broken by the ringing of Ellara’s cell phone. Looking down, Ellara was surprised to see the device poking out of the waistband of her shorts. Despite having no recollection of tucking the device there, she quickly pulled the phone out, giving the screen a quick look before swiping her thumb across the screen. [color=#816c90]“Uncle Roy?”[/color] [color=#cc4125]“Hey, Ellara,”[/color] Came the man’s reply as Ellara moved out of the kitchen and into the hallway. [color=#cc4125]“I decided that it’d be best if I got rid of this stuff as soon as possible, so I’ve been driving most of the night but I’m just entering the city now. Can you meet me at your bar in about half an hour?”[/color] [color=#816c90]“Uh, yeah.”[/color] Ellara replied taken aback as she looked around the corner at the full apartment.[color=#816c90] “I might be a little [i]fuckin’[/i] longer than that.”[/color] [color=#cc4125]“If you could hurry, it’d be appreciated.”[/color] Roy replied, his voice strained but Ellara chalked it up to a combination of fatigue and forced politeness. [color=#816c90]“I’ll [i]fuckin’ [/i]do what I[i] [/i]can.”[/color] She snapped back hanging the phone up as she poked her head back into the kitchen and addressed Natalie. [color=#816c90]“Seeing as you’re already dressed, Nat, you don’t need the shower right?”[/color] Natalie looked up, and frantically tried to swallow the cereal that was in her mouth, resulting in a few coughs and splutters. She then cleared her throat. [b][color=#c0c0c0]“No, I went yesterday morning and I’m kind of in a hurry. I might have a bath tonight instead. It’s all yours.”[/color][/b] [color=#816c90]“Aight,”[/color] Ellara replied before motioning towards Cal, [color=#816c90]“You’re coming too, asshole. You smell like a [i]fuckin’[/i] wet dog.”[/color] With an apologetic smile, Cal shrugged his shoulders as he stood. [color=#906f6c]“Good meeting both of you, really,”[/color] He assured Natalie and Archie before pausing briefly, [color=#906f6c]“I uh,”[/color] He looked over his shoulder quickly towards the direction Ellara had left choosing his next words carefully, [color=#906f6c]“I [i]really[/i] hope she’s not [i]always[/i] like this.”[/color] [color=#816c90]“Heard that, [i]fucker[/i]!”[/color] [color=#906f6c]“Guess that’s my cue then.”[/color] Cal chuckled with a small salute as he followed the path Ellara had left in. Archie watched the two leave and sighed. [color=#ffa500]“I suppose I’ll take my leave then.”[/color] He said, shoving his hands in his pockets and heading towards what had to be the front door based on the many shoes by it. After putting his own shoes one, he looked back over to Natalie and cleared her throat to get her attention, mouthed ‘See you later’, and then slipped out the door. [b][color=#c0c0c0]“Yeah, see you,”[/color][/b] she replied, before adding [b][color=#c0c0c0]“Do you have my number?”[/color][/b] but it was too late. By that time, he’d gone, and the door was closed. Natalie hoped that he did. If not, she could always hang round the Tír na nÓg and try to catch him. Finishing up on her breakfast, she slipped her own shoes on, retrieved her coat from her room, and slipped it on as she left. It still had a bloodstained sleeve, but she still had a bandaged hand. She’d have plenty of time to think up excuses on the walk to Freckles’.[/INDENT][/INDENT]