[CHANTEL] Sticks and stones

[derek chandler ralston]

LAS VEGAS - Present day



Derek ran his tongue over the two canines along his bottom row of teeth as he climbed off the motorcycle. He had a backpack of clothes in the hitch with a few other trinkets, and that was all there was to his name. He had left Vegas awhile ago, mainly because he was going completely mad and finally listened to the yelling in his head, had done some ruthless hunting elsewhere.
But he had promised her he would be back. She was the only friend he had, the only family.

He wandered into the coffee shop and ordered a caramel machiatto, waiting impatiently and paying the teenage demon behind the counter.
He could feel that connection, the way he acted.
But upon taking a sip, Derek growled in frustrastion. He'd been caught in the rain on the trip back and was already in a bad enough mood. Fangs flashed as his lips curled, eyes flickering a brief red from their usual bluish-grey. "I said caramel, you dumb fuck," He muttered, slamming it down on the counter. The wide eyed demon scampered off to fix his order and he just glowered after him, the buzz of voices in his head not helping at all.

[chantel]

Chantel knew he was back. She could feel him. If anyone in this town had a presence, it was him. And it was strong. He was the very definition of monster, everyone's one and only nightmare. And yet he was the only thing Chantel had. He hadn't been able to take care of her, no. But he'd been there for her, had taught her what little she knew about being a human.

She bit her lip, not caring if it was raining or not. He was around here somewhere. She brushed past someone, her clothes stuck to her thin frame. She pushed her hair out of her face, her canine yellow eyes looking around until they finally fell on him, standing there. Her heart sped up for a moment in excitement, and she fumbled with the door for a second before she figured it out. She walked over to Derek, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "You came back."

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek tensed at the hug. And then that familiar scent flooded past the smell of rain, and that voice rang in his ears. He turned in her arms, and some of his impatience left him as he hugged her back, offering a smile that revealed his teeth. Again the barista seemed to shrink away as he set the drink on the counter. "Of course I did.." He breathed softly. "I promised you, didn't I?" She was the only one who could keep him somewhat sane. The only one who knew everything. And he had helped her in turn.

The young man yawned, teeth flashing, and moved to set his cup on the table nearby, studying her. "You're soaked, you want a coffee?"
He could feel the barista's heartbeat quicken, prepared to hurry off and help so he wouldn't be snapped at again.

[chantel]

Chantel tried to think for a moment what coffee was before she finally remembered and shook her head. She always managed to burn herself on it. "No.." She said quietly, slowly pulling her arms away from him. She knew he'd never hurt her, but you really can't trust someone who's a monster. And she doubted he wanted her hugging him. She moved over to the table he'd sat his coffee on, sitting down carefully. She looked him over, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.

"I saw a puppy today." She said quietly, her eyes tracing slowly over the table. They fell on the napkins, and she laid her head down on the table to look at them. She reached over, poking one hesitantly. "Huh.." She yawned, wrapping her arms around herself again, but she didn't bother sitting up.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek sat down across from her, that usually emotionless look back. But it was better than actually showing emotion, for him. "Did you?" He breathed, leaning back in his chair and watching her with pale eyes as he sipped at her coffee. He shifted his weight and ran his tongue over his teeth again thoughtfully.

"Did I miss anything while I was gone?" He'd had to get out, drive, kill, anything he could to calm the madness in his head and heart. The screaming of Satan, the taunting, the anger.
He studied her quietly, as innocent as she had ever been. But she was definitely a lot better of than she had been when he first met her. He had been drawn to come back. She was the only person he would give his life for. He had helped raise her, in ways. He understood some of what she went through, not only with being different, but with losing parental figures.

[chantel]

She thought for a minute, a yawn passing her lips from the cold water on her body and soaking her clothes. "I got a job.. And a place to stay... She's a pirate." She said quietly. She couldn't really think of anything else that had happened while he was gone. "Toby died the other night in a fight.. He went at it with another wolf over a lost puppy he'd found. I don't think the wolf was from here. But the wolf wanted to eat the puppy and Toby was trying to bring it back home so he could find it's parents but the wolf killed him." She reached up, rubbing her eye. She could feel eyes on her, curious eyes wondering why she was wet.

[derek chandler ralston]

"Well that's good. A pirate, huh?" He knew few. Then again, he barely knew anybody, anyway. He listened as she talked about Toby and the puppy, his lips parted faintly in quiet curiosity. "Did he..? Hm... But he saved the puppy?" His voice held no mourning, he didn't know Toby well, didn't feel for anybody or anything, anymore. He glanced around at anybody staring until they grew unsettled enough to look away, then he looked back at her. He had only been back her for a matter of ten minutes, literally. He had no place to stay, had nothing. For once, Chantel was better off than he was. The thought was enough to bring a faint, wry smile to his lips.

[chantel]

"No. The other wolf took it." She said quietly, looking up at him. She looked over his face before her glance fell, and she closed her eyes. She at least knew staring was rude. "I don't know if it was a wolf puppy or just a dog but Toby didn't like seeing anything hurt." She ran her finger slowly over the tabletop, a yawn passing her lips again. She wrapped her arms around herself, finally feeling the cold of her clothes.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek just nodded quietly. 'You fool, show her some emotion.'
'Yeah, at least pretend you care.'
'Why should he do that?'
'She's just a dumb girl.'
His hands gripped at the table in agitation, and he let out a slow breath, glancing outside where the rain had stopped. The now empty cup had been crushed in a fist, and he tossed it in the rash before standing. "Why don't I take you back to that pirates house so you can get into some dry clothes?"

[chantel]

She looked up as he spoke, then stood up carefully. She pushed her chair back in, looking over as she heard someone laugh. 'She's got to be crazy.' She heard them mutter, and lowered her head. She got called crazy more than anything. She walked slowly out of the coffee shop, waving to the boy behind the counter before she opened the door. "Oh, the rain's stopped." She said, looking back for Derek.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek eyed them coldly as he passed, nodding when Chantel spoke. "Sure has," He breathed gruffly, leading her towards his motorcycle. He climbed on with ease, then offered his hand out to help her up behind him, waiting until she was situated. It had been frustrating and amusing first getting her on the bike.
Revving the engine, his pulled out. "Where to?" He called.

[chantel]

She carefully climbed on, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Hallows Avenue, house number thirteen." She said quietly, very proud she could read a few things. She hadn't ever gotten to reading much, mostly because she got frustrated doing it. She laid her head down on his back, putting her feet up on the pegs as she held tightly to his shirt. She was honestly just glad to have him back.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek nodded, hadn't bothered with helmets. He never had, figured he had quick enough reflexes. It was nice being back, honestly, knowing she was doing alright. He drove in silence and killed the engine as he stopped, climbing off and holding the bike up while he took her hand and helped her off as well. He checked the hatch to make sure his things were in there, and led her to the door, knocking with a straight face.

[chantel]

She waited behind him for Parish to come to the door. She opened the door, her hand on her small bulge of a stomach. It wasn't much, but it was noticeable, especially if her shirts were tighter. "Hey Chantel." She said quietly.

"Hey, Parish." She said quietly, taking Derek's hand gently to lead him inside. She walked up to her room, carefully going through the closet. She laid out some clothes on her bed, then pulled her shirt over her head.

[derek chandler ralston]

Derek nodded at the woman with that same lack of emotion. He held firmly to Chantel's hand, following her up to her room. He was...so indifferent when it came to seeing anybody naked. He'd never met a person interesting enough to surpass the madness in his head. He sat on her bed, glancing at her then respectfully turning his gaze elsewhere to study her room curiously. "Seems homely enough." He commented.