The Bird or the Cage

renee had managed to do the groceries and slip out into the forest that bordered the eastern edge of the township, she had never been afraid of the forest despite the fact that it was dark and filled with all manner of animals. Animals were more trustworthy than the people she knew anyway, the blue eyed woman with black hair that framed a face with rosy cheeks and freckles made her way toward the secluded clearing where last week she'd been able to sketch a doe. the woman was quiet and gentle and often found that animals liked her. Finding the clearing and entering she sat herself down on the large warm rock that she'd claimed as hers and removed the satchel from her shoulder pulling out a sketchpad, a pencil, eraser and a sharpener. Inhaling the smell of the forest a smile slipped up onto her face, she looked around and her eyes focused on the same doe from the week before. surprise and eagerness became apparent and she quickly flipped her sketch pad open to the page from last week. The pencil set to paper and she became lost in the world that was drawing.

The doe lifted her head and darted off which gave Renee the first indication that someone else was there, anxiety clouded her features, it couldn't be him could it? He hadn't followed her here from the supermarket, watched her dump the car and escape into the only place she felt safe? The voice that called out however, soothed that anxiety, he didn't have a quiet voice like that, his voice was rough, hard and cruel. Letting out a short sigh of relief she released her tight grip on the satchel where she'd swiftly shoved her things, her sapphire hued gaze flicking around and eventually picking out the figure who owned the voice.

Wariness replaced the Anxiety before she mentally shrugged it off, anything that could have happened to her had already happened so unless he was a real sadist anything he did to her probably wasn't anything new. She stood up carefully biting on her bottom lip, her right arm moving across to gently grasp her left arm, "Hello?" her gaze studied the figure as best as she could from where she stood. The figure was tall, and seemed to be wiry and lean, his eyes didn't seem to show any ill will or malicious intent, feeling confident enough with this assumption that was backed up with the facts she'd picked up her shoulders relaxed and her teeth released her lip so her mouth could flick up in a slight smile.

A part of the woman was still keeping an ear out for heavy footsteps, what if this was a trap? Her tongue traced over her bottom lip anxiously before retreating back into her mouth, the man had a strong curious gaze which was enough to make her take a step back her hands gripping the strap of her satchel that kept it on her shoulder. His voice wasn't grating or harsh, if anything it was quite pleasant to listen to, "Looking for something?" she asked quietly "i... suppose you could say that" she was looking for a place to hide for a few hours, a place to be safe, a place to draw. She always hid her Art things out here, the last time /he/ had found them he'd burnt her drawings, wasted the paints and snapped the pencils.

The memory caused her features to sadden slightly, she lowered her head to take a deep breath. Now would not be the right time to remember such things, other sad memories such as the two children she'd lost caused her teeth to dig once again into her lip, her suffering at the hands of those who'd used and abused her was never really very far from her mind. The woman who was merely between twenty one and twenty two who should have had all the paths open to her from the beginning was caged. Trapped. Alone. "umm, can I help you sir?" she asked dragging herself away from the memories.

A silent laugh racked through her as the man attempted to warn her "All of those legends are talking about death, and if that is all they have then in reality... they scare me not" death, death was easy, once you were dead you didn't feel pain, you didn't feel loss everything was just.. gone. She lifted her eyes to meet his once again, there was something.. different about him. Although her experience with males was quite limited she'd never come across one like this specimen before her. The rustling bush caused her to pause her attention flicking to it, a slight smile gracing her features as the old grizzled alley cat she called old man jenkins stomped out making his way over to her. The cat was not in any way pretty or attractive, but the woman loved him, crouching down she pet the scruffy old toms battle scarred head her anxiety fading quickly with the old codger.

His hands retreated to his side, his orbs shimmering with surprise. He parted his lips a thoughtful expression on his face before returning to his somber bearings.

"All of those legends are talking about death, and if that is all they have then in reality... they scare me not."

He looked away, less curtly then before. "So that's how it is..." He thought, wetting his lips before preparing to speak again. Perhaps to console the youth. She was just a breadth away from having her bright wisp stolen away from this realm. And not by someone else's doing.

The quiet rustle of levels in the breeze provided him with his muse. "Then what are you afraid of...?" He whispered, more in mystery then in hesitance. A melodious poetry filled him. The wanting to heal, to help. "Surely saddening those who care so deeply is...cruel." He murmured, his hesitance returning. "...Life and death are never fair. She shouldn't have to be patronized into this..." His eyelids flickered over his eyes before hearing the bush whimper again.

Eyes as big as the moon stared at the ruffled feline. A welcome old friend of the forest. He breathed a laugh, hiding his face behind a hand. "You old cat. I can't believe you've warmed up to a young girl like her." His eyebrows turned up in the middle. "And yet you're disgusted by other old men." He felt a tad bit dejected, but the girl seemed to calm in front of the cat. "Pervert." He thought.

The young woman gently stroked the old scruffy cats head and she gently lifted him up in her soft warm arms, the alley cats gaze flicking to the vampire as if reading his thoughts, the cats yellow gaze rested on him for a few seconds before flicking away. Renee bit her lower lip musing quietly "You speak in Poetic Riddles" a thought caused her gaze to flick down to her watch to check the time. The anxiety that returned to her features was almost overwhelming and she began to tremble, the cat slipped down from her arms to land on the ground with a grumpy yowl. Her shirt sleeves that had ended at her elbow had been pushed up somewhat by the old thing revealing a recent bruise that wrapped around her bicep cruelly. She tugged the sleeve down and backed up "I... I have to go" she couldn't afford to have them come look for her and find this quiet place that was her sanctuary. The woman akin to a small delicate bird, who was both kind and beautiful added "Sorry to have wasted your time mister"

Julian felt something twitch in his chest. "Riddles are they...?" He felt his attempt being casually swept away. There was no use in forcing her to listen. She had nothing to do with him.

And the same could be said for he.

He could smell her anxiety. The small shutters of her body making his fingers twitch. The vampire's eyes flickered up as she stood. The cat was certainly mischievous. Living up to his infamous reputation as he had shown him a sign that spoke stories and lines of life. He felt blood drain from his extremities at the dark ring upon her flesh. Tattoos staining her otherwise fair skin. Inflicted by no other old friend then pain.

Pain.

"I... I have to go."

"Sorry to have wasted your time, mister."

He barely heard her.

His hand moved without his better judgement. Gently curling around her pale fingers.

Warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.

.....

He couldn't bear to look up. His eyes continue to study her hand, as if it was the most interesting thing in his world. It was so small... And delicate.

.......

He spoke absently. "Yes...but do be careful. You haven't wasted anyone's time." His hold gently pulling away, fist clenching once the warmth had evaporated. He could still feel the burn of human flesh like an aftertaste. He clasped his hands behind his back to hide his wistful longing. Plunging his soul into a dark sonder once again.

..........

"I hope good things will come into you future." He said, finally looking up with a small smile. "It was nice to meet you."

Renee hadn't expected his hand to move, she went still as it gently grasped hers and curled around her fingers that had pencil smudges on them. His hand... it was surprisingly cool, the gentleness of the gestures meant that the young woman didn't feel fear at the contact. She watched him through dark blue eyes as he studied her hand the way she studied a canvas before beginning her work, the strange quiet man was almost like a breath of fresh air for the woman who'd survived so many things in her short time in the world. His quiet voice caused her to blink and pay attention her thoughts having wandered, be careful? i.. she couldn't form the words in her head. The man stating that she hadn't wasted his time caused a brief look of surprise and almost hope over her face. She watched his long fingers release hers, her hand coming up to grasp at the strap of her satchel, I hope good things will come into your future his words that were simple were some of the kindest things she'd heard that day. The smile on his face was met with a small one on hers "It was nice to meet you too mister" she ducked her head in a submissive nod gesture. She bit the tip of her tongue before speaking quickly "Thank you" this sudden meeting and exchange of kindness had brightened her day in a way that words could not properly describe. She smiled properly at him revealing a pair of dimples in her cheeks before she turned and hurried off.

OOC: can time skip to her returning tothe forest to draw again when you're ready if want

OOC: CAN'T CONTOL THE FLUFF. And yeah just right after my post you can start again.

UGH SO MUCH FLUFF THEY'RE SO CUTE UGH BABIES]

Renee had been thinking about the strange man in the woods all week, her distraction and curiosity meaning she'd gotten in trouble more than usual. So it was with a faint limp that she made her way into the forest after completing the groceries, the warm soft leather satchel over her shoulder again. She followed the path she'd made for herself, following the landmarks that were familiar and paused in the clearing looking around. She settled down on the flat rock and took out her sketch pad, she idily continued the careful sketch of the doe, her attention soon focusing and her tongue becoming caught between her teeth as she drew. The sound of the woods filled her ears as she drew, the familiar sound of birds singing, the wind rustling leaves, the familiar earthy smell of the soil after the recent rain, the cleanliness of the world after it had been washed clean.

Renee was adding in the last couple of details, the shine on the animals pelt, the blackness of its nose, she looked up and jumped a little,how was he so quiet? she bit her lip and set down her pencil returning the wave with a gentle motion of her hand. It was surprising that he was here, she felt the curiosity return and she smiled a little at the stranger and her soft voice left her "You again..." there wasn't an angry tone to her voice, nor was there anything but kindness. Her attention momentarialy flicked back to the doe who'd decided to walk closer to the girl smelling the feed that she'd brought, Renee smiled "I know what you want..." she dug into her satchel revealing a small packet of feed that she'd picked out especially and let the creature shove its nose greedily into the rough brown paper bag. "Is this your spot? Sorry if im troubling you sir, this is just my favourite place to draw"

Young lady? He was mistaken, she wasn't a lady, her head once again echoed with the barrage of derogatory insults that she'd become accustomed to in her years of growing up in her adoptive family. The thoughts remained hidden behind her kind blue eyes, and she could feel relief soften her features once again. She could feel herself nod in agreement "yes, its relaxing here" that and a whole library of other things she couldn't quite describe with words. She was better at describing with art, her gaze flicked to the doe, quietly admiring the animals beauty, certainly no grace the creature was making a slight pig of itself on the food, its ravenous eating caused her to giggle softly. Like the sound of a stream merrily burbling its way along a stony bed, or the sound of gentle bells tinkling, the giggle was a soft kind sound, she stroked the deer quietly having always had a way with animals even wild ones like the doe.

His gaze, that she could feel on her, was not harsh or mean, it felt kind in a way, petting the doe once again as it finished the tasty food she watched as it stood beside her searching for more, a sign that perhaps she'd fed the animal before. Once it was satisfied that she wasn't being stingy and hiding any more the creature seemed to sigh and began picking at the grass close by, just in case. Now her attention was no longer stolen by the creature, the mans gaze on her caused her own eyes to quietly, shyly almost to flick up to meet his for a couple of seconds. Enough to be respectful but not threatening before they flicked down to watch the doe again, more out of habit than anything else. "I wasn't sure if we'd meet again, My name is Renee" she usually was a good judge of people and he seemed alright, enough so that she didn't mind sharing her name with him.

OOC: Julian is hard to grasp sometimes. Sorry for the wait.

OOC: all good wasn't a 6 month wait xD

His smile, that was wide and welcoming was a surprise, she found herself constantly surprised that this man was so kind, that he seemed to want to spend time in her company. His words that told her she could come any time she'd like caused slight sadness to spark in her eyes, yet again she could feel the cage she lived in restrict her movement. If she had her way she'd never leave the serene, safe, forest. The addition that she wouldn't be a disturbance was another surprise, another slight boost to her small confidence. "your words are very kind", his compliments caused a shy smile to decorate her face and her gaze to flick away. His kiss to her warm small hand surprised her, her cheeks to darken with a dark pink blush that spread to cover her face like a delicate sunburn. "a-and yours" she stuttered, it glaringly clear she wasn't used to such acts, or kind words as a matter of fact.

Her hand returned to her side, a little occupied with her blush and warm face to realize that his touch had been surprisingly cold like his hand had been stuck in a snow drift for a while. Her thoughts turned to her drawings, could she trust this strangely gallant man enough to show him what was one of her most precious things? She took a step back, enough to be out of arms reach, her reaction times good enough that she trusted herself to get out of the way if something when wrong and he went to hit her. She got enough of that at home, before she slowly pulled her sketch pad out of the brown leather satchel that protected it. She hesitated glancing up at him, reassuring herself that it would be okay, the look on his face, and the body language of his lanky features gave her enough confidence to open the pad revealing the first drawing. It was an expert level pencil crafted drawing of a small bird, she'd captured the curious look in its dark eyes and the textures of the feathers "This is my most precious book, my drawing book" she spoke softly, her words gentle movements of her mouth, letting the words leave as if they were caresses. "Drawing is my favourite thing in the world to do" she added after a couple of moments, she glanced up from the pictures gauging his expression before she closed the book and after a moment of thought offered to him the sketch book that was all but filled with sketches and drawings "Would you like to see?" it was an expression of trust, perhaps not the smartest idea, trusting some man in a forest that you'd met twice,and her situation meant that she shouldn't be too trusting. But her experiences had meant she could read people well, see if they were cruel and mean, or kind and he seemed... gentle so this hesitant gesture of trust and respect.

OOC: It appears you've taken my name advice. Fuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu. XD Rosethorn looks cool.

OOC: Sorry, I'm not sure if he's awkward and happy or awkward and dark. Or both.