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[nathaniel_kitten]

Since the events of an unfinished OOM, Nathaniel's been rather quiet and scarce. He's kept to the routine he'd arranged, spending the week with Anita and the weekend with Asher, but he hasn't said much to either of them, or anyone else for that matter. Despite Anita's insistence that he's older than his years, Nathaniel doesn't much feel like that at the moment. He feels fourteen instead of twenty, childishly disappointed in the current state of his life and relationships.

At the moment, he's dressed warmly in jeans and a sweater, sitting outside on the ground near the lake in the chilly, damp weather. Rigel is laying beside him, the warmth of the young wolf seeping in along his hip and thigh. His hair is braided, which hasn't been his style of late, and he's very, very still as he just stares out over the lake.


[OOC: Open to anyone, even for carkeys, though Nathaniel is a bit depressed. He won't unload on you, though, if you don't know him. :)]

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[boundxkitty]

Liz doesn't need to be supernatural to be able to pick up on the outward signs to Nat's mood. Though it helps.


Bare feet are silent, as she makes her way over to him the moment she'd spotted him. She settles as much around him as she can without asking the wolf to move. "Hey Kitten," she murmurs softly.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel's eyes don't shift from where they're focused, way out in the distance, but he does lean little more into the warmth of her.

"Hey, Liz," he replies, his voice just as soft.

[boundxkitty]

She wraps her arms around him, the sweater she's wearing soft and warm. Her chin goes to rest against his shoulder.

"Haven't seen much of you."

[nathaniel_kitten]

"I've been... around," he says, closing his eyes and inhaling her scent. He turns his head enough to nuzzle her cheek. "Work, Anita, and Asher take up a lot of my time lately."

[boundxkitty]

She gives a purr, running her cheek against him. She's missed him.

"Busy life," is murmured softly. A little louder, "What's up, Kitten?" Because she can sense his mood.

[nathaniel_kitten]

"Nothing, Liz."

Nathaniel noses her throat briefly before turning his gaze back to the lake.

"It serves me right. The one day I manage to be outside, the sun is hiding behind clouds and autumn gloom."

[boundxkitty]

Her purr deepens just a little. "Getting to be that time of year." Winter was always gloomy. Too much weather and snow.

She nips his shoulder, "Not nothing."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Lavender eyes turn to her.

"Do you think Asher's a good match for me?" he asks, brow furrowed. "Do you think I'm good for him?"

[boundxkitty]

Liz watches Nathaniel from so close for a moment. Thoughtful. "Haven't really seen you with him. Usually only you when you've been upset after he did something or happy because he's doing something right." Her tone hints that she doesn't like the yo-yo effect it leaves Nathaniel on.

One hand moves to pry slowly through his hair. "And you don't look happy now."

[loyaltyinmotion.livejournal.com]

Jason emerges from the forest, shrugging a light jacket on. He's been working out in the woods, but now that he's not working up a sweat he's feeling a bit chilled.

He sees Nathaniel and is disappointed to say he knows that look. He makes his way over and helps himself to a spot on the other side of Nathaniel, nodding a slight greeting to Rigel in thanks for keeping Nat company.

"Hey Nat."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel's eyes flicker to Jason, and he even musters up a slight smile for his best friend.

"Hey. You smell."

About as much teasing as Nathaniel can offer, but it's a valiant attempt.

[loyaltyinmotion.livejournal.com]

Jason quirks a small grin. "I know. Don't pretend you don't like it."

He gives Nathaniel's shoulder a small bump, staring out over the lake. "How's it going? Kind of a gloomy day for watching the lake."

[nathaniel_kitten]

"Everything's fine," he says, looking back out over the lake. "Moon said Rigel wanted to play outside, but she had something to do. So I offered to bring him out. Lazy thing got out here and plunked down, and I thought it wasn't such a bad idea."

[loyaltyinmotion.livejournal.com]

Jason glances down at Rigel, not needing to understand the wolf to know Nathaniel was telling a story.

"Yeah, Rigel's a real snuggler. Good defense mechanism when you're low on the totem pole," he teases, mostly directed at Rigel.

"Haven't seen you around much, Nat. You been back home?"

[nathaniel_kitten]

"Between work, Anita, and Asher, I don't have as much time as I used to," he murmurs. "It figures, though, the one day I might see the fucking sun, it has to be cold and ready to rain at any moment."

[loyaltyinmotion.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure Moon could take us on a road trip to somewhere sunny if you wanted to. Even if just the two of you wanted to go and get away for a bit; I know she loves spending time with you."

He lets out a short breath, his expression soft as he turns to look at Nathaniel. "You know, you are allowed to tell them all to give you some breathing room. You can love someone and not have them run your life for you."

[nathaniel_kitten]

"They don't run my life," Nathaniel says, digging the toe of his shoe into the damp dirt. "I like being there for them. It makes me feel useful beyond the cleaning up after Anita or being Asher's personal fuck toy."

He shakes his head.

"No, that isn't fair," he murmurs more to himself, trying to purge the slight bitterness from his voice. "He loves me, and I have to believe it's for more than... that."

[mr-smarty-vamp.livejournal.com]

Damian has been equally scarce, finding his own rhythm in pulling long shifts at Danse Macabre. He might not like it, but one of these days the money he has amassed will be useful. He isn't sure what it'll be useful for, but selfish thoughts of taking those he cares about to the coast when the weather is warm again just so he can be near the ocean... Yeah, those thoughts have occurred to him more often than he's likely to admit.

He has been busy, but he is as watchful as ever. Nathaniel has been reclusive and more silent than he would deem normal. Now that he has found the leopard in Milliways, he finds himself second guessing his words of greeting. Nat doesn't look particularly happy or talkative.

Fortunately, this vampire is good at offering silent companionship or a listening ear if needed. It doesn't hurt that he's fed recently and, therefore, is able to offer a little warmth in the cool air as he sits down next to Nathaniel and the wolf.


[ooc: Saw this in between chores and had to poke the pensive leopard. Damian insisted on making himself accessible. ^_^ I'll be on and off for a couple hours, tagging whenever possible. *huggles*]

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel's eyes don't even flicker to Damian as the vampire settles next to him.

"I haven't see you lately," he murmurs. "Then again, I haven't seen many people lately."

[mr-smarty-vamp.livejournal.com]

"No, you haven't," Damian agrees softly. "You have been troubled."

It's a statement of fact, as far as Damian is concerned.

[nathaniel_kitten]

"I've been busy," Nathaniel corrects.

[mr-smarty-vamp.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" Damian asks, unconvinced that he is wrong, though Nathaniel might also be right.

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel glances at Damian.

"I'm adjusting to... things," he sighs.

[mr-smarty-vamp.livejournal.com]

Damian holds his gaze while he brushes a stray wisp of Nat's hair behind the wereleopard's ear. It is a familiar gesture, and he brushes his fingers back along the silken rope of Nathaniel's hair.

"The adjustment doesn't seem to be making you happy. I haven't seen you smile. I'd like to change that."

[nathaniel_kitten]

Nathaniel leans a little closer to Damian, eyes closing for a moment.

"It's just an adjustment. Adjustments are... difficult at times."