(no subject)

[needleandink]

As Adrian padded back into town the night after the beach party, he had a vague hope that this time, he'd manage to make it into the shop before someone caught him shifting back to human and he ended up bare-ass naked in front of yet another Siren Cove resident.

At this point, he thought, he might as well just strip down and run through the center of town, get seen by everyone at once and save himself the worry.

He'd tried last night to cut the naked probability down by stripping and shifting at the edge of the forest, leaving his clothes there but when he'd checked the spot just now, his clothes had been gone. Kids pranking, someone liked the look of his jeans, whatever.

It was done and he stood at the door to his shop, took a look over his shoulder, and shifted back to human.

Open to anyone, but mainly for Kat and Anna. Find Adrian shifting, or just stop by the shop later in the day and say hi.

Comments

[alfiehaywood]

Raising his eyebrows, he wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that. Les’ brief description of Sirens meant he could imagine being in charge could be a headache, mainly if people weren’t careful with their abilities to will people to do things. “I imagine being a high up is stressful. Following a ship explosion anyway…”

“Oh. I must have missed that, but then I was more in the ocean than on the beach.” Suddenly he had the overwhelming urge for a cigerette. He blamed his parents for encouraging that bad habit.

[bachjones]

"Opposed to everyone else who was just lounging there? Never mind, it's okay. I survived. I always do."

He combed through his curls. "Anyway, I'm glad that you're talking to me again."

[alfiehaywood]

Holding his hands up, Alfie bowed his head a little, “True, true, I just meant maybe there is expectant pressure. Especially for the medically trained and police officer.”

Alfie had the decency to look embarrassed by the statement, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck, “I’m really sorry about that. I’d been under a lot of stress previously that I still wasn't over and I didn’t handle any of it well – which isn’t an excuse, just the background.”

[bachjones]

"She's neither though, I think."

"I wasn't out to offend you, dude. I know I'm as sweet as a pile of oxes, but I usually do that in a way easier matter when I want to. Just saying, it wasn't on you or Corry or anyone else, okay?" Bach looked at him. "You're okay now?"

[alfiehaywood]

“You have a distinctive charm; it just didn’t work in that situation.” Alfie gave a small smile and shrugged his shoulders, “Sure. I’ve got my pups, health and job, nothing to not be alright about. We’ll have to come up with something to find Cinderella. When was the last time you saw her?”

“Do you mind if I smoke? Terrible habit, need to kick it again.”

[bachjones]

"You smoke?"

Bach pulled a rumpled little package of Marlboros out of his ass pocket. "No man, do your worst. We all have to do for some reason."

"Last time I saw her ..I think on the island? Siding with that detective boyfriend of Lara Quinn. Or maybe she came home once ..I don't sleep a lot any more, I don't know."

[alfiehaywood]

“Used to in college. Got it down to one every few months, but the nicotine came back and hooked me.” Really it was smoking his way through half a pack after Tristan died, when he wrecked his car and suffered through a concussion. His own new pack of Lucky Strikes were retrieved from his jacket pocket, “I’d have thought you’d avoid it because of your vocal chords,” he added, nodding to Bach’s packet as he pulled out a cigarette and located his lighter with the ease of someone used to the habit.

Holding the ciggy between his lips, he cupped the end as he lit it. Taking a deep inhale, he held it for a moment. A moment longer than he blew the smoke out the side of his mouth, silently offering his lighter to the other if needed. It sounded a little ominous in all reality, if Bach hadn’t seen the cat since the island, but Alfie wasn’t one to jump onto negatives. “Maybe we could ask if he or Lara have seen her. Maybe she’s gotten a little lost or confused.”

[bachjones]

"My voc- oh no, nah man, I use more than just that and I think they renew every three months. This is just a conversation starter." He winked. "To make sure I'm lighting someone's fire before they know my name."

"We're all addicted to something." He waved the smoke away. "I just like the smell of cigars better. And no way I'm asking Lara. I never ever want to be in the same space with her again."

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie couldn’t help letting out a huff of a laugh, “Wow that is some cheesy flirtation technique. And here I thought offering a light was just friendly behaviour. You sexual folk, I just don’t get it.” Although his tone and expression showed he was joking, at least to some degree.

“Got to be a whole host of things it’s better to be addicted to than smoking.” With that he took another inhale, careful to quickly exhale this one whilst facing away from Bach. So as to address the next point with a slight shake of the head. “That was me offering to help – not forcing you to have a cosy chat. I could ask if I go to see Les or if I’m in Watersong at some point.”

[bachjones]

"Who is Les and how is he going to know about my c- Corrine's Les? She keeps talking about this guy with the same name like it's her super hero."

Bach rolled his eyes. "Cheesy doesn't mean it doesn't work, Alf. You not-sexual folk expect too much of people thinking with their crotches."

[alfiehaywood]

“Les is a good friend of mine, and he’s one in the same. He’s known Corrine since they were like little kids or something. Seriously, if they start talking about the boardwalk, they don’t stop. Especially The Little Mermaid but I don’t really know, you’d have to ask them.” He smiles. “They’re best friends, so I’m not surprised she talks about him.”

Alfie holds his hands up, “What can I say, it’s very confusing for me to fully understand what it’s like to be led by dick rather than brain. I tend to imagine it’s like being drunk but with the ability to do stuff?” Although that still sounded confusing.

[bachjones]

"Best friends. Just that, friends?" Bach thought back to the party and Corrine's interest in the woman. It would be nice if she was more about that anyway.

Bach shakes his head. "No. And don't sound like such a bore about it. Different strokes and different folks and however you're supposed to say it, right?"

[alfiehaywood]

“As far as I know,” he replies truthfully. Flicking ash toward a storm drain, he took another inhale. He’ll be the first to admit he has his suspicions, given how they look at each other. But neither party have ever told him that it was anything more. “They’ve never said or really done anything to suggest anything more.”

“Oh,” Alfie frowned, “Yeah, but sometimes I imagine it’d be a lot better if I actually had interest in sex. If my mind and general required systems all got online, Just was not meant to be I guess.”

[bachjones]

"Hey, I'm just the guy who thinks in music and sex, but I'm sure there are normal people out there. I don't know if it's a compliment, but your song is really awesome and probably the first reason I ever talked to you."

He nodded. "Maybe I should just ask her."

[alfiehaywood]

“My song?” Alfie asked a little puzzled – he hadn’t sung had he. No one deserved to be subjected to that. “I don’t…” He trailed off, deliberately allowing room for Bach to fill in the unanswered question.

“You might as well give it a go. I don’t know how long lost siblings do it, but I just disguise things as innocent questions if I want to know something from my sister.”

[bachjones]

"I never talked to you about that? Maybe we really need to talk more .."

Bach stood a little straighter. "To me, everyone has their own song, their own rhythm hanging around them. Maybe like other people say they see auras and shit? I hear people, who they are before even talking to them. Yours is like full of variety."

[alfiehaywood]

Alfie blinked, it was weird to think that there essentially music hanging around it at all times that he couldn’t see. “Does that mean you hear it all the time, or is it just when you focus?” He was interested by it of course. It was just a shame that it wasn’t something Bach could demonstrate like when Les blew the lamp up. “So… the means… you’re a witch?” He asked, mainly because almost all of his interactions and social connections up until that point were.

Either way, he wondered what kind of variety it was. Did the tempo vary, or was it an instrument. He was going to ask all the questions any way.

[bachjones]

"I always hear it, as part of like the world around us, you know? You don't ever have complete silence around you, right? With me it's just more exciting, or I guess so."

He made a face. "Hell no. Lara Quinn says it's a siren thing, so I have to blame my father for it. If I sing someone's song they go soft and loyal on me, that's a pretty cool thing though."

[alfiehaywood]

“I’d ask if it ever bothers you, but if it’s something you’ve always had then I guess it’s just normal.” He replied. Although Alfie wonders if it’s ruin the woods for him, if he were in Bach’s place. After all, he loves the sounds of nature. “Have the songs ever acted as a warning? In that, do they let you know about people before you speak to them?”

He drops his cigarette to the ground, stamps it twice. Then picks the stub up and sticks it in a doggy bag that was stuffed in his pocket, quirking his eyebrow at Bach’s words, “They go ‘soft and loyal’? And here was I thinking Sirens just guided sailors in to the sea.” He grinned to show he was only joking. “I am absolutely fascinated how that works.”

[bachjones]

"Warning ..yeah, maybe? Some people just don't sound good, but usually I'm too thick to pick up the warning. And songs change as well of course, it's not like I'm looking into someone's head or something."

Bach wasn't blind for the shift in Alfie's interest. "It depends on what I ask of them, Alf. Money, care, sex, just for them to shut up and leave ..I don't need much else. I'm not a fighter."

[alfiehaywood]

He nodded, “Sorry to ask so many questions. Arkie was not home to people with abilities and I just like learning about it. Plus I don’t really know many Sirens. Everyone seems to be a witch.” Alfie would have asked a lot of questions, did emotions vary the song, were some people louder. If he could just hope into Bach’s head for a few minutes, he’d probably understand it better. But that wasn’t an option, obviously.

“So no matter what, they’ll do it. Even if they don’t want to.” Part of him wanted to look down on that, he could only imagine what would happen if there were Sirens out there abusing their skills. Forcing people into situations. But then he was sure most of them wouldn’t. He paused for a moment before tilting his head, “Show me.”

[bachjones]

"If I don't want to give any answers I keep my mouth shut, Alf. Is Alf okay, or Alfie always forever?"

He shot him a crooked grin. "I never met someone not cooperative, but it's not like I do crazy things, I've never gone - no, wait. One time I told a guy that wouldn't take no for an answer to walk into the sea and stay for a while. But that was just one time, I usually only go where there is potential."

"So are you sure?"

[alfiehaywood]

“…I can cope with Alf.” Sure it made him think of old men, but then his full name of Alfred was typically an older person name. His Mom chose it after getting overly into the UK Monarchy, which was a whole different tale. Had he have not liked his name though, he could have gone by Joshua.

Alfie silently raised an eyebrow at the mention of the man in the sea. Presumably it didn’t end too badly; otherwise Bach would not have brought up the tale. At least he assumed so. “As long as you don’t try and drown me, I am 100% sure. And I think I trust you, so bring it.”

[bachjones]

"As long as you're happy with it. I mean, you're so incredibly ..not-threatening and not-annoying and a lot of other things that I would judge everyone setting out to anger or hurt you. You're fine with me saying that, right?"

Bach closed his eyes for a second to catch the man's song. It was silent in a smooth, caring way. Like an undercurrent of cuddles. "I'm going to grab your wrist in case you are some magical black hole or something and I have to catch you, okay? Nothing bad ever happened, but we're in Siren Cove now."

"And to prevent you from jumping my bones, of course", he winked. Bach found a little catch of intimacy in Alfie's song, a soft need for being held and cherished, and gently took it, softly starting his song.

[alfiehaywood]

Honestly unsure quite what to say in reply, Alfie nodded his head. Mostly flattered though and thusly a little pink in the cheeks. Compliments were lovely, but he’d always been easily embarrassed by them.

“Ok,” Alfie replied as Bach took hold of his wrist. As the other started to latch onto his song, it felt a little like being lowered into a warm bath. As if he was being surrounded by something warm and comforting. Describing exactly what it felt like to be under the Siren song spell was difficult though. Mainly because it was like his mind had gone hazy, only able to focus on one thought train. Rather than the general undercurrent of random thoughts, he focused in on Bach’s words.

Letting out a slight hum of unfocused agreement, he moved closer. A sudden desire to be a lot nearer to the other man. Tilting his head, he stepped forward to cover the space so that they were finally just touching. Pressing his nose against the side of the other’s jaw, he nuzzled closer as his nose traced over the pulse point. The wrist being held, he twisted a little so his fingers could run his thumb across Bach’s wrist. Finally letting out a content sigh.