crucio (crucio) wrote in cwf,
@ 2010-06-18 02:26:00

open to varick
Losing Cameron was hard, and most days it was still very hard, but being with Varick definitely helped Shannon to cope. Being safe at the haven was also helping, and the wolves there were simply amazing. He'd gotten to meet Aubrey, another fox, and Cady as well. It was nice to be so accepted. Sure, there were some wolves that were grumpy - like Pirate and Felix - but they weren't ever outwardly rude to Shannon. And it'd been nice to make clothes for Aryk, Vance, and Basil.

Varick was planning on opening a law firm in the area, so he'd been especially busy. Though everyone was insisting they weren't staying for the long haul, Shannon was starting to wonder if maybe they were. It seemed like everyone was settling well enough. Varick said that once Kingston was ready, they'd venture out on their own but what did that mean for Varick's law firm if he was opening one up? Shannon supposed Varick could take it anywhere he wanted.

The Portland pack had taken up residence in an empty house on the property. It was just a few of them, so the house was more than enough room. Shannon was busy sitting indian style on the bed and hand sewing a seam that had torn in one of Varick's nicer suit jackets. He had the headphones of his iPhone on and was humming quietly to Incubus while he worked. Varick had been gone all day, and the suit jacket Shannon was working on had been the one he'd wanted to wear but couldn't because of the busted seam.

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impotentwaffle
2010-06-26 04:46 am UTC (link)

"Fortunately, werewolves tend to live a long time, so you'll be able to do everything," Varick said. As he spoke the words, he realized the bitter irony of himself claiming shifters had lots of time to accomplish all they wanted to accomplish. But he smiled through it, pretending that it didn't sting a little. "Would you open up a restaurant? Be a chef?" He asked as he ate. The food really was exemplary.

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crucio
2010-06-26 05:04 am UTC (link)

Shannon felt the slight tenseness in Varick's posture because they were sitting so close, and he gave the wolf's knee a gentle squeeze beneath the table as reassurance. Hopefully nothing would happen to Vance like what had happened to Cameron and some of their packmates, and Vance could live a long and happy life.

"I'd really love that," Vance said eagerly with a nod. "I've wanted to do that for as long as I can remember," he added with a soft laugh.

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	impotentwaffle 2010-06-26 05:31 am UTC (link)
	The reassurance was nice and he glanced at Shannon with appreciation before turning back to Vance. "You certainly could. You're talented enough. Shannon here knows all about starting his own business. You two should talk about that." It would be sweet to see Shannon giving Vance some tips about the whole operation. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

crucio
2010-06-26 05:45 am UTC (link)

"Really?" Vance asked as he looked over at Shannon, who nodded.

"I can't wait to open my own shop again, when we settle," he said with a glance over at Varick, and then Kingston.

Maybe one of the reasons the Portland pack got along so well with the New Orleans pack was because they were both in transition. They were comfortable at the haven, but they weren't going to stay.

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impotentwaffle
2010-06-26 11:32 pm UTC (link)

The question of where to settle was always nibbling at Varick's mind. Ultimately, it was Kingston's decision and it wouldn't be made until he was ready to lead. But Varick wanted to be able to advise him when the time came so he'd been looking at territories and homes in the area.

It felt nice to be eating with another pack, a group that was separate from the Coldwater Flats pack. They were welcoming enough, but Varick missed feeling like he was home. "Are you really going back to Louisiana?" He asked Louisa and then glanced at Vance as if to ask him as well.

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	crucio 2010-06-27 05:02 am UTC (link)
	Vance swallowed the food he'd been chewing, and after a sip of his sweet tea he nodded his head some as if he was orginally part of the New Orleans pack all along. "Eventually, I'm pretty sure, right?" he said as his eyes went in Louisa's direction with a questioning look. It was obvious that wherever Pirate went, he was sure to follow. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-06-27 05:15 am UTC (link)

The topic was only a touch sore. Louisa was trying her best to make the situation down there safe to return. But Richard's dealings had really screwed over the pack and sometimes she didn't think she'd ever be able to get the land back to safety.

"Yes," she nodded, covering any ounce of doubt she had about being able to go back. "Things will settle there eventually and I'm sure Sterling and Pirate are looking forward to going back."

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crucio
2010-06-27 05:35 am UTC (link)

Kingston knew it had to be a tough subject for Louisa, mostly because of what a tough subject his own pack and home was. At least Louisa was strong enough to go home, but after so many had been killed back on their land in Portland Kingston just didn't think it would be the same.

"I'm not sure where we'll end up settling," he said after a moment. "Maybe somewhere close to Portland."

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impotentwaffle
2010-06-27 05:55 am UTC (link)

"Then you'd be close to here," she smiled. Being close to a strong pack that was an ally was probably the best thing for Kingston at this stage in his leadership.

Varick nodded his agreement. While he wasn't the largest proponent of going back to the land where so many had died, he also couldn't imagine being too far from Garrett. The pacific northwest was where he would choose.

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	crucio 2010-06-27 06:05 am UTC (link)
	Like Varick, Shannon felt the same about the Pacific Northwest. He wanted to be close to what they were use to, but he knew that he would never do well with going back to where they'd all lost so much. And where he and Varick had lost Cameron. "Maybe somewhere in between here and Portland," he suggested softly. "Close to a little town, kind of like Cold Water." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-06-27 04:35 pm UTC (link)

"It"l be awhile anyway," Varick said, suddenly worried that they would all strike out on their own too soon. It was clear that some of his helpful bravado had been changed into a reserved protectiveness, full of caution and some would say fear.

Louisa recognized the reservation but didn't say anything. Instead, she covered up the moment of worry with a casual wave of her hand. "Plenty of time!"

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crucio
2010-06-28 02:39 am UTC (link)

Kingston was thankful for the change of subject, and he gave Louisa a grateful look as he took a bite of food. He wasn't too much of a talker, and he never had been. While he could speak to Louisa one on one just fine, in front of others he kept more to himself. That was just the way he was.

Underneath the table, Shannon hooked his foot around Varick's ankle and leaned a little bit closer to the wolf as he ate. He could tell Varick was a little worried, but he knew things would work out. They had to.

"I'm going to talk to Mabel about a job at the diner," Vance said after a moment as he eyed the pies Kingston had brought. "I wonder if she'll teach me her secrets. I think Wendell wants to plant me as a spy," he smiled.

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impotentwaffle
2010-06-28 03:01 am UTC (link)

Varick raised his eyebrows. "With pie that good she has to have tons of secrets. Good luck getting her to part with them." He was curious himself, though he had a few ideas. Varick wasn't exactly sure he trusted half-demons, but only because he tended to run into the more tricky ones.

Louisa had the same kind of distrust. "Vance, are you sure she's trustworthy? I suppose if Hunter trusts her but--New Orleans has some pretty hardcore demons and none of them make the best bosses."

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crucio
2010-06-28 03:12 am UTC (link)

"Mabel isn't like that," Vance said with a little shake of his head, "Hunter and her have been friends for a really long time, and you know - there's people like us who aren't good. We can't judge a species as a whole, that's not very fair," he said before he went quiet and sipped at his tea in silence.

"He's right," Kingston said quietly. Joseph was a werewolf, and look at the awful things he'd done.

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impotentwaffle
2010-06-28 03:33 am UTC (link)

Louisa still looked a little skeptical, but shehad to give Kingston and Vance credit for their logic and fairness. "Well, I'm sure she'll give you a job. Her place is always busy and but even if it wasn't, the wolves would keep her in business."

Varick had gone quiet, drinking a large gulp of wine as he focused on the way Shannon's ankle felt interlocked with his own.

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	crucio 2010-06-28 03:42 am UTC (link)
	Shannon finished up his food and wine, and it was obvious that by just one glass he was feeling a little bit tipsy. His cheeks were more flushed than usual, and he leaned his head against Varick's shoulder comfortably as he listened to everyone else talk. Kingston glanced over at him with a faint smirk of amusement. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-06-28 04:02 am UTC (link)

Varick had always loved that the foxes' metabolisms weren't as fast as wolves and made them little lightweights when it came to alcohol. He chuckled when Shannon leaned against him and when he'd finished his meal, he slunk an arm around the other man's shoulders.

Louisa observed, falling into a comfortable quiet before getting up to clear the dishes from the table.

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	crucio 2010-06-28 04:08 am UTC (link)
	Vance and Kingston got up to help. Shannon yawned a little and turned his head to press a kiss to Varick's jaw before he pressed his face against the wolf's shoulder. He was full, comfortable, and nice and relaxed now. "That wine's good," he mumbled. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	impotentwaffle 2010-06-28 03:56 pm UTC (link)
	Varick smiled. They were alone now and he turned to kiss the top of Shannon's head. "You're so cute when you're tipsy. Am I going to have to carry you back to the house?" He combed his fingers through Shannon's hair and just wanted to crawl into bed for a nap with him. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	crucio 2010-06-29 02:30 am UTC (link)
	At the kiss to the top of his head, Shannon tipped his head up and brushed his mouth against Varick's before he reached for Varick's glass to finish it off. Then he nodded his head with a faint smile. "Now you are," he joked, though Varick would definitely have to be a crutch for him to get home now, if anything. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-06-29 02:45 am UTC (link)

Making a satisfied sound, Varick licked his own lips. "You taste like the L'Ecole No 41 tasting room. That trip was really great." He'd brought the merlot and the syrah from that excursion. He'd purchased a whole case of the 2003s, they'd liked it so much.

He slipped a finger under Shannon's chin and tilted his head up again so he could kiss him more deeply this time.

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crucio
2010-06-29 03:09 am UTC (link)

Shannon let Varick tip his head up, and he parted his lips to kiss him back as he lifted a hand up to allow his fingers to brush some of Varick's hair behind his ear. He leaned in closer to him and let the kiss grow a little more playful before he broke it.

"They're gonna walk back in here on us and see us making out," he said softly. "We should go home and make out."

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impotentwaffle
2010-06-29 03:32 am UTC (link)

Just the mention of someone walking in and seeing them made Varick's face get hot. He was a private person, not prone to public displays and he sat up straight. "You're right," he said with a nod and stood up. He'd definitely lost track of himself, kissing Shannon so whole heartedly in someone else's house.

He clasped Shannon's hand and helped him up before leading them into the kitchen where the others had congregated. "Thank you for dinner," Varick said politely.

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	crucio 2010-06-29 03:38 am UTC (link)
	It was adorable to see Varick blush like that, and Shannon leaned in to kiss him on the cheek before he got up and took a hold of the wolf's hand. He followed him into the kitchen, staying close to him and trying to focus on his steps. "Yes, thank you," he told Louisa and Vance with a smile. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	impotentwaffle 2010-06-29 09:19 pm UTC (link)
	Every so often, Varick paused or sped up, just to keep Shannon on his toes. Not to mention, he liked the way it made the fox run into him. "You're welcome anytime, guys," she beamed. "Give Vance practice cooking for even larger groups." She laughed and ruffled Vance's hair with affection. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)