halloforigin | howl at the moon

howl at the moon

[When a wolf follows you home, you usually don't invite him in.

Of course, this isn't home, and this isn't a usual wolf, so Maya isn't particularly concerned when she opens the door of the motel she's staying in and leans against the doorway, peering directly at the pair of golden eyes gleaming in the dusk a few yards away.]

It's less creepy if you just come in and watch TV with me, y'know!

[She shouts, cupping her hand to the side of her mouth.

Sure, it'd be creepy if they'd just met and all, and if she were just talking to any old canine, but a werewolf like this one is a little strange to her. Just not a stranger.

Maya'd recognised him from the moment he'd begun following her, though she'd assumed at first it was for less-than-good reasons. After all, what wolf would be happy after being back-sassed by a psychic? But he'd protected her, too.

Her job gets lonely sometimes, being on call to so many places, so she really wouldn't mind a more friendly visit.]

Makes you look less like a stalker.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He didn't care, he told himself. This was just out of pride. He'd made his name almost infamous with the amount of havoc he'd cause towns, ranging from rumors to reported cases. Notorious, well known. That was him. But with this girl...none of those tactics worked. She wasn't afraid of him in the slightest.

He couldn't wrap his head around it. She was a girl, and he was a werewolf. By all accounts, he could eat her, golden eyes fixated on her and illuminated in the dark. He could just finish it and go back to bragging about his skill.

But it wasn't a win, was it?

Which led to him protecting her from something she WAS afraid of. A decision he'd made at the drop of a hat....and the reason he's in this situation now.

He'd lost any and all credibility.

His ears fold back, his body masked in the darkness except for those golden eyes.]

You think I'm gonna fall for that???

[Maya leans back to pick up a bag of potato chips from the table by the door, she takes to slowly snacking while she waits on him to come around. That's what you're supposed to do with dogs, right? Wait around until they know you're not a threat?

He could be a threat, but she's gotten away from worse, she's sure. Maybe. Maybe she's being careless? But the light inside of that boy isn't one that frightens her-- just intrigues her.]

Yeah, kinda. I mean, I just called for pizza.

[She puts another chip on her tongue, taking far too long to eat, just to be a bit of a shit. Make him more aware just how not bothered she is by his presence until he gets over himself.]

Wait, can dogs eat cheese? I've never had one before.

[ok maybe she actually just has a death wish]

[For as much as he denies sharing any of a dog's more silly antics, his ears perk up at the sound of that bag of chips opening, eyes narrowing as she slowly (a little TOO slowly) puts that chip in her mouth and lets her tongue roll it in. The crunch gets his attention, ears swiveling]

Oi!! I can eat cheese!

[Gosh Maya, he's a werewolf not a beagle!]

You think I'm just an average mutt you met on the streets, huh?

[Well, at least he's making his presence known, now. Inching closer to that door of the motel.]

[There he is. Huh. It's like playing cat and mouse! Or maybe cat and dog. She's doing great at baiting him, either way, she decides, and takes a step out onto the mat in front of the door, bare toes wiggling on the mat for a moment.]

Nope.

Wolves can't be mutts, right? And besides, you're kinda pretty.

[She's not lying. She has eyes.]

So, above average. Does that mean you like pizza or what?

[The closer she gets, the more suspicious HE gets, ears now horizontal to the direction of his head as those golden eyes narrow even further. What's she planning...?

Sitting on the mat like that with no fear, leaving herself open for any kind of attack? He could change right here, REALLY give her something to scream about...

Make her never want to sit just outside her house ever again. That'd certainly show her.

But he holds his tongue on that, listening to what comes out of her mouth.

Above. Average???? THAT'S IT?

Okay, he'll ignore that for the moment.]

...Who doesn't?

[Weirdos and serial killers, probably.

The response comes out automatically, though, as if he wasn't even thinking about it at the time. Was she really that easy to have a conversation with? Was she really that charismatic, eating potato chips and taunting him like he's some sort of stray dog?

Apparently.]

Edited 2016-11-01 21:12 (UTC)

[Though not infallible, Maya simply can't hold back that charisma. It's part of why her role with spirits is a mediator, but werewolves aren't really on the job list. This is just... An experiment.

She's so casual, really, rocking slowly from side to side on the little mat, staring into the parking lot]

Great! I don't have to order anything else then.

[because you're coming inside, Kaneda, according to her.]

C'mon, I'm gonna miss my show.

[This had to be some kind of a trap. That sweet, innocent way she sits on the doormat, eating potato chips...she had to have something planned. Hell, she ordered pizza ahead of time.. That had to mean one of two things.

A.) She really was as clueless (and nice) as she looked

or

B.) She's some spirit medium mastermind and has something in there ready to haunt him.

...something tells me she wouldn't go through that much trouble to do the second, and it's only that which gets him to take another step forward.]

You realize I could eat you instead. Right now.

[But Maya seems to relish being an enigma wrapped in mystery. She leans back against the door frame, fwet still firmly on the mat, and pops another chip in her mouth.]

Don't you think that's a little forward? You're gonna have me second guessing your intentions.

[Another loud, unafraid crunch.]

'N I also don't come covered in tomato sauce and cheese.

[That crunch makes his ears flick once more, shaking off that comment with a puff of his neck fur and lip jut out so far you could probably hang a coat from it.]

Believe me, if I meant it any other way, you'd know.

[Is that sarcasm? Or a light tease?]

Don't tell me tomato and cheese is all you put on it.

Mmhm. Vegetarian.

[She snorts.]

Psyche! Duh, I get pepperoni, like anyone who cares about pizza. How crazy do you think I am?

[There goes Maya Fey, talking to this boy like she's known him for years. Looking at him that way, too; eyes relaxed, crinkling at the corners with her smile, shoulders slack. tfw you got +5 on charisma and you a high rollaaaa]

[The shock on his face is almost iconic at the word vegetarian, like Maya truly was the sick prankster he'd made her out to be. But with her little psyche moment, his ears relax, and there's a playful nudge with his foot as he tries to move her out of the way.

Fine. He'll come in.]

Don't joke about that!

[Wait, wasn't he just grumpy a second ago?]

[If Maya's surprised, she does her best not to show it; she'll blame the raising of her brows on the shift in light, is all. She spins on her heel and pushes the door open wider, leading him in.

If there's anything Maya's learned in her days of paranormal interference, it's that when your threat is stronger than you, they're much more useful as a friend than they are as a foe. She'll take any little victory.]

Well? I'm not the one who assumed I had poor taste. You know what assuming does, don't you?

[If you asked him, he'd deny any sort of friendship between the two. She was weird, to say the least. She didn't react like anyone else did when it came to his fully reverted form. There's no look of fear in her eyes when he looks back, despite any and all attempts to make her cower with fear.

Anger turned to frustration, and frustration turned to...curiosity. Not that HE'D ever admit to that being the case. If she found out he thought she was interesting...why, he'd never get a serious response out of her ever again.]

You're one to talk.

[For all she nags him about assuming, she sure was confident he wasn't going to tear her to shreds.

Not that he would--but she has no right to make that assumption!

He's just going to take up most of that bed now. Because if he can't beat her, he'll sure as hell be the biggest pain in the ass he can. He's winning this competition, really!]

I don't assume. I make educated guesses.

[She watches Kaneda stake his claim, like this is his territory now-- or rather, like the very air surrounding him is his territory and she'd better not forget-- and takes a breath. It's a little amusing, but she can't let herself seem like too much of an annoyance.

She turns to the door again, and--]

Hold on.

[Goes outside to meet the pizza deliveryman, as not to let Kaneda startle them. If she had more than a few bags with her in the motel, she'd probably worry a bit about leaving him in there alone, but there isn't much Kaneda could take that would be missed. Anything that was probably had seals on it, anyway.

But it's only a few seconds before she's opening the door back up.]

Aaaaalright. I was kinda worried he'd show up before I could get you in here.

[Seals he's all too aware of right now. Even if he wanted to ransack her stuff, he knew she'd have seals on those. Not just becaue of him, but her profession.

You don't make it this long on your own without safeguarding your belongings.

Maybe she did her homework after all.

Ears flatten as he watches the door expectantly, not too unlike the dog he claims he's not. There's muffled speech outside, and he snidely imitates the conversation to himself while waiting for her to return.

And when she does?]

Don't see why not. I could've gotten it for free.

[You know, by scaring the shit out of him.]

C'mon, then he'd have had to pay for it.

[You gotta share struggles, not foist them off on someone else!!!]

Besides, technically one of these was free. They were handing out coupons in the office-- move over.

[There's not a big enough table for resting pizzas on in this room, so she hovers by the side of the bed, motioning for him to make room. And by motioning-- she's got one hand out, sweeping it to the side in short strokes the way one would when shooing a dog off the couch.]

C'moooooon, I don't wanna put it on the floor.

[Maya's first comment flies over his head. He's not exactly the type to care about anyone if it serves his own interests, at least not at the moment. And it shows in the way his ears flatten.

Especially when she makes that shoo-ing motion.

He's half tempted to just stay there out of spite, really. If he wasn't so starving already, he probably would have too.

It's slow, and he's making more of a deal of this than he really has to, but he moves over, sliding off the bed and sitting down so his arms serve as a perfect rest as he watches those boxes hover in front of his eyes.]

C'mon, c'mon...

[She plops the boxes on the bed-- and then puts her hands over top of them, leaning across them and grinning down at Kaneda.]

Magic word.

[Maya, you may have just gotten THE poutiest look from a giant werewolf ever.]

Now.

[The manners on this one are incredible.]

Oh-hoho.

[Maya says, the word interrupted by an incredulous laugh. She leans back, her hands still on the pizzas.]

I dunno, my hands are pretty cold and this pizza is suuuuuper warm.

Edited 2016-11-16 06:18 (UTC)

[And, as if to challenge her authority, he gives a low growl in his throat. Maya Fey, he is not going to use manners and you can't make him!]

Just open it already!

Before it's cold for the both of us!

Fine, fine. We'll work on 'please' next time.

[Maya huffs, pulling her hands back and crossing her arms.]

Don't eat all of it.

[He watches her hands lift up from the box, immediately replacing with his own as he flips open that lid to inspect it. It sure was pizza, littered with everything you could possibly imagine on the pizza--three kinds of meat at least, and plenty of other things he couldn't even name.

The aroma wafts through his nostrils, practically calling his name--

Until he looks up and sees her arms folded, huffing in that way that was both irritating and...striking something in his stomach. He couldn't really explain it, honestly. There was just something about it that he didn't like seeing. Maybe it's her face, the way those cheeks puff out, or the air of disappointment. Like he'd done something wrong.

He looks down at the pizza, then back to her.

And before he can second guess himself, he nudges it towards her first, tilting his head to the side as if that would save any wounded pride.]

Ladies first.

[Maya's quiet for a moment, eyes wide and mouth just slightly parted, though she doesn't uncross her arms.]

[The hesitation passes, though, and her mouth spreads into a smile.]

Maybe you're pretty cute after all.

[She's quick to pull off a piece for herself, hopping up onto the bed and sitting next to the boxes before gesturing for him to go ahead.

Just like that, her disappointment's switched off like a light. She's grinning at him again once she's swallowed a bite of her slice.]

So do I get a name out of you for this?

[He's half tempted to take it back after that 'cute' remark, ears folded down and that lip jutting out in the biggest pout he can manage. But it's an empty threat just like all the others, no bark or bite behind it.

His face turns a bit, softly reaching underneath that cardboard.]

Kaneda.

[No snarky remark or anything to follow. Just an overly dramatic bite of his own slice.]

The name's Kaneda.

Kaneda.

[Maya repeats before a contemplative bite of pizza, chewing slowly over the syllables she'd just parroted. After a slow swallow, she tells him--]

I'm Maya.

Do I ever get to pet your ears? [Shamelessly.]

Maya.

[He repeats, letting it roll over in his mind. Not that he'd admit to thinking about it for more than a second, and even less on committing that name to memory.]

That's a we-

[Thankfully, that shamelessness saves him from sounding like an asshole.]

Pet them?! I'm not a dog!

[You kind of are.]

You are like, scientifically a dog.

[Maya informs him half-way through a bite of pizza, hiding her mouth with her arm.]

C'mon, it can't be that bad.

And you are like, scientifically lunch.

[Said in the same annoying (yet slightly cute) tone she'd said it in. He's a lot less graceful than she is about that, taking a large, undignified bite of pizza as he sits back.]

What, you let other humans pet you?

[Maya slowly, quietly chews her pizza, staring ahead for a moment, almost as though she's trying to come up with a good response.]

...I mean if they asked nicely.

[V respectful.]

[One of those ears twitches, as if subconsciously calling her out on that bullshit. With his slice already in his mouth, he's reaching for another.]

So ask nicely.

[Because "So when can I-" isn't nice enough, apparently.]

Maybe I'll let you.

[Maya probably shouldn't be falling for this, but she is. Swallowing, she hurriedly asks--]

Can I please pet 'em?

[She asks excitedly, grinning, eyes like saucers.]

No.

[It's almost too immediate, because it's only after he says it that he sees those eyes sparkle, her voice excitedly trailing off...

He's quick to add onto it--]

Y-You didn't seriously think that'd work, right?

[The pout on her face is an instant answer.]

Well! You never know.

[Half-indignant, she leans over to snatch another slice before he can say anything about it.]

Can't believe you even asked...

[You told her to, you moron.

But it's strange. He's never had someone even ask, let alone nicely. It's just not something you think about with your own kind. Werewolves didn't really rub each other's ears. They were sensitive as it was.

The flatness of her voice catches his ear, though, twitching slightly.]

I mean if I did, you probably wouldn't even do it right, you know? [Like there is a wrong way to rub a dogs ear, Kaneda.]

I've touched dog ears before!

[She insists. She is clearly an expert.]

Plus my nails are good for it. Scritchy scritchy.

[She mimes a scratching motion with her free hand.]

You're missing out.

Am I?

[She sounds pretty confident for someone who's never scratched werewolf ears before. A part of him (A very large part) wants her to scratch them just to prove her wrong.

And that part of him clearly gains the upper hand.]

I think I'll be the judge of that.

[Brb, shoving that whole slice in his mouth like the gross monster teen he is.]

[Chewing slowly, Maya raises a brow.]

Is that a challenge?

[She asks, leaning towards him.]

[His ears perk up slightly, swiveling towards her.]

...Yeah. It is. If I win...

I get the whole pizza.

[One hand extends out, as if already claiming the box and brushing his fingers lovingly across that logo on top.]

[Blinking a few times, Maya has to cover her mouth again quickly, surprised by her own laughter.

If that's the bet, well, she has snacks in the mini-fridge if he's gonna be a butt.

...not that she's going to lose the bet. She leans over and gets on her hands and knees on the bed like a true graceful young lady and holds out her hand.]

Come closer then, come on! I'm not planning on losing tonight!

[He can't believe she accepted that--then again he supposed he should have aimed a little higher than that if he was getting his ears rubbed.

Too late to back out now, though--he inches forward a little, cautiously as he closes the gap in between them. There's no way he'd live this down if other wolves saw him being pet by a girl...

But his pride was at stake right now.

Besides, he'd win.]

Alright, alright, let's see you try and win this.

[Maya wastes no time taking his ears between her thumbs and forefingers and moving her thumbs in little circles. She smiles when she feels the texture of his fur, and extwnds deft but gentle fingers to scritch behind his ears at the base.]

Ah~! It's softer than I thought!

[As enthralled as a child...]

[The feeling is instantly euphoric, Kaneda's eyes widening as soft fingers rub into the softer skin and fluff of his ears. He was more than just ill-prepared for something like this--he was totally caught blindsided.

He doesn't respond, eyes gazing right past her lifelessly, letting his head tilt further and further into that touch.

Looks like SOMEONE just lost a bet.]

[Maya has to bite her tongue as she grins to keep herself from giggling at him, giving his ears a few more scritches before she starts to pull her hands away.]

How's that?

[Sorry Maya, were you thinking of stopping? Because Kaneda's sure as hell not done. When those fingers lift, his ears twitch ever so slightly, as if searching for those fingers.]

I..

["I totally fell for that"]

I don't know. You might have to try it again.

[Tongue biting turns to lip biting as Maya tries desperately not to make too much of a scene of her victory; after all, she's enjoying petting him. Maya ladjusts in her place on the bed and leans closer for a better vantage point.]

Whatever you say!

[She tells him, gentle fingers finding their way back to rubbing those ears.]

[Her smugness goes unseen (or rather, he's choosing to ignore it) as she reaches her fingers back. His ears, sensing that they're coming back for a repeat, swivel in her direction as his head tilts along with it, ready for round two of the ear scritches]

Right--yeah, right there.

[The words come out of his mouth before he can even stop it, the euphoric expression on his face all too much of a giveaway to his true motives.

It felt good, so sue him.]

[The smugness of Maya's grin only grows. She can't help it; for what it's worth, she thinks he's being pretty cute at the moment. She indulges him more, but mostly for her own sake.]

Mmhm? Is that good?

[She practically purrs like a cat that's caught its mouse.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

howl at the moon

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject