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 Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:58 am
Tyler really, really hadn't liked the thought of leaving her kids alone. The house was well-alarmed, though, and there was Avery to scare away any possible robbers. She lived in a calm part of town and, hey, she was only going to go around the block a few times.
She had been awakened in the middle of the night by something crawling into her bed. Avery had already claimed his corner, so she had patted around in confusion. The first touch of wing told her who it was. Elena had crawled into her bed. When asked what was wrong, the usually tough little girl said she'd had a nightmare and just wanted to stay the night, if you please. Tyler agreed, but after two hours of listening to the girl flail around in bed and give unhappy little sighs, she decided it was time for a walk.
So there she was in her high school play T-Shirt (two sizes too big with RENT! emblazoned on the back) and a pair of floral pajama pants, holding the hand of a Power-Rangers-Nightgowned little girl as they wobbled around the block.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:04 pm
Jericho was pretty damn sure that he wanted to murder his roommates. They had decided to throw a rowdy crazy party that night, and as it was he left unable to sleep. Since the man was not at all fond of the stupid parties other people his age threw, he had opted to just go out for a long walk and hope they were done by the time he got home.
So it happened that he ended up walking along the same street that Elena and Tyler were heading along. He recognized the latter at the very least. Huh, why might they be out so late?
"Evening," he greeted, waving a hand to the two of them.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:06 pm
Tyler jumped, startled. She really had to stop watching horror movies to late at night. They screwed with her head.
"Oh. Hey." She remembered the face, but not a name, and so avoided it altogether. Elena just looked up at the man. She'd never seen him before...
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:09 pm
Damn, what a time for forget names. "You're that lady I met at the cafe once, the one who worked in movies?" Jericho asked, raising an eyebrow. "I apologize, it's late and my memory isn't that good. What's your name again?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:19 pm
Ah, good. So she wasn't the only one!
"Tyler. And you? I make no excuses, my memory is awful."
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:19 pm
"Jericho." he laughed. "Mine's usually decent but I guess not tonight. And who might your companion be?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:20 pm
"Ah...my adopted daughter of sorts. Elena," Tyler sighed. It was so depressing to say, "She has three sisters and four brothers back home."
Elena gave a pitiful wave, still just watching the man, unblinking.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:22 pm
"Aha. One of those crazy places in the area deciding to dump kids on you? It's happened to a few of my friends." Jericho said sympathetically before smiling lightly and waving at Elena. "Why might you two be out for a walk this late? Is everything okay?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:25 pm
"Pretty much," Tyler shrugged, and then looked down to Elena. She would probably deny it if her mother said she'd had a nightmare, so...
"'Linny was just having some trouble sleeping. I figured a walk might tucker her out."
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:31 pm
Jericho accepted that answer and nodded a bit. "I was having trouble myself. Though that trouble was more caused by jerks throwing stupid parties than anything." he commented dryly.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:27 pm
"That's why I skipped out on college," Tyler shrugged, hefting Elena into her arms. She knew well the feeling of being ignored when two adults spoke over you. Now she was at their level, and she could join in.
"But parties are fun," she reasoned. Sleep and fear always softened the girl.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:40 pm
"I need my degrees though." the man sighed, shaking his head.
Smiling a bit at Elena, he shrugged. "They should be but loud stupid people just screaming and doing dumb things makes for a pretty crummy party."
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:42 pm
Tyler nodded, and Elena followed suit. That certainly didn't sound like fun. It would be like a party with the boy with the crown, but if he was drunk.
"Well, you're welcome to come back to my place. I'm not doing much of anything. We could hang out until Linny gets to sleep."
Elena nodded. She was in that bizarre state where one was tired, but too hopped up on fear-borne adrenaline to sleep at all. Right now, she was up to anything.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:59 pm
Jericho nodded a bit. "Yeah, sure, that'd be nice." he agreed.
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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:03 pm
"C'mon. We're not far," Tyler said, turning and heading back past 2 houses. she headed up the steps of the third and held the door open for Jericho before heading in herself. She lead the young man down past the dining room and into the living room where she gestured for a couch.
"Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee? Cocoa?"
"Cocoa!" Elena laughed as she crawled up onto the couch.
"There's a reason I didn't ask you. You're gonna go into sugar shock, yenno."
Elena stuck her tongue out.
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