Found you

[Lovely]

Jan 4, 2008


It was afternoon or was it morning? For all she knew it could be early evening.. Contessa wandered the grounds of the hotel with little care of her direction, how far she went, or how much time passed. Her sister was in a coma, lucky to be alive but after a couple of days showed no signs of waking. Tessa was worried of course and feeling guilty, it had been her idea to come here.. to leave their lives behind to go chasing a dream. The dream turned out to be real but so was the danger and Angel had suffered the consequences. Tessa shivered and burried her face down into her scarf, her hands clenching into fists in her pockets. A couple of tears speckled her cheeks, shining in the light as they froze, beneath her boots the ground made a soft crunching sound as she walked between snowy patches on the narrow path.

He'd followed the annoying tickle that kept him tethered to a life he no longer wanted. The tickle that let him know where they passed behind trees, over barn eaves and under gutter grates - the unseen creatures that hid within the shadows, watching the human world and his world, a world between human and horror. He'd been lured first by Jesse, a former teammate, led to the surface, back to the light world where human beings walked on what they thought was solid ground. His was a mission to disrupt any of Jesse's entanglements with the humans, or the beings like himself that were sought for servitude. Instead of stopping him, he found himself torn by events and wanting his own freedom by the only means he knew, to disobey and escape, unable to play both roles he found his teammate capable of enduring. His heart was too big despite what he'd become. He didn't want to disrupt any of what Jesse had done, but instead to emulate him and find his own link to the world of light and life, one of hope he no longer seemed to have. Here he'd looked to Angel for guidance, an ironic thought at best, but true, finding himself at the grounds of the expansive building and discovering not Angel but a girl very much like her. He couldn't help the slithering, hiding and lurking to keep pace with her around the grounds. He caught a glimpse finally of her face clearly enough to see the tears and he was suddenly pained, truly pained without the torturous means of his bosses. He reached up to the tree branch above himself, trying to stretch out the ache. "I promise not to do it again," he called out to her, hoping the tear would go away and his pain would then stop. He looked like a school boy jumping down from the tree as he offered her a smile.

Tessa looked up at the sound of the voice, startled and confused, her hand reaching to grasp at the collar of her jacket, holding it together it might seem as she stared in surprise. "Where did you come from?" She glanced around then, feeling sudenly that she was far from where she should be. "What won't you do again?" She asked with a slight shake of her head, trying to clear her thoughts a bit.

"Um... back there. Didn't you hear me?" He wasn't sure if she was like him and could hear things very well or sense them even if the eyes didn't see anything. He let go of the branch and hunched down to scoop up a handful of old snow to pack like he might throw it. He was curious about the sensations, the pain, the cut of the tree bark against his fingers, the cold of the ice that melted over his fingers.. he'd forgotten so much. "I won't do whatever it was that made you cry. I thought it was me, scaring you. I didn't mean to," he said honestly, taking a few steps closer.

[Lovely]

"Oh." Her voice was soft, hushed and her smile sad as she looked to the ground, sorry that she made him think he had caused her tears. "It wasn't you.. you didn't scare me.. well just now you startled me a bit but before that.. I wasn't paying attention.. I didn't even know you were there." She didn't even know she was crying to be totally honest and her hand lifted a little higher from her collar to her cheek, tracing lightly over the speckle of frozen tears. "My sister was hurt... very badly.. I'm worried about her." She felt the need to explain and assure him that it was nothing he'd done to frighten or upset her.

"She's not hurt, she's... I mean she'll be better soon, I'm pretty sure. Angel you mean? She'll be okay. I'm Chris, by the way," he said, holding out his red and chilled fingers.

"She's hurt.. it just happened a couple of days ago.. She hasn't woken up.." Her lower lip trembled and fresh tears threatened which she wiped away with one hand while reaching for his with her other. "I'm sorry.. thank you.. I'm Tessa." She pushed a smile out for him, though it was pretty, it was not her usual bright grin.

"Pretty," he nodded, remarking to himself that she resembled Angel in many ways, but for the fact she was brightly shining out here and not bedridden. "I bet she's dreaming all sorts of great things to tell you about, though. Sisters," he chuckled. "So that's why you're here, I guess. Not planning on staying then - when she's better?"

"I hope she's dreaming good things and not terrible ones.. no way to tell that now though." She put her hands back into her pockets and sighed, her foot kicking at the ground a little. "I haven't decided whether we'll stay or not, we were on our way here when it happened.. but now I.. I feel more lost than I did before.. like, if we hadn't come she wouldn't have been hurt.. you know?"

We. He frowned a little, wondering if she meant just the two of them or if there was someone he hadn't seen with her. "I found you," he shrugged, trying to see her smile again. "I hear there's good people here to look after her." He looked up at the building, wondering how close he'd be allowed to get now, maybe even inside if he could get this far. He considered the pain in his chest and wondered if that was part of the spell of the place that kept things like him out.

It worked, at least for a moment and her soft smile lit up her face again, shining gently as if there just for him. "It would appear you did.. and that I've found you too.." She half turned to look over her shoulder at the building, she hadn't really gone that far but it felt like miles. "They are good people.. mostly.." She turned back with her head tilted slightly to one side. "Haven't you been inside yet?"

[Lovely]

"Me? Nah, I like it out here," he said, brushing his wet hands on his jeans that felt coarse and strange. "I'm sure you could call it nice inside, though, but ...I'm more the outdoorsy type. Not really into dark corners and musty shelves," ... anymore, he trailed off without saying.

"Oh." That one syllable sounded utterly disappointed though she tried to give him a soft smile. "So.. what are you doing here.. if you don't want to go inside? It is sort of cold out here, even if you like the outdoors.."

"Well, that's the difference between 'want to' and 'have to'," he sighed, returning an uneasy smile. Even if he accompanied her, he still wasn't certain he -could- get inside, but knew he had to if he was going to stay sane. "I'll have to try to get my feet in the door at some point. I just hadn't really gotten the nerve up, yet. Maybe I have more of a reason now, too - before you get colder, I should go with you and make sure they take care of you."

"I can understand that.. I was pretty nervous about coming here.. i suppose that's part of why I haven't decided about staying. Most of it is what happened to my sister but.. there still a part of me that's looking... for something.." She wasn't really sure what that was or how to say it without it sounding weird, she needed something to anchor her. "Maybe I should be making sure you get inside and they take care of you. I'm pretty tough.. believe it or not with how I was being all teary.. but I'm usually the one taking care of someone else as well as myself." Tessa bit at her lower lip and gave him a shy smile as she reached to take his hand.

"And that's why you're out wandering in the cold..?" He teased her and took her hand, studying it a little. There was so much he'd forgotten that even this simple touch seemed foreign, however much he welcomed it. "Okay so since we're both pretty tough but scared to bits to go into the big spooky building, let's both make a break for it and just storm the front door. Whaddya think?"

She smiled more warmly and despite the slight puffiness around them, it shone in her eyes as well. "I don't know.. this feels pretty good.. maybe I don't want to rush it being over. You think we could stay like this a little bit longer and just walk back?" She asked, giving his hand a light squeeze to indicate the contact was what she meant.

"I didn't say I was letting go," he clarified. "Walking is fine by me. I don't get to do it often enough." That much was true and it was difficult not to simply melt into the shadows to take her with him. He didn't want to get Jesse's attention by stepping in and rippling that pool, however, and shuffled his foot clumsily forward. "If you don't mind walking with someone who's barely above using knuckles for support. Two left feet, I guess."

His first comment made her smile a little more. "I might hold you to that.. literally!" Her fingers flexed and wrapped comfortably around his hand again. They started walking back toward the hotel and she was quiet for a few moments and then cleared her throat softly. "Do you mind if I ask.. about what.. you know.. what it is that makes you.. different.. like the rest of us..?"

"I don't mind if you ask," he winked. His green eyes caught light from somewhere and sparkled a little as he grinned. "I suppose you want me to tell you, too?" He took a deep breath. "Back to the outdoorsy, tree hiding, barely above using my knuckles thing... I grew up wondering if I was the Missing Link scientists were always looking for."

"Missing Link?" She bit at her lip again and took a moment to look him over from top to toe and back up again. "If you're the missing link, I think I want to un-evolve.. I don't think that's even a real word.." Her chuckle was soft and slightly embarrassed. "I guess you mean some kind of ape feral or something? I think feral is the word they use.."

He shook his head. He wouldn't want her to change a thing to be anything like himself - not until he'd made his own changes first. "Devolve I think is the word you want," he suggested gently, sighing. "Yeeeeaaah, something like that. Look at the monkey and make him scratch his pits - that's me."

"I.. wasn't going to make you scratch anything.. I mean, if you want to scratch something or you have an itch.. feel free.. I guess it must have been pretty hard growing up with that sort of thing.." She recalled her own childhood and the way she and her sister had been treated even though over time their mutations were easier to hide... sometimes.

"Mmm, don't encourage me to scratch, not out here in the cold," he said, looking her over similarly with the sparkle in his eye. He cleared his throat. "Um, no. It wasn't easy, but I'm here and made it through the worst, right? Took a few broken bones and a lot of therapy and overseeing... a lot of overseeing," he shuddered. "Um, so.. what about you?"

She felt a little warmer with him looking her over like that, a good kind of warm and she liked the sparkle in his eye. Tessa tilted her head to the side and asked, as innocently as she could. "What about me?"

"What? Oh, I mean you, what brings you ... both of you... here?" He asked, though he knew a little already. "I'm sure it's something to do with charm, or maybe affecting the temperature? It's not as cold out here right now, is it?"

[Lovely]

She laughed a little and rolled her eyes. "Yeah if I had any charm I wouldn't still be single!" She teased about herself and shrugged as she reached up to trace her finger along a low branch. "It's wings and weather.. I guess temperature is part of that.. I'm best at storms though.. thunder, lightening.. the whole shebang!" Her gaze came back to him and a thought made her chuckle out loud as she shook her head. "I'm terrible.." She muttered softly.

His head tilted as he tried to understand. "Terrible about what? Thunder and lightning? That sounds great! And wings? Well that beats bananas and hanging off the chandeliers," he said. "Before I stick my opposable toes in my mouth... seriously... what were you thinking about?"

She blushed deeply and looked away, licking her lips and trying not to smile at how silly she felt. "I was ah... just thinking.. you know if we.. you and I had kids, that they'd be.." She lowered her voice and looked down at the toe of her shoe. ".. the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz.." Yeah, she was terrible.

He chuckled. "Oooookay, my fault. Awkward in all kinds of ways, but flattering that you were even considering... Okay, busted, I was considering a few things myself, but really, not out here in the cold, right? Right. So it's definitely warmer on my face... neck... hoo boy. Yeah, so how about we try to get inside now?"

She was more shocked for a moment that he was totally offended by her thought than being embarrassed that they were both considering... the things that might lead to flying monkey babies. "You.. you're not pissed that I thought that?" She stammered a little but also nodded and started to walk a little more quickly. "Yeah.. getting inside.. right.. maybe I'm not so good at conversation either.. another very good reason that I'm single.. heh."

"Hello, I've been stalking you out here in the woods... well the almost woods... trying to apologize for thinking I scared you, remember? I was thinking all kinds of things, so I can't be mad. I can be totally red faced and wish I had a chandelier to hang from right now. Look! Tree branch!" He demonstrated the use of the nervous energy to launch himself into the tree, leaving the warmth of her hand for a moment. He inverted himself like a boy on a jungle-jim, hanging upside-down next to her. "Probably good if I let everything rush to my head right now," he said, clearing his throat again.

She laughed and her face lit up to see him feel free enough to jump up into the branches and not hide his enthusiasm in front of her, it was really cute and sort of sweet.. a little crazy but she liked it. "You don't have to do that on my account.. but I don't mind if you hang around me." She teased and reached to hold his head gently as she kissed him from his upside down vantage.

"Don't make me fall," he whispered as she floated away from the kiss. He meant that in so many ways as she clasped his hand again. He -had- to get into the building and stick around or he might lose her when he'd just found her! "Look out," he cautioned, flipping back down from the branch without twisting up her arm though his needed turning around. He flipped his shaggy hair back out of his eyes. "There, almost normal."

"I happen to like not quite normal.." She replied with a soft smile and twirled herself to untangle his arm, letting go of his hand to slide her arm around his waist. "We can go faster now if you want.. I think I found what I was looking for out here." It was a bold and shy statement all at once, it wasn't him falling that she was worried about.

"Hmm I dunno. License to go fast could be trouble for both of us, especially when you put it that way. I should have scared you earlier, huh? Big spooky house... hotel... thing, coming right up," he said, curling around her a little and appreciating the warmth. He didn't notice the cold usually but this was different. His nerves were zinging and popping with anticipation in all directions. If she kept being sweet and cute, he was about to leap into her arms as a fluffy ball and let her carry him to the door!

"It could be just the kind of trouble we both need.." She tempted him just a little with a sweet expression and gently set her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you didn't scare me earlier.. I've been scared enough, I could use the comfort alot more."

He nodded. He knew that much before he'd started following her. "Won't happen again," he muttered. "This... this is so much better than being wound up and freaked over everything lurking in the shadows." If only she knew how true that fear really was. "Comforting... I like it."

They were getting close to the entrance to the hotel and her steps slowed, she turned slightly to look at him, tilting her head a little. She was a fairly tall woman but he was taller, that made her smile a bit. "You know.. I already have a room.. if you want to skip the fuss.. I mean, you don't have to and I know by saying it you might feel you do, but I'm not trying to pressure you.. just offering to share..?"

"Are you sure they'd allow pets?" He chuckled and seemed to stammer and blush all over again. "Let's get in the door first and see if they even want me here. I would humbled, honored, happy... to share a room as long as you don't mind me jumping on the bed, messing up the covers and stuff. I'm excitable," he explained, apologizing in advance for any behavior she might start to hate.

"I think I'd only mind that if I was sleeping in the bed at the time and then you certainly know I didn't like it." She grinned at him but got a sinking feeling he was just putting her off since he put out several reasons not to and wanted to wait to see what happened. She was probably pushing. "Anyway.. yeah, I guess we'll see." She let go of him and stepped ahead to reach for the door to pull it open.

[Lovely]

Chris shrank back from the doorway and the seemingly bright welcome of the promise within, though the entryway was dimly lit. His hand he'd put up defensively lowered a little and he hovered behind her, following her in and waiting for the floor to swallow him up. He shivered again as the warm air inside flowed over him and he stopped. The floor hadn't opened up and the warm air wasn't the kind that swooped in and hauled the unsuspecting into the swirling vortex of hellfire from where it eminated. This was a welcoming warmth and an unsettling quiet. "They should know I'm here. Where are they?" He muttered as he looked around to the corners.

"Where is who? Were you expecting to find someone in particular?" Ahh so that was it, he already had someone and that someone was already here. "There aren't many of us right now.. so I probably know who she.. I mean they are and can show you to their room or an empty one if you don't want to surprise them?" She offered and kept walking in through the back hallway of the hotel. "They might be in the lobby waiting. Usually people arrive from the front.. even if it doesn't look like much to anyone not specificaly looking for this place."

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was thinking out loud. No, I'm not expected... I mean, I was thinking that the people running the show, that they'd be guarding the door or something, I guess," he said, not fully explaining what he really meant. He swallowed roughly and glanced around to the corners and deeper shadows. If there were any of 'them' looking for him, they were waiting patiently and watching. "There's not a 'she' ... if that helps. You're her, actually."

"We are the people running the show.. I mean.. this is it.. there is no 'take me to your leader' here.. maybe if there were more people.. but so few have made it here, I think even with us.. it's single digits. If you're wondering about the guy in the dreams.. that's Claude and he's usually around when someone is expected but dreams are funny that way and not everyone makes it.. Angel and I almost didn't.. He's probably either in with Angel or trying to get a little normal sleep, which he apparently doesn't get much of. Umm.. we can go find him if you want to meet him, now?"

"Nah, no need to disturb him, right?" He chuckled nervously. Maybe that was it. The radar was shut off for the moment, maybe, and it was only a matter of time. If he was with Angel, though, Claude had to know, didn't he? "It's okay. I'm thinking I was colder than I realized and just need to camp a while. You got blankets? I think we both need one."

She nodded, watching him with a curious expression but the teasing sparkle had faded away. "The place is run down but the rooms do still have blankets.. I guess when someone is expected they try to get a room ready for them, but otherwise are working on other parts of the hotel.. it's a big place and alot to try to get sorted and fixed. It'll be easier when there are more people. Aberto is the other guy who has been here with Claude but he keeps to himself. You don't see him much.."

Aberto... The name registered faintly and he tried to dig deep enough to figure out why. Maybe it was the last glimmer he'd seen of Jesse that held the whisper of the man's name, especially if he was taking care of Angel as well. "Hm. Well I've got four hands, more or less. Maybe I can put them to use after we warm them up. I suppose hot cocoa would be pushing it, right?"

"Maybe.." She shrugged to his comment of being put to work, she'd felt pretty useless in the few days since her arrival and was still figuring things out. "Hot cocoa I think is doable. We just have to find it.. and figure out how to work the stove.. I have no idea when it comes to hotel kitchens, maybe they're not too complicated. Claude has been pretty good at making sure I have anything I need since I've been so distraught over Angel. I guess it's time I start taking care of myself again."

"Well I'll help, too, and don't say you're useless. Worrying is very important. She knows you're doing everything you can do, even if she can't express it," he said, trying to be helpful. Angel likely didn't know where she was at herself to know her sister was nearby but siblings had some kind of sense to know... just simply know. He smiled now, watching her as she explained. "Takes a special person, a good person, to be like you."

She kind of shook her head, denying there was anything special about her or that her worrying was of any use to anyone. It just put her in the way as she tried to hover over her sister and hindered the doctors working - she had been shooed away enough times to know. "It doesn't take anything special or good to fall apart.. I let myself be weak.. I'm supposed to be strong.. so much for that." Tessa led him into the large kitchen and sighed, it looked complicated. "I guess just start opening doors and see what we find?" She moved to the nearest cabinet and opened it to peer inside. "If we find cocoa or something good, then we have to figure out the appliances."

How she could think of herself as weak with the power she possessed made him falter a step again. "You're not weak, but who am I, right? Furry... and clumsy. Do you think it's cool to take these shoes off out here? Oh, maybe not in the kitchen, huh? Alright, plan B I figure out the appliance if you find the goodies?"

She turned to look at him for a minute and then spoke softly. "I haven't seen you be furry or clumsy.. I thought you were graceful in the tree and you've been pretty great about me and my little pity party over here.. like I'm the only one who has problems.." Her shoulder shrugged and she let her gaze fall to the floor. "I can add selfish or is it self centered? to my list of faults.." She needed to stop going in this circle in her head and tried to do that. "I think it's up to you if you want to take your shoes off. The hotel isn't open to guests.. so there aren't any health inspectors or anything.. I guess it's more like a home.. a really big home with lots of bathrooms."

He chuckled and came up closer to take her hands. "If I thought of you for a minute as selfish I wouldn't have jumped out from the tree at you. It's this sense I have about the good in people," he said, though he couldn't explain yet that it was a trait he'd learned in order to do his job. "Let's skip the cocoa and cooking lesson for now. You need someone to help you and cocoa's not going to do the trick."

Her thumb stroked over his fingers as she held his hands, she smiled a little sadly and glanced up at him from beneath partially lowered lashes. "But you wanted cocoa.. doesn't that make me selfish if we don't look for it because of me?" She asked and leaned toward him, either way she wanted to be close to him.

He shook his head, "No it means I want to help and I need the practice, so I'm the one being selfish. I want to take my shoes off, but not down here. Suggestions were made and really, I think those are keeping me warmer than the cocoa will. Let's see what these digs of your look like," he suggested now.