Something is wrong. Very wrong. Perhaps it comes as a feeling. Perhaps it comes as a hunch. Or perhaps it comes as something more tangible, like the sound of a cry for help. But however it is perceived, it is very obvious that something is wrong... with Lily.
     Her mind calls out through the ethers, calling to her protector... it starts, seeming far away. But the more it is called, the closer it seems. She is getting closer, and as rapidly as her feet can carry her.
     Panic and fear have overtaken her and it practically drips off of her as she finally bursts into the room, slamming the door open and then closed again. All the locks are fastened with trembling hands as she faces the door, breathing hard, gasping for each lung-full of air. Her body trembling, her limbs and muscles aching, nearly collapses now that she's stopped, but somehow she keeps herself upright. Calling over her shoulder, she asks, "Jack??"

     And the call was perceived. For he is attuned to you in a way few could understand and comprehend. Even when you have not seen him for days, he is never far. Sometimes he shows up at work, briefly checking in on you before disappearing again. Where he goes is any ones guess, but often it involves getting into trouble trying to help some leggy mongolian with a project of hers.
     But when Lily feels scared and and panic and that fear rises up in the back off her mind her protector comes. When she looks over her shoulder. "Don't be afraid.. your safe now."

     Turning to place her back against the hard door behind her, something tangible to mentally grasp hold to, Lily looks at her protector square in the face... then through him, as though recalling her panic, remembering the cause, and losing herself to the memories.
     "I... I think... I don't know what I saw. It was all so fast, so confusing... I just saw a fight on the docks... but it wasn't... it wasn't ... normal. I'm so confused," she stammers, slumping a bit against the door, letting it take her weight.

     "Just relax and tell me what happened." Jonathan says as he puts a hand on Lily's shoulder and tries to lead her over to sit on the edge of the bed.
     "Now you just sit.. and concentrate on your breathing. In through the nose.. out through the mouth." makes slow elegant loop with both his hands as if mimicking what the air should be doing through your lungs. "Just breath calmly, and I'll fix you a drink. Nothing is going to hurt you as long as I am here."

     The young woman nods shakily and lets herself be lead off to sit on the bed. She lowers herself down then rubs her face with both hands. "Man... damn... I don't know where to begin, even. I walked in on a fight about to start... and they spotted me. One guy looked like he was taking on a whole gang, but told me to feel free to call for ambulances for the other guys..." She pauses, and holds her head, as though it aches.
     "Jack.. I don't really know what happened. The next thing I knew, there was this huge, redheaded guy there, on the side of the smaller guy... then everything was just moving entirely too fast." Shaking her head, she lets her hands fall into her lap, though her body still shakes and she still gasps for breath occasionally, allowing her lungs to readjust to her body being still again.

     Outside, a red-headed man pauses at the foot of the Thief River Motel. A shady establishment at best. At worst? Well, it's best not to stop and consider that. He looks at the bricks and mortar with a quirk of a fiery eyebrow as if to ask the sky 'Are you sure?' He must have received his confirmation, for the next moment finds him heading inside.
     To be honest, he's just happy that the building's not surrounded by cops. And he's pretty sure that the rest of the building is damned happy about that as well.
     Davydd moves like he lives here, or like he knows what he is looking for. No one stops him -- whose going to care here? And he heads down the hallway that leads to a row of rooms.

     Jack seems to mull this over and he opens the small room fridge and pulls out a bottle of milk and a carton of orange juice. "So they were moving so fast that you couldn't even really see them?" Jack asks for confirmation as he starts to sort through possibilities in his head. Could've been a celestial.. but moving that fast would probably cause a disturbance and even most demons don't feel the need to over compensate and flail around like a weasel on crack.
     "Remember that big poncy freak I beat to a pulp the night I meet you.. Did they move like him?" Jack goes about making a mixture of the orange juice and the milk and whips it together with a plastic fork. "So it was this smaller guy.. some big red-headed guy and which one had the gang of blokes with him." Jack reaches into the little freezer box in the small fridge and pulls out a handful of ice cubes and crunches them into a icy pulp before stirring them into his quickly made orange juice julius.
     Holding the glass out he says, "Here drink up. Have you had any visions recently.. like the one you saw and painted of me before we first met?"

     "I could see them... but.. when they moved, it was like they skipped a few steps or something... or like they were just moving so fast that I couldn't see the steps in between point A and point B, you know? It's hard to explain..." she says, struggling to describe it properly.
     Looking up from her hands back to you in the kitchenette area, she shrugs and says, "The guy with the teeth? The one who said I looked good enough to eat? Um, I don't know.. maybe? I thought I heard dogs nearby growling when it all happened. Didn't see any, though. I... maybe they moved like him? I don't know." She's all confused and not sure how to describe what she saw.
     Accepting the glass, she murmurs her thanks and downs a good portion of the liquid within before speaking again. Wiping her mouth on her sleeve, she adds with a nod, "Strange dreams, I guess you could say.. of trees... and dragons..."

     Trees and dragons? You know in the hierarchy of symbolism those two things together usually add up to something bad. "Well... perhaps we can hope the dreams are just from to much spicy food." Jack says as he settles down on the edge of the bed next to Lily.
     "That or Norse Gods are trying to plant strange ideas into people's heads again. They could never grow old gracefully." Jack shakes his head, "Well they didn't come after you, so I would guess they figured you were too spooked to tell anyone about what happened."

     She slips out of her jacket and tosses it at the other end of the bed. Leaning forward, she balances her forearms on her knees and dangles the glass between her hands. Her head bows, letting her blue hair hang downward toward the floor. Her t-shirt rides up a bit in the back, showing off one of her tattoos there...a small tattoo of a phoenix rising from the ashes, just done in black ink.
     "I dunno, Jack. It's... they were strange. They followed each other. I'd wake up from one and go into another. Eh, maybe it was just the curry from that night. I dunno," she repeats. She leans her head back enough to down more of the drink, then lets her head hang down again. Her breathing is slowing, beginning to normalize.
     She comments, "I just hope they're not pissed that I called the cops instead of an ambulance and do decide to come after me. I pretty much dialed as I ran." Shaking her head, she murmurs, "I don't think I've run that fast in my life."

     There's a knock at the door. Just a regular knock. Nothing hasty. Nothing abnormal. Just a Joe Q Average knock.

     Jonathan smiles and says, "Well Cops in London aren't that good at dealing with things like that... so I wouldn't worry to much..." Jack rises then as he hears a knock at the door and walks over to look in the peephole. Not recognizing who he sees there he simply says, "Wrong room buddy." Try across the hall.
     And as if that should be enough to settle it he turns to Lily and asks, "Would you like me to get a cellphone? Something you can actually call me on and hear my voice when you are frightened or worried?"

     Lily looks up at the door with a start and watches Jack move to the door. Hearing his response, she seems to relax a bit, and even stands up to stretch, glass still in hand.
     A cellphone? An eyebrow quirks at this, then she laughs, "I'm probably being stupid. I mean... I know better than to hang out at the docks. Some habits die hard, though... but anyway, um... you were here when I got here. But I guess a cell would be good for those times when maybe I can't get here? I dunno..."

     "Right apartment, wrong gender," Davydd's voice quietly lilts. "Ah... well," he says a bit more loudly, so it'll carry through, "...if she's there, as long as she's alright..." He pauses. "That's enough for me..."
     Yeah, through the peephole was a big red-haired gent, nicely dressed for a'that. And a bit on the sparkly side.
     "Miss," he says after a minute, "...sorry for the trouble... you ran off before I could thank you..." For the phone call presumably.

     The tall man outside the window is given a second glance and hrms... Slowly he turns then to Lily and asks, "Well it's some big red-headed sod. I don't think he came all the way here just to thank you for calling the police." Jack says.
     He turns then and looks out the peephole again. Something is strange about this man... he could tell better if he wasn't trying to look at him through the door. "He doesn't look like he's heard to play hatchet-man though and if he is he didn't bring enough people. Do you want to talk to him or do you want me to escort him out the building?"

     The sound of breaking glass sounds through the room. Lily's dropped her glass and is staring in frozen terror at the door. The voice is one she'll not likely forget for a while.
     Blinking as she realizes she's being spoken to, she glances down at the mess on the floor -- thankfully her shoes are still on -- and then back at Jack and the door. She seems so undecided, until she looks at Jack. He's protected her before. What can happen to her so long as he's here?
     "Maybe we should hear what he has to say...?" she suggests hesitantly.

     From the hallway, he can hear the voices. His hands slip into his pockets, casual like, and Davydd turns as if he's making leave to go -- gratitude given and maybe that's it. It wouldn't do for them to think he's stalking her.
     "Alright then," he exhales, and he glances to the door and then down the hall. Making like he's heading off.

     Just as Davydd turns to go the door opens and looming there is the... well.. short man that is otherwise known as Jack. "Come on in and say what you have to say to the girl." Jack says and turns to lead the man into the room.
     "You want anything I have Juice, Milk, some of those little bottles of vodka I smuggled off a plane and dry roasted peanuts."

     Holy shite. He looks like he could fuck up the British Army. Davydd's fiery eyebrows both cock up in momentary surprise. He seems like a businessman to your punk bruiser. "Ah, right. Thanks," he offers and he comes in. "Vodka would be excellent," his voice continues to lilt. "Maybe a handful of peanuts..." His voice drifts a bit as he glances around and then sees Lily.
     "I am sorry about all that," Davydd says to Lily. "I shouldn't have made you wait -- calling the cops. I should have told you to high-tail it immediately." For those of you peering into souls, or simply have a good notion of the character of a person, you see he quite means that. The man seems genuine.
     And sparkly...
     "Oh, sorry," he smiles a little, "Davydd," he says, introducing himself.

     Lily stands right where we dropped her glass, nearly afraid to move. She shrugs and murmurs, "Well... I should have known better than to be hanging around the docks again..." It's a poor attempt at a joke, but she's not quite sure what to say about all of this.
     Glancing at Jack, then at Davydd, she murmurs, "Lily. And... um... is your friend alright?" The one who was going to take on the group by himself till the redheaded brick shit-house showed up, that is. "You seem... alright." You two were outnumbered, afterall.

     Sparkly.. a shame Novalis is not hear.. she'd probably be pointing that out amidst a fit of giggles, 'You're Sparkly!' Jack has considerably more self-restraint. From the small fridge he fetches two of the little vodka bottles and from the top the tin the peanuts are in, "Here you go help yourself Davydd." The little dog face pronounces it right on the first try.
     "And yes Lily you should know better than to hang around the docks... but you are alright and that's all that matters." at least right now. He'll scold her later. Again he looks at the red-headed man the way someone looks at a lost relative you can't place. "I'm Jack by the way. Sounds like my friend here almost got into some trouble.. thanks for steering her clear of it."

     Davydd nods a short smile, "Lily," he repeats, and therefore shall remember it. He glances to your ... friend. It's a good thing he's your friend. "Hmm? Oh, oh aye he's alright." He looks to Jack again, nodding and taking the vodka and peanuts. There's a smile for the correct pronunciation. "Nice to meet you, Jack. And ... aye... it was a bit of a scene. Apparently those three bruising lads were in the midst of accosting a woman in the nearby alley when my friend interrupted them. Sometimes being a good samaritan'll get you killed." His mouth twists a smile and Davydd rakes a hand through short, copper-bronze hair.
     "Luckily my friend avoided that. The three pushed off after you ran off, figuring they'd be in the pokey. We didn't stick around to file a report. The woman's alright. You're alright. We're alright. Best to let bygones be bygones, I think."
     Davydd pauses, looking to Jack before turning to Lily again. "Sorry we put the spook in you. I don't normally run after strange women at the docks," he smiles. "But ... with one woman nearly raped tonight, I was worried you might... run into trouble out there." A look to Jack. "You'd think after 10,000 years women could walk street, but..." an exhale and he opens the vodka. "... apparently humankind's got a way to go for a'that."

     Finally beginning to find the ability to move, Lily looks at the glass and drink at her feet, makes a face and heads for the closet, looking for paper towels and a broom. "Well, at least no one else got hurt," she says over her shoulder, before returning to clean up the mess.
     "Thankfully your friend was there for that woman..." Lily says, but her words are halted before she finishes the statement. The dawning realization hits her.
     That woman could have been her.
     Shuddering, she resumes picking up glass and sopping up orange liquid with paper towels. "I honestly should have high-tailed it sooner than that... you chasing after me... I didn't even know you were. Everything seemed so... confusing." She picks her words carefully, not looking up, but focusing on her task... but she is still careful.

     The 'that could have been me' revelation brings a hand to Lily's shoulder. Not while Jack exists would that have ever been her. "Is the woman alright? What happened to her attackers?" jack asks.
     Guardian angle to the last he's already planning how he'll deal with this three if they are still drawing breath.

     "Fear'll do that," Davydd smiles and the sun comes with it for those who can see it. For all others, it merely warms and brightens his face. "And darkness. Hell, you weren't the only one nervous. I was not wanting to get in a fight. It was happenstance," ha! "...that I was there at all. If I hadn't showed up, I fear tonight may have had a different ending."
     What he doesn't offer is how he found her. Nor does he mention the 'confusing' events or reasons behind it. If she's confused, all the better for everyone involved. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
     Davydd takes another sip of the vodka and the peanuts are history. "They made the mistake of laying hands on my friend. One probably has a broken bone or two. The other two hauled him off and ran after she did. I didn't see the woman, she was gone by the time I got there. My friend indicated she was alright. Shaken but alright. You know, there's pubs all through here, warehouse clubs and the like," look who I'm telling! "... folks forget that The Thames isn't the best place to be after dark. South Bank is one thing," posh central these days, "... but these warehouses and docks are another thing altogether."

     Jack is not human by nature.. and so he's not as good at hiding his emotions as one. His expression is clearly a bit dubious for one reason or another. He stands and goes to the sink and starts washing glasses, "Go on you two, I'm listening."

     Yeah, she'll get scolded later. Oh well. Wouldn't be the first time. "Well, it's not like everyone's got the same luck," Lily comments. "Sometimes this area's all a person's got. Unfortunately, there's people who'll take advantage of that."
     She glances up at Jack as she feels the touch on her shoulder and finishes picking up the glass, all of which is held in a dustpan.
     "Well, so long as the good guys won, so to speak, I guess that's the important thing, right?" she suggests, pulling away from Jack to dispose of the glass and paper towels.
     "But anyway, yeah, as long as everyone was alright... those thugs had it coming to them," she says resolutely. "What your friend was doing down there is beyond me, though... he really didn't look like the type to be down there, either. But, that's none of my business either. I just go there to do some sketches periodically."

     Davydd nods, "Aye, I know," he says quietly. "But those who live here have a better understanding of what goes on, where to go, and where not to go and when. Girls coming in from the suburbs don't understand what this city is like at night. Not really. They get out here, get into the clubs, get spiced on whatever juice is floating around that night, and step out into streets meaner than they can imagine. Happens every night to someone."
     But he's not meaning to scold. It's just the truth.
     He smiles a little as you mention his friend. "He was probably down for the clubs. I think Betty's Boobs is around here somewhere," the leather/goth/dom bar. "He likes the nightlife," Davydd chuckles. "They just didn't expect to run into a multi-disciplinary blackbelt tonight. Good for the woman, bad for the bad guys. I was just there for color commentary really."
     Oh really. He looks like he can handle himself.
     "So," Davydd exhales, "... again, I'm sorry you were spooked and sorry I couldn't catch you before you high-tailed it, to walk you home. You've made it safe and sound, and that's what's important, aye."

     Turning back to Davydd, the removal of the glass complete, Lily nods, listening to what he says. "Well, that's true, really. When I go out, I know I could get into trouble... these other gals... well, yeah, exactly what you said." She doesn't take it as scolding, or doesn't seem to.
     "Ahh, makes sense. Good thing for the girl he likes those types of places," she agrees, feeling a little awkward. Scratching the back of her head, she murmurs, "Sorry I hoofed it so fast... it was just such an odd fight. A blackbelt, eh? That would explain the moves I saw..." So she did see something, afterall. "I just really wanted to get out of there... I honestly didn't know who was going to win. And honestly, if it was the other guys, I didn't want to be hanging around once they were done with you two, you know?" She chuckles, feeling rather stupid saying this to the redheaded giant.
     "Anyway, no harm done, right?"

     "Ahh Betty's Boobs." Jonathan's voice chimes in. "Good place, lots of cleavage and or bare jubblies." Glasses cleaned Jack shuts off the water and returns to the conversation drying his hands with a wash rag. "I could understand why he might be hanging around then."
     The washrag is draped over his shoulder then and he looks from Lily to Davydd, "So yeah, sounds like no harm done... heck If I happened on a gang fight involving five big lads I would probably run like hell too."

     Davydd smiles easily, warmly. "Aye, not after the trash they were starting to spew your way. I was going to stay around to beat them down for the suggestion. But," he exhales again, vodka finished, "...the wisdom of war is knowing when not to fight." Forest green eyes glimmer in a wink. "I think that's what they teach in the karate classes," he drolls.
     "It was a pleasure meeting you both, even under the circumstances. Anytime you're around Black Jack Davy's, come in, tell them you're friends of mine, there's a free drink in it." Maybe he's the Davy of Black Jack Davy's. Stands to reason.
     Davydd pivots toward Jack, smile slanting at the description of Betty's Boobs. "Another fine London establishment," he rumbles. Fine tradition we have. "Well," he says after another moment, "I suppose I should let you get back to your evening. I don't mean to intrude. Again, I'm glad you're alright, Lily..."

     Lily seems to relax now that the meeting seems to be over with and that there was no violence, no threats, and everyone's seemed to make new friends. "Davydd, thank you for your concern. It's appreciated," she manages to say, seeming a little at a loss for words. Looking to Jack, she assumes he'll walk the larger man out. She somehow feels safer standing back near the kitchenette... or maybe she just feels more comfortable, rather than 'safer'.
     "I'll have to check the place out sometime," she adds, and seems to mean it.

     With a polite nod and a wave of his arm, Jack walks Davydd to the door and says to him, "Well thanks for stopping by to check on her... But needn't worry in the future. Lily is in good hands." And that said quite politely he holds the door, for Davydd.

     "It's a good joint," Davydd rumbles good-naturedly. "Live music on Fridays and Saturdays, if you're into Welsh and Irish war ditties, that is." He chuckles a bit. "There's a fine revolutionary spirit about it." He realizes he's rambling and clears his throat. "Alright then," he says, he looks to Jack and starts to head to the door.
     At the door, he pauses a half-step and smiles. "I wouldn't want to fuck with ya," he rumbles. A wink to the room and Davydd heads out. Hands in his pockets, he heads down the hall.
     In another reality, the Oak King, even in his Holly winter, trails golden light behind him. And somewhere, there are periwinkles wherever he steps.

     "We'll have to check it out sometime. See ya," she calls as Davydd heads out the door.
     Lily flops down on the edge of the bed, looking at the door even after Davydd is gone. Shaking her head, she murmurs, "Damn... I did not expect that to happen. I thought... I don't know... I thought... I really don't know what I thought, but I didn't expect him to be chasing me down to check to make sure I'm alright."

     "He seems like good people...." Jack finally says after a long while. He looks back to Lily. Concern still in his eyes. Of course had things gone worse.. he would have gotten there in time.. but still.. she's very shook up. He should have been closer. Dammit all Jack!
     "Anyway how're you doing? Hungry? want me to see if I can scrounge up some food for you?" It seems that Jack is right back to being Lily's den mother and making sure she's going to be alright and fed and general taking care of herself. "I still say you're too skinny and need to put on a few pounds."

     "Actually... I'm starving. That'd be great, Jack. Thanks," Lily agrees with a nod. "I'm not too skinny. The guys at the clubs don't think I'm too skinny," she protests before she pauses, glances back at the door, then back at you.
     "Sorry I got myself into trouble again... I tend to have a knack for it," she adds softly. The expression on her face is rather sheepish and apologetic. She feels terrible that someone else got involved this time.

     "I'm sure they don't. You're young, your pretty and your punk." he shakes his head then, apparently thinking it's best not to try this argument again. He never wins anyway. "Ok lets go get you a bite to eat then." He says as he walks to where you tossed your jacket and picks it up to hold it for you.
     "And don't apologize, Lily." Jack says in a calm voice. "If God didn't mean for you to get in trouble he wouldn't have sent you an angel."

     Standing, Lily takes the jacket and slips it back on over her cut-off t-shirt. Shrugging, she murmurs, "Only, they mostly just look, which gets annoying. The ones who bother approaching me are usually assholes who end up with my fist down their throats, but... hey... what can you do?" She seems pleased with herself and grins from ear to ear.
     Heading for the door, she chuckles and says, "You know, you'd think God would have better things to do than to let me get into trouble all the time... but then again, then you wouldn't have anything to do, eh?" She smirks and opens the door before something is thrown at her.

     Your angel smiles to you and shakes his head, "Don't worry, you'll met a nice lad some day." Jack goes over to the one of the chairs that his jacket has been draped on and pulls it on over his shoulders. "Well yeah, God needs to keep me busy with something."
     He reaches into his hip pocket and produces a money clip and checks to make sure he has enough. "Ok then... no curry tonight. I think we need some good old fashioned home cooking. I heard there's this pub that serves shepherd's pie that is to die for..." See he was good he didn't throw anything.. he was thinkin' about it though.

Posted by rowan at January 05, 2004 10:32 PM