Pygmalion

[Thomas Taylor] So this was a turn for the books, never look a gift horse in the mouth. So he had a smoke sat up in bed, the few holes in his bin bag over the broken window letting in light that did not seem to bother him so much. He gets up, gets a shower, a shave. He had no chance to do any laundry yet between everything that had happened over the last week so he has to pick clothes up from the pile in the corner. Finding one that does not smell he puts it on, along with some jeans.

He picks up his converse; they had not done well after last night. Dark almost brown stains rest on the white as he thinks about Thomas Number 1 and they were not made for kicking they were looking like they’d fall apart. Still he throws them on and then leaves the house...

An hour and fifteen minutes later he manages to pull up at the place Morgan said. White knuckles grip on the steering wheel, she cannot see his eyes (Sunglasses once more) but he looked slightly disturbed. What happened could remain a mystery but when he said he’d drive her car there were three things he had forgot to consider. A) He had trouble seeing right now, paradox had given him an IOU. B) He was English and drove stick...this was not stick. C) When your like they were now, weak from the fighting and pushing yourself there was a moment when he forgot about being on the right...not the left.

Still he was hear in one piece, eyes looking about for a particular red head.

[Morgan Lake] And there she is, sitting on a bench overlooking the water, across the street from an upscale tea shop (a veritable tea boutique) with two paper cups in hand - Earl Grey in both - though she stands when she hears the familiar sound of her car (which is, in fact, a stick. Small blessings). She's not literally smaller, but seems so, somehow - a shell, a shadow, something hollowed and waiting to be filled. Still, there's a smile when she sees him, and her car.

That smells of sweaty work out clothes after being shut up with them in it all night - this realization makes her blush, just a hint. On a bench by the water, though, this could be attributed to wind, and the sun that peeks through the clouds rather often, today.

"Hey." It's simple but not, and so honestly . . . fond, almost . . . that it might be disconcerting. "Here." Two monosyllables, and once he has his own tea in hand, there's her arms wrapping around him; it's relief, maybe, to see that he's alright. Or the lack of impulse control. Goodness only knows what it is, but the embrace doesn't last long before she steps back to arm's length.

"She didn't give you any trouble, did she? Needs an oil change and her brakes resurfaced."

[Thomas Taylor] When Thomas got out of the car he put some gun in his mouth, he helped with the urges because right now willpower was not happening. Thomas smiles when he sees Morgan the right corner of his mouth rises a little higher than the left, not his normal smile, more open.

He looked similar to that day when her him and the good Dr were having the chat. Like her he was tired, drained. His shoulder were not as tall, he carried himself with less swagger walking normally now. He takes the tea “Cheers pet.” Then he gets the arms wrapping as he moves his own around her “Robin to see you too pet.” When she steps back and speak he looks back to the car “She ‘as character Le Fay, wen am feelin’ more robin I’ll ‘ave a goosy for ya, worked in a mechanics once.”

He looks back to her and gestures to the park bench, it was as good a place as any to start chilling “Ladies first pet.”

[Morgan Lake] "Molly offered the same," Morgan says with a roll of her eyes, "but I like yours better, if you wouldn't mind. I'll pay, of course - I know what it costs at the shop."

She takes a seat not at the opposite end of the bench, but far enough that they won't be touching unless one of them reaches out intentionally; wanting contact and comfort is directly at war with wanting to retain her pride and the discomfort that usually comes with both.

"You actually have the equipment to do brake work and stuff? If so, you're my new go-to guy." She's quiet then, for a long moment during which she absently sips her tea and burns her tongue - it's still hot and she laughs, ruefully amused, before sticking her tongue out at him. "That car's older than I am. She's kind of cranky, sometimes, but I've had her since I got my license. Daddy helped me - he paid for half of her and half of my first year's insurance, both."

[Thomas Taylor] He is not sure he would be up to Info-Sluts standards but then again he had only seen her work on computers. He sits down near her, Morgan controls the distance, and he just had to accept that. Tom was quite a touchy person, not with women in generally, with everyone always wandering be it hands or eyes. He blows on his tea but does not take the burn test just yet.

“I don’t ‘ave me own garage but I can get one to do sum work on yer jam.” Ah the question was what could Thomas not get with enough time and it was surprising little he had a way with certain elements of society. He turns the shades dropping a moment as he meets her laugh with a smile.

“The oldest ones ‘ave the best character pet, she got a name?” Perhaps Morgan would not take it that far. “Ah, but yer Dad didn’t pay for all of it, you ‘ad to chip in I can respect that.” He then risks a sip, damn it was hot, and Thomas does his best to reset spitting it out and instead rolls it around his mouth so he can swallow it.

“Yer dad sounds kinda cool pet, an it is obvious yer daddy’s lil’ girl. You got any bros or sisters?” He smirks, teases in one fashion but only to try and get her to open up, he had an honest interest to find out a little more about Le Fay

[Morgan Lake] [Modded WP - does she answer at all?]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 4, 8 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Morgan Lake] "Of course he didn't. Could have, easily, but I've always been taught that if you want something, you have to work for it." She shrugs, and then there's the question; she knew she shouldn't have mentioned before, but there it is. It's subtle, the closing off, the way her eyes shutter, the way the arm not holding her tea wraps around her midsection. "No, no brothers or sisters."

That's it - nothing further offered, and her head turned to look out over the water instead of at him - distance gained in an instant.

"What about you, are there more Taylor boys out there with that charm we girls should be wary of?" It's teasing, and a diversionary tactic.

[Thomas Taylor] Shit...he curses the question as she responds but what else can he do now? He absently sips his tea somehow finding more comfort in that scolding water than before, anything to hide his head as he rolls his eyes at his own stupidity.

So silence descends, and another question; it is his turn... His tongue comes out to lick his lips. “Yeah, me older bro, he is married, ‘avin’ a kid she sud be ready to pop soon in fact...” There is love there for his brother, you can tell but it is darkened with something, a sadness...as tries to shake it off, he had a good relationship with his brother. He had done more for Thomas than anyone else. Not that Morgan would know.

“We....” even as he speaks a cigarette is brought out and placed in his lips, an automated response and his will so low he cannot stop his craving, his need to consume this addiction. “Well...I awoke, sum shit ‘appened, I ‘ad to leave...” He pulls out the zippo and lights the cigarette standing so he did not blow smoke on Morgan....

Morgan just became the only person to even know he had family.

[Morgan Lake] [Manip + Sub, don't fail me now!]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 2, 2, 7 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Morgan Lake] ".....same here. Sort of." It's not quite a closed line of investigation, but one that she clearly wishes was so; she doesn't want to think about the circumstances of her current situation, let alone talk about them. She's already done that once in the last couple weeks and has no desire to do it again, not here, not now. "He's back in England?"

It's not pressing, not nosy - that she'll back off if Thomas wants her to is obvious in posture and tone, both. She knows what it's like to want to keep one's secrets.

[Thomas Taylor] ((This can seem like a much nicer story that it could be, Man & Performance))
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5 (Botch x 2 at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] He just nods, he too is looking out across the water now, and he has not looked back to Le Fay since he stood up. He zips up his jacket a bit more, it seemed colder to him now. Smoke is blown from his nose like dragons breath as it gets caught by the wind and goes off high above them.

“Aye Le Fay, me bro got is custy, robin job, robin bird, ‘appy, married, kid on the way, ‘e got it all.” He does smirk, he was happy for his brother, an honest happiness that looks strange on his face because it is selfless, and Tom is quite frequently exceptional selfish.

He shakes his head trying to put on a brave face as he turns all smiles but it fails, Morgan can see him tense, his face becomes stern a tremble in the hand with his cigarette, he is smiling that’s it, it starts and ends with his mouth, he I trying to make this seem more light-hearted than it should be. Morgan can literally see him loose it for a moment, that entire cockney swagger gone, that entire bad boy Mr Cool rogue disappears. And he looks just a touch pathetic for a moment, so small, like a child.

“’e is a’ppy...” As he even throws the cigarette away a hand comes to his face as he wipes under his sunglasses “Perhaps this was a sorry idea pet...”

[Morgan Lake] [.....he's . . .oh. What do I do now? (modded WP)]
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 3, 5 (Failure at target 6)

[Morgan Lake] She's still for a moment, even after she turns to look at him, even after he's done saying that. She's not a tactile girl, though she does try to give her friends comfort and affection when they need it; Thomas is quickly making his way onto that list. She wants to get up and give him a hug, or at least thinks that maybe she should, but she can't bring herself to do so. It's too much, with everything else.

What she does do is move companionably closer, and offer quietly, "Daddy wasn't, last time I saw him. He was pretty miserable, in fact, and all he wanted was to talk to me. But I couldn't let him."

Morgan's life is a lot more complicated than it seems, and she doesn't offer pieces of it freely to anyone - she'd told James the two most important things that happened in her life because she . . . isn't even really sure why, actually, but she hasn't gotten that far with anyone else in awhile. Ashley knows because she's Morgan's mentor. Emily, Kage and Wharil know because they were around when it happened. She hasn't let anyone else in.

"So I'm glad your brother's happy. And if you want to go . . . I can give you a ride, if you want. Or leave you alone. Whatever."

[Thomas Taylor] ((Pull yourself together man Moddy WP))
Dice Rolled:[ 2 d10 ] 5, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)

[Thomas Taylor] He snort as his body stars to obey him again, still it was there on his sleeve and he hated she had seen him like that. He sits back down but still making sure there some distance for her, a few wisps of smoke still linger in his lungs and get blown upwards as he leans his head back to it is vertical looking up to the sky resting on back of the bench.

It is a few seconds until he speaks, his resolve returning, he was glad she had not hugged him, who knew what he would have done or told her...

“Sorry to ‘ear that ‘bout yer dad pet...am sure there’s a story there but like meself there pain an you don’t ‘ave to tell me squat” He tilts his head to he can see her. “The worlds fucked up...” He shakes his head an exasperated chuckle leaves his lips. “No need to leave pet, a moment of weakness, won’t ‘appen again, I put a nail in that coffin years ago...” It was obvious that when he nailed it shut he did not do a good job.

“Touch embrassin’ that, normally am all cool Le Fay, obvious yer awesomeness is leavin’ me gaspin’ for breath, taken all the air away eh?” A flirt, a tease another distraction

[Morgan Lake] "Well, I am smart, talented and good looking," she says with a smirk, amused on the surface - but thinking about her dad always leaves her quiet, subtly melancholy. "Though, I don't think I've ever left anyone breathless before, unless it was by outlasting them in a race. I will say this - if you want to talk, ever, I'm a good listener, and I know how to keep a secret."

And that's the end of that - from there, she sits quietly for a long moment, and sips her tea again. She's closer now, as she hadn't moved away when he sat back down, but there's still well defined space between them. It's easier to breach now, if he wants, but still there.

"I've lived in Chicago all my life. We used to go skiing in Montana every winter and camping in Canada every summer - mostly my dad and I, Mama wasn't into anything she couldn't control - and we had some big family vacations to Mexico, South America and Europe, but I've always been here. I don't know if it's better that way, or to be far away from everything."

[Thomas Taylor] He was sure she could keep a secret and thought she might not look it Thomas could imagine her being a very keen listener. He smiles when she talks about herself like that, and just nods about her being someone he could confide in.

He does not breach the space, he always seems to miss time it with her and he was fairly sure this was one of those times where that boundary was needed gave him time to finish composing himself also. “Wow pet, you’ve been to all them places...” He sighs wistfully that wandering nature rising up, he envied her at that point seeing all those places. But it was with pain, she never talked about her mum, it was always daddy. Thomas was curious why but also knew he may never know.

“You know wat they say pet, the more things change the more they stay the same...close, far away...” He shrug as he sips at his tea again “This got depressin’ real fast didn’t it...” He smiles, trying to get her to smile to recapture some of that texting banter...”So...Le Fay.” He leans over and gives her amply warning she is about to get nudged as he practically advertises his elbow and ever so slightly taps her side “You like me eh?” A waggle of the eyebrow as he leans back to where he was sat he was tired, this conversation was depressing and in all honesty Thomas did not need to know all her woes right here and now. She did not need to know all his right here and now. Let them be young just for a few moments before the world comes back in to steal it away.

[Morgan Lake] She did mention her mother, if only in brief passing - in a way that made that chapter of her life sound closed, history, as if her connection to the woman who bore her is gone. There was a lot of emotion in just that one mention, more than Morgan could keep hidden (love, hate, fear, longing, more), and she's so. very. glad to move on that she almost glows with it.

Even if moving on is to something embarrassing.

"I think you could be a good friend to have," she admits. "And . . . I probably should have said before, I like-like someone else, maybe, but I don't know what he thinks other than that he's attracted to me too, and I only broke up with my first boyfriend since . . . well, high school, last month because it doesn't work for either of us to be holding onto someone on the other side of the country. I haven't been very nice or fair with you, I'm afraid, and I hope you can forgive me for it." And yes, that's the glow and relief gone. "I'm . . . sort of a train wreck. So, while I'm a good listener who can keep a secret, I don't know how good of a friend I am to anyone, other than as an ear."

She's looking down at her hands, now, folded around her tea in her lap, and terribly awkward with all of this - but terribly, painfully honest anyway. This is how she is, if it's not something that could be dangerous. And it's quite possible she might keep talking until he stops her, just to fill the uncomfortable silence she's afraid will descend if she stops.

"I mean, I like you too. Obviously, or . . . well. And I . . . don't want to lead you on or hurt your feelings or I don't even know what, but I want you to be around and my friend and I'm a mess, a nightmare."

Eyes close.
Deep breath.
Sip tea.
Exhale.
Wait.

[Thomas Taylor] He doesn’t let it dwell about her family he is also happy to move on, and of course it is onto his question and Morgan is Morgan and starts at the top and mentions everything related to the subject. The smiles dow not waver, it stays but something goes when she mentions the other. They both knew who it was and it did just enforce kind of what he suspected.

Eyes close.
Deep breath.
Sip tea.
Exhale.
Wait.

He reaches out and pats her leg ever so lightly, screw the touching thing “Tommy is the best friend to ‘ave pet...” Looking away a moment “I like ya Le Fay, that much is true, but I ‘ave never ‘ad anythin’ serious ever.” His lips come together. “Sorry ‘bout yer ex, sounds bloody shitty but thats life right, an it wud be a fool to not notice you liked James...you gave ‘im a smile last night that was...” Yes anyway move on. “There nuthin’ to forgive pet cos there is no relationship to betray so don’t sweat it, no ‘arm no foul” He taps his leg also seeking some solace with the tea.

“Pet ‘ho ain’t a train wreck, so you got sum trust issues, it’s fuckin’ normally in this world, look at me earlier ‘bout to cry me bloody eyes out...we all ‘ave our pain.”

“I like ya Morgan, but am a practical man, selfish, common but pragmatic. I ain’t James, and I think we both know ‘ho you like more.” Honest as well apparently as he thanks god for sunglasses. It was all just spilling out. “We can be friends, no problem, an I guess if it don’t work out with James eh....” He winks to her...then cursing unable to just be the better man “That not to say you know if you decided you like me more I wud not say no...”

Well better out than in they say...

[Morgan Lake] "I like both of you. He just . . ."

Fits, really, and Morgan is keen on impressions - it's obvious in everything from the way she dresses to the way she talks to the look in her eyes. She doesn't necessarily want to be like everyone else, but she wants people to think she is. She doesn't know how to say that, though, so she shrugs, and lets it drift away, and relaxes a little - enough to lean in, closer, and rest against him.

"I don't want you to think you're second choice. Because you're not, you know - I like you for completely different reasons, and I like you both a lot. I'd like you both to be big parts of my life, as it is now."

[Thomas Taylor] “He’s just more suited.” It comes out neutral. He brings the smoke to his lips and lights it with his zippo. “Don’t fret pet, yer not the first doubt you’ll be the last.” A weaker smile, but at least they had talked about it as he takes that first drag and then blows the smoke up and away.

“’ope you can work it out with ‘im, kids ‘ad it rough.” It was ironic he was calling James a kid they were the same age. “But ain’t my place to say...” He knew, him and James had a big talk, Morgan came up. A discussion was had and well here they are. “If you an ‘im do get together I’ll do me best to be robin to ya, I don’t like losin, am use to gettin’ me own way, so it’s a bit of humility this, I’ll let ya know ‘ow it settles on me if it goes the way I think it will” He will be her friend, and Jame’s but he could not tell her how deep that friendship would go, no ones like getting it rubbed in there faces.

“Till then, I’ll still train ya if you want, teach you sum fightin’ moves but I take it the chance for me seein’ that uniform ‘as gone out the window then?” A cheeky smirk at the end, he was tired now, drained and some of that energy had left him. A quick thing he told himself at the beginning with the nightclub, he should have stayed true to that.

[Morgan Lake] "Nonsense. Maybe I'll wear it for Halloween - that's my anniversary, you know. Or birthday. Whatever you want to call it." A year since she Awakened, and an interesting year it's been . . . in the Chinese sense. That resting against him doesn't last for long, once the smell of smoke settles around them; she sits back up, scoots a bit, and concentrates on not making a face. "I know about at least one thing, and it's enough to guess he's not looking for a girlfriend any time soon. And I'm not really looking for a boyfriend, either. Tell me true, Thomas Taylor."

Here, she's joking and stands, holding out a hand as if offering a microphone, all dramatics to distract from what's actually been said, how they're both feeling. There's no doubt that at one time, she was queen of the cafeteria; everything about her says Captain of the Team, Homecoming Court, that sort of thing. And even with that, the words are quiet, pitched to stay between them.

"Are you boyfriend material anyway, truly? Do you have what it takes to navigate the social and political mire involved in dating not just a regular pre-law student, but a potential Quaesitor?"

[Thomas Taylor] He chuckles at that, his intention for that outfit was far different than a social occasion. She moves away from him and he looks to the cigarette in his hands and he does his best to blow the smoke away. Then there that question, he blinks but grins smiling as he leans forward to the ‘microphone’.

“Well interestin’ question Le Fay.” His eyes scan around as if he was looking at some imaginary audience “It wudn’t be easy, god only knows be a bit outta me depth, but I’d give it robin go, you know hit the ground runnin’....oh and that answers to number 3.” Blind date, he had seen it a couple of times, that what they said was it not or was the questioner he got confused. He flicks away the cigarette after only a couple of drags, truth be told it was more reaction to what they spoken about as he chuckles, his mood picked up just a touch, he enjoyed this side of her the part that could occasionally let go.

[Morgan Lake] It's quite probable she knows his intentions are not particularly chaste, as far as her Hogwarts uniform goes; she may be relatively inexperienced, but she's hardly an innocent in these things (as she'd proven, their night together). And, suddenly, "I think we should go shopping. I want a new dress. And you could use some new shoes, mister - my financial aid just got finalized. No arguing, I'm feeling flush and we've been way too serious so far. Can you hang, Thomas?"

Still teasing, still with that air about her that says she's not any less used to getting her own way than he is; it's a sparkle, a look, a glow. Until fairly recently, Morgan Lake has spent her life as one of the charmed ones.

"I don't know. You look like you might not be able to hack it." All teasing, of course, but still a challenge.

[Thomas Taylor] He gets a confused look on his face “Shoppin’...pet, shopping?” He rolls his eyes playfully as he stands hands find his pockets “Cum on then Le Fay, I guess if were doin’ this friends thing I’ll need to learn to cope with bloody shopping.” And he show her who can hack what.

Thomas Taylor can rise to any situation and survive she shall see. “Pet, ‘ow wud you cope datin’ a cockney wheeler an dealer, who slums it and is a hollower” He offers that charming grin and though his hands are in his pocket he offers her his arm as a gentleman would, he throws the statement back to her. Shades now half way down his nose those blue eyes bright and passionate.

On the surface he was nice, like her he was tired but a small part of him, the very selfish part of Thomas hoped James fucked it up.

[Morgan Lake] "Ah, well. It depends on how legal said wheeling and dealing is, and if it's doing good for the community. The Cockney . . . I'm sure there would be communication barriers. Mama always did despair of my lack of linguistic ability."

Her still half full tea in one hand, she slips the other through his arm and leads the way towards a shoe store first - one with more than just Converse, and where things cost considerably more than many others for proximity to the high end, the upper crust.

"In other words, I suppose I'd adapt and grow, just like we all have to."

[Thomas Taylor] He walks with her when she slips her hand through his arm and she leads him on this magical shopping tour. He had his tea as well, thought nearly gone he still wanted to finish it off. “Oh Le Fay.” Jesting in his voice “Tommy’s all above board pretty as you please all back of the bus.” A confident twinkle in his eye as he nudges her slightly in the walk, nothing dramatic a friendly play nudge. “am sure you’d adapt to anything pet, you got that perseverance ‘bout ya.”

He whistles as he looks at the shop. “You lookin’ to spend yer dough pet, but come on let’s do yer dress first eh, wouldn’t mind seein’ ya change clothes.” His lips purse, cheeks become hollow for a moment in a smug, flirty and dirty look to her as he winks to her and gives an audible click, click. She might remember him doing something very familiar when they first met. Though he mentioned Duracell then.

[Morgan Lake] She rolls her eyes, amused, and shrugs. "Oh, fine. There's this boutique over here . . ."

So she leads him there instead and combs through their racks looking for just the right thing - start of school and all those mixers and rush week and all sorts of things are coming up remarkably quickly, after all, and a girl can never be too picky about how she looks for these things. She tries on a few dresses and most are remarkably modest, given how he'd seen her at the club, but not so much considering how she usually dresses - conservative, but cute, and chic. In the end, she decides on three - one black, one white, and one colored - with cute accessories to go with each, though she's careful to let him see her in each one, and make him sit through it as she tries on half the store. Maybe this is what it's like, having a girlfriend - or a girl friend - like Morgan.

"Okay, now we really need shoes. I have some that might work, but . . ." But they're shopping, and shoes are half the fun.

[Thomas Taylor] He raises his hand at the (minor) victory, and looks positively thrilled. She leads him and find he can be quite patient. He helps where he can if he can, some he jokes with her, some he shakes his head others he agrees.

He sits back and enjoys the fashion show, Morgan might have forgotten how loud or boisterous he can be. Sometimes there are boos, then sometimes just thumbs up, wolf whistles. At one point she walks out and he has managed to find some paper and studies her in the (white dress) and looks deep in thought as with a tongue out he writes down a 10 and holds it up over his head. Clearly his favourite out of all of them. Maybe this is what it was like, but a pretty girl trying on clothes, he could have had far worse afternoons.

“Shoes, well of course pet since wen do women need an excuse for shoes.”

[Morgan Lake] "I very rarely do, for sure. And you're getting a new pair or two, those look awful. No arguments!" There's a pause during which she looks at him critically - not of him, per se, but of his appearance. "And maybe some new jeans and a shirt. We'll see. If you'll let me, anyway."

And so shopping continues, and she asks his opinion as if she values it, and for an afternoon and evening? This could well be what it's like. She's not extravagant in her spending, but she doesn't hesitate if there's something she really wants, and the same holds true with him. When shopping's done, if he's amenable, there's dinner . . . and it could almost be a date, except for the part where she told him about liking James.

[Thomas Taylor] He looks down at himself when she studies him. He knew he looked a state, then she mentions buying him some and he bites his lip to not complain but there was a pride there, he’d normally sponge off anyone as he told her in the park but something had changed since then. “Let me go halves pet.” He might not be able to actually afford half of it but he makes the offer.

He gets a shirt, some jeans and shoes and as for the dinner...well as much as he gave her the lines about James and more suited after a day like this he decided that perhaps he could become the favoured. The underdog now, perhaps he needed to become deaf...

So yes he does join her for dinner, and even does his best not to smoke as much as possible, he would not put a name to it like ‘date’ but he was dressed nice for once and today they did something she wanted to do, and had fun...Perhaps that’s all that mattered.

Tom decided this one just might be worth the fight and besides as she knew...he hated to lose.

[Morgan Lake] [FADE]