Your heart belongs to a stray

[picturethat]

S T R A Y Taking in strays is, all in all, an understandable vice. The dips in between their ribs, those large and forlorn eyes, they can help you forget the claws and the teeth and the danger lurking beneath fur. But the habit's a knife edge; your efforts may not be rewarded with kindness (animal instincts aren't discretionary) and you may get bit despite what you've overlooked. A stray doesn't care about pity. All it can know is survival. These warnings apply to strays of the more human(oid) sort, too. But what may even more perilous with this type than any drawn blood is what you can get when they grow to trust you. You can earn their undying loyalty...or their love. Either from such a wild thing is a precarious path to go down, if you allow yourself to do it. Comment with your character, preferences, desired roles, etc. This meme has shippy undertones, but shipping is not required. Just mention if you absolutely don't want it. Reply to others. Thread!

Comments

[eideticsage]

[Perfect! Lemme know if this needs changing at all.]

[Tessa didn't live in the same quarters as the rest of the Transigen folks. She kept her own counsel at a condo in Mexico City, in an area that wasn't as rundown as the many that Transigen worked in. She preferred not to see what happened in the medical centers, even though she knew from the files she had read.

And she'd been unable to reach Xavier for years. She'd been young when he'd set her to spy, but...now he'd just been gone. Ever since the incident in Westchester.

An electric kettle was warming tea when she heard the knock on the door, her eyes narrowing. Literally no one knew her here. She was quiet, unassuming, came out only to shop for groceries and go to work. It had to be someone from Transigen.

Looking through the peephole, she blinked a few times in shock. That wasn't the face she expected to see and letting him in seemed like a terrible idea. Still, she unlocked the door, kept the chain lock on, and cracked it open with caution.]

[reavi]

[ Poor choice.

Or perhaps a fantastic choice, given his notorious persistence. The instant the inch is given, his steel toed boot is tucked into it, straining the chain. If he was looking a little out of sorts through the peephole, she can see it up close--sweating from exertion or nerves, sunglasses pushed to the top of his head. His smile is wide, and doesn't reach his eyes. ] Hey, sweetheart.

[ He leans in slightly, the chain creaking. ]

You look well.

[eideticsage]

[Her eyes narrow in suspicion, but fear is partitioned far away from her face. There's no room for fear here, or the idea that she's been found out. If she had been, what would it matter? Xavier's missing, presumed dead.

As he leans in against the door, she knows he can crush the chain, shatter the door if he wants to. So in a sign of supposed trust for a coworker - even if she wants to shudder at that word - she unfastens the chain and opens the door abruptly.]

What do you want, Pierce?

[reavi]

[ He knocks into the door as he lunges in, kicking it closed behind him. He doesn't put a hand on her; just invades her space, close enough to smell he was probably vaping in the parking lot ( because he's all class that way ). Leaning in to catch her at eye level, smile wavering just slightly. ]

I need some of your valued input.

[ More importantly, ] Off record. [ That is to say, not Transigen business. Or rather, not endorsed by Transigen and co. ]

[eideticsage]

[Tessa steps back, almost stumbling as he explodes into the space. She grits her teeth, dark eyes hard against his as he speaks. He looks crazed.

Wonderful. Pierce on a good day was hard enough to handle.]

Off-record? And here I thought you were a company man.

[reavi]

I do what I can to do right.

[ It's a sarcastic snap, baring his teeth in kind.

What he pulls from his pocket is bloodied, a torn square of cloth hastily cut away from a shirt. He tucks it up under her nose, like she's a fucking bloodhound. ] Is this enough to find something? [ Note that he didn't say someone. She should probably be accustomed by now - the casual dehumanizing of her kind. ]

[eideticsage]

[As he pushes the cloth beneath her nose, her lips curl and she tries to shove his hand away, looking as disgusted as she feels.]

It doesn't work like that. [She almost snarls it, her hackles up. She feels violated, the one space she has that's peaceful and away from all of Transigen's madness. In response, she steps up to him, her jaw harder.]

Get. Out.

[reavi]

[ He remains still for a moment, passive. Studying her eyes, tension positively solid between them in what little space remained.

When he snatches for her throat, it's fast. Metal on skin, biting and catching on her hair, his expression lacking the usual pleasure he takes in harm. The grip lacks restraint, bearing down with bruising pressure. He looks--frantic. Frightened, even, in the furrow of his brows, the rattle of his hand. ] I feel like I am not makin' myself understood. I need this.

[ The rag is still clutched in the air, inches from her face. Regardless of whether it's what she needs, it's all he has. His resources are spent. ]

It would be a great favor to me.

[eideticsage]

[Tessa knows he's just coiled. Either he's going to leave or press it. She knows which one, typically, he'd choose.

When his hand goes to her throat, her eyes widen and she grimaces, forcing her blood pressure down, her body to react calmly despite the crushing grip. It won't do to panic.

Since she can't speak well, she nods. Whatever he needs...it's not good.]