bakerstreet | They may bear their teeth to all the world, but never to you

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They may bear their teeth to all the world, but never to you

S T R A Y
shipping meme

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.

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ＰＲＯＭＰＴＳ

ғɪɴᴅɪɴɢ — Who's that? They're no ordinary passersby! Were they in an accident? Are they foreign? ...should you approach them?

ʀᴀɪɴ, ʀᴀɪɴ, ɢᴏ ᴀᴡᴀʏ — The elements make this night no time to sleep out of doors.

ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ — Cuts, broken bones, injuries all of sorts...you have to stitch them back up, then make sure they don't get any

ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɢᴜᴇsᴛ — It's all you can do to show gratitude to the person who took you in. Fix them a meal, care for their house, whatever you can do once you're able.

ʙᴀᴅ ɢᴜᴇsᴛ — FUCK THIS PERSON AND FUCK THEIR COUCH. You didn't ask to be brought here. Let them clean up after you, you don't even care.

ᴡʜᴏ ᴀᴍ ɪ? — How you got into this situation is a mystery. Even more of a mystery is your identity, and why the person you were would be so displaced.

sᴇʟғʟᴇssɴᴇss —

ʟᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ — If you've been injured badly enough or can't remember all too well, you might have to relearn a good deal. Luckily, you have a helping hand.

sᴄᴀʀs — Scars from the encounter that lead you here or scars from prior, you don't want them to see either. You still have your secrets to keep.

sᴛᴜʙʙᴏʀɴ — Ugh, your house guest is so stubborn! They always get up when they should be resting, have the worst habits, and completely disrespect your home! You'll get to them, one way or another. Or you'll throw them out. You don't want to, but you will.

ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ — Bad memories or nightmares wreck you; your host and nurse comes to your side unexpectedly.

ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴄʟᴀsʜ — The person who's taken you in is from a different culture or lifestyle than you, and adapting is harder than you thought.

ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ғᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ — Think learning about a new culture is hard? Try being a different species. Can you keep your little eccentricities at bay for the good of your station?

ᴊᴇᴀʟᴏᴜsʏ — Now that your emotions towards your caretaker/host/jailer are softening, you're finding yourself unusually jealous of those in their life who were close to them before.

ɴᴇᴡ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠɪᴛɪᴇs — You never thought you'd have fun after all that's happened, yet such simple gestures as a picnic or a movie make all the difference.

ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ — You love them, this person who's taken you in or this person you've found. It's not a pity or a thankfulness, it's love, and you know that now. What you choose to do with this information is

ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ — Suddenly, the person who's been so nice to you finds out that the two of you have a history. You killed their loved ones or caused something terrible. How can they forgive you?

ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ — So much has been done for you. The least you can do in return for the one who helped you at your lowest is make sure they never have such a low point.

ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴇs ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ — Anyone in the way of getting to you will be destroyed, and that includes the person you're staying with.

ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ — You've been given a home, maybe which you've never had before. You don't want to leave.

ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ — Not only are you living with them, but you're starting a proper life with them.

ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟ — All secrets are laid out on the table. You've decided to tell about your past and what lead you here.

ʀᴇᴠᴜʟsɪᴏɴ — What you've done and who you are is so heinous, they want nothing more to do. You're to leave their home and leave them alone.

ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ — It doesn't matter what they've done. You've opened your home and your heart to them, and nothing's changed.

ᴘᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ — All things must come to an end. No matter what you feel for each other, it's time to leave. Hopefully, you'll see each other again.

ʜᴀᴘᴘɪʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ — Come what may, you've decided to stay at your new home with the person you love. Now, it's safe enough to do so.

ᴡɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ

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[ooc: Hey gangsta! Sure go ahead! C:]

[ooc: omg! You're the first person Ive tagged here to know it! I kinda just..rolled with this. let me know if you want me to change anything!]

Alex isn't sure why he took her in. She'd been wandering the streets aimlessly, no longer able to return to the place she thought she might be able to call home. She had no where else to go, or so she thought.

Now she was at his--Elias's place. Honestly, she still hadn't wrapped her head around how he got them there, or what he was-- or all the magical things that seemed to be a part of his house. She'd actually wondered if she was starting to hallucinate again. What boggled her the most was why he'd even help her. The same question she had when Worrick and Nic decided to do so too. Was this..going to be like that? Where she grows attached, only to have what she's grown to care for torn away from her?

He'd had her cleaned up, fed, and even gave her a place to sleep. When she would sleep..which wasn't much. Whenever she did, she dreamt of monsters. Not the ones they tell you about in stories. This night was one of those nights, and she woke up with a start. Not wanting to stay in bed, Alex decided to take a walk around the house. Maybe grab a glass of water.

[wow really? lol ya i saw the anime not long ago and I picked up the manga because for whatever reason they stopped making the anime but I have yet to dig into the manga yet...got side tracked with this bonehead lol]

Elias had been looking for a companion since his last past away some years back due to her own magical abilities becoming overwhelming. He'd done everything he could and more, but it hadn't been enough. He'd never felt devastation such as he had and for months he despaired. Ruth left, and Silver grieved in her own way, eventually even managing to help him out of the hole he'd sunk into and get some normalcy back.

The years past and he resumed his usual work. Once in awhile he'd walk the streets, disguised of course with a little magic, what he was looking for, he didn't know, until he found Alex.

A new companion. Odd choice one might say, a former prostitute and druggie with no magical abilities whatsoever, with dealings with...what were they called? Twilights? Something of the sort. But he wasn't bothered.

But Silver was worried, though she spoke not a word. Perhaps she thought he was trying to fill the emptiness Chise had left behind. While nothing and no one could replace his apprentice and wife, he'd found he couldn't mope around for the rest of his days. Even if he only managed to teach Alex basic magical things like mixing potions and identifying plants for them, that would be enough.

He let her wash herself up, the tub filled with hot water and a few special herbs to help soothe her mind and body.

Silver made her dinner and then showed her her room before letting her sleep.

Elias had not yet gone to bed and she'd find him sitting by the fire, reading. He looked up when he heard her come down. "Everything all right?" he asked.

[The studio working on the anime closed down sadly. Hopefully another picks it up.]

It wasn’t surprising to find Elias there. She approaches, stopping by the couch. “I could ask you the same thing.” She glanced at the book in his hand. “Do you ever sleep?”

[ah, that explains it, went through a lot of that when Geneon closed in the middle of dubbing Helling Ultimate so there were delays upon delays. Fortunately it was a big enough hit that it wasn't shoved to the side]

"Of course" he replied, closing the book and setting it down on the coffee table and then standing. "Its not all that late though." he pointed out. Not even midnight just yet according to the clock on the mantel. "Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked.

Perhaps today had been too much for her to process. A little exercise to tire the body would likely do her good.

[ooc: Also it's cool to see a magus bride character here! I really enjoyed the manga]

Was it really that early still? Her body clock really was a mess. "Sure," she sighed. It was better than laying in bed doing nothing. "Oh, I'm not bothering your reading time, am I?"

[:D Ya I like the manga and the anime is shaping up nicely too]

"Not in the least." he said, retrieving his coat from the hanger and leading the way out of the house. The night was comfortably warm and fireflies lit up the meadow the cottage was situated in. He walked the path then turned left and headed for the woods.

"Please, speak your mind." he encouraged quietly, waiting for her to walk beside him rather than in front of him. "This is your home now. I'm sorry if it feels so sudden but I suppose you did not have much else to go to."

[cool cool!]

Alex followed him outside, feeling calmer with the sights around her. "You don't need to apologize..I'm grateful, really. I don't know where I'd be right now if you hadn't found me."

It was very possible she would have ended up dead, or worse, back to working the streets. "It's very beautiful here. Sometimes..I think I'm dreaming."

"Its all quite real" Elias assured her, though of course if she was dreaming, that didn't help. Still, he did his best.

"You like it here at least?" he asked, passing into the treeline. "I mean, you're not unhappy with your new predicament?"

It was a rather big change from streets to countryside, let alone more or less pass into the magical world.

He was really concerned about it, wasn't he? Alex gave him a reassuring smile. "It's more than I could have asked for, Elias."

He played a big part in it too. A beautiful place was just a place, but he had been so welcoming and made her feel...at home. "It's nice..being with you."

“Is it?” Was his company pleasant? He supposed she’d not say so if it wasn’t. Strange to hear though, perhaps because these last few years had been so unpleasant, surely he must be as well.

“While you don’t have any magical ability within you, I hope to teach you a little of what I can. There are several potions for example that you may be able to make.” An apprentice of sorts...though limited by what she could do.

"It is. You're..relaxing to be around." He was a very calming presence. Her tumultuous feelings seemed to settle when he was there.

Though she did wonder if having an apprentice was his reason for keeping her around. Still, "I'll do my best," was her reply. He was doing so much her, it only felt fair to put in the same effort for him.

Elias cocked his head. Hm, interesting. He didn't recall ever being someone that was such. Perhaps because her life had been so chaotic she really didn't have anything to compare him to.

"Tomorrow we'll work in the garden for awhile, won't get you started on magic for another day or so." he said, preferring her to settle in first before beginning anything of the sort.

"Ever done any gardening?" he asked, curious if she'd spent any time around plants, coming from a city and all.

Alex gave him an apologetic smile, shaking her head. "Sorry, I'm afraid that's another thing you'll have to teach me." There really wasn't much plant life in Ergastulum, nor did she ever have the chance to take care of any. She was relieved ,however, to do something less..fantastical. With something like that, she might be less disappointing.

"Then I suppose I'll teach you that as well, its a good skill to have, especially out here." he said.

They walked in quiet for awhile, pausing to watch some fireflies float and blink in the woods before pressing on, frogs and crickets the only noise.

"Forgive me, you must have questions of your own. Please do not hesitate to ask." he said, wanting her to be comfortable around him. Okay with knowing he was not a monster or the like, despite her assurance earlier that he was calming to her.

Alex would raise her hand every now and then beneath the fireflies, but not going close enough to touch them. She looks back at him when he speaks again, taking a moment to think about it. There were a lot of questions she wanted to ask, but now that he opened the line for that, she couldn't think of any right away.

"Why..did you pick me?" It was the same question she had for the last people that helped her, but she never got an answer.

Ah, the question any new apprentice wanted to know.

"Truthfully, I went with my instinct and little more. I've been looking for a companion and while Silver is pleasant, she's...well, Silver. You seemed like you needed help, that you would rather be anywhere or do anything if it meant getting out of your current predicament."

He paused in his step. "So here we are. Does that answer your question?"

A companion..

"Yes..But what kind of companion?" Yes, she did get something out of this, but what did he get?

"A friend." Someone to talk to. Someone to share the world with him...

"Why? Did you assume more?" he asked, his bonehead lowering some to look her in the eye a bit better. Did she...did she want more?

Elias wouldn't take advantage of her nor of her trust...But such a companion...

That..sounded lonely. She's about to say something when he suddenly asks what she may have been insinuating, surprised to find him right by her face. Her face goes red at the realization, both at her words and their proximity.

"S-sorry! I didn't mean to imply that your motives-- I just meant--" Alright, admittedly part of her initially wondered if he picked her up for the same reason all the other men did, but he'd proven her wrong. After spending more time with him, she realized that someone as refined as Elias..there's no way he'd have a need or interest in someone such as herself. She did feel a kind of pang in her chest when she came to this conclusion, but she was determined to find a way to repay him..something that made her worth keeping around.

"Yes...," she finally admits. "I..did at some point think...you were after more but.."

He raised his head again and then touched her shoulder. "Its not why I picked you up." he assured her.

He wasn't human after all, such...base needs were given very little thought. But he'd not turn her down either should she want it. If that's how she'd like to spend time with him then so be it, he wouldn't mind.

Elias might look like an animal, but he was not one.

The hand on her shoulder was gentle, just like how he always was with her. Hesitating for a moment, she reaches up to touch it lightly with the tip of her fingers. "You're really...too kind, Elias."

And that scared her. Alex had warned herself about growing attached, having been hurt by that before, but Elias made that difficult.

He didn't flinch at her touch, letting her feel the smooth bone before he withdrew, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Come, let us head back and get some sleep hm? Silver is an early riser and likes one to be prompt for breakfast." he said, and they headed back to the house.

[gonna pause this one for now until we're done with the other ok?]

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They may bear their teeth to all the world, but never to you

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