C ollateral D amage - a l e x

[Anna Demidov]

Anna had been here before, of course. When not in the dorms or the common room, the sacrifice preferred to be out and about, especially here. She had arrived in the summer, and these plants had been beautiful. There had been tiger lilies, peonies, petunias, morning glories, and all sorts of flowers. It had been a sight to see. Many people, Anna realized, weren't too big on nature anymore. Even back home, Anna had not seen many people who enjoyed getting out and just being somewhere with friends, who had set down their phones for a day out. It was a bit annoying to Anna, because she knew that it was ultimately the best bonding experience out there. Sighing, her zip up sweatshirt keeping her warm despite the slight chills in the air, she scrunched herself up a little bit as she walked. The sacrifice had seen three people here today - whom she had greeted with a smile, a way, a friendly hello. Anna didn't like to be rude, although she could be when she had to. The junior was polite and held a conversation with the one freshman, just about one of the classes they shared, their sacrifice training.

Ageless. It was, indeed, her true name. She was a beautiful person, inside and out, filled with youth and happiness. Anna rounded one of the corners, only to see the sophomore that she had come her in the first place for. They had met after school, and of course, Anna couldn't help but talk. He was a nice kid, really - only a year younger than she, and not lacking in looks at all.

Her footsteps increased for a few moments as she hurried to him, giving Alex a nice hug. He felt warm against her, compared to the slight cold of this evening. To think, yesterday had been so warm! Gah, Anna wasn't too big a fan of autumn. She pulled away, her eyes smiling with her lips, bright and happy just to see him. Giving Alex a small nudge, she smiled. It was fun just to be with friends. He was different though, brooding almost every time she had lain eyes on him. Her books had fallen in the halls - typical nerd - and it just so happened to be in front off him. Well, it was okay. Anna had gained an almost friend. He was still a little bit out there, although she was going to try and get him more socialized. It would be good for him, simply because he always looked so lonely, so bored.. so apathetic. It was time he enjoyed life for what it was, and Anna was going to help him with that. "I thought I wasn't going to find you.. you would be surprised how much dead plants can hide you." Anna grinned. "So how was your day?" It was rare for her to see him in the halls. She saw Gage a lot, and the same with her fighter, but not him. Elusive, Anna thought. Slinky and at the same time blatantly there.

[Alex Blake]

[bg=336666][atrb=width,400,true] Click for Pic! Alex Blake As always, Alex had tucked himself away in the gardens. It was cooler out, and so he had made sure to wrap himself in a black hoodie, a large yin yang displayed on the front of it, matching the pendant that hung from his neck. With his full attentions on the book in is lap, he failed to notice the approach of a certain dark-haired girl until she was clinging to him. For the briesest of second he tensed up, ready to reject whomever it was that had dared t touch him, before he realized who it was. Anna... he said, pleasently surprised before wrapping an arm around her to return her welcome. He had helped her pick up some books in the hallway the other day and much to his surprise he had liked her almost instantly. She was perhaps the most beautiful girl hed met, and for the first time in a long time, Alex felt an attraction. She was full of life and always smiling, and Alex found himself strangly at ease round her."I thought I wasn't going to find you.. you would be surprised how much dead plants can hide you." Anna grinned. "So how was your day?" He slid over to make room for her, letting his long, silken tail drape over his lap. He loved that her ears, just like his own, were just slightly bigger than average, but unlike his own (wich made him look funny), hers were cute. Dorian said mine were cute." he turned his head away briefly to let a subtle blush cross his cheeks. Dorian. The boy was an utter mystery to Alex, a volcanoe waiting to erupt. Alex had a feeling his Sacrifice was hiding things from him, but he was to tired to care at the moment. Besides, wit Anna sitting next to him it was hard to think about Dorian- it made him feel guilty. He'd met them on the same day, and he felt more connected to this girl tan he did Dorian. Of course, Anna didn't have his Personality against her- she didn't want to control him like Dorian did. "So, you were looking for me?" He asked with a playful grin, golden eyes seeking out light brown ones. Not hazel, not like Dorians. "Same as always- boring. Altough in English we were asigned a new novel; The Romantic. It's interesting to say the least." he motioned to the closed book in his lap. The cover was teal with a girls hands releasing a white dove. "What about you, anything interesting happening in the life of Miss Anna?"

[Anna Demidov]

She was happy just to be by him. Alex was a great guy, one of those people who had so much potential to unlock. She was lucky enough to have been accepted into the little world of his, otherwise she was sure the fighter would have kicked her ass should she have dared touch him. The sacrifice had met Alex a few days before she had met her partner, and it had been a little disorientating. Her partner was her almost polar opposite, despite how similar they may have appeared to everyone else. It was a pleasant site to see, Alex sliding over for the young woman so that she might have room. She plopped herself down next to him, her eyes gentle, the soft smile still there.

Her own darkly colored cat attachments were much like his, in size and fur length (though she was only considered semi-longhaired). Anna's tail mirrored his own, so that the tip of it was resting close to his own, not quite touching him yet. It was a little tease, a small bit of socializing that Anna enjoyed. "Of course I was looking for you," she smiled, catching that grin. She rather enjoyed his eyes. They were stunning, in a single word. He himself was handsome, very cute in her opinion. It was a bit more than just physical attraction, though. There was a deeper connection that she rather enjoyed. Anna had never really spoken to other fighters before, but he was just fantastic. Alex was plain awesome.

"I've never read that book, maybe you'll end up recommending it to me for later," she said. Anna rather enjoyed reading, and to see someone else like her was good. Although, the teenager wasn't sure if he enjoyed it to the same extent as her. "Bah, my day was alright. We didn't do anything in any of my classes. But math.. I can't take it, that class makes me feel stupid," Anna admitted to him, a small smirk on her face. "It's just not my thing." She was far better at social studies, the histories, and English class than she was at mathematics. The girl gave him a playful nudge, her body shifting a little bit his way, just to get him to move. It was also, simply, for the pure joy and thrill of physical contact.

She reached for the book in his hands, her slender fingers picking it up with ease. Her eyes scanned over the back of the cover, reading the little bit of a summary on the back. Usually, it was so far off from the actual book that Anna didn't bother reading them. But if it was something assigned from the school, then she was sure that it would be good. Interesting, Alex had gotten that right. She handed it back to him, her ears giving a small flick. She enjoyed just how large both of their were, how cute he looked with his like that.

[Alex Blake]

[bg=336666][atrb=width,400,true] Click for Pic! Alex Blake "Yeah I hate math too- it just sems so pointless with all the ridiculous formulas they have. I'm still decent at it though if you ever need tutoring." he offered with a flick of his tail, letting the tip of it brush against her own. He never got on like this with others, and the fact that it was a girl he was so comfortable with was even more surprising. She stirred emotion in Alex he didn't think he was capable of feeling or having returned. When her elegant hands reached for his book he gave it up without a fuss, letting her observe the cover before reading the back. It was about the life of a girl who was desperately in love with a boy who, though kind and giving to everyone else, was utterly destructive toward himself, and how she was pwerless to help him. It was a sad story, but the emotions it rose in one throughout it were well worth the read. "If you want I can bring a couple of my books to class tomorrow- I have a pretty nice collection if your interested. What kind of stuff do you like to read; mystery, romance, horror?" he made a sinister face as he uttered the last genre, a devious grin taking his fetures before he chuckled at his own antics. " I think I might turn into a hoarder, or a criminal- I've taken books from about 6 different libraries now so I'm pretty sure it's only a matter of time before they start hanging up wanted posters."

[Anna Demidov]

Anna laughed softly, her arm brushing against Alex's when he commented about math. In some ways, they were really the same person. They both enjoyed reading, and absolutely couldn't stand math. She let out a small sound of excitement, more like the trill of a cat. "You tutor me? I might need some help.." she said. The sacrifice had one of those devious smiles, was she lying or being truthful? The young woman let her mind wander to that thought. Mm.. She was sure that she would end up taking advantage of Alex, the way his lips would feel against her, skin on skin...

She flicked her ears in an attempt to dislodge the thoughts that had formed a day time fantasy. Yes, she had a huge crush on him. Alex was just so different than her, but at the same time very alike. He was a beautiful contradiction, all in all. "Any of them! Bring ones that really interested you." Anna grinned, handing him back the book, holding it for a few moments too long, enjoying the way his hands felt against hers when Alex took the book from her. "Oh god... you can hide in my dorm if the cops come looking for you." She giggled at the thought. What would her roommate think, what would her fighter think? Anna let her mind wander, knowing just how protective Evee was. Eh. "Well, Alex, how are your fighter classes? I can tell you that my special class is.. well, special." She let the thought hang there while he mustered up an answer, her tail shifting so that hers was overlapping his own.

[Alex Blake]

"You tutor me? I might need some help.." he could tell by the wicked grin that she may have had more on her mind then just tutoring, and this caused an excitement to rise in Alex's chest- he'd never flirted with anyone before, but it came easy with Anna. "You got a cell? That way you can get ahold of me whenever."[/color] He only had a few contacts, and so he wouldn't mind taking down another, especually if it was hers. Though he wasn't ready to go losing his ears yet, the feeling he got when he was around her was enough to keep him high without the help of drugs, and that was something he wanted to hold on to for as long as he could. "Well, Alex, how are your fighter classes? I can tell you that my special class is.. well, special." When her tail came to rest against his own he sighed softly, leaning into her as to indulge himself in her scent- she smelled absolutely beautiful. "They're not bad. It's new and taking some getting used to, but my instructer says I'm doing well. Are you going to compete int he upcoming tournement? Dorian hasn't mentioned anything yet so I don't know If i'm going to but... It would be nice to see what you and your partner can do." With his tail tracing absent minded circles on her own he spoke again, somewhat suddenly. "You want to go do something? Maybe catch a movie in town or something?[/size]

[Anna Demidov]

She giggled a little bit, nodding at his question. She pulled out a pen and write her name and her number on his hand. It was simple, a cute little flirt that had been going on for decades with the technology of the phone, and now, the mobile. Anna drew a little smiley next to it, simple and flirty at the same time. She clicked the pen back in, before she slipped it into her pocket. It had become a habit since she always seemed to lose her writing utensils in her purse. The butterflies in her stomach were enough to make her a bit jittery, although the sacrifice betrayed none of that in her actions, at least not yet. Pleased that he was now coming into physical contact with her, Anna rested her head against him lightly, her ears flicking on occasion to pick up certain sounds. It was fantastic just to be with him, simply because Alex was so like her, and at the same time so very dissimilar.

"I'm doing okay. It's odd at first.. but it seems to be okay now. I feel like I've improved," Anna commented, smiling as his tail traced against hers. Her tail curled itself around his, letting Alex know just how much she did enjoy his company. "I don't know. I want to, but at the same time I don't want to get our asses kicked." She laughed softly, looking at him now, giving a small shrug. her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her head snapped back to attention, looking at him, her ears perked right up, directed at him. "A movie? S-Sure." She smiled, surprised to be literally asked out so quickly. Well then. "We could always hang out in the dorms.. my roommate won't tell," she teased him, her fingers tracing her number that was on the back of Alex's hand. "But if you want to go out..." Anna grinned, devilish and at the same time very sweet.

[Alex Blake]

[bg=336666][atrb=width,400,true] Click for Pic! Alex Blake He listened in silent patiance as she told him about her Sacrifice training and her anxieties about the competition. In truth Alex felt very similar- he had always been a rough neck, but more physically than verbally. He had grown up with an abusive father, and he hadn't taken it laying down. Their fistfights would last forever it seemed, and sometimes Alex won, sometimes he lost. From this he learned to be hostile and withdrawn, and he often faught with others as well. Since coming here though things had mellowed down, but he was finding the transition a bit difficult; from fists to words. He was clever though, and because of his intense likeness for reading his vocabulary and origionality was stunning in comparision to most. His problem was focusing, and he feared more than anything that Dorian would be angry with him, that he wouldn't be good enough to protect his Sacrifice."We could always hang out in the dorms.. my roommate won't tell," Heat rose to Alex's cheeks at this proposel, and he found himself mentally panicing- he'd never had such an invitation before, and he wasn't sure what to do if he was ever in the situation."But if you want to go out..." " Come on- I'll let you pick the movie." he grinned, nudging her playfully. If something ever did blossom between them, he wanted it to be more than just something physical, something rushed.

[Anna Demidov]

It was satisfying, very much so, to see the blush that arose on his cheeks. Anna giggled and gave him a little nudge, pressing her shoulder against his. It was cute, almost, the way he got so embarrassed about something sexual. It was hard to think that he was actually a year younger than her. Psychologically, Alex seemed her age. He was far more mature than most guys she had met. The sacrifice smiled, stand up and grabbing his wrists to tug him up with her, giggling and pulling him with her. Anna was just happy to be with the adorable fighter. The emotions were enough to keep her coming back to Alex over and over again. He made everything far more fun.

"You can choose, silly goose," she teased him, her hands leaving his wrists reluctantly. She turned to walk out of the gardens. Anna smiled, looking at him, her tail curled up in happiness. "You get so red sometimes," she teased him, whispering in Alex's ear, again giving him a playful nudge with her shoulder, smiling. Anna was only goofing around, but she had no issue with entertaining any sort of fantasies while they discovered their feelings for each other. She was on cloud nine at the moment and probably wouldn't be coming down until later on that evening.

[Alex Blake]

Alex let Anna pull him off the bench and followed obediently as she led him through the gardens- toward the exit specifically. Normally he detested any type of physical contact, but the exception laid with Anna alone- well, her and Dorian. Of course, with Dorian Alex didn't have much of a choice, though he secretly didn't mind half the time. It was complicated, his relationship with his Sacrifice, but he did his best to make it work. "How about a compromise ?" he asked as he fell into step beside her. "Do you like comedy or horror and suspence?" he asked, narrowing it down to his 2 favourite genres. He loved a movie that made him laugh, but he enjoyed a movie that made him sit ont he edge of his seat just as much.

[Anna Demidov]

She was smiling, her face more lively than usual, her eyes bright and filled with utter joy. It was always a pleasure to be with him, but to see the usually disassociated fighter going along with her insistent tugs was enough to please Anna. "Gah!" she cried, trying to think about the genres that Alex had given to her. She could stand a comedy, she didn't particularly enjoy them. However, horror and suspense would be something that she could easily associate Alex with, as well as a good reason to just kind of snuggle with him. That would take some getting used to, but in a darkened theater, it was easy for Anna to see it happening. She just wanted to see Alex happy. "I chose door number two, horror and suspense." She grinned, her tail brushing against him, knowing full well that she would not forget this experience.