Cookie Jar { louvel }

[oro roman azarola]

« basil • 568 • hope this works for ya~. and don't worry about matching. i just got carried away, lol »
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      Perfectly timed.

The moment the moon rose to take the sun's place bones shifted and elongated, fur melted into flesh, then suddenly Man had replaced Beast. Blood coated the area of his mouth, even slightly painted along his throat, and usually clear nails had red polish on them, but otherwise Roman seemed okay. As okay as a wild man imitating Tarzan could appear, anyway.

He was rather proud of himself for correctly calculating how long it would take him to track a boar while in his Wolf form. Earlier, when the day was warm with a light breeze, the scent of boar was faint in the air yet not so distant to convince the hunter that he'd chase something for naught; he sensed that the animal had gotten far, especially had evidence from footprints that weren't too old, and with some diligence and keen direction, he'd eventually find his prize. Roman did, of course, although for awhile there he believed he'd been mistaken. Sometimes it happened. He would get too eager, misread a clue, end up with nothing or not what he imagined. However, this time around he managed to kill not one, but two boars. They were tough, dangerous animals to prey after, despite his animal disguise, although Roman had prevailed.

After all, he wasn't the only person relying on this meat.

It should hold them up for a month, two if they rationed well, considering the sheer size of the brutish pigs. Roman quickly field dressed them on a gambrel he'd had stored in his car after carrying them naked to the vehicle. Regardless of how messier it made him, he cut and snipped dutifully until the swine was ready to take back home (he used the term lightly). First, he washed himself in a pond nearby before tugging on a fresh pair of clothes—nothing fancy: pale brownish white long-sleeve; black, unbuttoned, plain vest; loose pants that bunched around his ankles; scuffed yet nonetheless sturdy boots, which had velcro laces instead of string.

The drive back was silent, but getting the food to the cooks to be prepared gave him all the noise he needed. He offered a few suggestions on how to fix their meal since pork could be uncooperative at times, but mostly he left the decisions up to them; they were the chefs, not him. When dinner rolled around, Roman didn't eat right away. Not unusual because he always waited until all attendees at least had their first serving. This party was small though, more of a gathering, if anything, so he was able to get in a plate sooner than later. Except even then Roman held off because he went around checking that the Sweet Tooths there could have something to put in their bellies, even went so far as to hand over his own portion.

Naturally a few teases were tossed at him, all which fell on deaf ears, and when he was content to sit down to enjoy his food, he was met with a bit of an opposition. Roman had barely picked up his fork before he saw a clever hand try to nick from his plate. Not clever enough because it was easy to dart his hand out and get his fingers caught around the thief's wrist, stopping the would-be steal.

    “Maybe if you asked, you would've met different results?” Roman scolded blankly, neither angry nor upset.

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[christian louvel yang]

Louvel had never been a fat, full-bellied pup. Ze wished ze had. More fat to burn off would have been nice. Instead of starting off as skin and bones and ending up with just bones. Dogs ate bones, so at least if zir body finally just gave out from hunger someone wouldn’t go hungry for one more day. These thoughts didn’t come up often, but today was a low day for Louvel. No breakfast, no lunch, no dinner for a few days, stomach stopped twisting in knots, now just leaving zem tired and dizzy. Ze had tried begging for scraps and digging through trash. Mulan’s greasy take-out boxes licked clean of salt and spices by stray dogs and rats already. Mario and Luigi’s pizza leaving only stains on cardboard. It was too bad Louvel wasn’t truly a beast, otherwise eating paper and Styrofoam would appease the snarling but tired monster in zir belly.

Ze usually hunted at this point in zir hunger, eating stray cats, frogs, rabbits, whatever they could catch, but the wooziness made it more than difficult to turn and their legs would not kick into high gear. Ze was stuck in zir languid state until something hit zir stomach. Ze did have one more option, but ze didn’t exactly enjoy it. But did they have a choice?

Louvel scooped up zemself, bringing zir jacket, ratty backpack and hiking boots. Ze shoved zir street sneakers into zir bag, knowing they wouldn’t be any help along the unforgiving forest floor. Ze flipped zir shirt inside out to ward off the misguiding fey charms on the way to the Unseelie court. Louvel set out quickly, putting up a brisk jog to get through town, fast-walking past the police station and the “White House” to avoid suspicion. Soon, ze was in the woods, pushing past low-hanging branches and hopping over logs. Small birds and mice ran away from the blundering child running through their homes. Ze watched them dart about but did nothing.

The way to the court was more complicated than most hikers would typically travel, but the reveling grounds were easy to find. They pulsed like a night club with fairy lights, enticing people to come in and lose themselves, though often they lost more than that. Louvel slipped zir bag of zir shoulders and buried it under a nearby tree, black earth getting under their uncut fingernails and staining zir palms. Ze wasn’t too worried if ze would remember the tree as long as no one stole zir things. Ze stepped through the copse of trees that made up the outside fence of the grounds, instantly salivating at the smell of meat. Ze could see a gathering of sorts going on, many noble fey crusted in jewels and bone surrounding a large table. Obviously this was the place to be.

Ze got down low and slipped over to the table, poking zir head up and watching the long-fingered creatures pick at what smelled like pork, but ze could never be too sure. It could be human for all they knew. It had been once and ze had stayed out of the party that day, but only barely. Ze slowly circled the table before spotting someone just sitting to eat. They looked older in years and much different than the fey around them. Rough around the edges, more beast than ethereal creature. Ze slipped up behind them and darted a hand out, but zir wrist was caught. Ze yelped, starting to panic. Ze had seen sweet tooth hands come off for less.

The warm meat was inches away and ze’s breathing was turning into hyperventilation. “I-I-I… sorry I… I’m sorry I can’t… I sh-should ha-ave asked,” ze spoke between gasps for breath, trying to calm themselves down. “Pl-please don’t… I’m so-o sorry.” They fey sitting on either side fo the man were staring, some giggling and encouraging ‘the dog to bite’. Louvel simply shook in zir boots, praying ze would be let off with just a warning instead of something much worse.

[oro roman azarola]

« basil • 340 • aw, poor baby ]:l »
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      Wide, pale eyes seem even paler as they regarded the frightened male before him. It wasn't his intention to terrify him, but he supposed a person desperate enough to steal would've been easier to spook. Roman should have known better and silently scolded himself of his insensitivity.

Quickly, he released the boy's wrist in favor of settling his hand atop theirs, long fingers offering a gentle squeeze as both apology and comfort. “Relax, dry your eyes,” he pleaded softly, just for the stranger's ear, yet even that emitted like a command. Any glares were sent someone's way for hounding him about "biting" the defenseless youth. (Did the Court truly have nothing better to do than create unoriginal canine jokes that got old fast? Oh, how he pitied them.)

Clearing his throat, Roman lifted his hand from the other's to snap his fingers a few times, requiring the attention of a server that passed by. Once the worker backtracked, a deceitful smile upon their face, Roman laid out his demands. “Bring me another plate. I forgot I invited a guest over,” He glanced surreptitiously at whoever this starved creature was so that he would go along with the fib. His focus returned to the servant. “And something to drink also. Not water nor alcohol.” He'd be damned if he let somebody that looked like they hadn't eaten in days taste any liquor; such was an intoxication he didn't look forward to.

After the Fae skipped off to do as told, Roman stood to scoot out the chair beside him and motioned impatiently for his new acquaintance to sit. Meanwhile, he sliced meat from his own plate with a grown, sharpened fingernail, then slid it onto a spare porcelain dish before it was placed in front of the long-haired fellow. With his knuckles, he nudged it further to them in case the message loud and clear: Eat.

    “Tell me your name.” Roman requested.

He should work on rephrasing his queries into actual queries, although he had an inkling that he'd be forgiven.

[christian louvel yang]

Louvel was just trying to breathe, eyes watering from just the sheer stress that the man had caused zem. Ze was trying to push down a panic attack, but it was so hard and everyone was staring at zem and they felt like vomiting. If the man ze was stealing from didn’t kill zem, ze felt like ze would die from the anxiety. Ze tried to spout more apologies, but they wouldn’t come, air cutting off. Calming down felt near-impossible.

But the stranger wasn’t cutting zir throat or torturing zem or anything like that. Instead, the hand let go of zir wrist and held zir hand instead. A comforting squeeze bringing Louvel a little closer to reality. Ze was still shaking, but ze could breathe now, sucking in short, raspy breaths through zir mouth. Ze reached up to wipe zir eyes obediently, leaving black smudges across zir cheeks with the heel of zir hand. Ze breathed more, slow. Nose and mouth both working to get oxygen back to zir brain. “I’m s-sorry,” ze choked out, though ze couldn’t be sure the man heard zem.

The man pulled away from Louvel and started snapping orders at fey. He must be important, ze thought, gripping the edge of the table to ground zemself. Ze watched as a faerie bustled around, bring plate and chair. It took a moment before Louvel realized it was for zem, hopping up onto the chair hurriedly. The fey still stared, but the drama had dulled down and many lost interest.

Meat was placed on the plate in front of Louvel with a claw of a fingernail. Louvel looked up at him questioningly, puppy eyes curious. A nudge toward the meat encouraged the child to dig in and Louvel did as politely as ze could while still inhaling the meat. It was hot and melted on zir tongue, the savory taste making drool pool in zir mouth. Ze finished swallowing before speaking. Ze did have manners after all. “Louvel,” ze said nervously, still not sure why this stranger offered such kindness. “What… uh… what’s yours? If you don't mind my, uh, asking?"