acontritemess | Motorcycles are Assholes

Motorcycles are Assholes

[She'd known it was a terrible idea, rolling into New York City as soon as she'd gotten off the freeway. The smells of oil and exhaust cleared among the towering buildings of Manhattan, whose streets were just as bright as though the sun was shining overhead, and she could make out the scents of other things.

Most of it was miscellaneous and she ignored it. What she couldn't ignore was the distinct scent of a marked territory. She'd never heard of a pack that claimed a sprawling metropolis as its territory, but there was no mistaking it. She was terrified. This was her first experience with trespassing, and her only knowledge of the fate of trespasser came from her father and brothers.

If she was caught here, she was a dead woman. The problem was she needed gas, she needed food. The area she found herself in was a business district. She was surrounded by bars and a beacon of hope in the distance stood as a gas station. She'd just stop in at the deli here, grab a sandwich, hit the gas station, and get back on the freeway. No one needed to know.

Except after her sandwich, which was pretty damned good actually, her fucking bike wouldn't start. She took a deep breath and pulled off the side panel, and immediately frowned at all the oil oozing from a leak...somewhere.] Fuck. Are you kidding me? [She wasn't addressing anyone in particular...except maybe the bike.] Why are you doing this to me? I've done nothing but the best by you. I changed your oil just last week.

[Shit. Maybe the line was loose. That would at least be easy to fix...except all the oil just fell out...]

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[He raises an eyebrow at her, which is the only indication of his surprise. He's glad to see that she isn't completely docile and yet she accepts his clumsy invitation.]

Millions of people and I will bet that none are like you. [He doesn't just mean the wolf part of her either. He smiles and then waits for her to pass and head towards the bar. He follows behind her, taking a moment to inhale the complexity of her scent. There is oil and grease mixed with fur and forest. There is a slight familiar undertone to her scent but he doesn't comment on it, instead following her inside.

With a smile he waves to the bartender who looks very surprised to see him.]

Back so soon? [The man's eyes drift to the woman standing next to him and linger in a not completely wholesome way. It's only momentarily before he notices Toby's stare which makes up quickly bring his eyes back up to eye level.] You have a pretty friend. What can I get you two?

[Toby grunts softly before taking a seat and offering the one next to him towards the lovely stranger with him.]

Order what you'd like.

[Cas shakes her head as she moves past him. None of his motions or expressions were threatening and she was starting to relax a bit. Werewolves were many things, but deceptive wasn't one of them. It was nearly impossible for one werewolf to lie to another.] How would you know that? You don't even know me.

[She raises an eyebrow at the bartender, a slight, flirtatious smile teasing the corner of her mouth. He'd never found herself attracted to a human male, even though a lot of them were pretty to look at (this one wasn't though). Travelling and stripping for money taught a girl how to act, though, or at least act flirty.] Just pretty, huh? Aren't you a charmer?

[She hooks the heel of her boot on the bottom rung of the stool and slides onto it, here eyes not leaving the bartender.] Jack, neat.

[Toby smiles at her before fixing his eyes to the bartender. After meeting Toby's gaze he seems more concerned about making their drinks than he is with the pretty girl sitting next to Toby.]

Beer. [He orders quickly and then waits until they are both served and the bartender has walked to the other side of the bar.] You might throttle him if you lay on your charm too thick. [He teases lightly while bringing his drink to his lips. It's cold and taking a sip reminds him he's already had a few drinks a head of her.]

As you pointed out. I don't know you. Why not tell me more about you?

[She watches him cow the bartender, and quickly hides the smile it brought to her face behind her hair, busying herself with her whiskey. She takes a sip, not wanting to lose her inhibitions with this strange male. She has absolutely no reason to trust him, and she's not planning on making herself an easy target.

She looks over to him as he speaks, eyebrows raising with interest.]

Okay. I'm Cassandra, but you can call me Cas. Who are you?

[Toby's eyes are on her as he places his beer back on the counter. There is a soft clink of glass against the plastic veneer as his eyes watch the small changes of face. She hasn't relaxed though he can hardly blame her, he is a little disappointed.]

Toby. [He replies with a slight smirk.]

Where are you headed Cas?

[It seems like a better question than 'what are you running from' though there is usually only one reason an eligible female is wandering alone through others territories. What he's seen is a contradiction to even that, so he's curious.]

Toby. [She repeats the name, letting it play around in her head. She likes it, and somehow it suits him. Someone named Warren or Matias, they'd kill someone on sight. Not someone named Toby. It just didn't feel right. She nods.] I like it. It suits you.

[At his question, he takes a small breath, letting it out into her glass of whiskey before taking a longer pull from it.]

As far away from Nevada was domestically possible. [And she took another pull from that glass. Just thinking about home made her need a drink.] Unfortunately, you need a passport to cross the border, but you know...I could probably just sneak in. Canada isn't like Mexico.

[Toby smiles at her small compliment.] Thank you.

[As she continues he listens silently turning thoughts and memories over in his head. Nevada... it's strange how they were to meet now but then she would have been a child the last time he was in that state. It also means that he knows her pack and has killed her brother. A familiar sense of regret sinks in the pit of his stomach but he has practice hiding it.

At her comment about Canada he can't help but smirk.]

Canada is very easy to sneak into. [He'd know.] But if you keep traveling, how will you know when you've reached your destination?

[Cas finishes off her whiskey, setting the empty glass down on the counter a little harder than she needed to.]

You ask a lot of questions, and my glass is empty. Wasn't this just a one drink sort of thing?

[Toby takes another sip of his beer which isn't even half empty.] I was hoping you'd stay longer.

[He means it though he also won't stop her from leaving. She's had a drink with him which is more than he expected.]

Though I suppose I can understand.

[He isn't sure how long he'd want to spend in his own company either.]

[She spends a moment looking at her glass before looking over to him. He wanted her to stay. She didn't exactly get why, and it was more than a little weird, but then again she didn't really want to go, either. Also weird, possibly weirder.]

You could always offer to buy me another drink.

[Toby smiles.]

Well then Cassandra, can I please by you another drink?

[He's polite while his demeanor remains relaxed and easy going. He refuses to give her a reason to run though as their banter continues he wonders if he can really bring her home. He won't force her and wouldn't ask her to join them but having someone who isn't his sisters around would be nice.

That and he can't help but want to protect her, even if it's just a small fleeting urge.]

You can...but only if you promise never to call me that again.

[She choked down the lump in her throat that had risen because of her full name. No one called her that, ever, except her mother, the one reason she hadn't wanted to leave Nevada in the first place.

She called down to the bartender and tapped her glass. She waited until he'd refilled it and taken a more cautious sip before continuing.]

Okay, so. Your turn, then. Why are you so curious about where I'm heading?

Deal.

[Cas it is, however her reaction only raises more questions. Stormy gray eyes watch her as she taps her glass and he feels an unfamiliar feeling rise in his chest; hope.]

As I said, I'm curious about you. I've never met anyone like you Cas.

[He brings his drink to his lips and takes a big gulp before setting down the glass.]

I'm sure you know this but you're also very attractive.

You mean you've never met an unclaimed female from another pack before, right?

[She actually smiles this time, and it's teasing and slightly flirtatious, and a bit more relaxed than before.]

I've heard that several times...never from an unclaimed male, though.

[That makes Toby laugh.]

Not exactly.

[He's met a few unclaimed females over the years but his family always came first. This is the first time since reuniting with his parents that he has met a female and he's finally decided that it's better if he's alone. It's hard to think about anything else even with instinct pressing against his senses.

He doesn't want to hurt anyone else.]

I've traveled a lot too and met a lot of different people; wolf and not.

[He takes another long sip of beer.]

You're still the most interesting.

[There is a smile on his lips however it doesn't reach up to his eyes as he glances back over at her. He might be trying to be mysterious but he doesn't know if it will work. His strength, and demeanor has him curious which is one of many reasons why he wants to know more of her. Not counting the fact that she's the most gorgeous woman he's ever seen.]

You're starting to get pretty interesting yourself there, Toby.

[He was awkward, but then again, so was she. She exuded nothing but confidence when she was working, talking to human men. It was fine. They were nothing. Sure, some of them were pretty, most of them really weren't, but this...there was something more here.

He wasn't the pack leader, though, and he hadn't left to claim his own territory. No. This was a bad idea. Still, something kept pressing her onward.]

I mean, males don't usually travel much, do they?

[Toby can't stop himself from smiling at her comment. He pulls the last gulps of beer from his glass and then looks back over at Cas. He's used to his past staying a mystery; even his father doesn't know the extent of his crimes.

For a moment he forgets those heavy sin's and it's just the two of them sitting at a bar. He feels lighter but of course that can't last more than a second or two. His heart sinks and he pushes away the instincts that he's skilled at ignoring. He doesn't deserve to be happy and he refuses to even purse it. His eyes glance towards his empty glass and he shakes his head.]

They don't. I traveled with my family, I kept them safe while we were away from our parents.

[It's a simple statement that describes his situation without diving into details.]

Now I get to relax.

[It sounds like an excuse but he doesn't care. He taps his drink and the bartender quickly replaces it before leaving the pair alone. He takes a long gulp this time, downing half the glass in a quick swing.]

[There were a lot of things he wasn't saying. He probably thought he was really good at hiding that fact, too, but as she watched him finish his beer and directly order another, coupled with knowing he'd already been drinking, and then how fast the new one disappeared, she could tell.

She'd seen a lot of humans do the same thing, numb themselves with alcohol. She didn't comment on it, not directly, but she saw it clearly.]

Relax, huh? Is that what you're calling it?

[It takes Toby more than a few drinks to cloud his judgement. There is, for a moment, a slight haze when he drinks things quickly but his metabolism is fast and so it doesn't last for very long. His stormy gray eyes darken as he looks at her but he doesn't say what's really on his mind.

He doesn't care if she knows, it doesn't mean he has to share.]

Currently.

[He admits in a lower raspier voice.]

You never told me why you're traveling? You looking for a mate?

[If his brothers were here he'd almost suggest them but they left with Cat and he hasn't heard from them since.]

[She'd struck a nerve and she didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. She'd never met an unclaimed male. She didn't know what she should do or say. The only experience she had to fall back on was how she smoothed things over with drunk humans at bars.

She smiled coyly over to him.]

Is that supposed to be a pick-up line?

[Toby doesn't seemed impressed at her coy smile. He raises an eyebrow at her and shakes his head though a smile is still plastered over his lips. Yeah, he can't let himself though she's very skilled at teasing.]

I could have thought up a cheesier pick up line.

[He isn't lying either.]

No, [He replies curtly.] but it is an invitation. If you aren't looking for a mate I'll introduce you to my pack. They will treat you as a guest until you're ready to leave. It'll be nice to have someone else around.

[Toby doesn't really think she's going to fix her bike tonight and he has a feeling that she might enjoy being around other unclaimed females. His sisters, while bother some at times, are nice and all currently without mates.]

You are welcome to refuse.

[From drinks to asking her home? Suddenly Cas was overcome with the realization she didn't actually have any idea what was going on here, and she was suddenly much less comfortable with the situation. There was an idea of interest, some need, she wanted to go. She did. More than anything. It had been a very lonely two years, and here was someone being nice to her, and apparently not expecting anything in return. She'd had a lot of drinks paid for in the last two years, but this...this was something new.

Instead of answering immediately, she takes a long draw from her whiskey, setting the glass down gently afterward.]

That's...wow.

[Smooth, Cas. Real smooth.] I...uh... [If she was honest, she was terrified.] ...I don't know. [But she didn't want to refuse, God help her.]

[Toby's smile breaks slightly though he skillfully pulls it back into place.]

It's okay. You don't have too.

[He can smell the change and now he's wishing he kept his mouth shut and just enjoyed the drink. She grabs his glass and takes a long swing until the rest of the beer is gone. The haze hits him and unlike the other times it doesn't fade as quickly. He wonders how many beer's hes had tonight.]

It's just an offer. Since it's late, it'd go to ACE to get any oil or parts you need for your bike. It's a gas station about a block down. They're the only place up after 2 am.

[She shakes her head. She wants to so badly. He's not the pack leader, but he speaks for the pack leader. That hadn't been a lie.]

Don't jump to conclusions, Toby. [She really liked his name. It really did suit him.] Are the rest of your pack...like you? [Are they nice like you?]

[Toby's eyebrow rose at her command. She might not have meant it like that but that's certainly how it came off and he found it a little cute. Admittedly, he isn't used to females standing up to him. His sisters had depended on him and even now when he says something it goes unquestioned.

Which probably bugs his dad, if anything, Toby's the problem in their pack not Cas stopping by or anything else. He should leave but he can't bring himself too and it's caused tension with his father who is now the pack leader.]

Like me? [He hums softly.] Not really. I'm the only male besides my father. If you mean our practices and my promise that you'll be safe then yes. [He's definitely like his dad but he's not saying that.] Two of my sisters are there too and I'm sure they'd love to meet you and talk your ear off.

[They really don't stop talking, beware Cas.]

They like to gossip though so I'd be careful.

[He smiled at her as if the description was a fond way to talk about his siblings.]

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