Christmas Time

[Recka]

You love me! *She said through a full mouth of food. Recka got up to grab a drink out of the fridge. She took a water bottle out and drained it all.*

[Rory]

*Rory glanced up as he walked away, not being able to stop herself. She inwardly groaned and leaned back over her food, knowing if Recka caught her checking out his butt she'd never live it down. She was pulling the fork up when Jiro picked up the bracelet. She let out a yelp, dropping the fork. She rubbed her hand, wincing* What the fuck was that!?

[Jiro]

*Jiro's eyes snapped to Rory as she dropped her fork. He moved back to her. He took her hand with his uninjured hand and looked at her fingers. Jiro saw the red pads of her fingers where his burns would be on his own. He knew their connection was strong but this would be a problem. He didnt say nothing as he looked over her fingers but Rory would feel him have a sense of guilt.*

[Recka]

Yea! *Recka answered Jiro over her shoulder when she finished the drink. Tossing the bottle in the recycle bin before going back to them.* I finished them faster than I thought...*She raised an eyebrow at them but didnt say nothing.*

[Rory]

*Rory was still looking at her hand when Jiro took it. She glanced up at him, forehead crinkling in confusion* My fork bit me man. Real fuckin weird. *She pulled her hand away, shaking it out* I'm fine, just tender I guess. *She misinterpreted the guilty feeling as her own* Don't fuckin worry. You want your present or not? *She tried to change the subject, weirded out by the stinging that still ran through her fingers* Recka has to fuckin wait

[Jiro]

*Jiro looked to her face and gave an acknowledging nod and let her hand go. He was not going to feed from her again. Jiro wasnt going to point out the flaw in her fork biting her explanation.* Yes, please he said softly and took a seat on a stool.*

[Recka]

Rude! *Recka snapped. She moved back to her bracelets and collected them all up.* Playing favorites is not nice.

[Rory]

Okay, sweet give me a minute. *Rory smiled some and slid past him, she rubbed her fingers as she walked away. She smirked at Recka* Get wrecked bitch. Say sorry and you might get yours someday. Wanna see Artan's?

[Recka]

You are a very shrewed mammal! *She narrowed her eyes at her as she passed.* i dont know what word you speak of. This 'sorry' you say whats its meaning? *when she said Artan's picture she perked up.* oh yes!

[Rory]

Mammal? Who said I'm a mammal, so cold blooded I'm a snake. *Rory chuckled and waved her toward the room with her red fingers. The sketchpad still sat next to her plate in front of Jiro*

[Jiro]

*Jiro half smiled at the two bicker but his mind was elsewhere. He knew he'd need to have a talk with Rory soon. He also knew he should leave her be, maybe even some distance but he knew he couldn't do that, certainly not right now. He was soon deep in thought and didnt notice the sketchbook.*

[Recka]

Yeaaaaa right snake, more like a newt. *Recka said as Rory waved her to the room. She followed Rory and headed to the room, leaving Jiro, who had happened to notice the sketchbook and picked it up and began flipping through it when they left.*

[Rory]

Bite me bitch *Rory flipped her off but still opened the door to her room. She grabbed Jiro's and put it on the bed before grinning at Recka* Okay so I'm going to show you all three of the boys at once and remember we are going for tears here. She picked up three of the of the pictures up off the nightstand, being careful not to pick up Recka's too* Ready?

*In the sketch book was lots of random drawings, all in her signature style. Many of them were her father, but others included a baby with dark hair, a puma, an angel, the start of a long legged woman, several Japanese sunsets (some from beaches he had walked on) but one of the older ones was of Rory's father laying on the ground. Crimson bled from his throat, onto the tile below him. Little wet drops had marred the picture in various places*

[Recka]

*Recka moved close enough to Rory and nipped her shoulder before stepping into the room. She hopped on the bed and sat cross legged. Closing her eyes, she mentally prepared herself for the pictures.* Alright! Bring on operation water works!

[Jiro]

*Jiro flipped through the book, emotions came up inside him at the site of the beaches he recognized them. He paused over the baby and puma a moment before he found her father and the scene pulled memories into his head and the smell of blood filled his nose and he forced a wall between the link to Rory so she would not know what he felt..*

[Rory]

Okay check 'em *Rory beamed with pride as flipped them over and sat them on the bed beside Recka* Goes Sully, Artan, and then Auran *Each of the portraits was of Mr. Harper caught in careful respectful detail but in Rory's signature style. In Sully's Harper was smiling from under his Sheriff's hat, holding out a deputy's star. It seemed like he was giving it to whoever was looking at the portrait. In each corner was a totem carving-wolf, bear, falcon, and a puma.

In Artan's Mr. Harper had his hair loose and stared out into a familiar forest with intent. A bow was in one hand with the string pulled tight, almost pushing against his cheek. In the corners of this portrait were a knife, a buckskin bag, an arrow head, and a water skin, all things his father had taught Artan to make by hand. In the forest background was a cliff with a tiny puma lounging on it*

Auran's portrait was of his father reading contently in his chair with all his bookshelves on display in the background. In the corners of this portrait were the scales of justice, a quill Ina had given him when he started law classes, a stone with black veins running through it, and the final corner was occupied by Auran's favorite book, the last one his father gave him* Whaddya Think? *She blinked at the odd sensation that pulled over her, like the disappearance of a sound she wasn't even aware she was hearing. She shook her head and tried her best to ignore the odd feeling*

*Jiro could almost hear Rory's father gargling her name and feel the tiny fingers that pushed against the cut on his throat, trying to stop the bleeding while she repeated over your blood. When the wall slammed down terrified tears had started to blur the little girl's vision*

[Jiro]

*Jiro closed the book and stood up. He pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to get the tears collecting in his ryrs to disappear. He moved to a window trying to force away the memories he did not want or the ones he did not want to remember. He pressed down on his burn fingers, hoping the pain would force him to come back. The human Jiro did not want to remember the past of the demon that was Kenjiro.*

[Recka]

*Recka looked over the portraits each a long moment. To say the girl was a rock would be a lie. She almost made it through the firat drawings but failed. She had come to love their father greatly, he had been so kind and warm. He had been taken too soon and in part because of Recka.* Welp...*she wiped the tears away.* only joy I get is them bitches are gonna cry too! *sniffling she nodded.* These are very very good. Im scared what mine will be.

[Rory]

*Rory watched Recka's reaction and when she started to tear up she smiled softly before setting down next to her. She wrapped an arm around her shoulder, squeezing gently* Your Dad was awesome. I love hearing stories from you guys about him and I hope the drawing is good enough. *She kissed Recka's temple an chuckled* What can I say? I am a cold hearted bitch and go for the gold. *At Recka's comment she hissed softly* Do you wanna see? I was just fuckin' kidding about the waiting part. We both know I'm shit at keeping presents back

[Recka]

*She leaned into Rory and she wrapped her arm around here.* He was...I miss him. *Recka said softly at the kiss.* And gold you got. *She nodded.* Yea you suck at it! *Chuckling through tears.* Lay it on me sister!

[Rory]

I know ya do. Daughters always miss their Daddy's *Coming from anyone else what would have sounded like an insult but coming from Rory she knew it wasn't, it was more spoken in solidarity* Thanks Recka, I hope they actually like them and not just pity take them. *The Asian gave her a slanted grin before getting up to grab yet another portrait. Recka could see something had been carefully written on the back but couldn't see it well enough to read it* Real question, want me to be in here or do you want to me out of the room?

[Recka]

He wasnt even my real one, but he was all I ever wanted in one. *Recka wiped her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.* They will like them. Artan may kill you but he will love it. *She gave Rory a weary look as she asked. * THAT bad huh? Better do it alone, or we'll both be sobbing and I know how we hate doing it in front of others.

[Rory]

Real family doesn't mean blood, look at us two assholes. *Rory gave her a knowing look before chuckling softly* That bad. *She chuckled softly again* Remember I love you, wait until I leave to look at it, including the back. She carefully slipped the portrait under Artan's and snagged Jiro's*[/i] Good luck *She ruffled Recka's hair before she stepped out, shutting the door behind her. She smiled softly before moving toward Jiro. She tilted her head as she saw the state he was in* You good Demonboy?

[Recka]

I know, we assholes have to stick together. *When Rory confirmed the degree of bad Recka let out a low, * Fuuuuuuuck....*Recka nodded as she closed her eyes and waited for Rory to leave.* I love you too. *she chuckled softly.* Oh thanks. *When Rory was gone, the girl slowly turned the portrait up to look at it. The knot in her throat hurt terrible as it built taking in what she looked at.*

[Jiro]

*Jiro opened his eyes and looked down to her. He had tried to play off the start.* Yeah, just thinking about a few things. Time for mine then? *He gave her a small smile.* Would you like to have yours first or have me see mine first?