Mar 24 22:15:18 105 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Tue Mar 24 22:15:18 105 PA. Coventry Place - Dr. Kelley's Rooms
Dr. Kelley's apartment is beautifully appointed in white limestone and marble with black slate countertops. A stainless steel kitchen sits to the right of the doorway, with flowering plants hanging with the pots. To the left, a fireplace burns brightly. Plants climb out of every nook and cranny of the apartment, including some hanging down from a portrait of an alien landscape over the fireplace. Immediately to the left of the entrance, a waist-high white pedastal sits alone, capped by a small, six-inch high white marble pyramid. A corridor leads away from the door and into the living quarters of the apartment. The living room is appointed with utilitarian, yet comfortable, couches - again, in white. The entire floor is done in a pure, thick white carpet that reaches from wall to wall, save for the area immediately in front of the door, a six-by-six area done in black slate. Plants abound in this room. Though stark and cold, it is at the same time very inviting. Looking back into the depths of the hallway, depending on whether the door is open or closed, one might catch a glimpse of a working office, with the words, "Emerald Engineering," displayed proudly in wood. A German Shepherd wags playfully at your feet, her tongue lolling to one side, eyes looking at you brightly. Her tag identifies her as, "Betsy." It cannot be missed, either, that sprigs of garlic and wolfbay are liberally scattered around the periphery of the apartment, along with a bucket of wooden stakes and a large crucifix on the counter. Next to the crucifix and bucket is a piece of scrap metal that looks oddly like a rabbit.
It is 10:15 in the evening, and Dr. Kelley is preparing himself for bed. He has brushed and showered, cleaned the dishes, wiped down the counters, and fed Betsy. The faint smell of marjoram hangs in the air. Outside, rain beats against the window panes in the darkness, the moon's glow cut off by the clouds. But otherwise, the condominium is at peace.
The door opens, and Aimee walks in. She sits on the floor, tugging off her heels and leaving them by the door. She is moving quietly, trying not to wake or disturb anyone. Betsy spots her first, and the girl bends, hushing the dog, a soft giggle matching the broad grin on her lips. "Hush you, you'll give me away..."
Kelley, wearing only his bedtime jogging shorts and an open-chested robe which reveals his well toned muscles, turns at the door to his bedroom. "Aimee?" he says, hearing the soft brush of a woman's voice. "Aimee, are you home?" He calls quietly down the hall, turning and walking back toward the front door. Halfway there, he spots Betsy's wagging tail and Aimee's beautiful green eyes.
Aimee looks up, her face unguarded for a moment, and a softer emotion flickers over it at the sound of his voice. As he comes into view, her eyes widen slightly and she rises to her feet, "Yeah, it's me. I wasn't meaning to wake you, Ronan.." Her cheeks are flushed and she lowers her eyes, her hand touching the dog's ruff.
Kelley waves a dismissive hand. "It's fine, Aimee. You didn't wake me, I was just heading to bed." At that moment, he realizes the state that he's in and delicately closes his robe. "I takeit that you and Kid had a good time tonight? Judging from the clothing thrown everywhere, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, yes?"
Aimee glances guiltily at her room, biting at her lip. "I didn't mean to make a mess, I guess I was just annoyed, wanted to get out. Let my hair down, you know." The closing of the robe draws her eye for a moment and then her gaze skitters away. "We planned it earlier. I don't mean to keep you from your bed, Kelley..."
Kelley reaches out a big hand and a lays it on Aimee's shoulder for a second or two. Smiling, he says, "It's really okay, Aimee. You're a grown woman who lives in a grown-up house. I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, or make you fit your life around mine." His eyes warm up even more. "Of course, it would be nice if you cleaned up a bit next time. But I appreciate your leaving the note. I didn'tworry. Well, I didn't worry *as much*."
Aimee tilts her head back, going still under his touch, her eyes narrowing for a moment on his face. "I'll make sure of that...next time." Her voice is low, husky, the green eyes flickering over his face, questioningly. "Ronan..." She hesitates before shaking her head quickly, "Never mind. I guess time for bed."
Removing his hand from the small girl's shoulder, Kelley closes the door and locks it, shooing Betsy back down the hallway. He bends down and picks up a few socks and tosses them into the gym back. "Well, if you like, you're welcome to go to bed - but since I don't party much, I could live vicariously through you," he grins. "What'd you guys do? Just let off a little steam? Dancing and grinding?"
Aimee flushes, crouching to tidy her things into the bag, "Dancing, talking things over, trying to figure out the inside of my head, same old." The words are almost a mutter, but as she rises, resting the bag on her shoulder, "Ronan, I need to know something..." Her green gaze rests on his face, her expression serious for once, her body tense.
Kelley crosses his muscular arms across his chest in a slightly defensive posture, unsure as what's to come. A good question? A bad question? A difficult to answer question? He doesn't know, and it makes him uneasy. In a very soft tenor, he says, "Yes, Aimee, how can I help you?"
Aimee rests her fingertips lightly against the bare skin at her hips, her eyes searching his face. "Tell me if it is just friends or not. Because this is messing with the inside of my head, and I don't like feeling this off balance." She fidgets with the waist of her skirt, watching him carefully.
Ah yes, the one question that he feared most above all others. He knows what he wants to say, yet he is unsure as to whether he should say it to the delicate young woman. He wants to shout no, no! It is more than just friends. But he does not know. So instead of announcing his love to the highest, he simply lays his hands on Aimee's shoulders and looker her straight in the eyes, for a moment his brown melding with her green. "Aimee, I would like to consider us to be much more than friends. Much more. But I do not want to frighten you away, so, please understand my hesitation in answering. Yes, I want to be much more than friends - but I would never demand it of you." Their eyes remain locked, for the moment, four become one.
Aimee returns the look, her eyes steady as she tilts her head, "I'm not easily frightened away, not like that. It is just, with Des on at me and you being so careful, I want to be sure, to try and figure it out." She shakes her head slowly, biting at her lower lip. "I just needed to know if I was imagining it."
Kelley, still unsure of himself, begins to gently pull the woman closer to himself, wanting to feel her warm cheeks against his chest. Desiring her companionship, to talk, to love, to support one another. "You weren't imagining it, Aimee. You *aren't* imagining it. I.." he stuters and hesitates. "I haven't said this in a very long time. A very long time. But I love you, Aimee. I know, it is absurd and wreckless and probbaly offensive, seeing as how we've known eachother for such a short time - btu it has been many hundreds of years since I have met someone with whom I felt I could open myself up to. And that is very special to me."
Aimee allows him to draw her near, her face faintly wary, her eyes hidden behind the lashes. "I thought it was me, seeing things where there isn't something. I mean, it isn't offensive, not at all, honestly, and I feel something for you too, I just..." She stops, aware of the babbling, her cheeks flushing. "I just need to try and work it out, Ronan... Desmond keeps pushing, and you weren't saying anything and..." She hesitates, briefly, "It isn't normal for me, someone being interested in this way, ...two at once, it muddles a girl, you know?"
"I understand," Kelley says, with the hint of a quaver in his voice, a hand on the woman's head, basking in her warmth. "I understand," he says again, though he doesn't really understand. Desmond? How could the beast compete? Alas, that is the way it is, nothing to be done about it. Looking down.. way down.. at Aimee's head, he gently lifts her chin with one of his big mitts. "Aimee, I told you that I would always be honest with you. I love you. But you must do what you must do to figure out your life, and where you want it to go. I'll not stand in your way unless you want me to." He pauses, realizing that that statement makes no sense. "Er.. I mean, I'll not get involved unless you want me to."
Aimee studies his face for a moment, her eyes serious before she nods slowly, her chin staying in his touch. She smiles slightly, not the normal feline smile but something little and softer. "I need to think, everything is changing so fast but..." She hesitates, watching him carefully through her thick lashes, before she rises on tiptoe to kiss him, very gently, on the lips. "I told Des to leave me alone today." The words are soft, hesitant.
Dr. Kelleysays "Really!" a bit too eagerly. He bends down to kiss her cheek, still unsure of where the boundaries are for someone trying to escape her previous profession. "Thats... well, that's wonderful news, for me, at any rate." He beams at Aimee and gives her a crushing bear hug, underestimating his own strength by just a tad; heavy, but not painful. He gets down on one knee - not to propose, but so he can more easily look into the woman's face. "That makes me very happy, Aimee. Very happy indeed." He smile at the moment lights the whole room.
Aimee giggles as she is crushed, returning the hug herself, shock as much as anything. "Kelley! I'm not promising anything, you..." She is laughing, his happiness contagious. The kneeling causes a flicker of something in her eyes, quickly hidden, "You are so funny..." She murmurs, reaching out to touch his cheek, her eyes searching his face, puzzlement in them.
Kelley laughs heartily. "Now it has been a *very* long time since anyone called me funny! Stoic, quiet, dignified, a leader - but not funny," he chuckles, ironically. Then, "I understand that you are not promising anything Aimee, and I would not presume to think that you were. Still, to know that there is a chance, well, that is more than I could have asked for." For the first time in a long, long time - he seems to have a lot of first-times these days - he actually reaches out and tickles Aimee's side, one more kissing her on the cheek before standing and giving her her space back.
Aimee makes a small movement as he kisses her cheek, almost turning her face into the kiss before she stops, a half smile hovering on her lips. "I don't think you are stoic, you are just half hidden..." She drops a kiss on her fingertips, reaching out to press them against his lips before she turns, grabbing her bag and walking towards her room. "I guess I'd best tidy up..." She looks over her shoulder, offering a smile, her hips swaying.
Kelley watches the young woman gather her things, appreciating her attractive body more than he let himself before, but keeping a stoic face, rather than reveal it to Aimee. He smiles as she turns and followers her down the hall, kissing her on the neck out of instinct as they pass her door, and proceeding on into his bedroom by himself, shutting the door behind him, knowing that Betsy will be following the girl. For the first time, in a long time, he is.. happy.
