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[allgotrabies]

Hey, it's Annie, you know what to do.

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[allgotrabies]

"I'm sorry," she breathes, remembering the way he'd looked at her that first night when she was so close she didn't recognize that shift of personality until later. "I'm...I'm the worst person to have for a first."

It's not her looking for reassurance. She is, objectively, a terrible choice for a first partner: non-monogamous, casual, confusing. "Your first should have been with someone you love and trust."

[madaboutit]

Probably. But it's too late now.

Gerard doesn't know what to do with all of this. He'd gotten some form of clarification on the important things, but now...

"I just--I don't want you to think--" How can he even start to explain it? "--It isn't that I don't find you attractive."

So...that probably didn't come out as delicately as it probably should have.

Probably. But it's too late now.

[allgotrabies]

Even when he's letting her down he's sweet, she thinks, and almost wants to hug him. "No, I know. I mean, I understand."

[madaboutit]

But can she really understand? His brows furrow as he searches the back of his eyelids.

"I--I know that things are...complicated." Gerard's eyes return their focus to the floor.

"But...I thought, maybe--if you're interested--we might try starting over."

[allgotrabies]

"You don't know what you'd be getting into," she says, even as her mind tries to imagine what it would be like. No one like Gerard has ever been interested in her. "I'm a wolf. A werewolf, Gerard. And Sweeney...how can we help him if...?"

[madaboutit]

Alright. Werewolf is a thing, admittedly, but he's working on the 'people here are very strange'. But the other part lifts his eyes to hers, his brow quirked in question.

"If what?"

[allgotrabies]

"If I'm always distracting you." She spends her time with Sweeney distracting him. Spends her time with all her friends as entertainment or distraction, really.

[madaboutit]

His expression shifts lower in confusion. He understands the idea, but is getting a lot of mixed signals.

"So...you don't want to...socialize?"

[allgotrabies]

Her answer is quick, almost before he finishes asking. "No- I mean yes, I do. I do want to. I'm really screwing this up." She pushes her hair back, starts again. "I want to be friends. I want to get to know you more."

[madaboutit]

He's still confused, but he's lips raise into a smile, and he nods tightly.

"I'd like that very much. To know you more as well."

[allgotrabies]

His answer gives her a quick flood of relief. "So tell me a little about you. What do you like to do for fun?"

[madaboutit]

"OH. Um..." He wasn't expecting the question. Or really the fact that they'd be starting immediately.

"I read, mostly. I don't get out that much. But! I do enjoy the opera or an occasional ball, if I get the chance." It's so refreshing to get out and about when he's able.

"And you?"

[allgotrabies]

"I love to dance, and surf, and swim. I'm not great at reading but I've been trying to learn to do it better here. I really like mythology." She's sizing him up though, imagining he's got all of Sweeney's latent dancing talents.

[madaboutit]

His grin blossoms; he's thrilled that they already enjoy similar things, but with the opportunity for him to help her with others. Something does strike him though.

"What's surfing?"

[allgotrabies]

This? This is her favorite thing.

"Come on. Come on we're going to the Enclosure. Meet me there in twenty minutes, okay? I'll get someone to let us in. And I have to change."

[madaboutit]

"Um...alright." Her excitement is infectious, but he doesn't know what he's meant to do with it. So he just can't stop smiling.

How did they get here? Wasn't this uncomfortably awkward only moments ago?

"Do I need to change as well?" He will require some clarification as to the proper attire. Even if Sweeney is terribly lacking in options.

[allgotrabies]

"Only if you want to get in the water." Sweeney never does, she doesn't think he owns anything remotely swim-appropriate. "Nah you're good like this."

[madaboutit]

"Alright." He nods and tries to remember where the Enclosure is. He has time to figure it out.

"I'll meet you there when you're ready then."

He likes plans. And this feels like a good plan.

[allgotrabies]

When she meets him she's in a bikini. Board shorts, yes, but she's aware it's still almost as much skin as when he first met her on Sweeney's bed. She has a towel slung over her shoulder, and when they step inside it's already programmed as a warm Californian beach.

[madaboutit]

He flushes at the sight of her, and his gaze dips instinctively. But he reminds himself that if he's going to be here and actually help people, he's going to need to push out of his comfort zone.

So he dutifully lifts his eyes back to her face and dares a small smile before following her inside.

[allgotrabies]

She grabs a board from the programmed stack.

"Hold my towel?" She grins when he actually looks at her again. He's doing better than she thinks she would have, if she'd come from some older era and been suddenly exposed to half-naked men.

[madaboutit]

"Uh..." His jaw lingers open for a moment too long as he works to process the request. There are a lot of things that are happening at once.

"Of course," he manages and takes the towel.

[allgotrabies]

She throws a smile at him and then runs with her board into the surf. This is an art form to her, and like all good arts it's best seen and not explained. Besides, surfing always clears her head and she badly needs that right now.

She treats him to a range of her tricks: flipping, turning, skimming. When she falls into the water she's quickly back up again, and when she walks back up onto the beach she's soaked head to toe and peaceful.

[madaboutit]

He walks towards the edge of the sand where the soft slide of it isn't yet threatened by the water. Allowing himself to sit (not knowing how long she'll be), he watches her, fascinated by the whole thing.

It's such a pleasant moment, the warm sand, the crash of the waves. Familiar, yet difficult to place. He struggles to catch it. The reflected light of the sand forces color behind his closed eyelids, and he strains against it, wincing.

When she returns from the water, he stands and starts towards her. Once she's in range, he tosses the towel to her. With the briefest dusting of sand from his trousers, he reaches up to take the cigarette from behind his ear. Placing it between his lips, he makes short order of producing his lighter.

"Just showin' him the ropes then?" One brow arches, and he takes a slow drag before snapping the lighter shut. He's not thrilled at the prospect.

[allgotrabies]

"He said he's never seen surfing," she towels off her hair and spares a wicked grin for him. "And when's the last time you saw me all out of breath and wet?"