David Rice

musebysentence | 37.8. Regret

2009-12-16T10:19:17Z

LINK: It always seems to end up feeling like a curse.

musebysentence | 2.7. London

2009-07-21T11:41:58Z

LINK: More to it than meets the tourist eye.

musebysentence | 1.12. New York City

2009-07-17T01:37:36Z

LINK: I can go anywhere, but I still keep coming back here, and I just don't know why.

just_muse_me | 10.1.1. George Moore quote

2009-01-15T10:28:20Z

10.1.1. “A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” - George Moore

Co-written with morethanleah

[Follows THIS]

Leah was back in New York. After Christmas, she'd been assigned a fashion show in France. At the time she'd been tempted to turn it down to stay in Adelaide and hide a little longer, but she didn't. She decided it was time to get back on the horse--although which horse exactly she'd fallen off of, Leah couldn't say. It helped to be in a city that didn't remind her of David, but even then she still felt like she was being visited by her ghost. She still felt like he'd been sleeping next to her at night. Maybe she really was crazy. Maybe she'd been imagining his scent and his weight in the bed because she'd wanted to see him so badly.

At least she still had the Superman t-shirt, her one tangible link to him besides a few photographs and an apartment in New York. And apartment she had now returned to. It felt wrong. So, so wrong. He'd given her his apartment, and she thought he'd given her his heart. He just didn't want to see her. Ever. Maybe she couldn't have David and his heart. One or the other. Leah had been keeping to herself, and focusing on work. There had only been one night where she'd had to worry about whether or not she was actually involved with someone. A guy in the Thai restaurant she'd gone to get take-out from had tried to ask her out, and Leah had had to politely refuse him with explanations about a boyfriend. Which was true, wasn't it? He was just a boyfriend she didn't see, or talk to.

Her heart was still very much his, it was just waiting for him to come back and collect it. Some nights Leah wondered if she should just cut it out her chest and be done with it. Those were the nights she was sure she was being too melodramatic for her own good. And the nights she couldn't move from her place on the sofa as she stared blankly at the TV, not even registering what was on. Work was about the only place she seemed alive.

Leah poked at the lasagne on her plate and sighed. She'd just left David yet another message. The only contact she did have with him. She didn't know if he got her messages, but she still felt it was important to leave them. Her day summed up in two minutes and 'I love you' at the end. He had to know that she did love him. Even after all this time.

After David found himself in a rather neat cast on his wrist complete with a sling, Jazz had held firm and told him she would take him anywhere in the world he wanted to be. Out of anyone else's mouth, it would sound like an empty promise, but he knew she meant it. He was tired, it being one of those times that timezone hopping was taking it's toll. He was also given some strong painkillers and told to rest because breaking a bone was a shock on the system, even if it was just his wrist. It had come to the crunch then and David knew he had choices to make. The whole time the nurse worked on neatly setting his arm, he had sat staring blankly at the wall while he tried to process all of Jazz's advice in his mind. To be honest, the news she had a boyfriend had been sweet for him. She hadn't really elaborated except to tell him that the guy's name was Jason and he used to be a football player. She did promise to tell him more when he wasn't so distracted.

It was all that chain of events that had David now standing in the hall of Leah's apartment block. He flexed his fingers a little in the cast, not enjoying the feeling of it at all and the clinical hospital smell was still tingling in his nostrils. Thank god he was away from it now. He hated doctors. He drew a deep breath and let it out in a rush before using his uninjured hand to knock softly on her door.

It was strange, but Leah didn't actually register that the knock had even happened. The sound was so foreign to her ears, then slowly it sank in that there had been a noise and it was a knock on the door. Besides her family in Adelaide, Leah didn't really have any friends. She moved around too much, and anyone she collected on the way was usually kept in touch with through email. She set down her dinner on the coffee table and trudged over to the door, almost dragging her feet. She couldn't imagine anything good was going to be on the other side, not when she never had visitors.

She didn't even look through the peep hole before she just opened the door. Then she nearly slammed it again, she was so shocked. Her mouth fell open and she just stood there gaping at David. David who had just knocked on her door. David who was standing there breathing, his arm in a cast, but real. And alive. And here. She went to say something, but all that came out was a sob and with that, Leah burst into tears. She slapped her hand against her forehead, angry with herself for being so ridiculous. She'd waited months for this, and now all she could do was cry.

David didn't really know how to react. It had been a long time since he had been here. A very long time. Truth was, he hadn't had plans to return. He had been intending to waste out his days trailing Griffin around the world getting drunk and playing Playstation because it seemed safer. He was going to stay away and hope Leah would eventually forgive him for leaving her without word. He bit down on his lip and tried to fight away the emotion. "I'm so sorry," he murmured, almost too soft to hear. He had never been in this situation before so he didn't know what he should do or say. Anything he was thinking of saying didn't seem to be enough.

Leah held up a hand as she tried to stem the flow of tears and gave a shake of her head. She still couldn't bring herself to speak just yet, so she reached out to take his uninjured hand and pulled him inside. At least then she wouldn't have to worry about him standing in the doorway while she fell apart. As she snorted loudly and wiped at her tears she looked up at him. "What happened to your arm?" she choked out.

David's shoulder slumped a little and he looked down at his feet. "I tried to hit Griffin..." he mumbled sheepishly.

"Griffin?" Leah repeated as she tried to search her memory for any mention of him David might have given. "Isn't he the one you didn't like?"

"I never really not liked him, he was just a huge pain in the arse," David explained. "We always just rubbed each other the wrong way, but... well, we've kind of become mates and I've become friends with another one of his friends who is sort of an ex, sort of a friend with benefits." He scratched his arm under the sling near his elbow. "That's where I've mostly been."

Leah gave a nod, slowly getting over the shock of seeing David. She motioned her hand towards the couch as she bit her lip. "You can sit down, you know. You were always welcome here. It's still your place. I just... I wasn't sure if you wanted me to move out of it or not. I didn't--I kind of got a bit stuck." She searched his eyes as she took a deep breath. "At least you're okay. Besides the arm. Is, um, is Griffin okay?"

David sat down slowly with a small uncontrollable sigh of relief to get off his feet. "Griff's always okay. He Jumped out of the way, didn't he? I was just angry and frustrated. He was being his typical annoying bastard self and I just got annoyed." He met Leah's eyes and bit on his lip. "I'm sorry I put you through all that. The last few months I... I was really scared, of a lot of things. The best solution seemed to get as far away from you as possible. It was never you, Leah."

She smiled wryly as she sat down on the couch beside him, careful to stay on the side with the uninjured arm. "You couldn't have just told me that so I didn't spend all these months wondering?" She took his hand in hers, and looked down at it. "David... I love you. Still. Maybe always. But I'm sorry I've made you had to choose, and that you had to feel like you needed to be far away. I shouldn't ever have put you in that position."

David shook his head and made a small frustrated sound. "No, see? This is why I stayed away. I didn't know how to make you see it wasn't you. I'm not exactly an expert on relationship things. Casual was different because I never needed to think about it but when I started getting feelings for you, the fear just built and the guilt that I was putting you in danger was drowning me. I went to Griff and typically he just told me to keep away from anyone I love because it's safer and I didn't think I was in any position to do anything else. At least, until Jazz."

"Jazz?" Leah raised her eyebrows, watching David. "I never wanted you gone. I wanted you here, but you always made it clear you'd never be able to stay. I just... I guess I thought that meant you'd at least still come back. When I was awake, anyway. Unless I was just imagining all that..."

David nodded. "Griff's sort of ex, sort of friends with benefits. Only I doubt so much that will be there anymore because she told me she's started seeing someone." He rubbed his eyes slowly. "She's a Jumper. Only, not like Griff and me. She leads a normal life. She's a Harvard graduate and a journalist for a New York fashion magazine. She went to college, owns her own apartment, makes a lot of money from all the hard work she's done. Now she's starting a normal relationship. She helped me see a few things. Helped me see that I haven't been living a life, I've been living above it. Actually, she compared it to a bug caught in the wind and said one day, I was going to end up smashed into a windscreen," he added wryly.

"Oh, okay." Leah gave a nod. She was following a bit easier now that she knew who everybody was. David wasn't as alone as he let on, though. He had Griffin, and Jazz and his father... but he couldn't include Leah in all that. She rubbed her hands against her thighs as she tried to fight off the sudden pain in her chest. "So, um... are you... will you..." She couldn't quite finish her sentence as the lump in her throat grew large again. "I don't want you smashed against a windscreen."

David leaned forward and scratched his head. "She thinks I should... should try and be like her, in a sense. She thinks I have similar hopes and dreams to her and that I can stop forcing myself into the line of danger if I live a normal life. Get a job, find a permanent place and stay there. Just use the Jumping as like a hobby, like she does. She's never crossed paths with any Paladins in her whole life and she's been Jumping since she was five," he explained softly.

Leah bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying as she pushed her fingers through her short blonde hair. "That's... that's good, isn't it? If she's never had trouble with the Paladins? I still don't--I mean, are you going to try a 'normal' life? Where are you going to stay?"

"I don't know," David admitted quietly. "I haven't had a chance to think that far. This all just happened a few hours ago. JC came to the hospital and gave me a good talking to. Then I had to get the cast and I just... came here," he told her with a small smile.

"I'm glad she did, and I'm glad you did. So, so glad." She laughed a little as she wiped her cheeks again. "I've missed you so much, David. Please don't leave me again. Not like that."

David took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry. I just panicked. I've never felt like anyone before how I was feeling about you. All I could see was danger, especially after the trip home and I saw every day what they did to my dad. I didn't know how to handle it. But I-I hope I'll be better now. I want to be, but I... can't do it alone."

Leah leaned in close to him, and smiled. "You don't have to do it alone. You should stay here. I've already felt like I've been sleeping beside you, but this way I can wake up to you. I'll help you anyway I can."

David rested his head down on her shoulder. "I haven't slept well in weeks. I feel like I could sleep forever. I'm slightly drugged up on painkillers, but don't worry. I'm lucid. I know I'm here," he added with a soft laugh. "If I could take it all back, I would. I never meant to hurt you, Leah. Never."

She reached up a hand to stroke the side of his face. "Good, because... once you're better I need you lucid for a whole lot of making up for lost time sex. And I know... but I couldn't stop it from hurting. This ache just set in and it wouldn't let up. Not until now."

"I'll be alright in a day or so," David added, smirking. "Once I get used to the cast. I'll introduce you to Jazz too. She wants to meet you. Told me so just when she left me here."

"Makes me wish I had some friends to introduce you to, but I don't. Just my family in Adelaide. Sad, huh?" Leah shifted so that she could get her lips to David's. "I love you, Renaissance Man."

David smiled. "I love you too," he murmured, meeting her in the kiss.

Griffin [theotherjumper] & Jazz Stanton [taste4freedom] referenced with permission

Word Count | 2,451

muses_w_remotes | 9.9. Good Will Hunting quote

2009-01-13T05:59:06Z

9.9. "You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally... I don't give a shit about all that, because you know what, I can't learn anything from you, I can't read in some fuckin' book. Unless you want to talk about you, who you are. Then I'm fascinated. I'm in. But you don't want to do that do you sport? You're terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief."
| Good Will Hunting

Co-written with taste4freedom

When you get a text message that merely says ‘RYL LNDN HSPTL ER – FCKNG HGE WT – CME KP ME CMPNY’ from your best friend, your arse tends to drop out in panic. Which is exactly what happened when JC received the message when she was in the middle of taking a bath. Griffin was at the Royal London Hospital! She cursed and swore extensively as she rushed around trying to make herself some semblance of decent, not even bothering to dry her hair and dragging it up into a ponytail on top of her head. She pulled on some jeans and a shirt, grabbed her handbag and Jumped into an alley near the back of London’s largest hospital. Her feet made soft slapping sounds from the base of her red Converse shoes as she ran up the alley in the direction of the hospital entrance. Why the fuck was Griffin at the hospital?!

It was dark; her early evening in New York translating to around ten pm in England. That just bode even worse in JC’s gut and she tucked some now drying strands of loose red hair behind her ears that had fallen free from the band as she made her way through the hospital foyer towards the ER. The ER waiting room was busy and there were people sitting around nursing sick bags and bleeding heads all around her. But she was unseeing to most of them as she tried to seek out that familiar worn leather jacket and unruly hair. She spotted it alright; perched on the back of one of the chairs throwing spitballs at an oblivious cleaner across the room. It was only when JC moved closer that she realised David was sitting a couple of chairs away from Griffin, his long legs stretched out in front of him with the way he was slumped in the hard plastic chair and his right arm wrapped in a blue coat nursed to his chest. She squeaked in surprise and swooped on both of them. “I can’t leave you two alone for one day, can I? What is going on?” she demanded.

Griffin smirked and shrugged, punctuating with another spitball aimed at the back of the poor guy’s head. “What ya’ complainin’ ‘bout, darlin'? This is the first time he’s fuckin’ left the Lair in days. Call it bein’ social. Only, now he’s sulkin’ even more.”

JC always just took Griffin and his antics with a grain of salt, so she didn’t pay much mind to him more than throwing him a faintly long-suffering look before she zeroed in on David. She sat in the seat beside him and dropped the Louis Vuitton handbag on the floor that she was road-testing for Razor. “Is it broken?” she asked him, and leant forward to rest her elbows on her knees.

David glanced at her and nodded. “Yeah. Just waiting for a cast… woo,” he added sarcastically as an afterthought, watching a mother and little kid walk by them.

“What happened?” JC prompted and did try to ignore the flat tone in David’s voice. It was impossible, though. It seemed to have taken permanent residence now. David just shot Griffin a glare but merely shrugged in reply to JC’s question, so she turned on the other wayward son of the Jumper community, eyebrow raised expectantly.

Griffin blew a spitball at a poster for contraception and then sniggered. “It’s not my fault. He took a swing at me, I Jumped – as one does – and he smacked the wall instead. It was all highly amusin’.” He leapt off the back of the chair and started to saunter for the waiting room exit. “And on that note, it’s your turn to babysit.”

JC watched Griffin leave with a sigh. “You know, your temper wouldn’t be nearly as sparking if you went to talk to Leah,” she pointed out, deciding there was no longer room for subtlety with David Rice. “Nor would it be as primed if you stopped moping around Griff’s Lair for weeks on end. He’s a bad influence.”

David scrunched his nose up in irritation. “Then why do you keep coming back?” he asked with a small glance before returning his eyes to stare at his feet.

“Because the bastard might be a pain in the arse, but he’s my pain in the arse. We have a love hate thing, as you well know. Life wouldn’t be the same without him Jumping in and out of my life keeping it real,” JC explained and picked up her bag again. “Does it hurt? I have Tylenol. Do you want some?”

David was going to decline but he reluctantly nodded. It hurt like a fucking bitch. “Thanks,” he murmured and exhaled heavily. He used his uninjured hand to rub slowly at his eyes while she dug around in her bag. Unfortunately, she was right on some level. He couldn’t even explain why he lost his temper so badly at Griffin’s goading and ended up trying to take a swing at him. Rationality wasn’t exactly in tact because he didn’t even contemplate that Griff would reflexively Jump out of the way… as one does.

JC handed him a couple of the pills and her yet opened bottle of water. “Can I take a swing at you?” she asked with a small smile. “Or how about just a sharp smack in the back of the head?”

David set the bottle between his knees for a moment to put the pills in his mouth and then picked it up to take a drink and swallow them. He re-capped the bottle and met her eyes. “I know what you’re going to say and no matter how much I try to analyse all this, I keep reaching the same damn result… if I date her, I’m putting her in danger, plain and simple,” he said dully.

JC sighed and rested her hand on his thigh. “You know, I’ve never had a single run-in with a Paladin? Not one. I couldn’t even tell you what their fancy weapons look like. They have never crossed me. You know why they cross Griff? Because he goads them. He puts himself and his life out there as a Jumper so they know exactly what to target and trail. But he has a vendetta and that’s just Griff. He will never get over that until he believes he’s taken every last one of the bastards down,” she snorted, shaking her head. “You and I both know that means he’ll die trying. The worrying part is, David, that you’re taking a similar route to him. Perhaps not with the passionate vendetta Griff harbours, but you put your ability out there. You live off what you get from Jumping and you’re reckless. That’s why you got targeted. Sure, your mom is a Paladin, but she wouldn’t have pursued you unless you put yourself out there. She still gave birth you, David. She still loves you.”

David closed his eyes and tried to keep his anger in check. Yelling in the crowded waiting room would only lead to getting hauled off by security and, as she said, putting himself out there. As much as he wanted to argue the point of his mother’s ‘love’. “You really believe it’s as easy as all that, don’t you?” he mumbled, shaking his head. “It’s not. Just because you’ve evaded them so far, doesn’t mean you will continue to do so.”

“I’m twenty eight years old, David. I’ve known about my ability since I was five and nurtured it ever since. You learnt about yours when you a teenager and from day one made all the wrong moves because you had no one to lead you otherwise. I’m not accusing you of anything here, so don’t go throwing yourself another little pity hard-done by party, Rice. You had a tough break, you had a crap initiation into Jumping. Just like Griff. You had the world at your fucking fingertips and you were just a kid. Of course you were going to make the most of it. How else were you going to survive?” JC paused, watching him closely. “I was different. I was raised by a wonderful family who supported me and understood that I just had this gift. They nurtured it and encouraged me to still lead a normal life… college, a good job, making a living… despite it. I use it for pleasure, not for gain. And there, Rice, is the difference. The Paladins have issues with Jumpers who are freeloaders and take, take, take without giving in return. You might have come to be like this out of sheer necessity, but they don’t give a flying fuck about the hearts and flowers woe-is-me violins of the situation.”

David face was still set in a deep frown. “So, what are you trying to say? I’m a fucking loser and sunshine beams out of your butt?” he asked in annoyance. “That I’m a thief and you’re a perfect little Harvard grad, the apple of mummy and daddy’s eye? Well, congratulations, JC. You win. You get the grand prize! Not having a regiment of murderers tailing your arse!” he ended in a hushed hiss. “Thank you for trying to help me, but your perfect little non-freeloader life versus my thieving bastardry are hardly a recipe for an easy fix here.”

JC watched him for a moment and reached up and gave his forehead a light bit sharp slap. “Snap out of it, Britney,” she said firmly. “What’s next? Shaving your head and fucking the Paparazzi? Damnit it to hell, David. You’re not the same person Griffin introduced me to all those months ago. Quit being a whiny bastard and discuss this with me like a rational human being. Leave the slashed wrists at the door, thank you very much.”

David stared at her in shock for a moment and then couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “What?” he sniggered, shaking his head. He rubbed his hand over his face again. “Fucking hell… I just… Shit. Alright. We’ll do it your way.”

JC nodded succinctly. “I want you to get a job. I want you to pull your head out of your arse and stop feeding off Griff’s vengeful, aggravating bastard routine. So, yes, the Paladins tailed you and wanted you dead. Get over it and start flying under the radar. Find a base you're happy in. I suggest New York near Leah. Why the hell you’re still hanging around in Sydney is beyond me. But the biggest fucking thing, David, is to stop using the Jumping as a way of life and start using it as a hobby. That’s been your biggest mistake from the start. You need to find a foundation for a proper life, love, and stop flitting around like a bug caught in the wind because sooner or later, you’re going to end up smashed against a damn windscreen.” She took his good hand before he could reply. “Don’t let Jumping fuck your chances over with Leah, yeah? Just don’t. Or you’ll end up like Griffin, living in a cave in an undetectable location with no family, no nothing.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” David asked quietly, searching her eyes.

“No, love. I’m the Harvard grad who shoots sunbeams from my arse, remember?” JC said, smirking. She squeezed his hand. “I’m talking because I know you’re more like me than you realise. I think deep down you have the same hopes and dreams, you’re just bewildered how to pull them off. Go to your girl, David. She’ll help you find what you’re looking for. With that, I am talking from experience. New romantic interest on the horizon, call me optimistic and leave it at that.”

David’s smile finally reached his eyes. “Oh yeah? What’s he like?” he asked curiously. “Would you help him find what he’s looking for if he asked you?”

JC smiled. “Darling, I’d try and give him the world if he let me.” She leaned forward and touched his cheek. “Let her, David. Just let her.”

Griffin [theotherjumper], Leah Reynolds [morethanleah] & Jason Street [itwontstopme] referenced with permission

Word Count | 2,029

[Home sweet home?] RP with morethanleah

2008-10-20T09:12:35Z

David never knew why his father had a porch swing at the house. It's not like either of them ever used it when David still lived at home. He didn't think he'd ever seen his father go near it and he had no memories of it in his bank of childhood experiences (not that it was a huge bank). Still, it was better than sitting on the cold steps.

His feet scuffed back and forth across the deck of the porch as he swung slowly in the swing. He was finding himself just feeling tired here, knowing it was only because he had nothing to boost himself with. It was just another town in another state in another country. He felt no connection here, even though it's where he'd spent the biggest portion of his life in one place. He had to leave soon. He just did. If he didn't, he was going to end up needing a dose of antidepressants and probably a smack in the head.

[on_thecouch] 22.4 Family

2008-10-20T07:41:06Z

22.4. How well do you get along with your family?

David shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket and bounced restlessly on the balls of his feet. The fallen autumn leaves crunched under his weight when he caught his dad shoot him a hesitant smile from his wheelchair a few paces away. It took a moment for David to awkwardly return the gesture, but it didn’t feel so wrong this time. It was getting easier on some level, but twenty years of tension couldn’t be resolved in simply a few well-meaning visits. It didn’t matter that he felt obligated because his father’s disability was his fault. The time had come to try to make amends. After all, his father was the only family he had. There was never going to be a chance with his mother again. She may as well be dead to him… he was to her, if she had her way.

He knew that look, though. His father was waiting for him to evaporate into thin air; to Jump and escape the awkward situation. And maybe on any other occasion, he would have done just that. He was ansty and he was restless. He’d been here nearly a week now and trying to control the yearn to move on was hard. He needed to keep his freedom and Jumping soothed that. Still, he’d promised his Dad he’d stay longer than an afternoon this time, and he was proud of himself for staying this long.

Of course, it helped that there was now a buffer, so to speak. David watched as Leah enthusiastically snapped random pictures of the park. It had been her idea that the three of them come for a walk here and she’d even pushed the wheelchair to their destination, assuring both David and his father that she was fine. David appreciated her kindness and effort with this. She knew how hard it was for him to be here, let alone stay here for any length of time. It took the pressure off him to force anything and she’d managed to stop the barrage of brooding he’d been getting himself into.

Leah meeting Mr Rice had been pleasant enough. David had almost made himself sick with worry leading up to it. It was the first person – friend or romantic interest – he’d ever brought home to meet his father and he’d been dreading it. Mr Rice knew about Leah. David had reluctantly revealed that he was dating someone in New York but wasn’t forthcoming with much more information. Still, despite knowing his son’s abilities, he was awed when David left to collect Leah in New York and was back less than two minutes later. He knew he’d been an awful father to his only son over the years, but now he just couldn’t understand why anyone would want to harm David purely for his abilities. It was barbaric and he held a bitter hatred for the woman who was supposed to be David’s mother.

Still, David wasn’t content and his father knew it. Mr Rice was constantly expecting David to leave at any moment and it could be like that for the rest of their lives. But the thing was, David ran from everyone; it wasn’t just his father. Like Griffin had suggested, that was the life of a Jumper, because the Paladins would want to kill anyone who got close to a Jumper just to take them down. It was this that was David’s biggest cross to bear. His father had already ended up disabled because of what he was and now Leah was just as much in the firing line. Life seemed easier and safer without relationships… he just never expected to fall so hard for Leah.

Keeping her at arms length seemed like the best option, but he knew there was only so much she would take. She said she understood, but he couldn’t expect her to keep up that façade when he just continued to keep walking away, over and over again. But how else was he supposed to protect her? Was this really the life of a Jumper? To fall in love but have to walk away from it because to love them was to risk them? Nothing even eventuated with Millie, yet he still nearly got her killed. What would they do to Leah if they knew he loved her? David put his hand up to rub it over his face, unable to stop the heavy exhalation that coupled the gesture.

“Are you alright, son?” Mr Rice asked quietly. “If you want to go…”

David looked down to meet his father’s gaze. “I’m fine, Dad. It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not,” his father returned.

“No…” David murmured, watching Leah snap some shots of the ducks walking across the small bridge. He dropped his gaze down to his feet and drew his lip in between his teeth. “It’s not.”

Leah Reynolds [morethanleah] referenced with permission

Word Count | 809

Earth. Kinda fitting.

2008-10-16T09:38:10Z

Your Love Element Is Earth

In love, you have consistency and integrity.

For you, love is all about staying grounded and centered.

You attract others with your zest for life and experiences.

Your flirting style is defined by setting the scene, creating a unique moment in time.

Steady progress and stability are the cornerstones of your love life.

You may take things too slowly, but you never put your heart at risk.

You connect best with: Fire

Avoid: Wood

You and another Earth element: need each other too much to build a good foundation

What Element Is Your Love?

Back again [RP with morethanleah]

2008-10-05T02:07:14Z

[Follows THIS]

The storms were mostly passed and David decided he was too impatient to wait any longer. He hadn't technically checked in to the hotel room (he'd checked it was vacant when the receptionist was in the back room), so he didn't need to bother checking out again. He grabbed up his bag and a few seconds later he was out of Toronto and in Leah's apartment in New York.

He grinned, finding her waiting in the living room for him. He swept her up and gave her a kiss. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I really have to pee! Give me a minute." He bounded down the hall, making a mental note to remember to use the bathroom before showing up on his... what was she? Girlfriend? Was she really? He paused in the hall as the thought hit him and then quickly hurried to do what he needed. Anyway, he needed to take care of things like using the bathroom before he showed up for a booty call that wasn't really a booty call. It wasn't exactly the most alluring of opening lines, was it?

He came back with a sheepish smile. "I missed you," he told her.

[just_muse_me] 4.5.5. Laughing

2008-10-03T07:17:42Z

4.5.5. TEN things that make you laugh

1. Billy Connolly (He's even better live.)
2. People tripping over (I know, but I can't help it.)
3. Myself tripping over (See?)
4. Fart jokes (I'm male, sue me.)
5. Comedy movies
6. Cat macros
7. Bad Karaoke
8. Old couples wearing matching tracksuits
9. Having a drink in a pub with a Scotman (You will always laugh, it's unavoidable.)
10. David Hasselhoff trying to be a singer

Blue kisses?

2008-09-15T10:58:26Z

Your Kiss is Blue

You prefer kissing to be a meaningful, emotional experience.

You don't like to kiss strangers, and you don't like to kiss someone you're mad at.

A kiss can change how you feel about someone - for better or worse.

You don't take anything lightly... especially kissing.

Kissing Type: Deep

People See Your Kisses as: Genuine

You Kiss Best With: A Green Kisser

Stay away from: A Red Kisser

What Color Is Your Kiss?

[just_muse_me] 2.6.3. A Hard Day's Night

2008-09-15T09:35:46Z

2.6.3. A Hard Day’s Night

[Follows THIS]

When David gradually woke out of an exhausted, drained sleep, it was slowly as he tried to get his bearings. Eyes barely open and bleary from sleep, he took a few moments to determine where he was, but even that wasn’t a success. Sleeping in unfamiliar beds wasn’t uncommon for him, so he could literally have been anywhere. The only thing that clued him in to his location was the fact he was curled up behind a warm back and that warm back was connected to a warm hand reached behind it to be curled protectively around his bicep. It was Leah’s hand… he didn’t even need to see her face to know it was her, and a content comfort crawled through him at the realisation.

He settled his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes again. Despite feeling like he’d been dragged a hundred miles behind the back of a truck, he didn’t realise right then that he’d actually been asleep for close to twenty hours. What he did remember was how sick he’d been in the twelve to twenty four hours after he’d first Jumped to Leah’s place feeling as sick as a dog. What happened when he’d first gotten there had merely been a drop in the ocean to what his body subjected him to that night. He didn’t think he’d ever been that sick in his life and he’d found himself actually frightened he was going to end up in hospital because of it. Every possible disgusting and unpleasant symptom food poisoning had to offer he experienced. Sweaty, exhausted and sick, he’d spent the night on Leah’s bathroom floor wondering what end to aim at the toilet first. It was only late the following day that he felt safe enough to venture back to her bed and passed out in a heavy, ill sleep.

But it was the worst of it that his mind wandered back to now. He turned his head to look at Leah’s back, her chest rising and falling softly in sleep. She’d been with him through the whole thing, not even bothered by the state he’d gotten himself in. She just trudged through it, taking care of him with everything he needed and doing everything she could to make sure he was as comfortable as he could be.

The whole thing had been a completely new experience for him. Despite the fact he hardly ever became ill – let alone this ill – he hadn’t ever really had anyone there to take care of him before. His mother skipped out on him when she realised what he was at five years old. Any caring she did for him before then were scratchy memories at the best. His father was a complete write-off when it came to parental duties, and always had been. Then from the moment David realised what he was and what he could do, it had literally been himself against the world.

But this? At first it had felt foreign and he’d been reluctant to show any weakness in front of Leah. He didn’t really know how to rely on anyone, but she kept assuring him he could until he’d finally let his barriers down. That was the amazing part. It felt nice to be taken care of by her and he found himself desperately wanting to be able to do the same for her one day. It was the first time he’d really let himself think that maybe this was something he could stick around for in the long run? She made him not want to escape as much as he normally did. She made him want to keep coming back to one place. She made him want to keep coming back to her.

Millie had been… a fantasy, and nothing more. The whole situation had been something he’d done really to just prove to himself he could. He wanted to show her the world she yearned for, but he realised going back to her when he was an adult was just ridiculous. She’d never really had any interest in him in high school, why would she suddenly now? The Rome trip had been a disaster and ended with them both nearly getting killed. But the positive thing of it all meant he could close the book on that lingering memory of his childhood and it eventually led him to open this new chapter with Leah, which took him completely by surprise. After the Millie and Rome fiasco, he’d come to swear to himself that what he was meant he was never going to be like anyone else. He’d told himself he was going to be alone for the rest of his life, and continued on as he was, mostly content in that decision. He was too restless to settle anywhere, plus it would keep him safe and not put anyone else at risk. And it had operated as just that… until he met Leah.

He carefully rolled on to his side, feeling his stomach was still a little sore and strained from the extensive amount of sickness that had overcome him. He cuddled in close behind her and put his arm around her middle. After the strange existence he’d lived for years, could he get used to this? Could he let himself be not for solely himself anymore, but for someone else? He didn’t know the immediate answers, but as he closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against her bare shoulder, he knew he wanted to try.

- morethanleah referenced with permission

Word Count | 920

[muse_shuffle] September Disc One

2008-09-12T06:32:14Z

Track 01. I live a simple life // unfettered by complex sweets // you think this isn't me? // that's so sweet // I'm so sorry (REM – ‘The Apologist’)

[Co-written with morethanleah and follows THIS]

It had been three hours since David had been hanging out at the market stalls in Phuket, Thailand. He didn’t know what made him decide to go there, but that’s where he ended up when it was pouring down rain in Sydney again and all he wanted was some sun. That meant it had been three hours since he’d eaten a random chicken and rice dish from one of the vendors. He’d enjoyed it at the time but as he weaved his way through all the stalls, he just started to feel off. Unsteady, hot, maybe sick in the stomach, but he wasn’t going to give in that easily. He put it down to the heat and left as soon as he could to Jump back to his apartment in Sydney.

A long drink of water helped a little, so he decided it was just dehydration and told himself he wouldn’t be going back to Phuket any time soon. But the water didn’t seem to want to help for very long. He couldn’t deny it now; his stomach was upset and it wasn’t just because he’d overheated. His forehead, back and chest were also drenched in perspiration and he felt like he wanted to sleep for a week. A glance at the clock from where he’d curled up in a ball on the sofa told him it was midnight in New York where Leah was. Too late? He thought yes, but a moment later decided to go anyway. At the very least, she could distract him and take his mind off his stomach.

He got up off the sofa unsteadily and wiped at the sweat on his forehead. He hoped he could at least Jump in coordination this time. He tucked his wallet and cell phone into his pocket and closed his eyes to brace himself through the Jump to Leah’s place.

Leah woke with a start, her eyes wide as she tried to work out if the world in her dream had shook, or if it was the apartment. If it was the apartment, there was either an earthquake, or--

She flicked the light on and jumped out of her bed. "David? David, was that you?" She looked around the bedroom, and saw nothing. The framed photo on the wall was tilted somewhat to the left though, so that at least answered the question about whether the vibrations had been in her dream.

Leah walked out of the bedroom and into the main area of the apartment. "David?" she called again as she started to run her palm over the wall as she searched for the light switch.

David was trying to right the bookshelf he'd managed to knock over. Obviously being emotional wasn’t the only thing that sent his Jumping wonky; feeling sick had thrown him off and he made a mess enough of her living room but at least there was no crater. He stood up a little too quickly and was forced to lean against the wall and put his hand over his eyes as he felt woozy. "Did I wake you?" he asked, which was probably the world's most dumbest question. "Sorry about the living room, too. I'll fix it. I just need a minute."

"Don't worry about the living room," she told him as her hand finally hit the switch and the room flooded with light. Leah rushed over to him, and put a hand against his chest. She could see the dampness that covered his face and frowned as her concern for him kicked into overdrive. "Oh, sweetie. What's happened? You're soaked."

"I don't know," David admitted. "I thought I was just dehydrated from being out in the sun, but now I'm not so sure."

He opened his eyes and looked at her as he exhaled deeply to try and quell the nausea. "You know when we were talking about movies? I think I maybe jinxed myself." He put his hand over his mouth with another sharply exhaled breath. His skin felt hot and prickly and his legs just felt weak. He prayed this was it and he wasn't going to get any worse but he started to wonder exactly what might've been in that chicken dish. "Hell..." he cursed.

She hooked her arm around his waist and started to lead him towards the bedroom. She nodded as she listened to him, and a small wave of guilt rolled through her for ever bringing up the Wayne's World quote in the first place. "You really think you jinxed yourself?"

"Maybe it was just a drugged chicken," he suggested weakly. "Or Sod's Law? I heard that can be a bitch. Probably just bad luck." He wished the next minute never had to happen in his entire life, though. One second he realised he'd forgotten to put shoes on... right before he threw up all over his feet... in front of a girl he fancied. Okay, he was going with Wayne's World jinxing.

"Oh, David..." Leah murmured as she rubbed his back and gently lowered him into a chair. "You wait here, okay? I'll clean this up and grab you a bucket. Or bowl... Do you even have a bucket in this place?" She hadn't finished finding out what exactly it was that David did have in this place. None of it seemed very personalised.

She leaned down and ran her fingers through his hair before pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You're really not well, are you? Good thing you got me."

David put the back of his hand to his mouth as he groaned. If he wasn't already bright red from the fever, he'd be blushing in mortification right now. "I can't remember what's here," he admitted. "I'm so sorry. This is probably the last thing you wanted to wake up to. I was just feeling sorry for myself and remembered what you said. I'm never going to Thailand again." He leaned over to clutch at his stomach, his other hand trying to stop anything else coming out of his mouth.

Leah disappeared into the kitchen area, and pulled out a mixing bowl and grabbed some paper towel. She set the mixing bowl into David's hands and got down onto her knees to start cleaning up his vomit. "It's fine, Renaissance Man, really. It would be worse if you were all the way back in Sydney and dealing with this alone. Sure, I can think of other things I'd rather be doing with you right now, but--" she shrugged as she smiled up at him, "--you're here. I like it when you're here, no matter what the reason. And Thailand? You didn't... street vendor?"

David nodded miserably. "It tasted nice at the time." He hugged the bowl as he gave in to another wave of retching. His stomach just seemed to feel worse afterwards, not better. "Not so much now."

"I can help with that. Oh god, this is crap. This is so crap it hurts my head to think about. Why is this happening? This is completely killing my image."

"Always does." She watched him closely, worried that he might pass out. Not that she wouldn't know what to do, just that she didn't want him to get any worse. She put a hand on his knee and squeezed gently. "If you had hair to hold back, I'd do that for you."

"I thought you would have realised I'm good at keeping secrets?" she asked him softly. "I don't even remember you being uncool and tipsy. You were completely suave and dead sexy."

David managed a small laugh. "Oh yeah? That was totally the Superman t-shirt," he joked, trying to swallow away the sick feeling. "This is nice, you know. Probably not for you, but it just is... thank you."

"Yeah. You're actually pretty sexy in the Superman t-shirt," she admitted with a cheeky smile. "I know what you mean, and you're right."

She mopped up some more of the vomit before getting to her feet and walking a short distance into the bathroom to flush the paper towel away. She grabbed some shampoo, a towel and spray bottle so she could clean the carpet. It wouldn't be perfect, but at least it would take care of the smell. "You want to stay here until you're better? I don't like the idea of you Jumping when you're like this."

David realised he must look like shit if how he felt was anything to go by. He felt like he wanted to shower to get rid of the sweat and just lie down in a ball until his stomach stopped cramping. And he didn't really want to do that alone. The only person he'd ever really had an interest in before was Millie but this was different... the thing with Millie wasn't even close to what this was.

"Sure you want me hanging around like this? I can't promise I'll be much fun. I can't promise I won't need to camp out on the bathroom floor all night, either."

Leah wasn't even thinking about how he looked. As she scrubbed at the carpet she found herself surprised by just how much she was worried about his wellbeing. She hadn't found herself caring about someone this much in a long while.

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure, Renaissance Man. I don't need fun, just think of it as you doing me a favour. I'll just wind up worrying about you all night otherwise. No sleep for me, and then I'll look all washed out with gigantic bags under my eyes." She pretended to pout as she peered up at him. "You don't want that, do you?"

David wanted the conversation to continue. He wasn't opposed to deep-n-meaningful if it ever fell into his lap, which was rarely. His initial answer, though, was to start throwing up all over again. He wanted the apartment floor to open up and swallow him then return him a few minutes later perfectly fine so he could just talk to her without needing to stick his head in the bowl. Great form, David. An opening to compliment someone you really like and you just puke. Lovely. This was kind of turning him off chicken forever, too.

He balanced the bowl on his lap and managed to steal some of her paper towel to wipe his mouth, trying to ignore the trickle of sweat slipping down his temple and cheek. "You'd still be beautiful," he said, out of breath from the heaving. "I just don't want you to worry about me."

Leah rose up on her knees and shuffled forward to rub his back, and wipe at the sweat on his brow. She wanted the conversation to continue as well, and not because she was looking for a compliment. She liked talking to him, and being around him. His voice sent little jolts of pleasure down her spine, and when he smiled she felt her heart skip a beat.

She squeezed his shoulder, and rest her forehead against his temple. "Thank you, but I'd still worry about you. I wouldn't be able to help it."

"I guess it’s a good thing I'm here, then, huh? You can see with your own eyes that I'm just irresponsible with food and I... can keep enjoying your attentions probably far too much than I should," he said with a faint smile as he looked up at her.

"Why too much?" she asked him as she frowned. "You think it's wrong to like being looked after?"

David gave a small shake of his head. He winced a little and hunched forward again as his stomach gave a particularly painful cramp and caused him to clutch it. "No, because one day I think I'm just going to wake up and not want to go again."

Leah rubbed his back again, her hand working circles against his skin through his t-shirt. She kissed his shoulder, as she looked at him. "You don't have to stay here... you could always just take me with you where you want to go. I have to admit just between you and me, that I'm kind of really liking it here. It might have to do with this place being yours, though."

"I've been here more since you moved in that I have collectively since I bought it, I think. I used to have another apartment here in New York, but it kind of got totalled and I didn't feel safe going back," David murmured. "So, I, um... passed the whole Wayne's World thing, did I? There I was swearing to myself I'd never be in that position."

"Well, you've certainly blown chunks and I'm still here, so I'd say you passed. I'm sorry I ever brought up that stupid quote. I always thought it was kind of apt, but then no one ever really threw up in front of me before." She moved her hand up to the back of his neck. "Do you feel safe in this apartment?"

"How romantic," David said, though he was smiling. "So, I'm your first huh? Now I feel like a complete dork. But I'm glad we had the conversation otherwise I probably would've just stayed home and wallowed in my own misery."

He sat up just a little. "Right at this minute? I'm wondering if I'm at risk of dislodging an internal organ, but I do, yeah. It took me a long time to feel safe again anywhere."

"I thought so," she laughed. "Mm... Definitely the first I remember. Most times I guess the guy's usually been sick somewhere away from me. You shouldn't feel like a dork. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Sick happens." She wiped some more sweat from his brow and looked at him. "I'm glad you didn't stay home, really. I like that you could come to me."

She made him hold the paper towel so she could take the bowl and empty it ready for the next bout. At least if he had the towel there was still something to throw up in. "Think you'd be better lying down? You can still nurse the bowl if that helps. And don't worry about the sheets. That's what washing machines are for." She knelt back beside him and rest her hand on his thigh as she leaned down to wipe at his feet to make sure they were clean. "It's good you feel safe here. Makes me feel less guilty for making you come to New York when I want to see you."

David had taken the few moments she was out of the room to rest his head in his hand and indulge in a brief pathetic minute of feeling sorry for himself. He felt so sick. He actually couldn't remember the last time he felt like this. He was usually pretty healthy. He had to wonder if it was just bad chicken or if it was laced with something. Neither scenario in those markets would particularly surprise him.

He started to feel like he was going to be sick again, so he just held the bowl close and tried to breathe through it. "I guess I don't feel completely safe anywhere, but it’s either do what I do or become a recluse. The latter would drive me up the wall. I know there are risks, but I just live with it. I don't think I could stop coming here to see you even if I was in danger." He paused, closing his eyes through the wooziness. "I think I should lie down. I don't think it can make me feel any worse."

"I can't really see you being a hermit, either." She stood up slowly, and combed her fingers through his hair before moving to offer herself for him to lean against as she slipped her arm around his waist. "I like it better with you not being in danger, and I have to be honest. I don't know I'd be so perfect as to ask you to stop seeing me even if you were." She looked at him, her blue eyes searching his. "I've gotten used to you. I like you, David. A lot."

David managed a smile as he met her gaze. "I like you a lot, too," he admitted quietly.

Leah laughed nervously, and ran her hand through her hair. "Good, otherwise, you know... awkward."

"Can't be anymore awkward than spewing on your carpet," he laughed weakly. He brushed his hand up her arm. "Lie down with me?"

Leah eased him down on to the bed as she nodded. She pushed him back gently before climbing in beside him and settling herself beside David. She took his hand in hers, and held it to her chest. "Tell me if you need anything, okay?"

David made sure the bowl was in quick reach and then tried to settle with his head against her shoulder. He curled his fingers around hers. "I've got everything I need right here."

Words | 2,835

[muse_shuffle] September Disc One

2008-09-09T12:16:02Z

Track 05. You changed your name // Well that's okay, it's necessary // And what you leave behind you don't miss anyway. (U2 – ‘Gone’)

The clocked ticked loudly on the wall as David sat awkwardly in the worn armchair of his childhood home and picked at a loose thread on the arm where there use to be a button holding the upholstery together. There was no button there now because he knew his father had spent many years fiddling with it as he drank himself in oblivion and watched sports night after night, uncaring what was going on beyond his intoxicated bubble. David fought the urge to check his watch again. Each visit, he was trying so hard to make it more like they were father and son and less like they were complete strangers. It wasn’t an easy task. Maybe it was an impossible task?

His father cleared his throat and shifted the half-empty coffee mug in his hands. “So… you’re taking care of yourself?” he asked, watching his son looking like he was about to do the evaporating thing at any moment. He didn’t want David to leave so soon this time. It had been weeks since his son’s last visit and he wanted him to stay longer. Since he was hurt in that attack and David saved his life, he missed him extensively.

David nodded. “Yeah, I always do.”

“And, um… you’re keeping busy doing… what you do?” his father queried.

“Jumping,” David murmured and briefly met his dad’s eyes before looking away again. “Jumping is what I do and it keeps me busy enough. Can’t complain.”

Mr Rice sighed and set the coffee mug down. He’d been trying to give up the alcohol since the whole fiasco with being attack by the crew who wanted to kill David for his abilities. It was a difficult task but he was trying. He had to try, for his son. “You never were the sort to complain, son,” he agreed. “And what about that girl of yours from High School? How are things going with her? I see her mom around town now and again.”

David pursed his lips a little and scratched his arm. “Things aren’t going with her. They never really did. It was a fantasy that lasted for a few days and that’s it. We’re cool. I just don’t see her much anymore,” he explained and thoughts immediately turned to Leah. Truth was, he hadn’t seen Millie since he said goodbye to her shortly after their trip to Rome. He hesitated and cleared his throat much like his father had a few moments ago. “I’m seeing someone else.”

Mr Rice’s eyebrows rose and he smiled faintly. “I’m happy for you, son. I know it’s not been easy for you. Hell knows I did nothing to help you along, either. But I was always proud of you. You know that, don’t you?”

“No,” David said honestly. “I don’t.”

“I’m trying, David. You have to give me a chance,” his dad pleaded.

David gave a slight nod. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Your new lass, what is she like?” Mr Rice asked with a genuine interest.

David’s eyes swept over his father’s face as he analysed the question through the tone of voice. His tongue trailed along his lower lip, almost like he was still tasting Leah there. “She’s perfect,” was all he offered. “She makes me happy.”

Mr Rice smiled, eyes brightening at his son’s declaration. “You’re a good lad, David. I never doubted that. I just lost sight of it…”

“It doesn’t matter,” David returned automatically. He wasn’t exactly holding his breath that his father was going to make a dramatic life change. He knew the drinking had lessened and his father was making a genuine effort, but he didn’t know yet if it was going to be enough to mend the rift between them.

“It matters, son. I want to make up for lost time,” Mr Rice insisted. “I’m trying to change.”

David’s watch beeped to signal it was midnight in Australia. He met his father’s eyes again with his own slight smile. “I know you are, Dad,” was all he said and they fell into yet another silence, but this time, it wasn’t so awkward.

- morethanleah referenced with permission

Words | 686

[just_muse_me] 2.4.2.

2008-09-09T09:18:57Z

2.4.2. TEN of your most life changing moments

1. My first Jump (I can't remember it - was enough to make my Mom bolt, though)
2. When my Mom bolted
3. Realising my Dad was a lazy drunk and a crap father
4. The crush on Millie
5. Falling through an iced over lake and Jumping to save myself
6. Realising I could enter a bank vault without a care in the world
7. The first time I Jumped overseas and realised what I had at my feet
8. Discovering the Paladins existence and nearly getting myself killed numerous times
9. Discovering my Mum was a Paladin and had been for many years
10. Meeting Leah

- morethanleah referenced with permission

Coming Over [RP with morethanleah]

2008-08-21T03:58:31Z

[Follows THIS]

LINK: Leah had put the camera cases and her laptop under the bed. She assumed they were safe there. She hoped they were safe there. Now she just sat on the bed and waited to see where David would pop up.

Negotiations [RP with morethanleah]

2008-08-11T10:18:52Z

David sat at the breakfast bar of his/Leah's Upper East Side apartment and teased his milky Cheerios with his spoon. He watched Leah as she stood near the kettle making coffee and then cleared his throat. "Are you pissed I didn't take you to China last night?" he asked.

Despite the teasing that he could take her to China for proper Chinese food last night after their first passionate encounter, he'd reneged at the last minute, Jumping her into the bathroom next door for a shower instead with insistance that he was really tired. She hadn't pushed him and he still spent the night but the first thing he thought about when he woke up that morning was that he'd disappointed her and now he felt guilty.

[NSFW] Keeping Company [RP with morethanleah]

2008-08-10T08:34:05Z

[Follows THIS]

LINK: Leah had tucked her laptop back into its case, and wondered into the bathroom to check she didn't look like she'd been lying around in bed for most of the day. She gave her teeth a quick once over with the toothbrush, and briefly considered putting some proper clothes on. She had a habit of sleeping in her knickers and t-shirt, and she wondered if he'd mind if she stayed like that. She walked back into the bedroom to start looking through the things she'd hung in the closet when she heard a noise, and felt a similar breeze ruffle her hair as when she'd been standing in the main room and David had appeared.

"I suppose it would have been a bit much to expect you to knock seeing as how you own the place," she said without turning around. She just prayed that she hadn't gone crazy, and that he was standing there.

Photographic Evidence [RP with morethanleah]

2008-08-07T09:37:32Z

It was the same old scene. Dollar after dollar, card after card, spin after spin, loss after loss. It was the same scene in any place like this... in any casino in the world. Star City in Sydney was no Vegas, of course, but it was one of the most prestigious casinos in Australia and the pristine Australian dollar was the same to anyone where, whether you were a tourist or a citizen, Sydney local, or from further afield. He had gotten to recognise the difference quickly. The rich, the wealthy, and the upper class were easy to spot against those trying to pretend they were just that but really only there to throw a few dollars of their holiday spending money in hopes they will strike it rich. He wasn't stupid enough to 'borrow' from them in a casino packing with security cameras, bouncers, and probably surveillance in the toilets. No, he preferred the much easier tactic of observation... look, listen, and note. Discover their hotel, the room number, aa local address, even names, then Jump to their suite or home and help himself to their additional cash. He knew that nine times out of then, they didn't even miss it.

He sat at the bar, beer in hand, watching the passing crowd. He'd not only now learnt to be an immaculate and highly exact Jumper since his run in with the Paladins, but also now a people watcher. A woman in a slinky red dress up the bar threw him a smile and a wink. He smiled back and held up his beer in a silent toast. Women were one thing he had no trouble attracting, for some reason. The whole concept was beyond him. He enjoyed women's company, of course, but he still didn't get the whole catch and chase of romance. And he probably never would. He was never in one place long enough to have a relationship. Things with Millie didn't work. A whirlwind (literally) trip to Rome, a fuck, and a near death experience was never going to be a good basis for a relationship. He took her home, wished her all the best, and continued on with the only life he knew how to live... only more careful now.

But he would be lying if he didn't say he got lonely. He had encounters and one night stands, but they never lasted more than a few days. He usually issued vague apologies of 'It was fun, but I need to move on for work'. He'd stopped the whole 'I'm in banking' thing and now went with the more apt 'I'm a travelling businessman'. The latter left little room for questioning and was more met with impressed smiles rather than raised eyebrows of 'What the fuck?'.

The lady in red seemed like yet another viable prospect, but did he want it? He finished off his beer and set the bottle on the bar with a small, inward sigh. No. Tonight he didn't want it. Tonight he wanted something else. He just didn't know what yet. He offered her another slight smile and left a tip on the bar for the staff, then weaved his way through the crowds. He made it to his Jump site in the quiet street near the casino and in a blink, arrived in the foyer of the Plaza Hotel in New York City.