The rest of the day, the couple checked out of the hotel and went on a brisk walk around Dublin. He had a few recommendations on where they could have lunch before they returned to Kilkeel, ending with a small diner that served some smoothies. Although she was mostly an obligated carnivore, she did enjoy fruits and vegetables occasionally. Leas, however, did not partake in the smoothies but on the turkey sandwich that was offered on the menu. Weirdly, he hasn’t asked for any water or beverage, sticking to just the sandwich.
Strange...I haven't seen him drink anything at all this past day. She tried to offer him a smoothie she was drinking to try to coax him into hydrating. He had other plans. He did put his mouth around the straw, no sip, and pulled away saying something about how they just indirectly kissed. Prancing away from her reprimanding right after.
The female werewolf would punch herself for worrying, but she knew that mortals need to drink water often. Heck, she still needs to hydrate on a regular basis.
The nagging sense that he wasn’t human bit at herself conscious, but she knew no supernatural being that doesn't drink water except for vampires and already she disapproved of the possibility. He was humming so happily beneath the sun's rays as she tried to figure him out.
What are you?! What she didn’t expect was for him to drag her into a store full of boutique clothing meant for petite women. The mannequins here have much tinier shoulders and biceps compared to hers, causing her to nearly choke when he forced her to try some of the dresses these plastic things wore. His power of persuasion was so strong that she ended up trying a few out and feeling embarrassed every time. What she didn’t know was that he was notating each one he liked on her to order it later. And he had enough expendable money to order a few to be shipped to his house.
But he did that behind her back. She would find out his treachery later.
He showered her with gifts of food and accessories. He even got her another scarf that better matched her current clothes, saying how he felt sorry that she had to be put in that embarrassing situation. This scarf was black with silver trimming on the edges. She later thanked him and found a bathroom to swap it out. After just an hour, her three hickies were now two very faded ones. It worried her that he might find out and ask too many questions, so whenever he got close, she would make sure he didn't do more than just hold hands. This obviously bothered him, since he occasionally would comment on wanting to kiss her and in front of the whole audience too. That was enough to squeeze his hand hard to show her displeasure, but he only laughed harder afterwards.
They spent about three hours around Dublin, and now the soothsayer recommended taking her home. Part of her wanted to spend more time with him, but he had other obligations. She didn’t fight him, on the car ride back it was very quiet with both wanting to say something about that morning, but neither was brave enough to ask. She would love to explain away what really bothered her; she would love to reveal her wolf side to him. She would love it even more if she was just a mortal woman with simple insecurities like getting a bad tattoo.
This tattoo implicates more than just a simple wild impulse. It screamed who she was beneath her hairless shell of a body. The mythical creature that everyone feared, a beast like man, theorized to eat children and destroy everything in its path.
Although she is not some unhinged beast, it won’t change what people will view her as if her secret ever leaked out.
Kilkeel will lie in ruins just like that decimated Englishman village, and Leas might get hurt in the crossfire.
Two hours passed and she could recognize her apartment building. And recognized the landlady that rocked in her chair on the porch of this building. When the MR2 moved to a parallel park in front of the building, the Czechoslovakia lady started hooting. Mrs Rombart is still as rampaging as ever. “BETTER MOVE ALONG QUICK OR I’LL START CHARG-”
Idonea rolled her eyes, having to deal with enough stressful events to last her a week.
“You know....my offer still stands if you ever need a place to stay.” Leas, the beautiful being that crashed into her life like a bulldozer, said this out of nowhere. He had enough conviction in his tone to prove that he really meant it, his smile welcoming.
Don't tempt me! “You can’t be that certain that my presence won't become a hindrance after a day or so. Besides, it's too early in our relationship to make those kinds of proposals. Don’cha think?” Idonea, patted his arm and felt the very definition of his muscle beneath clothes. Clothes that are just in the way of fun. The only amount of physical attraction that she allowed was to kiss him on the freckled cheek. He just didn’t let her go, holding onto the excess of her shirt just to keep her from escaping. Then he crashed his lips against her own, making her tingle all over. Giving off a show for anyone to see if they look and, unfortunately, the one looking is Mrs. Rombart.
“THAT’LL DOUBLE THE CHARGES-”
Leas pulled away, gracefully ignoring the screaming widow. His eyes locked on Idonea, and he said with a coy grin, “Do not underestimate how much I really want you to myself and I must warn you now that I don’t tire quickly. Now tell me later what she ‘charges’ you so I can cover it...my elskan.”
Idonea lost her voice after that statement, only nodding pathetically. She didn’t know what to think about in that instant, and just mindlessly got out of the car and grabbed her bag from the trunk. Even when he bid her farewell through the window, and drove off, she barely responded. Even when Mrs Rombart yelled at her, spitting her cigarette residue saliva, Idonea did not react. It was when she was released to her apartment room, when she checked to make sure that her furniture was still in place. It is where she lost control.
She didn’t change into a wolf, only halfway with her wolf ears twitching and her tail forced out of the pant line. Her torso and legs grew bigger, ripping her latest clothes at the seams. She quickly ripped off the scarf and kicked off her shoes before her feet changed into those wolf-like paws. She restlessly paced around the room with those pawed feet, hands with claw-like nails rubbed at her face that was between muzzle and human face. This form looks like the werewolf movie called ‘The Howling’ minus the cheap props and the loss of human consciousness.
In fact, she still had her focus and was only snarling because she couldn’t deal with the latest Leas comment crashing through her hybrid cranium. The embarrassment after allowing herself to feel the glee of hearing those things too much to bear. Idonea changed into this form out of frustration. A tantrum that some would jokingly called ‘gentle berserking’.
How can he say those things...so openly!? It’s....getting too hard to keep him away. Even as she tried to rationalize to herself not to move in with him, not to let him get close, not to allow his comments to bother her.... She is now wallowing in her own emotional turmoil. Eventually, she grew tired of all the pacing and splayed her heavy frame on the futon. She could hear the metal screech from the strain.
She forgets that in this form she is way heavier, adding about a hundred pounds of pure muscles. So, she downgraded her form closer to human, but leaving the wolf's tail and ears. Her clothes were stretched out to the max, resting so loose around her. She is so tired of these mental gymnastics. Her heart wanted Leas, even the thought of him caused her tail to wag weakly. But why did the gods give her the powers of Fenrir?
Why couldn’t they let her people stay human? Was this gift more like a curse? It started to feel that way, and she was proud of being a werewolf. Now she is backpedaling, thinking that maybe the gods gave her this life as a joke. A joke that she doesn't understand. A joke that makes her realize how much she hated being a werewolf.
Leas did call her later to check up on her and she was just as quick to answer, in disarray as per usual. Idonea has been wallowing for a good hour.
“My dear esklan! I hope Mrs. Rombart didn’t give you too much strain. What was the charge this time?” His coddling over the phone was a sign that she didn’t really have a choice but to let him pay the bill. She was too exhausted to fight him and revealed the bill. When she did, she heard Leas mumble something not so kindly about a certain landlady. “Is this really how she makes the most money? Vonda gamla konan…”
“Pfft…No. She’s a widower.”
“Doesn’t mean she has to be a witch.”
Idonea laughed since it was the first time, she caught him saying something so disdainful. He wasn’t the type to be angry at anything. Then again, she would rather deal with an annoyed Leas than a depressed one, especially when she hurt his feelings that morning.
“Hah, glad to hear you laughing. I have some news to tell you regarding our next date!” Leas exclaimed a little more excited than her.
“Already…? What do you have planned?” The mention of another extravagant date exhausted her, since she had already spent a whole night, a whole frisky morning, and a whole afternoon with Leas. That entire time she had been fighting with herself. She almost wanted to tell him to stop trying anymore and end it here, but the more irrational side clamped her mouth shut.
The truth of the matter is that she didn’t want to end this fantastic relationship. She didn’t want the coddling nor the flirting to stop. Heck, she wanted to move in with him now. Her fantasies of waking up in the same bed as him plagued her mind, only to be reminded that she couldn’t realistically hide her wolf's side for long. The flirty comment earlier made her so flustered that it caused her to change her form again. If she lived with him, how long before she messed up and revealed her werewolf side? A month? A few days? A few hours? MERE MINUTES?
The only way to make this easier is if it turns out that he was a werewolf in disguise. Otherwise, this relationship is in danger of failing in a fatal transformation.
“Hm. I can only hint that you will need at least a week’s worth of clothes.” Idonea could feel his face beaming just with the words flowing out of the phone.
This date…is longer than the concert!? Her words strangled with her racing heartbeat, “Why that long, Leas!?”
“It’s a surprise!”
What the hell is this radio host thinking!? Idonea would be killed for sure by all the temptations and he wouldn’t be phased by it at all.
This is it Nea...the last date.... Just do your best and end it sweetly. The courage to push on for one more date helped her stay calm. She could try to convince him to shorten this date, but he sounded so excited. This is the last one and she would make sure it is memorable enough for him to finally open his heart to others. “Okay Leas. I will be ready!”
“That’s great to hear! I’ll be too. So, for our lunch outings-“
Her ears nearly tuned him out with this foreboding feeling darkening her mind. Despite her plans to end things as soon as she gets back, she had doubts seated between the cracks of her resolution. For some reason, she didn't see an outcome where he would easily recover from this. She even doubted harder that he would give up on her like that, not by the way he said those words in the car and the bet was thrown out the window. He wanted her more than anything else, he was willing to even offer her a place to stay, especially when he had prior trust issues.
It just screamed that sex was just a byproduct of what he really wanted to have with her. His aroma always had a tinge of longing whenever she was near him, and sadness when he thought he had hurt her feelings. He was a desperate puppy, pining for her attention and approval.
How is he going to cope when she leaves? How is she going to cope with staying away long enough for him to move on?