Coffe Break (Aubrey)

[Matrim Gallagher]

(OOC: Matrim will have been placed back into sanity in another thread that takes place just after Message, so he'll be normal here.)

Matrim was taking Shayne out around town in a baby carrier, the device was rather silly but it was kind of cool being able to carry his baby in front of him. Still, having to take care of Shayne by himself was going to be harder alone but at home there was always Gale who took care of him while he was at school. The young baby boy seemed to like going out with Matrim though, and Matrim spent all his time at home with Shayne since he has to leave him during school hours.

"Hey Shayne, what do you say we go into the cafe up here? I could use some hot cocoa, and I'm sure they could heat up one of your bottles if I ask them too... if not I could always do it with Qi. I'll just have to be more careful this time...." Last time Matrim tried that out of curiosity the intensity of the flames practically boiled the formula. Next time he tried he'd have to do it from a distance or try to concentrate the flame on a single finger for a little.

Matrim entered the cafe and got in line. When it was his turn he ordered a hot cocoa and had them heat up a bottle of formula he had brought along for Shayne. He got their drinks and went to a nearby table, setting down the carrier in one seat and sitting in the next one over. He set down his cocoa and picked Shayne up out of the carrier, cradling him in his left arm as he fed the bottle to him with his right.

"Come on buddy, time to eat...." Matrim said, but Shayne didn't seem to excited about drinking any formula. Matrim kept it there, and tried rubbing the edge of the bottle along James lips to see if that worked, but still nothing. He finally decided to take a break, setting the bottle down and sneaking a sip of cocoa. As soon as he did Shayne let out a small cry, and Matrim looked over and simply said, "My cocoa...."

Shayne let out another small cry and Matrim set the cocoa down, grabbed the formula, and tried that again. This time it seemed Shayne got the clue that it was time to eat once Matrim drank something.

[Aubrey Seran]

Aubrey walked along the sidewalk with her bangs pulling back and talked inside a black, baggy touque. She wore a black form fitting coat that resembled a trench coat. It nearly reached the length of her plaid skirt and under the coat was a white tanktop.

Aubrey just finished buying some replacement books for the ones she dropped and left behind since she was attacked. It took her awhile to get to the replacements, due to the fact she was in the hospital a couple times, fixing her neck. Now, it didn't even look like she had a scar. It was slightly red, but give it time and it would heal.

Aubrey perked up when she smelled coffee from the building beside her. She turned and read the sign and it was, in fact, a cafe. She hadn't had anytime to get any, especially because that place by Gabe's burned down.

"Might aswell.." she murmured and opened the door. The door's bell rang as she entered and the clerk readied himself to take her order.

"An espresso, s'il vous plait." after her order was given, the boy took the card she offered and swiped it. While they were preparing her espresso she saw a familiar face. One side of her told her to get out of there, but the more dominant side said "Go talk to him". She grabbed the small cup and walked over to his table, with a kind smile.

"Mind if I have a seat?" Matrim was feeding a baby, probably the son he mentioned prior to losing his wits.

[Matrim Gallagher]

"Mind if I have a seat?" A girls voice said and Matrim didn't think they were talking to him at first, but then he looked up and quickly realized that they were. The girl was none other than Aubrey, he didn't know her last name but she was Gabriel's cousin from what he remembered. Just like before, the memory and guilt was there... but so was the anger. Just like in Alaska...

"Sure, just don't try to kill me and I'll do the same," Matrim said. The truth was that the girl wasn't tough at all from what he had experienced. In fact he was able to hold down Gabriel and a few others on top of everything else. It seemed as though he would be safe from them all. Not to mention the fact that all he had to do to protect Shayne was make a run for it. But he wasn't thinking of that, since he didn't put it to this girl to attack him.

"My cousin is Gabriel. You don't need to worry about him, he is a good guy, with good intentions."

The memory of her saying this to him came to mind. His memory was amazing, and it was very selective. He felt horrible for what he had done. Even if he was angry, it wasn't at her. Just like Emily told him.... don't let things go unsettled. Ever.

"I mean, I don't mind at all," Matrim said, looking up away from Shayne to look at Aubrey, "How... how is your neck?"

Shayne continued drinking his formula, Matrim turned back to Shayne and took out the bottle to wipe away some of the slobber and mess that Shayne was making while drinking before returning his attention to his new guest.

[Aubrey Seran]

She laughed at his... joke?

"I won't kill you, promise." she said smiling, as he said that she could actually sit down. He seemed a little more calm today, perhaps it was do to the baby he had with him, which was completely adorable!

Her blue eyes stared at the little bébé, but they were brought back up when Matrim asked about her neck.

"Oh, I went in for a couple surgeries. It is fine now." her smile never disappeared. "look, I am sorry for butting into your personal life. I didn't know nor did I know it would.. set you of." she wanted to pick up the baby and play with it, but it might have been a touchy subject after what happened. After all, Matrim appeared to be president of the "Gabriel Must Die" club. A touchy subject due to the fact Aubrey was related to Gabriel.

"How is your body?" she was refering to the incident where Gabriel's second in commande drove her car right into him. Well, at last it was him and not her. Aubrey probably wouldn't have survived from such a risky move eva pulled. Again her sight shifted to the young one. Aubrey always enjoyed the beauties in life and in her personal opinion, babies were one of the most beautiful. They were little innocent balls of life molding into a whole new person. Perhaps she could ask him later to hold the little fellow.

[Matrim Gallagher]

"look, I am sorry for butting into your personal life. I didn't know nor did I know it would.. set you of." She said, and Matrim understand where she was getting at but to be honest it wasn't her prying at him that set him off, it was the knowledge he gained when he was prying her for information. Alpha wanted to know if she was connected to anyone, to see if she was a weakling. Beta wanted to know if she needed any protecting. In the end bringing up Gabriel set Alpha off. "How is your body?"

"It's fine, just a few scrapes from that. I may not look it, but I am extremely tough. And it wasn't the first time I had a car thrown at me. Of course... the last time it was actually physically thrown. So... I'm fine," He said, his face was still somewhat blank in expression. He wasn't going to get angry with her, because in truth he wasn't angry at her. He was angry at Gabriel. Always was, always would be.

"What h-.... what I said was wrong that day. He didn't kill Reira... but he did threaten her life, and Shayne's life. He challenged me for my title, he had a group of followers lay an attack on the school... things turned out unfavorable for him and he took Reira and held her hostage. In the end I called his bluff, and it nearly got Reira killed by someone else...." Matrim explained, "Believe me or not, I don't care. He threatened my wife and unborn child. Then, shortly after we married... she gave birth to Shayne. Gabriel didn't kill her, nobody did. She just passed away. Death happens, it sucks but it happens. So don't think Gabriel is a murderer. At least, he didn't murder Reira."

Matrim wasn't sure if she would listen or not but then Matrim leaned in to look at Shayne, "Ahgoocheygoocheygoocheygoo!" He said rubbing his nose against Shayne's belly. He then blew a raspberry on Shayne's belly and listened to him making funny noises and laughter. He then sat up and looked over to Aubrey, "If you know him to be a different sort of person... it's important to know that things happened to him. Things that changed him. If you would like to, I could tell you some of those things."

[Aubrey Seran]

Aubrey took a sip as he mentioned his luck with cars. She could not wrap her finger around the fact that he said ti was literally thrown at him. It seemed very complex, and thought it best she didn't ask.

He then started off about the other day. It was to be expected, and she listened, though she didn't keep a smile to her face, it would be inappropriate to do so. Though hearing him out washed relief when he said Gabriel didn't kill Reira. She would never believe the fact that Gabe would kill someone, but it did baffle her as to why he would keep a pregnant woman hostage. Also, "So don't think Gabriel is a murderer. At least, he didn't murder Reira." Was unsettling for her. Was it possible he had killed others?

Aside from all this, Matrim turned his attention to his son, pleasing him for the time being, so he would carry on about Gabriel.

"I-I know him now, and he has a kind heart... maybe there was some mistakes he had made. After all, people tend to make mistakes." subconsciously, she reached for her neck and rubbed it slightly, due to the fact that that too, was a mistake. "But I wouldn't like to know what he has done, sorry." it was best keeping some knowledge far from her mind. She didn't want to see her cousin in a new light. He was her Gabriel, the big brother she never had. "It is best left unsaid."

Her hands reahed up, but still close her personal bubble, least she freak him out. "May I?" Aubrey was refering to holding the baby, but she wouldn't if he didn't want her to, after all, she was cousins with the "Monster".

[Matrim Gallagher]

"It's not what he's done that you should be worrying about Aubrey," Matrim said, recalling the things he found out about Gabriel during their chess game. It had become heated, and the stakes were raised to the point where each piece they captured granted them a question. The rules were they had to answer honestly, and Matrim had answered it as honestly as humanly possible. The fact was, that things always changed, even the answers to the questions Gabriel asked that day. If he asked the same questions now, he'd most likely get different answers. "It's a little more what's been done to him..."

"May I?" She said, and Matrim got the gist of what she wanted to do. After all she wasn't the first person who wanted to hold Shayne, a lot of people at the hospital wanted to. Most of them being the nurses that weren't necessarily his nurses that happened to walk past Matrim. Some of them were patients, but Matrim was smart enough to keep the baby away from most areas in the hospital considering the sick people that were in it. But the girl asking him was something he was alright with. Her quarrel wasn't with some baby child, and if she even tried to attempt something he was quick and extremely reactive. He doubted Shayne would come to any harm in her hands.

"Yeah..." Matrim said, and stood up out of his chair slightly, moving his hot cocoa out from the path and held shayne out cradled in his arms till for her to take him from Matrim. Shayne made some noises as he was being moved, but he didn't seem like he was about to cry. More like he was confused with the sudden movement. Matrim hoped Shayne wouldn't cry with this girl holding him, even if the only woman Shayne was really used to was Gale the heavyset nurse that Matrim had on his own personal payroll. "Make sure to support his head...." She probably already knew how to hold a baby, but Matrim was a worrier when it came to stuff like this.

[Aubrey Seran]

(OOC: I'm not sure if I'm allowed to make the baby do things... but I will, but if its a problem I will change it...)


She took the baby, making sure to support his head. Matrim made sure of it also, but it was a little fact a lot of people new about. That and she had plenty of time with babies. She used to babysit for fun, not like she needed the money. She leaned towards the small porcelain face and rubbed her nose against his. Her head receded back to regular level and she crossed her eyes, while sticking her tongue out. Aubrey wasn't sure if the baby really found faces funny yet, but she wanted to give it a try. Low and behold a tiny gasp of laughter came from the small mouth. Well, she would like to think of it as laughter, could have been gas...

She looked up to Matrim, with something itching at her mind. "Something happened to him? What..?" obviously she had taken back the words "Some things are best left unsaid". If something bad happened to Gabriel, Aubrey would love to know, to find away to help her cousin. At the same time she had to put to mind that Matrim might want to sabotoge Gabriel. after all Matrim had already gone through drastic messures.

As Aubrey waited for him to tell her, she handed her finger to Shayne as he took it in his small fist and squeezed as hard as he could. Aubrey smiled at the fact that all babies were so fascinated with squeezing fingers. Though shortly after, the baby brought her finger to his mouth and started gumming it like there was no tomorrow.

"Oh you don't want to suck on that..." babies had poor immune systems, and she was touching door knobs and dirty books all day; so, she gained possession of her finger.

[Matrim Gallagher]

(OOC: Normally not with NPC's that are owned, but I'm all for it and actually encourage it, gives me a break from RP'ing the baby every now and then)

"Something happened to him? What..?" Matrim smiled at this, remembering the thing Gabriel told him. He wasn't sure if he should tell her or not. He had a really good memory for these things, so he tried his best to remember it ver batim..... He smiled and looked down at the table as he remembered angering Gabriel so badly with their match.

"He said..... that he was born into privilege, a son of a Lord... it made him a target and he was abducted by a cult of Templers who manipulated him for years, along with others to make them into weapons. He was abused and kept from seeing the sun," Matrim said, thinking about it all, how much he wanted to put Gabriel in a cage like that. "Not to mention, in the fight where he threatened Reira... something went wrong, and there was an explosion. He made sure Reira was safe, and he pushed me away from harm."

Matrim then laughed and said, "I know you care about him... I know you don't like my feelings toward him... but if you knew everything I have went through you would have a greater understanding for what I'm about to say. The only reason he still lives is because he saved Reira that day, and because of you. I hope you don't think less of me because of that...."

[Aubrey Seran]

She listened while tickling shaynes belly. She nodded to what he had to say.

"And you would think to be more understanding over him, seeing as how he had been through a lot." a sad smile spread through her lips. "I personally believe you are being slightly biased on the whole thing. Just because he did a few things that pissed you off, you refuse to see him through another light. I know him, maybe more than you, and I know there is more good than bad. You just have to learn how to go foward in your life, and to abandon grudges." her smile warmed and even revealed her white teeth. "When you look past all the bad you can see the good. I'm sitting right here and I'm fine, am I not?"

Little whimpers came from the boy, so she repositioned him so he was laying chest to chest with Aubrey. Now he was there, she began to pat his back, waiting for him to burp. That he did, though something came up as well.

"Ha-ha, oops." She set him back in a cradling position with her right arm and with the left, grabbed a napkin and began dabbing the small amounts of spit up on her jacket. A perfect day to wear black.

[Matrim Gallagher]

"You're fine... I can't let go of certain things. I can't just forget some of the discussions I've had with him. He has told me the type of person he is, not just through actions but through words, and I could never bring myself to think of him in a different light," Matrim said, remembering the question he had asked Gabriel. Gabriel told Matrim he would sooner let a subordinate take a bullet for him than take it himself. That was his downfall in the end, that type of attitude breeds rebellion from followers, which is why so many who followed him turned against him.

I'm sure Connor who's even blind managed to see the truth about Gabriel that day... Reira...

Matrim's mind drifted...

"Ha-ha, oops." Aubrey said, and Matrim looked up to see Shayne had spat up a bit on her. Matrim snickered at this slightly, taking a drink of his cocoa. He had missed Reira, but he had kept that from Shayne, after all there was already one crybaby in the house. Two if you count Gale tearing up whenever she watched her stories. Around school he had to be the tough guy, so he never really got a chance.

"I come from a prison," Matrim said, "Me and Reira both did... that's where I met her. I promised her I'd break her out, and eventually I did. I promised her I'd get her to Alaska, and I did. I promised her I'd get her further into the US, and surprisingly that happened too. Even if I didn't really cause the last two.... the things I promised her still happened. I promised her that we'd be together and have a family....."

Matrim actually had a tear break at this point, "Couldn't keep that one....."