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DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on December 21, 2018 at 16:07

Normally around this time of the year Jem would only just be arriving back from being away at Boarding School in England since the summer. Over the summer somehow he managed to persuade Cornelia to let him attend public school here in Evermore. Just as long as he promised to keep up his grades, to try to be at the top his class. Along with taking extracurricular activities after school. It being sports, either lacrosse or football. He was good at both. Naturally athletic.  He didn’t know or why. He just was good at it. Jem was now on his school break for over christmas. Spending all his free time back at home playing on his playstation 4. Either Fifa or Red Dead Dimension 2. Cornelia spent most of her time at work, meaning that Jem spent a lot of his time alone. He didn’t mind or complain, knowing that a detective's job came with a lot of responsibilities and long hours. Jem managed to con Cornelia into letting him own a pet, to keep him company. She weren’t so keen on the idea as she knew he wouldn’t be interested in looking after it. Leaving it all for her to do, but he promised that he’ll look after.

Knowing that he wasn’t responsible enough to look after a cat or dog but a fish would be too much to clean. That and a fish wasn’t the most entertaining pet. So they had then agreed on a pet rabbit. One of the downsides Cornelia refused to have it kept in the living room or hallway meaning the only other place it could live was in his bedroom. Keeping him awake half the night. Jem had chosen a little grey and light brown mixed patchy fluffy rabbit, that he named Comet. Who was small enough for him to carry around in his hoodie pocket. Jem thought it might be a good idea to take Comet out for ‘fresh air’. Having bought a rabbit lead and harness online. As Cornelia would have told it was a bad idea. He would soon be finding it out. Deciding to take Comet out for a walk, causing to get a few weird stares from many people. After walking for a while, Jem felt a tugging on the lead before he could look down he looked and saw the harness was empty. With no sign of the little fluff ball.

Shock of horror filled his face with no sign of his pet. “Oh no” He gasped running his hand over his face thinking quickly of what he was going to do. The ‘human’ boy quickly ran down the streets of Evermore calling for Comet. Trying to find where he went. Hoping that he hadn’t gone far. Thinking that maybe he would have gone to the park as it’s close by. Hurrying up. Coming into the park he got to the main grass bit spotting Comet there running about. His eyes widened seeing a big husky dog on the other side who was running for his rabbit. Running fast as he could he was able to grab his rabbit, clutching him to his chest before he was eaten by the Husky. Thankful his rabbit was all safe and found.

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InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Astoria Belinski ~Admin~ on December 28, 2018 at 16:36

Memphis was a mischievous pup, there was no denying the fact and she had put Val in many awkward encounters. Though embarrassing for the Dhampir Ambassador, she wouldn't trade the experience for anything else in the world. They had been together for a while now and Val simply couldn't imagine her life without her rambunctious blanket thief. Although a little less crazy scenarios would be appreciated, she mused finally coming face to face with the stranger. 

"I sincerely apologize. It isn't that she is not trained, but she follows the rules as she sees fit" Valeria explained shooting an exasperated glance at Memphis who was trying to sniff at the stranger's chest. Crouching down, she attached the leash back on her husky's collar before gently tugging her back. Her glance moved to see just what had Memphis so distracted and as the head of a rabbit poked out to witness the commotion, Valeria couldn't help but smile. 

"Oh so that was who she was after. Dios! I am glad your rabbit's safe. But this isn't the best place for a walk" she stated gesturing to other dogs roaming around the park. "Maybe a basket would be safer. One of my old friends in Spain had a rabbit and she took him out in a basket. It used to be a frisky creature. Not an easy pet to have you know" With a grin, she moved forward to take a closer look at his pet before studying the stranger in front of her. He wasn't a human, she was certain of that, but decided not to comment on that fact. Though it certainly made her curious as to who he was "I come here every other day, haven't see you around. New in town?" she inquired casually resisting Memphis' tug at her leash. Her visit to the park often put her in the path of other supernatural beings, but she rarely interacted with them and they didn't come forward either. This was perhaps one of the few times that Val had taken the effort to actively get to know someone. Perhaps it was his age-he seemed very young or perhaps it was something about him that seemed familiar. He could be a Dhampir, her brain whispered to her,but she shot that thought down quickly. She had never assumed anything and she wouldn't start now. It was way more easier to inquire than build fictitious theories that could have no real factual grounding. 

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DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on January 8, 2019 at 8:51

Panic spread across the young Chadwicks face as soon as he realized that his pet rabbit has escaped. Squeezed out of its harness and made a run for it without him even notice. It’s barely been a few weeks since Jem had even had his pet and he’s now lost him. Already able to hear Cornelia’s words running through his voice as a constant reminder of how he was responsible. That she told him so. As it took weeks of pesterting and begging in the first place for Jem to be able to have a pet of some sort. Since to begin with he wanted a pet cat or dog but was told no since they would be too much work and he wouldn’t be responsible enough for one. So they then settled on with a rabbit even now so it seems he’s not even up to looking after it either. Losing Comet in matter of moments within taking it out. Stupidity hit him thinking he was stupid enough to take a rabbit out for a walk as it wasn’t like a dog you could take out on a lead. Whereas he thought it was a good idea at first but soon regretting his actions in the first place. Seeing how well it’s gotten him so far. Hoping that Comet hadn’t been hit and squashed by a car or eaten up by a dog or cat. Jem ran off as fast as he could in search for his pet. Hoping that he’d be able to find him before anyone or thing could.

The park was his best bet as it weren’t too far away. Hoping that it would be the best place for a rabbit to go. Where all the grass was. Reaching the park, relief hit him seeing there Comet was hopping along grazing on the grass. But on the other end of the park a big husky had its eyes locked onto Comet. It was almost a race for who could get to him first. Luckily Jem one quickly running and grabbing the fluffy rabbit. Clutching him to his chest almost with relief. Shielding him from the husky dog. Too wondering whose dog it was and why they let him loose in a park. With no one else in sight. It weren’t too long till a blonde woman came into vision running to them. Able to know that she must be the dogs owner. Soon apologizing to him as she clipped the leash onto her dogs collar so he wouldn’t run away. “He almost ate my pet for lunch” He pointed sounding annoyed almost but too knowing it wasn’t really her fault. “I’m still kinda knew to having a pet and I thought taking it out for a walk was normal but I found out a was wrong soon as he escaped his leash too” Jem went on laughing as he rubbed the back his neck telling her how it’d happen. “My foster mum wouldn’t let me have a different pet it was either a rabbit or nothing” He added almost quoting Cornelia’s words but didn’t know why he was telling her that. “I’ve been at boarding school for some time till this term when I decided to take classes woon instead” That and he tend to stay in doors almost chained up to his playstation like many other teenagers. Jem started to notice how the blonde woman was almost examining him, trying to figure out something about him. Finding it strange but just shook it off. “I’m James by the way but most people call me Jem” He introduced himself, smiling to her polity. Holding out his free hand out to her remembering how Cornelia always told him to be polite and have manners to new people. If not it would be rude.

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InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Astoria Belinski ~Admin~ on January 21, 2019 at 17:51

Owning a pet never had been easy. Val had, in the course of her travels seen people having all kinds of pets- from hamsters to pythons and she had never really thought that she would ever get around having one. Perhaps a fish or a bird, but the moment she had laid her eyes on that exuberant husky puppy, her heart had been completely captured. People had often asked her if she had ever been in love and Val's usual reply was often a negative head shake and a nonchalant shrug. She hardly thought about love or emotions in general knowing just how vulnerable it could make someone. Afterall, she had had daily proof in her life as her father went about mourning her mother's death and screwing up her childhood in general. That had been her experience with that word and she often preferred to stay far away from it. But the moment that excited husky and chewed on her shoes, she was completely sold. It was how Memphis can come to be with her and now Valeria couldn't imagine her life without her.

On hearing the latest mischief her puppy had been up to, she mock glared at her "Did I not feed you enough today Memphis? That you went away this cute little thing? You should be ashamed of yourself" Valeria admonished wagging her finger at her husky. And while most dogs would atleast appear guilty, Memphis simply cocked her head to the side and stuck out her tongue, her tail wagging without any care in the world. Turning back to the stranger who introduced himself as James, she shook his hands "Nice to meet you James. I wish we'd have met in a better circumstance where my dog wasn't attempting to make a lunch of your pet. I am Valeria and this unrepentant husky here is Memphis" Introducing herself, her gaze went to the cute rabbit he had been holding against his chest "I can imagine why your foster mum would have said that. Owning a pet isn't the easiest thing in the world, especially when you have someone who shreds three pillow worth of fur everyday, but a rabbit is a really wonderful pet to have. Dangerous to maintain bu still wonderful" He was definitely a supernatural and for reasons unknown her gut was telling her that he could be a Dhampir. Valeria wasn't in the habit of ignoring her instincts and wanting to know a bit more about him, she gestured towards the cafe on the other side of the road "I was just about to go grab some coffee. Would you like to join me? Consider it like an apology for my husky's rude behaviour. They luckily allow pets and have the best muffins this city has to offer. What do you say?" 

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DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on February 8, 2019 at 21:52

A pet could also be a guilt trip rather than when a little kid wants a pet. Begging their parent for one, knowing too well they weren’t allowed or responsible enough for one. It is what happened with him. Somehow managing to get one pulling out the abandonment card. Jem spent most time when he was home alone as Cornelia spent long hours in the office or out. An empty home can get boring. So he was allowed one. No clue of how to look after a pet, a rabbit. It couldn’t be too hard could it? Right? Finding it so far easy but it was because Lucas was still little. Small enough to be carried around in his hoodie pocket and not big enough to run all over the place. There’s been a few times where he’d let him out and not been able to put him back away in his cage. Causing Cornelia to yell at him when she got home. But they managed to find him in the end. His room was messy as it was without having a little rabbit running riot around it. Since he was only allowed to have it kept in his room but maybe when it gets bigger and when it’s spring Jem would buy a hutch to keep Lucas outside. Till then he was an indoor rabbit, plus Jem didn’t want him to be outside all the time. Away from him.

Jem watched as Valeria was having her own conversation with her dog, learning it was called Memphis. She was talking like it could talk back or something. The young Chadwick was laughing watching seeing as the dogs tail was wagging away. “Nice to meet you Valeria” He replied but couldn’t help to see that she was staring at him. Almost examining him in a way, not able to shake it. “Still less bigger than a dog” He added, not able to have a big dog as her husky. Preferring something small like a rabbit or cat. “Place that allow pets of all sorts?” Something he’d not heard of before, if they’d be okay for him to take in his rabbit too. “Sure I got nothing else to do. Cornelia won’t be home for hours so” He answered mentioning his foster mums name not or thinking anything of it. Or that Valeria would know of her. Jem put Lucas away in his hoodie pocket knowing it’ll be an easier way to carry him around. Causing less people to stare at him.

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InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Astoria Belinski ~Admin~ on February 20, 2019 at 15:40

Growing up in Paris, she had always wanted a pet as a child, often rather envious of her friends for having them. But her father thought them as a distraction and did not allow her to own even a fish pond. As a result, she often found herself going to dog parks on the pretext of exercise and spending hours watching, petting and playing with other people’s pets. But as she had grown up, other things had taken precedence over her desire to have a fluffy friend and it wasn’t until her stay in Siberia that she realized that her desire hadn’t really dissolved and on seeing Memphis knew that she couldn’t possibly leave the place without having her. Though the earlier days had been quite a struggle with her constant travelling and training a puppy who took pleasure in destroying everything and looking absolutely adorable while doing it, she couldn’t now conceive of a life without her troublesome husky as a part of it.

She had began directing him to the said cafe, when the mention of Cornelia’s name gave her pause. “Oh you are staying with Cornelia? I know her.” Val began content with the realization that he might be a Nephilim but did not mention the fact out loud. “Are you simply visiting or do you plan on making Evermore as your residence?” She queried nonchalantly as they reached their destination and she pushed the door open for both of them to pass. Leading him to the counter, her gaze took in the eclectic spread of people with their different pets all enjoying a warm drink and bite to eat before venturing out again. “What would you like to have? It is on me.”

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DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on March 22, 2019 at 17:57

Jem had always longed to have a pet ever since he was young. A part of him wanted it so that he wouldn't it be so alone. A companion. Someone by his side. Someone, something to live. To know how matter bad his life was he’d still have something. Yet he was never allowed one. Jem knew it was from spite. His Aunt and Uncle stopping him from having one. Another one of their cruel acts that they called being guardians. It was something that put Jem down for years. To feel that he was treated like an animal, not a human. It was to show how damaged he was. To now cling onto what he has. Having a better life now to compared to how things used to be even if he was still an orphan. Jem was still so grateful for Cornelia that she took him in. If he was her, he wouldn’t have taken in himself. Still thought of himself of a runaway teenager and not a normal teenager. Jem found it difficult to fit in, his childhood still haunting him. Stopping him from forgetting that he could be a normal teenager. To live in a city where nobody knows of his troubled pasts of what happened to him. Yet he’d always have people knowing who exactly he was when his surname was mentioned with his father being quite known in the city. One of the fallen detectives.

He could see how much Valeria replies on her husky. Seeing the way she was with it. Her companion. A mans or in this case woman’s best friend. That it’ll follow her wherever she goes like a shadow almost. “Yeah Cornelia is my guardian, took me in” He answered, there were a few who knew of his situation. Mostly at the police station where he went to spent time whenever he was bored. Knowing that Cornelia would still be there for others. “Oh you do?” Almost not sounding surprised thinking that it was because Cornelia was one of the detectives at the police station. Someone that quite a few people knew. “I live here at the moment, not sure where I’ll go after graduation. There’s different colleges around the stations, go to where it’ll take me” Jem wasn’t so sure where he could see himself living. Currently he was in Evermore but he didn’t know if wanted to live here forever. To begin with he only came here in search of his father soon finding that he was dead. Putting him back to square one. Stuck almost. Not knowing which way way to turn. He could go anywhere with nothing stopping after he gets the grades first. One thing that he had noticed was that everyone in the city had a weird hold on it. It was a place that was constantly drawing people in from all places or countries. The people who come tend to never leave. Arriving at the cafe The Young Chadwick was baffled almost seeing people all sitting around with their pets. Not just the usual dogs but cats, rabbits, guinea pigs. He had heard of Cat Cafes being a thing but didn’t know of a pet one. “You sure?” He quizzed double checking if it was okay for her to pay. Having some pocket money in hand that Cornelia always gave him each week for food or some other bits he wanted. His weekly allowance. “Can I have a latte and piece of chocolate cake please” He answered using his manners that he’d always been told to do. Sticking to the staple simple order rather than a complex one. Not one to venture out trying something new. He stood waiting for Valeria to order and pay so he could let her choose and decide where they wanted to sit. If she wanted to be out the way of other dogs or not.

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InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Astoria Belinski ~Admin~ on May 8, 2019 at 8:05

When she had been young, Val had never seen herself as an animal person, or even having the time and ability to care for them. They had a goldfish once, but that too died within days. She had always been a loner, a wanderer and given her wanderlust and changing places every three months or so, having another living being was hardly conducive. But Alicia had insisted on her visiting the shelter once, and what had started out a simple tour ended up being so much more. Val could still remember herself walking on, partially listening to Alicia drone about the care and facility when her eyes had landed on a husky puppy. Wanting to know why a puppy was there, she was informed that it was battling a disease that not many had the funds to treat.

It had started out as being a caregiver till the puppy was being treated and then Alicia assured her, it would be very easy to find a caregiver. But the more time Val spent with the husky, the more she grew attached till the time that the thought of parting with her puppy was intolerable. Memphis was cured and she adapted rather easily to Val's traveling and the Dhampir found herself, for the first time in perhaps forever, happy to have a companion tag along.

Studying the menu, she  assured him that she was happy to pay and ordered a sandwich and a chocolate milkshake for herself and some dog biscuits for her husky. The great thing about the place was they also had meals and treats for the pets and there were quite a few of them around. Unclipping Memphis from her leash, she allowed her roam around, turning towards the boy and gesturing at a table near the window. 

"So what are planning your majors in?" she asked curiosity taking a bite of her food. Having never really gone through higher education, Val wasn't all that familiar with the working of the system. Her dojo and duties took up most of the time and she wasn't the biggest fan of institutionalized learning. "Evermore is a great place to spend some time. We even have a some welcoming committee and tour organized for the new members every weekend at the city hall. I sometimes volunteer so you can more than welcome to tag along. Any friend of Cornelia's is a friend of mine"

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DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ James Richard Chadwick on July 8, 2019 at 21:43

Jem had never really the one for making friends. Not having the best up brining to say the least. Back in school he always was the one kid who sat alone in the playground with no friends or anyone to play with. All the other children’s parents warned their children to stay away from him. Saying that Jem was a wrong one that bad things follow when he’s around. All of it wasn’t true. Just different things that parents made up for people to stay away from him. Mostly all down to his Aunt and Uncles reputation being the drunk off the street. That bit was true yet their reputation always followed Jem even with how much he tried to distance themselves from them. Even now he still struggled to make any friends. Jem knew he had nothing to worry about. Having left that whole life behind, part of him couldn’t forget about his old life. Never telling Cornelia that he was still struggling. As she’s already done so much for him, taking him in. Putting a roof over his head, paying for food, even paying for his education. Forever grateful and in debt to her, so he didn’t want to worry her with his troubles. Jem did make a few friends to when he spent a school year in boarding school yet with the whole moving back to America, he’d lost touch with the ones he had made. Did a study buddy count as a friend? In a weird way Jem was always finding it easier to make friends with adults. So he didn’t find it so weird or hard making conversation with Valeria. 

Yet he couldn’t help to grow a bit curious to how she kept looking at him. Almost she was trying to analyse him for something in a weird way. Part of Jem wanted to blurt out to why she was starting, if there was something on his face or something. That was the most common thing to happen, mostly to him. Since Cornelia was always complaining when he spilled food or coffee down himself. A typical boy thing, having bad personal hygiene. Yet he wasn’t as bad as others, since living with Cornelia always made him to keep in check. Following her house rules and all. In return he gets pocket money and somehow managed to sway her way around to letting him have a pet. Sitting in the cafe type of place, Jem sat opposite to Valeria who was looking through the menu. Jem was still making sure that Lucas stayed put on his lap, looking down he saw the little fluffy rabbit sitting peacefully on his lap. Buried into his hoodie, he made sure to keep one hand holding onto him. Not to say he didn’t trust Valeria’s husky Memphis and all. It was the other animals he was worried about mostly. Since Rabbits was prey to most typical animals. Not the average pet to take out here and about the place. Now wondering why Cornelia told him not to let Lucas out of the house, now he was starting to understand why it was. 

Soon enough their food arrived, both of them started to chuck into their food. Hearing the usual question about schooling and what courses coming up. “Umm I want to try to follow in with my dad's footsteps. Something to do with the police force” Jem answered looking up to her, part of him wanted to follow through with his father's legacy. All that he had left of him, Jem knew he never met his dad before he died but part of him felt if he followed through into his footsteps he’d feel that his father would be proud in a way. Still having a long way to go and all. Jem always found taking exams hard, not making anything easier for him. Luckily Cornelia organised private tutoring for him, hopefully with long hours, time and effort he’d be able to pass his exams with enough points to get him through to the college paths he’d be needing to take. Having different pressure from different people to succeed. Jem scrunched up his nose a bit hearing Valeria talk about welcoming committee and tours for new people to the city, a strange thing to do. “Umm no thanks I’m good” Not wanting to sound rude and all that type of thing wasn’t his sort of thing. Looking at the time on his watch Jem saw it was later than he thought. “Shoot I got to get back home. Cornelia is going to kill me if she finds I’ve gone out and especially if she finds I’ve taken the rabbit too” Being quite hasty jumping from his chair almost knowing he was in trouble was he was supposed to be studying. “Thank you for the food, nice meeting you. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime” Shooting her a friendly smile grateful to the sort of stranger paying for his food. Part of him had a weird feeling that they’d meet again maybe in the same situation. With that Jem took hold of his rabbit Lucas, soon hurrying out of the cafe and back to the house he shared with Cornelia. Hoping that was at work and he’d escaped her scolding him. 

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