A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews. :) But ,as ever, I have some comments
to make.
To Rach: Don't worry, Role Games are nothing bad or rude. :) Imagine: We are sitting at a table, you, other reviewers, and I. In an X Files RP, for example: You are playing Scully, Gothic Spook is playing Reyes, and I am playing Mulder.
Whoever is the Master (let's say...DDstalker) says something like: ''You are standing outside the haunted house. What do you do?'' And I say: ''I get out my gun.'' And you say: ''I'll go in first.'' And then the Master says: ''Ok. Roll your dice and if you get higher than ten, you succeed. If not, you trip on the mud.'' :) It's very funny to play with friends. There are all sorts of dices with very different numbers. From dices to 1 to 4 to the most popular (and basic) D&D one, that is 1 to 20.
D&D is a medieval-ish, Lord of the Rings style game. You put in your character sheet what the person you are playing is. For example, an elven sorcerer. :) Or a dwarf, human... the list goes on. :) (I recommend that you try it!) ;)
To DDstalker: I checked the date when D&D was created. It was in 1974 By Gary Gygax and David Arneson (Duchovny was born in 1960 or something like that, is that right?). I know it would be pretty new, but it was there. :) And hey, the Lone Gunmen are the first to get anything new that's cool, so... LOL! I have been playing since forever and I absolutely adore that game. :) (And Langly was playing it in 'Unusual Suspects'! LOL!)
About the spelling and grammar I wouldn't mind you correcting me. :) Nor anyone, btw. English is not my first language, and I would like to improve. LOL. Thanks. :) (Oh, and I am not keeping much chronological order...Most High School fics would not work if people did, LOL.)
Now... the rant is over. LOL.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After a few moments of tense silence (well, just partial tense silence, since Marita kept humming a silly song) Frohike decided to get everyone on the damn table at once and start the game before Langly started throwing dices to get all the attention.
'' You've all met before, then?'' Byers asked Mulder when he sat by him. Mulder muttered a 'something like that' that was barely audible. Mulder was sitting between Byers and Langly. By him, Frohike, Marita, Bambi, a spare seat for Monica, John and finally Pendrell.
''This room will be crowded soon.'' Frohike said.
''If it's crowded, Frohike, we'll kick you out.'' Marita said with a sly smile. But not even the runty was offended. In the previous year, at the end of school dance, Marita had taken Frohike with her just to piss off her real love interest: Alex Krycek.
''Whose turn is it again?'' Bambi asked.
''Let's restart so that Dana doesn't get lost.'' Mulder said, and all the eyes were suddenly set on him. ''I mean... it's the first time she plays, right?''
''The knight in shining armor coming to save the maiden in distress. How... cute.'' Marita said with a wink to Dana. She blushed slightly but didn't say anything. Mulder's jaw dropped to the floor. Marita was blowing up his cover! (Wait, what cover?) He started thinking that if Marita could crack jokes about him that easily, he was being too obvious.. and decided to lower his head before he said anything else that would give him away.
''I think I will be able to keep up with it if you explain it to me as we go...'' Dana said, eyeing the others. Langly decided that he and Marita would be explaining how to act and how to be a character. They had tones of spare character sheets... so there shouldn't be a problem. Thus Dana ended with a pretty red-haired human wizard.
The game seemed to be starting at a castle. Dana assumed that they had been playing before and that in the journey to there the characters (and maybe the players too) had been fighting over almost everything. What path to take, what door to choose, in what spot to camp... the list could be endless.
Dana learnt that in their last game session Frohike had wanted to head somewhere else and Marita had threatened to fight his character in the game. Frohike had chickened out because he played a dwarf cleric ,and Marita played a blonde bomb... that happened to be a kickass barbarian.
So every time that the Marita started bickering with someone, another would snap: ''Dare to tell her otherwise.''
Dana did act a bit as the damsel in distress... it was her first session anyway. She didn't even know that there would be a titanic dragon behind that door that she decided to open. And while Frohike was struggling with his character and the dices not to become the dragon's lunch...
Monica arrived. And as she crossed the door she almost had a panic attack. Before she could even open her mouth, Marita pointed to the empty seat between Bambi and John with a cheery smile. Monica reluctantly sat down, and she was quickly given her character and some dice.
She didn't say too much for most of the game. But John didn't either. Marita was getting rather bored with people not wanting to speak, so she started figuring out a plan with Bambi that none was aware of. Yet.
One of the key moments in the afternoon was when the two newbies- Dana and John- had to be saved from a trap by Knight-Of-The-Day Mulder and Expert- Sorceress Monica. Furthermore, the rescue had been epic. For Dana, it included something like being swept off her feet by Mulder escaping the trap together at the last second. In John's case, Monica had jumped forward before an arrow got to hit him... and got wounded instead.
Such a tragic scene. Marita absolutely loved it. The best thing about the RPs is that you are capable of saying things that you'd never say in real life. Maybe because the character is not like you, or because... you don't dare. And the whole ''You could have died in there. You shouldn't have done it'' ''I wouldn't have let you die, I had to.'' Scene, even if just played was good enough to make everyone shut up.
Until it was over and Bambi and Pendrell blew up the whole damn castle two seconds after everyone was out.- With John's character carrying Monica's, needless to say. ''You were wounded because of me, I have to make up for it.'' John had said, as his character.
As this exchanges happened, Marita was about to dance like Snoopy. Tee- hee... things were changing for the best. When it was rather late and it started getting dark, the group decided that it was better to go back home for everyone.
Bambi had to go back home, and since her house was the most farther away, the group decided that she would call from Frohike's house first to tell her mother she was heading there now. Byers and Langly, who lived in the same area, said that they'd be taking the same bus with her to the other side of town. This way, none of them would be left alone.
The others agreed, and so they headed off after a short call. Monica had to go back home as well. It was just a couple of streets away... but Marita would have made everyone swallow a twenty-sided dice if Mon went back home on her own.
So John offered to escort her in a macho-pride twinge. And he even pretended to do it because he didn't want the others mad at him. Yeah right. Not even Frohike believed it... and that was a lot to say, considering that the gunman rarely noticed anything that was remotely romantic.
Pendrell shook his head as they headed outside and looked at the ones left in the room. Frohike would not be moving, that was for sure. This was his house after all. Dana's house was in the next street... and Mulder knew that if he didn't follow her, two things would happen:
One, Marita would choke him.
Two, he'd choke himself.
So wanting neither murder or suicide, he decided to take her to her house, even if he lived in the same street as Frohike and Marita. Pendrell lived next to Mulder, actually. He was his closest neighbour, and usually they'd make the way back home together. But Pendrell didn't open his mouth: he didn't want to give the others' plan away.
''I should leave now, or I won't be able to come again.'' Pendrell excused himself, leaving the house. He promised that just out of security, he'd call Mulder later so that they made sure that he'd reached home safe. It was more a habit than anything else... but the Lone Gunmen were paranoids. And so their friends eventually became total paranoids as well.
Right after Mulder and Dana had left the house, Marita said her goodbyes to Frohike and headed to her house, in the other side of the residence.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''What do you mean, we are in the wrong bus?'' Bambi asked Langly right after they'd stepped onto it and it had taken off.
''Exactly that.'' Langly explained. ''I think we should have stepped on number 21 and this is number 23, Bambi.''
''Ok... WHO said this was the bus?'' Byers asked, trying to remain calm.
''YOU DID.'' The other two told him.
''Ooops...''
''Ok... don't worry.'' Bambi started to say. She was one of the smartest cookies. So, come on, shouldn't she be able to work out a plan to get away from this mess? ''We will go down at the next bus stop , we'll ask the driver where the 21 stops and we'll swap busses at the fisrt chance we have. We may have to wait at the stop 10 minutes at the most...'' She ranted and ranted on and on and Langly kept adding detail.
The bus stopped and the two went down. That was when, right before the bus could take off again without them, they were pulled back inside by Byers.
''Dude, we had a plan!'' Langly complained when the doors closed in front of his nose.
''Didn't you think of an easier way of knowing on what bus we were?'' Byers said, about to laugh.
''Like what?'' Bambi asked.
''Like, ask the driver.'' Byers said simply. The other two eyed him with wide eyes. ''We ARE on the 21. But instead of asking you assumed that we were in the wrong one.''
Bambi and Langly eyed each other like idiots for a second. Byers started thinking that if they were the smartest cookies around, they were lost, and couldn't help bit laugh a bit.
''Whose idea was that we were on the wrong bus?'' Langly asked.
''YOURS.''
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''So... you had never played before?'' Monica asked, trying to get rid of the nervous silence. Tense, cold... she didn't like it. ''You seemed to do well, for being the first time you played.''
''I still almost got an arrow on my ass.'' He said with a slight smile. Monica smiled too, rather shyly, and nodded, as if understanding. And then she started feeling nervous. Uh-uh... They had done quite a scene, really. The others hadn't stared like that at an RP conversation since Langly took over the role of the princess that Frohike had to save- and that had been an hilarious one.
''You really didn't have to come. I know my way home.'' Mon muttered, as if suddenly feeling bad for making him worry. But the fact was... she felt good. As good as someone can feel knowing that you've just had a relish of what a love scene with your Big Crush would be. She couldn't help but smile.
''It was the least I could do for someone who saved my life.'' Monica couldn't help but laugh a bit this time, with that sort of answer and John's wide grin. ''And I hope that will repeat itself. Promise?''
''Save a newbie's ass? Anytime.'' Monica grinned too, as they reached her house. She looked at it for a second, and they watched the light inside for a moment before she decide to get her keys out. ''Where do you live?''
John pointed to a house that was farther off in the same street.
''Not too far away.'' He said. ''I didn't know you lived so near.'' Another tense silence. One of many that Monica hoped to finish at some point. ''I could come and pick you up to go to school. We wouldn't have to walk our way to there alone.'' That was an explanation or an excuse? Monica smiled and nodded.
''I'd like that, yeah.'' They stared at each other for a second, then he reached over and lightly touched her hand as a goodbye. Monica was a bit shocked at first for the deliberately friendly touch- something that Marita would be proud of, in her place (she couldn't wait to tell her on the phone!) and that something that made Mon blush...
''See you soon, Mon.'' Mon! He's using my nickname! Monica was radiant. She nodded again and returned the hand gesture.
''I'll be waiting for you tomorrow. Good night.'' She finally opened the door and he headed to his house. Monica closed the door behind her and skipped two steps towards the dining room, out of simple happiness. ''YESSSSSSSS!''
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''Zdrahstvoyteh, tsarevna.''
Marita stopped dead on her tracks. She did not turn around. Why bother, anyway? He'd be making himself seen soon enough. The low voice, whispering in Russian, calling her princess in a language that she barely understood ... She almost didn't remember that this game was both dark and unvoiced. And that she loved it. But that had been before the fight...
''Don't even bother, Alex.'' She said, and continued walking. She had to keep in mind that she was mad at him. Well, if she was so mad, why did she have to keep reminding herself that she shouldn't talk to him?
Suddenly, the familiar way home seemed so much longer. It was the first time in a long while that she went on her own... and she definitely hadn't planned on finding him there. She mentally kicked herself for being so predictable. Or maybe wanted to kick him for knowing where she'd go?
She turned around this time and faced him. And there he was, a bit taller than her, with those dark piercing eyes seeing right through her. And this time she didn't like it. Or did she? He was as he'd always been, standing there in his overconfident pose, with the leather jacket unmistakable in him.
''I thought you'd be happier to see me.'' He said, titling his head to the side in mock questioning.
''Why would that be?'' She snapped. ''You ditched me, and that's not something someone can do to me twice.''
''That was a mistake.''
''A mistake called what, Belinda?'' Marita said with an ironic smile. ''Try a better excuse, one that's been less used.''
''And what about you? You went to the dance with that geek just to make fun of me!'' He complained. ''I had to stay there doing nothing?''
''You'd been speaking to your friends, Alexei.'' The fact that she named him in Russian was almost an insult. ''And I don't like being in everyone's mind. Next time you get a girlfriend, be careful with what you tell your friends.''
Marita turned on her heels and this time did get away from him. Or so she'd thought. Because soon he caught up with her again. He always did.
''Leave me alone, Krycek.''
''You don't want that.'' He said, and Marita had to turn just to make sure that it was a plea what she had just heard. Amazing, simply amazing, coming from him. ''Marita... I don't know what you have heard, but it's not true.''
''If you think I'm mad for that brat you brought to the prom, you've gone crazy. I've been told that you've been speaking to someone's father. Someone called Jeffrey something, who's father is a pain in the ass. And YOU don't want that, Krycek.''
''I could prove you on whose side I am, if you decided to give me a second chance?'' He said, gaining his vague smile again.
''If you screw it this time, I will punch you so hard your ghosts will get dizzy.'' She stated, and eyed her house, barely a few feet away from her. Alex smiled wider and let out his gloomy laugh.
''I know you will.'' He said, and leaned over to her. She looked at him for a second before grabbing him by the jacket and pulling him into a kiss. When she let go, she almost pushed him. Letting him watch her as she walked away and entered her home, Marita smiled.
If you think this is a game, Bastard, I will have your head. Marita thought, knowing that at to some point, with Alex... everything was a game.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''So, since when do you play?'' Dana asked. Did everyone have this sort of problems when they tried to start a conversation with the opposite sex?
''Forever.'' Mulder answered with a slight, foxy smile. ''The guys and I were a gaming team before we even knew the girls. But... the games got better when they showed up. Maybe just because of the fact that we always had opposition to the macho philosophy.'' Dana grinned. Well, that was for sure.
''Oh, and nice rescue. Bambi and Pendrell blew the building up two second after we went out.'' Dana smiled. At least that game was going to be an excuse to start a conversation.
''That's what I call good timing.'' He said with a wink. He noticed that they had reached her house, but she wouldn't deliberately look at it yet. Maybe she didn't want to leave just like he didn't. ''So...''
Mulder knew he'd have to crack a joke, say something witty. But for once in his life he was speechless- incredible, that was freaking incredible. He even pondered if that'd be an effect of being near comics so much.
''I... I think I will get going.'' Dana said, feeling that the silence was getting tense. Damn, she didn't know what to say. Even worse... none of them did. After she said that, she saw him nod slightly, even smile a bit. But he didn't move.
Ok, this was stupid enough. And Mulder knew that in doubt, the best choice was to make the best question:
''Seeds?''
''Oh... no, thank you.'' Dana smiled, seeing that he'd gotten a bag of them out of his pocket. Did he carry them around? Did he have a constant craving for sunflower seeds? She smiled at that though... and started noticing that he was the sort of person who would not intimidate anyone unless it was in self-defense.
''I am a bit confused about where I have to go tomorrow to find the school.'' Dana said. And it wasn't a lame excuse: It was true. She didn't know if he would believe that, though. But from the genuinely ashamed face that she had making that statement, he must have.
He smiled slightly and nodded.
''I will come to take you to school, for as long as you need.'' He said, before he could even think of it. ''Being new here... you'll probably need it.''
''I'll like it.'' Like it. She said like it, not need it. Mulder smiled a bit to himself. Hehehe... this kept getting better and better. Handing her a handful of seeds (in case she got hungry on her way to the door- a way that'd be two inches long) he left her there and watched how she opened the door. When she was safe and he was sure she'd be fine, he headed home.
Just as he returned to his street, he greeted Pendrell who was looking out the window. When he waved back at him, he knew the whole group was home. Some relief at least. And that was when he noticed the figure that exited Frohike's residence. He looked closer... and closer...
That was Alex Krycek? He didn't know if he should kick him in the shin or directly get into Marita's house to check she was safe. When Alex passed near enough for them to see each other's faces, Mulder noticed the slight smile. Alex watched him for a moment as well, and saying nothing, nodded once as a goodbye.
Relief again... because he was LEAVING.
To Rach: Don't worry, Role Games are nothing bad or rude. :) Imagine: We are sitting at a table, you, other reviewers, and I. In an X Files RP, for example: You are playing Scully, Gothic Spook is playing Reyes, and I am playing Mulder.
Whoever is the Master (let's say...DDstalker) says something like: ''You are standing outside the haunted house. What do you do?'' And I say: ''I get out my gun.'' And you say: ''I'll go in first.'' And then the Master says: ''Ok. Roll your dice and if you get higher than ten, you succeed. If not, you trip on the mud.'' :) It's very funny to play with friends. There are all sorts of dices with very different numbers. From dices to 1 to 4 to the most popular (and basic) D&D one, that is 1 to 20.
D&D is a medieval-ish, Lord of the Rings style game. You put in your character sheet what the person you are playing is. For example, an elven sorcerer. :) Or a dwarf, human... the list goes on. :) (I recommend that you try it!) ;)
To DDstalker: I checked the date when D&D was created. It was in 1974 By Gary Gygax and David Arneson (Duchovny was born in 1960 or something like that, is that right?). I know it would be pretty new, but it was there. :) And hey, the Lone Gunmen are the first to get anything new that's cool, so... LOL! I have been playing since forever and I absolutely adore that game. :) (And Langly was playing it in 'Unusual Suspects'! LOL!)
About the spelling and grammar I wouldn't mind you correcting me. :) Nor anyone, btw. English is not my first language, and I would like to improve. LOL. Thanks. :) (Oh, and I am not keeping much chronological order...Most High School fics would not work if people did, LOL.)
Now... the rant is over. LOL.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After a few moments of tense silence (well, just partial tense silence, since Marita kept humming a silly song) Frohike decided to get everyone on the damn table at once and start the game before Langly started throwing dices to get all the attention.
'' You've all met before, then?'' Byers asked Mulder when he sat by him. Mulder muttered a 'something like that' that was barely audible. Mulder was sitting between Byers and Langly. By him, Frohike, Marita, Bambi, a spare seat for Monica, John and finally Pendrell.
''This room will be crowded soon.'' Frohike said.
''If it's crowded, Frohike, we'll kick you out.'' Marita said with a sly smile. But not even the runty was offended. In the previous year, at the end of school dance, Marita had taken Frohike with her just to piss off her real love interest: Alex Krycek.
''Whose turn is it again?'' Bambi asked.
''Let's restart so that Dana doesn't get lost.'' Mulder said, and all the eyes were suddenly set on him. ''I mean... it's the first time she plays, right?''
''The knight in shining armor coming to save the maiden in distress. How... cute.'' Marita said with a wink to Dana. She blushed slightly but didn't say anything. Mulder's jaw dropped to the floor. Marita was blowing up his cover! (Wait, what cover?) He started thinking that if Marita could crack jokes about him that easily, he was being too obvious.. and decided to lower his head before he said anything else that would give him away.
''I think I will be able to keep up with it if you explain it to me as we go...'' Dana said, eyeing the others. Langly decided that he and Marita would be explaining how to act and how to be a character. They had tones of spare character sheets... so there shouldn't be a problem. Thus Dana ended with a pretty red-haired human wizard.
The game seemed to be starting at a castle. Dana assumed that they had been playing before and that in the journey to there the characters (and maybe the players too) had been fighting over almost everything. What path to take, what door to choose, in what spot to camp... the list could be endless.
Dana learnt that in their last game session Frohike had wanted to head somewhere else and Marita had threatened to fight his character in the game. Frohike had chickened out because he played a dwarf cleric ,and Marita played a blonde bomb... that happened to be a kickass barbarian.
So every time that the Marita started bickering with someone, another would snap: ''Dare to tell her otherwise.''
Dana did act a bit as the damsel in distress... it was her first session anyway. She didn't even know that there would be a titanic dragon behind that door that she decided to open. And while Frohike was struggling with his character and the dices not to become the dragon's lunch...
Monica arrived. And as she crossed the door she almost had a panic attack. Before she could even open her mouth, Marita pointed to the empty seat between Bambi and John with a cheery smile. Monica reluctantly sat down, and she was quickly given her character and some dice.
She didn't say too much for most of the game. But John didn't either. Marita was getting rather bored with people not wanting to speak, so she started figuring out a plan with Bambi that none was aware of. Yet.
One of the key moments in the afternoon was when the two newbies- Dana and John- had to be saved from a trap by Knight-Of-The-Day Mulder and Expert- Sorceress Monica. Furthermore, the rescue had been epic. For Dana, it included something like being swept off her feet by Mulder escaping the trap together at the last second. In John's case, Monica had jumped forward before an arrow got to hit him... and got wounded instead.
Such a tragic scene. Marita absolutely loved it. The best thing about the RPs is that you are capable of saying things that you'd never say in real life. Maybe because the character is not like you, or because... you don't dare. And the whole ''You could have died in there. You shouldn't have done it'' ''I wouldn't have let you die, I had to.'' Scene, even if just played was good enough to make everyone shut up.
Until it was over and Bambi and Pendrell blew up the whole damn castle two seconds after everyone was out.- With John's character carrying Monica's, needless to say. ''You were wounded because of me, I have to make up for it.'' John had said, as his character.
As this exchanges happened, Marita was about to dance like Snoopy. Tee- hee... things were changing for the best. When it was rather late and it started getting dark, the group decided that it was better to go back home for everyone.
Bambi had to go back home, and since her house was the most farther away, the group decided that she would call from Frohike's house first to tell her mother she was heading there now. Byers and Langly, who lived in the same area, said that they'd be taking the same bus with her to the other side of town. This way, none of them would be left alone.
The others agreed, and so they headed off after a short call. Monica had to go back home as well. It was just a couple of streets away... but Marita would have made everyone swallow a twenty-sided dice if Mon went back home on her own.
So John offered to escort her in a macho-pride twinge. And he even pretended to do it because he didn't want the others mad at him. Yeah right. Not even Frohike believed it... and that was a lot to say, considering that the gunman rarely noticed anything that was remotely romantic.
Pendrell shook his head as they headed outside and looked at the ones left in the room. Frohike would not be moving, that was for sure. This was his house after all. Dana's house was in the next street... and Mulder knew that if he didn't follow her, two things would happen:
One, Marita would choke him.
Two, he'd choke himself.
So wanting neither murder or suicide, he decided to take her to her house, even if he lived in the same street as Frohike and Marita. Pendrell lived next to Mulder, actually. He was his closest neighbour, and usually they'd make the way back home together. But Pendrell didn't open his mouth: he didn't want to give the others' plan away.
''I should leave now, or I won't be able to come again.'' Pendrell excused himself, leaving the house. He promised that just out of security, he'd call Mulder later so that they made sure that he'd reached home safe. It was more a habit than anything else... but the Lone Gunmen were paranoids. And so their friends eventually became total paranoids as well.
Right after Mulder and Dana had left the house, Marita said her goodbyes to Frohike and headed to her house, in the other side of the residence.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''What do you mean, we are in the wrong bus?'' Bambi asked Langly right after they'd stepped onto it and it had taken off.
''Exactly that.'' Langly explained. ''I think we should have stepped on number 21 and this is number 23, Bambi.''
''Ok... WHO said this was the bus?'' Byers asked, trying to remain calm.
''YOU DID.'' The other two told him.
''Ooops...''
''Ok... don't worry.'' Bambi started to say. She was one of the smartest cookies. So, come on, shouldn't she be able to work out a plan to get away from this mess? ''We will go down at the next bus stop , we'll ask the driver where the 21 stops and we'll swap busses at the fisrt chance we have. We may have to wait at the stop 10 minutes at the most...'' She ranted and ranted on and on and Langly kept adding detail.
The bus stopped and the two went down. That was when, right before the bus could take off again without them, they were pulled back inside by Byers.
''Dude, we had a plan!'' Langly complained when the doors closed in front of his nose.
''Didn't you think of an easier way of knowing on what bus we were?'' Byers said, about to laugh.
''Like what?'' Bambi asked.
''Like, ask the driver.'' Byers said simply. The other two eyed him with wide eyes. ''We ARE on the 21. But instead of asking you assumed that we were in the wrong one.''
Bambi and Langly eyed each other like idiots for a second. Byers started thinking that if they were the smartest cookies around, they were lost, and couldn't help bit laugh a bit.
''Whose idea was that we were on the wrong bus?'' Langly asked.
''YOURS.''
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''So... you had never played before?'' Monica asked, trying to get rid of the nervous silence. Tense, cold... she didn't like it. ''You seemed to do well, for being the first time you played.''
''I still almost got an arrow on my ass.'' He said with a slight smile. Monica smiled too, rather shyly, and nodded, as if understanding. And then she started feeling nervous. Uh-uh... They had done quite a scene, really. The others hadn't stared like that at an RP conversation since Langly took over the role of the princess that Frohike had to save- and that had been an hilarious one.
''You really didn't have to come. I know my way home.'' Mon muttered, as if suddenly feeling bad for making him worry. But the fact was... she felt good. As good as someone can feel knowing that you've just had a relish of what a love scene with your Big Crush would be. She couldn't help but smile.
''It was the least I could do for someone who saved my life.'' Monica couldn't help but laugh a bit this time, with that sort of answer and John's wide grin. ''And I hope that will repeat itself. Promise?''
''Save a newbie's ass? Anytime.'' Monica grinned too, as they reached her house. She looked at it for a second, and they watched the light inside for a moment before she decide to get her keys out. ''Where do you live?''
John pointed to a house that was farther off in the same street.
''Not too far away.'' He said. ''I didn't know you lived so near.'' Another tense silence. One of many that Monica hoped to finish at some point. ''I could come and pick you up to go to school. We wouldn't have to walk our way to there alone.'' That was an explanation or an excuse? Monica smiled and nodded.
''I'd like that, yeah.'' They stared at each other for a second, then he reached over and lightly touched her hand as a goodbye. Monica was a bit shocked at first for the deliberately friendly touch- something that Marita would be proud of, in her place (she couldn't wait to tell her on the phone!) and that something that made Mon blush...
''See you soon, Mon.'' Mon! He's using my nickname! Monica was radiant. She nodded again and returned the hand gesture.
''I'll be waiting for you tomorrow. Good night.'' She finally opened the door and he headed to his house. Monica closed the door behind her and skipped two steps towards the dining room, out of simple happiness. ''YESSSSSSSS!''
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''Zdrahstvoyteh, tsarevna.''
Marita stopped dead on her tracks. She did not turn around. Why bother, anyway? He'd be making himself seen soon enough. The low voice, whispering in Russian, calling her princess in a language that she barely understood ... She almost didn't remember that this game was both dark and unvoiced. And that she loved it. But that had been before the fight...
''Don't even bother, Alex.'' She said, and continued walking. She had to keep in mind that she was mad at him. Well, if she was so mad, why did she have to keep reminding herself that she shouldn't talk to him?
Suddenly, the familiar way home seemed so much longer. It was the first time in a long while that she went on her own... and she definitely hadn't planned on finding him there. She mentally kicked herself for being so predictable. Or maybe wanted to kick him for knowing where she'd go?
She turned around this time and faced him. And there he was, a bit taller than her, with those dark piercing eyes seeing right through her. And this time she didn't like it. Or did she? He was as he'd always been, standing there in his overconfident pose, with the leather jacket unmistakable in him.
''I thought you'd be happier to see me.'' He said, titling his head to the side in mock questioning.
''Why would that be?'' She snapped. ''You ditched me, and that's not something someone can do to me twice.''
''That was a mistake.''
''A mistake called what, Belinda?'' Marita said with an ironic smile. ''Try a better excuse, one that's been less used.''
''And what about you? You went to the dance with that geek just to make fun of me!'' He complained. ''I had to stay there doing nothing?''
''You'd been speaking to your friends, Alexei.'' The fact that she named him in Russian was almost an insult. ''And I don't like being in everyone's mind. Next time you get a girlfriend, be careful with what you tell your friends.''
Marita turned on her heels and this time did get away from him. Or so she'd thought. Because soon he caught up with her again. He always did.
''Leave me alone, Krycek.''
''You don't want that.'' He said, and Marita had to turn just to make sure that it was a plea what she had just heard. Amazing, simply amazing, coming from him. ''Marita... I don't know what you have heard, but it's not true.''
''If you think I'm mad for that brat you brought to the prom, you've gone crazy. I've been told that you've been speaking to someone's father. Someone called Jeffrey something, who's father is a pain in the ass. And YOU don't want that, Krycek.''
''I could prove you on whose side I am, if you decided to give me a second chance?'' He said, gaining his vague smile again.
''If you screw it this time, I will punch you so hard your ghosts will get dizzy.'' She stated, and eyed her house, barely a few feet away from her. Alex smiled wider and let out his gloomy laugh.
''I know you will.'' He said, and leaned over to her. She looked at him for a second before grabbing him by the jacket and pulling him into a kiss. When she let go, she almost pushed him. Letting him watch her as she walked away and entered her home, Marita smiled.
If you think this is a game, Bastard, I will have your head. Marita thought, knowing that at to some point, with Alex... everything was a game.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
''So, since when do you play?'' Dana asked. Did everyone have this sort of problems when they tried to start a conversation with the opposite sex?
''Forever.'' Mulder answered with a slight, foxy smile. ''The guys and I were a gaming team before we even knew the girls. But... the games got better when they showed up. Maybe just because of the fact that we always had opposition to the macho philosophy.'' Dana grinned. Well, that was for sure.
''Oh, and nice rescue. Bambi and Pendrell blew the building up two second after we went out.'' Dana smiled. At least that game was going to be an excuse to start a conversation.
''That's what I call good timing.'' He said with a wink. He noticed that they had reached her house, but she wouldn't deliberately look at it yet. Maybe she didn't want to leave just like he didn't. ''So...''
Mulder knew he'd have to crack a joke, say something witty. But for once in his life he was speechless- incredible, that was freaking incredible. He even pondered if that'd be an effect of being near comics so much.
''I... I think I will get going.'' Dana said, feeling that the silence was getting tense. Damn, she didn't know what to say. Even worse... none of them did. After she said that, she saw him nod slightly, even smile a bit. But he didn't move.
Ok, this was stupid enough. And Mulder knew that in doubt, the best choice was to make the best question:
''Seeds?''
''Oh... no, thank you.'' Dana smiled, seeing that he'd gotten a bag of them out of his pocket. Did he carry them around? Did he have a constant craving for sunflower seeds? She smiled at that though... and started noticing that he was the sort of person who would not intimidate anyone unless it was in self-defense.
''I am a bit confused about where I have to go tomorrow to find the school.'' Dana said. And it wasn't a lame excuse: It was true. She didn't know if he would believe that, though. But from the genuinely ashamed face that she had making that statement, he must have.
He smiled slightly and nodded.
''I will come to take you to school, for as long as you need.'' He said, before he could even think of it. ''Being new here... you'll probably need it.''
''I'll like it.'' Like it. She said like it, not need it. Mulder smiled a bit to himself. Hehehe... this kept getting better and better. Handing her a handful of seeds (in case she got hungry on her way to the door- a way that'd be two inches long) he left her there and watched how she opened the door. When she was safe and he was sure she'd be fine, he headed home.
Just as he returned to his street, he greeted Pendrell who was looking out the window. When he waved back at him, he knew the whole group was home. Some relief at least. And that was when he noticed the figure that exited Frohike's residence. He looked closer... and closer...
That was Alex Krycek? He didn't know if he should kick him in the shin or directly get into Marita's house to check she was safe. When Alex passed near enough for them to see each other's faces, Mulder noticed the slight smile. Alex watched him for a moment as well, and saying nothing, nodded once as a goodbye.
Relief again... because he was LEAVING.