The St. James residence

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

Already nervousness was bubbling in her stomach as Silhouette slipped out the door and around the apartment. Already she was rehearsing what she would tell him for the umpteenth time in her head: I didn't mean what I said about you when you overheard, but I am disinclined to act like what you did was okay. It was not gentlemanly at all to steal my kiss from me, and you can't give that back to me, even if you wanted to. And whatever you might have felt, your impulses compelled you to do, if you wanted my affection, you should treat me like the lady I am. Which you did not do. I expect respect, and will give it in return, but you did not even bother to ask. And I am sorry I spoke in anger, and that I hurt you. I was wrong for that. But you hurt me too, with your disregard for what is important to me, and you haven't even attempted to apologize. At least, it was supposed to be something like that.

But things never came out of your mind the way you rehearse them, especially if you rehearsed them too much.

So, instead of her elaborate and logical speech as Silhouette turned the corner, she dropped a simple, "Hey."

She didn't miss the look Clarence gave her, and Silhouette felt the heat in her face. “Cute.” She glanced away, suddenly feeling pointedly immodest. Her words were an effort to steer his sights off her.

"Hey... what are-- I mean, is something wrong?"

Clarence frowned. This already wasn't going well. “Is that the sort of person you think I am?” Now Silhouette frowned, hurt by the accusation in his voice. “You think I only come to people when something's wrong?” She didn't answer, but kept her eyes on him coolly as she thought, Well, the only times you've thought to 'visit' me was when something was wrong, so who is to say this is any different?


Clarence turned from her and took a deep breath. “Look, if that's why I was here, you know full well I could list things off all night. But that's not the point. I'm here because I've been thinking about what I hear you tell that kid in the cafe.” Her face was still hot from shame as he admitted what she already knew. It felt worse to hear him say it aloud. Yes, she was ashamed of her hurtful words, but surely he didn't expect her to grovel and apologize? As if he had done nothing to provoke and confuse her? “I want to know if you hate me or not, because I refuse to wait in mid-air until you decide to say something to me.”

Now Clarence watched a dumbfounded Silhouette as she thought over his words. Her arms tightly wrapped the robe around her body, already feeling the chill of the night air and wishing for the warmth inside her home. He'd caught her off-guard, demanding a public and direct confession one way or another. And he still thought she hated him. I could never hate you

He folded his arms over his chest. “I'm here because I won't take just 'no' as an answer. I'm here because 'go away and don't ever come back' and 'I don't want to ever like you' doesn't tell me... doesn't tell me anything.” She saw his momentary unsteadiness, eying warily at the way he ignored it by using the wall as a crutch. Something's wrong, her intuition prodded. “I want to know what you feel about me, Silhouette, and I won't leave until you tell me.”

His pressure on her to speak made Silhouette want to press back just as hard, despite the shame and immodesty and confusion she still felt. And the bit of worry. But he was pressuring her, and so she couldn't help but press back a little. "First off," she started, tone and face stern and more icy than it should have been. "I could never hate you. And you aren't gonna believe that, but too bad-- it's true. And secondly, I know what I said to Chance was wrong and thoughtless, and I was gonna apologize, but now I'm not so sure if I want to, since you're practically demanding it from me. And third," Silhouette held up three fingers, pressing the index finger of her other hand across them for emphasis. "You still act like you didn't do a single thing to me. I want a gentleman, Clarence, not a highwayman, and even if I do happen to be attracted to you, none of it matters if you are going to disrespect me."

Definitely not as gentle and logical and sensible as she'd practiced, but now it was out in the open. It was all out there, even the part of her that would admit one of the reason she could not hate Clarence. She stood, silent, waiting.

[More than Music]

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

"Hey."

He sent a look, smiling, saying only: “Cute.” Silhouette looked a little embarrassed at that, and turned away.

"Hey... what are-- I mean, is something wrong?"

His smile disappeared. Was that really what she thought of him? “Is that the sort of person you think I am?” he questioned, noting how she was frowning now too. “You think I only come to people when something's wrong?” She said nothing, so he continued, turning away and filling his lungs with fresh air. “Look, if that's why I was here, you know full well I could list things off all night. But that's not the point. I'm here because I've been thinking about what I hear you tell that kid in the cafe. I want to know if you hate me or not, because I refuse to wait in mid-air until you decide to say something to me.”

He stared down at her, watching as she held herself tighter. She was cold, probably nervous. 'I'm cold too. I've been cold for a week... before I got sick too. Yeah, I'll admit it. I'm not feeling good. But I won't admit it to you.' He crossed his arms over his chest. “I'm here because I won't take just 'no' as an answer. I'm here because 'go away and don't ever come back' and 'I don't want to ever like you' doesn't tell me... doesn't tell me anything.” He almost fell, but he caught himself, leaning against the house like nothing was wrong at all. A strange look flashed across Silhouette's face. 'Don't you dare worry about me. You have no right to worry about me. You gave up that right when you told me off, when I kissed you that night. Remember? The 'don't ever come back' stuff?' “I want to know what you feel about me, Silhouette, and I won't leave until you tell me.”

"First off," she began -- her first attempt at speaking since he'd began, which made him a bit angry. 'Don't just take it, d***it. Fight back. I want you to fight me!' "I could never hate you. And you aren't gonna believe that, but too bad-- it's true." He stiffened.

'It's not because I don't want to!' He almost said it aloud, but he barely caught himself with his mouth open.

"And secondly, I know what I said to Chance was wrong and thoughtless, and I was gonna apologize, but now I'm not so sure if I want to, since you're practically demanding it from me. And third..." She held up three fingers, like he didn't know what 'third' meant. "You still act like you didn't do a single thing to me. I want a gentleman, Clarence, not a highwayman, and even if I do happen to be attracted to you, none of it matters if you are going to disrespect me."

A mixed look crossed his face. A few thought stood out most in his head: One, she was actually fighting back, which was a good sign -- he thought. Two, she was still acting like he'd done something horrible to her. Three, she should have been happy that he'd kissed her, not so upset. Four, she'd just compared him to a highwayman... was that good or bad?

But the last two stood out the most: She'd said she was attracted to him. DEFINITELY a good thing. But she'd also said the worst word: disrespect.

Immediately, he took a step towards her. "Listen here! If you wanna talk to a six year old, he's in the car." He gestured accordingly. "But me? I'm a big kid, and you don't need to use stupid terms like disrespect to try and beat me down." Clarence bit his lip for a moment before continuing. "And I don't see why you're so uptight about kissing anyway! I thought kissing someone was a good thing, not a crime, but the way you've made me feel, Silhouette..." His words faded out with a sighs and sounds of frustration. "Look, if it's what you want, I'm sorry." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I like you. I didn't know it would be so much trouble."

Clarence took a step back, wanting to clench his hands into fists but finding himself unable -- once again. He started to turn away, then rounded on her. "You can't just go your whole life expecting some sorta... dumb, tight-pants, Prince Charming fresh from a Jane Austen novel to... to sweep you off your feet!" He threw his hands up. "You know what happened to Jane Austen? She sat around, waiting for the 'perfect gentleman', and guess what? He never came." Clarence's eyes flashed. "So if you're expecting that, forget it. I don't know the way you feel about me, but if it's not hate, 'attraction' isn't gonna cut it."

He bit his lip in anger. "I'm not gonna change for you, Silhouette. You either like me the way I am, or I'll leave right now, and we'll both forget any of this ever happened."

[GGJ5]

OOC: Please remember, if you really, really, really do not think your post would make it though without using profanity, please do the courtesy of starring it or something... it would be greatly appreciated. (: BIC:

Silhouette St. James

"First off," Silhouette started, "I could never hate you. And you aren't gonna believe that, but too bad-- it's true." She saw him freeze at that, and she plowed on. "And secondly, I know what I said to Chance was wrong and thoughtless, and I was gonna apologize, but now I'm not so sure if I want to, since you're practically demanding it from me. And third..." She gestured with her hand. "You still act like you didn't do a single thing to me. I want a gentleman, Clarence, not a highwayman, and even if I do happen to be attracted to you, none of it matters if you are going to disrespect me."

Immediately, he took a step towards her, and Silhouette briefly wondered if she should be afraid. What did she really know about him anyway? If he was brazen enough to do everything he'd done so far.... "Listen here! If you wanna talk to a six year old, he's in the car." As Clarence gestured to where his little brother lay tucked away, Silhouette's face darkened. He really needed to step off. He had no right to talk to her like this, and they both knew that good and well. "But me? I'm a big kid, and you don't need to use stupid terms like disrespect to try and beat me down."

"I'm not trying to beat you down," she argued back. "I am telling you the truth!"

"And I don't see why you're so uptight about kissing anyway! I thought kissing someone was a good thing, not a crime, but the way you've made me feel, Silhouette..."

"You didn't even ask!" she protested again, now sounding as wounded as it had made her feel. "It's something really special to me, and you took it without even considering how I might feel about it!"

"Look, if it's what you want, I'm sorry." He took a deep breath and plunged on. "I'm sorry I like you. I didn't know it would be so much trouble."

The idea of his apologizing for liking her struck Silhouette, and somewhat calmed her. "No.. don't be sorry for that..."

Clarence only turned his back on her. Maybe she should go, too. Maybe making something good out of this wasn't meant to be, and she should just let it be like rain off a duck's back. Maybe this was all wrong, and she needed to let it drop.

He turned back to her, and Silhouette had a bad feeling about the look in his face. "You can't just go your whole life expecting some sorta... dumb, tight-pants, Prince Charming fresh from a Jane Austen novel to... to sweep you off your feet!"

The muscles in her face felt tight. "That's not what I--"

"You know what happened to Jane Austen? She sat around, waiting for the 'perfect gentleman', and guess what? He never came. So if you're expecting that, forget it. I don't know the way you feel about me, but if it's not hate, 'attraction' isn't gonna cut it."

"I'm not an idiot, I never expected perfection! I never expected anything!" This--" she gestured between them metaphorically. "This is all totally new to me, and I'm sorry that you thought I hated you, and I'm sorry that I spoke without thinking, and I'm sorry for making you upset but I am not sorry for having my standards. I am not sorry for being like every other girl, and for wanting to be pursued, not ambushed."

Clarence was biting his lip. With white anger. It was clear as crystal in Silhouette's eyes, and she didn't like it. Partly because she knew it was because of her. Mostly because she still felt he had no right to be angry with her, for having her own standards. "I'm not gonna change for you, Silhouette. You either like me the way I am, or I'll leave right now, and we'll both forget any of this ever happened."

"I barely even know you, Clarence. You haven't even given me a chance to get to know you." Her voice had dropped quietly, but her eyes remained on him. "I don't even know why you like me, or when you started to like me... you hardly talked to me for the longest time, and then all the sudden..." She sighed, lifting her hands as if to weigh everything that had happened since his first night outside her window. "How can I know how much I like you if you won't let me try?" It was scary, asking that, because he could answer it in so many ways, and she was risking so much of herself, too. It was all such new territory, and she was somewhere she'd never imagined she would be. And somehow now, that made his affirmation of her more important than she'd known before. Please...

[More than Music]

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

He'd had just about enough of this.

"Listen here! If you wanna talk to a six year old, he's in the car," he cried, pointing towards Timmy in the car. Neither of them noticed, at that moment, what it meant to have the little boy sleeping in the car. Once Clarence realized what he'd done, he was glad she hadn't. "But me? I'm a big kid, and you don't need to use stupid terms like disrespect to try and beat me down."

"I'm not trying to beat you down, I am telling you the truth!"

"And I don't see why you're so uptight about kissing anyway! I thought kissing someone was a good thing, not a crime, but the way you've made me feel, Silhouette..."

"You didn't even ask!"

He threw his hands up. "Since when do people need to ASK for a kiss?"

"It's something really special to me, and you took it without even considering how I might feel about it!"

"I thought you were fine with it!" He bit his lip. "Look, if it's what you want, I'm sorry." Taking a deep breath, Clarence gathered up his courage to continue. "I'm sorry I like you. I didn't know it would be so much trouble."

She withdrew a little, a look coming on her face that he had to turn away from or it would have worn at his anger. "No.. don't be sorry for that..."

"Maybe I am." It took a few moments, but he turned back around rounded on her. "You can't just go your whole life expecting some sorta... dumb, tight-pants, Prince Charming fresh from a Jane Austen novel to... to sweep you off your feet!"

Silhouette stiffened. He hated fighting with her like this, but he couldn't just... "That's not what I--"

"You know what happened to Jane Austen? She sat around, waiting for the 'perfect gentleman', and guess what? He never came. So if you're expecting that, forget it. I don't know the way you feel about me, but if it's not hate, 'attraction' isn't gonna cut it."

"I'm not an idiot, I never expected perfection! I never expected anything! This--" Gesturing between them she seemed more sure of herself than before. "This is all totally new to me, and I'm sorry that you thought I hated you, and I'm sorry that I spoke without thinking, and I'm sorry for making you upset but I am not sorry for having my standards. I am not sorry for being like every other girl, and for wanting to be pursued, not ambushed."

Clarence bit his lip. 'Maybe I shouldn't have expected anything either...' "I'm not gonna change for you, Silhouette. You either like me the way I am, or I'll leave right now, and we'll both forget any of this ever happened."

"I barely even know you, Clarence. You haven't even given me a chance to get to know you." She was getting quiet, but not backing down. He wasn't sure what this meant. He wasn't used to people backing down.

Clarence swallowed. "I... I guess not..." His voice was barely above a whisper; he didn't really want to admit it, but she was sort of right.

"I don't even know why you like me, or when you started to like me..."

He looked into her eyes slowly. The moment disappeared though, and he turned away. "Girls," he scoffed, kicking the ground. "I don't like you for a specific reason. I just... do..."

"You hardly talked to me for the longest time, and then all the sudden..." She sighed, and Clarence felt his body tense. "How can I know how much I like you if you won't let me try?"

He swallowed again, taking a step forwards, reaching out to touch her arm. She felt so warm compared to him... Maybe he was colder than he'd thought. "Hey, stop it." Aware of how much harder his voice was than he'd intended, he took a deep breath to calm before he continued. "I thought that kissing you was giving you a chance." Leaning closer, he could barely feel her breath on his face. "I want to give you a chance. I just... I'm not good with this relationship stuff." He withdrew, putting his hands in his pockets. "I'm really bad with people... But, you're not, so I guess... I guess I thought you'd understand, somehow."

Looking back into her eyes, Clarence felt himself wavering. "I... I don't feel too good, so trying to reason isn't an option, but..." He leaned in again, fighting with his instincts. "Can we go through this one more time?" Clarence wet his lips, staring at her face softly. He had to take a deep breath to do this, but it was worth it, right? "Can... Can I kiss you?"

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"I'm not gonna change for you, Silhouette. You either like me the way I am, or I'll leave right now, and we'll both forget any of this ever happened."

For some reason the idea of him leaving now, it jolted her. Silhouette's frown deepened, and she hastened to add, "I barely even know you, Clarence. You haven't even given me a chance to get to know you." Once again, Clarence was making her feel pathetic, even without doing anything besides standing there.

"I... I guess not..." Clarence whispered, hardly audible but Silhouette thanked the silence she heard him.

"I don't even know why you like me," she added honestly. "Or when you started to like me..."

Clarence looked at her for a moment, then turned away, suddenly making Silhouette feel self-conscious. He muttered something, then said louder, "I don't like you for a specific reason. I just... do..."

That didn't make much sense... "You hardly talked to me for the longest time, and then all the sudden..." Silhouette sighed. "How can I know how much I like you if you won't let me try?"

His fingers touched her arm. "Hey, stop it." Silhouette didn't like the tone in his voice; she shifted her gaze away.

"I thought that kissing you was giving you a chance."

Her eyes shifted back to him, his tone softer with her now, and his words peaking her interest. It was never a way she'd imagine of "giving a chance", but...

Clarence was closer, and Silhouette's initial impulse was to tug away. But she stayed. "I want to give you a chance. I just... I'm not good with this relationship stuff." He withdrew, putting his hands in his pockets. "I'm really bad with people... But, you're not, so I guess... I guess I thought you'd understand, somehow."

"Clarence... I didn't mean to mis--"

"I... I don't feel too good, so trying to reason isn't an option, but..." Clarence's words cut her off, Silhouette's concern kicking in at the sight of the slight faint. "Can we go through this one more time?"

"Are-- do you..." Silhouette was attempting to ask about what "this" meant, and if he was okay at the same time, and it didn't work out, her words trailing off. And she was usually so good with words.... why were they disappearing now?

"Can... Can I kiss you?"

A small smile raised the corners of her mouth. She nodded infinitesimally. "Yes..." To her surprise the word came out without a stutter, despite the spiking anxiety inside of her. And the worry that she didn't know how to kiss. Did you kiss back? Closed lips? Opened lips? What did you do with your hands? Did you say thank you afterwards, or what? "I don't know--" she started, then her lips met his.

[More than Music]

Clarence Morgan

He moved closer to her, and she didn't pull away. That was good. "I want to give you a chance. I just... I'm not good with this relationship stuff." His hands slipped into his pockets, because he couldn't really do anything else with them right now. "I'm really bad with people... But, you're not, so I guess... I guess I thought you'd understand, somehow."

"Clarence... I didn't mean to mis--"

He swayed, unable to control the wave of exhaustion coming over him for a moment. "I... I don't feel too good, so trying to reason isn't an option, but..." Clarence could see the concern on her face, so he took a deep breath and plunged on with as much strength as he could. "Can we go through this one more time?" He was really close to her face now, and he liked it. But he didn't want to blow this second chance he had... but he wanted to kiss her so bad! None of this felt natural, but he was willing to twist out of place. Just a little. Not a lot. Just to give this another chance. After that, he was gone. That would be it.

... Right?

"Are-- do you..." He couldn't take it anymore.

"Can... Can I kiss you?"

That's when she smiled. Something deep inside his chest swelled up; he felt strong and weak at the same time. This was crazy! ... He loved it. "Yes..." That affirmed it. He moved a little closer to her, expecting to have to make the first move. She hesitated. Yeah, he was suppose to make the first move. "I don't know--" Wait, what was up here? Weren't they supposed to be lip-locking by now?

When she kissed him, the wait seemed worth it. It wasn't like any kisses he's had before, but it was how it felt different he wasn't sure of. But it was a good kind of different, so he wasn't complaining.

He had to pretty much hold his breath for the first few seconds. What if he kissed her too much? What if he did this all wrong again?

Then good old Clarence spoke up in his head, saying, "Hey, since when do you worry about kissing someone too much? Especially someone you like?"

Oh yeah. Yeah! That was right.

So he deepened the kiss a little, opening his eyes some so he could see if she looked completely disgusted. His hands slipped to her wrists, gently touching them. It frustrated him that, as he tried again to grip onto her, he couldn't move his fingers right. He couldn't feel his fingers at all. He was dizzy. And this was one of the most important moments of his effing life!

Clarence pulled away to breathe. He felt like he was suffocating. He was being too strong, faking it too much. This wasn't good.

He took a step backwards, tripped on his uncoordinated feet, and fell to his knees. Looking up at Silhouette with pain in his eyes that he hated feeling there, he swallowed. "God, that felt good," he breathed, smiling up at her. "But don't get cocky... I'm just... tired..." He reached up towards her hand, but couldn't close his fist around her. Nothing. He couldn't. "D***mit..." He closed his eyes tightly. "I'm... gonna... pass out..."

It all went black for a moment. He ended up on his back, staring up at Silhouette. Everything was blurry. "Si... Don't go..." Nothing felt real. "I feel like such a dork... I just wanna go to sleep..." He smiled up at her. "I'm so weak." Then he passed out.

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"I don't know--" Silhouette started to explain nervously, inwardly shirking away from the vulnerability, from the self-consciousness. But their lips met, cutting off her shaky confession. He pressed in closer, and Silhouette felt herself tense, automatically defensive in case Clarence still didn't get the picture about her. She felt his hands take her wrists, but not possessively. Lightly. So lightly.

He let her go, backed away. She must not have done that right, was Silhouette's first thought, but then once more he stumbled and she remembered her earlier worry when in a flash he'd crumpled downward. The gasp came out too quick for Silhouette to check it. He won't like that, flashed through her mind as Clarence seemed to try to "play it off" in the typical supercilious-male manner. "God, that felt good," he breathed, smiling up at her. She gave a small smile back, his words making the heat rise in her face and the fact that he was looking up at her form the ground worrying her to boot. "But don't get cocky... I'm just... tired..."

"Clarence," she started, motioning to move down toward him. "I don't think that's..." Her words trailed off, but he probably knew what she meant anyway, as he made a weak gesture to catch her hand in his. Silhouette's face fell along with the lead in her stomach.

Clarence swore, shutting his eyes, and Silhouette didn't bother waiting any longer. She crouched down next to him, one hand on his shoulder and her other hovering behind his head instinctively. Her instincts proved right. "I'm... gonna... pass out..." he muttered before fading out, and Silhouette was grateful that she'd chosen to stay down there with him. And that he was already pretty close to the ground. And that she'd learned the art of keeping a cool head when you were kind of panicking on the inside.

He wasn't out long, or maybe he hadn't completely gone out at all, because just as Clarence made contact with the ground his eyes reopened and he seemed to see her again. She was frowning at him seriously from above. "Clarence," she called, checking for a response.

"Si... Don't go..."

"Your eyes are open, do you see me going any where?" A hint of a smile. If he could dish it out, he could take it, too. And if he could, then he wasn't in danger... right?

"I feel like such a dork... I just wanna go to sleep..." He smiled up at her.

"I don't think that's a good idea right now... maybe... Is fainting a trait of yours?" She was joking with him, hoping for a positive response that meant he was himself again. But he wasn't.

"I'm so weak," Clarence muttered before blacking out. Silhouette waited a beat, face drawn somberly, and when he didn't come back out right away, she started working. It was all those times where she had to carry a fainted fully-grown male that Silhouette thanked God for the strength multiple sports built up in her. By no means was it easy, though. Getting him in a position where she could function too challenged her more than enough, the muscles in her forearms straining under the cumbersome form. Come on...

Carefully, cumbersomely, and with repeated shiftings of positions, Silhouette managed to get Clarence inside, reminding herself to thank her father for placing the couch so close to the front door. She pulled her hands from him and flexed her arms to relieve the tension, leveling her breath again. If he was any bigger, she doubted she could have done it alone. And she couldn't very well leave a fainted friend who'd just kissed her lying in the grass at night.

Still somber, ignoring the lead weight in her stomach to the best of her ability, Silhouette tried her best to revive him, or at least keep him as stable as she knew how. With some difficulty she placed a throw pillow under his head and took the blanket from her bed and laid it over him. Then she wished that smelling salts were a household item. Silhouette worked her lip in thought, then finding no more she could do actively, sat down on the nearby chair and watched him. Wake up, okay? Wake up and tell me whatever's wrong won't be there anymore.

[More than Music]

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

"God, that felt good," he breathed, smiling up at her. Silhouette slowly smiled back at him. That was good. "But don't get cocky... I'm just... tired..."

"Clarence," she began, coming a little closer. He liked that. "I don't think that's..." Trying to get her to shut up, Clarence reached up, meaning to grab her hand. It failed -- completely -- and his hand just fell back down to his side. Nice.

He found himself swearing, closing his eyes tightly. He was losing control of his own consciousness. Silhouette's hand was finally resting on his shoulder, and he felt her hand behind his head because it was making him shiver a little. "Stop that. Yer... makin' me... twitch..." He took a sharp breath. "I'm... gonna... pass out..." And he did. The next thing he knew, he was awake again. He hoped he hadn't been out long.

She was frowning, leaning over him. He smirked for a second. "Clarence." She was calling him, frowning, and leaning over him. Sexy.

Then it was all blurry again. Just for a moment, but long enough for him to get confused. "Si... Don't go..."

"Your eyes are open, do you see me going any where?"

He smiled again. "Yeah, yer right... I feel like such a dork..." He blinked, frowning again. "I just wanna go to sleep..." Then he smiled again. 'Stay with me?'

"I don't think that's a good idea right now... maybe... Is fainting a trait of yours?"

Clarence shook his head. "Nope. But..." He felt like he was suffocating. For a moment, he thought about what Cassie had said, about that being the worst way to die.

He was getting colder... he could barely breathe...

This was what freezing to death felt like? Pft, he could totally deal with this. Maybe at least Silhouette would remember him.

"I'm so weak." Then he was out again, as if something was pulling him back into unconsciousness.

It felt like he was out longer this time, because, when he opened his eyes, they were heavier. But they'd been getting heavier everyday. Maybe something was wrong after all...

Nah. He was fine. Just... tired.

He jumped. He wasn't outside anymore. The sensation of heat in the air made Clarence feel like a snowman brought in the house. Which was sort of where he realized he was. He had a pillow under his head and a blanket over him. It smelled like... like... He looked up.

"This blanket smells like you," he said with a little smile. His face twisted into a confused look between a smirk and a frown. "You're starin' at me, babe. Starin' at me hard." Clarence closed his eyes. "Something's... not right..."

He jumped more this time, throwing the blanket off and ending up on the floor, letting out a string of profanity as intelligible as the hiss of a snake. "He... he's..." Clarence looked at Silhouette, his body protesting so much movement. "TIMMY!"

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

Thank God he wasn't out long. He was coming back to almost right away. But still, it needed to be dealt with. And he needed to stay up. "Clarence."

"Si... Don't go..."

She wasn't going to respond with the cheesy, "I'm here, darling" or something-- that was the last thing he needed. Especially from her. Silhouette gave him a smirk. "Your eyes are open, do you see me going any where?"

He smiled again. "Yeah, yer right... I feel like such a dork..."

"First step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one," Silhouette teased.

Clarence responded with a frown, blinking slowly. It made Silhouette' bad feeling only worsen. "I just wanna go to sleep..."

"I don't think that's a good idea right now... maybe... Is fainting a trait of yours?"

Clarence shook his head. "Nope. But..."

"Then we're going inside," Silhouette decided and started to get to her feet, but knelt back down. He wasn't moving. A muttered warning, and he was out again. And he didn't come right back, either.

It took more time than Silhouette had anticipated, but somehow she managed to get Clarence inside, even without his help. It worried her that she had enough time to do that, and enough time to make the couch into a makeshift bed. He shouldn't be out that much. Something was much more wrong, she feared, than a simple moment of weakness. He struck Silhouette as the kind of person who wouldn't take care of himself unless someone was making him...

A strong jolt came form his form. He was awake! Her worry ebbed just enough that she could smile. "Good morning, sir. Are you awake to stay now?"

"This blanket smells like you," Clarence announced, smiling at her. She felt the heat in her face. "Shh... people are sleeping, Clarence."

He looked at her, half-lost. It kind of made her feel awkward, being the center of his attention. "You're starin' at me, babe. Starin' at me hard."

Silhouette narrowed her eyes at the name. "Deathly ill or not, you are not allowed to ever call me that."

Clarence closed his eyes. "Something's... not right..."

She didn't respond, just frowning and watching him. I know it's not right. This whole thing isn't right.

Suddenly, Clarence's form jumped again, much more urgently this time-- ripping the blanket off and everything, tumbling and rambling like mad. "Clarence!" she hissed, worried now that either it was some more freakish symptom of whatever he had, or he was going to pass out again from insane stress.

"He... he's..." Clarence looked at Silhouette in an expression that completely went beyond her. "TIMMY!"

"Clarence!!" she hissed again, leaping to clamp his mouth shut with her hand. "Shhh!!! Shut up!" Sternly, she pushed him back toward the couch. "Shut up," she emphasized again. "Lay down. Don't argue. I'll go get him. He'll be fine. I'll bring him in. But you have to stay here and keep quiet!" With one more warning look, Silhouette disappeared outside to the short trek to Clarence's car to find Timothy there.

"Hey, it's me... Your brother's inside my house, sleeping. He doesn't feel good. He wants you inside with him, too, to make him feel better. Come on."

Meanwhile, inside, the frantic shouting of Clarence had woken some of the other occupants of the house. On a rare night, her dad might have been home from the station, but most nights it was just her brothers. Tonight was one of those rare nights where her father had managed to be home. He slipped out of the room, careful not to wake any other occupants in the room next door, and peered into the living room.

He halted at the sight of the unfamiliar figure in the living room, becoming immediately defensive, years of police work and fatherly obligations as protector melding into one. "Don't. Go anywhere." A few strides and he loomed over the intruder. "Five seconds to explain, starting now."

[More than Music]

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

He slowly opened his eyes, still a bit confused.

"Good morning, sir. Are you awake to stay now?"

He could only retaliate with the first thing that came to mind. "This blanket smells like you."

She blushed. Clarence wanted to smile but he was too tired. "Shh... people are sleeping, Clarence."

"Pft..." He looked at her for a moment. "You're starin' at me, babe. Starin' at me hard."

Silhouette's eyes narrowed and Clarence found himself smiling. "Deathly ill or not, you are not allowed to ever call me that."

He ignored that, pointedly deciding to act like he'd never heard it. "Something's... not right..."

That's when he realized it, jumping up, throwing everything astray.

"Clarence!"

"He... he's..." Clarence looked at Silhouette, shaking, lost, but sure that he had just done the most horrible thing he could have. "TIMMY!"

"Clarence!!"

She put her hand over his mouth. Hot.

"Shhh!!! Shut up!"

She pushed him. Not hot.

"Shut up. Lay down. Don't argue. I'll go get him. He'll be fine. I'll bring him in. But you have to stay here and keep quiet!" She disappeared outside. He couldn't help but quake, feeling like he was about to lose consciousness again. Somehow, he managed to get on his feet, leaning on the arm of the couch. That's when Timmy came back in.

As soon as the little boy came in the room, something came over him. He stood up straighter. He had to be strong for Timmy.

Then he saw the man come in the room.

Many words went through his mind, none of them good to say in front of his little brother.

He was a big black man, scary and strong. He was a father. Silhouette's father, he bet; he had that 'you-better-get-out-before-I-shoot-you-in-the-leg' look about him.

"Five seconds to explain, starting now."

Clarence stiffened, looking the man in the eye. His mind had suddenly gone blank, which wasn't good, but he managed: "Your daughter let me in. I kissed her but I'm kinda worn out. Got a problem with that?"

Not the best response, but he wasn't gonna take anything from this guy just because he was Silhouette's dad. Or anybody's dad. He didn't care. He really didn't. Reaching towards Timmy, he motioned for the boy to come close. Once Tim had locked onto his coat, Clarence felt his locked knees weakening. He fought back. 'I can't give up, I can't give in. I have to be strong for me, and strong for him.' Clarence glanced up at Silhouette's father. 'What do you want?'

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

When Clarence made his shattering outburst, Silhouette immediately retaliated, covering his mouth with her hand. "Shhh!!! Shut up!" She pushed him back down to the couch roughly. "Shut up. Lay down. Don't argue. I'll go get him. He'll be fine. I'll bring him in. But you have to stay here and keep quiet!"

When she returned with his brother, Clarence was up and using the arm of the couch as support. She could kill him for it, too. Silhouette cast Clarence a dark look that she hoped communicated her disapproval, and that he was lucky she wasn't forcing him to lie back down again. Maybe it was being a mom-figure, or babysitting too much, or just her personality, but seeing him trying to be all "suave and tough and strong" or whatever he was trying to pull when she knew he could barely stand a little while ago-- it was going to drive her nuts. "Clarence, it's nighttime," she said, coding her words for Timothy's sake, and because she got the feeling that was why he had chosen to stand erect now, acting like he was totally fine. "That means you lay--"

A new presence in the room cut her off, even before he spoke, but it was the one she had been expecting since Clarence's outburst. Though he usually could sleep through more than Silhouette could, they were still the two lightest sleepers in the house. And there was no way, she had known, he would have slept through Clarence's booming cry for his brother. They had been lucky he hadn't gotten up when the door kept opening earlier… The inside of her stomach crumbled into little iron balls, making her want to sink into the wall. Clarence felt bad enough already; being read his rights would not make it any better. And he would probably blurt everything…

"Five seconds to explain, starting now," came the familiar voice, heavy with warning.

True to Silhouette's predictions, Clarence jumped in before she could say anything. Shoot…. "Your daughter let me in. I kissed her but I'm kinda worn out. Got a problem with that?"

Silhouette dropped her head into her free hand. Dumb response, Clarence, and you like to think you're such a smart guy…

"I have a problem with your attitude, son. She might have let you in, and you must've needed it, but this is still my house, and you aren't exempt from respect and common courtesy because you got Silhouette's nose out of a book."

Silhouette bit the inside of her cheek in frustration. Her dad and brothers had this misconception that she'd never given a guy the time of day because she kept her head stuck in a book all the time, or was too busy being busy. The mention of a kiss probably made him giddy inside-- deep, deep inside, but still. He'd probably say he was proud of her or something after Clarence left.

But for now, they were all still stuck here.

"I know she wouldn't have let you in here, and this one, too," he said with a nod to Timothy. "without good reason. But if you are staying here tonight, you are only staying if you leave the attitude at the door and show some respect. Now, let's try this again. Hello. I'm Officer Xavier St. James, and I would like to know what you are doing in my house."

[More than Music]

Clarence "Ren" Morgan

"Five seconds to explain, starting now."

"Your daughter let me in. I kissed her but I'm kinda worn out. Got a problem with that?" This guy didn't scare him one bit.

"I have a problem with your attitude, son."

Clarence smiled a little. "Do you?"

"She might have let you in, and you must've needed it, but this is still my house, and you aren't exempt from respect and common courtesy because you got Silhouette's nose out of a book."

Shrugging, Clarence, looked over at Silhouette for a minute. "Guess you could call it that." He swayed a little but caught himself. 'I am NOT going to pass out in front of this guy.'

"I know she wouldn't have let you in here, and this one, too," Silhouette's dad nodded in Timmy's direction, making Clarence's chest swell. 'Keep away from him, bronze knuckles.' "without good reason. But if you are staying here tonight, you are only staying if you leave the attitude at the door and show some respect."

Clarence frowned. 'Make me.'

"Now, let's try this again. Hello. I'm Officer Xavier St. James, and I would like to know what you are doing in my house."

He paused for a second, looked at Silhouette, then looked at Timmy. His little brother slowly edged over, glancing up at Officer St. James with a bit of fear, then ran to Clarence. Closing his free arm around Timmy, Clarence stared into Officer St. James' eyes.

'This isn't just about me anymore, is it? It's about us. It's about Timmy. It's about... Silhouette...'

He took a deep breath and looked away from them all. "Look, my brother and I... We're... in between houses right now... and, with the weirdly cold weather, I... I got kinda sick. And so I passed out on your lawn." He looked up at Silhouette's father. "Silhouette brought me inside. I didn't come in of my own accord. But... I can't exactly drive like this..." He swallowed. There was no way he was going to ask to stay here.

Timmy knew it. "Can we stay here, Mister? Jest fer a while? We don't take up much room. Well..." He looked at Clarence. "I mean I don't... Clarence does though."

Clarence turned to glare down at his brother. "Not helping, kid."

"Well, yer jest... sticked up!" Timmy puffed up his chest, then turned to Silhouette. "Ya'll let us stay here, won'tcha, Silhouette? Clarence won't let us stay nowhere else. He's too sticked up."

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"Now, let's try this again," Silhouette's father said, and her heart thumped. Not because of her dad-- because of Clarence. She had no idea what he might say or do now... "Hello. I'm Officer Xavier St. James, and I would like to know what you are doing in my house."

Silhouette remained quiet, watching Clarence closely and willing him with her eyes not to say or do anything stupid that would get him kicked out and back into the cold. Not that he would leave without Timothy, and not that her father would let Timothy stay out, either... So why did she feel nervous?

Clarence was staring at Xavier, holding Timothy close to him. Finally he lowered his pride enough to take a deep breath and say, "Look, my brother and I... We're... in between houses right now... and, with the weirdly cold weather, I... I got kinda sick. And so I passed out on your lawn." Her heart sank down to her toes. The suspicion had crossed her mind, but she hadn't wanted to dwell on it.... It was too upsetting. And now it was confirmed. "Silhouette brought me inside. I didn't come in of my own accord. But... I can't exactly drive like this..."

"You never told me any of that..." she said quietly, earning a curious look from her father. The moment was broken by Timothy's tiny voice requesting. "Can we stay here, Mister? Jest fer a while? We don't take up much room. Well..." He looked at Clarence. "I mean I don't... Clarence does though."

Then, Silhouette was glad Clarence had brought Timothy along. He made her feel comfortable enough to let out an exhale at the childlike humor, and she felt the corners of her mouth twitch.

Clarence turned to glare down at his brother. "Not helping, kid."

"Well, yer jest... sticked up!" Timothy objected, turning to Silhouette and she couldn't help but not smile at him, even if it was subdued. "Ya'll let us stay here, won'tcha, Silhouette? Clarence won't let us stay nowhere else. He's too sticked up."

"Yes, he is," Silhouette agreed, nodding to Timothy. "And I was letting you stay, Timothy," she reminded him. "But it's other people's house, too..." She glanced up at her father, wanting so much for him to say yes, to pull out blankets and turn on the heater and do whatever else he was supposed to do. But she was also scared he wouldn't. What if his survival-of-the-fittest ideas kicked in or something? What if he declared that Clarence got himself into this mess, he needed to get himself out?

"You need to stay here anyway," Xavier suddenly decided, turning away to busy himself with folding the newspaper leftover from the previous day. "Just stay in the living room. We'll figure out where to go next in the morning with all this."

Silhouette looked as taken aback as she felt, and as her dad slipped out of the room, she grabbed him by the elbow. "Really?"

"You want them to, don't you?" Xavier asked quietly, glancing down at his daughter. "That child out there doesn't need that boy and more ill than he already is. They can stay for now. I'll see if someone at the precinct knows a decent place for them to stay when I go in tomorrow."

He turned to go back into his room and paused when Silhouette hissed, "Daddy!" He looked back. "What about a doctor?"

"I can't promise that. Plus I doubt his pride would let him." He gave Silhouette a knowing look. It was pretty bad if you were so prideful someone picked up on it within minutes, but that was Clarence.... She nodded. "Good night... again. Thank you."

Silhouette returned to the living room and cast a glance at Clarence. "Think you can make it through now?" she asked him teasingly.

[More than Music]

Clarence Morgan

It wasn't easy to tell the truth. Especially when the truth felt like something wrong. It always did when there was a parent involved. But it was for Timmy, not for him. That was the point right now. "Look, my brother and I... We're... in between houses right now... and, with the weirdly cold weather, I... I got kinda sick. And so I passed out on your lawn. Silhouette brought me inside. I didn't come in of my own accord. But... I can't exactly drive like this..."

"You never told me any of that..." Silhouette said quietly. Clarence looked at her, meaning in his eyes that words couldn't convey if he'd spoken them. 'I didn't want you to know...'

Timmy tried to be strong like his big brother by piping up. "Can we stay here, Mister? Jest fer a while? We don't take up much room. Well..." He cast a glance at Clarence that made the older boy narrow his eyes. 'What?' "I mean I don't... Clarence does though."

Clarence glared down at the little boy. "Not helping, kid."

"Well, yer jest... sticked up!" Timmy cried, making Clarence roll his eyes.

"Sure I am."

"Ya'll let us stay here, won'tcha, Silhouette? Clarence won't let us stay nowhere else. He's too sticked up."

"Yes, he is," Silhouette said, making Clarence send her a look too. 'Geez. Just because I have a bit of pride in where I stay...' "And I was letting you stay, Timothy. But it's other people's house, too..."

"You need to stay here anyway," Officer St. James said quickly, taking all of them by surprise. Clarence blinked. 'What?' "Just stay in the living room. We'll figure out where to go next in the morning with all this." 'What's with the sudden hospitality?' The man left and Silhouette followed him, leaving Clarence and Timmy alone again. So he finally collapsed onto the couch, his breathing uneven. Timmy took his arm, sitting down beside his big brother.

"...Clarence?" His voice was small and worried. Clarence slowly reached over to put his hand on Timmy's head, eyes closed.

"It'll be okay, sport. It'll be okay."

Timmy was quiet, so Clarence opened his eyes to see the boy nodding slowly, picking the blanket up off the floor and setting it on the couch. He hopped back up next to Clarence and started to scoot close when his brother gave him a look. "What?"

"Shoes." His voice was stern and unmovable.

The little boy smiled, shaking his head as he obeyed, cuddling closer to his brother until he wormed his way under Clarence's arm. Holding the boy tight, Clarence closed his eyes again. "Good job."

Silhouette slipped back into the room, looking rather amused. Or proud of herself. Whichever one, she looked to be smiling a little. "Think you can make it through now?"

Timmy nodded fervently. "Mm-hm!"

Clarence looked up into Silhouette's eyes, not loosening his grip on Timmy but reaching out to her with his free hand. "Sorry I didn't tell you more," he breathed, unable to sustain his act any longer. "Thanks though. Thank you." He smiled at her, tiredness weighing down his eyes. "I think I'll get some rest so I can high-tail it sooner rather than later."

As he faded out, his smile went crooked. He'd never pictured himself falling asleep on Silhouette's couch, and he sure hadn't thought it'd be with her father's consent. But at least Timmy was safe and warm, and that was good.

'Who knows where we'll end up, right?'


Clarence -- and Timmy -- are done here for now. : )

[GGJ5]

Silhouette St. James

"Think you can make it through now?" Silhouette asked lightheartedly, slipping quietly back into the living room. Timothy had made himself at home, at least, and it was hard to tell in the dark, but Clarence looked a little less pale... didn't he?

Timothy nodded happily in response to her question. "Mm-hm!" It was nice to see him feeling so at rest and content like that.

For some reason it threw her off a little when Clarence loosened his free hand to hold it out to her. Unsure and a bit awkwardly, she took it, her fingers brushing his wrist.

"Sorry I didn't tell you more,"

"Sure you are," she replied, half-teasing. And slipping her hand back from his.

"Thanks though. Thank you." He smiled at her, suddenly making Silhouette feel more exposed and out of place than she had before. She wished he would hurry up and go to sleep so she could disappear to her room and try to figure all this out.... "I think I'll get some rest so I can high-tail it sooner rather than later."

"Good, you do that," she told him. "Not like you're already half asleep anyway." Actually, she was pretty sure he was asleep. She quickly skittered off to her bedroom, closing her door and turning the little lever that locked it. Even if it was someone she knew... it was weird having them in her house. And it was weird that it was the same person that kissed her.

And on that note, she thought sitting back down on her bed, wholly awake, Silhouette wondered with a sinking feeling if Clarence was really who she wanted her first kiss to be with... And the feeling sank more as it hit that it was too late. Why had she told him yes? Why had that been okay for her? But it wasn't okay. That was the problem... It was confusing, still. Even after everything, all the talks and working it out in her head, and then tonight... none of it still made sense.

And Silhouette couldn't go back to sleep.

All right, she's done here, too![/u]