« « Something Entertaining - Cameron + Audley » »

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"Don't worry. I wasn't exactly especting you to jump at the offer anyway," He laughed, amused by the confused, but utterly adorable, response he'd been given, "You've got more important things to do than to run off with a stranger. But, if you're ever in the mood for a little vacation, I'm sure my family will drag me back here sooner or later for another reunion."

He wrinkled his nose at the mention of the reunion again. Right... He needed to get back there sometime soon, even though he didn't really wanted to. It wasn't the most entertaining event of the year anyway and he was enjoying himself entirely too much wandering around the city with Audley. But, it had to be nearly finished anyway. He still had to make the obligatory rounds and make quick chatter with his grandparents and uncles before he left, or his father wouldn't have been pleased. In fact, his parents and brothers probably wanted to talk to him before he ran off back to Scrijx again. He hadn't seen them in ages and his mother had always been the type to worry incessantly over his three children.

"Or maybe I'll drop by Jeskara more often.. It seems a lot more welcoming now that I know someone here who, as far as I know, isn't interested in seducing me, sucking my blood, otherwise making me into a quick meal, or bringing up embarrassing stories of when I was little and telling me just how much I've grown," He smirked, "It's not like a trip here is outrageously expensive like it is to go to Sensaforia or something. Just another perk, I guess."

He stepped around another corner as he walked, scanning the new street ahead of him half-heartedly. A sign caught his eye, and for a split second, his cheerful expression faltered, but was corrected when he looked over to the other boy, a small smile on his face as he pointed to the store he spotted.

"And that's what we're looking for," He looked quickly to the shop again, hoping he'd misread the sign or something. No such luck. The sign advertised supposedly cheap produce, which he guessed was as good of a place as ever to check for Cheyenne and Turin. Cameron's gaze turned back on Audley then, shrugging one of his shoulders, "Guess it's a good thing we didn't stop for directions then.. It didn't take as long as I thought it might."

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley followed Cameron's gaze. He missed the less than happy look on the other's face when he mentioned the building because he was too busy thinking about what the brunette was talking about. Reunions and trips... two things the boy didn't really have a need for. All his family was there in the same village, and he had nowhere to go.

Well, now that he met Cam... maybe he did. Visiting the other boy sure sounded like a good idea, but him visiting Jeskara more sounded like a better one. It was nice of him to offer to visit so he wouldn't have to leave the planet. His people would be much more understanding if he visited the city than if he visited Zerca.

On the topic of his village, he was excited about finding a place that might be able to help. He smiled at Cameron happily. "Yes, very good. Let's go," he said.

It didn't take long to walk down the sidewalk and across the street to the food store. Aud had been very, very hesitant about walking across the street, scared that a car would flatten them to the ground, but Cam convinced him it would be alright.

"I hope they can help-" the Majikadai started saying when they walked through the door, but was interrupted when some one grabbed his arm and pulled him back out. He glared up at whoever it was until he realized it was Cheyenne. "Cheyenne?" he said in surprise.

"This place can not help us," he grumbled as he let go of the younger male. "We have to find a different place. I'm surprised you found us."

"Cameron found the store, actually," he said. He looked around for said boy and found him being dragged over to them by Turin. The older man let him go next to the other two.

"Finding a place to help us supply food is going to be harder than we expected," Turin said quietly. Even with his keen hearing Aud had to lean closer to hear him. Turin was as good a warrior as he was a quiet talker. "They expect us to pay them with money, not by trading," he explained.

"We may have to meet with the Prince, if it is possible."

"Do we really want to bother him?" the lavender haired boy asked Cheyenne.

"We need to try everything before we are forced to move," was his answer. He looked thoughtful a moment. "You and your... new acquaintance should search for a place that way, and Turin and I will search that way. Meet back here before the evening is over."

Before long Audley's companions were gone again. He turned to look at Cameron apologetically. "Do you mind walking around with me some more? Or do you have to go...?" he asked, and for some reason was sadden at the thought of Cam having to leave.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

Cameron had adopted silence once they had found the two Majikadai that they had been looking for. He'd been dimly hoping that they had went to the wrong place and that the two weren't there, giving them another excuse to find somewhere else. It was an entirely selfish hope, but he couldn't help it. He liked talking with Audley. The boy was far more interesting than anyone he'd ever met before. The time he spent with the other was cherished. But, 'lo and behold, there they were.

At first, the half-Zercan struggled to keep himself quiet and not to make any off comments. Unsure if he could trust himself to not sound snippy, he decided that the best option was not to say anything at all. Besides, he couldn't add much to the conversation anyway. But the disappointment and any minor hostilities were forgotten whenever it was advised for them to split up and search again. His expression visibly brightened and when Aud turned to ask him if he would stay, his reply came quicker than he intended.

"I'll go," He gave the other a smile, pausing briefly before he gave an explanation, "I do have somewhere to be, but that's not important right now. My parents will understand if I'm running a bit late. They know how I am--always wandering off somewhere."

Even if the little trip made Cameron significantly more late than he intended to be, his parents would have waited for him. Maybe they would be a bit angry, but they wouldn't leave their eldest son behind, surely. Even if they did, the brunette couldn't imagine himself being too overly worried about it. That would be more time to spend with Audley before someone came to get him and take him back to Zerca, wouldn't it?

"I guess we should go somewhere near the center of the city. I don't know if that's where the Prince will be, but it makes sense logically," He mumbled, starting off in the direction he'd mentioned, "But once we get there, I don't exactly know how you would go about getting an audience with him."

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley was surprised at Cameron's quick answer, but pleased none the less. He was worried that the other might get in trouble with his parents for being late, but didn't question about it more. If Cam said it was alright, it was alright. No need to make a big deal out of it, right? The chance of the half-Zercan deciding to leave having nothing to do with it, of course....

The Majikadai frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked cluelessly. "'Get an audience with him'? We can't just... go to his castle or palace or whatever it is he lives in?" he asked, tilting his head. He always thought it would be that easy. They didn't mean the Prince any harm, so why wouldn't they be allowed to speak with him?

He hurried up to Cameron's side when he realized he stopped in the middle of the sidewalk during his pondering. "Are you sure?" he asked uncertainly.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"Well, I don't know. Maybe we could, but I would assume he's extremely busy. Even if we don't have to get an appointment with him, there are probably other people there waiting to talk to him," He sighed, "I'm pretty sure that, unless we get really lucky, we'll have to wait a bit. I don't know how long, but if it's anything like how things work in Zerca, it could be days."

He didn't like like having to state the possibilities and wondered if it would upset the boy if they did have to wait to speak to the Prince. He knew it would've upset him, personally, but that wasn't because he was pressed for time. In fact, it would've disappointed him because he wanted to help the other.

"If that happens, though, I wouldn't mind staying behind and waiting with you," He added, glancing over at the other. As true as the statement was, he knew it was an odd thing to say. He had just met the other. It shouldn't have mattered to him this much. He shouldn't have been so worried and protective over the boy, either. Whenever he was with the lavender-haired teen, the half-breed had noticed that he felt a lot of things he normally shouldn't have. It made him suspicious, curious to find out why he felt the way he did. This was certainly nothing normal for him.

"Mom wouldn't be happy, but if I told him something important came up, I don't think he would care. It's not like I would be lying, anyway. This is important. I wouldn't want you to just abandon you here, you know?" Cameron stated, lazily shrugging one of his shoulders, "I'd feel guilty."

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley smiled slightly. "You would feel guilty for leaving me?" he asked. Even his companions didn't seem to feel any guilt for abandoning him; and they knew him since he was a child. Cameron knew him since... today. A warm feeling spread over him at thinking that Cam cared so much about him already.

"Well, going to the Prince will be our last resort, anyway," he said. "So we should be looking for more places to trade with." The teen looked around a moment before resting his eyes on Cameron again. "You're sure your mom won't be too with you if you stay longer? I wouldn't want to get you in trouble."

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"Of course I would," He replied, looking over at Audley, a sly grin rest on his lips teasingly, "I wouldn't want to leave you here to fend for yourself against the metal falling from the sky, now would I?"

Now he considered the next question Audley had posed him. His mother would be worried and that worry would grow into anger quickly once he finally made it home. But, one way of looking at it was that Cameron already knew his parents weren't pleased with him. He'd just left in the middle of the family get-together and hadn't bothered to tell anyone where he was going. If he was going to face his mother's fury, then he may as well have done something productive if he was going to be lectured either way he went. Lectures weren't even really that effective against him now. He was twenty-one years old and lived by himself in a big city a couple of hours away from where the rest of his family lived. It wasn't as if the ordeal would be a lasting one--maybe fifteen or twenty minutes at tops.

"Oh, he'll be upset, but I don't mind. He'll get over it quickly enough," Cameron stated, not even wanting to think about the awaiting wrath he'd have to face once he came back any more than he already had, "I know the weak chink in his armor, anyway. I'll just tell him I went out mate hunting. He's been bothering me about that for years now, so maybe he'd be somewhat more forgiving if I gave him that fake excuse."

At the mention of mates, a proverbial buzzer seemed to alarm at the very back of his mind. Something in his mind was trying to put two and two together. Something was trying to tell him the reason why he'd become to attached to Audley so quickly. He knew what his mind was trying to tell him, too. Some part of his conscience had decided that the only logical reasoning behind the half-Zercan's abnormal behavior was because the younger Majikadai beside him was his mate. But another part of him was instantly skeptical. People usually spent years looking for their mates, didn't they? It was highly unlikely Cameron had found his unintentionally. There had to be some other, more reasonable explanation, right?

"Not possible..." Cameron mumbled under his breath, shaking his head slightly. There wasn't any possible way..

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley blushed darkly when Cameron teased him about the metal falling from the sky. Did they have to bring that up again? It was very embarrassing! He didn't like being embarrassed and it was something new to him because his people rarely had time to tease and joke around with each other.

He opened his mouth to come up with some sort of come back, but Cameron spoke first. The teen was kind of grateful because he wasn't sure what he was going to say, and then he would probably be teased even more by the attractive half-breed.

Attractive half-breed? Where did that come from?? He couldn't be thinking of Cam as attractive! They just met! Okay, maybe he could think of as attractive. There was nothing wrong with that, right? You were allowed to say some one was 'pleasing to the eyes' without it meaning any more than just that, weren't you? The Majikadai sighed mentally. That was a tough one and he decided to ignore it.

His eyes widened. "Mate hunting?" he repeated, with a little hint of jealousy that somehow got in there. He wasn't sure how. Why was he jealous? It wasn't his business what Cameron did.... They just met, and they would be parting within a week probably. Or a day. Which was really quite sad, actually. Audley would miss the other boy. There was just something about him....

"What was that?" he asked, leaning closer to Cameron when he muttered something under his breathe.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"It was nothing," Cameron answered whenever the other asked him about what he'd muttered to himself. He didn't exactly think it would be a completely non-awkward situation to tell the other 'Oh, my mind were just trying to tell me that you were my mate, but that can't be possible, can it?'. He figured that it would be embarrassing to bring up something like that to a person he'd only met a short while ago. It was definitely weird and he didn't want to creep the other out or anything.

"But, yeah, mate hunting," He returned to the original subject, looking around for another produce store as he talked, "Mom's wanted me to try and find someone and he won't leave me alone about it. I guess he wants the best for me, but it's annoying, I have to admit. It's not like I have time to go out on some big trip that could very likely be pointless, not to mention that I don't think my little budget could handle the expenses of hopping from planet to planet, either. At the moment, it would be an inconvenience, but maybe I'll humor him and start looking one day."

He really couldn't see himself going out to find himself a mate. It was hard to imagine. Sure, he traveled a lot, but that was over kill. It could take years upon years to find the right person and such a vast amount of time usually equated to a vast amount of money. No matter how much Cameron made at his job, he couldn't afford something of that magnitude, especially when it wasn't certain he'd find what he was looking for.

"So, what about you?" Cameron asked, hoping to drag the spotlight away from himself for a moment, "Ever thought about trying to find your mate? I'm sure that, whoever it is, you've got a nice person waiting for you. You deserve someone great, anyway."

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley swallowed and shrugged. "I have never really thought about it before," he admitted. "No one from my village has caught my attention in that way yet. And since this is the first time I have ventured into a city and probably one of the last, and won't see many people because of that, I probably... will never find him," he said softly.

The teen shrugged again, licking his lips nervously. "A lot of people haven't found their mates in my village. That is why it is so small... and why when a couple does find their mate we are very happy and they try their best to have many sons. A lot of us don't have that privilege though, and it's sad. But many people in our universe suffer from the same thing. The universe being so large, it's hard to find our other halves," he continued.

"There was one time I thought I might have found him though," he said suddenly. "I rescued a Fae awhile ago in the forest... sort of like how I rescued you...," he trailed off. "We had a relationship for awhile, and I was so sure we would be together for a long time, but at the same time I knew it couldn't be. There just wasn't that spark I see between true mates, ya know?" he said softly, glancing at Cameron a moment.

"I feel bad for my real mate though, because I really doubt we'll ever find each other," he said, shrugging again.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"That's too bad," Cameron mumbled whenever the Fae was mentioned. Like how Aud's voice had sounded only slightly jealous before when Cameron had first mentioned mate hunting, the brunette was using that same tone now. Why was he jealous? Aside from the part of his mind telling him 'the obvious reason', he couldn't figure it out. There was no reason to be jealous. But, using simple elimination couldn't be right, either. Oh, this was frustrating him! Why did his subconscious decide to bother him like this?! A small, frustrated sigh pushed past his lips as he continued walking before he spoke to Audley again, all hints of jealousy and frustrating gone from his voice again for the moment.

"Don't say that. There's always a chance to find him, you know," The brunette smiled, "Maybe he'll get stranded here somehow or get lost going on a walk... or something just about as random. That's the type of situation my parents found each other in, anyway. Totally on accident."

And, without meaning to, he had just contradicted himself and disproved his one argument against the nagging voice in his head. Okay, so it wasn't impossible that the Majikadai boy was his mate, but it was unlikely, wasn't it? He was just overreacting. He had to be. It was highly doubtful that he would just stumble upon his other half one day without meaning to. Like Audley had said, it was hard to find one's mate with the universe being so large. So, if this boy really was his, why did he get let off so easy? Why hadn't fate made him look for ages like it had the vast majority of other people?

"I think you'll find him," Cameron added, pulling himself out of his thoughts. His expression wasn't the same as it had been before, thought still evident on his face as he looked around, "Maybe it'll take a while, but you'll definitely find him."

[Audley Bohdan]

"You sound so certain," Audley commented as he studied the other boy. He could tell Cam had been thinking about something, but what the Majikadai wasn't sure. Maybe he was wondering if he would find his mate one day, too? Even if he complained about his mom telling him to go on these "mate hunts", he was probably just as sad as Aud was about not meeting his mate yet.

Not liking the idea that Cameron was sad, the teen spoke up in an attempt to make him feel better. "I am certain you will find your mate as well," he said, smiling. "It will happen on accident, like you said. But doesn't that happen to most people? You don't expect to find your mate. It just happens. It's...," he searched for the right word.

When he found it smiled brightly. "It's fate. You will find your mate, and I will find mine. When we're ready, and they're ready. Completely "random" like you said. And that'll make it all the more special, because the meeting will be different than anyone else's."

All this talk about mates was making him feel even more anxious about finding his. And, for some reason, feel jealous about Cameron find his mate. It was strange, and he felt incredibly guilty feeling that way. The other boy was being so nice comforting him, that he knew he should be that supportive in words and in his own feelings.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

Cameron listened to the other talk, not speaking. In a way, the things Aud said were exactly what his conscience was trying to convince him of. 'It will happen on accident', 'It jurt happens', 'It's fate'... The little voice in the back of his head had been telling him this all along, and now this boy was telling him the exact same thing. Was everyone ganging up against him now? He wouldn't have been surprised if, at that very moment, a complete stranger walked up to him and told him the exact same thing. Well, that was an exaggeration. But, really, he was started to get annoyed by that little voice. He had to find some way to get it to leave him alone. But how? Well, he'd have to prove it wrong, for starters.

The thought occured to him suddenly and his feet slowed to a stop, reaching out to gently grab Audley's forearm. How would he prove his mind wrong? Well, there was one way to do that. It would be quick and quite accurate, he figured. But, when he proved himself right--that the lavender-haired boy couldn't be his mate--what would Audley think of what he'd just done to prove a little point to himself? He didn't want to freak him out or anything, but he had to get the voice to stop nagging him. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Hold still," He mumbled softly to the other, taking one step forward and bending over slightly to press his lips against the teen's forehead briefly, letting his gentle hold on the boy's forearm diminish until his hand had fallen down to his side again. When he pulled back, he gave the other a curious look, though it was easy to see he was deliberating with himself on what to say. For once, the words just wouldn't come naturally.

That... hadn't been the response that he thought he would get. The little, innocent kiss didn't feel normal. The brief contact had sent a shivver through him. That definitely was not normal. He had been sure that he'd kiss the boy's forehead and nothing would happen. But, something had happened, and it shocked him that he was wrong.

"Maybe I didn't give you enough credit before," Cameron finally mumbled when he could form coherent sentences again, "You're not just one of the most interesting people I've ever met. You're right at the top of the list after that..."

[Audley Bohdan]

Audley gave Cameron a confused look when he grabbed onto him, telling him to hold still. Normally if some one did something like that, and told him to hold still, he would try to get out of their grip and act hostile. This situation was different.

In this situation, he felt completely comfortable with the other's hand wrapped around his arm lightly. It felt right for them to be touching. And it felt right having the other male kiss him on the forehead.

The Majikadai closed his eyes and gasped quietly. Why was Cameron kissing him? What was that shiver down his spine about? And why did he feel cold when the contact left so quickly? It was all very strange and confusing, and even more so when he found he wanted to be kissed again by the other boy. Maybe even have his arms wrapped around him in a warm hug.

Before his mind could fantasize anything else Cameron spoke. His voice was soft, but they were still standing so close he realized that he didn't need to lean in to hear him.

Aud smiled at what the half-breed said, and even laughed quietly. It was mostly out of nervousness because he was still trying to figure out what was going on. Them being... mates was just too much to hope for, really. But it sounded so nice and right....

"I um, I," he stuttered. He blushed lightly. "I am happy for that?" he said slowly, questioning his own words. They sounded so... lame. "I mean," he mumbled. He wet his lips nervously before lightly placing a hand on Cameron's arm, close but not reaching his hand. Then he looked up quickly as if to make sure this was right, even though his mind told him it was. "No, I mean just that," he corrected himself. "I am happy to be at the top of your list," he said softly.

[Cameron Ainsworth]

"I guess I was wrong after all," Cameron whispered under his breath, an odd mixture of smugness and amusement tinting his words, "But that's the best thing I've ever been wrong about."

He ignored his subconscious throwing little 'I told you so's at him whenever he felt the other's hand on his arm. His gaze quickly flickered from Aud to his arm, and then back again to meet the other looked up at him. A smile presented itself and he laughed quietly. He was happy, of course, but this was too ironic to not be funny. Earlier in the morning, he'd had a rather bleak outlook on the day. He hadn't looked forward to getting out of bed and he certainly hadn't been overjoyed when their ship had landed. But, something great had came out of it in the end after all. This was one of those one-in-a-million type deals, wasn't it? Cameron never knew his luck was so great, really.

But, of course, he'd have to remember to thank his parents for dragging him along to this family reunion after all.

"And I'm happy that you're happy," Cameron said truthfully, moving his arm a bit so that he could remove it from Audley's grasp. Instead, he reached forward and grabbed the other's hand in his. Just like he'd thought--it felt unbelieveably nice.

"About this whole mate thing we were talking about before," Cameron mentioned suddenly, leaning in again to press a chaste kiss to the boy's lips this time. He had loved the feeling that kissing the boy's forehead had gave him, but an actual kiss was even better, "I think we may have just found our mates after all, huh?"

(( Whoops. I was reading a few posts back where Aud n' Cam found the produce store. I didn't even see where you had said the part about Turin dragging Cameron over to Cheyenne and Audley until I reread the post a few minutes ago. Sorry about that. I've been known to miss little details like that before. XD; ))