BabyGirl

[color=deeppink]I'm going to be a bit cruel for a moment. Do any of you honestly remember you first year of life after being delivered into the world? What makes you believe so strongly that something that won't be able to function on its own for another good ten+ years is more valuable than the person's life who is making the decision to abort? --- I think that many pro-life people place far too much importance on a small little fetus. A teenager who gets an unwanted pregnancy is going to go through much more than 'just being pregnant' if she decideds against abortion. There's parental disapproval, getting stared at, having to drop out of high school at a certain point in the pregnancy, not having the emotional maturity to deal with a real, living child, etc. If someone isn't mature enough to care for a baby, then they shouldn't be having sex, right? No, not necessarily. Sex and babies are two totally different levels of emotional maturity, to say that they're alike is an ignorant opinion by someone who obviously has never had sex or has never been faced with an unwanted pregnancy. I just think that pro-life supporters need to think more about the woman/girl/couple it will be affecting than what's going to happen to a worm-size fetus harbored in her uterus.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Bloodsin [/i] [B]You just described half of the human population. [/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]How cheerful. --- I have always been pro-choice, and if I were faced with an unwanted pregnancy, I would have an abortion. I wouldn't feel bad about it because I know that my boyfriend and I are [i]always[/i] praticing safe sex. If I had done everything I could to prevent a pregnancy and still got pregnant [though highly unlikely], abortion would be the path that I would take. I don't have the income to support a child, and my future/career is far too important to me. Call me selfish for thinking of myself first, but I'd really be messing up the lives of two people -myself and my partner- by not terminating the pregnancy. I don't disagree with people who are pro-life because they have their own beliefs and morals, which is fine by me. As long as I don't get preached at or shown graphic pictures, I'm fine with what that side believes. You go your way, I'll go mine :)[/color]

[color=deeppink]In ten years I'll be going through a female crisis when I realize that 30 is just around the corner. I think that, and my career, will be my main focus at the time :p If the Boards are around in ten years, I won't be t/here. In fact, in ten years, message forums are going to be moderated by kids who are currently somewhere around the age of 5. The future is in their hands ^_~[/color]

[color=purple]"Yes," Bailey decided after stuffing the remains of her fatigues in her pack, "bad wine should be a [i]guillotine[/i]-worthy offense." Zharra pulled her sarong back down over her leg and turned to face Bailey, "Well remind me to chop the head off of the next person who serves me bad wine." Both girls laughed and, fully changed, followed each other out of the tent. Bailey nodded to where Rae was resting in the shade, "I'm going to see how she's doing." "Well," Zharra adjusted an earing, "she's lucky that Liam feels the need to play hero so often." But Bailey couldn't read the emotion in her face or voice as Zharra left to go join Bradley. She came across Liam who was making his way toward the campsite washrooms, "Hey," Bailey spotted the blood on his pants in much the same fashion as Matt had, but her brow creased with concern, "are [i]you[/i] all right?" "I am." His grin was lopsided, and she assumed that meant he was tired, "A few other men aren't all right, but they can't exactly complain about it anymore..." She nodded, "I get the picture." "Right. Well I'm going to clean up and pass out." As Liam started past her Bailey spoke again, her voice quieter, "Thanks for going after her. I would...I couldn't...I didn't know what to do. I can't leave people behind like we did..." "Nah," Liam gave her a friendly tap on the shoulder, "you were just following orders. I think people have gotten used to me [i]not[/i] following them at times like this." "Ok," Bailey gave him a lopsided grin in return, "well thanks again." "Sure. You care a lot about people, don't you Bailey?" Her grin grew wider, "I do. It comes from living on the streets, you have to look out for each other. It's a part of me now. I promise that I won't let it get in the way of our missions...but I can't gauruntee that I will follow direct orders to leave someone behind or not look for them next time." Liam held back a grin, "Go check on Rae, I'm sure she'd like to hear that, too."[/color]

[size=1]ooc: I don't know if I'm really allowed to do this, but I'm posting. I don't want it to die so soon, yikes. Let's at least get more than a page ^_~[/size] [color=purple]----- Adam snapped his cellphone shut after making another call and turned to face the Angels. Each one of them were incredibly beautiful, the sort of escorts any sane man would kill to have around him every hour of the day. It was just a nice little bonus that they were all very experienced killers. Adam studied the Italian and she matched his unwavering gaze, "You're very quiet, Lelia. Aren't you going to speak your mind on my decision to leave Persona behind?" "Yes, aren't you?" Jeanette chided playfully. Lelia raised an eyebrow and Jeanette and crossed her arms, turning her attention back to Adam, "I thought maybe I would stay quiet for once." Adam smiled, inviting her to speak. Testing her. "Please." "I'm not sure if it is wise to leave Persona alone with [i]those[/i] three. They're not going to care who they slaughter on the path to you..." Lelia trailed off, startled by the realization that Adam was in definite danger now. She had thought about it, but she hadn't spoken the words aloud to anyone. The limo was silent, each girl waiting for their superior's reply. Arianna glared sideways at Lelia. "Well." Adam tugged down the sleeves of his dress shirt, "Persona can just delay their journey, no?" Lelia frowned as the other women felt the tense moment pass, "It's...No, nevermind. I'm sure Persona will be fine." Adam's eyes twinkled as he grinned at Lelia, "Yes, I think so, too."[/color]

[color=purple]"So things have been going haywire ever since the beginning..." [i]"Hey, Bailey, wake up."[/i] "Liam and I have seen and done enough things to make numerous people crazy." [i]"I've got to get you out of here, c'mon."[/i] "He alone has been through enough that we're [i]all[/i] surprised he isn't more insane than he is." [i]"Hold on tight, petite."[/i] "...Not to say that he isn't a little, well, you know..." [i]"Ah, Jon, we've been waiting..."[/i] "...loco." [i]"You realize that your sister here is not what I'm after. Yes, please set her out of harm's way. You're a fine brother." "You deliberately forced her here because you knew I'd come after her, but I expected you to think like that, Xavier." "Of couse, I'm too predictable and methodical in the way I dispose of things." "You're sick, Xav, just let me help you." Jon took one step toward Xavier before a gunshot echoed through the room loud enough for the emaciated Bailey to flinch. When Jon turned toward her, he stumbled onto his knees with a bright patch of red blooming across his stomach. A single tear ran down her cheek as her brother spoke to her for the last time, "Oh, Bailey, I'm so sorry." [/i] "Hey," Rae nudged Bailey slightly with an elbow, "are you there?" "Oh, yeah, sorry." She wanted the couch to open up and swallow her whole. "Where did you zone out?" Bailey stopped to consider, and the irony of the statement made her smile slightly, "Um...loco?"[/color]

[color=deeppink]I love the way my first and last name fit together, but when I get married, I'll definitely take on my husband's surname. I've never seen it as a bad thing, I think it's kind of a fun way to show that you've dedicated a part of your life to someone ^_^. It's also an honor that someone [and their family] is willing to share that last name with you. For my photography, however, I'll most likely keep my current last name following the © symbol. That way older photos before I get married have the same name as the ones I take after. If that makes any sense at all :P I'm basically the end of the Winter line in my family. My father was the only male born to my grandparents, and since my brother passed away, when I get married it's the end of the Winter last name. I have no problem with this, I almost feel a little devious and special for marking the end of a surname era :toothy:[/color]

[color=deeppink]What level of school did your teacher come over here to teach, cloricus? It's possible that she was teaching middle school [usually kids age 9-13 or so] or younger, and that's why their rules were so strict. Or it's also possible that she was teaching at a very large high school where violence was a problem. It seems like where she was was a bit extreme, heh. Our high school was trying to crack down on rules the two years before I graduated. I could tell a major difference in the enforcement of school policies between my first and last years there, mainly due to the fact that, my freshman year, we moved into a brand new building halfway through the year. They started making up all of these crazy rules like signs on lockers being fire hazards and such. Most of them were pretty much ignored by the students who knew the old way of life in the old building. Looking back on it, I don't think that school districts being so uptight about rules is really that bad. Due to the law, they ARE responsible and serving as your parental guardians while you are on school grounds. Should anything happen to you on those grounds, even if it was your own stupid fault, the school is completely liable and open to lawsuits. So of course they're going to have strict rules, their ***** [and assets, lol] are at stake. However, I'm glad I'm out of high school, the whole middle school and high school experience was kind of horrible. College rocks ;)[/color]

[color=purple]Liam was obviously not in the mood for idle chat, and Bailey was growing restless with music streaming through only one ear. She shifted so that she could tuck one leg underneath her, but it only resulted in the headphones sliding off both of their heads. ?Sorry.? Bailey sighed and smiled politely, picking up the headphones and putting them over both of Liam?s ears. She would have to absorb herself in something other than Bradley and Zharra?s proclamations of love. Their sudden turn toward affection for each other didn?t bother Bailey so much as it made her incredibly jealous. It was two fewer people, in a number that was already scarce, to talk to and interact with. Urgh. But she perked up at the thought of Rae being willing to tell her about past missions and her history with SYF. Bailey hoped that she?d be up for talking, otherwise she might go stir-crazy. Plus, a girl always needed some quality time with other females, no matter how corny or cliché it sounded. Digging a book out of her smallest pack, Bailey thumbed it open to where she had left off. After reading the same paragraph three times over without absorbing a single word, Bailey slammed it shut and figured that Steinbeck probably wasn?t her best bet for entertainment right now. Bailey considered pulling out her PowerBook to engage in some sort of mindless computer game, but she thought it wiser to save its batter power. She didn?t know how long it would be until she?d be able to charge up any power she lost. She let the book fall onto the floor and cocked her head at the lovebirds across the aisle. She pulled her knees into her chest and rocked back and forth idling, the motion of it keeping her attention. ?Do you not sit still?? Liam kept the volume up on his music, he was able to read lips easily enough. ?I can?t!? Bailey burst out quietly, exasperated, ?I?m unoccupied. It?s the downside of having lots of personality and energy. When do we leave?? Liam had just checked his watch, ?Ten minutes.? ?Ahh.? Bailey made a sound of overjoyed relief and slid back down into her seat. Liam dialed down the volume enough to hear himself talk, ?Am I the only one who ever knows the schedule around here??[/color]

Lelia noted Arianna?s reaction time, [I]not so bad[/I]. She circled Arianna once, and both pairs of eyes trained on the woman in front of them. Lelia took one teasing step forward to see if the younger one would react to her so quickly, and she immediately felt the chain whip strike her on the arm. Hissing, she distanced herself again and took note of the tear in her extremely expensive shirt. [I]Bitch[/I]. ?That was bit unwise.? Arianna gave her a look of disdain, ?What? Ripping your shirt? Please.? ?No,? Lelia twirled the blue pair of scissors in her right hand, and produced a second pair in her left, ?it was unwise to strike at me so hastily. You know nothing about me as an opponent.? Arianna threw her an incredulous look, ?Hasty? You leaped at me first.? Her chain whip dangled at her side, ready to strike. ?Yes,? Lelia smiled, muscles tightening, ?but I?m at the advantage here.? Arianna didn?t have time to reply before Lelia had hurled both pairs of scissors toward her legs. She spun back far enough for their blades to be driven into the hardwood floor, both pairs jutting out like awkward steel flowers. Lelia had jumped on top of a long glass table and positioned herself near the wall it run into. Arianna leaped effortlessly onto the opposite end of the table, landing lightly and noiselessly. She snapped her chain whip at her side. Lelia raised her eyebrows at the motion, highly amused. She certainly was a ballsy one. Arianna stepped forward slowly, her heels creating soft grinding sounds on the thick glass tabletop. Lelia stood where she was, arms crossed, studying her approach. She appeared completely relaxed, but Arianna knew much better than to assume she was. Adam had explained Lelia to her, how impeccably trained she was at fighting, and how Adam had developed her even further under his own style. She knew to expect a woman who, more than likely, had many more deaths on her resume than Arianna. Lelia was one step out of her striking range when Arianna stopped and tightened the grip on her weapon. Lelia stepped forward obligingly, inviting Arianna to make her move. When the chain whip lashed out and wrapped itself around her leg, she performed a front handspring toward Arianna before she could be pulled off-balance. No longer taut, the chain?s grip slackened around Lelia?s calf muscle, but it didn?t fully let go. Arianna jumped back gracefully in an attempt to tighten the chain again. Using her free, long leg, Lelia kicked her hard enough in the side to send her tumbling off of the table. Not wasting any time, Lelia used Arianna?s temporary loss of hold on her chain whip to swing her leg in furious little circles. With this motion, the chain unwound itself and landed with a loud [I]clank[/I] on the glass. After rolling backwards once, Arianna regained her footing on the wood floor. Her shoulder had taken the brunt of the fall, and it protested angrily as she reached out for her whip. She grit her teeth and realized that she had momentarily taken her attention off of Lelia. She spun around in time to see her approaching from behind, a long weapon resembling a two-pronged pitchfork grasped between her hands. As she spun to face Lelia, Arianna?s whip followed suit and found its target, slithering forcefully around the brunette?s stomach. Lelia tripped slightly as Arianna yanked back on the chain. She realized that she wouldn?t be able to breath for much longer with how tightly her stomach was now constricted. Raising the pitchfork level with Arianna?s throat, Lelia continued charging forward as the other woman continued sliding backwards. She was close enough to place Arianna?s neck between the two prongs, twisting it just hard enough for her head to be pushed to one side, leaving her unable to balance as easily. As Lelia pushed her toward the wall, one of Arianna?s hands came up to try and shove the prongs away from her throat, choking slightly. Lelia didn?t let go, narrowing her eyes and quickly running out of breath. She drove the pitchfork into the plaster wall next to where Adam sat, leaving enough room for Arianna to be able to breath, but not escape. She hit the wall hard, both hands losing grip on her whip and slamming against the wall as well. She was completely trapped where she was, unable to push the pitchfork out of the wall and away from her throat. Beside her, Adam clapped. Lelia had unwound the chain from her stomach, and lifted her shirt high enough to expose ugly bruises already blooming out across her midsection. She dropped her shirt back into place and smiled, her breath slightly labored, ?You?re not half bad.? Arianna didn?t reply, her eyes shot daggers toward her opponent. Lelia turned to Adam who was laughing softly, feeling very satisfied and entertained, ?She still needs some work.? He eyed Arianna who was still pinned in place against the wall, ?We?ll work on her.? Lelia nodded and too a sip from the glass of wine she had meant to begin drinking before Arianna had stepped into her life, ?Am I excused?? ?Ah?? Adam tilted his head at her, as if she were forgetting something important, then nodded toward Arianna. ?Fine.? Lelia unstuck the pitchfork and turned to replace it to its proper place on the wall. Still in battle mode, Arianna lunged toward Lelia, only to be caught around the waist by Adam and thrown back into the wall. ?That?s enough.? Facing away from both of them, Lelia rolled her eyes and smirked. --- Later that evening, Lelia and her [I]own[/I] entourage of men loyal to Adam and herself set out for a late night in Santa Monica. Adam?s business in LA would be finished by the end of the week, and that meant they?d be returning to Osaka soon enough. Lelia liked to way Americans partied. It was worth it to spend at least one more good night floating in the sin and carelessness of Los Angeles? trendy crowd, especially since Adam had allowed her to take a night away from him. Lelia mulled over this fact as their black Mercedes escort sped toward the Pacific down Interstate 10. She realized that Arianna?s appearance had everything to do with why she was being allowed to spend the evening off off-duty. However, she enjoyed Adam?s company and was slightly irked that Arianna had taken her place momentarily. But Lelia relaxed after rolling around another thought in her head; she would always be the first Angel, and nobody could deny her that.

?So. Tell me more about her.? Lelia?s black Jimmy Choo heels clicked across the floor as approached Adam. She appreciated being in Los Angeles, its chaos reminded her of Rome. ?I was hoping that you?d like to figure it out for yourself.? ?Figure out what?? ?Why she?s being considered to work for me.? Lelia looked at him questioningly before turning away to stare out at North Hollywood?s sprawling collection of mansions, ?What do you wish me to do?? Adam remained silent, waiting for Lelia to turn around and face him. ?What do you wish me to do?? She repeated, slower this time. When he still didn?t respond, Lelia turned and planted herself directly in front of him. She studied his expression and found it was laced with amusement. ?Do you want me to [I]initiate[/I] her?? Adam grinned. She was exceptionally perceptive for a 20-year-old, ?Just don?t hurt her too badly, darling.? Lelia scowled, already feeling territorial about her personal relationship with Adam. It was strictly business, of course, but why did he feel the need to have someone other than herself in his small little entourage? ?Now, don?t look so upset.? He paused, eyeing the weapons that hung on the walls around the room, ?She?s been working in the pornography industry.? ?Porn!? Lelia burst out with a half-laugh, ?I bet she can?t fight worth shit. I?ll kill her within seconds.? She was grinning widely, obviously pleased by this new information. ?I wouldn?t underestimate her, Lelia.? ?Fine. Fine, I won?t.? ?Play fair.? His voice denoted a slight warning. Lelia narrowed her eyes at Adam, still grinning slightly, ?When will she be here?? ?Soon enough, darling. Soon enough.?

[color=deeppink]YES! I [i]love[/i] Nip, he was one of my first AND favorites! I'm not at all ashamed to say that I collected Beanie Babies, and I still have a large part of my collection. I sold a lot of them when the craze died down, simply because there were a bunch that I didn't really like. I kept my favorite 20 or so, mostly ones like cats, bears, unicorns, and other pretty animals. They have resided on the self that runs around the top of my room until this summer, when I was home from college and had to pack up all of my things. Now they are all in a dark box, waiting to be moved to a new house. I was in 7th grade when I got my first one; Weenie? I think his name was. He was a brown weiner dog, and I still have him. I got him for my birthday, and then received the purple hippo that same day from a friend. I was so hooked after that. Who can deny the utter cuteness of Beanie Babies? I can't ^_^;[/color]

[size=1]ooc: Just something to note, Lelia is the Italian one ^_^[/size] -------- Lelia contemplated Jamie?s stance, dipping her chin and bending her knees, ?Please, make your move.? Her voice was light, almost as though she were teasing him, as Jamie took three deliberate steps forward before he raised the katana beside his right ear and lunged. The katana?s blade winked madly in Lelia?s vision before she whirled away-two full circles-and out of its arching path. She spun gracefully into a crouching position, raising one eyebrow at Jamie. Lelia slowly started backwards, rounding the side of the large bathtub, Jamie matching her pace step for step. As she sidestepped a potted plant without glancing behind her, he was certain that she had already memorized this room. ?I was wondering,? her voice broke the slicing sound of scissor blades opening and closing, ?how is it that you wish to finish me? Surely I am more worthy of your time than those before me.? Jamie twirled his katana once, righting it back out in front of his face, ?When that time comes, I will know.? Her laugh was throaty and feminine, she sounded genuinely amused, ?Very well. Let?s continue with this gamble.? Lelia moved first this time, hurrying toward Jamie?s outstretched blade, her expression wiped clear of emotion. One pair of scissors, the yellow-coated ones, came spiraling toward his chest with their razor sharp blades exposed. As Jamie intercepted them with his katana, Lelia used the opening as an opportunity to drag a second pair across the left side of his torso. However, Jamie had been too quick for her to jeopardize herself in that position for too long. She frowned to see that her blades had merely torn clothing, but no blood had been drawn. Lelia distanced herself from Jamie again, noticing that his katana?s shiny glint was dulled by a crimson shade. Keeping one eye on her opponent, she glanced down quickly to find a long slit in the side of her kimono and blood trickling down her leg. Lelia smiled, ?Ah, good one. That is a sharp sword, I did not feel its bite.? Jamie traced a finger along the tear she had produced in his jacket, ?I promise you that you will, before this night is over.? They both knew that it was time to rid the fight of pretenses. They approached each other head-on, both wielding blades menacingly before them. Jamie?s was aimed for her neck, Lelia?s were positioned for his stomach and both hit their mark. As they passed one another, Lelia felt a hot sting on the underside of her jaw. Jamie faltered a bit, yanking her closed blades out of the pre-torn hole in his jacket and ignoring the pain. Lelia?s enchantress air was gone, it had been replaced by something far more feral as her voice came out in a hiss, ?Now we have both drawn blood.? She pounced, attempting to knock Jamie off-balance with a well-aimed sidekick to his wrists. He reacted by raising his katana far above his head, too high for her to reach, and she swung around to the opposite side of a paper door. Jamie pierced the door, dragging his blade the length of it, but failed to make contact with Lelia. She had clambered into the low-slung rafters as he sidestepped another pair of scissors that came whirling from above. Jamie started toward a railing at a run, pushing himself off of it and up onto a low beam. He steadied himself, feet planted one in front of the other, and faced Lelia. She almost looked as though she belonged balancing precariously on the thin wooden rafters, stepping from one to another with seemingly flawless skill. Not looking too inexperienced on the beams himself, Jamie followed suit until him and Lelia were crouched on the same beam. They started toward each other, Jamie brought his katana sweeping down toward the floor as she changed direction, takeing two steps backward. The blade had cleanly sliced down the center of both obi and kimono, causing it all to slide off of Lelia?s shoulders and onto the floor below. Her white lace shorts and camisole were in high contrast to the red streaks along her leg and neck. A tight-lipped grin appeared on Lelia?s face, ?How exciting.? Jamie swung his blade in a circle this time, following the motion with his body. Lelia produced her pair of scissors with the longest blades [slightly resembling a small, double-bladed dagger], and intercepted Jamie?s swing. He stabbed toward her midsection, she leaped backwards. Lelia swung her scissors at his katana and caught it between the thick blades. She gripped the scissors? handle with both hands in an attempt to keep them closed around Jamie?s blade. Both of them struggled against the other?s strength. Their faces grew closer, suddenly inches from each other, their weapons becoming a steely barrier between them. Lelia let the strength of her hold give a bit, enough to spring back and shove Jamie?s katana toward his face, then arching around to the ground. She opened her scissors, freeing his weapon, and spun toward the opposite side of the bath house. Jamie glanced at the space between his thumb and first finger to find that she had managed to produce a deep gash while pulling her scissors away. At a lissome run, Lelia approached where the ceiling slanted to meet the rafters, Jamie right behind her. Kicking at a small steam vent, she hurried through the hole it left in the ceiling and ascended to the top of the roof. Jamie followed, noticing the precarious slant of this surface, and knew that this is where one of them would falter. This time, however, he was certain that it wouldn?t be him. There was too much behind this, too much time, effort, blood and tears. Though, it was ironic, for Lelia was thinking the exact same thing herself.

[color=deeppink]Ok, I had this whole dialogue with Rae before I realized that her and Liam had already left the room...duh, I'm dumb :P -------[/color] [color=purple][i]Yeah[/i], Bailey thought to herself as she dried her hair, caught up in her own little world for a moment, [i]much better, much happier[/i]. She smiled and nodded at her reflection in the mirror, and then laughed at her own ridiculous behavior. She was starting to talk to herself as a form of entertainment! Bailey leaned in close to the mirror, inspecting her damaged lip. It was no longer as swollen as it had been yesterday, but the red and puffy was giving way to bruised and sensitive. She debated whether or not to put any medicine on it to speed up the healing, but shook her head decided against it. When her hair was fully dry, Bailey brushed her teeth and gathered up belongings that had accumulated in the bathroom. [i]Tooth brush, tooth paste, towel, hair brush, shampoo, soap.[/i] Check. Dumping the toiletries onto her bed, Bailey dug through her bag of clothes and picked out olive cargo pants and a white shirt. She hardly felt the need to dress nicely today. Her bag of clothes, however, was in a small state of disarray. She decided it would be easier if she dumped all of the contents onto her bed to refold and repack. An hour later, changed and fully packed, Bailey sat in a V on the floor, the parts of her disassembled Beretta--#2--scattered between her legs. During her training years, she had rotated the use of her two guns in order to grow comfortable with both of them. The only difference that Bailey noticed now was that the one she was currently cleaning was black, and Xavier,[i]that fuck[/i], had her silver one. She frowned slightly at the thought of her silver Beretta, she preferred its coloration far more than the black one. Eventually she'd have to get it back. She had almost forgotten about the fact she had gone out with Nick the night before, and she was having trouble piecing it all together. Bailey contemplated going to find him, but decided it would be wiser to just leave without seeing him today. Once her Beretta was shining, Bailey slipped it into her thigh holster that was lying on the bed. She had also left out her Powebook laptop, and it hummed slightly in its sleeping state. She tapped the space bar to wake it up, and, for the next 30 minutes, went to work finding out everything she could about Columbia.[/color]

[color=deeppink]Buh, eh, isn't that how dating works? Boy meets girl at chance encounter, girl thinks boy is cute, girl receives or gives out phone number...and a date follows. She shouldn't be so nervous, I mean...yes, that's how dates happen. A TON of relationships happen because two people meet at some random place like Blockbuster, and end up finding they're compatible. Maybe she's just nervous because she doesn't feel ready to start dating, and that I can understand. But if she's worried about the fact that she met him so randomly, then that's silly. I get the feeling that she just isn't ready to date, yet. I think it takes some time and experience to be able to accept a date without a second thought, so she's probably just not there yet.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Leh [/i] [B][size=1][color=06699]If you hate the army, you're very ungreatful. You'd be dead right now if we didn't have them. So, be thankful that your husband has the duty to protect America.[/size][/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]I think that's slightly unfair of you to tell her that, but whatever. Maybe I just sympathize with her too much to care whether or not she's criticizing the military :rolleyes: ChibiHorsewoman, I'm feelin' ya. Time away from your significant other always just sucks [for lack of a better word :P]. I guess that, with the army, it's something that you have to expect is going to happen. However, I know that it doesn't make it any easier when he actually [i]does[/i] have to leave. Good luck with it! At least you have your child to love throughout the time your husband will be away :)[/color]

[color=deeppink]Thanksgiving has always been a tradition of going over to my grandparent's house for the day, eating the usual, very delicious food, and watching little cousins run around trying to knock each other out. This year, in a break from tradition, I'm spending Thanksgiving in Vegas. It will be just my parents and I, and I think it's a way for my parents to lessen the hurt of not having Eric around for this holiday. It should be an adventure, Thanksgiving in Sin City...[/color]

[color=purple]Bailey drifted back into a cognizant state feeling extremely content and well-rested. She hadn't expected to fall asleep... Liam noticed her shift, "Are you conscious finally?" Bailey turned her head upward to see Liam grinning down at her. She kept her cheek pressed against his shoulder and nodded, a genuine smile on her face. She started to say, [i]'you didn't have to stay...'[/i], but decided that, "Thanks." would be sufficient enough. "Well everyone needs someone to [i]lean[/i] on every now and then." Bailey snorted at his pun and sat upright, stretching out the stiff muscles in her neck. When she spoke, her voice was still glazed with the throaty sound of sleep, "I slept too well for someone with their back against a wall. Ow, my bum." Liam stood up and offered her a hand, "Mine's asleep, too." Bailey gratefully accepted the help up and rotated her torso once she was standing, sighing as vertebrae clicked back into place. She eyed Liam's bags, "I see you're ready to go. We're leaving tonight, right? How much time have I got?" He glanced at the watch on his wrist, "A good few hours still." Liam reholstered his Desert Eagle and picked up his bags, "Time for me to get my hourly carbonated sugar from the break room." Bailey grinned, "Liam, I think you might have a drinking problem." "Shh," he lowered his voice and leaned close to her, "I'm in denial." Bailey felt another laugh effortlessly escape her lips...her prior grumpiness was definitely cured, "I'm going to go dig out my other Beretta and then pack stuff up." Liam nodded, "I'll catch you later." And set off down the hall. Bailey started toward her room, thinking how great it felt to have finally made an unspoken, friendly connection with someone around SYF.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i] [B] If you're going to be addicted be addicted to some thing decent like normal coke or cherry coke! [/B][/QUOTE] [color=deeppink]It's the taste factor. Coke is sickeningly sweet, I can't stand drinking it. I'm sure it's the same for most people who drink Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi, too. I don't think anyone can deny being able to taste the difference between diet and regular...it's just too vast. Then again, Coke products taste different depending on what country you're in. Diet Coke in Australia tastes different that a can you'll get in, say, Spain. I'm not sure why I find this to be relevant to mention, but that's some random trivia you now know if you didn't already :whoops:[/color]

[color=deeppink]I think Transtic and cloricus hit on the actual point in saying that it's the substances in diet pop that cause cancer, not the drink as a whole. I think that it will take a decade or two longer for long-devoted diet pop drinkers to start showing any real symptoms. I'm hopelessly addicted to Diet Coke, it's not even so much the taste that I love. I just know that when I crave Diet Coke, I need to go buy myself a bottle and drink it all really quickly. I justify this by telling myself that it's better to be addicted to that than alcohol or cigarettes...or anything else equally as destructive.[/color]

[color=purple]She was exhausted, but Bailey knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep with so much to think about rolling around inside of her head. She immediately shut herself in the bathroom and scrubbed her face with cold water until it started to go numb. She grabbed a handtowel and plopped down on the closed toilet seat. Bailey thought that Liam grossly underestimated the whole Xavier situation, but she also realized that she couldn't expect him to fully understand it anyway. And she figured that he was right, everyone in SYF more than likely came with their own gift wrapped box of problems in tow. She'd just have to put Xavier, and her past, behind her until he showed up again. The night's events flashed by unannounced, and Bailey shook her head in digust, "It was so nice of you to wire Liam's car, you asshole." Gathering the mass of her hair on top of her head with a hair tie, Bailey pressed the wet towel onto the back of her neck and sighed. What she really wanted to do was just talk to someone, [i]anyone[/i]. Her social interaction lately had been at a minimum, and she blamed it for the reason she was so cranky. Bailey slipped quietly out of her room, trying not to wake Rae [I'm assuming you're there, that is...], and headed down the hall. She doubted that Liam would still be up to talking, but he was most likely the only other one awake. If nothing else, she could thank him for, um, saving? her tonight. She knocked softly on his door before opening it wide enough to peer in. Sure enough, Liam was already sprawled on a bed and most definitely asleep. She sighed audibly this time, closing his door behind her and sliding down the wall outside of his room. Thoughts sifted through her head, one by one; [i]I've got to get packed...clean myself up...Xavier has my Beretta! good thing I have a second one...explosion, explosion, explosion...[/i] Somehow the thoughts lulled her to sleep right where she sat leaning against the wall.[/color]

[color=purple]They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes as night scenes flashed by the taxi windows. Bailey exhaled softly and turned away from the window, "Thanks, Liam." He flashed a grin, "No sweat." And then turned his attention back to the night. "I don't even know how tonight happened, to be honest." Bailey's head had a deep and painful throb that doubled when an attack of sneezes caught hold of her. "Bless you." Liam said tentatively, unsure if any more sneezes were on their way. "Heh, thanks. It's probably because of that stuff he used to knock me out with. I wouldn't be surprised if it killed a few brain cells along with destroying my nasal cavities." Bailey gave a small laugh and scratched her itchy nose. "Who was that guy?" "Xavier," she poured French pronunciation into his name before switching back to English, "he's a little crazy." "How did you end up at that hotel?" Bailey stared at her reflection in the dark window, "I don't know. I went out with Nick tonight, but I don't remember most of it." Liam raised a knowing eyebrow, which Bailey shook her head at, "No, it wasn't because I was too drunk. There's just a lapse in what I remember." "Is Nick a friend of yours?" She smiled slowly, "Maybe." He didn't smile in return, "Come on, Bailey. I'm just trying to help figure out why I came to get you." She frowned, "Nick is half-friend, half-boyfriend. Or neither. Or both. I don't know what he is." "An SYF member, then?" "Yeah. We trained together. I just found out he was in Singapore tonight." Liam made a 'hmm' sound and then they both fell silent. Bailey suddenly laughed, "I'm so sorry about punching you." "Heh," Liam's stomach still echoed spasms from that, "I've had worse." "I was at a loss for what to do, I out cold until shortly before you got there. I would have hit whoever walked in the room at that point." Some of the humor faded from her voice, "Liam, can I tell you the truth?" He studied her solemn expression, "About what?" "About Xavier." Liam didn't respond, but continued to study her, "It's just that I think he's going to be after me for a while, especially now that he knows I'm with SYF. I feel obligated to tell you since I feel like I'm endangering everyone." He nodded, "Go ahead." She took a deep breath, "Xavier killed my parents. I still don't know why, but I do know that he's been looking for me for a long time, and he's struck gold by finding out what I'm doing now. I know that he's both relentless and dedicated when it comes to a goal he's set." She trailed off, considering... "And you're his goal this time." Liam finished. "Yes. I'm not scared about it, but at the same time I am. He has loyal men behind him, powerful ones. I can handle them, but it's Xavier himself that scares me. Every time he's around me I feel like I'm choked by what he did to my parents. That's why I couldn't ward him off tonight, I think, everything about him turns me to stone." Bailey stopped and cocked her head at Liam, who flashed another grin, "Well, we're all here for you, you know." Bailey's grim smile followed his own as she nodded, "Thanks. Liam. It's just that...if it puts anyone else in jeopardy, I'm leaving." The rest of the ride was quiet.[/color]

[color=deeppink][size=1]Just a note: Anyone can feel free to do anything about what happens at the end of this post. I don't have any set ideas on where it's going, so yes...feel free to run with an idea if you have any. -----[/color][/size] [color=purple]An hour later, Bailey woke with a start and made an automatic gesture to retrieve her gun. When her hand came out from under her pillow empty, the entire night came rushing back into her slightly foggy brain. She hadn't even gotten undressed, much less stored her Beretta away for the night. The silence of her room was what had awoken her...or was it? Bailey stilled, calmed her breathing and tried to remember if she had been having a nightmare that would have woken her up so violently. Something unspoken seemed to hover in the air until a voice made her shiver, "Thiz iz a bootiful gun." [i]She knew that voice...[/i] Bailey's heart started to beat a little faster, and as her eyes started to adjust to the dark room she was disappointed by two things; Rae's absense and the silvery outline of someone's face. His glasses caught a small stream of light and glinted madly at her. [i]Shit.[/i] "You have not spoken, but you know, [i]c'est moi[/i]." In the dark, a malicious grin spread across his slightly weathered face. She spoke, her voice wavering slightly with false courage, "Xavier." "So smart." He stood and approached the bed where she sat tangled in a blanket. "We have been looking for you, [i]cherie[/i]. I wanted to finish thiz job long ago, before you grew too big of a threat to deal with. I decided to bide my time instead." "Bullshit." Bailey edged closer to the wall. He gave her a small laugh, "No, [i]cherie[/i], you underestimate my intentions. It's just too bad that they had to get you all involved with an operation like thiz one." He twirled her gun around his finger once. She felt hot tears sting her eyes, "Why are you here? How did you get in?" "You are not zhe only one with connections inside thiz organization, Madame Carlmine. Zhe rest of your family was not so smart as you. Your father was a pigheaded armyman, too confident for his own good." Bailey's anger slowly rose a notch, but she remained silent. "You do not wish to defend your ass of a father? Very well. Your mother...she was something that I wish I could have kept alive. She did not need to die, but she, too, was pigheaded because she loved your father too much." Xavier, who had planted himself on the bed next to Bailey, leaned close to her and touched her hair, "It was a sad day when I had to kill her too, but in the end she deserved it. She defended your father too fervently, she became a bit too abrasive." He stopped to reminisce, a ghostly smile playing on his lips. The pleasured look in his eyes flippedd the switch on the rest of Bailey's tolerance. She took advantage of his lapse in attention and kicked out awkwardly at his head. Because of the way she was sitting on the bed, her foot connected with his jaw hard enough to knock him off balance, but it wasn't enough to deter him completely. When he caught his balance and lunged for her, Bailey slipped off of the bed underneat him and punched him squarely in the stomach. Hit by the full force of it, Xavier fell onto the bed with a pained [i]hmph[/i] before righting himself again. He studied Bailey for a moment, her long gold hair was free and mussed, and he felt lust tighten in his stomach, "You certainly have grown up, [i]cherie[/i]." Her gun was still in his hand, and he raised it up and cocked it at her, "It's a shame that I won't be able to watch your skills for any longer, [i]ma belle[/i]." [i]Ooh, he disgusted her![/i] Bailey sidestepped out of the line of fire and kicked out at the gun in his hand. It was unfortunate that he had anticipated that sort of move from her, because he caught her leg and sent her sprawling onto her stomach. He kneeled over her, one leg on either side of her ribs, and pressed the gun firmly to the back of her neck. Using his free hand to dig into his pocket, Xavier pulled out a small flask of chemicals that, once inhaled, would knock Bailey out for hours. "My team," she struggled against his heavy weight pressing into her back, "they'll stop you. You won't be able to get out of here with me." She felt her consciousness slip away as he whispered, "[i]Au contraire, ma cherie[/i]."[/color]

[color=deeppink]Hey, Leh, I don't know if this really matters in the grand scheme of things or not. However, if my character is roughly your character's age and was the original Angel, then the murder of Krissy when Dominic was 17 doesn't really pan out...:huh: I don't want to make you change your entire biography because that would suck, but yes, I just thought I'd point that out :whoops:[/color]

[color=deeppink]I've always been pretty open to experimentation when it comes to piercings because a.) they're addictive, and b.) you can take them out if need be and cover up the hole. I've had my navel pierced for over a year, my mom was nice enough to sign for me when I was 17. If the hole closed up for any reason, I woudln't get it pierced again. It was too long and painful of a healing process. Eventually, when I get enough money [I keep saying this, but it never happens :P] I'll get either my tongue done or a tiny little nose stud. I just like trying out new things, I like changes even when it comes to my body ^_^ And...for some reason I really don't like the navel piercing on guys. I think it looks a tad effeminate :shifty:[/color]