interesting development

who: eben and stacey
where: stacey's house
when: mid afternoon

Eben had had a bad night. There was chaos. There were vampires. There were scary ass people with guns, wings, and other shit. There were injuries. He he'd been told to stay overnight at the hospital, even if he probably wasn't that hurt. Even though he got a lot of stitches. A lot. More than he'd ever had in his life, actually. Which wasn't that hard to do, his top count was ten. Either way, he got out sometime later, his parents had come to get him, there was a lot of fretting going on, and Eben's mind was just elsewhere.

That whole thing had been insane. Totally, utterly insane. To degrees he couldn't quite get through his head properly. So, after he'd extracted himself from the parentals, he ad gone for a walk. And eventually called Stacey. He listened to the phone ringing in his ear, and wondered if she was alright. And if he was still in shock. He was told he was still in shock, anyways. Maybe he was. He couldn't tell. He'd never been in shock before.

Stacey was busy doing the dishes when her cell phone rang; with her mother needed at the hospital and her aunt taking one more daylight excursion to kill as many vampires as possible, she was pretty much left to her own devices. Sadly those were chores, kinda sad in a way. Stacey was grateful for the distraction and ran up the stairs as fast as she could before pouncing on her bed to pick up the phone. "Hey!"

"Hey--Stacey?" Eben asked, even if it sounded like her. It wasn't like he had a whole lot of experience calling her or anything. "Um. How are you?" he asked, realizing he totally blanked on what else to say. He somehow didn't figure 'so guess how many stitches I have' was the best way to start out, after all. "You're okay?" he suggested, since that's what he wanted. She sounded okay. If she wasn't, she may not have answered the phone in the first place.

"Bored actually. Bored enough to do chores, which is kinda depressing when you think about it." Stacey crawled up on her bed and flopped over on her back before continuing, "How are you?"

"Um." Eben said, not sure how to answer that. There was a big old question mark in his head in regards to that. "That's still up for debate, I think. Do you er. Have some time? Non-chore time? I wouldn't want to interrupt you if you're busy." He also wanted to see her. But he didn't know if he could. Or should. Usually he didn't worry about these things. His head was really all over the place.

"Sure I've got time, what's up?" The dishes could wait after all. Well, maybe wait and then be furiously scrubbed and put in the dishwasher before sundown when her aunt was due in. Although at this point, Stacey hadn't even thought that Eben would like a visit; she was too used to Herbert's marathon phone calls to think anyone would want more than just a telephone conversation.

"I'm not sure." Eben said in a completely unsure voice. "Are you busy? Can I come see you?" he asked. He was fairly sure he was acting strangely. Or, acting strangely for him, he supposed. He still felt so off and didn't know how to deal with it. So...thus weirdland. "If not, it's okay...I don't know where you live, either, I'd just kind of like to see you." I sort of thought I might die last night, and I thought of you. That was morbid.

"Sure, do you want a street address or do you need directions?" Stacey paused a bit, "You're okay, right?"

"A street address would be fine." Eben said. He wasn't sure how to put the second bit. "...kind of?" he suggested. "I don't know. They released me from the hospital." Which after he said it, he thought better of it. "I'd probably rather talk to you in person about it though, if you wanted to know."

"Hospital? Hospital!" Eben was in the -hospital-? Okay, maybe freaking out wasn't the best course of action. After all if it was serious, they'd keep him in, right? Stacey hopped off her bed and headed downstairs as she rattled off her address, "2365 Cherrytree Lane? You think you can find it okay?"

"Yeah, I can find it...I'll be there in a bit. I'm not that far. Um. Don't worry?" Eben suggested lamely. He'd winced when she'd shouted, though he probably should have expected that. "I'll see you soon." he added, then hung up. He headed for the address she had given him, and it didn't take him overly long to get there. Marquette wasn't that big, and it wasn't even as if there were a lot of people out today. They were all avoiding outside like the plague, and or they'd already left town. So, he barely saw another person on his journey, and eventually walked up to knock on her door.

Stacey had been busy finishing off the dishes in the meantime, as that gave her something to do besides worry and Stacey in full blown worry mode was never pretty. Stacey scurried on over at the knock. The silver lining in this was that at least there was proof that Eben wasn't a demon or a fae, he wouldn't have been able to get to the front door otherwise.

Stacey planned to try to keep things calm and just let him in, but she took one look at him and reached out and brushed his hair out of his face. "Oh Eben, what happened?."

He gave her a little smile at that. "You look nice." he said first. Then he almost shrugged--but with the neck wound and back and yeah that was just not the best idea he'd ever had so that didn't happen. "Um...vampires?" he suggested. He didn't know what else to say on that score. He also noted how concerned she looked, and granted, he did look like hell. He knew he did. "I'm okay." he said, just to kind of reiterate that.

Well, with all the vampires out, the law of averages pretty much mandated that someone somewhere was going to get hurt. But Eben mentioned staying inside a day or two ago, he should have been safe. "How did they get inside? Are your parents okay?" Granted, it was unlikely for him to be here if his parents were hurt, still it'd be pretty heartless not to ask. Stacey took his hand and led him into the house, making sure the door was closed and locked once he was inside.

He didn't mind being led, and didn't protest it. "No, I was out." he said. "They're fine. Just sort of concerned." he added. He looked around as she tugged him wherever she was taking him. The chaos was less severe in here. In fact, it was pretty toned down. Which for once, was kind of a nice thing for him. Lately he'd been so overwhelmed with it all that it was good to get away from it for a few minutes.

Stacey led him to the living room and sat down on a comfy oversized couch, still holding his hand while she waited for him to sit down. "So why did you go outside, no wait-what did the doctors say about the injuries?" Stacey figured that she'd freak out less if she concentrated on things she might possibly fix.

"They said I was lucky I didn't get worse, and that I have to go back in fourteen days to get the stitches out." Eben said. "Then they gave me antibiotics and painkillers and let me leave." he added. "I have a lot of stitches though. I've never had that many before. It's interesting." He tried to think of a way to say the other part. About why he'd been out. "I'm not sure why I was out. I was following the lines. I didn't see anything coming." Which was because the lines didn't tell him anything when they were that messed up.

Well, the stitches pretty much precluded healing spells, since skin fusing over needed-to-be-removed thread would be bad. She was a bit surprised the stitches needed to be removed, most stitches didn't need removal nowadays. Things must have been bad for the staff to do things the old fashioned way. "You were following the lines, even though it was dangerous outside?"

"Yeah. I've never seen anything like it before. It was...beautiful." Eben said, smiling a touch, eyes a little distant. He remained that way before he focused in again and looked at Stacey. "But then there was a street fight. Vampries, and...people with guns, it was amazing. Someone I swear had wings. It was all so jumbled and nothing made sense. It all came together though, and it was bright, and terrifying." Though he sounded like the terror aspect was something he sort of found beautiful too. And that was because he did. "I can't fully describe it. But then I got bowled over by a vampire, and it...he? She? Are vampires people anymore? ...they clawed at me and tried to bite me and everything..."

Stacey was debating whether or not Eben had completely lost his gourd or if there were a lot more creatures out in town besides the vampires. Probably both. "It sounds pretty, um, intense."

"That's one way of putting it." Eben agreed. "I didn't even think most things had wings. I mean, I've seen some fae with wings. But that's a little different, and they generally weren't flying around cutting things down, and it was a little insane." he continued. "How are you?"

"So far, okay. Worried about you though." She filed that bit of fae association to deal with later. "So, make yourself comfortable at least, I'm here for listening if you need to destress."

Eben smiled a little at that, and he did lean back against the back of the couch for a few moments, making a light face when he leaned on injuries. The pain meds were good, but they didn't completely numb him out or anything. "I'm still not even sure what to think about it. I saw some chick who looked like she should be in a mental institution saw a head off of a vampire then like...kick it up the street." he said. "...that's one image I'll have in my head to the grave."

"Yeah that is rather creepy, " Stacey shuddered. Saws? Ew. "Can I mention the whole 'staying inside is a good idea' thing?"

"I know." Eben said. "I didn't really think about it, it just...I was out side." He said. He also knew that sounded a bit insane, and he gave a bit of a pained look that didn't last. "And then everything was insane. But I'm okay. Someone else got shot. I didn't get shot at all, so that's a plus."

"I highly recommend not getting shot too." Stacey started to lean over to rest her head on his shoulder, but then thought better of it, as she wasn't quite sure of the extent and locations of all his injuries. She shifted her weight a bit to turn her body more towards him. "Um, can I get you anything?"

He thought about it, then shook his head. "No, I'm okay." he said. "I just wanted to see you. I thought about you, when everything was going on and all. Sort of one of those 'Hey, I'd wanted to see her again' things." he explained. Then he looked at her for a long moment, then leaned forward to give her a light brush of a kiss, hoping that she didn't try to stop him. It wasn't anything more than that, just that light little thing. "I'd wanted to do that too. Had last time I saw you, but the time seemed to be wrong. But if I'd died last night, then I wouldn't have gotten to do that at all." So...logic dictated that he'd better get it out of his system just in case.

Stacey didn't stop Eben at all; he was too sweet to even think of staying away. She reached out to take his hand and give it a little squeeze. "That's sweet, but don't plan on any more brushes with death in the future. I'd like you to stick around." She gave a little sheepish grin at that.

Eben smiled at that. "I wasn't planning on it." he said. Which was true! He really just didn't at all in any way really want to have any more close encounters with possible fatalities. "But yeah? You want me to stick around?" he asked. He was glad she hadn't like...decided to slap him or something. That would have been disconcerting. So hooray for not getting cracked a good one. Which sort of made him want to kiss her again, but he didn't push his luck, not right yet. Instead he gave her hand a squeeze in return.

"Well if I didn't want you around, I probably shouldn't have invited you over to my house." Stacey's grin widened a bit more. Now if she only knew how to make a flirty comment or something. Nope, nothing coming to mind. Just as well, she still had some 'checking up' on him to do. Stacey rested her head on the sofa, still looking at him. "Are you in a lot of pain?"

He watched her, pretty much focusing in directly on her for a while. "It's kind of strange. I'm really bruised up, and there's the scabs on my face, and everything, and all the stitches, but I'm on pretty good pain meds, so it's like I know it's there? But it's not really hurting." he attempted to explain. "So...weird." Then he paused. "Actually, do I look massively like hell?" he asked, truly curious on her opinion there. Because he knew that his face had the scrapes around his eye, fully around, into his eyebrow, around the corner, and into his cheekbone from where he'd hit the pavement. He thought it was an interesting sort of aesthetic, but then, he knew he sort of found art in even weird things. So, he wanted to know her take.

"Yeah, you kinda do. I keep looking at it and think 'that's got to hurt.' " Stacey was never one for the pain thing. If she got a cut she'd freak until it was bandaged, although truth be told that was for other reasons entirely different then pure squeemishness.

He laughed a little. "Sorry about that." he said. He usually tried to be at least a tiny bit more presentable. "But it isn't hurting as much as it looks?" he suggested as a 'hey it could be worse'. "So, nothing to worry about. I have medication and stitches. It'll be fine." He paused then. "When this is all over, would you like to go to a movie with me? Or something like that?" He didn't know if she liked movies, or wanted to go to dinner, or what else they could do. But it was best to start simple.

"Sure!" Stacey silently prayed she didn't sound -too- excited. "Assuming there's a theatre open nearabouts, otherwise we might have to settle for DVD night." It's not like Stacey knew when the businesses would be open again. "Or dinner. Or both." Yeah, not exactly playing things cool there.

Eben suddenly smiled at her, a bright, genuine expression. "Yeah?" he asked. "Dinner too?" Then he paused. "Does this mean if I just asked you flat out if you'd go out with me you'd say yes?" he asked. Since that's what he was working up to, anyhow, but she seemed kind of excited about the ideas and yeah. He figured he'd just ask.

"Yes," Stacey grinned. "Though you'd better pick the movie, I'm really no good at picking out those things."

"I meant kinda...like, would you go out with me. Like...date me. Be my girlfriend." Eben clarified. "But alright, I'll pick the movie. Anything I should stay away from?" he asked. He never really quite knew what to watch at the theater himself. Depended on his mood, and he didn't always know beforehand what he might be in the mood for.

Stacey gave his hand another squeeze, "I was hoping it was in a 'date' context actually. As for movies, I'll really watch most anything. It's why I'm terrible at picking them out, I can never make up my mind."

Eben laughed a little. "Well let's pick when we get there then. First there'll be dinner." he assured her. "Where would you like to go? What sort of food would you be wanting? You can pick anything." he assured her. He had a bit of money so he could afford to take her someplace nice, even. At least for the first date.

"Actually, I don't know any of the good places out here. Are there any good Chinese places in town?"

"Several." Eben said with a grin. "I can take you to one of them, no problem." he said. He was thinking The Mandarin Garden, specifically. "So, any time you want. Well. Assuming you don't mind going out in public with someone who looks vaguely like road kill." he teased, thinking that she wouldn't say no, even so. She didn't seem the type, at the very least. She was sweeter than that. Softer than that. It was part of what drew him to her in the first place.

Stacey lightly brushed his hair away from his face again, smiling. "You do not look like road kill, just someone that needs somebody to take care of them."

Eben's head titled to the side as he looked at her for a long moment there. "I do?" he asked. That was...interesting. And he wasn't sure he'd ever been told that before. Did he look like that? Or, a better question might be, did he actually need taking care of? He always thought he did alright, of course, that was before the whole being out while vampires attacked the town thing. But that had only kind of been his fault. Sort of. He hadn't meant to get hurt.

"Well, right now you do, at least. I mean the stitches and the scrapes. I really wish I could do something for them. But I'm pretty sure I'd make things worse." Stacey decided to change the subject before it got morbid, "So when do you want to go out, Friday?"

"Sure, that would be fine for me. Friday works. Whenever you want." he assured her, smiling again. He reached out to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. "Just let me know when and I promise I'll show and take you out."

"How about fiveish? It's a bit of a rush after school, but I'm not sure if my mom will still let me out too long after sunset. I figure if we have dinner a bit early, we'll still have time to eat if mom wants me back in early." Assuming Mom did let her out; Stacey really, really, really hoped she'd be able to go.

"Sounds perfect." Eben said. "I guess I should probably let you get back to whatever you were doing before I crashed in on you. But...I'll see you soon." He also went in for another little light kiss, just because. She was such a sweet, beautiful girl. He wanted to be around her more. She inspired him.

Stacey gave him that little light kiss, "I can't wait." She stood up off the couch, "I'll let you out." Since she had to make sure the door was locked again after he left; she wasn't the type to leave the door unlocked, wards or not.

Eben got up, and headed back for the door, feeling a bit strange. He'd sort of come by to talk about things, and wound up with a girlfriend instead, kinda. So...that was interesting. It meant he still hadn't talked about things properly, but maybe he'd get to that. It wasn't easy to do that when you didn't really know what to say in the first place. Maybe he'd try looking up his brother again someday and talk to him about it, but he'd taken off years ago. But all in all he was feelin pretty good. Better than when he'd come over!