Oh God! Another one! (Open)

[Craven Grimley]

xxx

Even angels have
their wicked schemes
but you take that to
new extremes

---

It was tuesday afternoon and school was out, allowing Craven to be free again to do whatever he wished and what he wished to do was his homework in the sun so out of the institution he trudged. When he arrived at the courtyard, he was disappointed a little more then usual that the courtyard was littered with groups and pairs of people most of whom he recognized as his peers, though, no Tanner. For once, he was in peace and he was really appreciative of the fact.

Craven went to a far corner, hunching his shoulders to try and be invisible to avoid detection from a couple he was passing in the furious process of making out. Having reached his goal he flopped himself down across the grass underneath a tree and started pulling out maths first. Might as well get the hard stuff out the way before moving on to English lit., a subject he'd more then willingly do. He smiled when he got a tiny tinge at the back of his mind and knew that Jet was circling, searching for him.

He'd let her play hide and seek for now. Besides, he didn't have time to play with his pet crow right then. He had to concentrate on maths homework. Pulling out a calculator, he moved so he could lay on his stomach, slipping his pen through his teeth as he possitioned himself and got ready for the hard core session from hell. His black crow gave a caw and swooped down, having finally found her companion. Craven should have lifted his eyes but he didn't.

His mind was on maths right then until a golden chain with a little heart was dropped in front of him right on his maths book. His eyes widened and he quickly snatched up the stolen piece of jewelry. His head shot from one side to the other, expecting a girl to come stumbling from behind a tree claiming he'd stolen her necklace.
"Oh God. Jeeeeeettttt. "
His free hand moved to cover his eyes in annoyance and he gave a soft groan but he froze just like that when he heard a voice behind him.

Jet was all bouncy and fluttery thinking she'd done a fantastic job at providing her companion and her mate with some precious shiny object and Craven was sure she'd been followed.....Uh oh....

---

Tag: Open to anyone
Words: 397
Mood: Secretive
Comments: First thread! Whoot!
Song: Love the way you lie, part 2 - Rihanna

[Rhett Goddard]

Rhett was panting when he finally saw the crow swoop down by a tree in the courtyard. He cursed at himself, a couple of months ago he wouldn't be panting because of the short sprint he had to do while chasing the black bird, but with all the things he had found himself involved in didn't leave him much time to keep his cardio as fit as it had always been due to his constant practice of parkour. Thankfully things were finally starting to go into a steady rhythm, and so everything could go back to normal. Or "normal", but it was stable enough for him, which in reality was all that mattered anyway.

As he approached the tree he noticed he had been initially wrong. He had thought that the crow was most likely a shapeshifter, but apparently it was just that, a crow. Good. At least he didn't had to deal with a fellow thief with the ability to fly away from trouble and instead just deal with someone with a pet. Are crows even allowed here? He thought as he recovered his normal breathing rhythm a couple of steps away from the boy who in the spot where the crow had descended for a moment before starting to circle around. Rhett knew now that the rule for pets stated something like "as long as you can keep them caged, you can keep them", and he didn't really think a crow as bird you can cage. Then again, the blonde was already an enemy of such rule and couldn't care less if someone else was breaking it as he did just some weeks ago.

"I'm pretty sure you may have something that's mine." He went away and said directly, ignoring the fact that the "mine" part was more of a technicality than a real truth. "I would highly appreciate having it back," Rhett extended his right arm towards the boy with his hand open. "if you and your crow don't actually mind."

It wasn't that usual of Rhett to be this polite, specially when he had just been stolen, even if what was stolen was actually stolen in first place, but that urban legend/image of crows eating eyes prompted him to act accordingly before getting himself in problems with someone that had an, apparently tamed, eye-eating bird.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven slowly turned his head to the person behind him and frowned. It was a guy. Craven lifts his hand and dangled said stolen object from his forefingers before snapping his eyes shut regretfully until Jet chipped in with deep throated knock. Craven sighed and rolled his eyes getting to his feet. She always seemed to do this to him! She just couldn't keep her tiny brain wrapped around the fact that as her companion, he was not in need of 'presents'. God knew they were causing him more grief then happiness. Couldn't she sense that?

"I'm really, really sorry. She doesn't understand. She's only a bird. I mean is there any way I can make it up to you? I'm good at English assignments and I can do your maths or just buy you lunch or... I'm rambling again. I'm sorry."
Craven held out the chain starting toward the blonde before him. He would have simply handed it over if... if the thought of it being something that must have belonged to a girl, didn't surface in his mind. So Craven came to a stop, halfway across the space between himself and his peer to eye the chain thoughtfully.

"I should probably apologize to your girlfriend or your sister? Friend?"
Craven raised his eyebrow at the blonde not really too sure he wanted to hand it over just yet unless this was the true owner of the chain. It must have had some kind of sentimental value to someone at least.
"If I meant for Jet..."
He motioned to the crow where she was busy finding amusement in pecking at his pen he'd left on his math book.

"To steal stuff, it would certainly not be this. It would be like... a credit card or something of value. Let's go find your girl and we can straighten this out?"
Craven wrapped his fingers around the chain pulling it back into the palm of his hand. To avoid any annoyances between them, Craven pulled a smile across his face to show he was only trying to do the right thing.

---

Tag: Rhett
Words: 350
Mood: cautious
Comments: Thank you so much. He's cute!
Song: Criminal - Ben Jelen

[Rhett Goddard]

Oh god, a good boy. The boy's initial apology-introduction made Rhett roll his eyes away. Another goodie-two-shoes. Well, at least it was the bird behind the whole thing, which meant, again, he didn't have to deal with an actual thief, and instead an misbehaved pet. The boy, however, was taking his time giving the necklace back, which led to return his hand to his pocket as he continued talking. Great now I have to explain myself? Trying to see where the other boy was going to, Rhett just let him talk continuously, which didn't seem to bother him at all.

"No girlfriend, sister, or friend." Rhett finally said, staring strongly at the boy's eyes. "There's nothing to straighten. Nor explain, really. Do you see anyone else running to get his necklace back? It's mine."

Rhett sighed. If the boy was insecure about giving the necklace to Rhett without proof it was him, just coldly repeating it's him wasn't going to work. The boy wanted to be sure he'd give it to its rightful owner and not to someone trying to take advantage of the situation, making the wrong deeds of his crow even worse. But how to present proof or explain that the shiny thing was his? It's not like I'm going to say that I pickpocketed it a couple of days ago and was on my way to sell it along with the other shiny things in my pocket. They'd be good proof, though.

The only apparent solution was lying.

"Look, Craven, right?" The name popped into his mind. "Ok. I lied. It isn't actually mine per se. In reality, the truth I was going to give it to someone. Not to a girlfriend, though. I have a boyfriend."

There. The amazing ability to not say the truth without actually lying. It was all true, the necklace wasn't him, he was going to give it to someone, a.k.a. sell it, and he does have a boyfriend, even if he has nothing to do with the subject, although the context was going to make it look like he did.

[Craven Grimley]

The guy rolled his eyes at Craven and Craven's smile disappeared into thin are before he began glaring at the guy. Seemed to him like this guy was real jackass. Just like Tanner. Craven instead would handle him like he handled Tanner. This guy and Tanner would get on great. They could both hiss and spit at one another until cows learned to fly and pigs turned blue and Tanner would probably make him make out and they'd go their seprate ways... and why did he just think that. Oh bad thoughts. Bad thoughts. Craven shook any bad throughts away and attempted to concentrate on what was being said to him.

No female? Like an adult would to a child, Craven gave the blonde THE look. If there was no one then he'd probably either stolen it or found it himself and the right thing to do was to return it. He wished people could see the people that they were hurting when they did stupid things like this. The hard look didn't scare Craven anymore. He, now, was immune to it. It didn't matter anymore. It was like Tanner was staring back at him instead of a complete and utter stranger.

"Wow, You actually get somewhere talking to people like they're shit?"
Craven did a good impression of being surprised as he raised his eyebrow at the stranger before him. Craven blinked at his name suddenly being said and his brow furrowed immensely. He hated it when his head wasn't safe anymore. He wished Gia was here so she could pick stuff out of his head and he'd know how it felt. And the look Craven part... if he had ONE dollar for each time Tanner said 'Look Craven.' Craven was sure he'd be richer then their old man right now.

From where he came from, 'Look Craven' was always followed with 'uh oh, help!'. Craven's eyes widened at what followed. Not the lies or anything else but the actual boyfriend part. His cheeks flushed and awkwardness set in immediately. Craven started to sway from one side to the other looking every where but the blonde.
"Oh God. I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I mean I didn't wanna know. Not that I'm a homophobe or anything. I mean I totally support you. In fact I'm more curious..."
Craven snapped a hand over his own mouth the way Tanner used to when he babbled and he took a deep breath watching the other boy his face now completely red.

Craven lowered his hand again and tilted his head at the blonde.
"You found it somewhere for him, didn't you? It's a for a girl you know? It's that fine, probably 18 carats and that's why Jet took it. She steals things that are fine and light. I have an idea. "
Craven gave the boy a smile.
"In exchange for your name and forgiveness for Jet, I'll use my credit card to get you a guy' piece cause I'm bored and I feel nad that Jet stole from you. "
... And come hell or high water, I'm NOT letting a thief steal something that might have been a family heirloom. Instead I'll buy said thief something else.

"I'll just pack my things and we can go okay? Deal? "
Maybe he went too far with the presumption but he was just trying to do the right thing here. Tanner whould have just handed it over and waved the guy aside unless he found some fun in trying to wreck another relationship.

---

Tag: Rhett
Words: 593
Mood: cautious
Comments: sorry it's majorly long!
Song: None

[Rhett Goddard]

Rhett did nothing but softly laugh while Craven's goodness came out of his mouth. He should know that bad people get easily farther than good people, not like Rhett considered himself bad or evil, but for sure he did not consider himself a good one. At least Craven had apparently bought his little "lie" so Rhett was quickly relieved that in the following seconds he'd be in his merry way. He was about to extend his arm at boy when the sudden verbiage came out of his mouth. It actually made Rhett think of himself when he has found in deeply uncomfortable positions, which lately has been more than usual.

"I know it's for a girl. I already gave him a necklace once, I'm sure he'd like it." Rhett unsuccessfully attempted to interrupt Craven.

The boy definitely seemed determined to just not give the necklace back, yet Rhett could easily detect the existence of ulterior motives besides "being helpful" in his proposal. Dieu, he's hitting on me. Great. He definitely facepalmed mentally. If there was something he should definitely be doing is hanging out with someone that clearly started to show interest after he heard Rhett was into boys. Like Odion hadn't had enough jealous rampages already.

"Isn't it just easier to give me the necklace back?" Rhett asked as he wondered if it was easier just to let Craven keep the damn thing. "I mean, I really don't want to trouble you, for sure you have far more important, and perhaps interesting, things to do than wasting your parents' money while gift shopping for someone else's boyfriend, taking into account you don't even know me nor him." That had to make sense. Craven should rationalize that he should just let Rhett go. "Look, you don't have to worry. I forgive you and Jet. I won't even tell anyone you have a kleptomaniac crow pet on campus, it's fine, really."

I should just go, shouldn't I? Rhett considered it again for a second. It was really, the best idea. The thing wasn't that valuable and he definitely didn't feel in the mood to go shopping, even if he wasn't going to pay for it. He felt he didn't really needed someone else's gifts or charity, and even less, help choosing a right gift for Odion if that were the case.

"The my name part is fine though, I'm Allexander." It had been a while since he introduced himself by his middle name, but if Craven was indeed hitting on him, letting him access his first name didn't seem like the greatest of ideas.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven heard the part about the whole boyfriend liking girly things. Now that was an out right lie wasn't it? He actually spared a glance back at Jet before eyeing his peer with a doubtful look upon his face. How stupid did he look? Really?
"Your boyfriend likes girl's stuff? I can't work out if that's meant to insult me or him?"
Craven shook his head. He was getting really close to being punched and he could feel his own nerves being frizzled. It was affecting Jet too. He could almost feel her puffing up and shaking herself out.

"Noooo. It's so not easier to give you the necklace back cause I'll obsess over this for like a gazzilion days. "
He was so not getting into that. Jet always stole stuff and Craven always obsessed over getting these objects of value back to their owners. He felt SO guilty about his powers and what his powers could make the damned crow do when she felt she should honor who she considered to be her mate. Craven sighed and his kleptomaniac crow lifted into the sky to come and sit on his shoulder.

"Firstly, she's not a pet. Secondly, forgiveness is really not my priority here. This might have been a gift from someone's father or dead mother or something. It might have sentimental value. If you had a parent that had to give you away to these people wouldn't you be sad if their token of affection got misplaced?"
He did his best sweet puppy eye impression to see if it would make whatshisname see that this was important to him. He shook his head again as if telling himself that this was one hell of a waste of maths time.

"Alexander. Didn't expect that. It's a name for greatness. "
Craven got in the last jab of his guilt trip before he held out the necklace waiting to see if he'd made any kind of impression. Whether he'd reached any part in Alex that would make him feel that finding something that belonged to someone else was just as bad as stealing it.
"Your choice I guess. "
Jet began preening at Craven's curls right at the back of his neck feeling the nerves he had, he could only guess.

---

Tag: Rhett
Words: 387
Mood: tense!
Comments: Poor Rhett.
Song: Manic - Plumb

[Rhett Goddard]

"More like he likes shiny stuff." Rhett corrected Craven. "And I do too, look." He showed Craven the silver bracelet in his left hand. "He gave this to me. I in the other hand gave him a necklace that same day."

Rhett didn't quite know why he was telling Craven all this. He should have gone his way away already, not like the gold necklace was worth much, but it just seemed like leaving like that without saying much would just prove to Craven that he had been sort of not saying the truth about the necklace's origin. It wasn't like he cared much of what other people say or think about him, but having a staff member knowing about his hobby/job was already bad enough like to add a fellow student, specially one that seemed to have such a strict moral compass.

"Yes, I know, I chose it myself, my mother didn't care enough to give me a middle name." There was a certain tint of anger in his words. Craven was starting to get in Rhett's nerves just a little bit. "Look, I don't really know what has got you thinking the damned thing is not mine." His voice was serious and firm. "I don't really know if you're aware of the fact that there is a pretty high number of people in the round world we call Earth that might feel offended of being called a thief." Rhett was not one of these, but Craven didn't really need to know this. "I mean, really, you can talk to crows, can't you just ask your not-pet from whose hands did she take it?"

Rhett was frustrated. Why was this guy so stubborn and unmovable? There had to be something he could do to convince Craven to not only give the chain back, but to also stop accusing Rhett of being a thief. Learning how to solve a problem via ESP is too much to ask?

"Come'on Craven." Rhett's voice went back to a more relaxed one. "If someone did something wrong today, is Jet. Why am I the one who's going to pay for it?" He sighed. "I'm not saying you or she needs or your parents need to pay either. I'm perfectly fine with no-one paying for this, rather stupid, discussion we have gotten involved in." Half-smiling, the blonde took a step closer to the brunette. "I have a proposal. It's more of a question, though. Hear me out. Since you would be giving me my necklace back, it's only fair you get something back too for your trouble."

The way Craven talked about his credit card, he was not going to ask for money, and the way he seemed like a good boy, he was most likely not going to ask for anything material or hard to get either, so whatever the crow-owner would ask for, shouldn't be too much to hard to prove. Probably just a request like "prove that you're not a thief" or something to continue his previous flirtatious attempts. As long as it would solve this conundrum, Rhett didn't think it would be too much trouble.

"Ask away." Half-smile intact, Rhett waited.

[Craven Grimley]

Craven looked unmovable too as Alexander babbled away, especially after he'd been told that Alexander wasn't really the guys name. A liar and a thief?! No way! Craven crossed his arms over his chest watching Rhett with a blank face as he went on and on and on and on attempting to convince that there was really nothing wrong with Alex and that he wasn't a thief. Maybe this guy had some kind of split personality or something? Craven could only guess or maybe he'd rather not have known. He did so an ounce of insult when he heard that Alexander was insulting his bird.

Calm took over again but then Alexander made him the ultimate offer. One he'd have a hard time refusing himself. Anything. No one doing just one tiny bad thing like lying or thieving told Craven said that to Craven and got away with it with just a little 'I want...'. Craven kinda made it his mission to at least try and reform these individuals. He failed time and time again with Tanner and he would keep trying but maybe with Alexander he could get somewhere with it.

A slow smirk turned Craven's pressed lips into a slightly more wicked looking smile as he watched Alexander for a long moment before nodding slowly.
"I will make sure you stick to your offer come hell or high water okay?"
Craven moved his hand to trace along Jet's chest making her puff her feathers, head moving rapidly to peek at Alexander.
"I want you to not steal and lie for a whole month... about anything at all. And we'll be watching you."

God that sounded a bit disturbing. Like he was a freak or something. Well he was or something.... but not that bad. Craven again held out the necklace.
"Well? What do you say? I'm sorry. I didn't get your name?"
Craven tested whether he'd actually done what he'd set out to do. A month, starting that day. No lies and no stealing. He'd work out what to do after the month was over. Maybe get Jet to steal something else from the blonde.

The thought made a warm smile spread on Craven's face as he watched the blonde. The kind of smile that made his blue eyes twinkle a little brighter.

---

Tag: Rhett
Words: 385
Mood: Hopeful
Comments: I love Rhett!
Song: none!

[Rhett Goddard]

"Ugh again with the stealing? And now I'm a liar too, that is, indeed, as awesome as it gets." Rhett sent an annoyed look along with his sarcastic tone. "Are you sure you don't also want me to stop kidnapping and selling babies in the black market too?" As soon as Craven held the necklace out, Rhett was quick, and harsh, enough to take it from the boy's hands. "Fine. I'll stop stealing the occasional fries while working my shift in McDonalds," He had gotten the job a couple of days ago, and stealing french fries was pretty much the only thing he'd admit to the brunette. "and not lying won't be a problem, be assured of it."

Was Rhett really agreeing to this silly proposal? For sure. Truth was, that Rhett nearly never actually lied, even if it might looked like the opposite. And the stealing, well, it was no trouble really since it actually sort of was in his plans anyway. Working part-time in McDonald and taking care of his new place and his dog once he got it back, without letting school or his gym and training routines slip again was going to be time-consuming enough like to also keep pickpocketing on almost daily basis. He had decided to leave it for when he actually needed quick money. Then again, if it didn't work, it wasn't like a promise to someone he didn't really know was a must in Rhett's life.

"You did get it. It's Allex." Rhett carefully placed the necklace back in his pocket, safe from Jet's claws. "Not because it isn't my first name doesn't mean it's not my name." He stated, pretty ready to move on unless Craven found a way to stop him. "Some people jsut don't like nor use their first names, you know?"

[Craven Grimley]

Craven's eyes widened.
"You sell babies on the black market?!"
Craven's teasing ended abruptly when he heard about the McDonalds job and he winced. Naive little Craven never had to fend for himself. Never had to lift a finger to make his own food or even buy his own food. And thank God, he'd never put his lips around a fake burger. The kind that they prepared and sold at McDonalds.

Craven dropped his head instantly pursing his lips in regret. He offered Alex a soft smile at the name and nodded.
"I'm sorry about... You know... life in general... for you."
This was pathetic. Craven shook his head and cleared his throat making tiny circles on the ground to keep himself from having to look up at Alex.
"That was pathetic. Okay bye."
Craven nodded and waited for Alex to actually go. He was sure Alex couldn't wait to be set free from this little encounter.

Craven could kick himself for being this lame. Why did he have to even stick his nose in other people's business? Did it matter if the guy didn't wanna give him his first name or last name or whatever name? Really?

---

Tag: Rhett
Words: Too lazy to count tonight
Mood: Embarressed
Comments: Craven just messes up conversations completely. He's gonna be kicking himself over it later.
Song: none

[Rhett Goddard]

"Also Russian wives if you're interested." Rhett inserted the quick response immediately after Craven's reaction to the blonde's sarcasm.

He let a few laughs afterwards. If this boy was naive enough to for a minute believe that, then Rhett had been wrong this whole time, Craven was nowhere near a threat and more like a confused five years old. It made more sense than anything else, specially by the fact that he seemed to arrive at quick conclusions without thinking things through, something he probably did not realize was doing, and his following strange apology only proved Rhett was right this time. Craven had little to no idea how Rhett's life was and he was suddenly arriving at the conclusion that it was bad, when it reality was pretty much great, specially lately.

"Don't." Rhett shook his head while closing his eyes for a second. "Whatever gave you that impression, well... you should work on the way you arrive at conclusions, actually, but in anyway, is wrong. You are." In a rather strange moment of attempted sympathy, Rhett patted the younger boy's right shoulder. "My life happens to be as awesome as it gets." Popping a soft smile while turning around, he finally acknowledged Craven's "bye" and started to walk away just as he, in between laughs, let out some words loud enough for the brunette to listen them. "Finally off to sell my stolen necklace, right?"

[Craven Grimley]

The end?!