Time Changes People And Snakes

[Seiji Lockard]

"Ghost, get down from there before someone is going to call animal control. Don't make me force you to obey." Seiji said to his male, four foot, and albino Boa constrictor. Ghost was currently up in a tree, trying to get a bird that was trying to be brave and hold its ground for some odd reason. Ghost of course was trying to capture and eat the bird which he would be able to do with ease if his master had not been telling him to get out of the tree. It was only a few minutes ago that Seiji and Ghost had finished up a simple trip to the pet store to pick up a few things. It was just some food, tank cleaner, and a few other things for all his snakes back in the dorm.

Normally he would have just went ahead and headed back home to put everything away, but it was a pretty nice fall day and he felt like taking a little detour. Taking a walk through the park while Ghost clung to his body. He normally tried to avoid taking Ghost out in public since people tended to freak out at seeing a huge snake just wrapped around someone's body but it had been a while since Ghost had been off campus. Plus the snake's birthday had not passed too long ago and his birthday gift got messed up by a cat, Seiji figured he make it up to his reptile this way. Seiji just happened to make the mistake of stopping near a tree to admire the park for a moment and it was in that moment that Ghost had quickly made his way up the tree.

Ghost would have sighed if he had been able to, but just silently moved to get out of the tree. However, there was a familiar scent in the air when he flicked his tongue, causing him to make a quick detour form up within the tree. His timing was practically perfect in which he dropped down half of his upper body out of the tree to have a better view of the human female the familiar scent belonged to. "Ghost, what are you doing?" Seiji asked as he moved around to the other side of the tree where Ghost was hanging out.

[Audrey Price]

Audrey was tired of her stupid hotel room, she was tired of staring at adds for apartments and houses. she found a house she liked, and she was going to look at it later but Zeus needed a walk, he was getting tired of the hotel too. he wanted a yard, he wanted other dogs to play with and Audrey so desperately wanted to give him that but she needed to find a place to live permanently first. She smiled at the dog as he jumped excitedly for the leash. "Sit." she said simply and he obeyed.

once on the leash he calmed and waited patiently for his owner to get out the door. Once outside he was ready to start running but Audrey was not. she had on a pretty dress and heels, this was simply a day to walk. "Calm." she said and he once again obeyed. "Good boy." she stuck the key to the hotel into the pocket of her jacket along with a small wallet and her car keys. It was a beautiful day out, the sun was shinning and there was a cool breeze out. Zeus loved the fall just like Audrey and it was a perfect fall day.

The park didn't seem too crowded when Audrey and her 7 month old German Shepherd arrived so she let him of the leash and he ran and jumped and came back, then ran and jumped and came back. it was game he would play with himself until Audrey pulled out the tennis ball in her other jacket pocket. she showed him the ball and he stopped moving, sitting down without a command, facing the open field. she threw the ball as far as she could and Zeus watched it sore, waiting, itching to run after it. He watched it as it bounced on the ground and kept moving farther away from him. After it was obvious he couldn't stand it much longer, Audrey gave the command he was waiting for; "Fetch." The tall, slim German Shepherd took off like an arrow that had been held back in it's bow for too long. He soared through the air toward the yellow ball, and Audrey to stop and admire the beauty in it.

She was standing by a tree when she felt something behind her, just a presence of sorts. As she turned around and saw a semi-familiar looking snake and as she heard the guy on the other side of the tree call the snake 'Ghost' she knew. "Well hello Ghost, I haven't seen you in a while." she smiled at Seiji as he came around the tree. "Or you." she gave him a kind smile, though it didn't fill her eyes.

[Seiji Lockard]

Ghost was certain that he knew this human female; he never really forgot scents of people that were around him a lot. Even if it had been a long time since Ghost had smelled this scent, he was certain that he knew this human. Seiji was already starting to blink in some small level of confusion when he heard someone speaking to his snake instead of screaming. He figured most people would scream if they saw a large all white snakes just show up hanging down from a tree next to them. She either really likes snakes or Ghost has been sneaking out again and making friends. Seiji thought to himself as he went around the tree.

“…you know me?” Seiji asked with the confusion clear in his voice. Ghost was already informing him of how the human female’s scent smell familiar from a long time ago. A long time ago was not really giving Seiji much but he understood that his snakes were never really good with the concept of years or even months. He normally was pretty good at remembering faces, especially since it was practically his job to know a lot of information on a lot of people at the school. He practically staring at her now, looking her over, and having Ghost takes in information on her.

There was probably an awkward silence between the two of them, unless she was saying something but Seiji had slightly checked out. His mind was going through his memories and mental images to find where he had met this woman. He felt terrible for not remembering her right away, so was practically putting his mind into overdrive in order to remember. “Audrey! From high school…right?” Seiji practically yelled out her name as soon as it hit his brain. The rest of his words were at a normal level and practically down to a whisper as he was still not certain if she was in fact Audrey. Ghost was already making his way out of the tree, landing on his master’s shoulders and working the rest of his body around Seiji’s tall frame.

[Audrey Price]

Audrey didn't care that he didn't remember her, it's not like she really left an impression on people. Which she didn't mind, she was perfectly content with herself, and didn't care if people knew her or not. Not to mention she hadn't been back here in five years, and she had never met another all white snake named Ghost, so Seiji had that going for him. She smiled kindly at the confusion on his face. "Yes I do, from a long time ago. It might not seem like a long time to most people, just five years, but a lot had happened to Audrey in those five years, she was a completely different person now.

She looked around nervously for her German Shepherd, the only thing he knew about snakes was to alert Audrey to them when they were camping. She was worried that he would run up and start barking and cause problems. She was also worried he might be confused when she told him to calm down. They went camping a lot and she liked that he alerted her to anything that shouldn't be there. But she didn't see him any where and her worry for the snake turned into worry for her best companion. "Zeus!" she called out. when he didn't come she started to panic. "Pardon me for just a moment." she said, but she wasn't sure he heard her. she stepped away from the tree for a moment to get a better view of the park. Her eyes finally fell on her puppy, way off in the distance, sitting in front of a tree and string up, probably waiting for a squirrel. 'Stupid dog." she muttered. "Zeus!" she shouted loudly so the dog would hear. His ears perked up and he turned to look at her. She pointed to the grass next to her and he came bounding over.

She stepped back to the tree just as Seiji shouted her name. then continued his question much quieter. She smiled at this. :Yes, Seiji, right?" she knew that was his name, but she didn't want to seem like a weirdo so she put in some question there. "I'm sorry if my dog barks." she got the statement out just as Zeus arrived and even though the snake was wrapped around a man and clearly not hurting him, the dog still started barking. Audrey sighed. "Zeus, down boy." she said firmly. The pup stopped barking but looked at her confusingly. "It's okay boy." She picked up the yellow tennis ball and threw it. she made Zeus wait, just like last time and finally released him. "Fetch." she turned back to her company. "Sorry about that." she gave a half smile, hoping she hadn't caused the snake any distress, or his owner.

(sorry it took me so long to reply, its been a hectic couple of days)

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji never really thought of someone not really leaving a mark on him, people did. The people that had been friends with him really did stick in his mind because he only ever had a few here and there. He just had a hard time recalling people the longer he did not see them. Five years may not have seen like a lot to some people, but even a year was a lot to Seiji. So much could change within a year, especially in his line of work and being a mutant. So not having seen whoever this woman was for five years caused it to take a moment for his brain to recall who she was. Her speaking to him helped with places that she was within his memory.

He was thankful even for the moment when she seemed like she was busy taking care of another matter. That allowed his brain more time to think. She certainly looks and sounds familiar. She even said from a long time ago. Where do you remember her from, Ghost? High school right? Seiji had a mental conversation with his snakes as his gaze still remained locked on the women. He often forgot to blink when he was deep in through and this was why he was thankful that he carried around eye drops. She was apparently calling out to someone, by the name he was assuming a pet, and due to the location he was assuming a dog. He could not help but to smile a little when he saw that she was in fact talking to a dog. He felt so proud of his deductions skills, but he figured that pretty much anyone could have figured that out.

Seiji of course remained right where he was while the women went off to handle her dog. He didn't mind waiting at all for her to come back, adjusting his stance to better hold onto the large and pretty heavy snake. He was just thankful that he was much taller than Ghost and it allowed him to be able to handle the snake better. His small smile broke out into a full friendly friend when he remembered her and she remember his name. "Yes, Seiji is right. Wow, I have not seen you in years, Audrey." Seiji said with a bit of joy in his voice. He then actually took the time to look her over again, this time comparing her to what he remembered she looked like in high school to compare any changes. Right as she apologized, her dog was already barking, and causing Ghost to let out a hiss while his gaze locked onto the dog.

Seiji quickly settled his snake down by scratching just under the reptiles jaw, watching as Audrey tossed a stick for her dog to fetch. "Oh, it is alright. I'm certain if I was a dog I would bark at a large snake in front of me." Seiji said with a small chuckle. He bit his tongue then, knowing he was about to go on a tangent and had to keep himself in check. "How have you been, where have you been, and when did you get back?" Seiji asked all at once, unable to help it. He had always been pretty curious and bad at the whole not asking too person questions.

[Audrey Price]

Kalispell hadn't changed much since the last time Audrey had been here. Yes, a lot happened to the town, but not to its appearance. It was still the quaint little town she had fallen in love with. Her mind went back to the first time she ever entered the town, the park, full of kids and teachers. College students getting coffee and meeting friends. It was a nice place, it was comforting, it was a place she would call home, and she had come back here when she didn't know where else to go, that was saying something.

She was lost in thought, not really paying attention to anything around her, she absently threw the ball for Zeus, not really noticing where she was throwing it, just knowing it was toward grass. She was glad that Zeus was getting to run around and some fresh air, the poor dog had been trapped in a car or a hotel room for the last six months. It was a miracle he was so well trained, and well behaved. He really was the perfect dog, and it cost a lot. Between what it cost to actually buy him, to feed him, the toys, the treats, the grooming, he was a big expense but Audrey didn't mind, he was the best company a girl could ask for, and he was very protective.

She started to think about her brother then, a dangerous place for her mind to go. It had been six months but it was still hard for her to come to terms with the idea that she would never see her brother again, her best friend. She focused on the man and his snake in front of her, pushing all thoughts of her life in New York to the side. "A little over five years actually. It's crazy being back here after so long." she said distantly, her mind racing through thoughts of her old life in Kalispell and the life she made after she left, only to wind up here again.

she smiled as the dog came back and dropped the ball at Audrey's feet, giving the snake a warning glance. ''it doesn't help that I taught him to alert me to snakes when we're camping. she shrugged, kneeling down to love on the dog a little. He licked her face happily but nuzzled the ball toward her, urging her to throw it again, which she did. she stood up and smiled at the flow of questions that flowed out of Seiji's eager mouth. "Well, i'm hanging on, I've been in New York and I haven't been in town too long." she sighed. She hadn't been in town long, but she was still in a hotel room and that bothered her. "How about you? What have you been up to?"

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji was no mind reader so he did not know what was going through Audrey's mind. He just knew that she certainly was thinking, distracted even on some level. He of course did not mind at all because he too often thought a lot and got distracted with his thoughts, a lot. He could not then fault someone else for doing the same or he would be a hypocrite. Seiji's eyes went a little wider for a moment when Audrey pointed out just how long it had been since they had last saw one another. Five years, already? Wow, time had certainly flown by but Seiji had to remember that he took off a year away from BA and was now in his fourth year of college.

All of it added up in the end, but it still was a shocker that it really had been that long. It at least made Seiji feel a little less bad that he did not know who she was right off the top of his head. "I bet. Are you finding everything okay?" Seiji asked with a small amount of concern in his voice. He figured not that much had changed in the area since he had been here, but he had been living here for four years in a row now since graduating from BA high school. So he would have just been used to any changed beforehand. Seiji's gaze went back to Zeus when he returned. Seiji's mind already going through trying to figure out how old the dog was as well as other little facts. he had at least gotten pretty good at learning about an animal by looking at them.

He had yet to prefect the art and was cheating slightly by Ghost giving him some information. "That makes sense. It would suck to be walking along and end up getting bit because you did not see or sense the presence of a snake. That is how hikers end up getting hurt, getting bit by snakes that is. Especially depending out where you live." Seiji said, almost slipping into a rant. Thankfully he caught himself and stopped before he got too far into it. He never had that problem because of his power but he knew of the challenge others faced with it. He had made enough anti-venom and seen the causes of venom enough to know that what Zeus was doing for his master was very helpful.

Seiji started to smile a little when Audrey said that she was hanging on and gave him a little bit about where she had been before coming back here. He was about to ask more about that, wanting to know specifically what she had been up to, but she asked him the question in return before his mouth could even open. "Oh, I have just been going to college at BA. In my last year and within this year I got a job as the Side-Effect Specialist at the school." Seiji said, sounding proud of himself, and he was. "If you ever need anything in terms of treating your side-effects, just let me know but first do you mind if I ask why you just completely left BA after graduating?" Seiji asked and then covered his mouth. He was supped to stop after asking if he could ask her a question instead of asking the question he wanted answered as well.

[Audrey Price]

Audrey had to close her eyes for a second and take a deep breath. Too many thoughts were going through her head and the only two faces she kept seeing were her dead brother's and her ex-fiancé. Her brother was laughing in her mind, the last time she had ever seen him. But her fiancé Matt was heart broken, confused. He didn't understand why the love of his life was giving back her ring and leaving him alone. He didn't understand that it broken Audrey's heart too. That she was dying on the inside as she handed back the diamond ring.

Audrey took a few deep breaths and then opened her eyes. "Sorry." she said quietly. Suddenly Zeus was at her side, leaving his ball to roll away, concerned for his owner. He rubbed his head against her knee. She leaned down and patted the dogs head. "I'm okay boy." she smiled at the dog and he reluctantly went to retrieve his tennis ball. she looked back at Seiji, wiping a couple of tears off her face. she hated crying in front of people, they always asked if she was okay, and she was not the person to just offer up information about her life.

"Everything is exactly as it was when I left. Or so it seems. I haven't gone around town too much." she answered as though she had been on the verge of a mental break down. she absently messed with her ring finger, she would always turn her ring in circles as comfort and even though the ring wasn't there, she still twisted the air, it just calmed her down for some reason. Zeus let Audrey throw the ball one more time, but he brought it back immediately and laid down in the shade, ready for a nap.

"Yeah, we camp in all different kinds of places, and since I'm not one to carry different anti-venoms around with me, I like when she lets me know when something's around." it was clear Seiji wanted to go on about the subject, something Audrey would welcome as a kind distraction from her own thoughts.  Audrey's mind was a terrible place to be at the moment and she looked forward to a small escape. She was glad that things seemed to be going well for Seiji, she remembered him as a nice kid and was glad life hadn't changed him.

Audrey couldn't say the same for herself. Yes she had always been nice, probably too nice and she always would be, she didn't see the point in wasting the energy of being rude and mean to people. she was going to thank Seiji for his offer but he followed immediately with another question. Audrey was caught off guard; she hadn't really expected Seiji to ask her that. she shock was clear on her face but only for a second. She covered her shock with a shy smile. "I took a couple summer classes at NYU and they started immediately after graduation." it was the honest answer, though a part of her only took the summer classes because she felt like she was being smothered the longer she staid in Kalispell.

[Seiji Lockard]

Seiji started to grow even more worried when Audrey closed her eyes and went silent for a moment. It might not have been that long but any amount of silence between two people that passed seemed to be an age of silence. Seiji remained silent then, not wanting to interrupt Audrey’s thoughts and waited for her to come out of whatever was going on, on her own. He didn’t know what was wrong so didn’t even know where to begin to try and help her. Should take her somewhere we can sit. Get a drink too. Seiji thought to himself, smiling when Audrey got out of whatever she was in.

“Would you like to come get a drink with me, Audrey?” Seiji asked, fighting back the urge to ask what she was thinking about. To ask her what was wrong and just basically get all in her business. It was all for a good reason, since he needed to know in order to help but he did understand that you could not be too nosey. He could cause her to remember painful things and make things worse or better, he never really knew but he wanted to try. Seiji nodded at her words about everything pretty much being the same around town. He figured not much changed, it was a small little town and while there were plenty of people around things tended to keep their typical look and feel to them.

That was why he liked living in towns over a city, it was much more personalized. He answered her question to the best of his ability, holding back his rambling. He just wanted to ask question, so many questions. He wanted to know what was wrong, what she was thinking about, and how he could make it better. That was pretty much all his thoughts were circling around. “If you ever do find yourself lost, let me know and I’ll help you out.” Seiji said with a grin. He practically knew the whole area like the back of his hand, with a bit of help of his snakes. He could have easily walked around the town with his eyes closed and get to where he needed to go.

Seiji smiled to hear about Audrey having fun camping and how she ever carried her own anti-venom. That was smart of her; Seiji did wonder a little how she got her hands on such a thing since she knew it was not something you could just pick up in a store or anything like that. Anti-venom was hard to come by, especially depending on what kind of snake venom you were trying to treat. “Oh wow. What did you end up going for?” Seiji asked, the curiosity was just impossible for him to completely put down.