my fault(s) // samuel

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam watched her slowly fall apart. He hadn't even thought to offer any more condolences than he had originally, and he was sorry to see her sad, but somehow it felt right, good even, like she needed it. He understood the laughing too. It was how he lived his life too, laughing away the pain. It was easier than being sad. He just let it run its course staying quiet so she could have a second with his thoughts.

Him being quiet was unusual though of course, and Key soon found herself apologizing and promising she wasn't crazy. Sam had to laugh now. "I know. You're a tough cookie." He said with a smile. Key had been through so much and here she was, laughing, dying her hair and smiling, as if she wasn't alone in the world.

"Besides, you have me," Sam said with a smile. "And Tarzan/Wolverine." Chloe would probably like her too, hopefully. Sam could usually bring people together, and his fake sister and his girlfriend would probably be able to get along. Especially considering they both liked him, right?

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Key laughed again, the smile causing her eyes to overflow again and she wiped them away. “That's right. Tough rockstar cookie.” With her face mostly dry, she looked back at Sam and nodded in official agreement. And then at his next comment, Caim smiled ruefully. “The whole 'double code name thing' makes it sound like I'm interested in two very strange men." she teased, but then gently punched Sam's arm in a gesture of grateful, psuedo-sibling appreciation.

“Thank you.” she said, genuinely thankful. With mock severity, though, she added “Because your the friend I need right now, but not the one I deserve.” Technically the Dark Knight quote was structured the other way around: ”Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.” But either way, hopefully Sam got the reference.

She wasn't sure why she said it. But those types of nerdy and funny thoughts floated through Caim's head all the time, and maybe Sam brought it out in her. Either way, it seemed he was going to be the person that Caim could voice her crazy and geeky thoughts around.


ooc- why do we naturally make such great siblings?

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam laughed a little, making a mental note to make her cookies in the shape of guitars... Though on second thought, he couldn't bake that well so maybe he get his grandmother to make some. She baked all the time anyway and it was ruining Sam's girlish figure. At her quote, he laughed. "That sounds familiar.... Batman?" He mused. "I would make a sad batman." Sam was good but not that brave or crazy. If he had all that money, he wouldn't be fighting crime.

"And Psh of course you deserve a friend," Sam said. He wasn't anything as special as all that. He was just a man, an over grown kid generally in fact. Caim needed a friend like him to soften her edges. She had a wall around her. It might have been unintentional but he had already poked it full of holes.

Sam was flattered though that she thought he was the friend she needed. He did happen to agree though. He was a good friend for pretty much anyone if he said so himself. Sam had been told his easy ways put people at ease, though he knew from experience it also pissed them off. Not Caim though.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Key was a little perplexed, because at first she wasn't quite sure what he meant by “sad Batman”. “You mean like depressed? Or … really bad?” It was probably the latter because Key couldn't imagine Sam depressed in any situation. If that ever happened, she would be very, very worried.

Key smiled at what he said. “Thanks,” she said a little sarcastically. Not because she was sarcastic or anything, but because the mood had turned less serious – especially with all the Batman jokes going around. On a whim, she reached out and messed up his hair. Just because he had already done it like three times today to her.

Just then the phone rang, and Key reached out and picked it up. “Hyssop's Apothecary, how may I help you?” she said, falling into her perfected business voice. After a minute of “yes”, “of course”, “how many?” and “what's the address?” while scribbling down information on a notepad, Key ended with “Thank you, have a nice day!” and put down the phone. Making a final note, Key help up the notepad to Sam.

“Heads up, I'll be calling you soon for a delivery.” she joked. Funny how before today their relationship was mostly polite and partially professional. It felt odd that the real world was calling them out of this mood.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam chuckled. "Like really bad," He said with a nod. "I'd have spet my millions on like a wave pool and stripper poles." He teased. Sam had no real interest in stripper poles, besides the fact that he wouldn't mind seeing a girlfriend on one to please him, but that was besides the point. Mostly he just meant he wouldn't wage a one man war on bad people.

And then she was business mode, answering the phone in a chipper yet distant matter and he couldn't help but chuckle behind his hand. Sam wasn't the most professional, but he was easy going and if he had to pick, he'd stay the way he was. Life was hard enough with a good attitude.

He chuckled. "Excellent." He said taking the note and her pen and jotting down his cell phone. "There, now you can call my directly for those orders, or for shots... whatever," He winked at her lightly. But her work call made him realize maybe she had actual adult things to do in her life. Probably she was supposed to call him at work to order delivers, but it didn't matter much to him. Sam was almost his own boss, no one else really dealt with deliveries.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Key chuckled. “Ah, okay.” she said, now clearly understanding. She crafted her expression into one of thoughtful curiosity. “I didn't know you stripped.” she managed to say with a completely straight face. Obviously that's not what he meant, but he definitely set himself up for the joke. “You must be good if you need multiple stripper poles and not just one.”

While talking on the phone, it took all her concentration not to break out laughing. She managed to keep her tone professional, but she did glare at Sam at some point and push his face away.

[ooc- they are definitely going to be the types of siblings that beat each other up and break out into tickle wars]

“Thanks.” Key said glancing on the pad. “Check this out.” She opened a drawer and pulled out a box of business cards. “Ta-da! I'm a real adult with a business card.” she joked, holding up one such card in front of his face. They weren't anything fancy – just straightforward. Store name, her name, title (owner/manager) and the store phone and then her cell phone. There was a simple plant motif along the edges.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam laughed and flexed at her. "How do you think I got such a killer body?" He teased, perfectly fine with the idea of him being the one on the stripper pole. It was supposed to be good exercise after all. The gym or home workout tapes usually did the trick for him, though he also loved going on runs. Either way, he hadn't always liked working out but having a grandma who made you tons of sweets you had to learn some way to burn them off. "Only one is for me, the rest are for my personal group of multi-national strippers." He nodded with a practiced straight face, but obviously it was a joke.

Sam made a face as she pushed him away but stayed quiet to the end of the call. And took one of her business cards with a smile. "Does that mean I'm not a real adult because I don't have a business card?" he teased her lightly. He was much older than her, so that was a funny thought. But she did seem more mature in some ways, life hadn't been easy for her. Sam couldn't really say the same, obviously his family situation was strange, but he had basically grown up with everything he really needed.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

At the idea of Sam's “killer body” being a product of frequent stripping, Key laughed. Mostly because while she was likely joking before, she actually imagined Sam stripping just then, and the image in her head was completely ridiculous/hilarious.

And completely inappropriate. Key banished the thoughts from her mind before she found it difficult to look Sam in the eye. “Multi-national strippers, huh?” Key repeated, pretending to be impressed. “Well it's great that you appreciate variation.”

“Do you guys constitute like a dance troop?” Key asked with a mischievous smile. The idea of Sam stripping was funny, but somehow his stripping with a bunch of other people in a coordinated routine like a musical was even better.

And then Key looked at Sam as though it should have been completely obvious. “Yes. Clearly.” Key punched Sam's shoulder. Gently, playfully. Though she didn't really think she could do any damage against those biceps.“S'okay pal. One day you'll be a real man.”

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam chuckled and her and shook his head. "I guess we could be a dance team, a totally sexy one." He said trowing up his hands to gesture 'of course' we would be. "And variety is the spice of life, don't forget that young grasshopper." he teased, bowing to her playfully.

She thumped his shoulder and gave her one liner and Sam burst out laughing. "You know, you're funnier than I expected." he said with a grin. Sam's usual comeback might have been something like, thats not what your mother said last night, but since of course her mother was dead, that would be extremely poor form, and he couldn't quite figure out how to rewording.

"I think you should ask my exes about what a man I am," He teased, throwing her facebook girl duck face for added humor. Humor was big for Sam. he liked people to laugh and not take things too seriously.

[CAIM VENUS HYSSOP]

Key laughed and help her hands up, as is stopping the whole interaction. “Hold on Sam.” She looked down momentarily to really figure out how to word the issue. “You're mixing too many references.”

Key held out on hand. “You're either the lead stripper in a larger, multiracial group.” She held out the other hand. “Or you're a karate master.”

She brought her hands together and pointed at him. “Just pick one and go with it. Otherwise I'm getting confused. I don't know whether I should be putting singles in your waistband OR waxing your car.”Help a poor girl out she seemed so say with her expression. And then he brought up her being funnier than expected, Key just shrugged as though saying Yeah, I'm awesome – what can I do?

At the mention of exes and the not-so-subtle allusion to sex, Key just rolled her eyes sarcastically. “Thanks, but I'd rather not remind those poor girls of such painful memories. I'm sure they've been through enough.”

The increasing ferocity of the jokes going back and forth were creating a buzzing sense of competition. In a completely humorous, though still competitive, way. The tension that was building was the kind that Caim suspected could only be relieved by physical violence. Like through a pillow fight or a tickle war. There were no pillows here and Key would rather avoid that sort of confrontation. So she'd have to back down on the sarcastic remarks … though she wasn't sure if she was able. She was kindof on a roll.

[SAMUEL JOHN HAYES]

Sam laughed and shook his head. "Why can't I be a stripper who knows martial arts? Most strippers have multiple jobs." He pointed out. "But if those results are my options, I'll take stripper, because I could use the money." he laughed. He did okay for himself, but obviously things in this little town didn't pay much, or cost much. Out of town was a different story though.

Sam rolled his eyes at the comment about his past lovers and chuckled. He hadn't gotten any complaints, though of course like anyone else, he was fairly lousy in the beginning. He playfully ruffled her hair again and glanced at the time.

"Aw shoot," He said. "I gotta get to work, but we'll finish this another time." he winked. of course, there was nothing to really finish. Sam would see her again, and they'd tease each other again and it would probably go like that in circles.