Strike! [Open]

[Gylfie Murdoch]

Ooc;
In advance, sorry for the bleh-ness of this first post.

Bic;
Peach here,
Tonight there'll be a free bowling night for all "MyShape Inc." clients. Come down for some fun! There's food, games and bowling.
It starts at 6PM at The Bowling Administration, so don't be late!

With a satisfied click, the text was sent out into cyberspace. Her phone, being automatically linked to the internet and all the 'shifters numbers, could reach every corner of the world. There was really no excuse not to come and find her - afterall, who didn't want a free night out?

The Bowling Administration, forever generous in their ways, had agreed to another hosted evening for the MyShape Inc. clients. The owner, Mr Jackson, happened to be a good friend of Peach's. Despite not knowing anything about the shapeshifters abilities, he had become completely loyal to the 22-year-old and her extended family.

Peach now perched on a red leather sofa, bowling shoes sitting beside her. She would greet the shapeshifters as they arrived and point them towards their private lanes. A table had been set up in a separate room, holding all sorts of tasty delights - quiche, vegetables and dip, wine, crackers, muesli, chocolate. Mr Jackson really had gone out of his way. It was an elaborate.

"I want to thank you again for this," Peach said, smiling and standing up as the man approached. "It's been a while since a lot of them have been out and about. The exercising and dieting routine is really strict. They'll be so happy to have some time away from everything!"

[TETRIS]

ACHILLE XAVIER

---

The limousine that pulled up in front of the bowling alley could only have been commandeered by one man. Achille Xavier.

Flashiness was his style; but to counterbalance what might other seem a snobbish demeanour, Achille never arrived "fashionably late". Besides, he liked to be the first - to be there early, have the choicest pick, and have the place scoped out. He liked bowling as well, which explained his presence tonight.

Peach was seated on the sofa, and Achille drifted across the entryway to her, resting one hand proprietary on her shoulder as he greeted her with his rapid-fire, dulcet, rather dense way of speaking.

"Peaaaaaaach, m'love, how kind of you to arrange such an occasion. I suppose these shoes are yours, ne?" he picked up her shoes, glanced them once-over and dropped them on the couch. "Don't tell me you're a veteran here; I wouldn't have pegged you as the alley-cat...

Trailing off for the first time, he noticed the approaching man and was all eyes. He gathered from Peach's greeting that this man was owner of the alley, and the one who had provided the food. And a man. Achille's smile could only be described as angelic, as he skirted past the appetizer table, plucking a chocolate casually in passing.

The chameleon shifter draped a long arm around Jackson's next, sidling up to his right side with warm intimacy. "Awww, are you the one who prepared this for us? I'm touched by the thought you put into this. Here, sweetheart." He pressed the chocolate to Jackson's lips with one index finger, which didn't leave the owner's mouth as Achille half-turned the man to face him, looking him over and grinning.

"I bet you're an ace at this. Let's share a lane and hit it hard, ne? Don't worry, I always come in at the right angle. And I never strike out."

Achille practically purred the last line at Jackson, but without any hint of malice or cruelty playing around his eyes. The soft grey hues shown with open sincerity and innocent playfulness, though his right hand, which had strayed to the man's hip, struck the double entendres home.

[Gylfie Murdoch]

"Hey Achille!" Peach said, turning towards the human whirlwind. She barely had a few seconds to mumble "bowling isn't my thing" before he was draping himself across a ver confused Mr Jackson.

Achille always amused Peach with his dramatic and elaborate ways. His way of speaking was very intriguing, especially paired with his body language. Within seconds of him walking through the door, she was shaking her head in bemusement. Poor Mr Jackson. He didn't stand a chance. If the chameleon 'shifter ever let him go, Mr Jackson would most likely never return.

"You two have fun..." she said, fighting a smile. "I'll stay here and greet the others. Right through that door over there, Achille." She gestured towards an open glass door before scurrying back to the sofa and settling down.

[Pax Ricci]

Pax had just been about to settle in for a quiet night when the electronic *beeeep* of a received text message broke the silence of her room. Fumbling for her cell within the toss of pillows that she had scattered over her couch, she found the brick and clicked the display on, smiling broadly at the message. Oh, Peach. Always thinking of ways to entertain us, aren't you?

Knowing that it would be more fun to go out with a few other 'shifters than it would sitting alone in her room, Pax heaved herself off the couch, tucking her cell into the back pocket of her black striped Bermuda shorts. There wasn't really anything else she needed, but she grabbed a few bucks off the counter and a tube of chap-stick, just in case. After taking care of the necessities, she left her apartment, bounding down the stairs with the agility of the cat she was. It didn't take longer than thirty seconds to reach the bottom level and approach the entryway.

"If anyone's bored, they should go bowling!" She called to the building as she exited through the bright red door, closing it swiftly behind her.

It was a warm night, seeing as how it was still summer, and the light white boyfriend shirt she had on did wonders against the humid air. With a chuckle, she realised it had been the shirt she was going to wear to bed, and that she had left without changing her top. With a shrug, she started jogging, towards bowling alley Peach had mentioned.

It didn't take long to get there; a lot of the main buildings and attractions were close to Verge Apartments. Pax could only infer that had been Peach's doing, to make the lives of all the residents easier, but she didn't really care. It just meant running or walking everywhere, instead of riding in a stuffy car.

She entered the building with a smile on her face, looking for Peach. Spotting her sitting on a worn-looking leather couch, Pax approached the other woman and leaned against the arm of the sofa. "Heya, Peach. Thanks for the mass-text. I kind of needed to get out tonight." She glanced around, golden-green eyes searching for other people she knew. So far, none, aside from Mr. Jackson. "Nobody really here yet, huh?"

[/blockquote]

[Tobias Evander Lyne]

Toby had received the text whilst typing away at the keys of his laptop. He had intended to stay home and catch up on his e-mails, particularly those from his sister who he hadn't spoken with in a while, but he never could resist a night out. It wasn't yet late enough that he had changed his clothes or brushed his teeth, so he simply smoothed the white t-shirt he wore, pulled on some shoes, and threw on a corduroy blazer. After a moment's hesitation at the door, he decided to add a grey pinstriped fedora to the ensemble, then headed out the door.

The bowling alley was close enough that he could walk there, and far enough that he felt slightly uncomfortable in his jacket by the time he arrived. Ah, well... only so much he could do about that, and he didn't feel like taking the jacket off. Without the blazer he would feel under-dressed and exposed; better to be a little hot. Before he had time to dwell any further on the subject, he was through the doors of the bowling alley. On an old couch, looking a bit bored, but patient, sat Peach. Another Verge resident, Pax Ricci, was nearby. Toby had never really spoken to her much, but he recognized her from the apartments. He approached the two women, waving and smiling in greeting.

"Hey, Peach! Thanks for the invitation. I love bowling." He stood before them, wondering if anyone else had arrived yet. He didn't bother asking, because he would find out soon enough. "Where's all the action?"

[Gylfie Murdoch]

The sound of approaching footsteps caused Peach to sit up a bit straighter. The closest figure was light, feminine. It turned out to be Pax, followed closely by Tobias.

"Hey you two!" Peach said, standing up and stretching her back out of habit. "I'm glad you could make it. There are only the four of us -" she gestured towards Achille "- but I'm sure some of the others will end up coming."

As gently as she possibly could, she rescued Mr Jackson from Achille's grasp. "Mr Jackson, do you think you could greet the others here? I can take Pax, Achille and Toby to our room." She received an eager nod from the bowling alley's owner, followed by a brief struggle from him trying to get to the sofa. If it hadn't been such a pitying moment, she would've laughed.

The room she then led the others to was large and extremely spacious. It was a private junction, used for rich business men and their pretty little daughters. Three bowling lanes graced the furthermost wall, wide television screens displaying results and animations above them. Next to the door sat a line of refrigerators and counters, covered in beverages and complimentary treats - most of which were healthy. In the center of the room sat plush red sofas, set around a coffee table. Beside them, a sleek pool table graced the floor. Techno music pumped from hidden speakers.

Had she not been used to this sight, Peach would've gasped and clapped in excitement, but this was safe place for her and she'd been here before. Her first 'shifter boyfriend had brought her to this room as a late birthday present. Oh, how she missed those days.

"Well, this is it," she said to the people behind her, making her way to the pool table and running her fingers along the ebony wood.

[TETRIS]

ACHILLE XAVIER

---

Peach had his arm now, extricating him from Jackson, but Achille wanted to be sure that he marked his property. Leaning over to whisper, he let his warm breath trail in the man's ear even as his keen grey eyes already drifted past the middle-aged proprietor, to the girl and boy who'd walked in. "Peach is getting a bit jealous so I'll have to calm her down, but I don't want you going anywhere, you hear that m'love?" He pressed his mouth to the man's temples, his lips parting in a wicked grin. "Now behave yourself, sweetheart. Daddy'll be back before you know it." Waggling one slender finger under Jackson's nose, Achille drew away reluctantly.

Clearly, the man was more than happy to be free, and disappeared before Achille's back was turned, not that the chameleon shifter particularly cared. He'd found new prey.

Ah, woe was him. Two shifters - on whom should he first dote? Well, obviously the male.

Without Toby's consent, Achille had gripped his fingertips, pulling the hawk shifter's arm out full length before dropping in a slight curtsy to one knee, raising Toby's hand to his lips and bestowing a kiss upon the boy. "He-llo, Prince Charming!" Not letting go of Toby's hand, Achille stood and side-stepped around Toby, twirling their joined arms over the hawk's head until he was at Toby's other side, having managed to cross the boy's own arm over his chest.

"Awww, you're looking a little flustered, ne? Is it me?" His eyes glinted sharply, and he pressed his own hand, the free one to Toby's forehead, feeling the hawk's temperature playfully. "Or maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions. Must be the blazer. Silly boy... who bowls in a blazer? Unlesssssss..." Achille leaned in further until he was nose to nose with Toby. "... maybe you had... other things in mind, ne?"

A suggestive tilt of his eyebrows left little to the imagination of what 'other things' he might be hinting at. Achille's hand had worked its way down the side of Toby's head, slipping to his neck and vanishing underneath the jacket. "Keke, whatever the case, you won't need this jacket, ne?" Even as he spoke, he slipped the fabric off the boy's shoulders, finally releasing his grip on Toby's hand, before reaching tauntingly for the neckline of the hawk's white t-shirt. "You know, you probably don't reaaaaally need this either..."

"You were asking about the action? All right here, m'love. And if you promise to play nice, we can share Mr. Jackson. In bowling, the more balls, the merrier!" Giggling inanely, Achille clung to Toby's neck, trapping one of the hawk's arms in his while the other one traced out fluttery patterns on his shirt-clad chest.

[Gylfie Murdoch]

Ooc;
It's disgusting how much Achille amuses me.

I'll post after Toby's response is up. I look forward to reading it. This is going to be interesting. =D

[Tobias Evander Lyne]

Toby had hardly enough time to get acquainted with his companions before more arrived, and he was swept up by someone he didn't recognize at all. Apparently, he was called 'Achille'. At first, Toby was a bit flustered by the attention and the source of it, alike. It wasn't that Toby was unused to male attention, in fact he found he drew more male attention than female (a subject he chose to waste little energy contemplating, lest it hurt his ego) - it was the rarity of the man's appearance and his affectations that put Toby somewhat on-edge.

After examining Achille's appearance, Toby simply dismissed it as an interesting personality trait and the mild confusion was past. He stood there, allowing the older man to paw at him until he finally settled on a rather protective stance that offered Toby limited range of motion, at which point he smirked and pressed his own hand lightly against the other man's chest. "Maybe I did have other things in mind. Although, now that you've taken it off me, you may never know." Toby had no trouble at all playing along with what was quite obviously a game. Whatever attraction this man may or may not have felt towards Toby was irrelevant considering his confidence could clearly not be swayed by rejection from a straight 19-year old.

It was difficult not to smile in the face of such a bizarre character, and Toby had learned well before that simply buying into the performance was a lot more rewarding than acting uncomfortable or playing unsociable. Indeed, the simple act of faux-flirting had the potential to earn him a friend. An eccentric one, certainly, but didn't that make it all the more fun?

There was still the mild discomfort of being without his jacket, but Toby had no doubt that it would be returned to him soon enough. Anyway, he was willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort if it meant the others would be happy, especially if it meant making knew friends. Plus, he had to admit that it was a little odd to bowl in a blazer.

[Gylfie Murdoch]

Turning from the pool table and leaning her backside against it, Peach watched as Achille fussed over Toby. It was almost cute how they seemed to play the same game. Had she been any more outgoing, she would have voiced her appreciation for their attempts at being friendly. Of course, she just watched instead, noticing the small flirty movements and the slight discomfort in Toby.

After she was sure no one was going to get punched, Peach's brown eyes searched for Pax. The wolf 'shifter approached her casually.

"So, Pax, how have you been?" Placing a light brown hand on the girl's shoulder, Peach gestured towards one of the chairs, silently asking her to sit down. "How are you liking the apartments?"

[FRAZLE]

ooc// i thought it was winter?
BIC:

The familiar sound of the electronic beep, followed by a vibration in her pocket startled Emma, causing her hand to jolt left. Purple fingernail polish smeared on her big toe, dripping onto her fluffy white bedspread. Having nothing better to do, she had decided to paint her toenails, something she was unbelievably bad at, but hey; it gave her something to do and it didn't leave her toes looking chipped and ugly.
Digging through her faded skinny jean pockets, she was able to grab her sidekick and read the text Peach had sent her. She hadn't been bowling in forever, and it wasn't like she was any good.
Even though she was great at sports and laughing; she had no artistic skills and bowling was a sport she loved, but couldn't do. Dropping the black and blue rimmed phone on her bed, she screwed the top back of the fingernail polish. She had finished just in time, but that was just a simple coincidence.
Sliding her long, jean covered legs off of her bed and bouncing gracefully onto the floor, she walked over to her closet.
There wasn't a problem with waring her rolled up Capri jeans with the white v-neck she was waring now, except that other people might be dressed fancy and she had wanted to wear the strapless blue, light blue, pink, and white strapless shirt.
Slipping it on over her head, she grabbed her phone and shoved it back into her pocket. She was more of a shorts girl; but finding herself to lazy to slip a dirty pair on, she shrugged it off and opened her door.
An orange bundle of stripes unraveled from her dresser, sticking a small, emerald eyed head up and mewing. "Bye bye." She reached out and petted the cat, before slamming the door behind her and bouncing down the steps with a catlike manner.

It was dark outside, the only light coming from the city awhile in front of her, orange hues of streetlights, and the faint neon glow of the bowling alley. Luckily it wasn't that far of a walk, maybe 2 minutes.
The road was wet and the air was set with a slight drizzle, but with her luck it would probably start raining cats and dogs.
Tall, proud trees stretched over her, covering her in darkness as she skipped on the leaf littered sidewalks. She loved taking walks at night. So many creatures were out; so many scary people.
It was like a huge adrenaline rush, and it was beautiful. The bowling alley appeared out of the corner, glorious trees coming to a stop as the late night building came. She stepped inside, smiling when she saw other shifters and chocolate. Vaguely, she could see people walking toward a private room, set up with drinks, games, fridges, pool tables, and private lanes.
Talk about paradise.
When she stepped in the private room, she could make out Peach, the owner, the sweet girl who had set up all of this and who Emma could get along with, Pax, who she didn't know much about but liked her anyways, and Toby and Achille, whom were both attractive but seemed to have the hots for each other. Downer for her.

"Peach! Pax! How are you guys?" She called, waving as she stepped closer. Her hair was tied back in a single French braid, her slender fingers running along its back.

[Gylfie Murdoch]

Ooc;
It is, but I think it's summer in this one. Perhaps it's just a very warm day? =)

And... I dislike this post very much. I'm sorry for the lack of quantity (and quality). I'm so very tired.

Bic;
Peach had been waiting patiently for Pax's answer when Emma entered the room. The wolf 'shifters slightly animalistic senses picked up the toxic fumes surrounding the younger girl. It reminded her faintly of nail polish or the taste of Red Vines, but she couldn't be sure.

"Hey there Em!" She called cheerfully, smiling a quick apology at Pax. "I'm glad you could make it!"