#impara33: 5 years

[augustcastle]

5 years

A lot changes in five years.

Him and Ryan are married in a beautiful ceremony, in that same park that he proposed to her in. They carry out a honeymoon by deciding to give Colorado a try and he was...he'll deny that he was teary eyed saying goodbye to his brother.

Though he knows it's not for good, never for good.

They try out that ranch and turns out? It's one of the best things they could have done. They have a decent amount of land, space for her flowers, for a ton of garden beds, maybe even a greenhouse, places for his horses to run, and room to spread out from their tall yellow house with a wraparound porch.

Definitely something he never saw in the cards for himself.

He runs a brush over Gunpowder's black coat, taking the time to groom him in the early hours of the morning. God, if his grandfather could see him now.

Though, maybe he can.

[aidenoconnell]

Aiden smiles softly and the worker mentions something about going to grab the keys to open up the cage. She comes back fairly quickly and unlocks it only for Bee to launch herself towards them. She's definitely still got that puppy energy in her.

"She's fully trained, just excited a lot of the times. A little naughty," the worker says.

Aiden smiles and bends down to her level again, running his hand along her shiny coat. "Her ear is okay?" Aiden asks, one of them semi-floppy.

The worker nods, "Yes, we've checked a few times but it does stand. Think it's just her unique thing. You can get it posted, if you'd like, but it doesn't seem to bother her."

Luci smirks as she rests her hand on Aiden's back as he crouches down to say hello to Bee. She looks over the information on the card, a small smile tugging the corners of her mouth.

"Loves ice cream, long walks, playing with squeak toys and cuddling in bed." She reads, "Would do best with other animals in the family."

She hums warmly, looking down at Bee who is wagging her tail so hard at greeting Aiden that she looks like she might knock herself out with it.

"Well we have a dog already," She kneels, smiling as Bee bows to say hello, "Would you like to have a sister?"

[lucifitzgerald]

Luci smirks as she rests her hand on Aiden's back as he crouches down to say hello to Bee. She looks over the information on the card, a small smile tugging the corners of her mouth.

"Loves ice cream, long walks, playing with squeak toys and cuddling in bed." She reads, "Would do best with other animals in the family."

She hums warmly, looking down at Bee who is wagging her tail so hard at greeting Aiden that she looks like she might knock herself out with it.

"Well we have a dog already," She kneels, smiling as Bee bows to say hello, "Would you like to have a sister?"

Aiden walks around and looks at all the dogs. Some keeping to themselves, some energetic. He doesn't beckon any of them, letting them do what they wish. He turns back around and looks over at Luci near a cage. Aiden walks back over and looks at the little information paper on the cage.

"Bee, she's two," he says as he reads the info. And there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her? She loves ice cream, so that feels like a positive. Aiden crouches too and she is very excitable. "Not sure why you're in here."

"She was the smallest of her litter," the one worker tells them as she brings in some fresh water for some of the dogs. "So the family thought there would be something wrong with her but she's perfectly fine. Just smaller, cuter."

Aiden hums and shakes his head, "That's stupid," he says to Luci and reaches in to pet Bee as she licks his hand.

[lucifitzgerald]

Luci hums lightly...maybe. She feels like she wants to adopt so many animals when they come to places like this. Might even be feasible given how they live. A smirk touches the corners of her lips as she thinks about August's farm, his horses. She would love to visit soon, maybe even ride of the horses. She's never done it before...wonders if she'd be good at it.

She lingers at one of the cages, peeking through to a german shepherd. She smiles, sticking her fingers through, "Hi baby. What's your name?"

"I think it's because of you," Aiden tells her with a smile. Female, kind, sweet, nurturing. Maybe it could be him but he'll give the spotlight to Luci. There are so many dogs, Aiden feels terrible they don't have a home. He also gets irritated when people drop them off because they're 'too much' when they probably didn't try.

He crouches down at different spots and pets some through the bars, not sure what dog he wants, but he'll know when he he knows.

[augustcastle]

There's really no urgency to get going, Luci eventually gets dressed and has a cupcake on her way out. They head to the rescue and mingle amongst the animals. Luci lingers to visit cats and other dropoffs that don't have homes, she hopes they eventually get adopted. She then moves with Aiden towards the dogs and smiles at them in their cages.

A lot of them seem friendly and eager, which she's relieved, given the whole vampire thing.

"All of them seem so sweet," She says, slipping her hand into Aiden's.

Aiden nods his head, rubbing one of his eyes. "Okay, let me get dressed," he says although he doesn't move for a few good moments. But eventually he sits up and looks at his phone, August sending pictures of his horses and he replies to the pictures. He sets his phone back down on the nightstand and slips himself out of the covers.

He's dressed within a few minutes, tugging a sweater on and then some socks onto his feet. Before they can leave, he does snag a cupcake from the kitchen as his breakfast and pulls on his shoes, ready to go when Luci is.

[lucifitzgerald]

Luci glances down at Sunflower, a soft smile on her face. She knows that she's getting older and...maybe it's foolish, that she's sad about losing a dog that she hasn't yet. Sunflower has been a huge part of her life (especially her human one)--it's hard to picture her not a part of it but...it's a fact of life, she knows. Not hers anymore, but in general.

She reaches down and pets between her ears. She remembers when Aiden told her he had wanted to get a dog, but wasn't sure how the whole vampire thing was going to work out. Seems like they're finally working towards adding another addition to their family.

"Yeah," She turns her head and smiles up at him. She presses a kiss to his jawline, "We can start there--see if we see anything."

Aiden lays there for a few minutes, not sleeping but comfy especially now that Luci as rejoined him. He stresses out one of legs under the blanket and makes a soft groan from the stretch. He turns his head back and tucks his hand under his head and opens his eyes to look at Luci as she mentions the shelter.

They have been going back and forth about another dog. Thing is, Sunflower is getting older so adding on another dog might be nice. It does work for their lifestyle anyway, and when they go visit August and Ryan there's so much land for them to run around.

So he nods, "Sure," Aiden agrees. "Those Brooklyn ones we were looking at?"

[aidenoconnell]

Aiden lays there for a few minutes, not sleeping but comfy especially now that Luci as rejoined him. He stresses out one of legs under the blanket and makes a soft groan from the stretch. He turns his head back and tucks his hand under his head and opens his eyes to look at Luci as she mentions the shelter.

They have been going back and forth about another dog. Thing is, Sunflower is getting older so adding on another dog might be nice. It does work for their lifestyle anyway, and when they go visit August and Ryan there's so much land for them to run around.

So he nods, "Sure," Aiden agrees. "Those Brooklyn ones we were looking at?"

Luci huffs out a dramatic sigh because despite the fact that she's small, Aiden is older than her, and he's much faster and stronger. Definitely hot but also frustrating at the same time. She playfully sticks her tongue out at him, regardless that he's turned a little and closed his eyes. She settles into his chest, resting her chin there and listening to him breathe,

"Definitely don't hate it." She comments warmly about it being a lot better. She traces a shape on his chest.

"I was thinking we could go to a few shelters today..."

[lucifitzgerald]

Luci huffs out a dramatic sigh because despite the fact that she's small, Aiden is older than her, and he's much faster and stronger. Definitely hot but also frustrating at the same time. She playfully sticks her tongue out at him, regardless that he's turned a little and closed his eyes. She settles into his chest, resting her chin there and listening to him breathe,

"Definitely don't hate it." She comments warmly about it being a lot better. She traces a shape on his chest.

"I was thinking we could go to a few shelters today..."

Aiden luckily moves as soon as the door is open so he's not on his side, but moves to his back when Luci launches herself onto the bed. A soft chuckle comes from Aiden as she kisses him and he kisses her back, moving some hair away from her face. "Sure," he says with a smile. "Remember that I'm still older and faster than you, so the cupcakes are going to happen no matter what."

He wraps an arm around her and brings Luci down to his chest to rest with, turning his head into the pillow and closes his eyes. He mumbles something about this being much better and relaxes into the soft sheets.

[aidenoconnell]

Aiden luckily moves as soon as the door is open so he's not on his side, but moves to his back when Luci launches herself onto the bed. A soft chuckle comes from Aiden as she kisses him and he kisses her back, moving some hair away from her face. "Sure," he says with a smile. "Remember that I'm still older and faster than you, so the cupcakes are going to happen no matter what."

He wraps an arm around her and brings Luci down to his chest to rest with, turning his head into the pillow and closes his eyes. He mumbles something about this being much better and relaxes into the soft sheets.

Luci licks icing off her thumb and tilts her head up when she hears Aiden stir. A shiver courses down her spine when she hears his voice, so close it's almost as if he's standing right next to her. She doesn't think she'll ever get used to that, no matter how many times it's happened.

She smiles making sure the oven is off before she vampire zips back into the bedroom. She jumps onto the bed, grinning down at Aiden before nipping at his lower lip and kissing him. Sunflower makes a soft bark of excitement, still not used to Luci's enhanced abilities after all this time. She's just really glad she didn't growl and bark at her when she was first turned.

"Just for that nonsense commentary, you're not getting any cupcakes." She half lounges on his chest, hands resting on either side of him.

[lucifitzgerald]

Luci licks icing off her thumb and tilts her head up when she hears Aiden stir. A shiver courses down her spine when she hears his voice, so close it's almost as if he's standing right next to her. She doesn't think she'll ever get used to that, no matter how many times it's happened.

She smiles making sure the oven is off before she vampire zips back into the bedroom. She jumps onto the bed, grinning down at Aiden before nipping at his lower lip and kissing him. Sunflower makes a soft bark of excitement, still not used to Luci's enhanced abilities after all this time. She's just really glad she didn't growl and bark at her when she was first turned.

"Just for that nonsense commentary, you're not getting any cupcakes." She half lounges on his chest, hands resting on either side of him.

Here's the thing about time: it keeps going whether you know it or not. And for Aiden, it's just another Thursday but at the same time, it's a Thursday with Luci in their space in New York. It is kind of crazy how fast the last five years have gone but somehow it all makes sense at the same time. There's been adjustments but nothing negative or detrimental.

It's been... good.

Aiden turns over in bed, being a bit lazy today which he needs to do more. Problem is Luci got up a while ago and hasn't come back, something about cupcakes which he won't protest. But it's overcast and seems like perfect weather to sink into the mattress.

"She abandoned us, Sun," Aiden says, petting the pitbull as she lounges with him, his voice just loud enough he knows Luci can pick up on now. "Probably never coming back again."

[aidenoconnell]

Here's the thing about time: it keeps going whether you know it or not. And for Aiden, it's just another Thursday but at the same time, it's a Thursday with Luci in their space in New York. It is kind of crazy how fast the last five years have gone but somehow it all makes sense at the same time. There's been adjustments but nothing negative or detrimental.

It's been... good.

Aiden turns over in bed, being a bit lazy today which he needs to do more. Problem is Luci got up a while ago and hasn't come back, something about cupcakes which he won't protest. But it's overcast and seems like perfect weather to sink into the mattress.

"She abandoned us, Sun," Aiden says, petting the pitbull as she lounges with him, his voice just loud enough he knows Luci can pick up on now. "Probably never coming back again."

Luci had always wanted to visit New York--and it turns out, it was exactly what she needed.

After everything that happened with her aunt, with Aiden, she wanted to start fresh somewhere with him. It was perfect, living in a beautiful flat that she doesn't think she'd be able to even think about affording.

She never thought she'd move let alone be in a relationship in which she's so happy--loved. Then again, she didn't think it'd be with a vampire either, or that she'd be one. She turned over two years ago, but she still feels like there's days where she's getting used to it, learning.

She lets out a breath as she puts icing on cupcakes that have come out of the oven fifteen minutes ago, they're finally cool enough to do so. It's not exactly a glamourous life but it's...it's theirs. It's their normal.

And she loves it.

[lucifitzgerald]

Luci had always wanted to visit New York--and it turns out, it was exactly what she needed.

After everything that happened with her aunt, with Aiden, she wanted to start fresh somewhere with him. It was perfect, living in a beautiful flat that she doesn't think she'd be able to even think about affording.

She never thought she'd move let alone be in a relationship in which she's so happy--loved. Then again, she didn't think it'd be with a vampire either, or that she'd be one. She turned over two years ago, but she still feels like there's days where she's getting used to it, learning.

She lets out a breath as she puts icing on cupcakes that have come out of the oven fifteen minutes ago, they're finally cool enough to do so. It's not exactly a glamourous life but it's...it's theirs. It's their normal.

And she loves it.

Ryan lets out an surprised yelp but at this point, she doesn't know why she is surprised. So a laugh follows right after, warm and loving as she hangs off his shoulder. She taps his bum as they get back to the house, the blood rushing back to her head when she's she back on her feet. Her hair is falling out of her braid as she toes off her boots then pulls August by his shirt to kiss him all the way to their bedroom and into the bathroom.

She considers herself lucky, maybe by a fluke. A lot of ups and downs throughout her life, love and loss and those things included August. Then successful being this. A hybrid, a woman, a wife. She is lucky, and having a family that includes Aiden and Luci, even if they are separated right now. It never truly feels like that.

[ryanclaremont]

Ryan lets out an surprised yelp but at this point, she doesn't know why she is surprised. So a laugh follows right after, warm and loving as she hangs off his shoulder. She taps his bum as they get back to the house, the blood rushing back to her head when she's she back on her feet. Her hair is falling out of her braid as she toes off her boots then pulls August by his shirt to kiss him all the way to their bedroom and into the bathroom.

She considers herself lucky, maybe by a fluke. A lot of ups and downs throughout her life, love and loss and those things included August. Then successful being this. A hybrid, a woman, a wife. She is lucky, and having a family that includes Aiden and Luci, even if they are separated right now. It never truly feels like that.

August knows that maybe it's a little silly that he feels so connected to his past on horseback like this. He remembers complaining about having to ride so much when he just wanted to hang out at their estate and eat sweets from the kitchen (this even happened when he was older, much to his mother's amusement). But he especially loves Colorado. He doesn't think he'll want to move away from here for a long time. Maybe ever--deciding on what Ryan wants as well.

He rides back with his wife, a small amused chuckle leaving his lips when she throws out that commentary about the barn.

He dismounts from Gunpowder and opens the back of the barn so that the horses can roam free for the next few hours. He then hauls Ryan up and over his shoulder,

"As if you're gonna skip a shower without me."

[ryanclaremont]

Ryan smiles softly at August, nodding with glint of love in her eyes to him. And she means it, that she is happy. It doesn't mean that they don't have their disagreements and tiffs, they're both headstrong so it happens from time to time. But overall? Happy, tenfold and forever. She adjusts the saddle on Athena, ready when the horses are to loop back to the ranch. Sometimes August goes on longer rides, Ryan doesn't mind because she knows this is peace for him.

Athena goes back in her stall, making sure they has her water and food, some treats of apples and carrots. Ryan closes the stall behind her, checking in to make sure Elvis and Priscilla are good as well.

"You going to come in and shower with me, or live in the barn for the rest of the day?" Ryan jokes as she hangs up her helmet on a hook.

August knows that this was quite a change, moving to Colorado when all they ever really knew was moving around from city to city. Sometimes he misses it, but deep down, he thinks he’s made the better choice. The one that works for him and Ryan. Things changed when they decided on forever, when she said yes to marrying him. 

The horses pause at a typical spot in the trail that overlooks the forest. Trees, mountains in the distance, a body of water—it’s utterly beautiful. Can’t be captured on a phone or with a camera. Something that only lives in the gaze of his eyes. 

He hums a little, reaching out to take her hand and squeezing gently. 

“I’m happy too.” August thinks there was a time where Ryan was worried about that. That he wouldn’t be happy with her or with this life, away from his brother. He’s glad she’s happy—that really matters to him. 

[augustcastle]

August knows that this was quite a change, moving to Colorado when all they ever really knew was moving around from city to city. Sometimes he misses it, but deep down, he thinks he’s made the better choice. The one that works for him and Ryan. Things changed when they decided on forever, when she said yes to marrying him. 

The horses pause at a typical spot in the trail that overlooks the forest. Trees, mountains in the distance, a body of water—it’s utterly beautiful. Can’t be captured on a phone or with a camera. Something that only lives in the gaze of his eyes. 

He hums a little, reaching out to take her hand and squeezing gently. 

“I’m happy too.” August thinks there was a time where Ryan was worried about that. That he wouldn’t be happy with her or with this life, away from his brother. He’s glad she’s happy—that really matters to him. 

Ryan reaches out and brushes some of the leaves on the trees as they pass. The end of summer is always nice, cools off and some leaves are turning colours early. She takes her hand back and looks around at the familiar settings she knows and loves, well, grown to love. Ryan's a city girl at heart but since being here in such openness, she has come to be very content. Plus there's a city about thirty minutes away.

She turns her head and looks at August, "Nothing really," she admits with a smile. "Just happy, with you," Ryan says and hears the running water coming up quick. Both horses turn down to this lovely stream and then stop. Ryan climbs off Athena and guides her to the stream so she can get some water, gently petting her.

[ryanclaremont]

Ryan reaches out and brushes some of the leaves on the trees as they pass. The end of summer is always nice, cools off and some leaves are turning colours early. She takes her hand back and looks around at the familiar settings she knows and loves, well, grown to love. Ryan's a city girl at heart but since being here in such openness, she has come to be very content. Plus there's a city about thirty minutes away.

She turns her head and looks at August, "Nothing really," she admits with a smile. "Just happy, with you," Ryan says and hears the running water coming up quick. Both horses turn down to this lovely stream and then stop. Ryan climbs off Athena and guides her to the stream so she can get some water, gently petting her.

Sometimes August wonders what his life would have looked like if he hadn’t been turned. Would he have married? Or found a companion? Would he have been happy? He knows he wishes he had had more time with his parents, that’s a given, but he doesn’t think he truly became himself until he was turned into a vampire. 

It’s been hard at times, unpredictable, but he’s loved every moment about it. 

And decisions he’s made eventually led him to Ryan. There’s no regret about that. 

He lets the horses guide them on the trail, they know the way at this point. He looks over at Ryan and gives her a small smile. 

“What are you thinking about?” He asks her.