capture the afternoon sunshine [open]

[Alice Cullen]

‘Cause what you got is gold, I know, you’re gold.’

The light of a late afternoon sun was breaking through a patchy summer storm, making the perfect contrast of gold and shadows. The forest beyond their yard was lit by the inconsistent mixture of light and dark, creating an image that Alice couldn’t resist the need to capture. After staring out the window for a moment, she turned back into the room and headed straight for her desk. Paints, pastels, charcoals or colored pencils? she wondered, tugging open a side tower filled with neatly shelved and arranged art supplies. A thin, graceful finger lingered in the air, pointing to each in turn as she considered the various mediums. Finally, she made her decision, removing a fine, wooden box of colored pencils from its place on a lower shelf. Once she had retrieved a thickly bound sketchbook from the topmost shelf, the lithe little vampire all but skipped from the study in her eagerness.

Just moments later, Alice settled herself in the shadows of the second step of the back porch, sketchbook laid carefully across her tiny lap and the box of colored pencils opened beside her. With a patience and eye for detail that was entirely inhuman, and very much vampiric, she began the process of capturing the scene before her, line by line. It took a careful mix of colors and pencil strokes to accurately convey the fall of cloud shadow and sunlight upon paper, but admittedly, she loved the challenge. There was something both energizing and peaceful about attempting to recreate an image on paper, a unique kind of internal/external struggle that she thoroughly enjoyed engaging in—it was certainly far preferable to most other types of struggle she might find herself in. Certainly it was better than contemplating any possibility of future scuffles with the Volturi.

But those were thoughts for another day, for an afternoon less peaceful and perfect than this one, she decided, shrugging them from her mind and refocusing on the drawing as it currently stood. So far her once blank page held the outline of trunks, a brilliant canvas of sunlit leaves, and the scarcest amount of detail regarding the sky beyond and the grass below.

Determined to finish the piece before the sun slipped away, she fell back into the task, picking up a light green pencil and applying it to the page. The melody of some song crept into the mind, filling the void left by the banishing of more trouble thoughts, and Alice began to hum absently while she worked. By the time she was nearly finished, the pink and gold washed light of the setting sun had stretched across the yard, illuminating her bare feet. They glittered beneath the hem of her designer blue jeans, though Alice was so engrossed in finishing her sketch she hardly noticed. In fact, she was so thoroughly distracted that she failed to notice the light sound of approaching footsteps until they were upon her.

‘All is need is you by my side, so shine forever.’

[jasper hale]

Jasper had been enjoying the silence and peace of mind that came from strolling through the woods surrounding their home. He would walk so far that he could find the peace of mind away from the complex emotions of everyone he came across, it also rid him of the uncontrollable urge to murder, to kill anyone in sight to quench his thirst for blood. It was a constant source of frustration for Jasper that everyone in his family was so familiar with the technique how they could blend in and work with it constantly around them. Even now he was still the greatest risk in the family a family that he felt so on the outskirts from, there was a care within each of them for him that he understood but that was all that tied him to them, his other siblings were there due to carlisle changing them or in Alice's case due to a deep emotional connection and Jasper he would follow Alice almost anywhere. As he thought about his mate he came to the edge of the woods looking up at the house just catching sight of her leave and set up her art materials.

Carefully and quietly Jasper made his way around watching her, he knew it was stupid for him to attempt in any form to surprise her because she was aware of the decision and the idea before he had even confirmed it to himself. Still he leant his back against the free watching her work trying to keep the decision from his mind, to make it even slightly a surprise it had to be a spontaneous decision. Though he was distracted as he felt her calm, her determination and focus on the picture, how she was inspired by the scene she was observing, the emotions she felt were so powerful as where any that she felt, he allowed them to spread through him. Alice was all he focused on she helped him fight the thirst and his dark past because she made him want to be the best person that he possibly could, to be someone that deserved her love even slightly.

Silently he slipped on to the porch moving forwards so that he came up behind her and slowly snaked his arms around and resting his head on her shoulder. From here he could see the picture so much better and he smiled softly, Alice was so talented shed had so many years to practice and perfect her techniques, but her abilities when it came to art always surprised him they were always so beautiful. "Hey" he whispered softly in her ear "Beautiful picture" his gaze changed from what she was drawing to her own picture and he nodded slowly, "Did I surprise you?" jasper asked rhetorically knowing that he had not it was impossible, but he liked teasing her by asking.

[Alice Cullen]

Alice was just adding some shading to a patch of bark on one of her trees when the first vision of Jasper flickered faintly in her vision. Smiling faintly, she ignored it, knowing that the wonderful man she loved so much would come forward when he was ready. Even still, she couldn’t help the soft grin that pulled at her lips at the random visions of him appearing behind her, cloaked in warmth and love, and gentle affection. Her many years of visions as a vampire had taught her to multitask expertly—to continue on with whatever task was at hand, despite the illusions of the future playing in her mind’s eye. Very rarely did they catch her so off guard as to disturb her daily goings-on, which was fortunate for several reasons. To begin, it would be very difficult to assimilate in public, especially high school, if she were constantly thrown off track by a vision. Furthermore, it would be very difficult to accomplish anything if she were so easily distracted.

Of course, there had been a time when her every movement and action had been fueled by her visions. Way back, at the birth of her new life, she had woken with no memory of what had been, only an idea of what could be and a face—Jasper’s face. She had spent nearly fifty years moving from place to place in search of the only constant figure in all her many visions. Back then, her visions were a blessing and a curse. She welcomed them for the clues they provided: a town, an accent, a stray street sign, all leading toward a future that even then she’d known must be so much better than whatever past she had forgotten. At the same time, they’d taunted her, full of things she could not control or completely understand. But time, as it was wont to do, had soothed all that in the moment when she first spotted Jasper in person, across a quiet diner. From the moment she’d awoken, til this moment now and for every moment for the rest of this life, he was the only person she needed by her side. She loved her family of course, would do anything for them, but Jasper had always been different, and would always be.

These thoughts warmed her as she continued to work, trying to be heedless of her slowly approaching love. Though to be true, if it weren’t for the visions—flickering and sporadic but clearing every moment—she might not have known he was approaching at all, engrossed as she was in putting the final touches on her sketch.

As she was adding just the last hints of shading, trying to hide her ever widening smile as a vision revealed the nearness of his presence, Alice felt firm arms slip around her middle, Jasper’s head coming to rest on her shoulder. Setting down the aforementioned picture, slipping it and the box of color pencils to the side, she turned her head to smile and kiss his cheek. “Hey yourself,” she replied softly, before taking on a breathy “thank you.” His question brought forth a light laugh, a bell like giggle a few tones louder than her previous words. “Oh, always,” she teased in return.

Slipping around in his arms and moving to her short statured stance, Alice brought her arms around Jasper's neck to return his embrace. "What have you been up to al afternoon?"

[jasper hale]

Jasper smiled he could feel her emotions change when he wrapped his arms around her, how she felt happiness the rush of excitement through her and love, of course there was love. The way her voice changed when he teased her made his smile widen because she was wonderful and he loved that he could make her smile like that because she was so wonderful and she meant everything to him. Alice moved so that she could return the embrace and he leant forwards resting his forehead against hers as she asked about what he had been up to he smiled "Not much just been for a walk, to get away from it all" he said softly she understood what he meant by it all, of everyone she understood him best because Alice did not need his ability to see that he was hurting or to know how he felt and that was what made them such a perfect couple.

"Did I ever tell you how talented you are?" he asked with a smile "or how beautiful you are?" as he spoke Jasper gently kissed her cheek, she was beautiful, her beauty was so radiant it made up for his scars the cuts that littered his skin and she was everything he was she wasn't flawed like he was, she was not messed up like he was .. No to Jasper, Alice was perfect. There was nothing anyone could say or anything far anyone could do to separate them to take her away from him because he would fight the world just to hold her close like this, the Volturi could never take her away from him he'd rip Aro limb from limb if he had do because they could never take her.

Jasper stroked a few strands of hair from in front of her face and behind her ears, "How about you beautiful? I saw the wonderful picture done anything else?" he asked gently, enjoying this quiet moment it was not often they got a moment just the two of them with all their siblings hanging around and spoiling their moments, so he was going to enjoy it whilst he could "Or should I be asking if you've seen anything interesting that is going to happen? Not had your head stuck in the future again have you?" he teased kissing her forehead, that was another point that made them so different but so perfect for each other, her head being in the future seeing what will and could be, whilst he could be trapped in the past reflecting on past decisions, on the emotions of the people around him that he had felt and manipulated, the violent feelings that had come form killing other people. Yet with all this darkness she still loved him, she saw some light in him and that was what pleased him because sometimes even he could not see anything good in him, but she did and he wished he could have her endless amounts of positivity.

[Alice Cullen]

Alice knew exactly what Jasper meant when he said ‘get away from it all’, and the comment cause her to peer up at him, gaze soft but intent even for all the height difference between them. She searched his face briefly, but the worry fell away to a soft smile—he seemed rather more calm and peaceful than was usual, it seemed nothing was plaguing him more than was typical. His walk must have helped to clear away his demons for the time being. She was glad. Despite what he might think to the contrary, Jasper was a good man. He still struggled, but he put forth more effort than anyone in their family. If that didn’t prove a heart full of good intentions, what could? She only wished she could better make him see that. Alice certainly tried through words, actions and reassurances, to help Jasper realize he was stronger than he gave himself credit for, but to no avail. Undeterred, she continued to love and reassure him whenever need. And gladly so.

Jasper changed the subject before it became one, and Alice merely smiled in response, snuggling more closely into his embrace. Her eyes rolled teasingly at his comments—he had in fact, and quite often. Not that she tired of hearing it, because she knew it was Jasper’s way of reminder her how much he loved her. “You have actually,” she replied softly, standing on her tip toes and winding her arms around his neck, pulling herself up to make up for the height difference so she could press a light kiss against his lips. She wanted to tell him that she felt the same; that he was the most handsome man she’d ever met; that he was absolutely perfect in her eyes, but Jasper tended not to see those things about himself, so instead she showed him through her actions and the feeling of warmth and love that spread throughout her in his presence. It was, after all, harder to argue with those than it was with words and even her doubtful, much too hard on himself mate could not find disagreement with those.

Snuggling against him, turning her face to rest it against his chest, Alice shook her head minimally. “Nothing in particular, flipped through some magazines earlier,” she trailed off. Her afternoon had truly been quietly and lazily spent. She had no idea where the rest of the family was, out hunting perhaps or in town or likewise in the woods maybe, but she had whiled away the dripping afternoon catching up on the fashion world, debating what orders should turn up in the closets of various relatives. At that, she smiled, tipping her muddy golden gaze up at him, “Nothing more interesting than Bella’s indignation when she sees what I’ve just ordered to slip into her wardrobe.” Honestly, after fifty years, her newest sister should have come to terms with it, if not outright developed her own higher sense of fashion. “Besides,” She added after a moment, “why would I get stuck in the future when I have such wonderful company in the present?”

[jasper hale]

Jasper smiled of course he had told her she was beautiful he told her regularly, at least two times a day because it was true nothing in the world was more radiant than her, except maybe Rosalie when she was having a particularly angry day and asked for his opinion on her looks. As she stood on her tippy toes he bent down a little to help her out smiling as their lips connected again softly, nothing in the world could compare to the sensation of kissing Alice. The only time he could actually understand his own emotions was when he was with her because he knew he felt only one thing and that was love for her. "That's good because you really are you know" he leant so that their foreheads were pressed together smiling happily.

He could not help but chuckle when she spoke about her day and Bella's reaction to some clothing she had brought for her, that was his Alice constantly organising or fixing someone's fashion sense normally always Bella or him but if it kept Alice happy he was more than willing to supply his gift to ... Aid the positive reaction to her presents. As Jasper would do anything to make her smile because her smile could wipe away any of his troubles and make his world a much better place. "My thoughts exactly, the futures good, the pasts okay, but I love the present most mainly because I'm here with you" his words were spoken softly and it was true that was why they complimented each other so well because Alice had her moments when her head was in the last and he had moments when he was stuck in the past, but they both came together in the present it was how they were opposite that made them perfect for each other.

"I think I should be glad Bellas around not only does she make Edward happy, but she gives you someone to fix clothes for because not to long ago that always use to be me" Jasper never truly understood the world of fashion nor did he ever really need to because he had Alice to leave that to, he was more academic than creative like Alice another case in which their opposites made them perfect for one another. "Well since you've had a lazy day I guess nobody would mind me stealing you away for a little while, we can do whatever you want do do?" It felt like it had been a long time since the two of them had really had any alone time, maybe that was due to the fact that their family was so cautious of letting them disappear since the time against the Volturi where they had left only giving them a few words of warning, but they had done what was necessary and had always intended to come back and stand with them.

[Alice Cullen]

Alice couldn’t help but giggle as Jasper had to lean down a bit to meet her. She loved everything about Jasper, and very much lacked the confidence issues that plagued some, but she had to admit—she wouldn’t mind being just a little bit taller sometimes. Not that there was anything she could do about it, and there were certainly advantages to her size (she was by and large the most agile in her family), but it was a little annoying to be so petite sometimes. Of course, Jasper never seemed to mind meeting her at her level, which was just another reason she was so terribly in love with him. He was incredibly patient about his teeny, tiny wife who couldn’t even manage to reach the top shelves in most rooms. Granted, as a vampire she could, with some small effort, compensate for that, but Jasper was so tall that it was easier (and often more fun), to ask his help instead.

“As do I, although I will say,” she added quietly, a grin brightening her expression as she looked up at her wonderful mate, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “Our immediate future is pretty fantastic as well.” She was, of course, alluding to his soon to be spoken comment about stealing her away. But, they’d get to that in a moment.

She truly appreciated Jasper putting up with her fashion sense and purchases; he was a far better sport about it than Bella, though perhaps it was just a habit on her sister’s part by now. “And Renesmee as well, though I think she actually enjoys clothes more than her mother does. Although, I think Bella’s probably just glad I don’t make her go shopping for them as well.” Or at least rarely did. Bella accepted things a lot better when they just appeared, instead of having to physically try them on first. Nessie typically had fun on their shopping excursions, letting her aunts spoil her.

Alice smiled at Jasper’s question, even better in person than prediction. “Whether they do or not, I certainly don’t. Why don’t’ we go for a walk?”

ooc: sorry for the delay, subbed yesterday and I was exhausted when I got home.

[jasper hale]

Jasper chuckled as she spoke about Renesmee and Bella's fashion sense, "Well I'm sure she must have got that from hanging around you, not from her mum and dad" He teased knowing full well that Edward like him also lacked a fashion sense, "I think Bella knows better than to go shopping with you because you already know what your going to buy and how amazing the person you buy it for is going to look" As he finished speaking he kissed her forehead softly, the amount of times she had brought him a shirt or a jacket or something and just told him that she knows he wears it and loves it or she has seen him try it on already, but it did not matter to Jasper because wearing it made her smile and happy. In the same way he was happy to go on her shopping expeditions even if he was just the one to carry the bags for all of them or smile and nod telling them all how beautiful they look because Jasper was here to help them all exist happier and when he felt how happy they were it made it all worth it.

"That's good because if you had said no than I would have just had to kidnap you" Jasper smiled of course he would never truly be able to kidnap her unless he got one of the shifters to help him out because she knew everything that happened to him the way he acted and she was always looking into his future more than anyone else. This made her difficult to surprise but she always seemed to look it when he gave her presents or made attempts to show up out of the blue like he had today. "Well lead the way my darling, I'm sure you have some idea where we are going to go already" Looking up at her eyebrows raised he was calling her bluff of whether she had already seen the future or not and knew where they were going and what was going to happen, he was quite sure that she had and it did not bother him because he was use to her ability and how she used it.

ooc: no worries !

[Alice Cullen]

Alice laughed her light, bell like laugh. “Either that, or she just humors Rosalie and I because we’re her aunts.” Nessie was a sweetheart like that, had always been. Because, of course, no one in their family had ever expected her to exist, she had been surrounding by an overflow of love from the day she was born and bore it well. Her aunts spoiled her terribly; her uncles adored her completely; and her grandparents marvelled over her every accomplishment—which was nothing to say how her parents loved her. Nessie took it all in stride, with a grace it was astounding anyone could manage.

Another thing about Jasper, his comments and wry sense of humor always kept her laughing. “Oh the advantages of seeing the future,” she giggled, feeling so incredibly blessed to have him in her life. She’d never understand how she’d been so fortunate, but she wasn’t going to question it either. While she didn’t believe in flukes (it was difficult to, when you could see the future unravel and reform behind your own eyelides), she wouldn’t give anyone cause to change their minds if it was. He was hers, she was his, that was that.

“Kidnap me? Jasper Hale, I dare you to try,” Alice challenged, wiggling out of his grasp and taking a few steps back on the porch. Sometimes, it was fun to be difficult, to make him take charge. Sure, she could know where they were going, but what was the fun in life if she just went wherever her visions told her, without a second thought?

[jasper hale]

Jasper chuckled at her "Well that is entirely possible" he agreed maybe like him Renesmee was just trying to keep the peace with her aunts, but he was sure that she did actually enjoy the shopping too. Watching her wriggle away from him challenging her into kidnapping him he smiled, he could see the excitement she was feeling. It would be too easy to make her feel horribly guilty about the way she was acting and would be more fun to mess around.

"Seeing as you already know exactly what I'm going to do this is hardly fair" he teased her, Jasper knew it was impossible to even try and kidnap her, even though it was not exactly kidnapping because she was not going to complain "And you know all I can do is make you feel really horrible about cheating" stepping forwards after her Jasper considered the situation, she already knew where they were going that was of us by the way she was acting, but she had to wonder whether they were going there because he tried to kidnap her or because he didnt. There were all these different threads and questions and decisions that affected the future and as he made up his mind he knew it was made even clearer to her which path he was going to take.

"You dare me do you?" A grin spread across his face as he looked at her, he sped over next to her "Well I'll give you a head start" Jasper spoke professionally it was just the two of them so he allowed his southern accent that he normally hid to help their cover be heard, "After you ma'am" He indicated for her to go first, Alice was quick but Jasper knew he was faster he was good at tracking a vampire and following them, his instincts were better than others this was probably due to his violent past. Jasper knew he could catch her, but Alice however had the ability to know his every move and every plan which only made chasing her even more exciting and fun. Though none of this was serious there relationship was a very fun one, they teased each other a lot mainly when they we alone to other people their relationship was rather quiet they were not a couple in favour of public affection, but they were happy and that was what mattered, that was the only thing that mattered to Jasper.

[Alice Cullen]

She laughed as Jasper commented about making her feel badly about cheating. Rolling her eyes up to meet his, smiling up with the feigned innocence that no one believed, even if it looked rather convincing. “But you’d never do that, would you sweetheart?” She whispered, pushing herself up on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly on the lips, before taking a dancing step out of reach once more. What a pair they made, teasing each other like teenagers in puppy love even after so many decades together. It surprised some, given the darkness of their pasts (hers mostly forgotten, his so often dwelt upon), that they could be so easy going around one another but it made perfect sense to her: what else was love but losing your grief, guilt and tragedy in the joy of another’s presence? Together, if nowhere else, it was almost easy to escape the weight of his past and the looming futures that flickered behind her eyelids.

“I do in fact,” Alice challenged, positively beaming as Jasper’s southern drawl and manners peaked through. She didn’t know if it was the (former?) XX chromosomes in her or her own Mississippian roots, but there was something about that accent that still caught her attention every time she heard it. “Now who’s cheating, turning up that southern charm. You know I find it very hard to walk away from that,” but she was still grinning and still laughing as she said it, lingering only a moment longer before giving him a wink and running off into the woods. He’d catch her quickly enough; she might be the only one in their family who could dance her way out of Jasper’s grasp, but she couldn’t outrun him. Not that she’d actually want to, of course.

[jasper hale]

Jasper grinned as she laughed looking up at him with her innocent look "Of course how could I do that" he whispered softly against her lips before she kissed him again before dancing out of his reach before he could hold her tightly and he chuckles even more, wondering whether it was possible to grab a hold of her so he could kiss her properly, but then all the teasing would not be as fun would it he thought to himself as he watched her smile back at him. When she spoke about already knowing where they were going he chuckled "Your ridiculous sometimes" Jasper teased, he knew that sometimes she used her abilities to spy on him more than was necessary, just to ruin his fun like on their anniversary that got on his nerves a little but he knew she was teasing him however just for once he would like to be able to surprise her and see the actually look of surprise on her face not the fake one she did just to keep him happy and because she understood he had been to a lot of effort to do this for her.

As she accused him of cheating when he started allowing himself to slip back into his actual character and not the person he had to be at school, he grinned "My apologies ma'am" he watched her wink before darting off into the forest a top speed, jasper paused to give her a moments head start before heading after her. Besides Edward, Jasper was the next fastest and he knew he could catch her, but sometimes it made it more fun to let her have a head start. Even though he knew Alice knew how this was going to end, he did not and so he was just darting through the woods following her scent and soon catching up to her he zipped through the trees until he was running next to her.