Stone
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Post by Stone on May 4, 2017 7:58:26 GMT
A distinct grimace crossed Erakin's angular scarred face, as Kaya's blanket statement settled heavily over him. Didn't she fucking get it? He wanted to know her, and he didn't give a damn if she thought otherwise. He wanted to, regardless of the risks.
Shaking his head again, the grizzled wolf continued to glare his discontent at the hardwood floor beneath his booted feet. He didn’t dare look up at her for the moment. He knew he would see tears, he could smell the blood, and he just wanted to stay angry. Anger was the one emotion he seemed the most capable of dealing with, anyway, and after so long, he would be lying if he said it didn’t feel good to finally have an outlet.
But Kaya… wasn’t a punching bag. And her gentler words reminded him of that, giving him even the briefest of moments of clarity beyond his decade-old hurt. He didn’t understand everything she was trying to tell him, and he hated feeling stupid, but it wasn’t for lack of trying on his part that he didn’t understand. There was just so much more that he didn’t know. Just as there was a lot that Kaya didn’t know about him. It was fine. They had secrets, they had ugly pasts, and it was fine.
He heard her slip off the desk, her heels clicking crisply on the hardwood floors and through the still heavy air, yet he still didn’t look up, his glare fixated on the back of his hands. There was more to all of this and it made it impossible for a man as emotionally… inept as him to even hope of picking it all apart. He’d much rather just hole up with another… eight bottles of scotch.
“…Christ, Kaya,” his voice rasped a little in his disbelief, her sudden offer finally bringing his blue eyes up to her tear-streaked face, where he stared at her for a long moment as a frown worked slowly over his face.
“That’s… No. You don’t need to leave.” She had a good thing going here. A really nice place of business. Good customers that cared for her. Loyal patrons. And he’d… only just gotten her back, when he had thought she was gone forever. Perhaps that was a little selfish of him… but hearing that she missed him… It did its part in playing a bit of a painkiller, in that moment. “…Wasn’t… asking you to leave. I missed you too... Last thing I want you to do is leave, all right? Feel like that’s… pretty obvious at this point.”
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Post by Kaya on May 4, 2017 8:36:41 GMT
Something other than anger finally flared to life, but Kaya’s own terrified thoughts of what Erakin would say to her question kept her from fully trying to figure it out. It wasn't until he looked at her that part of her stilled in disbelief. Something softened in him, and she was surprised. She had forgotten over the years that even then her wild emotions affected him so much, and that fact still lingered. She studied him as he frowned, eyes darkening in almost anticipation of his request for her to go.
But that’s not what happened in the end. Crimson eyes widened as he struggled to tell her no. The vampire stood stunned standing at his side, trying to understand the situation that was unfolding right before her. She had become so used to bad news when it came to her personal life, that she wasn’t quite sure how to respond to him. But he continued, and she felt her eyes softening as she listened. It had been… so long… since she had heard something like that said to her.
Feeling it was safer, Kaya knelt down in front of him. A tawny scarred hand rose up to grasp onto one of his, and her eyes closed as emotion poured into her tiny body. There was body heat and her cold skin was reacting immediately to the calming warmth. This wasn’t a ghost in her mind, he was standing there, right in front of her, accepting her and wanting her company again. Fresh tears poured out, but she knew it was going to happen as soon as she finally let herself touch him again. The confirmation was too much for her fragile desire for company to take.
“Well, that’s pretty good. It would have sucked to have started over.” The joke was mixed with a cracked voice as she was trying very hard to not break down in front of him. She was able to offer a half smile as she opened her eyes again to watch him. A flicker of fear still hung over her though, and the smile faltered. She looked down as her eyebrows creased as she grit her teeth.
“Erakin, I’ve been safe from… them… for only a small amount of time.” Ever since his death. The vampire closed her eyes, wishing to jam that damn repeating thought away. “It is very possible I may disappear again. I have very few things here, but they mean a lot to me. I can’t put any of it in danger if it starts. I know it’s hard to understand, but I just don’t have a choice.” She finally opened her eyes to look at him. “I wish I could promise better. You deserve better than to deal with it again. But I guess that's what you get for wanting to be around me.” She offered a sad smile at that point, the weight of her life crushing in on the joy she wanted to feel. She hoped that for now, the warning was enough.
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Stone
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Post by Stone on May 4, 2017 9:04:58 GMT
There was a distinct look of surprise on her smooth features, even before he had finished speaking. It somehow contrasted sharply with the trails of red that had streaked down her cheeks. But her red eyes were wide and sharp with her silent disbelief of his words. Truthfully, even a little part of Erakin was surprised at his own reaction. But damn it, he cared about her, he had always cared about her, and… that made it irritatingly difficult for him to stay mad at her… Even after all of this.
Blue eyes watched as she finally closed that painful gap between them, moving with a subtle natural grace to kneel in front of him. The same slender scarred hands that had carried their glasses in, now reached up to grasp his own. Her touch was cold, but it was familiar and not unpleasant, his own larger and more calloused hand shifting ever so slightly to open further for her gentle grasp. It still seemed… surreal was the word, he supposed. But she was truly in front of him, her smaller hand over his, tears slipping freely past her closed lids. His fingers curled to lightly close around the one hand of hers that he held, his free hand shifting slightly toward before hesitating, hearing the crack of her soft voice as she joked. And this time, he even cracked the faintest hint of a smirk, shaking his head ever so slightly.
“C’mon. We both I’m not worth packing up this whole place…”
But her smile was faltering, and Erakin froze for a moment, his pale gaze watching her closely as she started speaking again, diverting her ruby eyes downward again with a knitted brow. Uneasiness began immediately at the shift in her body language, and he remained frozen, until her words fully sank in. He didn’t want to think about it happening again. But the truth was that if he wanted anything to do with her, it was just a risk to take. A risk he was willing to take. At least this time he had a warning…
A soft huff of air left him with a hint of dark amusement to her last words. He couldn’t have put it any better himself. It was exactly what he got… And he was still willing to risk it. Watching her sad smile, the man’s earlier hesitation in reaching out to here was gone, lifting his free hand to try and carefully wipe the tears from her cheek.
“That’s exactly what I get for wanting to be around you. I think I’ll take my chances.”
Regardless of what happened, at least he would be able to steal just… a little more time with her.
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Post by Kaya on May 4, 2017 9:31:26 GMT
The fingers that had reacted to her hand had sent tingle of excitement through her damaged soul. It wasn’t news that during her time here, Kaya had many suitors that she toyed with. Rye teased her constantly for her need of heated companions. But none of them were able to fill the gap that had been left behind from her former husband. She was always trying to find a way to fill it, even if her way was a bit scandalous, but to no avail. She had settled a while ago to the fact that she would be doomed to always feel alone in this life. She was okay with it in a way. It meant that no one else was going to hurt because of her.
But the moment that hand reached up and touched her cheek, a resolve broke inside her. Her free hand immediately reached up and grasped the top of his, pressing it firmly into her cold dead skin as an ache went through her chest. She wasn’t able to stop the tears that formed over the warming feeling that he gave her, and she gritted her teeth. Kaya doubted Erakin realized how much this meant to her. Having people who knew her, saw her darkest faults, and accepted her anyway were few and far in-between. The one that had been the closest in all of it was snatched away from her, and she had always feared she would never experience that sensation of companionship again.
When he had spoken, giving his own joke, she should have tried to controlled herself. She should have taken this slowly. The touch was enough, but her stupid aching heart that had been mourning quietly for years decided it had quite enough of letting logic be the one that got its way all the time. She rubbed her face into that large heated hand, the blood smudging on her face and both their hands but she had nearly forgotten how dirty her cheeks were at that point. She didn’t even realize that she had pushed herself off the floor, hands tearing away from him before immediately settling on the sides of his face.
This was a terrible idea, but her heart’s desperate need for a passion that meant more than a warm one night stand was in control now. Her body had sat itself onto the cushions next to him, but her torso was pressed into him as her lips pressed against his, feeling the heat which made her body immediately shudder in response. They had never gotten to the point in their relationship together where they would have considered kissing. Everything had been so fast paced and life threatening the two of them had been more distracted with keeping each other alive. But now, Kaya was focusing mostly on the fact that this was someone who she cared about, who cared about her, and wanted to know her despite her tendencies to be a terrible person unintentionally.
It took a few moments before the vampire realized what she had done, and her eyes popped open in the stupidity of her action and she drew her face away. Hands shook as they stayed grasping at his jawline. Whelp, so much for just enjoying his company.
“Shit.” Kaya breathed, her cheeks flushing. She looked away and slowly started to push herself from him. “I’m sorry. It was an accident…” Looks like it wasn’t the werewolf that was the idiot at that point.
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Stone
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Post by Stone on May 4, 2017 19:24:48 GMT
Truthfully, he hadn’t expected that his touch would have much of an impact on the woman before him. And it was true that he really didn’t even have so much as an inkling as to how much weight and meaning such a simple action held for the small woman. But it was a wash of comfort for him, whatever it was for Kaya. She had disappeared back then, so suddenly and so completely, that there was no sense of closure, just emptiness. The touch of her face beneath his calloused fingers, and her smaller hand laying over his, brought with it a slow breath of… Relief was the only word for it. She was real. It wasn’t some sick twisted way his brain had found to survive.
When Kaya shifted to lean even just slightly into his touch, his earlier relief then flooded through his battered frame. She wasn’t running. She was speaking to him, trying to warn him this time, or perhaps scare him off before things went any further… Either way, Erakin wasn’t going anywhere, if he had any say in it whatsoever. Ultimately it could easily be out of his hands, and he was well aware that she legitimately could disappear again. Still though, even with such a chance, he refused to simply just… walk away from her. Not after all this time.
And for her to go from barely acknowledging any type of attachment to him, to this, her graceful frame lifting off the floor, hands reaching for his face as she pulled herself up and onto the couch beside him… Needless to say, it honestly took Erakin a few moments for his mind to process what was happening. She was touching his face, leaning in against him, and her lips were on his before he could fully process. The wolf blinked at the first contact of her lips, shock stiffening his frame for a split second. It was a degree of affection they had never reached before, but their care back then was shown in keeping each other… alive. To the best of their ability.
It took a moment before his body seemed to react to her touch, the affection almost alien to him. But it wasn’t for lack of interest. He simply needed a second for his mind to catch up; he would be ashamed later of how long it took him to understand the act of affection. And just like that, she was pulling away from him again, her red eyes wide again as she looked at him with… a mortified horror in her gaze.
“…Don’t be sorry.” His voice sounded a little dazed even, his mind working double time to try and right the awkward air thickening between them on the couch, the wolf shaking his graying head a little as if it would help. God, he felt thick in the head in that moment, and he would likely forever feel that way. Words and reassurance were never his specialty, socializing in general wasn’t his specialty. Instead, Erakin sighed, lifting both his hands to lay over hers, swallowing them up entirely to still the shaking he could feel against his jaw as his body shifted then so he could follow the slow sweep down of her eyes. She didn’t need to cast her gaze down like that…
But she was beginning to push herself away from him, her weight leaving where she had leaned against him, and Erakin tried to catch her eyes. She was determined to leave her explanation at a simple apology for an ‘accident.’ He didn’t… want it to be an accident. He didn’t want her to be sorry. He didn’t want her to leave. He also didn’t know if he should dive head first into this, but there was that damn voice screaming at him to forget everything else and just do it.
Fuck it.
Releasing his hold on her hands, he did the only thing he could think of to keep her from leaving. It was a far more vulnerable action than he had ever been known to present, and yet he did it anyway. Scarred and inked arms shifted lower, the wolf moving to pull Kaya back in toward him in a quick embrace. If she fought, he… wouldn’t hold her against her will, but it was his own break in judgement for purely selfish reasons. He just wanted her to stay close to him now, and that sentiment came out in a quiet, final addition of his voice as he hugged her as close as she would allow him to in that brief moment.
“Stay here... just a little longer. Please…”
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Post by Kaya on May 4, 2017 20:06:47 GMT
The stiff response worried Kaya that she had gone too far, and she didn’t fully believe his words when he told her to not be sorry. She had become so used to the instant comforts of small flings that true affection needing time was only a secondary thought for the woman. She hadn’t tried to show her true emotions like this in a long while, and in her rustiness, she felt she became careless. Erakin had already shown once how much he could react because of her lack of understanding towards their intentions for each other. She didn’t want this to be the same thing. Despite the amazingly warm feeling his hands provided as they tried to calm her quivering fingers, Kaya was unsure of what her unexpected rise of passion would do to this already shaky start between them.
However, the moment she started to pull away to give them space and let him deal with her little outburst, her hands were released from their heated embrace and soon felt his arms swing around her lithe body. The vampire gasped in surprise at the sudden action and before she knew it, was being brought back towards the wolf. He pulled her onto his lap, knees hitting the back of the couch as her legs curled up next to him, and her upper body was shoved into his. The sudden sensation of his life’s warmth surrounding her frozen skin made Kaya shudder. His words however made her tense, and bright eyes looked down to study the man.
Cold slender arms wrapped around his neck and shoulders, and fingers slid through the brown and grey hair at the back of his head, letting the heat from his flesh made her own skin flush in response to the sudden temperature difference. Her face pressed against the side of his, and she released a sigh at the intimacy. She was doing her best to keep the tears from falling again, but it was hard. She could feel the tenderness wavering through the man. It was something she had been longing for without realizing. It had been missing from her life for so long, and she forgot how driven she used to be by these simple basic emotions that came part with having a human existence.
Kaya leaned her head back so she could kiss the side of his head softly, nose taking in his scent. She had gotten used to the smell of werewolf since she arrived. Unlike the stench of blood and coldness, wolves were very raw in earth and musk. Each one was different, and she could sense the unique smell of bark and soil that lingered on his skin. She had come to love the smell of nature since being here, but she realized how much she ached for the scent that she used to know. How had she not realized it was him the moment he stepped in?
“Mmm.” She whispered, smirking against his skin. “I forgot how good you smelled.”
The lighter voice from her joke didn't last long as thoughts went through her mind. Kaya sniffed back the burning that threatened again at her eyes, and her fingers curled in the man's hair. She kept her face to the side of it so he couldn't see the aching expression from the sudden realization. "Thank you, for letting me have a chance to make things rights. It's not... often... that I can fix a mistake." Her mistakes were usually deadly after all, and the victims were usually not around to let her have second go. She tried to lighten her tone as she forced her body to relax into him. "I'll do what I can to make up for what I put you through, Erakin."
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Stone
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Post by Stone on May 11, 2017 21:36:36 GMT
When Kaya didn’t fight to truly pull herself away from him, there was a distant wash of surprise in the back of his mind. It was a pleasant surprise, relief trailing in its wake as the woman settled in against his chest within his hold, a slow breath easing from his chest in that moment. This was a scenario that Erakin had long ago told himself would never come to pass; he had been so sure he would never see her again. She had gone great lengths to make sure of that. But now, she was truly here, wrapped tightly in his arms and pressed against his chest. It was too good to be true, and he might have fought harder to tell himself that, if he had actually consumed the whole bottle of scotch.
All he had had to drink though was the glass that Kaya had poured him. There was no excuse, unless his mind had truly fallen apart and this was just some strange hallucination in some deep dark part of his head. Hell, even if it was, the man couldn’t be bothered much to care. Even if for just a little while, he had her back… She was solid in his arms, her weight on his lap too real for him to want to question it for the moment. Her fingers brushed through his hair and his blue eyes instinctively dipped close to the gentle, comforting touch, an almost alien sense of peace settling over him as the seconds ticked by.
Her soft voice filled his ears, her head nestled in beside his as he held her, and her words eased a faint chuckle from the world-weary wolf, the corners of his closed eyes creasing in mild amusement. Well. At least he didn’t smell like mangy cur…
The following words that slipped past her painted lips made the wolf pause for a stretch of silence. The flame of anger that he had felt had fizzled drastically, though it was still there, slowly licking at the fact that he still didn’t… fully understand. Her past was… just that. Her past. He wasn’t there. He couldn’t judge her for it. He just… didn’t understand how serious she was being, in the dangers that could have come his way for simply being tied to her, even in the smallest way. Perhaps with time, he would have a better grasp, a more thorough understanding. He just hoped she wouldn’t up and disappear again before then. And that thought made his chest ache faintly beneath the pressure of Kaya’s body against him.
“Kaya…” Erakin sighed heavily then, his arms around her shifting slightly to run a calloused hand across her back in his best gesture of reassurance and comfort. It was also because… sorry didn’t exactly make things all better. It was a band-aid, sure, but it wasn’t a cure-all… The sincerity in her voice however certainly soothed some of those rough ragged edges. “You don’t need to thank me. Just… stick around as long as you can, and we’ll… go from there.”
If his words came out harsh, he hadn’t meant for them to. He was a simple man, straight to the point and without a coating of sugar on anything he said, it was truly that simple for him. There was no bitterness in his voice, just an honest sincerity; he was willing to try… the best that he could, considering their situation and their checkered past. But it was a start.
However, it was not the start that he had originally had in mind when he had first ventured out into the social world. His stomach decided that this particular moment was when it would begin to voice its own complaints at Erakin’s departure from his original plan; food. There was a loud gurgling growl from his stomach that left the scarred man with an almost comical flat look upon his face, his blue eyes looking less than impressed with himself as he grunted a meager apology for the… rude interruption from his stomach.
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Post by Kaya on May 11, 2017 22:34:59 GMT
The amusing chuckle that came from the man was such a bright contrast to the rage that had left him only minutes before. Kaya lapped up the warm delight of his small laugh, letting it ease over the pain inside her head. It was a great surprise to hear him become so light hearted so soon. Her need to joke was a reflex, as it made things easier to hide the boiling emotions that always lurked underneath, and she was grateful it worked.
It didn’t last long as she could feel him stiffen to her words, and she began to worry if she had overstepped more bounds. She knew it was more than just a mistake she had made, would he become angry once it again she tried to simplify? Her fingers tightened in his hair, worry spreading that he would want to pry the two apart. She was already looking for words to try and soothe the situation so she wouldn’t have to leave, but at the sound of her name being sighed, the vampire stilled as the calmness. Her skin shuddered as his rough warm hand glided over her scarred back, and a shaky breath left her lips in the relief. She was slowly coming more to terms that this was real. It wasn’t her imagination, or a taunt from De’Crolie that this was happening. Too many times she had heard this man’s voice accusing her for what she had done, but it couldn’t replicate the touches, the warmth… more tears slipped out before she could control herself. Though this time they were in relief, not pain.
His words only brought more of the beaming comfort that was growing inside her tortured little body. The blunt honesty was harsh, but compared to the world she had built where her courtships were about broken promises to seek little pleasures, that she relished in the simple need that the two of them simply… wanted to be around the other. Her bloodied face lowered down, red eyes peering open as she contemplated a second attempt at kissing his scarred lips. She wanted to show him how much his desire for her company meant to her.
But his mortal body reminded them that other needs had to be met. The loud gurgle made her eyes pop open and she jerked her head up involuntarily to look down at him. Between the sounds of his stomach,the face of irritation towards his own needs, and the mess her tears had made for both their faces, Kaya couldn’t help it. The relief that had been swelling inside her had to be released. She started laughing, leaning back so she could wipe at her cheeks with her hands as the last remaining tears made their escape between her loud musical chuckles at how ridiculous the situation became. Her body shook as she tried to let the last of her outburst die down, and she smirked at the man.
“Let’s… get you cleaned up and then I can treat you to dinner, hm?” In order to do so she would have to leave his wonderfully warm body, but feeding the wolf took more concern. She slipped off the couch and headed towards her desk, still chuckling to herself. A hand reached into a drawer for the wet naps she kept in stock. It wasn’t… unusual for her crying outbursts, and it was the best way to deal with a bloodied face. She paused at a small bag that had been next to the napkins, and grabbed it too. It reminded her.
She headed back and promptly seated herself back on the man’s lap, her desire for his heat making no other seat more comfortable. She placed the small velvet bag beside him on the couch, pulled out one of the wet napkins, and rubbed at the side of his face with a grin. “It just occurred to me that you shouldn’t have been able to enter my club without an invitation. This wasn’t planned… do you have a friend outside that I kidnapped you from that deserves my thanks for this opportunity?” After the first napkin was soiled from her red tears she simply dropped it onto the table and pulled out another to work on his other cheek, shaking her head. “I just seem to cause an endless supply of messes for you, don’t I?”
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Stone
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Post by Stone on May 11, 2017 23:08:57 GMT
The last thing that Erakin had expected, really, was for Kaya to start laughing. Blue eyes blinked up at her as her laughter spilled out, filling the once heavy silence with a much lighter feeling. Well, at least she hadn’t been annoyed by the interruption… But he was certainly annoyed enough for the both of them.
Her laughter however was a sound he had been missing. Her laughter, and a smile on her face, streaked with bloody tears as it was. It was still a welcome sight to him. Enough so that his irritation faded slightly as he soaked in the sound of her amusement and she wiped the still-falling tears from her face. It was a relieved laugh, one that said that she couldn’t… quite believe this situation, either. And truth be told, he couldn’t quite believe it either; it was too good to be true. But it was still happening, and she was laughing in his lap, smirking down at him with her painted lips and her ruby irises dancing.
That was what he had been missing…
“Cleaned up…? I thought you said I cleaned up nice…ly…” As he spoke, her words seemed to click then, and his face fell again at his own slow thought process as he trailed off, a grizzled hand reaching up to scrape a bit of dried blood from his cheek, examining it on the tips of his fingers. “…Right.”
He’d already gotten plenty of dark looks for simply standing at the bar and glaring at her. He didn’t really want to think about the reaction he’d get, coming out of her office with blood all over his face… Only because he was sure he wouldn’t be leaving her club in good shape, if he walked out like that.
Blue eyes watched with a hint of disappointment in his gaze as Kaya left his lap, her graceful heeled steps clicking against the hardwood, carrying her back to her desk. She dug briefly into a drawer, pulling out some wet naps and a small bag along with them. Always prepared, of course… And his earlier disappointment for her departure was easily washed away, as the woman made her way back over and promptly settled back into his lap without hesitation. It was a small thing, but it still warmed the surliest parts of his being, and reassured him that this was real.
“Ah… Well. Friend… That’s kind of a broad statement, for me...” He tilted his head a little as he answered while Kaya scrubbed the hints of blood off his face, broad shoulders giving a small shrug. “I doubt he’s real happy with me at the moment. So, friend is a stretch. But yeah… He’s the one that let me tag along to get in… Don’t know if he stuck around or not…”
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Post by Kaya on May 11, 2017 23:38:12 GMT
Erakin didn't hide his satisfaction at all for the woman choosing to sit on top of him again, and in return Kaya couldn't hide her face from beaming. It was likely she would feel this daze towards him for a while. The moment she saw him she had only expected bitterness. The sensation of him showing want and gentleness, even hints of good spirits, was making her dead heart soar. She decided to take her time, despite his need to eat, so she could enjoy the tenderness that came from this simple comfort they both were so eager for. After each rub of his face, her fingers would linguer over his skin, watching him with a glow in her irises. She again could feel the want to touch his lips, but she shoved it aside. Take it slow. This wasn't a one night stand. He wasn't going to leave. If anything... she would be the most likely culprit for ending any sort of relationship that he was seeking from her.
Her grin broadened to a fanged smile as he talked about his friend, pulling a new napkin to sweep through his hair, and let her other hand glide through his strands to straighten it back out afterwards.
"I don't have a lot of luck in the friend department either, to be honest." She replied. She had one. But her and Rye's companionship stemmed more from the fact that had... kept each other alive in this past year after the horrid past brought by the girl's pack. Her fingers stilled for a moment in the memories of the crazy history that she had already created just by living in Boston. "My bad luck tends to keep everyone at bay. But it's probably for the best."
"But I think I can sway him, if he's still here. Surely even he can understand if the owner had to steal you away?" Satisfied with his face, and seeing no dark stains on his clothes, Kaya took to her own faces which was probably a lot worse off. The vampire sighed to herself, irritated with her species's odd quirks. Her eyes flitted towards the bag.
"That's for you. Take one, please." She continued to wipe at herself as he reaching inside to take out one of the black enamel pins that was stuffed inside - a shape of a rose with the silver letters 'BR' etched in the middle. She smiled at it fondly. "It's a prototype to replace the business cards, and right now only for my employees and... special guests. You'll be able to enter the club with this whenever you want, and see me whenever you need to." She wanted to show her sincerity in keeping him in her life. The club had become her life over the past year, and it was the best place to find her.
She had gone through several of the napkins while she talked and sighed at the mixture of blood and makeup on them that helped to hide the strange blue overtones that naturally screened her skin, showing her undead nature. She didn't feel like applying more but knew it would result in making some of the wolves uncomfortable in the surreal glow. But for tonight, it hardly mattered. Her red eyes flitted up to Erakin, the smile returning.
"Did I miss a spot?"
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Stone
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Post by Stone on May 29, 2017 23:57:28 GMT
If anyone could smooth Scott’s ruffled feathers, it was Kaya. Lord knew that Erakin lacked most social skills, and would need all the help that he could get. Hints of a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth as he listened to Kaya speak, the wolf willing to at least let her try. However, he would rather have just spent the rest of his time at the club with her, rather than chasing after his co-worker. Though, if he wanted to keep making anything of himself and his meager life, he had to at least try to salvage the few ‘friendships’ he had managed to somehow grasp onto…
“You might have better luck than I would…” His perpetually grumbly voice carried a hint of amusement with it, as Kaya finished cleaning the streaks of blood off his weathered face.
Their conversation shifted slightly then, as he watched her red eyes glance towards the bag she had placed beside him. Following her gaze as her voice filled the air again, Erakin picked up the bag. There was a faint metallic sound within it as it shifted in his grasp, and he carefully opened it, pouring a bit of its contents into his calloused palm. A black enamel rose glinted up at him in the gentle light of Kaya’s office. He rolled it in his hand as he listened to the woman still seated in his lap, blue eyes studying the pin as he recalled the card Scott had used at the door for entry. It was more easily concealed, and still just as easily recognizable. And she was offering one to him.
To Kaya it may have been a very small gesture, but to Erakin it carried a bit more weight than even Kaya may have guessed it would have. This gave him the opportunity to see her again. This was a pass back into her life with far more regularity than Erakin could have ever hoped for.
“Thank you,” was the only thing he could think to say in response, without having to really analyze his own thoughts and feelings, which he had never been good at. Instead, the wolf carefully pinned the rose to his shirt while Kaya finished up cleaning up her own face.
Her smile distracted him as he pulled his fingers away from the pin, blue eyes lighting on her face as she made her playful inquiry. With a smirk, Erakin made a point of reaching up to take her chin between his fingers carefully, tilting her head one way and then the other as if thoroughly studying her over, before he chuckled a little and instead smooth a hand over her clean cheek. She hadn’t missed a single spot, but he still found himself staring a bit. With, or without make-up, she still looked beautiful, the pale undertones to her skin hardly affecting the man’s perception of her.
“…Nah, you look perfect.”
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Post by Kaya on May 30, 2017 0:51:49 GMT
The calming happy warmth that was radiating off the man was making the vampire positively beam in delight. His reaction towards seeing the pin, the promise of this not being the only time they would see each other again... something deep was stirring inside her. Something she hadn't felt in years. For now, the what was once considered lost emotions were welcomed as they slowly were replacing the gaping darkness that had been residing in her chest. Kaya could feel herself relaxing and enjoying the sensation of a promise that was meant to be kept and maintained. When was the last time she had actually meant something meaningful towards another like this? She wasn't going to question it, as it was already starting to drag up something dark and aching at the thought. No, tonight she just... wanted to feel happy in his company.
Her red eyes watched fondly as he attached the pin already to his shirt, quite openly enjoying him accepting her gift. As his hands reaching for her face however, the smile faded in surprise and her eyes widened at what was almost a devious smirk on Erakin's lips, tensing slightly as fingers grabbed her chin. His movements indicated for her to tilt her head both ways, and she followed the game, eyes never leaving his as he studied her skin. The chuckle that came out of the man made her gaze dip closed, feeling that heated sensation swell more as his warm hand once again went to her cheek. She fought the urge as heat rose to her eyes, not wanting to yet again stain her face, and instead let her cold fingers reach over to press his hand further into her face. She took in an unnecessary breath to bring herself back to reality. The soothing gestures he kept presenting her were starting to make her head spin.
"As do you." She responded back, eyes opening. Feeling daring once more, the vampire leaned forward to press her forehead against his, smiling gently as she stared at his dazzling blue eyes. Every inch of her wanted to remain in this spot, to keep reminding herself that this was still reality and he was being his admirable gentle self towards her... as gentle as the wolf could be anyway. It was still enough to make the stone hearted vampire feel herself slowly break out of the armour she had created to protect her mentality. She bit her bottom lip for a moment in contemplation, before deciding she wouldn't the one to initiate her needs for further affections. Their relationship from before fell apart because of her. Erakin needed to decide what he wanted first, so for now she would just... offer her friendship and companionship, despite how much she wanted to seal the gap between their faces. The hand over his squeezed before she spoke up.
"C'mon then. The wolves here are always going on about how amazing my steaks are. Let's see if you can attest to that."
She pulled back, away from his hand and comfort and finally forced herself to slide off the man and get to her feet. She reached out to grab his hand, not willing to break away all contact just yet, and headed for the door. Her other hand went for the handle. As soon as she opened it there was a sound of scurrying, and Kaya curiously looked both ways. It took a moment for her to realize it was probably her employees... no doubt they had heard about the outburst that happened. She sighed and shook her head, before deciding to head not the way they came in from, where there would no doubt be judging faces and scowling expressions towards her old friend, but further into the hallway that led straight into her kitchen. The crew was surprised to see the pair of them come in as she passed through the doorway. The owner wasn't always very fond of being around human food, despite her need to make sure it always top notch, clean, and of the best quality. She stopped briefly to chat with her head chef, smiling sweetly towards the woman as she rolled her eyes at the vampire, and agreeing to send out a plate in just a bit. Then Kaya continued to the other side of the kitchen.
"Thought we could just skip all the drama, and sneak in the other way to the tables." Kaya said, still holding onto Erakin's hand as she opened doors yet again. They were now on the opposite side of the establishment, before them tables and couches and people dining, talking, and enjoying the quieter side of the club. She made Erakin point out the rather sour looking friend who was nursing a drink at a table. She pointed towards the red curtain at the back, asked him to sit and wait, and then went over to the man named Scott.
It didn't take long for her to use her hosting charms to get the man to break out his mood, probably more from surprise that the owner herself wanted him to join her, and she slipped an arm through his out of habit as she led the wolf towards the back curtain. There was still a hint of tension when Scott saw Erakin, but Kaya decided the best course of action was to just ignore it and let the three enjoy a potential sweet evening together. Little did she know that the future actions from her due to her guard being down would destroy the happiness she was desperately seeking for.
"I had already ordered for Erakin, but please let me know if you're just as famished, Scott. I'm happy to treat you out tonight." The vampire purred, sliding onto the couch Erakin had picked and pressing herself into his side. She had already been away from him longer than she wanted after this eventful evening, but she had to be a good host for the sake of their friendship. She flashed a fanged smile up at Scott, inviting him to sit at the other couch. "It's the least I can do to show my gratitude for reintroducing the two of us after all these years. You are both from the same pack, correct?"
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Stone
New Member
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Post by Stone on Jun 19, 2017 22:49:29 GMT
Erakin would have likely been happy to stay where he was with Kaya, isolated in comfortable privacy in her office, had it not been for that obnoxious growling of his stomach. Never before had the man wished he didn’t have the need to eat. At least, not that he could remember. But fortunately, Kaya was understanding and… just as sweet and accommodating as could be, as she finally moved to stand away from him. Letting her take his hand, Erakin followed suit and stood from the couch, a faint hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he looked down at her, letting the sound of her voice wash comfortably over his ears.
And he was honestly surprised his stomach didn’t audibly growl again at the mention of steak.
“Well, I guess I can put in my two cents…” He mumbled a little, with a hint of playfulness to his lower toned voice as she led him toward the door.
His keen ears did hear the scurrying away from the door, and his bright eyes attempted to seek the source of the quick departure, but Erakin came to the same conclusion as Kaya; it was probably just over-curious and over-protective employees eavesdropping to make certain that the werewolf wasn’t attempting to rend their beloved boss into pieces. And he might have been angry and hurt, but he didn’t think he would ever actually be able to do any harm to Kaya… However, the man was still grateful when Kaya suggested they take a slightly more secluded route to a table to dine, and he followed her through the kitchen and her conversation with the head chef, before she lead him off to find a place to sit.
There was a small sense of… dread, perhaps, when Kaya had him point out Scott. He knew the other man would be… less than thrilled with having been ditched so superbly and spectacularly. But Kaya was full of surprises and charm, and before long she had managed to coax Scott away from his lonely table, leading him back with her arm hooked within his.
Erakin watched in tense silence as they made their way over, Kaya separating from Scott to claim a close spot up against his side instead, and that in itself helped ease away some of the grizzled werewolf’s tension as she settled in against him. Scott, who was still nursing his drink, took Kaya’s gesture and sat upon the other couch, taking a drink as he listened to the vampire speak, his face losing some of its soured expression minute by minute.
“…I wouldn’t say no to some food, honestly,” and the polite tone coming from the man’s mouth didn’t quite sit right with Erakin, though he couldn’t immediately put his finger on it.
“I had no idea Erakin knew… anybody, to be honest. Guess I’m glad to have… reunited you two, though next time maybe don’t just disappear on me like that, old man.”
There was that attitude that Erakin knew better on Scott, but it still… didn’t seem quite right. Maybe he was just jaded and cynical. Maybe he just needed to lighten up a little; Scott was just being… polite. Which he honestly hadn’t expected in the slightest. Scott wasn’t particularly well-known for his impeccable manners, after all.
“Yeah, sorry about that… Had a little catching up to do.”
Scott shrugged, his mood seeming to improve as they talked, and he offered an amicable grin to the older werewolf. “I just figured your memory went on ya. Glad you’re not wandering around lost in an alley, I guess.”
“All right. Y’made your point. Now how about we order you some food and a few more drinks to make up for it?”
“Sure, sounds like a plan.” Scott smirked, his dark eyes only glancing briefly towards the vampire pressed into his packmate’s side, his expression still seeming to be one of politeness now that his feathers were coming unruffled. “Sorry, Kaya, you had asked about our pack. We’ve known each other a while now. Erakin works too damn much, but the boss seems to appreciate it. Keep tellin’ him he’s due for a promotion one of these days. But what do I know, eh, Erakin?”
“I don’t need your pep-talks, Scott. I mean, you’re a great cheerleader an’ all. I’m just happy to pin down a steady job for so long now.”
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Post by Kaya on Jun 20, 2017 1:41:57 GMT
There was a definite tension that hung around the table with the vampire and the two werewolves, but Kaya was used to that uneasy feeling when it came to this particular table. This was an area where many deals, fights, and meets were discussed about, and tension was always a contributor with that type of work. It was not a discouragement on her however. In anything, Kaya was more curious about the fact that Erakin and Scott knowing each other. He had a life here, in the city, and it was going well for him. Well enough that the two men were free to bicker to each other despite the lack of strain in Erakin’s muscles. She could feel him lax beside her. It was something they hadn’t felt the last time she was in his life. There had always been an unsettling posture when he talked to others, distrusting and wary. It was gone now, and Kaya perhaps couldn’t help but smile quietly to herself as she listened to the two men pick at the other.
The quiet smile slowly turned wider as she emitted a light chuckle as Scott confessed Erakin’s need to work, and an eyebrow arched in question. The last time they had been together, Erakin was just short of homelessness. The idea that he was working hard, enough to be noticed and talked about, and admired, left the vampire a little flabbergasted. Her bright eyes turned to the side to study the man she latched on to, soaking up his heat and good spirits as a constant reassurance that this was in fact reality. She was still finding it a little hard to believe. Getting him back in her life, willingly, and in ways that were so much better than she could have imagined. He was thriving, and she couldn’t help but feel proud. And perhaps a little guilty that she went and crash landed in the middle of it all, even if it seemed to have turned out okay in the end. Knowing her old companion was doing so well helped ease some of that underlying guilt she had carried with her for a long time.
She was however grateful that the plate for Erakin arrived at the men bickered, and she promptly asked for a second plate for Scott, and for the waiter to go back to her office and grab the bottle of scotch they had left behind. May as well make it a celebratory bottle instead of the ease for the horrible situation Kaya had thought that the night had been doomed towards.
“Here, love.” Kaya said, placing the plate and cutlery on the table in front of him and with a small peck on his cheek, let herself scoot to the side a bit so he could use both hands to eat. A leg still let itself be pressed against his. Kaya doubted she would let herself be able to lose all contact with him if she could help it. It was a constant reassurance that he wasn’t her imagination toying with her. “Hush and eat. I’m quite okay with hearing your companion talk you up. I’m still finding it all a little surprising, but completely believe you deserve any praise that comes your way. This man has always been absolutely stubborn but even back then, as loyal as one could get. If Scott says you’re due for a promotion, I have no doubt.”
Another employee then came by with the requested scotch and three glasses, and Kaya took the bottle to pour the contents out and handed a glass first over to her friend, then across the table towards the man responsible for all the happiness that was resounding within the woman, still unaware of the odd behaviors coming from Scott.
“Let us toast, to a night I certainly know I won’t forget, and hope there shall be many more of.”
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Stone
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by Stone on Aug 11, 2017 17:52:08 GMT
It would be a night that they wouldn’t forget, but not for the reasons Kaya was feeling in that moment. It would be something they would discover together, later. But for now, it was a nicer evening than Erakin thought he would be having.
With a faint smile toward Kaya, Erakin was secretly grateful for the plated steak put before him. It smelled delicious, and his stomach threatened to growl yet again. Thankfully, the background music and the conversation would drown it out, out here. However, Kaya told him to eat, and well… He wasn’t about to pass that up, now. Besides, while waiting for his plate, Scott seemed more than happy to continue the conversation, accepting and even going with Kaya’s welcoming and warm toast.
Scott’s behavior however, seemed just a bit… off to the graying werewolf as he enjoyed his own steak. Scott was normally a bit more on the abrasive side. Erakin might even have jokingly called him classless once or twice in their friendship. Here though, he was… polite, and Erakin’s blue eyes had to fight several times to keep from narrowing with subconscious suspicion. Eventually, however, as the remainder of the scotch came out, and Scott dug into his own meal, Erakin chalked it up to Kaya’s masterful skills in being a hostess, and it certainly helped that she was more than easy on the eyes. She had a pretty smile and a beautiful way of interacting with all different types of people.
It made it hard to be rude, when someone was being so polite and welcoming. And it turned into a fairly enjoyable evening, though it felt a bit short lived as Scott finally laid down his silverware, offering (yet again) an uncharacteristic smile towards the small woman.
“Absolutely delicious, miss Rose,” Scott spoke with a friendly tone, nodding toward his plate before finishing off the last of his own glass of scotch. A free meal was a free meal, regardless of how he truly felt about this situation. It was unnerving for him admittedly, to see one of his own kind sitting so close and… intimately with a vampire. But he had done his very best to keep that mindset hidden. After all, it wasn’t his place to ‘fix’ problems like this. It was the Alpha’s.
“I’ll be sure to recommend the steak, and the scotch. Unfortunately, it’s getting late and I have a few other things to take care of. It’s been an… absolute pleasure visiting though… Just don’t distract Erakin from work, too often.”
He offered Kaya a brief grin, before politely standing from the table after excusing himself. Erakin watched him as he left the table, following his departure until he disappeared from his line of sight toward the door. With a sigh, the scarred man pursed his lips and took another drink from his dwindling glass of scotch, before glancing toward Kaya, looking her over in an exaggerated way.
“That’s the politest I’ve ever seen him… I mean… Usually tries harder with pretty women, but still, never seen him on such good behavior.”
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