She lives like she's dead tomorrow

[Atraya Crowe]

[Hey, sorry I haven’t talked to you in a couple of days. I wasn’t feeling well when we got back, and finally am feeling a little better. Is the offer to have dinner and talk still on the table? I’d like to accept the invitation if so.]


Her text sat undelivered. For how long? She wasn’t sure, could be hours, could be days. She couldn’t feel time move the way it should’ve. Ivy was a revolving door of portfoloios to keep Atraya busy and ‘working from home’ until ‘she felt better’. Felt better from what? None of it made sense. Why was her message undelivered? Had their service gone out and no one bother to tell her?


It would cause her to pace the house, the feeling of time not being right making the hair on the back of arms raise over so slightly, making the feline conciousnesses stir restlessly. It felt like a prison. A see through unescapable prision. And she hated it. Everywhere she went her phone went. And the message remained the same.


Finally Atraya would just let it go, just put the phone down and allowed herself to just ‘let it go.’ By letting go it meant diving as deep into the pool as she could get before she screamed as loud as she could underwater. Letting go all of her rage and frustration of being treated like a child of some exiled politician. It was all so frustrating. After screaming in the water Atraya would finally swim to the surface, not seeing or evening noticing the tiny little crack in the supposedly unbreakable swimming pool glass created by her screaming.


With a Heavy sigh she’d pull herself out of the water and wrap a towel around herself. Finally reaching up to check her phone, the message said ‘delivered’. Atraya layed back against the pool rooms floor relief flooding through her, as her message had finally finally been casted out and sent to Zaid’s phone, who knew how many days later. Her phone was probably overdue for an update. But who knew how much time had actually passed…When carlos had stopped by he’d been different. There was something about his eyes that just wasn’t the same. And she couldn’t quite figure out what. Right now she was relieved that her message had finally gotten service and been sent.


Now all she had to do was distract herself while she waited for Zaid to find time to reply to her. She’d end up leaving her phone on her bed as she decided to put on music and paint for a few hours while she waited for him to reply.

[darkheart]

Zaid would receive the text late at night and sigh. Dr. K. had kept him so busy that he could barely work for Faruq, though the djinn made his displeasure known. There there was Signe on the side. They had been learning forging, and while he was moderately better - there was still the matter of forging the tooth-scythe. He hoped she would increase the pace of the lessons - he felt driven by her and could not explain why he liked the forging so much.

But this was Atraya. Somehow he felt drawn to her. He held off for a couple of days, but after he finally worked a little ahead, he snuck back towards her house so he could see her.

Standing at the treeline he saw her submerge in the pool, bubbles from her frustrated screams rising to the surface. He'd watch her towel up, then move inside. Turning invisible, he'd sneak past the cameras and move into her room. He watched as she dropped her towel, moving into the shower to cleanse the chlorine from her impossibly perfect skin. As the water streamed down her body, he stood - unseen - watching as the rivulets from the shower head traced lines down her exposed flesh, and his passion grew within him. Transparent droplets careened down her skin, steam rising from the hot water of the showerhead. Stripping, slowly his clothes would become visible on the otherside of the bed. Once disrobed, he would move silently to the open entrance of the walk-in shower. While unseen yet, his form would cause the steam to swirl as he moved through it, then put his arm around the wet, exposed abdomen of Atraya. His fingers would slip inside her gently as his lips would find the back of her earlobe. Nipping the soft cartilidge there playfully, he would whisper to her.

"I am here, Tray...and I am yours. I have missed you while you were gone. Let's not waste time with words....I want you....will you have me?"

[Atraya Crowe]

A shower was definitely needed before she could think about painting. She hated the smell of chlorine lingering on her skin. She’d just shampooed her hair and was rinsing it out when she suddenly didn’t feel alone. She cought her breath a little movement catching her eye as something moved in the shower making the steam swirl and dance around. Atraya’s heart began to pound just a little bit in reaction to the acknowledgement she wasn’t alone. But she didn’t feel afraid, if anything she sensed something familiar.


Just as a masculine hand stretch across her body, his fingers locating her most intimate location. A shiver passing her spine as she felt his teeth nibbling at her ear, his words hot as they breathed against her skin. Making her eyes close in reaction, her body leaning back towards him invitingly. She wasn’t sure if she even had words to express, that her body couldn’t speak for her.


She could feel his invisible mouth and hands moving against her body. His fingers playing to every cue her body gave until, She’d reached a vocal point that resulted with her body slumped against his, her knees knocking together and a palm slap against the shower wall.

Her chest was heaving as she slowly turned her body around. Although she could feel his hands on her, she still couldn’t see him. She could hear him, and smell him, even feel him beneath her fingers when she reached out correctly. In a way this game they were playing was setting off the rictor scale of hotness level. Like being blindfolded, waiting breathlessly in anticipation for what would happen next.

He must’ve been enjoying staying out of sight, as she felt her back being pressed against the shower wall, water spraying off an invisible object in the path of its down pour. Where she’d close her eyes and trust her senses to find him, as they used the shower wall as a brace. He made her feel insatiable. That she could have him completely but never have enough of him. Since his arrival she hadn’t felt the need to speak, just feel, react and reciprocate. Until they had exhausted themselves in their joyus reunion.


Atraya would lay there curled up in the crook of Zaids arm, her face resting on his chest, her body partially covered by the tangled bed sheet. Her finger tips would lazily make long slow treks down the center of his chest, a contented smile on her face. It felt like the first time in what felt like weeks, since she’d been this relaxed or calm. Her free hand would reach over and take his in her own, interlacing their fingers. She’d looked at their intertwined hand silently for a long moment before bringing it over, and pressing her lips sensuously against Zaid’s knuckles. Another contented smile passing her face as she breathed in contentment. A thoughtful look crossing her face.


‘This is probably an insane idea…but… what if we sneak out and…finally go get food? And talk…’ She’d roll her head up towards Zaid her violet eyes meeting his, a hopeful smile on her face. ‘Of course we could always talk here too….but I’m afraid I might distracted too easily..’ she said slyly. Winking at him coyly.

[darkheart]

The warmth of her flesh, the movements of her body and the whispers and gasps of pleasure Atraya made set him off in a way no drug or vice ever could. He felt completely addicted to her, as if she drank him like wine and entering her body was a welcome form of unity. Even if it meant the loss of his very soul, when he touched her he felt that every nerve in his body was firing and he could simply allow himself to die if it meant even a moment more of being in her embrace. When at last they separated, he breathed heavily - lost in a sea of sense deadening euphoria he couldn't easily withdraw from. After a bit she spoke, the sound of her voice curling around his mind in a way that was just as sensuous as the embrace of her arms or body. Chuckling to her gently, he pulled her still bare flesh to his own and nodded.

"Yeah...I could eat. I could even talk."

A playful grin would split his lips, and then he would think for a moment before chuckling.

"Yeah...I know just he place. Let's get dressed and we can go. I hope you like Italian!"

*~*~*
They'd dressed and slipped out the back. He could make her invisible with a touch, and slipping past the cameras and outside the gate was easy. Hailing a cab, he noted to the driver where to go and off they went. Pulling up to a quaint family style restaraunt, the door was opened for Atraya as the hostess offered cheerily:

"Welcome to Donny's Place, home of the Big D special! Right this way!"

They would be seated and given menus. He would wait for her order, then order a plate of Bacon and Pear ravioli in a butter cream sauce. He ordered a glass of Riesling to pair with his dish, then once the waiter left he'd stare across the table into her mysterious violet eyes, more hungry for her than he was for the food coming from the kitchen.

"So...what shall we talk about?"

[Atraya Crowe]

Atraya would sit quietly across from him. For a moment not present in the moment as she realized just how easily, Zaid had been able to enter, and to whisk her out without setting off the houses wards. Either they were useless against whatever he was, or her father for reasons only known to him, trusted Atraya alone with Zaid. The question was why?


Her violet eyes would lift up to meet Zaids eyes, a smile would make its way across her lips in genuine happiness as she returned to the moment they were in. A faint blush staining her cheeks from the heated way he looked at her. It made her stomach tight and her skin all tingly to have someone gaze at her the way he was.


She hadn’t felt this exhilarated since she was a teenager. Sneaking out and being desperately head over heels for someone without explanation.

She’d bite down on her lower lip when he asked her what they should talk about. She’d take a moment to think about it, as the Waiter brought them their wine. She’d opted for a dark red to ‘broaden’ her horizons. She’d take a sip and wince. It was definitely a mistake. But she’d muscle through it.


‘Anything, except me and my family….well within reason.’ she’d offer. Making it clear that while is was not a desirable topic, she was willing to discuss some of herself and family, but at her discretion. ‘My family sucks. And I’m finally out with you, and I don’t want anything to destroy this.’ As if to emphasis her point she’d reach across the table and took his hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze.


‘How long have you been here…in LA and What brought you here of all places?’


She’d add starting their game of many questions. Trying to take the spotlight off of her self for a moment at least.

[darkheart]

Zaid would smile quietly as he watched Tray and her micro-expressions. She'd asked him a question and he rolled it around in his mind. He was going to be honest with her.

"I've been in L.A. for 6 years now. We moved here so I could go to school. I discovered at a young age that vampires, driads, werewolves and other creatures exist. I'm a bit of a unicorn with my bloodline, and they all want to kill me and my family. So at the behest of my employer, Faruq, I came to where there is a large population of them to hide in plain sight. He feels a certain ownership of me, so he runs a club to keep track of them all, keep them organized and peaceful and ensure that I'm safe. In the meantime I've created a blood typing machine to determine from a sample of blood what type of 'mythical' creature something is. I'm planning to devise a debilitating virus to kill them all no matter what their individual weakness. I've got vampires, garou, wendigo and humans figured out. I'm working on demons, but they're more spiritual than magical, so it's more of a religion and faith thing than science. I don't intend genocide, but I want to be prepared for those creatures who don't retain their better natures. It's a self defense thing, really. I'm still working out the morality because I'm against killing, which is why I loathe them. But if I kill them, I'm no better. I'm hoping that the virus will lead me to a cure for their condition for those that want it, but given the supernaturality of it all, I'm likely way out of my league. A wise man once said it's an easy thing to kill. It is far harder to learn to heal. He wasn't wrong."

He would take a sip of his wine, looking over the table at her.

"So...tell me about yourself and your sucky family. I need you to know tonight that your secrets are not going to destroy this. I won't have us trying to figure out what this with you living in fear that whatever we might try to build together will fall apart when I learn your dark secrets. If you have the courage to get it out of the way, you might actually be able to enjoy my company outside of the incredible sex."

He would give her a lopsided grin and a wink, then wait patiently with and unflinching stare as he gazed over his wine glass at her.

[Atraya Crowe]

Atraya would quietly sip her wine as she listen to Zaid talk about this invention. She loved watching how his eyes would light up with enthusiasm, and then the emoition would change as he talked about the morality of it. She was quiet for a long moment as he talked about how he was working on demons. And she'd swallow hard and would glance away for a moment, in her thoughts, that not all demons were religious based. Some were in fact of the magical breed.



She’d meet his eyes again as he asked her about herself and her family. Her eyes carefully held his gaze as he promised her without saying it, that he wouldn’t run away from her secrets. But she’d smile at him in a tender way. When he all but challenged her on liking him outside of the bedroom. A faint blush would stain her cheeks but a pleased smile would touch her lips at his promise.



‘I’m fairly certain I will enjoy your company no matter what the setting might be.’ she’d say before taking a thoughtful sip of her wine. 'Well maybe one day you'll be able to perfect it to tell me what I am.' she said a sad tone in her voice. As she truly had no idea exactly what she was. Was she a creation of magic? Was she even born? Was this even her real timeline? She had more questions than answers she could provide him. She’d sigh a little bit and swirled the wine around her glass and took her gaze from zaid to the glass as she thought about how much or what she could tell him.



‘Well my mother died when I was still a minor and my father took over sole guardianship of me. He’s been trying to mold me into taking on the family business. His Business. If you could call it that. I don’t even think there is a real business to be honest. So much as a front to more nefarious designs that I’m not privy too. Its not territory that he’s after, its something else entirely.



‘My father is overly protective of me, for reasons I still do not know or understand. Its almost like he’s waiting for me to do something. Explode, evolve I don’t know. But thats how it feels. Just like him turning a blind eye to us, is suspect.’ She shook her head a little bit. She’d lick her lips a little trying to think of what else she could tell him about herself, and hope he didn’t run for the hills.



‘In otherwords you’re dating an underworld mobster princess. Hope that doesn’t unsettle you too much.’ She’d take a sip of wine and sigh. ‘I’m not even sure this is my real timeline, my real life…or if this is an artificial creation of my fathers…cuz I’ll have flashes of things that I don’t remember happening, like de ja vu. But in alternate universes or something.’ a frown would tug down at her mouth and she’d find a spot on the table.



‘A cursed UMP at that…’ she say softly. She could feel his eyes on her at those last words. She’d sit up straighter and take a deep breath. ‘I have a form of a feline chimera curse, where I can absorb strains of feline lycanthropy but without all of the cons. I have 3 shapes I can change into at will and change back from also at will, with none of the messy stuff some lycans endure.’



She’d sip her wine. ‘Lion, Tiger, Panther. Its why sometimes, lycan’s and those who are nose dependant get confused about me, because they’ll smell the felines and human, but they will also smell something else. I was once told I smelt like an abomination. But I always chalked it up to a discontent former employee of my fathers. But now I wonder if he wasn’t right.’ she said thoughtfully sip her wine and wait for Zaid to laugh at her, or just get up and walk away. She couldn’t blame him. She was anything but normal or predictable. She wasn’t even sure she was a ‘real girl’. She held her breath waiting to see his next move.

[darkheart]

Zaid would sit and listen to Atraya for a long moment, swirling his wine glass slowly, absorbing it all. It was a hard separation in his mind - he hated all things supernatural. He was pattening a device to detect and identify mutated strains in blood so that he could isolate the markers for vampires, lycans, djinn and all manner of supernatural predator. His goal as a hematologist and virologist was to create a pathogen that killed all these monsters that preyed upon the weak and helpless. He was not after genocide, but any that could not control their urges to treat humans like expendable cattle were abominations to him. He knew plenty of vampires who fed on the willing and did not kill to sustain themselves. He'd even met a vampire priest once who was tortured by his inner evil and tried to sustain himself on synthetic blood. But he'd also seen all the cruelties at the Wandering Reverie and the air of superiority that some took, reveling in pain and suffering of 'lesser' species. He had resolved himself to find a way to fight back - to be a Van Helsing of the future and bring fear back to those who would wield fear as a weapon.

Yet here she sat with beautiful purple eyes, soft skin and flowing hair. Tortured herself at her own pain. Would he destroy one such as her? Would he put weapons into the hands of someone else who would not be so indiscriminate? Was he wasting his life and intelligence pursuing such violence when he himself was a pacifist?

Should he break it off now, no matter how much it would pain him? What would she think if he told her? Would he be the monster? The urge rose in him to leave without explanation because it would be cleaner. Easier. But that was just it - it would be easy for him, and not for her. She had cared enough to tell him the truth, didn't she deserve the right to make her own decision as well? He reached across the table and took her hand with a pained look in his eye. Turning it over, he kissed her palm gently, then looked up at her.

"Atraya....I think that I'm truly in love with you. I know it's early, but no one has ever made me feel what you have. Yes, I desire you on principle, but what's not to desire? It goes deeper than that for me. So I have to be honest with you as well. I'm closing in on a virus that will kill vampires...quite painfully and effectively. I have put in research on strains to kill lycans as well. I have lost family to these creatures...and I have a pact with a djinn that wants to steal my very soul when I die. I want to become a monster hunter when I'm done...to be a name that puts fear into anyone who would prey upon another. I have connections to the Church that are helping me to weaponize ancient rites and rituals to bind and banish demons. I'm...I'm not just a simple college student. I do not understand your pain or your troubles, but I want to stand beside you as you face them. I want to be afforded the privilege of loving you. Can you love me back - knowing this is what I want? Are you willing to support me and be my conscience to help me not become a monster myself? Your past - your reality doesn't bother me. Does mine bother you? Because the voice in my soul tells me that I want to live and die in your arms. If the choices I'm making don't ring true with you, I'd rather be without you so as not to hurt you further. But I'd rather walk this path with you, because you're too important to me."

[Atraya Crowe]

She could tell he was at war with himself, she watched him as conflicted emotions flickered across his face, some not so pleasant. And it made her chest tighten painfully. She sat there quietly. Drink and food now untouched as she sat there miserably waiting to know their fate. She managed to swallow but her own emotions were starting to peak. She trembled slightly in her seat, her eyes growing moist the longer he stayed quiet. In the short time they’d been together she’d become sensitive, almost attuned to him. While she couldn’t read his mind she could feel the shift of his emotions.



She trembled harder seeing the pained look in his eyes as he reached for her hand. She held herself in check. She wouldn’t cry. If he walked away, how could she blame him? She for all she knew in her ignorance was a creature of darkness, even if her intentions and heart were pure. Her eyes fluttered a little when he kissed the palm of her hand tears were starting to brim along her eyelashes. Fear gripping her in its icy grip. The fear of loss and devastation that came with it. HE spoke her name and she closed her eyes tears starting to slide down her face before he could speak past her name. This was it. This was where he told her to piss off and die. But the words that followed did not reflect her fear..I think that I'm truly in love with you. Her eyes would open she couldn’t help the tears, be them for fear or joy now. She just sat there silently listening to him speak. Her heart pounding painfully in her chest. She’d reach up with her free hand taking a napkin to wipe away her tears. She wanted to utter the words in return but he wasn’t done speaking. And so she sat and she listened.



Fresh tears would stream down her face as he told her the truth. About his desire to be a monster hunter. Hunting vampire’s, lycans and demons. She closed her eyes tight as fresh tears fell from her face unable to answer him right away as fear crossed over her again. She’d look him the eyes as her tears fell.



‘But what if….I am a monster….what if…I am demonic and have no knowledge….not all demons come from religion.’ she’d look up at the ceiling trying to collect herself and would wipe her tears away. She would look at him. ‘My father is evil….what if a part of him exists in me? Will you hunt me and put me down too?’ There was a deep well of sadness inside of her at the fear of loosing him, even though moments before he’d declared his feelings and assurances that he would stand by her side if he’d let her. It was a lot to process. She’d wiped her tears some more and gaze down at the table, never taking her hand back from zaid, but leaving it in his grasp. Her violet eyes for a moment would flash to the color of gold. Panthers eyes for the briefest of seconds so she could taste the truth of his words. Before they turned to their natural violet color.



The benefit of being cursed she got all of the pros of a lycan but none of the cons. Since for her it was not a permanent thing. It could be removed but Zander had yet to see fit to take such ‘a gift’ away from her. She licked her lips her eyes still wet and shiny speaking softly barely above a whisper.



‘I love you too.’



And she meant it. She’d never in all her memories felt such a deep well of emotion for another being. But would he still want her now? Even after her questions. He’d ask her to stand by him. As he went van helsing on the world. And it left her unsettled. Where did all this hate stem from was it the reverie? She could understand it was terrifying. Faruq wanted his soul. And that made sense why when Faruq said jump, Zaid would reply how high. But he was asking of her was a lot to take in. Something that required more than a moment to consider. Could she accept those conditions? What if one day he decided she as a monster? Pain flashe through her at the idea of seeing hate in his eyes when he looked at her. BUt she had meant her words. She did love him. She’d been falling in love with him, since the moment he’d kissed her that first night at the reverie.



Their fates had been entwined that night. Destiny had brought them together. But could destiny keep them from falling apart? She couldn’t answer all his questions yet. Not until she knew what he would do if he decided that she was one of them. The beings he so clearly hated. Was this the whole reason her father had turned a blind eye to their relationship? Was he using her to get close to Zaid and his progress? It was so much to take in. Finally she’d pull her hand back from him and take her wine glass chugging down the almost full glass.



‘You’re the only light in my dark world. And I don’t want to lose you.’ she’d whisper fresh tears streaming down her face her hand releasing the wine glass to take back his hand. ‘I want to make this work. You’re too important to me too. And it would destroy me to loose you….’ And that was it. Until this moment her tears had been silent but with those final words she’d burry her face in the napkin and start to cry audibly for real this time. ‘I can’t loose you.’ she would say between her tears her face hidden in the napkin, so he wouldn’t have to see her ugly cry.

[darkheart]

Zaid smiled softly, his hand raising to Atraya's cheek to lift her eyes up from the napkin. Her makeup was running, but he didn't care. The voice that came from his lips was soft and reassuring, but also carried with it a hint of persuasion.

"If you want to make this work, then we make this work, yeah? We'll make this work. And what you're born as don't make you a monster, your choices do, Tray. I would never hunt you unless you gave me a reason to, and something tells me that if you did you would want me to put you down for what you'd become. You're not evil, Tray...but if your father is, maybe you can help me and we can figure that out. Who knows? Maybe we can free you from his grasp. If it's something that you want, even if I die in pursuit I'd be okay with it. I don't know who or what your father is, but I don't think Faruq would let me go so easily. I may not be much, but that djinn....whoo! He's something else, I'll tell you. I'd bet if anything could give your father pause, it would be my little blue homie! Smurf power, am I right?"

He smiled at her again, mustering up all the reassurance he could.

"Some first actual date this turned out to be. Probably why I don't get any dates...come eat with the brown kid! He'll make you cry your eyes out in public! It'll be great!"

He offered her a lopsided smile and a wink.

"We'll make it work, Tray," he said again. "Now, let's cheer up. Would you like to go clean up a bit, eat all 80's goth style, or grab our food to go and eat it on a rooftop somewhere alone? Lady's choice. I don't care any way you cut it, as long as we're together."

[Atraya Crowe]

His words were reassuring as was the touch of his hand on her face. Her violet eyes would search his for a long moment, listening to his words. She wished Faruq was a possible answer, but she knew they had done buisness with each other and from what little she knew, most 'business' men, didn't shit where they ate. And there fore making him an unlikely allie. But Atraya would say nothing of this to Zaid. He was too sweet and too sinscere in his desire to re-assure her. She'd give an embarassed chuckle and wipe at her eyes with her napkin probably making her make up worse. 

'Um... let me go clean this up...' she said pointing at her face not really idolizing the idea of being an 80's goth. She'd go to the rest room and wash off her face. The eyemake up she'd worn ruined but coming off easily as she never wore waterproof makeup. She'd fix herself up and sigh staring at her refection. And for a moment she swore her reflection winked at her. She'd shake her head. This whole stressful conversation with Zaid was just getting into her head. She'd dry her face with a paper towel before she threw it away and approached the table once more.

Instead of returning to her seat, she'd squeeze her way onto Zaid's lap, ignoring any looks they got. Her arms would loosely wrap around his neck. His body so warm close to hers. She'd search his eyes with her own. 'I think food to go and rooftops sounds more ideal to me than anything' she say before leaning up to kiss his lips softly. 'I love you.' she'd whisper against his lips, with full confidence in her feelings, and his returned ones. 'I want to make this work.' She'd say pulling her lips away from his to look up in his face as she curled her body closer to his. 'You make me feel things, I didn't know I could feel. You make me feel whole, Zaid.' she'd release one of her arms to gently touch his face with her finger tips. 

'You mean the absolute world to me.'

It was probably a good thing that Atraya had never met Signe, for she might feel a little jealous or even slightly intimidated. And thus making her insecure, even though there was probably no reason to be. But in this moment Atraya was happy and certain. All her insecurites washed away from his reassurances.

[darkheart]

She would go to clean up and he would fold his hands in his lap. Rocking back and forth slightly while drumming his fingertips on his lap, he gave apologetic smiles to the the angry, judgmental stares the patrons at the other tables gave him. Clearly he was an asshole who made this beautiful woman upset, and while they hadn't heard the conversation in their head, the looked at him like a spousal abuser and filled in the blanks with their own narrative. He would reach out and drain his wine glass, feeling like he was under a microscope as others whispered. He wanted to tell them all it wasn't what they thought, but what good would it do?

When Atraya moved back to the table and kissed him gently, he melted. She'd feel a small pressure on her thigh from where she sat on his lap and he'd blush in absolute embarrassment. Coughing slightly, he'd flag down the maitre'de and chuckle nervously.

"Um, we'll take ours to go...and, um, check please?"

He'd grin as the rigid man huffed and walked away, leaning in to kiss Atraya back - both to savor the taste of her lips as well as to rub it in to the hoity toity old ladies who had so recently condemned him with their stares. So much for a normal date. It was time for sweat pants, lap food and Netflix and chill as far as he was concerned. Besides, he reasoned, he just wanted to see her fill out that Nirvana t-shirt in the most delicious of ways.

[Atraya Crowe]

Atraya seemed to sense the stares that were casted in their direction, and without a care in the world she'd put on a show for them with her kissing of Zaid, until the waiter returned with their food packed to go and the check. Like they couldn't get rid of them of them fast enough. She'd beat him to the check with her credit card provided by evil daddykins. 'Dinner is on my dad' she'd wink at him a little. It might be the only thing she could do in her position, was spend her fathers blood money on good things. Such as dinner with her....boyfriend?

she'd sign the recipt as soon as it was brought to them, before she'd get off his lap, grabbing the bag of food and his hand in her free one, lacing her fingers through his a look of sheer happiness on her face. Once outside of the resturant she'd look up at him. 'Now where?' she smiled. would they go to his place or return to her fortress? All she knew was she rebelling tonight and even if it was her only chance, she was going to enjoy every second of it.

[darkheart]

Zaid would watch as she paid, putting on a playful pout.

"You know, if I wasn't such a poor college student, I might just feel emasculated!"

The look on his face told her he was teasing - such archaic principles were nothing he cared about. Grabbing her hand, he'd leave with a wink to a particularly bristling old woman who just huffed at the whole 'distasteful' display. Once outside in the night air, he'd take a deep breath and smile. Hailing a cab, he'd whisper to the cabbie who would smile and nod, driving them outside of town to a hilltop overlooking the skyline. He'd pay the driver, getting his card to call him back when they were done, and then plop on the grass with a smile, patting the ground beside him.

"I come up here when I want to clear my head, Tray, particularly when school or work get to be too much. Impromptu night picnic?"

He'd grin at her widely, thinking pasta in the cold night air resting against her for warmth would be a welcome relief from all the weirdness lately. Between the morgue, Signe's weird blacksmithing and everything else going on, a night alone with this beautiful woman might just be the ticket to a little much needed calm. Besides, there was no one for miles if they wanted to have some special alone time, and she didn't seem to be the type to shy away from a little midnight expose.

[Atraya Crowe]

Atraya would smile at his fake pout and kiss it giggling as he spoke about being emasculated if he wasn't a college kid. A small laugh would pass her lips and she'd shake her head. She liked spoiling him. It was just in her nature to be lavious with gifts. And if he allowed her she'd have no problem doing it on Daddie's dime.

She'd link his arm in his in the ride to the secret spot that he'd whispered to the cabbie so she knew it would be a surprise. And just snuggle up against him the back seat. Enjoying the ride and the feel of his body next to hers. It was so peaceful and welcomed.

When they got to their desination, she'd follow Zaid to where he sat, obliging when he patted the ground beside him. She'd glance at him curiously wondering why this spot. The view was beautiful, so it must have some signifigance to him. Not just romantic notitions.

"I come up here when I want to clear my head, Tray, particularly when school or work get to be too much. Impromptu night picnic?"



She'd grin back him, and lean in to kiss his wide grin, her hand reaching up to gently touch his face, before she'd kiss him more seriously when he stopped grinning, and kissed her back. She'd pull away but not to far from him. her hand still touching his face. Warmth and other lusty emotions held in her eyes that couldn't be held at bay because he just did that to her. 

'That shounds amazing.' She said to the improv picnic. She'd glance around now that she knew the signifigance of this place she could appreciate it for what it was. 'Its beautiful here....I'm glad you wanted to share it with me...its very peaceful here...its a great place to escape....I wish I had that..' she sigh a little forlonely but would perk up as she met his eyes. 

'I guess the real question is, what are you hungry for? Italitan or something else?' She'd grin at him. Their food would be cold no matter if they ate it now or rolled around in the grass. So it didn't bother her either way. But being around him, just made her want to get steamy. And he wasn't even sweating. Yet.