Nic chuckled at her question.
"Caught? Guess that depends on how you define caught...I've never been caught in the literal sense, well not counting downstairs just now being caught with you by Theo and MARI. And the whole thing with Addison really was completely blown out of proportion. It wasn't like I knew he was familiar to the head of Tacharan...he wasn't wearing a sign or anything, and it was the first night after I'd arrived in Nachton. I'm not saying it wasn't a totally asinine thing to do, but really...Ellis took it way too seriously."
Alexandra, even just a casual one night stand, was still a nice memory, and Nic really didn't want the fact that they'd been together getting out to anyone else.
"It's because of the little Addison debacle that I've been trying to be up front...with those I'm interested in anyway. I certainly don't blurt out the fact that I'm a vampire to just anyone. But before I get my ass into any more trouble, I thought I should at least try to get as much information about those with 'potential'." He grinned and shrugged.
"With SOME people I find if I'm honest and open with them, they return the favor. Leave it to me to find one of the few who doesn't." And still he smiled. He really didn't fault her for protecting herself, even if she already knew what she was up against with him.
He was relieved to hear that Val and Ellis hadn't been good buddies either. Though in reality Nic couldn't see Ellis being good buddies with anyone.
"No surprise here, but in my opinion I've got to think whoever is running Tacharan now has got to be an improvement. I still get the shakes thinking about that bi...woman. Can't say I was at all sorry to hear she blew up in that inferno down at the docks."
And all that said...where did that leave Val and him?
Testing...one, two, three...
MARI! Nic wondered if he needed to get Val clearance through MARI, before she left the lobby. He considered asking Theo, then decided against it. It wasn't like he was a teen looking for his parents permission. No such covenants had been presented to him when he moved in, so he couldn't believe it was mandatory. Yet a part of him felt it would still be a good idea.
Taking Val's hand again, he moved towards the elevator, and stopped at the door.
"We have a pretty sophisticated security system here...I think I should probably have you meet MARI, before we head up."
Still just a bit skittish about MARI, Nic closed his eyes and spoke.
"MARI? Hey...it's me, Nic...I've got a guest for you to meet."
Nicholae
17 years ago
Valentine
17 years ago
Addison seemed to be a reasonable sort, certainly devoted to Ellis. And any intrusion along those lines Val didn’t consider blown out of proportion. Weighing what she knew of the parties involved and the rules of being or keeping familiars she was forced to put the fault on Nic. Which again made her wonder about sitting here so casually with him.
Flattery was a fair distraction though and she smiled rather pleased with herself. He was interested was he? But even that was short lived. For what ever it was worth she felt a devotion, a loyalty to her clan and didn’t particularly appreciate his view point there.
“I wouldn’t necessarily agree. Never ideal circumstances for a change in leadership.”
Flattery was a fair distraction though and she smiled rather pleased with herself. He was interested was he? But even that was short lived. For what ever it was worth she felt a devotion, a loyalty to her clan and didn’t particularly appreciate his view point there.
“I wouldn’t necessarily agree. Never ideal circumstances for a change in leadership.”
Nicholae
17 years ago
Nic wasn't surprised that Val's thoughts didn't mesh with his. There seemed to be a lot about this woman that didn't. The whole car and speed thing seemed to be the only thing they did have in common, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"I'm not surprised to hear you say that. I seem to beat to a drum outside the band of almost everyone else. It'll just have to be one of those things we agree to disagree on. Or not...your call.
And ideal or not, I'm still thankful that I don't need to walk around looking over my shoulder all the time, for Ellis' fangs to suddenly appear behind me."
It was odd. The evening didn't turn out anything like Nic had thought he wanted, or like it had seemed to start off, but really, he wasn't displeased. Val was still a beautiful woman, with an intelligent head on her shoulders. So they didn't agree on certain things...he didn't think those things were insurmountable. And best part of all, he still felt good about himself. He still thought he had approached things with Val in the right vein, and had nothing to be ashamed of. If for no other reason, he'd avoided a precarious connection with another Tacharan, at least until he found out if she was Tacharan, or a vampire, or someone's familiar.
"I'm not surprised to hear you say that. I seem to beat to a drum outside the band of almost everyone else. It'll just have to be one of those things we agree to disagree on. Or not...your call.
And ideal or not, I'm still thankful that I don't need to walk around looking over my shoulder all the time, for Ellis' fangs to suddenly appear behind me."
It was odd. The evening didn't turn out anything like Nic had thought he wanted, or like it had seemed to start off, but really, he wasn't displeased. Val was still a beautiful woman, with an intelligent head on her shoulders. So they didn't agree on certain things...he didn't think those things were insurmountable. And best part of all, he still felt good about himself. He still thought he had approached things with Val in the right vein, and had nothing to be ashamed of. If for no other reason, he'd avoided a precarious connection with another Tacharan, at least until he found out if she was Tacharan, or a vampire, or someone's familiar.
Valentine
17 years ago
“Its different when it’s your home.”
No longer worried about keeping her teeth under wraps one poked out of a one sided smile. It had been a rather vague answer but for now they could agree to disagree, as he said. Whether that was something that would always be the case she didn’t know. She also wasn’t terribly worried about it right not either.
“Now that I can agree with you on. Its never a good feeling having someone gunning for you.”
Val lazily toyed with her drink. Really she couldn’t think where next this whole situation needed to go. It could be that it would be fore the best if she left and gave Nic some time to think about things. It might be better if she just left and that was it. It was impossible to say.
No longer worried about keeping her teeth under wraps one poked out of a one sided smile. It had been a rather vague answer but for now they could agree to disagree, as he said. Whether that was something that would always be the case she didn’t know. She also wasn’t terribly worried about it right not either.
“Now that I can agree with you on. Its never a good feeling having someone gunning for you.”
Val lazily toyed with her drink. Really she couldn’t think where next this whole situation needed to go. It could be that it would be fore the best if she left and gave Nic some time to think about things. It might be better if she just left and that was it. It was impossible to say.
Nicholae
17 years ago
"Yea, I forget that...hard to think if Tacharan being anyone's home, but that's totally unfair of me. And really...with that one exception, I've liked all the Tachs I've met."
Stretching across the small space between them, Nick ran a finger softly down Val's cheek.
"We can't really help what family we're born into now much, can we?" But that comment was completely in jest, and his way of trying to tease the conversation and keep it light.
"Any more than Romeo and Juliet could." A chuckle followed that analogy. He knew there was very little similarity, but with his movie background, it was the first comparison he could think of.
"And now...whether any of that made sense or not ... does it give you a little insight into why I've been the way I've been?"
Though he still didn't agree with why she'd been so closed mouth, so to speak, he could understand it a little better.
Stretching across the small space between them, Nick ran a finger softly down Val's cheek.
"We can't really help what family we're born into now much, can we?" But that comment was completely in jest, and his way of trying to tease the conversation and keep it light.
"Any more than Romeo and Juliet could." A chuckle followed that analogy. He knew there was very little similarity, but with his movie background, it was the first comparison he could think of.
"And now...whether any of that made sense or not ... does it give you a little insight into why I've been the way I've been?"
Though he still didn't agree with why she'd been so closed mouth, so to speak, he could understand it a little better.
Valentine
17 years ago
“Home is where the heart is.”
Val smiled vaguely. One really did have some say in these family, perhaps not much but some. She hadn’t ever considered that and chose not to at this time. Besides, she had no desire to leave her home, if she’d ever wanted to the time was long past.
As Nic touched her cheek she turned slightly and looked at him sideways a small smile in lace.
“Some I suppose. But both Romeo and Juliet knew when to cut ties and get the hell out.”
Not that she was suggesting that or that she wanted to.
“But I gather that was in the days before family counseling and third party mediations.”
Val smiled vaguely. One really did have some say in these family, perhaps not much but some. She hadn’t ever considered that and chose not to at this time. Besides, she had no desire to leave her home, if she’d ever wanted to the time was long past.
As Nic touched her cheek she turned slightly and looked at him sideways a small smile in lace.
“Some I suppose. But both Romeo and Juliet knew when to cut ties and get the hell out.”
Not that she was suggesting that or that she wanted to.
“But I gather that was in the days before family counseling and third party mediations.”
Nicholae
17 years ago
Nodding in agreement, and glad to hear they seemed to have come to an understanding of sorts, Nic grinned and gave Val a soft peck on the lips. Moving closer, he put both hands on either side of her as she sat on the counter, and after leaning back to look at her again, wrapped those hands around her back, and pulled her towards him for a more intimate kiss. Seconds later he ended the kiss, moved his hands back to the counter, and put a little space between them.
"I think I'd better get you home? It's late...or early...and..." His eyes were soft as he spoke. Taking her home really was the last thing his body wanted to do. He was severely attracted to her, and would have liked nothing more than to pull her off the counter and carry her to his bed. However, two things stopped him. One, the fear of rejection, as he still wasn't completely sure she wanted him, or would have gone with him, and two, he thought the differences between them required more thought. It wasn't like him to lend much thought to these types of situations, but then too, he knew he had to make some changes in how he handled some things.
"...You're important to me Val. I'd like to see you again, and get to know you better. But I'd also like to have your opinion of me improve as well...before...we go any further...if..."
Yet unable to just let her go, he gave her another kiss, before stepping back and offering her a hand down.
"I think I'd better get you home? It's late...or early...and..." His eyes were soft as he spoke. Taking her home really was the last thing his body wanted to do. He was severely attracted to her, and would have liked nothing more than to pull her off the counter and carry her to his bed. However, two things stopped him. One, the fear of rejection, as he still wasn't completely sure she wanted him, or would have gone with him, and two, he thought the differences between them required more thought. It wasn't like him to lend much thought to these types of situations, but then too, he knew he had to make some changes in how he handled some things.
"...You're important to me Val. I'd like to see you again, and get to know you better. But I'd also like to have your opinion of me improve as well...before...we go any further...if..."
Yet unable to just let her go, he gave her another kiss, before stepping back and offering her a hand down.
Valentine
17 years ago
Val slid her arms around his neck playing with the kiss, but she easily let him have the space back. She was a little perplexed by what she considered to be mixed signals, but then she’s been guilty of the same.
There was a surprising tenderness in his face and words. The evening wasn’t turning out quite how she’d planed and his restraint hadn’t been in her original plan. Granted the plan wasn’t much of anything, just a few lose ideas.
“We can’t have you out past your bed time.”
She smiled lightly but paused, his words again surprised her. How had she gotten to be important to him? But he’d given her time to think, or not to think actually. As he pulled back she took his hand and let Nic help her down from the counter.
“How ‘bout we let our impressions develop rather than improve?”
It was habit to spin things, even just a little.
“But you’ll need to get me down stairs so I can catch a cab first.”
There was a surprising tenderness in his face and words. The evening wasn’t turning out quite how she’d planed and his restraint hadn’t been in her original plan. Granted the plan wasn’t much of anything, just a few lose ideas.
“We can’t have you out past your bed time.”
She smiled lightly but paused, his words again surprised her. How had she gotten to be important to him? But he’d given her time to think, or not to think actually. As he pulled back she took his hand and let Nic help her down from the counter.
“How ‘bout we let our impressions develop rather than improve?”
It was habit to spin things, even just a little.
“But you’ll need to get me down stairs so I can catch a cab first.”
Nicholae
17 years ago
"My bedtime, or yours either...I'd guess that is something else we have in common? Or have you found some magic elixir that allows you to function in the daylight?" Nic himself rarely slept more than a few hours every day, and spent the remaining daylight hours just puttering around in his darkened suite, mainly watching old movies.
When she was again standing on the floor, Nic picked her up and gave her another kiss. Now that he would be saying good night, it seemed more appropriate to do that here, rather than in the lobby where there might still be tender eyes about. And being that this was his good night kiss, Nic pulled out all the stops, avoiding her fangs but tasting of her deeply. As he felt his resolve start to melt, he pulled back and looked into her face...her eyes...and rubbed a thumb softly across her cheek.
"A cab...let me call you one."
Releasing her he found his phone, called the only cab company he ever used...the one who always seemed to have a car nearby, no matter what the time of night...and was told they would be at the Towers in a matter of minutes.
"Your chariot awaits, my dear."
Holding his elbow towards her, Nic prepared to escort her downstairs.
When she was again standing on the floor, Nic picked her up and gave her another kiss. Now that he would be saying good night, it seemed more appropriate to do that here, rather than in the lobby where there might still be tender eyes about. And being that this was his good night kiss, Nic pulled out all the stops, avoiding her fangs but tasting of her deeply. As he felt his resolve start to melt, he pulled back and looked into her face...her eyes...and rubbed a thumb softly across her cheek.
"A cab...let me call you one."
Releasing her he found his phone, called the only cab company he ever used...the one who always seemed to have a car nearby, no matter what the time of night...and was told they would be at the Towers in a matter of minutes.
"Your chariot awaits, my dear."
Holding his elbow towards her, Nic prepared to escort her downstairs.
Valentine
17 years ago
“Oh I do all right but it is rather restrictive isn’t it?”
Val occasionally got very fidgety during daylight hours. But she always found ways to keep herself entertained.
Hmmmm he was getting better at this each time wasn’t he? Val’s arms slid around Nic’s neck and she pulled herself into the kiss. Part of her wanted to bite him, or maybe she just hadn’t eaten recently. Today though she managed to exercise some restraint and just smiled as he called her a cab.
“You don’t suppose they’d let me drive do you?”
She kidded slightly. Dinner and a ride home was apparently down stairs, so she offered her hand.
“Lead on MacDuff.”
Val occasionally got very fidgety during daylight hours. But she always found ways to keep herself entertained.
Hmmmm he was getting better at this each time wasn’t he? Val’s arms slid around Nic’s neck and she pulled herself into the kiss. Part of her wanted to bite him, or maybe she just hadn’t eaten recently. Today though she managed to exercise some restraint and just smiled as he called her a cab.
“You don’t suppose they’d let me drive do you?”
She kidded slightly. Dinner and a ride home was apparently down stairs, so she offered her hand.
“Lead on MacDuff.”
Nicholae
17 years ago
Taking her hand in his, then pulling it around his waist as he rested his on her shoulders, Nic led Val to the elevator then downstairs to the cab waiting. When they reached the cab he pulled her into another kiss, though this one was sweet and short. The hug that followed was firm, and he hoped it conveyed more than friendship. Looking down into her eyes, he smiled.
"It has been a less than conventional evening, but I still enjoyed myself. I hope you did too, and might agree to see me again? Next time maybe we can try something less harrowing than dinner?" And he chuckled hoping she wouldn't dismiss him without some answer.
Opening the cab door he gave the driver instructions to get Val home safely, and handed the man a hundred for the trip and tip. He also looked at the guys license and told him if anything unduly happened, Nic would come looking for him. Nothing further was required to complete the threat.
"It has been a less than conventional evening, but I still enjoyed myself. I hope you did too, and might agree to see me again? Next time maybe we can try something less harrowing than dinner?" And he chuckled hoping she wouldn't dismiss him without some answer.
Opening the cab door he gave the driver instructions to get Val home safely, and handed the man a hundred for the trip and tip. He also looked at the guys license and told him if anything unduly happened, Nic would come looking for him. Nothing further was required to complete the threat.
Valentine
17 years ago
With no small effort, she managed to reach his lips and gently brush them with her own.
It took some effort but she managed not to giggle at his instructions to the cabbie, Giovanni used to say much the same thing. But he always sounded meaner and given his reputation at the time the cabbies always believed him.
“I think we can arrange something more appropriate. Don’t you?”
She flashed him a near teasing look before sliding into the cab and shutting the door.
“So I’ll see you again then.”
There was no question. She wasn’t sure what or how she felt about Nic but it sure wouldn’t hurt to see him again. She’s probably even enjoy it. As the cab pulled away, she winked at him. He had her card and Val would be disappointed if he didn’t at least call.
((OOC… out))
It took some effort but she managed not to giggle at his instructions to the cabbie, Giovanni used to say much the same thing. But he always sounded meaner and given his reputation at the time the cabbies always believed him.
“I think we can arrange something more appropriate. Don’t you?”
She flashed him a near teasing look before sliding into the cab and shutting the door.
“So I’ll see you again then.”
There was no question. She wasn’t sure what or how she felt about Nic but it sure wouldn’t hurt to see him again. She’s probably even enjoy it. As the cab pulled away, she winked at him. He had her card and Val would be disappointed if he didn’t at least call.
((OOC… out))