He let her stare at him for a good solid few minutes trying to get her to come out and ask the question. Finally Ambrose chuffed and before tearing into a good bite answered the indirect question.
"I'm 154."Â?
That sounded about right, he mused as he chewed. He'd have to check his math and he was never sure if one should count from his birthday or from the day he was turned. Either way he managed to stop the inappropriate comment about younger men he'd been about to toss at Belle. Not with the small fry about, he reminded himself.
"Yeah, both of us do. Belle's quite talented and has some excellent horses. Not much like what you'd find at a rodeo though."Â?
Ambrose refrained from mentioning his appaloosa, a gift from Belle he'd dubbed Midnight. He didn't want to over stimulate the girl and the eager expression that she turned on Belle indicated his lover had the girl's attention completely again.
Two Vampires and a Little Lady
Belle apparently knew him a little too well. Ambrose was still grumbling and sulking but he was past wanting to shoot something, although the idea of having to climb the stairs to the condo might change that. Shit he didn't care he wanted his arm fixed something nutritious and a shower and if he had to climb a flight of stairs to get that... well he'd climb them.
He'd been a little nervous about Belle driving his precious truck but she'd done a fine job. He'd been able to keep an eye on the waif in the back of the extended cab. He just didn't know what to make of her. Or know what to think of Belle's actions. Time would tell.
Letting the two women out he locked the truck and pulled himself up the stairs after them. Once inside he literally collapsed on the sofa with a muffled sound of discomfort. He was waiting for a clue what to do. Ambrose was out of his league and he knew it.
Ambrose
15 years ago
Ysabel
15 years ago
Ysabel smiled at the turn the conversation had taken. Appealing to Marie's evident pleasure in horses should help them gain her trust a little bit more.
"My family has been training horses for a very long time," she explained. "I have several here in the US, in fact. If you'd like, we can go see them tomorrow evening."
Ysabel certainly didn't mind introducing Marie to them. They were of course very safe, and they would keep the girl off the streets for the time being. If Marie liked it there, they could talk abot her future.
Ysabel very much wanted this child to have a future.
"My family has been training horses for a very long time," she explained. "I have several here in the US, in fact. If you'd like, we can go see them tomorrow evening."
Ysabel certainly didn't mind introducing Marie to them. They were of course very safe, and they would keep the girl off the streets for the time being. If Marie liked it there, they could talk abot her future.
Ysabel very much wanted this child to have a future.
Marie
15 years ago
Marie had always taken for granted her life would involve horses. Not that she’d quite thought out –how- it would, just that it would. The loss of the horses had been as traumatic as the loss of her family. Wait rephrase that, they were family and it was just one more loss.
Now granted ‘a very long time’ took on new meaning here… but… well… shower, food, a place to sleep and horses. How could she not agree? The temptation was astounding and realistically if either of them –wanted- to be less than helpful or honorable or hurt her they could, right now and probably could at any time.
Slowly she made up her mind to trust them. At least for now, to see what they were like and what they wanted. That and to see the horses.
“I’d like to see them. If I could please, if it isn’t too much trouble?”
It was almost begging and hurt her pride a little but considerably less than pan handling did, and the rewards would be greater. Maybe she’d even get to ride a little.
Now granted ‘a very long time’ took on new meaning here… but… well… shower, food, a place to sleep and horses. How could she not agree? The temptation was astounding and realistically if either of them –wanted- to be less than helpful or honorable or hurt her they could, right now and probably could at any time.
Slowly she made up her mind to trust them. At least for now, to see what they were like and what they wanted. That and to see the horses.
“I’d like to see them. If I could please, if it isn’t too much trouble?”
It was almost begging and hurt her pride a little but considerably less than pan handling did, and the rewards would be greater. Maybe she’d even get to ride a little.
Ysabel
15 years ago
So, it seemed they'd found they key to Marie's trust, Ysabel mused. Funny, how such a little thing as a few horses could make the difference. She continued to nibble at her food while they settled into conversation that seemed normal, almost... family-like.
"Of course it isn't any trouble. I was going to go out to see them tomorrow evening anyway," she lied convincingly. Ysabel never had to be coerced into visiting her horses.
She let the conversation lapse a bit as they all ate, the excitement of the night finally starting to wear off, leaving them all tired. She could see it on Marie's face. When the girl finally seemed to be slowing down, Ysabel set her own plate on the table and sat back with a sigh.
"Where would you like to sleep, Marie? There's my room upstairs, or you could sleep down here."
Wherever she chose, Ysabel could arrange it. She hoped Dayle wouldn't mind if someone slept in her bed tonight, but she didn't think her sister would mind terribly much.
"Of course it isn't any trouble. I was going to go out to see them tomorrow evening anyway," she lied convincingly. Ysabel never had to be coerced into visiting her horses.
She let the conversation lapse a bit as they all ate, the excitement of the night finally starting to wear off, leaving them all tired. She could see it on Marie's face. When the girl finally seemed to be slowing down, Ysabel set her own plate on the table and sat back with a sigh.
"Where would you like to sleep, Marie? There's my room upstairs, or you could sleep down here."
Wherever she chose, Ysabel could arrange it. She hoped Dayle wouldn't mind if someone slept in her bed tonight, but she didn't think her sister would mind terribly much.
Ambrose
15 years ago
Well he’d own that bet. She’d eat more than twice her weight in rice, beans and anything else she could get her little paws on. But even the waif was slowing down. One only rarely got a full meal or a good night’s sleep, and it looked like the good meal was taking a toll on her.
There was a slightly panicked look in the girl’s eye when given a choice and Ambrose was just not in the mood to deal with this. So, he made the decisions all the way around.
“Dayle isn’t home is she Belle? Why don’t we just take her room, if she shows up she can kick me to the couch,” which she’d better not Ambrose added to himself. “Then Marie here can take your room. Every one is comfy all the way around.”
The waif could lock them out and have some privacy as well as a good comfy bed for a change and they could lock her out and have some privacy even if the bed was a touch cramped for his taste. See look he was being unselfish, did that get him anything?
There was a slightly panicked look in the girl’s eye when given a choice and Ambrose was just not in the mood to deal with this. So, he made the decisions all the way around.
“Dayle isn’t home is she Belle? Why don’t we just take her room, if she shows up she can kick me to the couch,” which she’d better not Ambrose added to himself. “Then Marie here can take your room. Every one is comfy all the way around.”
The waif could lock them out and have some privacy as well as a good comfy bed for a change and they could lock her out and have some privacy even if the bed was a touch cramped for his taste. See look he was being unselfish, did that get him anything?
Ysabel
15 years ago
Ysabel shot Ambrose a look of approval as he made a firm decision on the sleeping arrangements. She assumed Marie would be the most comfortable in her own room; it was upstairs, could be locked, and was very private. Marie should be comfortable there, or at least she hoped she would.
Tomorrow evening she would bring her own horses over to the house; she could not allow Marie onto the grounds at Heolfor and her broodmares were not quite as well behaved. They could be driven, but if she were going to let Marie ride anything she would prefer to let her ride Elegy. She herself would take Vivace or Adagio, while she assumed Amber would ride Midnight. It wasn't a question of whether Marie would want to ride or not... Ysabe; understood horses, and ashe understood those who loved them. To love them and to be around them was to want to ride them. It had worked on Ambrose, and it would work on Marie. Tomorrow night they would go riding.
Tonight they would sleep... or at least, Marie would. After a good nap, Ysabel assumed she and Ambrose would likely be up for the rest of he evening, but as Ysabel's room was upstairs they should be free to use the TV without bothering Marie. Hopefully the girl would sleep for a good, long time... Ysabel and Ambrose, of course, would not be able to leave the condo until the following evening.
Hopefully Marie would still be there.
Confirming Ambrose's decision, Ysabel stood and began to clear away the plates. Once the table was relatively clear she guided Marie to the bottom of the steps. "My room is just up there," she said. "Make yourself comfortable." There was nothing in her room that Marie could get into, or shouldn't see.
The child was already making her sleepy way up the stairs when Ysabel turned back to Ambrose.
"Now, you will see what reward awaits knights in shining armor," she said as she closed the distance between them and placed a soft, teasing kiss on Ambrose's lips.
Dayle's bed just didn't seem like the right place for it... but, Ysabel mused as she heard the door upstairs close and the lock click into place, they had a vast amount of experienc breaking other pieces of furniture.
The couch was closer, anyway.
((ooc: All out with permission))
Tomorrow evening she would bring her own horses over to the house; she could not allow Marie onto the grounds at Heolfor and her broodmares were not quite as well behaved. They could be driven, but if she were going to let Marie ride anything she would prefer to let her ride Elegy. She herself would take Vivace or Adagio, while she assumed Amber would ride Midnight. It wasn't a question of whether Marie would want to ride or not... Ysabe; understood horses, and ashe understood those who loved them. To love them and to be around them was to want to ride them. It had worked on Ambrose, and it would work on Marie. Tomorrow night they would go riding.
Tonight they would sleep... or at least, Marie would. After a good nap, Ysabel assumed she and Ambrose would likely be up for the rest of he evening, but as Ysabel's room was upstairs they should be free to use the TV without bothering Marie. Hopefully the girl would sleep for a good, long time... Ysabel and Ambrose, of course, would not be able to leave the condo until the following evening.
Hopefully Marie would still be there.
Confirming Ambrose's decision, Ysabel stood and began to clear away the plates. Once the table was relatively clear she guided Marie to the bottom of the steps. "My room is just up there," she said. "Make yourself comfortable." There was nothing in her room that Marie could get into, or shouldn't see.
The child was already making her sleepy way up the stairs when Ysabel turned back to Ambrose.
"Now, you will see what reward awaits knights in shining armor," she said as she closed the distance between them and placed a soft, teasing kiss on Ambrose's lips.
Dayle's bed just didn't seem like the right place for it... but, Ysabel mused as she heard the door upstairs close and the lock click into place, they had a vast amount of experienc breaking other pieces of furniture.
The couch was closer, anyway.
((ooc: All out with permission))