Tai turned his tawny eyes to Val and gave her a nod of satisfaction before leaning back, stretching his legs out beneath the table, and crossing his arms behind his head.
At Kat's question he turned to her with a curious eyebrow raised, and lifted his shoulders in a neutral shrug.
"One is as good as another," he said. It wasn't said in an unfriendly voice; it was simply that any name would serve and he wasn't particular. Akio would do as well as Tai.
His lips curled up at Kat, however, and his eyes warmed a bit as he teased a little. "I'll be whoever you want me to be for now."
He and Val didn't have any agreements. Kat was cute, and he wasn't opposed to giving her what she had seemed to initially want.
In need of a little...something ((open))
Kat perched on the tall stool at the bar, her fingers tracing through the sweat on her drink as she watched the masses dance. It was not exactly what she'd expected when she'd been given the name of this place when asking about fulfillment of some darker needs.
Still, she'd not seen the entirety of the place, and she did not feel as silly in the ridiculous skirt and corset she'd chosen for the evening, as there were girls in much more...disrespectful attire. It was not easy to find what she was looking for and the outfit, and six inch black heels she'd paired it with helped set the tone. Well she hoped it did. She usually turned to Peter when such needs arose, and she wasn't about to ask him to fly to America just for that, nor was she going to ask anyone at The Domicile. The Mercs looked at her as a bit of candy anyway and she did not think it would be wise to offer them reason to.
So she was here, and so far there was nothing even approaching acceptable that had bothered to come say hello. One thing she did notice, was that she would not be able to sit here un-harassed much longer and joining the masses on the floor would be necessary. Michael and Magdalene were all but Fred Astair and Ginger Rodgers-ing it in her head.
Ichiro Taiji
13 years ago
Valentine
13 years ago
"Just one or two?"Â?
Val challenged playfully.
That's right, tell Val she couldn't have it. That wouldn't make her want it more or anything. Nope, not her. She started keeping a mental file about who and what Kitty was and the fact that she had an employer was interesting. It didn't give any clues, but it seemed to mean the woman could be bought.
For a second Val considered offering herself as a mercenary. She didn't necessarily want this thing or even to find it first. But at the last second she decided against it.
His stretch gave Tai the look of a cat, a big cat, panther might be more accurate and she wasn't at all surprised by his answer. Lord knew she called him any number of things from his actual name to sunshine to lover and a few other things. It had never upset him.
Catching a bit of a look from him she smiled a bit, mostly to herself. It would be impossible to tell if she was smiling at his comment or at the possibility he might be interested in Kitty.
Val challenged playfully.
That's right, tell Val she couldn't have it. That wouldn't make her want it more or anything. Nope, not her. She started keeping a mental file about who and what Kitty was and the fact that she had an employer was interesting. It didn't give any clues, but it seemed to mean the woman could be bought.
For a second Val considered offering herself as a mercenary. She didn't necessarily want this thing or even to find it first. But at the last second she decided against it.
His stretch gave Tai the look of a cat, a big cat, panther might be more accurate and she wasn't at all surprised by his answer. Lord knew she called him any number of things from his actual name to sunshine to lover and a few other things. It had never upset him.
Catching a bit of a look from him she smiled a bit, mostly to herself. It would be impossible to tell if she was smiling at his comment or at the possibility he might be interested in Kitty.
Kat
13 years ago
A soft laugh preceded her words. "For now. Of course if you dig too deep you might find more."
Akio, however took her attention, and as he relaxed into the seat, she felt just a little more comfortable. It was an interesting view of names, and perhaps wasn't a bad one.
She leaned forward, not missing Valentine's small smile, and offered Akio a sly little grin. "That sounds incredibly promising."
Her voice was low and just a tad more eager than she'd like. "I can think of role or two I'd like you to fill."
Akio, however took her attention, and as he relaxed into the seat, she felt just a little more comfortable. It was an interesting view of names, and perhaps wasn't a bad one.
She leaned forward, not missing Valentine's small smile, and offered Akio a sly little grin. "That sounds incredibly promising."
Her voice was low and just a tad more eager than she'd like. "I can think of role or two I'd like you to fill."
Ichiro Taiji
13 years ago
As far as Tai was concerned this night just got better and better. Fun with Val, fun in a brawl, then the potential of some more fun down the line... he couldn't complain. Kat's response to him was favorable, and he wasn't opposed to leaving the House of Pain with a different partner then when he'd entered.
Val seemed to have a handle on the rest of the conversation so Tai let himself enjoy his own small bit of chat with their new friend. Val must have discovered something interesting about her, or they wouldn't still be here talking. Whatever it was, it took a back burner to his immediate interest, which was a far more intimate one.
He didn't respond verbally to Kat; there was no point in making her hold two conversations at once when they had made their positions clear. Instead he let his eyelids lower a bit, the hunting cat relaxed, receptive, and willing. His lips continued to tip up at the corners and his eyes glittered in the dim light as he watched Kat, keeping an ear on the conversation with Val.
Val seemed to have a handle on the rest of the conversation so Tai let himself enjoy his own small bit of chat with their new friend. Val must have discovered something interesting about her, or they wouldn't still be here talking. Whatever it was, it took a back burner to his immediate interest, which was a far more intimate one.
He didn't respond verbally to Kat; there was no point in making her hold two conversations at once when they had made their positions clear. Instead he let his eyelids lower a bit, the hunting cat relaxed, receptive, and willing. His lips continued to tip up at the corners and his eyes glittered in the dim light as he watched Kat, keeping an ear on the conversation with Val.
Valentine
13 years ago
Whether Kitty knew it or not that was a challenge. Val knew what she was going to do during the daylight hours tomorrow. Usually, after an appointment like tonight she'd spend it with Tai but she was watching things develop a bit with Tai and and Kitty. He might have other plans.
"Promises, promises..."
She grinned, teasing them both.
Val lightly nudged him with her foot, she wanted him to take center stage. She slid along the seat and leaned back against the wall making herself as scare as she could short of actually leaving.
"Promises, promises..."
She grinned, teasing them both.
Val lightly nudged him with her foot, she wanted him to take center stage. She slid along the seat and leaned back against the wall making herself as scare as she could short of actually leaving.
Ichiro Taiji
13 years ago
Tai flashed a glance at Val and shrugged almost imperceptibly. If she was yielding the floor to him, he'd take it after all. It seemed that Kat was a little more engaging with him anyhow.
He turned his tawny eyes back onto their new acquaintance and chuckled softly. "I'm good at role-playing," he said.
It was an obvious allusion to the fact that she still didn't know his actual name. "What exactly did you have in mind? I can do evil and heroic."
He grinned slyly at Kat, enjoying the teasing.
"Maybe a little of both?"
He turned his tawny eyes back onto their new acquaintance and chuckled softly. "I'm good at role-playing," he said.
It was an obvious allusion to the fact that she still didn't know his actual name. "What exactly did you have in mind? I can do evil and heroic."
He grinned slyly at Kat, enjoying the teasing.
"Maybe a little of both?"
Kat
13 years ago
She acknowledged Valentine's words with a slow blink. Kat did not make promises, but she would welcome the challenge of circumventing her gaining knowledge.
Her eyebrow rose as Valentine seemed to give over to Akio. It settled better with Kat, she preferred men, but she'd been topped by a woman before, and had enjoyed it. She gave his question the full weight of her attention, silencing Magdalene when she started to put in her two cents about saddles and knights.
"Mmm, a little of both is right up my alley."
She slid down her side of the booth a little, putting her across from Akio, her legs alongside his. "As for what I have in mind... being rescued only to be used for nefarious purposes, sounds exactly right."
Her eyebrow rose as Valentine seemed to give over to Akio. It settled better with Kat, she preferred men, but she'd been topped by a woman before, and had enjoyed it. She gave his question the full weight of her attention, silencing Magdalene when she started to put in her two cents about saddles and knights.
"Mmm, a little of both is right up my alley."
She slid down her side of the booth a little, putting her across from Akio, her legs alongside his. "As for what I have in mind... being rescued only to be used for nefarious purposes, sounds exactly right."
Valentine
13 years ago
Val leaned back in the booth, drifting further into the shadows. It wasn't her nature to not be the center of attention. But it was in her nature to get the most out of any situation and right now, Tai was the right tool for the job.
Kitty was attractive enough, and it wasn't as if she'd asked him to engage the woman. So Val felt no guilt he was doing this of his own volition and it wasn't like he was having to do anything terribly unpleasant. She only wished there was a way to tell him what she was thinking.
Ah well, it wasn't totally necessary at this point. Truth be told Val didn't know what she was thinking at this point. Right now it would be good enough to establish a relationship with her. They could improvise from there.
Kitty was attractive enough, and it wasn't as if she'd asked him to engage the woman. So Val felt no guilt he was doing this of his own volition and it wasn't like he was having to do anything terribly unpleasant. She only wished there was a way to tell him what she was thinking.
Ah well, it wasn't totally necessary at this point. Truth be told Val didn't know what she was thinking at this point. Right now it would be good enough to establish a relationship with her. They could improvise from there.
Ichiro Taiji
13 years ago
Tai's tawny eyes gleamed at the prospect of nefarious purposes, whatever they were. He noted Val's continued fade-out and took it as a tacit go-ahead. As Kat slid herself down the seat t place herself directly across from him, he let his eyes assess her once more, this time really taking her in and smiling with approval.
He held his hand out across the table to Kat, coiling his legs beneath him and standing smoothly. With an ironic little half-bow to Val he said, "Well, if Val doesn't mind dining alone, we should continue this discussion... and explore all of our options."
He assumed Kat would come along with him; where they went afterward they'd determine on the way out. Tai wasn't worried about Val. They'd networked in this manner before and it seemed that this time he was the one whose job it was to engage this connection. He couldn't complain; Kat was an attractive woman. He was curious to see where this would lead.
He held his hand out across the table to Kat, coiling his legs beneath him and standing smoothly. With an ironic little half-bow to Val he said, "Well, if Val doesn't mind dining alone, we should continue this discussion... and explore all of our options."
He assumed Kat would come along with him; where they went afterward they'd determine on the way out. Tai wasn't worried about Val. They'd networked in this manner before and it seemed that this time he was the one whose job it was to engage this connection. He couldn't complain; Kat was an attractive woman. He was curious to see where this would lead.
Kat
13 years ago
Kat willingly slipped her hand into his. Trust him, she did not, but he was part of her "family" and he was not a Merc. Those two things put him much lower down on her scale of distrust.
Her agile body stood easily, and she inclined her head at Val, happy to let Akio take the lead. She would voice her opinions if they differed from his, but if things went as she was hoping, showing him difference here and now could prove beneficial later.
I bet those two could be put to good use later down the road. Kat nearly laughed at the thought. Mike was not know for his cunning and master planning abilities. Using fellow clan mates to her own purpose was not high on her list at them moment. Finding someone to tame the cravings, was.
Her agile body stood easily, and she inclined her head at Val, happy to let Akio take the lead. She would voice her opinions if they differed from his, but if things went as she was hoping, showing him difference here and now could prove beneficial later.
I bet those two could be put to good use later down the road. Kat nearly laughed at the thought. Mike was not know for his cunning and master planning abilities. Using fellow clan mates to her own purpose was not high on her list at them moment. Finding someone to tame the cravings, was.
Valentine
13 years ago
Val grinned, making absolutely no effort to hide her fangs.
"You two crazy kids have fun."Â?
She was already loosely surveying the crowd looking for a bite or three to eat. Having blown off some steam she wouldn't mind grappling with one or three... preferably young fresh and out of their league. She chuckled to herself, out of their league.. yes Kitty had -no- idea what she'd just walked into.
Val knew she wasn't the oldest, wisest or strongest vampire on the block. But she knew that she was damned tough, and smart. Beyond that she suspected that Tai would be a bit much for the girl to handle, unless he held back a bit.
Ah to be a fly on the wall.
"You two crazy kids have fun."Â?
She was already loosely surveying the crowd looking for a bite or three to eat. Having blown off some steam she wouldn't mind grappling with one or three... preferably young fresh and out of their league. She chuckled to herself, out of their league.. yes Kitty had -no- idea what she'd just walked into.
Val knew she wasn't the oldest, wisest or strongest vampire on the block. But she knew that she was damned tough, and smart. Beyond that she suspected that Tai would be a bit much for the girl to handle, unless he held back a bit.
Ah to be a fly on the wall.
Ichiro Taiji
13 years ago
Their immediate future decided, Tai gave Val a smile and a nod. "I'll catch up with you later."
Turning to Kat, he said, "I think we've worn out the house of Pain. Time to find something new and exciting to practice my roleplaying skills."
He left enough cash on the table to cover for all three of them (hey, he and Val had just made decent money; they could be generous) and led Kat out of the noise of the club, traveling down the many stories and out into the city.
((ooc: Tai out pending responses))
Turning to Kat, he said, "I think we've worn out the house of Pain. Time to find something new and exciting to practice my roleplaying skills."
He left enough cash on the table to cover for all three of them (hey, he and Val had just made decent money; they could be generous) and led Kat out of the noise of the club, traveling down the many stories and out into the city.
((ooc: Tai out pending responses))
Kat
13 years ago
Well, now that that was settled, she returned Val's smile, secured her shoes in her free hand, and gathered up her small clutch from the bar as they passed it.
"I'd no idea one could wear out a club."
Bare feet on the street were not ideal, but it was that or limp, and she'd rather not. It would be interesting to see what the rest of the night held. A shiver of anticipation slid down her spine as they joined the humanity on the street.
((Kat out.))
"I'd no idea one could wear out a club."
Bare feet on the street were not ideal, but it was that or limp, and she'd rather not. It would be interesting to see what the rest of the night held. A shiver of anticipation slid down her spine as they joined the humanity on the street.
((Kat out.))
Valentine
13 years ago
"I have no doubt."Â?
And she didn't. She and Tai had a good business arrangement going. Beyond that he was slowly but steadily making his way beyond the ally category and into the friend category. It was good to work with some one again. She'd forgotten how lonely bored and frustrated she should get on her own. Beyond that Tai almost seemed to need her, in his own strange way. But maybe that was wishful thinking, Val needed to be needed.
She watched them go and hoped he'd learn something good, something useful, something they could use or at least have a good time. Nothing was worse that screwing around with a boring unskilled partner. Well there were a few things, but that was on her top ten maybe top twenty five list.
Once they'd gone she slid to the edge of the booth watching the crowd. Soon after she'd made her way to the dance floor and was pressed between two young lean male bodies. The eyeliner didn't bother her either, they felt good and they smelled fresh. She was going to have her own fun tonight.
((OOC... out))
And she didn't. She and Tai had a good business arrangement going. Beyond that he was slowly but steadily making his way beyond the ally category and into the friend category. It was good to work with some one again. She'd forgotten how lonely bored and frustrated she should get on her own. Beyond that Tai almost seemed to need her, in his own strange way. But maybe that was wishful thinking, Val needed to be needed.
She watched them go and hoped he'd learn something good, something useful, something they could use or at least have a good time. Nothing was worse that screwing around with a boring unskilled partner. Well there were a few things, but that was on her top ten maybe top twenty five list.
Once they'd gone she slid to the edge of the booth watching the crowd. Soon after she'd made her way to the dance floor and was pressed between two young lean male bodies. The eyeliner didn't bother her either, they felt good and they smelled fresh. She was going to have her own fun tonight.
((OOC... out))