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 Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:58 pm
"I can cook better than a lot of college girls. And a friend of mine makes AMAZING pastries that I could bring. It'll be fun!" She was fine, chipper, happy... until Thorn made his suggestion
... well, now. How to respond? He'd certainly had no problem carrying her the other day in the maze. And it was a short distance. And...
"... no bets this time, though. Okay?" She picked up her shoes and squirmed off of Hadrian and closer to the door. "Not like last time."
Besides. As she moved, she realized that the relaxing car ride, the alcohol, and her sheer exhaustion were working together to make her a little (just a little) sleepy and light-headed. And she didn't want to weave back and forth as they were walking - that wouldn't look good at all.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:04 pm
Cooking lessons?
Oh no...he wasn't about to be around Thorn long enough to have cooking lessons. Just because he was spending time with the man to protect Natalie didn't mean he was enjoying it.
Waiting for Thorn to get out - as he was beside the door - he muttered, "...if I need to learn how to cook, I'll find someone else to teach em."
Only for Thorn's ears, as he didn't want to upset Natalie with rudeness; still.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:10 pm
He nodded. Leaning in and picking Natalie up, his hand supported her back and rested on her thigh. Coming back out, he caught the words, and grinned. "Marc can't cook either, Hadrian. And don't you want to surprise him with a nice meal?"
He shifted her weight until she was easy to carry in hi straightened position. Her skinw as warm, and she looked submissive enough in this position that he nodded.
"No bets." he smirked. "Well, Hadrian."
He stepped away so the man could leave, and arched his brow.
"No goodnight kiss?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:14 pm
She hadn't caught Hadrian's words, but from his body language and Thorn's response... "I could always teach you how to cook, Hadrian. I like to think I don't kill people..."
Here were those conflicting signals - Hadrian seemed like he wanted to be anywhere BUT there with Thorn, but Thorn was acting as if they were a couple. It confused Natalie. Especially since, if they were together, Natalie would be increasingly unnerved by Thorn's attention. It'd be too similar to Michael.
She shifted a little, just a little, getting a bit more comfortable in Thorn's arms. She set her shoes on her stomach for the moment, so she didn't have to carry them, and looped one arm around Thorn's back and neck.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:24 pm
Thorn's comment received a glare as Hadrian exited the car, but didn't deem fit to actually comment on what he thought of that idea. And then Natalie spoke up, and he smiled.
Ah, good...that solved his problem neatly.
"Thank you, I would appreciate that. I'd like to speak to you sometime soon, but that can wait till another day."
Measuring the two people before him with his gaze, he wondered about the logic of leaving them alone. But...well, Natalie wasn't drunk enough to just fall into bed with Thorn, and she hopefully wasn't as naive a drunk as him.
Finally, he gave a slight nod to them and a goodnight, and was heading off towards his flat.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:09 am
"Good night." he called out, his voice a long drawl as he looked at the buildings in front of them. "So, Natalie. Which way?" he was cheerful as he said this- something about teasing that mage always put him into a good mood. And this was no different.
"It was a nice night, Natalie." he said, moving slowly towards the one that he guessed must be hers. He had seen her walk in this direction before, he recognized that clump of trees.
Still. Just in case he was wrong, he took it slow.
"I enjoyed the show, and I'm sorry about Michael."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:12 am
"Bye, Hadrian!" She waved a little with her free hand, then turned her attention back to Thorn.
"It was a little to stressful to be 'nice,' but you saved it from being terrible," she said, thinking. "Oh, and I'm back behind the trees. We're going the right way.
"Michael.... I don't know what to do about him. It seems like he'll leave things as they are, but I don't... I'm scared that he won't. You know? Like he'll keep pushing the issue."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:27 am
Thorn smiled. "And your feeling sfor this Michael?" he queried, slowing his step, but not too obviously. He held her close, because it was night time and no matter what the weather, you needed to hold a young woman close. "You don't believe you're in love."
An ironic smile, then. Maybe the light would hide it. Because there was no need for Natalie to see Thorn's opinion on that foolish little sentiment.
"If he is ever too much trouble." he smiled, patting her thigh. But it was simple, not too pervy, just... a statement. "You call me."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:34 am
"I don't know," she murmured, curling up a little and resting her head against his chest. "I thought I was. But looking back on it... now that it's over... I think I was fooling myself. It was... well, it was lust, and the need to be wanted. And I didn't want to stay alone."
She looked up at him, eyes wide and innocent in the dark. "That was the first time I've ever.... I guess... had a boyfriend. Lover. Whatever I should call him. First time. My first kiss was with him, my first 'date' was with him - we went to a pastry shop before rehearsal.
"And I think I assumed that since I was out of high school, it wouldn't be one of those silly high school romances, doomed to failure and based on desire and stuff. I guess I was wrong."
Natalie sighed. "... are all relationships like that? I mean... in the end, you find out it was never about 'love'?"
Thorn's last comment had brought a fleeting smile to her lips. Her step-grandmother was from a family that had ties with the mafia. At one point, her grandmother and grandfather had been having issues. Her grandmother's brother had offered to 'take care of it'. They hadn't gotten back to him on that.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:45 am
Thorn smiled. "It is always about love." he said gently, almost romantically. "It might not be the one that is meant to last, but it is always about love. There are different kinds, Natalie." he said, taking a couple of steps to the bottom of the building. "There is the love you have for a brief lover, the one you have for the long term one. The one that lasts and fills you." he smiled, arching a brow.
It seemed to say. You think it is a topic I have so wise on?
"Is it this one, then?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:55 am
The dark seemed to bring out a bit of cynicism in the otherwise rather normal young girl. "I'm not so sure. I think all Michael 'loved' was getting his hands on a cute young girl. And I think all I 'loved' was fulfilling a schoolgirl crush and being the object of attention." She shrugged, then looked around.
"Yeah. I'm up on the third floor. I can walk the rest of the way."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:57 am
Thorn grinned. "I've carried you this far. I'm not so old that I cannot make my way up three flights of stairs." he arched a brow at this comment as he continued to look at her, almost frowning because... well, it involved pride. And pride was a major factor in Thorn's way of thinking.
"Now, that's true." he conceded. "But there is still more then that." he smirked, knowing eyes as he watched her. Cynical she may be in the comfort of the night shadows.
But he wasn't going to accept that she was so much so.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:01 am
"... well, okay," she murmured, settling once more into his grasp.
"Maybe. I don't know. I've just seen so many relationships fall apart with friends and family. I just... I have to wonder." Maybe she was acting this way to keep from getting hurt again? Scorn love, so until she found it, she never thought that was the reason for her pain?
Who knew. Maybe it was just the exhaustion and disappointment talking, and it would all be gone with a good night's sleep.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:06 am
Thorn took the stares, nuzzling her temple. "Adorable, Natalie." he said, his words almost muffled through hair and contact. But it didn't matter, it was obvious what he was saying. With a nod of his head, he went up to the third floor.
She was, innocent. She was naive to an extent and fresh. And to hear her speak as if she was a jaded, calculative woman was almost enough to have him take her home and do what he wanted.
It was like watching a child dress up, instinct telling them how to do it, but without the experience to back it up.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:12 am
Ah, now this was more the Thorn she had met that other day, and she responded in kind. Natalie squeaked and blushed and the comment and contact, instinctively clinging closer - as if that would help? - as they ascended the stairs.
Her view on Thorn was... interesting. On the one hand, he was that pervy guy from the maze who she pushed away. Then he was the rock that she had clung to after having her heart... scratched. Not broken. Scratched.
And now he was a mix of the two. And somehow, since he wasn't the removed and caring-uncle, but he wasn't the pervy older man either, she felt... more attached? More drawn?
Something, at least. Something that might end up being dangerous for her.
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