[B] Starts When You’re Around (Birhan + Vulpeculae)

[kalindara]

It was dark when Ari stepped out onto the street. A shiver hit before the door to the small gym swung shut behind her, the chill of the night air wrapping around her taking its toll on her sweat-slicked skin. She wrapped her arms around herself and cursed the small gym and its tiny budget, the cool night, and – most of all – the broken showers that had prevented her from cleaning up and changing back into her dry school uniform. Instead of being dry and warm as she walked home, she had sweat freezing against her flesh, of which there was a large amount showing. Her steps quickened, not wanting to stay too long in this kind of neighbourhood wearing only cotton shorts and an aerobic crop-top. It wasn’t the worst kind of neighbourhood, but she’d heard that the nightlife here got pretty rowdy. Hopefully it wasn’t quite late enough for that to have started yet.

She adjusted the sports bag slung over one shoulder, while the other arm was raised to inspect the watch on her left wrist. With any luck, by the time she got home, her parents would already have left for their function this evening. Ari was glad she’d had the foresight to tell them she might eat dinner out with some friends, so they wouldn’t panic if she wasn’t home before they left.

So now she just had to navigate her way through this area, dressed like... well, she didn’t want to think about how she would appear to others. Clearly a fast exit was called for.  

[endejester]

He was making his own casual rounds of the disreputable neighborhood, He liked it here, the smell of it, the feel of it. That ‘your being watched’ feeling that made needles crawl up his spine somewhere between anticipation and proper worry that something actually truly damaging might happen to him out here.
He took a long drag on his cigarette and turned at the sound of footsteps approaching, curious as to who or what it was. He was not disapointed, honestly he seldom was. But this was a very nice treat.
He exhaled smoke like a dragon and paused to appreciate the very fine body of the young woman making her brisk way towards... Wherever her ultimate destination was.
She had a while before she’d get close enough to see him, since for once he was wearing a dark leather coat his Father had purchased him, too chilly for his preferred white long coat tonight. He hadn’t meant to ‘skulk’ to be honest, and never thought about it as he left most of his hair its natural white and died only the tips the darker red. But he still appreciated the view, expecting, quite honestly for her to cross the street as she grew closer and noticed him.

What a chancy outfit to wear around here though, there were predators of all sorts, not the least of which would want to peel her out of what little she wore.  

[kalindara]

Crossing the street at a job, Ari slowed back down once she was on pavement again. As much as she wanted to be out of here quickly, it wouldn’t do to look too desperate to leave. That just screamed ‘prey’, and she knew there were enough delinquents out there who’d chase anything that tried to run. Hell, some of them frequented the same gym she did, but at least they now knew she wasn’t the type to run and wasn’t someone easy to mess with.

Violet eyes flickered to a leather-clad man up ahead, lazily smoking and staring her way. Her chin came up, eyes narrowing slightly. Here was hoping he wasn’t one of that sort. It had been a long enough evening. She could totally take him (the idea he might have a knife or gun under that coat never occurred to her), but didn’t want to have to bother. It’d be kind of a shame to mess up a pretty face... A little thrill rose in her chest, and Ari tried to force it back down. Having a thing for bad boys – especially the older ones – wasn’t going to work in her favour in this kind of area.

But still she couldn’t help that her gaze returned to him several times as she approached.  

[endejester]

His smile widened to a grin seeing her glance return his direction more than once, Delicious, positively delicious.
He bit back the temptation to call out something lewd... For a whole minute before he caved to a rather ‘classic’ line that was heavily flavored with good humor.

“Hey baby where –you- going” there was a laugh in the words. But his eyes still said ‘interest’, playful and bright for their crimson, almost the same color as he’d dyed his hair.

Just a little flirting, never hurt anyone, ok well –sometimes- but never seriously.  

[kalindara]

Oh. Oh, he was looking again. Ari fidgeted with the strap of her bag, unsure if this was a good thing or not. Flattering, definitely, to have an older guy (and just her type, too!) paying her attention. But if he was hanging out around here, was he actually waiting for the clubs to open, or was he the kind just waiting for prey to pass by?

“Hey baby where -you- going?”

Ari stuttered to a halt, barely catching herself before falling to the sidewalk. She shot the guy an incredulous look. Then she looked down at what she was wearing. Oh yeah, that. Whereas some might be blushing, Ari instead paled. Conflicting responses and explanations shot through her head, culminating in her blurting out, “I’m not a hooker!”

Classy, she told herself, mentally slapping one hand to her face. Very classy.  

[endejester]

He burst out laughing, leaning against a railing to catch his breath between the laughs and flicked his cigarette as he tried to take another puff to regain his dignity.

“Sorry beautiful, I couldn’t help it... It’s such a classic line.” He laughed again and took a final drag before dropping it and grinding it out on the pavement.
“Didn’t mean to imply you were, I don’t think I could have afforded you even if you were” He grinned, a flash of casual warmth as he fished out a box and tapped out a new one before holding it out at arms length to offer her one too.

“Your not part of the club croud I take it?” He asked using his other hand to pull out a silver lighter and flick it open and on with one smooth jesture to light his new cancer-stick. ((well...clove))  

[kalindara]

And now he was laughing at her. Great. Any other girl would have been blushing or running away, or both, but Ari simply waited the fit out, half expecting him to choke on his cigarette. His voice may have been slightly appealing, if you were the sort of girl who like smoky velvet voices that sounded like they belonged in the bedroom. Ari shivered, and this time couldn’t tell if that was the cool night breeze at work or the result of her wandering mind.

“Yeah, well,” Ari tossed her braid as he apologised, “as long as that’s clear.” The compliments didn’t hurt, even though she wasn’t the type to be swept away by them.

The idea that she might be part of the clubbing crowd drew a half-snort half-chuckle from her lips. One hand waved at her outfit – the sweaty cotton, damp hair, and ratty sneakers. “Dressed like this? Not unless I’ve been seriously misinformed about clubbing.” Which, judging from the glances thrown over her shoulder to some of the yet-to-open clubs, she wasn’t adverse to trying. Once she was of legal age for it, anyway. “Nope, I’m just on my way home. Kickboxing practice ran late.” Just in case he was of a mind to mess with her, after all. Now he had fair warning.  

[endejester]

He let his gaze drift conspicuously over her and arched his eyebrows. “I’m certainly not seeing anything wrong with it?” He grinned again.
“Kickboxing!” He sounded legitimately impressed rather than put off or nervous. “That sounds like fun...you like kicking people?” there was an edge of tease to his voice again.  

[kalindara]

If he hadn’t been dressed for clubbing with all his leather, Ari might have thought this guy had no clue about what people wore to those sorts of places. As it was, he clearly did, so this must be flirting. Oh. Well. “It’s not something I’d voluntarily wear out and about,” she told the guy, sorry to crush his dreams if he thought she was that sort of girl, but it was for the best. “It’s a little chilly, for one thing.”

His reaction to her hobby was... unexpected. It was a nice change from a raised (slightly horrified) eyebrow, or outright laughing about why a ‘sweet little thing’ like her would be playing at a man’s sport. “Fun for me, at least. Not so much for anyone I try it out on,” she smirked. “Why? You looking for an a**-kicking?”  

[endejester]

He shrugged off the jacket and offered it to her casually. “Better?” He asked, and then returned to grinning around his cigarette.
“Maybe I am, Not everyone minds it when girls can kick their a**... Might be good exercise eh? Great view either way...”

“I do a little scrapping... Think I could manage it?”  

[kalindara]

Ari accepted the jacket and shrugged it on. Only afterwards did it occur to her that she should have refused the offer and kept walking. Now she was going to be here for a while, which was possibly not the safest idea. It wasn’t like this guy was at all put off by her fighting prowess... unless he thought she was faking, or just a beginner?

“Thanks,” she said, shifting awkwardly. “You sure you’re not gonna get cold yourself? Not that I’m not grateful.”

She had to give another laugh-snort as he explained how he wouldn’t mind winning or losing a fight as long he enjoyed the view. Typical guy. Her lips twisted together. He probably flirted this way with every girl he saw. “Do I think you could manage getting your a** kicked? Sure you could,” she ‘encouraged’ him, eyes alight with something just a little dangerous. This guy was fun to bait. “Oh, but did you mean could you manage kickboxing? Hmm, I don’t know... You don’t exactly strike me as the disciplined type.” She eyed him up and down, smirking. Yeah, watch out pretty boy, this kitty cat had claws. And a mean roundhouse kick.  

[endejester]

“I’m a guy, we’re supposed to be the ones who get cold for the pretty girl, and sometimes just because it’s a girl.” He grinned and then gave and amused sort of ehhh yeah I suppose nod. “Ok...fair assessment. I am not exactly the disciplined type.” He grinned
“SO do you... Like disciplining?” He chuckled and took a drag on his cigarette before waving his hand like an escort...
“So... Either I ask you to go clubbing with me.. Just a few dances, I swear!... Or I walk you home?”  

[kalindara]

That got him a double take. Did she like... what? “I’m not a pet person,” she eventually answered. “I’d just forget to feed it, or forget I’d already fed it and end up overstuffing any poor animal depending on me.” Not to mention, what would her parents think, having animal fur get everywhere. Her mother would despair over Ari’s fur-covered clothes, and her father would no doubt lecture endlessly on the terrible health risks.

The idea of clubbing was far too tempting. Sadly, there were some very big hurdles preventing that idea. “Definitely no to the clubbing, unfortunately,” she had to tell him. “For one, I’m sweaty and cold and desperate for a hot shower. And I doubt you’d have much luck convincing any bouncer to let a seventeen year old in.” She fully expected that revelation to send him running, negating the second half of his offer.  

[endejester]

“Ohh... I wouldn’t bet on –that-” He grinned chuckling over... Well something she’d said but it seemed to be about pets. Odd fellow?
“Walk you home then?” He grinned. “I can always walk back, and this way I get my coat back and you stay warm.” He shrugged and offered her an arm after swapping what hand he held his cigarette in.
“Might be nice to make sure your around long enough to club –legally- after all?” He winked.  

[kalindara]

Definitely an odd fellow, Ari thought. But dead sexy and, if this wasn’t a ploy to get her out of view with a lowered guard, chivalrous to boot. She gave a shrug, shooting a sidelong glance at him. “I guess you can. Do I get a name to call you, or do just come running when I whistle?”

She began walking, leaving him to catch up. She couldn’t help the smile that toyed on her lips. This guy was fun to tease. And he seemed like the type to flirt with anything and everything (geez, flirting with a girl in workout gear on the street!), so she didn’t feel bad about giving him a hard time in return.