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[ Breaking contact seems like a wise decision, but James doesn't really put much distance between them, even if he gets his hands away from her. ]
I'm excellent at plenty of other things, [ He offers suggestively,reaching again for his coffee and taking a slow sip. ]
I'm excellent at plenty of other things, [ He offers suggestively,reaching again for his coffee and taking a slow sip. ]
Oh, I have no doubt about that. [ She replies in a playful manner, grinning at him. ] And I would love to experience it too, but we'd need to be away from prying eyes.
[ Bela is quiet for a moment, thinking. ]
I have an office out back. If you'd like to see it.
[ Bela is quiet for a moment, thinking. ]
I have an office out back. If you'd like to see it.
Well, if you decide to order anything, I'll be a gentleman and nobly force myself to try a bite or two, just to make sure it isn't poisoned or anything, y'know? [He gives her a playful smirk and a wink.
He listens with obvious interest, though he finds himself wondering how he's ended up entangled with yet another thief. Though, he can practically hear Ada chiding him and correcting him. She specialized in corporate espionage... it just seemed to involve a lot of theft in his eyes.]
A few police records, huh? So, is Bela your real name? Or an alias?
[He tilts his head a little before frowning slightly in thought.] I... guess so. Kind of. I mean, it's more like a strange vacation than a different life, don't you think? It's not like we're not going back.
He listens with obvious interest, though he finds himself wondering how he's ended up entangled with yet another thief. Though, he can practically hear Ada chiding him and correcting him. She specialized in corporate espionage... it just seemed to involve a lot of theft in his eyes.]
A few police records, huh? So, is Bela your real name? Or an alias?
[He tilts his head a little before frowning slightly in thought.] I... guess so. Kind of. I mean, it's more like a strange vacation than a different life, don't you think? It's not like we're not going back.
[ James hums, nodding slowly and making no effort to close the distance between them, at least not for now. She's right and he's not stupid enough to test his luck yet again. ]
Oh, I'd love to see it.
[ Yeah, absolutely fascinated by the office, clearly. ]
Lead the way?
Oh, I'd love to see it.
[ Yeah, absolutely fascinated by the office, clearly. ]
Lead the way?
Besotted? I suppose I do get a fluttery feeling whenever he's around, so it could be more than a crush. [She takes a moment to reach for a cocktail of her own, sipping from it.]
He's come to my aid a few times when there was trouble in the Down, but he also knows I can stand up for myself.
Tall, with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. Strong and confident, but I think he's been through a lot from the conversations we've had. I would like to get to know him better, so I've asked him out on a date. Dinner.
He's come to my aid a few times when there was trouble in the Down, but he also knows I can stand up for myself.
Tall, with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. Strong and confident, but I think he's been through a lot from the conversations we've had. I would like to get to know him better, so I've asked him out on a date. Dinner.
I will happily allow you to be my tester first. [Bela laughs again.] How could I refuse such a noble and gentlemanly act from someone like you?
[She's teasing in return.
When he asks her about her real name, there's a brief pause from Bela as she considers how to answer it. While she wants to tell him the truth, she also doesn't want to bring the mood of the evening down.]
It's true. Bela isn't my real name. The surname is real though. [ A beat, ] There's more to the story, but I don't want to ruin our evening.
[The wine is brought to their table just at that moment.]
I suppose describing it as a strange vacation is valid. I don't know if I ever will go back, or if anyone I know here will either.
People can just leave without warning.
[She's teasing in return.
When he asks her about her real name, there's a brief pause from Bela as she considers how to answer it. While she wants to tell him the truth, she also doesn't want to bring the mood of the evening down.]
It's true. Bela isn't my real name. The surname is real though. [ A beat, ] There's more to the story, but I don't want to ruin our evening.
[The wine is brought to their table just at that moment.]
I suppose describing it as a strange vacation is valid. I don't know if I ever will go back, or if anyone I know here will either.
People can just leave without warning.
Absolutely. It's not that far.
[ With a smile, she turns around and starts walking down the length of the cafe, deliberately swaying her hips at the same time. Just because they're not clung to each other right now, it doesn't mean she can't give James a show. ]
I hope you'll like it when you see it.
[ Bela says from over her shoulder, giving him a wink. ]
[ With a smile, she turns around and starts walking down the length of the cafe, deliberately swaying her hips at the same time. Just because they're not clung to each other right now, it doesn't mean she can't give James a show. ]
I hope you'll like it when you see it.
[ Bela says from over her shoulder, giving him a wink. ]
Oh good! How fun. It all sounds very romantic. What's his name, is he someone I know? [He tries to think of tall dark blond people he knows, but he's not confident enough about who falls into that category.]
[ He's not going to miss a beat of it. His eyes stay glued to her, not even trying to be subtle about the way his gaze lands on her ass and lingers there, all the way to that back office. ]
Oh, I'm already liking it.
[ He wets his upper lip, grinning up at her as his pace picks up the farther away they are from prying eyes. ]
Oh, I'm already liking it.
[ He wets his upper lip, grinning up at her as his pace picks up the farther away they are from prying eyes. ]
[He smirks at her response. Very gentlemanly. The most gentlemanly, obviously.]
Mm. Reminds me of someone from home. Pretty sure I've mentioned her to you before. She probably wouldn't call herself a thief, but it's definitely part of what she does.
[He raises an eyebrow.] We don't have to talk about it if you don't wanna, but if you're avoiding it because it'll bring the mood down, don't. We're getting to know each other, right? The good and the bad. 'Cause I promise you most of my history is fucked.
[He swishes his lips.] I dunno, seems everyone goes home. Eventually.
Mm. Reminds me of someone from home. Pretty sure I've mentioned her to you before. She probably wouldn't call herself a thief, but it's definitely part of what she does.
[He raises an eyebrow.] We don't have to talk about it if you don't wanna, but if you're avoiding it because it'll bring the mood down, don't. We're getting to know each other, right? The good and the bad. 'Cause I promise you most of my history is fucked.
[He swishes his lips.] I dunno, seems everyone goes home. Eventually.
Oh, I like the sound of her. Perhaps we would get along.
[She wonders if he had an interest in this other woman, but Bela keeps that thought to herself.]
Maybe everyone will go home at some point. When the city is done with us.
[Pouring out a glass of wine for each of them, she continues.] And we are getting to know each other, you're right. If you are prepared to share your fucked up history, then I guess I should do the same in return.
[Bela takes a sip from her glass.]
My real name is Abby. I grew up in a nice house. Rich parents. Huge backyard. Anything I could ever want. Speaking of my parents, they were shitty people - ignorant mother and an abusive father. He did things - [She pauses, taking a breath] - he did things to me that a parent should never do to their child. I've only ever told two other people that about me - you would be the third.
When I was fourteen, they died in a car crash. Unknown to me at the time, I had made a deal with a demon disguised as a little girl to 'take care of them for me' and it wouldn't cost me anything for ten years. The cost? My soul. The demon tricked me. Manipulated my pain for her selfish needs.
So if I go back home, I will need to face up to that.
[She wonders if he had an interest in this other woman, but Bela keeps that thought to herself.]
Maybe everyone will go home at some point. When the city is done with us.
[Pouring out a glass of wine for each of them, she continues.] And we are getting to know each other, you're right. If you are prepared to share your fucked up history, then I guess I should do the same in return.
[Bela takes a sip from her glass.]
My real name is Abby. I grew up in a nice house. Rich parents. Huge backyard. Anything I could ever want. Speaking of my parents, they were shitty people - ignorant mother and an abusive father. He did things - [She pauses, taking a breath] - he did things to me that a parent should never do to their child. I've only ever told two other people that about me - you would be the third.
When I was fourteen, they died in a car crash. Unknown to me at the time, I had made a deal with a demon disguised as a little girl to 'take care of them for me' and it wouldn't cost me anything for ten years. The cost? My soul. The demon tricked me. Manipulated my pain for her selfish needs.
So if I go back home, I will need to face up to that.
[ The grin makes her smile, giving Bela a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. When she reaches the office door, she unlocks it and enters the room, leaving the door open so he could enter after her.
Bela intended to lock the office when they were both in the room, to absolutely make sure that they wouldn't be caught by anyone else. ]
Bela intended to lock the office when they were both in the room, to absolutely make sure that they wouldn't be caught by anyone else. ]
[ James isn't as much of a stickler for a locked door. If she's insistent about it, then sure, he'll give her some room to get to that, but if not, then his hands are going straight to her sides, coaxing her closer to him again as his mouth finds hers in another deep, eager kiss. ]
You two joining forces? That'd be terrifying. [He smirks.
Honestly, her ponderance isn't far from the truth, but their relationship was complicated, to say the least. He's perfectly happy not to go into it.]
I mean, if you want to hear anything about my past... it's gonna end up fucked. I wish I was exaggerating. [He's serious as he grimly reveals that. Things haven't really gone well for him.
His expression shifts to anger when Bela goes into talking about her father.] That's awful that happened to you.
And... fucking wild that a demon is involved.
So... if there are demons, I'm guessing that means you know for sure there's a heaven and hell? [He lets the weight of that sink in. He'd been raised Catholic but didn't really believe any of it anymore. For her, it's not like she can avoid believing something when there's proof.]
How'd you land on 'Bela'?
Honestly, her ponderance isn't far from the truth, but their relationship was complicated, to say the least. He's perfectly happy not to go into it.]
I mean, if you want to hear anything about my past... it's gonna end up fucked. I wish I was exaggerating. [He's serious as he grimly reveals that. Things haven't really gone well for him.
His expression shifts to anger when Bela goes into talking about her father.] That's awful that happened to you.
And... fucking wild that a demon is involved.
So... if there are demons, I'm guessing that means you know for sure there's a heaven and hell? [He lets the weight of that sink in. He'd been raised Catholic but didn't really believe any of it anymore. For her, it's not like she can avoid believing something when there's proof.]
How'd you land on 'Bela'?
[ Satisfied that the door was secure, Bela pushes into the kiss with enthusiasm and a hum. A hand slides up to grasp the back of his head, the other resting at the small of his back. His lips are just as warm and inviting as before, and she doesn't hesitate in pressing herself tight against his body. ]
I do want to hear about your past. Good or bad. [ Didn't matter to her. Bela wants to get to know Leon better and hopefully build up some more trust between them. She likes him. A lot.]
Yeah. It was a shitty thing to go through, but thank you for your sympathy. [Bela lets out a breath, feeling a little less burdened.]
I wasn't sure there was a heaven, until I met an angel from my world here. We never met back home, but I know he's from the same place as me as we both know another person. Who is also here.
[Bringing up Dean would be part of her complicated story. Which she'll probably tell Leon eventually.]
I'm a fan of old horror films. You know, Dracula and the like. One of the actors is called 'Bela Lugosi'. I thought it was a good name.
Yeah. It was a shitty thing to go through, but thank you for your sympathy. [Bela lets out a breath, feeling a little less burdened.]
I wasn't sure there was a heaven, until I met an angel from my world here. We never met back home, but I know he's from the same place as me as we both know another person. Who is also here.
[Bringing up Dean would be part of her complicated story. Which she'll probably tell Leon eventually.]
I'm a fan of old horror films. You know, Dracula and the like. One of the actors is called 'Bela Lugosi'. I thought it was a good name.
[He leans back a bit, taking a deep breath before giving her a single nod. He cares about her, as much as he doesn't want to admit it or allow himself to get attached here. And he's more than willing to open up to her like she'd done for him.]
Anything specific? [He plays with the corner of one of the fancy cloth napkins.] I guess, since you gave me childhood stories, I can tell you mine. No demon-pact, at least not that I know of, but my parents died when I was young too.
I was seven, but my memories of them are pretty vague and... sometimes I kind of wonder if anything I do remember might just be me trying to fill in gaps with memories I don't really have, y'know? But I remember my mom being nice. Caring. I don't really remember much of my dad. And I don't remember that night, but I've read the police report. [He sounds fairly detached as he talks about it all. It's always felt like he's talking about somebody else's life when he talks about his parents.] There was a shootout. The official report is it was a hit, maybe from another family. The whole thing was implied to be tied to organized crime.
So, I ended up in the system. Mostly raised in a Catholic Home for Children. St. Joseph's.
[He gives her a nod when she brings up heaven, but it's still such a difficult concept to get his head around. It'd be like someone telling him unicorns existed, or something.
But his face lights up when she mentions movies.] Well, that makes your name a thousand times cooler. I love old movies. And new movies, honestly. Movies in general. Are you mostly into monster movies or everything? Hitchcock? Old war movies? Actually, terrible old scifi movies can be fucking great to watch with someone. [He chuckles.]
Anything specific? [He plays with the corner of one of the fancy cloth napkins.] I guess, since you gave me childhood stories, I can tell you mine. No demon-pact, at least not that I know of, but my parents died when I was young too.
I was seven, but my memories of them are pretty vague and... sometimes I kind of wonder if anything I do remember might just be me trying to fill in gaps with memories I don't really have, y'know? But I remember my mom being nice. Caring. I don't really remember much of my dad. And I don't remember that night, but I've read the police report. [He sounds fairly detached as he talks about it all. It's always felt like he's talking about somebody else's life when he talks about his parents.] There was a shootout. The official report is it was a hit, maybe from another family. The whole thing was implied to be tied to organized crime.
So, I ended up in the system. Mostly raised in a Catholic Home for Children. St. Joseph's.
[He gives her a nod when she brings up heaven, but it's still such a difficult concept to get his head around. It'd be like someone telling him unicorns existed, or something.
But his face lights up when she mentions movies.] Well, that makes your name a thousand times cooler. I love old movies. And new movies, honestly. Movies in general. Are you mostly into monster movies or everything? Hitchcock? Old war movies? Actually, terrible old scifi movies can be fucking great to watch with someone. [He chuckles.]
Edited 2024-02-05 22:49 (UTC)
[Her eyes widen when he reveals the fate of his parents, unsure if there was anything she could say to make a difference.]
Fuck. Leon, I am so sorry. To go through something like that at such a young age. [Reaching across the table, she places her hand atop of his and lets it rest there.] I could have ended up in the system, but I know that it's not always easy for kids to experience. Thank you for trusting me with this.
[Bela cares about him too, and has felt like that recently, even if she hasn't exactly told Leon that. Forming attachments here was a tricky thing, especially when people could just leave one day without warning.]
Mostly monster movies, but Hitchcock is a pretty good filmmaker. War movies, I can take or leave, but I do enjoy a good drama. [She gives him a bright smile, glad for the lighter conversation topic.]
You know what we should do sometime? Watch a terrible old scifi movie together. Curled up on a couch, with a blanket and popcorn.
Fuck. Leon, I am so sorry. To go through something like that at such a young age. [Reaching across the table, she places her hand atop of his and lets it rest there.] I could have ended up in the system, but I know that it's not always easy for kids to experience. Thank you for trusting me with this.
[Bela cares about him too, and has felt like that recently, even if she hasn't exactly told Leon that. Forming attachments here was a tricky thing, especially when people could just leave one day without warning.]
Mostly monster movies, but Hitchcock is a pretty good filmmaker. War movies, I can take or leave, but I do enjoy a good drama. [She gives him a bright smile, glad for the lighter conversation topic.]
You know what we should do sometime? Watch a terrible old scifi movie together. Curled up on a couch, with a blanket and popcorn.
[Huaisang thinks about this, head tipped to one side as he racks his brains, but the name doesn't ring any bells, so he shakes his head.] No, I don't think so. Has he been here long?
[He shrugs a little, still not really showing much emotion about it. The actual event itself barely felt like his life. Had he struggled without parents? At St Joseph's? Absolutely. And those things... those could get rough talking about. He rubs his neck.] It is what it is, y'know. I really don't remember going through it.
[He nods when she mentions potentially ending up in the system, too. He'd wondered about that.] Were you already too old? Or did you have family that took you in?
[He'd also heard of friend's families adopting their kid's friend. Anything is probably better than ending up in the system, but it'd been the early 80s and placing older kids wasn't easy.
Movies are definitely a much easier topic.]
Alright, mostly US monster movies or like Godzilla, too? [He gives her a genuine, warm smile. A rarity for him.] That sounds awesome. Have you ever heard of... Night of the Lepus? Oh, shit, or, even better... Boggy Creek II? Maybe we could each pick a disaster of a movie and make it a double feature, hm?
[He nods when she mentions potentially ending up in the system, too. He'd wondered about that.] Were you already too old? Or did you have family that took you in?
[He'd also heard of friend's families adopting their kid's friend. Anything is probably better than ending up in the system, but it'd been the early 80s and placing older kids wasn't easy.
Movies are definitely a much easier topic.]
Alright, mostly US monster movies or like Godzilla, too? [He gives her a genuine, warm smile. A rarity for him.] That sounds awesome. Have you ever heard of... Night of the Lepus? Oh, shit, or, even better... Boggy Creek II? Maybe we could each pick a disaster of a movie and make it a double feature, hm?
[ The kiss is met with equal fervor, his own hands gripping more firmly at her sides, drawing her in until they're pressed flush. He'd looked into the room just enough to spot her desk not too far from the door, and he starts leading her towards it, never breaking the kiss even as her thighs come into contact with the edge of the desk. ]
My parents had money so I didn't have access to it until I turned eighteen. So I had people who came into my home to look after me. No other family.
[Maybe if she did have other family, she could have lived with them. It might have made her life easier when her parents were alive.]
Never seen Godzilla. Pretty much classic monster films - US or otherwise. [Bela returns the smile easily.] I haven't heard of either of those, but yeah, let's go for it. Pick those movies or something similar, make a night of it.
[She looks genuinely pleased, glad to find something in common with him.]
You know, despite some topics we've covered so far, I'm having a good time. I like your company.
[Maybe if she did have other family, she could have lived with them. It might have made her life easier when her parents were alive.]
Never seen Godzilla. Pretty much classic monster films - US or otherwise. [Bela returns the smile easily.] I haven't heard of either of those, but yeah, let's go for it. Pick those movies or something similar, make a night of it.
[She looks genuinely pleased, glad to find something in common with him.]
You know, despite some topics we've covered so far, I'm having a good time. I like your company.
[ She makes a soft sound when his hold tightens, making sure to keep a hold on him as he backs her towards the desk, not breaking the kiss either. It isn't long until the hand on his back is slipping beneath the fabric of his shirt, eager to touch warm skin. Bela lightly drag her nails up along his spine, as far as she could reach without needing to remove his shirt completely. ]
I think mine did too... but it was all seized by the state.
Sounds kinda lonely. Did you still go to school? [He's not sure about the idea of having hired help come look in on him, though he guesses it wasn't that different than living with nuns in a group home.]
No Godzilla? Really? Some of the old ones are hilarious. A lot of the old fights are clearly guys in costumes and it's just great. [He smirks, smile turning into something more forced and polite when the waiter arrives with their steaks.]
Same. I always have a good time with you. [He says as he gives her another lopsided smile and gets his knife and fork.] Looks like they cooked these perfectly.
Sounds kinda lonely. Did you still go to school? [He's not sure about the idea of having hired help come look in on him, though he guesses it wasn't that different than living with nuns in a group home.]
No Godzilla? Really? Some of the old ones are hilarious. A lot of the old fights are clearly guys in costumes and it's just great. [He smirks, smile turning into something more forced and polite when the waiter arrives with their steaks.]
Same. I always have a good time with you. [He says as he gives her another lopsided smile and gets his knife and fork.] Looks like they cooked these perfectly.
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