It was a secret of Demaitre, a small but clean and tidy establishment that served some of the best drinks that Michael had tasted in years. Boisson des Anges, as the place was named, was situated just beyond St Raine's Square and was very unassuming by apperance. Which was another thing that Michael loved about the place. It was always quiet, slow and unhurried.

Now the sun was down earlier and the darkness of winter was upon them, Michael could seem more normal in his outings, coming out almost at six in the afternoon... So he had called a number given to him by the most beautiful Claudia, and had left a message with directions to meet him here around seven-thirty if she wished.

He was planning on being here for a while anyway, wanting to get a taste of some rather delicious wine before he hunted later tonight. He would feed after he saw Claudia safely home. After all, he was only slightly hungry and he had control over his lust.

Glancing down at the silver watch on his wrist, it was nearly seven-thirty. Would she show? Something told him that she would though. She would show.

Thinking, for once in her life, of herself before her work, Claudia had taken the day off. The semester was coming to a close and while she loathed skipping work, she hated more the prospect of getting anything less then an A on her exams. The day had slipped by slowly. When his call had come, she had ignored it, it was probably only the office calling in their safety net anyways, and had walked on by and gotten in the bathtub, hair pinned up with a pencil and a text book brought along for …eh hem … light reading.

When she dialed into her voicemail, however, she mentally kicked herself for not answering. And why? She should just decline the offer and go about her studies, only, she didn’t have a number to call and cancel. And she would be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that she did want to go. She dressed warmly in dark blue jeans, probably the only pair of causal clothing she owned, a deep purple turtle neck, and a black, terry cloth, knee-length coat, and dress boots that were heavenly designed for snow. Despite the fact that the weather in England was often brisk, she did not fair well with the cold weather. She failed to remove the pencil from her hair and strands of black were, as usual, falling across her cheek, covering her ears.

Mrs. Always-on-Time arrived at seven thirty-three, damned that she was late. The rose color of her cheeks was pink and bright aginst the rest of her pale skin, her knuckles and her nose were red as well, the cold winning the battle. Her fingers felt stiff and she reminded herself to have the heat in her car repaired. She sat down beside him, bringing her lilac smell with her, blowing hot air on her fingertips.

“Sorry,” she told him, as though she were an hour late, not three minutes, “I didn’t get your message until late.”

That light and flowery scent... He knew the moment she entered, seven-thirty on the dot according to his watch.

"Ah. You are right on time Claudia. I'm just glad you could join me tonight." He said as stood to greet her taking her hands in his to kiss the tops gently. "It seems too cold a night. I appologize if I drug you from any place warm." He appologized. He never minded the cold too much, after all it wouldn't hurt him so why should he mind it.

"I thought I would share one of my secrets with you tonight." He said with a smile as he motioned her to the booth across from where he had been sitting, a thick wool coat at the end of his side. Well, he had to blend in right? "Have you ever been here to Boissen des Anges? I found this little hide-away years ago. A most agreeable place wouldn't you say?" He asked with a smile.

The lighting was soft yet not dark and there was soft violin music playing in the background.

She would be happy to know that according to his watch she was on time. It didn't help her case that her car clock was always ten minutes ahead … to keep her on time. It seems that's one of her faults, human or not, she cares too much about time.

She allowed him, passively, as she had last time, to kiss her fingers. They were freezing, and she was made more aware of that fact by his attention to them. "No, you saved me actually." She smiled. You should have stayed home, she thought. Another part, the part that didn't often rise it's head and put in it's vote, replied: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The same could be said for Claudia. She agreed whole heartedly and resigned herself to enjoy the evening. When they were released she unbuttoned her jacket and pushed it back so she could tuck her fingers into her jeans pockets against the warmth of her body.

She looked around as they crossed the room, taking in the place slowly. She liked the quite, and the dimness. She liked the soft music. "Most agreeable. It must be your best kept secret," she replied, sliding into her side of the booth. She took a few moments to look around still, absorbing it's atmosphere, then looked at him. "How have you been, Michael?"

OOC: Sorry it took so long to get this posted.

((Quite alright my pet :) ))


"Saved you? Were you in some sort of trouble my dear?" He asked with a smile, for from what he could sence, there was no immediate danger surounding her. She must have meant from boredom as mortals did these days. How quaint.

He watched her closely as she removed her jacket, noting her obviously curved form. She slid into the booth and he slid across with a smile. "I am glad I could be of such a service for you then Claudia. Saving Ladies like yourself that are in distress is a rather old hobby of mine." He said with a grin.

Yes, when one thought of the knights of old, one inevitably thought of shining armor, flying banners and beautiful women. But women by todays standers back in his age would have been concitered ugly... Many with pox marks... None with such voluptuious forms and straight white smiles... No. The women of today were stunning beauties Michael couldn't have even dreamed of back in the day.

"My best kept secret Cheri?" He couldn't help a small chuckle coming from the back of his throat. "Zis is not even close, dear Claudia... I have ones zat are much more interesting and much more intreiging. I promise you zat." His soft voice held a headvy accent as he whispered across the table to her with a knowing grin.

She laughed lightly, almost so softly that it wasn't a laugh at all but a soft 'ha' sound. "Only trouble of overwhelming myself," she assured him, taking her hands out of her pockets and tucking them between her knees to warm them. The only immediate danger surrounding her was that she might get a B rather then an A on her upcoming test. And really the only stress she felt at all had evaporated with his company and the comfortable airs that hung in the place they were in. It was very soothing and left her warm bathtub soothed feeling in the dust.

She laughed, out loud this time, to his comment about saving ladies. "And what does that make you," she said, "my hero?" Her accent lilted in response to his French one, clashing opposite from his, her tone amused. She smiled.

Indeed, thinking of knights and ladies brought forth to mind her mother's faerie tales of the beautiful Rapunzel whose loveliness surpassed all, of the Sleeping Beauty who slept for a hundred years, waiting for that lovely knight with golden hair and shinning armor. The ladies of today would have a hard time keeping up with the magnificent pictures that her mother's words had painted in the mind. Even Claudia herself, who acknowledged that she was indeed pretty, was a toad in comparison to the visions she had from her mother's elaborate tales.

Claudia smiled. "Of course you do,"(have a more intriguing secret, that is) she replied softly, resisting that involuntary response to lean in closer to him upon the thickness of his accent and the softness of his voice (where is[/i]this coming from? What is your problem?[/i], she chided herself silently). "You are an intriguing person. It would be pity if you did not." She herself had no secrets worth anyone else's time. She wasn't sure if she envied him to have a secret close to his heart, or pitied him for the freedom that not having a secret gave her.

"Oh, I fear that is a danger far worse than any deal of boredom." He said knowingly. After all, getting in over his head was what had lead him to this life... "Live is for the living, so we should enjoy it while we can, my dear. For once we are dead... Everything is pointless.... All that matters is what we have learned." He said knowingly. And he did know. He had come to realize in his years that... Life was to be cherished... He knew that before of course. But as a vampire he knew just how precious and vital it truly was.

He couldn't help but smile as she mentioned 'heros', after all... Well, there was something wrong with that... "Ah... I'm not ze hero type... Perhaps... A knight in shining armor to rescue my fair, and vivacious Lady who is more beautiful than the light of the moon."

He grinned and flagged a waiter over and said not a word, only gave her that little glint of secrets in his eyes.

“Yes well it seems I do a lot of it,” she replied in reference to overwhelming herself. “I’m always doing something.” Even after going home from work or class in the evenings, she either obsessively studied or she brought work home with her. “It seems the only liberation I get from myself is if I’m dancing or when I ran into you.” She smiled. When she’d met him her plan had been to walk in, have one drink, and then go home and work, when in fact she took several glasses of wine, had a healthy conversation with another living creature and then she had gone home and actually went to be prior to midnight. “For that I think I should thank you.” She doesn’t enjoy life nearly as much as she should.

my fair, and vivacious Lady who is more beautiful than the light of the moon.

When he said this, Claudia simply blinked at him for a moment in silence. She had been told she was beautiful by him and many other men before him, but none had ever said so in so many elaborate words. She very nearly glowed at his compliment. She smiled, fighting a sudden unexplainable shyness that rose into the smile.

“Well thank you, noble knight,” she laughed finally. She watched the waiter come towards them, still seemingly glowing. The secretive glint in his eyes had no comparison to the happy shine in her own.

"Well perhaps I shall have to liberate you more frequently." He grinned as the waiter approached them. Michael bowed his head slightly to the man and gave a guarded smile to keep his fangs in check. He needed to be more careful... He was too relaxed around this woman and that wasn't always the best of things.

"Is there anything I can do for you tonight Sir?" THe man asked with a nod to Michael and a smile to Claudia.

"Oui... I was wondering if we could try a taste of your Romas Grenache? I am unfamiliar with Australian wines and would quite like to expand my collection of taste." It was expensive, but Michael had money that most humans couldn't even dream of having in a life time. One of the pleasures of living so long really. Not to mention he didn't need to spend money of food as people did. And he bairly ever turned the heat or air conditioning on... And he only drove on occasions.

That help to cut cost significantly.

"Would you care for anything to eat Claudia?" He asked her with a smile.

"Perhaps you should," she replied and that realistic voice in her head told her she should not have said that. She barely had time for herself and her father, let alone for Michael, then again, she needed some form of social life that did not includ her bosses and her professors.

The waiters smile received a more respectful, and much less shy and glowing smile and a nod in return.

Claudia made a soft sound, probably undetectable by any mortal and possibly that of any immortal, that was a sort of thoughtful or approving hmm. "I've never had Australian wine before." And it is a little rare for Claudia to have not tasted wine from any country. But of course, once she had found the win that suited her taste perfectly she'd stopped tasting others. A bit narrow minded of her but who was there for her to impress by having an extensive knowledge of wine?

"Oh, no thank you. I've …" Pause. She would never tell someone she's been snaking all day. It's just inappropriate to a conversation, at least coming from a lady. She smiled and shook her head. "I'm helplessly like a teenager when I study," she admitted anyways. "But please," she said, gesturing to the menus, "if you haven't eaten don't let me stop you."

"Well in that case, just the drinks sir." He said with a nod to the waiter who left them promptly. Of course he hadn't eaten though. He hadn't truly eaten in near a millenia. He hadn't fed recently either, but he could control the lust.

Now with no more interferance, he turned his attentions back to Claudia where he believed they propperly belonged. "But yes, perhaps I shall come and wisk you away from the dredgeries of life." He said with a grin. "Show you the more enjoyable parts of it. And how to make the most of the time we have on this earth." Granted his time was prety much limitless, but she didn't need to know that just yet. Maybe in time... In time she could know... He hated lying, but it must be done to protect her. The human mind could only comprehend so much...

"I wouldn't get an objection from you would I my dear? You wouldn't stop me from showing you life as one can live it?" He had a sad little grin on his face, almost like the puppy dog look, but with an extra layer of mischif.

“Drudgeries,” she replied in mock question. “I wouldn’t go so far to call them drudgeries, maybe,” she looked thoughtful for a moment, “necessary inconveniences.” There was a longer pause as she thought on the words and then she smiled. “Yes, inconveniences sound right.”

The more enjoyable parts of it? There are so many things I could do with that statement, most of which Claudia would have the decency not to think of.

She laughed when he put on an adorable display of puppy innocence that wasn’t so innocent. “That,” she said accusingly and jokingly at once, “depends on what you would be showing me.” She remembers his offer to travel together (how could she ever forget) and she is still weary of that idea. Two meetings elevates them from strangers to acquaintances, but it doesn’t make them friends and it by no means says that she trusts him, although his charm and humor make it hard to resist trusting.

I can imagine Claudia finding out that vampires were real. She would go through all stages: denial, confusion, anger, disbelief, curiosity, and eventually exhaustion and denial all over, I’m sure. She would not take the news well. Aside from not believing in vampires and always having tut-tuted the myths and stories, she’s a modern woman and puts no grounds in ancient faire tales made up to scare children to submission. Oh my.

"Call them what you will my dear." He said with a slight wave of his hand. "They are things that drain people of a most enjoyable life." He said simply. "School... I bairly graduated high school much to the dismay of my parents. Never a day in university." He admitted. "Yet I am not an uneducated man I do not think. And if I may be as bold to say, I am probably more learned than many you will meet on the streets." But of course that came with years of experiance and perserverance.

"After all, there are few that go to college who can say they speak as many languages as I." He took a sip of the water that had been placed before them before continuing. "Be sure though, I am not trying to put you off of school, nor am I boasting my own achevements or putting down others. I am simply stating my observations." He was sure to add. After all, he really didn't want to seem a pompous ass.

"I simply find that life is a better and more meaningful school and teacher." Here he took another sip of water. "Unfortunatly though, it gets the best of all it's students at the end." Well... Not all of them.

"Whether or not you are an educated man has very little to do with how well you did in school, I think," she put in. "Grade school only teaches you the most basic fundamentals necessary to survive in the society. Life is your true education," she whole heartedly agreed with him on this point, "college is your education into a specific matter, molding what it is you do best and honing your talent to make you successful." She looked at the water set before her but did not touch it. "Sadly, not so many are so well educated as even myself," by this she meant to compliment him in an alternative way. She knew that while she was learned, he far surpassed her, if their last conversation held any weight.

It gets the best of all of it's students at the end.

"That is a dreadful thought," she informed him, cold chills rising on her arms beneath the long sleeves. "Are you alright," she asked him gently. She hadn't been able to read what was in his tone when he'd said those words. Was something wrong to make him come to that conclusion in his speech?

"It surprises me, Michael, that you hardly made it out of high school," she added. "I would have surmised from your attitude now," meaning both times that she had met him, modern time, "that you would have strove to achieve." Not that achieving in high school meant much in the first place. His personality just suggested that he had always enjoyed learning.

"Hm?" He said looking up as she asked if he was alright. He was lost in thought slightly, but nothing too troubling. "Oh, I'm quite alright I promise." He smiled at her again. "Just an unfortunate observation I've made in my years." He gave a small shrug.

He took a sip of the water again as he looked at the table cloth again. It would be no use telling her what he truly was... She wasn't one of the supersticious tpes it seemed... Yet he hated lying to her and kepin things from her.

"Ah... I do like to learn Claudia. But the veiw I just expressed, well I've had that for years. Institutional learning is something that bothers me greatly, and no child of mine would be sent to any school I dare say." Not that he could ever have children anyways. But were he to addopt, or come upon a child out of fate, he would teach and raise the child himself.

"Besides, there were some rather pressing matters that held my attention fast at that time in my life. I was more concerned with the world around me than the little world I thought I was part of." He glanced over to see if the waiter were coming, but saw only a slight hint of movement away from them.

She watched him almost carefully, as if she were measuring the worth of his own words. What it was about people that caused them to lie and tell others that they were fine when in fact they were not was beyond her. At any rate, he seemed alright. “If you’re sure,” she replied slowly. One’s judgment isn’t always correct after all. At any rate. “Penny for your thoughts?”

She watched him drink his water and realized she wasn’t thirsty at all. Why come out if you aren’t going to eat and you aren’t going to drink, her sensible side chided her, it’s a waste of time. She ignored it and pressed one fingertip against the wet side of the glass. “I’m afraid to say that if I had a child they would never leave my sight and I would inevitably smother them and drive them away.” She laughed softly without heart. “There are programs now,” she said for lack of anything else to say on the topic. “Schools online and over the mail. It isn’t a terrible idea. The child works at their own pace and learns the fundamental and necessary elements.”

Claudia would probably break down and put her children in school or this home school program is only for the lack of time. If she stayed home to teach, who would pay the bills. It never occurs to her really that if she had a child she would probably have a husband as well.

Claudia laughed. “When I was in school I was a teacher’s pet. The only thing important in my life was grades, my parents pride in me, and dancing.” She wrinkled her nose and drew her finger down the side of the glass, leaving a line in the condensation. “It still is,” she said and looked up at him. “It’s silly,” she said it out loud, though really it had been meant for herself.

"No... I do not think I could let a child of mine," Or a fledgling for that matter really... "be educated by another. It is a very important matter in a childs life and I would not want my child to be beaten like I was in school simply for thinking of beyond the school walls. And programs on the computer... I am unfamilliar with a lot of technology these days... And it seems to be moving faster and faster all the time." He mused with a smile.

"Oh, I dance as well really. It was of course a requirement for my status... But I was raised for something above anythig with common education. I was raised to be a gentleman, something that no school can really teach you." He gave a small chuckle here as he looked and saw the waiter appearing.

"Ah, just in time." He said with a smile to the waiter.

"I do appoligize for the wait sir, this happens to be our last bottle and it was rather difficult to find."

Michael nodded. "We are in no hurry, but it is just good that you still have some. I was quiet interested in trying it." The waiter nodded and smiled as he uncorked the bottle. "To be sure." He said as he poured the wine into two glasses, lightly corking the bottle and leaving it in a small cooler.

"Thank you sir." Michael bowed his head in thanks as the man left.

He picked up his glass and raised it in a semi-toast. "To life perhaps?" He asked with a smile.

She nodded. "I did not attend public schools. My mother settled for nothing less then the best private schooling and the best recommended tutors she could find. It was all rather stiff, to tell the truth. The uniforms and the conformity. After four years in the same uniform as the next girl, one begins to feel like another sheep in the flock."

She looked amused and leaned forward to put her elbow on the table, then sat up quickly and dropped her hands back to her lap. What was it about him that brought down her formality? "These days?" she teased. "Should I be calling you old man then?"

He danced as well, and she recalled their previous discussion. "Oh yes, I remember that. In Arabia right?" She vaguely recalled discussing that she had attempted without success to learn the belly dance. She lacked the stomach muscle, though by no means weak in the stomach, to do that dance. She laughed. "I let myself get drug into a dance club a few weeks back," she admitted it as if she were telling on herself. She shook her head. "I felt ridiculous."

Claudia lifted her own glass after him and raised it as well. "And to friendship?" she replied.

You make me feel comfortable. Friend.


OOC: Sorry about the other night. Our internet failed big time. They said it should be fixed by tonight.

"Yes, to friends as well." He agreed with a nod.

"But there are days I truly feel my age Claudia. Sometimes even older." He said with a grin. But he couldn't help laugh as she mentioned Arabia. "Yes though. I learned a few things there. But more so Ballroom and Court dances of the old French Court. My parents were very... Persistant that I learn them." After all, he had lived those dances. He had been alive when some were even created. Dances that seldom few even knew of.

He smiled, guarding his fangs, as Claudia spoke of a club. "That would ahve been a sight for my eyes indeed." He chuckled. "But if one can dance in a ballroom, or on a stage, one could surely dance in a club."



((No need to appologize, I know technology's a pain in the ass. :lol: ))

“Oh?” she inquired into his personal life in a way that didn’t seem as if she were at all. It was more like a subtle suggestion: tell me. Talk to me. How could someone who might be only a little older then herself feel so old? She still felt the freshness of her teens when her heart wasn’t burdened by her losses.

She smiled. Unguarded. She had nothing to hide. “Oh, one can dance in a club. I did not say that I could not. One dances quite well in a club but one begins to feel awkward when those brave enough to dance with her are those who are falling down drunk.” She almost laughed. “When I dance, I like my share of attention, but I don’t like attention because some drunkard is hanging off of my shoulder like a scarf.”

Claudia accepted compliments on her beauty with grace. She accepted them on her dancing capability by drinking them up. She didn’t often brag but when she was complimented on it she did nothing to hide her pride.

“My parents never insisted. If anything my father was thrilled when I took up another dance besides Ballet. I suppose if you spin in enough circles often enough someone is bound to get sea sick.” She thought for a moment. “Upon entering friendship with me,” she informed him with a smile, “you are now bound to eventually dance with me, and to smile more. You have a beautiful smile.”

"I've... Simply seen a lot in my time... And my memories blend together and I just can't remember how long it's actually been." He said, again with his guarded smile, barely showing the bottoms of his teeth. It was for her own sanity and safety.

"Well then, I will have to see that you can dance in a club... It would be entertaining for the both of us indeed." He could just imagine her slender form moving to the music... The way he could hold her close, dancing close in the styles o mortals today... It made him almost uneasy... He hadn't been that close to a human in anything but feeding in so very long...

He sipped at his wine as she spoke of her parents, her ballet classes, of spinning in circles... Simple things of beauty...

"Hm...?" A beautiful smile? "Thank you... But I find that my smile tends to frighten some. Which of course is why I am careful with my smiles." He said. "A rather... unfortunate event occured when I was touring the holy land some time ago. It doesn't look that bad if I do say so... But most people find it disturbing, or at the least uncomfortable. And I do not wish to make you uncomfortable around me."

And that was indeed the truth really. It was an unfortunate event by some standards and accounts, they looked like slightly larger canines, and they made some people wary of him. Especialy small children which he loved to be around. So he had always been careful.

The thought of children made a sad smile appear on his face... He had lost track of his blood line after some had come to Canada and others had stayed behind. And now he would never again have children of his own really... It was something that made him long for something he could not have no matter how he longed for it.

"So. When shall we go to one of the clubs in this area Claudia?" He asked, after takign another sip of his wine. "Do you have a favorite club?"

She nodded, not really understanding. Perhaps he just worked too hard and it tired him, causing him to feel old. Or rather, he traveled too often, as she knew he did not word. She looked a little bit pitied.

Claudia smiled. "Only you could get pleasure out of another person's torment," she laughed in reference to his suggestion that he would have to see her dance in a bar following her misfortunate tale of dancing with drunken men at a bar. Truth be told, he would not be the only one feeling that way were they to dance together in a bar in what today's society labeled dancing. It would have been a long time since she had been that close to a human too.

"I would like to think that it would not frighten me," she told him after a moments thought. He thinking consisted mainly of curiosity. What could his smile hold that might be possibly frightening? Or could it simply be that he was embarrassed of it? Again, what could their be about that beautiful smile that might be embarrassing? A broken tooth? But if he had the money that he said he had, he would have had that fixed. And then, what could be so frightening that it should be found disturbing? It was not a dangerous smile, as far as she could see. Rather it looked welcoming and friendly. Perhaps it was feral and he was aware of the fact. And if this were the case, it might make some young woman feel vulnerable but certainly not uncomfortable. "Well, I at least, should one day hope to truly make you smile." She wanted to know that smile; whatever it was he thought was frightening.

She watched the sad smile spread and wondered if it was something she had said. His sad smile seemed contagious as her own smile tugged down a little in the corners. She lifted her hand and started to reach out. Half way to his face she thought better and pulled her hand back, laying it on the table. She'd beat down the urge to first childishly lift the corner of his lips with her finger, and second, embarrassingly caress the side of his cheek and comfort him. Neither action was appropriate.

She was thankful to have done neither action when he spoke again; leaving the sad smile in the past with the silence that had come with it. "I'm afraid that the only club I know is the Tequila and that only because it is where Catherine took me. Do you have a favorite club?"

"Only yours, dear Claudia." Michael gave a guarded grin. "Only yours." He gave a small toast to her before taking a sip of his wine, nearly finishing the glass.

He shook his head though as he set his glass down. "Perhaps later you will see my smile. I would not wish to ruin tonight though, just in case you have some fear or reaction to what you would see." But should she ask to see it... He wouldn't be able to deny her. Not because he was especialy taken with her (granted he was enchanted with the mortal woman....), but it was just that he would do most anything for others if he could and he hated lying more than anything.

He had listened to her question with a half ear as he was lost in thought but then came back to himself to answer.

"Clubs?" He asked. "I would have to say I prefer the White Mice Club... It's not as... Run down, I suppose. As the Tequila... I've run in to many problems there..." Vampires being the main. He wanted to keep her as safe as he could... Though in this city... It would be difficult. The least he could do was keep her from going to vampire infested club... There were few vampires who let their victims live... And he wouldn't want her to have to live with the memory of any sort of attack...

"And if you haven't been there before, all the more reason to go really." He said simply.

Claudia lifted her glass and sipped from it slowly, a soft sparkle of amusement in her eye. Her own glass was only half finished.

Claudia watched him shake his head and she sighed, setting her glass down. "What is it that makes you think your smile should be fearful?" And then, as though rephrasing the question she lifted one of her slim dark eyebrows and looked at him seriously. "Should I fear it?" Meaning: are you dangerous to my health and well being? Have you bad intentions towards me that I should fear for my own personal safety. Should I be sitting her across from you, enjoying your company at all? She didn't like that idea that someone (probably the first person in a long time) that she felt so comfortable with would have only ill-intentions towards her. It made her shift uncomfortably, flattening her hand on the surface of the table and growing tense and more formal. She sat up a little straighter.

Trying to lighten her own suddenly high-strung nerves she asked: "Trouble?" when he spoke of running into problems at the Tequila. She had had no problems, other then the drunks. But that should be expected at most bars. "Yes," she agreed. "All the more reason."

"Fear? Me?" He nearly laughed whole heartedly, but he confined it to a chuckle. "Never my dear. I'm as harmless as a kitten I promise." He said with a small shake of his head. It was an odd thought though. Him hurting someone.... Funny really, which was why he had nearly laughed. Even while feeding, he never hurt anyone and only killed if his victim deserved it. Even then he made it painless. "And who knows... I might be just as playful and cuddly." He gave a guarded grin. And in a way it was a hint from him about his teeth, for they did look like the fangs of a large cat of sorts...

Michael would never hurt her though... He wanted to taste her blood, but he dared not without her concent... Without being able to calm her so as she wouldn't feel the slight pain.

He only wanted to see those lips smile... She them sigh and press together in Desire...

Michael shook his head with a small smile.

"But what makes you so facinated with my teeth, Claudia? You seem to have an obsession with them as of late, though you didn't seem to curious about them the other night." He pointed out.

Claudia smiled but her posture didn't relax at all. She put her elbow on the table and rested her chin against the very tips of her fingers. It seemed more as if she were just touching her fingers to her chin then leaning against it. It was another clue that she had not much relaxed as the movement and position were not for comfort but for show. Her mother had drilled in manners and show. Be yourself, she had always said, but be yourself at your best.

"You certainly are as playful," she finally said. Though she didn't smile her voice carried one. "and I'll just have to take your word about your cuddly habits."

If only she knew that while they sat drinking wine in the soft light he was thinking not of the wine but of her blood. If only.

She raised her eyebrows and relaxed her posture just slightly, going from formal to casual once again. "Your teeth?" she asked in a tone that said she'd just gotten a hint from him. She smiled now, openly. "Forgive me if I've seemed rude and invasive," she excused, "but my obsession, as you call it, stems from your having pointed it out and from your reluctance. You have a beautiful smile, Michael, and I did notice the other evening. I merely state that I should like to see you truly smile as you guard it so carefully." Yes, she is perceptive enough to know that when he smiles his all is not in it, that something is being withheld.

"But it was you who drew attention to the fact that one might fear it and that does interest me a great deal. Why should I fear your smile when it is beautiful? Why should it make me afraid when I should have no need to be afraid of you yourself?" And she smiled again, almost a down right grin. "What is it about your teeth that you do not like?" What was it about him that made it so easy for her to drop her well-mannered airs and ask such a rude question. She touched her eyes, covering them in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I should not be so … forward."

At her little outburst Michael had to laugh fully. It was true that she was being rather forward and and unlady like, but he didn't mind that at all. In fact, he found it quite addorable that this woman had both class and was still a free spirit. It was something that only made him more attracted to this woman.

After his laugh he was smiling broadly, unguardedly, at her. His eyes danced about her face taking in every little detail, the way her fingers brushed her face, the way her cheeks began to blush so delicatly...

"Do not appoligize Claudia." He sad after a moment with his fanged smile. "No. It's quite alright, truly." He brushed his fingers across the back of her hands as if to pull them away from her face. "You needn't pretend around me of course... I would not want you to feel as if you have to be someone that you are not around me." He said, still smiling as he leaned his chin on his fist.

"What sort of friend would I be otherwise? If I made you dress up and play a fool like that?"

The blush spread across her cheeks, nose and jaw spreading a soft rose petal color across her milky complexion. She almost lowered her eyes in embarrassment but couldn’t bring them away from his laughing face. Then he was smiling.

Claudia is a very logical creature. She herself has longer canine teeth then the average dental work, though admittedly his were quite long and far sharper then her own or anyone else she had seen before. The fact that he had fangs didn’t draw the idea that he was a vampire into her mind. She’s a firm non-believer in faerie tales. But now she did understand why he might think that some people (idealists or sci-fi buffs in particular) might be afraid of his smile. She just found it fascinating.

Of course, even her non-believing self found it very hard not to let her that little nagging voice tell her that he wasn’t human, or at least, not normal in the basic sense of the word. A cold chill rolled over her body, leaving dainty bumps down her spine.

When he brushed his fingertips across the back of her hand she took her hands away from his face, her fingers following his for a fraction of a second, the back of hers brushing his knuckles before coming away and settling in her lap.

“That, I fear, Michael, is why it is so dangerous to be so fond of you.” She smiled. “That you do not mind at all when my manners slip is going to corrode all of my mothers hard earned work away.” Not that she minded for one moment that she didn’t have to be so guarded with him. She felt as though she could relax and, as he had said, be herself. She laughed.

She was smiling when he leaned his chin on his hand and she reached out before she could stop herself or argue with herself about what she was doing and brushed her fingers down the side of his face, starting at the base of his cheekbone, hovering at the corner of his smile, and then trailing off of his chin to drop down to the table top. “I told you your smile is beautiful.”



OOC: Sorry this took so long.

""Oh, you can still have fun and manners all at once. Do not fear for that my dear. And besides, I am still a man who has them this day and age. Which is a rarity in itself." He said with a small nod. Yes he had manners, but he also had desires, and one of them right now was her. And the fact that she hadn't even flinched at his fangs... That was another thing that just intrueaged him, made him want her more.

"But no. As I said. You will never need to fear me...Not unless some how you try to hurt me or lie to me, which I don't think you ever would. I'm as gentle as a kitten with velvet paws.

As she brushed the side of his face he turned to kiss her hands softly. She was such an innocent and charming creature that he wanted to take her and whisk her away from the world so that no harm would ever come to her. To a place where he could gentle and paper her to her hearts desire. "You are the only one who has ever thought so Claudia..." He said with a smile, but this one was soft, covered and gentle.

"And I am sure that I can make you see sence in having fun. And beign who you want to be rather than who you are told to be. They tried that to me. Tell me to be someone. But I refused and I am quite content in my own skin."

Her heart skipped when his lips touched her fingers. He had kissed her hand before, at the beginning of both times that he had greeted her but this was a different touch. Kissing her fingers in greeting was just that, a greeting. When he had kissed her fingers a moment ago it had not be obligation, it hadn’t even been expected. It had been so long since a man had even touched her other then greeting her that even that small, meaningless press of lips to her fingers had caused her heart to flutter. To think that she was the only one who thought his smile was beautiful was both sad and hard to believe but she didn’t argue. “It is sad then. Your smiles aren’t wasted on me, Michael,” she assured him. She liked seeing him smile. She couldn’t begin to explain why it was important to her that a man she had only met twice should be happy and why she felt obligated to give him reasons to smile (other then the selfish fact that she liked to see it.)

“That is sadly true,” she said in reply to his comment about how rare it was for a man, or woman, to still have the old world mannerism these days. She suspected she only had them because her own mother had come from a very long line of romantics.

His choice of words: I'm as gentle as a kitten with velvet paws, brought an image to her mind that was both intriguing and almost amusing. Then it brought forth another image, one that had very little to do with a kitten and very much to do with how velvet those ‘paws’ might be. She tried very hard not to blush and failed. “I’m sure,” she managed to say, looking away from him in a miserable attempt to hide the heat on her face. She took another sip of her wine and wanted to touch his face again, if only to have him kiss her fingers again. She didn’t. She behaved herself, like a good girl should.

“I suppose I’m just not as rebellious as you are. I thrived on pleasing my parents.” She finally returned her gaze to him, the blush subsiding from her cheeks. “I can’t recall, did you have brothers and sisters?”

Ah he was a sucker for women surely... and those rosy red cheeks... It made her look so innocent and charming. Well, she might have been too.

"You seem to be doing that a lot tonight Claudia." He said with a soft tease behind his words. "Does being around me make you embaressed? Would you rather not be seen in my company out in public?" He asked, knowing that wasn't the case at all. "Or... Perhaps someone is finaly having... dare I suggest... fun?"

He smiled at her as she took another sip of her wine, and felt a littlet wang of desire. That little sensation from her was rewarded by a smirk, a one sided smile that seemed to light his whole face with mischife.

"Well... Your parents... Are no longer around. Am I right my dear? So what holds you to pleasing them which you seem to be so keen on doing? Besides," He leaned closer. "As the old saying goes, what they don't know won't hurt."

She blinked.

The fact that he had noticed the blush was grounds for embarrassment on it’s own, which of course, made her blush once again.

“No,” she said, the insistence in her tone sounded almost childish. “I enjoy your company, Michael DeLemont. You just have a way with … words.” She had been about to say ‘you have a way with putting images in my mind.’ He didn’t need to know those images were slinky, sexy, and completely unbecoming of a lady to be thought.

If only she knew that the reason he teased her was because he could feel what she was feeling. If she knew that nothing she did could hide her feelings and thoughts from him then she might not even waste her time trying to be so secretive, then again, maybe not.

“My father is still alive,” she replied, leaning back into the seat and touching the tip of her finger to the rim of the wineglass. When she looked up he had that mischievous grin on his face and was suggesting that what the parents didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. Of course, the last time someone had suggested that was the last time she’d taken that offer and the first time that she had gotten drunk. It was also her first, and worst, hangover.

The smile didn’t help to bash away naughty thoughts that shouldn’t be thought by a lady to begin with. The blush returned.

“You are a terrible influence on my lady-like disposition.” She accused with a laugh. “You are shameless.” It’s her way to blame him, as lightheartedly as she was, for her inappropriate thoughts, despite that it was her mind that was thinking them.

"Shameless?" He said with a chuckle. "Indeed I am Claudia." He said matter-of-factly.

"Why, have you ever known it to be good to have shame for things you have done? To be repentant and humble yourself for things you have done? What good has it ever done you? And have you ever been sincere in your repentances?" He asked as if it were a rhetorical question. But then he continued. "I for one have not. It hadn't ever changed anything I had done, nor had it lessened my punishments. Besides, if I have ever done somethign it was because I wanted to. Even if goaded in to it, it was something I wanted to or had to do."

No, it did not help to be ashamed of what you had done. All it did was make life miserable.

Michael finished his glass of wine and then poured another.

"And hiding that blush of yours will do no good cheri. Besides, it some how makes you even more beautiful in this light." He said with a soft smile. "And you don't seem to be protesting any of the things I say to make those thoughts of yours run wild." He grinned holding the glass up to her as if in toast before taking a sip.

“No. I never truly was repentant of anything I have done, nor have I accepted an apology from those who do me wrong. I have much the same thought that you have. Repentance does not lessen the punishment but also, nothing someone does is by accident. If you have done it, you did it on purpose. You may have regretted the action after the fact but in the beginning, you wanted it and you meant it.”

When he spoke of her blushing she made a soft disbelieving sound that was entirely uncharacteristic to her. She even had the grace to roll her eyes at the same time.

“Who are you to assume that the content of my thoughts are wild?” A blush doesn’t necessarily suggest that. Of course, she’d be all the more embarrassed to know that while she’s spending all of her breath convincing him otherwise it doesn’t matter in the least because he knows what she was thinking.

She reached out and swatted at the air in front of his wine glass in a graceful flick of the wrist as if swatting away his toast. “Shameless,” she told him again, though she was smiling.

"Oh... I know." He said, the look in his eyes, the smile on his face saying that he did indeed know. "You might pretend to be a shy young woman but really... You have something inside of you that longs to be free... To taste the wild freedoms of life." He took another sip.

"Deny it if you will, but that does not change facts my darling." He might not know exactly what she wanted, but there was desire there... And it was as he spoke that it came about.

Yes, she was a beautiful woman... But he knew that beauty wouldn't last... And he smiled sadly at the thought. He knew that to love this woman... To bring her in to his heart would only cause him more pain... She was mortal, she would die... He would only watch her grow old... Become weak and feeble as the years passed...

He could spare her from that... He could. But would she want that? Would she accept what he was, what he could give her? Why was he even thinking about this now? Why was he so concerned for her. He couldn't help the way his hand reached out now, brushing her cheek gently as hers had done to his cheek not a minute before.

"You just need to know what you truly want... And be brave enough to get it..."

She looked offended at how sure he was that her thoughts were anything less then innocent. “You presumptuous arrogant condescending…” A few unladylike terms, carefully flittered across her mind but her words stopped. The frown that creased between slender eyebrows smoothed suddenly.

How dare he assume what her thoughts might be, what her desires were. How dare he suggest that she was something trapped that longed to be set free.

Unfortunately he was right and she simply couldn’t bring herself to accuse of being wrong when he was not.

She held a breath and then let it go slowly, not even bothering to direct the air in any other direction. Her breath was spearment and wine … and if he had the sense of smell of say a vampire … the undercurrent of something tangy that she might have had for dinner.

“You are …” She was grasping for a word. “exasperating.” But when she laughed it was good natured. It was like being frustrated by your best friend. But they are your best friend so you can’t get yourself to stay frustrated, nor could you actually explain that frustration.

You just need to know what you truly want... And be brave enough to get it...

“What do you do when you know what you want and it isn’t enough? When you aren’t brave enough to take it?”

When his hand caressed her cheek, Claudia closed her eyes and cuddled her face against it, pressing her cheek into his palm.

He smiled and very nearly laughed as she seemed flusterd by his words, frustrated beyond belief very nearly. It was entertaining to him, and it made him even more aware of her beauty. Full of emotions she was and when they came out... It was as if she was lit by some light.... Some light from a place he couldn't quite name.

"You're even beautiful when you're angry..." He mused as he watched her.

As she pressed her cheek in his palm he caressed her skin gently, then let his hand fall slowly away, letting his fingers trail against her neck ever so softly. "You will know what you want... If you listen to your body, your heart. Often times your mind gets in the way." He said quietly. "And if it is what you want, what you really want, it will always be enough for the moment. But if you are never brave enough to take it... You will forever be wanting. You will never be satisfied."

Yes, it was that simple really. Those were the truths you learned when you lived hundreds of years. Wasn't she lucky to get that knowladge without having waisted time to find it?

It is hard to remain angry at someone when they tell you, in the midst of your rant, that you are beautiful. She tried anyways, and failed. “Do you always make it impossible to be angry with you or is this a one time thing.” She would like to know that if they were going to be friends that one day she can at least win a fight or stay angry.

She was swimming by the time his hand fell down to the line of her throat. Her pulse was strong and slow. Either her burst of anger was apparently not as genuine as it may have seen or her blood pressure simply didn’t rise for mere anger. She opened her eyes slowly to look at his, into his.

“Even if it is enough for the moment, how do you know if what you want is only what you want for that moment?” Why was she asking him this? Because his answers always seemed so wise and so simple. She was not unintelligent but his answers always shed a new light that she had never seen on all of the answers that she had ever come up with herself.

What she wanted was him. It was not that she was not brave enough to ask for him but that she had only met him twice and, as he had said, her mind got in the way of her body and heart. Wanting a man after only two meetings was not what a lady should want, thus it was something she should not act on. Not that she was willing to admit any of this outloud.

Of course, that doesn't change the fact that sitting in a dimly lighted booth with a man's hand caressing her throat was any less appropriate.

No one who knew the truth would blame her for falling for him so shortly. After all, there was a quality about vampires that made mortals atracted to them, a dark beauty that humans seemed so drawn too.

"Close your mind... Close your eyes and look deep in your heart... Deep in your soul..." He said ever so quietly as he looked at her, his face was peaceful, almost blank as he did so. "Only then can you listen to what matters. You only live once, do what would make it worth living... To hell with anyone who doesn't want you to do something... Who doesn't want you to be happy." He smiled slightly then. "And once you can close your mind to all those voices saying it's inappropreat... It isn't right... You can reach out..." And he did so again to touch her face, his thumb caressing the edge of her lips, "And take what you want."

He very nearly leaned in and kissed her, wanting to show her just what he meant. But he had a thought that the quick and unexpected action might scare her off. She might also enjoy it and respond favorably. But he wouldn't take that gamble, not with her. Most opportunities came around twice or more, but some didn't.

If she knew the truth, though, she might not be falling at all. The idea that such a firm nonbeliever of all things belonging in a book of faerie tales can come into knowledge of the reality of vampires and not be utterly astounded and completely frightened is ridiculous.

As he spoke a line formed between her eyebrows once more but her face otherwise remained relaxed. She was not frowning as much as she was treading deeply in thought, letting his words sink in and following his instruction as though nothing he said could have been wrong. The line disappeared and she smiled, open and fresh, suddenly. The words ‘to hell with’ just sounded comically misplaced coming from his lips.

When his thumb brushed across the edge of her lips they opened just slightly and breathed warm air against his skin. She wanted to slide her tongue along her lip until it found his thumb. She did not. He was right again, the mind interfered. She started to shy away from his hand, then stopped. Claudia turned her face into his hand until her cheek was covered by his palm and her nose pressed to his hand. She inhaled, breathing in the smell of his skin, imagining the taste of it, then exhaled very slowly. She opened her eyes only slightly and looked to his direction without looking at him. She didn’t remove her face from his hand but she sat without making an effort to do anything else, half afraid of rejection and very aware that ladies did not kiss what may as well have been a strangers hand in a dim pub in the middle of the evening.