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 Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 10:53 pm
 Dusk had fallen about an hour ago, and there was still a warmth to the air. The lingering remains of a beautiful sunny day. The fires among the Kumpania had begun to spring to life, illuminating the night and a familiar figure, in that signature orange glow. Ace stood by the fire as one of the members of the Kumpania lit it, feeding the flames until they roared. "Hey, Ace." Came the voice, receiving no response from the Elder who kept his gaze firmly planted on the burning wood. "AYE ACE!" Came the voice again, louder this time, along with a small pebble that hit Ace in the chest and harmlessly bounced off. Ace blinked, slightly startled out of whatever deep train of thought he'd been sucked into. "You alive, prieten?" The mortal male asked, working something at the fires edge. "Hmm, oh! Oh! Sorry, Dinu. I was miles away. What were you saying?" To say that Ace had been distracted lately was a gross understatement. In fact, he'd been nothing but distracted since the moment he'd left Gremlin. That morning, when he'd woken up next to her, was seared permanently into his memory. He replayed it over and over and found a warmth accompanied it every time. She'd been fast asleep, and he hadn't the heart to wake her, so he'd let her sleep. He remembered not being able to take his eyes off her until he'd felt awkward, like he should stop. Yet even then, taking his eyes off her beautiful face was the last thing he'd wanted to do. She had been so peaceful as she slept, free from the terrors they'd narrowly escaped. Curled so comfortably in her sheet like a little caterpillar. That image still made him smile. Even now. The sound of Dinu chuckling brought him round to the present once more. He'd gone again. "Aaaah, bietul ticălos." The other male breathed. "You've got it bad, eh?" Ace laughed, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably and pushing a bit of wood into the fire with the side of his boot. "Is it that obvious?" He did have it bad. He knew it. He thought that maybe taking her home, clearing his head with distance, that it would somehow help. It did not. In fact, every night, it had gotten worse. There was an ache there now, deep in his chest, especially when he slept. He half expected Gremlin to caterpillar onto the bed next to him, inching her way closer as she did, and found in himself a startling sense of dissappointment that she wasn't there beside him. "What the hell are you doing here then?" Dinu asked, his voice very obviously laced with humor. The look on Ace's face seemed to suddenly mirror the question. What the hell was he doing here? What was he doing period? "That's a good question, omul meu bun. I'll see you later, eh?" He winked at Dinu and turned on his heel, starting at a jog toward the path that would lead him to Gremlin.
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:05 am
The night was like so many others that had passed lately, with Gremlin sitting on the ledge of a building, the same one she had sat on when she had seen Ace for the first time. She didn't know why she continued to come back here. It was as if she hoped that by playing the moment over and over in her mind, it might happen again. She might be able to summon him. He would come strolling along the street as he had so many nights ago, casual, unsuspecting, a stranger who was no longer a stranger to her. As if she could think him into existence and manifest her desires, and boy did she desire. Not a moment seemed to pass when she wasn't thinking about him. She remembered his eyes the most clearly—piercing blue but rich, warm, and friendly. Eyes to get lost in, as she'd felt like she had already, several times. She sat upon the semi-high ledge, her gaze trained downward, her sheet that had been mended with such care and precision draped around her shoulders, and she reflected on what things had been like since they had parted ways. At first, while sad, she had primarily felt okay. She had been able to return home with her family, and they had been thrilled to see that she was unharmed, though her mother almost seemed to know that something was different in her little girl. She hadn't pushed it, though, skirting around the topic instead at times, though Gremlin gave her very little. And then the dull ache began. The feeling was almost like loneliness, though she knew it wasn't quite that. After all, she was surrounded by family every day. How could she possibly be lonely? But that dull ache lingered, a sense of longing she couldn't break free from, and the daydreams about the gorgeous, wonderous, blue eyes... She missed him. She missed Ace. It seemed absurd, even to her, but it was true. And so she sat up on that ledge, vibrant red eyes still watching, ever watching, just on a desperate chance that this might be the night she see him again.
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:44 pm
At first, he wasn't sure where he should start looking. He didn't exactly know where she lived since they'd parted ways once they'd reached the city. It hadn't seemed right to just follow her to her doorstep. She deserved her privacy, and he knew she would be fine once they'd made it out of the woods. He also knew she could have easily handled herself. He just... he felt better knowing she was safe in the city. But he hadn't wanted to intrude on her life either. Especially if it turned out that he was the only one who felt like this after that night. So where then? Ace chewed on the thought for a few minutes before it hit him. He knew where. If she felt the same way, he knew she'd be there. Otherwise, there was no reason to be, unless she was trying to make a new friend. He would have laughed if he wasn't all nerves at the thought that he'd get there only to find out he was completely wrong. That she wouldn't be there. His stomach and chest felt tight. He had to try. Ace changed direction abruptly, heading for the section of the city where they'd first met. He tried not to run, but found he couldn't slow himself enough to casually walk either. However he was careful not to catch the eyes of mortals and startle them. It could be jarring seeing a creature move as quickly and unnaturally as the Elder was able to. So he moved as fast as he could, in the shadows, up and through side streets and alleys, he was getting closer. He wanted to see her face so badly. He remembered every curve and shade and mark. But most of all her eyes. Those beautiful red eyes, so like precious gemstones. Pools of the deepest crimson he'd ever seen. He remembered the first moment she'd shown her face, how lost he'd been when she'd looked at him. He wanted to feel that again. He made it to the building that hugged the alley he'd been walking down when she'd revealed herself to him. Slipping into the space between it and a neighboring building, the vampire quickly scaled the side with a startling ease. Ace hooked an arm on the ledge and paused, those nerves overtaking him, making him freeze in place. What if he was wrong? What if something this powerful wasn't shared between them? Maybe she had decided he wasn't worth the risk. Or maybe she hadn't felt anything for him to begin with. He didn't want to know... but he had to know. His striking blue eyes steeled over with something akin to resolve. He couldn't leave without knowing. He'd never forgive himself if he did. So he hoisted his body up. When his eyes saw the little white shape huddled on the edge, staring down into the alley, he almost lost his grip. He couldn't believe it. She came. If he'd had a heartbeat it would have been pounding in his chest. She actually came. He was beaming. Was she waiting for him? Ace silently lifted himself up, using all the stealth he had in him as he crossed the roof to try and get close enough to stand behind her unnoticed. He had to get his face under control, he was smiling like an idiot. Shaking his head he managed to pull himself together and get his emotions under some amount of control. He could not, however, hide the endearing smirk lighting up his features as he watched her. Ace slid his hands into his pockets with a casual grace, his weight resting on his back leg as he finally broke the silence. "Hello, little Garnet."
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 12:40 pm
The night wore on with no sign of him, and Gremlin let out a long, heavy sigh as her fingers fiddled with the ends of one lengthy pigtail, twisting strands of black between them, fidgeting because sitting still did not come easy or naturally to her. It had not been long since she'd come, but it felt like ages passed, the minutes wearing on and on as her anxiety mounted. What was she doing here? Realistically, what were the chances that he would come? She untangled her fingers from her hair and placed both hands in her lap, slumping forward a bit, her eyes closing. These questions sometimes slipped through her mind, but she tried not to pay any mind. Thinking about it too much would only add to her painful lonesomeness. It was not like her to feel this way. She was typically shy but jubilant. There was seemingly nothing that could bring her down. Taking a deep breath, she tried to bury any negative feelings she was having, her shoulders straightening once more as she tilted her face up toward the star-strewn sky, feeling the cool breeze of air across her skin. He would come. She knew he would. Perhaps it would not be tonight, but one night, whether here or somewhere else. One night, he wo--- Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice from behind. Her eyes flew open, and she immediately and involuntarily let out a startled squeak of a sound, her body jolting dangerously, considering she was sitting on the edge of a rooftop, as trembling hands came up to clamp down over her mouth, trembling not out of fright, but because she knew that voice. It was the one that haunted her, the one that called to her, the one that had brought her here. She turned, slowly hesitantly, twisting first at her waist, though her lower body followed as one leg swung back up onto the roof ledge, bent at the knee. Her hands were still pressed over her mouth as if to stop herself from squealing, or grinning like a fool, though there was a good chance it was to stifle both. Red eyes were held low to start with, as if afraid to look him in the face, to see that she was wrong and it was not him. But finally, they lifted, wide, shy, and shining with desperate hope. Her gaze landed on the blue eyes she had been thinking about every night. It was him. She was, at that moment, now suddenly too shocked to even move or speak.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:25 pm
If Ace's heart still beat, it would have been smacking wildly against the inside of his ribcage as he waited for her to turn. He was pep talking himself mentally, trying to slap away the doubts that this was a coincidence, or that she was here to maybe find some new friends the way she'd found him, or that he wasn't fooling himself entirely. But she was here. The squeak caused his eyes to widen. He sort of lurched forward, ready to run for her, as she began to lean dangerously over the edge of the building. Relief flooded him however the moment she caught herself. Great job, Ace. You maybe have a shot, and you just scared the s**t out of her enough to make her almost fall off a building. A master of romance. She began to turn then, hands clasped over her mouth, and those beautiful red eyes lowered. He felt a small stab of pain in his heart. Was she not happy to see him? Maybe this had been a mistake. Did he misread the situation so badly? He was probably embarrassing himself. But then they lifted, connecting with his, and every doubt shattered completely. Those eyes. He'd thought of them every day since they'd parted ways. He was instantly back in the vardo, listening to her questions, falling asleep to the sound of her voice. He remembered how badly he wanted to hold her, to wrap his arms around her as they slept. He felt that fire light up every nerve in his body. How much he wanted to take her face in his hands and kiss her. He was going to. Tonight. He felt his stomach drop at the thought, a mix of nerves and longing. Gremlin wasn't saying anything, he hadnt realized how stunned she really was until she was just sitting there, staring at him. He grinned brightly, if not a little sheepishly, as his hand slipped out of his pocket to run loosely through his hair, unsure of what he should do. The same hand slid to the back of his neck and then down to his shoulder, where he held it for a moment before it vanished once more into his pocket. His gaze eventually shied away, breaking the intensity of her stare. He was nervous. But he was also resolved, he came here for a reason. Sliding his gaze back toward her he did his best to relax his demeanor, not wanting to appear too stiff or guarded. "I guess I don't need to ask if you remember me, eh?" The vampire laughed, the sound full of its usual warmth. His blue eyes glinting in the night. "I made you a promise if I remember right, and I'm here to keep it. If... you're still interested, that is?" He hoped she was. The woman had not left his thoughts since he took her back to the city. Every night, he thought about her, wishing she was lying next to him. Every morning, he'd wondered as he awoke, if today was the day their paths might cross again. He felt that ache deep in his chest return, like fire or hunger. Seeing her here now, exactly where he'd hoped, god he just hoped he wasn't wrong.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 10:08 pm
The moment where she had stilled seemed to drag on and on. It was as though her brain had come to a screeching halt, overwhelmed, short-circuited, and now utterly, utterly, frozen. But it was not all just from the shock of the sudden encounter. It was those eyes. She had wondered if she would ever get a chance to lose herself in them again, and here she was, willingly letting herself drown in their cool-hued depths. The longer she stared, the more she could feel it; that ache in her chest, around where her unbeating heart lay dormant, had begun to radiate with a warmth that spread throughout her whole body. That warmth seemed to thaw her by increments, and finally, her shoulders relaxed, and her arms lowered, her hands falling into her lap as a wide smile lit up her face just as his gaze turned away from hers. "Ace?" He was real, right? She blinked rapidly, just a couple of times, to be sure. It was as though by breaking eye contact, he had released her from some kind of spell, and she was able to push herself all the way around so that she could hop off the ledge and back onto the rooftop itself, her sheet still wrapped around her shoulders. She was moving closer to him, drawn to him, her feet practically moving of their own accord. She could not stop them, and did not want to, not until she stood just inches away, a giddiness swelling up inside of her that made her want to jump up and down in excitement, though she somehow, just barely, managed to restrain herself. At his question she laughed, that lilting sound like the chiming of bells, and though she still grinned, she bit down momentarily on her bottom lip, forcing down the rush of words that she wanted to barrage him with, 'I missed you', and 'of course I could not forget you; I thought about you every day!' among them. "I remember. I was waiting for you~" She finally allowed herself to say, the happy words tempered with a hint of shyness, as she began to feel a heat in her cheeks. "I knew you would keep your promise."
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2023 5:33 pm
When Gremlin said his name he felt a warmth flood him. Hearing her voice was like a shot of serotonin into every nerve. Even as much as he'd missed the sound of it he hadn't realized the full depth of how badly he'd wanted to hear it again until now. He closed his eyes and smiled, his features growing warmer as he savored the moment. When he opened them again that blue gaze found hers and he lost himself in the exquisite pools of red staring back at him. He wanted nothing more than to stay lost in that rich color, to pick her up and take her back to the vardo where they could spend the evening actually getting to know each other. He wanted to know about her life, what she liked, what she didnt, her favorite song, color, way to unwind, everything. He wanted to be in her life, not just a side note in some crazy near-death-experience. And he had every intention of being in it, if she let him. Every muscle in his body wanted to go to her, but he waited, letting her approach instead. The air practically sparkled with the energy she exhuded, he'd missed that too. Her positivity, her high spirit, the light she carried with her. They were both anomalies in a way, he supposed. He and Gremlin. Sure, he could go to that dark place, like all Vampires. The Beast sometimes won. As did the blood. But he was a naturally kind, upbeat individual at his core and seeing that energy bursting forth from the beauty before him made the Elder want to embrace those parts of himself even more. When she said she'd been waiting for him he actually did sigh in relief. A completely mortal gesture but one he couldn't stop in the moment. "I'd hoped you would be, honestly." The grin again, maybe a bit shy as he admitted he'd wanted her to be here for him specifically. Ace reached out his hand to her, waiting for her to take it. "Come on then, let's go." He wasn't about to tell her where they were going, it was a surprise. Maybe not the most lavish surprise, but it was something special he wanted to share with her. He had plenty of time to surprise her with more lavish moments later, now that he knew she'd been hoping to see him again. He could smell rain again in the distance and hid a frown, what was with the rain? Hopefully it wouldn't ruin his plan. Then again Gremlin liked the rain so maybe it would make it better? He'd happily deal with being a little soggy if the rain made her night more enjoyable. As long as he got to dance with her. It was hard for him to admit how much he'd thought about it since they'd parted. How to keep his promise in a way that would be memorable, if she remembered him, but she did. She had been waiting for him.
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Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:36 pm
It was like a dream, seeing him here. Time had seemed to slow, the edges of her vision almost fuzzy. A strange sensation, almost like an out-of-body experience, as time stretched, suspended, the two of them gazing at each other as though smitten, and while she knew that was the case for her, she had no way of knowing that Ace felt the same way as well. She was not experienced enough to read the signs, decipher the looks he gave her or understand what words his body langue spoke. To her, he was still that charming guy who had come only to keep a promise because that's what a nice guy should do. And that was enough for her. His offered hand was met with only a brief, shy hesitation before she took her own and slid it within his grasp, fingertips brushing against his palm before she let her fingers lace with his. Her gaze had dropped to their hands, now intertwined, as her stomach did a funny flip-flop that she tried to ignore, but it raised again, a question in their rich red depths. "Where?" She asked, just a single word, spoken softly but with a hint of wonder. Wonder that he was here, wonder that he had come for her, wonder at what adventure he would take her on this time, and whether she would ever want to return if he did.
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2023 8:52 am
Ace felt an electric charge run the length of his arm as her fingers caressed his palm, his stomach giving a little flip when they then intertwined with his own. He looked down at their hands, joined together, and his smile seemed to get warmer somehow. Looked back up at her the vampire laughed softly, pulling Gremlin in a little closer and crouching down to scoop her up in his arms. He'd almost forgotten how light she was and he felt his chest tighten with her against his chest. He'd wanted to hold her again so badly. "It' a surprise." He said. "I promise I won't drop you." Giving a little grin, obviously remembering their harrowing ordeal in the woods where he had been hit so hard from behind that she had gone flying from his grasp. He tried not to dwell in that place. "All right, here we go." Ace's head rotated to first one side, then the other for a moment, getting his bearings, before he turned completely around and toward the inner city. His steps were silent as he began to run, launching himself off the ledge toward another rooftop. One after another, leading them deeper and deeper into the city. The Elder was so quick it would have been difficult to spot him from below, he stuck to choosing routes that led them mostly over the tops of alleyways or backstreets, just in case. Though Vampires weren't the only Faekats who could move like he did so there wasn't too much concern in breaking the Masquerade simply by traveling via rooftop. His arms wrapped a little tighter around her, holding her close to his chest as though afraid to lose her again. He managed a quick glance down to offer a reassuring smile, and then fixed his gaze on the path before them. It wasn't long until the had reached a rather tall building surrounded by neon lights of all shapes and sizes. The district itself sparkled and shimmered like glittering stars, the roads below them a rainbow of colors. Music seemed to pour from every building, the sound of laughter and entertainment filling the air. Ace looked around, trying to remember how he got up top last time, and then smirked impishly. Oh yeah. The elevator. He dropped them both into a darker alley and set Gremlin down, finding her hand again and lacing his fingers into her own. "OK, we have to go into that big silver building over there, the one with the iridescent sheen. But it's fine. I know the bouncer. Do you want to put your sheet on?" He looked down at her, waiting until she was ready before he led them forward.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2023 11:00 am
In one moment, Gremlin was marvelling at the feel of her fingers laced with his, the connection immediately warming her cheeks, and in the next, she felt herself being lifted off of the rooftop, and butterflies danced in her stomach as she found herself pressed up very suddenly against his chest. She blinked in surprise, and her cheeks heated more, but the urge to wrap her arms around him was too strong to be ignored. She slowly, and almost hesitantly, as if not sure it would be okay, slipped her arms around him, her head tilting lean against his sternum. It felt strange and right, like in his arms was where she was meant to be, and she let out a soft sigh, closing her eyes briefly as she fought to compose herself and calm her rising excitement tinged with anxiety. She gave him a light squeeze at his words, and a small smile played on her lips as she remembered what had happened the last time he had held her. She opened her eyes again and tilted her head back to look up at him. "Try not to throw me, either." She teased, her smile shifting to a grin before she tucked her head against him again. "Ready~" She confirmed, not that he had really asked. She knew that he was likely to be moving swiftly from that moment on, yet even knowing it did not quite prepare her for the exhilarating feeling that came from the speed with which they moved, and the way he could jump, sailing through the air from rooftop to rooftop. She let out a small gasp the first time, and then a giggle followed, slightly giddy, with a hint of nervous excitement. It was almost disappointing when they came to a stop, but that feeling was soon washed away when she blinked wide eyes at the sights to be found, the flashing vibrancy of the lights, the enticing sounds of music that seemed to pull at her very core. When they dropped down from the rooftop to the alley she let out a little squeal combined with a laugh, her eyes bright as Ace finally set her back down on the ground, her arms slipping from around him but her hand soon finding his again, and that same warmth seemed to flow through her from the feel of his fingers entwined with hers. She was already practically bouncing to the beat of one strain of music that she could hear from where they stood when he asked his question, and she blinked, raising her gaze to his. Her sheet? It was...odd. She hadn't even thought about it at all, though now that he mentioned it she realized they were going to be out, in public, likely surrounded by other fae-kind. A sudden flare of panic, and she was nodding her head using her free hand to maneuver the sheet from where it was wrapped around her shoulders to up and over her head, a quick adjustment giving her the ability to see fairly clearly through the cutout eye holes. Once it was settled around her, she instantly felt more at ease, her anxiety pushed down by nothing more than a thin layer of fabric that somehow made her feel comforted and safe. She gave his hand a quick squeeze, to indicate that she was ready, curious about what they were going to do, though now suspecting she may already know.
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2023 3:58 pm
Ace waited for Gremlin to be completely ready before he started to lead them out of the alley. She was ridiculously adorable. It struck him as funny that she hadn’t been wearing the sheet at all until now, but he didn’t mention it until he realized they’d likely be moving through a lobby. He just didn’t want her to realize in a room full of people that her sheet wasn’t on and suddenly feel anxious and exposed. He’d never been one to judge how people expressed or soothed themselves, whatever her reason for feeling safe beneath a simple sheet, he was just happy to know she felt safe. The Elder smiled down at her, giving her hand a little reassuring squeeze as he moved them out of the alley and towards the door to the beautiful, iridescent building ahead. A tall FaeHorse in a rather nice suit cocked his head at the pair as they approached, his eyes squinting as though trying to figure something out. The expression melted into a friendly look as Ace gave him a wave. “Well, well, Lionel. Looking dapper as ever, aren’t we?” The Ravnos chuckled, his hand waving in the air to suddenly produce a polished gold coin. The FaeHorse laughed and relieved him of it, tucking it away in his pocket and giving the fabric a pat. “Of course. Did you expect anything less? You going up top, Ace?” The vampire nodded and the FaeHorse gave him another friendly smile, this time leaning to the side to look at Gremlin. His expression was certainly curious at first but not rude, waggling his fingers at her in a friendly manner before his eyes flicked back upward towards Ace. “You don’t normally bring guests. Anyone else comin’ or do you want me to shut it down up there like usual?” The Elder shook his head and tossed the FaeHorse a second coin. “Shut her down, if you don’t mind.” Lionel nodded and reached out an arm, pushing open the lobby door. “Have a nice night you two. Try not to cause any trouble.” The tone in his voice was obviously kidding, though possibly also serious. It was hard to tell. He flicked the coin into the air and caught it, stuffing it back into his pocket as he returned to his post. The lobby was beautiful. Made of crystal and iridescent glass. The receptionists didn’t even look up from their long counter, busy sorting issues with guests and coordinating whatever it was they were coordinating. The massive bar to the right was just as dazzling, soft piano music playing from somewhere deeper within. Ace let Gremlin take it all in for a moment before he looked down at her and smiled. “Let’s go.” He headed for a long line of elevators deeper into the lobby and pressed the call button. It wasn’t long between when it lit up and when the doors slid open to allow them to enter. Stepping inside he pressed the button marked R and the doors slid shut again. As the elevator began to move, he felt nervous, having a moment finally to think about the warmth of Gremlin’s hand in his. It felt like the most natural thing in the world, holding her hand. A heat blossomed in his chest, and he tried to think of something to say, it was so quiet. “I, uh, I met Lionel the first time I came here. He tried to throw me out thinking I was coming in to steal something. But when I tell you a little flattery goes a long way… Lionel will be your best friend if you tell him how good he looks. Coins don't hurt either.” He laughed; his tone warming as he recalled the memory. “Don't worry, little ghost. There won't be people where we're going. So you won't need to worry about strangers.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 7:26 pm
She was still taking in the sights even as Ace pulled her along, finding herself in a place she did not even know existed until now. She'd always been one to stay closer to the city's outskirts, preferring the near-solitude, hunting where fewer fae gathered, and making the occasional 'friend.' A friend like Ace. Except that wasn't quite right. Nobody she had ever met before was like Ace, and nobody made her feel like he did, either. He was special, and she counted herself very lucky to have caught sight of him that fateful night. Unexpected still that he had accepted her so readily, despite her various quirks and a nature that so many others seemed to find odd. He hadn’t seemed put off by her penchant for ghost sheet-wearing, and even now, he had actually been thoughtful and reminded her that she might want to put it on. With every moment she spent with him, with every word and look, her affection for him grew, the butterflies in her stomach not settling even now that her feet were back on solid ground. As they approached the doorway of the building, her gaze rose, staring up at its dizzying heights, only half listening to the conversation between Ace and the tall FaeHorse. There was something said about going ‘up top,’ and her eyes dropped just in time to see the stranger wiggling his fingers at her, to which she gave a little bob of her ghostly head, the sheet dipping down and back up again, a small smile offered though it was of course hidden behind the fabric. She was slightly more focused now than before, though excited nervousness still coursed through her. Some of the things said between the two flared her curiosity, but she tucked it away for now. There would be time to ask questions later, if she remembered them. She squeezed his hand as if to remind him that she was still there while they chatted, as if he might forget about her and leave her outside. Of course, that was a ridiculous thought, and soon he was pulling her through the door, and her large red eyes could drink in new sights that were like nothing she’d encountered before. Impressive, shining, iridescent. She found herself hesitating in her steps while staring at it all with unbridled awe. The soft piano notes filled the quiet air, and she found herself swaying to the gentle melody before she was pulled along again, though her steps weaved a little as though she were still dancing, her eyes closing as she listened and let herself be led along. “It’s beautiful.” She murmured quietly, only loud enough for Ace to hear if he was listening for it, and it was hard to say if she meant the sounds of the piano, the lobby itself, or both. Inside the elevator and alone once more. As the doors slid closed, the sounds of music were cut off, and it was just the two of them, existing silently side by side while questions began to form inside of her, threatening to spill free. “Oh!” Was all she said when Ace spoke first, her face turning up towards him. “Why would he think you were going to steal something? Have you stolen something before?” She paused for a moment, smiling at what he said next. No strangers. No others around. Just the two of them. She used her free hand to lift her sheet back up and over her head so that it draped over her shoulders, giving her head a little shake to toss her pigtails from side to side as she reached up to straighten out her bangs, feeling a little self-conscious all of a sudden. “The way you talked, I wondered if maybe you were somebody really important in your clan.” It wouldn’t have been her first time around an important vampire. Her unlife was absolutely full of them.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2023 1:33 pm
Ace had remained relatively quiet aside from the few comments as they made their way toward the elevator. He couldn't help the smile as he heard her say the place, or music, was beautiful and he could feel her swaying as he held her hand. He loved that about her. That she was so happy to just exist in every moment. There was an endless sense of freedom to such a disposition. As the elevator climbed he noticed her movements, watching from the corner of his eye as she removed the sheet and fussed with her hair. Glad she felt comfortable enough to show her face. But the question was what finally got him to fully look at her. He laughed warmly, shaking his head. "No. Not from here. And I hadn't come here to steal either. I was actually just curious. But Ravnos don't always have the best reputation in cities and some of our clan do indeed have sticky fingers. Opportunists extraordinaire." He shook his head, his expression neutral on the subject. At the mention of the way he talked Ace seemed to stiffen a little, his gaze falling to the doors as if he wished they'd open suddenly. But the silence only made his discomfort worse so he answered. "I'm not really anyone important, coin makes you important to some people however. People really only know me outside of the city because I visit so many Kumpania's. Is that disappointing?" He smiled warmly, teasing her just a little. He had a feeling it didn't matter to her, at least he hoped that was the case. Ace was an Elder so he was, in fact, someone important in his clan. He just hated titles, a title didn't make you important. It's what you did with it that really mattered. After a few minutes the elevator dinged and opened. The light was bright at first but soon mellowed, their surroundings coming into clarity as Ace's hand squeezed her own and he led them out onto the rooftop. It was a relatively private area, enclosed in a kind of iridescent glass illuminated by the striking rainbow lights of the district, casting everything in varying shades of color and sparkle. The floor was opalescent marble and reflected the iridescence in a way that mimicked an actual back-lit opal. He smiled down at her and led her closer to the center of the floor slowly so she had time to absorb their surroundings. Up above were crystals of varying sizes and shapes that enhanced and projected the sparkle, throwing a brilliant kaleidoscope of shimmer across the entire roof. There were tall plants and night blooming flowers, as well as intimate little couches huddled about white marble fire pits sporting iridescent blue flames, along the edges of the perimeter. The fragrance floating from the flora soft and lovely, calming. He enjoyed their scent but couldn't ever place the flower itself. Then again he hadn't tried very hard either. It never seemed important enough. Ace let his hand slip from Gremlins as he headed across the floor to a section of the wall that overlooked the main strip. He pressed a button on the ledge and the glass began to slide soundlessly apart, creating an opening while the rest of the roof remained enclosed. The moment it parted the beautiful, harmonious sound of music filled the space. He looked back at Gremlin, leaning against the ledge, and held out his hand for her. "Come see." His striking blue eyes were filled with an endless warmth as he waited. The sight of her, standing on that floor surrounded by all the colors, made him pause. She was so beautiful. This strange, lovely little vampire who had dropped out of nowhere and into his life abruptly. No matter what he did since their parting she had been on his mind. The thought of that night in the vardo together, falling asleep beside her... he'd wanted that every night since. Waking up without her just felt so empty somehow. He knew it was crazy. They hardly knew one another outside of what they had gone through that night. But still. The feeling persisted even if he wasn't the type to fall so quickly. The music was a soft, elegant symphony. The sound soothing. That didn't always mean it would stay that way. This district pulsed and shifted the flavors of music in a perfect evolution from one song to the next so that there was something for everyone to enjoy or discover. They were too high up for any street noise to disturb the melody which was nice. He felt a little relieved that the cacophony of Kats out for a night and the general raucous sounds of the perpetually high energy area wouldn't disturb this moment they were sharing. He didn't know if Gremlin felt the same way, as much as he hoped he always felt that nag in his gut that maybe he was just smitten, too eager, that he would come on too strong at some point while taking a chance and ruin it all. But he also couldn't deny how much he cared about her and this deep seated need to be by her side always. He had taken a chance on finding her again, hoping against hope that she would be waiting and she had been. So he knew he had to try, to swallow his fear and take the risk. She was worth being vulnerable for, opening himself up, something he often struggled to do with others. But he felt so comfortable with this individual, in a way he hadn't felt in such a long time with anyone. He wouldn't risk losing something special because he was afraid.
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