The Modern Gods (IC)

[Mephistophelily]

The Ancient Gods feared nothing. They were worshiped and loved, feared and revered. They simply asked for anything they wanted, and those who followed them were quick to provide.

That was the life that Aphrodite used to know. The life she loved, the one she missed so much in this modern world. She was given such high praises by those who needed her then; begging for her help in troubles of love and broken hearts, to help them get over love that felt nothing in return... She lived in her own beautiful temple, separate from the Mortal World, a palace in its own right filled with glorious statues and paintings, luxurious pillows and silks, the finest in fruits and drink-

And what did she have now?

A drafty loft apartment in Olympos. Her furnishings were rather lackluster from her previous surroundings; a comfortable collection, yes, but they still didn't meet the preferences of the Fallen Goddess that occupied the space.

Worse still, she had to get a job. A job! As if any field in this mundane human world would ever be of her standards-

Ahh, but then she found it. A position at a talk radio station as a love life adviser. The previous woman left after finding a number of subjects too difficult to talk about... But nothing really phased Aphrodite- or Alexa, as she was known lately. Her name was forced to be changed, something that bothered her to no end. Still, the others that had come from Olympus had made changes as well as they adapted to the more mundane life, though they all still managed to slip a few references of their old names on occasion.

The commercial break was ending.

Alexa lazily lifted her head up from the sprawled recline across the studio board, sitting up and pushing her headphones back up. "Welcome back, my lovelorn listeners... The Love Goddess is here to help. Call in with those questions, and let's see if we can get your love life back on track..."

Three hours of this. Stories of how he cheated on her, she was seeing him and him.. and her... Complaints on how their sex life was losing its spark... questions on some of the most ridiculous things. Alexa's eyes rolled back with a few of the last calls, her finger lingering over the disconnect button before spurting out a quick answer. Oh, ho. She would be sure that some of those fools NEVER had company in their bed for some time. People like that simply should not be given the chance to reproduce.

As the show came to an end, she finally let her headphones drop to the desk, Alexa leaning back far in her chair as she gave a deep groan. After a week of questions and dispensing advice, it began to remind her on how little she actually was able to focus on her own love life. Of course, these same questions and advice reminded her on just how little interest she had in attempting relations with the Mortals.

Time to go home, and take up the usual evening of a bored, frustrated, single woman... Start up a movie, get a glass of wine, and vent to her cat.

Leaving the studio, she waited along the slightly damp sidewalk for a cab to pass by; yet another frustration. As much as she wanted to simply transport herself home, explaining it to others after doing it in their immediate line of sight could be a little... complicated. No, best to just act the simple mortal route.

[Bloodsoul]

Delete

[Velvet_Touch]

Apollo felt the laugh build, expand and finally explode from within, his fingers shaking against the controls, set in creamy leather, on the steering wheel in front of him.

It was his first trip to this new city of the Gods, Olympos, the name alone tickling his funnybone all over again.

He was tense and sore from the long trip, the final hundred miles of coastal freeway wearing away on his soul to the point where he was jaded against nature's most spectacular array.

He was anxious, too, to to reacquaint himself with his golden twin's abundant charms. He'd missed her over the last ten or twelve years and enjoyed the anticipation of her smile, the light of mischief in her eyes and the abandon that created a thrall of chaos between them whenever they met. His impatience had been about to overflow, feeling the response in the light of the sunset around him and the silken chords of mother nature herself...when...

He would have recognized that voice, throaty, sensual and stylishly decadent, anywhere in the known universe. Aphrodite, the minx, every sensuous nuance wafting across the airwaves like distilled sex...advice to the lovelorn. He stifles the snort of amusement that threatens and focuses on the turn before him...here, before him, he could sense her, that ephemeral waif, his golden twin, Artemis.

[Original_Cyn2]

Pony glances at the cards in her hands, biting the full, luscious curve of her bottom lip to hide the smile of unadulterated satisfaction that nips at its corners. It is the best hand she’s had all night.

Surreptitiously she eyes the other four players at the table; three men, one woman. Two Gods, one Goddess, and one mortal; all frequent players at her Thursday night diversions, the composition changing often, offering a surfeit of sensual delight to stave off the boredom of everyday life. She smiles complacently.

Her skin still tingles from the heat of the Jacuzzi and her most recent partners’ lascivious attentions, the small chain of nibbled teeth marks gilding the glowing flesh at the nape of her neck like a collar of roses in full bloom. Across from her, the brunette’s “kitten in cream” expression, painted on the unique and stunning features announces an agreeable – intermission – for them all. Their weekly diversion is played on a winners take all basis, tallied twice a night.

Quietly, she sighs, one hand smoothing the golden down on her arm, thinking back to a time when the world had belonged to them, every moment a excess of excitement. Again, her fingers reflexively smooth the small hairs on her arms before her mind stills, hushed with expectation. Again the pretty beauty across from her catches her attention and she notes the raised head, the unfocused eyes and the edgy perception that drifts over her features. The man to her left has left off in mid-sentence, rising slowly to his feet and facing the door, before her senses focus in recognition, a soft yelp of exhilaration spilling from her lips.

“Apollo!” his name spills from her in a harmony of expectation and yearning, She closes her eyes, drawing a deep breath, senses searching for her twin. The familiar feel of him as he approaches reaches out, caressing her conscious mind and she flies across the floor, fingers scrambling across the iron hardware on the huge, centuries old, cedar door, spilling electric light over the darkness beyond, her smile an inviting beacon in the chill of the California evening.

[Ahren1]

Lord of the Underworld. God of Death. Such titles instilled terror into the very soul of every dead being that arrived. Hades ruled his lair with an iron fist, but most residents soon discovered that he was not unfair. Besides, he had a whole plane of existence for himself, not to mention the love of a beautiful woman. The long, dark haired man sat with satisfaction upon his gothic throne, scepter in hand while he gazed upon his world. For some, such a task might have seemed too dark or daunting, but not for Hades. He had won this realm while his brothers resided in the sky or the sea. Thinking it over, he simply did not find either of those as appealing... This was a place where no one contested his power. No one dared oppose him...

"Mr. Hall...?" An inquiring voice came as the slumbering man was snapped awake. Instead of a gothic throne, he was instead at the head of a large meeting table, dressed in a black suit with no scepter in hand. Just a cellular phone... Another dream of the old days. This time at work, no less.

"What is it, Washington...?" Darian Hall replied with a slight tone of irritation, completely ignoring the fact that the table was pretty much full of his upper management.

"I'm sorry but I thought you might be interested in going over the annual finance reports with us... Did you not rest well last night?" The auburn haired man beside Darian asked, adjusting his glasses as he spoke.

Darian's dark green eyes shifted around the room, looking as each suit remained silent while waiting for his response. Humans were so puppetlike. Even moreso than the dead... Sometimes it was pathetic, but he understood, given their upbringing in this new world. Respect your superiors and elders and all that. Not like when he was young and he and his siblings decided to literally rage war upon their own parents...

"Does it honestly concern me?" Darian replied again with a more apathetic tone, closing his eyes and leaning on his palm once again, almost as if he planned on going right back to sleep.

"O-of course, Sir. This is your company, after all..." Washington stuttered, perplexed by such a question, unaware that it was mainly rhetorical.

"I can predict what the reports say. I can predict what the stock is. I can predict nearly every slight change in the economy's effect on this company. All of this is just mindless talk, in my opinion. If you're interested in the figures, you're welcome to go over them. In fact, you all have been quite capable of making decisions without me as of late..." Darian's eyes narrowed, causing some of the board members to perspire a little in fear.

"That's why I'm taking extended leave. I suspect things won't change much with me gone anyhow. You'll be able to contact me if there are any.. emergencies." The dark haired man, who didn't even look 30, rose from his seat and headed towards the meeting room doors. By this point, the management was just glad they weren't fired, though they were rather curious as to what Darian Hall would do on vacation. The job had pretty much been his life...

The tycoon truly had done a lot to make his company, the Kore Group, one of the highest status lifestyle/entertainment providers internationally, but perhaps it was time for a break. There was a small city in California called Olympos that he had purchased a home in years ago after his first taste of true wealth. The irony of the name didn't escape him, but he was aware that others of his... former status had sought residence there as well. Over the next day he transferred any important personal belongings there, and prepared for a journey...

Evening had set upon California as Darian's limo navigated the city's streets. It certainly wasn't New York City but that was likely a good thing. As he flipped through the radio stations, a habit of his to make sure the ones he owned were doing their job, Darian came across a familiar voice.

"The Love Goddess..." He chuckled to himself. Not very subtle, was it? Then again, subtle didn't describe him at all either. At least he didn't name his company 'The Underworld' though. Still, upon listening, he couldn't help but smirk at some of the conversations held. He knew Aphrodite. Not as well as some, but enough to where it was obvious that some of these calls were bullshit to her. Poor girl. She deserved better than to listen to strangers dump their pathetic romance woes on her.

Hades had a certain intuition, so as the show came to a close, he told the driver to stop by the station. Sure enough, 'Alexa' herself had exited, seemingly waiting for a cab all by herself. As the black limo approached, Hades rolled the window down and looked over the lovely woman briefly before smiling in an almost sinister way.

"Braving the streets after a broadcast like that? I'm rather surprised you don't have a mob waiting for you... Regardless, perhaps you'd like a ride?" The onyx-haired man spoke in a smooth, alluring tone. Not nearly as much as hers, of course, but given his nature...

[Mephistophelily]

Alexa smelled cigarettes. Her nose wrinkled ever-so-slightly at the scent, shaking her head with a sigh as she stepped aside a bit more. Funny; with as many people that smoked the things after receiving what they had begged for her help in finding, some probably would have thought she would have loved the things. Quite the opposite. The smell bothered her; a smell she found rather unattractive.

The clouds overhead weren't looking too friendly, taking a rather ominous blackened shadow to them that left Alexa frowning even more. Where were all the cabs in this damned city?! She had half a mind to-

Now wait a moment, what was this?
Her attention turned to the black limo approaching the building, an eyebrow raising as a smirk overtook her lips. A family visit, it seemed...

"Hello Ha- I mean, Mister Hall," She giggled lightly, leaning in towards the window to view the man inside. "It's so hard to remember who goes by what anymore... Maybe some name tags would help." She sighed, glancing beside her for a brief moment before looking back to him. "As for my- adoring public... I'm pretty sure I can handle anything they may want to throw at me, good or bad."

"Your offer sounds wonderful, though. That sky isn't looking too kind right now, and I'd rather not be left out in the rain in this dress. If the show hadn't brought a crowd, I'm pretty sure that would." Opening the door, she slipped in next to the other former God, crossing her legs before tugging the door closed behnd her. "So what brings you out this way? Last I had heard you were taking over the corporate world up in New York. Get a little burned out, Hades? Or ya just missin' the family?," She teased, smiling again.

[Ahren1]

Hades smirked lightly. Of course she could handle herself, but at what cost? one attempt at flying away and things would suddenly become a lot more difficult. As she entered the limo, the dark-haired god couldn't help but look Aphrodite over slowly. She was the goddess of beauty for a reason. No matter how many times he saw her, he couldn't help but be distracted by her striking figure. Finally, he looked back into her eyes and chuckled a bit in response to her questions; His own gaze narrowing lightly. Family. Yes, family. She was Zeus' daughter, which made him her uncle, technically. According to humans, looking at her the way he did would be a huge taboo. Then again, what did humans know? Their family was centuries older, and exceeingly more... abnormal.

Even though no instructions on where to go had been given, the driver began to move, causing the quiet hum of the vehicle to fill a bit of the silence Hades was purposefully leaving in before responding. "Call it curiosity, I suppose. I haven't really been keeping up with what the rest of us have been up to...

To be quite honest. I expected better of you, in particular. A loveline radio program? You have a beauty unmatched by any mortal woman and you choose a line of work that doesn't even show your face. Not that the mortals really deserve it, but you... You could have so much more... In this vain, superficial world, you could easily surpass my own accomplishments.

But I suppose I shouldn't expect everyone else's goals to be similar to mine. To give you a more solid answer, I suppose I did get a little burned out. I could rule the Underworld for ages without a "vacation" but it's different here... Perhaps it's this body. Our desires are probably a bit more mortal now than we realize..."

Hades glanced out the window for a moment, his smile fading. What did he desire? The only thing he had been away from so long was...

"I'm rambling, aren't I? Shall I take you home? Then again, I know it's a bit late but, if you haven't eaten anything, perhaps you'd like to grab some dinner? On me, of course." He chuckled lightly, leaning on his hand and glancing over the divine woman beside him once again.

[Mephistophelily]

"I hear you on that," Aphrodite agreed, brushing her hair back behind her ear as she smiled. "To be honest, the only other one I've talked to that much is Ares.... and that's only when one of us is bored enough to hunt the other down. He usually smells of either beer or blood. Or both together. At least he's still managing to feel at home around here..." She sighed, puffing out a breath between her lips. She had really thought this show would have made her happy. Instead, it left her more and more frustrated each night-

-And Hades seemed to notice. She rolled her head to her shoulder as he spoke on it, smiling sweetly. "That's nice of you to say. I just... I don't know. As much as it all may bother me, at least I'm somewhat still in my element. I mean, if some of them really need me to help; like the serious lovestruck hopeless romantics... I'll invite them to the studio. Give them a little push. Since our powers had to be restrained, I can only do it in person... but it gets 'em going in the right direction. Besides, it's not always about me. I had to learn that a few years ago." She made a quick face with that, giggling for a moment.

"A vacation is a great idea. I've been debating one of my own, though I don't know if I could take off too far from home. Call it an unexpected attachment. I've actually come to like this place. Maybe I should try to, ohhh... get back to my roots. Take a little time to spread the love." She laughed again with that. "Though I'm not sure how well that would go over around here anymore."

He spoke of mortal desires, the wants of the more mundane lives. She frowned slightly, looking down at her hands. She knew more on carnal desires, as well as emotional desires... The things people once, and still did, inquire to her about. Some things mortals refused to let be ignored or neglected, especially in this day and age. More and more 'modern inventions' made her former area of expertise and usefulness an easily remedied thing by people's own hands. Aside from her callers, she wouldn't have been needed at all in this place. Well, there was the other option... Hades had implied something along those lines earlier, though she wasn't sure if he had intended it to be taken as such...

Looking back to him as he asked on her evening plans, Alexa spread her hands, grinning. "Oh, no, no big plans for me. Was going to just slip into some pj's and crash on the couch, to be honest with you. I'd be more than happy to join you for a late dinner. I'm pretty sure Kitty can find her own evening activities."

[Ahren1]

"To be honest, the only other one I've talked to that much is Ares.... and that's only when one of us is bored enough to hunt the other down. He usually smells of either beer or blood. Or both together. At least he's still managing to feel at home around here..."

Of course... Ares. Her brother, his nephew. It was surprising the man's bloodlust hadn't turned him into a serial killer yet. He must have had some excellent restraint. That or he was extremely proficient at hiding evidence. "A part of me sort of envies those simplistic desires. That's not really a part of me I like to indulge often, though..." Hades quipped. He wasn't much for fighting, and he certainly had no reason to kill people. He had found occasional women to satisfy his lust, but none worthy of actual love. That wasn't something he gave easily...

"Besides, it's not always about me. I had to learn that a few years ago."

Hades certainly hadn't used that line of thought. He had mainly been concerned only with his personal gain these past years. In a way, he helped a lot by giving them employment, and providing a lot of quality services internationally, but that was more because he knew it was the easiest way to make it to the top. He could have been President if he had set his mind to it, but politics bored him to no end, plus the job wasn't as cushy as it looked. Not to mention he'd have to fake a family and a religious belief to even be considered for political polls. What a ridiculous notion. What did religion have to do with politics? How come these foolish humans stopped believeing in him but continue to believe in this one almighty "God" that didn't even exist?

Idiots, the lot of them.

When Aphrodite accepted his dinner invitation, Hades smirked. "Excellent. We never really did get to talk much, after all." With that, he pressed a button on his side of the limo, allowing him to talk to the driver. After giving instructions on where to head, the two former gods were eventually dropped off in front of a decently formal restaurant. Once inside, the influentual Darian Hall was able to secure them a table in no time, one away from most of the distractions of other diners and such. The lighting was dimmed and candles lighted the tables. It was a romantic setting, but Hades enjoyed it more for the silence and darkness.

"So, you enjoy it, then? Helping the mortals? What else do you enjoy?" Hades presented a somewhat vague question as a waiter approached. The dark haired God uttered nothing but simply pointed at something from the wine list.

"Very good, sir." The man nodded as he headed off once again.

"I hope wine is still one of the things, at least." He chuckled, resting his shoulder on the table with his finger placed on his temple as he observed the gorgeous woman across from him.

[Mephistophelily]

"You had your projects, I had mine," Aphrodite replied airily, her eyes drifting past him to the window's view of the passing city. "Only when people pleaded for me to see how their loved ones were after... going to you... did I even think of coming to your place of work. Though I suppose that these new conditions might make that a little more enjoyable." She smirked, her gaze returning to the man before her. "Those previous visits weren't exactly what I'd call fun. Then the after trip... Having to go see Morpheus, ask him to give those poor souls a dream on their love's state... Ugh, the favors -he- asked for in return were so frustrating. At least those people were happy."

She smiled as the car brought them up before the restaurant, Alexa stepping out of the vehicle with Hades and following him inside. The place was rather nice, far better than most of the places she'd been going to lately. It left her a bit depressed, really; the former goddess of love left in a rather empty love life in this new world. Perhaps it was simply fate getting back at her for her previous centuriess of taking advantage of desperate mortals.

Smiling softly to the host that led them to their table, Aphrodite watched as the man walked away, only to give Hades a rather surprised glance as he asked a few questions. "Enjoy it? Hmph." She rolled her eyes slightly with that, though did smirk a bit. "Sometimes. It's the stupid questions that bother me. Guys that don't get why women hate it when they go on about their own anatomy with such gusto, women who don't get why their guys don't like the same things they do, or the best of the bunch- people who don't have common sense on sex. I mean, come on; certain things just aren't gonna work. You can't shove a square peg in a round hole, ya know?" The hand gestures being used by the former goddess had reached a rather odd cruscendo when the waiter arrived, her eyes widening slightly as she blushed, giggling slightly.

"As for what I enjoy? Hm. It's been awhile since I really thought about what I like anymore. Things aren't the same there, either." She ran her finger around the rim of her empty glass as Darian ordered wine, her smile returning as she watched the two's silent interaction.

"You're still a man of few words with others, aren't you? The strong silent type... You'd be some women's idea of the perfect man, you know that?" She laughed lightly, straightening in her chair as she sighed. "Mmm.. but me; I guess I've still got some of my wild ways... Just had to learn to tone them down a bit these days."

"What about you, Hades?," She asked in a hushed voice, smiling a bit more as she looked to him. "Letting out your wild side at all?"

[Ahren1]

Darian chuckled at the woman's slight embarrassment with her gestures being noticed by the waiter. Seeing her blush was a very attractive look for a woman who talked about love and sex all day. He then smirked softly as Aphrodite commented about how things had changed. That she wasn't sure what entertained her anymore. He could relate to that. That was why he showed up here, after all. Boredom with where he had been, despite "having it all" so to speak.

"You're still a man of few words with others, aren't you? The strong silent type... You'd be some women's idea of the perfect man, you know that?"

Hades merely chuckled in response. Of course he knew that. He had his choice of women, especially since his... rise to power, but rarely did they satiate his desires. What was it he desired, exactly? Well... That was complicated.

"Mmm.. but me; I guess I've still got some of my wild ways... Just had to learn to tone them down a bit these days."

"What about you, Hades?," Aphrodite asked in a hushed voice, smiling a bit more as she looked to him. "Letting out your wild side at all?"

Hades smirked once again, almost wickedly until the waiter arrived with the wine. As the man poured a sample for him to taste, Darian's eyes never left Aphrodite's. Almost as if he couldn't look away. It figures that Zeus would produce such a perfect daughter. What about her question, though? His wild side...? He was too fixated on what her idea of wild was. Surely something he wouldn't mind partaking in personally... The dark-haired God took a sip of the wine before nodding to the waiter who bowed in return as he poured full glasses to both Hades and Aphrodite respectively before heading back off.

"Wild? In what manner are we speaking? Sex?" He said rather causally without any hint of shame, though it wasn't likely anyone was close enough to hear anyhow. "You said it yourself. I'm the perfect man to some. Women have sought me out and sometimes I indulge them... but their desires are often predictable. Even the ones that are more creative just have little passion. They don't care about me. They care about my looks, my possesions. In the end, because of that, it's all the same. It doesn't inspire any wildness on my part.

I may be the former God of Death, but I knew what love was... That, today, is just gone it seems... I'm sure you know what I mean..." He finished with a sigh, taking a sip of his wine. It wasn't as good as the old days, but some things you had to settle with in this day and age. Wine was one. Some was better than the others, but it wasn't perfect anymore. Women were the same in his opinion. Perfection was difficult to find in them, except for perhaps the one right in front of him...

"You might have to tell me about some of your wild ways..." He smirked once again before gesturing to the menu. "Please, order as much or as little as you'd like..."

[Mephistophelily]

"I do have other things on my mind aside from sex, you know. Once in awhile," Alexa added, smirking once again as she sipped her wine. "It's these modern mortals, Darian... That seems to be the mindset they have. Whether it's being addicted to their work, or addicted to sex- They always seem to have one or the other locked in their mind, the thing that drives them. It seems more like they live in the way of some of our former family members than their own ancestors... Live in the moment, forget the consequences." She sighed, shaking her head. "Such a shame. Some of them would have been so fun... but really, what's the point? It used to be all about the game- but if they won't play, it's no fun at all for me."

Alexa glanced at him, her smile dropping slightly. "We both seem to be in the same spot. People have only one track minds; there's no fun to them, only the desire they have at that moment. I would have loved that- once upon a time, with a stop here and there... but almost every single one of them? I want a little more than to simply be 'that blonde chick' some guy hooked up with at a bar." A light laugh left her, her head shaking once again. "Ahhh, but I used to be that way, didn't I? I guess I just don't want to fit in the norm in any situation. Before it was wrong to be that way, and now- it seems to be what everyone wants."

Her finger ran around the rim of her glass, her free arm bracing its elbow on the table to prop her chin up in its hand. His talk of how the world had changed left her slightly depressed. In their heyday, people's affections were all on her part; encouraging this, ending that, pushing people together in whatever manner she pleased- and now, people were jumping into each other's beds without even remembering each other's names.

Her eyes raised as he jokingly told her to reveal her own wild side to him, though the look he gave her made her wonder just how much of a 'joke' that actually was. "Oh, I don't want to scare you, Darian," She replied sweetly, grinning herself. "I'm not as sweet and innocent as some might think me to be...."

Peeking at the menu, she pointed to the oysters as the waiter peered over her shoulder, a nod coming from him before moving on to her 'uncle'. It was odd, to actually think of him with that reference. Their family never had much talk on the actual family tree, as it was often overlooked when it came to personal interests and who could see who. It was simply a matter of division; Gods were Gods, mortals were mortals. Random nights of intimacy with mortals were seen as a normal thing, but the majority of relationships smiled upon were those between Gods. Even she had her own Godly union, her marriage to Hephestus lasting centuries... But when things on Olympus shifted, so did their relationship. Since then, it seemed that all her relationships were short lived.

But now, they were not Gods. They were not family in that sort. They were simply a man and woman, together for an evening at dinner, enjoying company from each other. The simple thought made her smile again, watching Darian as he finished with the waiter.

"Just how much of my wild side did you want to know about, anyway?," She asked in a rather coy voice, holding her wine glass in her fingertips. "I can reveal as much or as little as you want to know about." She giggled slightly with that, taking a sip of her drink.

[Ahren1]

Hades listened quietly to Aphrodite's opinions of the world. Not much different from his own it seemed. Though one of her comments in particular actually bothered him a bit, even if she didn't really mean it.

"I want a little more than to simply be 'that blonde chick' some guy hooked up with at a bar."

"You're much more than that. Much better than the type of people who would think of you that way deserve..." The dark-haired man said with a hint of malice, obviously directed toward the more shallow humans. He had to admit, he was a bit surprised by his own response. Was he getting defensive over Alexa? She could easily retort by saying that if he cared, he would have come into contact sooner instead of lording over meager humans and their desire for their bland media and toys.

But he did care. He just didn't really know how to show it. He never really did. He literally abducted Persephone in order to marry her back in the old days. Things were a lot different then. It did cause a stir with some, but she ended up loving him anyway. That wasn't likely to happen today. At least, he wasn't about to try it again. Besides, he hadn't met a human woman that would be worthy of such effort anyhow.

Darian continued to watch his dinner companion. Her subtle smiles and mannerisms were rather hypnotic. He'd almost have to wonder if she was using her persuasion on him. Not that it would work very well. Really, it was just her. She didn't need any "magic" to be alluring. Meanwhile, it seemed as if his comments about wanting to know more of this "wild side" she spoke of were taken in humor.

"Oh, I don't want to scare you, Darian," She replied sweetly, grinning herself. "I'm not as sweet and innocent as some might think me to be...."

As the waiter returned, Darian merely gave a smirk toward Alexa, waiting patiently as she ordered. When the waiter approached him, he gestured toward a lasagna dish before handing the man the menu and silently watching him disappear back into the restaurant. Darian's dark gaze returned to Alexa, his devilish smirk returning.

"Just how much of my wild side did you want to know about, anyway?," She asked in a rather coy voice, holding her wine glass in her fingertips. "I can reveal as much or as little as you want to know about." She giggled slightly with that, taking a sip of her drink.

"Everything." He said without much hesitation. "I certainly hope you were joking about scaring me. I ruled the Underworld, remember?" He chuckled softly, taking another sip of his wine, never letting his gaze leave Alexa's. "So tell me everything. Or at least... everything you're comfortable saying in this setting. Anything else could always wait until after dinner. I own a place in town and you're more than welcome to join me there afterward... That is, of course, unless you're sick of me already." He ended with a chuckle.