The Dark (open)

[Bluemage]

He turned slowly and looked at her before slowly walking towards her. He kept his hands at his sides, "I have absolutely no idea why I irritate you." He stepped right up to her, "Do you want to know why I am bothered by you?" He brought his hand up and put the end of his finger against her forehead, "Because you over think things." He closed his eyes for a moment and then slowly pulled his hand away from her, "You have been over thinking everything that I have said, finding some way to be offended by it, when nothing that I have said has been what you have been hearing."

He slowly opened his eyes, which flashed crimson for a moment, "You manage to interest me in every way that I can be interested." He took a step away from her, "Everything that you are, except for your tendency to over think things appeals to me." He watched her closely, "You take offense to everything that I say, and then you lash out at me with verbal attacks." He narrowed his eyes slightly, "Perhaps you think that this was all some sort of game to me, but I assure you that it wasn't." He closed his eyes again, "I'm sorry that I demeaned you by stepping in when that drunk had taken a hold of your hair as well. I should have known better and just let you twist his words in ways that offended you until he finally got fed up and left."

He turned slowly, "You are too confrontational for my tastes. This relationship never could have happened. I would not be able to stand constantly stepping around eggshells trying not to say something that you would twist and distort." He slowly started to walk away, "Your armor is too thick. There is no way that any man could possibly be able to reach your heart."

 

[Perplexia]

Tears stung Ravens eyes for the first time in many years, He was absolutely a hundred percent dead on. Words were her life and she would use them, and twist them to keep herself protected from any chance at ever being hurt again. There was probably a time where she wasn't this way, a time where she would have been a giggly carefree witty girl. But she was jaded now, even to jaded for a man who had dealt with every type of woman that could exist on the earth.
Now when faced with the one man that made her blood race, she pushed him away the hardest.
"you're right, i am what you say." was the only thing she could utter. For the first time she had nothing to add, no defenses to toss at him. The tears laced her cheeks as she turned and began the lonely walk back to her loft.

 

[Bluemage]

His feet stopped. He turned his head to look at her again. He watched her, and narrowed his eyes slightly. He then turned completely to look at her for a moment. He spoke, quite sure that she wasn't far enough away that she wouldn't hear him, "If you want one of our dates to not fail you are going to have to drop that armor of yours." He kept his hands in his pockets still watching her, "I no longer shield myself from the outside world, because I no longer need to. If you really want something to come out of this, you are going to have to stop shielding yourself from me." He watched her, "If you fear me so much that you can't bear the thought of letting me in then I will stop trying."

He looked at her, "I am prepared to give you another chance at this date thing if you are still interested in it." He closed his eyes, "This time however, the ball will be in your court." He took a few steps towards her beginning to close the gap, "I'll walk you home, and if you want to start the date all over again from there, that is your right. If you need time to come up with a plan, I am prepared to give you until 7:30 tomorrow evening, when I will arrive in much the same fashion that I did this evening, hopefully without having to pull a drunk man off of you." He opened his eyes, and his expression spoke volumes about how he was not joking in the least, "This is an important exercise. If you are not comfortable taking off your armor for me in a situation that is entirely under your control then you really are a lost cause. Hopefully that is not the case."

 

[Perplexia]

Raven stopped as he spoke. He was chastising her and rightly so. She did not however feel she was entirely to blame, but decided for once to keep her mouth shut.
She let his words absorb before speaking "Its not you that i fear Xavier she said lightly. She closed her eyes for a moment as she took a deep breath. Her mind was a flurry of emotions, and although she didn't want to show him the tears that lined her face for to her it was weak, she did turning to look at him. "I think tomorrow night will be a good night for that date"

She held out her hand as if waiting for his arm to lead her back home. Her first instinct of course being to tell him she would walk herself home.

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier nodded softly and walked towards her, taking her hand within his. He then looked at her and bowed his head slightly yo her, "I am sorry for failing you on this date." He slowly brought his head back up so that he could look her in the eyes, "I should have tried harder to make you see that you have no reason to fear me or to shield yourself from me, and I have done a poor job of that so far."

He slowly began to lead her back to her home. His mind was dwelling on this issue. What was it that he could do? He thought about it and then decided that the first step was to remove the part of their relationship that offended her so, "If it bothers you so much that I am interested in your blood, you don't have to give it to me. As I said before, I am not going to take anything from you that you do not give me willingly." He kept his fingers laced with hers, "I would be very much pleased if this relationship was allowed to continue, even if I never drank of your blood."

He continued walking and then brought his free hand to his pocket. He toyed with something for a moment before pulling out a small felt covered box that was the color of dried blood. He opened it revealing a silver ring, much like the one that he was wearing. He turned his gaze to her, "I would like to give you this, if you would accept it. This is a ring of the royal claddagh. It is an Irish symbol. The crown represents loyalty, the hands represent friendship, and the heart represents love." He looked at it for a moment before taking her hand and placing it in her palm, "Similarly, the way that you wear the ring says different things about you. Wearing the ring so that the heart forms an arrow pointing down your finger represents that your heart is open, and available, while wearing it so that the heart forms an arrow that points to your knuckle says that your heart is closed, and no longer available." He closed her fingers around the ring, "Accept this as my apology for ruining our date."

 

[Perplexia]

She listened intently to what he was saying and nodded without really saying much. She didn't fear him, she feared loosing him. Her mind couldn't grasp why she had such a desire to be near him. She felt it from the moment he spoke. It was almost as if she knew him.
As he gave her the ring explaining its meaning and closed her hand around it.
Her head lifted again as her eyes met his and stared into them with a softness she hadn't let him see before.

She steped closer to him wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. Her heart raced wildly as her small toned body pressed against his. She laid her head for a few moments upon his chest before she spoke.

"Thank you for having the fortitude to push me" she said lightly "Thank you for the gift, i shall wear it always." she closed her eyes for a moment. "I do not fear you Xavier she said softly, I do not fear what you could do, what you are, what you may want from me. I fear letting myself open to you, i fear falling for you, i fear waking up and you being gone. I fear being alone, i fear never having an emotional attachment to anyone. There was a time she said softly, that i believed in the idea of soul mates, i believed in the idea of being excited to rush home to that one person that made everything okay, and made me feel beautiful, desired, and like a princess. The thug that you so gallantly rescued me from earlier, there was a time that he had me believing that those things were possible. The night that i was going to give myself to him, i was in the bedroom making it ready and a notebook fell out from his coat pocket. It fell open and what he had written in there was some of the most horrid things I'd ever seen. He finds girls that are virgins, and takes it from them. He makes bets with his friends on how long it would take him to do so. He has several girls going at once.

He even had some turning tricks for him. Its was like a ring or something. So i exposed him, and his ring, and he was expelled from the university. He's been stalking me every since. I normally move every three months or so. I have no numbers or anything listed. I even write under a pseudo at work. I don't know how he finds me, but he will continue to do so, and i will probably be looking over my shoulder for a long time. Tomorrow I'll start looking for a new place to live.

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier looked at the woman for a few moments, paying close attention to the way she was acting, the things she was saying. He sighed softly and then wrapped his arms around her, "I suppose it would be inappropriate of me to ask you if you wanted me to end him." He sighed and ran his fingers through the woman's hair, "I have no intention of using you." He closed his eyes, still running his fingers through her hair, "And I have no intention of leaving you. If you accepted me into your life, you would see me all the time. I can guarantee that." He smirked softly, "You would probably see me so often that it would make you sick of me."

He smiled softly, quite content to just hold the woman close to him. This world that was created between the two of them seemed to be perfect somehow. He wasn't going to let it slip away.

 

[Perplexia]

As they reached her door she didn't seem to want to go in. "I know that i have no right to ask this of you. But could i convince you to stay with me tonight? If you think it will be to hard to resist temptations, i can understand and assure you I'll be fine. I just feel safer with you then i have in many years." She couldn't explain why she had shifted so dramatically with in the last hour or so of their walk. He called her out, and told her what she needed to hear.

"As for ending him" she said lightly "I cannot say yes or no to that question" she would allow him to do whatever he felt needed to be done and never question it. If she had his abilities she would have ripped his throat out a long time ago. There was no telling how many lives he ruined, or women that he'd permanently injured by his games.

"I think Xavier she said softly placing the ring on her finger with the arrow down, that it is safe to say i accept you. As for making me sick of you, well that will remain to be seen. I do not know what tomorrow brings. But I'll be happy to see it."

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier blinked as he looked at her for a moment and then nodded softly. He followed Raven into the apartment, keeping his hands in his pockets, "I would be quite happy to spend my night here." He looked at her, smiling softly, "I think I can resist your charms, and you would probably be safer with me here to defend you should this man appear at your door again." He slowly stepped into her apartment and stood just inside the door, his eyes closed.

He slowly opened his eyes again to look around and then spoke again, "I will not let you live in fear of this man any longer. I could make perverted suggestions if you would like, such as the fact that from what you have said he is only interested in virgins, and I could easily be convinced to solve that problem." He blinked slowly, "Regardless, I feel more secure with you here with me. I think I'll do my best to keep it this way." He smirked softly and then walked over to her couch sitting at the one corner of the couch, his eyes looking over her television.

He looked around for a few more moments noticing a few vampire movies. He raised an eyebrow at that and then simply shook his head, "I don't mean to tread on your taste in cinematic adventure, but I much preferred the princess bride and starwars to vampire movies." He smirked, looking over at her, "You've seen those, right? If not, I think I know a rental store that we are going to have to go to so that I can expose you to my taste in film."

 

[Perplexia]

She laughed lightly as she placed her keys down. "I can only hope that he feels an ounce of the fear that has been my life the past few years." "But i did not tell you my story so that you would be my personal bodyguard, but more so that you could understand the fear i have isn't of you. I guess I'm trying to open up."
"
As for movies she laughed. I do like the Princess Bride, and Starwars is ok, i prefer the old to the new. If you open the drawer cabinet there, I'm sure you'll find a DVD of each and perhaps some others you may enjoy. Another hobby of mine i suppose, i love movies and theater."
She smiled to him and opened up the curtains to the balcony that gave a great view of the sky she opened the door and stepped onto it the night breeze flowing through her hair and dress.

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier smiled softly, "The most recent starwars movies don't count." He slowly pushed himself up and started to walk to where she was. He then slipped in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "And I didn't tell you that I would protect you because I wanted you to think of me as your body guard. I told you that I was going to protect you because I am, and because you should feel safe in your own home." He let his chin rest on her shoulder and looked out at the view for a few more moments, "It is quite a spectacular view. It would be a pity if you gave it up because of some creep." He sighed softly.

He closed his eyes for a moment enjoying her body warmth, and then slowly began to pull away, almost reluctantly, "I'm sorry again that our first date was such a flop, but at least there is the promise that the next one will be better, after all, you are in charge of it." He smirked softly, "And then, after we go out on another date, I might not have to stop myself from kissing you anymore."

((Last post for the night.))

 

[Perplexia]

Raven smiled and held onto his arms to keep him from leaving laying her head back against his chest enjoying the closeness of him. "I do indeed love this apartment" she said softly. "I don't think our first date was flop" she said lightly. "If it had gone any differently we wouldn't be who we are. Besides discovering things about each other daily is what dating, and relationships are about."
"Do you need to go out and feed" she asked in almost a whisper as her fingers rubbed his cool arms.

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier shook his head slightly at the question of if he needed to go out to feed. He smiled softly, "No, I don't need to feed yet. I've been keeping my level of activity low to avoid having to feed for as long as possible." He sighed softly and kissed the top of her head, "I think I'd much rather enjoy your body warmth." He wrapped his arms around her waist again, pulling her gently so that her body was against his completely.

He closed his eyes, "I'm afraid that you might regret accepting me like this. I feat that I will now only be able to answer your questions in exchange for moments like this or kisses now." He sighed and kissed the top of her head, "I apologize if this inconveniences you." He slowly traced his fingers over her tummy in slow lazy patterns, "At least it isn't all bad news. I think that if you took the dominant role and pinned me to a wall or something there are no questions that you could ask that I wouldn't answer."

 

[Perplexia]

She laughed lightly leaning back into him. "I cannot remember ever being so content" she uttered lightly enjoying the tender traces his fingers made upon her stomach. "would you like to watch a movie?" She didn't really wait for an answer she had to find something else to occupy her mind before she lost all her senses having him so close. Raven entwined her fingers with his and stepped to the side taking his hand and leading him back inside.

Just as she was shutting the balcony doors she heard a beating on the front door. The fear returned to her like a wave although she attempted to shield it flimsily. Marcus began shouting through the door..

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier looked at her for a moment and then looked at the door which was being pounded on. He sighed softly and then gently patted her on the top of the head. He kept his eyes on the door, "He is annoying..." He slowly slipped his hands into his pockets and walked towards the door. He stood in front of it staring at it for a few moments, "We aren't interested in whatever you are selling." He kept his lazy eyes focused on the door his hands in his pockets, "You should leave. You are interrupting us."

He sighed softly, knowing that the man on the other side of the door wouldn't be leaving. He now felt rather sad that he hadn't thought to bring any weapons with him with which to deal with this troublesome man. He watched the door silently for a few more moments, "You should go away. It's not worth getting beat again."

 

[Perplexia]

Marcus scoffed a little. "Oh don't tell me you're buying into the whole she's a virgin thing, she's not worth the trouble man, let me deal with her. I ain't got no beef with you he said lightly.. Us men got to stick together, Just let me have her for five minutes an then she's all yours."

Raven sank into the couch pulling her legs up to her chest. Any other man may have questioned whether or not she was pure. Marcus had no idea what he was involved with.

She took a deep breath and rose from the couch moving down the steps next to Xavier placing a hand on his back as she spoke. "He doesn't need to buy that I'm a virgin Marcus, because he's the one that took it from me. And if you don't mind you're interrupting what promised to be a very active evening. The last i checked you weren't into sexually active women unless they were part of your whore ring. If you don't leave i will call the police, and you wouldn't want them investigating again would you?

"fucking cunt" Marcus yelled.. "One day you little bitch when your boyfriend isn't around to protect you you'll wish you'd never met me"

Raven trembled lightly.. "i already do, Now get the fuck out of here you piece of shit" "Hello yes i have a stalker beating on my door"

Hearing that Marcus took off.

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier watched closely for a few more moments and then sighed softly, hearing as Marcus retreated. He slowly turned and looked back to the woman who he was now sharing a room with. Suddenly the room had become very small. He looked at her for a few more moments before speaking in a soft voice, "You realize that if he corners you and rapes you he is going to find out that you were lying..." He watched her for a few more moments and then spoke softly, "Of course if he finds you and rapes you there won't be a body to find after I'm done with him, but that isn't really the point here."

He looked at her for a few more moments and then closed his eyes, "I could make it so that you aren't a liar, but that would definitely be moving this relationship a bit fast." He looked at her blankly for a moment or two before walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her, "I am sorry that you have to deal with such an inhuman monster."

 

[Perplexia]

She wrapped her arms around Xavier trembling slightly. "the way i see it, she said softly "is that i either find a new apt, or leave town. It's either that or i hire a body guard that walks me to and from work. She shook her head,"how did i get here to this place in my life where i have to adjust my life to avoid a maniac, i just don't get it.""If i run" she said softly "I'll always be running, if possible i would like to avoid the whole rape thing all together" she said with a nervous laugh.

As for this relationship. "I think that using fear as a reason to take such a leap isn't a good one. But for the first time tonight with you, when we were on the balcony i actually felt this peacefulness come over me. Its like everything was right with the world. Things made sense. In your arms, i feel complete. I realize thats pretty heavy stuff for a first date. she laughed lightly.. "i think I'm turning all girly on you" she laughed again burying her head into his chest.

 

[Bluemage]

He smirked softly, "And what exactly is wrong with being 'girly'?" He smiled softly and slowly ran his fingers up and down her back, "If you wanted to you could live with me. I live in a comfortable penthouse, which like your apartment has a nice view, but unlike your apartment has heavy security." He brought one of his hands up, slowly running his fingers down through her hair, "You would be safer as long as you were there. On the journey to and from work you might be in a spot of danger if it was during the daylight hours when I can't escort you. You could try to set something up where you send your stories via email or something."

He nodded softly and kissed the top of her head, "Also, pushing our relationship to the next level because you are afraid isn't a good idea. If you want to take that step it should be out of love and commitment, not out of fear." He smiled softly, "And you should know that there will be absolutely no getting rid of me if you take that step."

 

[Perplexia]

Raven smiled to him and hugged him again. "I need to think about that offer" she said softly. "thats a huge step" Smiling softly she slowly backed out of his arms taking his hand and leading him back up the stairs. "its a very gracious offer." She opened up the patio doors and walked out onto the balcony. "i would want to pay you to live there, of course have my own room, it would be like a roommate type thing. It would definitely allow us to get to know each other." "I think the work from home thing is a good thing, but there are times i would still need to go into the office. Depending on where you live would depend on the commute. Normally i walk at night, so the escort home part if you insisted, wouldn't be a problem. And when i go in, is when most do. I tend to stay within the heavily walking traffic areas. But i think just as a precaution, i would like to fix a tracking device on my keyring, purse, cell phone, a hair pin..something. So if whatever reason i disappear you can find me." she took a few steps forward looking over the edge. "Are you absolutely sure you want to take this mess on? You just met me, and i know that there's something unique between us, I'm not denying that, and I'm not wanting to step anywhere away from that. I am committed to taking it a step forward at a time. But what you're offering is above and beyond anything that would be expected."

 

[Bluemage]

He looked at her for a few moments, being very serious and then suddenly smiled, "Yes I am certain." He slowly walked towards her and took her cheek in his palm again, slowly running his fingers over her cheek, "You won't feel secure in anything that is going on, including this relationship, if you are always worried, and always looking over your shoulder, worried that some villain will pop up to get you. I have put thought into this, and the best way to make you feel safe is to make sure that you are with me as much as possible."

He smiled as he looked at her for a few moments and then continued to speak, "And keep your money. If you feel that you cannot move in without paying me somehow then I can come up with several ways in which you are doing me a service, for example, I will no longer be living in a large home that seems to be empty, you will be able to defend me in the daylight hours, I will have you close so that when you decide you want to kiss me you will be able to." He smirked, "There are plenty of things that I gain from this as well."

 

[Perplexia]

Shelly laughed lightly "well then, we should probably go see if any of the supply stores are open so i can pack" she said walking into her bedroom. "I'll be just a moment i need to change." she smiled still feeling his touch upon her cheek as she shut the door closing him off from her for the moment.

She changed into a pair of black jogging pants and a tank top. She placed her hair up into a pony tail and put on some tennis shoes. She stopped by the vanity and placed some lip gloss upon her lips touching up her make up.

In a city that never slept she hoped they'd find some boxes some where. She opened the door and smiled, ok I'm ready.

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier smiled softly at her, "You are very attractive. I am very glad that you are mine." He smiled and slowly ran his fingers over her cheek, "I hope that we can find the things that you are looking for. If we can't, then we could make this switch over multiple trips." He smiled softly and then pulled away from her slowly, "I suppose we should get going if we are going to do this tonight."

He smiled softly and then headed towards the door, being on his guard because he couldn't be sure that the vile man who had been bothering Raven was really gone. As a result he didn't slip his fingers into his pockets instead deciding to carry himself normally, his hands on either side of him. He smiled and then opened the door, holding it open for the girl.

 

[Perplexia]

She took a deep breath and stepped outside. The air was cooler then it had been. inhaling deeply with the briskness tickling her nostrils she stepped forward. Xavier followed shutting the door. She placed her key in the locks and locked it securely before taking her place on his arm.

They began walking in the other direction as she let him to a storage facility. As they walked she asked. Would you mind then if you aren't going to allow me to pay rent, that i get a body guard to walk me to work? I don't want you to be inconvenienced by being my babysitter.

I'm sure you have a life other then me as well. You can select who walks me if it makes you feel better. She was trying in every respect to maintain a bit of her independence. So much had happened with in the last few hours. She didn't want to offend him with the question, but make it known that she didn't expect the world to stop for her at this particular moment.

 

[Bluemage]

Xavier spoke softly, "The part of my life that doesn't involve you is very dull." He continued walking slowly, "If it bothers you to be spending so much time with me, then you can do that. I'm sorry for being so clingy." He continued walking, really unsure of what else he should be saying. He slowly slipped his hands back into his pockets, for the first time noticing that next to her he seemed a bit overdressed.