Path of the Vampire forum

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Zakar: He was nervous. At least, he thought he was as he started to dial her number, then erased the digits, tried again, and erased them a second time, then wiped a sweaty palm on his jeans while telling himself that he had no reason to be so nervous. It wasn’t as if he’d never spoken to her before, right? Zakar smiled as he gave himself a pep talk, preparing himself to dial her number and actually hit send, even if it killed him to do it. No one had ever died from calling a woman, had they? ‘Maybe,’ his mind whispered to him, unhelpful as ever. “Shut up,” he muttered to himself as he dialed her number at long last and hit send, pacing his apartment as he waited to see if she would even answer.

Kleopatra: Kleo had returned home from her trip to Necropolis where she’d run into Aysel several hours ago. The conversation she’d had with the woman was interesting to say the least, and she wondered if she should bring it up to Zakar. The night was still fairly young and Kleo had no real plans- Netflix and blood from the Arbor Vitae stash she kept on hand at all times. Lounging on a dark leather couch in her living area, she was staring ahead at the television screen but not really seeing or hearing. Her mind was constantly wandering to plans she was making and questions she had about herself, others, and the vampire life in general.

A deep vibration was felt against her thigh where her phone was perched. The noise and feeling forced her back to the present and when she glanced down at the screen she felt a sudden dizziness. ZAKAR. it said- he was calling! Kleo’s thumb slid over the touchscreen and she pressed the device to her cheek. “Hey Zakar!”

Zakar: He’d half expected her not to answer, so the sound of her voice caught him off guard. He stopped pacing, his feet suddenly rooted to the floor as effectively as if they’d been glued there. His own voice failed him for a beat and when he finally managed to return her greeting, it came out sounding cracked like a teenage boy’s at the start of puberty, “He-LLo Kleo.” Embarrassed, he cleared his throat and tried to ignore his nerves betraying him in such a way by simply pushing onward with the call. Maybe he could claim a sore throat or something if she asked him why he sounded like that. “I heard you were the one who delivered Psyche to the Shadow Realm. I am sure you have already had many congratulations about that event, but I thought I would call and add mine to the rest. So, with that having been said, congratulations on your fatal strike, Kleo. I am happy for your accomplishment. Perhaps you might consider meeting up with me to celebrate, if such a thing is considered appropriate I mean.”

Sweet Allah, had he just asked her out? What would she think of him for doing that? More importantly, what if she declined or didn’t want anything to do with him or thought him morbid for asking if she would like to celebrate? Those and a thousand other thoughts and doubts flashed through his mind in the blink of an eye, while some small part of his mind told him, ‘Stop being such a woman and grow a set. If she doesn’t want to see you tonight, you can always set up something for a different evening.’

Kleopatra: Kleo’s face scrunched as Zakar’s voice came through the phone- it sounded as if he was breaking up. She pulled the receiver from her ear, glared at it then returned it to her cheek. “Zakar...Are you there?” She fell silent when she heard the sounds of a throat being cleared, and smiled- so, she had that effect on him. The reason he was calling was soon clear she thought- he wanted to congratulate her on the hit she’d made hours before, a strike that’d sent Psyche to the Realm. It had all passed too quickly- from Micah’s text, to his summon and then finally the strike to end it all as her blade delved into the man’s brain. Contrary to Zakar’s assumption, she hadn’t had many congratulations at all, but that was fine- her Sire was satisfied and so was she in turn.

Kleo smiled, absentmindedly tracing patterns on the couch cushion with a fingertip, the nail threatening to slice through. “Thanks Zakar! It was a more exhilarating than I imagined, and definitely beats fightin those creatures in the Zone and such...” A moment’s pause passed as she repeated the last of his words in her mind. Did he just ask...yes, yes he did. “And Zakar, of course I’d like to see you. Did you want to get together tonight, or…?” Kleo didn’t much care if seeing him was appropriate or not- she enjoyed his company.

In the wake of her response, Kleo sat up and slid to the edge of her seat, stood, then began circling her coffee table slowly as she waited to hear what he’d say.

Zakar: She was accepting?! Disbelief had him pulling his phone away from his ear to stare at it for a moment, surprise evident in his expression though no one was there to see it. Without thinking, he yelled to the empty room, “Woohoo!” It was only when he noticed the phone was still in his hand that he felt heat rising in his cheeks. Terrific. He knew there was no way she’d missed the jubilant tone in his voice and now he was wondering if he should just scrap the whole idea. How was he going to face the woman now? Well, it was too late to take it back, the damage was done.

Taking a deep, though unnecessary breath, he put the phone back to his ear and laughed softly as he replied, “If my foolish yell was not answer enough for you, then let me just say that tonight will work very well. I would try to say it is because I am watching some sporting event on TV, but it is because you agreed to see me. Where would you like to meet? Or if you like, I can pick you up and we could go for a drive and park somewhere. I mean park to talk, not for other things!” Zakar was rambling, or maybe he was babbling, whatever the case, he was definitely shoving his foot in his mouth and panicking as he desperately tried to think of a way to salvage what he viewed to be a rapidly deteriorating situation. Either way, he forced his mouth to close so that she could let him know her thoughts, good or bad.

Kleopatra: A soft hiss slipped past Kleo’s lips- his yell had startled her. She recovered quickly though, and the sound of laughter replaced it. She could admit it was slightly awkward, but in all honesty, the awkwardness that sometimes existed in her exchanges with Zakar made her enjoy them that much more. And if her agreeing to see him got that response, she half wondered how he’d react to other things she could do. “I’m happy I can make you so happy. If you’re that easy to please, you’re makin this easy for me.” she joked, continuing to laugh. “Really though, it’s nothing to get worked up about...it’s kinda cute, actually.” Kleo had paused in the middle of circling and now leaned against a wall to speak. “I’d like for you to come pick me up, a drive and the park sound great. I just need a bit of time to pull myself together if that’s alright?”

Already, Kleo’s mind was racing as she tried to picture the clothing she wanted to wear, and where it was in the half packed-half unpacked mess she had going on.

Zakar: Pull herself together? Zakar wondered what he’d interrupted if she needed time, but as usual, he was far too polite to ask for an explanation. He would assume that she meant she needed to get dressed or maybe do those secret female rituals that involved creams and soaps and any other of the mysterious things women did to make themselves so appealing to men. The silence while he pondered her question stretched out until he realized he had yet to answer her. Good god but he was failing at this whole male/female interaction business he thought before he replied, “Of course, is an hour enough time or do you need more than that? I also need an address so that I can pick you up. Although I suppose I could just drive around the town aimlessly until I happen to see you waiting outside for me. That just makes me sound like a stalker though.”

Was he really saying that to her?! He made a mental note to call Djinn and ask him more about the fine art of speaking to women. Or maybe he should ask the man’s wife. She was chock full of good advice that she always seemed willing to share with him.

Kleopatra: Kleo was tempted to ask if Zakar was still on the line, again, but she was quickly realizing this was just how phone conversations would go. “An hour is plenty time. You’ve seen me lookin near my best and worst, so I’m not gonna try to blow you away too much….tonight.” Kleo grinned. “Drivin around this whole city searchin for me would be a waste of a lot of gasoline, because I’m pretty sure this is a place you wouldn’t even think to come., but if you wanna stalk me go ahead- you’re a stalker I don’t think I’d mind having.” A small laugh pressed into the phone. “Okay, I’m gonna text my address to you right now, so you can reference it again if you need to!”

Kleo put Zakar on speakerphone as she quickly brought up his contact, typed in her address, and hit send. “Did you get it?”

Zakar: With words like that, he found himself looking down at his jeans and wondering if he should change into something a bit nicer. What was the worst that could happen? He decided that his jeans would have to go, just for tonight. As those thoughts ran through his head, he picked up the phone and carried it to the bedroom where he set it on the bed while he started pulling out clean clothes to put on while he replied to her, “It came through and I will be there in one hour, no more no less. Just so you know, I was pretty blown away by how you looked the other night. You looked...well, I am certain you remember what I said with regards to how you looked. I will be there in an hour. Look for the Eva GT outside your place in an hour. The vehicle is silver and black. The driver is caramel and met with an unfortunate incident last night while learning to whistle so he is missing his beard. Me being the driver. I will see you in a bit, Kleo.”

Kleopatra: Kleo could hear movement on Zakar’s end, as if he was bustling about, and she wondered what he was up to. “Okay, one hour it is! And yes, I do remember what you said about me in my costume on Tuesday. I trust you remember how much I liked what you said?” As she spoke, Kleo sifted through suitcases and drawers, piecing together a cohesive outfit to put on. “I don’t what what an Eva is but I guess I’ll find out when I see a black and silver car outside, lightin up my porch, won’t I? You gotta tell me about your incident...I’m tryin to picture you without your beard but it’s hard, so hurry up and get here!” She tried to sound playfully demanding, but doubted he was buying due to the laughter accompanying the smile splayed on her face.

Zakar: ”I have to hang up the phone so I can get dressed. I mean change clothes. Not that I am running around with nothing on. I have clothes on….I swear! I am just going to hang up now. I look forward to seeing you soon, Kleo.” He hit the disconnect button on his phone and immediately headed for the shower, stripping and leaving a pile of clothing on the floor behind him. Once he had showered, he pulled on a pair of neatly pressed black slacks, a dark red t-shirt that fit him tightly and showed a well muscled form, and black calfskin shoes. It was then that he was met with a dilemma, to cover his head or not. The debate raged within him as he tried to tame the head of black curls into something not quite so..well..unruly. A keffiyeh would easily solve that issue because it would hide the dark mop nicely, but he was trying to acclimate to being more Western and that was the furthest thing from Western that he could get. With a heavy sigh, he shoved his fingers through the curls and left them to dry, hoping that would work as he tugged on a buttery soft leather jacket, grabbed his keys and headed out the door to pick her up.

Thank god he had GPS to help him or he would have been hard pressed to find her place, but he managed to get there with two minutes to spare. Should he go knock on her door or simply wait by the car? More debate before he finally got out of the car and went to stand by the passenger side. If he wasn’t going to knock on her door, the least he could do would be to open the car door for her, right?

Kleopatra: Kleo was biting her lower lip rather hard, trying not to burst into laughter again. Of course she didn’t care one way or the other if he was clothed or not, but she understood that he didn’t want to say anything improper, or offend. ”Okay Zakar...one hour.” Kleo managed to reiterate the meetup time once more, before the line went dead.

Being a woman getting ready to go out, the minutes seemed to fly by. She’d already indulged in a shower after getting in from Necropolis- warm vanilla and apricot notes still lingered on her skin from the body wash she’d used. Getting redressed took little time- she dragged black sheers and thigh high socks up her long legs, followed by high waist shorts with a camel colored belt threaded through the loops. Up top, an ash blue long sleeved blouse was pulled over her head and tucked into the shorts, then adorned with an infinity scarf. Her hair still had a nice wave to it that wasn’t overly refined, and Kleo tugged a beanie on over them. There, not too dressed up, but not exactly pajamas either.

A glance at the clock on her nightstand showed she was cutting it it close- Zakar would be there in five minutes! With a newfound urgency, Kleo hunted down low heeled ankle boots, slipped them on, then grabbed a leather shoulder bag she’d stuffed with her essentials and headed for the front door.

She could see light shining through the curtained windows in her living room, and began feeling a bit nervous, which was unlike her. She did a full spin, making sure things around her home were in a state of tidiness she could be alright leaving it in. Satisfied, she stepped out onto the porch, immediately turned to lock the front door, then turned the opposite direction to face the car.

“Damn.” She whispered- now that was a car. It was almost as beautiful as the man standing beside it- hair unruly in a way that made Kleo lick her lips, and the rest of him looking just as good. “Zakar.” she said politely, a grin dancing on her mouth as she descended the few wooden steps and headed toward him.

Zakar: Zakar had been trying to look casual, like he had been waiting for her for more than a couple of minutes. He thought leaning against the car might have accomplished that look but he couldn’t be entirely sure. Not that he could do much beyond stare at her with a lopsided smile as she started down the steps. In fact, his stare had turned into a long look that traveled from her face to the tips of her shoes and back up as he pushed himself off the car and started toward her, “Kleo. You have managed to blow me away for the second time this week. You look..well I do not have words enough to say how good you look tonight.”

As the distance between them closed, he wondered how he should greet her. A handshake seemed very formal in his mind, but trying to kiss her cheek might be too forward for her. Finally he settled for offering her his hand to lead her toward the car by way of a greeting. That seemed the least offensive and most proper way in his mind. Much better than sweeping her into his arms and attempting to kiss her senseless. Besides, he was feeling more than a little shy with nothing but a moustache to cover his face and wondering what she thought of his semi-bald appearance. “Shall we go for a ride? I mean drive, not ride! Forgive me, my tongue seems to have a mind of its own. Maybe I should have it removed so I stop saying the wrong things. Djinn would be unhappy if he had heard what I just said to you.”

Kleopatra: As Kleo got closer to Zakar, she took notice of the change to his face- the hair that usually framed his chin was gone, leaving a sweep of facial hair above his lips. She liked him either way, and like a few nights ago found herself staring at his mouth. She caught herself quickly this time and met his eyes. “Thanks, you look good yourself...very good. I approve” She winked, and her head nodded up and down while she spoke, and continued to do so even after she’d become quiet.

He offered her his hand and she took it, beating down the impulsive side of her that wanted to resist, pull him in and press her lips to his.

Zakar was stumbling over his words again, which did nothing more than make the urge to kiss him more persistent. “A ride...a drive, whatever you wanna call it, yes, let’s go.” She replied, giving his palm a squeeze. “Whoever Djinn is, they don’t hafta worry, you haven’t offended me. And I’d rather your tongue stay put in your mouth...or maybe mine? I doubt you’d be saying much of anything then.” A smirk lifted one side of her mouth.

Zakar: ”Djinn, the one you call Micah, would ask if my suggesting a ride meant that I wanted to get into your pants. A Freudian slip I think they are called.” Zakar laughed softly and shook his head, wondering why people seemed to think either he or Kleo wanted sex. “I must admit that I am curious to see how well my tongue can dance with yours, and if I start talking too much, that might be an effective way to silence me. I am tempted to talk until you decide you are tired of hearing me speak just to see if you would attempt such a thing, Kleo.” He lead her to the car and paused, using his free hand to open the door for her and smiling as a wave of heat rolled out invitingly, as if to entice her into the warmth and luxury that waited within. Soft, heated leather seats waited to cradle her in comfort while music played in the background. He wasn’t entirely sure what the music was, but it set the mood for a moonlit drive and conversation to be sure.

Zakar’s thumb stroked across the soft skin of her hand lightly as he waited for her to get in. The manners he displayed second nature. In spite of the strict way he’d been raised, his mother had often taken him aside to talk to him about how to treat a woman with respect and the lessons she’d given him had stuck with him through the years.

Kleopatra: ”Oh, Micah!” Kleo smiled wide. “He might ask that, though I don’t think he’d care, even if you said yes.” She purposefully bumped into him, making light of the comment. Kleo glanced sideways over at Zakar as he followed up with a long winded stream of words that were tempting her to do the very thing he was speaking about, but she resisted.

Kleo followed Zakar’s the short distance to the car, and sighed happily as the door opened, bringing with it music, warmth, and more of the scent Zakar was already putting off, filling her nostrils. “This looks dangerously inviting…” Her voice had lowered. She’d been about turn and begin lowering her body into the sleek car when his touch halted her. It was gentle, and she could do little more than stare at him and smile. “Thank you.” Her voice getting close to a whisper as she leaned in, her lips catching the corner of his mouth.

Zakar: Zakar almost kissed her then, but the grin that turned his lips up prevented him from doing that very thing. A soft, nearly inaudible growl rumbled deep in his throat. The growl indication, if the grin wasn’t enough, that he liked the almost kiss. “No, thank you, Kleo.” He released her hand so that she could get in and hurried around to his side, thinking that would be the safest thing for him to do because if he continued to stand there, he was going to kiss her. As much as he wanted to do that, he also knew that there were things he needed to speak with her about and that standing there grinning like the village idiot was not going to get that done.

Zakar opened the door on his side and folded himself into seat in a fluid movement. As he shut the door, he caught the faintest scent of vanilla and something else he couldn’t quite put his finger on. It mingled nicely with his own scent though, and while the village grin didn’t return to his face, a smile graced his lips as he turned his head toward the passenger side to make sure she was in and settled.

Kleopatra: Kleo didn’t comment on the sound coming from Zakar, but it was definitely noted. She smiled, said a soft “You’re welcome, Zakar.” and ducked to get into the car, staring up at him as she strapped herself in- more out of habit than necessity. What was she doing? Why did he have this effect on her? Kleo, strong and forward, finding herself reduced to an almost completely unfamiliar shyness and tenderness she seldom allowed.

Her eyes followed Zakar until he’d reached his own door and as it opened it as she closed her own. The air unsettled by him getting in blew his scent toward his face in another wave and and she made an appreciative sound. Glancing to her left, she caught his eye and smiled, resisting the urge to rest a hand on his thigh. “Ready when you are.” she stated, stretching her legs out as much as she could.

Zakar: Zakar had a thing for going fast, at least when he drove. Maybe that was because he never went fast in his everyday life. Things like business required time and finesse, speed was rarely, if ever, a part of that. As such, when he got to drive, he drove like the hounds of hell were hot on his tail. Tonight though, he was careful when he pulled out of the driveway and began to head down the road. No, he wasn’t driving like a little old lady, but he was obeying the speed limits….until he got outside the city limits. Once he passed the sign letting him know they were outside town, he glanced over at Kleo, shot her a wink and pushed the pedal to the floor. The Eva responded as she always did, with a loud purr of the engine and a sudden, yet smooth burst of speed.

The lights of town fell behind them, then winked out completely when he rounded a sharp curve. Though he didn’t know the town itself as well as he should have, he did know the surrounding area well enough and all too soon he was pulling off the main road and onto a gravel one that led to a small lake. Secluded, but not so far out as to leave them vulnerable to attacks by the Fae. As he put the car in park, he looked over at her and smiled, “I found this spot not long after I was turned. It is where I come to think, or just to enjoy the silence sometimes. I thought maybe this place would be free of distractions so we could talk and maybe find out a little more about each other. You know, like aside from the fact that we were both born.”

Kleopatra: Kleo was impressed with the Eva, as much as she was with Zakar- it was a smooth ride, and made falling into a feeling of comfort with the man at her side all the more easy. She had no clue where they were headed, just that it was a park, and she wondered if it was one she’d been to. Her eyes were trained on the sights passing her window in what she knew was a blur- trees, animals and the like. Her vision was so highly developed that they were actually quite clear.

Kleo got the sense that eyes were on her, and turned back to face Zakar in time to catch the wink he gave. She quirked a questioning brow, wondering what he was up to. Her nonverbal question was given a nonverbal response- she saw the movement of his leg as his foot pressed down on the gas and they took off. “A gentleman and an adrenaline junkie...I like it!” She grinned wide.

The route they were taking had, so far, been familiar to Kleo...and then suddenly it wasn’t. Perhaps she’d been staring at Zakar too intently, and missed a turn they’d taken. She leaned forward in her seat, as if trying to reach through the windshield and inspect every feature of the road in hopes that it would divulge their location. Soon, he was steering the car off the main road, onto an unfinished one. Her mouth opened as if to ask where they were, but she was distracted then by a brightness- moonlight on water. “This is very pretty…” Kleo stared, mesmerized as she often was by the simplest things. “I’d like to know more about you too, like what you’ve been up to since...being born.” She laughed.

Zakar: ”Since being born? Too many things to speak about. How about a synopsis of my life instead? I come from a small family in Saudi Arabia. I had an older brother, Ibrahim. He...met with an unfortunate incident and is no longer among the land of the living. In fact, it was the perceived murder of him that brought me here. To this town, I mean. I came here in search of the one that had been thought to be his killer.” Zakar realized that the topic probably wasn’t the best one to start out with and offered an apologetic smile in her direction as he rested his hands on his thighs, “Sorry, that probably was not the best way to start a conversation, was it? Maybe you should have been the one to start things off.”

Mentally, he berated himself for using such a morbid topic to start a conversation with the woman. She probably wouldn’t want anything to do with him after tonight, if not because of the starter subject, then because of the other subject he knew he needed to disclose. Suddenly nervous, he shifted in his seat, then reached forward to turn the volume down on the radio. As far as dates went, this one had started off well but was, in his estimation, a disaster in the making.

Kleopatra: Wow. That was a mouthful. It wasn’t how Kleo had imagined kicking off the conversation with Zakar, but...at least it was started, right? “That’s alright Zakar. I wanna be your friend, not ju--...” She stopped, unsure of what to call what she “wanted”, and decided to switch gears. “I’m sorry about your brother...I know all too well what it’s like to lose a family member, one as close as a brother.” She didn’t go into detail, there would be time for that another time. “Did you find them...the person you were lookin for?” Kleo considered not asking, in case it were a private matter, but he’d already introduced the subject so she figured there was no harm in asking.

Kleo looked at him, giving what she hoped would be taken as a reassuring look. Zakar was hard on himself, and many times she wanted to tell him he could relax, that she didn’t judge him as harshly as it seemed he judged himself, or at all for that matter.

Zakar: ”Do not be sorry. Ibrahim was my greatest tormentor and he got what he deserved. He was not a good man. Yes, I found them. In fact, it is because I found the person and had every intention of taking them back to Saudi Arabia to face justice, that I ran afoul of Djinn, I mean Micah. Micah turned me in order to prevent me taking them back, and because I did not care if he killed me. You see, I would have died to take the person back with me because I would have had my eternal reward of seventy-two virgins in paradise. Micah turned me to deny me that.” He paused, thinking this was probably the best time to spring the rest on the woman. He liked Kleo. Enough to be honest with her about his personal life. Normally he kept his private life to himself, mostly because the next aspect of his private life involved someone else who might be less than thrilled to know he had divulged details that concerned them.

Taking a deep, unneeded breath, he pushed ahead in a rush, “The person I had thought to be responsible for Ibrahim’s death turned out to be Aysel Johari. Every’s childe. After I was turned, she found me and told me what had really happened to Ibrahim. His death was by his own hand. He eviscerated himself.” Since he was already committed to telling her everything, he kept talking while he met her eyes with his own dark ones, “Aysel and I got to be friends, or at least not at one another’s throat that first week or so. Then an email came from my father. My family follows the older aspects of Islam. They do not believe in marrying for love, nor do they believe that a child has a say in who they marry. Marriages are arranged. While I had managed to avoid that particular aspect of life, the email I received from my father changed all of that in a way I could never have imagined. It seems that he had arranged my marriage while I was here on business and the email contained the “happy” news as well as the name of the woman I was to marry. That woman was Aysel.”

He forced himself to stop there, giving her time to absorb the information, yell, scream, slap him and demand to be taken home.

Kleopatra: Kleo was startled- that was as far from the response to condolences about a death that she could ever imagine receiving. “That’s...unfortunate, about Ibrahim.” Her words were chosen carefully as she began to reply, then stopped, realizing he wasn’t finished. What he shared next was more of a surprise than the admission that his brother deserved to die. Micah, killing to deny someone what sounded like a helluva good time...there had to be more to the story. “Really? Well, there’s a silver lining to everything. He mighta taken your seventy-two virgins in paradise, but look what you’ve got now- One woman in hell who’s the equivalent of seventy-two...non virgins. Still sounds like paradise to me.” A devilish smirk appeared on her lips then.

Kleo’s expression faltered some when Zakar took a breath, as if preparing for some dangerous adventure that he didn’t really want to go on but knew he had to. Her head canted curiously to the side as she regarded him, patient as ever, knowing he’d go on when he was ready.

Aysel...his brother’s possible murderer? Aysel, the woman she’d seen mere hours ago and had an interesting conversation with. She grunted softly. What else was he going to tell her about the woman- more about the connection between them than she already knew? Kleo became still, listening and not much else, until Zakar’s voice fell away and silence filled in.

Nothing could compare to the shock she’d had when Aysel first told her she and Zakar were married- at least there was that. There was no overwhelming anger, no urge to reach across and strangle him, none of the feelings that’d coursed through her the first time around.

Kleo considered pretending she knew nothing of the marriage, but she wasn’t the secretive type. Zakar was being forthcoming and honest which she appreciated, and she was hopeful that he might be able to shed more light on the situation- though she’d accepted Aysel’s account of things, hearing from Zakar was essential if she was going to truly be okay with it. “I know she’s your wife…” She looked him in the eyes.

Zakar: As far as surprise twists went, he hadn’t been planning on that one. Kleo knew he was married?! How long had she known and who’d told her? ‘That’s a stupid question,’ his mind whispered to him as he tried to regroup from his shock. For the first time in his life, he found himself wishing that he smoked so that he would have something to do with his hands and a reason to get out of the car. Since he didn’t, he was left with simply looking at her or out the window. His head moved as if her were watching a tennis match, first to her, then out the window and back again. The silence stretched out as he tried to figure out what to say next.

At last, after what felt like hours to him but was only about a minute or two, he replied in a quiet voice, “I see. I have a good idea of who told you, but I also think that I should be honest with you myself. You see, when Aysel and I found out that we were to enter into a marital contract, I balked at the idea. I did not want to marry someone that I did not love. Nor did I want her to enter into a marriage with someone she did not love. I went so far as to offer to tell my father that I could not marry anyone because I was gay. Not that I am gay, nor is there anything wrong with being gay….” Good god was there no end to his tongue tripping over itself and making him appear the fool?! Zakar pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger in an effort to silence himself before anything else like that popped out. Once he was sure his tongue was done creating a bigger mess for him, he spoke again, “Aysel is from Turkey and the freedom of women in many of the nations in the East is very limited. In fact, they really do not have any freedom at all. So she suggested we sign the contracts. Not out of any desire to be married to each other, but because it would give us both the freedom to find real love without having to look over our shoulders and worry about our families bothering us. The freedom to live our lives as we wanted to. Here is where it gets complicated though….my parents developed the most annoying habit of dropping by unannounced. So we moved some of her clothing to my apartment and she has put some touches there to make it appear as though we live together. My mother still comes to visit frequently and is not inclined to call and let me know when she is on her way.”

This sounded like some terrible soap opera or something, and listening to himself tell everything to Kleo, he found a new respect for her. She hadn’t reacted at all like he’d thought and was in fact taking things very well, or so it appeared. It helped him to relax, even if the way his shoulders loosened was nearly imperceptible. “When we were in Saudi Arabia for my father’s funeral, Aysel acted as a First Wife should. She represented herself in a manner befitting an Islamic woman. She performed her wifely duties well. She walked the required distance behind me, did not meet my eyes or address me unless I spoke to her first, prepared my meals, ran my bath, but there was no intimacy between us.”

Here he paused so that Kleo could ask any questions she might have, and if she didn’t ask, then he would continue on. He found he didn’t mind telling her about this part of his life and liked the feeling of openness it gave him.

Kleopatra: Kleo watched the silent battle Zakar seemed to be having with himself without saying anything- Aysel hadn’t told him what they’d talked about then, something had told her she wouldn’t. Again, she wanted to comfort him, to reach out steady his chin and force that dark gaze of his to meet her lighter one. Kleo kept her hands to herself however, and listened because Zakar had more to say...a lot more.

Kleo didn’t interrupt Zakar once- much like she’d done with Aysel she allowed him to say everything he needed to, everything he felt was important for her to know. Much of what he disclosed were things she’d heard already, but she didn’t mind them being repeated- consistency was important.

She’d been following along, keeping a neutral expression until...that subject again, the East. Something about the way the two interacted while in Saudi Arabia still didn’t sit nicely with Kleo, and she doubted it ever would. It wasn’t that she wanted that place- she’d be damned to walk any number of paces behind a man, be expected to keep hush or make a meal. It was the actions themselves, they were too...personal. She tried to push the thoughts away before emotions she didn’t quite understand took hold of her.

“Your idea of who told me is probably correct. And you should know they also told me about your mother...how she liked to drop in uninvited or announced, to see you. How, if we continue, stayin with you in your home would be next to impossible. That’s a small sacrifice in the big picture, there’s plenty room at my place if we ever...yeah.” She looked away for a moment, then back again. “I...understand. Why y’all are doin what you’re doin. Am I happy I’ve been...involved with a married man? No, can’t say I am. But…” she sighed deep. “If I’m gonna be with a married man, might as well be one in your situation, right? No harm in that….I hope.” She didn’t say it, but she was also pleased to hear about the intimacy between Zakar and Aysel, or lack thereof. Frankly, she didn’t care what they may or may not have done in the name of feigning marriage or otherwise- she couldn’t be mad about that. It was now, and onward, that she cared about.

Zakar: ”You are taking this news remarkably well, Kleo. I only hope you are able to continue to do so. You see, Aysel is my best friend and I would be lying if I said I do not love her because I do. I love her deeply, but it is not the love between a couple that I feel. It is a love born of respect, admiration, that of deep friendship. I know that in this life, she is the one person that will always have my back and I will always have hers. If ever she needs me, I will drop everything and go to her and I know she would do the same for me. If that is something that is unacceptable to you…..”

Zakar sincerely hoped that wouldn’t be the case with Kleo. He hoped she would be able to accept that aspect of his and Aysel’s friendship without any qualms but if she couldn’t, he would understand and give up any chance of anything developing between himself and Kleo. In a world that was unfamiliar to him in many ways, Aysel was his rock and he liked to think that he was hers. “I am sorry that my being married makes you unhappy, but if I were not married to Aysel, then I would be stuck with someone who would be enforcing the contract and that would mean that I would not be here with you. Maybe I should give you this chance to walk away from me. Aside from a few dalliances while in the west on business, I have never actually dated a woman. I can say with a certainty that those dalliances did not involve dating of any kind. My thought behind those experiences was to make myself a better husband for whomever I wound up stuck with. I did not want to be…inexperienced.”

Too late, his mind screamed out a warning that he might have just taken things too far with those words, but Zakar, being the man he was was stuck in full on “honesty mode” and figured full disclosure was for the best. “I am a…non-virgin.”

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Kleopatra: ”I try to be positive...to be optimistic, unless I’m given a reason not to be…” Kleo began. “Aysel said that very same thing to me, when describing what you have...and if that is the honest truth, I can’t really argue with it. Again, I see where you’re comin from, and the alternatives for you both are far worse than this arrangement. Aysel seems nice, and I’d like to get to know her better. Then there’s you...and I think it’s clear I’d prefer you with a woman you’re married to but not involved with than stuck fulfilling a contract you have no interest in, without the freedom to seek happiness.” She paused, her eyes closing a few moments as she gathered her thoughts, then continued. “If I wanted to walk away I wouldn’t have gotten into the car with you tonight, Zakar. Is there a reason I should wanna walk?” Her eyes reopened, and her gaze was intense. “...I know you’re not inexperienced. Sometimes you second guess yourself...alright, a lot of the time...but I wouldn’t exactly call you inexperienced. It’s evident you know how things...work. I don’t much care about who or how you came into your non-virgin-ess...and if I should, can it not be tonight? I’m finding that imagining you being...” She stopped there. Her eyes were pleading.

Zakar: ”There is no reason you should know who or how I came to the non-virgin-ess status. I was perhaps, incorrect in assuming I should let you know since I thought you had made a reference to your own status in that matter. I also cannot think of a reason you would want to walk away, but I thought I should at least remind you the option is there,” Zakar met her eyes and decided that a change of topic was in order. He hadn’t intended for the night to start off with such serious subjects and was going to try and salvage what he could. Especially when she had gone through the trouble of getting ready to go out with him. Or did women just to make a man wait and wonder? Either way, he wanted to move forward and get to know her more.

“So, now that I have been the “Debbie Downer” for the evening, maybe you should try taking over the conversation for a while. I would like to know more about you, Kleo. I do not normally flash women, but there must have been something that made me let go of my inhibitions and I would like to find out what it might have been.”

Kleopatra: Kleo grinned. “Sorry, I just know that when you get on a roll...it could’ve slipped, that’s all I’m saying.” A short lived laugh fell. “It’s good to know you’re not a virgin...not that I care if you are or not, just that…” She bit down on her lip. It seemed she was having the same issue with speech tonight as Zakar. “Anyway...I’m staying.” Her words came as he looked at her, and she looked at him in return. There. They'd gotten the elephant...or perhaps camel in the room out of the way, and it felt as if a weight she’d unknowingly been carrying since speaking with Aysel was lifting.

When Zakar spoke of turning the conversation over to her, she nodded along, adjusting her stance in the seat, as if about to tell him all of her most guarded secrets, leaning in closer to him. “I think the thing that makes you let go of your inhibitions around me is the same thing that has me coming apart when I’m around you…” She allowed that statement to hang in the air before pressing on. “And I don’t know how to categorize it...it’s somethin I don’t feel often, but I don’t complain when I do...it’s a good somethin…” She gave a shy smile. “I’m honestly kinda horrible at talkin about myself on the fly…but in order to get me goin, maybe I should tell you about how I ended up here, in Harper Rock, and in my current form?”

Zakar: He turned as much as he was able so that he could look at her more fully and listen while she spoke. Not that he couldn’t listen well facing forward, but he thought that when people were having a conversation, looking at them to show interest was always the polite thing to do, that and he was genuinely interested in looking at her. Though the scenery was pretty enough, he could see that any old time. Seeing Kleo was a rare treat to be savored.

“I think that sounds like a good way to get the ball rolling. I would love to know how you came to be here, though I do not quite understand what you mean by your current “form”. Do you have another one that you use, because this one is just fine in my opinion,” Zakar teased with a half-smile. He had seen some very unusual things in the time since his turning and it wouldn’t have surprised him to hear she did indeed, have another form that she could shift into. “I could think of other ways to get you going, but I doubt that would be polite or what you had in mind. Besides which, this car is not exactly made for that type of activity.”

Kleopatra: He was simply magnificent to behold, from the caramel tone that still tinted his skin, to the pitch black hair atop his head in contrast. His eyes, Kleo could stare into endlessly and never tire, and his smile was always a wondrous sight of its own. “Sorry, didn’t mean to confuse. By “form” I just meant a vampire, as opposed to bein human me. Right, so, I told you about doing an apprenticeship in New Orleans. I’m trained in both tattoos and piercings. Throughout the year, expositions for these things go on, usually in larger cities. People come from the surrounding areas and appreciate body art in its many forms for the weekend. I worked at them- people could book appointments to have me do a piece durin this time, and I also helped organize them. That’s what brought me here. It was the first expo the city had had, so they needed more people than usual- people with experience doin that kinda thing -to help kick it off. A company I’d worked with at home was the one runnin it, so they sent out a call for artists who’d be willin to travel and be a part of this. I volunteered, and I also took on the extra responsibility of doin some PR- gettin the word out about the event.” Kleo paused, enjoying looking at Zakar, and making sure she hadn’t bored him with the backstory before she continued.

“PR is how I met Micah...kinda” She smiled at the memory. “I was makin my way around the city, visitin every tattoo shop in the directory when I stumbled into Masterpiece. Complimented his arms...the tattoos on em I mean, and tried to convince him to stop by the showcase. I don’t think I was too convincin! But anyway, the showcase went on, and that’s where I met Eve. I liked her, and still do of course. I ended up stumblin into her again outside the event, while I was doin a night run, and we got to chattin. Long story short, we hit it off well and decided we were gonna go out one night to a bar for drinkin and dancin.” Kleo’d voice faltered some- she’d never voiced what happened next. “..But on the way to the bar, I..I got into an accident. I don’t remember much except pain and wakin up at the hospital to Eve, Micah, and even Bunny. Lia, too...and they may or may not have devised a plan to sneak me out and “turn me”. As I understand it, they pretended to be my family to get in close to me. My prognosis was less than grim, and Eve...well, there’s a reason I call her my anchor. She saw a way for things to end differently, so she called Micah...and here I am!” That was a lot.

On a less depressing note, Kleo followed up on what Zakar had said earlier- she hadn’t forgotten. “Also, you’ll never know what I have in mind unless you ask...and I’m sure that if we tried real hard to make it work...this car would be up for any activity we thought of…” She winked, then giggled, slamming a hand against her mouth to silence the sound. Did I seriously just giggle?!

Zakar: His dark brows knit together in a frown of concern when her hand suddenly covered her mouth, “Are you injured? About to be sick? I can roll the window down for you if you need me to.” It wasn’t that his concern was for the interior of his car, but more for her and her comfort. He’d recalled being ill a time or two in his life and how he had wanted nothing more than the comfort of his own bathroom and bed. “I was going to ask what you had in mind but if you are not feeling well, then it can wait until such a time as you are. I have noticed that you have seemed to cut off things you were going to say throughout the evening and I cannot help but wonder why. Is it something I have said that makes you rethink things you have wanted to say to me?”

Kleopatra: Kleo shook her head from side to side firmly, her hand falling from her mouth. “Not injured, not sick...quite the opposite, actually. I appreciate you carin enough to ask, though. You’re very attentive…” Kleo was quiet for what felt like a long stretch of time, her eyes exploring the face in front of her, without shame. “I feel good Zakar...very good, enough for you to ask me what I have in mind, if you want to know. I cut my words off because when I’m with you, I tend to wanna say things beyond my usual blunt honesty, feelings and thoughts I’m not sure I should be disclosin, ya know? As much as you don’t wanna offend me, I also don’t wanna offend you either or make you feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I don’t catch myself in time, others I do. Just now though, I was more embarrassed than anything. I don’t usually...giggle like that. It felt weird. A good weird.”

Zakar: ”I like the sound of your giggle. AND, I want to know what it is you keep avoiding saying, Kleo. I appreciate blunt honesty. Especially when it is between two people who are umm...exploring the possibility of...things progressing between them. I think that is the best way to go about it because frankly, it shows both people where the other is standing and what they want, true?” Zakar nodded, even if it was a slight nod, it was a firm one as well. Unthinkingly, he reached up to caress her cheek with the side of his index finger and smiled, “I like you, Kleo. In fact, it is for that very reason that I do not think I will find much, if anything you say, offensive. Maybe the two of us should worry less about offending one another and speak freely and honestly instead.” During the course of his little speech, he’d leaned toward her, most definitely invading her personal space and now he spoke, his voice soft, almost a velvety purr as he did so, “For example, I have wanted to kiss you since I picked you up at your home.”

Kleopatra: ”You’re right...it would definitely show where we stand, and it’s far easier for me to be honest than to lie, or hide my truths...Mm.” The sound was faint as Zakar touched her, and Kleo found herself pressing against his hand instinctively, desiring all the closeness he was willing to give. “I work on it...not stopping myself. It’s so easy to do with almost every else...but you...there’s something I’m not quite understanding yet. Or maybe it’s as simple as me liking you too.” Her voice had began to fade away, because Zakar was getting closer and closer, until she could count the eyelashes clinging to his lids. Kleo stayed still, a small grin on her mouth. She was tempted push her lips onto his at that moment, but she waited. “I wish you had...but that’s in the past. So my question is...what’s stopping you now?” Her eyes found his.

Zakar: What was stopping him? His mind gave him several logical reasons not to kiss the woman, reasons which Zakar promptly squelched into silence as he went from the soft caress of a finger to cupping her cheek lightly. Nothing was going to stop him, other than Kleo of course, but he didn’t think she would. Only one way to find out…but he paused and murmured just before he kissed her, his lips so close they occasionally brushed hers, “I should just take you home...I am afraid if I kiss you that I will want another, and another...and that would be very greedy of me.” As the last word left his mouth in a soft puff of air, full, firm lips pressed softly against hers.

Kleopatra: Kleo continued to stare forward at Zakar, as if trying to pluck the reasons from his mind, and perhaps toss them aside so that the only option would be to kiss her. His lips grazed hers as he spoke, and it took more willpower than she knew she had to remain unmoving, listening.

Zakar spoke again, and before Kleo had a moment to answer, his lips were on hers and she felt herself giving in. The pressure of her mouth was gentle, much like Zakar’s was, initially. As her lips remained, Kleo could no longer suppress the feelings that had been building up from the moment Zakar had asked to see her that night. She reached across, hands gripping his jacket firmly as her mouth began to move against his, her teeth catching his upper lip and tugging lightly.

She paused to speak. “What does that mean? Take me home and leave me there alone...or come inside, and give me more kisses? I have no issue with feeding your greed for those…”

Zakar: “Greed for those might lead to greed for something more…I might be well-mannered but even I have my limits, Kleo.” Limits which even that single kiss had just tested and yes, he did want more, but he would settle for conversation…and possibly a long run after he dropped her off. It might have been a good thing that the gear shift began to dig into his ribs just then. It provided a distraction, however unwelcome it was and he pulled back just enough to end the jabbing pain in his spleen. “Maybe we should take a walk down to the water, or we could get out and sit on the hood of the car. It should be pretty warm from the engine running all this time. If it is not, you can always sit on my jacket so that you have something between you and the cold, hard steel. Then you can continue to tell me about the fascinating woman you appear to be. Or kiss me senseless. Your choice.” Even though he’d broken the kiss, he still felt her teeth tugging his lip, and if he still felt it now, he wondered how long lasting of an effect another one would have on him. Dark eyes took on a darker hue as his thoughts strayed before he managed to yank them back and wall them off from the rest of his mind. He didn’t want her for sex..well he did, but he was male and that was just part of the male make-up…he wanted to take the time to get to know her and if things went no further than a few kisses, he would be fine with that too.

Kleopatra: ”Greed for more, hm?...Maybe I want more…” She did- she’d wanted Zakar since she first saw him in the Realm and put a face to the man she’d gone back and forth with on the family forum. But Kleo could wait, and wanted to wait, no matter how much of a challenge it was. She didn’t want to be easy, and she was no stranger to how hard it was to get a relationship back on track once sex had been introduced, if those involved hadn’t taken the time to forge more than a physical relationship beforehand. She didn’t want a sex filled but emotionally lacking relationship with Zakar. Kleo struggled to look to far ahead, to admit to herself that the prospect of them building something solid and real, excited her.

Zakar was pulling back and Kleo caught herself before she could jump across the car into his lap and demand more...kisses. “A walk sounds nice...that shimmering water’s been callin me since we got here...and if the chill of it gets to be too much, we can come back to the hood, and you can offer your jacket to protect me from that cold...hard...steel.” She repeated his words back, and they took on an obvious sexually charged connotation. “Water or car, I plan on tellin you more about me and gettin more kisses, just so you know.”

Kleo pressed a kiss to Zakar’s cheek, nipped softly at his jaw, then ran fingers through his hair, unsettling the thick curls before she relaxed back into her seat, fingers fumbling, trying to find the handle to her door.

Zakar: He chuckled softly as he leaned across her to help her, the close proximity had him drawing a deep breath, whether it was from nerves or simply to try and figure out what that faint scent underlying what he thought was vanilla, he wasn’t sure. Admittedly he had wanted to be closer to her and her struggle with the door gave him a legitimate reason. Not that kissing her hadn’t been a good reason, but when kissing happened it was sort of necessary to be close to the other person.

Long fingers brushed against hers as he found the handle and gave it a tug, then sat back up, inadvertently putting a hand on her thigh as he did so. His first thought was to immediately remove it, but he didn't. Instead he slowly let his fingers skate across the smooth surface of her stocking before finally sitting up to smile at her. “This makes me wonder what the skin beneath will feel like. I am more than willing to wait and find out.”

With that, he got out of the car and hurried round to her side to open the door completely for her. The walk in the cool air, however brief it was helped to cool him down, which was a good thing else she might find herself with a lap full of him. He was certain he could figure out how to squeeze into the seat with her if he tried hard enough.

Kleopatra: ”Helpful, too?” Her voice was soft, almost a coo as she spoke, allowing Zakar to unlock her door- after all, he knew the Eva better than she, right? She couldn’t resist, and as he leaned across, she pushed a kiss into his curls, laughing.

Zakar’s fingertips ran over hers in the process of his aid, and before her body had fully registered the touch, there was more, this time at her thigh. Kleo’s head spun...at least that’s what it felt like, and she focused her gaze on the thigh clad in nylon, hints of a large butterfly peeking through where his hand rested. Her leg stirred as his touch dragged along her skin, and he made it that much harder to behave. “Keep goin the way you are, and you might be findin out sooner than later…” She giggled, again, this time without shame. “I’m glad waitin ain’t an issue...but I gotta say you’re makin it pretty hard to be on my best behavior…”

When Zakar moved from her personal space and got out of the car, she was partially relieved- at least she’d have some time to recover, if only mere seconds. When he arrived at her door and opened it, she wasted no time pushing her restraint out of the way and climbing out, one hand on the car, and one on Zakar to steady her. “How about that walk? I think it’d do us both some good…”

Zakar: She was touching him...and he liked it. Not that her touch was inappropriate, but even if it had been, he probably still would have liked it. Her hand on his forearm to use him for balance made him smile inwardly, and outwardly as well. There was danger in staying by the car much longer and he let her know what type of danger it was when he murmured, “Do not tempt me, Kleo. I am already struggling not to do anything to you beyond kissing for now. You are not the only one who is finding things hard, believe me.” Once he was sure she was on her feet and steady, he started to move away so that she would follow and he could shut the car door without shutting her in it. As he moved, he had a second thought and turned around, intending to steal a kiss from her. Though how one could steal anything from someone who might be willing to simply give him one, hadn’t crossed his mind.

Kleopatra: ”What’re you smilin about?” A smile was threatening to show on Kleo’s mouth as well when she posed the question, getting to her feet. “Tempting you is half the fun, Zakar! I almost want to ask about the things beyond kissing that you want to do to me...” Kleo moved with Zakar, the sound of the car door clicking into place coming a few seconds later. She had every intention of continuing to follow his lead, to the water’s edge or any other path that he chose. Instead, she was confronted by him when he turned suddenly on the spot, as close to her as she’d been to his back- extremely close.

Kleo fixed Zakar with a look that made it very evident his move was unexpected. She didn’t question him, but kept her eyes trained on his.

Zakar: Zakar shot her a wink and a grin, then turned away and lead her toward the water’s edge, leaving her to wonder if he’d been going to kiss her or not. He had been, but he was going to wait until she least expected it, then hope he didn’t wind up being thrown in the lake…..or worse.

“You never know what the answer will be until you ask, Kleo. Though the element of surprise might be enjoyable too. If I did the things that were expected, it would make me boring and predictable. While I like to think that I am a stable man, I do not wish to be boring. And since I see my conversational skills are leading me to become exactly that, I think it is time for a change of topic...again. Otherwise you are going to think I have nothing but boring or terrible things to talk about.”

Though he was dressed nicely, he had no qualms about getting his shoes or trousers wet if the water at the edge happened to splash him. In spite of the fact that he had grown up nowhere near a sea, he still enjoyed the water and knew how to swim. In fact, since the cold didn’t affect him much, maybe he would go for a swim in the lake tonight.

Kleopatra: Kleo narrowed her eyes slightly- he was or had been up to something, but she didn’t know what. Whatever it was, he seemed to change his mind because he turned toward the water and set off again, with Kleo not far behind. They came upon the edge of the private lake and her body bent forward, as if attempting to see through to the floor of the water.

“That’s where I’m torn...I want to know, but I like the element of surprise as well. And you...are full of surprises, as I’m learnin.” She gave him a playful shove- small, not enough to truly uproot him. “I don’t think you’re boring at all...I don’t accept invitations to spend evenings with boring people...” She laughed.

Kleo realized then, that after shoving Zakar her arms had settled around his middle casually. She didn’t bother removing them, but kept them there instead, her hands drumming softly at his hip.

Zakar: Zakar found that he enjoyed the way her hands felt , and appreciated that she hadn’t shoved him into the water too. The shoes he’d chosen had smooth-ish soles and while he did have to readjust his footing slightly it hadn’t had much of an effect beyond that. “So ask and I will give you a few scenarios, then surprise you with one at a later date. How does that sound?” Somehow, his arms had slipped around her to tug her closer, so close in fact, that he took shameless advantage of the proximity and kissed her. Not the sweet, soft kiss that he had earlier, but one that conveyed a hint of fire in it as his lips caught hers and teased the two of them before he broke away and grinned at her. “Now, where were we before I rudely interrupted with my lips? Oh yes, you were debating whether or not to be surprised. How am I doing so far?”

Kleopatra: Kleo was glad Zakar had taken the push with stride, and even if it had caught him off balance and he’d begun to fall...she was sure she had more than enough strength to pull him afoot. She took him at his word and as his arms wrapped around her in a firm, but gentle grasp, she spoke. “Tell me, Zakar...what is it you’d like to do with me...beyond kissing?” She didn’t need to vocalize, that him surprising her with one of the scenarios at a later date would be more than ideal.

It seemed that not a moment after the words had been uttered, his mouth was on hers. She was gasping from the intensity of the affection, though she still managed to respond, her lips moving roughly, deliberately against his, and her tongue working its way between his full lips, all pretenses of innocence removed.

It was over too soon, and in the wake of it, Kleo blinked, feeling that shift from round to vertical slit pupils coming on. She thought it was only triggered by anger, but now...with Zakar, and emotions the polar opposite of anger, it seemed that was not the only catalyst. “I...huh?...oh!...Surprised Zakar...very...very...surprised.” Her tongue swiped her lower lip, and it was evident she was hungry for more.

Zakar: Her eyes caught at him when he noted the way the pupils seemed to elongate though he couldn’t be sure it wasn’t a trick of the moonlight, “Are your eyes tired? Is the light too bright for you? Or am I just...seeing things because I am being creepy and staring at you for too long?” He laughed, the sound deep and pleasant as he watched that tongue poke from between her lips with far more interest than he probably should. “Then I am not going to tell you a thing, I am just going to surprise you when the time comes. I will say it involves my hands. That is the only hint you get, and I think I will leave the rest to your imagination. I understand the mind is a powerful thing at times.”

In order to keep her guessing, he released her carefully, picked up a smooth, flat stone and skipped it across the mirror like surface of the water, watching the ripples spread out and the way the moonlight played across them, thinking that he liked the way the evening had gone so far and wondering where things were going with her.

Kleopatra: Kleo was still staring him down, and almost didn’t register his words. “Why wha-oh...do I look like a snake or somethin?” She knew she probably did, but was buying time to figure out how she was going to explain this to him. She gave a bratty whine, then grinned when he refused to tell her more than it will “involve his hands”- she could’ve figured that much out. “Leaving it to my imagination...sure you wanna do that? Mine’s very active...vivid...are you sure you can live up to what my mind comes up with?” Kleo shot him a wink, then slipped her hands into her hip pockets after they’d disentangled, watching as Zakar skipped a stone across the expanse of the lake. She was honestly enjoying herself, and found that the simplicity of the nights activities were more than satisfactory. “Show me how you did that? Lived near water most of my life, and still couldn’t skip a rock to save it...luckily I don’t have to worry about that now!”
.
Zakar: Zakar thought her response to his question about her eyes was eerily accurate and while he didn’t want to seem rude, he was certainly curious and perhaps a bit concerned, “Yes, they do resemble the eyes of a viper. The pupils do, I mean. Not that it is unattractive, because it is not, you have very nice eyes, if somewhat unusual. Why do they appear that way? I have never seen eyes do that or look like that before.”

He picked up another rock, and demonstrated how to hold it, “See, if you hold it like this,” he held it between his thumb and forefinger, “and throw it like this…” he used a sidearm motion and let it fly, watching as he managed six skips across the water before it sank like...well, a stone, “it will skip across the water. The idea is to sort of skim it across the surface. It works best with flat stones. Now you see, I told you the surprise would involve my hands.”

Laughing, he picked up another stone and handed it to her, “I think your vivid imagination skipped way ahead of things this evening, Kleo.”

Kleopatra: ”Been tryin to figure out the “why” myself, and still don’t have an answer. Well, I have some suspicions…and I’ve never seen anyone’s eyes do this either. Jesse told me Axel’s turn black though, so I’ve been wonderin if it’s kinda the same?”

Kleo watched as Zakar demonstrated, step by step, how to skip a rock. As she looked, she took her hands from the confines of her pocket, stooped, and found a rock that fit the ideal description he’d given- flat. Upright again, she elbowed him with a smile as he teased. “You did, so I guess you fulfilled your promise...but how do you know I skipped way ahead, huh? For all you know, I could’ve been imaginin your hands...makin somethin!” She knew it was a poor attempt at a cover up, but she didn’t care, and didn’t think he would either. “Sorry. I’ll be tame now.” Her lip quivered as she tried to keep a straight face.

Zakar: ”Care to share those suspicions? Sometimes two heads are better than one. Of course, if I am being too intrusive, I can stop asking. When does it usually happen? Is there any one thing that triggers it?” So much for not asking or not being intrusive. He sounded very nosy to himself, like some old biddy questioning a friend about their ailments. Finally he took a deep breath and stopped himself by covering his mouth with a hand until the urge to spout more about her eyes passed. Once he was reasonably sure he was done, he lowered his hand and shot her a grin, a flash of white against his caramel skin, “You were the one who said you had an active and vivid imagination. That leads me to believe you were making reference to something that may or may not happen in the future. Of course maybe I am just reading too much into things and that would make me a pervert of sorts since I was implying your imagination might be improper….”

Kleopatra: Damn. This was what she’d been hoping to avoid- disclosing what she believed was capable of causing the vision shift. “Well...firstly, I think it’s pretty safe to say that anger is a trigger. Not sure if I have to reach a certain level of angry...but it almost happened when I found out about your marriage, if that’s any indicator. Then there’s...excitement.” She worded it sweetly. “The kind you give me when you do things like surprise me...catchin my drift?” Kleo went through the motions Zakar had shown, on how to skip a rock. Her rock however, went immediately to the end result- it sank. She grumbled, and bent to pick up another. “I was referencing that honestly...but no worries. My imagination does have its “improper” moments, but I can’t help but say that to bring the moments to life would feel quite the opposite.” Kleo winked, and tossed again, this time managing two skips before the fall.

Zakar: Just because he enjoyed doing so, he plucked another stone from the ground and sent it sailing across the water. She might be better at fighting, but he was good at rock skipping. If things didn’t work out here, maybe he had a career as an executioner back home. ‘Zakar the Stoner’, no, that just didn’t have quite the right ring to it, and since his brother had often “played” at stoning him when they were younger, Zakar didn’t think he had it in him to be an executioner. Protecting the Masquerade was different than killing someone for say…thievery or adultery.

“Excitement can cause a ‘snake-like’ reaction in many people, mostly men I think,” he winked at her, enjoying the back and forth banter between them. This night was going a lot better than he’d hoped for and was definitely less strained than it had been. Maybe he’d been making too much of it? Worrying overmuch instead of just letting her take things at face value as he spoke. As he stood there he decided that Djinn had been right, he needed to relax and stop worrying so much about behaving properly. He felt a weight lift from his shoulders and as he relaxed, it showed in the way his stance shifted, becoming less stiff and formal, “So, if I make you angry or excited, your eyes change. I do not think there is anything that changes on me if I am angry…but we can always try and find out either way.”

Kleopatra: Kleo was as terrible at rock skipping in Harper Rock as she was in New Orleans...maybe better, she had managed to get it going, though short lived. As Zakar bent to pick another rock, she did the same. By the time she’d stood back up, he’d already thrown his, and of course, with success. Kleo’s fingers curled around the cool stone as she listened to him, his words almost causing her to drop it as her body shook with laughter. “That is definitely true, so I’ve heard...and seen.” Kleo gave a small shrug accompanied by a small smile that didn’t show teeth. Zakar was as “bad” as her, and she found that his conversation kept her on her toes, a refreshing feeling that she’d had with less than a handful of the people she’d ever been “involved” with...not that she had been involved with many handfuls of men.

Concentrating, Kleo allowed the words Zakar had spoken to roll over her again, and she tried to picture how he’d stood, what his arm had done. Her arm swung fluidly, the rock caught the water...and skimmed it, skipping five times before descent! “WHOO!” She exclaimed, then caught herself, calming down. “Not gonna lie- that excited me!...Different excited though.” She laughed. “And yeah, that sounds about right. I guess you’re gonna have to figure out which it is...anger or excitement- I don’t think it’ll be too difficult, and I don’t wanna learn firsthand if you change when you’re angry- I mean, I don’t wanna cause the anger.”

Zakar: Zakar reached up to stroke his beard, well, he would have if it had still been there. He had to settle for stroking his oddly smooth chin as he eyed her with feigned speculation, “Hmm...it does not appear to be the kind of excitement that makes your eyes change, but I have decided there is plenty of time to figure out how to make that happen. If you are up for such a challenge that is.” He gave a careless shrug, or what he thought looked like one. Being new to this type of thing, he wasn’t quite sure if it looked careless, or just flat out rude. Just in case she thought it rude, he added a small grin afterward.

“I should get you home soon. The moon is starting to set and that means the sun will soon be starting to rise. I have no wish to find out if the sun actually will burn us or if that is just a rumor made to keep us indoors during the day. We will have ample chances to go out again, should you decide you would like to, and if not, then we will have ample chances to wrestle or box in the cage.”

Kleopatra: Zakar reaching for his naked chin stirred a small snort, which she promptly disguised as a clearing of her throat. “Plenty of time indeed, assumin you plan on bein around awhile...and you know me, always up for a challenge. No backing down here.” The shrug didn’t rub her the wrong way, though it did seem a bit unnatural when she considered his usual mannerisms. The smile though- very natural.

The pleasant expression that Kleo’s face seemed to default to whenever she was looking at Zakar turned downward as he mentioned taking her home, thus leaving. Of course she was opposed- the night was going great, but...there was logic, moon down, sun up, had to get inside. She sighed lightly, perhaps he heard or maybe he didn’t, and gave a single nod. “Yeah, probably should, and it’s no lie...you will burn, and it will hurt, I know this for a fact.” Kleo shook her head, recalling her earliest month as a vampire. “If nights with you are gonna be like this Zakar, I wouldn’t mind spendin many more. We can even find a place for the wrestlin, too...” With a smirk, she turned, orienting herself toward the car, as if to say again, I’m ready when you are.

Zakar: Zakar moved to open the car door for her, not because he was trying to rush her but because he wanted to be a gentleman to the very end. So far, he thought he’d managed to do that, and if he hadn’t well, then now was the time to redeem himself. Of course, there was always the option of teleporting her but that might be looked on as him wanting a quick escape. Which wasn’t the case. All in all, he’d enjoyed himself and looked forward to another evening with her, “I will take your word about the burn and pain, Kleo. And with regards to nights like this, I would not be adverse to doing more of them. With or without wrestling.”