Elighan: I’m tidying up my front room when the first message comes through. I thought Melete and I had sorted our difference out. I thought we’d left things in a good place. unfortunately I thought wrong, she obviously doesn’t believe that I care about her. That was obvious from the parting shot she left me with telling me I thought she was a hooker. I don’t remember thinking that but it’s possible, she was coming out of a cheap motel, wearing cheap clothing I wouldn’t dress I wouldn’t have used as a rag to wipe my car window. I type out my reply and then push my phone in my pocket. I need to forget about Adelita for tonight and concentrate on Caligrace; she deserves that much from me, this being our first date and all. The movie is queued up, I have a few alcoholic beverages even though I can’t drink and I bought some snacks, even though I can’t eat. I want Cali to feel at home in my apartment, especially since it’s so sparsely furnished.This RP takes place on Saturday 23rd January 2016.
Caligrace: She couldn’t remember the last time she had been on a date, unless she wanted to count being groped in the back of a minivan that reeked of stale cigarettes and bourbon. Clearly, class hadn’t been on her mind with Grant - she was going to blame the alcohol on that one. Tonight, though, tonight was different. Everything he did seemed to charm her, and she highly doubted he would lead her into something as disgusting as a roach infested van. Crinkling her nose at the memory, she quickly dusted a hand down the front of her dress, the thin emerald cotton offering her little shelter from the wind. “Focus, Caligrace,” she chided herself as she reawakened her phone to glance at the address. It seemed to be the right building, but as she had found in the past, looks could be deceiving.
Bracing herself for bothering a stranger, she skipped up the steps and found his apartment number, her knuckles tapping against the door twice.
Elighan: I hear the knocking at the door and I swear my heart skips a beat. I’m suddenly very nervous, far more nervous than I should be considering I’ve spent a fair amount of time with Cali already. She’s a lovely girl and as much as she reminds me of Melete, she’s also very different; the main way being the fact that she seems to actually like me and the attention I pay her. I tell myself to play it cool as I wipe my hands off on the front of my beige chinos and then straighten the collar of my light blue shirt. I pull the door open and smile. She’s far too pretty for the likes of me, but I don’t think she’s figured that out yet. “Please come in. You know I was a little worried you might get lost on your way here,” I tease as I take her hand and lead her inside. I kiss her knuckles and smile at her. “I’m so very happy to see you Cali. I hope you didn’t have any trouble finding my apartment.” The open plan apartment shows off my tastes perfectly, even though I haven’t lived here long. Every piece of furniture is top of the line and functional. The tones warm and inviting, and obviously lacking a feminine touch. “You look very pretty.”
Caligrace: Taking a step back, she casts a glance down the corridor as she tucks a stray scarlet curl behind her ear. Panic built in her chest with each second that creeped by, and she found herself on the verge of turning around. Had she come to the wrong place? Was he even home? Had he forgotten? It wasn’t like her to doubt herself, yet she’d only barely learned to keep her emotions in check since her death. Just as she was about to spin on her heel, the door opened, and relief flooded her at the sight of him. With a grin, she scanned her eyes over him and shook her head. “Handsome as usual,” she smiled as his lips brushed across her knuckles. “It wasn’t too hard,” she lied, though the look in her eyes spoke the truth. “Only a few wrong turns. A new record for me, really.” Her laughter was light as she turned to inspect the apartment before focusing back on him. “I like it. It really fits you,” she smiled, before leaning up to kiss his cheek. “Miss me?”
Elighan: “More than I should admit,” I reply, accepting the chaste kiss she gives me. “And I think I’m going to have to do something about your lack of direction. It worries me that you walk this city alone and seem to be so easily turned around. Do you have a map app on your mobile?” This was a question I may have asked before and likely should have had an answer to already. It would be odd for a person in this day and age not to have a working map app on their mobile but anything is possible. I’m not entirely sure how proficient she is with technology, so it’s possible she has an app but doesn’t know how to work it. “Would you like to take a seat?” I ask as I gesture to the soft covered, tan coloured sofa.
Caligrace: “That might be so, but I love to hear it.” Her smile was warm as she winked at him, before she crinkled her nose at his question. She remembered his lecture from the first night they met, and she knew she should have done something to alter her issue - but she hadn’t found the time. Lifting a shoulder, she gave a sheepish smile as she shook her iPhone in his direction. “It’s one here, but I always forget I have it until it's too late. I found myself in the Slums the other day. They were just as surprised as I was, I think.” With another soft laugh, she tugged on her lower lip with her teeth, the glossed flesh barely disturbed by the abuse. Why was she so nervous? It seemed she couldn’t get her mind to shut down as her eyes danced from each piece of furniture before finally taking a step towards the couch at his suggestion. As she slid onto the seat, she rested her bag on the floor, her fingers sliding along the zipper to make sure it was securely closed.
Elighan: “Next time I’m going to text you and remind you about the app,” I say as I walk towards the kitchen area. “Can I get you anything to drink?” I ask. I know she’s capable of eating and drinking and I’ve tried to be considerate of that fact tonight. I should ask her what her habits are when it comes to human appetite and whether or not alcohol can affect her, but I figure I have time enough to do that. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and pull it out to see who or what it is. It’s an email from Melete. I click it open and sigh in frustration; I swear that woman would argue that the sky is green if I told her it was blue. I type out my reply, glancing up at Cali as often as I can so she knows that I’m not ignoring her and that I would in fact like to get her something. “I’m sorry. It’s Adelita. My meeting with her went as well as can be expected and I thought we’d found some common ground and then…” I sigh and run a hand through my hair before completing my reply and hitting send.
Caligrace: Leaning back in her seat, she carefully tugged at the hem of her dress before crossing her legs at the knee. Her heel dangled expertly from her toe, and as he moved to the kitchen, she began to tap it idly. It was a nervous habit, one that her best friend begged her to quit on a nightly basis, but she had yet to control it. The muscle memory was far too comforting when she was in a situation that she wasn’t accustomed to. “Yes, please. Just surprise me,” she smiled, though her gaze had dropped to his phone. For a moment, she worried she had bored him already and then quickly shook off the notion. She wasn’t overly-confident, but she was sure in her presence with him. When he spoke his apology, she frowned. “I’m sorry, Elighan. I know you were hoping to work things out. I hope she gives you a break before too long.” Laughing quietly, she dropped her hands to her lap, fingers absently sliding along her dress. “I wish there was something I could do for you.”
Elighan: “When it comes to Melete,” I begin, correcting her name as I step up the fridge, “Adelita, that is, I don’t think there is anything anyone can do. I don’t wish to insult the fairer sex while you are sitting so prettily on my sofa, but she can be quite stereotypical inasmuch as that I swear she only hears what she wants to hear. I’m sure I’m speaking in plain English and that I cannot possibly be misunderstood and yet everything I say is wrong.” I pull out a bottle of champagne, unwrap the foil and pop the cork. I don’t do anything flash, as that tends to waste the precious liquid inside, I simply grip the cork, turning the bottle and ease the cork out. I have a few bottles of white wine in the fridge, a few bottles of red in the built-in wine rack and some fresh orange, but champagne is a far better start to the evening and even though I can’t drink it, I can appreciate the bouquet. I take a fluted glass out of the cabinet and begin to fill it as I think aloud. “Though she is Mexican, so perhaps some of what I say does get lost in translation.” I already know that’s not right though, Adelita is well educated and speaks fluent English; the problem lies not in what I say, but in what she wants to believe is true. She likes to vilify me.
Caligrace: As she moved her fingers once more through her hair, she tried to force herself to sit still. Her hands dropped once more to her lap, and she curled one around the other as she turned her gaze back to his when he spoke. She didn’t say anything until she was certain that he was finished with the first part of his tirade, and even then, she gave a brief pause before chuckling. “Well, to be fair, us women do have a tendency to be like that,” she teased him, her voice light to show she found no insult in his statement. “Of course, I can’t speak for all of my gender, not all of us are impossible. Just a fair amount.” Biting into her lower lip again, she tilted her head. “She’s your sire, so she doesn’t have much of a choice, right? She’ll have to come around eventually, once things settle down.” She had no idea why she was defending the woman - maybe she wasn’t. Maybe she just wanted to reassure him, to ease that dark look that had come over his eyes when he spoke of her. Whatever it was, she found herself relaxing as she patted the couch. “Come on, handsome, join me?”
Elighan: I finish pouring the champagne, retrieve a stopper for the bottle from my drawer and then put the bottle back in the fridge before taking the flute to Cali in the living area. I hand the glass over and smile. “If you are to become a regular visitor in my home sweetness, you may need to tell me what it is that you actually like to drink.” It’s a little presumptuous perhaps to say this now but I am cautiously optimistic and I want Cali to know that. “It might be best if we try not to talk about Melete for now.” I walk over to the coffee table and pick up the remotes I require to play the film. I seat myself next to Cali and smile at her. “If you don’t like the champagne Caligrace, please don’t drink it just to be polite, I’ll be more than happy to get you something else.” I tell her this because it’s the truth. Everyone has different tastes and just because I like it, doesn’t mean she will. She needs to know that I want her to be happy and that I won’t be insulted if she doesn’t want to drink what I’ve given her.
Caligrace: Smiling as he finally stepped towards her, she gently took the drink from his hand and brought it down to eye-level. Surprise flickered in her gaze - she hadn’t exactly been paying attention to what he had poured - and she smiled. “Want to keep me around, handsome?” Her voice was soft as she took a sip from the glass, the crisp, clean taste causing her to smile in delight. She preferred champagne over wine, the carbonation a comfort as it burned the back of her throat. With practiced ease, she balanced the flute on her knee, her fingers subtly grasping the stem. “Non-alcoholic? It would be Dr. Pepper,” she laughed, her eyes sparkling with light as she spun her glass around. “Alcoholic, I’m fine with the champagne, though I like fruity cocktails. The only alcohol I won’t touch is whiskey, however. I have a bad memory of my first time.” Taking another sip from her drink, she lifted her gaze to his and smiled warmly. “You have amazing taste,” she admitted, her manicured nail tapping the edge of the flute.
Elighan: “I like to think that’s true,” I say, winking at Cali. I think she understands my words have a double meaning and that I mean I had great taste in choosing her. Anyone that had met Melete on a bad night might disagree with that, but I accept that woman for all that she is, faults included, it’s just too bad that I don’t think she does. “I’ll make sure to get some Dr. Pepper for next time,” assuming there is one. I hope there will be, but the night is early yet. “I’m glad you like the champagne, it’s one of my favourites, or was, before I became what we are.” The information won’t help her in any way but she should know a little of who I was, as well as who I am, especially since who I am now is something I am still trying to figure out.
Caligrace: Laughing at his words, she shook her head as she swirled the liquid around the glass. She watched it for a second, allowing the motion to soothe her nerves before she looked back towards him. She wished she could say she wasn’t always this nervous, but she couldn’t. Her mind never seemed to take a break, and it constantly jumped from one awful conclusion to the next. However, in his presence, it did seem to dull quite a bit, and she finally managed to relax the tensions in her muscles with another sip. “You will. I can get testy without my caffeine,” she admitted, her tone serious as she shifted in her seat to face him better. “You can’t drink? I mean, I’ve heard that others…” she trailed off, before biting into her lip. “I couldn’t imagine it.” She didn’t know what else to say to it, and so she smiled and motioned to the remotes. “What did you decide on for us, handsome?”
Elighan: I offer her a smile, but it doesn’t quite meet my eyes. “No. Unfortunately the night I was turned, I lost my ability to consume food and beverages. It’s a real shame too, as there were more than a few things I was particularly fond of, and drinking was one of the few vices I actually allowed myself.” I shrug off the negativity that comes with that reply and gesture to the television. “I thought I would try you with a classic action flick. I’m not above watching a rom-com if that’s what my date, or more recently my sister, desires but I’d like to at least try to hold on to the hopefully perceived notion that I am in fact masculine in some ways.” I chuckle at my self-deprecation. “Have you seen Demolition Man before?”
Caligrace: As he smiled, she did her best to keep the same soft, serene expression on her face. It was hard, however, knowing that he wasn’t completely in the moment with her. At first, she couldn’t figure out what it could have been to cause the light to dim from his eyes, but when he began to speak, she thought she had figured it out. Way to go, Caligrace, upsetting the poor thing. Shaking her head, she reached out and curled her fingers around one of his hands and squeezed lightly before shrugging it off. She wouldn’t continue the topic - and instead, focused on the title of the movie. “No, handsome, I can’t say that I have,” she laughed, before adjusting herself on her spot on the couch. “I wouldn’t worry, though, you seem manly enough to me,” she teased, hoping to ease some of the tension in the air.
Elighan: I fiddle with the controls and start the movie. I’ve just settled back into the couch when my phone buzzes. I reluctantly pull it out of my pocket and read the latest reply. Melete honestly is insane is she thinks I didn’t fight for her. I did everything I could think of to make her happy and it was never enough. I type out my reply and pretty much tell her that too. She needs a reality check, and as far as I can tell I’m the only one willing to give it to her. She is right about one thing though, I should be paying attention to Cali. I smile at the female next to me. I’m really don’t want to blow tonight but at the same time I can’t let Adelita think that no-one cares about her. “I’m sorry Caligrace. I wouldn’t reply if I didn’t have to. It’s Melete again.” She has the right to know what I’m up to since I am supposed to be concentrating solely on being here with her. The movie I don’t much care about, as I can pick that up at any point, as I’ve seen it many times before.
Caligrace: Running her tongue along the soft skin of her lower lip, she watched as he stood and headed for the television. She remained quiet, simply content in watching him as he prepared the movie. She couldn’t remember the last time that she had simply been with someone. Most men she opted to go on dates with had one thing only on their mind and barely waited until the glass was empty before making it known, but Elighan was… different. It was the only word she could use to describe him. As the music played from the speakers to signal the beginning of the movie, she settled back into her seat and offered him a smile, but before she could say a thing, his phone was out. Again? Frowning in concern, she tucked a curl behind her ear before smiling. “Are you sure everything is alright?” Her question was quiet as she studied his expression, before turning her gaze back to the movie for a brief second.
Elighan: I run my hand through my hair. I’m not sure how to answer Cali. I thought everything was alright when I left Melete, but now. Now things are back to how they always are. This is pretty much normal for us. “Let’s try not to let her ruin our night. Okay? I’m sure she’ll be fine. I just don’t like to ignore her, especially when she has the wrong idea in her head.” Unfortunately that’s par for the course with Melete. She often thinks things that aren’t true, but you can’t tell her otherwise. Once she’s gotten an idea or a thought into her head, it’s very difficult if not impossible to shift it. I rest my phone on my knee, fully expecting another reply to come through any moment, as I drape one arm around Cali and pull her closer to me. This is where I want to be. Trust Melete to find a way to make my life hell even when she isn’t physically in the same room.
Caligrace: Biting into her lower lip, she studied him in silence for a few seconds before finally nodding her head. “She’s not going to ruin anything, handsome,” she smiled, hoping that her voice was reassuring as she leaned up and brushed a kiss across his cheek. The stress he was under was easy to discern in the lines of his face, and she found herself contemplating the thousand ways that she could ease his mind. When she realized that she couldn’t choose just one, she settled for resting her head against the crook of his shoulder as her eyes gaze remained fixed on the screen. However, she barely registered what was happening - she was too in tuned to the feel of his body against hers, and the way his arm locked her comfortably into his side.
Elighan: I place a tender kiss to the top of Cali’s head. She’s a very special person. That much is easy to see already. I pride myself in being able to read people but even I can make mistakes. I’m glad not to be wrong about her. We fall into a comfortable silence as the film plays on. Then the inevitable buzz of my phone pulls my attention from the screen. The reply is short and sweet, with all the usual bite that means I’ve really pissed the woman off. I manage to read the reply without bothering Cali, at least that’s what I hope, but in order to reply I have to extricate myself from her. Something I do reluctantly. “My last message must have really upset her,” I inform the angel at my side, “as she’s calling me names in Spanish now.”
Caligrace: It seemed like forever before she was finally able to relax again, that faint twist of nerves in her chest easing. Every noise she heard, she thought it was his phone vibrating with yet another worrisome message. She wasn’t concerned with the quantity of the texts he was receiving, but the quality. Each message seemed to darken his eyes a little more, and she found herself wishing she knew a way bring the light back into his smile. Running her fingers over his knee in absentminded gesture, she had finally begun to truly focus on the movie when he spoke once more. With a smile, she pushed herself upright and ran her fingers through her hair, hoping to untangle some of the crimson curls as she raised a brow. “I don’t see how you can be such a bother, handsome, you’re nothing but charm,” she laughed as she tucked herself back into his side.
Elighan: The next half hour passes in pretty much the same way and by the time Melete and I have come to understanding (and she’s more or less agreed not to flee the country), I’m almost certain that Caligrace has the patience of a saint. If the situations had been reversed, I’d almost certainly be a little annoyed by her lack of attention to the here and now. With this in mind I pause the film. This isn’t exactly the sort of thing one should be explaining on a first date, but I think she more than deserves some sort of explanation and if I’m going to talk about Melete, I may as well explain it all in one go. I don’t want her to have any reason to doubt me going forward. That is if she chooses to ever see me again. “Would you mind if we take a small break from the film?” I ask, turning my body a little more in her direction. “You’ve been ever so kind to me so far by not calling me out for emailing another woman while you’re so comfortably seated next to me and I think you deserve to know the full story of my relationship with my sire. If you would like to hear it that is.”
Caligrace: They had lapsed into a comfortable silence, and so when he spoke, it shocked her. Clearing her throat, she pushed herself up from his side and offered him a smile, her eyes bright as she waved towards the television. “Go ahead, handsome. I’m having a hard time concentrating, anyway,” she smiled before leaning over to grab her half-empty glass of champagne. Twisting the stem between her fingers, she brought it up to her painted lips for a sip and tilted her head. “What do you mean, your relationship? I mean, I think I get it. She’s your sire, right?” She trailed off then as she tried to analyze what he could have meant by the ‘full story’. She prided herself on being intelligent in most cases - yet, relationships were rarely one of them. However, she wasn’t about to jump ahead of herself, and instead she focused her full attention on him, her glass resting easily in the palm of her hand. “Of course I want to hear, Elighan, it seems to be important to you.”
Elighan: I nod, but the action is more one to allow me the time to try and phrase my next sentence correctly. “Yes. It is important to me. Because Melete is important to me. She’s my sire and my friend, and, in all honesty, she’s the main reason I returned to the city.” I haven’t explained that I left for several months to help my sister but I will do that if it’s necessary. Which it might in fact become, once I start explaining my relationship with Melete to her. “But before I left you see, our relationship was, well… complicated.” I pause to see if Cali can understand what I’ve left unspoken. I plan to clear everything up for her, I just need a moment to work out exactly how best to phrase it.
Caligrace: As he spoke, she could find nothing in his words to associate with the stress in his eyes. Her relationship with her sire, though not always perfect, was exactly how he explained his - friends. However, she could tell that there was something he was holding back, something that was causing him complications when he tried to speak. Sighing quietly, she reached out and curled her fingers with his, giving his hand a small squeeze as she smiled. “I’m glad that she gave you reason to return,” she began, before her words suddenly faltered. That’s my girl. Everything he said began to click into place, and she glanced down to their intertwined fingers. “Complicated.” It was the only word she spoke, and yet, it spoke volumes. Despite the information that he had left in the silence between them, she remained still, her thumb brushing over his knuckles as she waited for him to follow the cue in her tone and continue.
Elighan: I know she’s putting the pieces together when she repeats the last word I spoke. The hand holding hers, squeezes it tenderly. I like the contact I have with her it’s reassuring but that doesn’t stop me from rubbing at the back of my neck with my free hand. I take a fortifying breath and begin my explanation. “Please believe me when I say that I don’t wish to go back to the way things were with Melete before I left. It’s important I start by saying this, in case anything I say by way of explanation makes you feel otherwise. What we have, you and I, is new and delicate and I don’t wish for it to end before it’s begun because I chose my words poorly. But…” I drop my other hand to my lap, now cupping her hand within my own. “As I’m sure you’ve already worked out; Melete and I did date one another before I left the city.” There’s more to be said, more I need to explain but I pause there to allow her the time to take in what’s been said so far. I don’t want her to get lost at any point in our conversation and I want to make sure she has the time to voice any questions and concerns she might have, even if she doesn’t have all the information yet.
Caligrace: The connection of their skin seems to be the only thing keeping her in place. He had barely started speaking, and she could already feel that unfamiliar storm begin to brew in her chest. Calm yourself, girl, it’s nothing. Releasing a quiet breath, she kept her gaze on his, a brow raising in silent question as she scanned his features. He seemed to genuine, so nervous. She wasn’t the best judge of character, but she could tell that whatever he wanted to say mattered. He wanted her to hear him, and not get caught up the anxiety of her mind. “Oh,” she began, though the word seemed far too inadequate for what was really on her mind. “You dated, of course. Everyone has a past,” she continued on, though her smile was uncertain as she squeezed his hand for him to continue. Something told her it was more than a fling, and she found herself needing to hear it as much as he seemed to need to say it.
Elighan: She seems to require some sort of reassurance and while I did just tell Melete that if she went to Mexico I’d have to follow, I have try and make Cali understand the relationship that Melete and I have, in the hopes that Cali and I can forge our own and move forward. I have to admit that I was trying not to think about a future with Cali too much, as its early days, but she’s not here because I want to string her along and make Melete jealous and I certainly don’t want a one night stand. I tenderly brush the backs of my fingers over her cheek. “Allow me to start from the beginning sweetness and then perhaps you’ll understand why I would never again willingly date the woman that sired me. That door is irrevocably closed. I can promise you that.” I raise her hand, the one I’m still holding, to my lips and press my lips to it, before I look her in the eyes to see if she’ll give me the chance I possible don’t deserve.
Caligrace: Using her free hand to brush her hair out of her face, she tucked a single curl behind her ear and watched him as he spoke. She had never been one to be able to tell when she was being played, but something about the look in his eyes reassured her. She wanted to tell him that it was alright, that she didn’t need to know - but she found herself remaining quiet. After a long second, she released the hold on her lip and brushed her tongue over the abused flesh. It’s important to him, she reminded herself before finally squeezing his hand once more. “I’m all yours,” she smiled, this time with a touch more of the warmth she had previously lacked.
Elighan: Oh if only that were true. This woman spells trouble for me and I know it. Thankfully her kind of trouble I might actually be able to handle. “Melete and I met when I was hired to follow her and find out what she was up to. I won’t bore you with the details, but she put me in a situation where I compromised my ethics in order to protect her. I would of course, prefer you not tell anyone this fact, as my business is built upon my reputation and people have to be able to trust what I tell them.” I squeeze her hand gently, in the hopes that she’ll understand that I’m not just being overly cautious by saying this. “Of course she’d never admit that she needed my help and I framed my offer in such as way that she could believe that she would be of some use to me too. Which honesty she was. Not with that articular business, but with another. Her father has quite a reputation in certain circles and to be able to pick the brain of someone that was brought up in the criminal underworld was quite the opportunity for me.” I clear my throat, aware of the fact that I’m being vague. I can’t name names, as it’s not my place to do so; so once again, I suppose I’m protecting a woman that I sometimes believe might actually hate me.
Caligrace: “I feel like I’m going to need more champagne,” she laughed, though the sound was off. It didn’t hold the usual softness to it, and instead, it betrayed the wariness she was feeling. The story he had begun to weave sounded as if it were being read straight from the pages of one of her treasured novels. A woman in trouble, a man hired to find the truth. It was all too romantic, and she was beginning to regret asking him to continue. Yet, there was a small portion of her that needed to know how their story ended. How can you assume it’s over? Shaking the thought away, she trailed her finger along the rim of her glass, not really wanting the drink - and instead, she rested back into her seat, her fingers toying with her dress.
