Paint it Black (Invite)

[Roderic]

My ‘routine,’ for lack of a better word was becoming familiar. Not necessarily in the sense that I was always waking up in the same place, but in the sense that when I woke up, there was always something that was needing to be healed. A chest wound. A gash here and there. Something broken. I didn’t mind this sense of familiarity. It was welcomed, as sadistic and crazy as it was. If you were a normal person. We weren’t. This routine reminded me of this each and every night.

Tonight, a shoulder needed to be popped back into place, the lesser of many wounds from the night before. One I could deal with, over the others she left in my body. My left hand goes under my naked forearm and lifts it up, and then moves to the shoulder in an attempt to pop it back in place, but I can’t quite seem to get it in. The moving and pulling causes me to grit my teeth, the pain chart-able on any scale in anyone's book. But, I try again, and get no further, but I need to get going with the night. I have things to do, like show off my latest project, for her. I think she will appreciate it. It hits home. A squirrel riding a raccoon from her property. I even gave it a cowboy hat for kicks.

“A little help here? Unless you’re going to dislocate it again later tonight. Then leave it as is.” I turn my head to face the brunette that has a blanket snaked around her body. I turn my body from facing the bathroom, to face her, the bed creaking under the shifting of my weight as my eyes flick up the length of her body, what wasn’t hidden and shake my head. So many identifying marks, something I plan to take care of one night. Just not tonight. Tonight was set aside for something special. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I show her the project. I’m confident I’ll be in worse shape than I was last night.

[Dominique]

Beneath the wrap of the blanket the colorful shadow stirred slowly. One chocolate orb appeared as the arm partially covering her face lifted. The body next to her was on the move and her focus naturally went with it. He faces her and HOPE lifts to brush the black strands of hair that are falling over her face. Bunching a pillow under her chest as she lifts up to rest on her elbow she takes a look at what his complaint is. So he had some lasting issues after she thought she had helped sort them all out. Her body lifted more focusing her attention on the shoulder he mentioned. It was obviously out of place.

“Lay down.” She stood up and surrendered the blanket to the bed she was comfortable in. Her feet found the floor and she watched him as he followed her direction. “Alright. Now relax so it can go back in.”

With his positioning she brought his arm down to the side off the edge of the bed. Unlike the whole Lethal Weapon scene this was to be a rather simple move. Holding his arm at the wrist she turned it just a little and then she leaned back using her weight to do the work more than a direct pull. The resistance was brief and once she felt the familiar slide and the joint going back in place she released his hand.

“There you go. I guess I was a little too rough.” She winked and leaned against the edge of the dresser so her *** was perched and balancing her weight. “I usually don’t make house calls but for you there will always be an exception.”

[Roderic]

She proceeds to tell me to lay down so she can give me the assistance I requested from her. That’s the only reason I lay down, as I don’t typically take orders from anyone. But, it logically makes sense to me, as sitting up, attempting to put the thing back in its socket wasn’t working. My back finds the edge of the bed with her assistance, so that I’m looking up at the ceiling.

She talks about being a little rough last night and I turn my head to face her. “Could have ripped it clean off. Would have saved us the trouble tonight.” I nod my head, before returning my line of vision to the ceiling as she starts to play nurse. I feel the pull and tug of the bone, among with some muscle stiffness as she tries to set it in place, my teeth clamping down together while she works. It’s finally in and Dominique steps back, then makes herself at home on the dresser. My dresser. My back is lifted off the bed and I stare at her, taking in her colorful canvas before I rise and move to the dresser in front of her where I pull open random drawers and pull out the things I will need to progress with my night. “We’ll need to get dressed.” I tell her as I pull out a pair of dark blue jeans, then open another drawer to pull out a white v-neck, t-shirt, followed by the other essentials, like socks and a pair of boxers. “I have something to show you.” I state as I put all the items I collected next to her, allowing my hands to be free so that I can remove Dominique off the surface of the dresser, with my hands on her arms. “A present, I suppose you could say. Designed especially for you.” I tell her as I put her on the soles of her feet, thinking about the raccoon and squirrel. My hands glide down the length of her bare arms, before I release them. “Then maybe you can give, taking my arm off, a shot later.” I can’t repress the grin on my lips before one hand gives her *** a firm smack, before I turn away. I probably shouldn’t have done that...initiated something before we get to where we need to get to where we’re going.

I disappear in the bathroom, flick the light on and then start with my usual routine here. First teeth. I brush them for exactly two minutes thanks to the timer that sits on the sink lining. It’s set for two minutes, and then auto resets at it when I hit a certain button twice. The toothbrush will then be rinsed off for a count of twenty seconds, that’s done in my head, before it’s put in the holder. When that’s done, the shower is turned on, before I climb in. How long it takes to get through the process is up to her.

[Dominique]

There is a couple options that the shadow can go with now that the itinerary is announced. Getting dressed, heading out perhaps or getting to the unveiling of his latest project. All of it was on the list of things to do. He wants to show this to her, whatever it is, adding that it will maybe give reason for her to put hands on him again. There was no question he sought it out, he enjoyed it. A lot. She did too. HOPE and LESS were curled over the edge of the dresser until she was moved and placed on her feet. While her toes wiggled slightly to take in the texture beneath them while her eyes followed his body, his bare body, towards the bathroom where the shower would be. It certainly wasn’t in the closet he passed on the way.

Slowly the dark orbs blinked at the open space left behind. It reminds her she doesnt have any clothes. No one would know it outside the one who was responsible for the way she arrived. HOPE tapped the colorful fingers in quick succession at the hard surface underneath. The Clash was in her head as she eyed the door frame his disappeared into. It wasn’t that she was apprehensive, unsure. She had been there all day. With a shrug her hands pushed off from where they rested and her feet carried her through the open door and left it the way it was as she cleared it. She would grab some clothes on the way out if they left. Shadows had that luxury of traveling unseen. She would bet a million on the fact that she wasn’t the only one known to move around with her skin and nothing more.

“You already showed me but I am not against seeing it again.” She announced as she stepped in under the water and looked up at him. “Hi.”

[Roderic]

Time had passed. A lot of it. I made the incorrect assumption that Dominique had gone on her way. Went back to her house for some clothing to get ready for the nights plans. I had only been in the shower, at most, forty seconds before her presence was first made aware to me. The scent of earth was always a welcomed smell, even more so now as I inhale it in through my nose. It's not the smell of the woods I came to know and am the most familiar with from back home; there is some notable distinguishing characteristics. The ground, when wet here, doesn't have that petrichor smell. Back home was more drier than it is here, at least since I've moved to Harper Rock. It must have to do with the large rivers in and around town...much like Maine and other parts of the east coast that I came across.

She doesn't waste any time coming right in and making what might have been my alone space...her space now. An 'us' space. She mentions seeing something before and wanting to see it again, and at first it goes right over my head. What is this it? I've never shown her anything in here before. The only thing in here that was near her last night was....me. I finally put together what 'it' is. She gives me a greeting after the fact, which does my head in. Wasn't it usually the other way around? Is she looking for permission to be in here? Dom, from what I have gathered so far, does what she wants to do, when she wants to go it. So it can't be some permission seeking thing going on here.

And maybe it, isn't 'it.' I mean, I'm standing here in my birthday suit, and she can see 'it.' It's not something you can miss. 'It' can't be 'it.' I nod as I conclude that thought. It means something else. She wants more from last night. Round two so to speak. She's insatiable, I've come to learn. I've woken something up inside of her, but I'm not sorry about it. Not in the slightest. "I'll show you it." I say as I put down the bar of soap I had just gathered up. It finds a spot in a groove in the subway patterned tiled walls to the left of me without any hesitation, as my hands wrap around her lower back and shoulder, her painted skin pressing against mine as we both stand there under the shower head that gave us about half a foot of clearance before a head might knock into it. "Is this why you came in my space?" I ask her as I back her up against the wall, my gaze locked on hers. I only wait for a look in her eyes, not a spoken confirmation to see what she might be thinking before my hands find a new place to rest. Around the detachable shower head, the silver cord snaked around her neck, just once, and pulled tight.

[Dominique]

“You are overlooking something.”

Dominique isn’t the least bit phased by the fact that there is a cheap metal covered hose around her neck. Not even when it becomes some sort of makeshift noose that tightens and would do an impressive job of constricting her if it weren’t for the fact his best bro already killed her a couple years back.

“You are here, yes, and it’s your place...that I get.”

Her eyes are wide and on him like she has already reviewed rather strategically at least five different vantage points she has at her disposal to break him. Some are incredibly painful and she was sure those he would likely enjoy given their recent history. While her body slides just enough against his to remind him how good it can feel all over again she allows her hands to outline his upper and lower body with the familiar caress of her knowing hands. He didn’t need to show her what she had already been introduced to. That point had been made. The metallic noose coils a little tighter. She smiles. It feels good and he knows it. How can he miss the signs in the stars?

“But really...you are in my space.” She offered up in a matter of fact tone. “Here is how it works. My feet are here, right? My body is too and so there you have it. It is my space if I am occupying it.”

The colorful shadow felt the tile behind her back and imagined sliding down it, riding up. It was slick and surprisingly it was clean. She wasn’t feeling that grip to her skin that film and build up of deposits that would be signs of neglected shower tile.

“I could be at the mall and you could be just as close as we are now and it would be my space there too. You stepped forward and put me into this position so really you have just entered my space.” So tight. The fit was beginning to pinch the permanent honeycomb heart at the center of her throat. “Care to get into it a little deeper?”

[Roderic]

She tells me I am overlooking something, to which, my eyes look at the shower head around her neck and the bit attached to the wall. It's possible she could pull it right out of the wall, simply based on her raw vampire abilities, which would make me have to alter things, but I happen to be adaptable like that.

She's agreeing with me, but I know better than that by now. She won't ever actually agree with me, even if I am right. My eyes flick back to her and wait for her to make her move. Or to keep talking. Whichever suits her mood at the moment. I'm betting on the former more than the latter, but, Dominique happens to have a way about her to keep me on the tips of my toes. I'm undecided it it's a trait I enjoy about her, or find irritating.

She touches me and my body tenses. I even take a step back. Not because I'm afraid of Dominique. I'm testing things. Making observations. My facial features do not change as she claims I am in her space, there is not a single shred of emotion or thought behind them as I watch the cord constrict around her neck, much like that of a boa snake or a member of the same family.

I didn't miss the look in her eyes, or the stars that pointed due north, trying to gain my attention. A hand rests on her belly button and inches its way up to her neck where I wrap my fingers around the length of it, pressing the coil deep inside her flesh, hoping it bites at it. Bruises it and leaves a lasting impression. "The mall is a public place. This is not." I state with resounding fact and certainty as my fingers clench tighter around her neck. "This is my shower. I paid for it." I heard the question, but was choosing to ignore it for now. At least, I wasn't vocalizing I heard it, even if my body choose to betray me. Instead, I decide to do something she won't expect. "See you in ten minutes." Without any further words or hesitation, I send her to the back door of Vita. I needed to shower and she needed to get dressed. We had things to do.

[Dominique]

And there she was staring at the back door of Vita Bella. Nothing had changed since the last time she was standing at it. She had seen it a thousand times. Probably more than that. So he pulled that card. Wasn’t he clever. That was no surprise either. Ignoring the lack of pockets on her bare hips to carry the keys she should have had in her hand to open the door, she simply entered. The inked up shadow had the power to do it with any door that was otherwise locked, including her own. Stepping inside she was soon receiving several wet greetings from the resident wild kingdom. The automatic feeding stations would get the refill they obviously needed. After she had her shower and decided on what she was going to settle on wearing from her community closet. Ten minutes was going to be long gone by the time she was close to ready.

Wet but in the midst of drying off she dropped the towel on the blonde wood flooring beneath her feet. Each foot stepped on the towel and began to move in a twist movement and whatever water was left behind from her recent shower was soon soaked up. HOPE tossed the towel into the laundry basket and opened up the tall wardrobe next to it. Slowly the hangers with the various colors and lengths of rock climbing pants and capris slid from the left to the right on the lower bar. After a few seconds passed the choice was made and she slid them on over her hips tying them in place. A sheer black halter top was discovered in the small stack of clothes at the bottom of the wardrobe. Once HOPE and LESS tied the bow at the back of her neck the doors were closed.

“Going out again?” The hiss of a voice from behind her was followed with a chill that traveled up her back.
“No. I am staying in and just getting comfortable.” The air was empty when she turned to see if there was a visual to go with the voice that continued to be nearly everywhere she was. As with every other time there was nothing. You are welcome to leave though.”

Her barefeet padded to the kitchen and pulled a fresh ripe peach from the fruit bowl. It smelled sweet enough to eat. She brought it to her lips and paused. Just in case the voice came back with some sort of retort that would need addressing. It was quiet for several seconds then she took that as the sign it was safe to indulge without interruption. Which she did with one juicy healthy sized bite.

[Roderic]

Now that I was left alone and in peace, I could continue with my activities for the night. Such as getting showered and dressed, without any possible distractions from Dominique. When I had a task I wanted completed, I wanted to see it through. I'm a firm believer of work hard, play hard. The sooner Dominique learned that...the better for everyone all around. She's a smart brownie, she will get it. I have confidence in her mental faculties. It's one of her more appealing traits. The shower took precisely four minutes more of my time. Her time. Our time. I was an efficient person, got in and got out to get on with my next series of tasks. Which was collecting Dominique and then taking her to the shop for her...present.

I first put on my boxers and shorts. Followed by my pants. Once those are on, a belt secures my jeans to my waist. I grab a black comb, one of those cheap ones that come in a two pack for ninety-seven cents at any drug story and run it through my hair quick. This was just done so I could have a part over one eye so that my line of vision isn't blocked by the overgrown. A haircut would be a more practical choice, but I actually like the fact one of my eyes is usually covered. That lets most people know that I am not looking to make conversation and to leave me alone.

My shirt was nothing special. It was a gray and had seen its fair wear. The band name 'Foo Fighters was on it, along with words under an emblem that said 'there is nothing to loose.' My typical black boots were found in the hallway once I was completely dressed, laced and out the door I went. I was debating where I should go. Vita Bella, where I teleported Dominique, or right to the place where I sold the stuff I made in the apartment. I decide to just head to Vita, in case she wasn't ready-because most women needed more than five or six minutes to get ready.

I walk there, only because I know it will give her more time that way. As long as I was progressing forward, then it didn't matter in the end. The task of me getting to Vita will be completed because I had no distractions near or around me. It takes me sixteen minutes, simply because I slow my steps to make sure I was there at sixteen minutes and not fifteen. I don't bother ringing the door bell. I just walk right in and look to the direction that had the hidden wall. The wall that had a massive hole blown in it. I smile and then turn my head back in its normal resting position and see her eating. Why were women, vampire women, that could eat, eating? I shrug and look around some more. “Ready?” I ask, still standing in the doorway.

[Dominique]

With the fuzzy texture of the skin in her mouth she was reminded it was the only disappointment in eating a fresh peach. Even the thick hard pit in the center was acceptable as a gauge for the consumer eating said fruit that when she reached the center she would need to divert her path around. Sounds of footsteps entering Vita Bella were not lost on her. The shadow knew them enough not to be alarmed. Roderic was entering and there was no surprise in that. Time was up and she had him pegged for one that was a stickler for schedules and keeping to them. She could appreciate that and enough so that she lifted up from where she was comfortably sitting when he stayed in the doorway. He wanted to know if she was ready.

“Of course I am.” She eyed his clothing choice as stepped backwards to drop the recyclable peach pit in the wastebasket. It took only one time of Vader nearly choking on one to remind her to tie up the bag and take it with her when they left. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Probably because she was intending on making him wait but her little ‘i-will-show-him’ after the shower episode came and went. Dominique didn’t hold grudges well. In fact she couldn’t remember any she did have.

“Just let me find some shoes to slide on and I am good to go.” Her permanent rose adorned feet made a slow walk to the wardrobe and pulled out some comfortable street shoes that would be up for just about anything he set his mind on doing. “Anything particular you will think I will be needing?”

HOPE and LESS located her chosen weapons not far from reach. The custom gun and handmade blade were quickly slid into place and concealed for the most part on her person. Finding the automatic feeders filled adequately and water dispensers full she figured it was safe to leave and start their adventure.

“If not then I am ready to head out.” She winked. “You can take the lead.” Her permission was given. She was sure he would appreciate that.