Fit for a Queen [ Aviana ]

[Kendal]

April 11th
12:03 PM

"What do women enjoy?"

There was a pause.

"What do people enjoy?"

The curiosity earned Baxter a wince from Mary. "What kind of a question is that? Do you ever get out? ...how are you so out of touch?" she frowned at the man, folding her arms across her chest. Her rapid-fire questions earned her a blank stare in return. "Your businesses basically run on dealing with people." she surmised with a crinkle of her nose.

Mary wasn't one of the Valkyries that Baxter spoke to all too often.

Though they, at a glance, looked like they could be related, the two were from completely different planets. Mary O'Brien was the daughter of rich old Scotsman who'd come to Canada on a work visa and ended up staying when she met her girlfriend in Montreal. Baxter might as well have been born in a gutter and had never stepped foot into Montreal, nor had the tenacity or means to travel abroad for work in his youth. Nor did he really socialize as much as she did. The same dark hair and blue eyes, sallow complexions did nothing to homogenize Baxter and Mary; their personalities did well to keep them separate like water and oil.

"I don't have to deal with most people. And I'm not out of touch." His expression was a clear reflection of his offense. "I know how to treat people. ...I just don't know how to treat them in a way they'd enjoy." His brows furrowed as he watched Mary walk across the front of his desk, her own expression pensive. He was sure she hadn't even heard him.

"Well," she started, perching on the arm of a chair across his desk. "Most women enjoy being a little spoiled, I guess. Pampered?" Her brows lifted, the lines that had been worrying her forehead smoothing out as she eyed him. There were a few seconds of silence where Baxter stared blankly at the Valkyrie. "I don't know!" she finally sputtered, throwing her hands up. "Just ask her what she wants to do!"

"No." he replied immediately, nearly cutting her off before she could get the last few syllables out and managing to look even more affronted while doing so. His tone bordered petulancy. "I'll figure it out myself." This was a matter of pride. A new challenge. A different one than the ones he usually faced.

But he was determined to conquer it nonetheless.

April 11th
7:48 PM

♠ ♠

The sleek, dark body of the Jaguar pulled up to the front of Sanctuary. It was funny because both he and Aviana lived in the same building, only a couple of floors apart from one another. But he had wanted to make the evening worthwhile for the woman. And that meant leaving his usual mode of transportation in the parking garage and renting one that he felt was more suited for their outing.

Pampered. Wasn't that what Mary had suggested, the wench? Pampered meant feeling comfortable. And what was more comfortable than a fancy, foreign car? The fact that it glistened like a sliver of obsidian was more of a subjective choice. Still, the interior was lined with leather and warmth, and the upkeep was clearly top of the line. Baxter couldn't help but feel a little swell of pride at his decision to pick out the F-Type.

He glanced at the lit up display of the vehicle's dashboard.

7:48 PM

He'd asked her to meet him at the front of the building at 8:00 PM but gave her few details on the roster for the night, hoping that she was fond of surprises.

[Aviana]

With the setting of the sun, Avi would awake suddenly; as if from a nightmare. The blaring sound of an alarm clock, had been beeping in the background; for the past three hours. She sat upright on her couch, catching sight of the time and sighed. 14 minutes, before she was to meet with Bax. Panic mode set in, as the woman rushed to get ready. Luckily, she had prepared for such a situation. Sleeping in had become an unwanted routine after all.

Managing to get ready, she would be on her way out the door. Making use of time, she brushed her hair in the elevator. Dashing to the door, only to slow her pace before walking outside. The brush tucked away within her purse, as she sensed Baxter right away. Knowing she had been right out the door, at 8, eased her nerves. Approaching the car, she enjoyed the silence. The absence of the wraiths voice was pleasant. A fate she hoped to make permanent. Despite words, she could still feel the spirit linger with her.

Letting herself in the car, she was quick to speak. Reminding herself not all were well adapted, to complete silence. ” Evening, Baxter. Nice ride.“ Looking to him, she reminded herself of how little the two knew one another. Her walls were held up for a reason. Tonight, she hoped to get to know Baxter a little better. She knew that involved opening up about herself. ” It seems I have some sort of vampire sleeping disorder. “ She surly held the look of someone who had just awoken.

Having showered the night before and gone to bed with wet hair, no amount of brushing would have it looking just right. Admitting such a fault to the man, was a bit out of her comfort zone. Not like it was something she could hide from the world forever. ” So, any hints to what the evening holds? ” Changing the subject back to what he had planned. She hoped to not be underdressed for whatever it was. Even if her dark jeans and black sweater were free of paint stains, rips, burns and holes.

[Kendal]

The door unlocked with a mechanical click as Baxter saw Aviana approaching the car. "Hey," he greeted her with a small smile. It was then that Mary's words really began to sink in. He really was out of touch when it came to social interaction. At least social interactions that were meant to be social and not for business. He waited for her to settle in and shut the door before turning pulling out of the driveway and onto the road. Baxter glanced at the woman and then back at the road. "You like it? It's a Jaguar F-Type." He couldn't remember why he'd decided to pick a Jag out of all the options. Something about the name stuck out as familiar though he was actually inside the car, nothing about it was like any sort of vehicle he'd been in ever before.

He chuckled at her comment and shook his head. "Don't all vampires have a sleep disorder? Passing out a dawn? Or is that just a stereotype?" He wasn't sure if that was a fact or just a rumour, something he'd heard from the many rumours on his many trips through bars and pubs in the city. Truth was that Baxter knew very little about vampire physiology. Ironic for a Blood Thief, maybe, but he wasn't much of a social butterfly. "Don't sweat it. I hope you got enough rest." he reached up to fix the rearview mirror over the dashboard, glancing up at it to check the road before switching into the right lane.

"Well, I thought we could start with a little trip through the classier part of town, maybe drop by a few boutiques or what not." Because he'd heard women liked shopping and had chosen to take that at face value. "And around midnight, I have scheduled a fitting at La Liaison... but… I'd like this arrangement to be of your dictation," he cast a sideways glance at her. "So if you're not comfortable with those plans, I'm open to you taking the lead in choosing whatever you'd like for us to do."

[Aviana]

With his comment, on liking the car, she simply smiled and nodded her head. As if she knew what he was talking about. She could appreciate the finer artistic qualities of a car. Sure. She just could not tell you the different names, or much about them. ” Not all vampires have trouble with the sun. ” Softly shared, as her gaze lingered out the window.

The sun, was just one example of vampire diversity. The vampire wished she could resist the pull of sleep and stay awake. Better, she wished to walk in the sun. To feel the warmth of its rays upon her skin. Only in my dreams. She told herself, before smiling with mention of getting enough sleep. Thirteen hours is far too much sleep, a worried thought that lingered. It depressed the vampire, to know summer was coming. The days would be longer. She was lucky to make it to her apartment most days. Sleeping in an underground sewer, was nothing new to her. That didn’t mean she enjoyed or preferred it.

As he spoke on the plans for the evening, she held her small smile. Her eyes lingered out the window, watching the city pass along. The moment his direction of words changed, her head would turn just in time to catch his glance. ” I am along for the ride. Those plans sound lovely.” She assured him. It had been long since the woman had allowed herself such simple pleasures. Public places, while alone, always made her a little uneasy. More so now.

As her attention turned back to the window, she spoke to his mind then. Her words far less like nervous chatter. For the telepath, it felt a more natural form of communication. ‘ Does it bother you, when I speak to you this way? I am what they call a telepath. You likely knew that already. Come the end of May, I will have been a vampire for three years. Feels like a lifetime. The memories of my turning are still quite fuzzy but I do know this life was forced upon me. I don’t regret that now. Feel free to ask me anything. We could pass over casual conversation completely? I would rather talk about whatever you like. ’