RP:Forgive Me... With An Extra Cherry On Top

Summary: After the Adventurer's Guild debacle with the undead dragon in the jagged shaft, Tiberius escorts Lanara to the nearest healer so she can get the injuries she sustained mended. The witch is pleased to find that it's Penelope that will be tending to her wounds, as her back took quite a bit of damage. As Lana is getting patched up, Tiber heads to the market to buy her clothes, some ingredients to make dinner, and a bottle of wine. The lycan wants to apologize for how he yelled at the woman for crying out in pain, and he goes even further to 'apologize' by stealing some oils from the healer's hut. The pair heads back to Tiber's apartment in Cenril and cook the meal in unison, while sharing a moment of passion, having a deep discussion, and ending the night with a bubble path and a promised massage.

The two had finally made it out of the cavern and down the mountain. Thankfully, there was still daylight. The lycan was delicate with the woman due to her injuries, and well, he did not want her to bite his head off because he tried to bite her head off first. Occasionally he is glancing her way and he could see the pain that is written all over her face. “Listen, Lana, I’d take you straight to my place, but honestly, I don’t know what the hell I’d be doing to those gashes and I don’t want to risk infection,” he halts her on the path to Kelay with a sincere look in his amber gaze. He was holding the insults for now. “The closest healing place is here. I think… north from this main road? Let me drop you off, I’ll pick up the ingredients for dinner, and then you can get patched up and we can be on our jolly ol’ way?” The man then looks left and right. “Rumor also has it that Kelay gives pretty kind service, and trust me, you’d hate me if I patched you up. I think I’ve caused enough today.”

Lanara frowns as Tiber glances her way but says nothing, though in truth they had both said quite a bit to each other up in the mines. It was supposed to be a fun experience, the lycan rejoining the guild and the witch searching for clues with her adventurous friends. This was their first foray together into exploration in quite some time, and it was botched horribly. Lanara is worried about Khitti, as her friend seemed to be having chest pains. She’s panicked that Aira is –still- upset with her because she has an amazing ass and it was her fault that her friend’s thigh was gashed. The leader, Meri, also had Lanara concerned as she stated she wanted to chat with Tiber soon, and who knew what the wolf medallion would lead to in the end?! Plus, she had hugged the male and he sort of seemed disturbed by their contact. What was that about?! Sitting on a boulder, the lycan pleads with her to get some treatment, and after a little bickering, the witch relents. “Yes… My friend Penelope works in there and I trust her to heal me. I-I don’t like being touched, really, so I turned down Zahrani. Ever since…” Her voice trails off and she shakes her head, lifting her hand as she winces and rubs where the rock had bopped her above the brow, “Okay… You go and get the supplies and I will get patched up. Also… Um. Maybe you can pick me up something to wear? A loose dress? A big shirt? I can’t march around the forest in a bra and torn pants… I’m a size small top and a size medium in pants…” She was petite and slender, though with those curves she had to often go up a size depending on the fabric. A part of her wonders if Tiber is going to return in an hour or two, not that she’d blame him for avoiding her altogether. She –had- put them both in danger. Heading into the clinic, she turns and gives him a parting wave, “See you later…”

Tiber is relieved that the witch agrees with the man. As she begins to explain about not being touched, he sort of looks puzzled. Obviously that was a story for later. What about him? Was he allowed to touch her? “Okay,” he says as she trails. “But I’ll make sure to get you there first… that way I know you make it.” The Catalian was bitter, but protective all-the-same. As they wander that direction through the forests of Sage, Tiber nods. “I’ll find you something, I promise,” well, this was not a good idea. Although he was fashion savvy, would he be able to get something decent for the woman? They come into the clearing where the hut relied. He remains in the tree line as she moves forward, but before she gives him a parting wave, he plants a kiss gently on her forehead. “I’ll be back. I promise. Two hours tops,” and the wave is now given. The man moves within the trees. Sweet silence. No more arguing. For now. The man would move back from which he came from where he would end up on the main cobble path on Kelay Way. The clothes shop would be near the tavern where he would find Crialla—a timid woman, but helpful. “You have any like plain dresses or like… something cozy to trek back to Cenril in? Something light?” The woman would then suggest looking in a certain section of clothing. Half-off. Nice. The man would rummage through the sort. Something good with hiking boots? A white dress? No, she had wounds… if they seeped, it would look bad. The man takes his time and settles for a short, black dress with long bell-sleeves. Very typical witch like--too much frillies. Almost like Halloween, but mildly classier. Perhaps Lanara needed a witchy hat! Though, he knows that he will never hear the end of that one. Wow, Tiber, -great- job. He buys the dress without realizing that the hiking boots wouldn’t match. He forgot about that. A total fashion fiasco. The man then moves to different parts of town to pick up ingredients for their dinner. Steak, potatoes, vegetables, and some red wine. She deserved wine. Eventually, about an hour and a half later, he is trekking back to the healer’s hut.

The witch is deep in a discussion about Yule with Penelope and Ruari, when Tiber steps into the adjoining waiting room, with groceries and a change of clothes. “Hey… Thank you for the outfit, they had to cut off my shirt and these pants have seen better days.” After making the proper introductions, Lanara accepts the dress and steps behind a curtain for some privacy as she struggles to smooth the fabric over her injured frame. It’s a perfect fit, though she does spy the orange half-off sticker and rolls her eyes, “Figures!” Of course the Catalian was looking for a bargain, and had picked her out something that was more suitable for Samhain, than cute and comfortable. It would serve the purpose for the short trek from Sage to Cenril, and she wouldn’t feel as ‘on display’ as she had up in the caverns, or on the cot as the healers mended her wounds. Lana hopes he didn’t forget the lavender bath salts, because she kept pestering poor Penny to wrap her in waterproof bandages, plus she needed to soak and relax. Grumbling about how the hiking boots clash horribly with the dress, she laces them up, and after giving Penelope, Ruari, and even Yerrel, a quick parting hug, the witch is ready to leave. Once outside of the clinic, Lanara rounds on Tiber, “She’s on the list, too! You can’t steal from her or deliberately hurt her feelings… So that makes Talyara, Penelope, Meri, and Khitti off-limits, okay? You can be rude to everyone else, just not my circle of close friends.” The lycan said he would change, and she hadn’t truly enforced it, only within her squad. Lanara looks to be stiffer than usual, as she was still in pain and would be for a few days, but at least she was able to move and breathe without oozing all over the place. She doesn’t lean on Tiber for support on their way to the apartment, because he has his hands full of bags. Instead, she focuses on her footing and makes some small talk along the way, “I didn’t even realize it… But you had to climb a mountain, journey through a cave on your hands and knees for a while, head all the way to Cenril to shop for clothes and groceries, then return the way you had come with your hands full of bags… And now you’re escorting me –back- to your apartment, where you’re going to make us dinner!” The Grinch who tried to destroy Yule, the big bad wolf, was falling head over heels for Lanara Banks! This realization has Lanara’s mood improving considerably, and she elbows the male and smirks, “Just how much farther do you plan on going tonight, Tiberius?” Oh no. Was that a slip of the tongue or a deliberate sexual innuendo? Sensing the wickedness that she likely implanted in his mind, Lana holds the door open that leads into the complex, “Relax… Your witch is on the mend, still. But! If you want to keep going to such great lengths to impress me, by all means, continue! Maybe you can serenade me? Sit outside the bathroom door with a guitar while I’m soaking in the bubble bath?”

Tiber pays no mind to the frizzed out healer. Beautiful, but that girl looked too closed off for her own good, so he would stay away. Plus, she was good with a scalpel it seemed, so no thanks. He would just stay away and for the meantime, move to another table to pretend to observe equipment before snagging an oil like a true rogue. He whips around to look at the witch. “Figures what? It’s a dress! A dress is a freaking dress!” Actually, it was not. Either way, they were on the move. He sort of gives the healer a nod in gratitude in departure, and gives Lanara a scrunched up face when the witch proceeds to mention that Penelope is off-limits of pestering. “Damn, you’re so demanding. Like I’m going to spend my time around some hippie-dippie healing chick,” he murmurs. “Fine,” but really, that was no promise on anything. They walk and occasionally he is throwing glances at her from time to time. As Lanara makes the annoying comments of him going to the end of the world and back for her, he sort of grumbles. “Give me ten good reasons why I am doing this,” he already knew why he was doing this. He was into her and in complete avoidance until she made the seductive comment. His amber eyes move to her and he is tracing eyes over her figure. She was tempting, but she was battered and he was not about to rough her up anymore. “Well, if you mean ripping your clothes off, that’s a big zero. Though, I did promise you a massage, so maybe you’ll get lucky that I stole some oil from your hippy healer friend.” Mouth drop. What?! When?! He was smooth. “You think I play guitar? You’re wrong. Though, instruments are something I dabble in. You should guess mine of choice,” he grins to make a game out of it. “I’ll put oils on you outside the bubble bath, how about that?” The two begin to step foot into the city of Cenril. Home sweet home. To him.

Lanara’s jaw drops when Tiber calls her ‘demanding’ and she narrows her eyes when he confesses that he stole from the clinic, “You –stole- from Penelope?! Tiberius Lowell!!! How could you do that?! She’s becoming a good friend, she patched up my back for FREE, and I was telling her how –amazing- you are and then you go and just swipe her oil?!” Her voice is rising as she unleashes a mouthful of expletives, the fire returning to her gaze, since it had somewhat diminished after the dragon attack. “Tiber. I’m serious… I know she may not mean anything to you, and I don’t care what sort of reputation you hold, but I value mine! Sure, I do some shady things every now and then, but never to my friends! How would you like it if I just sauntered into some seedy pool hall and while you’re in the middle of a game with your best friend, a game that you are winning, and I just start rubbing on his cue and run off with it when you both aren’t looking? What then Tiberius?! You would –lose- your game, the money that you were supposed to win, and possibly a friend!” The witch, who is in a cheap store bought Samhain costume, storms into the apartment and nearly trips over Salem who had come to greet them. Those bulky mountain boots nearly send Lanara flying backwards but her reflexes respond in time and she turns to glare at Tiber like her clumsiness was his fault, too. A hand presses to her back and she winces, but it’s his earlier statement that she’s now focusing on, as she closes the door behind them and follows him into the kitchen. “Ten reasons? Alright. Fine. If –you- can give me ten reasons why you are doing all these things for me? Ten –honest- reasons…” She smirks and crosses her arms, offering to sweeten the deal, “I’ll give you a full body massage with your stolen oil…” Lana could be just as smooth, and to get a little, she had to give a little. As to his instrument of choice she fights the urge to scream that he plays with his own organ, and instead mumbles, “Probably the drums… I think you’d enjoy smashing things.”

Tiber pulls his brows together. “What? It’s for –you-. If she was such a good friend, she’d understand,” he shrugged the woman off. Though, the fire in her gaze makes him cant his head. “Well, I didn’t know she was a legit friend until we were outside, so you’re going to have to cut me some slack,” always the blame game, however, her words are clear to him. “Well, for one, running off with a cue is idiotic. You’d get caught, I’m sure. Also, fine, I get it. Chill,” he holds up his hands, so she would not unleash the girlfriend-ish wrath that he was clearly avoiding. As they saunter into the apartment, he watches her stumble about with an unamused face. He was stone. “Don’t look at me like that,” he says flatly. The door closes and he moves closer to her to assist her if needed. “Get your shoes off before you hurt yourself more,” so demanding. The man then moves to the kitchen to drop the bags down, and he begins to pull ingredients out of the bag. He does not look at her as she becomes coy with him, but his interest in peaked as she mentions massaging him. His eyes flick up to her own. “Really now? I’ll play your game. Now list them out,” he looks her up and down before pulling out the steak. He then resumes his own game. “Ouch,” he places a hand to his chest. “You think I just like to torture people for fun, don’t you? You think I’m some angry weirdo, but I’ll have you know, I am –great- with my fingers.” He then moves to grab a meat hammer to tenderize the meat. “I play piano, Lanara. I’m not some angsty teenager,” he rolls his eyes, but he smiles at her attempt to guess. Tiberius Lowell a piano player? A softened soul? Really? Charming.

Lanara senses that Tiber isn’t in the mood to play as he’s wearing that grumpy expression, so she makes a show of kicking off one boot in the living room, one off in the kitchen, and as he’s grabbing the meat mallet, she slowly lowers one sleeve of her costume as though she were teasing the idea of removing that, as well. The lycan was demanding, probably because he had walked a million miles for her today, and so she pouts when he claims she would be caught stealing a cue, but decides to drop the subject. They both went through hell today, and since the numbing salve hadn’t entirely worn off just yet, Lana was all about being annoying and playful. Plus, the fact that he plays an instrument is adorable, and she wants to make sure that stone face expression is gone from his face for the rest of the night. “You’ll have to play the piano for me sometime! And you may be skilled with your fingers, but I am damn good with my hands…” It’s hard to look sexy when she’s a little stiff in the middle, and wearing a half-priced threadbare costume, but Lana is able to slowly saunter near enough to squeeze Tiber’s bicep as he’s tenderizing the steak. “Alright, fine… If you list five reasons why you went to the mines to explore with –me- today… You get an upper body massage. If you list a separate five reasons as to why you’re so into me and jumping through all these hoops? You get the full body massage… Have you –ever- been rubbed by a witch, Tiberius? They are magical… I can heat up the oils with just a touch, cool the lotions with a simple word, lace the massage with some spells to make you feel as if you’ve died and gone to heaven?” Her voice had dropped to a heated whisper as she leans in against his shoulder, “Play with me…” A faint blush is in her cheeks and her heart rate is slightly elevated as she holds his gaze, chocolate meeting amber for an extended moment in time. It’s true that he had circled Lithrydel to keep her safe and happy today, but from the emotion in her eyes, it’s obvious that she’s equally as addicted to being at his side.

Tiberius Lowell is easy at avoiding tantrums. The boots fly across the room in opposite angles and he keeps his eyes on the dinner. He pulls out different jars of seasoning. The man then looks up at the woman when she says she is good with her hands. She looks rigid and he blinks those amber hues at her. She nears him and he lets her touch him on his bicep without a flinch. He then finally opens his mouth to speak. The thought of being massaged by a witch had him wanting to lunge towards her already, but he is on his very best behavior for now—well, the best that his behavior could be for now, not that Lanara wants him to be on his best behavior. ‘Play with me…’ for now it was time to become more sentimental. Was it? “Okay, we will start with the first five,” he eases into her game as he moves the steak to the stove and places the steak in the pan for sizzling purposes. “One, I went to the mines to explore with you today because… I worry. You always seem to be wrapped up in a mess, and I want to be able to pull you out of them. Two, I figured that I can benefit off the wolf’s amulet, whatever that is.” He shrugs the missing amulet off for now. “Three, you strike me curious on if you are even able to battle, which you failed me with being whooped by a giant dragon,” mean, but true. He had not seen that battle side to her yet. As the steak cooks, he moves to rummage for a pan to bake the potatoes. He stabs a few forks into the potatoes for breathing. “Four, like I said, you look great in adventure gear,” he peers back at her before continuing his cooking. “And five, I care about you, and would never want to see you hurt, although you were. The only reason I yelled at you was because… I wanted you to stand and be strong, although I can see you were and are in excruciating pain, and I apologize. I assume we were raised differently. Crying is not going to solve the problems that we are in. It’s okay to cry and let it out, but I learned to hold it until I was successfully safe. We weren’t. I needed to get you out of there which loops back to number one of the first five of the list.” He shrugs like this is no big deal. “Will you dice the chives?”

Lanara thought he would fly into a rage at her tantrum but he surprises her by acting as though she didn’t just throw her hiking boots haphazardly across two rooms. He was either used to dealing with ill behaved ladies, or he was getting used to her little antics and didn’t have the energy to complain. She expected the first five to be easy enough, though an additional five would prove harder, as he’d have to dig into his emotions a bit more. She lowers her hand from his bicep and relaxes with the flirting, and keeps an eye on his facial expressions to gauge his sincerity. This –was- serious, and sure she had to lure him into answering with the promise of a romantic massage, but it was still Tiber opening up. It’s huge. Lanara is silent as he answers, noting that he cares about her well being, whereas in the past he didn’t care if she was killed by a scorpion. Their feelings were mutually growing for each other, and hopefully his walls would continue to come down, as hers were beginning to crumble. As he asks her to cut the chives, like he didn’t just get personal and it was no huge deal, she gives a slow nod and grabs a knife from the drawer. The chives are rinsed in the sink, before they are pressed to the cutting board, and the couple works in unison in silence for a moment, before Lanara replies to his five truths. “I can battle, though I am not very good at hand-to-hand combat, admittedly. I weigh a hundred and twenty pounds and I’m five foot four inches, so I can’t exactly pack a decent punch, unless it’s to someone’s throat.” She smirks, “Be thankful that you haven’t seen me in action, because you may come to fear me. I’m not boasting, but you don’t get to be nearly two hundred years old without some skills. I use elemental magic, cast spells, brew potions and poisons, and I can magically heal someone, if needed. My magic is both arcane and druidic, so it’s hard to explain, but I don’t actively harm another; it’s more often than not, self defense. I’m a firm believer in karma and using my magic for good reasons.” The chives are diced, so she steps to the side and awaits further command as she continues, “One of my hobbies is knife throwing… And I’m a good shot, so never bet against me! I can use a bow, decently, but what elf can’t use a bow? Otherwise, I don’t really use a weapon.” Tiber knew of her affinity with animals, so she doesn’t bother to bring up that ability, but her lips purse at her next words, “I… I wasn’t exactly raised by anyone, Tiber... Sure, on the high holidays and for a week in the summer I was allowed to visit home, and spend time with my family… But, aside from that? I was rather independent and kept isolated from others. I think that’s why when I break down; I just want to be held; to feel that connection. I was trained to help others keep their emotions even, and never knew my own… Until I sacrificed my empathy, and then… Well? Maybe my emotions are a bit scattered, and maybe I seem too sensitive for your liking, but I would rather hurt than feeling nothing at all. I’m not this stoic machine. I crave affection and attention… Especially from someone that I want to be with, because then I know if there’s long term chemistry. I don’t want to be independent anymore.” Lana dips her chin to her chest slightly and focuses on the knife in her hand, “I was raised to think that my emotions didn’t matter; only those of others did… And then coming to the lands, losing that ability, and feeling everything so raw and painful and beautiful? It was jarring… So today, when I was feeling pain, sick to my stomach to see a beautiful dragon turned into an undead beast, and worried sick about the team; and you yelled at me? I… I felt small and insignificant and like –you- thought less of me.” There’s a pause, only the sizzling of the steak in the background, before she breaks the silence, “So you were raised to bottle up your emotions?” Lanara wishes she kept things flirty, as it was easier to tease than it was to speak ones heart. At least they were actually being open though, and they had to eventually open those doors if they wanted a future.

Tiberius continues with cooking the meat, and she begins to unravel and feed into her own game. She wanted this. The woman had wanted to learn more about him, and she wanted to be heard. The man seemed secretly amused at the thought of her strong tactics in combat. Magic, something he had never been capable of, but something he admired. He is silent and she is explaining her beliefs. Karma. If they were talking karma, Tiberius would always have something coming back around to bite him. He was lucky most times as he avoided confrontation from situations he placed himself in. “Dagger throwing, you’re a sharp eye then,” he noted, but as she continues on in her explanation of her past, the silence would fall heavy in the kitchen again. She was not raised by anyone, but she had a family? The man is slicing up some cheese that was on the counter he had pulled out from the fridge. “Take the steak off the stove, yeah?” Everything was making sense. Her emotions that were always so heavily back and forth with him. The reason why she made him feel insane with loathe and desire. The thought of him making her feel so small and insignificant, he had no idea that his tone was that degrading. She wanted dependency while he craved independency. “I’m sorry you were isolated and that… emotions are more difficult to put together,” he finishes shredding the cheese before turning around to her. “Feeling raw and pain is what you sign up for when you get me, Lanara. I’m not going to always swarm you with what you wish for. I’ve always told you, this is not a fairytale and I am not your… prince,” he says almost in defeat. Amber eyes stare into her chocolate ones if she faces his way. “My parents were… joyous to me actually. Praised me. They were proud of me. I wouldn’t be lying if I had the perfect life in Catal… until… Catal fell.” He paused. “My parents died, Lanara. At a young age. I was lucky to escape, and I ended up in an orphanage. An orphanage that you have no idea how they treat the children in the facility when community comes to visit.” The man sort of clenches his knuckles momentarily. “There comes a time when you’re older… when horrible things happen to you from events you never asked for. Feeling small and insignificant is what I was labeled as in that orphanage.” His jaw is sharp as he clenches his teeth. “They tested us… we were just… science experiments to see if they can cure lycanthrope. I never asked for this life. I never wanted to be beaten for showing emotion and pain, Lanara. I guess you could say… yes, I bottle up my emotions.” He is silent momentarily to try to get his head to stop spiraling from the darkness that left his mouth. His eyes trail to anything else to look at. He races to find another thought. Another thing to say. Eyes fall back on her in that vulnerability. “One,” he steps closer to her, “You make me crazy which has brought me more to life than robbing your friend of a stupid oil,” he inches closer. “Two, you are smart and more capable than I make you out to be. You’re stronger than I thought… in other ways,” one step more. “Three, you bring the praise back into me that my family once had for me as a growing boy. You make me feel like I do not have to grow up and that I can stay young and careless with you forever,” he is becoming soft. “Four, you make me a better man, although it does not seem like that most days,” he is now right in front of her and his hands slowly brush her jaw line. “Five, you’re the most beautiful girl I have ever rested my eyes on.” The man leans down to gently kiss her temple that is bandaged up. “You want raw, but you don’t ask for pain, but pain is what I am good at, and I wish you now to tell me if you want out because I cannot promise much beauty throughout this.”

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara takes the steak off the stove and carefully arranges it on two plates, making sure not to make a mess, and that more of the meat ends up on the lycan’s plate. They work in unison, preparing the meal, as its Tiber’s turn to take the lead in the conversation. The witch falls silent as he describes his youth and her lashes are damp, though she dares not shed a single tear. The man didn’t want her pity; he only wanted her to understand how his youth molded him into the person he is today. How could any sick person experiment on kids? Orphanages were supposed to provide food, shelter, and possibly a new home with a loving family! Lana knows very little about Catal, aside from that fact that it fell, though she assumes his parents died as a result. His tale is sad, and she can’t fathom how a young child felt without his family or the comfortable life he had once known. Taking their plates to the table, she sits down and holds his gaze as the pain Tiberius is feeling is reflected in her chocolate hues. She didn’t want to see him hurting, then or now, and the pieces are beginning to fall into the jagged puzzle they had been building. Lanara Banks and Tiberius Lowell were two beautifully broken souls, with difficult pasts, and a future together would be challenging on most days. It wasn’t a contest of who hurt more than the other, but could they work out? They were so similar, yet total opposites. Lana feels her walls reinforcing as he lists the last five reasons of her ‘game’ which she didn’t feel like playing anymore, this was all making her so sad, and she even lost her appetite. The final line that leaves Tiber’s lips, just after he presses a chaste kiss to her temple, has her blinking back tears and they would both feel that she’s shaking beneath his touch. She had remained silent through the entirety of his speech, and now that she’s faced with a loaded question, she doesn’t want to answer. The witch knows when she’s beginning to fall in love, and she’s not sure –when- the emotions shifted from loathing to friendship, from lust to much more than a crush. But the deeper Lana would fall, the more she would try to repel and bottle up, and she’s trying so hard not to let her fears ruin this moment. The lycan is already giving her an out and its there for the taking, all she has to do is say the word that would sever this bond, and break both of their hearts.

(Post 2 of 2) All at once, the feelings she’s trying to keep under wraps hit her like a ton of bricks, and Lana continues to tremble as she shakily replies, “I’m sorry, Tiberius… You never should have been abused or forced into lycanthropy. It sickens me that there are such cruel people in this world, and I wish I could take your pain away, or turn back time and save your childhood. I know that you have had more than your share of horrors in your past; I know we are both touching the tip of the ice berg regarding bad experiences… I never expected you to be Prince Charming, and I’m not asking you to change for the world. I only want you to let me in yours a little and maybe we can become each other’s world, in time.” A single tear manages to escape and slides down her cheek and onto his hand, and she lowers her gaze in shame, “I’m scared, Tiberius…Scared that I won’t be enough for you, or that I’m going to ask too much. I’m quick tempered, I have an awful jealousy streak, I crave affection and lots of it, and there are some things about me that would send most men running… I have horrible nightmares, to the point where I will bring my blanket and pillow into a closet and just cry until I fall asleep again. I like to be held when I’m scared or really hurt… I don’t trust easily, and once my trust is broken it’s nearly impossible to regain. If you ever kiss or do anything more with another woman, I will be out of your life and never look back. There may be times when you go to brush away my hair or cup my cheek, and I will flinch in fear, because I have a history of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse…And… I can’t have children, so if we ever got to that point, it would always just be us or we would have to adopt.” Unless she became afflicted with lycanthropy. Another tear splashes onto his hand, as she looks up at him and gazes into those mesmerizing amber eyes, “My reasons for why I’m into you? One. The moment I met you wasn’t ideal, but when we first locked eyes, I felt as if I knew you in a past life. When you returned to Skitch with the money, I knew that it was fate that put us in the same dark alley. Two. You are the most handsome man I have ever seen, and when I catch other women looking at you, I just want to strangle them. Three. You make me feel stronger, and at the same time you make me feel as though I’m precious and delicate. You make me feel things others never made me feel… Four. I want to kiss you, like all the freaking time. And, five? We have the best chemistry, whether we’re bickering or laughing, I just feel so on fire all the time, in a good way.” Lana tilts her head and trails kisses along his palm, before she takes his hand in hers and presses it to her heart, “So to answer your question, I’m not going anywhere, Tiberius. I want –you- and I want all of you, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’m seeing progress between us, and it’s only been a few days! I really think we will have a good chance, because I am willing to embrace any flaws of yours that surface, and we can work through them together…But the same question applies to –you- as this takes teamwork and I need someone that’s strong enough to deal with my issues… So, if –you- don’t want to take things further, than you need to tell me, before we both fully invest our hearts. I-I would understand... I know I gave you a lot to consider, so if it’s easier I can just leave after dinner and stay at the Inn.”

Amber eyes stare into her expression. The woman is crumbling, and perhaps this had been too much. For her and himself. He shakes her head at her apologies, for she was right, he did not need pity from her or an apology. There was no going back, but lycanthrope was the curse that everyone had spread through the grapevine. She wants in his world, and she wants him to be in her own, and all he could do is stare. The vulnerability that spills out of her eyes have him in a small frown. She was scared. Scared of him, scared of herself destroying the sandcastle that was slowly being built for the two of them. She lists the complications that is her which… well, she was comparing herself to him and how he was going to react. He had already seen the quick temper, the jealousy, the craving for his affection and all drove him insane, but all drove him to his true colors. The nightmares… the way she suffered. His eyes soften momentarily as he wants to make them go away and be there for her. She was the one to bring out the worst and the best from him. The lycan’s hand strokes the tear away from her cheek and he tries to sit her down and lower himself to her level by crouching down. “Lanara, if you think I’m going to move on to some… other chick, you’ve got yourself wrong and confused. I don’t just –date- and sleep with women, Lanara… I’m not that sort of guy. Sure, the occasional flirt, but I would never go out of my way to intentionally hurt you with another woman. I will never physically hurt you. Never try to mentally or emotionally hurt you, but… I’ve already done that,” he makes a note with a disappointed gaze, but the gaze fades as she brings up children. Children? There is a flood of panic that fills his mind, however the panic goes away for they would never have to worry, and he is silently relieved. Having children with Tiberius Lowell would always be a mistake. He would never be a good father, nor want to be. As she looks at him, he cants his head slightly to continue listening to her points. She was falling for him, and he, slowly, was falling for her. The feeling was unfamiliar and the feeling made him ache in places that almost felt right. Her kisses are gentle against his skin, and he closes his eyes to keep the memory momentarily. The memory where they are finally sweet to each other. Instead of responding on investing their hearts he automatically leans in to kiss her as he places a hand on her face. He tries to hold her there passionately, though of course if she pulls back, he obliges, but for now he lingers in longing. Full on desire. His stomach aches with excitement before he finally pulls back to rest his forehead against hers. “I want you to stay, Lanara.” His voice is almost a panted whisper and he stares into her chocolate hues with his amber ones. Dinner was getting cold.

Tiberius is staring at Lanara and all that is running through her mind continuously is that he finds her beautiful, the –most- beautiful woman in the realm, to be exact. As his amber hues are trained to her fair face, she forgets what she’s saying, or the fact that their dinner is growing cold. All that is certain is that they were falling slowly into each other and there was nothing that could prevent their future, as they are both on the same page. They both needed to work on themselves, but they were willing to accept each other, flaws and perfections. This –would- work, so long as they both were willing to look past some things, and help each other through the darkest times. “I believe you…” Oddly. The witch, who rarely trusts anyone, feels that in this moment, Tiberius Lowell is speaking the sheer truth. Lanara didn’t sleep around, although she did go on many dates and may have kissed a decent amount. One thing was for sure though, when she had feelings for one man, she didn’t look for another, and she had never been unfaithful. As for harming Tiber? Well… She may accidentally hurt him in a fit of passion or roughhousing, but she doesn’t bother speaking again, because the man she’s placed on a pedestal is closing the distance. His lips crash against hers and everything seems to fade; the smell of their dinner, the vulnerability, and the fear that he was going to walk out of this relationship they were miraculously building. Tiber holds her close as their kiss deepens with a passion he hasn’t shown her until this moment, and Lana clings to his frame, her hands bunching the fabric of his shirt as the heat between them intensifies. All too soon he breaks from the kiss and she’s left wanting more, as she hasn’t been properly kissed or adored in well over a year. The witch is aching for the lycan as those five words leave his lips, followed by the sweetness of her name. Lanara doesn’t answer with words, but with a slow nod, as she vows to remain in his apartment for the night. She had been promised a bubble bath, a steak dinner, and a massage, but right now those wants are far from her thoughts as she’s filled with a need that only Tiber can fulfill. “More.” Grabbing him by the collar, she tilts her head up so that their lips meet again, and she kisses him with urgency. Placing one hand on his cheek, she slowly trails her fingertips teasingly down his neck and chest, as her other hand runs through his tousled blonde locks. The witch is intent on staking a claim on this man, and the only way this desire would be broken were if he were to pull away.

‘More’. He is completely not obliged to her wanting more, and he is more yearning for her as she reaches for his collar in force. He enjoys the touches that she gives him and he is slowly kissing her and nipping at her lower lip from time to time. Time grows faster and he does not want to pull away, but the heat is picking up as their lips move more in desire and abruptly he is pulling back. “You need to eat,” he is stern and he steps back away from her in case she tries to reach for him again. The man thinks of her back and how tattered and wounded it had been. He would be more careful with her and would sit across from her to his plate with the steak and the potato—with all the toppings, mind you he got what he deserved, after all. The man returns to slight silence as he moves to start sawing into his steak with a knife. He takes a bite and chews slowly. With the meat in his cheek, he eyes her. “How’s the steak?” Casual, as if nothing happened. He tries to keep the tension cooled with his chilled atmosphere which was probably not the best solution, but he was trying to keep himself tame from hurting her with desire and passion.

The witch seems to have forgotten the injuries she had sustained as she doesn’t seem to want to slow their pace one bit, so when Tiber pulls back abruptly, she responds with an audible gasp. There’s shame in her pink cheeks as she realizes just –where- this was leading, because she wasn’t someone who gave into primal desires so freely, or without a relationship label. However, it’s obvious from the look in her chocolate gaze that she doesn’t have any regrets. Had she done something wrong? Nipped his tongue? Tiber walks to the other side of the table, sits down, and casually begins to eat his dinner as though they weren’t about to take this into the bedroom three seconds ago, and Lana lowers her head. Had he changed his mind about there being an attraction? Slowly, she inches her chair closer to the table and begins to eat, taking a bite of the steak before she nods, “It’s really good! Your cooking could put Chef Whamsey to shame!” They eat quietly as both of their hormone levels seem to be calming down, and Lana clears her throat and pours a glass of wine, “So… I’m not sure if I mentioned it, as I ran out so early this morning, but yesterday when I was running errands? I had lunch with my friend Penelope, met up with Odhranos and gave an interview about magic, and I also stopped by my friends Meri’s house…” She pauses, making certain not to reveal anything about the task she was given which would result in the untimely demise of a dwarf, as what happens in the Rogue’s Guild stays silent or ends in death. “Meri is engaged to a Catalian named Callum, I’m not sure if you two ever met, but he has a private greenhouse. It’s massive, in a secluded section of the forest, and he offered me a position as a nursery worker. The pay will be decent and hopefully I can find an affordable place within a week or so!” Another bite of her steak is taken and carefully chewed, “So… While I was there they asked if I could look after their little girl, as they are going away for the weekend. Of course I said yes, and I’m picking her up in the morning… Don’t worry, I’m going to spend one night at Cal and Meri’s and make sure their pets are fed and all, and the second day we will be heading to Frostmaw to spend some time with my sister.” Tiber wouldn’t want a toddler running around his apartment, especially one that was a lycan and unpredictably would cast lightning magic! “I know that you don’t celebrate Yule and that you aren’t a big holiday person, but Taly is having a little get together like she does every year up at her cottage. I will leave her address with you… In case you want to drop in and be my date or if you miss me, or whatever.” It would be their first time apart this long, since they’ve reentered each other’s lives. “I just wanted you to know, because I won’t be here when you wake up tomorrow, or for the next three days.”

Tiber gives the woman a grin at her compliment. He chews his food slowly as he shakes his head. “Chef Whamsey would probably scream in my bloody face,” there was no doubt that Tiberius wanted to bury himself in the witch, but she was mangled and he was cautious. The man continues to scarf down his food as she talks about the hippie, the mage, and the lead club adventurer. His gaze is unreadable as he continues to eat. The man then blinks at the woman as she mentions another Catalian. Tiber’s chewing becomes slower. He does not know how to feel about hearing from another person from Catal, so instead of even acknowledging, he pushes the thought to the side. “Nursery worker? Like a baby? A nanny? A sitter? You’re going to sit on the baby,” he mocks the position but he nods all the same. “Coin is coin, so good on you.” Though his mind sort of shifts on why she would be hesitantly telling him that she was going to be gone. Was she hiding something? As Lanara mentions Talyara, he sort of becomes stoic. That was a whole mess in itself, but the past was the past and hopefully they could move forward from that incident of kissing and bets and what-not. She mentions the Yule gathering and he sort of mentally rolls his eyes, but he keeps that stoic facial expression. “You can leave it on the counter before you go, but you better travel safe, otherwise I have to go up the mountain and find you myself—that’s not how I want to plan my day off.” He sort of grins in the teasing manner. “Well, don’t worry about leaving. People work. People have family. It all makes sense. Besides, you know I like my space,” he smirks. He then finishes his plate where… she has barely touched hers because of her patience. He sips some wine. “Tell Talyara ‘hello’ if I end up not showing my face,” which was a huge possibility. Would he miss Lanara? Who knew (low key, he would).

Lanara obediently takes a bite of her potato, after noticing that Tiber was nearly done eating, while she was busy chatting and listening to him talk. She had excellent etiquette, but now that he gave her plate the ‘look’ she drops the act of being proper and dines without delay. “No! I’m not sitting on children!” His words have her eyes widening in mock horror, but she grins as she explains, “A greenhouse is where you ‘raise’ plants… So technically, I’ll be looking after plants, herbs, shrubs, that sort of thing. Some need heat, others like a ton of sunlight, a few may need extra nutrients, a couple require watering a few times a day, and so on… I’m just grateful that Callum is taking me under his wing, because I’m not sure what I want to do anymore.” It’s the first time Lana’s confessed to not having a clear path in mind about her future. “I can’t bring myself to go back to the animal sanctuary or spend too much time at the orphanage, yet… Not after all those bad things happened.” The murders and arson that were committed while the shade used her body had put a damper on employment. “And… I can’t give dance lessons anymore, either. My ankle will never be the same, and sure I walk fine most of the time, but I can’t return to grueling lessons every day. I mean… I could return to the –exotic- dancing that I did, but I’m not really feeling all sexy and Cinnamon-like these days.” She’s hoping she didn’t just blurt out that she was one of those naughty dancers in the past, as she’s fairly sure she mentioned it to Tiber when they first met. It was a long time ago, and she never hooked up with a client or showed her privates, so it wasn’t –that- bad of a job. She continues to eat and as her plate is almost cleared she sits back, and smiles at the lycan, “You like your space, huh? So I guess you won’t be wanting that full body massage?” Lana nips her lower lip, clearly having plans in store for later, but she scoffs at his words about how he’d have to retrieve her up in Frostmaw, “Excuse me, Mister! You already paid off elf traders, climbed a mountain, fought a dragon, and crawled around a mind shaft for me! What’s so bad about traipsing through a frozen tundra in a blizzard? Admit it! There’s more adventure in those bones than you’re letting on!” Rising, she carries her plate and utensils over to the sink and holds her hand out to collect his, as she’s preparing to do the dishes. “If you –do- happen to come up to my sister’s… Keep your lips to yourself, or pressed against mine. Knowing her, she’ll have bushels of mistletoe hung all over the place!” Her tone is jesting, meaning she’s forgiven the past ‘bet’ that he had lost against Talyara.

The man slowly drinks back the wine as he stares at her over the rim of the glass. She was lost. He lowers the glass again before smacking his lips a little. “Why don’t you just run with the big leagues? I make my money by betting the rich, selling items that are worth nothing, doing the dirty work for people who need it done or… escorting,” he looks blank for a moment at the last job on the list. Before Lanara wandered back in his life, he was, in fact, escorting women and men for profit. They paid big money, and well, Tiberius made sure not to sleep with anyone. That was a boundary of ‘no’. As she brings up the exotic dancing, his face sort of twists, but what was the difference between escorting and giving someone a lap dance? Unless… it was more than just a dance? Some of the women who danced were scandalous while others were only just trying to make a coin to support themselves or family. “You don’t feel sexy? Well, why not? It’s not because of the trials, is it?” His brows are furrowed in confusion. He slowly saunters behind her as she moves to do the dishes and he gently places a hand on the small of her back as she cleans. “I seek adventure if there is something that benefits me, thank you very much. So, no, I’m not just randomly adventurous,” he says flatly. “And I would be happy to never kiss your sister again, so no worries. My lips will only find their way to food or you,” he leans in and rests a peck on her cheek. “That was the most disgustingly cheesiest thing I have ever said,” he sort of crinkles his nose, but he spoke the truth. He then grabs her hands to lower them from cleaning. "Clean later, bubble bath now, and... a massage for you because of this stressful day from dragons and irritating men," he tries to pull her away from the dishes in that coy mannerism.