RP:To Be Hunted
Summary: Irenic wants to show Eloni what it’s like being the hunted one for once.
Schezerade Tavern
The first thought running through one’s head upon entering this tavern is that it isn’t your typical watering hole. It’s constructed of polished white stone, brightly illuminated by golden chandeliers and torches, along with a cosy fire located at the southern side of the circular building. The very centre of the building is where the bar is located, where a pair of lovely twin avian women take orders and hand out drinks in gold cups. There is plenty of places to sit other than at the central bar as well; cushion-topped marble chairs fastened to the floor are placed around a matching marble table, also attached to the floor so it appears like both floor and tables were hewn from the same piece of marble. Flowers of every type and colour decorate the majority of the tavern as well, giving the ambiance to the building one of comfort and lavishness. You can almost hear the sounds of birds tweeting through the large, open windows, which let in a gentle breeze to only add more to the tavern’s relaxing feel.
Irenic wanders in as this was one of the last taverns not to kick him out yet. He doesn’t frequent the floating city as much as he would like, but he just gets an eerie feeling that he isn’t entirely welcome here. Dawned in a black button up, a loose hanging black and emerald diagonally striped tie with cufflinks to match, black slacks and formal black boots. He had a book with him from the local library on ancient cursed and his narrow rimmed square spectacles hang in the third button of his shirt. The twins give him their usual flirtation as he merely points at what he wants, but try as they might he is not in the mood to speak his Veretian tongue today. Mismatched eyes focus on the large leather bound book on the marble counter as he lowers his six foot eleven self onto one of the cushioned barstools. A tawny tattooed hand smoothes his dusky graying hair back out of his face to no avail.
Eloni had been an established fixture at the tavern for several hours now, sitting at a lonesome table on the opposite side of the main door. The Avian wore a simple brown leather dress, tailored perfectly to cling to erase curvy form, the neck line dipping just enough to tease a bit of her cleavage, but just a tease. Seldom does the knight leave the castle sans her armor and weapons, but a simple trip to the city tavern was didn't usually warrant an armed response. One long shapely leg was draped over the other, peeking out of the slit along the side of the dress. Simple black flats keeping her feet safe from the chill of the marble floors. Long snowy locks are pulled back into a haphazard ponytail as it seemed the beautiful knight hadn't put much effort into dolling herself up for the night out. She turned the page slowly on the book she held before her face, the book she was paying no heed to as her golden orbs peered across those few gathered, hoping to spot a bit of entertainment. Those scanning eyes found the all in black man easily as he half stumbled through the door. A soft sigh slipped through pursed lips as she slowly closed the book and laid it to rest atop the table. Making her way over to the man she draped an arm across his shoulders and looked to the twins. "Two brandies if you would my lovies." Blowing a kiss their way she slipped into the seat next to Irenic, leaning against him slightly. "You look terrible." She stared in a soft amused voice. "You look like you haven't bathed since that time."
Irenic quirked a brow as the woman draped around his shoulders ordered them brandy as this was more of a sweet purified water type of day. He was obviously over whatever was plaguing him before and when she said he looked terrible this quirked brow added a scarred smirk when he turned those mismatched bloodshot eyes on her. The expression on his face gave some arrogant eye roll as if to say ‘yeah right! Me?! Look terrible?? Pfffft!’ He lets out a low and short chuckle, but when he’s brought the brandy he lifts it to her in a silent toast before sipping generously from the golden tumbler. He’s bathed and actually been taking better care of himself now that he found his way back to Lady Dragana, but he does wish she didn’t have to live in the city of the dead for he hates vampires. He gets the fact she’s trying to bring up the event only to pique his interest, though. He takes the glasses from their folded position in his buttoned up black shirt and let them rest on his open book when he asks if she’s prowling for another repeat of their last encounters, “Vous cherchez une répétition de la dernière fois?” The usual dark menace to his timbre is softened by the romantic tongue he speaks as if every word was dripping with sex.
Eloni took up her own tumbler as it was brought. Another kiss blown to the flirtatious twins before they shuffle off giving soft shielded giggles. This only made the knight smile a little more as she gave him a salute in turn and took a deep draw of the dark alcohol. She had just meant to bring back the fond memories of their evening, she assumed he was in a dower mood, and hoped that recalling would make him smile even if just a little. It made her when she thought of it. Unable was she to suppress the soft shiver as he spoke those words in that language she so loved. Biting her lower lip softly she looked to him, a playful gleam dancing in the pools of shifting gold. "You'd like that hmm? Long legs wrapped about you, holding you tightly against me. Kissing you deeply and wish oh so much... passion." The last word rolling slowly off a curling tongue sounding more like a moan then anything else. Her tongue runs along full lips before she takes another draw from the tumbler. A wing slowly shifting to rub across his back and curl around him lightly.
Irenic looked a little impressed of her growing comprehension of his language, but masks his amused smirk with the sip of his drink. He turns himself to face her a little more on his barstool and sideways glanced to the wing on his right, which is an intimate move. One he used on many women in his day and would today if he could, but all he did was watch her a long moment with mismatched eyes even though the chilling silver one only really saw her. He wasn’t sure if he was slowly figuring something about her out, but he was genuinely curious, “Un homme a-t-il réellement détourné ce type de comportement?” Or ‘has a man ever genuinely turned this behavior down?’ His right hand reached up and gently caressed down the soft inner feathers of her pristinely white wing which was showing him attention. “Est-ce que vous mettez un acte de sorte que vous n'êtes pas le chasseur?” Or ‘are you putting on this act so you aren’t the hunted one?’ He rolls the sleeve up on his shirt which reveal some tribal tattoo work and some nasty old scars, “Est-ce parce que vous avez peur d'être le faible et le chasseur?” Or ‘Is it because you are afraid to be the weak and hunted one?’ All this was said slowly enough for her to grasp and he even added some hand gestures to help.
Eloni hid well the tremble that passed through her form the moment his fingers started to run along her soft feathers. Her wing on the other hand fluffed up and stretched out as of asking for more. "There was one." She swallowed hard keeping her composure, but not truly wishing to keep her composure, the struggle is real. "Skinny little vampire who loved boys too much." She huffed before draining the rest of the tumbler. Rolling the glass between her fingers she gazed long into the sparking surface dancing about caused by the firelight of the tavern. His other words did cause her to pause for a moment and think. She had always rather enjoyed being the one on attack, with her size she intimidated most males so they wouldn't pursue the hunt for her. So she never really knew the feeling of being the prey. "Perhaps... though a change in rolls is a refreshing thing from time to time, no?"
Irenic leaned unto the bar counter with his left elbow while his hand continues it’s journey through her feathers as if searching for something or reading braille. As he remembers it; back home wings were a powerful thing and you only touched them if you had intentions with the person they were attached to. For wings to preene under the watch of someone you are attracted to it was a blatant flirt and to pluck a feather was a sign that you wanted that person, but if the person plucked a feather of their own accord and offered it to someone it was a surrendering of their heart. He let the silence rest between them before he continued in their conversation, “Have you ever wanted someone? I mean, really want them not just for their body.” His eyes didn’t wander this time as they locked to those molten pools in addition to his question, “wanted them before you got what you wanted.” His fingertips rest on one large primary feather and he uses his thumb and finger to stroke down the spine of the feather slowly as if he was meaning to pluck it. All the while his gaze locked to her’s in their deep conversation, “has anyone ever made you nervous? Ever made you tremble without touch? Snared you mind to look deeper than just skin?” Some of it she may get or hear it just as, “Quelqu'un at-il jamais été nerveux? Vous avez déjà fait trembler sans toucher? Vous avez envie de regarder plus profondément que de la peau.” At this moment she might realize he’s been without normal conversation for a while and the way he was looking at her she might be unsure of exactly who he was talking about anymore.
Eloni was a little surprised at his sudden intensity, she had never had the look from him, in all honestly in the past it always seemed as if he was looking at her through a filter of some kind. But now it seems that filter was off and he was truly seeing her. She felt her sun kissed cheeks grow warm as they flushed, but she didn't look away. Her molten pools locked onto his mismatched gaze and even managed to smile. A device to keep from letting slip a soft moan as he teased at her feathers. "I have, yes... a beauty of a woman. I never thought I could feel that way." Eyes dipping slightly, "So many had come to me and fallen away that I thought that feeling to be a bard's tale to woo willing suitors. But I think I've felt it at least once." She may have wished to say more but as his fingers ran down her primary feather she gave a soft moan, quickly cutting it off by tucking her lower lip between her teeth and biting down. She sat in a slightly squirming silence, though her wing didn't pull away as he teased the feather. The significance of the feather was not lost on her, she had actually plucked a primary feather for Brennia, but she seemed to busy with establishing her school the knight had yet to present it. "What of you..." finally gasping in a slightly husky voice. "Is there one you wish to posses? One you desire?" Her hands folding together in on her lap, hiding how tightly she was gripping them together. His teasing was a blissful torture she was absolutely loving.
Irenic listened to her, but pulled his own hand to rest lazily on his lap as he noticed her subtle reactions and even a moan coming from his actions. For some reason he wanted to make her wait or want it, but not play some silly game as he seriously asks, “have you ever been properly courted, Eloni?” His inquiry continued, but the way her name would be said so sternly in his Veretian accent may be enough to just melt her where she sits. “Not just a dinner and beding someone. I mean the anticipation of getting to know someone because… Don’t you realize how old we are or will be?” His right hand not opts for the drink before him and he keeps it between them while sipping it here and there, “you do realize there is no rush for anything so why force it?” Now his gaze travels down her form, “why don’t you meet me here tomorrow. Wear your best dress,” he plans on showing her what it was liked to be hunted and kept waiting longer than a day. With this he stands, pulls a flower from one of the many pots and vases which happen to have one near them to hold it out to her. “Bring this with you, it will remind this feeble mind of mine,” he pokes a fingertip atop the crow's feet at his temple before a wink of the chocolate brown eye and he was off with his book and glasses.
Eloni gave a soft sigh as she was able to think a little clearer with him no longer teasing her feathers. His words hung on her heavily, her eyes shifting from him to his lap to the stool, had she ever been properly hunted. She had done the hunting of sorts, but most of her relationships had just sprouted near spontaneously. His words had her mind spinning as a she looked back to him he had already stood and was on his way out the door. "O-okay..." she heard herself saying meekly, clutching at the given flower as if it was connected to her life. She had stammered, she never stammers, she is the one that makes people stammer. It was at this moment she noted the bar girls both smiling like fools at her. The knight was in unfamiliar waters, she was unsure how she felt about that.