Smiling and nodding, she had to admit that she liked the idea of taking Tiri to a show. She just hoped today was going to be a 'good' day for Tiri.
"We'd love to. And after the show, you can meet my daughter."
Curling her fingers into his, she sighed softly. The day really was turning out to be very nice...

"I'd like that," he grinned to himself. If they liked the show they'd probably die laughing seeing him close up in his stage makeup. "And I'll introduce you to the troupe, they're very nice and they love it when someone brings people backstage. If it wasn't for...well...if it was later in the day I'd have you guys come by early for the set up and Tiri could help with whatever stages of assembly she was interested in." Every year their group did a variety of children's plays so they often had little helpers, and the choreographer and director were hilarious as they tried to not swear around them. It would have made for an entertaining opening night, since both would inevitably sound like irate sailors.

Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek.
"I'm sure she'd love it. But... I'm not so sure everyone would love her for an extended period of time. She's not a bad child-quite the opposite. She's just... Different. She scares a lot of people that don't know or understand her. I'm sure you'll see what I mean soon enough."
Smiling, she couldn't help thinking about the tea party Tiri had forced her father and her 'uncle' into attending when she was smaller. She showed Tal the ridiculous sight of two grown men, one dark and brooding, the other dark and insanely handsome, both wearing a small child's party hat atop their heads, knees up to their chests as they sat around a tiny table with her daughter obliviously pouring 'tea' into the tiny cups they held between their fingers.
"As I said, she's a very good child."
She cut the memory short before he could see Tiri's eyes go eerily vacant while she started speaking monotonously about events to happen and the consequences of actions or in-actions in the the course of the events.

Tal chuckled, "Well, that's not too bad, I attended many a tea party growing up, and one of my troupe members has a six year old that has them every time I'm over...at least she didn't make them wear tutu's as well." He wasn't willing to see if he could mentally project that image...he'd looked silly enough without trying to see if he remembered it correctly for someone else.

Leaning against him, she breathed in his scent, could feel his blood coursing just under his skin.
"Shouldn't you be home relaxing before your big night?"

His eyes had started to drift closed, and when Kenly leaned into him he barely noticed. When she spoke in his mind he didn't even bother speaking out loud, he was just too relaxed. I can relax here can't I? B'sides, no insult to Biscuit you're a damn sight nicer to snuggle up against.

Grinning, she curled her fingers through his, snuggling closer, glad that he had finally started using the connection. She was sure if anyone walked by, they'd think he was crazy for talking to himself.
"I won't tell him if you won't."

He's a cat...he'll know, then let me feed him to apologize, Tal had to focus to not fall asleep, all the energy he'd been running on all day had suddenly dried up. Forcing his eyes open he watched the sun play through the leaves of the tree and listened to Kenly's quiet breathing. An older couple was rounding a bend in the path and giving the couple on the bench a set of benign smiles. He wondered if they looked terribly normal on this bench...sort of ironic considering the woman beside him was anything but.

Opening her eyes, she smiled softly at the old couple as they passed. She was enjoying the company she was in the contented feel he brought about. She wondered if this was what a normal woman felt like.
Shrugging, she looked up at him watching her.
"Would you like to relocate our mutual lounging to your house? That way if you happen to fall asleep, we don't have to worry about who can see your state of dress-or undress."
Grinning, she lightly bumped against him for effect.

Tal gave her an arch look from the corner of his eye. [i]I dunno, sounds like my virtue might be in danger if I let you come home with me.[i] Giving a jaw cracking yawn he stood and stretched...and stretched. Bending at the waist he folded himself in half, then slowly popped each vertebrae as he stood back up slowly. But I'm willing to risk it if you are, it's not a short walk back, and even with your shade you might get more sun than is healthy.

Smiling again, she stood as well.
"I have enough sunblock on for ten people. And I have a hat in my bag. It lives in there, in a little compartment built for it, due to what I am and all.
And I promise to be good. As much as possible, anyway. If I leak out onto you, I apologize. Sometimes I can't fully control it."
Reaching down, she put everything back in her bag and picking up her empty glass to toss when they come across a trash can. As she did so, she unzipped the little hidden compartment in her bag and pulled out her big floppy sun hat.

Taking her empty cup Tal grinned, Leak out onto me? Sounds kinky...or oozy...should I be worried? Grinning as her hat sprang out of her bag he glanced at the sun and frowned a bit. Do you miss the sun? I mean, being able to just bask in it whenever you want to?

Nodding, she sighed a bit.
"I do, actually. I can't go to the beach on a sunny day or anything like that. Overcast days I can manage alright, but what fun is the beach on an overcast day, you know?
And as for leaking,it's my -other- hunger I have to feed... I have to feed on sexual energy as well, hence the succubus part. I can force that to come to the fore-front, intentionally or not. If I don't feed it for a while, I have less control. It rarely is a bad thing."
Winking, she smiled and started down the path toward the road that led out of the park.

Ah, okay, well we might have to find a new word than 'leak', I'll always feel like a plumber or something. Taking her hand he grinned and tossed the cups in the first trash can they passed. Leading her out the smaller side entrance, the one he came in earlier, he asked, So have you always lived in the city? Or have you moved around a lot?

Laughing silently, she shrugged.
"Define 'city'. I actually reside in a very large house outside town, back in the woods. Most don't even know it exists. For obvious reasons. We tend to come into the city one a regular basis, though, yes. We can't get what we need from the animals in the forest, after all. Well, not all that we need, anyway."
Bumping his hip with hers, she smiled crookedly at him to get the point across.
"What about you?"

City boy, born and bred, though not always the same city. He could easily picture her in a large rambling Victorian house and he smiled over the mental image. I thought, when I graduated school, that I would like living someplace less...busy...but I tried it and was miserable for the year I was there. I'm by no means anything supernatural, but I often joke that I 'feed' off the energy a city generates just by existing.

Nodding, she agreed.
"That's usually the way it is. Like people with green thumbs as well. You might not be supernatural, but you have your own abilities. Everyone does.
Maybe I can bring you to the house some time and show you the fun things there are to do there. It's not your ordinary house, after all. Then, I suppose nothing about me -is- ordinary..."

Well, if thriving in an urban environment in preternatural I'll live with it...but no capes. He turned them up a familiar street, his house was only up the block. I'd like to see where you live...tell me...got a lion or harpsichord playing butler?

Smiling, she shook her head.
"No, but I have a room that will make you forget you're in the country. It'll be safer if I take you during the day-but not as much fun."

Pausing to dig out his keys Tal gave her an arch look, How does a room make you forget you're in the country? Stepping in he toed off his shoes and chuckled as Biscuit tried to right himself from his normal prone position to welcome Kenly. But I'm all for safer, I'd like to leave with all body parts and bits intact. Grimacing he stared at the old answering machine on his hall table. He'd never mastered the art of keeping a cell phone alive, and his house wasn't wired correctly for voicemail...but that stupid machine never gave up all his messages when he asked.

Feel free to make yourself at home on the sofa, I have to wrestle with my ancient phone to get my messages. I'm waiting to hear back on a couple things. Jabbing half-heartedly at the machine he waited for it to deliver it's traditionally garbled messages.

Watching him move to his answering machine, she scooted into the living room, coaxing Biscuit to come with her. Picking up the feline, she stroked his back as she settled into the couch comfortably.
"Trust me, when I show you this room, you'll understand. You can't tell anyone about what you'll see at my house, though."

After stabbing repetitively at the machine it finally screamed and spewed out a garbled message. "Tal? This is Joc, dad says the idea is fine, but you have to present it along with an Angel if you want it to go. Oh, and if I don't see you before opening break a leg." Puffing out a breath Tal rubbed the back of his neck and headed into the living room.

So, what, your house has national secrets in it? Not that I'd tell, I mean, how would I even start that conversation? 'So, I met this woman, well a witch/vampire hybrid...' Yeah, no one would believe anything I said after that. Grinning he slid into the couch beside her and tugged on a curl. So yeah, I'll be the soul of discretion.

Leaning into the tug, she laid her head on his chest.
"You could say something like that. Let's just say you won't find anything like what you'll see at my house anywhere else. Not anywhere."
Mulling over what she had heard of the message, she had to ask.
"What did he mean about an 'angel'?"

Relaxing back into the cushions Tal twisted his lips, An Angel, in theater speak, is someone to finance a new show. Most shows cost a lot to get together; the staff to run it, the play-writes to get it set for stage, the light and stage crews, the dancers, renting the right theaters and props, costume designs...pretty much everything. An Angel is someone that pays for all of that with the expectation of making their money back after the show opens. Our current show is backed by a group for the arts that's headed by a couple of the larger companies in town. Unfortunately, they only back two shows a year, and we've already done those, so I get to find someone else. Joc's, Joceyln Heater, dad is the head of the local dancers guild and he usually goes over any proposed ideas before we do them...I was hoping he'd be willing to do the legwork on this one. Looks like I was wrong.

Petting the cat, she listened attentively.
"I see. Has an Angel ever been an individual, or is it usually always a group?"
Wiggling a little closer, she took her spare hand and started to gently massage his thigh and around his knee, never going too high to be inappropriate.
"Lie down and I'll treat you. Consider it my flowers to you for the production."
Turning, so she was only sitting on the edge of the couch, she gently poured Biscuit onto the floor, despite his protests. She waited for Tal to do as she asked, and if he didn't, she was going to offer a little mental prodding. Watching him, and being in his head, she knew what she could offer would help him this coming evening.
"Depending on how the show is, I might just have a surprise for you afterwards, too."
She left the statement very vague so he could ponder on what she meant all evening.

Twisting around on the sofa, Tal was no ones fool, he sighed and got a face full of fur as Biscuit jumped back up. Carefully setting the cat on the arm he stretched out. I've never seen a show where it was just one person playing Angel, but I guess if someone had enough money they could. He furrowed his brow as he thought about it, he wasn't a numbers man, so he couldn't begin to compute how much it would cost. Reaching a hand up he scratched the cat's chin, But really, those with enough money are few and far between.

Nodding, she started working on his shoulders and neck, her fingers nimble and knowledgeable.
"I'm surprised someone doesn't own you. You know, having you do so many shows a year for a regular paycheck or whatnot. Or is that just old-fashioned of me to think?"

Tal stiffened under her hands, even though he knew it was a knee-jerk reaction. Own me? Or own the theater? In this day and age it's pretty much impossible to find a theater that's privately owned. As I mentioned, they're all expensive shows to run and even the richest group can't afford a lot of things running. And I don't know if anyone get a 'regular' paycheck in this business. It's all about how well the show does, but that motivates the troupe to do it's best so they don't end up working a flop.

Listening intently, she slowly worked her way down his shoulders and out to the end of each arm, coming back in to work on his back.
"I see. So, yes, old-fashioned of me. I haven't been to an actual show since... Well, you don't want to know what the last show I saw was.
What do you think your troupe would do if they had steady work? I mean, not having to travel around for productions, or wonder where their next Angel is coming from?"

Relaxing, he'd not realized how tense he was until she'd gotten going, Tal pondered her question. I don't know what the troupe would do if they didn't move from play to play. Most wouldn't stay long, part of being in theater is that you're always moving on. So I think some of the older ones would leave to join other troupes, but most would just enjoy the knowledge that they had something NEXT. Taking a slow, deep breath, he wondered if this is how felt to cats when they got someone's undevided attention...if so he could now understand all the feline glares over the years. But now you've got me curious, what was the last show you saw?

Stopping what she was doing for a moment, she sighed softly before continuing down to the base of his spine.
"The Vagabond King with Dennis King. Back in the 20's."
She waited for the truth of the matter to sink in while she quietly worked on his tense muscles down through his backside and onto his thighs.

Wincing as she found a bruise Tal hummed in the back of his throat. It was excellent, I got to see it in one of my courses...of course it wasn't Dennis King. I've heard that a few copies of his filmed version survived...must've been grand to see.

"It was quite lovely. But, as you can see, it's been many years. I am, indeed, looking forward to tonight."
Moving down his legs and ending at his feet, she put special attention on them. Being as he was a dancer and on his feet all day, she thought it was the best course.

He grimaced as she moved to his feet. There was nothing ulgier on the planet than a profeesional dancers feet. The ligaments and bones showed like a grizzly set of vines, his toes were callaused and broken, healed over with thick scars and ridges. She worked her magic, and if this is what she meant by being a witch he'd endorse the whole world onto that career path.

Well hopefully we'll compare at least somewhat favourably...we're no London stage, and none of us are even in his class level.

Smiling at his reaction to her administering, she nodded.
"I'm sure it'll be wonderful. You're in it, after all. So, even if the show is absolutely awful, it'll at least have amazing eye candy."
Grinning, she ran her hands back up over his body, playfully squeezing one butt cheek on her way up, ending once more at his shoulders.
"You can sit up now, if you'd like. Or roll over and I'll do the front, too."

Rolling his shoulders Tal felt the most relaxed he had in weeks...as well as the most tense. But he was good at self-control, else she'd get an eyefull when he sat up. Twisting and moving into a seated position, he smiled and grabbed her hands. Lifting them both to his lips he kissed her knuckles, Thank you, for the massage, and the vote of confidence. May I return the favour? He tugged hands a bit to encourage her to give him her back.

Smiling, she allowed him to maneuver her where he wanted her so he could return the favor.
"You have great self-control, darling. I can feel the energy, yet you're holding yourself very well."

Laughing Tal leaned into her back and tucked her hair behind her ears, before he recalled he didn't have to say it, he could think it. I'd hate to pounce on you, then promptly fall asleep. The joys of being fully aware of you, but too tired to see anything through.

Setting his hands to her shoulders he stared kneading them, and working his way down her arms. His fingers pressed and rubbed down her upper arms to forearms, then took the time to treat both her hands to the same. He'd learned long ago that hands were 'forgotten' when giving someone a massage and that it was often where they most stress could do the most harm.

Laughing soundlessly, she winked at him.
"I could always help with that. But, trust me, taking it slow, and building the tension, both my way, and the natural way, will absolutely pay off in the end."
Groaning softly, she closed her eyes, letting the physical tension drain from the body parts he administered his magic on her muscles.

I'm sure it would...but for now I think I'll enjoy the tension, Moving to her back he slowly works along each muscle and along each bit of her spine. The upside to being a dancer, you know every place it could ever hurt. Methodically he makes sure that every inch of her is as relaxed as he feels right now.