[M]That Which Doesn't Kill You...
 

[Muahahaha, now that I have you here.... Private rp for Duryn Kenly and myself :D]


Setting: The darkened streets of the city are often prowled by things you may not want to bump into. Don't worry though, after all they say that that which does not kill you only makes you stronger.... Little did they know.

~ * ~ * ~

Tal was tired. Well, more than tired, exhausted really. His dance troupe had been practicing for an upcoming performance for days, and the choreographer was insane. But he'd finally been appeased when the director told him the number was perfect and he'd let the group go home. Unfortunately that meant Tal had a fifteen block hike to get back to his flat, the buses had stop running hours ago.

But the city was gorgeous at night, and he didn't mind the walk, even if his muscles were still sore from the hours and hours of practice. The promise of a day off to recuperate also made his step lighter as he headed down the night shrouded streets.

Duryn looks up to the night sky, closing his eyes as a light breeze blows through the city before he turns his vibrant green eyes down towards Tal a little ways off.
He decides to follow at a distance from the rooftops, staying silent and in the shadows some what. He casually hops from rooftop to rooftop as he goes along.

Leaning against a building about twenty feet ahead of the dancer, Kenly smiled at the smell wind brought her off of him. She could smell the sweat from what she assumed was a hard day's work. She could sense his body's exhaustion, the feeling radiating from him in waves. She could also sense another night creature nearby, someone familiar. They were still too far off for her to pinpoint who it was, however. Besides, her attention was more for the man on the street than the one skulking, for lack of better terms.

Hands in his pockets Tal slowed as he approached the next block, the brunette leaning on the building was stunning. He's spent all day with the long lean lines of female dancers so he could appreciate a woman with curves and the smile that slid over his face showed it. His blue eyes were sparkling as he continued moving in her direction. "Lovely evening," he said as he got nearer, nto sure if she might be waiting for someone else.

Smiling that close-lipped smile vampires do to look demure and conceal their fangs, she nodded. The dark ringlets of her hair bounced merrily with the movement of her head.

"That it is. Nicest we've seen in a spell. Kind of late to be out and about alone, isn't it?"

Crossing her arms under her bust, she pushed off from the side of the building, standing to her full height.

Duryn approaches, simply bending down and sitting on a lower rooftop close to them, just watching and listening with a smirk on his face.
He takes a moment to enjoy the scent of the blood flowing under the man's skin, wanting to sample it for himself.

"Mm, yes, spring is definitely here with a vengeance this year," his smile deepend appreciatively as she shifted position. "I suppose it's late, or early depending on how you want to look at it," offering her his hand. "But such is the timetable when you're rehearsing, Tal Yar. I'm part of the CAR dance troupe, we're putting on a show this weekend and my choreographer is a slave driver when he needs to be."

Accepting his hand, she smiled wider, still careful to keep her fangs hidden. She could sense her vampire sire, now that the man was this close. She didn't have to concentrate so hard on him.

"A pleasure. I'm Kenly. I haven't seen a good show in some time. And if the rest of the troupe is anything close to holding a candle to you," at this she gave him a quite obvious thorough once-over, "I absolutely must go."

Duryn steps off of the rooftop, landing softly behind Tal, his waist length black hair flowing slightly from the sudden movement, he smiles "Am I interrupting?" as he looks from one to the other.

Winking Tal teased, "Now you've got me into a verbal corner. If I say they're all like me you'll think I'm being fake, but if I say there's no one like me I'll be egotistical." Raising her hand he lightly brushes his lips against her skin. Brows lifting he rubs his thumb against her knuckles. "Even a spring night can be a bit cool. I don't suppose I could tempt you to get a warm drink with me?"

The sudden appearance of the dark haired man raised the hairs on the back of Tal's neck and he surreptitiously stepped between Kenly and the stranger.

Duryn smirkes, amused by Tal's gesture of protectiveness. He holds both hands up briefly "I'm Duryn, I don't mean any harm.."

Stepping up against Tal's back, she puts her hands on his shoulder and peers over at the master vampire on the other side.

"Oh, hello darling. I thought I, uh, heard you earlier. What a lovely night to be with such beautiful company."

Grinning, she breathed in the smell of Tal, and of what was left of the scent of his grooming products. She mentally noted she much preferred the natural smell of the man.

Lifting a brow Tal puts on a small grin, "I'm not used to having people...pop up, my apologies if I offended." Feeling Kenly at his back he holds back a frown at her words. Apparently she had been waiting for someone, or at least not surprised over his arrival. Refocusing on Duryn Tal decides to suck it up, wouldn't be the first time a beautiful woman was taken. "Tal, it's nice to meet you Duryn, sorry for being a bit jumpy."

Duryn simply smiles and nods "Pleasure, and no need to apologize.."
"Are you two heading anywhere? Or just enjoying the night as I am?"

She could sense the man in front of her deflate a bit. Giggling softly in his ear, she moved to put herself under his arm.

"I was invited for a drink. Which, by the way, Tal, I think sounds wonderful."

Blinking at bit in surprise at Kenly's acceptance he wasted no time in smiling down at her. "The pleasure is all mine," feeling her slightly chilled skin under his arm he mentally maps the closest coffee bar that should still be open that that hour. Now a bit more at ease he looks back to Duryn, "Dollop should still be open, you're more than welcome to come along. There's still a bit of a chill and their latte's are excellent." He could be magnanimous now that his interest was obviously returned.

Duryn smiles "I'll let you two go on your own, but thank you for the offer."

(posted twice)

Grinning, she wiggled her fingers in good-bye at Duryn.

"Oh, well, nice meeting you Duryn," Tal really was surprised, he hadn't seemed the sort to give up the feild that easily. But his loss, turning he gestured down the block, "It's just a block or so this way."

Turning with him, she allowed Tal to lead her down the street toward the coffee shop. She wasn't really in the mood for coffee, or any other caffeinated beverage, but she was willing to play along if it meant she might possibly get closer to his warm body.

Absentmindedly Tal rubbed the palm of his hand over Kenly's shoulder, his steps measured to allow her to keep up. He'd had more than one person yell at him for his 'dancers stride'. Watching her from the corner of his eye he madly thought of something to say, the arrival of Duryn having momentarily derailed his normally suave brain. "So, if you weren't out waiting for your friend why were you out at this hour?"

Shrugging, she turned to smile up at him.

"I have a habit of being out late at night. I'm a night owl. Walking around the city at night helps me think. And it's so pretty."

Maintaining eye contact Tal agreed, "Yes, very pretty. Now I see what I've been missing being up at 4am for dance classes and retiring early each night." As they rounded a corner the bright lights of Dollop came into view.

Batting her lashes at him, she kept stride like a pro, even in her three inch heels. As they entered the coffee shop, she stepped away from him, letting her arm trail down his, wrapping her fingers with his, pulling him toward a little table in the darkest corner-which wasn't that dark at all.

"I think this is the first time I've ever been in here. It's... quaint. I like it."

Following her lead Tal settled into one of the overstuffed couches, giving the barista a passing grin. She seemed surprised to see him in at that hour, but like most that knew him they'd never seen him up this side of the moon. "I like it, though I normally see it early in the morning. If you're a fan of pie they get in some amazing things from the local bakery."

Looking about, she did indeed notice the pie shelf. She hadn't had pie in quite a while and the idea of it did sound appealing.

"I might just take you up on the idea of pie. I think a large mug of double chocolate hot cocoa would be lovely, if they have it."

"I'm sure that can be arranged," squeezing her hand lightly he headed to the counter. A short time later he returned with two mugs and a very large, very full plate. On it was a a small slice of five different pies, a small pile of whipped cream and a splash of raspberry sauce. "I didn't think to ask what sort of pie you might like, so I had Amber pick out a few of the popular ones." He carefully set the mug of chocolate in front of her along with the plate and fork. His own mug held chamomile tea lightly sweetened with honey.

Wrapping her palms around her large mug, she smiled at the plate laden with food. She wasn't sure which one looked most appealing to her.

"So, I take it you're more of a daylight person? You look lovely in the more muted light of evening."

Sipping he tried not to blush, but really, his pale skin was no deterant, "Lovely hmm? But yes, I'm more a 'day walker' if you want to use a comic-y term for it, but you have to be if you're a dancer. I have five classes before noon every day, then have practices for the shows all afternoon. I'm usually wiped out by evenings unless we're doing shows, then I usually fall into bed there-after." Grimacing he realized he'd just blabbered on about himself. "But you must have a good job that allows you to spend your nights out, no 5am jazz classes for you?"

Grinning demurely around her hot cocoa, she listened intently to him talk.

"Actually... I'm from old money, you could say. I don't really work unless I'm bored. I just can't believe you don't have someone special to fall into bed with."

She didn't blush when she said it, though she was sure she probably should, to at least look like she was embarrassing herself with making such a personal statement.

Tal had to think very, very hard about swallowing his tea, not inhaling it at her comment. By now he knew his face must nearly match his hair and he just gave in and laughed. "Kenly, you are adorable! I'll let my ego go for a moment and tell you that it's not that I don't have people offer, but usually they're not to my taste." Chuckling a bit more he tipped his head towards her, "So, I take it you're not often bored?" He said in reference to her working only if she felt like it.

Smiling widely, her fangs just peeking out slightly, she shrugged.

"I have quite a bit to keep me occupied-usually. I do have my moments, though. Boredom and I do no agree. It's not a pretty thing."

Taking a sip of her hot beverage, she looked at him over the rim of her mug.

Tal assumed the lighting was to blame, after all Kenly couldn't have fangs...right? Besides, she was drinking hot chocolate for the love of...well...either way he was loosing his mind. "So what alleviates your boredom if not working?"

Shrugging one shoulder, she looked about then reached for one of the forks and dipped into the triple berry pie with the graham cracker crust.

"Depends on the day, really. Usually it's interesting people. I enjoy galleries and shows as well. I tend to spend a lot of my time just wandering, honestly. You'd be surprised the things there are to see, and to find, out there. And when I'm tired of exploring, I go back to my favorite haunts."

Grinning Tal watched her, "Galleries and shows huh? I pictured you more the dance club and poetry house sort." But now he could see the aristocratic lines of her face, yeah, she's fit right in at those sort of places.

Laughing throatily, she nodded.

"Yeah, I like those, too. A little rebellion is healthy sometimes, after all."

Smiling appreciatively at the pie, she nodded to it.

"You have -got- to try this one."

Grinning Tal shook his head, "'Fraid not, I'm on a super strict diet." Patting his hand against his flat stomach he nodded towards the plate of sweets. "I'll have to let you enjoy them all for me."

Pursing her lips in her best 'just one' look, she wiggled the fork at him with a small bite.

"Just one won't kill you. Promise. And I'm sure that between now and show time you'll work it off, one way or another."

The comment wasn't meant to be an innuendo, but she realized after it came out that it could be taken as just that.

Eying the fork, and the beautiful woman holding it Tal was more than tempted. Only a mental image of his choreographer, ranting and gesticulating as only a tiny Italian can stopped him from accepting the offered bite immediately. Giving Kenly a mock-stern look he teased, "You are tempting me to be very, very bad right now."