Coffee and Conversation (Open - Attn Shay)

There had been several open spots along the street and Amberelle had grabbed one right in front. Brightly striped awnings, clusters of wrought iron tables and chairs topped with fluttering umbrellas all spread in front of the cozy Cafe she had arranged to meet Shay at. It was very European looking, and reminded the Anantya of New Orleans.

After quickly touching up her face with a pat of powder and some fresh lipgloss, she made her way towards the open tables set along the sidewalk and sat at one that would give her a good view of the area, and where she would be easily visable from the street.

Glancing around she smiled. It had been over a year ago that she'd met Meegan at this same place. She wondered how the designer had been, wishing they'd kept in touch. But she'd been leery of making friends then, so fresh from her former life. Hopefully things were changing for the better and it wouldn't be so hard for her to open up.

Shay 18 years ago
Feeling relieved to know her words hadn't been too harsh, Shay nodded at Amberelle's admission of having a slightly different relationship with others around her. Again Shay was thankful to her parents for having raised her in such an open, loving, and accepting atmosphere. She had always been instructed to think for herself, and rely on her own decisions, but accepting the consequences when those decisions didn't quite pan out the way she might have hoped. Her parents were truly ahead of their time, in Shay's eyes.

Smirking at the 'dinner' comment, Shay couldn't resist a teasing a bit.


"Oh well, you don't know you're missing...at least Mathias swears I'm definitely something to feast upon." Shay laughed out loud at that, finding it a silly thing to say, but somehow fitting at the same time.

She sobered up just a tad when she again nodded in agreement.


"I know! Almost everyone I've met...well, that I knew belonged to a clan, have belonged to Tacharan...except you, of course..." Shay's sentence dropped for a minute as she tried to recall those she had met since coming to Nachton.

"I did meet a young man from Evenhet...last year during the Creator's Ball...and if I remember correctly, he was with someone from your clan...a Mr. Thaddeus...sorry...his last name escapes me at the moment. They were both very nice...but off hand, I can't think of anyone else I've met except Tacharans...and a couple other people I've no such...you know...knowledge of. Maybe it's because they are such a new clan, that they aren't as proficient at blending in with everyone else yet. But then too, since I belong, they're undoubtedly less likely to hide the fact from me either."

She shrugged softly. There were probably many reasons why the majority of people she'd met were Tacharans, but she was now quite curious to know more from other clans. She was curious to know how the clans were different, and how they might be the same, as well. Did they each have the same rules and guidelines...for instance, how they addressed 'familiars'? Why were there three...was it a matter of different people with strong personalities who wanted to run things, and since one clan couldn't be run by that many 'heads'...had the strongest just branched out? Or was it more like a religion, with each clan having it's own set of beliefs on certain things. There was more there that she felt she needed to uncover, before she incorporated it into her book.

"I would really love to talk to you more about this...I've got tons of questions...but it is getting pretty late. Mathias may start wondering about me if I don't show up soon...not that he'd get upset or anything, but he does like me there when he turns in." She had the good grace to blush slightly at that comment, and left off the part about her liking being there in his arms when he turned in.

"Do you suppose we might get together again...maybe next time for dinner somewhere nice? I could probably be talked in to a short bout of shopping again as well, if it's something you'd like to do."

Shay did have to hope that if she made plans with Amberelle, they would turn out better than those she'd made with people in the past. For some reason she didn't really have a lot of luck when it came to following up with friends.
Ichiro Taiji 18 years ago
Not often in Tai's former life had he been called upon to assassinate women, and therefore he hadn't had as much time to study their behavior. American women behaved so differently, in addition. He wasn't sitting close enough to the two to hear every bit, or even enough, of their conversation. He couldn't tell if they were settling down for a long heart-to-heart, or just having a quick drink. Even though his hearing seemed keener these days, that wasn't much help either.

Still, he was no stranger to patience and continued to watch without watching, listen without listening. When the women were ready to leave, he would be as well. Without realizing it, he discovered he was planning on doing... well, something, with this interesting woman. Mostly because he remembered the ball, remembered her lover, remembered his words.

Annoying, the pair of them, and definitely worthy of a meal at the very least.
Amberelle DeEspionne 18 years ago
The blush didn't go unnoticed, and Amby grinned at the writer. "It must be nice to have someone to go home to." Nodding, she leaned over to her purse and started rumaging through it for her wallet.

I'd love to! And shopping is optional.. but dinner, soon, for sure. You have my numbers, give me a call towards the end of the week and let's set something up. Removing several bills from her light blue leather billfold she caught their waiter's eye as she laid them down in the center of their table. It was more than enough for their small bill and a generous tip.

Setting her bag in her lap, she pulled her keys out and cradled the small alarm fob. She turned back to Shay and gave her a serious look. Be careful on your way home, I think we both know what goes bump in the night around here, non? Her golden eyes twinkled and the corners of her mouth twitched as she tried not to smile. Your headboard, of course.. so hurry home.

Standing, the Anantya began to weave her way through the tables to the sidewalk. Amby glanced over one last time at the delicious British dish and wondered if she'd bump into him here again. She certainly hoped so. But now it was time to turn her attention to finding a real 'bite' to eat. There was the Asian man... nah. She'd met too many freaks during her trips to Japan, they were such deviants. Entirely too complicated for a quick meal. Too bad she hadn't dressed up she could have gone to one of the hotel bars and found a lonely, tipsy businessman. That was one of the biggest things the blonde missed about New Orleans, the constant variety of tourists and travelers and the amount of hotels available to meet them in.

At her car Amberelle looked back and gave Shay a wave before climbing in.

((OOC Amby out))
Shay 18 years ago
Before Shay could offer to pay, Amberelle had her money out and on the table. Though she could have argued over it, Shay decided she'd let this one go, and pick up the tab next time. Since she and Alexi had gotten together, he'd been paying for nearly everything, and she had amassed quite a nice chunk of change in her savings. She didn't think Amberelle looked close to being destitute, but Shay was of the opinion that she really did need to pay for some things in life.

Laughing at Amberelle's comment about what she had to look forward to at home, Shay only nodded. There was a lot more truth there than she could admit to, and again she blushed only slightly at the thought.


"Thank you for your concern, and for spending this time with me. I've enjoyed it very much and will be sure to call you. I look forward to it. But you be careful as well...you never know when you might bite into something that might not sit right on your stomach."

The play on words was a fun game, and gave Shay the feeling she was in on an inside joke. Finishing her drink, Shay watched Amberelle leave, and waved in return when she reached her car. She didn't dawdle any more though, finding herself anxious to get home and great Alexi.

Putting a couple more bills on the table for the waiter's tip, Shay stood, and brushed herself off before following along the path that Amberelle had just taken. As she passed the man she'd seen earlier she was again nudged by the idea that she must know him, but because she still couldn't remember from where, she had to let it alone. Besides, he didn't appear to notice her either, so maybe she was wrong.

Thankfully her car started without incident, and before she knew it she was pulling up into her carport with a smile on her face.


(Shay out)
Ichiro Taiji 18 years ago
It would have been too obvious to try to follow, but Tai kept a hawk-like eye on both women as they left. The one he had begun to think of as his drove off, and he watched carefully from the nearest bank of shadows it didn't even occur to him to try to rationalize this strange urge.

He couldn't be strong unless he fed, and he needed to be strong. For Ellis.

Regardless of how she viewed him now, she had made him and she would use him. Tai was a tool for her, but he was aware of the fact and that made him a dangerous tool. And fortunately for him, it meant he would be able to see trouble before it arrived - or so he hoped.

His tawny eyes glinted as he leaned against the building wall, staring now in the direction the car had disappeared in. With an odd half-smile on his face, he headed in the opposite direction.

((ooc: Tai out))