Ah shit she was crying. He hadn't mean to cause that reaction and he had no idea what to say to make it stop. He fumbled for words.
"If it makes you feel better to do so. It's really no big deal. A family member died and left me with a lot. She'd be happy if I used it to help you out."
Not really, Chryseis would have first chastised him for frivolous spending on a human and then asked why he hadn't stepped up to the opportunity for a unattached meal. But his lie about Chryseis's good moral character would sit better.
"You've had a shit night, I'd say your entitled to a few tears." He tried to comfort.
They pulled into the long drive that lead to the hotels brightly light entrance. Pulling over to the curb he parked the car.
"Allright, so, this should cover the room for a few nights plus some extra for food and toothbrush type things. They sell all that stuff at the little novelties store inside." Panos had pulled out the six hundred dollar bills he had in his pocket and was holding it out towards Nara. He'd come back at a later time when and put his credit card on her file. He didn't want to make her feel any shittier tonight.
Grabbing last nights Wendy's receipt and a pen, Panos scrawled his phone number on the backside and also handed it to Nara.
"Take this as well. If you need anything else don't hestiate to call. I work midnights and I sleep during the day so if you leave a message I'll call you back. I am supossed to be watching out for you health so I expect a call soon to check on you." Panos emphasised the word am, remembering the medics assumption.
Something's Burning
Riding the horse with her hair blowing behind her, Nara was laughing and smiling as the wind hit her face over the head of the ebony mare. Arms thrown wide, and her legs clutching the sides of the saddleless mount, she felt free. The sun was high and summer had just seen the release of students across the county. Coughing, she frowned, looking around as she was once again sitting near her father's hospital bed listening to the sounds of his labored breathing and the machine beeping that something was wrong. Tears filled her eyes as she gripped his hand and again coughed herself. Wait, she was coughing, and having trouble breathing, not him.
She rolled in the bed, even in her blue sleeveless tshirt and vivid red panties the only garments she wore at the moment seemed overly warm. She wanted to go back to the first part of the dream, but the heat and the air seemed wrong. She sat up blinking with watery eyes looking around as she continued to cough into her hand. Eyes went wide as she realized the beeping was a fire alarm. Smoke filled her room, and she could hear sirens outside on the street.
She was on the third floor of an old burning building, and realized that she had to get out. Rolling to the floor, she headed toward the single window in the large one room efficiency apartment that was already filled with dark smoke. With a sudden thought, she crawled back toward her bed, to the bedside table to grab the picture of her parents that she kept there. She thought of the lap top with all her work on it and headed to the couch to grab it though it became harder to breath and she was coughing more. She could feel the heat of the fire through the walls and hearing a sound, she covered her head with her hands as the area of ceiling over her kitchen area fell in the fire becoming visible.
She grabbed her laptop, adding it to the frame in her arms and keeping as low as possible headed toward the window, hoping that it wouldn't stick this time. At the window she was laid low by coughing again and curled against the window frame looking out and trying to open it with one hand.
Panos Mehalitsenos
13 years ago
Nara Baker
13 years ago
She looked at the money, her reluctance to take it a comment in itself of her sense of right and wrong. She didn't like taking charity, and believed in working for what she got. But he was right, she had to face that. The shelters were likely full, and she wasn't in any condition to sleep on a doorstop somewhere.
She finally reached out to take the money, not meeting his eyes, shame there in her expression, even without her gaze meeting his. "Thank you." She murmured softly. She did meet his gaze when taking the receipt with the number on the back. "I'll call. And I will pay you back." She would. She didn't know when or how, but she would do it.
She looked down at the jacket that she still had around her shoulders, and his track pants. "I'll get these back to you as well. Once I get something more to wear." She gave a wry look. "Don't think it would go over well going in there in my nightwear."
Thinking about it, as she reached to open the door. "I could do house cleaning and stuff around your place, if you needed it. I mean, if you might accept services rather than repayment in cash. I don't know how long it will take to get the funds, and I'm not one to feel right leaving it undone like this." She really looked concerned.
She finally reached out to take the money, not meeting his eyes, shame there in her expression, even without her gaze meeting his. "Thank you." She murmured softly. She did meet his gaze when taking the receipt with the number on the back. "I'll call. And I will pay you back." She would. She didn't know when or how, but she would do it.
She looked down at the jacket that she still had around her shoulders, and his track pants. "I'll get these back to you as well. Once I get something more to wear." She gave a wry look. "Don't think it would go over well going in there in my nightwear."
Thinking about it, as she reached to open the door. "I could do house cleaning and stuff around your place, if you needed it. I mean, if you might accept services rather than repayment in cash. I don't know how long it will take to get the funds, and I'm not one to feel right leaving it undone like this." She really looked concerned.
Panos Mehalitsenos
13 years ago
"You are welcome Nara. For what it's worth I'm glad I decided to go to the bar tonight. This has proved to be a much more exciting evening than I anticipated."
What he said was true. Even though it was probably a minor thing Panos felt like maybe tonight was a turn in a slightly new direction for him. As it turned out you didn't have to force or pay someone to want to be around you. Sure she was only going to call him because she felt like she owed him some debt, but it was close enough.
"No, probably not. Not unless you'd like to sleep in the jail and I'm sure their beds arent as comfortable." He joked.
"We can figure it out. Like I said, I'm not really worried about it. I know you are not going to magically come up with the money without it taking away from trying to re-establish yourself. For tonight don't lose any sleep over it ok? You have enough to worry about I'm sure."
He gave her a warm smile, something that was not commonplace for him.
Panos figured it was about time to get an apartment on the outside again. The last place he'd be taking Nara to was The Domicile. He couldn't even imagine asking Simon what his thoughts on having human females over were.
What he said was true. Even though it was probably a minor thing Panos felt like maybe tonight was a turn in a slightly new direction for him. As it turned out you didn't have to force or pay someone to want to be around you. Sure she was only going to call him because she felt like she owed him some debt, but it was close enough.
"No, probably not. Not unless you'd like to sleep in the jail and I'm sure their beds arent as comfortable." He joked.
"We can figure it out. Like I said, I'm not really worried about it. I know you are not going to magically come up with the money without it taking away from trying to re-establish yourself. For tonight don't lose any sleep over it ok? You have enough to worry about I'm sure."
He gave her a warm smile, something that was not commonplace for him.
Panos figured it was about time to get an apartment on the outside again. The last place he'd be taking Nara to was The Domicile. He couldn't even imagine asking Simon what his thoughts on having human females over were.
Nara Baker
13 years ago
She chuckled. "Forgive me if I'm a bit torn on that one." She moved her hands as if they were a balance weighing the ideas. "Excitement of waking up in a cloud of smoke from a fire. Meeting handsome guy and getting into his pants." She glanced over with a teasing look in her eyes.
At his kindness in allowing her time to pay him back till she got things figured out, she blinked again, but kept the tears at bay. "You know, I wish there were more people like you out there. How about I make you a dinner some time? I can make a mean meatloaf." She wanted to do something even something small to show him her gratitude. "I'll need to borrow a kitchen." She gave a wry look. She should get out and go inside, but with him there, she didn't have to face this yet.
At his kindness in allowing her time to pay him back till she got things figured out, she blinked again, but kept the tears at bay. "You know, I wish there were more people like you out there. How about I make you a dinner some time? I can make a mean meatloaf." She wanted to do something even something small to show him her gratitude. "I'll need to borrow a kitchen." She gave a wry look. She should get out and go inside, but with him there, she didn't have to face this yet.
Panos Mehalitsenos
13 years ago
"I can see how you'd be torn. Totally understandable." He bantered back.
Panos nearly laughed out loud when Nara suggested there be more people like him roaming the planet. Unfortunately there was and he was pretty sure there was a long list of people who wished for the opposite. Not to mention the even longer list ofpeople who were worse than him. Biting the inside of his cheek Panos shrugged at her suggestion.
"Becareful what you wish for right?"
The sound of a home cooked meal was tantalizing. He mostly at out or had food delivered in. It's not like The Domicile had a cafeteria and he was never big on cooking.
"I will take you up on that offer and throw in one kitchen fully stocked. I've almost forgotten the taste of meatloaf, doesn't it also have tiny potatoes with it? I haven't had meatloaf in ages."
He meant that in the literal sense.
Panos nearly laughed out loud when Nara suggested there be more people like him roaming the planet. Unfortunately there was and he was pretty sure there was a long list of people who wished for the opposite. Not to mention the even longer list ofpeople who were worse than him. Biting the inside of his cheek Panos shrugged at her suggestion.
"Becareful what you wish for right?"
The sound of a home cooked meal was tantalizing. He mostly at out or had food delivered in. It's not like The Domicile had a cafeteria and he was never big on cooking.
"I will take you up on that offer and throw in one kitchen fully stocked. I've almost forgotten the taste of meatloaf, doesn't it also have tiny potatoes with it? I haven't had meatloaf in ages."
He meant that in the literal sense.
Nara Baker
13 years ago
She chuckled at his quips. Then nodded at the potatoes. "I usually do, and might even be able to add a green bean casserole and fresh made bread, if the kitchen is fully stocked and has space to make the bread." She smiled. Growing up in the country had it's blessings, like learning to cook.
"If you tell me what kinds of desserts you like, I might even remember a recipe that works for that too." She smiled at him, finding it exciting to contemplate making him a meal. Well, gratifying. She gave herself a mental swat. Exciting was the right word, even if this wasn't the time or place to be thinking of how handsome he was.
"If you tell me what kinds of desserts you like, I might even remember a recipe that works for that too." She smiled at him, finding it exciting to contemplate making him a meal. Well, gratifying. She gave herself a mental swat. Exciting was the right word, even if this wasn't the time or place to be thinking of how handsome he was.
Panos Mehalitsenos
13 years ago
"Done and done." Panos made a mental grocery list as Nara mentioned all sorts of delicious dishes she could make. He would also have to keep an eye out for a place with a great big kitchen.
At the mention of of the possibility of dessert only one thing popped into his mind.
"I don't suposse you can make Loukoumades?"
He hadn't had any good Greek desserts in ages and the Baklava every Greek place sold wasn't as good at the stuff back home. That was without saying of course. Anything homemade was made with an extra something that restraunt employees just didnt have.
Panos was thankful it was still getting dark earlier as it was starting to look liek he would be spending a great deal of time finding a place that was suitable and then stocking it full of goods for Nara.
At the mention of of the possibility of dessert only one thing popped into his mind.
"I don't suposse you can make Loukoumades?"
He hadn't had any good Greek desserts in ages and the Baklava every Greek place sold wasn't as good at the stuff back home. That was without saying of course. Anything homemade was made with an extra something that restraunt employees just didnt have.
Panos was thankful it was still getting dark earlier as it was starting to look liek he would be spending a great deal of time finding a place that was suitable and then stocking it full of goods for Nara.
Nara Baker
13 years ago
She gave him a curious glance. "Loukoumades? I've never heard of them, but you can bet I'll be making a path to the library to find out how to make them and give it a try." She smiled. The quickness of his reply had her figuring it was something he really liked, and she wanted to make them for him.
"I might not get it right the first time, but I'll keep trying till I do." She promised. Then glanced at the hotel again and sighed. "I should go in, I guess. I've kept you from where you need to go too long as it is." She glanced back at him with warmth. "You'll let me know when I can come cook for you right? I'll make sure to leave a number with the desk here for when I find some way to get a place to stay more permanently." If she could with the situation, she added silently.
"I might not get it right the first time, but I'll keep trying till I do." She promised. Then glanced at the hotel again and sighed. "I should go in, I guess. I've kept you from where you need to go too long as it is." She glanced back at him with warmth. "You'll let me know when I can come cook for you right? I'll make sure to leave a number with the desk here for when I find some way to get a place to stay more permanently." If she could with the situation, she added silently.
Panos Mehalitsenos
13 years ago
"It's Greek. The name sounds scarier than the actual dish I promise."
Looking down at his watch he noted the time. The night wasn't a complete wash. Shifting in his seat Panos gave Nara a warm smile.
"You take care of yourself Nara. If I don't hear from you soon I will expect the worst but I am going to assume that it was health related and has completely nothing to do with me."
What an unexpected evening tonight had turned out to be. All in the matter of a few hours not only had he become a savior but a generous pleasant being. He was going to have to snap a few necks on the way home to make up for it.
"Remember if you need anything at all don't feel too embarassed to call."
Looking down at his watch he noted the time. The night wasn't a complete wash. Shifting in his seat Panos gave Nara a warm smile.
"You take care of yourself Nara. If I don't hear from you soon I will expect the worst but I am going to assume that it was health related and has completely nothing to do with me."
What an unexpected evening tonight had turned out to be. All in the matter of a few hours not only had he become a savior but a generous pleasant being. He was going to have to snap a few necks on the way home to make up for it.
"Remember if you need anything at all don't feel too embarassed to call."
Nara Baker
13 years ago
Nara gave an interested nod. "Well then, I'll be looking it up." At the rest of his comments, she smiled. "I'll be calling. I promise. I owe you a meal or two at the very least." She got out of the vehicle and peered back in before closing the door. "Don't forget to go shopping."
She smiled and waved her fingers from around the frame of the picture she held in that hand, while she closed the door with the other hand. She didn't know what had happened to her laptop, as she had been out of it when he grabbed it, and with trying to breath and focus on what to do, it had slipped her mind.
(out)
She smiled and waved her fingers from around the frame of the picture she held in that hand, while she closed the door with the other hand. She didn't know what had happened to her laptop, as she had been out of it when he grabbed it, and with trying to breath and focus on what to do, it had slipped her mind.
(out)
Panos Mehalitsenos
13 years ago
He watched her walk away and wondered if he should have taken her inside. Maybe of walked her to her room, made sure she was comfortable, told he he woudl come back tomorrow night.
What was he thinking? He barely knew Nara! Besides it would be absurd to do such things. He did want her to call him for crying out loud. Why take the chance of creeping her out with being overbearing?
Panos saw to it that she at least made it safely inside the front doors before he pulled away. It was time to get shopping.
(ooc Out)
What was he thinking? He barely knew Nara! Besides it would be absurd to do such things. He did want her to call him for crying out loud. Why take the chance of creeping her out with being overbearing?
Panos saw to it that she at least made it safely inside the front doors before he pulled away. It was time to get shopping.
(ooc Out)