Bao's words told her that he did not miss the small hint that she was not entirely conceding defeat. It was more of a ceasefire and he seemed to be willing to comply as well so that they could move on to other topics. She was pleased by that; many people of Bao's intelligence and force of personality tended not to know when to let things go. Such stubbornness turned a fun debate into an argument that ceased to be fun, at least for her.
He told her that she was one of the only people to.think of him as kind but Claire felt Bao was doing himself a disservice. Placing a gentle hand on his arm, she spoke without turning away from the painting; she did.not want to embarrass him with emotional sentiments here but she could not say nothing. "I think there a plenty of people who think so. I knew of several who love and respect you. Many of our kind have trouble with the expression of their emotions but I believe I have seen those from your sister and father, perhaps even Jin." Claire was not certain the other Asian man knew Bao well enough to love him but there seemed to be respect there when he spoke to Bao in her presence. In her experience with observing people unnoticed it did not seem to be the simple politeness of an old vampire or but she could be wrong.
"And now you have me." She turned to him and smiled. "Today the clan, tomorrow the world."
After she spoke about buying a print in the gift shop Bao asked if he could buy it for her. It was a small thing and Claire doubted that an immortal lawyer was hurting for money any more than an immortal doctor so she did not feel compelled to deny his gesture of kindness. It would only be awkward and there was no reason to turn a thoughtful act into something that was uncomfortable. So she accepted with a small token disclaimer that she was certain he already knew.
"You do not have to, Bao." She smiled at him and gave him a small curtsy. "But that would be lovely. Merci, monsieur."
Do Not Kill Anyone (Attn Claire)
At least the weather was pleasant. That was about the only positive thing Bao could say. This was ridiculous, he had -no- reason to be nervous. It had been hell enough asking Claire out, he had felt awkward and tongue tied. Worst of all was the lingering feeling that she might reject him. Which was, he told himself, either unthinkable and yet rather terrifying.
She had, thankfully, said yes which had left him half sputtering out a proposal. They would meet and the Arch and see how the evening played out. He'd arrived early, to ensure the curator had not found away around his commands and was gone. Avoiding him seemed to be one command she wanted to obey for she was no where to be found. Bao was mildly disgusted with the she wolf, but he'd rather be disgusted than deal with any unplanned meetings.
With the curator gone though he had nothing else to think about than Claire's arrival and the fact that he hadn't been on a 'date' for several centuries. It took a great deal of effort not to pace. Somehow Bao managed to stand calmly, a single red rose in his hand and wait. He knew it was wrong to meet here instead of arriving together, but he had known how else to do this and had rationalized it by needing to ensure the she wolf was gone.
Absently Bao straightened his tie and glanced down to ensure his shoes had a mirror shine. He also ran through his mental check list for the millionth time. He did have tickets to the special show, he did have a car to pick them up when they were through, he did have a good bottle of wine chilling, he did have a telescope set up in his favorite dark part of the gardens, the only thing he couldn't quite plan on was Claire and what she might want to do. That thought both excited and worried him.
If only she would get here so he could stop thinking about these things.
Claire
13 years ago
Bao
13 years ago
The soft hand on his arm was something of a surprise to Bao who looked down to see where the touch had come from. Seeing Claire's hand on his arm was more than... Bao found a a great deal of pleasure is that simple gesture. She was far more compassionate and empathetic than many who had faced centuries alone, yet that was balanced with wisdom and intelligence. What in the world she was doing here with him Bao had no idea, but he also was not going to question his good fortune.
Quietly, he turned back to the painting almost as if he'd not noticed. He, again conceded the point. Yes there were at least two others, his children at least respected him, but he was not exactly a popular person. It didn't bother him though. The mention of Jin, however, made Bao laugh. Not at the expense of the Night's man, but laugh nonetheless. How was Claire to know he had very mixed feelings on the other man. He wasn't offended though, he should probably make more of an effort to know the man, especially if he was important to Amir. Those thoughts would wait another day.
"I am more pleased to have you than the possibility of the world.â€
It was a small and simple gesture. Hardly extravagant but that she would accept it was a step in the right direction. He had not completely alienated her in the course of the evening.
"It would make me happy to do so, besides it should be I who should thank you for coming out with me this evening.â€
Quietly, he turned back to the painting almost as if he'd not noticed. He, again conceded the point. Yes there were at least two others, his children at least respected him, but he was not exactly a popular person. It didn't bother him though. The mention of Jin, however, made Bao laugh. Not at the expense of the Night's man, but laugh nonetheless. How was Claire to know he had very mixed feelings on the other man. He wasn't offended though, he should probably make more of an effort to know the man, especially if he was important to Amir. Those thoughts would wait another day.
"I am more pleased to have you than the possibility of the world.â€
It was a small and simple gesture. Hardly extravagant but that she would accept it was a step in the right direction. He had not completely alienated her in the course of the evening.
"It would make me happy to do so, besides it should be I who should thank you for coming out with me this evening.â€
Claire
13 years ago
Claire smiled at Bao's response, squeezing his arm once in a small show of affection and then letting it go. "I believe you are well on your way if that is your goal." This time, despite just admitting that he was quite close to having her if he wanted her, Claire found that she didn't blush, at least not much. Perhaps she was blushed out for the evening or perhaps she was becoming more comfortable with such familiarity.
She looked back at the painting and thought she would always think of Bao when she saw it. Claire wondered if he realized that. If so then perhaps it was a wise gift to give. He certainly seemed to have a keen intellect, perhaps he always possessed some forward thinking strategy.
"I am honored that you asked me to accompany you. I have enjoyed the artwork and the company."
Replacing her hand around his arm, she gestured toward the rest of the museum.
"Lead the way, Monsieur." Claire glanced sideways at him as they walked.
"Did you have plans for the rest of the evening?"
She looked back at the painting and thought she would always think of Bao when she saw it. Claire wondered if he realized that. If so then perhaps it was a wise gift to give. He certainly seemed to have a keen intellect, perhaps he always possessed some forward thinking strategy.
"I am honored that you asked me to accompany you. I have enjoyed the artwork and the company."
Replacing her hand around his arm, she gestured toward the rest of the museum.
"Lead the way, Monsieur." Claire glanced sideways at him as they walked.
"Did you have plans for the rest of the evening?"
Bao
13 years ago
"Provided you do not think less of me for having such a simple goal, that would please me."
Bao was slightly to find that that was quite true. He'd never felt the need for a long term relationship other than his family. But he would very much like to have Claire, and not as part of his collection.
While he could have ordinarily spent hours in the museum tonight he found the setting, restrictive. He couldn't be as forward with Claire as he would like. He took her touch and leading question as encouragement. Perhaps she didn't want the evening to be at an end just yet either.
"I had lay aside a bottle of wine and had my telescope set up. I thought perhaps you might enjoy some star gazing."
[i]And the fact that his telescope was set up in the darkest most secluded most private part of the Manor's gardens was mere coincidence. He would never presume to take advantage of Claire, no matter how much he wanted to. But he would possibly feel free enough to at least kiss her.
Bao was slightly to find that that was quite true. He'd never felt the need for a long term relationship other than his family. But he would very much like to have Claire, and not as part of his collection.
While he could have ordinarily spent hours in the museum tonight he found the setting, restrictive. He couldn't be as forward with Claire as he would like. He took her touch and leading question as encouragement. Perhaps she didn't want the evening to be at an end just yet either.
"I had lay aside a bottle of wine and had my telescope set up. I thought perhaps you might enjoy some star gazing."
[i]And the fact that his telescope was set up in the darkest most secluded most private part of the Manor's gardens was mere coincidence. He would never presume to take advantage of Claire, no matter how much he wanted to. But he would possibly feel free enough to at least kiss her.
Claire
12 years ago
Claire shook her head at Bao's words. How could she possibly think less of him for such a wonderful goal? "It might not be as simple as you think." Her smile was both coy and enigmatic at the same time. While she was quiet and perhaps modest in her public life that did not mean that she was easily compliant. This was something Sorin had learned soon after her creation much to his surprise and amusement.
She listened to Bao's answer to her question and found his words to be both comforting and exciting. He had planned something further than their visit to the museum and that something was both more intimate and charmingly genteel. Whatever doubts she might still have entertained about his interest in her were fading away, between his words and plans.
It was something to look forward to as they made their way around the rest of the museum, speaking of the different paintings, occasionally disagreeing on the merit of this artist's style or that one's point of view. Claire found Bao to be a remarkably engaging companion; his observations were both intelligent and occasionally humorous. He never failed to entertain her in some fashion as they walked through the quiet rooms. She was certainly not bored and never once longed to be elsewhere, unless that elsewhere was back at the Manor where the two of them could continue their evening in private.
But that would happen soon enough.
((OOC: Both Out ))
She listened to Bao's answer to her question and found his words to be both comforting and exciting. He had planned something further than their visit to the museum and that something was both more intimate and charmingly genteel. Whatever doubts she might still have entertained about his interest in her were fading away, between his words and plans.
It was something to look forward to as they made their way around the rest of the museum, speaking of the different paintings, occasionally disagreeing on the merit of this artist's style or that one's point of view. Claire found Bao to be a remarkably engaging companion; his observations were both intelligent and occasionally humorous. He never failed to entertain her in some fashion as they walked through the quiet rooms. She was certainly not bored and never once longed to be elsewhere, unless that elsewhere was back at the Manor where the two of them could continue their evening in private.
But that would happen soon enough.
((OOC: Both Out ))