"Yes, we stopped counting at two hundred," Henri joked, although it wasn't necessarily true. He actually knew exactly how many years he and Renee had been married, and every one of them had been worth everything. Some years were harder than others but that was how it went in any relationship. Just because they were older and wiser did not mean they avoided the troubles every couple faced. But they got through them because at the end of the night, they did love each other.
"I imagine we will both manage to get here for a visit, yes. Renee has never been to America and she does want to see it. She grew up in Europe. Even I've only been here a handful of times, and I have no excuse except that I am a homebody at heart. I love Paris."
Pakpao listed a few activities that sounded enjoyable to him, too, and he tilted his head at her with a carefree smile. "How about you choose, cherie? The activity makes no difference t me, as long as I will have your company."
That was the truth... the end of the night would likely be the same, regardless of what they did. And that, he was very much looking forward to.
If It Isn't One Thing It's Another
Every now and then Pak debated replacing her precious 'Lil Bird. The classic 1957 Thunderbird retractable hardtop in Torch Red with white upholstery had only had one owner from new. On the books Pak was it's third owner but, that was how vampires operated wasn't it? You had to mix it up now and then to keep the paperwork fresh. It was that or try and fast talk her way out of why she was a good solid forty years younger than the registration said she should be; on the off chance that she was pulled over.
Tonight, was one of those night. The car had chosen to be difficult. Pak was on her way back from an off site meeting and everything had been fine. She'd stopped on the strip to say hello to Eiryk and pick up one little thing and having gotten back into the car it had refused to start.
Well it wasn't the cold, the weather in Nachton was stupidly nice. It was perfect really, seventy two with some clouds, although according to the weather guy it was supposed to start raining tomorrow. Thunderstorms at that, Pak could do without thunderstorms.
Regardless of weather, or impending weather, or the fact that she was dressed to impress in a black suit and pants and heels that added a good four inches to her height, and $1,200 to her wardrobe, Pak was currently shoulder deep in the 'Lil Bird. The jacket of her suit had been tossed on the passenger seat and a shop rag the same bright, festive, true, red as her cami was beside her as she nosed around under the hood with a flash light in one hand.
"It has to be the battery. It's gotta be, nothing else would have shorted out this fast."
Not that Pak was an automotive expert or anything, but she did know -this- car. She'd been fixing it, or helping to fix it since it first rolled off the assembly line. No mechanic knew it better, although she did have one here in Nachton that she trusted to fix just about any thing that went wrong with the car.
Sighing she brushed a lock of black brown hair out of her face and over her shoulder. She really should have tied her hair back instead of leaving it lose to hang down her back. Well she'd worry about that in a second, for now she just wanted the wire brush and a screw driver out of the tool box she kept in the trunk. That and maybe a clove or an iced coffee, but one thing at a time.
Henri
12 years ago
Pakpao
12 years ago
"Well after two hundred you might only want to count every tenth one at any rate."
It was oddly natural to discuss his marriage to another woman and Pak didn't mind at all.
Given her love of travel she was somewhat surprised to hear Renee had never been to the States. They were big and hard to miss, but to each their own. As a matter of fact it was rather charming if not endearing to hear Henri say he was a home body.
"That seems to be true of a great number of true Parisians. There is only one home for them."
For as forward as she'd been thus far tonight Pak was not an exhibitionist and while she was certain Henri would be wonderful company at the Piazza or Shades, but they were just preliminaries for what was becoming and increasingly likely eventuality. Waiting was not high on Pak's list of priorities right now, it had been a very -very- long time since she'd...
"Perhaps we could try them another night. I don't know about you but I've been running around since before the sun went down. I wouldn't mind taking my shoes off and having a quiet drink. I hope that doesn't disappoint you."
It was oddly natural to discuss his marriage to another woman and Pak didn't mind at all.
Given her love of travel she was somewhat surprised to hear Renee had never been to the States. They were big and hard to miss, but to each their own. As a matter of fact it was rather charming if not endearing to hear Henri say he was a home body.
"That seems to be true of a great number of true Parisians. There is only one home for them."
For as forward as she'd been thus far tonight Pak was not an exhibitionist and while she was certain Henri would be wonderful company at the Piazza or Shades, but they were just preliminaries for what was becoming and increasingly likely eventuality. Waiting was not high on Pak's list of priorities right now, it had been a very -very- long time since she'd...
"Perhaps we could try them another night. I don't know about you but I've been running around since before the sun went down. I wouldn't mind taking my shoes off and having a quiet drink. I hope that doesn't disappoint you."
Henri
12 years ago
"I will make that suggestion to her when I see her again," Henri said with a soft laugh. "I am sure she'll see the practicality of it."
He was glad Pakpao didn't seem uncomfortable with the topic of his wife; Henri was aware that she didn't know him well of course, and she had no reason to believe what he said. He supposed she could always ask Rowan; he could and would verify that Henri and Renee did have extramarital affairs. Some on their own and some with each other involved - either way at least Pakpao had a fallback if she wanted some verification.
Comfortable or not, though, Henri did not want the focus to remain on Renee unless Pakpao steered it back that way. So when she mentioned true Parisians he nodded his head at her.
"I don't think they come much truer than I," he said. He offered her the smallest of little bows. "I am the illegitimate son of Childeric, King of the Franks. I think I was in Paris before it ever became a city." He said it with humor in his tone, not pompous pride but irony. If Pakpao knew her history she might understand something of Henri's father, who had stolen his wife from another man after being exiled by his own people. Childeric had left a long line of bastards behind him, of which Henri was only one, but he was the only one of them who had been reunited with and acknowledged by his father.
Their home had always been Paris in one sense or another, but long ago it had been a people, the Parisii, then a region, a basin, many things. Only after quite some time had it become a city. He loved it though, and he was definitely a true Parisian in every sense of the word.
He was going to explain, and ask Pakpao further about herself, but he figured the question and answer session could wait a little while. He shook his head, a quiet, knowing smile on his lips, when she asked him about going back to her place.
"I would enjoy that," he said. "I have been learning the city for several hours now and I think it would be very nice to sit down with such charming company as you provide. I would like very much to know you better."
Much better. Henri was looking forward to where this night was leading. He hadn't expected this in Nachton, but he wouldn't say he hadn't thought about such an eventuality while he was out tonight. Feeding at the House of Pain had been delightful but it had only whetted his appetite for something more physical. Pakpao was willing, sweet and intelligent and not likely to require more from him than companionship and that he was very willing to give.
He was glad Pakpao didn't seem uncomfortable with the topic of his wife; Henri was aware that she didn't know him well of course, and she had no reason to believe what he said. He supposed she could always ask Rowan; he could and would verify that Henri and Renee did have extramarital affairs. Some on their own and some with each other involved - either way at least Pakpao had a fallback if she wanted some verification.
Comfortable or not, though, Henri did not want the focus to remain on Renee unless Pakpao steered it back that way. So when she mentioned true Parisians he nodded his head at her.
"I don't think they come much truer than I," he said. He offered her the smallest of little bows. "I am the illegitimate son of Childeric, King of the Franks. I think I was in Paris before it ever became a city." He said it with humor in his tone, not pompous pride but irony. If Pakpao knew her history she might understand something of Henri's father, who had stolen his wife from another man after being exiled by his own people. Childeric had left a long line of bastards behind him, of which Henri was only one, but he was the only one of them who had been reunited with and acknowledged by his father.
Their home had always been Paris in one sense or another, but long ago it had been a people, the Parisii, then a region, a basin, many things. Only after quite some time had it become a city. He loved it though, and he was definitely a true Parisian in every sense of the word.
He was going to explain, and ask Pakpao further about herself, but he figured the question and answer session could wait a little while. He shook his head, a quiet, knowing smile on his lips, when she asked him about going back to her place.
"I would enjoy that," he said. "I have been learning the city for several hours now and I think it would be very nice to sit down with such charming company as you provide. I would like very much to know you better."
Much better. Henri was looking forward to where this night was leading. He hadn't expected this in Nachton, but he wouldn't say he hadn't thought about such an eventuality while he was out tonight. Feeding at the House of Pain had been delightful but it had only whetted his appetite for something more physical. Pakpao was willing, sweet and intelligent and not likely to require more from him than companionship and that he was very willing to give.
Pakpao
12 years ago
"First a knight, now royalty and the founder of one of the world's great cities. I had to expected to attract such esteemed company tonight."
She said appreciatively. Although she did wonder for a second why she was attracted to older men. It wasn't important just a random thought. Her history was good enough that she got the joke and the ironic pride but not so good that she could actually figure how old Henri was. She only knew he was older than she was, rather significantly.
It wasn't often, or to too many people, that Pak spoke of herself. Truthfully she was quite happy listening to Henri. It was something of a relief that he was content to go back to her place. She'd feel safer there as well, while he'd give her no reason to doubt him being in the Towers would make a difference to Pak.
Pausing their easy stroll she stepped in front of Henri and looked up at him, smiling. She knew what she wanted, but wouldn't mind a more obvious sign he was interested and sincere.
"There isn't much to tell in my case but what there is... I'm sure we can both get considerably better acquainted."
It occurred to Pak that she'd never had vampire lover and had no idea what to expect. Certainly all the parts were there and worked the same way but what else was there? She had a rather old Parisian vampire willing to take a tumble with her, the thought was quite exciting. She smiled again, slower willing herself to be good, to be patient.
"Shall we head west and see how my car is fairing or shall we walk? It isn't -too- far."
That she was willing to leave her precious 'Lil Bird was huge. Pak adored that car and even during the zombie madness and fretted about it and tried to keep it a bit safe. Seriously who rolled up all the windows and locked the car when undead mindless flesh eaters were roaming the streets?
She said appreciatively. Although she did wonder for a second why she was attracted to older men. It wasn't important just a random thought. Her history was good enough that she got the joke and the ironic pride but not so good that she could actually figure how old Henri was. She only knew he was older than she was, rather significantly.
It wasn't often, or to too many people, that Pak spoke of herself. Truthfully she was quite happy listening to Henri. It was something of a relief that he was content to go back to her place. She'd feel safer there as well, while he'd give her no reason to doubt him being in the Towers would make a difference to Pak.
Pausing their easy stroll she stepped in front of Henri and looked up at him, smiling. She knew what she wanted, but wouldn't mind a more obvious sign he was interested and sincere.
"There isn't much to tell in my case but what there is... I'm sure we can both get considerably better acquainted."
It occurred to Pak that she'd never had vampire lover and had no idea what to expect. Certainly all the parts were there and worked the same way but what else was there? She had a rather old Parisian vampire willing to take a tumble with her, the thought was quite exciting. She smiled again, slower willing herself to be good, to be patient.
"Shall we head west and see how my car is fairing or shall we walk? It isn't -too- far."
That she was willing to leave her precious 'Lil Bird was huge. Pak adored that car and even during the zombie madness and fretted about it and tried to keep it a bit safe. Seriously who rolled up all the windows and locked the car when undead mindless flesh eaters were roaming the streets?
Henri
12 years ago
"What can I say?" Henri replied. "I'm a renaissance man."
He didn't mind curtailing their walk in order to go back to the Towers. He would have headed back there anyhow if he hadn't run into Pakpao, and they were both saved a trip. He thought the idea of talking to her some more was rather appealing, too. Deaspite her claim to not have much to say about herself, Henri found that every one of their kind generally had some sort of story. Some were more unexciting than others. sadder, happier, funnier - whatever the case. There were very few exceptions.
"By all means let us head away from the pond," he said with a little grin. "We can pick up your car and you can give me a tour of the Towers."
That would save Pakpao a trip back out later that night when, if things went the way they appeared to be going, she was feeling a lot less energetic. The trip back was short and uneventful, save that Henri found himself absurdly pleased to have found someone to pass a little bit of time with. He hoped Cris and Rowan were making the most of it, because within a few hours he would no doubt be back underfoot playing mother hen to them both.
((ooc: both out))
He didn't mind curtailing their walk in order to go back to the Towers. He would have headed back there anyhow if he hadn't run into Pakpao, and they were both saved a trip. He thought the idea of talking to her some more was rather appealing, too. Deaspite her claim to not have much to say about herself, Henri found that every one of their kind generally had some sort of story. Some were more unexciting than others. sadder, happier, funnier - whatever the case. There were very few exceptions.
"By all means let us head away from the pond," he said with a little grin. "We can pick up your car and you can give me a tour of the Towers."
That would save Pakpao a trip back out later that night when, if things went the way they appeared to be going, she was feeling a lot less energetic. The trip back was short and uneventful, save that Henri found himself absurdly pleased to have found someone to pass a little bit of time with. He hoped Cris and Rowan were making the most of it, because within a few hours he would no doubt be back underfoot playing mother hen to them both.
((ooc: both out))