Celebrating Friendships and New Acquaintences

"I think that is a fair statement about a lot of things in life."

Claire looked at Dani and then around the nightclub.

"Its...different. It will be hard to judge until I understand it better. I don't like to make an opinion of such things until I've observed them more in depth."

Watching Shay dance with Mathias, Claire decided the woman would need more study also. It was hard to say what had motivated her to invite them or whether or not they were truly welcome, having only just met Shay mere hours before meeting her here.

"What about you? Is this the kind of music you normally listen to?"

She was interested in learning about her social seeming friend and hoped to Danielle might also help her better understand the modern times as well.

Knowing the music would end soon, Shay rested her head on his chest again.

"Mathias? Do you come here often?"

Once she said the words and realized how trite and common they sounded, she cringed, and had no choice but to continue on. To do less would have almost been admission that the words were a 'come on'.

"I mean...if I come back again...might I find you here?"

She knew their time together would end soon. He was meeting someone...and whoever that someone was, Shay had no doubts they'd show up. How could anyone in their right mind leave Mathias waiting.

"I apologize...I'm not normally so forward. In fact, you could ask any of my friends back home...they would never believe Shalimar O Mannon had actually come onto a stranger.

I don't...I just don't know what's come over me..."

Her voice trailed off, and she couldn't stop the blush from forming on her cheeks had someone held a knife to her throat. She closed her eyes, and kept her head pressed against him.

Danielle smiled a bit at Claire's answer, wondering if she was being diplomatic. 'Different' tended to be a polite adjective to describe something you didn't care for, but after having helped Claire pick out what to wear, Danielle guessed that this club likely wasn't her scene and so really was 'different' in a genuine sense.

"Fair enough; it can be a lot to take in I know. The first time I came here with some work friends I think I stuck close to my boss most of the night."Â? Grinning, she explained. "He's -really- tall."Â?

Considering the question about music, which she recalled Claire referring to as 'noise', she gave a sheepish grin. It probably surprised some people when they turned to see who was blaring the thumping industrial music at a stop light and saw a little clean cut looking lady in the driver's seat.

"Sometimes I do. They actually have a cool live band that plays here regularly and I think that's my favorite as far as club music goes. I'm actually just as likely to break out some Leonard Cohen or Simon and Garfunkle when I'm at home though. I have a zillion different playlists on my ipod for all my moods; what can I say, I like variety!"Â?

A vibration from the mobile phone clipped to her skirt interrupted her animated chatter, and she looked up at Claire apologetically.

"That's my work phone; I really need to take this, I'm so sorry, just a minute."Â?

She frowned as she checked the caller ID on the front of the phone, not recognizing the number. Even so, only someone from Meridian would have access to her work phone; she kept a separate one for personal use, which was currently turned off and in her hand bag.

"Dani Martin speaking."Â?

The voice on the other end sounded only a little like Arin, and a brief flash of skepticism went through her mind, but she didn't think anyone at work would mess around like that. She didn't ask what was going on, though, reasoning that Arin must really need her to skip the pleasantries and ask directly.

"Yes of course."Â?

Taking out a pen and paper from her purse, she made to write down the address.

"Go ahead."Â?

She couldn't help but feel badly for cutting the evening short, and hoped it didn't completely spoil things for Claire. This was, however, urgent, and sometimes one had to drop everything and take care of priorities. She enjoyed having the responsibility and this was a part of that. She knew some people would probably find it a bit amusing if they knew that she felt just as responsible for looking out for 'her vampire' as he did for her, but she took that part of her life very seriously.

"Old souls...and kindred spirits..."

That stopped Mathias for a moment,and he looked softly,sadly even into Shay's eyes. To be so young and to know such pain...No,now is not the time Old Man.
Ah,the chink in the knight's armor..perhaps you have hidden too long indeed if the first pretty face makes you swoon

He shook his head,clearing the cobwebs and the ghosts.
"I should be thanking you Shay, I haven't wanted to dance in so long I almost forgot how wonderful a partner can feel."

"Mathias? Do you come here often?"
He would have laughed if not for the look of pain on Shay's face.He gently brushed her cheek with his hand.
"I don't know if you'd call me a regular,but I am here fairly often - some of my contacts and sources keep odd hours and habits, I find myself a night owl. "
Which was truth,after a sort,as much of Tacharan business was conducted in the private area reserved for clan operations.

"Had I known I could find someone as fascinating and special as you,well I'd have made myself more familiar. And don't worry,I won't tell your friends you were coming onto me - truth be told I am rather flattered,I wasn't sure if my woo was working!"

Mathias let out a chuckle,trying to make Shay feel better. He held the woman close,regretting his next words."Sadly though, it is time for me to go. I have promises to keep,and miles to go before I sleep. However,I understand there are these marvelous devices called cell phones." He couldn't help but laugh,Ellis and Simon had badgered him for so long to get one - something Mathias had never been happy about.

If I need to get in touch,I can...and if I want to stay incognito then damn the phone anyhow!! he remembered saying on more than one occasion.

Grabbing a piece of paper,he pulled a pen from his jeans and jotted a number down for Shay.Handing her the piece of paper to her,he looked at her gently. "Here is my number,call me the and perhaps we can find one another again" He hoped she would call,and hoped they could talk more - even as he was reminded of WHY this was a bad idea.
She is prey,I am predator - that's what I was taught. And yet I know the lie of that, and I am not the whelp I was before

Mathias take her hand,and gently kissed it - before fading into the crowd.
"Until then"

(ooc - Mathias out,awaiting Shay's reaction. Headed to Tacharan Private Booth waiting for Ellis)

The look of compassion in his eyes...the soft touch of his hand on her face...these were things Shay hadn't seen in anyone, for some time. This show of...concern...only confirmed the uniqueness of Mathias, and Shay's wise decision in attempting to get closer to him.

"Coming on to you?!"

She laughed and tried to sound indignant. The problem was, what he said was true. The great part was, she didn't care. There was something about him that had reached her...deep...and she refused to think she'd never see him again.

The fact that he could joke with her like that helped raise her up and away from the sad memories. Had she known him better, she would have conveyed her happiness with him, via a kiss. As it was, she just silently thanked the fates who had sent her here, tonight.

"You're 'woo' is working...more than fine."

She winked, and then just enjoyed his holding her close. His next words were expected, but that didn't mean she was going to rejoice in them. She leaned back and looked into his eyes again, as he told her he'd be leaving now.

She tried to play coy, and only semi interested, when he gave her his phone number, but wound up smiling, much like the Cheshire cat. As she took the paper and tucked it into her pocket, she pulled out one of her personal cards, and slipped it into his palm. Not only was her home and cell numbers listed, but so was her home address, and email. All forms of communication with Shalimar O Mannon had now been given to Mathias.

"I will call; however, should you find yourself with free time...I am usually awake at all hours, and often welcome a break from my routine."

She hoped he understood the invitation, and even more, she hoped he'd take her up on it...soon.

"Until..."

Was all she got out, before he was gone. Her hand she pressed to her lips, and then her chest. And then realizing she had been standing on the dance floor alone for several seconds, she turned and walked back to the bar.

"Thank you ladies...so much...for your patience and understanding with me. Tonight has been one I've needed for a very long time, and you have both helped make it even more special."

Her eyes, her smile, and her heart all seemed to be glowing...and her hand was still pressed against her heart, as she picked up her drink, and finished it.

Danielle wrote down the address in a quick script as Arin delivered it, and she became increasingly concerned. She didn't know exactly where her boss was, but that address sounded like the industrial district. There was also no mistaking that something had happened to his voice; it definately wasn't a glitch in the phone.

He seemed calm, however, and Dani was not one to panic.

She just needed to go to Arin. Now.

"I'll be there. Sit tight."Â?

She hung up the phone and clipped it back to her skirt. Her mind was repeating 'get to Arin' over and over in her head, making it difficult to think, and she took a steadying breath before turning to Claire.

"I have an emergency and need to go."Â?

Seeing Shay return from the dance floor, she quickly thought through her next steps and opened her phone once more, taking another piece of paper and writing her name and phone number on the bottom while she waited for the limo driver to pick up. Once arrangements were made for the limo to pick her up, the urgency hopefully conveyed in her now somewhat clipped and professional tone, she turned to the two women.

"I'm afraid I shall have to ask for the same understanding in return. Something has come up."Â?

Knowing that she was Claire's ride, she turned to her and asked:

"I can have the driver drop you home if you don't mind a short wait."Â?

She set the piece of paper on the bar and tapped on it once.

"Either way, this was a lovely evening and I sincerely apologize for running out; this is a bit of an emergency."Â?

Claire turned to Dani and nodded her understanding. She listened to the one sided conversation out of habit before reminding herself that this was not some Night job and she was being rude.

In an effort to stop paying attention, she turned away and watched Shay for a moment. Mathias wrote something down for Shay before he parted and she handed him a card, presumably from the size and shape, a business card. Claire had collected many of these from contacts and even more to give to Sorin from this person or that wishing to have the Elder contact them about some matter they deemed important. She had always sent them on with her clearly written missives about each one.

Turning back to Dani who was now off the phone, she frowned in concern. This seemed important and Danielle seemed in a hurry, she'd go and take the limo back home and be there for Dani if need be, depending on how trying the emergency was.

"I'll come with you. Who knows perhaps I can help. If I'm not needed then the limo can take me home."

She realized that their evening out had ended earlier than they intended but it really couldn't be helped. Claire paused a moment to smile kindly at Shay.

"I'm glad you have had a good evening so far and I'm sorry we're leaving when we just arrived. I hope you're friend was happy with his dance. It was a nice way to celebrate his new job. "

Dani had headed for the door but Claire paused a moment more thinking to caution the attractive woman about giving out such personal information to someone she might not know all that well. Shay had said she'd just met the man and sounded new to the city at the store so she could not have know him long. Still perhaps she knows him from somewhere respectable though the comment about experiencing some of the nightlife made her realize Shay met him some time -after- they shopped in the store. She was puzzled a moment, so this could not have been her friend who invited Shay to the House of Pain.

'That is what you get for assuming, Claire.'

She wondered then where this friend was who was celebrating the new job and if Shay had met Mathias here in the House of Pain. Repressing a shudder at the name and the thought that it was an ill place to meet people of good repute from what she'd observed, Claire decided that Shay said she had been a police officer and they should certainly know how to take care of themselves around strangers, and they really did seem to like each other rather well so it was none of her business. Telling an ex cop to 'not talk to strangers and not to give out her phone number' would likely be taken with a smirk at best and she'd already mistaken him for someone else once so perhaps more was going on than she knew. For all she knew they exchanged lottery numbers or maybe restaurants and times to meet again.

'Thou shalt not meddle, for it makes you appear noisy and stupid.' Claire mumbled to herself internally.

"Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't thinking clearly, that was not your friend with the job, you said you met him tonight. I am glad then that someone else should be coming to keep you company then and I wish you well. Enjoy your evening. I must catch up to Dani. I do not have one of these phones I'm afraid but perhaps when this is over we can all three get together and actually have that drink."

Claire smiled and leaned forward to give Shay a parting kiss on the cheek before rushing after the petite woman who was now lost in the crowd, at least the large bouncer at the door could be clearly seen in order to give her a direction to head in this sea of bodies. She still had not made up her mind on the House of Pain but she decided that even in her quick stay that it was interesting to say the least

/ooc Claire and Dani out with permission. Dani had to sleep. *huffs at the nerve of some people*

Such a flurry of activity once she returned to the bar, and she was disappointed, to say the least.

She chided herself on having left Dani and Claire, after they had just arrived at the club. It had bordered on being rude - inviting two friends to join her here, and then going off to dance with someone else. However, it had only been one dance, and she had known that going in. So she didn't come down 'too' hard on herself.

"Of course, don't be silly, these things happen..."

She smiled in complete understanding at Dani's notice of leaving.

"We will need to make a point of getting together again...maybe next time, somewhere more subdued...where we can actually talk, and get to know each other better."

She echoed the sentiments to Claire as well, when she also admitted she had to leave. Shay sighed. She did regret they had to leave, and the night was still fairly young, but again she just smiled, and nodded, and watched both women walk away.

Much too wired to leave herself, just yet, she ordered another drink. This time though, she ordered just water and lime. She had to get herself home, and wouldn't be in much shape if she kept drinking alcohol.

As she sat at the bar, and sipped her water, her eyes went out again, over the sea of bodies. She wasn't really watching anyone though. Her mind was back on Mathias. Sticking her finger into the tiny pocket of her skirt, she caressed the paper. It wouldn't be soon enough for her, to see him again...she hoped it wouldn't be too distant either.

Her thoughts were broken up when she thought she had glimpsed Addison, but then decided it was only someone else with red hair. She hoped his meeting with his co-workers was going well, and that maybe she'd see him soon. If not, she guessed she'd need to leave and hope to run into him again some time.

As she sat there, sipping her water, Shay decided the lure of the club was gone.

Either Addison hadn't shown up, or had gotten too involved to be able to 'claim' his drink.

Her desire to dance was gone. After being in Mathias's arms, dancing alone just held no interest.

So, she left the bartender a nice tip, made sure the piece of paper was still in her pocket, checked her hat and boa, and slowly made her way out of the House of Pain.

If the fates were in her favor...one day she'd run into Dani, Claire, and Addison again.

Fortunately, the fates had already ruled, and interceded on behalf of Mathias...and Shay's face reflected the joy in knowing she'd be seeing him again.


(ooc - Shay out)