[center][h2][u]After Midnight Intentions[/u][/h2] [h3][color=silver]♤ Darius M Cain ♤[/color], & ☽[color=99004d]Masha [/color]☾ [/h3] [hr][sub][h3][u][b]Time[/b][/u][/h3][h3]Day 3~ Sometime Around 4 am[/h3][h3][u][b]Location[/b][/u][/h3][h3]Darius' Manor within Ominar [/h3][/sub][/center] [hr] After they had made it to her hotel room again, and had cleaned themselves up, she offered Nikki her bed to have to herself. She knew that she was unlikely to sleep more just then and there was no point in her laying down when there were things to be done. As much as snuggling with her would be nice, it just wasn't going to happen then. Her brain was just too full of what if’s and what she needed to do now. And just how much she felt like telling Darius just then. “Shit,” she sighed, flopping down on the pillows she’d dragged out onto the little balcony that she had, settling down on her back to look up at the starry sky, running a finger along the spin of her new little companion who was curled up next to her. “This was suppose to be easy, not this clusterfuck.” Pulling her phone out of her sweater pocket, she rolled over to her uninjured side to send out the message she was not at all excited to do. “[i]Well since the cat is out of the bag, we should probably be a bit less subtle in my take over. I think tomorrow, I should just go in and let him know his time is up. Though I’m loath to admit it, I’m going to need your backup to do so.[/i]” And she really was loath to admit that she couldn’t do this fully on her own. She knew she could run this place, but she hadn’t wanted to rely so much, especially so quickly, on Darius and his manpower. Her phone beeped as another text, not long after it was sent, popped up on her screen from Darius,[color=silver][b][i]‘Are you completely confident in that assumption? Snap judgements are ill advised so detail the situation to me.’[/i][/b][/color] She had of course not meant to sound so unprofessional in that. But she was tired, sore, and a little hangover feeling. “And I have just the thing for most of that,” she murmured, sitting up and grabbed at her little bag full of her favorite past time. And once it was in her system, she did something that wasn’t the wisest of ideas and texted him again. “[i]Maybe I can come by and we can[/i] talk [i]about things. [/i]” There was a long pause for several moments before another text popped up,[color=silver][b][i]‘Very well. I’m wide awake and my schedule is currently open. How long?’[/i][/b][/color] It took her a few moments after that for her to even hear that her phone had made noise. She blinked a little as she looked over the new message from Darius. “[i]How long till I'm there? I'm awake now and don't have anything else to do. I can be there in probably an hour. [/i]” She of course didn't think that the sleeping Nikki would mind if she left. [color=silver][b][i] ‘Suitable for me.’[/i][/b][/color] Came the answer, his thumb pad brushed the send button after he typed the message up. Darius found it much easier to speak in person than through the more common communication means of phone and video. The interaction often felt… less satisfactory for his methods since there was much that could be hidden or unable to be gleaned from such an interaction. The Fox closed his eyes a moment before he leaned his head back, braced against the door of Aeris’ room, then slowly began to haul himself upright. He need to make himself presentable soon. When her phone lit up again she smiled as she read the message. Maybe this wasn't as terrible of an idea as she thought it had been after she'd already sent the text. “[i]Excellent, be there shortly. [/i]” Taking a few more moments she called herself up a taxi before getting up to get dressed in something a little more presentable than the baggy sweater and shorts she had dressed in after her shower. She stood looking at her pile of clothes before deciding on a nice dress that wasn't quite business, but wasn't specifically casual either. She held the grey striped and floral dress up in front of her, looking in the mirror first, and then down at the little feline at her side who was just watching and flicking it's tail. “Yeah?” she asked with a tilt of her head. “Do you think the boss man will like it?” There was a hoarse sounding meow from the cat before it wandered away to curl up on the foot of the bed with Nikki. “I'll take that as a yes,” she smirked, rolling her eyes and changing her outfit before writing a note to leave for her sleeping partner so she knew where she'd gone. Or more accurately that she had. Without much more than grabbing her phone and other things from the porch before heading out. [center]~~| Darius’ Home|~~[/center] Darius was waiting outside. His back against the door frame and golden eyes drifted through the early morning, slightly glowing in the darkness. An unreadable expression (for a fox that is) was plastered upon his face alongside the darkened bags under his eyes. In his right paw was a cigarette the tip a fading red at the end before he inhaled and quickly brought it to a cherry color, then flicked it into the nearby grass. He wore a simple shirt, suspenders, and a pair of trousers, their fashion clearly not from this era and one most youths would consider out of date with the times. He decided against any over coat or covering since it wasn’t very cold outside and this was only a semi-formal meeting within his home. Through his outside anatomy seemed unsuited for inhaling the smoke, many would find his Licentia didn’t follow the scientific rules and seemed to say the ‘hell with it’. Besides the day had been stressful enough to drive him into old habits for relaxation. Upon seeing his company arrive, his forefinger pulled the cigarette from his snout then flicked it into the semi wet grass. He then began to pad up the straight sidewalk to greet her halfway. Through he was trying to remain business like, his eyes couldn’t help wandering along her shapely curves and surprisingly casual attire compared to the last time he met her. Without the pain in his shoulder area, he could easily admire her beauty undistracted. Naturally his Kitsune nature couldn’t deny she was fine looking even by his high standards. Clearing his throat, he focused on the matter at hand,[color=silver] “Shall we head inside and we can discuss your situation in more private settings.”[/color] With that, he raised an arm and offered it to her as he aimed to lead her into the house. Despite his weary mind he still aimed to retain the polite and firm allure of a gentleman while he lead her in. She padded up to him after paying her driver, shouldering her bag and looking him over, rather blatantly, with an approving smirk. “That sounds wonderful,” she murmured, taking his arm and letting him walk her into his house. She was sure, despite the low buzz of her high that she didn't look even remotely intoxicated. Casually he opened his door then guided Masha in, his eyes drifted down for a moment before he followed her back in. Darius found his boundaries had loosen due to his mental stress and for once, allowed them within reason. He seriously doubted anything would come from their conversation or that Masha was even remotely interested in entertaining what most considered bestiality in nearly every sense of the word. Ignoring his mental disappointment, the Fox moved past Masha toward the liquor cabinet then paused to ask her a question. [color=silver] “What would you like? I believe you were disappointed with my last attempt to be polite if I read you correctly then.”[/color] Masha smirked as she settled herself down on the couch without invite. “It wasn't so much disappointment as it was desire for something else,” she murmured, flicking a strand of black hair back over her shoulder. “I'm partial to vodka, but I'll drink pretty much anything.” [color=silver] “That doesn’t exactly help my search. I have numerous vodka, from strong Polish to more manageable Devil Springs,”[/color] Darius admitted as he began to shift through the numerous bottles, each one the same murky white iconic to Vodka. He managed to grip two glasses, hinting he was about to join her in her indulgement,[color=silver] “It mainly depends on high risk you feel like being and your tolerance of course.”[/color] His head turned to spy Masha’s reply over his right shoulder. She shrugged a little bit. “I can handle quite a lot,” she smiled, thinking for a moment before naming off some upper price brand that she was sure he probably had. [color=silver] “Kors Vodka, umm? I’ve not had that for a while,”[/color] Darius commented then brought down the odd shaped bottle before he up cap the top then poured the semi-crystal clear liquid into each lower tumbler,[color=silver] “Would you like ‘rocks’ in yours?”[/color] “Please,” she nodded, watching him closely now. He was such an odd man, so much of this time, but so much not. Which she felt was rather her as well, but he had actually lived those times, she had not. Carefully Darius used the ice tongs to clasp several cubes, all kept cold by a portable chill bowl, then replace the lid back on top. A soft, old time tune played in the background sang by Bessie Smith. It was among his favorites from his past as he gripped both glass edges and the Vodka bottle, his figure turned to move to the couch. [color=silver] “Give me a moment to turn the record off and we’ll start that conversation,”[/color] the Fox stated as he set the two glasses and the bottle on the side table. She shook her head gently and smile. “No, you can leave it on if you like. I like it.” She patted the seat next to her on the couch, her smile shifting a little bit towards the sly side, but still remained mostly casual. “Just join me.” Darius paused in his stance, his eyes studying Masha a moment, then accepted her statement as earnest. He casually turned and took his drink before he settled into the seat beside her. His weight settled in when he took a sip to savor the effect of the shock, the tasteless save for the slowly melting ice. The spirit smoothly went down his throat and into his stomach, his voice breaking the silence that had collected,[color=silver] “Now it’s down to business. What happened?”[/color] His golden eyes drifted to her expecting an answer to his question. There was a subtle impression that he knew the details, more than he was letting on, but he clearly wanted to hear it directly from her. Masha took her glass as well and waited for him to be settled in. When he spoke she looked up again and gave him a little smile. She wasn't paying enough attention to his expression to notice the way he seemed to know more than he was letting on. “Well, I went to the club to take a look at things, got to talking to one of the bartender’s,” she stopped for a moment, trying to phrase this without it obviously showing she'd gone home with her for the sole purpose of gaining information. It hadn't been that at all. And while she in theory didn't care if Darius knew they'd slept together, it wasn't really the best time to be telling him that. “And well, he didn't take too kindly to that and he went after her. So obviously he knows something. Because if I was a nobody to him, what would it matter if I knew?” [color=silver] “A dangerous and unneeded risk to me. However, are you sure you were also a target or was he eliminating witnesses to a would be murder?”[/color] Darius asked, knowing full well Ms. Nikki Patel had a habit of running her mouth and Cortes had been considering dealing with her in a more permanent manner lately. There was a slight chance that Masha was purely a witness to the murder and placed things at risk that would sway his attention into investigating the incident. A simple home invasion wasn’t something he wasted time or resources on unless something was odd about it. Mainly because over time that would drain away funds rapid where he could use them elsewhere. His continual and unending paranoia only assisted so much before it began to hurt after all. That was when a leash and boundaries were required. Considering Masha’s nature, he doubted she would’ve tolerated being told what to say or do. He inhaled then explained,[color=silver] “Ms. Patel has been at high risk for Cortes for a long time now. She was long overdue for a permanent solution so it was only a matter of time. I assume she said something during your conversation to hint toward this?”[/color] She took a sip of her drink, considering that for a moment before her slightly lagging brain told her that he'd not only mentioned Nikki’s name, but that Masha had been there as well. Something she hadn’t mentioned. She blinked at him, amused by the way he'd played her for some information. “You already know what happened,” she murmured, a smokey purr as she leaned in towards him. “What else do you know?” [color=silver] “Considering I had Afua follow you from your home, I know quite a bit. However, I prefer to hear your thoughts on the matter because it gives me more… [i]insight[/i]. Besides I’ve been collecting information over Cortes for some time now and it’s not hard to guess what happened exactly,”[/color] He was rather pleased she had caught onto the blunt slip of information through he was displeased she had made the assumptions in the first place. Assumptions were the bane and often cause of death among those he hired, their own self importance bring them into the cross hairs of those who barely acknowledged them to be a threat or existing. Such a way was a very poor one to play this game. He fought the instinctive flinch when she leaned toward him, his head tilted higher and cocked at the desire to be closer in curiosity. Especially by a female. Most humans avoided his kin purely because of the reputation of tricksters and animalistic looks. Here, Masha was doing something completely different. [color=silver] “What are your next moves considering what you know?”[/color] Darius asked. She only slightly noticed the hesitation in his movement. She had never been this close to him before. They'd spent some time together, talking with her brother's and such. But never alone like this. And never this close. She'd also been much younger at the time too. He wasn't used to women being this close to him it seemed. She smiled slyly at him, trying hard now to make her brain focus on the job and not him. Because she had always had an interest in him, but she had never been able to express that before for many reasons. “I ah…” she started, but didn't get any further than that for a moment. Laughing at herself some she kept her position, leaned in closer to him. “You didn't need to have me followed to know about what I was up to.” Darius’ eyebrow raised, his paw set the glass down and rested it on his thigh. Personally his mental state wasn’t in the mood or condition to insist they focus on future plans. His own were currently questionable as they were, a fact he hated but could do very little to change. Still leaning back on his couch, he let her lean close as she wanted with his curiosity growing over what she thought she was doing. His muzzle crept into a wily smirk. Casually his hand raised to press gently under her chin and tilt her head to admire the curves upon her facial features. It stirred his kitsune’s nature that she seemed to be flirting with him so easily. His heart fluttered in excitement, through held in restraint by his caution, by how far this might go. It was a pleasant distraction for him considering the day’s ill events. [color=silver] “There was… alternate motives for my actions. Ones I will let you guess to as why. It was a good thing through, Afua informed me you ran into trouble,”[/color] By now his body had turned on the couch to fully face her and unintentionally give her a broad chest to rest upon. Masha was amused by the way he so easily shifted along with her away from the business at hand to something that wasn't as important. Or at least not important to the club. She smirked up at him, her eyes fluttering for a moment at the touch of his hand on her chin. “I'm sure I could make some pretty accurate guesses,” she murmured, shifting herself so she faced him more straight on as well. “But maybe next time you can just ask if I'm busy instead…” She opted to not reply about her running into trouble, she didn't want to talk about that fight right that moment. For once, Darius allowed her to lead the conversation. It seemed easier than literally jerking the reins back to the thing he felt was important and observing the lessons she might’ve learned during her experience. A subtle, old instinct nudged at him to let things play out as they will and test the waters of this turn of events. He inhaled calmly then spoke,[color=silver] “I wasn’t quite in fitting condition to properly [i]entertain[/i] unfortunately, but I will keep that in mind for the future. The day’s rather strenuous on my patience that it’s difficult to relax and a primary reason I’m still awake.”[/color] Masha tilted her own head a little curiously. She had sorta noted that morning that he seemed stiff, but she had figured it was nothing. His kind was known for healing. But it seemed that whatever had bothered him this morning was no longer an issue. “Well,” she said softly, not pressing about his former condition. “I have been known to help people relax. Willing to let me try?” Darius inwardly debated on the risk and let the silence stretch for several moments. Was the terrible decision he was considering worth the aftermath? His mind thought about Mairyell and Aeris, the image of their happiness despite Szayeis’ dark shadow created a sense of envy within him. Suddenly his aura flickered causing anger to rise. To hell with it, he thought, nothing today could any worst. [color=silver] “I’m surprised. Most ‘smart’ women wouldn’t trust a sly Kitsune since we’re known to be shapeshifters, tricksters and worse… what makes you brave enough to take the chance?”[/color] His golden eyes lowered to her level as his figure began to adjust, hanging on her next her words which would determine how this night would go. He subconsciously hoped she would say the right thing. She pulled her feet up under her after putting her drink down, only being unbalanced for a moment before she steadied out. “I've spent my whole life around shady, morally ambiguous crocks. They can't shapeshift, but that only makes them worse.” She reached out a hand to place on his knee gently, her own golden eyes looking without fear at him. “So let me worry about all that…” A genuine and rare smile crossed his black lips,[color=silver] “Very well, but let us find somewhere more comfortable. I have a house guest I rather not wake and it’s easier to shut out unwanted distraction behind closed doors.”[/color] His hand reached out and gingerly touched her hand top. As his thumb stroking affectionately across the surface with a mix of soft fur and coarse pad, he waited politely for her to make the first move before he intended to lead her upstairs into the spare guest room. “But isn't it so very thrilling to know you might be caught?” she asked with a little laugh and a wicked smile before she climbed up in his lap without any further preamble. Settling her light weight down on his legs, she ran a hand along the edge of his undershirt, the tips of her fingers catching in his soft fur. “But it is your house, so it's your choice,” she murmured, lowly, watching her fingers for a moment before looking up at him with a sly grin. That simple and harmless action was all that was needed to get Darius’ core temperature to begin to heat. It flooded his body before the blood collected and surged lower, creating a reaction that Masha would be very familiar with. His figure leaned back with a surprised, but pleasant hiss as his eyes narrowed on her mischievous suggestion and caused his eyes to flicker in enlightenment over it. With each touch she would note the indentations of his lithe muscles. None were too thick like a body builder’s, but it was very clear he wasn’t one to not take care of himself. Gradually, his arms relaxed along her straddling legs where his hands gently caress her thighs and teased just under the dress folds. He enjoyed the touch immensely much to his awareness. He knew these urges, but he rarely indulged and few were willing to do so with real mutual interest. His head rose to brush hers with his words hinting to his building lust,[color=silver] You seem like the type of woman to desire my full, undivided attention. Something I intended to give you. Besides, the guest room could use… being broken in since it’s never been used.”[/color] Masha hummed lowly at the feel of his hands along her thighs, the feel of it so different and yet so very similar to what she was used to. And it wasn't at all bad. And while she was mildly disappointed that he wanted to change rooms, she couldn't deny wanting all of his attention. “Well I do enjoy breaking things in,” she murmured, leaning in against him. “So you take us there when you're ready.” Which was, she was sure, going to be rather soon. Kitsune or human, she knew the look that was in his eyes now, the coiling of his muscles under her hands and legs. “Because I'm ready now.” [color=silver] “Well, you are on top of me so you give me little choice but to carry you,”[/color] Darius chuckled lightly with a bit of earnest mirth in his tone. Casually he adjusted her position, keeping her legs wrapped about his hips, as he carried her toward the stairway. Unknown to either of them, his shadow suddenly started to lengthen and stretch briefly across the wall. The shadow turned to the side and gave a crooked, malicious smile to seeming no one before it vanished abruptly from sight.