earlymorninstar

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Clara had not exactly known what had compelled her to entertain the man before her. She was used to simply finding the easiest and perhaps the most attractive target, pulling the strings whichever way she so desired once she had him ensnared, and then she would ultimately get what she wanted and dispose of him come morning. If anyone should try to switch the roles on her, well, she wasn't used to giving up that control just yet, and when it eventually would happen, there would have to be a hell of a good reason for it. Yet there she was, suddenly in the hold of some man who had seemingly sought her out instead of the other way around. Something about it did intrigue her enough to pull her in, curious if, perhaps, he was all he seemed to present himself as. He knew how to play the game, she would give that to him at least, but she wasn't so sure if he could execute the moves…

Only momentarily had her thoughts shifted back to Jaden, so terribly frustrated and angry that her night had turned into what it had. She was used to being the one to leave him for whatever reason, not the other way around. Hell, she even entertained the thought of lingering by his side at least for a moment that night, but the first chance there was he had disappeared and hadn't even bothered to check in. It was unlike him, she knew, but it still didn't help her forgive him either. It was the one thing that had gotten under her skin, evoked such anger that was deep within her only due to the fact that it reminded her that she was so easily replaced – just as she had been tossed aside like a used piece of paper on the beach that night so many centuries ago. Ever since then she thirsted for the attention, thrived once she had gotten it, and was only angered when she was denied it – needing to live in constant reassurances just to get her through the evening.

Where Jaden had left her, she had angrily thrown herself into the arms of a stranger, one that seemed to lure her in with each move and each touch that danced across her body. It was both alarming and alluring all in the same – easy to get lost in the motions that their bodies continued to play out; eager to forget the anger and cause that continued to surge within her. Had it been that frustration that led her to this – that made it so terribly easy to give herself over? Or perhaps it was the liquor that continued to run through her, dulling her inhibitions to a point of wanting to not care any further? All she was entirely aware of as the time slipped on was how his hands had roamed her body freely, his touch sending electricity through her skin, and the inevitable heat that she felt building within her slowly enough which she knew full well would need to be released.

The combination of the pulsating music, his touch, the liquor in her system was enough to make her throw caution to the wind, but then again, she'd never been that easy.

Her back had been against him at first, her ass pressed against him as her body rocked and swayed with his before she had turned. Once more the distance was lost between them as Clara pulled herself close, her body flush to his as her arms snaked around his neck. Again, that quick moment of familiarity had danced across her senses, but it had been lost just as quickly as it came. "Who are you, anyway?" Ah, there had been no introductions, only a primal need that had shot through Clara before she could even deny it. "Because, you seem like a man who knows exactly what he wants… and knows exactly how to get it…"

[Beneath a moonless sky] 18+ [Arista x Earlymorninstar]

Clara had still lingered behind the group in the slightest until Lye had given her the list of books that she was to pick up. It seemed that everyone was quick to scatter, perhaps eager to get back to that hell-hole of a mansion that they’d been in for a while now. None of them really had too many moments of calm as of late, so Clara did want to take advantage of her isolation once everyone had left her. Her shoulders felt heavy with the new knowledge that Ryanair provided her, unsure of whether or not to believe him. Then again, he’d given her no reason to think he could have lied to her, what motivation could he have possibly had?

She’d become so bitter over the irony of all of it -- that she, of course, had matched and needed to provide her blood to save him. Part of her had despised the panic that she had felt once he’d fallen under, feeling the tug of those memories before she was thrust right back into them. All of those years of trying to dull them and make her believe otherwise had all fallen to the wayside -- she remembered full well every little bit of that night and she wanted to forget once more. Yet, Ryanair’s words coupled with that past unsettled her more than she thought it would. She could have never imagined that he stayed with her until he couldn’t -- that he even had come back to check on her. Clara had needed that -- if only she could have known that so many centuries ago, things perhaps would have turned out far differently. She wouldn’t feel as bitter as she had… She wouldn’t have turned out so terribly hardened from it all.

A slow sigh fell from her lips as she headed towards the bookshop, a younger male already greeting her before she really had a chance to look around. “Morning, miss -- can I help you with anything today?” Clara shook her head all at once and lifted her list from Lye. “Just going to look around -- I think I can find everything.” She didn’t want to be bothered anyway, and perhaps she could find a thing or two for herself there. It had been a terribly long time since she’d allowed herself to indulge in any sort of story..

It took her a little while to find everything that had been on the list, grabbing a couple of books for herself that seemed interesting enough. The stack was handed over and then paid for, packaged up nice and neat so it was easier for her to carry. She’d collected everything before she set back out into the snow, sort of wandering through the town before she found a bench and sat down with a small yawn. The urge to simply run off and away from all of this had been terribly strong -- Christian wouldn’t even know where to find her this time. But, she knew full well it wasn’t necessarily a good idea. Whatever it was that was hunting Kieran had to have been familiar with each and every one of them who stayed under that roof. It probably still wouldn’t have been safe for her to break off on her own -- no matter how tempting it really did sound…

@Arista

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Thanks! :)

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Clara's focus remained on the bodies around her as she slid through the masses, her gaze set only on what men could possibly interest her for the evening – however, her thoughts were interrupted through the beat of the loud music by the voice of another. She had heard him before she had seen him, part of her immediately annoyed that someone had decided to interrupt her little game despite the fact that no one else was aware that she'd been playing. Instinct was ready to tell him to piss off before she'd seen him, but when she had tilted her head to look to her right at the man who had approached her, her irritation had been silenced at once. Well then… Perhaps this night had taken an interesting turn for the better – it seemed she would not have to set her own bait for any unsuspecting male, rather, she may just bite at the bit that was placed before her.

She eyed him carefully and without reservation, almost studying if he was good enough to keep her attentions – for however long that may be. Clara doubted Jaden would come find her – he was probably lost in whatever conversation or indulgence he could have found himself in and she was willing to bet she would be far from his mind at that point – leaving her to fend for herself, eager and yearning for another's attention.

Something about the man before her seemed terribly familiar and yet she chose to ignore it; too little time to humor such a notion that she could hardly care a bit about – he seemed like the type of man who knew exactly what he wanted, and perhaps knew exactly how to obtain it, and Clara was not one to pass up that sort of opportunity. She was far too used to luring others in – what a refreshing sort of change this would be.

"The dance floor is not the place for a discussion like that, and I hardly believe that you might be interested…" Clara began slowly, but despite her words she still had reached her hand out to take his, immediately pulling herself closer to him. "I've come here to forget, not dwell on silly little things. However, a dance -- I can entertain" She corrected him, her words falling carefully from her lips. There would be no thoughts of Jaden and how he had irritated her so, nor would there be any more thoughts on why that could have bothered her terribly. She'd found her way to that dance floor on a mission and would not leave until she had very well gotten what she'd wanted.

His words had caused her nose to wrinkle in the slightest as, only for a moment, she had followed his gaze to the more darkened corners of the club. "What did you expect?" She asked with a tilt of her head. "I'm sure all have the potential – and I doubt most have come here for only good conversation and liquor…" She paused as she eyed him for a moment longer. "And what of you? What are you hoping to find in a place like this?"

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Clara wasn’t entirely sure what to expect that night -- she had assumed that once they’d gotten there, Jaden would find his friend, inevitably let her know where he was, and she’d watch him either make a fool out of himself while he tried to fit in, or watch him stand out like a sore thumb until he grew tired of it and wanted to leave. She most certainly didn’t expect what had actually occurred-- left at the bar without as much as a bit of notice to where he’d ended up. To say she had been a little surprised had been quite the understatement, and the more she found herself checking her phone lest she missed a text, the more irritable she soon became, and the more liquor she began consuming.

At first, Clara had thought it might have been a simple mistake - he could have forgotten should he have met up with his friend, but she didn’t anticipate him for forgetting as long as he apparently had. After all, the girl was more used to him looking after her half of the time -- she was hardly used to wondering where his attention had suddenly gone, and quite frankly, the feeling had unsettled her. Why the fuck would she care, anyway? Although -- he did invite her; he did want her to accompany him, now for reasons unknown if he intended on ditching her the moment she had gotten there…

The frown fell upon her lips as she’d already gotten through three vodka cranberries, on top of the rum and coke that she had intended on bringing for him. Well, fuck him then. If he was going to have a good time doing god knows what, then she could give two shits about worrying where he was off to. This was typically her scene and it’d be a cold day in hell if she didn’t find someone to bring home out of spite and principle.

Clara had nearly slammed down the small glass from a shot of cold vodka that she’d just conned some unsuspecting man into buying for her -- on top of paying for her tab that she’d already accrued before she had slipped away from the bar as quick as she had came. As she skirted her way through couples and groups, ignoring the eyes of a few as she passed them by, she lingered just outside of the dance floor, her bright gaze peering through the darkness and flashes of light as if she would see that son of a bitch. Lord, if she did, it would only infuriate her further. The alcohol that she had already consumed had only dulled her inhibitions in the slightest -- pushing her to get what she wanted at all costs.

Intent on relieving her frustrations elsewhere, she decided she would not focus on Jaden further -- why let him get under her skin, and for what reason? Why should she even begin to care what the hell he was doing? She was going to make the best out of the rest of her night, and she could care less if she left with or without him -- needless to say she was intent on bringing someone out the door with her now…

Breathing a slow sigh, Clara soon slipped down carefully into the dance floor, her focus only on her possible prize -- whoever the lucky male might be. She seemed to walk in tune with the beat, slow and precise as she scanned for her prey. If Jaden was going to blow her off, she would give him no reason to even try to get in her good graces for the rest of the evening.

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Gotcha!

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Oooh boy. :3 Will get you a post by tonight. In football mode right now.
Quick question - Clara wouldn't recognize him right now, right?

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

That's alright, thanks for letting me know.

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Thanks!

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

It was so terribly odd – Clara had not ventured far from the estate until now, and the layout of what she remembered had changed in ways far greater than she could have expected, and yet she should have anticipated. Certain areas remained similar to her, buildings left as they were, only kept up with to keep them from crumbling, while other parts had been completely overtaken by the firm hold of technology – modern facades coupled with bright signs and lights to label each store. Her home town certainly did not feel like home, not anymore. Still, Clara was used to the ever-changing world around her. She'd felt out of place even in her own century, so it wasn't terribly difficult to adapt as the years had passed them by. She was quick to catch on while Jaden hadn't seemed so lucky – perhaps it was her incessant need to keep herself distracted that helped her conform with ease.

Clara had been looking forward to being out of the estate- more than she had let on to Jaden. Her world lie within the various bars and clubs wherever he decided to uproot her and bring her to. It was the perfect combination – liquor, music, and plenty of men who were eager to bite at whatever line she could have tossed out. It was the perfect mesh of things to keep her mind off of other things; to keep her numb at least temporarily until she was forced into a sober awakening from one of her night terrors.

The adrenaline was pulsing through her as the click of her heels rang loudly in her ears, but her thoughts had shifted only momentarily when Jaden decided to speak once more. She couldn't help but scoff as she glanced his way. "Darling – none of this is about my expectations," Clara corrected him without skipping a beat. "You were invited to this and could have very well gone on your own. You need to meet your own expectations, and perhaps your friend's, if he thinks you need to get out more." She shrugged just slightly, easily avoiding his comment. Sure he paid attention to her – if dragging her back home each time she wandered off was counted as paying attention… Clara stifled a sigh at the thought just as they approached the venue, eyeing the frustrated patrons that were lined up at the door, seemingly with little hopes that they would be entering any time soon.

They soon were allowed access to the small entrance, Clara easily gliding down the stairs in her tall heels before they were greeted by the large doors that separated them from the surge of music and sin that lie just on the other side. She could already feel her anticipation, eager to dive in and let herself forget for the moment; let herself live in the swirl of color and liquor before the façade would inevitably come crashing down the next morning.

As soon as they had crossed the threshold, the sound of the music just loud enough to keep others from mindless chatter without too much of an effort to yell over it. She felt the anticipation swirling throughout her as her eyes danced across her surroundings, bright lights highlighting VIP seating surrounding dance floors, bars lining the walls. That would be her absolute first stop.

Jaden's question had brought her back to reality for only a moment and she looked his way before shaking her head. "Not a good idea to venture out there sober –" Clara corrected him easily enough. Without a doubt, most of the patrons already had a good buzz going on, she just needed to catch up. "I'm going to run to the bar to get something to drink," He was probably going to go on a wild goose chase in finding his friend, but she knew he probably wouldn't give up until he found him – he had only brought along Clara after all, and she doubted he would linger by her side for far too long. "Text me if you find him." She added after and turned with a little wave of her hand to weave through the couples and groups easily as she headed towards the bar.

The bar had been illuminated with the same bright pinks, purples, and blues as the rest of the club, spotlights shining down onto, and underneath high end liquor bottles that lined the back wall. She easily had squeezed her way in between two people, and within minutes the bartender was in front of her. "What would you like, darling?" A smaller blonde woman had placed down a napkin before her before Clara had spoken. "Vodka and Cranberry – double," She ordered for herself "And a double rum and Coke as well. " She murmured and the woman was off, already mixing the liquors with both mixes. By the way Jaden had already been acting, without a doubt he needed something to drink to calm his nerves.

The glasses were soon placed in front of her and un-phased by the prices of the drinks, she reached into her clutch before she dropped a couple of bills down, already reaching to sip at hers, waiting for her phone to inevitably vibrate. Whether she would stay by his side tonight was up in the air – depended on if anyone else took her fancy, and how much liquor she could get in her system quickly.