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Post by lily tomlinson on Jun 25, 2008 15:10:38 GMT -8
"I dunno if you'd want to take a bite out of Damon," Liam said, grinning. "I'm sure he'd have quite the bitter taste."
Through Liam's laughter, Damon had set his drink down and turned towards the conversation finally. "You would hardly know, Liam-bear," he drawled lazily, "You're hardly fit to get a bite out of anything, let alone someone such as myself."
Oh, yes, he knew all about the Liam-bear incident. It did help that he was well... acquainted with many of Seth's female employees.
Liam's laughter halted abruptly and he turned a furious glare on Damon. "I could take you down any day, Angelcakes."
"Shut up, fuzzy. No one wants to hear you speak."
Ah, it was just like two children fighting, or possibly an old married couple quarreling.
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Post by shinigami on Jun 25, 2008 15:18:54 GMT -8
Times like these certain witches -- even the ones flush with power; even the ones who called lightning down from their fingertips; even the ones with ice in their veins -- would be a bit wary about sitting in the middle of the argument. However childish it seemed to be. Beatrix probably should feel that way. Instead, her dark eyes were practically dancing with laughter -- and there's elegance, to it. That's how stars dance, see, the way her eyes do, when they're full of laughter. But she isn't actually laughing. No, she is demurely finishing off her lassi.
The hairs on the nape of her neck are prickling again, but that's okay. She doesn't mind it at all. It hardly seems to really touch her, the heart of her, the her that makes her who she is.
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Post by lily tomlinson on Jun 25, 2008 15:42:32 GMT -8
Liam was just about to lunge off his stool at Damon out of anger, but just as he got ready to pounce, Damon slammed his drink down on the bar counter. Liam stilled, defensive, waiting for Damon to make the first move that was surely coming. But Damon did what he least expected.
His eyes were as cold as ever, betraying nothing of what was going on inside his head as he stood and fastidiously brushed the nonexistent dust from his sleeves. Liam watched warily, still expecting a fight, a punch, anything. He was anticipating a fight. It was the reason he'd been goading the man. He wanted a good fight.
But Damon wasn't falling for it anymore. He glanced at the girl through a hooded gaze, then leant forward a bit, delicately taking her hand and pressing his lips to the back of it briefly before dropping it as if nothing had just happened.
"You're company was an interesting turn," he said, "but I'm afraid I've had enough of foolishness for the evening."
He was of course referring to Liam and his antics. There was only so much of his company he could handle, especially when what he really craved was some peace and quiet. With another cold glare in Liam's direction, he lazily began the stroll across the dance floor to the exit.
Liam made a scoffing noise as if he didn't care what Damon did. Like he even thought of the man as a friend or enjoyed the sparring. Ha! Stupid Italian... "And I'm the one lacking in manners..."
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Post by shinigami on Jun 25, 2008 16:23:56 GMT -8
Beatrix's eyes stopped dancing with laughter when Damon's lips touched the back of her hand. He had secrets, Damon did, and she got one of them caught in the back of her throat; she swallowed. "The pleasure was mine. I mean, it was a pleasure. You know what I mean."
The witch lifted a hand to fix her hair, and to keep herself from checking Damon's, er, assets as he strolled away, because now that she knew there were smiley faced boxers on underneath those pants -- and, well, underneath those boxers --
Augh, Beatrix. Just don't think about it. Her smile flicked open, again. Switchblades flick open like that, sharp, a little bright -- the way they catch the light. "Don't worry, Liam. I'm sure someone else will fight you."
And it was at this moment that the door to the Black Iris opened again, and there, framed in the doorway, stood another witch -- male, and relatively young. Say in his early twenties. He was frowning, and he seemed sort of ill-at-ease. This definitely was not his scene. He was tall, hair as brown as an owl's feathers, eyes as silvery as the moon on water.
And he was looking for something. Someone.
THERE. The frown grew more dramatic as he strode across the dance floor, even almost bumping into Damon, on his way to the bar.
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Post by lily tomlinson on Jun 25, 2008 16:34:57 GMT -8
Damon raised an eyebrow at the out-of-place witch as he almost bumped into him. Hmm, better stick around a little longer to see the action. He didn't appreciate it when kids knocked into him and he'd come too close for comfort.
Liam shrugged. "Yeah, but no one fights back like Angelcakes," he said with a pout, ignoring the newcomer. He leaned over to her, bending so that he had to tilt his head back to look up at her. And what puppy eyes he was giving her. They would have been perfectly innocent and boyish if not for the animalistic gleam in them. "There's just no fight in the others. They break so easily. Damon on the other hand is like this impenetrable force. He's a challenge. A much better fight than any other, I believe."
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Post by shinigami on Jun 25, 2008 16:47:47 GMT -8
His name was Valentine Crow. Val, for short. He wasn't completely unknown. But he definitely, definitely was not a Midnighter.
Now, Beatrix didn't ignore him on purpose. He was just sort of ignored by chance because half her mind was still on Damon and the other half was on Liam. Beatrix raised both of her eyebrows at Liam, and said,
"Well, well, well. And I thought it was the breaking you enjoyed. I guess I don't really know you very well, huh?" She bit her lower lip. Then she said: "You know, if you want, with certain rules and regulations in place, we can fi -- "
But she didn't get to finish that sentence. Val strode across the dance floor. He flicked his silvery gaze this way and that, but his focus was, basically, on his sister's back. When he was close enough, he grabbed her by the upper arm and dragged her off her seat.
"Just what do you think you're doing? We're going. Now."
Val didn't give Liam a good look. If he had, and had recognized him for what he was and who he worked for, very likely Val would have yoinked Beatrix off her seat even faster, and maybe hit Liam with a sleep charm for good measure, just because.
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Post by lily tomlinson on Jun 25, 2008 16:58:02 GMT -8
"Um, excuse me," Liam drawled, his eyes narrowing as he decided whether he should put the effort into killing the guy manhandling his entertainment. "I do believe we were having a conversation. Now, if you'll take your hands off of my company and leave quickly and quietly, I won't be forced to rip you apart." And by ripping apart, he really did mean it in the literal sense. What was it with everyone ruining his fun lately? Sheesh.
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Post by shinigami on Jun 25, 2008 17:06:29 GMT -8
"Hey, Val," Beatrix said. "What's wrong?"
The truth was she sounded more like a regular teenage girl than she had all night. And the perceptive would notice that it felt a little more like an act than anything else had all night. An act that she put on, not maliciously, but because she felt she owed it.
"As if you didn't know," he said, deigning at last to glance at Liam, then back at Beatrix, and then doubletake back to Liam. His gaze flashed. He turned back to Beatrix, grip loosening, "LIAM BLACK? You're talking to LIAM. BLACK? Why don't you just step in front of a freakin' TRAIN?"
At the same time, Beatrix turned seriously to Liam, and said, "You're not ripping him apart. He's kind of a jerk, but he wouldn't function as well in pieces."
And Valentine, quick-as-a-wink, although not likely quicker than a vampire, pulled a pouch out of his pocket and flicked it at Liam. Sleep, sweet Prince.
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Post by lily tomlinson on Jun 25, 2008 17:14:05 GMT -8
Like Liam would go down that easy. When the powder was thrown at him, he slid like a snake from his chair, hit the ground in a roll and was up and behind the this Val character before anyone could blink.
He tapped lightly on the boy's shoulder, smirking. "Missed me," he said tauntingly.
He was very happy now, however. His reputation had proceeded him. He loved that his name struck caution into people's hearts.
He stared at Val in his smug way, while speaking to the girl, "Really, Sunshine? No ripping? How about a little stab here and there? Maybe a blowtorch? No? Oh, fine, ruin all the fun."
He looked down at the boy and patted him on the head. "You're very lucky, little man," he said. "I should kill you for that little trick, but I like Sunshine over there and she wants you useful. Very lucky."
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Post by shinigami on Jun 25, 2008 17:26:50 GMT -8
Beatrix watched Liam and Valentine interact. Her gaze narrowed, a little. Again, this made her look sleepy, not particularly dangerous.
And when Liam tapped on Valentine's shoulder, the twenty-somethin' year old turned quickly around, his hand already shaping some rune that never finished being shaped, because Beatrix bumped into his hand.
Subtlety.
Valentine paled when Liam patted his head. Beatrix said, "Thanks, fuzzy. Really. Although," and she smiled her smile, surprisingly dark and sidelong, "I wouldn't say useful..."
"We're leaving. Now," Valentine repeated. He gripped Beatrix's arm again and dragged her across the dance floor just as if she were a recalcitrant child. Beatrix waved to Liam. "Seeya."
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Post by lily tomlinson on Jun 25, 2008 17:42:48 GMT -8
Liam waved back heartily, a smirk plastered on his face. "Seeya, Sunshine!" he called back. He'd be seeing her all right, whether the annoying boy was there or not. He was quite good at finding people...
Damon leaned by the exit of the club, a saturnine expression on his face. As she was dragged away, he made a mental note to possibly seek her out again. Possibly. Just so long as Liam wasn't around, the annoying little pest that he was. As she neared, he sent a cold look at the boy, and raised an eyebrow at her. It was his silent way of saying see ya.
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Post by shinigami on Jun 25, 2008 18:45:18 GMT -8
Valentine's jaw was set and he didn't look left or right. He was conscious of the predators who were around. He didn't want to see them. He didn't want to provoke them any more than he already had. He'd be even angrier with Beatrix if he knew what Liam freakin' Black and Damon freakin' Salvatore were thinking.
Beatrix's mouth lifted a little at the corners as she was dragged past Damon and the cool winter-and-darkness vampire raised an eyebrow. When they were outside, she tugged her arm out of Valentine's grasp, saying, "You're hurting me, Val."
"Really, just what the heck were you thinking -- "
"Kind of cute, huh?"
"What?"
"That 'Liam Black' guy? Did you check out his abs?"
"HAVE SOME SHAME," Valentine yelled. "He could kill you with his little pinky!"
"Aw, not if Big Bro is there to fling an amulet - "
"Just ... Bea, please. Please. You know you weren't supposed to go there alone. Not for a couple months, at least. And when you do go ... Why do you have to talk to people like that? ..."
And so it went: all the way home.
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