THERE'S A THUNDER IN OUR HEARTS, BABY------giselle

[Ellie]

Lars checked himself in a mirror that hung in the foyer below the main stair. He tousled his still slightly damp hair lightly, even though he knew it'd dry just the same as it always did. Speaking of... he was in need of a trim. The ends were starting to curl from it being so long. He didn't really like it, and figured he'd have to ask Giselle where her favored salon was.

He sighed and checked his pockets once, making sure he hadn't left anything in the room. Nope, everything was accounted for.

He'd made reservations at one of the more upstanding restaurants in Paris. Not the Eiffel Tower's eatery, but another... closer to sea level restaurant. Lars figured Giselle, having grown up in France, had eaten her fair share of French Cuisine. That much was a given. So instead Lars picked one of her other favorites, Asian. It wasn't your Chinese buffet, though, mind you. He did have to make reservations.

So, given that fact, he'd dressed appropriately. Black dress pants, a leather blazer, and a white button up dress shirt. He layed off on the tie, and threw on a studded belt and odd zombie belt buckle to dress himself down a bit. He was, oddly enough accompanied by no nose ring, instead he wore his glasses. Why? He wasn't sure. He just hadn't used them in some time, not that he particularly needed them, considering his near-sightedness had become nonexistent now that he was a vampire... but still, he had no trouble focusing in the rims. Go figure.

Standing in the foyer, Lars waited for Giselle to come down. He hoped they'd have a simple date. With... no interruptions. But of course, that was hard to come by. Lars didn't bet his money on it. He just hoped for it. So of course he had his trusty pistol on him, well hidden in the inner pocket of his blazer. Using it really did get old.

But, by his reasoning, they'd at least have some alone time while they were in the restaurant, given that it was a public place.. with many witnesses. No one should attack them, right? Right. Because although Lars had been living with Giselle for however many months, they still had much to talk about... considering they never did do the conventional 'dating' and getting to know each other thing. They just.. jumped in head fist, and despite the fact that they hadn't shared details, just knew. But there still left room for curiosity!

Of course, 'dinner' for vampires wasn't just Asian cuisine. Sure it tasted interesting and was enjoyable. But it didn't really do anything for them as far as sustenance went. So a good hunt was in order afterward. Lars was then, still hopeful that they'd be able to just do that without any large interuptions... Hunting was exiting all by itself was it not? No need to have someone trying to kill you while you stalked someone else... then it just got annoying.

He turned around once he heard footsteps at the top of the stair, a pleasant grin taking over his face, "Well don't you look lovely."





xoxo ,

[Giselle Audley]

"I understand completely," Giselle snarled into the receiver. She used her teeth to pull up a fingerless glove while the irksome blackmail threat continued robustly on the other line. She set the cell phone down on her dresser, vaguely interested when her blackmailer dove into an extensive list of ways to release the blackmail should Giselle not pull through.

There was a break of silence, and then the wolf on the other end barking for her attention. She snatched up the phone and hissed the job would be done. There was silence again, then regards for Lars, and finally a click. In a fit of anger, Giselle shrieked and hurled the phone at the wall.

She stalked to her dresser and wrenched her ring drawer open. She slid her gold snake and rose ring on her left hand fingers, and then reached for her earrings.

Giselle focused on the night ahead to assuage her anger from the rude phone call. Hell would have to freeze over before she allowed "business as usual" to screw up this date. Honestly, if the werewolf -- the blackmailer -- wasn't so damn powerful and fucking scary, she would have waved off the threat. But she could lose everything if she didn't cooperate; her money, house, and possibly her lover. The fact that the mutt asked Giselle to give his regards to Lars without her knowing that the wolf knew him chilled her. Just how many of her enemies knew of her beau?

So sometime next week she would have to schedule a date to rob some vault from a high end bank. Joy.

Giselle fixed the gold and black choker around her neck, and slipped the other glove on her hand. She adjusted the leather chords that crisscrossed up the back up her hand, then slipped a gold bangle over it. She fixed her curled hair one last time, zipped up her ankle boots, grabbed a purse and shoved her wallet in it. Giselle eyed her smashed cell phone for a moment, decided it was beyond fixable, seized her Blackberry, and threw it into the clasp purse as well.

She coordinated her style for the night by mere assumption that Lars would wear something brash, yet devilishly sharp. She went with her curvy, gold studded black dress, an array of accessories, and careful shoe selection to give herself a chic yet edgy look to both compensate with and impress her lover.

The last thing Giselle grabbed was a simple, black sweater which she threw over her arm. She wouldn't really need the thing, and wearing it would only cover her outfit up.

Ready to leave.

Giselle descended two flights of marble stairs before she reached the landing protruding over the foyer floor. Lars was there already, and his compliment instantaneously eased the tensity building up again in her chest. Giselle beamed, and she gave him the once over as well. Her eyes stopped at the belt buckle. Brash, yet devilishly sharp. Just what I anticipated.

"Not too long ago I would have refused to be seen with you and that belt buckle," Giselle held up her fingerless gloved hand, "But your style has been rubbing off on me," she chirped. Her attire had to have been unexpected. The outfit was much different from her normally elegant, prim and proper formal wear. She'd actually chosen the dress because the studded bit of it looked remarkably like a few of Lars's belts.

Giselle slid down the banister and strutted to Lars. "So where are we going?"

[Ellie]

Lars glanced down at his buckle with her mention of it, "Oh yeah," he said under his breath, his face coming back up with a smile on, "It's cool, huh?" Well he thought so. Lars had grabbed her gloved hand, inspecting her own outfit more-so now that she was closer. He'd been rubbing off on her indeed. She was a bit more 'shiny' than he. But she was a woman, as to be expected. He had on 'Punk Goes To Classy Dinner', she had, 'Outfit for Classy Dinner Goes Punk'. Not the same thing. But the leather blazer and dress pants saved him, and made him an appropriate match for her attire.

"Right well," he started, lacing his fingers with hers, leaning forward for the slightest moment, "You know my favorite style is still no clothes at all," Lars grinned, "But you can't very well wear that out in public... or at least, I wont let you. I'm selfish about that one," he continued on slowly, shrugging a shoulder before beginning to walk backward, "So I suppose this one gets second place."

The car keys jingled against the other key to the mansion as his free hand played with them. He pulled Giselle along with the same laced hand, merely giving her a glance back with her question as to where they were off to. He contemplated on not telling her where they were going... but then again, it wasn't anywhere ultra amazing... just an Asian restaurant?

"To this Asian place," he spilled once they were in the garage. With a touch of a pad on the wall the garage door opened and the security system to the house activated, "They have like, everything eastern: Chinese, Thai, Sushi, you name it."

He led her over to her side of the car, opening the door. Was he this gallant all of the time? No. And Giselle didn't mind opening doors herself. But when it was a special night out like this, he made it a point to actually be a special night out.

Once he got into the car himself he picked up on more plans for the night, "And I guess after we can actually go get some real food." It was regular routine for them now, both of them. He was glad to be back on the vein, admittedly. It was a phase, he supposed. The thought sounded rather odd, though, considering you'd be bound to have a long ass list of 'phases' if you were bent to live forever.

Lars's hand was turning the nob to the radio down once he'd turned on the ignition, a CD he was listening to previously was... loud, he liked it that way, plus, he didn't need to worry about hear loss, right? The garage door rolled down once the sports car was rolling out on the driveway with ease.

He licked his lips once, changing gears once they reached the main road, "Because I just want a night where our clothes don't get ripped, and none of my tattoos get destroyed, or anything," he said, glancing over with a little smirk on his lips. He held a light face, but was serious about what he said.

[Giselle Audley]

Giselle didn't remember what food tasted like. Consuming it was no problem, but everything tasted bland to her ever since her taste buds found blood and only blood delicious. It was a shame, really. She remembered she used to like sushi a lot. She thoroughly enjoyed going out to restaurants for the hell of it, and they were the ultimate dating atmosphere. She supposed Lars chose it for a change of scenery, and a decent opportunity to talk without interruption.

The content of the aforementioned talk was still indefinite. It was the lady's job to take a word from the man and create conversation. However, Lars and Giselle weren't an average couple, and since Jack, she personally took it upon herself to be more independent -- even if Lars had no reason or need to dominate her. He could very well be the chattier one tonight if Giselle deemed it necessary to be a little quieter - unlikely - but that depended on the conversation and what Lars aimed to talk about.

Giselle raised an eyebrow when Lars opened the door for her. She appreciated his effort to do this date the right way. Giselle thanked him and climbed into the car. When he turned the volume down, Giselle flashed him a smile and turned it up again. Hell, vampires had excellent hearing, any conversation wouldn't be in jeopardy of being drowned out.

She never allowed the music to be played at this volume in the car before, and constantly she had to slap Lars's hand away when he reached for the knob. Strange behavior for Giselle indeed, but Lars was unlikely to complain.

As soon as the car came out on the main road, Lars kicked up the speed. Driving like a maniac wasn't new to her. In fact, she made it a point to go at least sixty over the speed limit. She had the car for it, a nearly indestructible body in the rare occasion of accidents, and mind control if she was to be pulled over, so why not?

Giselle pushed the back of her seat back slightly. "Yeah, and this time I'm picking the human," she was fortunate to be able to hunt with Lars, but his choice in humans was... questionable. He didn't like causing scenes, unlike his counterpart. But the last time they went hunting, Giselle wanted a ripe young human boy when Lars suggested an older gentleman. Old blood was horrible, but Lars was adamant. Tonight she would have a young kill.

At his last comment, Giselle grinned sheepishly, "I'll behave myself tonight," she promised. If someone wasn't looking to kill her, Giselle was instigating another creature for a fight. However, lately she was making a great effort to restrain herself from the thrill of the fight. Most of them she won by pure luck. Others Lars needed to lend a bullet, and there were only a few when her opponent was simply a weakling.

There were one too many near death experiences, and she recently decided looking for a fight just to fight was selfish when she had a companion who usually became the next target. Also, Lars was becoming a lot more serious about her confrontations. He never said anything, but she knew the times of fighting for fun were over and replaced with fighting for their lives.

[Ellie]

Lars was more than satisfied when Giselle didn't mind The Bouncing Souls being played at his favored level. He knew she didn't favor it, but hell, he'd just.. grown up with it. Just another thing you could blame his parents for! But one less thing he could resent them for... because he thoroughly enjoyed it.

He drove on, the restaurant being in closer to the city, as the mansion was on the outskirts of it. Like Giselle, he was an aggressive speeder, but he'd been doing that long before he was immortal. It was called driving in New York City. Everyone did it.. so if you drove.. correctly, you'd be lost in the dust... or rear ended.

He glanced at her quickly with her protest to pick the human. "Fine," he shrugged, "Just... pick one over eighteen, Giselle?" It wasn't that young-ins really bothered him, because he couldn't feed off anyone over 35 without regretting not getting a younger catch. But Giselle went after the little little ones, and there was no real reason to scar them at so young? It was weird, but it just.. didn't look.. right to him.

He scoffed at her reassurance, "I'm sure," a roll of his eyes ensued along with a little grin, "But the effort is much appreciated."

The streetlights reflected in his hazel eyes while his lips soundlessly moved with the lyrics to whatever song was on. He had a feeling they were nearing the street that the Asian Cuisine was on. In no time. he'd found the place and pulled up to the front entrance, stopping the car as a Valet boy opened Giselle's door, Lars helping himself and turning the keys over to get the car parked.

Lars entwined his fingers into Giselle's, placing a peck no her cheek before walking up to the door, met with a stewardess opening the door and fresh air conditioner, a haven from the warm, summer, Paris air. The woman at the front desk made it known that their table wasn't quite ready, so with a simple nod Lars moved himself and his lover away from all the other individuals checking their reservations.

An idle hand went up to pull one of her curls and twirl it around his finger, his other hand still well placed into hers. "We still don't know a lot about each other," he admitted, looking into her grey as with a soft and casual look, "We got the big stuff down.. but the random shit that you learn in dates... I'm curious." And rather mischievous.

[Giselle Audley]

She heaved a sigh. Over eighteen, perfectly doable, but she preferred much younger. She'd get over it. Lars sacrificed much for her, it was the least she could do to appease him. He knew the look on her face, that too sweet tone of her's. Giselle was an impulsive creature. Honestly, Lars wouldn't be shocked if Giselle found a little mortal, and once she had her sight set on them, she had the irresistible urge to go for the kill. She often instructed Lars to pull her away. After a time, she didn't have to tell him anymore. If she caught so much as a whiff of a young mortal, Lars was already redirecting their course with much incessant pleading from Giselle.

Giselle's eyes shifted at his next accusation. As difficult as it was to resist finding trouble, she'd give it much effort. But seriously, those tattoos of his were becoming a high maintenance. The only one she had needed to be fixed up once or twice when she skidded on her back or was slashed there. She looked to his neck, the primary place to bite where Lars had indeed been bitten many times. Even there the body art crept up the sides. A few images were distorted from puncture wounds, he'd have to get those fixed.

The rest of the car ride was silent, save for the pumping stereo. She didn't know if she liked this group yet. Lars played them often, who were they again, The Jumping Souls? Just goes to show how much Giselle tuned them out and Lars's chatter about them. She didn't give them a chance to grow on her. But if she listened a little more intently and tried to care for them, Lars would be pleased with her. Oh great, here she went again, trying her hardest to please men, fill their expectations and go beyond. It ended horribly the first time around. She had to remember herself, make sure she was truly happy.

They pulled up to the entrance of the restaurant. The door was opened for her. She thanked the Valet boy, then waited for Lars to come around for her. The couple held hands as any couple should, and entered the restaurant. The place was hopping, their table wasn't ready yet. Lars pulled her over to the side to wait. The atmosphere was lovely, the place was absolutly lavish, definitely her type of restaurant. Lars chose well. Asian cuisine places needed to be chosen carefully in Paris, but the food here was probably authentic. Too bad she didn't eat anymore. Ah well, she was here for the experience, not the food.

She felt Lars's fingers pulling a springy curl down. She turned to look at him just as he spoke. What he said was true, they had been through so much together, miraculously lived through it, had been drawn closer together, but the little things were also important. She was also curious to hear of her counterpart's life before they got together. She closed her hand around the one of his in her hair and scanned his devilish eyes. "Darling, you're full of surprises. But sadly, there's not much to me other than what you already know," she didn't want to disappoint, but after the Jack ordeal, Lars knew a fair plenty of the little details of herself pre-Lars. She deliberated; what little detail hadn't she shared with Lars? What didn't he already know...? She'd think about it. They had all night.

[Ellie]

Lars scoffed at her words, unconvinced. "I doubt that," he voiced, the hand that had previously been playing with her curl moving itself to lock fingers with her hand that rested upon it, bringing it down to be level with the others. A soft smile rested on his face lazily as he glanced over her and to their surroundings.

A lavishly decorated place, it was. Equip with a few small zen waterfalls with pools to match, bamboo and other Asian plants bordering. One in particular was near the entrance, he wouldn't be surprised if they held Koi fish. Asian artwork decorated the walls. Lars puzzled the thought that this was as close to ancient Asia as you could. He figured a lot of people thought of buffets and the decor like this when they thought of China.. or Chinese food. Well that was them, he just thought of rip-off designer purses from Chinatown, and then maybe the shady restaurant down the street that wreaked of all things fried.

His attention was caught when his surname was called, thereafter someone led them to their table. The attendant placed menus in front of them asking what they wished to drink. They had all the big label wines and other beverages, but Lars opted for a bottle of Saké to share among the both of them. When in Asia, right? Rice wine, it was interesting.

"I mean," he started, looking over the table at Giselle briefly before flipping open his menu, "like pre-vampire life even." He knew a lot about that too, but vaguely, "Way back history... growing up.. that sort of thing, whether you thought it was worth it or whatever, I'm curious." His eyes wandered down from her face, glancing at the low-cut bamboo centerpiece before reverting them back to the menu.

He had no idea what to tease his taste buds with. These damn high class restaurants always made their menu's in their language with some small translation underneath. Not to mention the small vague translation was in French. Saying it was one thing, he knew how to say things relatively well, enough to get around. But the words were spelled much differently than spoken in most cases. He was at loss. And it showed on his face.

A sigh escaped his lips as he set the leather book down, "I have no fucking clue what this reads," a small grin started to form on his face.

[Giselle Audley]

Giselle and Lars were taken to their table, dead center of the restaurant. It was a quaint little eating area. Mahogany table and chairs with a flamboyant bamboo centerpiece. She was given a menu which she turned open and scanned. An amused look invaded her features when she noticed the languages. Further French lessons were in order for Lars.

Lars ordered the Sake. Pretty potent stuff, maybe she'd get a taste from it. He continued their conversation after the waitress left them. Giselle was too engrossed with the menu to comment. The selection was impressive, and everything sounded like it would taste good. Her lips curled in a mischievous smile. Lars knew by now that smile of her's wasn't a good sign.

After flipping feverishly through the menu for the third time, she figured she knew it enough to recite it. Finally the long awaited comment came from Lars. "Yes, I know," she remarked dryly, grinning back. Not to worry, she had it covered. Mwahaha. The waitress returned with the Sake. She poured two cupfuls for them and left the tokkuri on the table. Giselle raised the tiny cup in a traditional Japanese toast, "Kampei." She inhaled the liquid like she would a shot and second later made a disappointed face. "Nope. Nothing. My taste buds are shot to hell," blood sounded good about now. The Sake held no sustenance, only teased her throat and made her ache for the crimson fluid.

The waitress returned to take their order. Giselle shot Lars a dangerous look. She opened her menu and glanced at it for a moment. "One of everything should do it," she clapped the menu shut under the astounded waitresses nose and pushed it into her hands. She grabbed Lars's menu and scurried off to the kitchen in a frenzy. Giselle poured herself more Sake with a devilish grin on her face.

"Hmmmmm. My mortal life. My biological mother grew up and settled in the slums of Paris. I really don't know what my biological father must have seen in her. Anyway, the slums were filthy. My father got sick and died. Mom died in childbirth. I was sent to an orphanage for eight years. I don't remember it. So a rich family adopted me. They wanted a daughter, they couldn't get pregnant. I was spoiled. I became a brat. They gave me everything I wanted, but they were so... dead. Walking corpses. Boring as fuck, and they lacked affection. They only wanted an heir to their fortune. I was literally a piece of valuable furniture. But there was one who showed an interest in me. I jumped at the opportunity. My servant boy hired by my parents. You might guess who that was."

Giselle's mortal life was a sore topic. She didn't like to think she was ever mortal. Talking about it threatened to break a floodgate of memories, most of them centered around Jack since she didn't care much for her parents. "Details of a long story short: I received the finest education, I played piano, learned how to fence and horseback ride, danced, played tennis, performed in plays, golfed, painted, knitted, and was at one point a chess tournament champion. This is all because my robotic parents wanted me to be well rounded.. Huh. Maybe they did care in an odd sort of way," she shrugged and continued flipping the bamboo leaves with her finger.

Giselle didn't necessarily hate her parents. She loved the wealth, which made her no better than Jack. She didn't see enough of them to feel loathing. She was always doing something, always pleased. The little conversation she made with them was over dinner, but even then the air was too awkward to carry it out for long. "Well. They certainly did care when I stuck my fangs in their jugulars. How sad. The one time they paid any real attention was when they had to beg for their lives," Giselle cackled, finding this highly amusing.

[Ellie]

"Well if she was as pretty as you," he grinned, interjecting the beginning of her talk where she said she didn't see what her father thought of her mother. He couldn't help himself there.

Lars listened to the speech he'd heard before, only in different segments. None was really news to him, and he didn't mean a vague biography of her past life. No he wanted the little details, even if he had to squeeze it out of her. He had good knowledge that she didn't enjoy thinking back to her past self, but hell, he didn't like it either before, now did he?

It wasn't like they were in different boats with the difficult pasts. Lars had spilled his guts long before, unfortunately all his detrimental experiences happened after he was turned. Mortal life wasn't the hottest either, but still, he liked his emotional scars... funnily enough. It built his character after all.

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. That was essentially his new motto. And he had many an episode to practice it... literally. He was more open to embrace the painful things in his life, accepting the fact that they'd happened.. and that there was no means to scribble them away from his memory, and just growing stronger knowing the fact he'd survived... well, sort of.

He was actually quite alright with discussing Jack.. now. It didn't aggravate him so much, knowing that he was dead, he had no reason to get uptight over him. Everyone had people in their past, and Lars didn't deny that the two may have actually had true feelings mutually. Maybe he just got tainted, blinded or spoiled with the wealth, shit happens. The bitter reality was that it wasn't to last forever.

His let out an amused snort, taking a sip of the sake. With a few little smacks of his lips he settled with a "It's different." He turned his head a few times at her last statement about her parents, a little grin along his lips. He really didn't care that she had killed her own adoptives. Like she'd said, they were estranged, no hard feelings right? Exactly.

"Yeah well," he mused his fingers playing with the tips of the bamboo plant, "My family never had the money for any of that, we weren't poor," he clarified, shrugging, "Just middle class... until the divorce, then I guess me and my mom were kind of hovering on the poverty line there," he said, motioning with his hands, "But I was hardly humble because of it," he scoffed, "If I wanted something I got it, it just wasn't handed to me... I cheated to win, used some smooth talk, you know," he grinned over exaggerating a bit, "Or like... I found a job, those didn't really last too long though. It made me kind of bratty..." he mused, "I don't know, as a teenager my mom was working a lot, I guess I just felt bad ass because I felt so independent, I was a punk-ass that thought he knew everything, basically."

His mind raced as to what he could tell her, his mind weaving through all his human incidences. He'd met many people, and some old immortals who had claimed to not have done and experienced as much as he. He didn't brag about it.. it was just a day in the life for him, really, and he was expecting many decades more to exceed his meager two. "My dad was in Vietnam for some time," he spoke, a little smile on his face, "He's the one that came back covered in tattoos, though.. I guess that's where I got the attraction... but that was way before I was born," his mind wandered off towards his parents more, a brow raised in thought, "They've probably filed for me to be legally dead or something," he said with a laugh, "I should surprise my mother with a phone call. You can listen in, it'll probably be worth a few laughs," he grinned.

Sitting quietly for a few moments he figured how fucking long they'd be here if they were to order a sample of everything. Eh, the night was still young.

"But no," he said, taking another sip of sake, "I mean the things like... your first kiss, or, the experience of loosing your virginity," he grinned smally, "those milestone sort of things that you look back on." Unexpected call? Maybe, but Lars wasn't at all bashful when it came to that sort of thing. You tell me yours and I'll tell you mine sort of deal.

759 words after and with a long listen to brand new not ot mention an outfit like this all I have to say is, ooooOoOoOOOooo

[Giselle Audley]

She remembered the night she met Lars distinctly. Troubled, miserable guy pouring over memories in a pub. She'd given him trouble, started a fight. She'd been foolish. She lost her chance to listen, then. She never regretted doing something so passionately before in her entire life. Now was her chance to make up, to finally hear him out. She had a debt to repay. But who would've thought they'd come this far?

When they met, they didn't want anything to do with each other. This perplexed her to this day. They had nothing in common. But he got her thinking... what if the Audley's didn't adopt her? What if she ended up with a middle class family like his? Would she have ended up like him? Was she always meant to be with someone in a lower caste?

He drew her in like a magnet, her polar opposite. She found him fascinating, nothing more than a specimen to study. What a mistake that was. For reasons unknown to her, Lars became addicting. She loved him now. She loved everything about him, all his flaws, all his perfections. It wasn't a problem anymore, this uptown girl and back street boy together. The impossible became the possible. And Lars was undeniably loyal to her. But "just because" wasn't a good enough answer. She wanted to know why he was so compatible, why she was sitting across from him now exchanging pleasantries over Asian cuisine.

She contemplated what he was telling her. Sounded rough, but life generally was. She couldn't compare, as usual. But she was interested to learn about his neck of the woods. She certainly never had a taste of it that she could remember. Lars, on the other hand, had a feast of rich and famous. She was curious, she felt that fascination about him budding again.

Her hands were folded under her chin, she was just... gazing at him, admiring him. She wasn't even aware of doing it. He finished with asking her to contribute insignificant memories. She wanted that ass hole wiped clean from her life. "You know... I really don't deserve you," she spoke her thoughts accidentally. Then with a shake of her head she returned to the present.

"Oh, God. You honestly want to know about that?"

[/b] she snorted. "If you must... the sheltered rich girl wasn't allowed a boyfriend. She was betrothed to a Count the day she was adopted. Arranged marriage shit. So anyway, she rebelled and had sex with her servant on her parent's bed,"[/b] Giselle grinned in spite of herself. Now that was a fun day. "Jack was like, completly freaking out," she laughed, "He was all 'Miss Audley, I don't think we should be doing this here' and 'Miss Audley, please put your shirt back on!' I really don't know where he went wrong,"[/b] Giselle shook her head, still grinning.

"He was different then. Nice. He knew his place, and he couldn't deny me because I was his master. But I always knew he had a sadistic side,"[/b] she put her hands over Lars's, "I just never thought much of it other than liking it. We were both cold at heart. But who'd have thought it'd backfire on me?"[/b][/blockquote]

the count was 556 and she's wearing this and also, I WANT MY DAMN COMIC.

[Ellie]

Lars listened to her little tale with a range of expressions on his face. From interesting to grossed out, he simply had to interject, "Ewww," he said making a face, a large grin on his lips, however, "Your parent's bed? I wouldn't even touch my parent's bed!" His face became more serious once she mentioned it was with Jack. That's was interesting indeed. Aforementioned, he wasn't angry about it, just interested. What was in the past couldn't be undone, and by the look on her face it was a good memory, so why bother?

He laughed along with her as she continued, enjoying the light air that surrounded them. It showed in his eyes, which wavered more to the green hues, canceling out the brown and candy apple hazel to make a light forest green. The light air was semi broken when she grabbed touch his hand. It wasn't as if it was unpleasantly making things more somber, no it was just adding some sincerity.

He shrugged, the questions beginning to boil up in his head. "Shit happens," he said, voicing his thoughts from previously, "But shit, I guess that called of the engagement," he chuckled, probably would have doing the same if not worse.

He knew his own story clear as day, but the thought of her not being with another man after Jack kept running through his mind, and then with the new found information that she hadn't been with anyone previously, well that just made him wonder, "So," he started, rubbing his thumb along her fingers, "Does that mean that I'm your second?" he asked grinning, "I'm honored," he said sincerely, a slight smugness seeping through his smile, however.

He'd never met anyone that faithful. Ever, really. Not even Haemish had been able to hold out or anything like that. It wasn't that Haemish had cheated on him, but Haemish didn't go three hundred years without getting laid to simply wait for his true love to come along, now did he? Nope, he used his mind control to get whomever he wanted in the sack. He could be a pleasant sort of bad-boy when he wanted. Lars had no patience, so there's any answer to any question's regarding he and waiting it out. It just wasn't possible. But Giselle was a woman, and that made it easier, most likely. Not in a belittling way, of course, but the contrary. Lars was convinced they had much more self control than men did, just by nature. He was lucky to have her, at any rate. Rarely, or never had he had a girl that he didn't have to ever worry over their faithfulness to him, but he supposed not until recently any person he was with most likely worried that over himself. Oh well, no need for either of them to worry any longer.

"Anyways," he said quietly, almost starting his little story before a waiter came by, placing multiple plates of appetizers down before them. Lars stared at the food and then back up at the waiter, giving a hesitant smile as he set off back into the restaurant.

"Like I was saying..." he began again, "Mine wasn't as nail-biting," he laughed, "I was fourteen, and it was with the same girl I had my first kiss with," he laughed, "That's probably a funnier story then the other. I was nine, then. And bet this girl, Lilly, who'd I'd been friends with since forever, that I could fly," he said, his hand now unattached to hers and moving as he spoke, "We were in central park for a play date thing, I had this Batman cape. And I was a stupid nine year old. I climbed a tree and jumped off, broke me wrist," he said shaking his own head back and forth, "But the catch was that if I could fly she had to kiss me... and if I couldn't then I had to kiss her. Either way I got what I wanted... along with a trip to the emergency room." It was a good story, worth a good laugh.

"But.. as far as the other one," he started again, the large grin on his face falling slightly, "We were just watching late night horror movies, and she like, started clinging to me, trying to act scared when.. she never got scared," he shrugged, "One thing led to another and, there you have it," he finished shortly, "We were never 'together' though," he said air quoting, "We were only ever friends, although when she got married it tore me up, a lot. For no reason, besides me being selfish, I guess."

His head rested now on his fist, his elbow on the table. A grin still remained on his face, relishing in reminiscing. His eyes now eyed the food before a fingered hand went after a spring roll, dipping it into the sauce before taking a bite.

Another thought came to him ,causing him to backtrack in thought, a grin spread on his face just as he swallowed the bit, "So ,if you were so devout to Jack even when he wasn't there, and we obviously didn't like each other on first meet, what was with the deal back in the hotel room that night, just a tease?" he asked with brow raised, conjuring up those memories, the key detail hitting him then with a widened grin, "Even if it was my unintentional fault for bringing it about," he said in his defense, shaking his head with a muttered, "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir."

919 words after and with a long listen to marilyn manson not to mention an outfit like this all I have to say is, might as well buy the paper-back for 20 bucks (; or go looking for it on another torrent. baaah.

[Giselle Audley]

Their tray wielding waitress was depositing dish after dish of appetizers on the tiny table. The centerpiece had to be removed, there was no room for it. Soups, rolls, dumplings, among other questionable substances completly covered the table's area. Two trays equally covered with dishes were left on their stands beside the table. The steamy plates thew off what should have been an appetizing smell. The invasion of aromas didn't faze her. Though potent, it wasn't appealing.

Giselle quirked a brow in response to Lars's remark, coyness apparent on her countenance. "I don't think those robotic creatures were capable of feeling love. I doubt they used that bed for anything other than sleeping." Truth, her adoptive parents didn't love each other. Their marriage was also arranged for one purpose: to continue the Audley line. Giselle was a last resort. They needed an heir because her pop was the last Audley. She was perhaps beneath them for not being blood related.

"A signature on a marriage license meant nothing other than adding on to the family, continuing the line. It was their duty to have a daughter or son, not their willful consensus," she explained. Giselle poked a dumpling then dumped soy sauce over it. "I've never seen them kiss, touch each other, say a simple 'I love you' because they didn't love each other. It would have been the same way if I married the Count," she sliced the soy sauce soaked dumpling in half, popped it in her mouth, and swallowed it whole.

"So you see, making love in their bed was ironic," not to mention a slap in the face. She already said she believed they only used the bed for sleeping. She could picture two robots disguised as humans laying there, far apart from each other, incapable of love. What they didn't know was that they were laying on something used for love making itself. If they weren't going to use the bed for that, then Giselle was.

Giselle stabbed the second half of the dumpling with her fork and pointed at Lars with it, "I wonder what they would've thought about you," she mused aloud. "Probably make me bathe in ammonia if they saw you so much as hold my hand. So you know they would never have approved of Jack," a servant boy carry the Audley line? Unthinkable! A street boy like Lars? Absurd!

"We would have been impossible. They'd shackle me to my bed and never let me see the light of day again if they saw me with you. They're better off dead," she cackled. Good riddance, they were horrid people.

"Yes, you're my second," Giselle beamed. She couldn't be any happier with Lars as her second."Careful, you. Or you might end up with an ego as big as Jack's." He had a right to be honored, but he looked mighty smug about it. Jack's egotistical ways is what made him such an asshole. He had complete control over Giselle and flaunted it. She was all his and that fact gave him a big head.

More plates came, the waiter was determined to fit them on the table. He glared at Giselle before taking his leave. She was interested to hear Lars's tale. She was all ears. His childhood was way different. Giselle wasn't much of a kid. She'd never want to relive that part of her life, but it made her wonder what she'd be like now if she had more of a childhood. Giselle giggled and released an "Awwwweh," she couldn't help it, his first kiss was too precious.

The next part saddened her. "But... you're not in to the whole commitment thing. Did you care that you weren't really together when it happened?" Then to hear the girl's marriage upset him puzzled her. "So you do have a selfish side..." Interesting, both vampires and humans were naturally selfish, but Lars? It never crossed her that he was selfish. Or ever selfish of her for that matter.

"When Jack came back and you found out we were married... you didn't seem to care about that commitment," Giselle frowned. She tried to conjure up that night's memory. Other than Jack's return slightly stunning Lars, he was not selfish toward Giselle that night. It pained her to know he might have been hurting without saying anything about it.

"We both know commitment... marriage can be grisly," Giselle shuddered as she reminded herself about the night Jack almost decapitated her. Then Lars asked her a question about her commitment to Jack prior to that. Giselle smiled crookedly, "Pretty much, yeah. Just a tease. But I was never going to sleep with you that night," but that didn't excuse her from the night she actually did. "I cheated on Jack," she shrugged.
Like hell I regret it now, and there were no regrets then. I guess I was finally moving on. A girl can only stay devout to a guy for so long when he's gone. And I reeeeeeally liked you."

A thought struck her, she needed to voice it. "So, Lars. We've been together for almost two years now. Are you committed to me?" She had to know, were they really that serious, or was this just a phase in their immortal lives. Was their relationship immortal? Even after they've seen horrors of what commitment could do? Perhaps that's why they weren't married... yet.

the count was 898 and she's wearing this and also, now it's 134,483 out of 207,355. I'm not quitting now!.

[Ellie]

Lars chuckled a bit with her musing as to what her parents would think of him, "Yeah well, most parents thought that anyways, yours wouldn't be very different than a few others I've experienced in the past."

[/color] Oh shit, being a teenager really wasn't that bad, not a massive sob story on his part. He obviously still had the many perks of adolescence. Things he wouldn't trade for the world.

His hand's weaved their way through the array of plates before his fingers found his glass of sake, taking another sip before finishing off the egg roll. He chuckled a bit, in mid swallow, coughing lightly before the substance made it's way down. "My head as big as his? Fuuuck, Never!"[/color] he grinned, "But at least I know now where he was coming from."[/color] Sarcasm, only a little. But nonetheless, Lars was quite pleased with himself.

He scanned the table for whatever else caught his eyes, nibbling a little of this and a little of that as she started her small interrogation. "Well,"[/color] he started with his mouth full of a food he wasn't sure the name of, "I didn't care then, and I don't care now that we weren't together then, it's just the fact that..."[/color] he paused, trying to really sort out his feelings for that girl, "We were just.. best friends, with benefits, obviously, so to just see her officially give herself to someone else with such a thing as marriage was just.. weird. I loved her, but not in the same way that I love you,"[/color] he sorted out out loud for the both of them, "We both saw other people before. It was just the fact that I knew when she got married things could never be the same between us, not just the fact that we obviously couldn't fuck each other at random, but just... the air between us was never the same anymore, her husband became her best friend, I became a thing of the past," he shrugged, "He was a good guy though, she was happy, I wasn't to rotten as to not want her to get married and start a family and everything... it's just like, the feeling you get when you finish a movie series, or a book series or something you really enjoyed... and you just feel like shit because you know it's just over."[/color]

Lars smiled a little at her other accusation, "Well, I didn't care about your marriage with Jack because obviously it wasn't big enough an issue for you not to be with me already,"[/color] that was the positive note to that side of the story. In truth, Lars was worried shitless about Jack most of the time. "Honestly tough,"[/color] he began, sobering up a little, "I was convinced a few times you'd choose him over me... before I knew about his scheme though, him having what you wanted, the reckless life you had before, not to mention already having the past with you, but that's all done now."[/color] That little confession called for a swig of sake, no? And Lars did just that, the little trigger in the back of his head igniting his cigarette craving.

He was about to reach for a dumpling no her side before she spoke out one last time, causing his hand to fall back to his side, his eyes up at her, "Uhm,"[/color] he announced his unsureness, "I am committed to you,"[/color] he confessed truthfully, "I love you,"[/color] he laughed, "but if you mean, like, forever? I want to say yes, and I do say yes in this moment, but I don't know hat the future itself has to say about that,"[/color] he answered, casting his eyes down. Was tat the wrong thing ot say? It was what he felt was the truth, but he couldn't be sure. A vivid memory of he and Jack in the catacombs of the Paris mansion rose up from his memory, when in that moment he was so sure he wanted to be with Giselle forever, he remembered the feelings as pure as day, and he still felt the same, but there was always the possibility that he wouldn't feel that way forever. It was a warped way to think maybe, but he didn't know what else could be said for it. Love had played tricks on him too many times now when he thought he was truly in it for forever, those loved ones were not long after taken away from him. He couldn't trust this strange world with words like forever.

"I don't live for tomorrow though, Giselle,"[/color] he said finally, "I just live for today, and today I'm yours... so don't worry about it."[/color]

[/blockquote]

780 words after and with a long listen to marilyn manson not to mention an outfit like this all I have to say is, daaaaaaaaw.

[Giselle Audley]

Giselle nodded soberly, completly satisfied with his answer. It was good enough to know Lars was her's now, but the future crossed her mind. When she was with Jack, she thought her future with him was set in stone. She wondered if there was ever a point in time when he was actually happy with being with her. Probably not. She pleased him undoubtedly, did everything he required. That time period after she sired him was actually quite the reversal of roles; she became his servant.

Giselle saw the warning signs. Jack was just a little too demanding, too sneaky, too crude. Did she want to say or do anything about it? No. She wasn't his equal, but he treated her well. He did love her in a twisted way. She couldn't lie to herself, she enjoyed being with Jack. He was a perfect monster. It was all good up until he came back. But he had his motives, and though he was a bastard, he'd die to carry those motives out. She complimented him on that. They did have a good life together before he left, or at least she thought so.

She absolutly saw her future with Lars. Tomorrow, next week, next month. Certain factors contributed to their long term relationship of course. People from his past for primary example. All it took was one vampire bent on taking his wife back and her relationship with Lars threatened to unravel. Then there was the obscure future in general. He could get tired of her, she could tire of him, a new love interest could come in to play. She wasn't psychic, there was no way of knowing what their future would be like.

For now they were okay. She could deal with that for the time being. However, she wasn't satisfied with his thoughts on the whole marriage with Jack shpiel. "You knew what was in my best interest, even before you eavesdropped on him. And to be completly honest with you, I thought I'd chosen him too for a while," she admitted regrettably. She turned her head away from him, shameful, "He had what I wanted, but not what I needed. Let's be real now, if you weren't here I'd be dead long before Jack came back. Remember the stable fire?" And if that didn't do her in, run-ins with her usual enemies would have been quadrupled if Lars hadn't been in her life to tame her somewhat.

"You've done so much for me, I hope I've done the same in return?"Obviously Lars loved her, but was she good enough for him? Could he do better? "Sometimes I think you're better off without me. How many times have we almost died now?" she wasn't keeping track, she doubted Lars was as well. "Let's change the subject. Jack is the last thing I wanted to talk about," she growled. Giselle didn't want his name to come up in the conversation. Foolish to think it wouldn't.

"Why don't you tell me more about your mortal life? And the night you were sired?" she pressed. Lars never delved into the story about the night he was turned. Unhappy memory? Possibly. She knew that night for her was one of her happiest. She knew little about his sire. Giselle figured it'd be good to know about her. "I don't know many vampires who were unhappy when they were turned," she explained, "Most of my friends and acquaintances are like me, they sought immortality and preferred not to think they were ever mortal." She wasn't sure about Lars, but she was positive he didn't go seeking vampirism like herself.

the count was 607 and she's wearing this and also, the download failed D=< an error of sorts. I'm just gunna buy it..

[Ellie]

Lars glanced down as Giselle mentioned her position in which she confirmed his suspicions of choosing Jack over he. Of course he didn't want to hear it, he was involuntarily disappointed, as he figured he would be, but there was nothing to do besides glance down simultaneously with her to hide the look on his face.

He looked up once she mentioned the stable fire, a small grin on his face that tagged with a small, lighthearted snort through his nose. Of course he remembered. What a funny coincidence he happened to be just there at that time. He didn't have anything to say over it though, the feeling from before still making it's way out of him. He was sure something would show in his tone, so he kept quiet.

"You have,"

[/color] he smiled to her question. Honestly, without her tough love he would probably still be haunted by his past, still mourning and beating himself over about those events. But no, he had met her, and she gave him a little part of himself back, the part that just decided to just say 'Fuck it!' and not bother. She restored his spirit. He made her more gentle, she had him toughened, they'd sharpened each other. Lars nodded contently when she decided to change the subject, his fingers picking out some lo-mien with his fork as she popped her question.

Well, the questioned posed wasn't that much better, but it was still better. He had no objection of giving more detail on it, that certain memory almost dreamlike now. Maybe because he still couldn't believe it had ever happened. It was odd how milestone moments like that were vivid, yet felt like they were never part of your now life, like a movie, or some story, like you'd never actually lived it.

"Uhm,"[/color] he stumbled, trying to find words as he swallowed the last of the noodles, "I've told you her name was Ruby... and quite honestly, I wish I could tell you about her life and stuff, but it would all be a fucking lie, considering that's all she probably told me,"[/color] he scoffed, his feelings for the girl fixed. He was now left guessing if the life stories she'd relay to him were true, if she was merely a young vampire or just a very good liar. But, he could contemplate his ex some other time.

"It was a weekend. We had been out to bars and clubs we usually frequented, I was drunk,"[/color] he laughed, "But that was nothing out of the norm. We went back around four A.M. and were in bed, after... you know,"[/color] he said a cocky grin sliding up his face, "And then I don't know... she just.. bit me. I was still fucked up, so I didn't know what the hell was going on. From what I remember about her face though, she looked scared.. or guilty, or something, it was really weird. She stayed for maybe fifteen minutes,"[/color] he continued, his elbows resting on the scarce free spots on the table, "I was freaking out, as to be expected, and she was crying... then she just left. She didn't answer anything, she just left. So I spent about a week in my room,"[/color] he shrugged, "I didn't know what I was, or what was happening. But by that time, I wasn't even there anymore. I was just so hungry... I didn't have any control. So.. I killed Quincey,"[/color] he glanced down. That was the dominant reason he had a certain hatred for Ruby, why he tore the dog tag chain with her name etched in it off her neck and threw it into the street, not wanting anything to do with the traitor that turned him into a monster, left him alone and confused to end up just killing his best friend. Everything might have been fine if she had just stayed. "Before I knew it I was back to myself again... with my friend's dead body in my hands. I drove him down to the shore and left him to the sea. I didn't know what else to do,"[/color] Lars said shaking his head, looking up with a slight sadness in his eyes, "I was really bitter after that, I never willingly accepted that I was a murderer, I knew I was, but I called myself that as more of a punishment for what I'd done. I just kept killing, to just feel bad, because I thought it was what I dserved,"[/color] he chuckled bitterly, "I was stupid and confused."[/color]

He sighed after that, looking at Giselle deeply before another thought came to him, "I don't know why she left that night, I truly loved her... and thought she felt the same. But maybe that's why she left you know?"[/color] The three days of transformation was brutal, agonizing, torture. To witness someone you loved go through that pain and know it was on your behalf is almost unfathomable, but Lars could never know for sure what her motives were, he figured.

Lars grinned a little, "If she'd asked me if I wanted to spend eternity with her I probably would have gone willingly...especially if I was out of my mind! But it just didn't work out that way."[/color]

[/blockquote]

871 words after and with a long listen to creature feature not to mention an outfit like this all I have to say is, ugh, sorry i felt that was crappyyyyy. but i'm tired as fuck. might edit tomorrow to make it better.. in descriptions and stuff so yer, no mega changes anyways.