Topic: Transgressions

Rayvinn

Date: 2015-01-17 13:42 EST
January 7th

Rhy'din's version of the Hilton - that swanky hotel which seemed to find a way to be built anywhere and everywhere there was money - was set up in a prime, central location in New Haven. All the most prominent businessmen and women, lawyers, and politicians passed its door on a daily basis. Barons too, like the one sitting at the bar in the front lounge. The bar was quiet today, perfectly appointed like the lunch and dingin room it bordered. Not a thing out of place, and the dazzle of the glasses the young human bartender was arranging could almost blind an incautious patron. There was a couple off to one side of the bar's counter, a rather homely, balding old man in an ill-fitting but expesnive-looking) three-piece, on his arm dangling a rather overly made up younger woman whose attire, and obviously fake affection toward hger drinking partner made her look like the 'escort' she was.

Shadow paid them no mind, as the wall-clock closed in on three of the afternoon. He had what was probably a scotch in front of him, no longer imbibing caffeine, instead looking like another fancy suit killing midday time. He did glance at the clock now and then, but very specifically avoided looking toward the glass doors leading into the lounge. Decisions had been made, and only time would tell what course those decisions might take.

Rayvinn arrived at precisely three minutes to three. She stood in the lobby and watched through the glass doors that the other elf avoided. A slow smile caressed upon the red painted generous mouth as the elfess looked down at the thin gold watch upon that wrapped loosely along a thin wrist. At exactly 3pm, she moved towards the doors, the sound of heels complimenting the rhythm of that dangerous walk. The door was quickly opened for her and without breaking that leggy stride, the elfess flashed him a grateful smile.

Standing just behind Shadow, intentionally, so that he would be forced to turn in his seat and therefore pay attention to the entirety of the picture presented from those "I will crush you" heels to the "I will tease you stockings" right on up to the dress that was lovely but would surely be loveliest upon the floor in one of the rooms upstairs. "Hello Baron. Come here often?" The voice was soft but rich and sultry, quite fitting for the expense and cut of the dress she wore. That mop of dark waves that was usually more unruly than not, lay in a well behaved cascade over one shoulder, exposing the elegant expanse of one side of collar bone.

A few things happened when the glass doors opened. The bartender, a clean cut young man, quite handsome in fact, glanced up and immediately spotted the entrance of Rayvinn; he set down an already perfectly polished wineglass, and moved quickly toward the liquor shelves. A ravishing entrance indeed, by the elfess, enough to draw a hungry look from the old man, and a venomous look from the escort (who then began whispering furiously at the poor old gent, grasping his chin to refocus him on her).

Shadow still kept his back to her, during her approach, and even after she had whispered in tones to make his very spine tingle. A slow smile spread on his lips, and as the bartender hastened over with two full brandy snifters, depositing them in front of the elf and just beside him, and Shadow replied, "As little as possible, in fact. Can't stand the clientele. But it's a good place to be..discreet." When he did turn, for turn he did, he looked odd somehow. It was his eyes, in fact, still amber, but seething in their depths like stormclouds, like an ocean tempest close to unleashing. And he did not have the look of having had much scotch, in fact - his near-empty glass had been his only appetizer during his half-hour wait.

His gaze started at her feet, at the heels she seemed always to wear - ever fascinating and confusing how women could get about so gracefully on the things - and trailed up slowly, drinking in the sight of her. To her legs, and the curve they made under scarlet cloth. To her middle, and then... they danced right up to her face. "Looking to conquer the world today, Raye?" The tones he used, the half-smile he bore were far more familiar than those he'd used before, in the Inn. Apparently he had a few different faces for different occasions, himself. That or his moods shone on his sleeve. Both were true, to some extent.

The movement of the bartender wasn't lost on Rayvinn and she had an appreciative smile for both he and Shadow, though it lingered more upon the latter as her gaze slowly moved over him. She liked things to be neat, well taken care of, efficient and this elf appeared to be well in control of the situation if the action of the bartender was any indication.

Rayvinn was also aware of the looks from both the older gentleman and the painted lady; she had never entered a room that she hadn't either surveyed prior to stepping within or as she did so whether it was obvious or not. This was the way she lived her life and likely why she still had a life to live.

Her tone had been matched by familiarity and had she not been more in control of her own body and behavior, she might have sighed aloud in relief. It was so stressful to be so aloof to one that she had already allowed past that first wall of hers, had allowed within her proximity because *she* wanted him there. Anywhere there were people they knew or cameras, Rayvinn was a different elf with him. But here they were, in a discreet lounge, where none they knew were likely to see. She was relaxed, at least as relaxed as she would be in a room where strangers existed or could intrude upon her personal space at any moment. Lips designed for sin twisted into a secretive smile as she replied, "Just one shadowy corner of it will do for now." Perhaps that was too bold but something in the tumultuous depths of his gaze told her he would both understand and approve.

Rayvinn

Date: 2015-01-17 13:43 EST
His half smile became a full one at her words. Or was it the look in her eyes, or the way her lips moved into a smile? Truth be told, he still had no idea what he was tangling with here; maintaining public discretion, for an elf in his public position, might be essential. After all, woman of mystery that she was, she could be many things, and some of those might not be good for a headmaster to be associated with. But oh, he knew he wanted her, had a thirst like a man just come through a desert. What face and demeanor he showed in public was nothing compared to the pangs he felt right now, in her presence. It was not precisely intimate, but no one talked, in these places, and the hotel itself maintained the highest level of discretion for guests. A place for affairs, trysts, and all the tawdry activities of the rich, the famous.

None of that mattered in this moment, not to Shadow. All that mattered was that she had come, and that his brusque, formal (yes, sometimes stuffy) manner had not put her off. He leaned in a little closer to her, the scent of her filling his nostrils in an intoxicating way that no brandy could match, yet he took his up. "We have time for a drink. And I obtained a room...for as long as it's needed." No questions, no probing inquiries into what she did, who she'd killed, nor how she made her way in the world. He'd given himself over to emotion, at least for now. To sinful thoughts, to desire. The gods and the rest of it be damned.

He lifted his drink, poised near his lips, and awaited her response. Simple words - he needed no banter to fill in the cracks, his eyes revealing his intentions even further, as stormy gray began to suffuse the amber of his pupils. A flicker within, small but detectable, as of lighting, or electricity. This side of the elf was different even than in the dive bar, where alcohol might be blamed. No, this was carefully controlled, here in this hotel. For now.

Luckily for Shadow, Rayvinn's affairs had never been such to cause controversy of an overt sort in this city in which she lived. All of her business had always been conducted elsewhere, and honestly if her business had been found out some might actually see her as a hero instead of evil. Spy that she was, assassin that she was, she eliminated those that would oppress and harm others; her hands were clean otherwise... mostly. Of course, Shadow didn't know this, but neither did he know that she did anything other than a normal type of job. She had her own reasons for wanting to remain discreet, mostly out of a sense of paranoia related not only to people that would harm her or who she was spending time with (as they had Apple) but also so that Jack wouldn't find out and use the information to his own advantage (though he likely already knew).

Rayvinn moved towards the seat next to Shadow, her leg brushing slowly against his as she sat and reached for her drink. Lips pursed slightly before pressing to the rim of the glass, leaving a faintly red print of her lips once the sip was taken. "You obtained a room?" A perfectly sculpted brow arched at the words and her gaze leveled his. "Would you care to share what your plans are regarding this room that we will have for as long as is needed?" She saw the intent swirling and changing within his irises but before she made any sort of decision, she wanted to hear him speak that intent.

And he was not shy about his intent, not now, though in the dim light of the lounge (no barrier to elvensight) his ears were surely burning. Not with shame though, merely flushed and sensitive, one way in which Shadow - who really needed to wear hats more often - sometimes betrayed himself. Yet, eyes, and ears, were one thing. Words quite another, and while he kept his simple, they did not carry the light tones of flippancy. Melodious as any elf, but perhaps a little hoarse. A strange, fey mood indeed. When she took her first sip, he took his, eyes lingering on the imprint of lipstick left behind on her snifter, before he said, "Well, you didn't think you'd be conquering any shadowy corners in this bar, did you? Plus, I think you'll like the view..."

As his words trailed off, he was looking into her eyes again. His expression, for all the thirst in his eyes, was nothing if not resolute. It was a turning point, of sorts - a decision on his part, to set aside the past, and risk some danger now. He was fast becoming a risk taker, since his untethering from divine strings. He would be happy to know she did not live an evil, double-life, of course, but searching out her secrets was the furthest thing from his mind. The ones in her head, anyway. The ones beneath the wrap of her dress might be a different matter...

"I certainly do not intend us to ..chat." And there it was. The cat released from the bag, though he fell short of saying anything crude. Not while even the bartender's innocent ears could hear. Shadow clearly had a strong sense of discretion - or was he, too, paranoid? He took another sip of his drink, turning in his stool so that the leg of hers, which had brushed his, soon felt the pressure of close contact, his fine, dark slacks contrasting her dazzling red dress. Even to touch her that way, through clothes, seethed in a tingle up his back, while the sparks flashed again in his stormy ambers.

The question he posed had both brows arching incredulously. "I am not certain you know who you are speaking to, Baron Shadow, but I did not at all expect to find myself in a hotel room in order to conquer anything. I was invited to this lounge, not to be the whore in your bed. If that is what you were desiring, perhaps you should have been more forthcoming when requesting my presence and I would have set you straight right then instead of both of us wasting our time here today." Rayvinn deliberately turned to look back at the escort with the older gentleman and then returned her gaze pointedly to the elf. "Shall I make arrangements? I assure you she will appreciate the view far more than I would have."

She took another drink of the brandy and then placed the glass upon its napkin upon the bar so she could retrieve silver from her clutch to pay for the drinks and to tip the bartender. Once the man had taken the money and had moved away, Rayvinn returned her attention to the elf as she stood, deliberately moving her leg away from his that pressed against it. "Since you do not intend us to chat, and I do not intend to be your whore, I believe we are done here, Baron. Enjoy that view from your room." She offered him one of her most practiced smiles, fake and polite, that never met her eyes and then she turned to walk away. What he wouldn't see was the self doubt that caused her to immediately question what she had said or done to make him believe she was the type of woman to immediately jump into his bed. Had she not even stayed over at his home and slept in his bed without removing a single stitch of her clothing other than her coat? She would wait until she had walked through the lounge doors before she allowed herself to exhale that huge breath she had taken and held moments earlier in order to prevent herself from speaking her mind.

Well, that surely wasn't what he'd been hoping for. Emotion was high, and it had expressed in him in a baser manner. But at least none of consequence had been about to see the flub he'd made. It seemed to him that a decision had been made, though he wasn't going to give up all that easily. "Surely, had I wanted a whore, I'd have gotten one. You, Raye, are no whore. But if you wish to leave, who am I to stop you?"

Those tempestuous eyes of his receded somewhat, as he visibly fought within himself not to say anything stupid. "It really is a nice view, however. Shame to miss it." He took a rather stiff drink of his brandy then, turned in his stool to regard her back.

Rayvinn stopped just before she reached the door, causing the doorman to pause after opening the door halfway and then closing it again. She didn't even look over her shoulder as she spoke and her voice was low so as not to reach the ears of others but certainly able to be heard by an elf. "You are correct, Baron, I am no whore. Therefore, I take great offense at being treated as one. Your assumptions assure me that while you had no intention of paying a whore, you had intention of having one, no matter the title given. I do hope you enjoy that view, it would be a terrible shame to miss it." Forcing herself not to hang her head, Rayvinn stiffened her spine and walked through the door as it was opened, not allowing herself to look back as it closed.