(Based on Collaborative play between DamonKard and Mihaela with a brief appearance by Warlord of Woe...)

Mihaela was curled up on a couch with a coffee and a book. She wasn't reading more than starting at the same page.

Took a lot to get Damon from the island of late. Been spending a lot of time roaming the territory to ensure that things remained quiet and that unsavory individuals were routed with vengeance. Damon tolerated very little in the way of anything that might harm the pard in recent days since certain events. But time away was suggested by one and rather than argue (for once) Damon took the advice and found himself in Rhy-Din city, roaming the streets. A scent caught his attention and eventually brought him to the door of this little sweet shoppe that Tycet favored for treats. He pushed the door open, scowling at the merry jingling of the bell that announced his arrival to all within.

She looked up at the bell jingling and smiled seeing who had stepped in. She closed the book she had been trying to read and set it aside.

Fingers tried to settle the mop of red but the movement only managed to brush some of the bangs from his eyes although the majority returned to fall where they had prior to the grooming attempt. Damon peered around then prowled toward where Miha sat. His boots only gave away the slightest of swishing as he moved. "Am I interrupting?"

She shook her head, having chosen to leave her mane loose today. "No, was having a hard time concentrating."

He settled to the couch near her without crowding her space. "Why is that?"

She sighed softly and wrapped her arms around one leg that was up on the couch. She rested her chin on her knee, "So much on my mind. Between you getting hurt and the break with ... the wolves." She lowered the lids of her eyes to hide the glittering. She was feeling like a failure.

He tipped his head back. "I was stupid. You didn't have anything to do with that. You saved my ass." He didn't mention the wolves. Damon felt that it was good-bye to bad rubbish on that end. He'd never really trusted the canines all that much and was glad their leader wasn't messing with Mihaela's feelings anymore.

Her lips quirked a bit as she raised her eyes to look at her second, "Yeah, well, do it again and I'll kick your arse myself." She was joking in her tone. She reached out to run a hand along his arm.

A smile tugged faintly at his lips. "That could be interesting."

Her smile met his, "It would indeed, though I prefer a *different* type of wrestling with you."

The teasing left his faint grin, warming it a touch. "Mm. Is it just the wrestling you like?"

She got a look on her face, an intimate one. "And more. Or do I need a reason to want to be close."

"I'm not sure how you .. feel. You know." He tried to look nonchalant but his eyes couldn't leave her. "Just the doing or if um, you know. More. Me. or not. Just. I'm rambling." He cleared his throat and looked toward the counter. "You hungry?"

"Yeah, more, you, Damon." She said softly. She regarded him a moment.

His gaze left off the inspection of the counter to land on Mihaela again. A smile grew a bit more as he shifted to touch her hand. It was amazing to him that such a small and otherwise apparently fragile hand could wield as much power as it did. He knew it. He could feel it in her and he respected it. Deeply. "You know I'd give my life for you."

She laced her fingers in his, "(vq) As I would for you, Damon." She moved to encroach on his space. Some things were becoming clearer now.

Damon had no complaints when she moved closer, his fingers more than willing to lace with hers as she moved. His own position shifted a little to make her more comfortable. "We all know what you'd give for us. Your heart has an amazing capacity for care giving and responsibility and protection." He didn't dare say anything else more intimate. It was a fool's errand to hope for that.

"Good. Then I claim you as mine." He sealed that with a nip to her earlobe and another nuzzle along her neck.

She couldn't describe the elation she felt at his words. She purred softly, "And you are mine Damon."

"Body, soul, and spirit."

She murmured softly, "Always."

There was a little doubt that this was only because the wolf had disappeared leaving an ache inside her. He pushed that away, though. In the here and now, she was his and that was the important part. He held her close and continued to nuzzle along her neck, alternately kissing and nipping.

She purred softly holding him close to her. The warmth in his chest spread, the sound of her purr and the feeling of her body against his was pleasant. It was comfortable and he decided to enjoy the moment.

She leaned up to kiss him tenderly, tonight she would show him how much she loved him, but for now she was content given the setting.

Given that the old man was nowhere around, his pretty daughter was busy with something in the oven and there were no other patrons about at the moment, Damon gave in to the touch of Mihaela's lips against his. He returned the kiss with a warmth and tenderness that he'd kept from her previously out of fear. Now, though, it felt natural to share it with her.

She purred contently in his embrace. Much of the weight had lifted. There was nothing left that needed to be said. He was content as well, as told by the occasional rumble in his chest.

She broke the kiss and grinned up at him, "Might be time to tease Chas about having a Girlfriend."

"Why?" He touched her cheek, eyes searching hers. "He won't be any fun to tease."

"Haven't you noticed the newest member of our family? Another silvery haired female?" She was teasing him a little bit too.

"Yeah, I noticed her. She's cranky." He smirked a little. "Smells like Chas too."

She laughed softly, "Stood up to you, eh?" She nuzzled into the curve of his neck.

"She just sassed back."

She chuckled softly, "You like it when people have a backbone though."

"That's why she's still alive."

She purred softly, "She's a different type of changer, not a were."

A man walks in, faking a strong shiver. He shuffled over to Damon, ?I'm very sorry to interrupt you... but please, one more coin and I can get a pair of shoes...? He seemed to cough as he begged very weakly, ?I haven't eaten in three days...?

Mihaela looked up at the beggar that walked up to them.

?Have pity on a poor beggar...?

Damon?s brow lifted, eyes shifting from the woman in his arms to the man who'd shuffled up to them. Her nose seemed to twitch as she sent a probing look at the one that shuffled up to them.

Damon wasn't the sort who typically carried a lot of cash but this beggar would find today is his somewhat lucky day. Damon shifted a little and found a couple of coppers in his pocket. "Won't get you much, but it'll get you something." He offered it to the man without unwrapping his other arm from around Mihaela.

The other man?s eyes shone and he smiled widely, ?Thank you kind sir! Thank you so greatly!?

"Mm.. yeah. Sure."

As the man turned around, he tried to seamlessly slipped his hand into Demon's left pocket, withdrawing a second copper coin, hoping he hadn't noticed. He quickly paced to the door. Considering how Damon was lounged on the couch with Miheala sprawled across him, there was no access to his pockets since even Damon had had to shift slightly in order to get his own hand in his pocket.