(Taken from live RP.)

Daniel glanced out the Red Dragon Inn's window as Riley wrapped up her long and harrowing tale of her time with the Faeries. He was surprised to see that night had fallen while they talked; the story had been longer than he'd thought.

Riley gave him a grin that was two parts wry and one part rue. ?I've totally talked your head off all day. I'm sorry,? she said. She'd traded in her coffee for her usual scotch and water after the sun went down, and now she took a sip before nodding to him. ?Your turn.?

?Not at all,? Daniel replied. ?It was quite fascinating...in a macabre sort of way.? Hr blinked as the last thing she said penetrated. ?My what??

?I've talked your ear off and spilled my guts,? Riley explained. ?You need to return the favor...or something.? A corner of her mouth curled in a little lop-sided grin.

?Oh,? Daniel replied, tilting his head inquisitively. ?Well. What would you like to know, then?

Riley arched a sable brow at him. ?Uh...Seriously? After what you told me about yourself last night you have to ask what I want to hear about??

?I suppose not,? Daniel said, a little pointlessly, taking a sip of his tea before continuing. ?Well, I already told you that I was born in India. It was in a lovely place called the Valley of Flowers. It's a national park, actually.?

At that moment, Riley raised her head, clearly catching a familiar scent, and looked out of the booth to the crowd, which had grown considerably int he hours between the time they'd entered and now. She smiled and waved at someone Daniel didn't recognize, though his nose told him she was another Cat. Then Riley turned back to him and smiled. ?That sounds really pretty. Do you remember much?? Her attention was distracted once again, however, as she spied another friend and smiled at him.

?Not much from living there originally,? Daniel answered. ?As I said before, I was born a snow leopard, so I didn't really stop to enjoy the scenery. I could give you some lovely tips on hunting the wild goats there, though.?

?Wow,? said Riley. ?Okay. I can totally see how that would come in handy...if I were to ever go to India.? She gave a smile in response to some silent communication going on between her and the man at the bar. Daniel noted the by-play, but decided it wasn't his business to ask questions, so he continued with his story instead.

?However, I did return there a few years back, as a tourist. I can definitely say it was quite pretty.?

Riley returned her attention to Daniel, asking, ?So...How'd you get...you know...here??

Daniel flashed her a quick grin. ?Well, that could either be a fairly long story, or a rather terse one. Which would you prefer??

?Long? I've got time,? Riley replied, settling back against the booth, holding her body stiffly, unable to stop from wincing as a tortured muscle pulled the wrong way.

?In that case, I'll continue from being born.? Daniel winked, hoping to distract her from the aches and pains she was obviously feeling. ?I lived the first year and a half of my life purely as a cat. I didn't have any idea I was something more.?

?Do you remember anything from that time?? Riley asked, sipping her scotch. Her caramel-colored eyes were fixed on his own gray ones, flustering him a bit.

?Oh yes,? he replied. "It's left quite a mark on my life. I was essentially a teenager before I learned anything about human life, so I have an unfortunate tendency to forget things like speaking, or handshakes, when I'm distracted, or nervous.? Such as he was right now, being stared at by this amazingly attractive woman. ?Er. Yes, I remember quite a bit. Hunting, tracking, sleeping...um...? He trailed off as he realized he was probably sounding a bit idiotic.

Riley chuckled, clearly sensing the cause of his troubles, sipping her scotch before speaking. ?And then what??

?One day, I was hunting with my mother and got caught in an avalanche. It swept me away, carried me quite a distance down the mountainside, and over a middling cliff, where I was promptly buried in the snow.? He took another sip of tea, hoping it would calm him.

Riley blinked, surprised. ?Holy crap. Seriously? An avalanche??

?Yes, indeed. It was a frightening experience, as you can imagine. And it was made worse by what immediately followed. I managed to dig myself out of the snow before losing consciousness. When I woke up, everything was different. My fur was gone, my limbs were the wrong length and shape, I was freezing...and so on.? He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the terror of that day. Fortunately, he was spared the embarrassment of Riley seeing his lapse, as her attention was thoroughly captured by the sight, of all things, of a tiny, speeding sports car being driven by what appeared to be an animate Barbie doll. The car raced across the floor by the bar, weaving in and out of stool legs before coming to a screeching halt under a cart.

Riley blinked, and blinked again. ?Is that...no way. It can't be.? Clearly, it was, however, and a moment later, when the doll stepped out of her impromptu garage, Riley called out, ?Work it girl!? In return, she got a blown kiss and a bright plastic smile. Riley giggled and shook her head, obviously wishing she'd had a doll like that when she was a girl. Finally, she turned her attention back to Daniel. ?Let me guess. You shifted, right??

?I did, indeed,? he replied. ?Only, having always lived as a cat, I wasn't able to reason out what had happened. All I knew was that I was freezing, I couldn't walk; because my legs were the wrong lengths, and I couldn't even call out for my mother because my mouth had changed.?

Riley nodded, finishing off her scotch and pushing aside the glass. She glanced out of the common room again, then back. ?Must have been horrible. How did you survive?"

?Sheer luck. I was spotted by a botanist from Oxford, visiting the national park with his wife. You can imagine his surprise when he hurried over to the fallen figure and found a naked teen-aged boy in the snow.?

?Wow. Lucky you,? Riley said. ?So, wait. What the hell was a botanist from England doing in India??

?Very lucky. They were all that kept me alive. Ah...he and his wife are both professors at Oxford University, and lived in England, but were of Indian heritage. They decided to go to India, visit the homeland and all that, for their 30th anniversary. Not to mention there was ample material to interest a botanist and a conservationist at the national park.?

Riley nodded, absorbing all of this. ?So, they took you back to England with them??

Daniel took a sip of his tea and nodded, continuing, ?Yes, after the authorities at the Indian hospital were unable to find any record of me in their system, Nigel and Margaret?which are their names, by the way?decided they didn't want to let me become just another ward of the state, especially after it was clear I couldn't even speak."

?That was really nice of them,? Riley replied, ?They sound like lovely people. How long did you stay in England??

?Oh, several years. It was there in England that I learned I was a shifter. After that initial shift, you see, I never went back to being a cat, apparently my body sort of 'forgot' about it amongst all the trauma.?

?Sure. It must have been terribly traumatic. How'd you learn to Shift back??

?Nigel took on the mentorship of a graduate student from Peru, named Braulio. Braulio was a jaguar, in fact, just like you. It was he who showed me how to change back and forth.?

?Huh.? She toyed with her glass, trying to decide if she wanted another drink. ?Seems like a whole string of coincidences. Kinda funny how life works out like that.? A ghost of pain slipped through the depths of her eyes and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

?It is,? Daniel replied, ?isn't it?? He reached over and patted her hand lightly, sympathizing with her pain without making a big deal of it. ?Braulio also showed me how a young man should act, got me interested in things like sports...and women, of course, though I figured that one out without much help. Braulio was a little stiff, himself.?

?Yeah, I'm pretty sure you didn't really need help when it came to the opposite sex,? Riley laughed.

Daniel flashed a quick grin, ?In the interests of humility, I should refrain from agreeing with you.?

She snorted and rolled her eyes. ?Puh-leeze. You're a Cat; humility is not in your nature.?

?You're right, of course,? he snickered softly. ? Anyway, after Braulio left, about a year later, I was much more comfortable with human life. I decided to try going to University, since my 'parents' were teachers, and he was a student, too. It didn't work out very well.?

?Too boring??

?Yes, exactly. I had just learned of this completely new and interesting world. Staying cooped up in classrooms did not appeal to me.?

Riley nodded. ?My best friend in college was the same way. She didn't want to be in school, but since no one else in her family ever got into college, she kinda felt like she had to go.? She fidgeted with her empty scotch glass again, then nodded at his teacup. ?Want some more??

?I think I would,? he replied. ?However, you should let me get it, and yours if you'd like some more. I know you're still hurting.?

(Taken from live RP.)

They came strolling down the street, hand in hand, chatting quietly. The hunt last night had been rather...vigorous, and they were both feeling nicely relaxed, a nice change for Riley, if a common occurrence for himself. Riley was dressed casually in blue jeans, a black and azure springy shirt and black Chuck Taylors, her state of relaxation was further helped by back-to-back classes - yoga at dawn and then the advanced ballet class.

?This is the first time I've seen you truly relaxed.? He said quietly, as the Inn came into view. ?I like it.?

She gave him a wry chuckle and slipped up the porch stairs, resisting the urge to twirl around the post, like Gene Kelly. ?I would say that we need to do more hunting, but I'd worry about depleting natural resources.?

?Mm. Well, we'll just have to find some other activity to...relax you.? He said it with great solemnity, though the mischievous twinkle in his eye belied that seriousness.

Sadly, she just gave him a raised brow kind of look, not deigning to respond. ?Are we going in or what??

?Spoilsport,? He muttered, then continued in a normal voice, ?After you.? He opened the door with a grand gesture.

She grinned at his mutterings and then pulled open the door of the Inn, stepping inside and giving the place a quick once over. ?It's very odd to me that this place is practically empty during the day.?

He blinked when she yanked the door right out of his hand. ?Feeling your Wheaties today, hm??

She laughed I am. Though...,? She glanced at him from out of the corner of her eye.? I feel slightly bad about being so...vicious.

He glanced over at her as they made their way to the bar, wondering if she meant she felt bad about her actions, or the fact that he was there to see them. He hoped it wasn't the latter, but wasn't quite sure how to reassure her, if it was. He decided to take the middle path, instead. ?Sometimes, you have to let it out.?

She nodded and turned her glance now to the wall she'd attacked last night. It was, of course, perfectly healed now, thanks to the Inn's regeneration spells ?Maybe I should invest in a heavy bag with the same spells as the Inn has.? She moved through the break in the bar asking, ?What do you want?

?How about some masala tea? It's quite refreshing in the morning.? He replied as he leaned against the counter and watched her move.

She arched a brow. ?Yeah. You're gonna have to tell me how to make that. I could swing a cup of Earl Grey or even some green tea, but anything more involved than that's gonna require a little instruction.?

He grinned. ?Maybe I should give you some lessons. Earl Grey would be fine, though.?

?Cooking lessons might be kinda fun. ?She set water on to heat while considering her own drink. Too early for alcohol, she wasn't in the mood for tea or coffee...that left few options.

?Then it's settled. We'll start tonight.? He traced idle designs on the counter top with one finger as he spoke.

She nodded, still somewhat distracted by her perusal of the myriad drink choices.
Finally, she just shook her head and settled on a Coke. She turned back around and leaned against the counter, facing Daniel. ?I'd offer you yoga lessons in return but... You don't really need them.?

?I've seen your yoga outfit. That's enough incentive to take lessons, regardless of their necessity.? He flashed a quick grin at her.

The tea kettle was beginning its wind-up and she removed it from the heat. ?Don't think I didn't hear your comment, Pollyanna. I'm just choosing to ignore it.? She poured hot water into a cup and added a tea bag.

?Yes, I've noticed you're quite adept at selective deafness.? It was becoming rather fun to tease her.

She grinned and pushed his tea across the counter to him. ?Just like a kid, huh?? Then she popped open her Coke, poured it into a glass and added a couple of ice cubes.

She turned to face him fully and shrugged a little, ?Maybe a bit. ?She set the glass down on a near-by table and worried her lower lip for a moment. ? Most of this is going to be rehashing of what was printed in the papers after the Night of Revelations. I mean, my entire life story was in every gossip rag for like six months after we came out. So, I'm pretty sure you've heard it or read it all.?

He nodded.

?Well...,? she continued, ?You know about Andy, right? What happened to him??

?I do, yes.? He remembered the casual cruelty of the papers and their speculations.

Some mix between sadness and anger slid through her eyes and she worried her lower lip again, thinking where to go from here. ?I... I met someone, about a year ago.? She paused again, wondering how much of her disappearance was covered in the papers.

?I remember reading about you vanishing. There wasn't any mention of another, though.?

She shook her head, ?No, I worked really hard to keep him out of the press's attention. He was...,? She smiled softly, a little wistfully at the memories, ?He was a demon hunter.?

He raised a brow. ?And he wasn't trying to kill you??

She shook her head slowly. ?Nope. He was...trying to protect me.? She gave him a smirk, ?It's complicated and would make a killer book, but we...were going to get married and...I was pregnant.?

?What happened?? He wanted to say a lot more, but he was determined to let her do the talking.

?Someone decided that I was the cause for all of her suffering and...attacked me. I lost the baby.? She turned away from him, struggling to get the emotions under control before continuing the story, ?Rhys, the baby's father... He disappeared, too.?

?I'm sorry, Riley,? He said, touching her arm lightly, ?I can't even imagine.? She gave him a grateful smile and covered his hand with her own, clinging to it for a brief moment of weakness. ?Did you ever find him?? He asked.

She shook her head and folded her hands in her lap, ?He's still gone. I thought maybe...the Fae had him. All of this..., ?She waved a vague hand in the air, indicating the conversation they were having, ?Is my ham-handed attempt at explaining...stuff to you about me.?

He put his chin back on his hands and nodded. ?I'm listening.?

She laughed bitterly and shook her head:, ?Stuff that I wouldn't have realized about myself had it not been for Aolani's invasion and Eamon's abduction. So, I guess I should really thank them instead of actively trying to kill them, huh??

He snorted, ?From what you've told me, perhaps both.?

The corner of her mouth curled in a wry grin. ?Yeah. Maybe, ?She shifted in her seat, curling one leg underneath her and leaning into Daniel. ?I think...,? She licked her lips nervously, ?I think I need help. Professional help.? Admitting this was so hard; the Cat was used to being strong and soldiering through everything on her own. Weakness was not something to be owned or even talked about.

She frowned a little, seeing definite merit in her idea. ?Of course, I'm serious. You're not a species-ist, are you??

?Um. Er. Well...,? He was tongue-tied. The words, they did not work. He stood, suddenly, and paced around their chairs.

She chuckled at Daniel's reaction and sipped her Coke, watching him pacing. ?Oh, come on. It's a good idea. Don't act like it's not.?

He blinked at her, wondering if she was really that clueless. He couldn't say a thing, though. He growled softly, frustrated with his inability.

?Oh, I get it. You're shy. I could ask her for you, ?She said helpfully.?

He couldn't even tell if she was being serious or silly at this point. Finally, he manages to untangle his tongue a bit, though the words are more growl than speech,
I have to go.? And he practically ran for the door. Outside, he took deep breaths of the warm air and closed his eyes. His reaction to them was almost as surprising as her words. He paced back and forth on the porch, growling softly, trying to get his thoughts...and tongue...under control. He could smell when she stepped over the threshold and onto the porch, but didn't react in any way. The Cat wasn't capable of talking yet. She moved to the side of the door and leaned against the wall, arms crossing loosely over her stomach as she watched him pace.

?You...uh...okay? ?She asked softly.

He turned to face her and shrugged, forcing the word out, ?Fine.?

?Liar,? she said bluntly.

He growled and turned away, knowing full well she could smell his emotions more clearly than he could speak them.

?C'mon, Daniel. Don't be like that.?

He shook his head, took a deep breath, and forced his tongue to work, ?I'm sorry.?

?For...?? They'd just covered a lot of ground and in pouring out her tale of woe, she'd created a bunch of opportunities for apologies.

?For running out. For pushing you towards something you don't seem to want.? He shook his head again. ?Clearly, I misunderstood.?

?Misunder...,? She stared at him for a moment, disbelieving, ?Jesus, Daniel! I don't want...? I'm not dead, for god's sake.?

He stared back at her. ?I've been doing everything I could possibly think of to interest you...and you tell me to ask Mindy out. How else should I take that?

She groaned in frustration, ?You don't want to interest me. Trust me on this. I'm...f*cked up. Badly. People I fall for die. Hell, even people who are just good, close friends die.?

He threw up his hands in frustration. ?You're scared of getting close, but what good does it do anyone if you just close yourself off??

?What good does it do? It keeps people safe, Daniel. It keeps people alive. Isn't that good??

?Alive is one thing. Living is better.?

She gave him the look reserved for people who are being obtuse.

He stalked down the street, no doubt looking every bit as frustrated as he felt. Pausing outside the Inn, he wondered if it was even worth going inside. It certainly hadn't been very enjoyable earlier...except perhaps for the last few minutes. He stared at the wooden doors for another moment or two, then shrugged. What the hell. He opened the door and took a breath, testing the air for any dangers, then slipped inside and headed over to the bar. He smelled tea, and noted that someone had been kind enough to leave the water on. Slipping behind the bar, he dropped a packet of spices into a cup and poured hot water in. A moment later, the deliciously spicy scent of chai wafted out from the cup. He added some milk, then took the cup and made for the hearth.

"Oh, that smells nice," Aliss said as the man carried his cup over to the hearth. "What is it?"

He looked over at the girl and smiled, pleasantly enough, though his heart wasn't really in it. ?It's called chai. It comes from India, on Earth. ::He'd learned to add the planet of origin to his explanations. So many people from other worlds in this place.?

"Earth?" Her face lit up and she dropped the book into her lap, immediately forgotten. "Is India anywhere near Scotland?"

He shook his head. ?Not very near, no.?

Her face fell and she sat back, somewhat disappointed in his answer. She lifted her tea to her lips and took a tentative sip of it before smiling once more. "I'm Aliss Cameron," she offered.

She looked so disappointed, he couldn't help but take pity. ?However, I lived for quite a long time in England, which is rather close to Scotland.? He held out his hand. ?My name's Daniel.?

She hesitated briefly before shaking his hand, her own encased in thin leather. "I've heard of England. It's full of..." she frowned briefly, trying to recall what Auld Malcolm had had to say on the subject. "Scally wags, thiefs and criminals, right?"

He burst into laughter at the description of England. ?I imagine some would say so.? He said when he got himself back under control.

She frowned, a little confused at his reaction. "Is that not right?" A light crimson stain had crept into her cheeks and she worried her bottom lip between her teeth, worried she'd made some sort of faux pas.

?Well...not exactly. I don't know from whom you heard that, but it seems as though it was someone who disliked the country.? He sipped the chai and heaved a quiet sigh. It always relaxed him. ?It's really not so bad as all that.?

She nodded, "It's true. Auld Malcolm apparently did not have a lot of love for England. Or the English, come to think of it."

?Many Scots don't...and it's hard to fault them for it.?

She smiled. "I guess I can skip the next question that I normally ask people when I first meet them, since you've already told me where you're from."

?That's true.?

She sipped her tea quietly, studying Daniel for a moment. "You must be new. I've never seen you here before."

He nodded, gray eyes meeting her blues, ?I've only been here a few weeks.?

"Do you like it?"

He paused for a moment, thinking about Riley, then replied, ?Yes. I do.?

She grinned, "Good, I'm glad. Some people are really turned off by this place. Some people are really scared by what they find here." She shrugged, "I was born here, lived here my whole life. I think it's...interesting."

Mindy walked in, giving a wiggle of fingers, greeting the boy next door as she slipped behind the bar to rummage for the perfect drink to suit the mood.

?Well, ?Daniel said, ?I won't deny that it was a bit...odd...at first. ?He chuckled, ?But, there are many good things, too.? He turned, offering a smile and wave to Mindy when she walked past.

Aliss followed his gaze and smiled a little, leaning forward and whispering in a teasing tone, "Is that one of them?"

He nodded seriously, ?My neighbor. She's extremely nice.?

?And what do you do for a livin', Aliss?? Mindy asked.

"I breed horses and hunting dogs."

?Yeah? What kind of dogs??

This afternoon's conversation was weighing heavily on Daniel...which reminded him. He sighed and looked over a Mindy, not wanting to speak, but knowing he had to. ?Er...Mindy??

?Mm??

Aliss opened her mouth to respond to Mindy's question about her dogs, but fell silent as she sensed a mood change. She sat back against her chair and folded her gloved hands in her lap, letting them talk and trying to to eavesdrop.

?Um,? Daniel paused, thankful his skin was too dark to show a blush, ? This afternoon...Riley and I had, well, a rather heated discussion, and...er...in the course of it, your name was sort of...brought up. I just wanted you to know that...nothing we said was meant badly at all. I'm sure you'll hear about it from some gossip, and I didn't want that to be the first you heard of it.?

Mindy quirked a brow, ?Right.. what context??

Daniel turned away and shifted uncomfortably in his seat, ?I...she, um, made a suggestion, and I'm afraid I reacted badly,? He said over his shoulder, clearly not thrilled with speaking.? He curled up in the chair, trying to disappear into it or something.

Aliss arched an eyebrow, desperately wanting to know what they were talking about, but deciding that it wasn't really any of her business. She didn't even know this Riley person after all.

?Sugar,? Mindy replied, ?You'll offend me more by not fessin' up than you ever could otherwise.? She set down the empty juice bottle and gave him a somehow soothing look, ?Besides now you've got me curious.?

"Excuse me," Aliss murmured quietly and rose, taking her empty tea cup to the bar and giving them real quiet and solitude.

?I...erm...oh, hell,? Daniel said coherently. ?You've probably figured out that I've been developing some feelings towards Riley,? He said reluctantly.


?That's about as plain as daylight in the summer,? was Mindy's reply.

?Then you've probably also seen that when I get...flirty...she tends to back off.?

?Yep. Seems to be her way.?

?Yes...well. She explained some of why she's that way to me this afternoon, when I asked if my flirting bothered her,? He was less uncomfortable explaining this part, though he wasn't looking forward to what was coming up.

She gave a little nod, encouraging him to continue.

?She told me how people she gets involved with seem to end up dead. Then she...,? he broke off and looked away, blushing again, even if it couldn't be seen.

?Did she tell you to go flirt with me instead?? Seemed a logical leap to her.

He blinked, surprised, then nodded slowly, and whispered, ?Yes..exactly that.?

She gave a little snort of laughter, ?And that's what has you all a-fluster? Sugar, you'll have a hard time with that skittish kitten. I don't envy you.?

He shook his head slowly, ?I'm afraid I treated her suggestion like a joke.? He was a little calmer now, having made the confession. ?I...fear that I might have made it sound as though I was repulsed by the suggestion,? He finished that last sentence all in one rushed exhalation. Frankly, he was a bit surprised at his continuing ability to speak...usually when he was this bothered, the Cat literally had his tongue.

She waved it off, ?Hardly somethin' I'd be angry about.?

He burst out into laughter, shaking his head, ?That's the description of most men's fantasies, you realize??

?Uh huh. Brothers, remember. Stupid ones who didn't know how to hide their porn properly.?

?I can hardly imagine.?

?I did all the laundry from the time I was seven. I lost count of how many girly mags I found in laundry hampers.?

?What did you do with them?? He was very curious.

?At first I stashed them in the attic, but when I hit about thirteen I started pullin' them apart and gluin' them to the front fence. The bus stop for the boy's high school was right outside our gate.?

He laughed, ?That must've gone over well.?

?Frank wanted to date Jenny Bascom the preachers daughter, but after that her father locked her in the house till her 20th birthday.?

?Did your brothers realize you had done it??

?Of course. My backside was black and blue for a month after they complained to Daddy. Daddy didn't think girls should be makin' mischief.?

?Ouch.?

She nodded, ?Frank never got his date with Jenny, but she ran into Pete my youngest brother at college. They've got two kids now.?

?A happy ending??

?For Pete. Frank still grumbles about it at family picnics. He's also still single as is his twin Hank.?

?For every winner, there must be a loser, it's true,? He thought about Riley again...he planned to be a winner in that one.

?Jenny's a doll. And the their girls are a pair of little princesses. I wish it was easier to get back and forth from here.?

?It seems that some people have found ways to do it easily. I overheard some conversation about that earlier today...before things got a bit crazy between Riley and I.?

She nodded, ?It's travelin' around when I get to the other side that makes things pricey. Met a girl who's got friends who have some sort of gate that opens out in New Orleans. But thats a long way from Peach Grove Alabama when you've gotten used to paying for everything in local silver. Not exactly a direct exchange rate.?

?I suppose it would be hard.?

?They mail packages for me though, and receive letters. I get one once a month or so.?

?Well, that's good, then. He paused, then, ?I doubt my family has any idea where I am.?

?You miss them??

He started to nod...then shake his head...then just gave up and shrugged. ?I don't know. Honestly, I suppose not. There's so much to see here. They're wonderful people, but...,? he shrugged again.

?That's how I felt for most of my first year here.?

?It may change for me, too, after more time has passed. Or...it may not. I wandered for several years before ending up here, and never felt much urge to return.?

?Someone once told me that Home isn't a place it's a state of mind and Family is just a tool to shape the heart in to a vessel for a journey.?

?That's rather poetic.?

?It was one of the old guys from the rare book reading room. Wise guys in the best sense of the word. You know this has been kind of nice. I don't recall the last time I got to sit and have a chat with a handsome man without someone glaring daggers at me.?

He nodded in agreement, flashing a quick grin at the 'handsome man' comment, ?It has been nice. I enjoyed it. Well...most of it. My "true confessions" moment was not exactly a high point.?

?Maybe you should try.?

?Again. I'm lazy. :: she smiled:: And I haven't seen that many unattached males around here that I find appealing. Or females either for that matter.?

?Hmm,? He was at a loss for a useful reply.

She snickered and waved a hand at him, ?Don't let me bring your mood down. I'm actually alright being mostly alone.?

?I've heard a lot of women say the same.?

?They probably meant it at the time, but it's ninety percent bravado. Otherwise I wouldn't have settled for what I do have.?

He nodded, thinking. Then his head rose as the Jaguar's scent hit him. She smelled...sheepish, oddly enough. Maybe he was getting through, after all. His eyes turned to follow her movement, almost without volition.

She chuckled softly at his wandering eyes, and slipped out of her seat to head to the bar for more juice.

Riley had no idea why she was bothering to hide from him. It wasn't as though he couldn't smell her, probably could even smell her exactly feelings right now. Sighing and straightening, she attempted a normal walk for the rest of her trek to the bar.

He watched her every move, thinking, pondering, weighing. What would be the best way to act toward her?

?Evening Riley,? Mindy said, offering a friendly smile to her landlady and friend, ?Need a drink while I'm getting things??

?Uh...,? said Riley. This was a good start. Mindy didn't seem hell bent on her destruction. She risked a smile, ?Do you know how to mix a black and tan? Which I think is now called a Mahogany and Oak.?

?I think I can manage, ?She gave her a wink, ?Go ask Daniel if he wants anything while I mix that up.?

Her eyes narrowed dangerously at that. She snuck a look over her shoulder at the Leopard and then back at Mindy, ?He looks fine to me.? Yes, double entendre included.

?Yes, yes. But ask him anyway. Just to be polite, Kitten.?

Finally, Daniel decided that the best thing to do would be to play it cool, and try not to push her at all. He nodded to himself. He would do his best to friendly without being flirty.

Mindy gave Riley a "do what Mama says" look as she started mixing her drink.

Riley stuck her tongue out at Mindy and sulked across the room in the general direction of the hearth.

He stood up as Riley approached, offering her a friendly...and only friendly...smile.

She arrived at the hearth and stood awkwardly nearish Daniel, ?Uh... Mindy wanted to know if you want something. From the bar,? She hastened to add this last bit, an arch of a sable brow thrown in for good measure.

His hand twitched, badly wanting to reach out and touch her, but he resisted, ? Some tea would be lovely, thanks. From the bar,? Okay, he couldn't resist that last bit.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously and she spun on her heel, headed back to the bar and muttering about conspiracies. She practically barked Daniel's order at Mindy, ?He wants tea.?

?Does he care what kind of tea or should I be randomly picking one??

He sat down, his smile fading away. Even playing it reserved hadn't seemed to help. He sighed softly, gray eyes focusing on the fire.

Mindy handed Riley her drink, ?You should go ask because I'd hate to give him the wrong flavor.?
Riley's mouth thinned into a tight line at the prospect of having to go back and ask him another question. She sighed and made up his mind for him, ?He wants Earl Grey.?

?Right. Earl Grey.? She wrinkled her nose but went to prepare the tea anyway, ?I'd have picked something more exotic I think.?

Mindy slipped out from behind the bar to take Daniel the tea, asking ?Am I going to have to go back and forth between you two all night to have one conversation with you both or are one of you going to move??

He spoke quietly, without taking his eyes from the fire, ?I don't think she wants me nearby, Mindy.?

?Sugar, that's not the vibe I've been getting from her all week,? she kept her voice low, ?I think she'd actually have been quite put out if you had actually expressed an interest in me.?

Riley sat down hard on a chair next to Daniel, beer in hand, muttering, ?F*cking city's bat-sh*t insane.?

He made a non-committal noise, watching Riley out of the corner of his eye. Had he cat ears, they would have been fixed on her, though.

She took a healthy pull from the glass clutched in her hand.

Mindy sighed a little and curled herself back into her seat. ?It would be dull if it weren't utterly mad here. I might as well have stayed in Peach grove.?

He tilted his head a little, so one eye was aimed at Riley, wondering if he should say something, though he wasn't sure what he could say that wouldn't set her off. Again.

?I think I could actually stand a little boring every once in a while, you know?? Riley said.

?I think the only way that's going to happen is if you never leave the Zen building in the mornings,? replied Mindy.

?Or at least my own loft. Goodness only knows what the rest of you get up to.? She sighed deeply and curled up in her chair, the beer still clutched in her hand. ?I'm sorry.? The words were soft enough that probably only Daniel would hear them. Which was good, since the apology was aimed at him.

Finally, he turned his head the rest of the way, to look fully at her. His answering whisper teetered on the edge of inaudibility, even for someone with ears as keen as hers. ?Me too.?

He caught the sudden scent of her discomfort, and quickly divined the reason for it. "Yes, these stools are no more comfortable now than list night. Where to?"

"Booth? Hearth? I'm easy." She forced a little grin. Focus on the present, focus on the present, Little Kitten.

"Hardly," he replied dryly. We spend all of our time at the hearth. Let's take a booth for a change." So saying, he took her hand and headed for one.

She curled her fingers through the Leopard's hand and followed him to the booth, her other hand still curled around the martini glass. It was just too yummy to let out of her sight. He ushered her into the booth, waiting until she was seated before settling down across from her. He sipped his tea and sat quietly, waiting. She blew out a deep breath, feeling more relaxed now that she didn't feel she had a big target on her back. Caramel gaze flicked once more to the Super Secret Society and her eyes narrow slightly as she studies the others they are with. One of them looks familiar. She leans forward, towards Daniel. "Isn't that the guy from the other night?"

He glanced sidelong at the crowd, and nodded, replying quietly, "Yes. The one you gave advice to. Clearly, he did not listen." He was gratified to see her discomfort ease as soon as they were settled into the booth.

She gave a tiny shrug. "Or maybe he did and he's now acting on it." She quietly hoped it was the case. She studied the Phantom for a moment, full lower lip caught between perfect, white teeth.

"Perhaps." He followed her gaze, briefly, then returned his attention to her face...a definite step up.

She shook her head sadly, her voice soft. "How sad." Then she visibly brightened and looked back at Daniel. "I have an odd question for you."

He raised a brow curiously. "Oh?"

"Are you Hindu?"

That was about as far from anything he might possibly have guessed she would ask as was possible, and he blinked in surprise for a moment before answering, "No...not as such. I...well, my parents were, at one time, but they sort of lost it when they became more interested in science. I didn't get much religion in my, er, humanization. Frankly, I never quite grasped the point of it."

She nodded slowly and took another sip of her martini. "I only ask because there's a big Buddhist holiday coming up on Thursday and I thought maybe you'd like to observe it with me?"

"I'd love to," he replied. "I don't know a lot about it, but I'd certainly like to learn. And...well," he smiled a bit hesitantly, then continued more softly, hoping she'd take it well, "Any excuse to spend time with you."

She gave him a soft smile, though inwardly she was cringing. She licked her lips and tried for casual, reminding herself of the importance of the upcoming holiday. "Good. It's the Buddha's birthday. It's kinda our birthday, too, in a way."

"How so?" he asked, forcing himself not to sigh as he smelled the sudden change, her withdrawal.

"Are you familiar with Mahayana Buddhism?"

"Not in the slightest."

She chuckled. "I can explain at a later time, if you want. But some Mahayana Buddhists celebrate our birthdays on the Buddha's because we're celebrating the the immutable and eternal nature of all beings."

He just had to ask. "What does the Buddha think about lycanthropes?"

She grinned. "I don't think He'd care one way or another. It's what people do and think that matters. Not what they are."