I am all you want me to be. [Rated R] (Tebbalicious)

[Anonymous]

Power.

That intense, undeniable craving for power. Some men did not accept their roles into society, they didn't accept what their limitations were, and they pulled themselves up to become greater, to become more than they were born as. Not just a simple person, a commoner, a serf, or slave, but to something more extravagant, to something more intense, and to something powerful. Some people were able to accept that they would never have such power, that they would never rise above, and that was fine for some people.

Others however, had power, they were granted such powers, and with it they wanted to rise above what they had and gain more power. They wanted to be at the top, they wanted to be supreme, they wanted all to bow to them.

Egomaniacs.

Yes, that was the word that was given to people like that. It was a short, ugly term used by people who didn't recognize obvious greatness. People who didn't see the world correctly, and were scared so they would hide behind words, behind terms that they thought protected them. It was like the other silly things that they thought protected them...laws for example. Laws simply stated that some people were inferior and weaker, and that a person who was stronger could do things to them that they couldn't stop. He found it was very much against nature, and he wasn't too pleased with it. There was nothing stopping that however, not at this time. He hadn't the power to change laws of such, but there was the power to break those laws without harm.

Yes...power could help with a lot of things.

Night was coming fast, and a place to sleep would be a nice thing to acquire. Setting out to find such a thing would not be hard. Arca had Inns to spare, and despite wanting to have a great Inn located in the rich section of town, his tastes had to be lowered. Residence at an Inn located near the poorer side of the city would have to do. It was more on the line of Poor and Middle Class. Had he not obtained power, he would have lived in the Poor side of the city. However, his power granted him access to almost anywhere he pleased.

The Inn he had chosen, the name he didn't bother to learn, it was unimportant to him. Inside was acceptable, it looked clean enough, didn't smell too bad, and the charge was fair enough. He however, looked like he could afford more. The man in question was dressed in extravagant silken clothing. It was a variety of colours, like the doublet he wore was half red, and half blue, his pants were a beautiful soft white colour, his belt was a shiny shade of black that had a strange glossy look to it. He even had a half cape, one that had a large stylized eye weaved into the back. He wore soft gloves, matching the colour of his doublet, with the left being red and the right being blue.

His soft, simple dark brown shoes made a light noise as he shuffled to the Inn keeper, who was managing a counter with various drinks behind it. "I'd like a room." The smile he flashed was one of charm and beauty. Despite the sharper look of his canines, with his Fae and Elf heritage look, it only made him look...exotic. His silken blonde hair was soft in the light, the pink streaks becoming a little hidden, while the blue streaks of colour in his hair became a bit more apparent. Those eyes of his, electric blue, with fleck of other colours trying to break through flashed. "I wouldn't mind a humble room, but one with a really soft bed would be most appreciated." His voice with soft and even, it was a voice of a man who relied on it to get him through life. Indeed, the voice helped him, it was part of his power.

"Of course, that will be three silver." A steep price, but he handed over three copper instead to the inn keeper. The man looked down at them in confusion. "These are copper friend." The keeper said as he looked up, straight into the eyes of the man. For a moment, the Innkeeper could swear he saw the small flecks blinking and dancing in colour. "Are they? I was sure they were silver, yes...they are." Both of them looked down to the coins, which were clearly silver now. The Innkeeper's face flushed slightly as he put them away, getting a key for the strange man. "My apologies sir, it must be the light playing tricks on my eyes." He apologized, but as a soft clothed hand took the key, the other waved around in dismissal. "Don't worry about it friend, we all make mistakes sometimes. It's what keeps us all humble." The Innkeeper nodded in agreement, fetching a tankard and filling it with ale. "So true you are sir, have a drink, on the house." Gratefully, the noble albeit strange looking gentleman took it.

"Have yourself a good night, kind Innkeeper." Lifting the tankard gratefully, he decided to head to the common room, knowing there might be a lot of fun to be had there. It was only starting to darken, so it would be filled. To his surprise, it was moderately filled with people. Some sat at tables, enjoying a meal, while others were on couches and chairs. He found himself a spot on an empty couch, mug of ale in hand, surveying the room with a bored expression on his face. He was studying people, but he had to seem as if he were uninterested. He was a lofty sort of nobleman after all!

Ah, the games that are played.

[Anonymous]

The day was quiet, peaceful, beautiful in some ways. It was bright, warm, relaxing. Everyone enjoyed Serendipity when it was warm. All outside, playing games, getting yard work done. The activity around the entire town was not limited only to humans. The birds were moving more then usual, grabbing food for their chicks, building nests from the hay on the ground. The noise traveled far, moving down the streets, into the buildings and eventually into the ears of Asyel.
 
She hated strange places, and you couldn't get much stranger then Serendipity. It was nothing like she was used to, magic users doing what they pleased being the biggest difference between here and Connloath. She didn't understand why mage hunters didn't come down here and clean up the mess the magic users had left behind. But she was also thankful for it. She stood out in Connlaoth, constantly being stared at no matter what she did to prevent it. Here, no one gave her a second glance as she walked down the street. No one cared about the four dots across her forehead. No one cared if she was pretty or not. She blended in and she loved it.

But she couldn't get passed the nervousness that came to her. Seeing magic at every turn, feeling the presence of those that weren't normal. It set her mind into an uneasy state. It also didn't help that she knew little to no one in this place. Her nervousness prevented her from even trying to get to know anyone. She was worried that she would upset someone and they would start her on fire or flip her inside out. So she kept to herself, blending in with the people around her, becoming part of the background.

Being in a new town, knowing no one, having no money, it all made living difficult. She wandered around for several hours, looking for a dumpster to huddle next to or an abandoned building to make a house in. But try as she did, there was nothing. This place was spotless, no empty boxes, no crates, no anything. She grew worried as the night began to show itself and she had yet to find a place to stay for the night. She came across an Inn. It would do, that is, if she could find a room for free.

Walking through the front doors made her feel like an intruder. She looked around at all the people, barely aknowlaging she entered. But she still felt loaded with wandering eyes, seeing through her façade, seeing that she had no money to pay or a place to stay if she were kicked out. The thought made her nervous and she clutched at the hem of her skirt. She looked down and leaned against a wall out of the veiw of most people. She could see everyone, everything, everywhere.
She enjoyed people watching. It was how she learned how people worked and conversed without actually having to interact with them. She pointed her head straight ahead and looked out the corner of her eye. She saw many different kinds of people. One lady, rather heavy, complained about something in her room. She raised her arms and spoke loudly, using words Asyel would never think of using. The man behind the counter just stared at her, his expression rather unchanging. He seemed bored, like he had heard this shpeel many times before. He handed her a coupon and she settled down, moving on her way. Asyel smiled, removing her glance from the two.

She looked back towards where they had been. A man walked up dressed in rather odd apparel. A confused expression crossed her face. She turned her head to get a better look at the two. The man asked for something, smiling quickly afterwards. The expression on the workers face was amusing as it went from bored to alert in a split second. He spoke back to the man, inaudible to Asyel. The man placed his hand on the counter, removing it soon after. Asyel figured this was just a normal interaction at an inn. She turned and walked over to one of the chairs and sat down. If she was lucky she would be able to stay there for the night or disappear into a closet and spend the night there.

She looked back at the man. He had a glass of what she thought to be Ale in his hand. She was glancing around the room, eyes landing on each person individually. She stared at him intensely, studying him as best she could from that distance. He had a sort of...appeal to him. It intrigued her, holding her gaze for a reason unknown to her.

[Anonymous]

Boredom was apparent on the young noble looking man's face. It was his ploy, to look bored, so if he approached anyone, it was because he was bored. Not that he really needed an excuse, but he found that some people questioned why a 'noble' might be talking to someone not of their social class. However, a man of extreme boredom, of such ennui, would often lower himself to the levels of others in order to entertain himself. People were silly, because really, he wasn't a noble, not yet. That was a goal in his mind, to have a parcel of land in Serendipity, somewhere a little out of the way, allowing him to conduct his...research.

Yes...research.

The term was used very loosely however. The man really wanted to have people to test on, and not have so many people ask questions. He'd throw a ridiculous amount of parties, inviting other 'nobles' over to his home and well...after that...there would be all sorts of fun. He liked to test his powers, test his abilities, and to get away with all the decadence and debauchery. He did like to see how people reacted, how they acted, and how their minds worked. Implanting hypnotic and psychic suggestions could do wonders for a person's mind, they often saw things differently from one person to another. He was fascinated by the entire thing actually, but it wasn't as if he was doing any of it for scientific reasons.

He shook himself from his daydreaming as he looked down to his mug of ale with a smile. Some minds were weak and easy, the manipulation was a sure thing. At other times however, it was a bit of trouble, and it was harder to control some people, or to influence them into doing what he desired.

Raising his glass to his mouth, he took a sip as he let his eyes wander from side to side. It was when he noticed that someone was actually looking at him. Not surprising, some were, but this woman was openly staring at him. His lips turned up in a smirk as he turned his head to return her gaze. Well now, it appears fate had a few plans for him and he wasn't going to just ignore them. That would be rude, and he wouldn't be rude to something that had been so nice to him. Standing up he meandered over to the woman, a pleasant smile on his face as he stopped in front of her, raising his glass to her slightly in acknowledgement. "Good evening Miss, I hope you don't mind a little company." Before he could get any sort of response from her he was quick to sit down in a chair just beside her. He leaned on the one arm of the rather nice chair, facing her with a smile on his face.

"I just had to find out why such a pretty thing would be looking at a man like me, I hope you don't mind. I thought I would introduce myself." Oh she was a sweet little thing. Already he had such questions for her, but he had to limit himself, he had to hold himself back and not give away his hand too soon. "I am Alyxsi Nymeron. What, pray tell, may I call you?"

[Anonymous]

Though she hated to admit it, this place terrified her. The people, the sounds, the magic. It made her want to flee back to the dark in Connlaoth from which she came. But then again anything 'out-of-the-ordinary' sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't even look at her own reflection without letting out a small shriek and shutting her eyes. It was what you could call a weakness of hers. So naturally when this man, with his shocking blue eyes, pointed ears and teeth and strange colored hair, came up to her, she flinched away from him, tensing up and shutting her eyes. To her, his appearance was repulsing, making her stomach quench. She couldn't quite explain it, but his type made her sick.

When he sat down next to her, she leaned as far away as she could. Uck! Even his smell repulsed her. She didn't mind being rude in public, and with her lack of social skills, she often was even without realizing it. She stared at him, her eyes wide and her mouth turned down in disgust. The instinct to flee nearly took over her, but her fascination with how people interacted with others held her where she was. She could now experience it first hand, and she wasn't going to turn it down. She, with effort, put a smile on her face, ridding her expression of disgust, hatred, repulsion and fear. She softened her eyes, which were watering from the unfamiliar and almost putrid smell radiating from his skin. But she cleared her throat. "No of course sir, I don't mind." She heard this phrase many times from women who wanted a man to join them. And she did. She wanted him to stay, though her body told her otherwise. She wanted to learn him, figure him out, doing whatever was needed to do so.

His next sentence, though confused her. "Pretty little thing?" The words escaped her mouth before she could stop them. Her face let go of it's softness, replacing it with confusion. Never in her life had someone said that to her. Many guys back in Connlaoth liked to stare at her, but she never knew what to make of it and, naturally, she ignored Them. But someone had actually said that to her and she didn't understand, forcing her to stare at him in utter confusion, trying to gain back her expression as she had had a few seconds before.

He asked her her name and she paused. This was one piece of information she never liked to give out. She looked down, trying to hide her eyes from his. She cleared her throat again before responding " You can call me whatever you want", letting a sly little smile cross her lips. She looked at him through her bangs, practicing the sensual eyes she had seen many women give to a man. She hoped her face was sending off the right message. She needn't get herself into too much trouble while here for who knows how long.

[Anonymous]

The reactions from the woman weren't anything that he expected.

The thing was how she looked disgusted at first. Now that was something that he didn't expect. Disgust. It was on her face, she even leaned away from him! If there was anything that could really hurt a man's ego, it was that. People had looked at him in a lot of ways, but he had never actually seen someone look at him as if he were disgusting, repulsive, he was confused to say the least. However, her expression changed, and he decided that he would figure everything out later. She appeared to be a strong looking creature, one with a good head on her shoulders. He didn't want to jump into any sort of hypnotizing just yet. No no, he wanted this to go slow...but he really did want to figure out why she had looked at him so...strangely.

"Well, thank you." He raised his glass to her, smiling a sickeningly sweet smile at the woman. She was a cute creature, a great new conquest for him really. She seemed to think he was disgusting, and really, if he could get her to be his slave, to make her follow any order he had, and with only a small amount of psychic suggestion...hah! It would be one of those encounters that he would be able to talk about for years to come.

Alyxsi nodded and grinned at her, showing off his teeth to her. "Yes, pretty little thing. That's you." His tone was soft, an amusing chuckle passing his lips as he had to tell her. Had she never been complimented before? Oh she was going to learn so many things wasn't she? Yes, and he was probably the best person to teach her. If he was sly about the whole thing, if he was careful, he'd have her doing anything he wanted, and he wanted her to do a whole lot of things. Those dots above her eyes, those ears, she was a real beauty. He imagined all the things that the two of them could do together, all the fun that they could have, and all the tricks he could play on her...it got him excited just thinking about it.

When she told him that he could call her whatever he wanted, he couldn't help but return the look to her. Oh my. If she was a prostitute, he'd make sure that at the end of the night he wouldn't pay her, but for whatever reason he didn't think that she was such. Still, his first response to her, had not been keeping his mouth in check, would have been 'I'd like to call you my sister Aledria.' That however was not the most poignant answer, and he decided to say something a little more wittier, and a little less creepy. "I'd like to call you by your name kitten, I'm hoping that it is just as beautiful as you are." Ah flirting, back and forth, back and forth, it was an erotic little dance between two people, and could end in such a passionate rendezvous. He hoped that this little conversation of theirs was heading in such a direction.

She was going to be real fun, he only hoped that her mind would be easy to dominate, to control, to enslave and to make his.

[Anonymous]

This man truly made her feel...odd. His smile, his actions, it was all new to her. She had seen his type before: charming, romantic, a real 'lady's man'. But it was hard to think of reactions when he smiled at her like that. It made her dizzy, made her stomach do flips. She didn't know what to make of these strange sensations. She wanted to escape them and go back to a world she understood and could relate to. But she wanted to stay here and learn first hand what a man was really like, what they really though, what they really felt around a woman. The thought of this kind of learning both frightened her and fascinated her, which held her where she was.

She was still dumbfounded by his comment. She never thought of herself as 'pretty', 'attractive', not even 'ordinary', and now this many was calling her a 'pretty little thing"? She tried her best to forget about it but had much trouble doing so. Never once in her life had anyone said anything like that to her. She had been called a nuisance, trouble, waste of time but never pretty. She shook her head slightly, trying to figure out why she was thinking so much about one little comment, why it was sticking in her head, why it bothered her so much.

He once again tried to figure out her name. Her stomach became uneasy. She didn't like strangers, she didn't like to get to know strangers, and she most definitely didn't like strangers to get to know her. She looked down at her hands, thinking of anyway she could get around telling him her name. Her name was all she had. If she just handed it out, what did she have left? She looked back up at him and his smile (which was a bad idea since it sent her stomach flipping again) and returned his smile, gently tucking her hair behind her ear. "Why don't you just call me kitten." She blinked a few times and looked back down at her hands, letting out a nervous giggle.

Why had this man even bothered to come over? People had caught her staring before and they only looked at her in disgust. But he came over and introduced himself and even complimented her. She wanted to figure him out but her instincts told her to rid herself of him. She ignored them. What good did her instincts ever do for her. She looked back up at him, now with a concentrated look on her face. She studied him; his face, his eyes, his hair, his outfit, his body. She bit her lip. "If you don't mind my asking, why did you...come over here?" He had already answered this question but she couldn't help feeling there was a different reason. A deeper reason. A reason she didn't want to know.

[Anonymous]

If he could compare her to anything, it would have been a deer.

She seemed scared and lost, alone and afraid of all around her. While she didn't jump and flinch at every little thing, the look in her eyes spoke to him. It spoke volumes. Already he couldn't wait to try and crack open that mind of hers, to force her to reveal to him everything. He would have to be careful, he would have to be...well, as gentle as he could manage. He would try the hardest way to go about the whole thing like a normal human being, actually tying to coax information from her. If that failed, he was sure that he could meet her in a dark alley later on.

Mmm.

Even that was fun.

His question seemed to bother her. She really wanted to keep her name a secret didn't she? Alyxsi smiled at that thought. Yes, she was just a deer, just a scared little deer being faced down by a predator. The game had started, and all she had to have done was just tell him her name. A name could hold power sure, but only if you let it have power over you. She looked so nervous, she seemed so deep in thought. What's in your head my little pet? What do you fear so much? If it is me, you have all the reason to. He thought idly to him self, causing his smile to improve just a little bit as he thought about it. He liked himself a challenge, and there were no more challenging than the unwilling.

"That wouldn't be as nice, I'm sure it's quite a lovely name, but you command and I obey, kitten it is." That would have to do for now, later however, he made his goal to know her name. He seemed to have a good chance with her, she seemed to be studying him, and it made him glow all the more. He liked when they wanted to watch him, he enjoyed the attention apparently.

"I caught you staring at me of course, and I thought you really wanted to have a pleasant conversation with me. I thought I should come over and introduce myself, perhaps offer you a drink or something to eat." Ah yes, food and beverage! He couldn't believe how stupid he had been! A little wine or ale in a woman usually helped to loosen their tongues. Heh heh, that was a fun thought. He was going to be smart though, just take it easy. "So would you care for anything kitten? They have a wide variety of beverages here, and I'm sure I can get a bit of dinner if you're feeling famished." He just had to ensure that the woman didn't run away. She seemed so nervous, so afraid of him, and so he had a perfect solution. He just had to...suggest that she didn't want to leave.

Such power to have over a person.

[Anonymous]

His smile truly frightened her. Never had anything held her like that, not even her fascination in people watching. It hypnotized her, made her want to do anything the man wanted. It made her feel like being wild, rebellious, crazy. It made her want to feel dangerous.

It scared her.

It made her want to run, to scream, to hide and never come out. But it had a certain power over her, holding her where she was, making her want to open up to him, let him see the real her. It made her want to do things she had never even knew were possible. It had the power to make her dance like a puppet or swing over a 50 foot flame with just a single command. The thought both frightened and amused her. She wanted to see if the man really knew what he had there but she didn't want him to use it on her. She didn't want him to have power over her, she didn't want ANYone to have power over her. She would have to make each move carefully, think out each word before she said it. If he knew what he had there, the power over her, he would most likely use it.

"Thank you" she said, thankful he dropped the discussion of her name. It shocked her slightly, most people prodded her until she spilled, but he had just....given up? She expected a little more of a fight but figured it was better not to question it too much. She would just be expecting a question to come up in later conversation.

She never really was one to drink alcohol. She felt it was a pointless hobby that only led to sex, violence, or anger. She had only had one drink in her entire life which sent her to a completely different world, a world she never wished to return to. And it turns out, with her tiny stature, she couldn't even hold down the one glass of ale. As far as food, with how nervous she felt right now, she would rather challenge the ale. So instead of ruining the man's outfit, she politely declined. "I just ate" she added, but soon after, her stomach let out a rumble proving otherwise. She just hoped he wouldn't notice. She decided to change the subject.

"So good sir, what brings you to these parts?" Small talk wasn't necessarily her strong point, but if it worked then all the better. She didn't like the conversation when it was directed at her. It would only add to the jitters. So it was to be prevented at all costs.

[Anonymous]

He knew his smile could be dangerous, that it could be infectious, and that it could be...persuasive. It was the quality, it was just the right amount of teeth, just the right light, just the right pull of his lips, just the right...smile. He didn't have to apply himself to the smile, not anymore, not like he used to do. He didn't even have to apply a psychic suggestion to it anymore. Or maybe he did...he couldn't be sure what happened automatically anymore. He was sure that he didn't impart any suggestions onto people automatically. Not that he didn't like to from time to time, he could remember a time when he had...heh...disrobed his sister with a smile.

She had got him back of course, but it had been worth it.

"But of course kitten, but of course." No need to scare her off, no need to have her think any worse of him. Polite, proper, let her become relaxed and comfortable. Seduction could be called an art, and he was an artist. Rape was...less of an art...more of a...sport. He'd have to see if he'd be an artist or an athlete tonight. Either one of them was fine by him actually. He wouldn't be picky at this point. He was easy to please...most of the time. Unless he got in one of his moods and well...that wasn't actually something that most people liked. He was a difficult man when he got into a bad mood.

She however was keeping him interested, and keeping his mood in line. That was good of her, that was smart of her. However, her next words made that smile falter. Mainly because it was a lie. It wasn't anything to do with the tone of her voice, it had been her stomach that gave her away. The loud rumble was clearly heard, but Alyxsi said nothing toward it. Why would she turn down a free meal? A free drink? He was offering to pay everything, and he would admit, maybe she was self-conscious. He knew a woman who felt like he had been buying her clothes off. It had made her feel dirty...and it had been true.

"I like the big city, it has a lot of interesting people in it. There are so many things to do here, so many people to meet, so many things to learn here. I find there's something...enchanting about a big city. Not to mention, there are such beautiful ladies like yourself here, so it's nice to meet such curious creatures." He chuckled lightly, setting his ale cup down to forget about it. He would need his wits about him, and alcohol made him a bit sloppy. "But you kitten, are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" The stress on the word wasn't just for his benefit, but for hers. It had an implication behind it, a suggestion. Just a light one, just a press at her mental barriers to test her will, her strength.

He had to figure out just how strong she was.

[Anonymous]

Her stomach began to twist, both in hunger and worry. She couldn't help feeling like something was wrong with this situation. She couldn't tell if it was because she wasn't used to this kind of interaction or if she truly had something to fear in this man. Her instincts told her the first, so she forced herself to relax a bit. But in the back of her head, she couldn't help feeling that this man was not quite who he seemed to be. As skeptical as she was about everything, it usually kept her out of situations she didn't want to be in.

She smiled a bit, blushing slightly when he once again complimented her. It was strange. She began to feel comfortable with him talking to her like that, saying those things to her. In fact she wished for more. It made her feel good, something that didn't happen often. As nervous as she was, each time he complimented her, she was only drawn in closer. She only wanted him to speak more words about her, wanting to hear his voice flatter her. But she didn't expect him to. She was, after all, only a poor street girl.

He offered to buy her dinner again. Her stomach let out another rumble, and she placed her hand over her tiny midsection. She really should eat something, And he offered to buy it for her. Besides, without money, who knew how far off her next meal was. She looked up at him and smiled sheepishly. If she let him buy her dinner, it meant somewhere down the line she would owe him something back and that was not something she wanted hanging over her head. But if she refused, she could ruin any chance of learning...researching...human interactions. She began to feel more like taking him up on his offer. What harm could it do.

But instead of going right in and saying yes, she decided to play hard to get a little bit. She had seen it done once or twice, noticing if the sir really liked the woman, he would try harder. She would like to see the same happen, so she tried. "I'm not so sure. I think I should really be off. I have to find a place to stay for the evening." She bit her lip at that last part, hoping she wasn't giving out too much information.

[Anonymous]

It was all just a dance for Alyxsi, one he'd done before.

The goal, in the end, was to get the girl. It was subtly however that was needed. You had to dip, you had to twist, you had to twirl, you had step and lead, you needed to know where to go without seeing, and hoped that at the end of the night your partner didn't get her toes stepped on. All he wanted was a little information, a little entertainment, and the woman was doing a fine job of keeping him baited. While that may not have been her intention, she certainly seemed to want to lead him around, and he'd follow her. She was exotic in his eyes, she didn't look like a normal humanoid, not one that he was used to anyway. It was the four dots above her eyes he assumed. He wasn't sure why, but they added something to her.

He liked it of course.

That blush was something that he didn't mind either. She must have gotten compliments before, lots of them, and yet she blushed like it were her first time still. People couldn't just control a blush usually, it was something that gave everything away. A person had to be careful about the lies they came up with, because a simple human reaction could ruin it all. That's what made the whole thing so fun, and she so far was very easy to read. She denied the food, but yet...her stomach said otherwise, and she blushed at all his comments. He smiled once more, this time a softer smile, it was just as genuine as the others, but it was...warmer almost. He liked to see a pretty girl blush, he liked to see them flustered as well, there was just something about it.

"Must you?" He asked, his lips turning to a slight frown. He could think of all sorts of things to do, but he was a 'noble' after all, he had some honour. "You've nowhere to stay kitten? That's unthinkable, such a beautiful girl like yourself? We must rectify that at once." It would be unwise of him to offer her to sleep in his room. She would never go for it, and it would certainly show his cards too early. "I insist that you allow me to purchase you a room and a meal. I couldn't sleep tonight knowing that I did nothing to help such a vivacious beauty like yourself. Please, stay right here I will return shortly." It was a suggestion, she seemed to want to leave, and he would not have such a thing. He wanted her to stay, he wanted her to open up and to learn more about her. If she was willing, the suggestion would work all the more better, if she wasn't, the compulsion to wait for him would be ignored. He was on his feet before he could get a reply from her, hurrying to the Innkeeper.

The dance with the Innkeeper was subtle, he cast his illusions upon his copper beforehand, giving over a whole gold piece to the innkeeper and getting a room for the lady, a very respectable room, he'd accept nothing less. He also made sure that the Innkeeper would scrounge up some dinner for her. It would be nothing special, some roasted beef, pan-fried potatoes, and a bit of bread, but he made sure it would be enough to satisfy her hunger. He turned back to the common room, to see if his little beauty was still waiting there for him.

[Anonymous]

All of this, her being here, him coming over to her, him offering to buy her dinner, a drink, a room. It was all so confusing to her. She had never had anyone really pay attention to her, talk and hold a comfortable conversation with her, smile at her like she was any kind of important. She was used to being ignored, glared at, gawked at, kicked around. She was used to being abused, physically and verbally. His reactions made her uncomfortable, and yet...

She enjoyed it.

She enjoyed being looked at kindly for once, being smiled at. She enjoyed being complimented and talked to. She enjoyed having him offer her things, things she needed, things she wanted. She wanted more. She wanted him to stay, to make her feel good about herself. She wanted him to fill in for all the years of abuse and torture she had gone through. She wanted him to speak more, to smile at her with the smile that melted her heart, the one that could make her do anything with a single word.

She wanted him, and that, in it of itself, terrified her.

He offered to buy her a room, an offer she couldn't afford to refuse. She had no money, no knowledge of the town and she knew no one. She glanced at him, smiling shyly. He told her to stay, something she would have ignored had it been a different man, or a different situation. Before she could say anything he was off, moving quickly towards the front desk. She watched him as he talked to the man at the front desk. It was quick and he even had food with him. She smiled, sighing a bit at his generosity. It made her uncomfortable again, knowing a man she just met was buying so much for her. But how could she refuse a smile like that? She couldn't was the correct answer.

He turned back, and she smiled at him. He still repulsed her, and yet, she was entranced by his appearance. It was something she wanted to learn to like. She wanted to expand her way of thinking, experience new things and this man seemed willing enough to give her all that. She would have to stick around, play her cards right, and see where the night went. What harm could it do?

[Anonymous]

If he had known that she had come from Connlaoth, he would have understood why she hadn't had attention lavished on her. He just assumed she was from around here, after all, she looked like an Elf. He of course looked like a lot of things, mostly Elf, Human, and Fae, but he had been born here in Serendipity. Granted, he wasn't like most of the hybrids that were in Serendipity, he was better than them. He could recall a woman called him a half-breed one time, and he had...gotten very angry from it. Not because it had been derogatory either, but because it had been incorrect. Halfbreed meant you were half of one thing, and half of another. He however, half three different bloodlines in him.

She learned from her mistake...eventually.

She was still there, that lovely kitten of his. How he was enjoying this little dance the two of them had together. She wouldn't give her name, and she seemed to shy, so innocent, so...enchanting. He loved it when a woman could manipulate him just as easy as he could manipulate them. She wasn't throwing around her beauty, she was just...well, he wouldn't say she was being herself. He didn't know her, and she had that nervous atmosphere about her. What she was nervous about, he wasn't sure, and he had felt that disgust from her earlier, that strange sense that she hadn't liked him...like he was...no no, it was best not to go along that path. He was having such a wonderful time, he didn't want to go and spoil it by using his gift too much.

The innkeeper returned with a plate of food and a large glass of water. He gratefully took it from the man and retreated back to the lovely woman who was willing to be his company. Everything that was happening was so subtle, so gentle, he was enjoying himself immensely. He thought of a goal however, to see if he wouldn't need to have paid for the second room for her. He wanted to see if they'd spend more...intimate times together later on. He set the plate down on the small table beside her chair, the glass as well, luckily the plate had a fork and knife on it already. He kept the key in his pocket however, smiling as he sat down. His ale had been long forgotten now, the thought of a drunken stupor not as pleasing as it had been earlier. "There you go kitten, I procured you a meal and a nice room as well." Alyxsi told her warmly, removing the key from his pocket and placing it on the edge of the table, just far enough away from her food and drink that she wouldn't it knock it away.

"May I perhaps...if it isn't too bold of me...know at least the first letter of your name? While calling you kitten is quite fine, even the first letter would satisfy my curiosity. I suspect your name must be as beautiful as you, but then, that's a hard stretch because...what could be as gorgeous as yourself?" Flattery was a good tactic, she seemed to enjoy it just as much as he enjoyed making it up. Now, he wouldn't deny that she was beautiful, and he had met some rather beautiful women in his time. Not quite as beautiful as his sister, but that was matter of opinion. This one however, this girl was exotic, it was the dots above her eyes he suspected. That's what made her stand out the most. Perversely he wondered if she had anymore dots scattered on her body, and made that another goal tonight to find out.

Mmm, what fun tonight would be.

[Anonymous]

She looked at the man, taking note of his appearance once again. She was too...offended by his oddities before that she never really saw what she had before her. His hair was neatly trimmed, blond and beautiful, the blue and pink streaks falling neatly along with the rest of it like they didn't even realize they weren't the same as the rest. His electric blue eyes spoke much about him, revealing all the experiences he may have encountered in his life. Her eyes drifted over his attire. Extravagant? Yes. Expensive looking? Yes. Her stomach turned slightly as she realized she was not dealing with someone of her status. He was much higher then her. What would he want with someone like that? Why would he lower himself to her level?

She glanced at herself. Her shirt was dirty, the edges of it fringed from the wear and tear of traveling. Her skirt was much the same way, and neither were the blue color they started out as. Back in Connlaoth, she had a few spare clothes that she could have brought along with her, clothes to change into in case she wanted to meet new people. But she figured that would never happen, so she left them behind. She figured she'd be back in a few days, a week tops. But now she wished she had brought something along, something to change into so she wouldn't stand out so much against this man. She felt more and more of an outcast being around him then she normally felt just walking down the street. It sent her into a state of uneasiness. She wanted to get out of there, to escape the stares she was bound to get. But he had told her to stay, and she wasn't about to disobey this man. She wasn't about to give up her want for learning for something stupid like the fear of difference.

He walked back carrying a plate and a glass of what she assumed was water. Her stomach made a noise at the sight of the food. She smiled at him, trying to quiet her stomach with her hand. He set them down and she held herself back from attacking the food. It had been a good day and a half since her last meal, but she didn't want this man to know. Last thing she needed was to draw more attention to her status than her appearance already had. So she looked at him and smiled, thanking him shyly, then looking at the food. It looked and smelt wonderful, better than anything she had had in a while. She picked up the fork and tried a bit of it. But the man's smile, his stare, it made her a bit nervous. She held the fork but stopped eating.

Her eyes fell on the room key and she relaxed a little. She had a room for the night. She wouldn't have to worry about scrounging around the city for a place to stay or steal a room for the night. She would be able to relax. She thanked the Alyxsi again, the smile spreading across her face, thankfulness spreading across the rest of her. She bit her lip, looking down at her hands. He wouldn't fully be able to understand how his actions affected her even if she explained them. She would feel forever in debt to him.

The good feeling ended with his question. He was persistent she'd give him that. But any conversation directed at details about her, they just made her feel uncomfortable, vulnerable. She felt as if she was exposed to the world, open for all to see. She frowned. He wouldn't give up. They never did. But he had only asked for the first letter. And she had given him so little in comparison to what he had given her. What harm could one letter truly do? She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to look at him when she spoke. "If you really want to know, my name starts with an A like yours." She blushed at his compliment. She cursed under her breath at being so easily manipulated. She had never let that happen, even with people she knew. But now she was letting a stranger influence her. How could she do that? What was different about him? Her curiosity rose.

He really was a mystery to her.

[Anonymous]

If only the girl knew that there was a lot of lies surrounding Alyxsi. His clothes, his looks, his manners, all an act to say the least. They weren't all lies....but he was no noble, he was not a high born, he was just...normal. His parents had been very normal people, his father....well he couldn't remember what his father had done, or his mother. He hadn't cared enough actually, because they were not the best parents in the world. He of course believed they should have nutured his sibling and himself a lot more than they did. Their family could have had power, such awesome power, great and terrible that made people fear them and respect them. However, the opposite was really true. Sure, if people remembered him, they might be afraid of him, but...there was none of that.

There wouldn't be a chance of that happening, not here, not today.

He found her to be just in the right class for him really. Though she was a bit dirty, he didn't care in the least. He liked it, reminded him of his former life, and it was like that saying...diamond in the rough. He really wanted to get those clothes off of her, into a bath, and...heh, well, after that...who would know where it could lead to!

He just knew that it aroused some very naughty thoughts in him.

He still couldn't figure the woman out though, she had nothing with her, just the clothes on her back. She didn't appear to have any sort of luggage with her, he wasn't even sure that she could afford it with how she was acting. She had sounded so hungry, and she had looked so...dirty. It meant there weren't many connections that would care if she disappeared, and he loved that. Still, he could do a lot with her, he could have a lot of fun with her mind, and this whole situation. It would require a few things, like an abandoned house, or just one that didn't have anyone in it for the time being. That would be for tomorrow perhaps. He had to get her to want to be around him, accompany him places, maybe get her a dress or something, nice comb, pamper her a bit.

His seduction dances could be a little complex, a little insane, and perhaps misogynistic at times, but the results were all he was interested. The means usually meant nothing to him, the results were all he cared about.

She seemed nervous under his gaze, worried almost, and if it was because she was afraid of him, he could understand. He was imposing...the eyes, the canines, the strange hair, his general aura...but he still wondered about her. She was so different, she was so...mysterious. He wished he could be as mysterious as her, but women often had an advantage to them that he could never have. Well...he had his...gifts...but they weren't as good as the natural physical gifts a woman could have.

Still, the smile on her face was enough for him, it helps him to sate him.

He was very glad that she finally gave in and decided to at least give something up about herself. Heh heh, he'd hope that she'd give up more than that later, but a happy grin was on his face as she spoke. "Just like mine? Mmm, I bet it's a terrific name then. It just has to be. My curiosity however has been satisfied, and I thank you very much for it." He bowed his head slightly, a calm smile on his lips. This was going rather well actually, he was enjoying this night rather immensely. Things couldn't have been going better, and he hoped that they continued to go this way too.

"Now, keep eating kitten, that stomach of yours has been singing for a meal for a while now, we wouldn't want to keep it waiting." Now was to test just how she felt. He looked downward, his eyes trailing along her neck, down her breasts, holding there for a few moments before looking to her growling stomach, then once more flickered back to look her at her face. Sometimes a compliment didn't have to be through use of words, granted he was perhaps...oggling her, but it was all a test. If she got really angry, he'd just smooth it over with some more compliments and apologies. He had a few lusty lines he could use that would hopefully get her back onto his side.

If not, he could make her forget.

Oh how he could make her forget.

[Anonymous]

She would not take gifts from this man. She didn't want to take the food, and if her stomach hadn't given her away, she never would have accepted the meal. She thanked him for it, but secretly she wished he hadn't been so generous. She would never be able to pay him back. She would never be able to thank him and have him understand truly how thankful she was. She wished she could. She wished she could do a lot of things. She wished she could undo past events, past mistakes. She wished she could...communicate better with people. She wished she wasn't scared of people, of putting herself out there. She wished she could pay people back. She wished she could be the one that needed to be paid back.

Oh if only things had been different.

She blamed fate. She had been born a rich girl. She could have whatever she wanted, and even if she wasn't spoiled, she was still privileged. If she so pleased, she could buy whatever she wanted. She could throw parties so extravagant she wouldn't know half the people there. She could snap her fingers and have a servant bring her imported ice cream from Switzerland. She could have anything she wanted before it came out. Fate had seen this and figured she needed to be knocked down a few notches. So it sent some psycho along. Her house caught fire, killing it and everything in it, including her parents. She escaped, saving only a few clothes and a candle, a last memory of her parents. Her life from that point changed, and she could never bring back what she had.

She brought herself back to the present. She hated her past. It was a time when she was careless, taking life for granted. She never thought twice about ignoring people on the streets. She never though one day she'd be one of them. Then again who does? Who thinks someday they will lose all their money, their family, and their entire way of living. She always just figured life would never change. And when it had first happened, she never understood why it had happened to her. She didn't know why life had been so cruel to her. She wasn't spoiled. She always did what she was told. She followed all her parents' rules. But as she got older, she understood that a single person can only have so much happiness before the balance of nature is thrown off. She understood it now, and she accepted it. Life was funny sometimes.

That brought up another concern. Life had decided to take her life from her. It had placed her in a world where she wasn't accepted. It had given her nothing to help her survive, no one to help her get through the rough time. But now it brought her to this town, this Inn, and it allowed her to meet this man. She was confused why she had gotten this after life had knocked her down. She was concerned that if things got too good that it all would be taken away again. She was concerned that life hadn't changed and that she wasn't in a good situation at all. The thought made her nervous and she disregarded it. He wasn't like that. He couldn't be, could he?

He complimented her, snapping her back from her thoughts. She smiled, looking down. Oh she would never get used to that. "It's really not that great." She said it and regretted saying it shortly after. It would only peak his curiosity again. It always did. But she hoped he would stay true to his word and drop the conversation. It always made her nervous, giving away information about herself. Last thing she needed now was to be more nervous then she already was. She felt like a fool. Someone easily persuaded by silly words or the fear of not being accepted. She had always seen herself to be the type of person to not care, to ignore shrewd comments directed at her. She had taken years to build up a defensive shield and this man had broken it in a matter of minutes. That scared her a bit. But it showed her that not all people were...rude to her. She was sort of relieved to know that. It showed hope for the future.

But even though she was hopeful, nervousness still ran through her system. He mentioned the food, and she felt nauseous. There was no way she could eat. But she felt horrible. He had paid for her meal. He had paid for a room. And she didn't want it. She had to eat it. She looked at the food and forced herself to smile. She looked back at him, seeing his eyes trailing down her body. She felt exposed, naked to his eyes. She set the fork down and placed her hands in her lap, looking down at them. She bit her lip and cleared her throat. She hoped he wasn't planning anything. He was generous but she was not interested in getting to know him well. She hoped she would just be able to thank him for the room and leave the next morning to find a new place to stay. But his staring made her quite uncomfortable.

She looked at him, still biting her lip. She would have to clear things up before they got too far. "Thank you very much for the room and the meal." She looked at the still-full plate of food. "I will have to find a way to repay you. But I should probably be off. I have to wake up early tomorrow and find a place to stay permanently." She smiled at him. Something was holding her there. She still wanted to learn, even though she knew she may regret it later. She couldn't leave even though she had to. She reached for the key and hesitated a bit before grabbing it. She held it in her hands for a second before thanking him again. She stood up and started walking away.

Deep down, she hoped he would follow.

[Anonymous]

If fate had been kind, Alyxsi probably wouldn't have gained these special powers. If fate had any sort of decency and kindness, Alyxsi would have been born a normal, simple child, and there would be absolutely nothing wrong or strange with him. He'd be living back in his little village with his mother, father, and sister, and they would all be living happily ever after. Instead however, things were different, things were on that strange path of life that are taken by people who are special and unique, people who aren't average.

People like him.

People like the beautiful young vixen before him. The one who had no name but kitten, the one who was interested but disgusted in him, the one who who had fallen onto his lap and had been chosen by him. This would be a strange turn of events really, he really hoped that fate kept delivering such nice little oddities to him. Like this woman, who had Elven Qualities, but at the same time wasn't a normal Elf. He liked that about her, she wasn't normal, she was strange, she was different, she was like him.

He waved a hand dismissively at her comment. She didn't want to talk about it, and despite his want to know her name, despite his desire to know what he could call her, he would respect her wishes. This was part of the dance, this was part of the seduction and part of the dance that he had initiated with her. Or...had she started it with him? She was the one who had looked at him and called her over with those lovely 'come-hither' looks of hers, and she hadn't exactly turned him away. His advances on her had been met with flirtatious comments and looks of her own. She wanted him around, but her motives were...well...he could think of a few motives, like she wanted sex for one thing, or perhaps just some platonic company. But the flirting...the flirting didn't mean just platonic company. Yet she acted...exactly opposite too, like she were fighting with herself.

That was interesting...he really wanted to try and...peek into that mind of hers and find out what was going on with her. There must have been something interesting going on, something fascinating to say the least. He liked the idea of knowing everything about her, and he was also vastly amused by the fact that'd he'd actually be satisfied just by knowing her name.

He had the first letter though.

"And you are quite welcome for both of them." Didn't thank him for his company though, but she probably had more on her mind. That damn mind of hers. It was irking him to say the least, but he would respect her for the time being, until he could get her away, get her into some secluded area away from the drone of the Inn's common room. She managed to rouse his curiosity though, permanent place to stay. She had no where to go, as if he didn't already realize that by now. But she was alone, she was alone, and there was no one there for her. That would be perfect. He could infiltrate that, he could make himself be there for her, make her become his, ultimately and completely. There was a lot of scenarios he could try to force into her mind, but he wasn't sure that it would be that needed. Mainly he could just go with something simple, like...being a noble.

She seemed to be hesitating, and he put on a look of confusion, of hurt, and of being lost. He knew his next move, but he wanted to seem like he was at a loss for what to do. She walked away and he could only stare after her. IN his mind he was counting though. He wanted to ensure that he gave enough time before he 'gathered up his courage' to go after her. When she was around the corner to get the stairs he stood up and quickly dashed after her. This would be fun to say the least, at least in his mind. It was part of that seduction thing again, part of trying to get her to like him, to warm up to him. He was quick to make it to her, his hand gently falling on her shoulder to stop her. "Wait, Kitten." He turned her around to look at him. That's when he swooped in, his lips pressing against hers. The kiss was soft, it was gentle, but it had the backing of passion and just a bit of lust.

He knew not to keep it too long, and he pulled away, just a few inches though. "Let me stay with you, kitten...please..." She had the nicer room after all, and her flirting couldn't have been for nothing. They could have a nice enjoyable night together, the two of them, and he could wear her defences down slowly, until she was his, and he had her in his grip, in his control, and things would be...divine.

[Anonymous]

She didn't know what she was doing. She didn't understand what her actions could have meant to him. She just tried to mimic what she saw other people doing, women with their husbands, boyfriends, and fiancés. She didn't understand that she had been flirting with him, she just figured that was how normal people talked to each other. Had she known, she would have apologized, a flush sent to her cheeks, and she would have walked away, trying to forget the whole thing. But this was a mystery to her. She had traveled into a world unknown to her on accident, and she wouldn't know how to fix it.

But at the time, she didn't care. She kind of liked the game they played. The playful banter, the witty comments, it was something she found interesting. She could be creative, coming up with things to say in response to his comments. He was better at it of course, clearly having more experience then she. But she was willing to learn from him if he was willing to teach her. She would be a great student, listening to his advice, following his actions, maybe making up her own twist to things along the way. She just wanted him to teach her how to interact so she could live a life among people instead of as an outcast. She wanted to be accepted, even liked by people. She wanted to fit in.

But she didn't know how.

She got up, hesitation heavy in every action. She didn't exactly want to leave, but the situation hand gotten difficult for her to handle, so she did the only thing she knew how. She had walked away, clearing the common room painfully slow. Time seemed to be slowing down, and the further away she got, the slower it went. She couldn't be sure why, but each step took a painful amount of energy. She was tempted to turn around, to make it easier on herself, but she couldn't do that either. So she moved forward, taking one painful step at a time.

She reached the banister. She had gotten used to moving with the strange feeling she had through her. All she would need to do is get to her room and she'd be able to go right to sleep, forgetting about the man in the lobby. She'd be able to wake up the next morning and leave before the night manager was done with his shift. She'd be able to find a more permanent, more affordable, place to live in this town where she was accepted. She would..

She felt a hand on her shoulder. It startled her a bit and she let out a small gasp. She turned her head, seeing the pink and blue streaks of the man she had just gotten done talking to. Seeing him surprised her a bit, but somewhere in her mind she knew he would come. And she hoped for it. But she would never admit it. He said her 'name', making her stop. He turned her so she was facing him and she was greatly confused by his actions, and it was clear on her face. He pressed his lips to hers, making her inhale sharply. She was shocked, never having done this before. She didn't understand and couldn't figure out what this meant.  She shut her eyes tight, tensing up. He pulled away and confusion was even more obvious in her face. "Wh-what was that?" She touched her fingers to her lips. An odd tingling sensation stayed with her, spreading from her lips to the rest of her body that she never thought she'd be able to recognize.

His face was close to hers, and she leaned back naturally, fearful of someone being that close to her. She wasn't sure what had gotten into him. No one had ever acted this way towards her before and she didn't understand his actions. He asked to stay with her, and she didn't know quite what to say. He had a room, she saw him pay for it earlier. She didn't see anything wrong with letting him stay with her as long as there was room for both of them. It would free up another room for some other person, so she agreed to let him stay. She looked at him, still leaning away slightly. Whatever had gotten into him didn't seem to be anything she couldn't handle. She would do her best not to be alarmed by what he did anymore.

She looked at him, smiling slightly. She may not have understood what he did, but she was going to try and understand. She stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his as he did to her. It was a small peck, but she smiled like a proud puppy when she pulled away again. She was learning the only way she knew how, by experience. But after a second, the smile vanished, leaving behind a feeling of uncertainty that wasn't there before.

She bit her lip, looking down at the ground. "I'm sorry. I'm just...I don't know. I'm going to go up to the room now." She turned away, reaching for the banister. "You can...come up whenever I guess...if you want." Her stomach twisted with her words. Something about what she had just said sounded wrong, sounded messed up in a way. But she didn't understand what was odd about it. She started walking up the stairs, taking each step slowly.

What had she done?

[Anonymous]

He could only wonder what was going in that girl's mind. She seemed very reluctant to leave, very reluctant. He could see that she was trying her best to go, but she didn't seem to want to. He had to be very sly about this whole thing, he couldn't seem desperate, but he wanted to make sure that it showed that he cared...and in a way he did. He thought that he had the enigmatic stranger motif down pat, but this woman had captured and held his interest, his curiosity, and his desire. He wanted to know more about her, he wanted to be with her more, and he definitely wanted to find out if she had anymore of those sexy spots on her.

Mmm.

Soon enough. There was so much regret to that woman, she wanted to stay with him, and he wanted to stay with her, but there was rules, there was things that he needed to do first. But oh how he wanted to have just followed her right away, but he would stand for watching her leave slowly, seeing a slightly seductive sway of her hips. He wondered idly if she had much experience with men, he didn't often find himself with...the inexperienced ones, and you always had to be careful with them. Depending on how the night went, she'd have a lot more experience with men.

Either that, or she'd have no memory of him.

A pity really, but that was the way things were. Alyxsi stood, straightening his clothes, knowing that he should go after her now. He had waited enough, counted in his head, watched her as she disappeared, it meant the time was right.

She was so surprised, her eyes wide, and the kiss...it had definitely surprised her. He liked that, it showed that she really was new at this. How she couldn't have been expecting this? Because she didn't know! It was simple, and he absolutely loved that then. He reached up to take her hand after she touched her lips, smiling that charming smile of his at her. "That was a show of my affection, a kiss." Alyxsi told her softly, his eyes gazing into hers. The flecks of colour in his eyes were reflecting the light from around them as he stared into her eyes. She tried to move back, and he let her, knowing he shouldn't push, or...heh...force himself.

Not yet anyway.

And she agreed too.

The prospect was becoming better and better. How to do this sort of thing however? How to be careful with what he was going to say, what he was going to do, how he was going to act. She was new, she was inexperienced, and she seemed so...nervous. That made him worried. What if she backed out? No...what if she wasn't affected by his powers. Yes. If she backed out, he could just use his powers, force her to dance to his tune so to speak...but then...what if they didn't work on her? That was a terrible thought. All of his fun, all of his...power was related to his abilities and his gifts. If he couldn't convince her, and he couldn't trick her with his powers...

He'd be at a loss wouldn't he?

It was time to be very careful then. His hand went into his pocket, he removed the key and placed it on the banister's landing, the flat part at the very bottom of the banister. The innkeeper would see it eventually and take it back. He was up the stairs after her almost right away, his hand slipping around her shoulders ever so softly. "If...I might inquire Kitten...you seem distressed and nervous about something and...is there anything I can do to help? Anything you need of me, just ask." He wanted her to feel relaxed and for her to feel good about the decision that she was making. "You can open up to me Kitten, I would very much like to know...so much more about you." Her name included...and the spots of course. "I have not been so struck by a woman before, never have I met any like you before, and dare I say that I just wish to spend time with you and listen to you talk...so please...if I can help, if I can do anything for you, do not hesitate to ask." Charming. Be supportive. It wasn't a complete act either, a fabrication, or an outright lie. He did want to know more, he want her to open up and tell him about her life.

Why was she so nervous? Why did she act so...scared around him? She tried to flirt with him, and yet she gave him mixed signals. It was very confusing, but intriguing. He felt like he should just...use his powers and get her to open up.

Maybe.

[Anonymous]

It was a strange thing. This day had started out terrible. She feared every corner, kept herself secret and felt hopeless that something horrible would happen later on. Nothing much had changed. But when she entered the Inn, when this man had come up to her, something clicked inside of her, changing her view on things a bit. She couldn't figure out what it was, but something was different. She was still scared, still worried, but she was surprised when that was also mixed with...attraction.

It hit her. She glanced at the man, Alyxsi, out of the corner of her eye. He was an odd one, that was for sure. At first glance, a real quick glance, he looked like he belonged with the rest of the people in Serendipity. One would pass their eyes over him and think nothing of it. But take a second or two more to see him and he stood out. His hair, clothes, his overall appearance, it said something about him. And even though he was the type of guy Asyel feared the most, he had a certain appeal to him. She couldn't figure out what it was. But leaving him or ignoring him would no longer be an option. But she wasn't going to let him know that.

Not yet at least.

He grabbed her hand, an action that both surprised her and made her smile. Her throat dried up a bit. He clearly knew what he was doing. His eyes seemed to dance as he stared at her, the colors reflecting from everywhere. And that smile. She couldn't explain it, but she had never seen something so beautiful or...appealing before. Her smile spread a little wider and she felt like an idiot for just standing there and staring at him. She had nothing to say, and because she feared ruining the moment, she said nothing.

She watched as he put the key at the bottom of the banister. It made her stomach flip a bit, a reaction she did not understand in the least. What was so significant about that? It was a key. She looked at the key in her own hands, playing with it nervously. She hoped her choice hadn't been a mistake that she would soon regret. She didn't know the extent of what could happen. It never even crossed her mind that something could happen. She tried not to let it bother her too much. She relaxed automatically when he touched her shoulder, the nervousness almost drained from her. But she still felt...unsure about the situation, the only thing keeping her from saying anything. But his words sounded so reassuring. She looked at her hands.

"I'm not nervous." Her voice shook a little bit as she said it, barely noticeable if you weren't paying attention. She cleared her throat a little bit, trying to rid it of the dryness. She walked up the stairs, concentrating on moving forward without tripping over her feet. She didn't know if there was anything he could do. She didn't know what was wrong. Something just didn't...feel right. But she wasn't going to tell him that. So instead she just smiled at him. "You are being wonderful." And that was as far as that conversation would go. She didn't want to open up to him. Not yet. She wasn't yet sure if she should or if it would be safe to give him information. He had done so much for her, but she still felt it safer to stay silent.

But the silence was even weirder. Silence had never bothered her before but now it seemed out of place and wrong. She glanced at him, the nervousness returning. A worried look crossed her face. She inhaled, thinking of anything to break the silence. "So how old are you Alyxsi?" She wanted to smack herself for asking such a silly question. But her mind had panicked, pulling out the first random question it could think of. And it's not like she didn't want to know. But it wasn't her top priority to find out. He looked young, and that was about as much as she truly needed to know.

She looked forward again, seeing the top of the stairs nearing. It then occurred to her she had no idea what room she...excuse me, they were in. She looked at the key, reading the number. 200. That was a suite. She blinked. She didn't need a room like that. She thought maybe one with a bed and a shower would be nice, nicer then what she usually lived in. But a suite? She glanced at the man again, surprised shock clear on her face. "Did the manager make a mistake in giving you this room?"