Walking With Strangers [Finished]

[Kari Muffin]

Oh, chairs. They really were a challenge. She stared at it for a moment before deciding her best action against it. It took a moment for her to coil up and spring onto it. Once she was settled after a bit of wiggling and wobbling of the chair she went back to focusing on the man.

Small talk, it was really fun sometimes. "Oh, I don't think I was ever in this office. But a lot of the palace is the same, though with each and every person a few things change. Like Xiven used to have purple curtains in her room."

Why yes. All of those innuendos went over her head.

"Ah well I met her a few times when we were little. But I was never all that friendly... It wasn't until she ran into me after Lani died. It's a bit embarrassing really. She was such a nice person and I was too stuck up to talk to her when I was younger just because she was a Torquehelm." She gave a small bow of her head. "I feel like an idiot admitting that, but I did learn from the best when it comes to Highland pride."

[carcinoGeneticist]

The thought of Xiven naked came rather unbidden into Apocalypse's mind. No, damnit, he knew the color of her pubic hair. He'd been the first person to see her naked after she'd gotten her human form, no one would know better than him. It took a lot of effort to keep his focus on the woman in front of him when he was having such impure thoughts.

He just needed to focus on the game. "I imagine the tastes of whoever's on the throne does affect things quite a bit..." he said thoughtfully, rubbing at his chin.

That was interesting. He blinked, letting his hand drop. Xiven had always talked about people treating her differently just because of what she was, but he hadn't expected it from someone who seemed as sweet as the snake-deer coiled in front of him. That added a whole new level of interest to the girl in his mind, something that had caught him off-guard. "Don't be embarrassed. Sometimes we do things we aren't proud of." then he sighed, glancing back at her. A thought crept into his mind, something he could do. "I'm sorry, you'll have to forgive my ignorance, but... Who is Lani? I'm sorry, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."

How would the girl react without the shadow of her sister hanging over their interaction? That would be... interesting to see.

[Kari Muffin]

She looked at him, wide eyed for a few moments as he spoke. Of course he didn't know who her sister was. Of course he knew nothing of what had happened, he clearly hadn't been around at the time. Swallowing hard the snake deer could feel her eyes water a bit.

"Lokelani was my sister. A pure Highlander, Queen of Hearts. Rather powerful to boot." The tip of her tail curled as she could feel the tears slowly trying to sneak their way out. Oh no, she couldn't cry at a time like this. She took a sharp breath. "Ever since we were little she was the leader and I just followed suit half the time. Except when we got older she was a bit of a play girl and I just.... uh well. Never mind."

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. "Sorry sorry. I still get emotional thinking about it sometimes. I really miss her."

[carcinoGeneticist]

In a way, the man felt a little bad for bringing it up. He did know of Lani, and he did know of what had happened to her... But he hadn't really cared at the time. He'd had bigger issues, namely being a Weapon and screwing his summoner. And he hadn't known the woman. That counted for something, though from what he'd heard... He probably would have liked her quite a lot.

But he liked Viola, too. She was sweet, which was new. Innocent, which was even more new. Slowly, he slipped out of his chair, crossing the distance. He didn't hesitate, simply wrapped his arms around her head and long neck, closing his eyes as he hugged her. On its surface, it was a friendly gesture, designed to comfort, to reassure. But he'd seen the way she looked at him, seen the blush on her cheeks. "Hey," he said softly, breaking away and giving her a crooked smile. "There's no need for you to apologize. After all, I'm the jerk who brought it up. If she was your sister... It makes sense that you miss her."

Apocalypse had no siblings. Or parents. Or family. He had a group of people he saw as family, but no one related by blood. Except... Linnea. He couldn't understand her pain, but somehow... he did. It was the Bog mentality driving through, he was sure. "When we lose something like that it kinda... it throws our lives off kilter." he said softly, looking at the ground. "Especially if we looked up to them, and it sounds like you really did. But you have to remember something else, Miss Viola."

He turned his eyes back on her, giving her a crooked little smile. "You're who you are, independent of her. And.. I'm not the best judge, but..." he blushed deeply, his voice going quiet. "From what I've seen... I like the person I see in front of me. I'd really like to get to know you better, but so far, I see someone who's sweet, who's not afraid to admit to her mistakes, and who loves her family. I see someone worth liking, regardless of anything else."

[Kari Muffin]

The tears she was holding back managed to break through as he hugged her. She gave him a miserable watery eyed look. It was so sweet of him to be so supporting. No wonder Xiven had him as a King....

What he said made her ears flip back. He understood? That was nice. Plenty of people thought it was silly of her to hold on to her grief. Then again not many people had to raise the children that were left behind. And it was difficult not to think of her sister half the time. How had she produced such monstrous children?

And of course his words got kinder. She sniffed, her tears coming to a fairly quick end. A bright smile crossed her face, along with a bright red blush that threatened to spread further than her face. "Ah, you're just so very kind, Your Highness. And please, you don't have to call me Miss Viola. You can just call me Vio if you like."

[carcinoGeneticist]

Excellent. Comfort was always a good way to work your way into a person's good graces, and in this way Viola didn't seem to be any different. It seemed as if he was saying the right things to calm her sorrow, making all the right movements. He gave her another smile, but this one wasn't as innocent as the ones that had come before it. Absently, he touched her face, gently brushing the remnants of her tears away. His touch was light and fleeting, and he quickly ended the contact.

That would be a good indication of how she felt about his touch. Did she want more, or would she be happy when he finally pulled away? He'd have to watch closely for subconscious indicators here - anything that could show either happiness or sorrow would be of critical importance.

"Vio. And..." he blushed a little deeper, looking embarrassed. "Please, don't waste such lovely compliments on someone like myself. I'm not..." he shrugged, giving her a hopeless little grin. He could be sweet, it was true, but he knew what he was really like. He'd warn her, in the most flirtatious of ways. "I'm not a good person. Like right now, when I was hugging you, I couldn't help but think about... how beautiful you are."

Orange eyes met brown, and the man bit his lip, his expression one of mild upset. "I'm sorry. I just feel like I should be honest with you, especially when you've been so open with me."

[Kari Muffin]

Viola didn't push him away when he touched her. She was slightly surprised but wasn't about to shy away. The snake gave him a tentative smile, when her nickname was used. Honestly it made her feel a bit more comfortable.

And then he was honest with her in a strange way. No stranger had ever called her beautiful. At least, not that she could remember. And never a man. Absolutely never a man. She looked up at him, blinking and blushing furiously. Words, she struggled to find the right ones. They weren't quite coming.

Ah. What was this? Was this some sort of joke?

"I-uh-ah--" she stuttered for a few moments. "T-Thank you. I just, oh suits... I'm not sure what to say. Y-you're just so very--you know--and I'm really just... well I..." She coughed and stared at the floor. Say something useful. "You can't really mean that, Your Highness."

[carcinoGeneticist]

If it wasn't for the game he was so skillfully winning at this point, the man might have started to purr, or given a satisfied little hiss. Instead he settled on giving her a small but happy smile, one that touched his eyes and made them close partway.

Okay, he could purr a little bit. That was what felines did when they were happy, after all, and a sweet girl like Viola might enjoy the sound of it.

Clearly, he'd said something right. Had he guessed right that her innocence wasn't just an act, that she actually had no idea how to react to someone approaching her in such a way? Had anyone ever paid any attention to the sweet creature? Part of him found that hard to believe. She was interesting in appearance, to be sure, but that was part of what had made him settle on his choice. Her form was graceful, somehow feminine despite the antlers, and the way she was blushing, oh~ It just made him wonder what color she'd turn when he got more into things. The things he could show an innocent little girl like her.

The man blinked at her when she spoke, expression slipping into one of confusion. "I.. um. Why not?" he asked rather bluntly, inclining his head to the side as his brows furrowed. Oh, this would be an interesting one, wouldn't it? "You're sitting right in front of me, and I'm looking at you, and... I think you're beautiful."

[Kari Muffin]

She was more than a little flustered as he continued on the subject matter of her being beautiful. Her ears flicked as she gave him a confused look. He honestly thought that?

Her heart seemed to flutter. The blush faded only slightly as she looked back down at the floor. She had to say something in return. Remaining silent wasn't going to do anything, was it? A rather curious sound escaped her before she was able to speak properly.

"I'm clearly at a loss for words," Viola shifted slightly, curling tighter. "You're q-quite the handsome man and I've honestly never had attention from one. Most people just pass me by. So I'm... I'm a little shocked. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say or do in a situation like this."

Daddy had never really given her the talk or anything. And if he had she had clearly forgotten.

[carcinoGeneticist]

"It's okay," he assured her quickly, quietly. It was, too. She didn't need to say anything more in return - he'd gotten another answer. She did find him attractive. That was a big hurdle - a lot of people were rather put off by some aspects of his appearance, namely his teeth. Or, lately, his hands. She hadn't flinched away from his touch, which was a good sign.

"Handsome?" he said all the same, a soft blush spreading across his face. His purring increased in volume and he looked at the ground, then flicked his eyes back up onto her. "You... I... Thank you. You're too kind." he move in a little closer, then paused for a moment.

How daring could he be, at this point? It was something he was willing to test, a boundary he'd push on a little bit, putting more and more weight onto it until finally, it completely shattered and there was nothing of the sort between them. He wanted this sweet little creature, and the more he thought about it, the more he looked at her, the more he knew it was true. He wanted to have her, which didn't really surprise him. What did surprise him was his intent. Maybe it would be a kind of victory, if he was the first to bed a girl as innocent as her, but more than that... He knew he could be kind about it. He knew he'd be able to show her a good time.

If not with him, she'd lose her virginity eventually, and there was no guarantee that whoever took it would usher her into womanhood with his skilled touch.

Apocalypse closed the distance between them, closing his eyes as he kissed the tip of her snout. Then he blushed a deep red and stood, looking shocked. "I - Oh, damn... I'm sorry, I don't know..."