The Real Life [OPEN!]

[carcinoGeneticist]

There it was, the realization of exactly who the man she'd been dealing with actually was. In a way, it made Apocalypse sad that she now knew the truth. There was certainly an interesting quality to interacting with someone who had no idea that he held a seat of power, an honesty to it that was just plain refreshing at times. It would be a shame to see that change. He lightly scanned the wine menu again, then set it down, raising an eyebrow at the woman and trying to keep his grin in check. That was proving to be far more difficult than he'd originally intended. She was going to make this difficult, wasn't she?

"I'm sure you're a busy woman, and you could almost certainly be using this time to do something of value." He propped an elbow up on the table, leaning into his cupped hand and smiling at her. She really was cute when she got flustered... not that he would tell her that, of course. "Not only that, but you've given me the gift of your company. The least I could do in exchange is treat you to a nice meal and a glass of wine. Do you prefer white or red?"

With any luck at all, that would put an end to her complaints. If she insisted on chipping in further, Apocalypse wouldn't deny her, but he'd really prefer that she didn't. He wanted to do something nice for her, especially if she hadn't been in the Capital for long.

Talk of politics was a rather safe little corner for the King - after all, it was what he did on a daily basis. "It can be, for sure. I will admit, the constant walking on proverbial eggshells gets a little bit tiring. The Diamonds have things much easier, there," the man chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "But it is interesting when I get to go to other places to meet with people. It certainly beats sitting at my desk with mountains of paperwork. Don't let the propaganda fool you - that's ninety percent of the job."

Was she actually looking at him and smiling? Well, that was... nice. A light flush of his own appeared on his cheeks as hee met her gaze, inclining his head to the side as a soft little smile crossed his face. "I'm very glad to hear you say that."

[Callypso]

Iso had stumbled into uncharted territory once again. Her eyebrows furrowed in worry and confusion as Pale stiffened, looking slightly uncomfortable. Had she said something wrong? The ferret was so accustomed to not displaying emotional affectations that she failed to realize, in her self-medicated state, that she had been less than careful about her usual mask. Her surprise and mild panic at the King’s occupation had splashed itself across her muzzle, visible for all to see. Even she could spot the difficulty he was having maintaining his avid grin. Whatever could she have done to offend him so? Luckily the doctor’s concentration was not so keen at the moment, and the king wiped away all worries with his flirty counter-offer.

Oh my.

It was impossible to hide the dark flush that spread across her cheeks as the king simultaneously leaned in toward her, saucy lips twisted in a smile. Her company a gift? Well now, she had not heard such a statement in, well, it had been rather a long time, even for one as young as herself.

Oh, really, now. I’ve already told you my research wasn’t going well. This is a much-needed distraction from my failures, I assure you. Wait, had that statement been inconsiderate? She hadn’t meant to imply that his company was as good as any. This outing was turning out to be more difficult than bargained for. How was she to know the right thing to say?

I – thank you, you are very kind. I am rather enjoying myself, though please, allow me to leave the tip? It is really the least I could do. I would like to pay my dues on this lovely afternoon.

She smiled and flushed again, mumbling her predilection for red wine, hoping that would prevent him from questioning her indelicate conversational skills (or lack thereof) and potential impropriety for insisting on leaving the tip. Really, social matters were beyond her, but she really did want to help with the meal, even if it were only a minimal amount.

Pale’s description of his Courtly duties was amusing, and she couldn’t help but laugh outright at his suggestion that she might be interested in a political position.

Paperwork I can handle. As a researcher, tedious data entry was nothing new to her. It’s the rest of it I could not tolerate. The only way you could get me into the Courts would be as a medical professional performing my services. That, or be dragged in for malpractice.

She laughed again. Any one that bothered to incarcerate a Corvie for unethical proceedings would have had to have been insane. Though Iso was proud to consider herself outside the normal rank and ilk of her Realm, she was well aware of the… liberties… that most of her kind seemed to indulge in. Still, the thought of an official dragging in a load of mad scientists was rather amusing.

Iso’s own musings were interrupted as she noticed the color creeping into the caracal’s features. Oh! Again, the heat rose to her face to match his. It was reassuring, really, to know that all the anxious, internal fluttering hadn’t been completely one-sided. The woman met Pale’s eyes with her own and reached out a paw (how daring!) to rest on his free hand.

Good.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Everyone had failures, the King knew all too well. And distraction from those failures really was a godsend at times. "I hope that after our meeting, you're able to hunt down the answers to your questions." He meant it sincerely, too, which surprised him ever so slightly. Failure was the most frustrating thing, especially if the work one was attempting to do was actually important to them in some way. "Hm. I suppose I can let you do at least that, if you absolutely insist on leaving something."

When the waiter returned, Apocalypse ordered a bottle of red, from a vineyard located in the Villa. From what he could remember, it was excellent wine. He just hoped that his company would agree with him. A moment later, the waitress returned with the bottle in hand, letting the King sample it. He nodded his approval, and the glasses were poured. "I hope you find this to your liking. It's not often I'm able to indulge like this - generally, we drink tea and nothing but at the Court." With that, the man made a face. It wasn't that he didn't like tea, more that he genuinely preferred wine and other drinks. He raised his glass to her, inclining it forward. "Cheers. To a wonderful evening with new friends, if it's not too bold of me to say so."

There was that rakish grin again, accompanied by a slight incline of his brows, his eyes bright and mirthful. He leaned back in his seat and took a thoughtful sip of his wine.

"You know, if you don't mind paperwork... Combined with that medical knowledge, I could see you having a very long and successful reign in a Court. Provided, of course, the Spade court is at all similar to my own." He gestured towards his own torso, criss-crossed as it was with white scar tissue. Some of the scars were quite a bit newer than others, but to the doctor's eyes, she might notice that none of them was exactly old. "We're always looking for skilled medical professionals to patch me back together. Guess I have more than one bad habit, hm?"

Though he seemed to be repenting for that first one. The soft touch on the back of his hand came as a bit of a surprise, and his eyes flicked down to where paw and hand had connected. His gaze lingered there for a moment as he considered his options.

Then, slowly, he turned his hand beneath hers, gently closing his fingers around the paw and lightly stroking the back of it with his thumb. Such a small contact, yet he could tell it was quite the step for the woman. He glanced up at her once more, looking as though he was preparing to speak - but at that moment, the waitress returned, interrupting the moment. Apocalypse was quick to order himself something he'd glanced at on the menu involving chicken, then waited for the waitress to vacate after taking Iso's order.

The man swallowed. "Forgive me if I'm overstepping my boundaries, but you're really very beautiful."

[Callypso]

Whatever she had done to cause disquiet earlier had been easily brushed away by the king. To her relief she hadn’t completely ruined the delightful afternoon. Sometimes she felt as though she were walking through a mirrored maze- not knowing where to step and the only reaction she could see was her own. Social events were tricky, and she never knew when she was erring. Thankfully, Pale didn’t seem to mind (or notice) too much.

That is my hope as well, she nodded and smiled when her friend seemed genuinely concerned for her work. It is rather depressing for a Corvie to be unmotivated, is it not? She laughed away her words, unwilling to dwell much longer on the unpleasant thought. She was just struggling to adjust to her new surroundings, that was all. It had to be that – the alternatives were too troublesome to contemplate. Beside, there were much more agreeable matters to consider, such as her companion’s willingness to let her handle the tip. He wasn’t so arrogant and self-important that he would deny her that. Agreeable, indeed.

Another delight was the wine that soon found itself on the table. She watched, a content, bemused expression on her face as Pale sampled the wine. Etiquette for sampling wine! And she thought the regular niceties were absurd! I’m sure that I will. Your choices have been infallible so far, save for your unfortunate profession. The ferret flashed a cocky grin (though she still managed to look somewhat shy) and raised her glass to his. Not at all – to friends found through unexpected circumstances. Cheers!

This time her pleasant flush managed a modicum of grace as she smiled into her glass. It was a full-bodied wine with a peppery back-end. Though she not at all versed in oenology herself, she couldn’t help but notice the selection seemed rather fitting for the evening.

Oh, no. Your attempts are admirable, but I have no desire to enter the Courts, Spades or no. She followed his gesticulations toward his mid-section and surveyed the damaged with a critical eye. Though it might behoove you to employ a better physician.

Her nose wrinkled in distaste at the mass of scar tissue marring the poor man’s body – she would have been embarrassed to leave such evidence of injury. What kind of quacks were wandering the Courts masquerading as medical professionals, anyhow? It was shameful.

Her eyes flicked back towards Pale’s. Mayhap a better use of diplomacy would suit as well, hmm? Iso’s eyes twinkled as she teased the man, though she was truly concerned for his well-being. It was impossible for her not to feel that way- she was a doctor, after all. It didn’t bode well for a physician to disregard a patient’s health.

Iso was pleased to find that his hand had somehow wrapped around hers without her immediate realization, and flexed her paw as a squeeze of reassurance that her prior comment had been well-intentioned. It was a pleasant feeling – her paw being embraced by someone else, and she was distracted from thinking on it too much by the appearance of their waiter. The doctor absently selected some sort of seafood, feeling as though she were being intently watched by her partner. She turned back to Pale, whose eyes hadn’t seemed to move since he’d ordered, and felt the heat rising to her face again.

I- I’ve a feeling you haven’t many. The words tumbled awkwardly from her lips as she continued to flush. She turned away, thoroughly embarrassed and unable to hold his earnest gaze any longer. But thank you...

[carcinoGeneticist]

This woman was an absolute minefield of emotions, Apocalypse thought to himself. He also thought that he rather liked that quality. After all, a challenge was always something he could appreciate. It provided a spark of zest to an otherwise delightfully lazy day. "Maybe so. No more depressing than any professional losing interest in something. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for, in one way or another."

The clink of glass meeting glass resounded against the quiet background noise of the place. Such a simple sound, Apocalypse thought. But one with such promise! The wine was exactly as he had hoped it would be - if anything, it was even better. Age had a lovely effect on alcohol, and in the time it'd had to breathe since being uncorked, he found it went down all the smoother. He gave her a casual, almost rakish shrug, the smirk on his face ever so slightly lopsided. "A shame. The good people there will be sorely missing out, I am sure." He took note of the way she was looking him over, and laughed. "I've been told that he makes sure I scar on purpose, actually. I think he intended it to be a sort of a reminder that I should be less... hot-headed. In fewer words."

Slit-pupiled eyes met the woman's across the table, and his expression changed to something somewhat more... serious as she realized his glance had been upon her. Food all but forgotten for the time being, his focus was on something else - her responses to his actions were of much more importance. He continued to absently run his fingers across the back of her paw and then leaned forward, raising the paw and gently pressing his lips to the back of it. "I find that life is much fuller when one lives with as few boundaries as possible." He sighed as she looked away, shaking his head with a small smile. "Even so, if I had those boundaries, I would still have told you. I'm quite lucky to have you as my dining companion, tonight."