Time Doesn't Slow Down [Vyn]

[carcinoGeneticist]

Sleep did not come easily to Apocalypse. He was warm and comfortable, but his dreams were unpleasant and he often found himself jerking awake, only to be filled with a new panic caused by his unfamiliar surroundings. It took a few minutes each time for him to remind himself - he was here, in Poe's house. In Torquehelm. He was safe. Not at home, but... safe, all the same.

Eventually, though, he did find sleep. For how long, he couldn't be sure, but when he finally started to stir again he felt the deep weariness of one who has not slept enough for the tastes of their body.

So he didn't move, not yet. He simply pulled the blankets tighter around his face and wormed deep into the nest he'd built himself. He could just rest with his eyes closed until he felt he could no longer just sit and do nothing. Maybe by then Poe would be awake. The blankets did feel nice and warm against his skin, and they were surprisingly soft -- wait. Skin? That wasn't right. He opened his eyes, blinked. Well. Sometime during the nights, the pants had come off, regardless of whether or not he could remember actually removing them. It made sense - he normally slept in the buff, and they weren't exactly built to sleep in...

The man's head poked out, a light blush beginning to form. Morning brought other problems than just sudden nudity. Where was his hostess? He didn't want to horrify her, but he really needed to get his pants... ...Wherever he had tossed them.

Damnit.

[Vyn]

Poe's sleep, at first, was awkward. She rolled around and found her mind drifting to Pale and how he was settling. He'd seemed content when she left, so she told herself that over and over. He was sleeping peacefully, so should you. It was easy after that, and the night melted away into pleasant dreams.

When dawn rolled in through the windows (faint though it was), Poe took a moment to wake and then slipped out of bed. It had to be pretty late in the morning for the dim light of Torquehelm to force its way into her humble little home and she had a guest to attend to. Thankfully, when she slipped into the room he appeared to still be sleeping. Surprisingly, he had no pants on and he had casually knocked the sheets so that Poe had a very blatant view of that lack of clothing. ...Well, he was well endowed wasn't he? Despite the vibrant blush that had spread across her feathered cheeks, Poe couldn't help but to grin like a child at the sight of him. He slept like a cat would, sprawled on the couch and half in-half out of the blankets. It was cute, but modesty forced her from waking him herself and she hurried into the kitchen.

When Pale woke, he would hear the faint sounds of Poe in the kitchen - busying herself until she was certain Pale sounded awake and dressed.

[carcinoGeneticist]

It was a good thing that Apocalypse was unaware of the show he'd put on earlier in the day. Had he known that nothing was a mystery anymore, some part of his brain wouldn't have seen any reason to keep it that way. The pants would have just stayed as they were: Off of his body.

As it was, the man was feeling a little frantic to find them. They didn't seem to be on the floor near the couch, or draped over the back of it. What had he managed to do with the damn things?! A quick peek behind the couch revealed that no, his answer was not there either. He could hear the woman moving around in the kitchen, which meant that his time was starting to run out. Apocalypse pulled the blankets up around his hips with frustration - if he was anyone else, he could have just done a quick form-switch, and he would have been re-clothed in an instant. That wasn't an option.

Something in the blankets felt different, though. Rougher, almost. Eyes widening, Apocalypse thrust his hand into the middle of the blanket-mound, closing his fingers around the waistband of his pants, down at the very bottom of the pile and tangled up in the sheets. Finally.

Once he was back in order, he stepped into the kitchen, the direction he'd last heard Poe in. There she was, working on something or another. A crooked little smile made its way onto his face, and he gave her a small nod of his head. "Ah, g'morning," he said, voice sounding a little hoarse still with sleep.

[Vyn]

Poe turned when Pale entered, thankful to see he had located his pants, and flashed him a sweet smile despite the blush that had crept back up onto her cheeks. She was just glad he couldn't see it so that she wouldn't be forced to explain herself to him. That was a very awkward thing to have to explain to someone you've only spent a day and a half with.

Of course, that was not how things played out, and instead Poe offered a warm "Good morning" and motioned slightly to the pot of tea on the stove. "It's finished if you'd like some nice morning tea - a peppermint blend, as I always find that easy on the stomach." Her own breakfast was already on the table - a cup of tea, a small muffin, and a book that laid open in wait for her return - and Poe appeared to be just finishing up some neglected dishes (good thing he hadn't seen that before). "I don't have much food wise, but we can definitely go out and pick something up for you." Cooking with just your talons was a little awkward, so typically she stuck to simple things at home and eating out for bigger meals. Pale, of course, would have a much easier time around her otherwise forgotten kitchen.

[carcinoGeneticist]

"Tea would be lovely, thank you." It was just some aspect of his Court life that had gradually crept into his everyday life (not that the two had really ever been separate, before now). Tea in the mornings and afternoons, and then sometimes at night. Tea. Always with the tea. He hadn't originally enjoyed the stuff, but time had showed him varieties that he found more pleasing to the palette. Peppermint was one of those, and he took a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying the smell of it.

Carefully, he poured himself a glass, taking another deep sniff of it before leaning against one of her counters.

Grocery shopping. Damn. Had he ever gone grocery shopping? Not in recent memory... An embarrassed little grin tugged at his mouth, and he scratched his chin lightly. "That could be fun." He commented idly, considering the possibilities. Regardless of what they did together, he would be spending a large part of the day with the woman. That alone was fun.

Apocalypse just wondered what could make the day more fun.

"What kinds of foods do you like?" He asked, inclining his head to the side curiously. "I can't pride myself on being an excellent chef - but I am at least passable in the kitchen. I would be happy to cook for you during my stay, since you've been sweet enough to offer me a bed and a roof."

[Vyn]

Returning to her tea, Poe sipped it idly as Pale poured his drink and leaned on the counter nearby. The finch occasionally popped bits of muffin into her mouth, but the book was easily forgotten in favor of her much more intriguing company.

Especially when he made that embarrassed face. Had he never done his own shopping? He was a King of Hearts, he had maids that stocked the kitchen and cooked his meals. How surreal that seemed to her, to be waited on so thoroughly. His question caused her to pause slightly, debating it. "To be entirely honest, I'm wonderfully fond of sweets - fruits, baked goods, ice cream - that sort of thing. I'm really pretty open to anything." The finch laughed a little and dipped her head to sip her tea. Her enjoyment of food (when she wasn't smoking) was the prime reason she had such a soft frame compared to her wiry brothers.

[carcinoGeneticist]

The cup of tea was raised to his lips and sipped thoughtfully as he considered her words. Sweet things, eh? He'd never really tried making anything sweet - generally, he'd stuck to other things. But as long as he could find a recipe for it, he didn't see any reason why he couldn't at least try.

"Maybe we can hit a bookstore first? I'd love to see if I couldn't win some points in your favor with a treat of some kind," he commented lightly, giving the woman a sidelong smile. He knew he was being a little suggestive, but hopefully, that wouldn't cause any difficulty. "Then I can pick up the ingredients, and tonight I'll try to get us a dinner put together." That was sounding fun, for all that it might have seemed utterly standard. A day without paperwork... He could potentially get used to that, truth be told. It was the other things that he was going to miss...

Those thoughts were pushed aside. There was no point in dragging the mood down now, and he would keep himself as cheerful as he could, for Poe's sake.

Another thought crept into his mind, and he blinked at her. "That is - ah - of course assuming there's nothing you need to do today. I don't mean to barge in and completely destroy your schedule. Will you be performing again tonight?"

[Vyn]

Poe took a sip of her tea, a grin forming on her beak. "I'd be more than happy to allow you to win points toward my favor with sweet things." The finch laughed softly, blushing. "So I imagine a trip to the library can be easily set up."

This did indeed sound like a lovely day, even if it was domestic. The reminder of work, however was a little dampening, but she could take in in stride. She only did a couple songs a night, what was more awkward was the fact that she would inevitably be drawn downstairs both from the addiction in her veins and the friends she had made there. Would Pale mind? Maybe once they knew each other a little better. Or, at very least, she'd take it one step at a time. Introduce your frightening brother, and then mention your own vices. Maybe if Imre was weird enough, her addiction would seem like nothing in contrast. Poe really hoped so.

"Other than performing at the Dragon's Den, I'm free. So we could have an early, or a late, dinner depending on which is easier on you. And, of course, you're welcome to come watch me perform. Maybe I'll even see about taking a couple of days off to show you around the town?"

[carcinoGeneticist]

Excellent. A little bit of activity would do the man well in terms of his mental state. Just sitting around the house and doing nothing would give him a chance to think, which would give him a chance to brood, and then... Well, he wouldn't be good company anymore, and that was the last thing he wanted.

What Apocalypse did want was to push all of that unpleasantness aside and enjoy his strange little Torquehelm vacation in peace. And - he wanted Poe. But that was something else that he was doing his damnedest to push aside for the time being. Coming on too strong would do nothing for him in the long run except make the sweet woman uncomfortable.

The man shifted, setting the mostly-empty mug down for the time being. "A later dinner suits me just fine. Gives us a chance to run errands and me enough time to completely ruin the meal once and re-make it again." His tone was utterly cheery, his smile bright. "I would be happy to accompany you to work again. I want to make as little an impact on your normal life as I possibly can while I'm here. And... besides. I'd really like the chance to see you perform again." Any chance to hear her sing, really. A light, embarrassed flush crossed his cheeks. He knew he was being silly.

"Just let me know when you're ready to head out."

[Vyn]

It wasn't everyday that Poe got to enjoy a domestic day out and already the finch was looking forward to it. She cheerfully sipped up the last of her tea and balanced it out with the final bit of her muffin.

"Wonderful! Dinner after work sounds wonderful." And she'd lay off the opium a bit during work so that her appetite was nice and strong when they got home. "You don't have to worry about making an impact, it's nice to have things stirred up a little after so long." She blushed at his eagerness to see her sing, but she was happy for it. "I'd love to perform you for again, especially since this time I know you're there. Perhaps I'll sing something for you." Poe was barely aware she was flirting until the words had slipped out of her beak. Oh suits... but she was flirting.

No longer able to distract herself with tea or muffin, the finch worked cleaned up her space a little instead and turned back to peer at the Pale King. "We could head out now if you're ready."