[FIN] What Ambition Really Is? [Dark]

[Lucca]

He had been to the Capital many times in his life. Uncountable numbers of times. And yet...this time felt different. And that was because the Ten of Spades was taking a large step towards achieving his goals and making his life what -he- wanted it to be. He was moving out of his parents' house. It was thrilling, to be sure, and there was a slightly tense smile on his beak as he strode down the main street of the Capital, his messenger bag slung over his shoulder as normal. What wasn't normal was this feeling...and the fact he was trying to figure out where in the Capital would be a good place to live.

Obviously he didn't want to be on the bad side of town, but he did want a nice apartment to start with...the city had never seemed so big before as it did today, and the bird found his head spinning. He sat down suddenly on a park bench near a fountain in what might have been the middle of the city, needing to get off his feet for a moment. Everything that had happened to him in the past few months, everything he'd achieved, and yet there was so much more...he wanted power, prestige, and a famous music career. His goals had never felt so close or so far out of his reach. He closed his eyes for a moment, head bowed in thought.

[Dark]

Suha wasn't generally in the habit of walking up to complete strangers, but she had always had a bit of a weakness for Villas--pretty jewels, wealth, and a fine taste in music--and he was a rather attractive one to boot. And since she didn't have anything pressing to do at the moment, she decided to indulge herself.

She sat next to him on the bench--not close enough that he might bolt if he had an overdeveloped sense of personal space, but close enough to denote an interest.

"It's much too pretty a day to be feeling glum," she said softly, with her prettiest smile. And now that she was close enough--oh, he was pretty; she'd always liked purple--she could read the script scrawled delicately across his body: 'wrath' and 'forthright.' An interesting combination, to be sure. Her curiosity was piqued.

[Lucca]

He could tell someone had sat next to him before he even opened his eyes, before he even heard her voice. How? Well, he wasn't sure. But he turned to look at her, making an attempt at a smile, though not too strong of one. After all, she had already so graciously pointed out he wasn't in the best of moods. "Sadly, it would take more than nice weather to even begin to ease what troubles me," he said. Well, that was an odd way of putting it, and he hoped it didn't come across as too melodramatic. He decided to blame that lovely turn of phrase on the tragic play he'd seen last night, as a sort of...farewell to his hometown. Not that he'd never be returning, of course, he loved the Villa...but he knew he needed to move on. And visits weren't going to be as often as he'd like at any rate. Or as often as his Mom would like. By the cliffs, the way that woman had clung to him that morning...he shook his head, banishing that train of thought, and looked at the woman who had sat down next to him.

She was quite an impressive sight, as well, and Colin found himself raising an eyebrow. A Morganberry, he could appreciate them for their ambition, well as long as they actually put it to good use, and as long as they had manners and decency. Backstabbing to get ahead was, to Colin's mind, a despicable way to live. She was rather charming, with her flame colored feathers, and even the strange fangs that protruded from her beak weren't so very bad a mutation. And she was a Ten of Hearts, which both worried him a bit and attracted him to her more.

"Though meeting a lovely woman may help a little," he said with a charming smile. He may not have been a Diamond, but his parents had raised him with proper social graces. He leaned forward in a slight bow. "I'm Colin, and whom do I have the pleasure of conversing with?"

[Dark]

Now that he had straightened, Suha was rather disappointed to note he was of such a low rank--and a black suite, too boot--but she took it in stride; he could still be from a well-to-do Villa family--sometimes lower ranked children couldn't be avoided--and what he hadn't been born with, well, he could always gain. All it would take was a bit of hard work and the right sort of--motivation. And he had called her lovely, which earned him quite a few brownie points.

Suha liked men--they flattered and charmed and called her pretty, bought her lovely trinkets, and when she grew bored, they were easily replaced--and she had been woefully without since the passing of her late husband. Perhaps this Colin would be worthy of her attentions.

"Suha Darzi. A pleasure to meet you," she smiled, just as charming. And then, with her expression turning towards teasing, she asked, "So is it business or pleasure that brings you to the Capital, Colin?"

[Lucca]

Colin had indeed been born a low rank...but through a lot of hard work and effort he was now the proud owner of a black Ten on his chest. Yes, he was just a Spade, but his Rank was decent, and he planned to get it even higher. It showed out clearly against his purple feathers as he shifted a bit to better face the other bird, whose name, he noted, was Suha. "A pleasure, Suha," he repeated with a smile, and though it was sometimes hard to read the expressions of birds, a fellow Avian would have no trouble recognizing his genuine cheer.

"Ah, now that is a rather difficult question today," Colin said lightly, eyes darkening slightly again. "You see..." He hesitated, wondering just how much it would be okay to tell this other woman. After all, they had just met, and though she was beautiful and fair-spoken, there was something underlying her manner that made Colin uneasy. Still...he wasn't known as 'Forthright' for nothing...a partial truth made for a better social standing than either the full truth or a lie.

"It's really a bit of both, this time. I seek out a new life here, finding myself in need of a change." He gave Suha a curious, searching look. "And you, Miss Suha? Do you live nearby?" If so, he could imagine that perhaps...yes...surely she would be one to live in the good part of town! It might give him an area to start searching, at least.

[Dark]

((Doh; I knew I should have checked. Fail. xD;)

Suha smiled, "I keep a small flat in town, yes." Though she didn't spend a great deal of her time there, busy as she was making plans, meeting new and interesting people, exploiting those people, and having tea with the delightfully wicked Mnemosyne.

It was pleasing to hear he planned to stay. He was certainly well-spoken, and charming. Suha found that she rather liked what she'd seen so far, and wouldn't be adverse to seeing more of him in the future. Male companions were always nice to have around.

"I'm new arrived to the city, myself. I've only been here a few short months, but I've found it to be most agreeable. I'm sure you'll find it to your tastes." She would do her best to make sure he found his stay--pleasant. "If you haven't found a place of residence yet, I would highly suggest the complex on Franklin."

[Lucca]

Colin tilted his head in the universal bird expression of curiosity, the smile gracing his beak extending a bit at her response. "Oh?" That was certainly interesting to know. But now how to go about asking after where, exactly, she lived without seeming...forward and making her suspect him of intention she did not have. He was, after all, a gentleman.

"From my not infrequent visits here in the past, I had gathered as much, but it's good to hear the...charm of the place doesn't wear off from one who actually lives here." This really was brightening up his day as mush as Suha's feathers brightened up the dull bench on which they both were sitting. But if he was happy to meet her before, it was nothing compared to how he felt when she actually offered up the very information he needed. Of course, many years of training himself how to act in the strictest of high society allowed him to show only the smallest amount of gratitude, and not to make a fool of himself in overexpressing any eagerness at the information. "Many thanks, Miss Suha. I am, in fact, still searching for a place to make my home here," he replied, mentally repeating the name to himself a few times so he'd remember to look into it as soon as he could.

But was it just him, or was she being slightly...flirty with him? Well...he hadn't been on a date in...a long time, unless you were to count...but no. He was careful not to show nerves of any sort as he prepared to make an offer. "Ah, forgive me, m'lady, but I hope you would not think it too forward of me if I inquired after your plans for dinner tonight? I would dearly love to have the honor of your company." He reverted to a method of speech even more formal, which helped him to speak as clearly as if he had not a care in the world, no matter what he was feeling, he would not let her see any weakness, for he had a feeling this was a woman who didn't tolerate such things.

[Dark]

Suha smiled indulgently, finding the courtly manner in which he inquired charming, "An honor you shall have, then, good sir. I would be delighted." Dinner indeed sounded like a delightful idea; all the more chance to get to know the charming man, and perhaps win some of his affection.

Thus far, Suha thought she rather liked Colin, and wouldn't be adverse to keeping him around for a time; dinner would serve to help make the final decision. He certainly seemed more than capable of providing entertainment and intelligent conversation. And he was more than pleasant to look upon.

She sensed it would be a relationship slow in the making--Colin appeared to be very much a gentleman--but she did so enjoy the chase, and she had caught much more difficult men in her time. For the time being, though, she would enjoy the evening and his company. It had been quite some time since she had enjoyed a male's company, after all.

[Lucca]

Colin felt a strange sensation in his chest as she accepted--an odd sort of fluttering that might be nerves, or hope, or something other, unknown feeling--but he inclined his head to her, letting his smile extend into his bright blue eyes. "Then, allow me to be so bold as to ask where you would like to be picked up...at sunset?" He had carefully mastered, over the years, the art of asking a question without really asking. It was all in the tone, adding just the right lilt to your voice at the end of your words.

Part of him was having a hard time believing it: he had a date! With a gorgeous, high-ranked Morganberry! And of course, he already knew the perfect place for them to go. It was a classy restaurant, but not so expensive that he'd be showing off. He'd never actually been there before, but he'd certainly heard wonderful things about it from other high-class Cards who'd wined and dined in the Capital.

As happy as he was, though, and as much as part of him was hopeful the night would go well...part of him was still wary. Something about her was just...a little...off. Or maybe that was a slight regional bias about all Morganberries? Suits knew Colin had plenty of biases...some of which he actually cared enough to overcome. Like his growing list of exceptions to the rule that all residents of Corvistowne were insane and uncouth.

[Dark]

Sunset; how romantic. Suha smiled, enjoying herself. He really was a darling, wasn’t he?

“I’m staying at the Hamilton complex, on the corner of 5th and Murtleson,” Suha informed, innocently. To be entirely proper, as she lived alone and this was their first outing, she should have insisted upon meeting him at some prearranged spot, but Suha was feeling rather flirtatious and she had always enjoyed pushing the envelope. She wondered, speculatively, if knowing where she lived would make him itch; she would rather enjoy it, if it did. “Just tell the doorman you’re there to see me, and he’ll ring me down.”

There were quite a few things to do between then and now—perhaps she’d stop by the salon and have her feathers professionally groomed, so she was looked her best this evening—and, plans set, it was time to leave. She stood.

“I look forward to seeing you again at sunset, Colin.” She nodded farewell with a dazzling smile and sashayed away.

((Sorry, sorry, sorry this has taken me so long to respond to. D8 This would be a good place to end it, or we can continue. Up to you, dear. <3 ))