A Nice Trip

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

Unwittingly, Atticus's statements after that were only drawing more humor into Leon's bones. Of course he didn't believe her. Why should he? She looked like a small child! For a brief moment, something popped in his mind as he considered the idea that maybe like werewolves, dragons could hide their appearances in a more human form. It wasn't that far off of a guess, yet who would believe he was talking to a dragon? He certainly wouldn't have believed himself! Managing to calm himself down as she continued speaking, he placed an amused expression on his features in the meantime.

The next time he was around a dragon? And just why would he want to be around another dragon-- if she was what she said she was even. It was silly. He was a businessman, and there would be no need to chat with some mythical figure that even now he was doubting she was. As she talked about the humans and horrible stomach aches, he blinked before chuckling briefly. Oh stay calm now, Leon! You've already offended her, apparently. What would your father say if he saw this? Almost instantly, Leon sobered up as his mind reflected on the nature of his father. He certainly wouldn't have tolerated the laughter. Even if this girl wasn't what she said she was, it was an upsetting gesture, obviously, and it wouldn't be tolerated. Yes Father.. Leon mentally sighed wishing his mind would stop beating his body with such dark notions.

The accusation of his nose caused Leon's mind to trek back to Atticus again, and he frowned a little at her statement. An absurd part of him wanted to draw in a deep breath in that moment as though it would somehow let him know something more. Another part told him that he would just be playing her game, a child's game which would be foolish on his part. After a moment, rather than inhaling, he exhaled shaking his head a little. "Please desist from this nonsense," he stated folding his arms in front of himself and drawing up a deeper composure. "I am not a werewolf, and you may think you are a dragon, but that does not make you one, Miss Tuck," he stated after a moment shutting his eyes only briefly before opening them again. "Now if you will excuse me, I have other things to do that do not involve child's play," he stated flatly before starting to turn around and head away.

A part of him was sure that he had struck a few chords if anything. The other part didn't quite care. She was clearly not a threat... She could still be a spy but what spy spoke like that? Well... a spy that hide their true intentions, but none the less! She had got nothing out of him and could legitimately prove nothing as he saw it. No one would believe a child anyways. Why hadn't he even reasoned that out before now? Ah, he was overreacting. She was just a child- a child making up stories.... Even if one of them was too close to the truth for its own good...

[Atticus Tuck]

Atticus blanched. Why was he laughing at her? Why didn't he believe her? Surely this wasn't something one would joke about! Maybe his words would have been enough to fool an idiot without a good nose, but not her. She knew he was a werewolf. And she was a dragon for treasure's sake! She would not allow a lesser being just walk away calling her a child of all things. She could tear apart half of this park with just one good fireball! She should have just left it at that, let him leave laughing like he was the funniest man alive and kept what little dignity she still held after such a blow, but her pride and stubbornness could not leave well enough alone. She clenched her fists, gnashing her teeth before sprinting forward and coming to a halt right before the man, her icy blue eyes boring up into his with determination flashing across-threatening to reveal her gold-and-blue reptilian eyes. Her spike of internal fire made her lash out and catch hie left forearm with her hand, gripping it tightly, her nails sharpening-threatening to morph into prey-tearing talons.

"I'm not a child! I'm a dragon, I'm centuries old! And I know you're a werewolf damn it!" Her voice raised considerably as she cursed, earning a few disapproving looks from an elderly couple wobbling by. She hissed, softer this time, "What will it take for you to believe me? Proof? I have proof! I'm a bloody dragon, I'm ten times bigger than you in my true form! This" -she motioned to herself with her free hand- "is only so I can blend in with these smelly humans like you do."

Atticus considered shedding her human skin right then and there, just to see the look on the skeptical werewolf's face, but then the flicker of endless consequences flashed in her mind. She narrowed her eyes, if she were in her dragon form, her scales along her spine would have been rattling with a mixture of emotions racing through her veins at that moment. She blew a frizzy strand of hair from her face, somehow managing to keep her challenging composure-actually, a good challenge sounded exhilerating then. She had sparred countless times with her parents, learning defensive and offensive (but mostly offense) tactics to best whomever she dared challenge-or whomever dared challenge her. Perhaps that was what it would take? Maybe that was this guy's angle, to infuriate her, to get a rise out of her, to fight her. It wasn't unlikely, Mr. Dog-breath seemed the type.

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

The crashing of feet on the ground, and the grass's general groan upon being crunched so many times alerted Leon to the fact that he was not getting away from this obscure child just yet, and he mentally sighed. Why could she not just drop whatever it was she was trying to play with and talk professionally? Maybe he was expecting too much from a child. It was probably true.

Sure enough, she cut his pace off, and he found himself staring down at her again. Her sharp eyes caused his to narrow, and irritation bore into him before he found his arm seized. Her grip was firm and forced a scowl onto Leon's face briefly. No, he wouldn't let her make him angry. It was illogical to do so. He was a Mattias, after all. As she spke, his eyes grew briefly, and a quiet "Tch" sound escaped from him. She was centuries old, and she was sure he was a werewolf. Oh sure oh sure.

The disapproving eyes caught Leon's, and he found his head turning to stare towards the older couple who had reflected on Atticus's language with a general dismay and disgust. A brief apology escaped from his lips towards them, but they had already moved on, and anger spiked in Leon. Atticus had already continued on, but dark brown eyes flashed back to her reflecting something deeper than irritation. She was causing a scene, and he was a Mattias. Mattias and their associates were expected to be civil, damn it. "Enough!" he snapped back at her so hard that it could easily have been interpreted as a bark. Despite Atticus's strength, Leon ripped his arm from her grip- his own surprising strength running through his muscles.

"Do not cause a scene, I am a Ma-... man who will not tolerate such things," Leon growled remembering in that moment that he was not planning to reveal his name. No, he had already thought up the persona of Leonardo Vessalias, and if anything, he would keep that. As if he Leonardo Mattais would be caught dead making this scene! "If you make a scene, this conversation is done, and I will not speak to you no matter what you do," he stated flatly his eyes leering with something almost feral in them.

Leon hated it truthfully. When true anger managed to get into his veins, something apart from himself made to take over. He could normally manage it, but the prospect of dishonor and a scene even if he wasn't acting as a Mattias at the moment was not tolerable He would not diverge his personality so much to tolerate such measures in public. No.

[Atticus Tuck]

Atticus snapped her hand back as he broke away, his haughty expression morphing into something much different. His eyes blazed with almost feral fury. And he's not even in his true form. Atticus mused silently, the corners of her lips tugging upward. She had won, so to speak. She made him almost blow his top, and now he had basically given in saying if she acted childish the conversation was done, meaning he was going to listen to her. That's right, Atticus had been annoying on purpose (more or less) to get his attention. And now that she had it, it made her feel like she was on top again. She met his furious eyes, assessing her next words and moves carefully. Getting him angry was one thing, making him go full on wolf-mode would be rather inconvenient in a public human place. Again, human hatchlings were sprinting about. She lifted her chin slightly, her shoulders lowering an inch, her muscles relaxed.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Leonardo." She put her hands on her hips, pondering how she could manage to convince this skeptic she was indeed what she claimed to be. Unless he was willing to follow her into the forest on the other side of the town, she couldn't simply transform-though that seemed to be the easiest rout she deduced Leonardo would not trail after her simply because she wished for him to. She was positive she had made marks with her nails, but he might not think much of it. If the stubborn dog would use his bloody snout, then all would be well as he would be able to tell her scent was anything but human. Her thoughts ran one after another, but every idea had a flaw, something that would end badly or wouldn't go far at all. She was at an impasse. The best thing to do would be to just let him go, believing she was simply a child playing a game. It wasn't as if this would be the last time he would see her around, oh no, she would make sure to keep tabs on him. His breath was so strong to her she could find it a mile away, and if he was one of the only werewolves around it wouldn't be too hard to hunt him down if she so desired.

Atticus cursed silently. This first meeting with a werewolf had ended so much differently than she had assumed it would. Perhaps she shouldn't have simply "winged it" as humans say, and actually planned what she should have said and done instead of just being oh-so-certain everything would go her way.

"Leonardo, though you do not believe me when I tell you I am a dragon, and though you deny what you truly are, you are still the first werewolf I have met since moving here. I. . ." She grit her teeth. "Apologize." She let out a sigh, as if the word had been sitting on her chest for eons. "Don't be afraid to admit you're wrong. No matter how much it can hurt, sometimes the only way to save yourself more embarrassment later on is to voice your failure earlier." A quote from Dad, spoken many times when Atticus would ask why he always seemed to apologize to Mom first after a spat.

"Might we, like, start over? From the beginning?" She inclined her head, trying to seem entirely genuine in her request while her Inner-Dragon was urging her to challenge him, to show him who's in charge with tooth and claw instead of words, but Mom had told her that sometimes instinct is wrong. That it cannot solve all problems you come across, no matter how tough the situation may seem. Atticus read somewhere that first impressions were nearly impossible to change, but she was a dragon, surely an exception to the rule if she set her mind to it?

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

Atticus had in fact 'won' if by winning she meant managing to piss off a temperamental but proper werewolf. Even as he tried to chill the irritation in his bones, Leon found it borderline impossible. He was irritated now though for what one would consider a superfluous matter. It was not to Leon anyways. As she thanked him for his cooperation, he had to fight the urge to roll his eyes at her, and as she put her hands on her hips, he folded his arms in front of himself just staring at her still very critically.

Leon expected Atticus to go on some long-winded rant or something of that nature in order to try and convince him that she was a dragon. He could imagine her throwing out random facts or something in order to try and catch his emotions again, and he was preparing against it then and there. However, what she actually stated chilled him for a moment. Oh so she was willing to be civil and apologize? Even if she wouldn't let go of the fact that he was a werewolf, she was apologizing. Irritation still moved in his veins, but the fires of spite were being put out by his proper nature. Fine, Leon would silently accept this apology as his father did more often than not.

The request was met with a mental 'no' all too quickly. She had already irritated him, already humiliated him, already made him paranoid, and like hell he was going to forgive her for that! However, prim and proper actions were already trying to mute the spite and mull over reason. Would he give her a second chance? Did a Mattias give anyone a second chance? That particular answer was complex. They were supposed to forgive and forget. It was a spoken rule that one accepted apologizes when they were given. However, it was an unspoken rule that one not forget what was done. Forgiveness was one thing; forgetting was another. This girl had already done damage, and he wasn't ready to forget that.

What the hell did she even want out of this? What would proving that he had an inner demon prove? Did she want to humiliate him in front of a group of people at a park? It was clear that she wasn't trying to kill him or she would have pulled a gun by now. The sudden throb of his arm then and there reminded Leon that Atticus had done damage to him. Her nails had briefly pierced his skin, and even though he healed fast, he was aware of the brief damage to his form. But no that was minor in all cases everything considered.

What were her intentions from all of this then? Was she just a child seeking some attention? Was.... she a dragon seeking him as a werew--- NO. That was absurd. Even if she had made it clear she knew what he was, there was doubt. There had to be doubt! There had to be...damn it all.... Even if she was a dragon; what then? Why was she doing this? What was her reasoning? Why was he even considering this now? Damn it all....

"Why exactly are you doing all this?" he finally asked not even answering her apologies or question. He wanted an explanation right then and there, and that was all there was to it.

[Atticus Tuck]

Atticus pursed her lips. Why was she doing this? Well, there were multiple answers to that one question, though she wasn't quite sure which one Leonardo wanted to hear. Honostly, Atticus was sure he didn't want to hear most of them. He'd already written her off as some child pestering him, and when she had bit back her pride to apologize, he barely took notice. Or he was just being a massive jerk. She could have laughed, this meeting was certainly not how she dreamed it to be. No, it was much more infuriating and amusing.

"Because I was bored." Seemed to human-ish. "Because a dragon has a right to know all the other species she's living near." Would work, but she wasn't sure Leonardo would take it. She hadn't been looking for a werewolf, she had simply stumbled upon one by chance. She didn't have any goals to even speaking to this ill-tempered were other than pure curiousity and admiration, was that so wrong to him? Did everything have to have a reason? She assumed so, in his case. She raised her eyebrows, as if questioning why he was being so ridiculous and a major stick-in-the-mud.

In all fairness, though, she had been living up i nthe mountains her young life, so she had little to no idea how this man had been raised. Perhaps he was simply boring and no fun by nature, or maybe it was because of losing his parents. Atticus could see how that could leave a mental scar.

"Like, do I have to a have a reason for wanting to meet a werewolf?" Atticus asked, icy eyes fixing themselves on a little winged creature that was fluttering about near Leonardo's head. The wings sort of reminded her of her own, except her were much bigger and better of course. It was rather cute though, how the slightest breeze would force the little insect to change its route. It continued on, before momentarily landing on the werewolf's shoulder, then taking flight again. I should go for a flight later, too, she thought. Who knows, maybe I'll, like, meet some other dragons-some who don't act like I just stole their treasure. she added silently.

Atticus had other things to do as well. Liike getting her schoolbag ready, taking a nice flight, perhaps trying that ice cream that was slowly becoming more and more tempting to her. . .

Like, perhaps I could find a few Hunters as well. See how tough they are. And then, oh what were they called? Protectors? Protettores. The humans who think us dragons need protecting, pah! Though, if they can fight well I suppose they aren't totally useless. . . She began listing off things that she "needed" to do before the week was up. Like meet a few more werewolves, of course, or challenge a vampire or two, buy more watermelon, go hunting for dinner after this business was taken care of. . . I wonder if the English countryside has anything different from the mountains. Hm, I guess I'll find out later. She focused back on Leo, wondering if he at least had a mate to call his own. He wasn't terrible looking, so it was possible. Though, if this is how he acted all the time, she doubted it.

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

The look of surprise that flashed across Leon's face before he could do anything to push it away was akin to that of a confused and excited child. She wanted to meet him because he was a werewolf and that reason only? It made no sense to him at all, and a crease in his lips noted this. Why would anyone just want to meet someone else for... for species, sigh. There was no getting around that word now was there? He had given up on lying to her in that context, anyways. However, why would anyone want to meet another for species sake? It dawned on him that her tone and speech was reminiscent of a few people's who had wanted to meet him "because he was a young Mattias". Here and there his past occurrences came forwards in his mind. It was much the same thing; yes it was. They were the same general idea when it came down to it- both vague enough to be a class rather than a specific interest.

Then it hit him that she had wanted to meet him for a more vague reason than that he was a Mattias, and somehow his pride was hurt. Certainly there were others of his ... species now weren't there? There were only a few Mattias though as far as Leonardo actually knew, anyways. It actually annoyed him just a little that she would rather meet him for something more general- something that he couldn't control; as if being born into the Mattias clan was something anyone could control but still. "I see," he replied dryly after a moment giving a brief shake of his head as if disarming whatever he might have said in response. "That is a reason, I suppose," he commented just as dryly in another moment. The tone he used was more dejected than one would imagine even as Leon tried to hide it. "Well ....considering all things, here one is," he stated briefly shrugging his shoulders with a chronic nonchalance.

Brown eyes met blue, and Leon stared for a moment as something different from the lackluster they had once expressed came into Leon's eye. It was certainly something more lively, but beyond that it was indiscernible emotion wise. "But if I hear any sort of rumors about this even in the next month, I will find you," he stated in surprisingly charming tone as if he were asking someone out on a date rather than threatening with some unfinished statement. "Miss Tuck," he finished off.

[Atticus Tuck]

Atticus grinned, her pearly white teeth showing-which meant she was genuinely happy about it. She had managed to smooth things out, just by being herself, who knew? Well, it wasn't like she could help it, being a dragon and all. And everyone knew dragons were naturally open about their feelings. "Wearing their hearts on their sleeves," as humans say. Sometimes it was a bit of a hindrance, but it was also rather helpful for relationships, seeing as they more or less had no secrets. She crossed her arms again, tilting her head slightly as Leo shrugged, his disposition changing all together at her answer. She nodded once at his sickly pleasant tone, full-aware he was threatening her, though it meant little to her. She wouldn't say that aloud, though, Treasure forbid she ruin what was left of the beginning of a tolerating friendship so to speak. "Miss Tuck," he addressed her, making her almost laugh.

That would have been the end of the nearly-perfect meeting. She would have said, "I will make sure to keep an eye out for you as well, Leonardo."[/color] and started home (after trying that ice cream first) to tell Rogwink about her exciting encounter with her very first werewolf. Though, it seemed Fate had another plan.

A tiny flash passed her eyes. Her pupils dilated, locking on to the cause of the reflection. A watch. On Leonardo's wrist-cleverly hidden beneath his sleeve until he had crossed his arms, exposing the face of the small clock in all of its wonderful sparkly glory. Mini caret diamonds interlaced with silver all around the face. . . the way it created the tiny bright orbs that danced across her vision. . .

Atticus wasn't really aware of what was happening next, her instinct to take and horde everything that reminded her of treasure took over her senses, and the next moment her arm shot out, latched around the watch, ripped it away so hard the clasp snapped in a second, and the young dragon was shooting down the walkway with incredible speed. One thing replayed in her mind. Home. Got to get home. Add this to my treasure pile. Home. She glanced over her shoulder for a moment, just a moment, to check if he was pursuing her or simply standing there in shock, when she slammed into something with the force of a ton of bricks. She stumbled momentarily, believe it or not, and blinked down at the scattered wares of the cart she had just knocked over. The human owner, a robust man who was now going blue in the face bellowing in rage at her, looked as if he might pass out right then and there. That wasn't the end to the damage though; the cart went skittering sidewas, slammed into another cart, and human newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and all else were released into the air at the collision. But she didn't want to be caught, so she clutched the watch tighter and took off once more, escaping from the park (no time for snickering now) and veering sharply left, instinctively going the opposite direction she had come to try and loose Leonardo in the human crowds before she got home.

Surely her clumsy escape had captured the attention of nearly every human in the park within a hundred-mile radius, which would either assist her or make it all the harder for her to get away.

Home, home, home. More treasure for my treasure pile at home, her instincts shouted in her head, drowning out her more sensible thoughts like, "Idiot! Stop right now and return the watch! This is not how you make friends you know!" But alas, sometimes instinct could be very tempting, especially when it came to Atticus and "treasure".

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

Leonardo wasn't sure of what happened next. One minute Atticus had been standing there, the next she had closed the gap between the two of them. For a brief moment, he thought he was going to be physically attacked if only because there were few that came into his personal space otherwise, and Leon instinctively found himself reaching forwards to impede her movement. However, this only allowed Atticus to reach her target faster- his watch, and suddenly the metallic silver-like clasp (that clearly wasn't silver because though he hated it to admit it, it burned him due to species- though when someone asked he simply stated he broke out in hives which really wasn't quite the same but had the basic effect with something more believable to every day humans) was being wrenched from his wrist. He flinched briefly from her motion, but when she suddenly took off, he came to the realization of what had just happened.

For a few seconds, Leon just stared more dumbstruck than anything. What in the world had just happened? As his mind tried rapidly to recover from the shock, he found himself gazing after Atticus as she ran away. Wait. He'd been robbed! That little thief! Was that what she had been after this entire time? Had she just picked him out among people and among ... creatures because he was wearing formal clothing and probably had some sort of wealth on him? Was that why she had given him such a strange answer when he had asked why she had wanted to meet him? Suddenly it was all becoming 'clear' to Leonardo, and in an instant he was chasing after her. "THIEF! Get back here!" he yelled out angrily suddenly taking after. That was his watch! That was his damn watch. Despite the fact that he had money to buy a billion watches of the same make and model when it came down to it, Leon didn't care. When something was his- no matter what it was no matter how miniscule it happened to be, he wouldn't tolerate someone taking it from him.

It was ironic in a way that such a possessive nature went so far as to incorporate itself into Leon's view of people. Family members, subordinates, and the like were his first and foremost, and he wouldn't tolerate others taking them from him either. At one time, he had been more than a little violent when his father had tried to make him part with an old servant Jacques when he had moved out of the manor and to his loft. In the end, Leon had taken the servant with him, and the man still came over at least four times a week to take care of the loft in one form or another. This case, though, was purely material, and he wanted his watch back now.

As Atticus glanced over his shoulder at him, Leonardo just leered. "Give it back! Thief!" he snapped out yet again. In truth, Leon wasn't going full speed. In fact, he hoped that Atticus would hear his voice, stop, and apologize or something at the very least. Suddenly Atticus slammed into a cart, and Leon internally flinched. The cart of wares had been literally turned over by Atticus's force , and now a man who had been tending to the cart was looking both horrified and angry. In another moment, another cart turned over apparently receiving some of the shock from the first. Leon mentally groaned. Of course she would leave him with damages as well that would possibly deduct points on his namesake if he didn't stop and assist in some form or another. Damn it all.

After a moment, he slowly started his way over. "How much is this going to cost?" he asked dryly. The robust man blinked at him but then seemed to realize that someone was there that was willing to pay for damages. Almost instantly he began to spurt out numbers. Leon sighed, fished out his check book, and began writing down figures. Meanwhile in the back of his mind, he was cursing that little blond heathen who had not only stole from him but left him with damages. If he ever saw her again so help him!