SPAIN; Penthouse Experience (Leon/Open)

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

  

Cherette smiled to herself, closing her eyes, and moaned as she stepped out of her cab, taking in a deep breath of the salty fresh air. With her hand still on the door, she lifted her hat up a little, brushing it out of her eyes. "puedo conseguir su equipaje para usted señora?" (Can I get your luggage for you, lady?) The taxi driver asked from his front seat, turning to check out the backside of his customer. "sí, gracias" (Yes, thank you) Cherette replied, opening her eyes and rolling them as she felt the taxi driver's gaze. 

The door opened and the car shifted as the driver got out of the car. Cherette replaced her large sunglasses on her face as she turned to give a weak smile to the driver. His pearly white smile lit up his dark face. He slammed his door and shuffled around to the trunk, popping it open and then hunching over into the trunk.Men these days... She thought to herself, rolling her eyes again. She stooped back into the car for a moment to grab her purse and then stepped back out of the car, adjusting her hat again and closing the door behind her. She stepped up on the curbside of the large building infront of her. How lovely She sighed to herself, her eyes trailing up the tan building that expanded around her. The hotel was beautiful. Cherette looked down at the engraved stone she stood on before she turned to look back toward the trunk area.

The taxi driver, with a few grunts and groans, pulled out a large suitcase from the trunk, the luggage falling ontop of him as he fell backward onto the drive. Shaking her head and frowning, Cherette scolded him, "ten cuidado con eso, idiota!" (be careful with that, you fool) The driver stood up quickly, setting up the suitcase gently and slamming closed the trunk to his car. Cherette turned and walked toward the hotel, the usher opening the door for her. "Gracias" She mumbled as she stepped through the large glass double doors. The man sitting behind the desk smiled at her, addressing her in English. "Welcome to the Barcelo Punta Cana. Have you made a reservation?" His accent slurring most of his words, but being able to understand, Cherette smiled and replied, "Thank God for someone in a tongue I'm more fluent in... Yes, Dahlia-Kailey Lynn. The reservation is for Dahlia." The man nodded his head and looked down at his computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

The man looked up at Cherette, his eyes lighting up and widening. "Ah, Miss Lynn, right this way." He smiled at Cherette gesturing her to follow him. She stepped farther into the hallway, the taxi driver stumbling through the door with her luggage. "Esto parece demasiado para que usted resuelva, tonto. Dámelo." (that seems too much for you to handle, fool. let me have it.) She growled to the man, grabbing the luggage from his hands before it crashed to the floor again. The man's eyes beamed, "Cómo luchadora. Delicioso" (How feisty. Delicious.)he whispered as she pulled the bag away from him and began following the man from behind the desk. "I am manager. My name is Alberto. Let me know if you need anything." He continued into an elevator and pressed the PH button. The elevator rose to the top floor and opened up to a hallway. Cherette and the man walked to the double doors at the end of the hallway and paused as he unlocked them. The doors opened into a brightly filled penthouse. She smiled as she walked gracefully in, setting her luggage and purse down, pulling off her sunglasses and setting them on the table. "It's lovely" she said turning to smile at Alberto before walking toward another set of doors leading outside.

After taking a quick walk around the penthouse, she turned back to Alberto and followed him back out and down to the lobby to deal with the taxi driver. Alberto handed Cherette the keys to her room before heading back outside to talk to the taxi driver. The man was leaning against his car, his dark skin clashing with the yellow paint of the car. "Bella dama me llamo Demetrio, ¿por qué no me invitas a subir a su habitación?" (Beautiful lady my name is Demetrio, why don't you invite me upstairs to your room?) He asked greedily. Smiling sweetly at him, Cherette approached him slowly. Leaning against his body with her fingers trailing along his chest and looking up at him with fluttery, wide, sweet, eyes "¿Por qué no te pones de vuelta en su coche, ir a casa, cerrar las puertas y ora que tu vida no termina esta noche? Estoy muy tentado a llevar a mi habitación y drenar la vida que bombea a través de sus pequeñas venas codiciosos." (Why don't you get back in your car, go home, lock the doors and pray that your life doesn't end tonight? I am very tempted to take you to my room and drain the life that pumps through your greedy little veins.) She said smiling up at him, extending her fangs a little. Demetrio's eyes widened as his body flexed quickly underneath her cold body. He stood up quickly and nodded his head at her.

Demetrio walked around to his side of the car and opened the door, getting in. Cherette walked over to the driver's side leaning in the window. "Quizá la próxima vez en cuando. Eso será de 45 euros, pero para usted, es gratis." (Maybe next time then. That will be 45 Euros, but for you, it's free.) Demetrio smiled up at her, reaching his hand out the window toward her. She cautiously reached for the piece of paper in his hand taking it and nodding to the man. He flashed his white pearls at her before starting up his car and driving off.

Cherette walked back into the hotel, taking the elevator back up to her room. Opening the door, she unfolded the piece of paper Demetrio handed her. Damn little twerp just won't give up She thought to herself, crumbling the paper with his number written on it and throwing it in the trash bin next to the table. She walked into the room twirling around for a moment taking in the room. She sighed as she picked up her suitcase and took it into the large walk-in closet. She dropped it and opened it taking out her sandles. "The beach sounds nice, right about now." She sighed to herself.

Cherette smiled to herself, her toes digging into the hot sand. "This is wonderful" She sighed as she took a sip of her Pina Colada. She looked up at the rest of the beach from underneath her large hat and sunglasses. She was just about to get up from her beach chair and walk out into the ocean for a bit when a shadow cast over her already cold skin. "Now, honey, you're blockin' my sunlight. How's a woman supposed to get a tan in conditions like this?" She asked sarcastically, glancing up to see who had blocked her light.

 

tag(s):
credit: grace @ caution 2.0
lyrics: is it progression if a cannibal uses a fork? by chiodos
outfit: Here
word count:1443
comments: sorry for the MIA guys, I'm back for the summer, though.
music: Shine - Collective Soul

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

There were some that took vacations, and among a good portion of the first world countries, it was a norm. Children went to school for only a portion of the year, and when summer vacation rolled around, their parents often took off time in order to secure family trips elsewhere either to an exotic place that offered excitement and adventure or to some luxurious expanse with which one could relax in. Vacations were times of relaxation and a time with which to center oneself. However, Leonardo K. Matias was not on a vacation, no matter what he had told his family and told those below him, in fact. Though he had explained that recent events had warranted him a desire to get away for a few days, and though he certainly had an easy enough time getting a short leave with this excuse, a weekend trip, in fact, to nearly everyone he had made contact with, this was not his intention in the least. He was working, and not even Mitchel Mattias knew it or so Leonardo desperately hoped. He had covered all of his tracks, hid what he had been doing from all eyes, and could only hope the old man would take what he had insisted was truth and leave it be. This, Leon knew, was somewhat of a futile hope on his part, but he would desire it, at the very least.

What exactly was Leonardo doing then when he had booked the flight to one of Spain's nicer resorts? Why had he chosen to go not to England's beaches or even Italy's beaches wherein he was at least surrounded by family in some form or fashion? The excuse was simply that he wished for a change of atmosphere, and that only came with coming to a poorer country. He was a lavished young man spending money where things were cheap. That was easily enough an excuse, and most would take it save for those outside of the Mattias household. Towards his siblings and parents, Leonardo simply stated he was tired blaming a bit of the stress that had come from the shooting, and he wanted some time to himself. Nadia had thrown a fit as was expected, but after a bit, she wound down especially with the subtle proposition that he was also going there to find a date that worked its way from Leon's lips to her maid's ears "on accident". Mitchel, however, was stern at first in an initial refusal. It had only been a short time since the shooting, and he was leery at best. However, Leonardo himself reminded him that to move forwards there needed to be a relaxation period, and after a few stipulations were met- one of which being Lucia's studied pupil Angel, coming with him and posing as his cousin, Leonardo was allowed to go.

He went quickly with this more or less blessing as he saw it and packed what bags he could himself before easily catching a flight and heading out. While on the plane, he sat across from Angel who was reading a book in German half the way there. Leonardo himself hunched over a laptop and dabbled at the rather boring art of Minecraft while haphazardly skipping to the page that was really on his mind- the real reason that he had scheduled the trip. With a new found strength that was burning inside of him to take charge, he had taken charge of the investigation that Mitchel had originally halted him in pursuing. He had spent hours researching and looking for any form of lead that he could in finding the vampire that had shot him and threatened not only his life but the life of Gwendolyn in turn. In the last few days, he had talked to a few people that had been at the restaurant, and he had even gotten some short footage of the vampire entering the restaurant though it seemed a good deal of it had been blacked out shortly after that. All he needed was some sort of clue, some sort of trace, and Leonardo was on it. Like a hound would have used his nose, like the werewolf he should have been sniffing out all the facts, Leonardo grasped the human part of himself and the human parts of other people. He pulled the silent strings that puppeted the people around him and came out with the information so desperately desired.

A specific gun had been used, and with that, he had sniffed out its route of transmission all the way back to a Miss Lynn-Ida whom was apparently thought highly of by at least a few people for one reason or another. He'd had her tracked thereafter and pinpointed her location with vicious accuracy. He'd set himself up to follow her to this apparent vacation spot but not without Angel and his own guns in tow, in fact. He assured himself he would be ready for anything to transpire. Whether this was truthful or not, only time would tell. Some part of Leon hoped that it would all be settled out with words, but he wasn't above reacting if the time came- or so he kept telling himself, anyways. Angel was there if anything went wrong, anyways. He'd just remind himself of that repeatedly till he believed it. As the air fare trip ended, Leonardo directed his belongings accordingly only shouldering a bag for himself before starting out of the plane and to the actual resort. Angel followed silently.

They'd settle down in the correct suite with little to no trouble each getting their own rooms but sharing a middle expanded room with a variety of small niceties attached. Leonardo was the first to state that he was going out to the beach, but when Angel stated that she would get ready then, Leo replied he would prefer to walk alone for a bit. They had a brief calm debate before Leon was allowed on his own as long as he stated on one particular side of the resort with which Angel could stare out the window and see him in. He abide by this despite himself and went to dress in something outside of his normal business attire before heading down the stairs easily exiting and making his way onto the beach surprisingly no lap top in tow. He probably looked strange to anyone who happened to see him there, standing out in the sun for a moment in a dress shirt and slacks and his shoulder length hair tied back in a small pony tail- as if he were going to a photo shoot rather than walking the beach, but when it was all said and done, that was 'casual' for Leon. At least he wore sandals, one could suppose, though they too looked a bit over dressy and overpriced for reason.

Staring out at the sun for a moment, Leon breathed inwards. Alright... I suppose I shall act casual today and then find Miss Lynn's whereabouts soon enough... he mentally mused to himself as he shut his eyes and mentally went over the single picture he had managed to find of her, one of which she appeared much younger than she probably was now. He'd have to be careful, calm, and assertive. He was a Mattias. He could do that. Slowly turning, he shoved his hands in his slack pockets and started walking down the beach slowly his eyes drifting towards the sea briefly. He wasn't sure how long he had walked, but at some point, he had lost track of thought only to suddenly be quickly snapped back into reality by a woman's voice. Freezing and staring, he found himself about to pass a woman in a chair. Briefly rebuking her words, he smiled. "Ah forgive me, ma'am, your beauty warranted a halt," he mused out all too easily for his own good a soft chuckle in his throat reverberating as he moved out of said sunlight with ease.

Suddenly the hairs were standing on the back of Leonardo's neck, and he found his pulse shooting up all too quickly. Once more his blood seemed to recognize the threat faster than he did, and before he realized it, Leonardo had taken a farther step back. A vampire? But how? Didn't they normally avoid the sun? Or something like that? What the hell? Just keep calm... he mentally mused to himself as he tried to slow the pounding in his heart.

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

Cherette smiled up at the man, her eyes almost closed because of the sun in her eyes. She lifted the hat a little and shielded her eyes from the sun, even though her sunglasses were still on. "Now, ain't that sweet. You're quite the stunner yourself." She smirked, standing up to better see the man. As she stood, she could smell it. It wasn't her own and it wasn't that god awful O+ blood those body bags have pumping through their veins. What in God's name... What does a creature want with me. I thought I was vacationing. She thought, frowning slightly.

The last time Cherette could remember smelling something like this was when she was back in America for a trip. She was tracking that cursed man that made her this way. She remembered being on his trail and being so[/b] close. She could have sworn she had him, when the scent was crossed with a new one and she lost her prey. Werewolf? She took a shallow breath, taking in a deeper sniff of the smell of the man standing in front of her on the sunny beach. He smells so.... familiar... She noted to herself trying to remember if she had actually met a werewolf before.

A sigh escaped Cherette's lips as she took off her sunglasses and looked at the man, puzzled. "I didn't mean to frighten ya, hun." She tossed her sunglasses to the sand by chair and then placing her hands on her hips. "This must be weird for you.. I know what you are, and judgin' by your reaction, you know what I am." She paused for a moment, clearing her throat. "The name's Cherette, but you, darlin', can call me Cher." She smiled at the man, offering her hand forward, glancing over him as she waited for his name.

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

Keep calm Leonardo mentally willed himself harder, and slowly his pulse dropped back to something suitable- something more tolerable at the very least. The blood rushing through his veins and practically screeching in his ears reminded him not to let his guard down, though, and at the peripheral zone of his mental sight, he found the strange wolf standing and bearing its teeth venomously at the threat. He would not growl, though. He was a Mattias, a gentleman who would keep control, damn it all. A cooler smile placed itself on his lips as the woman stood up as though making to address him in full. He had seen that gesture many a times, and it was surprisingly normal for him, something that drew him into a cooler calm.

As she spoke, Leon mentally scowled a little. It seemed they were both aware then and all too quickly for reason. However, she didn't appear to be a threat for now at least. He would be careful, though, and judge accordingly at every turn until he had grown comfortable in confirming that. Ever still, some part of himself desired a fight all too quickly. The blood in him was displeased especially after having forced itself to realize an alpha status in order to control a certain younger sibling. Leonardo had never known it to be so quick to jump into his mind before, but he also hadn't had anyone attempt to take his life, met a variety of different species, and dealt with a crazy moon night at least since he had first transformed. It was a wonder how he managed to quell it so well, but Leonardo was sure that it was the training of his fathers that kept the mask of ease over his face. It was all too easy to do even in the most tense of situations.

As she gave her name, however, Leonardo had to fight back the urge to charge right then and there. Cherette was the first name of Miss Lynn-Ida, and though the name wasn't super rare, it was uncommon to share such a name at the same resort. Leave it to Leon to find the woman he had been intending to look for unintentionally. She's a vampire he mentally scowled at that thought. He hadn't ascertained that in his research of her, but all too quickly his mind was making a connection between her and the attempt on his life. They were both vampires- her and his attacker were. All too quickly he found himself mentally judging her, yet he reminded himself to be civil. She was certainly being civil. She didn't even appear to recognize him outside of the sense that he was a werewolf.

A small smile came to Leonardo's features as he took the hand and stepped forwards again. "Most call me Kevin, any variation is fine as well," he lied all too easily. It was easy to disperse of his first name in substitution for his middle. Though it was rarely used, it was still part of his name, and he knew he would easily answer to it. Thankfully she had not given her last name or he would have felt complied to give his own which would have been disastrous. "A pleasure to meet you, Cher." Ew. That was so gross to say out loud. He hated shortening names with a passion, and it was only because a certain Mikey had shortened his name as a child, and subsequently Leon had nicknamed Michelangelo "Mikey" in response, that he even tolerated it. Truthfully, he didn't mind it all that much when family shortened his name, and he certainly did like the shortened version of "Leon". However, there were some names he didn't approve of shortening- Cher being one of them. He wouldn't say that out loud, though. He would keep calm, smooth, and careful.

"I still stand by my previous statement, by the way," he hummed a small curl of his lips revealing an ease that shouldn't have been there. This was all too easy. "Would you do me the honor of walking down the beach with me?" he asked easily thereafter. "I assure you it will be entertaining."

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

[/div]Cherette smiled wryly as the man took her hand. She shifted her weight to one leg, taking back her hand and twirling a strand of hair around her finger. She leaned down to pick up the sunscreen sitting in the sand beside her chair. She opened it and poured the cream into her hands. Kevin, huh... Doesn't look like a Kevin to me She thought, beginning to rub in the white liquid. Her head shot up and her nose scrunched at the abbreviated mention of her name. "You know, darlin' it doesn't quite sound right comin' off your lips, why don't you just call me Cherette?"

Cherette continued to rub in the sunscreen on her legs and slowly moved up to her stomach, applying it to all the exposed skin. She stood and smiled at the man's remark. "Well, since you made it sound so promisin', a little walk can't hurt. Let me finish waxin' up." She winked at him, rubbing in the sunscreen down her arms. "This must look weird to you, a Vampire outside, on a beach, in the middle of the day. The sunscreen helps. Doesn't burn as much. You know, honestly, I really don't like my own cold, hard flesh." After finishing her arms, she quickly rubbed the cream in on her chest, neck and face before dropping the bottle back to the sand beside her chair.

Cherette stooped down and picked up her sunglasses and stuffed her purse under the chair. "Well, now that all of that mess is taken care of, let's get out our way, shall we?" She smiled, standing up and brushing the sand from her hands. She placed her sunglasses on her face, pushing them up her nose and smiling again, politely, as she glanced around the beach. Tiny girls in bikinis tanning, men running around throwing footballs and throwing sand on the tanning girls, small kids running in and out of the water to wash off the sand from their sand castles. She frowned a little as the wind picked up a little, throwing all sorts of scents her way. "Would you like to walk to the pier?" She asked the attractive man, turning her gaze back to him.

The sun seemed to beat down brighter and the sand hotter under her feet. Cherette was starting to feel some of the burn of being outside during the day beginning to take a small toll on her. She pulled her hat down on her face a little more, pulling her hair out of the band that was holding it back away from her neck. Her firey red hair falling down her back as she shook it loose. She kicked her shoes under her chair and set off in the direction of the pier in a slow stroll.[/ul]

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

As she applied the sunscreen to herself, his eyes briefly scanned over her pale skin before drawing up to her face again. She certainly had the aesthetics of the undead. He blinked briefly surprised by the statement that followed from her lips, that his own didn't speak her nickname very well. Despite himself, Leonardo allowed a subtle smirk to come to his features. "As you wish, Cherette," he mused finding the fuller name a bit more satisfying. As she continued putting sunscreen on, he briefly struggled not to stare caught between a clear disdain for watching her, for it was wrong for him to do so as he saw it, and the smallest interest he was strangling himself for. How unprofessional Leonardo! His father's words breathed heavily in his mind, and he mentally sighed. That was right, whatever he had told his family was not applicable at the moment. This was strictly business.

As she agreed to his proposition, Leonardo smiled calmly. The wink met no extra reaction, but Leonardo mentally sighed briefly. Good, there were few that could refuse him, and such people were harder to deal with. However, it seemed she was not one of them. This would make things a bit easier. The explanation of why she was outside, a question he had reverberated in his mind but a minute ago drew a calm look of interest, as if she were describing her favorite color rather than why she was a creature of the night was out in the day. Sunscreen... he mentally noted wondering why he hadn't thought of that before. He wondered if that other vampire had used it, or maybe had just hidden behind a considerable number of clothes. Regardless, it was something to note, and he'd keep it in the booklet in his head. "I admit it was a surprising sight," he replied right before she explained she disliked her own skin. He doubted there was anything that could be done for such a circumstance, not even in the way of human moisturizers and the like. "It sounds unfortunate," he mused briefly in response.

He watched her briefly put away her things and reclaim her sunglasses, and briefly he reched upwards and ran a few stray fingers through his hair trying to settle out the curls that the small amount of wind was creating. He gave a small nod in response before turning to look down the beach his eyes scanning over the area and finding it a bit less than private. He mentally sighed; it was summer, he supposed. He wished she had picked a more secluded resort, possibly with a higher end money restriction, but letting her know that the reason he came here was to meet and discuss certain matters with her was out of the question. He would be more subtle in his ways, more charming. He was a Mattias, and that was what a Mattias was bred to do. "That sounds lovely," he replied a bemused tone coming to his voice as he looked off towards the pier From what he could see, it was a bit more secluded. That would make for a better place to speak or so he hoped.

As they started to walk, he mulled over what to say in the mean time. There were listening ears, and Angel was still probably watching from the window, but he could act as a standard young man enjoying his vacation after picking up a young woman- even if she was a vampire and hopefully the one that he was looking to more or less interrogate into finding the owner of the gun. "Do you come here often?" he asked his eyes sliding to one side as his peripheral vision picked up on her pulling and releasing the bulk of her hair. He had to admit it was rather pretty, but nowhere near his own hair and care for said hair. The fiery red color did fit a certain impression he was making of her, though, heh. "I personally have not been here before" he hummed out in a follow up of his own question, a habit that he picked up here and there.

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

Cherette smirked as the man made small talk. "Not quite. I'm usually too busy to make an actual vacation trip. Most of my visits to places like this are for business. Do you go on vacations often, Kevin?" She asked, a small sneer beginning to curl on her lips as she thought of what she was actually in Spain for. She twisted a curl of her hair around her finger again, biting her lip, thinking of how things were going back at her shop in Russia.

She remembered the day that started this trip, clear as day. Cherette was sitting behind the counter at her shop, cleaning the barrel of a StG 44 assault rifle the pieces delicately laid on a rag, separating the harsh metal from the glass counter top. The long metal wire doused in oil being shoved down the barrel. Bells broke the silence of the shop, a gust of icey air and snow blowing the hair away from Cherette's face. "Feel free to look around, let me know if you need help" She said without looking up from her work, the Russian easily rolling off her tongue with a slight southern accent. She proceeded to pull out the wire from the gun barrel when a hand came to a harsh rest on the counter top a ring scratching the glass, a screech ringing out in protest.

Cherette set the barrel down, her gaze running up from the hand, her own hand sliding up her leg to her belt where a hunting knife was attached. "Is all that really necessary?" she said through a tight jaw and clenched teeth. Her eyes narrowed up to a man's face. His hair was longer and dripping from what she thought was melted snow. He sneered down at her, teeth showing through his overgrown grizzled facial hair. "I was told that you can retrieve something for me," he said, his wet hair covering hi eyes. He picked up his ringed hand from the counter, running his fingers through his hair, tossing the wet mess out of his face. His eyes were dark, almost black with a slight tint of blue peaking through.

"I need a piece called a Bergmann-Bayard Pistol. I can't seem to find a place that I can get one for what I need..." the man said, reaching a hand into the pocket of his coat and pulling out a large wad of cash. "Well, looks like you mean business. Let's go in the back." Cherette suggested, standing and releasing her grip on the handle of her knife hanging at her side. She turned and walked to the back of the shop, opening a door and holding it open for the man. As he walked through, Cherette closed the door and locked it behind him. "Tea?" She offered, grabbing the kettle and placing it on a burner, turning the stove on. The man growled and shook his head. "I'm on a time limit here. Can you help me or not?" He pulled out a map that was covered in red pen marks. It was very old, she could smell the dirt and grime on the map. "Where did you get that? Is that even possible?" She was shocked, the map must've been over a hundred years old. Time travel? The man wasn't old enough to have something like this and he wasn't vampire.

Cherette took a deep breath, looking up at the man who was unfolding the map and running a finger over Spain. His blood smelled abnormally hot, but otherwise normal. His large build was nothing like she had seen before. He sat down at the table, laying the map across the surface. "It's from 1904. Before the first World War. I just need this gun. It was last seen... here.." He said, pointing to an area on the map in the middle of Spain. Cherette nodded her head, placing a finger over her lips. "I will do this for a price. I want some answers. I want to know what you are. You're not... normal."

Present Time

Cherette looked down at her feet watching the red of the polish on her toes shine as she took slow steady steps. "I was sent here to get something for work, but who says I can't have a little fun doing it?" she smiled briefly, adjusting her bikini bottoms momentarily. "What's your line of work?" Cherette asked, glancing up at Kevin sideways.

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

A small amused smile came to Leonardo's face as Cherette explained that she normally didn't go on vacations and subtly implied that she was working at the moment. Who is she selling weapons to here? he mentally questioned before wondering if there was more that she did that he had not ascertained information wise. If she was carrying an assortment of weapons herself, even if they may have not been on her person at the moment, it complicated the situation should a tense situation arise there at the resort. There were prying eyes like that. Maybe he should have spent more time looking a bit deeper. However, there was nothing he could do about it now, and there was no time like the present.

"Quite often," he lied easily again his brown eyes not missing her change in demeanor and finding himself questioning what she was thinking about. That was, in fact, what came with being a Mattias. One could act at lease and lie with just as much ease, and there were very few that would be the wiser. However, it, like everything, had pros and cons. Leon himself had some trouble deciphering his own personality at times do to this cushion of Mattias tradition. It was only when he was snapped in two did he start to question the very person he was. Those doors would remain closed in his mind for the day, though. He didn't want to address the confines of his heart when there were more pressing matters to attend to.

There was a silence for a moment, and Leonardo let it be as they continued to walk wondering ever still what the woman was thinking about. If he had been a true mind reader, he would have been very much intrigued to hear of such business. However, it would mean almost nothing to him without expanded information. As she explained that she was retrieving something for work, Leonardo's mind snapped instantly to weapons again. "Oh?" he asked coolly raising a brow for a moment before looking forwards. "What do you do?" he asked pleasantly as if he didn't already know. The question brought an easier smile to his features. "I am a traveling business management associate," he replied with a cool ease. "Among other things, I connect companies together and show them how to work effectively, self employed otherwise," he hummed out still with too much ease. He was but an actor on the stage, a man chatting in a social gathering of his own construction. This was what he defined himself as for now at least.

"As you can see it causes me to be in various places," he laughed a little at his own words. "And various resorts on both business and downtime days. he smiled easily back at her before continuing. "But I digress, it would probably bore a young woman such as yourself to hear the less than adventurous stories of office buildings," he transitioned smoothly. "I do not suppose you have better stories?" he chuckled.

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

Cherette mentally looked at the man questioningly. "I wish I knew what it was like to go on vacation often. No such pleasure, here." She pulled her sunglasses off as they reached the pier. She smiled, walking down to the water under the long wooden walkway. She wrapped an arm around one of the posts while dipping a foot in the salty water. "I'm a real-estate agent. I am here for the papers for a beach home that the Ambassador here is selling. But I decided to have a little r n' r before I actually get to business." The lie rolled off her tongue easier than she thought it would. She was naturally a pro at lying, but it didn't feel right with this man. Something was off.

It felt a lot cooler in the shade. The tide was splashing water over Cherette's feet as she spun around the pole to look back at her beach walking companion. "Sounds like you have a more interesting career. My life is no less boring, sorry to disappoint."she shrugged scrunching up her nose as she childishly spun back around the pole dipping her feet once again in the water. "God, this water is absolutely refreshing. It's so darn hot out here." She stepped out a little deeper into the water; it splashing up her shins. Cherette smile as the cool waves splashed against her legs. "I just love the beach." she stated before turning and walking back up toward the werewolf.

Cherette walked past the man, her cold skin brushing slightly against his shirt. She turned her head to flash a smile back at him. I'm having too much fun for this to be normal.. Should I ask him or just go with everything? Her thoughts worried her as she considered the thought of the man lying to her. She briefly shook her head as she walked toward the entrance to the walkway of the pier. She climbed up the hill of sand leading up to the top of the pier. Cherette stood once she made it to the top, brushing the sand off her hands and legs before waiting at the top for her companion. She took off her hat, running her hand through her hair, brushing it back from her face before putting her sunglasses back on.

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

A small smile graced those healthy lips, and a small chuckle escaped from Leon in response to the wish that echoed in his ears. He could not imagine what it was like to be on an extended vacation let alone a consistent stream of vacations. It sounded very droll at best, but then again he was a Mattias born to work as all of them were to a certain extent. "It is not what all it is cracked up to be," he replied smoothly in response. In truth, he wasn't even sure of those words, but he assumed as such and would stand by his own statements. As she pulled off her sunglasses, he glanced and caught her eye briefly before looking forwards again to the pier that had drawn so close so quickly. Rather than go up the pier, it seemed she had directed them below it. It was probably a better place to talk with the water drowning out what listening ears may have been there. However, it could put pressure on Angel if she couldn't keep him in her sights. Thus he would have to stay out from under it if he intended to not spring worry too quickly. Instead of drawing under the poles as Cherette had, he drew parallel to the pier down the beach just to the water.

Watching as she maneuvered around the poles, Leonardo payed attention to the words that echoed from Cherette. She was a real-estate agent and was there for a home ambassador. It was an intricate lie, on par with his own in believability. However, he was all too sure of who she was now with an almost scorching belief due to her vampirism. A vampire had fired that gun. What were the chances another vampire had supplied the weapon? "I see," he replied looking sideways at her and reaching up to draw a few fingers through his brown hair as the wind picked up and tried to unsettle it. As she spun around, he kept an amused smile on his features. "I suppose I might, it depends on the eye of the beholder does it not?" he asked as he returned his hand to his pockets and stood there allowing the water to graze his feet and sandals.

As she expressed how refreshing the water was, he turned his eyes and stared out towards the sea. A compulsive desire to suddenly go running down through the water was repressed as quickly as it had come as Leonardo reminded himself that he wasn't there for fun and games, in fact- nor was it Mattias like to do such a thing anyways. Exercise was to be done in private or on a team sport. "The expanse of sea is a sight to behold- though I do not believe it is as lovely as you," he hummed off easily those easy simple nothings. As she drew up to the beach again, he turned and waited for her to pass watching her start up the hill to the top of the pier before beginning up the dunes himself. How long would he prolong this when he had a clear question in his mind? Was she the one that had sold the gun that had been fired at him? Who had she sold it to? Heh, he doubted she would at least initially tell him anything. She had lied to him already, and he knew it. He supposed it would just take a bit longer to reel in this particular fish.

Once he reached the top, he turned staring back down the slope briefly before looking at Cherette. He thought to comment on her hair but decided otherwise. Women sometimes reacted negatively to too many compliments in succession. It was better to back off for a bit before continuing. Instead, he came at a different angle, hoping to catch her in a lie and see what she would do in the process. "You know, I was thinking of buying some property around this area," he began glancing sideways at her. "Where is the house you are selling, or perhaps do you know of any other places in this area willing to sell?" he asked easily enough.

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

Cherette chuckled. Had she been human, her face would have been flushed with the blood rushing to her face. "Why, Kevin, it seems as if you are 'hitting' on me." The phrase felt weird coming from her. She paused only for a moment to think about who she was talking to and where she was at. I guess it only seems normal for this kind of reaction, unless he's trying to cover something up. she puzzled for a moment. Cherette's skin began to tingle as the sun bore down on spots of exposed skin where the water had splashed off the sunscreen. She made a slight face before turning to face her man friend again.

Cherette put her hat back on, tilting it back from her face. She smiled and shrugged at the man's question. Here we go, Cherette... You're digging a hole." She knew that if she got in trouble with a werewolf that it wouldn't be good news. She struggled inwardly to find the right answer. Did she tell the truth or did she lie? She knew she was confident when it came to lying and she had passed a few houses for sale. Although she wasn't a real real-estate agent, she knew a thing or two about houses and she sure as hell knew a lot about selling.... and bargaining. She bit her lip before allowing a brief smile to escape them. "Well, my dear man, I could tell you about the apartment down on main street. It's lovely, two bedroom, 1600 square feet. Or I could tell you about the flat right up on the beach a few miles that way." She pointed out past the pier where she barely saw the for sale sign hanging on the door. Thank God for super sight or whatever the hell I have. she noted to herself.

She turned away from the man, yet again, only to take a few steps onto the pier, the boardwalk hot on her feet. She hissed slightly as it burned the underside of her feet. After a moment of exposure, Cherette shook off the pain and continued to walk down the boardwalk aiming for the roofed area extended out over the sea. "I could tell you about multiple houses out here in Spain, but I wouldn't advise taking my word for all of them. Do you like games, Kevin?" she paused to turn toward the man, stopping in her tracks, mid boardwalk. The ocean slapped against the poles underneath her as she stood above the area they had previously been.

She bit her lip again. Stop that, he's going to think that you actually want to be hit on, or worse. You're not seducing him. Why in the hell would you want to do that to a werewolf? For Christ sake. Get yourself together, woman. Cherette scolded herself, harshly. She un-tucked her lip from her teeth as she looked up at the man, really taking in his features for the first time before proceeding. "I do love to play a good game every now and then. I do also love a good bargain. How about we make a deal, Kevin, a truth for a truth?" She searched his eyes for a moment. She found herself deep in thought as she lost herself in his dark eyes. He seemed troubled. That's the thing about eyes, they're the key to the soul, or was it the heart?

Cherette's smile that she had been wearing out slightly faded from her face as she felt the boardwalk beneath her feet getting hotter. Her senses seemed to heighten for a moment and then everything faded. Here she was, standing in the middle of a meat-filled beach; she could be flirting up any man (or girl for that matter) and be taking them back to her wonderful top floor of the hotel. She could be snacking away right now on, dare she even consider eating another person, some delicious snack. She could be doing a lot of things, and yet, here she was, lost in thought about this man standing in front of her. She didn't feel the burning sensation in her throat to eat him, in fact, she didn't feel the want at all to hurt him. She could feel the tug at her lip again as her teeth pulled at it. Somehow, she couldn't find it in her to scold herself for doing it, this time. All she wanted to do was run her hand through his long hair and tease her fingers with the sensation of feeling his facial hair.

She felt her hand extend a little ways from her side. Cherette closed her open, slightly extended hand and replaced it back to its place, the world seeming to slowly fade back into its normal self. Her senses heightened, the smell of sunscreen, hot dogs and a vast variety of blood types flooding her nose; not to mention the salt. Even though the sun was naturally too bright for her to be really comfortable, she pulled her sunglasses off, folding them in her hand before looking up at the beautiful man in front of her. "Never have I seen..." she started under her breath. Her words broke off as she turned away from him and looked out toward the end of the pier and the ever extending ocean. "such beauty in a creature, before." she finished. Almost immediately after the words escaped her lips, she wished them back into the depths of her soul-less body. Hoping that the werewolf hadn't heard what she said.

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

A small smile reflected in Leonardo's expression. "Ah forgive me that was not my intention, I simply felt a desire to comment on your beauty effectively," he replied melodiously. "However, I doubt I could say much truth without making it seem that way. I suppose I should ask your forgiveness then, unless of course you would willingly accept such feelings otherwise," Leonardo continued allowing his face to fall briefly in a sort of somber thought but for a moment before that quaint smile returned and a brief excited look coming and going into something more amused thereafter. Had he just asked her to accept his pretty words as possible feelings? Yes, yes he had. Could he pull a few heart strings after wringing his fingers around them? Yes, yes he could. A Mattias was a lion and a fox after all. Was it wrong? Not as he saw it.

After that, they continued up and came to the top of the slope with relative ease, and his questions began. The small bite of lip did not escape Leonardo's vision, and though it could easily be written off as a thoughtful look, Leonardo was already too far into a careful analysis of person to ride it off as simply that. What is she thinking? he wondered to himself wishing for the upteenth time in his life that he could somehow ascertain the power to read minds. That would certainly be more useful than all but going berserk on a full moon. As she finally spoke, he smiled softly mentally sighing. Had she been pondering a way to lie to him again was it? I will not let her know though he mentally replied before reflecting a more bemused expression. "I see," he replied melodically again. "I suppose I would enjoy a tour of the interior at some point," he replied. "Descriptions only reveal so much."

The hiss caused him to look up, and Leonardo realized for the first time that his eyes had dropped as he had started onto the boardwalk. Brown spheres focused on the woman, vampiress rather, and caught the sight of pain on her features. Just as he was about to offer up his own sandals to her, she had started walking again, and he remained silent on the matter. She gave a brief statement before asking if he liked games, and all too quickly Leonardo felt his heart skip a beat. Had she figured him out? How? No, she was a woman. She must have been talking about some beach game or something. It had to have been random or a tangent question. There was no way she could be reading his mind and playing her own intricate game could she? No, that was impossible as far as he knew. He refused such a thing avidly. A soft chuckle escaped him shortly after that as he stopped walking to meet her turn and gaze. "I do enjoy games though it depends specifically on what game, generally," Leonardo replied. "What game did you have in mind?" he asked smiling a bit more. Again he watched her lip curl up, but he remained focused on her eyes.

The proposition of a deal caused his eyebrow to raise, and a questioning look wrote itself on Leonardo's still otherwise pleasant features. A bargain? he mentally questioned wondering if he was about to find himself in a trap. He would not fall for any sort of traps. He was the master of traps- or so he told himself. The only one that could out fox him was Mitchel Mattias himself- or so Leonardo told himself. "A truth for a truth? A simpler version of Truth or Dare then?" he asked a soft chuckle coming to him. The memory of a particularly nasty dare he had wrung across Michelangelo in their childhood briefly came to mind before it was dismissed just as quickly. He was too good at designing horrible tasks. What Cherette would see was the questioning look he posed with a twinge of darkness a remnant of feeling that he locked inside. Something that was always there now, threatening his personality, something that he had not quite banished to the shadows.

As she stared at him, he stared back a small smile on his features. "Such a game would be interesting to play," he replied. His eyes caught the motions of her hand, but rather than question it, he came to a conclusion of it. Brown eyes rose and stared at hers again his expression never once wavering. As she pulled her sunglasses off, he stared more deeply at her eyes. As she began to speak, he hummed softly before she turned and finished her statement- his rather sharp ears and what he considered to be his best trait catching her words. Bingo. He'd pulled the right strings it seemed, and now Leonardo was internally smirking. "Is it my turn, then?" he asked drawing a bit closer to her drawing his lips up to her ear. "Never before have I had the pleasure of inviting such a magnificent woman to walk with me," he replied just above a human whisper. "Miss Cherette." he finished after a moment a small extra breath being given before he slowly stood up again and began walking a different smile coming to his features.

"How about we make this game more interesting?" he asked looking back to her his signature questioning smile reflecting on his features. "Two truths and a lie is a game my younger siblings and I used to play," he laughed lightly. "Have you heard of it? One gives three statements, and the other has to decide which one is the lie. I find it quite fun, call me childish I suppose." He stopped before rolling his shoulders a little and looking towards her again. "Shall we play?" he asked.

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

Feelings? He wants me to accept feelings? Well... No.. I just.... No. Cherette looked over the railing of the pier, the wind picking up and blowing salt in her face. She closed her eyes for a moment, her stomach tight and twisted. She remembered having a feeling similar. She was in the middle of a speech in college. She was a Junior at the time talking about the appreciation of art. She was nervous as she would pace backstage, reciting over what she was planning on saying. She could have sworn she would puke. She smiled for a moment, reflecting back on that moment she had which seemed like forever ago. She remembered another time she had a similar feeling.

Cherette paused as she reflected, trying to decide whether the knots in her stomach were good or bad. She remembered that she had the same feeling when her fiancee told her he was leaving. Her eyes dropped to the railing where her nail was digging into the wood as she subconsciously dug her nails in from the reflection of the horrid memory. She bit her tongue, shrugging off the moment. It wasn't long before she was snapped back to reality of the beach by a deep, smooth voice. He wanted to play.

She was excited that he was willing to give her some answers. No more lies. she sighed to herself, beaming mentally. Her grip loosened on the railing as she smiled, glancing back down to her hands. Her pale, long fingers seemed to have a flash of color. Cherette stared at her fingers for a moment caught by her own statement she had wished away. "Never have I seen such beauty in a creature before." She did say it. She shuddered for a moment, reflecting on what had escaped her lips. The horror of words that she always kept to herself. She had only had feelings for one person like this and even he thought that she was some ugly creature. Not good enough to spend time with. She closed her eyes, waiting to see if the man had heard her.

Cherette gasped, her breath catching in her throat as she felt his breath brushing against her ear and neck. She could smell the musky scent of his werewolf blood through his breath. He was. so. close. She closed her eyes, holding her breath as she waited for him to speak. "Never have I had the pleasure of inviting such a magnificent woman to walk with me, Miss Cherette." She melted. His voice was so silky and he seemed to choose his words well. Her stomach that had previously been in her mouth was now spiraling down into the pits of her body. She let a small sigh escape her slightly parted lips. She opened her eyes, glancing out over the ocean again as she felt the overwhelming happiness beginning to roll over her body. She knew this feeling.

She smiled and turned, composing herself as she nodded at the werewolf. "I like your twist better. That seems... more... fun. But, you first. I love guessing games." she smiled as she began walking down the pier again, brushing past him a little, her hand brushing against his arm. His skin felt so warm against her. Cherette was so used to only feeling her own skin. She never killed humans, only animals, and even then, she wore gloves. She paused, only for a moment, to relish in the feeling of warmth. She turned to look up at him before walking on, almost tripping over the boards of the pier. Stupid, get yourself together... seriously, Cherette, you're acting like a lunatic. You're gonna scare him off. She made it to the end of the pier, the roof blocking the sun from her body. She bit her lip again, looking out toward the sun. They were finally alone. The wind picked up a little and Cherette crossed her arms and wrapped her hands around herself subconsciously. She was so used to blending in with humans that small cues to the weather seemed... normal.

[Leonardo K. Mattias]

A chuckle was all that was in response to Cherette's acceptance of the change in the game before Leonardo easily followed suit after her. The statement that he would go first drew a soft melodious hum from those vocal chords as Leonardo thought over what he wished to give out. Some actual truth or some nicely fed lies? The latter was better, least he intertwine his family into the mix. However, a master of lies knew better than to simply feed lies. The best of them had a small hint of truth that kept people guessing. As she brushed passed him he reached his opposite arm up and set a hand on his chin thoughtfully not quite unaware of the cold brushing past him but willing to let it be as it was. However, the sound of feet sliding strangely on boards drew his full attention again towards her for a moment. She hadn't appeared to have fallen, so he disregarded it for now. Vampires are supposed to... have superior athleticism are they not? he questioned bemusedly.

He remained silent until they drew to the end of the pier, but as she drew her arms around herself, he couldn't help but draw closer till they were standing shoulder to shoulder off towards the afternoon sun. "One, I grew up in England. Two, I have four dogs, Arthur, Bedivere, Gawain, and Percival. Or three I have learned various types of dance," he spoke each word with ease a soft chuckle coming to him towards the end. Could that possibly indicate which was the lie? He doubted it. It was certainly easier to play with someone who did not know one's background. Leonardo smiled waiting tos ee which she chose as the lie. Raising a hand, he drew fingers through his hair again trying to settle it as the wind picked up and decided to take off with his brown locks. The weather was nice as he saw it, anyways. The mix of a warmth and a breeze was decent though he would have been happier if it was just a tad cooler, his own body heat making him warmer than others.

Glancing sideways at Cherette again, Leonardo offered a smiled tilting his head to better see her profile but not speaking thereafter. He would wait. Of the Mattias skills, patience was considered a must especially in the more tense circumstances, and thus he had been determined to master it since it had been uttered from his father's lips years ago. Somewhere deeper in his subconscious, other questions were waiting as well, but he assured them that it would all be answered in time. He already had the fish on the hook, all he had to do was reel her in slowly.

[Cherette Dahlia-KaileyLynn-Ida]

Cherette felt the man's arm brush against her shoulder as he stood beside her, staring out in the same direction as she. He listed off his first three, "One, I grew up in England. Two, I have four dogs, Arthur, Bedivere, Gawain, and Percival. Or three I have learned various types of dance." She chuckled as she unfolded her arms and placed them on the railing in front of her, holding on tightly as she pulled herself up, placing her feet on the lowest stretch of wood. She leaned over the railing, glancing down into the water. It was surprisingly clear for how far they were out in the ocean. She could see the little fish swimming around and a turtle. "Well, if I had to guess, it would be the second one. I'm sorry, but a dog named Arthur? That's just about as good as you with the name Kevin." she chuckled sarcastically.

She leaned a little farther over the railing to take a better look at the deep water. She smiled as she said the names of the dogs over in her head again. Maybe it was true. Cherette looked over at the man, now eye level with him from standing on the beam of the railing. "Stop playing with your hair." she whispered, leaning in closely toward him, her nose inches from his. "It's... distracting..." She smirked at him before leaning back, hanging form the railing. "Okay, my turn: One; I have a bachelor's degree in Art. Two; I sell real-estate for a living. Three; I'm a pro gymnast." She knew how easy it would be for him to pick it out, considering her previous tripping scene. Even as a Vampire, she remained a klutz.

She looked over at the man, his brown eyes mesmerizing. "No lying here, Kevin. That's a promise of the game." she said, her mouth in a tight line for a moment before breaking out in a smile, a small giggle escaping. She looked down to her exposed skin, the sunscreen having worn off. She stepped down from the railing and back into the shade, her shoulders burning a little as it showed signs of an early sunburn. "Feelings." she stated quietly, a serious look about her now. "This is beyond normal for me, but, to what you said earlier. Feelings."