seas_open | (les)

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(les)

April honestly isn't sure why she's here.

Les had said something about dinner and before she could even think about what she was saying, she had found herself agreeing and now she's here, uncertain, on unsteady ground, and neither of these are things she likes being. It's not a date, she doesn't go on dates, she simply does what she needs to do in order to get by, but befriending a witch she'd met first in a bar and then on the beach has little to do with just getting by. She doesn't need him in any way to get the things she wants.

But she's here anyway and she doesn't entirely understand why.

She'd put on a simple green dress and a pair of sandals, left her hair loose around her shoulders. She's left her taser at home, too, because she can't imagine Les doing anything that would require her needing it, which is stupid. It's how people get into trouble, by assuming they know things about a person they've spent barely any time with at all, but she's confident in her decision at the same time, just one more conflicting thought in a long line of conflicting thoughts.

It isn't even that she's here simply because she wants to sleep with him -- though she wouldn't say no. If that was all she wanted, she's certain there are less difficult ways to go about it. In short, there isn't much she understands about Les or about what she's doing.

But she's here anyway and she fixes the hem of her dress before knocking on the door of the guest house.

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It's precisely six minutes past eight o'clock when Les hears the polite knock on the door of the guest house. He is in the bathroom fixing his hair, which is just the equivalent of running his hands over his head with water and this gel he'd swiped from Alfie until everything looked less horrible.

At the knock, he immediately knows it's April because his very humble host Princess Corry had neither knocked nor called first any of the times she had barged into the guest house to check on him. He wonders if he should've mentioned company was coming tonight, but it's a bit late for that. Earlier he had cleared away most of the mess in the kitchen, putting up the spells he'd been working to make room on the couch and the kitchen table. He isn't completely sure what the intention of the night with April is. The words 'maybe dinner' had left his mouth before he had thought them through completely. He's usually much better at asking for dates, at least enough to know they're dates. But April threw him off his game just a touch especially after she had opened up to him about her siren abilities. He wasn't sure what he'd done to gain her trust so quickly because he got the impression that 'trust' wasn't something she handed out to everyone.

He opens the door to find her standing on the threshold, looking rather beautiful in a green dress and faintly waved hair. He does make a point to look her up and down, but he does it with a playful smile. "Somebody looks nice," he says, easy with the compliments when he means them, but he lets the door sweep aside gesturing her through before he closes it back.

"Someone does," she agrees with a smile, letting her gaze sweep over Les in return. She's made no attempt to hide the fact that she finds him attractive right from the start and although this sort of evening leaves her feeling slightly confused, she does her best to hide it, figuring there's no reason not to continue on with the playful flirting they've been doing very nearly since they met. Even if that's all it turns out to be, just a teasing flirtation, at least then she'll have some idea of what she's doing. With most, she finds it's often the best way to communicate.

Then again, with most, she doesn't show them any bit of her true form.

She enters the guest house again and although she's been here before, it looks different this time. The books and spells are gone, the simmering pot on the stove has been put away and if she didn't know any better, it would look just like a regular home. A beautiful regular home located on the property of a massive, gorgeous beachfront property, but a regular home all the same.

"You cleaned up for me," she teases, glancing at him over her shoulder. "I feel all special."

"Oh. You totally should. I didn't even magic it away either," Les says, beaming at her with a crooked grin. Alfie would've passed out to see him clearing away that clutter. Even if he didn't know if this was simply a flirty game they were playing, he thought of April highly enough to make a semblence of effort. She was kind...and he liked her, thought she was beautiful and enjoyable company.

"I even had the staff explain how this contraption works," he says, gesturing at the television. It was turned on one of the numerous movie channels that apparently came with Corry's cable package. He figured a movie was normal enough...

He follows her into the kitchen area, heading for the fridge. So Les wasn't really a cook, which was another reason telling April 'maybe dinner' had been a very poorly thought through plan. All he has are pickles, fruit, and raw eggs. There could be some peanut butter in the cabinent too. He should shop.... "How do you feel about pickles?" he asks placing the jar down on the counter with a thump.

Her gaze drifts over the television briefly before she watches Les opening the fridge and she leans her elbows on the counter, a faint smile curving her mouth. And then he plunks a jar of pickles down on the counter in front of her and she has to arch an eyebrow, looking from the jar to Les and then back again. "I... supposed I haven't given pickles that much consideration before this moment. Not enough to develop a real opinion."

It's unexpected, but then she laughs, her playful attitude returned. "Do you really like pickles? You didn't invite me over here just to ask me to do weird things with them, did you?" she asks with a teasing grin.

Because if a jar of pickles is his idea of dinner, April is already trying to remember the names of the restaurants she's seen in the area that deliver. He might be adorable and she might be willing to crawl into bed with him at a moment's notice, but she's certainly not eating pickles for dinner.

Unscrewing the jar and placing it on the counter, Les laughs at her with a shake of his head. "What kind of weird things?" he asks, having never considered their even were weird things to do with pickles. Though there was this expression on her face that Les was all too familiar with when it came to any pickles discussion. It wasn't his fault. He always had a craving for them. Eventually he shrugs his shoulders, somewhat sheepishly, as he leans over the counter, mimicking the stance she's taken on the opposite side.

"So truth? I may have invited you over without remembering I have no idea what to do in a kitchen. Aside from how to boil frog eggs. I can go grab those from the closet," he offers thumbing his finger over his shoulder, chuckling. "I'm also not really a decent shopper. But... He slides the jar over to her with a smirk. "I do really like pickles. Valeria Jung made these for me. They aren't disappointing."

He's awfully cute and she's enjoyed spending time with him more than she's expected, but the look she gives him when he slides the jar of pickles toward her is caught somewhere between sincere amusement and genuine disbelief that he's offering her a jar of pickles for dinner. If this is a date -- which it's not, which it can't be because she doesn't go on dates -- then it's certainly the strangest one she's ever been on. And somehow that in itself is kind of endearing. He isn't falling over himself to impress her, though she's also purposely avoided using any of her powers on him, simply curious as to what might happen without, and she hasn't been disappointed so far.

The pickles are strange. But she finds herself laughing despite that. She's used to a certain kind of treatment from both men and women; a grudging, reluctant respect, an awkwardness that comes with not knowing what to do with a woman that looks like her, or a flirtatious banter she easily falls into. Les has given her something else entirely and she's not sure what to make of it.

"I'm going to call for take out," she tells him, taking her phone out of her bag and setting it on the counter. "So you tell me which restaurant you'd like me to call and I'll try one of your pickles."

It isn't that Les doesn't recognize the look April gives him after he offers her the jar of pickles. Her concern is hard to miss, is actually amusing in itself because her sudden recognition that Les can be a fuck up on basic things is probably best to happen now rather than later. It's a good sign that April also appears to find him amusing.

Because when she mentions calling in for dinner, he wonders why he didn't consider that option an hour ago. It's too late though.

"If I tell you the fried pickles from Quill are delicious, is that going to make this more weird?" he asks with a smile.

"If that's your response, I'm going to fire you from making any dinner decisions in the future," she answers with a surprised laugh, then picks up her phone and does a quick search for restaurants nearby. That she's implied there will be future dinners doesn't escape her notice and she's not sure why she's said it, but it's out now and she can't very well take it back without drawing attention to the fact that she's said it in the first place. She doesn't know how he does it, how he makes her laugh so easily, and she shakes her head as she looks down at her phone, trying to distract herself. A second later she looks up again, holding her phone out toward him so he can see the menu of a place she's found.

"Look, this place will deliver stir fry right to your door and they're close and then we won't have to eat only pickles," she tells him, her eyebrows raised, but she's still smiling. She can't quite seem to help herself when it comes to spending time with Les. "Pickles and boiled frogs eggs. Is that really something you would eat?" She'd thought the frogs eggs were specifically for magical purposes and she's certainly never heard of anyone eating them before.

Of course, that doesn't make it impossible.

"I happily give up all responsibility," Les says, chuckling, but also his eyes perk up that she's already assumed there may be more than one dinner. Once she says that, he realizes he is hip to the idea too. It's been awhile since he's been able to say that about anyone, that anyone has made him sit up and pay attention. April has very smoothly done that, and he isn't sure how.

Frowning, he takes note of her cellphone when she holds it out, wondering why his phone doesn't tell him food things. It just makes all these strange beeps. But the menu looks like pretty standard chinese garb. "Well." He sadly twists the lid back on the jar. "April, you've been a tough negotiator but we can do chinese instead."

He goes to replace the jar and the fridge. When he turns around, he laughs again. "Yeah. Maybe not frog eggs. But I eat pretty much anything. Oh. Except shellfish only 'cos I'm allergic but if you're willing to drive to the hospital, I'm down for that too."

"We'll avoid shellfish. Not that I'm opposed to driving you to the hospital," she assures him with a smile as she dials the number for the restaurant and tucks her phone against her shoulder. "But I don't have a car. And I don't have a driver's license on the off chance you do have a car." She can drive if she has to, but she's never had much reason to own a car and so she's never bothered getting licensed in any of the states she's ever lived in.

When someone at the restaurant answers, she recites an order, what she assumes it more than enough food for the both of them, avoiding anything that might cause an allergic reaction and then she gives them her credit card number. And when she hangs up, she's smiling again as she sets her phone down on the counter. "Twenty minutes and we'll have more than just pickles and frogs eggs, so if there's anything else that might end with you in the hospital, you should probably let me know before they get here. I'll need to practice my driving skills."

Technically, Les didn't have a car either. He had an Alfie who sometimes felt sorry enough to drive Les around places, but before that--and still most of the time--he got around by foot or using his bike. Siren Cove wasn't a huge place so a car wasn't necessary. He would've expected that April owned a car, or at least knew how to drive, considering she said she traveled from town to town. Maybe she used bus or planes. Truth be told, Les isn't even sure where April is living in Siren Cove, how she was getting around town now he didn't know. But he takes her joke in stride, waving off her words with a big smile and a nod, since she's already picked up the phone to make a take-out order.

"Mm. You're probably safe. I'm sure I can stay outta trouble for the next twenty minutes," he says, smirking as he shifts to straighten back to a stand. He walks into the direction of the couch and sitting room area since they had almost half an hour to kill before their food arrived. He flops down on the middle cushion, looking over towards her, for her to join. "One day though you're going to regret those frog eggs. I'm sure of it," he laughs.

When he walks over toward the couch she just watches him for a moment, her eyes narrowed slightly at his back, trying to figure out what he might want from her. It's how life works, it's how people work, and April is sure there has to be something. But if she turns the question around on herself, if she asks herself what she wants from him, it's a bit of a surprise to find the answer is simply that she wants to spend time with him. She isn't looking for power or information, she's not here to gain access to anyone else, she doesn't know -- or care, really -- if he has any deep, dark secrets she might be able to work out of him.

She likes him, she realizes with a start. It's the sort of thought that should send her running, but she only bites her lower lip, then forces herself to stop thinking about it so much.

Sliding off the stool, she crosses the house to sink down onto the couch beside him, tucking one leg under her body, her knee brushing against his thigh. "When I start to feel the first pangs of regret, I'll be sure to call you straight away," she teases, leaning her elbow against the back of the couch, her hand against her cheek. "You're the only supplier of frog eggs I know."

Les fiddles with the remote for a moment, frowning, attempting the same maneuver Corry's house of staff had showed him earlier--that Alfie had showed him many times previously too--but there were just so many buttons on this control. He still didn't understand why he couldn't just zap the television to make it do as he pleased. His television set had less than ten channels. He did not understand why this one had so many. He is still frowning when April slides into the space beside her, feeling the contact her knee makes with his own. Her presence is surprisingly comfortable even though her beautiful looks almost make her seem untouchable, but instead he sees her softer just now, crouched on the couch, legs tucked under her, as though they've done this before...

He just smiles back at her and hands her the remote. Not only does he not care what they watch, but she had easily worked her cellphone earlier. She likely isn't as tech-challenged as he is. Though few people were. "See? Now you already have a reason to call me again," he says, laughing.

"Oh, now I need a reason?" she asks, taking the remote when he hands it to her, though she has no idea what he might want to watch. She flicks through a few channels without really looking at what's on the TV before leaving it on some movie she knows she's seen before or at least caught bits and pieces of at one point or another. April doesn't spent a lot of time watching TV, but she doesn't spent a lot of time in her apartment alone and she knows better than to say something like that while she's on a potential date.

Then again, she's still not quite sure if that's what this is. For a woman -- and a siren -- who's awfully used to getting what she wants or manipulating the situation until she does, being this off balance is unfamiliar, though not necessarily unwelcome. Having something new, being challenged, these are things she hasn't felt in a long time.

"And here I thought you wanted me to call you just because you like me," she teases gently as she sets the remote control down.

When April lands on a channel showing a movie, something action judging the explosions on screen, Les simply nods not recgonizing the film. He finds that he would much rather just talk to April instead, even between the teasing and joking, she is interesting to say the least which isn't something he can say about just anyone. She teases him that he likes her, wants her to call him again, but he realizes that he really does.

"You're not too bad," he says, only to shrug after, but smiles in a tease. "I really like the part where you turn all scaly. That's cool. Very unexpected."

It's unexpected and for a second her smile falters, though not because she's offended or bothered by what he's saying. There have been so few people who have seen her as she truly is and none of them have reacted positively before Siren Cove. Even that morning on the beach had been a bit of a challenge and she knows people make assumptions based on what she is. She's sure there are those who might accuse her of using her influence to charm Les, that the only reason she's here at all is because she's forced him into it without his knowledge, but he says he likes it and she has to believe him. She hasn't used her powers on anyone since her arrival here with the exception of Bach and she hopes Les know that she hasn't used them on him at all.

"It's more fun in the water," she says, her smile returning, and she thinks she might like to show him, though it makes her nervous as well. The scales are one thing, but her teeth sharpened to points, her eyes gold around the edges, pupils blown wide like a shark, she knows those aren't quite as interesting as the shimmering black scales she has. "I can swim circles around you."

Les makes a face, pursing his lips in a half-smile, because that's the second time she's informed him her transformation is even better out in the water, in the ocean. He believes her, knowing how Sirens were called to the water. All the town legends and surrounding folklore written about the Sirens tended to spell that out pretty clearly. It is definitely something he wants to see though. Just from mere curiosity sake. He had seen Lara transformed, seen April's black scales, and the other night at Midsummer's saw Corry's arm turn bright gold. All of them different and beautiful...

But April goes off and presses one of Les' buttons, saying she could swim better than him. Which had to be true considering she was a siren, but when was he ever to back down from a challenge. "Swim circles? I don't know. I'm pretty awesome at it..." He grins back at her. "There's a huge ocean right out back. Now you're obligated to show me these superior swimming skills."

Edited 2014-07-21 17:44 (UTC)

"Hey, anytime," she answers, grinning when he all but challenges her. It's so rare, to have someone talk to her like that, like she's an equal rather than something to be held above him. April has encouraged that all her life. She's manipulated and used her influence, she's flicked her hair the right way and had men and women alike put her on a pedestal and while that's something she's always encourage, something she's always wanted, this is nice, too, in its way.

"Though I may have already been told by local authorities that I might want to consider investing in a nice top for my morning swims," she admits. Levi hadn't quite put it like that, but it was clear that she needed to either time her swims better or find a more private place to come out of the water.

Les cracks up laughing at the thought of her emerging from the water stark naked, scaring the human tourists. "AH, what do the police know about anything," he says, shaking his head, but he's still very much amused by her story. He likes that April has a sense of humor not only about the siren stuff but about her own situation. He feels as though he can be himself around her, not having to be too serious, or too impressive. He gets enough of that at work, dealing with Lara's business partners. "But don't worry I'm a witch, I'm positive I can figure out a way to shield your little swimming display from prying eyes. If you wanna---"

He cuts off just as there is a loud, interrupting knock on the door of the guest house. It appeared their dinner has finally made it. The prospect of food is a completely welcomed addition to the night, and he pops up from the couch. "Sweet. Food's here," he says, half jogging towards the night table where his wallet was in order to grab enough bills to cover the tab.

He opens the door to find a young-ish driver holding an large paper bag filled to the brim with takeout containers. It all smelled delicious, and he was suddenly very excited. He smiles wide over his shoulder at April. "You totally get to keep dinner-ordering duties," he informs her, paying and tipping the driver. He thanks him as he shuts the door back with his foot and then brings over all the food to the kitchen bar.

She's distracted by the food -- which does smell amazing -- and she gets up from the couch to join Les back in the kitchen. Without asking where she might find plates, she takes a guess, opening a cupboard and smiling when it appears she's guessed right, though a second later she's focusing again on what he had said earlier.

"Could you really?" she asks curiously, setting the plates down as he digs the containers from out of the bag. "Find a way to shield a person visibly?" It's a little like being invisible, she thinks, and she's not sure whether she loves or hates the idea, but it is intriguing.

For the most part, April likes to have people look at her. She likes knowing there are eyes on her, that she has control of a room simply because of the way she looks. But the thought of a private way to swim, possibly not on her own... her gaze sweeps over Les again and she finds herself smiling. That doesn't seem like such a terrible thing at all.

Les digs into the bag, placing out all the containers, as April heads for the cabinents to find utensils and plates. He hadn't done much in the way of cooking while staying with Corry, so her guess is as good as his on where everything is. Soon the counter is filled with utensils and food containers, and suddenly Les is reminded of his life growing up with Rosalie. His mother was never a cook either, preferring instead to use the kitchen for her potions and spellwork. There was always something cooking, just never edible food.

They often ate takeout dinners just like this. Containers sprawled out over everything, with nothing fancy or anything. Just them. So he is more than content. He doesn't know exactly what April considers tonight, but he is more than enjoying himself, he nites as he slides onto on of the stools.

He takes out a pork eggroll for them both giving her a smile as he offers it. "When it comes to magic everything is possible," he says, biting the end of his eggroll. "But shielding someone is relatively easy with the right spell."

"Everything is possible," she echoes, sounding interested. It's not a question, really, she believes him because she has no reason not to. The first time her scales had shown up not long before puberty she'd been calm, strangely collected for someone who had just turned into part-fish, and now in the face of all this magic, she doesn't see any reason to get worked out. It is what it is, just like she is what she is.

She takes the eggroll, then helps herself to some of the other food, picking up a pair of chopsticks from the bag. Taking a bite of her food, she chews, considering, then says, "I'd like to try that. Being shielded while I swim." Her mouth turns up and she shrugs before she adds, "You could come along. Behind the shield."

Les squeezes the packet of soy sauce over his rice, licking his fingers free of the small bit that dribbles over them. He looks at April with a grin at her invitation. "So we're gonna---" he gestures his finger at the dinner and up at her. "We're gonna do this again?" Not that he wouldn't mind it being a casual thing too. He is more than willing to provide April some magical security detail on her swim.

"I think we should," she answers simply, watching the way he licks his fingers. It's such a small thing, a little gesture, a motion she'd likely have used herself if she was just trying to get him into bed, but she's not used to paying attention to anyone in such a way. It sends a shiver rippling down her spine that she tries to hide.

"Someone needs to keep you from eating only pickles for every meal," she adds a second later, flashing him a teasing grin. "And besides, I want to see more of what you can do. If you're going to get the full siren show one day, I think it's only fair we trade back and forth a little."

A minor moment passes between his question and her response, an obvious interest on her part being directed at him. It's a feeling he is used to receiving from women, maybe not one as extraordinarily beautiful as April. But he is attractive and charming in his own loveable manchild type of way. Women weren't really his problem. It's keeping his interests focused long enough to get real with people. He just isn't good at the emotions. But the other stuff?

Well that....Les is particularly good at the other stuff. And the look April gives him when he licks the sauce from his fingers definitely gets his blood flowing faster. The teasing tone in her voice returns, and he nods along returning her smile. "I show you mine, you show me yours," he laughs. "It sounds like a fair exchange. Though I may be getting the better deal. The full siren show? Exciting. Is there gonna be a dance routine?"

Picking up his fork, he dives into his food, his stomach hungry for food and maybe more.

Edited 2014-07-23 18:10 (UTC)

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