Not Your World

  • Thread starter DisreputableCharles
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When they had regained an equal pace Persephone looked to her date and laughed, shaking her head in a very "oh, you" manner. "Too true; a straight-laced young man with his priorities in order would frankly bore me to tears." She glanced upwards in thought, then added, "Plus a proper gentleman wouldn't have asked me out anyway."

With confidence in her step she led Ixom along the way, chuckling at his implication. "Not quite there yet, dear. My intentions for the present are completely innocent." That secretive smile remained on her face, betraying her glee at his confusion.

She led him along for a bit longer before suddenly stopping again, turned towards a darkened building on their right. It wasn't more than five or six stories high, and it appeared to be abandoned, yet her eyes lit up all the same. Persephone turned towards Ixom. "We're going to the roof." She whispered conspiratorially.
 
Ixom grinned merrily. "A proper gentleman might not have asked you out quite in the manner I did," He said, "But then a gain, so few men have my particular flare that they can't be blamed for it. Now if a proper gentleman wouldn't ask you out at <i>all</i> he'd be a fool. And a blind man. Very probably uninterested in women altogether." The demon nodded his head, certain in his summation of gentlemen.

When he'd properly matched the woman's pace, he arched a brow. "You know what they say about the road to hell." Mused the demon, ironically. Her secretive smile however, drove his curiosity to greater heights still. The suited demon wasn't about to cut this particularly intriguing venture short.

For a time, they walked in silence as their destination became slowly apparent. Why precisely it was their destination was another matter entirely. Luckily for Ixom, his date had the answer. Sort of. He smiled as he turned his eyes towards the rooftop. "Very well. I'm always game for a little trespassing." He winked, his voice just as low and conspiratorial as Persephone's.
 
"As always, your copious flattery is appreciated. And it seems we agree on the subject of gentlemen, which is in its way a comfort." Persephone pulled him steadily forward as she wound around the side of the quiet place, pressing herself against the weathered bricks as though it were some sort of covert operation. She'd come here before, though never with someone else. It felt like an opportunity to be stupid and childish for once.

"Hell and trespassing...my Lord, you make me sound like such a catch." That girlish laugh rang out again as she pushed open a wooden door to her right and slipped inside. The interior of the building was like a burnt-out shell; it'd been stripped of all upholstery and decoration, and only the stairs remained intact within. Persephone began making her way towards them.
 
Ixom was ready as ever to assume the role of the super-espionage stealth spy, and he even had the suit for it. Of course, if anybody were <i>really</i> searching for him, the bold red of his tie, and his shoes would give him away in a heartbeat. He smiled as they stealthed into the building, his icy gaze sweeping the interior quickly from corner to corner. The thrill of mischief made his heart pound in his chest. "Well I don't intend to throw you back just yet." He teased, pleasantly.

He stepped carefully across the floor, listening for signs of structural failure on his way. Mischievous he was. Willing to fall through the floor, he wasn't. He gave Persephone's hand a squeeze as they moved towards the stairwell, his eyes turning curiously heavanward. "My but you are a mysterious little minx," He teased.
 
Persephone feigned an expression of deep thought---which may or may not have been visible due to the darkness of the room---before her half-smirk appeared on her ethereal features. "A fair assessment, I think." Her voice was low now, not more than a whisper, seemingly for no reason other than to add to the theatrics of the whole thing. The faintest quickening of her pulse occurred as they continued up the rickety staircase. She'd noticed his wary expression earlier, but from experience she was certain that the place was stable.

"But it's mystery that keeps you interested," she said, punctuating the quiet when they were approximately halfway to the top floor. Slowing but a little, she turned to look at him in the dim light, laughing through her eyes.
 
Ixom took his cues from his date. The stairs seemed stable enough, and she didn't seem hesitant to put foot after foot. Not to be bested by his oh-so-endearing date, the demon crept quickly after her, his own lips curved upwards in mirth. His free hand began to trail along the wall, dust coming away on his fingertips before he brushed them against one another to clean them. Between their words, only the sound of their shoes on the stairs, and their breathing could be heard. That, and the sounds of an old building settling in the night. It might have been eerie, if Ixom weren't enjoying himself so thoroughly.

"Mystery indeed, my dear. But I think perhaps satisfaction may very well win my mind just the same." His voice was but a whisper, so unwilling was he to break the atmosphere. His icy gaze sparkled merrily right back.
 
Persephone, with her free hand, kept a hold on the railing, albeit lightly. She'd been here before and was far more concerned with her companion and their destination than the structure of the building. He was obviously hiding his caution, and the thought that she was more confident than him for once was a pleasant surprise. "Not much further, love; quit your fussing." Out of the corner of her eye she noticed his fingers brush the decaying material of the wall.

At the top floor there was a balcony that led to the rickety fire escape, which Persephone had no reservations in climbing onto, as well as dragging Ixom along with her. She inhaled deeply and relinquished his hand to grab hold of the ladder that attached directly to the roof; there were no stairs after this point. When she'd reached the height of the place she stood with that half-smile gracing her face, gazing out at the cityscape that appeared before her.

"Gorgeous view from up here..."
 
Ixom arched a brow amusedly. He'd never had a building dropped on him, and he wondered rather if he'd survive the occasion. Deciding that he'd much rather go without finding out that particular answer, he paused on the fire-escape to allow his date to ascend first, averting his eyes politely lest he mistakenly let his eyes rise as she climbed. Climbing in skirts. He smiled amusedly at the idea.

"I," He said, as he began to climb the ladder. "Do not fuss. I protest, and I complain, but I do not fuss." He grinned, as he made his way to the rooftop. "It's not dignified." He cast a cursory glance around the rooftop, so as not to miss any lurking dangers. Satisfied that no ninja shadows were going to set upon them, he let his eyes roam over the city. It was a pretty sight, but he found his eyes returning to his date's features, pulled into that wry half-smile of hers. "Gorgeous," He agreed, although he found that he hadn't meant the view.
 
At his words Persephone looked over with eyebrows slightly raised, her smile having faded but not disappeared. She observed Ixom with her hands folded behind her back, and a sort of curious tilt to her head. The evening had been lovely thus far and she had no complaints, only questions. Sure enough, she found herself dying to know what was so special about her, why after only one encounter he'd set out to court her. It wasn't exactly unwelcome, just...strange.

"Thank you, as usual," she said knowingly, clearly having caught the implication of his comment. Her eyes narrowed but a little, not in suspicion but curiosity, as she said, "I do so hate to admit defeat, but the thirst for knowledge is getting overwhelming." Green eyes flitted down and then up again, focusing on his face. "What was so intriguing that it couldn't go uninvestigated? Why me?"
 
Ixom was strangeness embodied. One hand rose to brush his hair back from his icy eyes, although his smile was still sincere as he overlooked the city. "You are welcome of course. Perhaps however, I need to make my admirations subtler yet, lest you grow too accustomed to my flattery. After all, I'd just <i>die</i> if you grew bored with me." Tucking his hands into his pockets, he strode a few paces forward.

He half-turned back to his date, in profile against the backdrop of the city now. "Is it so strange that a man should happen across a lovely, strong-willed, adventurous woman on her way back to a boarding house? Is it so strange as well, that he should want to further his familiarity with such a woman?" He meandered back, this time facing his date in full. "It's not every woman that will bring her date to a beautiful -if completely isolated- location on the first date. No matter how good his intentions, or character." All this was delivered -of course- without either lying, or giving Persephone a direct answer to her question.
 
Persephone's eyes followed him closely with the slightest twinkle of amusement. It wasn't as though she was laughing at him, but rather she was genuinely enjoying herself, in a quiet sort of way. "I wouldn't worry; you're keeping my interest just fine." Barely conscious of it, she took a step or two towards him.

As a point of habit she found herself tucking her hair behind her ear again, which was a sort of nervous reaction she'd carried since childhood. There was nothing to worry about, yet her heartbeat still quickened. "What's strange isn't the woman, but the man." Slowly she moved forward until she was not more than a foot away. "A wealthy young egomaniac who's never even kissed a girl, randomly courting someone like me..." Persephone couldn't stop herself smiling a little. "Don't misunderstand; I'm rather enjoying myself. But you are a strange one, Ixom." She leaned forward slightly. "Something of a paradox."
 
Ixom arched a merry brow as his date drew nearer. When she stopped but a foot away, he leaned forward a few inches, perhaps within the woman's personal bubble, if she were skittish. "That," He said quietly. "Is the second time tonight you've called me a paradox. Flattery my dear, will get you everywhere." He noticed the girl's nervous tic, and smiled. For a moment, it looked as if Ixom meant to kiss the woman.

And then he straightened. "But you're correct, on all counts. I'm terribly strange. Handsome, wealthy, witty, and strange." He flashed his teeth in a dazzling grin. "And yours for the one-time price of your immortal soul." He rolled his eyes in amusement, as though he were joking. Maybe he was. Maybe. He offered one of those long-fingered hands to his date. "The Beatles had it right. I want to hold your hand." He said, with a wink.
 
Persephone wasn't easily surprised by anything, really. As her companion leaned in she'd not break eye contact even with a blink, saying quietly, "It seems to work well enough for you." It'd be a lie to say she wasn't even a little disappointed when he moved away again.

At his proposition she wordlessly slipped her hand around his. "Such honest lyric...careful, or you'll have me swooning." That cheeky wink had her smiling again, and then as quickly as it had come it faded as though she'd realized something important. For a moment she appeared to be thinking, before sheer impulse took over. She closed the distance and her lips met his for scarcely more than a second before she'd stepped back again, waiting for his reaction.
 
Ixom smiled when the girl took his hand in her own. Really, there was too little hand-holding that went on in the world. It felt so... <i>Good,</i> to touch people. Not perversely, and not violently. Just a hand, holding another hand. An innocent show of affection, and a measure of trust, with the person beside you. He'd been about to respond, but a look in Persephone's eye stopped him from speaking. Rather, he lofted his brows inquisitively.

And then she kissed him. His heart fluttered, and color sprang to his cheeks unbidden. His hand began to sweat, and his pulse quickened. <i>A girl can do this to me with just a kiss? I suppose I see what the fuss is all about.</i> Despite his internal logic, cool and distant as it was, he was having trouble wrapping his brain around the kiss. It was just her lips, touching his own. Right?

"That," He began, lifting a hand to touch his lips. "Wow." For once, Persephone had struck him speechless. His eyes turned down to their hands, still connected. His thumb ran softly over her knuckles.
 
Persephone wouldn't dare embarrass him, though her smile gradually crept back. Somehow it was endearing, seeing the abrupt change he had undergone. "You really never have kissed a girl before, have you?" She murmured, allowing a glance downwards before she focused on him once more. It was a true delight to see so many sides of a person within the course of one evening, at least for a girl like Persephone.

"Of course," she said after a few moments, her voice still quiet, "a kiss on the first date is generally frowned upon." Not that she cared, but as he'd mentioned it earlier she was amused by the thought. She tilted her head forward to whisper, "Though I'm not much one for tradition."
 
Ixom was still trying to get passed the whole lips-touching thing. <i>There's no reason for confusion. It's just one adult pressing their lips, against another person's lips. Simple. A kiss.</i> "Well... That's hardly true any longer." He said, beginning to get his stride back.

Ixom frowned ponderously. "But I can't very well tell people that I've never kissed a girl any more. The shock value alone isn't worth the lie. And although a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, somebody may well guess who it was that'd been the victim of my first kiss. Of course, if they come to the conclusion that it was you, they'll have to gather that we kissed on our first date."

He paused, turning his eyes out over the city as he tried to master his blush. It wasn't working. "There is only one answer. We'll have to go on another date soon, and then anybody who finds out I've been kissed will assume it happened then." Flawless logic. Ixom really was a bit of a buffoon when it came to women.
 
Persephone allowed herself the gentlest of laughs, though not at Ixom's expense. It was more an expression of genuine affection that was beginning to grow in her heart. She watched as he tried to regain his proverbial footing, not interrupting lest he had something more to say.

"Indeed, that can be the only solution." There was no need to address who exactly he'd even be sharing that fact with, or any of the runaway sentences he'd uttered while she waited. Persephone lifted her free hand, delicate fingers just barely grazing his cheek. "Soon, I think, to prevent the wrong impression." She winked conspiratorially and tapped the side of her nose.
 
Ixom knew he was blathering. He might have had to cut himself off, had Persephone not managed to get a word in edgewise. Her hand along the side of his face was soft, and smooth. His heart sped again, and he found himself watching those lovely green eyes of hers. "Yes," He agreed quietly. "The only solution."

He found himself smiling more easily at the nature of his date's conspirator's wink. He took a breath, and gave her fingers another gentle squeeze, before pulling his eyes away over the city once again. It really was a lovely view. That he had someone to share it with made it all the more so. "I am very thoroughly enjoying myself, Persephone Hampton." He said. "I'm glad chance crossed our paths." Back he glanced, to his date. "But I think your little ones will miss you if I keep you much longer, as much as I'd like to." He let out a fond sigh. "Shall we return?"
 
The thought had occurred to Persephone, but only as a vague notion that had been largely disregarded. In all honesty she didn't want to leave, just to hold his hand in comfortable silence was more than enough. Still, he was right, much as she hated to admit it. She watched his gaze dance around for a bit before answering, "Alas, we shall. Pesky obligations."

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. That was her mantra to prevent disappointment at the evening's ending. With a faded little smile, she tugged towards the route from whence they came, only to release it as she made her way down.
 
Ixom smiled faintly. "Pesky obligations," He agreed, and escorted his date to the ladder. The demon let his date preceed him down the ladder, to guard her dignity. He then followed quickly as he was able, to return to her side.

When they got back to the car, he held the door for Persephone once again, before clambering in on his own side. From there, it didn't take all too long to return the woman to her home, even as distracted as Ixom was.

As he pulled up to a stop outside her house, and let the car's engine die, he turned his eyes upon Persephone once again. "When do you think you'll be available next?" He asked, hopeful.
 
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