Jun 17 11:16:29 105 PA

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Wed Jun 17 11:16:29 105 PA.

A large airy room, painted white with bare, polished floorboards. In one corner a cheap wardrobe has been painted white with some flowers hand painted on, bright yellow against the paleness of the room. A chest of drawers next to it has been given the same treatment. Near the two, a large metal bed is a pile of colourful cushions on it, none the same colour or pattern. The throw over it matches the covers to the pillows. An elderly couch has been pushed to one side of the room, and has an elderly but cared for throw tossed over it. The throw appears hand made, patches sewn together to form a brightly coloured mosaic. To one side, there is a kitchenette. Clean and functional, with two small cupboards on the wall. A little table stands nearby in this corner, simple polished wood with two chairs. The wooden floor has a few small brightly coloured rugs on it. Off to one side of the main room, a bathroom holds basic things like a sink, toilet and a shower. The shower curtain has sunflowers all over it.

Desmond will let himself in not too long before Aimee is usually off. He will be there, waiting for her when she walks into the door, emerging from the kitchen space with a glass of wine in hand. He's made himself at home, as he sometimes does, with just his jeans and shirt on, the rest shed in the name of comfort. "Welcome," he rumbles with fondness as he approaches her, proffering the glass and his other hand in offer to her own. There will also be something cooking by the smell. Though it seems more a medley of some sort, rather than any one thing in particular.

She drops her bag, taking the glass and his hand, a wary look growing in her eyes. "Mon chat..." Her tone holds wariness to match the look on her face. "This is a pleasant surprise, ..." She sniffs the air, narrowing her eyes at him thoughtfully.

Desmond looks utterly guileless as he often does with that soft expression and warm fondness for her. "I thought you might enjoy. I know your work days are a tiresome thing. And I have learned a new recipe which is very favorable. I did wish for you to try it, it is called Jambalaya." It does smell quite nice, whatever it might be. "It is nearly ready and you are home just when I thought you might be. Please make yourself comfortable and we can eat."

The suspicion in her eyes deepens and she sips the wine slowly, watching him over the rim. "Mon chat, you make me suspicious." She comments, putting the glass down and walking across the room, her steps graceful as she pulls the Moes shirt over her head. "You have been reading cook books again?" She calls as she bends to pull a top from the drawer, exchanging the shirt for a casual strappy top, in dark red. "Jambalaya is good...and I'm starving."

"Suspicious of what?" For truly, Desmond is a sweet angel capable of no bad on this or any other Earth. Turning to walk back towards the kitchen and check on his concoction. The mix of meats, vegetables and spices coming along well. It took him a few tries to get it right, but he feels confident in what he has now. "I did think you might be. I would not mind cooking for you often. Which sounds true enough. "I often read my cookbooks and many are the things I would like to try making. Though making for myself alone is something that is not so pleasing as cooking for two." His deep voice lifted to reach her as he storks the mixture for a few moments more before ladling out generous portions into two of her largest bowls. Bringing them out along with some warmed bread that he picked up fresh before coming. Butter has been laid out along with the silverware required. A matching glass of wine brought out for himself before he awaits her return to let her settle before him.

She settles herself at the table, hugging one knee and resting her chin on it. Her green eyes rest on him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips, deepening the dimple. "Uhuh..." She nods slowly, understanding having dawned on her face, "Looks lovely." She doesn't help the topic arise, moving back to talking of the food, as she uncurls and tries it. "Not bad at all, mon chat..." She comments softly, taking the bread to dip into it.

Desmond settles and starts to eat himself, showing a simple pleasure in her approval of his cooking. There is some truth to that, finding pleasure in cooking for them both, rather than for himself alone. Though he is a smart, alert one at times. So perhaps a minute into the meal, he will lift his eyes to her and rumble, "I am so transparent, am I not?" Not seeming upset that this partial ploy wasn't to subtle has he'd hoped. "I did not lie about the pleasure in this. I cook for you and I is more appealing than for myself alone. And I do this because I like to care for you, as you have cared for me."

"Just a little..." She murmurs, eating her meal slowly, breaking the bread into pieces and soaking them before she eats them. "I love that you cooked for me, mon chat, I do, truly. And it is good, honestly." She doesn't comment on the success of the ploy itself though, attending to her meal with attention that speaks of hunger from work.

Desmond decides to let the topic slide for the moment, noting her hunger. Not wishing to distract her from it. Instead, he rumbles, "I am glad you enjoy it. There are many things I have yet to try, but this.. it seemed easy to make. Perhaps not so easy at first, but it isn't too difficult now." Eating steadily with a large slice of the bread for himself, though that is saved for last. "Was there much trouble at Moe's this evening?" Some honest curiosity about his prior place of employ.

"Not much, but it isn't the same since my favourite bouncer left..." She slants him a teasing look before continuing to eat. "You made it well, mon chat..." She finishes her bowl, giving it a look of sadness as it refuses to refill itself. She runs the bread in her hands around her bowl, eating it quickly as it drips.

The look Desmond gives her at that is one that is purely pleased. "Were it not for the added credits that my new position gives, I would be there still with you. My thoughts often turn to you as I work," he rumbles with an open, warm fondness in his tone. Taking it a bit slower with his own, he lifts the spoon to point towards her bowl. "There is more, if you would like more," he states. "I made extra, just in case."

"Please..." She uncurls herself from the seat, padding over to the pot to spoon more into her bowl. "It is good that you got a better job, mon honey." She dips a finger into the bowl, licking it clean as she returns to sit with him once more. "You worry too much, mon chat." She gives him a warm teasing look, the wariness faded.

Desmond nods his head when she returns, nearly finished with his own bowl, applying the bread to it to clean away the lingering remnants. "Perhaps, but I cannot help it. My thoughts will always be on you. Your safety.. and your thoughts on many matters." His eyes lingering on her at that. Indeed, he often wonders why she things this or that in a certain way.

Her hand pauses, in midair, at those words and the careful expression shows on her face. "I'm safe, safer than I was since I left home, honey." She observes, her voice almost toneless. She takes a piece of bread, spreading butter carefully, before dipping the end into the bowl.

Desmond nods his head to that. "I accept that.. as much as I can. Had I no acceptance of that, I would have remained at Moe's, determined to watch you and guard you. My determination to that is no less than before, but.. I accept easier there will be times that you will be beyond my sight and I must give you my trust. And continue to work to earn your trust."

"I trust you, stoopid..." She gives him a questioning look, her forehead wrinkling. "What makes you think I don't?" She sighs, using the bread to mope the final pieces from her bowl. "Ok, go on. What is it about, mon chat?"

Desmond settles his bowl and picks up his wine to consider her quietly for a few moments before he takes a sip and rumbles, "There are times I wonder, to be honest. Which I can accept, for trust is not something that comes easy or quickly." And there is no ulterior lilt to his voice in that. "What lingers most on my mind is our living together at Raleigh's. Not because I feel you must, but to understand. Perhaps that I might fix what concerns you."

She regards him steadily, before she pushes her bowl away, reaching for the glass. "Living together. Why? Isn't what we have enough...?" She turns the glass slowly, her fingers on its stem. "I trust you, I love you, I spend most of my time with you." She shrugs lightly, her gaze sliding away.

Desmond considers her question honestly. Of course, for him, it is enough. And yet.. "These things are all true, My Flame. And I am grateful, do not think that I take such things for granted. After all that has occurred for us, I could not. Never again. And yet.. I will admit that I find the prospect of being closer to you attractive. There are times, especially before, that it was as if I did live here with you. I suppose.. I have gotten a taste of it and I enjoyed it. To sleep with you in my arms, to wake up and see you there. To cook with you and for you. To do those little things together. It is pleasnt. I can accept if it is not what you seek yet.. but I wonder at your reluctance. Not out of spite, but out of a desire to make better what I can."

She sighs, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a large sip of it, closing her eyes. "Mon chat... If it is enough, why push for this?" She sighs, returning to hugging a knee to her, leaning her cheek against it. "You sleep with me, wake with me, cook for me,..." She shrugs, "What difference does it make if you live with me?"

Desmond cants his head slightly. "Often, but not always," he rumbles, his head nodded. "I have told you my reasons.. simply desire. Enough is a life I lived before. Simply eating meat was enough. Simply living in a small, Spartan space was enough. But I find myself making cakes now. Enjoying embracing more than what is merely enough." His gaze remains steady on her as he states, "I desire more than just enough. I am willing to wait, but my desire does not wane." His eyes thoughtful as he asks, " What is it that stays you, Aimee. And why won't you tell me? Do you think I will find it so objectionable? Do you think I will laugh? Will be angry?

She rises from the seat then, reaching to clear the bowls away, letting hair fall forward to avoid meeting his eyes. She moves to the kitchen, putting dishes into the sink, running water. "I don't want to talk about it. If it isn't broken, mon chat, you shouldn't try and fix it. We work well like this, why can't you just let it be?" She adds cleaning liquid to the water, beginning to wash dishes.

Desmond breathes out lowly, wondering at this reluctance to speak in her. "So too a thing is best not left unfinished." The room likely still smells of the Jambalaya they had for dinner. There is enough for a serving left still, Desmond rising to follow her, to aid in the cleaning of the dishes. "Aimee, I will not push too firmly, but I will not stop wanting more. But more than that, I wonder why you will not even tell me. Not give a hint as to your thoughts. Why this aversion to letting me understand the truth of your reluctance?"

"Because I don't want to talk about it, because I don't believe in..." She stops abruptly, slamming a bowl down on the drying board, her lips tightening. "I don't want to talk about it." She finishes the dishes, reaching for a towel to dry her hands. "Isn't that reason enough to let it be, Desmond?"

Desmond pauses at that firm outburst, staring at her firmly. Don't believe it.. His mind rolls along that track for a few moments before an idea of what she might be concerned for emerges. He's quiet for a moment before he asks, "You think I would seek even more than this? The human rituals of union? If this is what vexes you, you need not feel such concern. I hold little need for such a ceremony."

It's at this point a light knock on the door sounds, buying Aimee perhaps just a slight reprive from Desmond's questions. The pantheran to be found as he once was before... well.. before everything that had happened. Fully armed and armored as is usual for him once more. Though still seemingly concerned about something.

Aimee tucks stray curls behind her ears, as she turns, walking away, her expression hidden from him then. "I know you don't." She replies, the tone giving nothing of her emotions away. "I know that, mon chat." She reaches for clothes, putting those dirty into the basket that she rests on her hip. "I should do laundry." She observes, neutrally.

Desmond frowns slightly at that. No confirmation.. still evasions. Some frustration mounts. Stubborn woman she is, bur he will discover this, however long it takes. "I must see to some things, Aimee. But I am not done with this. I know not why you so fervently seek to veil your thoughts on this, but I will not be denied." This said gently, for he is not truly angry. Just perplexed at why she makes such a thing so difficult. To him it is simple enough. He gathers his jacket as the knock comes and then looks back to her. "I will return later tonight. I love you, My Flame." Meant words as he turns towards the door and goes to open it. Seeing Kesslan there be nods and greets him with a welcoming hug. "I will see you again soon, I have matters to attend to. Until when next we met." Then he shall move past and out into the hall, heading out of Cheapo.

There is a greeting of Desmond in return, even an offered quick hug and nuzzle if he paused long enough to take it "Be well." Is his sole, brief parting and greeting word to Desmond before the feline stands there at the doorway, stepping in a moment later and closing the door behind him. His ears perking up slightly as he regards Aimee, perhaps picking up on the mood of both. Allways the fighting it seems with this pair.

She turns, a frown on her face as the other feline leaves. "Mon minet." She greets Kesslan warmly, the stubborn set of her face still showing as she drops the basket to move across to him. She gives a small shrug, "Sometimes, I don't wish to say every thought in my mind." She comments softly, offering a kiss to him.

Kesslan leans down slightly, willingly giving Aimee that kiss she desires, for he does hold that much affection for her in the very least. His arms wraping about her in a hug, though perhaps not so warm as it could be as it presses her to the relatively cold and hard surface of his armor a moment, but at least he does not hold her there long. "Understand this can I Aimee. Speak not of much have I, but must you remember that Desmond do only what Aimee do to Kesslan. Much I tell you not. Of past, of what bother. Know I not your reasons, but in mine I wish spare you similar things, similar bad dream, bad memory. But reason for not telling of you I allways shall at least give to you freely yes? Too must I perhaps speak more open of some things as this for see you in me what happens to those who hold all in and speak not to others of things important. It is not only Kesslan that risk these reaction. All can. Desmond and Aimee both can. As violent perhaps not, but bad blood it makes."

She sighs, leaning into him despite the armor's coldness. "He doesn't understand, mon minet. He thinks it means I don't trust him, but I don't wish to sound so stupid or childish, not in front of either of you." She does pull away then, moving to the kitchenette, to offer him some of the food Desmond had cooked, "Desmond made food, do you want some?" She refills her glass whilst there, topping up the wine and taking a hefty swig.

Kesslan holds Aimee to him gently then, as long as she wishes to remain there, his arms falling away once she pulls away, turning then to removing his armor "Have eaten, but offer appreciated is." comes the somewhat stotic response "Thing must you not worry that silly look will you to us Aimee. We judge you not in this way. Understand not perhaps your way of thinking do we however, in either some choice you make or in way you keep seem affraid of speak to us of things. It is sign of not trust even if you say is not. Yes trust us in part of this do you, but you obvious not trust as much as Desmond would like of you. Not trust him as much as trust Aimee does he. For if did you, then affraid you would not to say of these thing."

She takes her wine glass to the couch then, curling herself up on one end, drawing a cushion into her lap to cuddle it. "I don't want to push him into something he don't believe in." She shakes her head slowly, "If I tell him the one bit of it, then it kinda feels like I asked for the other bit. I don't know if that makes any sense at all." She sips the glass, trying to explain without giving the information out. "Mon minet, can I tell you without you telling him?"

"If such is your wish. Think I is more important that tell him yourself do in this case, for it is a thing you must do for yourself, not just for him. But first perhaps help if you explain to Kesslan what is you speak of even at all? For know I not." the pantheran explains as he begins piling up his weapons and gear all nice and neat, before then removing his boots and moving to join Aimee uppon the couch.

"See, I grew up with parents that believed, really deeply believed in God. All the rules of their Church, all of the lists of things that would get your burning in Hell forever." She twists on the couch, resting the cushion in her lap. "I kinda try and ignore most of them, but..." She hesitates, her cheeks colouring, a soft blush touching her cheek bones. "Somethings, like living with someone without marriage, that sticks."

Kesslan shifts in close to Aimee, offering her a much warmer embrace than earlier, one that instead of holding her to cold armor rather holds to a warm, and considerably softer body. A nuzzle ment to be comforting given too for good measure. "Then do this thing with Desmond. Belive he does not perhaps in your ways, but all can understand importance of such unions. Need not one belive in such things on spiritual level. Look to my own ways Aimee for example in this, many thing I belive others do not. But even our ways include bonding ceremonies of different kinds. Bonding of the claw, bonding of the family, bonding of the live to those one loves, bonding of the hunt. Much of this is important to other, much to other is done simly becuase tradition is. To Kesslan, these things very important are, but realize I that is not so important to many even of my kind. But accepted practice is of all, even those who think no longer need these ways do we. Desmond would not turn away such a thing think I."

She curls against him, leaning into the embrace. "Kinda traditional for the man to ask, and mon minet..." She hesitates, tilting her head back to look up at him, "He said, just now, he doesn't believe in it." She shrugs lightly, her gaze slipping away. "If he wanted it, he'd say, and I'm not pushing it. It is just a stupid belief, and non, I can't force it on someone." She wraps her arm around his waist, leaning her cheek against his chest, with a soft sigh.

"Think I he belives not for such at thing is not necessary for one to live and love another." The pantheran states quite calmly. Simply holding Aimee to him for now, doing what he can to comfort her and reassure her. "Love you he does, and such a thing he would do for you. But this not something he do will on own unless relaize how important is to Aimee that such a thing is done yes? Just as many not understand how or why many thing so important to Kesslan. Such as picnic yes? Realize not Aimee nor Roulin did how important thing was for Kesslan that share I with Desmond. This bonding of the hunt. Closer make Desmond and I in sharing such a thing. It is an old way, and old belief, but one important hold I still. Belive he not perhaps in the need of such thing but belive he in doing what important is for others too. Think I, were he told of proper way of doing such a thing, he would not adverse be to such thing."

There's a quiet pause then before he adds "Could speak I of this to him for you. But to Kesslan must you first explain how such a thing must be, for know I only of Pantheran bondings."

"I love him too, and you, but ... oui, it is like the picnic, but not quite so. For you, it was something you offered, to share, and he understood. This..." She sighs, rubbing her cheek lightly against his chest. "This is something that should be done just so, for it to be right, and for me to ask him to ask, that isn't right." She gives him a small wry smile, rueful. "It is just to stand in front of people, and God, to tell them that you two will be together, and honour each other... I think, if you told him it would be so like him for him to offer, and I want him to want to marry me, Kess."

"Then why not Aimee ask Desmond? This is not uncommon thing among my people, for the female to propose first. Indeed, it is usually this way. Not so every time this, but is common. Is this not done ever by Aimee customs?" The pantheran inquires, his ears perking up slightly. It seems he's run into yet another one of those human oddities. He still doesnt undestand the whole concept of 'god' yet either, though in the end he files it away as, assumably some sort of spiritual belief he can likely respect well enough given his own, yet different, beliefs.

She hesitates before replying, her face thoughtful. "Kinda not done, some women did it but ..." She trails off, her expression reflecting the thoughts in her mind, the examining of her own thoughts and culture. "I guess I could but I kinda wanted him to ask me. But he has done the running in our relationship, mostly." She tilts her head back, giving Kesslan a small smile, "You must think I am a real muddle head." Softly spoken.

Ahhh wonders of wonders, yet another unfamilar term for the feline "What is mud-el head?" he asks, quite clearly confused in the tone of his voice, if not in apperance. His ears perking up slighlty while he muses what to do about the whole situation. Giving Aimee time to explain this oddity he then gets back onto the main track of the discussion "Is there proper formal way to this thing offer to other?" he inquires, afteral he's certainly got his own set rituals and ideas of how things should be done 'properly'...

"Just someone not thinking straight..." The girl bites her lower lip, her eyebrows drawing together. "The man is meant to go on bended knee, with the ring, and ask so that it is romantic." Her mind is clearly drifting back to the films she loves so much. "I could do it, I guess, but..." She sighs softly, rubbing her cheek against his chest, her face thoughtful.

"Could speak I with Desmond if Aimee wish." Kesslan offers once more "Time for this think I would be good. Truth too Desmond would do for Aimee this thing. Belief in full has he not of your ways, truth belief have I not full of your ways, but respect them both ... of.. us? Do." the feline sounding a touch uncertain near the end, yet not over what he's stating, rather how he's saying it. He gives Aimee another gentle nuzzle and a playful nip to join it "Much we would for Aimee do. Desmond above all."

"Non. I don't want to push him into it, I wanted him to think of it but..." She closes her eyes for a moment, before smiling at the nuzzle, responding to the nip. "I guess I wanted him to know, and he doesn't, and ...I am stupid." She sighs again, leaning back to stare at him. "I wanted him to pretend to be human, and he is not. You are not."

"Mean not that we understand not importance of such thing to human Aimee." Kesslan says to that softly, his hug momentarily tightening about her before releaxing once more "Is human ceremony of bonding between two yes? Family start? This is thing think I many other too understand would, though think I some race perhaps not this do. Is not allawys done among pantheran, for if two love each, this is all matter. Some wish like have formal thing. Wrong this is not. Worry further on this Aimee not should, prompt little Desmond would think I of this need now. Is thing think I Desmond think of."

She sits up then, pulling away to look into his face, her own thoughtful. "You promised, mon minet, no prompting him, no telling him." There is a soft warning in her eyes and voice, the low purr clearly dangerous. "I don't want to start a family any time soon anyhow, so perhaps it matters not at all." She smiles then, shaking her head, dismissing it. "Still, living with him, or anyone before marriage, it isn't..." She shrugs, curling her legs beneath her. "Even at Kelley's, I had my own room."

"If such is wish, worry not then. Shall not say word of to Desmond." Kesslan reafirms. But that doesnt mean he's out of other ways to drop a 'Very Large Hint (TM)' to Desmond. "Come in time such thing shall for Aimee. Know then that goal of Desmond for family too is. Wish he this with Aimee, find he will in time proper to way do this. Truth, child may you not have between, but could clanchild have perhaps. Doubt I that in this world similar thing can you not find. Ideal is not perhaps but know I not of other way."

She rests her elbows on her knees, her expression thoughtful. "I guess." She comments softly, before leaning forward to press a kiss lightly against his cheek. "Are you sure you don't want something to eat, mon minet?" She studies his face thoughtfully. "I think, perhaps without you, Desmond and I, we would fight so very much more." She grins then, lighting up her face, "And not make up so very well."

"Fire in both have you. Were you of feline type such as Desmond and I, no doubt both many kit, and many scar would you two make." His tone light and teasing, a wiggle of his ears included in that "Last on whole think I would you still. But of certain Desmond would bear scar of such a union and fight. This not unknown is among my kind. And fire in you there is certain. See I now why Desmond call Aimee his flame."

"Refer to temper only does it not." Kesslan says to that giving Aimee another nuzzle "To Aimee passion does it speak as well, in life, in love, in sex. All these thing have Aimee passion in. But so too can the fire burn and thus temper too refer to. Sometime fire burns more than other, sometime fire warm one at night..." there's another pause then from the feline, a slight frown before he adds "Think I know why now Ordo is way is..."

"Ordo has fire of his own..." She murmurs, pulling away from him, moving to grab her Moes shirt and yanking it over her head. "Mon minet, I need to go to work..." She bends, giving Kesslan a light kiss, closing her eyes to do so. "If you don't live with the most you can, you might as well not bother, mon minet...."Tags:aimee, desmond, kesslan