"T'is quite alright, it is a bit ole fashioned isn't it." Earoluim said as he took her hand and kissed the back of it softly after taking his glove off to take her hand.

Aailyah laughed softly and allowed a slight blush to touch her cheeks as he kissed her hand. My, but this was a strange one, "So," she said, placing her elbow on the bar and leaning towards him, resting her chin on the heel of her hand, "I don't know of any Renascence Fairs nearby, so why are you wearing it?"

"Does there have to be such an event my dear, for me to wear what I like?" He asked smiling a little behind his mask as he leaned closer to her, dropping his vouce a little. "I guess I would have to admit everything about me is a bit old fashioned." He told her with a slight smile.

Aailyah smiled, amused by this stranger and the conspiratorial manner in which he was now speaking, "Well, I am glad that you have the nerve to be who you want to be, it seems we are similar in that. Though," her smile turned a bit mischievous, "You couldn't say that I am old fashioned at all."


Earoluim smiled at her, grining widely under his mask as he scanned the bar for a moment. "It is such a same that you are not my dear?" He asked humorously. "Be who you want to be, have no fear in it. T'is that not what you would have me believe?" He added looking back at her. His piercig emerald green eyes shining through the slits in his mask.

Aailyah's smile broadened, "You really are a curiosity." Leaning back in her seat and taking another sip of her drink, she gazed around the bar. Her eyes lingered on Benny and then Fox and she wondered what had happened that the woman looked even more shaken than before she left the room earlier.

"How so would I be such a enigma to M'Lady?" He asked looking back at her, tiping his glass into his mouth slightly. Watching her for a moment as her eyes scanned over the patrons of the bar.

The young nymph turned her attention back to Earoluim, "You are like a character out of Shakespeare," Aailyah said, "You don't find chivalry--let alone clothes like that--much anymore."

Earoluim chuckled and smiled, leaning back against the bar as his head slid to once side slightly. "I find that it makes me one of a kind, besides. Why should not not act as who they are? Hmm?" He said as he lifted his glass once more to take a sip. "Who knows my dear, I might just be your Romeo." He added, tipping his hat so that it poked the tip of her nose quickly and playfully.

Aailyah laughed lightly, "I suppose it's possible." she admitted, "But do you think you could keep up with me?" she asked playfully, "I can have a bit of a wild side."

He chuckled heartily, smiling widly at her his caines gleaming as his teeth shone a brilliant irredescent tone. "My dear, I think I would not have a problem sufficing that 'wild side' of yours to your satisfaction." He said leaning closer to her, winking one eye at her through his mask.

Aailyah was mildly taken aback by his response, but hid it well. "Well then," she smirked, "Prove it." Wish a playful wink she got up and moved out to the dance floor, watching to see if he would join her.

He grinned lightly under his mask, reaching down he tightened his belt a little and turned it slightly to his right side. Tipping his hat forward he stood to join her on the dance floor, stopping slightly at the edge and crossing his arms across his chest. "And my dear, just what do you want me to prove?" He asked, "That I can dance? Or shall we dance" He asked her with that shegrin look under his mask.

"Prove that you can keep up with me. Show a 'lady' a good time." Aailyah laughed, swaying her hips as her body fell into beat with the music.

Earoluim smiled and places his foot onto the dance floor and immediately startes to dance towards her, stepping towards her in rythym to the music, his whole body absorbing the tempo of the music as it elevates the room. His long sword skirt flipping backwards around his legs as he quickly steps into a slow rythmatic shuffle towards her.

Aailyah smiled and watched him as her own body swayed and writhed with the music. Heads began to turn her way, but as always she ignored them, her attention was on her fun.

Ear grinned back as he reached up and tilted his hat forward, his foot working becoming more rythmatic with the music and his body leaned forward jiving with the music, spining around as he got to her.

In perfect time with the music, Aailyah moved closer to him, nearly pressing herself against him before spinning away a step and then moving back again. She reveled in the thrill of what she saw as almost a physical representation of what she was doing to this man psychologically.

Ear shuffled closer to her in repsonse to her apoach, methodically stepping to a faster rythym with his feet as he began to cirle around behind her. Using his whole body to dance up to her, gently taking her chin as he began to move off to her right. Slowly letting his hand fall away as he moved, pressing his back gently against her as he moved his feet, turning around abruptly to face her back.

The nymph smiled as she danced, observing Earoluim. The pair were drawing a fair amount of attention from nearby dancers and Aailyah reveled in the looks and glances, this was what she lived for.

Ear pressed up against he softly, moving with her body in rythym with the music of her soul, his hands sliping around her waist and slowly up her sides as he stepped in behind her. Watching her as he observed her observing him, looking back into her eyes as his began to shine a bit more brightly as they continued to dance.

Aailyah decided not to encourage him to let his hands linger for too long, so after a few beats she spun away. She smiled coyly at Ear as she moved close to another man for a moment, then spun back, smiling at the jealous look in his partner's eyes. It was a delicate game she played, letting Earoluim get close but not offering any more while still leading him along. It was the game that she loved.

Earoluim smiled back and desided to play along, dancing over between two young females at the ring of people that were watching them, watching Aail as he moved between them fluidly with the rythymatic beats of the room. Snapping out from between them as the music erupted and using his methodical foot work to move back towards her.

Mild surprise touched Aailyah's eyes as she continued to smile. He was catching on, most just got jealous. An intelligent man was a rare find for her, and usually that much more of a challenge. She moved in close to him again, letting her body brush against his briefly before putting a couple more inches between them.

Ear raised his hands into the air and started to clap in beat with the music, keeping his eyes on Aails', methodically beating his foot into the dance floor along with the bass of the song, moving around in front of her. Be fore twirling around her once more, never taking his eyes off hers.

As she song ended, Aailyah nodded towards the bar. Heading back to her seat, she ordered a glass of water and another drink. "Well, you can certainly dance." she said with a winsome smile.

Ear smiled and nodded his head. "I was aiming to please. I hope that was proof enough for you for the time being M'Lady." He said softly, sipping on some water as he looked at her, the shine in his eyes dulling away.

Aailyah's eyes smiled at Ear over the rim of her glass. "Well, I just hope you're having as much fun as I am." she chimed, knocking back the last of her water, "This was exactly what I needed." Seeing that the bouncers were now herding everyone out of the club, the nymph sighed and stood. "Walk me out, love?" she asked Ear coyly as she headed for the door.

Ear smiled and chuckled heartily that he was. He also saw the herd moving out of the door, he turned back to her and removed his hat. Bowing low and holding out his arm to escort her. "But of course my dear." He said softly to her.

Aailyah took Ear's arm and allowed him to escort her from the club. "Thank you very much, love." She said with a sweet smile, once they were outside. "Perhaps we will meet again sometime."

Earoluim smiled and nodded his head slightly, tipping his hat to her as her took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. "Madamoiselle, I would most certainly hope so." He said softly.

---

Aleia followed as closely as she dared, not wanting to be left behind. Once they were through the curtain, her first instinct was to cover her nose. Even though Dash couldn't smell it, the scents of the creatures were overwhelming. She paused, though, and lifted her eyes, taking in the actual sight. He was right, it seemed everyone was gathered here. She watched people walk from vendors, exchange greetings with one another, even pause just to chat. And Al could only stare.

Dash was looking around for someone for a moment, leaning over the railing a little. That much weight on the hazardous looking bars looked concerning, to say the least, but he did not look so. After just a moment, he seemed to be slightly annoyed, then relaxed and looked at Aleia. Noting the face she was making, he reached into his pocket quickly. "Sorry, I sometimes forget how sensitive some noses are." He pulled out a strip of cloth, a handkerchief of sorts, and handed it to her. It smelled of flowers and dirt and he was not going to explain how he came to have it. "Come on, and be careful." He motioned gently for her to follow and walked along the raised walk way, working his way down to the ground floor.

Aleia let her hand drop slowly and took the cloth, wrapping it around her face. It was much more pleasant to her senses. She followed him, carefully avoiding touching people. Some got too close, and Aleia practically dodged out of the way. Her skin seemed to shimmer whenever someone came too close, so she kept as close to Dash as she could to avoid the other people.

It took a good ten minutes, and quite a few pushes from Dash to get to find who they were looking for. From the way he had been looking, the person they were looking for was not guaranteed to be in a certain place. Finally, they seemed to stumble upon her. Surrounded by a handful of creatures that must have been children, or else very small, was a rickety looking woman whose hair was nearly all gone and robes were tattered. Her pale blue eyes seemed to see though they looked like those of an old blind man. She was deep into a dramatic story and the "children" were giggling when she waved her arms to accentuate a point, causing her wooden beads to clack together. When Dash stopped near her though, she stopped dead in the middle of her sentence.

"Ahhh I see I see..." she said in an airy voice, looking directly at Aleia. "Newcomer, so pretty, so young! So lost-" She paused, frowning, then seemed to come back to herself, looking at the children. "Why are you all still here?" She made a shooing motion and with sad groans they got up and walked away, soon starting up a game of tag. The woman, who looked much younger in the face than her stature led one to believe, stood and seemed to almost glide over to Aleia, stopping in front of her with one hand raised, almost as if to touch her but stopped by a wall. "Hello hello, greetings, Childe..." She grinned, her lips still closed, meeting Aleia's eyes with her own powder blue ones.

Dash simply chuckled quietly. "Aleia... this is Hassan. She's the one we came to find. She might-" He stopped at Hassan was waving an annoyed hand at him, scowling, but when he stopped, she smiled again, tilting her head at the small woman before her.

"You know why you are here, I know why you are here. You kept me waiting, yes, but time cannot be rushed, yes? No. Ah.. so pretty. So young. So lost..." She seemed to be looking Aleia over, as if looking for something, muttering quietly to herself.

Pulling back slightly as the woman approached, Aleia tried not to look at her too much. But her eyes were drawn to the woman's and her gaze was held for just a split second. But that was all it took for Al to become nervous. Her skin became a marbled blue shade and she stood frozen. Her mind started receding back into a more primal state. But there was nothing to eat here, no corpses to feast upon. She would just have to make some. Her stomach pained her. She hadn't eaten a full meal in so long, it felt as if she could devour an entire city.

"Ahhhh," Hassan breathed, almost but not quite surprised. "Such as a mutt. A pixie and demon, mix breed, curious combination. Yes? No... Unknown... Hmm..."

"Ok!" Dash decided it was time to step in, stepping between the two, holding his arms out ready to defend anyone Aleia tried to attack. Some people had backed away while other, bigger creatures had puffed up just slightly, as if accepting some kind of challenge. Others still were watching with open curiosity. Dash scowled at them. "Nothing to see here! Move along!" he snapped, making many of them frown and shuffle away, though a few of the bigger ones still remained as if ready to fight which only made Dash scowl harder.

"Ah, there there now," Hassan poked Dash in the exposed ribs and deftly ducked under his arm to stand before Aleia again. Brave little bird, that one. She held up a hand, holding Aleia's eyes and it was suddenly as if her limbs were heavy. Too heavy to move. The urge didn't go away, but Hassan was keeping her languid. "Focus, Childe... Push it away. No, no, no fear, fear is shadows, rolling thunder- Focusssss. Focus on me now, yes. Here- Focus. No. Embrace it, accept yourself. There... You are the same, it is you, you are it and.. there. There there. Be calm.."

Aleia turned to snarl at those around her, but Hassan's words caught her. She felt the hunger fading, her fear fading, and slowly her skin paled back to a human complexion. Al blinked and kept looking at Hassan, her face relaxed.

Hassan nodded, smiling and completely ignoring Dash who was pouting and nursing his poked area. "Ah, there there now, such a pretty face for a pretty demon to hide behind." She chuckled quietly. "I'm afraid I do not know what you are, but it is dangerous to fight, like bullets with blades. Keep calm, it will be alright Childe. Yes, it will. Yes..." She was nodding, her eyes closed.

Dash shook his head at Hassan, as if in wonder, and put his pout away for now. Instead, he looked at Aleia with a shrug. "Sorry. I really thought she might know," he said, Hassan still nodding beside him.

"So I'm nothing," Al said quietly. "A danger to others, nothing more." She frowned and looked around at those still loitering to watch her. With a shiver, she turned back to Dash. "How did she...do that thing? I could feel my inner self trying to get free, but she stopped it."

Dash had turned away from Al and whatever look he was giving the lingering people made all their faces pale slightly and they all hurried off. He shook his head as if disappointed in them and turned back to Al, whatever expression it had been was replaced with a mild frown. "Hassan does a great many things I don't understand, even when she does make sense- OW!" He flinched, rubbing his arm where Hassan had swatted him. She scowled at him for a moment, then smiled dreamily, twirled away and wandered away in a half dance, humming to herself. Again, Dash shook his head, this time confused, and looked at Al. "And no, no, I'm sure that's not what she means. She just doesn't know what you are. She knows the most creatures, but she doesn't know them all. I wouldn't worry about it. Putting a name to your species doesn't always help the situation. You are Aleia, and that is all you need." He smiled supportively and let go of his arm.

"Putting a name to it would only let me know how messed up I really am," Aleia said with a sudden smile. "And I already know something ain't right with me." She looked around the area for a moment and smiled to herself. "So, what else is there to do around here?" Al wanted to do something other than think about what she was. What she did know was the surface dwellers were in more danger than those who lived here.

Dash was still frowning at her first couple of comments when he realized she had asked a question. Shaking it off, he looked around. "Well.. There is trading, mostly. And favors. Anything you need done, you can find someone to do it... Anything you need, you can probably find someone who sells it. Traders, runners, trainers, monks, psychics, et cetera. It's all here, if you look long enough." He looked upwards, along the various rickety pathways that lined the walls of the rather large chamber. There were some doors here and there. He pointed, leaning a little closer to Aleia but still not touching her. "Some doors will take you back out. I can show you the way back to the surface when you are ready." He dropped his hand and smiled a little at her.

"Really random and probably stupid question," Aleia started before taking a deep breath. "By now you can probably tell what I eat, but I don't do it everyday. It's mostly during the week of the full moon." She hesitated asking her question, unsure of the response she would get. "So, I guess my question is...what should I do about it?"

Dash face brilliantly displayed his distinct discomfort. After a moment in which he pushed his hood down and ran a hand through his fluffy white hair, he looked at her directly. "Alright, I'll tell you what. There's regular crime in this city, too, not just our kind, so if you can it would be really preferable if you could eat somebody recently dead... instead of just.. You know, murdering people." For someone as nice as Dash, it was weird of him not to flinch or be squeamish about this subject. "Take one of their hits, recently buried. If nothing's available, I can find you something, but you have to give me warning ahead of time, like a week or so. If you don't want to deal with me, well, I can show you to some other people-"

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," Aleia said quickly, putting both hands up. "I just have never had anyone to help me before. In all honesty, for the last few months I've been raiding graveyards during 'that time of the month'." Al actually did air quotes around the human idiom. She could have found a better way to say it, but now was the time for honesty. "I just...don't want to become that creature again and have no way to control its instincts."

"Graveyards you say? So.. they don't have to be fresh? That's good to know...." Dash hummed as he thought, his eyes looking just off of her, but after a moment he came back to the present. "I'm guessing this time isn't soon, since you just had something top side? We can handle it when it comes around, no worries. Is there anything else you need? Or did you want me to show you the way out? After all, I can't keep Stepping you every time you want to go out or in here..."

Hesitating to say yes right away, Aleia stopped to look around. She nodded, memorizing the layout as best she could, and smiled at Dash. "The way out is also the way in?" she asked, wanting to be sure. It wasn't hard to guess that going topside again made her a little nervous. Al was still very young for what she was, and that led to some interesting lack of control.

Dash nodded and motioned for her to follow as he started over to one of the precarious sets of stairs. "Yes, there are actually quite a few entrance/exits. You'll figure them out the more you come here." They passed a few doors before Dash stopped at one and opened it, letting Aleia step into the dank tunnel beyond. "They aren't marked or anything, so keep close attention. Go out the wrong door, you might end up in downtown. Although.. I suppose you would hear the bustle before you accidentally poked your head up there..."

"If anything, I can smell my way back," Aleia said after a moment. She went through to the tunnel, her eyes adjusting from the unnatural light behind her. He was right, though, this place would take some getting used to. Al had never stayed in one town long enough to become acquainted with the place. "I would ask how to find you again, but that point seems moot considering I could do the same with you." It was said with a smile and a wink.

Dash looked exasperated at that. "Why can everyone smell me out?" he asked, but it was a rhetorical question. Sighing, he closed the door behind them and it blended in well, the light being so dim and the door and wall of the tunnel being the same colors. He began to walk down the tunnel with her, his shoes making scraping, wet noises on the damp tunnel. "I suppose I could do with a bath... I don't remember the last one I had..." He paused, sincerely thinking about it. ".... Yeah I really can't remember. I'm definitely due."

"I can smell your flesh," Aleia said absently, not realizing that it probably wouldn't make him feel any better. "It must be a guy thing, but you all smell a lot nicer than girls do." She shrugged as if what she was saying wasn't all that strange. In her mind, it made perfect sense. But in her mind eating week old corpses was just a regular mealtime. She paused and looked at Dash. "You don't smell that bad, kinda like rare steak."

He blinked at her, seeming surprised, not offended. Finally, he held up a finger to her. "You know, you're not the first person to tell me that," he said, in a 'fun fact' sort of way. He stopped walking and stepped over to a metal ladder on the side of the tunnel. "And here we are." He smiled and climbed up the rungs to the man hole at the top. With a small grunt, he got it to budge and climbed out onto an empty street above lined with broken and condemned looking homes.

Climbing from the manhole, Aleia looked around. She took a deep breath of the fresher air and smiled at the idea of sleeping in such a place under the stars. But with her luck some vagrant had probably already snagged her bench. She was reluctant to ask, but she had to. "Is there some sort of hotel or house for...our kind?" 

"Yes," Dash answered as he looked around at the houses, but it was an absent sort of response. He crouched down and slid the man hole back into place. "But, the one I know of, you're probably better off on the street. I don't know any others, though they probably exist." He stood again, wiping his hands off on his dingy black cargos before he looked at her again. "Is there anything else you need?"

Aleia's smile finally started to fade. She removed the cloth he had given her earlier and handed it back to him. "I guess not," she said on a sigh. She would have to find a place to sleep, retrieve her things from where she had stashed them, and probably move on from the city. Despite Dash's attempt at friendliness, one thing Al knew was that someone like her had no business being in a city this big.

"Alright..." Dash carefully took his cloth back, his effort not to touch her obvious. He remembered how uncomfortable she got. He looked around again, then turned toward a faded pink house that was one of the more intact buildings, pausing to look back at her. "... You seem alright. If you want to stay with me tonight until you find something of your own, you're free to do so." He glanced up and down the street, though it was mostly needless, then strode over to the pink house. After trying the doorknob and seeing it only rattled, he scowled and, with a sharp punch, knocked the glass out of part of the door's window. Once the sound of tinkling glass shards had silenced, there was a click and he retrieved his hand, now scratched in places. He didn't seem to notice as he tried the knob again and the door clicked open, creaking a little. He smiled. Success.

Watching him with concern, Aleia actually paused behind him with some trepidation. "What are you doing?" she asked, uncertain if he did this on a regular basis. Breaking and entering was one crime she didn't have experience with. She had murdered plenty, but never trespassed. "Oh, and yes, anyplace to stay would be nice."

Dash paused in entering the house to look back at her, blinking as if confused. "I'm.. going to bed. It's really late and I don't have an errands tonight so I'm actually allowed to sleep. Come on." He pushed the door open further, completely ignoring the loud creak and cracking of glass under his shoes. The inside of the little suburban home was simple and functional, like so many others, dusty and broken in places. It hadn't been occupied for years after all. Dash didn't seem to notice any of this. He stepped through it all, barely glancing at anything as he went straight to the living room, as if he had lived there for years. The couch was going to be massively dusty, he new. A good shaking and it should be fine though....

Aleia didn't say anything more on the topic. She entered and sniffed. There was no lingering scent of flesh, so she knew no one lived here. They left footprints in the dust, and Al actually smiled again. "Nice place," she said jokingly. Moving to the living room, she eyed the dust on the furniture. "Fired the housekeeper I see."

"Ah, yes," Dash replied, frowning disappointingly at the couch. "Dreadful man, always stealing the good china." He tisked before sighing and picking up one of the couch cushions. His arms tensed, getting ready to toss it to pat it and dust it out, but he paused, seemed to think better of it, and threw it across the room at the wall where it exploded with dust, but luckily very little made it far enough back to them. He raised his eyebrows. "Huh, worked better than expected." He picked up another cushion carefully and did the same, with similar results, which made him laugh.

Aleia smiled to herself at his cleaning methods. Sitting down on a dusty chair, she she watched him go about his cleaning. She didn't know what exactly he was doing with the couch, so instead she stood again and wandered into the kitchen area. The empty kitchen looked as if someone had already raided it for food. Al continued past and towards the back rooms, where there was a bedroom, complete with a large bed and blankets. Aleia pulled the top blanket off and gave it a good shake before even looking at the bed. It was in better shape dustwise than the couch.

It took quite a bit more mild beating to get the couch acceptable, then Dash replaced the cushions, now flipped of course. He stretched, as if working out the tension of the day before he sat down, then laid down on the couch, arms behind his head and ankles crossed. He had noticed Aleia leaving, figuring she went to sleep in the actual bedroom, so he let his mind wander over other things. He would have to pick up some jobs tomorrow. He felt his skin taught over his ribs where he was stretched out on his back. Yes, he would should probably eat soon. He had just been completing a job when he literally ran into Aleia and had forgotten to pick up something new. He closed his eyes. He would find something tomorrow.

Picking up the comforter, Aleia carried it back out to the living room and dumped it on Dash. "So you don't get cold." She gave him a fond smile then looked thoughtful. "I never did thank you properly. I know that a simple thank you probably won't make up for having to spend so much of your time with me, but thank you. If there's ever anything I can do for you, just let me know." She gave him a wave and smile before vanishing into the back room and crashing on the bed, not even bothering to cover up with a blanket.

Dash jumped slightly when the blanket hit him and woke him up from where he was just about to drop into sleep. He was still staring at it in shock and sleepy delirium as Aleia spoke and by the time he could understand words and looked to her, she was gone. He frowned, hoping she hadn't said anything too important, nudged the comforter so it pooled on the floor, resumed his original position and with a sigh through his nose to relax, he closed his eyes, and nodded off again.

---

Benny's arms tightened slightly at the mention of Rafe. The first word on his mind was 'master...' but he shook it off. He had stolen- saved- Fox away, and Rafe was gone. He was gone a long time ago, or so he worked himself to believe. He loosened his grip just slightly with an effort. "I don't have any mind powers," he reminded her, knowing it didn't really need said again. "I don't know how you could have picked up on that... Perhaps when you were flooded with all the live feeds of thoughts, your mind panicked and hid in memories?"

Fox shook her head and closed her eyes. "God, I hope your right." As soon as her eyes lids fluttered closed she gasped at the sight Rafe in her mind. Sitting up straight she shook her head and groaned. "Will you stay with me tonight, Benny? Please, just to make sure." Crawling back into Benny's arms she trembled. This is the only place she ever felt safe.

"Of course. It will be just like old times..." Benny said gently as he held her and stroked her hair. "Though I must say... I don't know what to do about monsters that knock at your mind instead of my chamber door..."

Benny was right. In here mind it was entirely different playing field. Years ago she would have just went to someone who was like her and talked to them about it, but now a days, it was hard finding people willing to talk about there abilities, but it was even harder to find them. Fox stood slowly and held her hands out to Benny. "We should go back to work. I'm surprised they've left us alone this long."

"After the last incident, I'm surprised they come to get us at all," Benny replied, accepting her hand but standing more or less on his own. The last lapse Fox had had was a very long time ago, and Benny had almost murdered the one who came to tell them they should get back. Since then, anyone was hesitant to approach the 'recovery area', wherever Benny took Fox after she broke down. He was better now, honest, but that did not take the fear out of the others.

Frowning, Fox nodded her head as if remembering. "It seems to be happening more often. Maybe my powers are just trying to recharge themselves. Maybe I should allow it to happen." Looking at Benny she linked there fingers together and closed her eyes, trying to remain calm and not panic. Leaning against him she closed her eyes and frowned. "I'm not sure what I'd ever do without you."

Continue to be forced to predict the war, Benny thought to himself, but gave Fox a smile as they stepped out and headed downstairs again. "Perhaps you should let it happen.. But I'd feel better supporting that if you had a controlled way to do so."

"Maybe I just need a guinea pig. Someone who will allow me to test my mind on there's with not so many people around." Fox looked around the bar and frowned. She was almost certain none of her band mates would allow her to do that. Shaking her head she made her way to the stage and motioned for the others to come up as well. They needed to get back to work.

The door to the bar burst open again and Talia entered an unhappy expression upon her face. She moved to the bar and sat down where she ordered a large glass of wine before turning to the stage to watch the band. She hadn't intended on returning to the bar that night but when Dash had done his vanishing act with the mystery girl she realised there was no where else for her to go.

The band got ready, doing there tunings and such before agree on a sone by Breaking Benjamin. "Now the dark begins to rise. Save your breath, it's far from over!" This was by far one of Fox's favorite songs to sing so she put her whole heart into it. Looking over at Benny while she sang, she smiled as adrenalin pumped through her.

Benny smiled back, singing along with her during the chorus, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the words all the while keeping perfect time with the drums. He always had to open his eyes again though, look at the stage, look at the crowd, the lights, remind himself of where he was and not where the lyrics made his thoughts think he was. He had sticks, not blood. He had drums, not skulls. He had control, not chaos. And he had Fox. He looked at the woman again, smiling, but it was just slightly a smirk. Yes, he had Fox.

Looking about out over the crowd Fox sang a few more songs before they took a 10 minute break again. "Be right back, we need nourishment." The crowd laughed as Lynx, Rain, and Adder jumped off the stage. Fox turned in the direction of Benny and watched him carefully. She worried about him greatly, worried he struggled with day to day life, worried she wasn't helping him enough. Blushing slightly she shook her head and followed the boys over to the bar she munch on a basket of fries and a soda. Maybe she would talk to him tonight, once the bar was closed and it was just them.

"So..." Benny said smoothly as he slid into the space between Fox's bar stool and the next one. "Come here much?" He waggled his eyebrows before grinning and looking out over the club at the happy patrons. He paused when he noticed a girl down the bar. "Talia?" Frowning, he touched Fox's arm as a way of letting her know he was moving away then stepped over to Talia, taking a stool next to her. "Hey... You look down. As a matter of irony, what's up?" he asked, still looking concerned for his morose looking friend.

Talia turned to look at Benny frowning as she did. "I give up." she said then drained the remaining wine from her glass before slamming in on the bar. "It is impossible to show that boy that I care for him."

Well, he was officially confused, and his face was showing every bit of it. "Care for... I'm sorry Talia. Who?" Benny frowned at her now broken glass and carefully reached out to sweep the shards away from her and into a little pile on the bar.

"A certain person whose name I am not meant to utter in your presence." Talia hissed at him then sighed, placing her head in her hands on the bar. "Am I wasting my time with him Benny?" she asked through her fingers.

Benny was still frowning for a moment, then it hit him. Like a very heavy brick. His eyes widened a little and his mouth broke into a grin. She liked Dashiel?? He had to force himself to calm down before he could answer. "I don't know to be honest Talia... I don't think it's a matter of whether or not he likes you back or anything like that... I think it's just getting him to sit still for two seconds in order for you to tell him. He probably just isn't even aware... Once he is though, I couldn't tell you how he'd respond. I'm not sure I've ever seen him with anyone, so I couldn't even tell you if you were his type. Or if he even has one. My suggestion is that.. If you really, really want to give it a go, get him to sit down, shut up, and listen for a full minute. If you don't want to try, then I wouldn't worry about it." He leaned down a bit, as if to look at her covered face through her hands. "But Talia.. I don't think anything is a waste of time, only a use of time, and nobody knows how much they have, so you should at least spend the moments of the present on what will make you most happy, yeah?"

"Alright." Talia replied then straightened up. "Don't you dare tell anyone about this." she said suddenly then punched him on the arm for good measure. "So you dried off from your little shower earlier?" she asked with a smirk as a way to show that she wished for the subject of Dash to be dropped.

Benny rubbed his arm where she punched it, giving her an overly dramatic pout, but when they moved on, he dropped his hand and grinned. "Yeah, stage lights and all that, better than a dryer most nights. Still don't know why you had to do it so rough." He made a face as if turned on by something kinky, but then returned to his easy grin. "But thank you, again. I do hate leaving Fox feeling neglected." He glanced down the bar at his long time friend, smiling fondly at her and just admiring her for a moment before he looked back at Talia. "Probably would have left her upset the rest of the night and well into tomorrow if it hadn't been for you. I need to keep my guard up!"

"Yes you do because if you ever hurt Fox like that again i'll find a much more painful way to bring you back to reality." Talia replied with a grin. "You should go back to her now..."

Bennyheld his hands up in a submissive gesture, palms up as if to say 'whatever you say' but dropped them and grinned at the mention of Fox. "You're right." He hopped up from his stool. "Take it easy kid." He leaned over and give her a loud kiss to the hair before walking back down to Fox and taking the stool next to her, stealing one of her fries as he did so.

"Get off me..." Talia said as Benny kissed her head but she was grinning as she spoke. She watched him retreat back to Fox then stood and with another wave goodbye, left the bar to go home. Pulling her jacket tightly around her to keep out the cold night air she quickened her pace in the direction of her apartment, hoping she would meet no trouble on the streets that night.

Fox smiled as she saw Benny steal a fry from her. Scooting the basket closer to him and shared as she dipped a few into a small thing of ketchup. She loved human food. She wasn't sure who created fries, how or why but she was damn glad they had! "Do we have time for another set or should we call it a night?"

"I'd like to call it a night," Benny replied as he knawed on a fry, his elbows and back against the bar as he looked out at the crowd. "But it's up to you.. it's your club after all." He grinned and leaned a bit closer to her, but he wasn't looking at her. Instead, he pointed vaguely into the crowd, near the tables. "Your bachelorette party is completely wasted." One had passed out on the table, a couple others were leaning all over each other clearly about to join their friend on the table. One had her head back on the chair she was in, mouth again, snoozing.

Waving a few bouncers over to the bachelorette party Fox frowned slightly. "Call a ride for anyone who needs one. We're closing up shop. No one needs to stick around I'm not having a meeting tonight." Her and another drow had this agreement that if she ever needed his bus he'd be there. Well tonight was definitely one of those nights. A few bouncers scurried around, and collected everyone who appeared drunk and led them outside to where the bus was waiting. It wasn't in the best shape but the thing still ran and it did what she needed. It kept her clients safe while on the way home. As the club emptied out, all her bouncers raised there hands in farewell as they left. Fox made her way to the door and locked it. Flicking a light switch she made her way over to the stairway, and headed up, knowing Benny would follow soon after.

Benny watched Fox head upstairs but lingered a moment longer, standing in the middle of the dark empty club. He smiled, a little sad, lowering his eyes to stare at nothing, he whispered, "Good night... little brother."

His sneakers scuffed the floor as he followed Fox up the stairs to her home. Her home. He might live there, but he always thought of 'their places' as 'her places' and he just inhabited them, until she didn't want him around anymore. Of course.. that would only happen when she finally felt safe, he liked to think, but he had no idea when that day would come. For now, he was perfectly grateful to have what he had. He closed the door that separated her home area from the rest of the club and looked around the apartment like space, taking in the familiarity. After a moment, he crossed his arms and lifted his shirt off. "Are their plans for tomorrow night?" he called, knowing Fox was somewhere in the home. "Like, a reservation or party or whatever?"

"Nope, all free. The guys said we should take the night off and let them have their fun. You know how they like there own little gigs." She came out of the bedroom in just a long black t-shirt the fit snugly to her body an reached just a few inches past her butt. Pulling thick wooly socks onto her feet she smiled and made her way to the kitchen to make her homemade hot cocoa. "Want a cup of cocoa?" Before he even answered she began preparing it.

"Ah, you know me too well.." Benny smiled as he stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder. "Talia was chastising me for my behavior," he told her. "I'm so sorry Fox... I didn't mean to upset you. I guess I just lost focus." He turned his head and buried his face against her neck, murmuring so his lips brushed against her skin there. "Will you ever forgive me?"

As his lips touched her neck Fox jumped slightly and nodded her head. "Uh, yeah. Always Benny." Closing her eyes she turned her head away and inhaled evenly. Benny had never realized Fox's feelings for him and she intended to keep it that way. They had a great thing going. There friendship was probably the strongest anyone's could ever be and she didn't want to ruin that by him finding out she secretly loved him. She knew he didn't feel the same. She honestly wasnt even sure Benny and Dash were capable of loving aside from each other. Swallowing, she reopened her eyes and continued what she had been doing with the cocoa.

"Thank you.... I won't let it happen again," Benny told her and gave her waist a gentle squeeze, then seemed to pause. "You seem tense. Would you like a massage before sleep? I know today rattled you.." He and Fox were close in public, but in private he could relax a little more. When he first met her, it wasn't like he wanted to be her friend. More like her protector, her guard dog. She was this delicate thing that somebody dark like Benny had, he had to admit, a sick interest in. In the beginning, he had pictured it something like the snake that coils in a garden of flowers, and strikes at anyone who comes close, and no one can figure out why such a dangerous creature chose to nest there, but it did. Nowadays, he just went with how he felt, and didn't try to rationalize it. All he knew is he wanted to be here with Fox. For all the protection he wanted to give her, he was oddly submissive to her. His hands slid away from her stomach and up her back to her shoulders when he stepped back so he could rub them gently.

Placing the cocoa over a burner on the stove she allowed it to warm for a few minutes. Leaning against the counter Fox nodded her head gently. "Yes please." In the end this would just torture her but she was tense and his fingers were always magical when he did this for her. To the outside and unknowing they would appear to be a couple, but deep down she knew she could never allow that to happen. She didn't want to trap him like that and one day she would have to let Benny...and Dash go. She couldn't keep them to herself forever. Sighing she bowed her head and just enjoyed the moment.

Benny indulged her happily for another few minutes while the cocoa heated before he once again trailed his hands down her back and hugged her waist, pulling her flush against himself as he set his forehead to the back of her head, talking into the back of her neck. "We'll have our cocoa, then I'll go as long as you want when we lay for sleep, ok?" He tilted his chin up, kissed the back of her head gently, then released her as he went to get two mugs for them.

Turning off the burner she moved in the direction of the bathroom without looking at Benny. "Pour this into mugs while I use the restroom. I'll do the rest when I come back out." Her voice was shaky and tense as she retreated into the confines the the bathroom. Fox went over to the sink and splashed water on her face. "Is he trying to kill me!" She muttered to herself. She realized she was probably just over reacting and he wasn't acting any differently but it was still driving her crazy. Drying her face off she came back out into the kitchen. Cheeks flushed and eyes darker then usual.

When she returned, Benny was just putting little marshmallows into the cocoa, humming to himself. He looked up as she stepped into the kitchen, and his smile faltered. "Is something wrong?" he asked, looking concerned. After what happened earlier and the Rafe visions, today was not the best day to see her flushed. He picked up a cup of cocoa and handed it to her. "Hey... what is it? You know you can tell me..."

"I'm just warm." Taking the mug from him, Fox switched off the lights and led the way into the bedroom. Setting her mug down she took off her socks and crawled into bed. Once she was covered up she removed her top and laid it on the floor next to her. She had always slept naked and she wasn't about the change her ways now. Taking a long sip of her cocoa she smiled happily. "Mmmm..."

After some shuffling and getting his clothes sorted out, Benny joined her on his side of the bed in a pair of cotton pants, tied to keep them up on his narrow hips. "Are you sure that's all?" he asked as he sipped his own cocoa. He still had one foot on the floor, one leg folded up as he sipped at his cocoa, not quite ready to lay down yet. He'd known her long enough to know something was eating at her, though he wasn't going to push it if she didn't want to talk about it.

Sitting up so her back was against the headboard Fox sipped at her cocoa and shook her head. "Everything is fine, Benny. If it was something bad you know I'd tell you. This is just something I need to keep to myself for a while." She remembered a similar conversation with him a long long time ago but it was about something entirely different. He had been asking her about the things Rafe had made her do and she hadn't been willing to talk about it at the time. At least now it was something simpler.

"I'm afraid that is the very reason you aren't telling me," Benny said gently and placed his now empty cup on the simple night stand. He turned back to Fox, lifting his other leg to sit pretzel style finally. He gave her a soft smile. "But I will leave it be. I know when you are ready, you'll let me know. I'll always be here, no rush. Now!" He perked up a bit. "If you are done, I do believe you need a good, hard pampering and a nice nod off into dream land. You know the drill! Tummy down."

Fox snorted softly before setting her mug down and doing as she was told. Pulling her pillow under her head she laid her arms at her sides comfortably and closed her eyes. I know you will. That's what I'm afraid of. Maybe I hold you too close. I should try and let you go but I'm too damned selfish. Sighing heavily she allowed herself to relax.

The two relaxed together, Benny happily soothing Fox's tense muscles until his friend finally dozed off. He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her hair before carefully situating himself next to her, one hand resting on the middle of her back and finally nodded off himself, the last thing he saw being Fox's peaceful sleeping face.