Memory Lane [Open]

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

She's sensed his stiffness, which was likely the reason she asked before simply leaning forward and kissing him. The uncomfortable vibe he was giving off didn't make sense given the intimate atmosphere they'd created around themselves. Perhaps she was reading to much into it and it was simply that he wasn't prepared for her reaction. Whatever the reason, it didn't seem to matter much as those dark eyes bore into hers once more. A frown crossed her face as he shook his head, but it was quickly erased as he leaned in.

The bar around them was erased as his lips touched her neck, and then his teeth. A low, muffled moan eased from her and unconsciously, her head tipped to give him the access he wanted. Almost before she knew it, his lips were brushing hers, and she lost contact with those dark orbs as her lashes came to rest on reddened cheeks. When nothing more happened, just his breath across dampened and aching flesh, her eyes started to open and slammed closed as he suddenly clenched his hand in the long strands of black and pulled her right off the stool and into him, their lips meeting in a harsh, tight kiss.

Aracelli was shocked at the seeming brutailty of the kiss, but quickly relaxed, hands reaching forward to curl into his shoulders and meeting his force with a bit of her own. She wasn't used to such forcefulness, but she found that it was different and exciting. The kiss dragged on for several long minutes, until a throat clearing caught her attention. She pulled back, lips red and swollen, mocha-colored eyes swirling with emotions. A blush colored her cheeks as she returned to her stool and quickly downed the rest of her drink, coughing slightly as the alcohol burned its way down her throat.

That kiss had taken her totally away from the bar and the people within. "I think...." She started to say, and was interrupted by another fit of coughing. "I think we might want to continue this somewhere more private." The words left her mouth, and she knew it had to be the drink talking. She couldn't possibly be inviting him home with her. She didn't do that sort of thing. However, now that it was said, it wasn't like she could take it back. No, she'd just have to forge ahead and hope for the best.

[Taitum Marshall]

She moaned into the kiss and Taitium found it all the more promising. He was rough handed but he'd never hurt her if she didn't like it a bit. He let her break the kiss but it felt like someone had splashed cold water on him all of a sudden and the shock of being away from her made him freeze up for a long moment. She moved back into her seat and he watched her take a sip, the red on her face snapping him back to reality. Urgh. What the hell was his doing?! She suggested going to somewhere more private and Taitum frowned at her for the longest time.

He took his drink and downed the whole glass before setting it down and getting to his feet.
"You know... I would... But the thing is, not ten minutes before we entered here you seemed sad about that twit you dance with. I'm all for sex but I'm not for being the rebound guy. I've paid..."
He mentioned as he headed for the door.
"See you around Aracelli..."

Taitum called over his shoulder as he headed for the door. He was so shocked at what he'd almost done... almost. He found relief in almost. He was safe if it was almost. It meant it hadn't happened. He'd almost got swept up in her. Aracelli was beautiful. At one point he'd been so wrapped around her little finger that he wouldn't have been able to pull away from her evern if he'd wanted to.

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

His words weren't quite the shock he likely intended them to be. The alcohol making her a bit more brazen than she would normally have been. A sense of bemusement settled over her as he left, and it took her another moment to stumble from her stool and stumble out the door after him. It took her a minute to readjust to the brightness outside after the dim lights of the bar, and then to find the man she sought.

"Taitum!" She called out, staggering after him. Aracelli wasn't a big drinker, and she'd not had much to eat today. The effects of the alcohol were definitely fully in command of her motor functions. She wanted to stop him, and explain that he wasn't a rebound. She was drunk. How that would sound hadn't quite managed to penetrate her non-sloshed mind yet, but she was sure that Taitum would understand when she spoke with him.

"Taitum, I swear. Rebound has nothing to do with this." Aracelli waved a vague hand between the two of them. She didn't what was between them, but she knew that it had a lot to do with drink today, but nothing to do with rebound. She might not be over Reece completely, but revenge or making herself feel better didn't play into this. Something about Taitum drew her in, and although they'd both fallen headlong into that kiss, it was the drink that had made her so un-cautious with her words and actions.

[Taitum Marshall]

The crisp cool air brought a whole new type of soberity to him and he blinked for a moment, pausing in front of the bar as he took in the moment of clarity. Just as he started walking, he heard her scream at him. He gave a slight groan and turned. She seemed... drunk. Well, at least he already knew where she lived. He'd followed Reece there once. He'd been bored and twinkle toes had fascinated and tweaked at his curiosity. He'd seen Aracelli. He just didn't know how close they'd get...

Taitum turned to scanned the girl and then raised an eyebrow. Was she drunk already?
"Jesus, Aracelli. Remind me never to go drinking with you again. No wonder the guys are hitting on you. You're such a cheap night out. "
Taitum really didn't realize he was being abusive and insulting. It really came more then naturally to him. He was just used to saying what he thought. Besides, he found that he made most people pay attention and make better people of themselves when he insulted them.

Taitum grabbed her hand and had a pained expression on his face. This meant that she'd only kissed him because of the alcohol. She only wanted to sleep with him because of the alcohol. Taitum slipped his hand under her arm and steered her toward the park they could walk through to get to his car.

"Come on. Let's get you home. The last thing I need is to get into another fight over you. Call Twinkletoes for the sleep over. I'm sure he'd oblige. "
Taitum didn't wanna look at her and would deny that he felt any such thing as used or pain. He hadn't really kissed any one he really felt excited and connected to in such a long time and then it turns out that this person is simply drunk and looking for a good time. Was he ever turning girly...

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

"I don't drink much, and no food." Words were having a hard time getting past the whirling landscape that was filling her mind. She could feel herself teetering on the heels she wore, and was grateful when Taitum reached out and steadied her. She knew she sounded and was likely acting the fool, but really, what else could she do at the moment. She was drunk, and trying to handle a situation that she was not qualified to deal with. Taitum was a force of nature in his own right.

When his next words came, hurt filled the mocha eyes and her hand came up, swinging for his cheek. She wrenched away from him, falling to the ground with the force of her own momentum. A litany of Spanish cursing fell from her lips as she struggled back to her feet and stood glaring at him. "You can go straight to hell, Taitum. I might be drunk, but I'm not desperate."

It took a lot of effort for her to form that sentence and make sure that it made it out of her mouth with any sort of sense. She lapsed into more furious Spanish, all of it insults towards Taitum and towards herself. Somehow, she managed to turn and stomp off in the opposite direction of the man she'd been talking to. Just because she couldn't get the thought of his eyes out of her head didn't mean she had to stay and be insulted by him. She refused to put up with it.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum barely ducked from the smack aimed at his face and he instinctively brought his hand up in defence to smack her but she caused herself harm by falling to the ground anyway. Taitum loomed over the girl as she drunkenly struggled to her feet like some kind of wounded animal. His anger was scorching. His power was rippling across every surface of his skin. People who were walking passed were staring. Some, he could see, were hesitating on whether to help or not. Taitum smirked when the fiery woman told him to go to hell.

Taitum watched her stomp off and headed after her. Lesson number one would now commence. He'd teach her that in public was not the way to treat him like she just had. He grabbed her hand and twisted her to face him taking both of her wrists in his hand so she wouldn't be able to smack him again.
"Listen to me very carefully, if that's even remotely possibly for you in the state you are in right now..."

His voice was dangerously calm. His eyes were shooting daggers and his grip on her wrists would have hurt.
"If you make a fool out of me in public ever again, I'll make sure we never see one another again. I can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Try not to make it the latter. I'm taking you home. I'm putting you to be and then in the morning, I will check up on you. If you fight me, I will force you. You'll run out of energy and I'll get my way anyway. Now are we going to make this easy or hard..."

He moved both her wrist into one big hand and moved some of the hairs that was stuck to her forehead away from being plastered there then gently brushed away her messy hair from her shoulders, flicking his eyes to some other drunken occupants who stumbled past them, his eyes shooting warnings at them as well.

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

It was a rotten shame that her hand hadn’t connected. Then again, she wasn’t thinking clearly right now, and dealing with Taitum was something she needed her full faculties for. If she ever saw the man again, she’d know better. No getting drunk around him, ever again. Keeping her wits about her was going to be priority one the next time she dealt with him. She could hear him coming after her, and she sped up, to no avail though, as he caught her and held her tightly.

His power zipped from his skin to hers, and instinctively, she lashed out with her own, imagining him draped in a lead blanket, killing the sensations dancing along the flesh that connected them. His words were brutal, and deep brown eyes stared up at him with anger, hurt, pain and concentration all swirled together.

“I’m listening.” She said tightly, still pushing her power out over the connection between them. In the back of her mind, she was telling herself to stop before she got to exhausted, but it was to late for that. She was going to be down for at least the next day. It took a ton of her energy to manifest the power, and using it in the state she was in, well that was just a recipe for disaster.

“Fine.” She could feel the energy draining out of her and didn’t have the need or desire to argue with him. She gave him her address, wondering what exactly he meant by forcing her, but decided that was less important than getting her home and into bed. At this point, the alcohol was far less a factor than the use of her power, and she knew what happened if she expended to much energy. “I can’t walk it though, it’s a bit too far.”

She was about to collapse, and her power abruptly cut off. That was a bad sign. “Taitum, I’m not going….” to make it anywhere was the rest of the sentence, but it was left unspoken as she slumped slightly in his grasp. Lovely side effect of her power, using it cause extreme weakness and fatigue.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum growled at the sudden feeling berefting him of his powers. His powers were a part of him, like his legs. He felt useless when they were take away. It was a weird sensation and he wondered where it had come from so suddenly. His eyes scanned the immediate area and he wanted so badly to rip out the eyes of any one who was using their powers against him. He didn't know Aracelli was a meta as well. He didn't know that about her yet. He wasn't using his powers against her... yet.

Of course, she gave in to his wishes and he nodded but she was reluctant to do such. He could tell that he was going to have an overall hard time with Aracelli. He'd have to teach her a few things on behaving like a normal human being instead of a teenager but he would get to that in time. She'd harden her skin against his words if they were to stay together. She muttered her adress which he didn't need. He was one step away from stalking her anyway. She mentioned she wouldn't be able to walk.

Taitum rolled his eyes but before he could offer her support she collapsed against him and the power over him faded. Taitum pulled her close against his body then came to the realization that the cold was not over him anymore. He was free from it.
"You..."
He hissed in her ear before scooping her into his arms with angry jerky movements. He headed across the street to the park ignoring the stares.

He didn't care what they thought. He cared about getting the girl in his arms under control. She was Latin with a head strong nature and no fear to go with it. He reached his car and pulled out his keys sliding them into the back seat to open the door. He gathered the girl back up, opened the backseat and slowly eased her in the car before pulling off his Jacket and sliding it over her to make sure she'd be warm. He then shut the door and darted around to the drivers seat sliding into it and heading to her adress.

Once there he reached back and got her keys out of the her pocket and opened her door before moving to retrieve her from his car again. He kicked his door closed pausing to make sure she was okay and nestled against his chest before he headed inside straight to her bedroom kicking the front door shut as he entered the house. She was out cold so maybe if he lay her down carefully, she wouldn't wake up because the fight would start over if she woke up or worse... He would become her rebound...

Gently, he lay her down on the bed and began working to get her shoes off her feet, being soft about it and not just ripping them off, though his hands did tremble a little. He just wanted to leave... She was in bed. She was safe... She was beautiful lain there, a good portion of her curves protuding so delightfully... He shot his eyes back to her feet smoothing his hand across the top of her cold feet before noticing just how cold they were. Quickly, he wrapped one in his hands to heat it up...

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

Unaware of anything, Aracelli slept. When she used her power to totally suppress someone else’s it was as if a light switch was flicked and she went from conscious and aware to fast asleep. The alcohol in her system probably hadn’t helped in this case, and although she’d tried to stop herself, she hadn’t been able to before it was too late. She’d only used her power to this extreme a couple of times before. Never out in public. It had always been within the confines of school, helping her to hone and refine her use of the power. Generally, she would just dampen the power, but due to the anger and hurt, she’d misjudged.

She missed all of the tender care that Taitum now showed towards her, only surfacing when his hands wrapped around one of her feet. Thanks to the blast of power from earlier, the alcohol was burned off, and although shame rode her cheeks like a flag, bravely, she opened heavy eyes and smiled at him. It was kind of him to bring her home, and to look after her. He’d been angry, her bleary mind remembered. Her limbs felt weighted down, but she lifted an arm and brushed it against him lightly, fingertips resting on his leg gently.

”Gracias.” She wanted to say more, but just wasn’t able. It took to much thought and effort at this point. Instead, she stared into his beautiful eyes, willing hers to express her feelings of gratitude and remorse that she felt in this instant. A part of her wished that there was going to be more happening than just sleep, but oddly, she also knew that it would be ok. She wasn’t sure what she wanted from Taitum, or if she wanted anything beyond the lust that simmered in her veins, but she was sure that she wouldn’t make him the rebound. He’d made his feelings quite clear on that topic.

”¿Puede quedarse conmigo mientras duermo?” She had no idea that she was speaking in Spanish. It made sense in her head to ask him to stay with her and watch over her while she slept. Who knew if Taitum would be able to understand her or not. Her hand stayed touching his leg, and she gave him a small smile, holding on until she got some sort of affirmative from him.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum had not been paying attention to her enough to find out that she'd woken up slightly. He was just fixing to leave when he felt her hand against his leg and he froze staring at her feet for a moment like a mean cat caught purring. His eyes flicked to meet hers and slowly he let go of her foot and started kinda roughly covering them with the blanket. He shrugged at the thanks then heard her speak Spanish. He frowned and repeated the words eyeing her with a raised eyebrow. It was definitely Spanish...

He had a moment where he wanted to reach into his pocket and pull out his phone but her hand was there, brushing lightly against his leg. Shivers ran up and down his body and he closed his eyes slowly shaking his head.
"I don't expect whatever you said is a good idea for either of us unless you said you were sorry for your earlier behavior... that is a good idea. You should sleep okay....? "
Taitum gently tried to put her hand beside her instead of where it was in his leg so he could run.

He didn't want a translation because he knew he'd consider it if she did translate what she'd just said and he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her. He needed to go while the going was still good and he was still safe.

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

It was really difficult to keep her eyes open and focused. Sleep was pulling her back into the arms of Queen Mab, and Aracelli wanted nothing more than to go. But she didn’t want to be alone. This wasn’t the normal sleep of someone at night, this was akin to unconsciousness. It left her vulnerable and that thought was scary. Especially since he wouldn’t be able to lock the door when he left. Not without locking her in and leaving her without keys anyway.

Her hand clutched at him when he tried to leave, panic flaring in the dark eyes that held his. “Please …stay…” She wanted to say more, but even those words were a mere whisper as she dropped back into the resting state required by the overuse of her powers. She wouldn’t know if he stayed or not, but there was plenty of room if he did. There was even a pull out bed in the living room if he explored that far. There was food in the fridge, a bottle of wine on the counter and a TV to entertain him. She wouldn’t be much entertainment at all.

A few hours later, Aracelli woke up, still groggy, but much more alert and alive than she’d been the last time. She only vaguely remembered waking and asking Taitum to stay, having no idea if he’d accepted or not. Carefully, she eased from her bed, then made it into the bathroom, taking a shower quickly and pulling on a pair of shorts and an oversized sweatshirt. It was time to see if Taitum had stayed or not, and if he hadn’t, then to figure out how to apologize.

She stared at herself in the mirror for several long moments, summoning courage, then moved out into the apartment, looking for the man who’d been so helpful.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum froze when he saw the panic in her eyes and his own widened ever so slightly in surprise. He shook his head trying to get her to calm down and not panic but he knew that if he left she'd be in this panic state when she woke up too. She wanted him to stay.
"Shhh...."
He whispered softly to her. Her arm fell loose and slowly, he placed it by her side. He then leaned in to kiss her forehead before pulling more of the blankets around her to make sure she was snug, warm and bundled up nice and tightly.

Taitum headed out of the room and into the livingroom where he'd paced for about twenty minutes considering what to do. Finally he'd sat down... then laid down across the sofa. The calm in the house had made him too... drift off to sleep. His dreams were scattered thoughts and visions. Nothing that he could hold onto. He was far too gone for any of that anyway. Maybe it had been a mistake to stay. Maybe it hadn't but even if he'd woken up in time to realize where he was, he supposed he still wouldn't have left.

Not after the look in that woman's eyes. He was on his back, stretched out across the sofa, one hand clutching at his side instinctively where he'd been shot during that fateful day, the other hand stuffed under a scatter pillow, also instinctive as it was always where he kept some kind of weapon, just in case. Of course, there was no such thing under this scatter pillow. His head was turned toward the sofa and his lips were just parted so. He was a light sleeper which meant he didn't get much of it.

He didn't wake when Aracelli came looking either...

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

Angelic. That was the word that popped into her head when she saw him asleep on the couch. She'd crept close enough to see his face as it lay turned in towards the couch. The relief that he hadn't left her alone was overwhelming, and she wanted to wake him and thank him right then and there, but there were slight shadows beneath his eyes and lines that decorated his forehead, even while he slept. A fingertip ghosted against his cheek, before Aracelli retreated back into the kitchen.

She kept the noise to a minimum as much as possible, quickly whipping up two omelets. She wasn't sure if he'd eat it, but it was better than not offering. The table was set with two mugs of steaming coffee and the omelets, then she went to the archway between the rooms, hands folded across the stomach, the heather grey sweatshirt hanging off of one tanned shoulder. Pale pink toenails were pressed against the light wood of the floor as she tried to decide how best to wake him.

It was a bit odd to think of someone else sleeping at her place rather than Reece. It mde her a bit awkward to be honest, but it wasn't that different she supposed. He was a guest, and she'd treat him with respect and friendship. Yes, that would be the best way to go. That decided, she called out to him.

"Taitum...Taitum" She called from her position. One never knew how people would wake up, and if he was the violent sort, she didn't want to chance it. Plus, they had both been in rather foul moods before they slept, and she still owed him an apology. Maybe they would both be in better moods with the sleep and food. Aracelli could but hope.

[Taitum Marshall]

Taitum's eyes had snapped open the moment he heard the frying pan hit the stove top. He'd laid there for a long time, trying to figure out where he was and what the noise was. It finally registered what was going on and where he was. What had happened previously. He closed his eyes again and sighed in relief. Nothing had happened. He'd let her sleep and he'd fallen asleep too... more out of boredom. It was nearly Monday morning. The sun would rise soon and he'd be able to get more sleep at home.

Taitum slowly sat up when she stated calling for him and pulled his boots closer with one hand while fixing his hair with the other. It must have been standing at all sorts of weird angles.
"I'm up Aracelli. Come lock the door behind me please."
Taitum got to his feet when his boots were on his feet and he didn't dare look at her. He had to keep his resolve. He had to leave. He couldn't get feelings. He couldn't fall into bed with her. He'd want her all the more then.

He had to persue her from a distance. That's how it worked. He couldn't develop feelings for her. He just couldn't. Taitum headed for the door hoping she'd follow him to let him out.

[Aracelli de Rosales Salamanca]

Her brow came together as she watched him gather his boots and pull himself together like there was a fire in the house. It took her a good few seconds to realize that he was just going to up and leave, without even realizing that she'd made breakfast or anything. She began to wonder why he'd bothered to stay if he just wanted to escape from her apartment so quickly. However, she stayed where she was, just watching for a long moment waiting until he was almost done and bolting for the door before she spoke.

"I made coffee, and omelets. At least come have some before you run out like I'm going to jump you." Her voice was dry, and a bit playful. He really did look like she was going to shank him and he had to get away. "I owe you an apology, and I'd prefer to deliver it like civilized people, over a meal, rather than as you rush out the door like the devil himself is after you."

She turned from the archway, padding back into the kitchen and scooping up her cup of coffee, looking out into the living room through the cut out in the wall. She took a sip of the hot liquid and gave a ragged moan of enjoyment. Whether he stayed or not, she was in heaven for that moment with her coffee. Nothing in the world could possibly be wrong, as long as she had that. The Spanish girl wasn't nearly as casual as she seemed. She wanted, desperately, for Taitum to stay, so they could talk over what had happened, but she didn't want to come off pushy or rude. So, she tried to wait, something that she sucked at, for him to make a decision. He was her hero in a way, and she wanted to be sure he knew how grateful she was to him for the service he'd done last night.