hot chocolate (Davoren)

[Noah Wilde]

The weather was finally cold after the long fall and mild start to the winter. it'd hardly even felt like winter until a couple days prior and Noah was happy to greet the nippy weather. Cold weather reminded her of home. It reminded her of holidays and hot chocolate, of hugs and caroling and most of all snow. Noah adored snow, the way it sparkeld and glowed like a lightning bug, bouncing moonlight back casting an almost silver sheen on everything. The quietness that accompanied it was her favorite part though. So quiet that even the smallest of breaths echoed off the bare branches of the sleeping trees.

But even the chill of winter got to Noah sometimes. And after a long walk through town the tall frail girl decided it was time to stop off and get a hot chocolate or a coffee. Noah wasn't typically a coffee drinker but she'd recently picked up the habit after absorbing one of her peers memories. SHe wasn't even sure who it belong to. One of her classmates thinking and day dreaming about their past, about the coffee their grandmother used to drink and the small sip she'd offer them. Coffee flavored ice cream. All if it had made Noah crave coffee and she'd been drinking it consistently all week. Which probably was the reason why she'd found sleep so hard to come by.

Noah entered the coffee shop, the light bell dinging as she went through the door and she shook off the snow from her shoulders approaching the counter. Hmm... a peppermint hot chocolate would be good right now... but the coffee was still appealing to her. Calling her name... but it was awfully late... she didn't want to be up all night again especially with finals.

Noah sighed. "I'm sorry." She told the barista. She wanted the coffee... so bad... but "I'll take the hot chocolate." She had no balls."

[Davoren Cross III]

Boredom. It was something Davoren had lived with for a good portion of his life. It was the curse of the predator, of the conqueror. When there was nothing available to conqueror, he grew complacent. Davoren longed to be rid of school, to be out in the world, ready to seize life by the throat and put it into a death roll. But for now, he was stuck. He was simply Davoren Cross, student.

He needed a project. Or several.

He'd found a plethora of attractive women at the school. Surely, those desires would be easy to sated. But the predator wanted more. He wanted to find the perfect storm of naivete, of innocence and softness... and tear it from her, piece by piece. To plunge his hand into the chest of a young woman, tear her heart from its moorings, and encase it in a sheet of ice. In short, to turn someone into the kind of woman he could wear on his arm... just like father had mother.

The coffee shop. He'd been so lost in thought he'd hardly realized where he was. He couldn't well keep the limo around, not in this one-horse Podunk town in the middle of godforsaken hick country. So he'd had to have one of his cars bought. It was a trash car to him, used for the everyday errands that he used to have servants for. Like getting coffee.

Really, it was barbaric.

As he parked the 2011 Mustang GT into a spot near the entrance, he silently hoped someone would steal it. Surely, he could do much better with the money the insurance would get him... maybe a 2012 model. He locked the car and hit the alarm, more out of habit than anything, and entered. His eyes scanned the room. The pretentious "writers" were sitting with their laptops, pretending they had enough intelligence to write anything that wouldn't be used as a producer's toilet paper. And there was one girl at the counter... soft spoken... big, empathic eyes... apologizing?

Jackpot.

Now of course, came the time to play the role. Oh Davoren, he's so rich and handsome, but so humble! It made a much better first impression. As he approached, he looked at the barrista with so small amount of contempt. "Mocha latte, light on the foam, and make sure its filled... I swear if its half foam I will come back here and throw it in your face. And put this young lady's hot chocolate on my bill. On the caveat that she sit with me to enjoy it."

The smile she shot her would be much less contemptible. Charming, even. As if to tell her, "screw this entire place, you're the one that matters." It was a load, true... but women were so eager to believe they were special.

[Noah Wilde]

The boy came in like a storm. His presence was huge and she couldn't help but watch as he sauntered through the space to the counter as if he truly did own it. She looked out the window and could see the beautiful car parked almost carelessly in the spot. It was the nicest car Noah had ever seen. Back home most people just drove beat up trucks that were used for work. None of them were shiny, most of them didn't have the same parts that they originally came with and were dusty that you could draw a picture with your finger and it'd stay for weeks. This car probably cost more than Noah's house twice over.

Her gaze went from the car to the boy and then to the barista as he told her his order. It blew her mind, he was so confident, so sure. She couldn't tell if he was being polite or threatening the poor girl and it was confusing her to no end that by the time he'd addressed her an awkward pause of silence fell over the space. She looked up at him and then realized. "Oh!" The sound fell from her lips before she could stop it. "i.. Um.. Yes" She didn't know what to say. She'd been caught so off guard.

His smile was sweet, sincere looking. Was he looking at her? Had he noticed her? That was new... Noah felt herself start to tense up. She wasn't used to anyone noticing her. She normally blended into her space and was easily overlooked and if someone did notice her it didn't last long. But he seemed to really be looking at her. It made her nervous. She was blushing wildly and couldn't stop it. When the barista finished her hot chocolate she gave it to Noah. Noah clutched it with both hands looking like a child with a sippy cup. Not exactly the picture of confidence.

[Davoren Cross III]

Oh my god. She was perfect.

He could almost feel the nerves radiating off of her. She was like a perfect storm of abysmally low self-confidence. A lump of wet, unmolded clay sitting there, clutching a cup of hot chocolate screaming "PLEASE MOLD ME!"

Of course, she wouldn't be the only one. One woman, for the great Davoren Cross? Nuh-uh, not happening. He needed at least a half dozen. But she was a good start. "Then it is settled, I will be paying for her drink and my own. And do remember what I said, I am not a fan of repeating myself." The barrista turned, pouring his latte to his specifications... then skimming out some of the foam and pouring some more.

"Its a scam, really. You buy a large coffee, and they give you a medium with extra foam. Not that I can't afford it mind you, its just annoying." Okay, there was a little ego there. But a little ego was good, it inspired confidence. Not in one's self, mind you, but confidence in the person they were with.

"I'm Davoren, by the way. New student. And you are?" he asked, offering a hand. It was an old trick of his, offer a friendly handshake, then twist it into a kiss on the hand. A little cheesy, yes... but a lot of girls seemed to melt over it. Sentimental twits.

[Noah Wilde]

Noah's head was spinning as she watched and listened. He was quick with his words and with his actions and her heart was pounding and not because she liked him. It was pounding because she was so nervous. She'd heard how he talked to the barista and was worried about how he'd talk to her. She didn't understand the appeal. Why would someone like him? Someone so sure and wealthy apparently talk to the awkward blonde girl who could hardly raise her voice above a whisper without it shaking?

Noah nodded. "Yeah.... like potato chip bags." She said softly. Pathetic comparison. But that's what they were. He was a latte and she was a bag of chips. He was classy she was.... a packed lunch.
"I'm Noah." She told him meeting his hand. She watched as he pulled her hand up to his lips and almost died. Her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of pink and a small smile crossed her lips as her eyes averted down.

Once he'd let go of her hand she'd let him lead her to the table. "Thank you for paying." She said nearly forgetting her manors.

[Davoren Cross III]

It took nearly all he had to not burst out laughing. This was too rich, too golden a chance to pass up. She was nervous, terrified. Like the proverbial deer in the headlights. She was practically begging, on her knees pleading, for him to take his scalpel to her and turn this little bag of nerd into a stone-cold cynical bitch. All in good time, of course.

"Noah? An unusual name... not bad, mind you, don't twist my words... it suits you." Noah? Who the hell named their daughter Noah? That would be like if his own father decided to name him Mary. It bordered on child abuse, really. Of course, he kept those thoughts firmly suppressed, Nothing ruined hard work like saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

He lead her to a small table. Two chairs, they'd be close the entire time. Perfect for charming her. "but yes, its like potato chips. Thats why I prefer to make my own. Or rather, have a servant make them," he amended. He'd never cooked a thing in his life. It was quite beneath him. "That's why people need to stand up for themselves. Or find someone to stand up for them if they can't."

Now it was time to lay a little charm on her. Make her feel special. As if she actually was. "Do you come here often? If so, i might need to make more frequent visits..." he said.

[Noah Wilde]

Noah watched him. His eyes, something felt weird. She closed her eyes for a moment wondering if she could pick up a memory. SHe didn't usually like to use her powers, but once in a while, if she wasn't sure, she sometimes liked to see if she could see something. A memory told an awful lot about someone, where they came from, their perspective on things... their secrets. People tended to think about the same memories, always the same ones reeling through their minds. Those were the ones she normally saw.

But she saw nothing, not yet.

Servants. She felt way out of her league. What kind of person had servants? Was that even legal? She hardly ever complained, actually she never did. She usually just lived with what she was given. He seemed to complain a lot though. She supposed someone with his stature, his wealth, had right to though.

She blushed when he started to flatter her. "Lately i have been." She said looking over to meet his eyes with her own big blue ones. She supposed it was her turn to try and start conversation. "You're new to hammel?" He seemed old to just be getting here. Perhaps he was a late bloomer. "How do you like it?"

[Davoren Cross III]

There she went. Trying to talk. It was cute, really. Why did women insist on the whole song and dance? Men wanted one thing and one thing only... for those pants to come off. But women always needed to do a whole thing about it. Talking, feigning interest, compliments, spending money... the whole act. How much simpler would it be for them to know their place and do as they were told?

"Yes, I'm new. Just arrived yesterday," he answered her question. For now, he would play the part. He hated this part, but the end result always made it all worth it. And if she refused... well... that's why he had his little talent.

"Its a school... not as fancy as the ones back in Europe. And the curriculum seems a lot less advanced... but that ought to make the classwork easier for me, I guess." It came out a little more condescending than he intended, but some things he couldn't even bullshit about. And his digust for America was one of them.

"Pardon me, its a little warm in here," he said, getting up. It was, and he was wearing a hoodie underneath a leather jacket. an expensive looking jacket, the one that screamed "yeah, he's rich, but he's also a bad boy." The kind that drove women wild. He removed the jacket first and set it aside, then the hoodie. He deliberately lifted off some off his t-shirt underneath, letting her catch a glimpse of his perfect abs. Physical temptation wasn't a game solely reserved for women.

He pulled the short back down and retook his seat. "There, much better."

[Noah Wilde]

Noah took a sip of her hot chocolate, closing her eyes as the warm liquid slid down her throat. It was exactly what she needed. She had a bit of a chocolate addiction and the rich flavor always tended to help calm her nerves. Though she was starting to hate how not adult it was. She felt like a little kid ordering chocolate milk while everyone else was ordering coffee and espresso. But she couldn't help what she liked and hot chocolate always reminded her of home.

She looked up at him over the rim of her cup as he bragged about his old school. She was quickly starting to lose interest in him. Noah was a push over but she knew where she came from, a little town in Nebraska where the closest movie theater was an hour a way and the closest mall was four. She was by no means fancy and Hammel was the most upscale place she'd ever really been. Since being here she'd met plenty of people and been used by plenty more. This boy seemed way too... fancy for the girl who sat in front of him wearing an oversized sweatshirt and skinny jeans.

She put her cup down as he started to strip having to advert her eyes. She did catch the glimpse of his abs and blushed, again. She hated that she blushed so much but she couldn't help it. When he sat back down she let herself look back at him again.

She expected him to lead the conversation. It already seemed as if he liked to lead rather than follow and she wondered if he was just talking to her to look like he had someone to be with rather than sit alone. She didn't mind sitting alone.... she found it funny that most people did.

"I'm sorry Hammel isn't fancy." She said with a surprising slight edge to her voice. She was quite offended with his attitude even in that one sentence he'd said about the school she'd grown quite fond of.

[Davoren Cross III]

Davoren's mind was like a chess computer. Move, evaluate, move again. He heard irritation in her voice. How cute, she actually liked the little hovel she'd been herded into. Then again, considering her likely social status, she'd probably like living in a barn. But it meant he'd have to do a little backtracking to get her interest back. But not make it obvious.

"I'm sure it'll grow on me," he said, lying through his teeth but not making it obvious. "You know how it is, I'm sure, leaving home for the first time." If lies were currency, he would likely be doubling his wealth shortly. "At first it seems like nothings going to be as good as it was. The food won't be as good, the people, the bed... but eventually, it grows on you. And you start to appreciate the differences, both small and large."

Good lord, if someone walked by the enhanced senses, he'd likely pass out from the sheer load of bullshit that had just been shoveled. "To be honest... I'm already finding the populace to be much more... easy-going here. Back in Europe, if you didn't know three languages, could calculate pi to the eighteenth decimal, and speak with a stuffy accent and wear a monocle, you were a social outcast from day one."

Now she'd start to think of him in a new light. Even... sympathetically. Maybe next, he'd offer her a ride in the Mustang...

[Noah Wilde]

Noah nodded listening but only half. She'd hardly looked at him while he explained himself, far more interested in the melting candy cane in her cup. It was nearly almost melted into her hot chocolate now not that she even much wanted that anymore either. She didn't know what was wrong with her lately. She was like a ticking time bomb. One moment she was shy and passive, like normal, a pushover, but then all of a sudden she'd have burst of this energy. This sassy back talking cynical girl who pushed the other Noah aside like yesterdays bad news. It was probably from taking in so many memories lately, other peoples influence on her sub conscience. Or so she was hoping. As much as she wanted to break free from herself, she didn't like the idea of uncharted waters.

She looked up at him finally when he takled about being a social outcast. Seriously? He didn't know what it was like to be invisible. There was no way he understood that. He was goodlooking, ripped as fuck, rich, and clearly didn't have confidence issues. But Noah's passive tendencies just stuffed her irritation down and she sighed. "I'm sorry the people there were like that..."

"Yes, people here are.... laid back." She said and decided to talk about him more, he seemed to like it so much. "So where are you from?" She didn't care. But she'd ask.

[Davoren Cross III]

And just like that, back in the driver's seat. Now to steer this back onto course. He'd set himself back with his... being civilized. He was not going to say ego. It wasn't ego to expect decency. Even if a backwater town like this.

Now, to turn this back around. If he talked about himself, he might turn her off by appearing narcissistic. A small smirk appeared on his flawless features. But he had to do so naturally, or it would seem forced. "Boston, originally," he said. He could go into detail, but that would defeat the purpose. He had to get her off-guard again, get the line of questioning off himself and onto her.

"And you? And if I may ask... are all the women there as beautiful as you?"

Corny? Yes. Effective? He was willing to bet it would be. She didn't strike him as the type who got many compliments, and coupled with her seemingly shy and timid nature, there was little doubt in his mind that would catch her off-guard.

[Noah Wilde]

Boston. She'd never been but always wanted to go. Noah was fascinated by history. She attributed that to the fact that history was so much just a compilation of people's memories and memories were the only place she excelled. Boston had so much history, so much life and so much going on. Hearing he was from Boston made her like him a little more.

She was a bit surprised when she asked about him and shrugged. "Nebraska." She told him afraid of what he'd think about that. She had a feeling he could't even point Nebraska out on a map. Most people didn't know much about her state, it was quiet, not much happened there and was mostly farms. To some it was charming.

She looked away when he complimented her. "Most of the women at Hammel are very pretty.. far prettier than me." She said knowing he'd never talk to her again once he saw one of the prettier girls who had more out going personalities. "I think you'll like it."

[Davoren Cross III]

A swing and a hit. Not a home-run, though. But definitely progress. And she left herself wide open for some more flattery. He'd have to use his powers eventually, but until then, he wanted to see how far he'd get with his natural charm and charisma.

"Nebraska, hm? Never been there... I bet its a lot more peaceful than Boston... cleaner air... less noise..." Good god, it sounded like a hole. a stinking, hillbilly infested, moonshine flowing like water hole. But once more... those were inside thoughts.

"And I've seen some of the girls at Hammel," he said, giving her that sort of smile that was one part 'I want to take you on this table' and one part 'I want to take you home to meet mom.' "And so far... there's not one that is anywhere near as gorgeous as you." Which was another bald-faced lie. He'd seen a girl just as hot three seconds after arriving. but one caught more flies wit honey than with vinegar.

[Noah Wilde]

Noah was already finished with her hot chocolate. He'd made her so nervous that she'd drank it all up in hopes of it comforting her but it didn't really. Though she was starting to get a little more comfortable with him with all these compliments. It also helped that he didn't flat out trash Nebraska or laugh... She liked where she came from but most didn't seem to know what to make of it.

"Probably cleaner but Boston is richer in... everything.." That was true. History, education, people.... most things were better than Nebraska.

"You seem to have quite the mouth for flattery." She said the sass coming back once again. She wanted to accept the compliment but it wasn't normal for a boy to come in and do this without wanting something else... her mother always told her no one buys the cow if they can get the milk fro free and she was starting to think that that was what this was about. Noah knew she was an easy target.

"I think you're just being nice."