11/22 - Leonardo
11/22/2008
Logfile from Emma.
=NYC= Leonardo's Apartment - Midtown - Apartments in the Sky
It's early in the evening with a slight chill in the air, and Leonardo invites one Emma Frost to the Maxwell family mansion in Manhattan, which is luckily well heated. He asked her to wear something nice but casual to the modestly large house in a neighborhood filled with homes of similar old architecture and size. The house itself is completely vacant at the moment except for himself and the hired help, and when she arrives she'll be greeted and led in by an old butler of distinguished manner. When she arrives in the foyer, she'll find Leo standing there wearing a white button up dress shirt, a pair of expensive looking black pants with subtle grey lines sewn in, and a pair of black leather shoes. He stands on the pearl white marble floors in the middle of the spiral staircase, seeming as if he's simply waiting.
Emma shrugs out of a light, trench-styled coat into the waiting hands of the help while casting a curious look about the place. Rather quiet for a party, but quiet parties are often better for business. Slacks cut in a fashionable wide-legged style are casual enough, though the cashmere sweater and creamy set of pearls that settle against the base of her throat tip the ensemble into party-appropriate attire. She looks up at Leo and lifts her brows curiously.
"You look lovely, Miss Frost." Leonardo steps forward, and there are indeed no signs of a party, though the subtle aroma of cooking can be smelled somewhere in the house. He holds a gentle hand out for her's, then looks her in the eyes and smiles. "I'm not uncertain, no matter how many times you reject me, I'm not uncertain..." he repeats, as if he spent hours convincing himself of something.
"Thank you, Leonardo," Emma says, taking his hand and sliding hers up his arm to tuck under it. Amusement flits across her lips at his mantra. "Am I early?" she asks, looking around again.
"Oh, it's not a party, I asked you to dress nice, because..." Leonardo suddenly moves to pull her face to face as slow, romantic tango music begins. "Our first dance is a special occasion."
Emma's eyes widen as she is pulled around and close. Her hands automatically find their correct positions, but more out of habit than conscious will. "I... see. /Is/ this our first dance?"
"It is, I've never had the pleasure." Leonardo begins to expertly lead her across the floor in sync with the music, looking into her eyes with a constant warm smile. "Miss Frost, about what you said before... I /am/ ready for anything. I don't care what dark secrets you have, I don't care if you've done or plan to do things that you believe will shock me, I want you."
Emma fights back a smile and somehow manages to keep it from her face. Her fingers shift from shoulder to press against the back of his neck, her flesh cool and soft against his. "But what if /I'm/ not ready?" she asks, darker shades of black and gray memory dancing through her thoughts.
Leonardo suddenly dips her down, being careful with her just in case she's not quite that limber. "Then I'll wait, but just know that even if we never had sex, I'd still want to be your lover. I would never touch a non-mutant, that's how I've managed to keep my virtue this long." he admits, thinking, << Lisabeth reminded me of you, I couldn't help but ask her, but I swear it wont happen again. Nothing happened, I don't know why I still feel guilty... >>
Emma is limber, yes. She sinks with him, her grip on the back of his neck carrying what weight he doesn't support himself. They swing up, and her hair swings and falls across her shoulders. "Your virtue? Leonardo, are you--?" She trails off suggestively, looking at him in bemusement. His thoughts slide across her receptive powers and catch her attention. Oh, /really/.
<< I felt rejected the last time we met, I was drinking a lot, she took control of the situation just like you always do. For once, I felt like I had you in my grasp, even if it wasn't you... but I want the real you. >> Leonardo continues his thoughts as he pulls her back up, gracefully stepping back, then forward, and he spins her body out before pulling her back in close. "Yes, even before I knew anything about mutants, I had to worry about classmates stabbing me in the back or using me, and when I actually manifested, it was when I was about to get beaten by people who were just plain fed up with what popularity I actually managed to gain. I decided that humans just aren't worth being emotionally invested in, but you, my queen, I'd trust you with everything..."
Emma lifts her chin and lowers her lashes, staring narrow-eyed down her nose at the man. Her mouth drops open and she presses her tongue to the back of her teeth while she gathers her thoughts. With a painless flick of her telepathic wrist, she slides her thoughts into his. << How do I ensure you never mistake having me in your grasp again? >> She slides her finger sup into his hairline.
<< Make it a reality... >> Leonardo thinks as the music suddenly ends and his hands move around to her back, gazing deeply into her eyes. << I'll never mistake having you in my grasp if I actually know what it feels like to have you. I said before, I don't care if we have sex or not, just let me call you my lover. >>
Emma leans into him, warm and soft and, really unfairly, expert. << Call me whatever you wish in the privacy of here, >> she murmurs, and taps his temple with the fingers that had been so recently tangled in his hair. And then she pulls back and out of his thoughts. "But I told /you/, I'm not ready to trust any man in return. You're all alike, in the end."
"That's fair, Emma..." Leonardo calls her by her first name, raising a hand to stroke her cheek. "I know I wont betray you, and as long as I never do, that's all that matters to me. I'm sure you've been hurt in the past, I'm sure you've heard everything I'm telling you right now, but I assure you, I have nothing to gain from hurting you. You don't have to believe me, you don't even have to invest your own emotions into this, but I am telling you a fact; I will not betray you." He leans in to give her a passionate kiss, something that's always proven dangerous to attempt in the past, but he's still not learned his lesson.
Emma sidesteps the kiss, turning away and stepping back at the last moment, but he does at least keep his lips this time. "I'm going, darling," she says over her shoulder, heading back across the marbled floor toward the entrance where, presumably, her coat should be waiting.
"Emma." Leonardo watches her, every bone in his body wanting to follow her, but he just stands there. "At least stay and have dinner with me, we can take a break from all of this heavy talk."
Emma discovers the butler's mind and walks him to her, coat in hand. "I don't think so," she replies, her voice splashing with amusement and pity and affection. She slips into her coat. "I have to guard my reputation."
"Or perhaps you're simply afraid that you might actually feel something for me." Leonardo casually says, more trying to point out a possible insecurity than anything else. "And if so, I respect that, but you should still take a chance."
Emma's eyes gleam like sapphire chips through the dusky veil of lashes, and she walks across the floor back toward him. She leans close and captures his cheek in one hand, turns it, then presses a soft kiss to his other cheek. "Maybe someday when I'm not all out of chances," she says before spinning on her toe and retracing her steps, across the floor, and out the door.
Leo continues to dream. At least he's more constant than OTHER men.