It had been quite some time since she had been on an actual date, and so she'd been distracted all day. Numerous times throughout the day she had just managed to catch herself before she chopped her fingers into the herb mixes and ruined the whole batch. In fact, when she thought about it, she hadn't been out with anyone at all the entire time she's been in the United States. And it had been nearly a year and half. To say that she was nervous and just a touch excited was an understatement.
She jumped slightly when she heard the door open and he came into the shop, the bell jangling softly as it shut behind him. She sets the knife down next to the pile of minced Valerian root she had been working on, and brushes her hands off on the white apron that covered her jeans.
Wesley smiled when he saw her - probably a bit stupidly in all actuality. She really was so beautiful. Again, he wasn't quite sure how or why this had happened, but he was glad that whatever the reason was, it had.
"It's good to see you too," he said before looking around the shop again. "Your shop is amazing."
His eyes landed on a shelf of book, and he read through some of the titles, his smile growing a bit wider.
"You really do have quite a selection. If this is what you sell, I really am curious to see what's in your private collection."
She watches as he looks around, then takes a moment to scoop up the herbs she had minced and seals them into a jar for later use. With clean up almost done, she removes her apron and hangs it up by the workstation. She speaks as she heads for the front door, to lock up.
"Thank you. I have just recently managed to get things just how I want them. Sheer luck I managed to find a building for rent with an apartment upstairs. I don't really need 3 bedrooms, but it comes in handy for storage space."
With the front door locked, she goes behind the front counter, pulling out her tarot deck, wrapped in embroidered dark gold silk.
"Feel free to continue looking around, I am going just go find a table to do your reading on. Would you like some tea?"
"I can imagine it took a bit," Wesley agrees, looking around. "The agency I work with had to relocate after a...an accident at our original offices. We spent several months working out of our friend's flat before moving to the old hotel where we are now. Getting everything set up and organized was a bit of a nightmare. So I can understand how helpful storage space can be."
He watches her for a moment as she moves around, admiring her gracefulness. She had a presence about her, and Wesley is sure he could watch her work all day. Not that he would. He doesn't want to give her a bad impression.
Instead, he continues investigating the shop, fairly certain he will be coming here quite a lot - to see her or for supplies. At her question, he gives her another smile.
"You don't have to go the trouble unless you want some as well," he tells her. "Is there anything I can do to help you? Get the table for you perhaps?"
It took her a moment to realize it, what the tingle actually meant, Wesley had incredible magical potential. But that wasn't the only reason for it. They had great potential together. It was a fairly common thing for people to be drawn to her, that she had become used to, but for her to be almost physically drawn to someone else was a completely new and frightening experience. It was a rare thing to meet someone you had an almost instant connection to, and even though it frightened her, she was completely entranced.
"You're very welcome, it was my pleasure. Besides, it was rather informative for the both of us I think."
She shakes her head when he asks about the table.
"No, that's all right, it can stay here for now."
With that, she finishes up wrapping her cards in silk, and stashes them back in their spot under the counter, and begins making her way towards the back room.
He nods at her, knowing that she was right. It seems that the reading had been as much for her as for him, and while he didn't know where this was going to lead, it didn't matter. The connection he's feeling to Akilah was like nothing he had ever experienced before anyone.
Although, he has to admit that part of him was a little nervous. He hopes that whatever does happen, he doesn't do anything to blow it.
After she puts her cards away, he follows her back, so she can change. As he does, he feels his mobile start to vibrate in his pocket. Taking it out, he sees it's from the Hyperion but decides not to answer it, instead shutting the phone off.
As she is picking up the electric kettle to bring it with them, she sees him shut his phone off, and raises an eyebrow, but lets it go. She was fairly certain that if he thought it was important he would have taken the call. She takes him through a door just to the right of the back storeroom that opens to a flight of stairs leading up to her apartment. At the top of the stairs, she unlocks her door and enters, motioning for him to follow. Once inside there is a short hallway with the kitchen off to the left and a little farther in to the living room. Her apartment is furnished in warm earth tones, and designed with comfort in mind. A large, brown leather overstuffed sofa with matching recliner, and an ornately carved wooden coffee table sit in the center of the living room facing a fireplace, there is a small dining table in the dining room made from dark colored wood, and she doesn't seen to have a television. Bookcases cover every available wall surface in the living room and dining room, and it obvious that they have been
( ... )
He sees her look his direction as he slips the phone in his pocket and gives her a soft smile and shrug. He knows that the others can certainly handle one night without him. They've done without one of the others before - he should get his turn, especially now.
Following Akilah, he heads upstairs with her, smiling when he sees her apartment. He really has seemed to have found his match when it comes to love of books and collecting them. Beyond that, the flat definitely seems to reflect her as much as her shop. He would probably find his own place spartan by comparison, but then again, it's mainly been the place where he goes to sleep - it's never really been his home.
"Your flat is beautiful," he tells her before taking the cup of tea from her. "Thank you. This smells wonderful."
Going over to the couch, he sits down and takes a sip while she goes to change.
She can't help but chuckle a bit at that. Of course she understands being teased by friends for her near obsession with research. "Yes, I suppose I do understand
( ... )
"As far as I know we're the only one. It's drawn some...attention from certain circles over the years that have made it a bit difficult at times to keep going, but we seem to hang on
( ... )
"The Followers of Set? Here?" he asks. He's heard of them, of course, but he hadn't realized they were in Los Angeles, considering their connections to Cairo. His father had always told him that the stories of the clan looking to revive Set was ridiculous as Set had never truly existed, but now, Wesley was starting to wonder, especially given what Akilah had just told him about him about the Egyptian Gods being vampires
( ... )
She laughs lightly into her napkin, and finishes off the last of her salad.
"I'm sure they are wonderful. You should not do that, you know."
She has no idea why he seems to not give himself very much credit, but she hopes she can wean him of that habit, from what she has seen he is more than capable.
"That sounds amazing actually. There is no better way to see a new country than with someone who knows it intimately, like a native."
He looks down at his plate and shrugs a bit, laughing softly. "I suppose you're right. It's just a hard habit to break, unfortunately, after all these years."
He really doesn't want to go into why, considering he can't imagine anything worst than bringing his father and their relationship - or lack thereof - into the conversation. She already knows a bit, of course, but he doesn't want to bring something that's going very well by speaking about it more.
Instead, he nods at her, taking another sip of his water. "That is the best way, truly. That what you're not stumbling around, and you get to see some of the most wonderful places you might not otherwise see as a tourist. And really, tourist places don't really show you the country."
The waiter comes and puts their entrees in front of them. Smiling, he looks down at his food, then over at here.
Akilah had a feeling she knew where his lack of confidence in himself came from, and she wasn't about to push the issue. It was definitely something she intended to help him with. If he wanted, that is.
"Well, I do not think you should sell yourself short."
She inhales deeply as their food arrives, looking down at her steaming plate of pasta.
"It certainly does. I've always had a weakness for alfredo."
He smiles as he looks at her, her words hitting deep down and sending a warm feeling through him. "I'll try not to. I promise."
Making a promise like that to someone he's known such a short time...but it feels so very right. And somehow, he feels that it would be easier to believe in himself with her there.
"Alfredo, hmmm?" he asks with a chuckle as he picks up his dinner fork. "I'll have to remember that. In England, Spaghetti Bolognese is more popular, but when I moved to the States, I found I quite liked ravioli and lasangna." He spears a bite of his pasta with his fork and holds it up. "Which is why I ordered tortellini, of course."
"It certainly does. I have yet to actually meet a Slayer, at least as far as I am aware, though though I do know of a few that are making quite the name for themselves in certain circles
( ... )
"You might be surprised - with the number of Slayers that are around now, you very well could have met one," he tells her. "She may not have even known although from what I understand, they're doing a good job of finding these girls."
He eats a few more bites of his tortellini before putting his fork down, nodding at her when she mentions that she came to Los Angeles despite her uncle.
"Sometimes you just have to do what you feel you should, even if it's difficult at first. That's a lesson I learned well."
When she responds positively to his idea that they could go to San Diego, he smiles, not sure why he's already speaking about the two of them going away together so soon. It seems right, though. He really does want to explore things with her because he's sure they'll both appreciate the same sort of things.
At her comment about Nephra, he laughs. "I actually used to be that way myself. I've got better over the years since I've got away from my father. Although when I met you, I found myself attracted to you quite quickly
She nods "You are probably right, I may have met one and just not known it. I don't usually have problems with vampires in my shop. I know the minute anything non human enters my shop. I had someone that owed me a favor, they put wards on the building for me. Doesn't really stop anything from entering, but it alerts me when something or someone are not as they appear. Sort of like a supernatural security system. I think I may have figured out how it is constructed, but I haven't attempted to duplicate it yet."
Why in the world did she tell him that? She's just so comfortable with him for some reason. Of course, that could be helpful, get the word out possibly, and she might not have any trouble.
His comment to her has her blushing and at a bit of a loss for words.
"Yes... I feel the same way. Like I could tell you just about anything. Which I do have to honest, is not in my nature."
He smiles in amusement. "I've seen a similar sort of system before, actually. My friend Lorne runs a nightclub for demons and humans alike called Caritas. His system is set up both to alert and to stop people from actually fighting. From what I've seen, it's rather complicated to construct so I rather impressed if you've figured it out."
He finds he's rather glad to hear that she has such a system in place. Given what she's researching, he knows that could attract the attention of dangerous people. It's good that she's protected in such a way.
"I feel the same. I don't know why it is that I feel I can be so open with you. I know we have quite a bit in common when it comes to books and research, but this goes beyond that."
He looks up when the waiter reappears to check on them and then back at Akilah, knowing that they're likely going to have the waiter hovering now that they're reaching the end of their meal.
Comments 98
She jumped slightly when she heard the door open and he came into the shop, the bell jangling softly as it shut behind him. She sets the knife down next to the pile of minced Valerian root she had been working on, and brushes her hands off on the white apron that covered her jeans.
"marHaba Wesley. It is nice to see you again."
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"It's good to see you too," he said before looking around the shop again. "Your shop is amazing."
His eyes landed on a shelf of book, and he read through some of the titles, his smile growing a bit wider.
"You really do have quite a selection. If this is what you sell, I really am curious to see what's in your private collection."
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"Thank you. I have just recently managed to get things just how I want them. Sheer luck I managed to find a building for rent with an apartment upstairs. I don't really need 3 bedrooms, but it comes in handy for storage space."
With the front door locked, she goes behind the front counter, pulling out her tarot deck, wrapped in embroidered dark gold silk.
"Feel free to continue looking around, I am going just go find a table to do your reading on. Would you like some tea?"
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He watches her for a moment as she moves around, admiring her gracefulness. She had a presence about her, and Wesley is sure he could watch her work all day. Not that he would. He doesn't want to give her a bad impression.
Instead, he continues investigating the shop, fairly certain he will be coming here quite a lot - to see her or for supplies. At her question, he gives her another smile.
"You don't have to go the trouble unless you want some as well," he tells her. "Is there anything I can do to help you? Get the table for you perhaps?"
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"You're very welcome, it was my pleasure. Besides, it was rather informative for the both of us I think."
She shakes her head when he asks about the table.
"No, that's all right, it can stay here for now."
With that, she finishes up wrapping her cards in silk, and stashes them back in their spot under the counter, and begins making her way towards the back room.
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Although, he has to admit that part of him was a little nervous. He hopes that whatever does happen, he doesn't do anything to blow it.
After she puts her cards away, he follows her back, so she can change. As he does, he feels his mobile start to vibrate in his pocket. Taking it out, he sees it's from the Hyperion but decides not to answer it, instead shutting the phone off.
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Following Akilah, he heads upstairs with her, smiling when he sees her apartment. He really has seemed to have found his match when it comes to love of books and collecting them. Beyond that, the flat definitely seems to reflect her as much as her shop. He would probably find his own place spartan by comparison, but then again, it's mainly been the place where he goes to sleep - it's never really been his home.
"Your flat is beautiful," he tells her before taking the cup of tea from her. "Thank you. This smells wonderful."
Going over to the couch, he sits down and takes a sip while she goes to change.
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"I'm sure they are wonderful. You should not do that, you know."
She has no idea why he seems to not give himself very much credit, but she hopes she can wean him of that habit, from what she has seen he is more than capable.
"That sounds amazing actually. There is no better way to see a new country than with someone who knows it intimately, like a native."
Reply
He really doesn't want to go into why, considering he can't imagine anything worst than bringing his father and their relationship - or lack thereof - into the conversation. She already knows a bit, of course, but he doesn't want to bring something that's going very well by speaking about it more.
Instead, he nods at her, taking another sip of his water. "That is the best way, truly. That what you're not stumbling around, and you get to see some of the most wonderful places you might not otherwise see as a tourist. And really, tourist places don't really show you the country."
The waiter comes and puts their entrees in front of them. Smiling, he looks down at his food, then over at here.
"This looks wonderful."
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"Well, I do not think you should sell yourself short."
She inhales deeply as their food arrives, looking down at her steaming plate of pasta.
"It certainly does. I've always had a weakness for alfredo."
Reply
Making a promise like that to someone he's known such a short time...but it feels so very right. And somehow, he feels that it would be easier to believe in himself with her there.
"Alfredo, hmmm?" he asks with a chuckle as he picks up his dinner fork. "I'll have to remember that. In England, Spaghetti Bolognese is more popular, but when I moved to the States, I found I quite liked ravioli and lasangna." He spears a bite of his pasta with his fork and holds it up. "Which is why I ordered tortellini, of course."
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He eats a few more bites of his tortellini before putting his fork down, nodding at her when she mentions that she came to Los Angeles despite her uncle.
"Sometimes you just have to do what you feel you should, even if it's difficult at first. That's a lesson I learned well."
When she responds positively to his idea that they could go to San Diego, he smiles, not sure why he's already speaking about the two of them going away together so soon. It seems right, though. He really does want to explore things with her because he's sure they'll both appreciate the same sort of things.
At her comment about Nephra, he laughs. "I actually used to be that way myself. I've got better over the years since I've got away from my father. Although when I met you, I found myself attracted to you quite quickly
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Why in the world did she tell him that? She's just so comfortable with him for some reason. Of course, that could be helpful, get the word out possibly, and she might not have any trouble.
His comment to her has her blushing and at a bit of a loss for words.
"Yes... I feel the same way. Like I could tell you just about anything. Which I do have to honest, is not in my nature."
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He finds he's rather glad to hear that she has such a system in place. Given what she's researching, he knows that could attract the attention of dangerous people. It's good that she's protected in such a way.
"I feel the same. I don't know why it is that I feel I can be so open with you. I know we have quite a bit in common when it comes to books and research, but this goes beyond that."
He looks up when the waiter reappears to check on them and then back at Akilah, knowing that they're likely going to have the waiter hovering now that they're reaching the end of their meal.
"Are you finished?"
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