There was something comforting about the way the pretenses fell away and our mutual consideration began to slide towards pressing matters that suffocated both of us, regardless of whether or not the witch was willing to admit it. I found less tension in myself as we delved into those waters, only a murkiness which I hadn't waded into in what felt like ages. Feelings of nakedness in the emotional sense began to crank my fortress gate upwards, allowing whatever lay on the other side to infiltrate, much like a siege of an impenetrable castle. Loathe to admit this aloud, I simply sat still as Serafina mentioned she didn't watch television, and whatever attempt at humor I'd made fell away as quickly as whatever mask pretended to cover what began as a detached indifference and morphed into good-natured amusement.

Clearly, the woman didn't appreciate the smirk that had ascended onto my features; unfortunately for her, that only fueled the smile that took to my lips. I had no necessary reply to her blase comment that a conversation with her father might go differently as the words were offered with rehearsed indifference, and I knew in that moment that, perhaps, there was nothing to have a conversation about or with. And then it was difficult not to fill the silence that fell with the intimacy of disabling her lips from saying anything at all with my own. There was hesitation that I couldn't deny, and perhaps it was the recollection that I had put the woman into the pit of dysthymia that she presently resided in that reminded me perhaps I should keep my distance.

It wasn't until I noted the appearance of a familiar vice did I begin to allow myself the thoughts of just how much I wanted to kiss her. There was nothing eloquent about the desire; I wanted torches ignited, yet I wanted a slow burn over hot coals all the same. The craving was sated, momentarily, by watching Lust address the Shadow with her wanton ways; an action I had yet to witness. She was translucent, much like the Shadow she had formed from, but she was stunning all the same. And instead of disappearing quickly after her dance with the Shadow ended, Lust turned her startling gaze towards me as if demanding I acknowledge her. And when I did, Lust brightened slightly before nodding as I wordlessly requested she move closer. As if satisfied that I had succumbed to her whims, Lust began to vanish like she was rewarding me for allowing myself to participate in a vice I preferred to watch others suffer from.

This wasn't suffering, though. This felt ... right.

I tried, I really did. I tried to keep my attention focused on the pyramid of shot glasses that began accumulating in front of Serafina, though it was next to impossible when she acquiesced to my request that she take the seat closer to me. While the proximity softened my entire posture, I couldn't help the cringe and the inward disgust surfacing as she began to describe the lingering effects of what my explicit past and not-so-metaphorical ghosts created during their excruciating existence. It was only providing me with proof that I was surely going to ignore that I might not be good for the young woman. There were so many aspects of my life that were only beginning to become manageable, but it was undeniable that I wanted her to be one of those. I couldn't keep that conclusion from forming, and for almost the entirety of the time I'd known her it had been there, taunting me and progressively getting stronger as it encouraged me to seek out her presence more often than not. Time after time I'd been tempted to indulge in whatever longing I'd felt to feel the heat of her body against mine and ... the emerald eyed vice appeared as quickly as she'd left before.

Lust wasn't very kind and proper. Or appropriate in her chosen forum of appearance.

"I haven't quite figured that one out yet..." I trailed off, following her gaze towards the vice as she danced with my Shadow who was all too eager to find itself in her arms again. "She seems to have the right idea, though." If only the bar wasn't crowded. If only I was able to sling back the contents of a glass filled with the same liquid as her's. If only my cigarette was finished... Fortunately, the latter of those things was true and I could create a small pile of dust from the burnt tobacco on the floor away from us. Someone would clean it up later, and I didn't feel at all bad for the mess I'd created (did I ever?) Instead, I found another smile beginning to dawn on my lips as Serafina suggested I merely had to ask her to leave with me, and she would.

Where's the fun in the simplicity?

"Mm, I'm sure they know better than to show up in mine. You're going to have to give yourself a break from that and come with me. It's- "I found it far better to fall quiet, allowing myself to forget any reservations and pull her stool close enough that her legs would touch mine and I would find myself unfortunately feeling slightly intoxicated on the scent of lavender I could smell on her hair. Tempting as it might have been to take the hand that drummed absently on my knee and knot it in her hair, forcing her to look at me â€" I didn't have to even try. Her steely eyes found mine, and my lips contorted into a smile as she took the shot. My hand rose to pull her to me by gently knotting in the hair at the nape of her neck so she would lean it into me. Her lips were sweeter than tupelo honey, and I wanted nothing more than to knock the stool out from under her and use the darkness of the corner of the bar to my advantage. The kiss was probably too long for it to be publicly acceptable and pulling back from her, releasing her neck and very gently and probably too intimately brushing my thumb over her jaw was all I could do to keep from following any other of my socially unacceptable desires.

I licked my lips as if determining whether or not I liked what she was drinking before leaning back on the elbow I'd placed on the paperwork I'd originally been doing in order to partner with Isolt and Damon to be an investor in their bar. "I wouldn't have pegged you for vodka," I started, only good natured amusement touching my voice. "I'd have guessed something less sweet, a little stronger, and burns from inside out."

Now that was one of the most well placed metaphors I'd had in quite the while. My eyes were a little darker blue, something that often happened with the use of magic or stronger emotions, and I hesitated to take my hand off of her.

"Now can I close that tab out and take advantage of privacy in my apartment, or am I going to have to make everyone here uncomfortable?"