I'd woken early this morning to the rumble of thunder in the distance. Rain pattered against my bedroom window, distorting the view of the city with hundreds of water droplets. I sat up and gazed outside at the dreary purplish-grey of the sky and let out a soft sigh. It had been such a good dream to have neded so abruptly.

A dream of flesh against flesh and tender caresses. A warm body pressed to mine, with arm like bands of steel to wrap protectively around me in a bed of black velvet. There were no faces, no voices. Only sensations. And My, but what sensations they'd been! It was not often I was given to the throws of a wet dream, but it made mornings like this an unwelcome burden. I'd have slept on forever if I could.

How long had it been, since I'd indulged in the embrace of a man?

Too long to care to think about, really. Rolling out of bed and fending off my tangle of sheets, I took a wonderfully hot shower and rummaged through my closet for something cozy to throw on. I finally settled on a sultry black dress with fun shoulder straps that cut away at the shoulder before continuing down in long lovely sleeves. I meandered around my kitchen for a short time, opening the fridge to discover it was abhorrently bare of anything remotely breakfast-like.

Glancing back at the windows overlooking the roof I pondered whether or not I should brave the elements. Fleetingly, my amethyst gaze lingers upon the opposing roof, where I'd recently encountered my first Were-Creature in the city. I wondered briefly what he might be doing today... doubtless cooped up in that horrid dance club his Mistress owned. A pang of sympathy went out to him, and I push the dreadful thoughts from my mind before they are able to take root and fester, ruining my otherwise nice morning with depressing thoughts. But I would not forget the Panther so easily.

Deciding I could handle a little rain, I strapped on some shoes and a fun, colorful Jacket an an effort to combat the drab hues of this particularly dreary day, and headed out the door and down the stairs to the streets beyond. I walked several blocks, heading for downtown and humming a soft lilting tune as I went. A soft delicate smile is offered to anyone whom I pass and I am content to enjoy the feel of rain on my cheeks and lashes as I went.

The smell of coffee permeated the air a whole block away from the Inner Sanctum. The rich aroma hooked me and drew me in like a lure, and I realized this must have been the coffee shop Aiden had spoke of during our little midnight encounter. I only had to get a peek through the shop windows for a half a second before I stepped inside without even a second thought. Large bedroom eyes widened in glee as I spied the collection of peculiarities and novelties along the walls. My smile widened, absorbing all the lovely little treasures before turning towards the counter where a young man waited to take my order.

I stepped up and ordered a raspberry mocha, raspberry being one of my very favorite flavors, and paid the man. While he went to work making the espresso, I proceeded to the wall to examine the assortment of oddities. Fingertips trailed the brass edge of a sailor's spyglass, and then to an archaic pair of spectacles that more closely resembled monacles fused together. I steered clear of the quiji board on one shelf, but was quickly drawn to a silver scrying mirror in the corner. Eyes brightened as I gazed at my reflection and I wondered briefly if any of these items were available for purchase.

At the beckoning call of the barista, I return to the counter and retrieve my coffee, deciding that, despite the weather, I'd take up a seat at a small table outside on the street corner. Luckily the coffee shop's large awnings protected me from the drizzling rain, and allowed me the freedom to people watch as I sipped my delicious brew.