stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns

Well, Dorian had no love for microwaves. That much was clear. Equal parts bafflement and amusement turned over and over within her mind as mirth danced within her amethyst eyes as he listed the various experimental acts that he inflicted on his poor microwave. That final question of how old he was when this happened... surely surprised her more than his inability to use a microwave properly. Five hundred and sixty-seven. It was only last year he claimed. Someone did this monarch really dirty if, after all this time, he didn't know the ropes of essential average human living. Seriously. He was missing out on some vital life skills. Regardless, the guy had his mind made up, as it might as well have been solidified to stone.

Some air huffed out from her soft lips as she shook her head. A lingering thought that continued to buzz within her mind. The thought that always seemed to surface when she met someone that was impossibly old. The wonder of what it was like to live many lifetimes had been a reoccurring daydream for the woman. To be able to see the way time ravaged the earth. Even though life had managed to screw her every which way to Sunday. She wanted to live long enough to be sick of living. To live like you had all the time in the world. If only these immortal beings knew how lucky they were. What she would give to have that luxury. All those thoughts had to be shoved away for the time being, as she listened to the monarch mention that he really didn't eat a lot of food. That made sense why he hardly ate any of those fresh pastries that seemed to be for her benefit alone. It must have been a personal preference thing. After all, she had seen Matteo have a passion for food... and he was well.. old as dirt.

"You are missing out, old guy. Food is amazing." She enunciated the final word with the emphasis it deserved.

The conversation shifted various times, teaching him a little of her prized machine and her craft that paid the bills. Yet.... It seemed the opportune time to ask about a fiery soul. Sly. She couldn't seem to help but wonder, ever since Dorian read her own. But then again, she couldn't say it was the only time the blond decided to invade her thoughts. Perhaps it was that date she agreed to that was coming up. Her attempts at being casual were hardly successful as Dorian's intrigue rose. Not that she could blame him. It was certainly not something you would ever forget.

Harley listened to Dorian explain his own thoughts of what it 'could' mean. It did seem... logical enough. Perhaps he was right and yet how he truly seemed to want to see the aura of the man who possessed such an unusual soul. The monarch then explained that fire changed based on what it was fed. That it required a balanced person to truly wield it properly. Hmm. Harley nodded, once more consideration taking root within her mind. How she attempted to remain 'hypothetical' and vague and yet how truly bad she was at it. Yet Dorian didn't pry or call her on technicalities. But it was an offer... that revealed he had noticed her failure. Not that she truly minded, as Sly's identity was kept secret. It was a question that she truly could not answer for the man.

"Thanks, I will uh, keep this in mind. I think that would depend on if they were okay with that sort of thing. So... anyone can call and make an appointment with you? Do you just look it up in the phone book?" Although she was wholly curious how that would go. Would Sly even want his soul read? He seemed a little sketchy about some things. But she was also curious how someone even made an appointment with a king.... Let alone.... Someone like her? She was sceptical it wasn't as easy as he was saying. Nor was actually getting an invitation from the actual king of Italy. What even was her life?

Harley's lips parted once more before Lukas cleared his throat. The sound caused her own head to turn in his direction. Shit, he was so quiet she forgot he was even there, that said something because the room wasn't actually that big and he was beefy and yet he acted like a shadow.

It was then that good ol' Lucas mentioned that the populace had become aware of his monarch's presence and there was a crowd outside her shop. A crowd? For real? How did that even happen? How did word spread so fast like the molecules of the air gossiped and spread the news? This seemed to actually kind of irritate her. Poor guy, didn't he actually get a break? A frown etched within her feminine features. One that Dorian seemed to share as he let the news of this mob actually seem to bother him, at least for the moment. Dorian even uttered the unfortunate circumstance out loud. He finished the final lines of his own drawing before the buzzing stopped for good. It was probably for the best. She had to get home to Ace after all. But she couldn't help how she eyed the king's 'tattoo'. It was better than most people's first attempt and certainly a major step up from his initial dot. He managed to compliment her, speaking in such a way that was so damn flattering that she was certain he could get most people to like him if his almost innocent demeanour didn't get you first. "Yeah, of course. You're not so bad yourself, D-man. There is a door out the back.. You shouldn't have a problem escaping out there." She offered, gesturing vaguely toward the direction in an attempt to be helpful. Yet with how thoroughly his people scouted the place, they probably already knew of it. He offered her the tattoo machine, that was put to the side for cleaning.

Dorian moved to the door to stick his outside to look out to the front of the windowed shop. Fuck, how many of them were there? She was the last person to know how much of a crowd a royal could get. Dorian ducked back into the private space looking at Harley, looking unflustered by the commotion his presence brought. The monarch then said to feel free to keep this in exchange for her company and teaching. Huh? Dude always talked so damn formal. People didn't need to trade services. She wasn't even sure if this even counted as one. Sometimes an exchange of an interaction was enough. If he rubbed her the wrong way, she knew for certain that none of this would have happened. After all, this was her place. The one place that hadn't been touched by vampires. Well, at least the evil ones.

Just as she was about the open her mouth, a rush of power that she could feel like a warm breath of 'wind' occurred when his fingers lightly brushed over the inked leather to suddenly pull out the rose he drew. What the- What was once a flat drawing was..... suddenly very real. A rose with its thorns. He offered it to her like some age-old gesture. Did guys give girls flowers anymore? He claimed it was one of his talents to be able to animate... drawings. Well, that was a handy trick. Yet something about it seemed to call to her to speak to something within her and yet she couldn't explain it.

He then offered it to her with a simple warning... to take care the thorns were sharp. That warning made her smirk. "Wow... that's useful. Don't worry about me.. I know my way around sharp things. Thanks for the.. rose.." She almost expected the rose that was placed in her palm to disappear like some kind of illusion. But she 'felt' it. It felt real. She eyed it with a little bit of wonder that didn't get to exist for too long. Because just as quickly as he had appeared he was being spirited away with his hoard of guards. They moved hurriedly as one, out into the hallway and into the back. Dorian offered her a quick nod before the view of him was blocked by those big burly men that obscured him from view. "See you on the flip side.." She wondered if he could even hear her over the marching footsteps of so many men. Although she turned only to see that she wasn't alone. Surprised to see Lukas standing there... not joining the escaping king and his men.

Her sarcastic mask found her features once more before he pulled out a wallet and money. It was filled with cash. Why couldn't this happen every day?

Miss Harley. Now that one was new. A smirk played upon her lips. "Repaid?" How she knew there were plenty of people that would jump at the opportunity to gouge from the rich. "Time is invaluable Lukas. It's the only resource you have that matters." She shrugged. "I can't say no to free money... But I don't want anything... for what happened here.. but I will take something for misleading the masses." She rose her dark brows as a hint of mischief flashed within her vivid eyes. Hell, she would have done that for free... but a girl had to eat and he didn't seem to mind... Once agreed upon and those crisp new bills within her fingers she turned away knowing he would disappear.

She eyed the flower, placing it delicately onto her sketchbook before strutting toward the front of her shop. Cameras were flashing and stuttering... as people tried to push their way forward. How irritating. People were about ready to maul her when she opened the door and at least they didn't seem to know that Dorian was making his getaway.

"I have a tip..." She added confidently, ignoring the prying questions, raising her brows before sending them all on a wild goose hunt halfway across town... with a little hope that those less than conspicuous black cars could at least have a chance to slip off into the night. Harley then used her powers to close the doors, locking the doors before putting the closed sign up pointedly. Fortunately, it didn't take long for that crowd to dissipate. They seemed to believe her. Desperate suckers were always so easy to trick... Serves them right for making a business out of someone else's privacy. She would hardly lose any sleep for their wasted time.

It didn't take long to close up the shop and disappear out the shadowy back to her parked car nestled in the shadows with the flower, drawing and a load of uneaten sweets that kept her company on the passenger seat... It was a good thing there was no way she was going to let those go to waste. The drive home was easy, making a stop on the way to her usual pet store... finding the biggest. Most expensive bone she could find for her companion at home. What was money when you couldn't share it with your loved ones? It was turning out to be a good night after all. Vampire-free, a happy dog, and all the sweets she could ever need. She couldn't ask for anything more.

Harley Westward