stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

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

Alright, that comment that someone suggested she should strip Omen, for parts was a surefire way to end up on her shit list. But then again, she had heard it all before and received far worse than people's unsolicited opinions. Like hell, she would just give up on that car. She was not the kind of woman to give up. She had always been a ride-or-die kind of girl. Maybe that's why she stuck to the outskirts and made her own off-the-beaten-path. Most people were just not built like that. Most didn't give a flying fuck if you were loyal, they left all the same. She had learned that rather quickly. It certainly did not help that at least 90% of people just decided who you were for you, or wanted to fit whatever little box they wanted you to fit in, pretty or not. There was little Harley hated more than cages... or anything that resembled them. Boxes were included. Although Sly seemed to listen intently to her prattle on about her sentimental car, the raven-haired woman seemed unaware of his internal struggle to offer her help.

The strong-willed woman didn't expect was for him to actually outright agree with her, not when she experienced the contrary countless times more than not. It caused her to cock her head slightly as he said those words that honestly were like music to her ears. She couldn't help the fact that she actually fucking smiled. "I knew I liked you." She declared with no muss or fuss. The words fell so easily from her lips as he mentioned that he knew some places for parts. Now that earned a different kind of attention. A singular brow lifted into a perfect arch as the words sketchy came to mind before her near-piercing gemstone eyes narrowed upon his own absurdly nice gaze. That cynicism began to rise before... taunted by the thought of that elusive part which won out in the battle of her mind. That part she had been looking for over six damn months. It had been near impossible to find. Surely it wouldn't hurt for him to check with those sources of his. "You know what, I might actually have something. I can text it to you later to see if your.... sources have it? I haven't had any luck and it's apparently on backorder for the 'unforeseeable future'." She practically groaned, nearly freaking pouted at those distinctly purposeful words 'foreseeable future' that was spoken with a thick iconic sarcasm that she used so fluently. After a moment, she considered that offer, wondering if she should have shrugged it off like so many people did. But what was the harm? It was then a new question dawned upon her. "You know much about cars?" She managed to inquire. Sure, if he knew people... he had to know at least a bit about it. That was something new about the man she hadn't known before.

The conversation then naturally shifted, allowing those questions that certainly crossed her mind to settle as she strode with purpose to take her shot. He was certainly helpful. More so than any other person she had ever met. Ever since that night, he had been offering to help her with all kinds of things. Hopefully, he didn't feel like he owed her. Did he? That would be something she would need to tackle later. If there was a later. To be quite honest, she hadn't quite expected any of it to come to be. She then changed the subject, bringing up that now rather hidden talent of playing the guitar. That seemed to prompt a whole newfound line of questions from the warlock before she offered him that teasing quip regarding her shower. Her lips quirked up slightly as he claimed it was for the better. " Oh, you have no idea." She retorted, trailed by a sound of amusement, that ended with a soft shake of her head. The focus on that private show seemed to pique her interest far more thoroughly than speaking about herself. To say she wasn't curious to see it would have been a flat-out lie. She was really counting on not being terrible just enough to earn the chance to see that very thing.





All in all, she could not help but be smug with herself for managing to get that particularly complicated course in four measly hits even if he had just displayed that very thing moments before. She allowed herself to get a little cocky, mentioning that 'he' might have to end up being arm candy. How she almost expected to get some kind of reaction from that. That typical response she had come to expect from most men. No, instead she was met with a good-natured, level-headed grin. Did nothing rile him? Sly went on to claim how comfortable he was with his masculinity. This seemed to cause her lips to form into a slight smirk as a hint of something near unreadable flashed behind her eyes just before she spoke.

"Well that is truly a rarity, most men seem to be compensating for something these days." Perhaps she didn't quite think those words through before she said them. That teasing tone was always so quick to find her, although there were undertones of a certain kind of coquettishness all the same. The pair easily continued on with that next course. Each and every mini-golf course was like someone threw-up stereotype after stereotype, really it was amazing they could cram so many in each one. Yet despite it, the pair ended up in their own little world until the very last course.

Well, minus the minor setback of an unhinged woman with a certifiable case of crazy eyes who seemed to hate the world and everyone in it. Fortunately, she was long gone by the time they were through. Besides that, Harley couldn't believe how quickly they went through it all. The pair made their way to exit, just before Sly posed the question of who actually won. That was awfully trusting of him. The truth was that she hadn't bothered to keep track. Not really, even despite her competitive nature. She claimed it was her though. Although, she was unable to hide that mischievous look on her face as she claimed she was the true victor of this extreme mini-golf session. A victory he didn't bother to contest... it was almost too easy that she almost felt bad... or maybe it simply did not matter who won. Not really. But she had anticipated at least a little protest but Sly seemed more than content to allow it and she was willing to let it lie for the moment.

The cool night air, was a welcome thing as they stepped outside, content to have that leather jacket upon her shoulders even if she did not do it up. His long legs somehow managed to find an easy pace with her own as they found an easy pace along the sidewalk in the direction of her apartment. Mihai shifted from a tongue-lolling dog into a quick-flying bird. Harley casually mentioned that woman who had kicked up a fuss about Mihai with a roll of her eyes. Surprised that anyone could have anything bad to say about the fiery familiar. But there always seemed to be one out of every crowd.

"You would think people would learn to chill out in a city filled with magic." But it would appear that uptight people were everywhere like it was their natural state of being. "Welcome to city life.." She shrugged loosely. After all, they did live in a world where most people.... sucked. As if on cue, a car honked angrily at an SUV that stopped to let out some people who half-heartedly yelled back, proving her point. Ah, the music of the city. Although some would argue that it was even music to begin with. But it had become music to her, she could hear it in the simplest of things. A veritable soundtrack to her life. Drawing a deep breath of that night air, tilting her chin up to see the now fire bird do impressive swirling acrobatics in the sky, a dazzling trail of fire behind him above the city lights. It was almost like he was showing off or simply content to be alive. To be free.

Just as they strode down the street, almost ready to trek their way back to her apartment complex, the blond warlock nodded down a different way toward a park. That promise for a show and that claim that it was big enough. Big enough? How big of a space did he need? That inquiry if she wanted to see it, as if she had already forgotten. "...and let you off easy? Pssh. Who would I be if I let that happen? I still want my prize." Well that, and she actually wanted to see it.

Harley eyed it as they veered off into the barely lit space, far away from the usual bustle that it was frequented by no one. From what she could tell, it was a pretty nice park by daylight.. quiet because of the hour. Although she was surprised they didn't even have the company of a junkie or homeless person. That was rare. Hard, rough concrete sidewalk gave into soft grass and sweet seclusion. "Ah, private, ominous, dark and mysterious. No junkies to be seen. What a dream." Dare she sounded a little impressed that he had found this place on a whim. It almost felt like they shouldn't be here as it was like a bubble away from it all. A perfect place to get up to no good... or to get murdered. She pushed that thought away relishing in the atypical calm to her usual chaos. Her inner animal seemed to like it even more than her, coaxing out this urge to explore it and find places to climb and prowl. To sink her claws into that tree bark of a maple as if she wanted to lay claim to this space all around her. How unusual. She didn't normally get that feeling. However, the raven-haired woman's attention returned to the attractive warlock, where her true focus seemed to remain. After all, this was all him. Pretty sure she got the better end of the deal, although she would have to decide that after his performance.

Sly pointed to an empty bench off to the side where he needed the space to work. She moved to do as he suggested without protest, lowering herself to sit right in the middle of that bench, having no problem taking up space especially when she didn't have to share. Front row, centre. Her favourite place to be, in the thick of it.

Sly's tall form stood in an open space before her before flames appeared, erupting from his palm, a dapple of orange illumination upon his features and even more so upon those blond locks. She had to admit that it was mesmerizing the way those flames licked around his hand and yet did not burn. That glow lit up his features in a way that definitely did him justice. A knowing smile found his own lips before dangling a choice of which show she would like to see. It was quickly becoming an interactive experience, engaging the woman.

She eyed the fire before eyeing him. "Hell yeah! Hmmm..." Something as simple as a choice in this seemed to ignite a level of excitement she couldn't quite help, her fingertips drumming against the faux wood of the bench she sat on to a beat of her own making, in contemplation. The choice was difficult and yet the way he offered that pun seemed to cause it to stick out more than the rest. Not taking long to deliberate. "Alright, I'll bite. I want to see the last one, I was easily swayed by your killer pun.. I guess..." Was she really that easy to sway? She shifted in her seat as if getting comfortable, she placed her left leg over her thigh, arms on either side of her, ceasing her fingers tapping on the faux wood. She almost opened her mouth to say something before firmly biting the inside of her lip, allowing the warlock who seemed to be preparing himself a moment to work. Like a chef in the kitchen, it was important to let the guy cook. After all, this was his stage and the show was about to begin. She couldn't say she hated the view and the full opportunity to study him and the intent Mihai without the coy glances from where she sat.

Harley Westward