The question she had settled upon was a harmless interlude, drawn by little else other than a thread of curiousity drawn by the well-dressed, newspaper reading vampire at the bar. A fracture of the typical normalcy of Syn.. that garnered her mate's attention enough to alert her. She almost thought he was.... attempting a joke of some kind. But there was no such thing. Not when the vampire before her was clearly over a century older than her, if she was judging by the taste of his power alone. Almost, more surprising was his all too soft words that she had to focus to hear over the loud, dark, intrinsic music and all within that environment that encased it. She could determine every word. Even down to that fine European sophistication she had known far more than she would like to admit. Even if it was impossible to pinpoint the exact place of his origins much to her disdain. Old vampires were difficult to determine precisely, usually spending lifetimes in various parts across the globe. It was a wonder the French lilt of her own voice had only just diluted, slightly with time.

His response to her question had been precise. The former. He wished to escape. But what did he wish to escape from was perhaps the real question, along with the why. The vampire hardly elaborated, at least until he shifted, to allow the entirety of his attention to shift and focus upon her, the power of him stronger this close and yet Risque merely examined it with a near clinical curiousity, much like she viewed him. That query he was more than willing to reveal with a mere shift of his arm, to prove he had been well attended to by her staff, despite the avoidance of the others. Good. The feline queen's chin dipped into a simple, crisp nod as if that would suffice. The woman held no qualms in cracking the proverbial whip when it came down to the performance of her staff.

However, any other thoughts the the she-devil had were interrupted by the perfect French words which followed, in perfect dialect too. That near clinical curiousity shifted into a flash of something more. How long it had been since she had someone to converse within her mother tongue? Someone potentially tolerable. A flash of intrigued broke that emotionless veil of her pale gaze, shifting toward that slight vague smile that found his lips at the mentioning of her mate before following the gesture of his hand toward where she knew her cowboy stood. She could always pick him out in a room in an instant, always knew where he was by his signature alone. Although, his demeanour had shifted since she had left his side. He appeared utterly riled, even despite his his boot-clad feet that seemed glued to the floor. Oh, she could even see that his jaw was clamped, every muscle on edge in a tense deliciousness she had so often enjoyed. He was not in that increased state when she had left him. She had noticed his edge, yes, but this... oh he reminded her of that almost feral beast that lived inside of him.

Was it the proximity of this vampire that provoked him? How she knew of her mate's games of those he found attractive within her orbit... even if she never truly brought it up in any fashion. But this vampire hadn't even given her a look that lingered too long.

Her gaze briefly brushed against Darcy's own. How long had he been breathing down the ancient vampire's back before alerting her of his presence? She wondered briefly. He was always so very aware of everything around him. Noticing a threat before anyone could find a hint of suggestion to it, an ability from a life that was long gone and still entirely useful, even now. Not that anyone could ignore the anomaly of a man reading a paper in an active bar. It was these kinds of discrepancies that shouldn't be ignored.

It was the vampire at her side however, that held no problem pointing out just how much he had been aware of his surroundings that included her mate. Risque's gaze landed smoothly back toward her current company, unconcerned that Darcy would seek to lunge him while she stood so near.

"Ah, quelqu'un qui a passé du temps en France." (Ah, someone who has spent time in France.) She seemed pleased... however... she could not ignore what he had said. " Il me semble que vous avez naturellement lu plus que votre article." But it also appears to me that you have understandably been reading more than your paper.) Risque added with nonchalance, an assessment of him that he had revealed from his french words. He shifted, back towards English with a determined ease as if flexing his language prowess. His voice still composed and soft. From a mere glance he was able to determine that they were mated. "Oui, he is my very attentive mate." She stated simply, not that it was hidden knowledge, nor was it new. Her pale gaze returned to the attractive vampire at her side, saying little else on the matter. The term 'mate' was enough to know that he was no mere employee.

Before she could even question about his French... inquiry followed. One she hadn't anticipated and yet shouldn't have exactly been surprised by. She almost could not help the scoff that almost slipped free from her tinted lips, instead her gaze narrowed slightly. The flash of golden of his eyes disappeared as his gaze dipped down to her hand, as if he sought the answer for himself.. Again, by one mere adept glance finding out all he needed to know. Observant fellow. It was still a common gesture that she never missed. Why did it matter if she was married? She could not help the way she nearly, instinctually wanted to stiffen, her body momentarily giving into that urge but moved her arm to cover the swift takeover.

Outwardly, she remained calm, cool calculated creature, choosing what to reveal to the world.. If she had been a man, she was quite certain people would be less entertained by the curiousity if she was or wasn't married. Human or vampire, it all become almost expected. Why were people so fascinated by it?

She pulled her hand away, to let it fall easily to her side, before pressing it into the head of her obedient and silent feline at her side. Noticing that he bore a wedding ring upon his own finger. A married man at a bar. It only made his presence here all the more... strange. Pehaps it was... one of those open relationships? "Non. I am not." She answered flatly, even though the French lilt to her voice softened its delivery to one that was more a matter of fact.

It was then that he waited for no prompting. Almost contently assuming it was only a matter of time for her to walk down the aisle. Those assuming words only earned him a glimpse of her critical stare. When she gets married one day! Fortunately, he didn't seem to linger on the topic for long. That smooth voice shifted toward his own married and familial existence. A family man... at her bar?

Risque could not help the very fact that while she was mortified by his own revelation, while equally wanting to know more. In only a few short descriptors, he created an image of that domesticated familial 'bliss'. Her expression remained trained, even if it did not match her thoughts. Although, she was far more focused on what he had to say... and that note of exhaustion within his sigh. Even though his forever youthful features would never truly show the weariness.

Is that what immortality has come to? Such a terribly domestic existence that Risque had never come close enough to tread. Was it the eventual boredom of immortality that caused him to turn to it? Was it the right being that you were willing to share your immortal existence with?

"When I marry? What makes you think I am the type to marry?" Risque prompted, yet her mind still reeled with the scenario he played out. Perhaps even curious enough to what sample colour his wife had finally chosen. Yet of all that he had revealed, it was the mention of his daughter's musical preferences that caused Risque's very jaw to twitch... This was why progeny were not for her. One of the many countless reasons.

"My tastes are.... far from such traditional. I am curious how a being such as yourself stumbled on it. All of it... the existence filled with samples of colours and....learning to tolerate terrible taste in music. Have you been married long?" It was clear that Risque was not house-wife material. Not even the slightest... typical sense, it was obvious from her choice in territory, to the way she dressed. To all the various choices she had made. She was far from conventional. Although, that inquiry was telling enough.. Like it was if a person simply stumbled into that traditional lifestyle accidentally. Yet what was perhaps more shocking than the fact that people still married at all... was the fact that she was curious enough to learn.

It was like he could sense it... Those golden eyes that had strayed from her soon found her own once more. Before slicing through the heart of the terse preamble of two vampires meeting. The question that hung over their heads that she had yet to determine from this wayward immortal stranger.

However, his words rang clear, confident. Few being bold enough to ever cut to the chase as he did. It was almost as if he wished to stay.. to speak perhaps candidly for a moment. Yet vampire politics were a complicated thing. Their species seldom able to make friends unless their motives aligned. Perhaps... tonight, she wouldn't mind the conversation. Perhaps... she would allow it. Finding a certain willing polite amicability, as long as it was reciprocated. What were these strange moods settling upon her as of late? "If that is your intent.. Then we have no quarrel and you can stay and read if that's what you choose. It does not bother me. As for my mate, he exceeds in his.... Protective nature. If he wished to have truly lunged at you, he would have attempted it by now, which he fortunately did not." Possessive was perhaps the correct term. However, the prickle of judgement from the vampire was not entirely odd, nor was it one that hasn't been asked before when the news spread like wildfire. Of course, it would. Choosing a mate like Darcy that did not offer her additional political clout within the community. She didn't need or want it. She had accepted him, because of the man himself. Even if she couldn't quite make sense of her.. apparent inner wants.

Not a single flash of irritation spread across her striking features, not a hint of that near legendary ire that could rival a god's rose its magnificent head. "Younger than me, oui, and yet there is far more to him than meets the eye." She elaborated little and yet found amusement within her own words and the pun of sorts of her mate's unusual eye colour. All while, offering her opinion on her mate. Yet she did not fight her gaze that found Darcy's across the way, noticing yet another wall casualty, even as she spoke those words that he could not hear. Just because he was more than met the eye... didn't mean she didn't trust that he might not declare war on the attractive vampire that merely was in close proximity to her.

Risque shook her head to tell her cowboy no, knowing he would understand.. before gesturing toward the balcony, the very place where he liked to oversee the club, to play cards. "Up there." She mouthed silently toward her ravager, along with a stern look and the subtlest of gestures of her chin toward that very location as she did. While she found that possessiveness... cute, perhaps even charming... she did not need him starting a fight he didn't need to start. Especially one that they were ill prepared for. Nor choose to make an enemy out of a man that just stated his intentions. Perhaps Darcy's abuse on walls, would be best at a distance. She glanced toward him once more before once more making sure that Darcy followed those very instructions. Even though she purposefully allowed him to linger within that club to witness... Knowing well enough that he would never truly leave, remaining the ever-vigilant hawk.

"Perhaps introductions are necessary, I am Risque and my mate that you have noticed earlier is Darcy. My territory includes a fair portion of the Western district surrounding Syn." She added, her posture reflecting that power she commanded, her French lilt almost musical as the words so easily fell from her tongue. She waited, expectantly long enough for his own name before she spoke once more.

"Share a drink with me, for a moment?" That extended invitation was rare, but it was an oddly worded question from someone that was so used to giving orders. "It's rare to come across mature company and I find myself intrigued to hear more of this... married life and how you learned to speak such fluent French." She hardly included Mary Beth as mature, nor did she find any of the woman's opinions of worth to her.. Surely there was no harm in this, so long as her mate was able to behave from the balcony, he most likely vigilantly watched them from.