Welcome

[Zaiku Kannan]

It was late. Well, not really, but it was for having company over. Zaiku had called Claude about 20 minutes before, having surprised her with an invitation to watch a movie, to eat dessert and to relax at around nine. It was seven now and he had time... plenty of time. Zaiku had spent the day running around, meeting the new members of the pard and juggling daily errands he had to run for the other new shifters. They couldn't be trusted out in public, not this close to the full moon, so his days were busy and seemed neverending. He didn't mind it much, he had no choice but to get used to it, and that he did. Padding barefoot into the bathroom, he flipped on the switch to the custom designed room and glanced about the marble floor and dark furnishings. Turning on the water in the oversized bath tub able to old hold three people or more, he let the water heat up. Turning on the smaller faucet off to the side, he let a dosing of bubblebath solution join the heated water as he removed his worn clothing. Stretching every muscle in his body much like a cat would, he climbed the two small steps into the large tub/jaccuzi and let the suds cover him. Long minutes passed, the soothing scent of fresh white lavender bubble bath and running hot water running over his skin. After scrubbing his hair and ensuring every inch of his bloodied soul was cleansed, he arose from the water, turned the shower head to rinse off and at last stepped from the tub.

Removing a black towel from the shelf, he dried every inch of him body. Taking the towel and wrapping it around his hair, he shook the towel along the dark curls and dried them as much as possible before tossing the towel to the ground in the corner. Shaking his hair so as to loosen it from the tight clump that formed from it being dried, it fell to just above his shoulders in loose dark curls. Walking mindlessly from the bathroom, he entered his room and paused as he stepped onto the carpeting. What to wear? Moving to his first dresser, he opened the drawer with his boxers and other undergarments and pulled out a pair of rich green silk boxers. Sliding into them, he groaned. Looking at the alarm clock, it was already eight fifteen. Great, only fourty-five minutes. Figuring he'd get dressed a bit later and let his hair dry some more, he crawled onto the bed. Lying on his back, he flipped on the TV and closed his eyes. Little did he know, he soon fell into a light slumber and was oblivious to the time and the door that was being knocked at. He left it unlocked for a reason- Claude was to arrive, but he had planned to open the door just the same. The kitchen's lights were dimmed and lit vanilla-lavender candles lined the black granite countertops. He figured he'd make his bachelor pad a bit more attractive, a bit more appealing. Hell, he was used to company of both genders- that's what happens when you have an entire pard walking in and out of your house constantly. Too bad he wasn't ready, too bad he wouldn't look as good as Claude because presently, he was only in his silk boxers which eerily matched his eyes to the same hue precisely.

[Claude Lorette]

She had been surprised to receive a call from the Nimir-Raj. Did he not have things to attend to with Kayla? She assumed he spent his nights with his Nimir-Ra. Earlier that day, Claude had received a 'mandatory' lycanthrope cure injection. It was 'mandatory' because her aunt had put it in her will that Claude could only inherit if she had the cure. Claude's aunt had been a very biased person. She had been killed years ago, but Claude was finally 18 and now old enough to inherit. But the will had only just been found. Her aunt had also been a very messy person. Moving forward, Claude had been, to say the least, happy to be invited to dessert and a movie. Relaxing seemed like the perfect thing to do. She was insanely stressed out by exams and she had a big ceremony coming up soon. Being a witch and all, the full moons were big nights for her. She generally did a lot of her advancements in power around now. Just a few days ago, Claude's ability to knit together and heal people physically had increased. She was exceptionally proud of that.

When she arrived at Zaiku's around 8:55, she knocked gently. Her crimson hair was pulled back by a dark ribbon. There were small bags under her eyes, as she'd been up the previous night going over legal terminology. Her sweater was warm and well fitted, but not very showy. It concealed her hourglass figure as she stood in the cool hallway. Her legs were clad in loose, beige slacks. She knocked again and the door cracked open. She furrowed her eyebrows and walked inside, closing the door lightly behind her. The apartment was lovely and lit by dim candles. Very nice touch. She wondered through the apartment and towards, what she assumed, was Zaiku's room. His aura was faint and sleepy, but it was there.

"Zai--...Oh! I'm sorry!"

She felt her cheeks flush crimson as she walked into his room. He was lying on his bed in nothing but silk boxers. Being the inexperienced, untouched, unkissed virgin that was Claude Lorette, the petite redhead was the same colour as her hair. She turned quickly and walked out of the room. She stopped just outside the door to his room, her back turned away.

"I'm sorry! But the door was open! And it's 9!"

[Zaiku Kannan]

The male was idly resting on his back, listening to whatever movie was playing on TNT without really listening. Slumber had overcame him in a light situation, just barely asleep but more relaxed than anything. He could hear the silence in the room, the silence in the halls, and the faint music playing from the living room area on the surround sound system. It was quieted and the room's lights were dimmed but the faint orchestra ensemble was soothing to the empty house's resident. Subconciously the male heard the door open, subconciously his nose wrinkled and the sweet taste of the woman's perfume and skin's fragrance was noticed, but all that changed was the smile on his lips. Finally awake despite his lack of movement or change, he listened to the nearing footsteps on the hardwood floors until at last they stopped before his doorway and entered the room. Her voice was heard, clearly shocked, stunned, in awe, and he smiled, laughing deeply momentarily before springing out of bed. She retreated to the hallway, her lyrics continuing and his deep vox continuing its murmurred laughter.

The Nimir-raj walked to the doorway, leaning against the frame, staring at the woman smiling again. She was turned away and he was tempted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her gently on the neck, tease her a bit and show her he meant absolutely nothing about being in his boxers he just sortof... dozed off. He wasn't aroused, he wasn't anything, he was just wearing his boxers just like one would wear trousers. He was a lycanthrope, nudity was comfortable, was like wearing a full outfit to most people. Sighing, he returned his gaze to the woman before briefly glancing at the abstract painting along the wall above Claude's head. "Sorry," he started, "I sort of dozed off after my shower." Fingertips ran their way through his hair, trying to tame the intensely curly hair. "I'll go get dressed if you'd like, any preference as to what I wear?" He continued, pausing for a moment and glancing along her flawless curves, "You look great by the way, as always." The leopard sniffed the air, her body was tense, nerves? Probably embarassment. Her aura, though it always felt strong, seemed worn around the edges. Knowing Claude, she probably overworked herself. Poor girl never stopped... for anyone, or anything. She needed a good break, a good movie and some home cooking. That was why she was invited over to begin with. Oh yeah, and because he couldn't get her off his mind.

[Claude Lorette]

Her cheeks were burning crimson and her aura ruffled. But he was right. It was warn, tired. She had worked herself too hard again. She had nearly passed out in the middle of her last midterm. And she still had three more to go. She listened as he spoke and nodded, shrugging as he spoke. She did not turn around, afraid of what she might see. Claude was the most virginal girl you would meet in New York. It was rather scary that someone her age in this city could be so naive. But Claude was. She flushed as he told her she looked great. That was so untrue, at least in her eyes. She bit her lip gently, her aura relxing and allowing his leopardine power to wash over her. It was cool, yet warm at the same time and it soothed the rough, painful edges of her own powers. They were hurting her anyway. His power soothed her mind as she stood there, still flushed. Overworked and insane, but that was Claude Lorette for you.

"You can wear whatever."

She said softly, staring at the painting straight ahead of her. She was so prudish, but it wasn't for her choice. She hadn't really gotten that 'talk' from her mother or her father, nor her uncle or aunt. She had never seen a man in 'all his glory' and had never even thought about it. She was a singer at clubs and a writer and a witch and that was it. She was not experienced. She'd never been kissed. She was ignored through middle and high school and never had those teenage crushes that made you feel awkward and in love. Like the one that Liz has on Billy. Claude frowned slightly.

"I'll...uhm...go wait...in the living room...place..."

She stammered. She darted towards the area where a couch and tv sat. She slid herself into the couch. It was a large apartment, from what Claude had seen. And it was very roomy. Sort of like a one story house more than an apartment. More like a flat.

[Zaiku Kannan]

Fingers continued to run themselves through his hair and attempt to tame the waves of curls. The poor witch was tense, he could feel the trembling aura as it tried to keep itself whole and pure, like her soul and her body. Young woman- he felt bad. As time passed he could feel her slowly soothing around the edges, no longer that slicable intensity. Her voice was heard starting once more, her lyrics soft and blatant. Poor woman, he might've scarred the poor woman. It's not like he was horny or nude, he was in boxers that could pass as shorts had they not been bright emerald silk. Nodding, he gently squeezed her shoulder before retreating a bit further into the shadows of his room. Her vox finished in a stammer as her body turned away. Turning to face her body as it moved down the hall, he called after her. "The TV remote is on the coffee table and the sound system's is right next to it. Take your pick- I'll be down in a minute."

Running along the floor of his room to leap onto the bed in all fours, he croutched before pouncing to the other side of his bed where the mirrored walk-in closet was. Grabbing a pair of worn denim jeans off the shelf, he wriggled into them and wrapped a dark leather belt through the loops. The top of his emerald boxers was visible as an elastic waistband before being modestly covered by the denim. Grabbing a simple white tee shirt from the drawer he draped it over his arm, just in case she wanted him to put on a shirt too. He was well built, muscular in every way, but that's what being a shifter and a lifter did to you. Padding barefoot out of the room, he walked into the kitchen to undim the lights and get a few ingredients out of the fridge and cabinetry.

Reaching into the freezer, he pulled out a tray of ice, putting a few cubes in the blender which was plugged into the outlet on the bar before adding some vodka, banana liquor and a splash of strawberry vodka too. Turning the blender on suddenly, the whirring crushing of ice was heard before the drink smoothed out. Pouring it into two glasses and adding a sliver of fresh strawberry on the rim of the glass, he poured two strawberry-banana cocktails and walked into the living room carrying one. Bending over in a bunching of muscle and extending of his hand, he offered the glass to her. "I remember how much you loved the banana ones... So I made you strawberry banana with only a little bit of vodka. I know how you got non-alcoholic, but I've been told I can make a damn good cocktail." Sitting on the floor besides her on the loveseat, he glanced up at her through a shroud of dark tresses and emerald eyes. "If you want me to remake one without alcohol, I can do that too." Zaiku smiled up at her, totally forgetting that he had brought antoher shirt into the kitchen to put on just in case she wanted it.

[Claude Lorette]

She had been under the impression of a movie, so when she heard him tell her where the remote control was, she picked it up delicately and turned on the television. Opening up the guide [because he has DirectTV and tivo because I said so], she flicked to the 500's and looked through the movie choices. In ten minutes, The DaVinci Code would be starting. She'd never seen that movie and had always wanted to. She selected the movie that was on before it and the screen switched to black credits rolling. She saw him pad into the kitchen and hard the crunching of ice in a blender, hearing the splashing of liquid. The tinkling of glasses came out of the kitchen, over the quiet ending of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. She bit her lip gently, waiting for him to enter. His chest was bare, muscular and awe-inspiring. She resisted the childish temptation to stare as he moved towards her.

She tentatively took the cup from him, looking at the...what was it? A cocktail, she figured. His jeans were encircled by a dark belt, but the emerald silk boxers still showed at the top. She wondered what exactly silk felt like. Was it soft, like cashmere, or was it rough, like wool? She didn't let her thoughts linger too long. She smiled softly as he sat on the floor. He was far away and, honestly, she liked having the comfort of someone to be next to during a movie. She tentatively reached down and grasped his hand, the empty one, gently, tugging him up onto the love seat.

"Sorry but...I just,...need someone next to me when I watch movies...or something...like a pillow or a teddy bear...Preferably a person but..."

She stumbled over her words, face flushing as she realized she was rambling and, in her mind, making a total fool of herself. She bit her lip again, slipping off her shoes and kicking them beneath the love seat. She pulled her knees up to her chest and sipped on the cocktail. She'd never had one of these before and the alcohol made her eyes water slightly. But soon enough, the movie had begun.

"The DaVinci Code...it was the only thing that was seemingly interesting..."

She whispered. Around them, the lights dimmed. Her power had stretched out enough to dim the bulbs. That might be rather annoying in the future, but it was all she could do at the moment.