stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

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

Matteo seemed quick to admit she had won, almost too easily. The sound of amusement formed within her throat the moment she heard as much, although it also was followed by a glean of surprise that washed her feminine features. She looked up at him dangling from his branch above, shifting to stretch her jean clad legs before her. Who would have thought a topic of doors would reduce the French fae to admit defeat. How curious he seemed to give it to her. "I can't say I blame you, doors seem a touch overrated. But defeat so soon? Losing your touch?" That question almost devious in nature. She cast a look toward the ebony stallion, as if suggesting he back her up on this one. The horse still quite lost in his hopeless disgruntled huff. Suit himself.

Matteo was quick to foil Darius' plans for that date, although if one could even call it that. To be on a date and hardly be aware of it hardly classified as one. She was sure. She had agreed to have him whisk her away on some magical ride, did she not? She had climbed upon the midnight steed's back. Oh shit, she called him pretty. Had she led him on? Could you even lead on a horse? A prompt look of bafflement seemed to seize her then, a hard stare given to Darius then lost in who mislead who. Matteo hardly relented, pressing even further. Of course, he did, in the safety of his tree. That goading was effective. Hell, it even cause Harley to shoot him a withering look, the kind that sent men the other way without another word. He hardly seemed affected by it. He was the definition of smug and unflappable even when he so easily questioned Darius' intentions for later. Implying he wished to sex her up. To imply..... she was into a horse caused her nose to wrinkle, disturbed as it should.

The stallion squealed his outrage. Good! At least the man was a gentleman! She was almost relieved for that outrage, it was way too damn early to get propositioned by a horse, thank you very much. Although that would have to be one of the weirder things that have happened to her in this life time. Yet, it was unfortunately was not enough to spare the steed from Harley's sarcasm. Part of her had hoped that perhaps it would have been enough to spark actual words from the beast. If outrage didn't work, surely nothing would. It would seem that conversation was short lived, Harley putting Matteo back to that very spotlight, recalling the very end of that last evening they had shared. That story he had parted her with leaving a lingering impression to say the least, even if it was rivaled by that moment. Momentarily she was pleased with how she had taken him off guard, the charming fae quick to recover, the recognition once again slipping to his amused mask. He would need to work a whole lot harder for her to buy into that lost memory card. How he seemed to know this, prompting that mischievous grin to widen. How careful she was to avoid that.. particular topic in that very moment. He saw an opening and he stole it. It was the raven-haired woman's turn to be caught off guard.

Of course, he remembered the bedroom... that heated moment they shared in the confines of the devil's room that neither of them seemed ready to cease. If not for the vampire herself returning to her quarters, she hardly knew where they would wind up. How he seemed to play her body like an instrument he had mastered. His hands, that embrace, that wanting he stirred to life in one of the worst places upon this earth. She had to look away then, she could feel the blush to her cheeks start to bloom. A blush! How difficult a feat it was to achieve and yet he almost seemed to make a game of them all the same. She hardly trusted the look upon her face as she peered at the smooth glinting coat of the war horse across from her. "That closet is a hard thing to forget.." If he could claim selective memory, she could too.

Darius seemed to save her from her own looming defeat, drawing the attention onto himself once more, as though he hardly wished to allow Matteo all of the spotlight onto himself. Matteo gave it to him and not in the way the stallion should expect, that sore point mentioned that sent his agitation to all out outrage! Ah, the downfall of all men. Question their manhood and everyone gets all butt hurt. Darius was no different. The pair seemed to stare at one another for only so many moments before the equine disappeared in a complete huff, leaving his supposed date and master behind. That was certainly one sight she had not seen before... She could hardly help that sound of mirth that escaped her suddenly, her body shook with that laughter. Not only did the fae single handedly chase off her date, but her only means to return home. It was Matteo's retort that earned him a roll of her eyes, tossing her freshly bit apple back into the bucket. Although, perhaps arguably Darius' attempt at kidnapping women and taking them on a picnic was... his way of doing something about it. Not quite the right way.

Although, she doubted Matteo's advice of quality and quantity was going to help his horse's quest at all. She was barely able to get a word in, before he instantly disappeared from his tree. Look who decided to show. The dashing fae, lowered to face her with a certain boyish mischievousness. "We all have... our thing. He will figure it out. Whether it's a harem of mares or he's waiting for the one. Judging by the picnic, my bet is on the later. His biggest downfall will probably be his.... Communication skills I am afriad." Big bad war horse, hopeless romantic.

Just as Matteo seemed just as comfortable in his perch in a tree, he looked like he belonged here, with this backdrop of near endless rolling hills, and devious wind that toyed with her own sleek, long raven locks. He leaned in easily, fishing out Harley's discarded apple from that bucket then. The very choice of apple did not go unnoticed, biting into the same apple she had stolen a bite from moments ago. There were plenty of them in that bucket and yet still, he chose that exact one. He easily tossed that apple back toward her, her hand reaching out to catch it, perfectly, her feline reflexes seemed to find a home within herself.

How easily then explained his home and how people pay money to see it. He joked easily about building a rollercoaster, which only stirred a grin upon her lips, his rich chuckle seemed just as potent as it did in a room. "Nah, you don't want to ruin this.. with cheap thrills." She rose her hand to gesture idly toward the peaceful hills.

It was then that comment about that entry fee, in particular her own that remained outstanding. He drew easily to his feet, towering above her so the sunlight framed him near artfully. Those teasing words offered like bread crumbs she reached for. "Of course, so what is your price? I don't want basic general admission either, I want the full experience. VIP package, bells and whistles included." If you were going to experience something, why not truly experience it?

He extended his hand for her to take, a moment later she placed it securely in his. All that talk of being brave met him with sarcasm. His delicious familar scent of his proximity was immediate as he gently pulled her to her feet. That look of feigned innocence offered to her that only prompted her own suspicion, her eyes narrowing upon the silvery depths of his own eyes. His hand seemed to linger, her awareness of him growing promptly. That tease of biting hardly ignored, pulling her into him. Their bodies flush, that mere sensation caught her off guard causing her heartbeat to stutter. How... she hated biting.. thanks to vampires and weres alike and yet how... he somehow made the prospect of him doing it seem almost sensual, inviting. Matteo's cloying scent seemed to envelop her as their bodies all but eliminated any oxygen between them. Countless times, they found themselves playing this very game. How well they played it, but she could not help the way she wanted to press into that very touch. She drew in a breath, that was full of his scent, hardly helping then. Yet, it was enough to reply. "It depends on the mood." The used his own words then, their eyes locking for but a daring moment. Much longer and she worried of her own threatening to crumble resolve. She needed space, air... which was odd.. considering they were outside and yet how it felt like the world closed in on them in that very moment. How her body remembered that night. The traitor. She nearly dropped that apple, her fingers tightening around the fruit as if anchoring her to reality. Just like that moment was over, that reminder of this supposed tour.

She took a step back, eyeing him near warily. Shaking her head and sipping that sweet French air, lifting her hand to rearrange a strand that fell in front of her face. "Yes... that is exactly what we should be doing." That much needed clarity returned to her then as he walked away toward that path, blissfully unaffected as she stood up pin straight, taking that brief moment away from his gaze, she took a bite out of the apple. She smoothly found her place at his side then, allowing him to lead the way upon that well-worn trail, prints of all kinds marring the dirt path that sprawled out like an artery across that vast, open field. It continued on near endlessly, not like they were in a rush, the woman seemed to enjoy that moment. They meandered a casual pace up and over a hill, casting thoughts of home and the horrors that dwelled within the ominous depths of that distant city. They walked a short while, their shoulders occasionally brushing playfully as they continued onto that path. The path that led to his home she was sure. What vampires, she replied almost innocently, that pointed gaze offered him. How willing she was to leave that other world behind. While that distraction was imminent, she seemed to remember that fruit in her hand. Tossing it quickly and purposefully back toward Matteo while he was, what she considered off guard. With his hands nestled deeply in his pockets it would surely struggle to catch that tossed apple in a game of their own making. His reflexes were better than she was anticipating as he quickly moved into action, only just managing to catching that very apple out of the air before it hit the ground. He brought that apple to bite once more, relishing in his own victory. Lucky catch.

She mused aloud over what she thought his home might be, partially in jest and partially because she had no idea what to expect. That confident retort on size seemed to take on a whole new meaning of it own. Harley near snorting, swatting at him. "Do you have a humble bone in your body?" She rose a brow casting him that teasing sidelong look.

The walk along that path was pleasant, the smell of wild flowers reaching her then. How pretty the view was, she had to pluck one, from that sea that sprawled out about them. She deviated from that path just to lean down and grab a purple one, healthy and standing out next to a patch of yellow and white flowers. How near absentminded it was, allowing the stem to roll within her fingertips that she missed that near curious glance her way. That conversation seemed to continue when they met up with a much wider trail. How big was this place? That easy chatter between them led to that very answer to that very question about those trails, 13,000 acres of property he sat upon. Intently she listened to him speak of those packs of weres that inhabited his forests, that last sentence abruptly severed off as the pounding of hooves collided with that trail. Two woman on horseback rode toward them from behind, nodding their heads respectfully in greeting as they passed. They looked so tall upon their steeds; their horses delighted to be on that ride even as they moved around them. That voice called out that delighted greeting.. a name in which she did not recognize issued toward Matteo then. Lord what? The women and horses continued their journey as quickly as they had come, vanishing along that long winding trail. Matteo content to carry on like nothing weird just happened while that perplexed frown seemed to overtake her own features then. She waited only so long for them to fall out of ear shot. Harley whirled to face him. "Lord Devereaux, huh? I know men sometimes like to be called all sorts of things.. but lord.. that has to be a first. Was King Fancy pants of France taken? Or is that a little too much." That easy tease escaped her as they carried along their lengthy stroll. How wrapped up she was in that very amusing title that she hardly noticed the way those grasses became shorter, trimmed to a neat perfection, the lines from the lawn mower still evident as though it were freshly cut. She vaguely noticed that lake to her side, ducks bobbing happily within those pristine depths. That light chuckle escaped her then, lifting up her head only to catch a glimpse of that massive castle. No... this was not a home. It was a honest to goodness castle, like in those fairy tales. He took that moment of shocked silence to give those introductions to his home. Chateau Chambord. Of course, even his home had a name. Something this big certainly deserved it. Her mind swam with that knowledge. She afforded him with a rather dubious look.

"Oh really? Just the staircases are a bit much? Not the fact that you live in an actual castle??" The bewilderment was to be expected, as she looked from Matteo to the place he called his home. The waterway, sparkling, people wandering through the gardens and enjoying the sights of that impossibly large building. No wonder why people came here, it was... stunning. That was exactly what she was... for once the woman who had a retort to virtually anything was rendered speechless. Her mouth hung upon for a moment offering her that loaded question... What did she think? What was she to think?

"I..." It was then that the apple was tossed at her, it was too late because it hit her, the woman fumbling at the last minute to catch it. Instead, she smacked it up into the air, right before her face before to began to descend almost in what seemed like slow motion causing her to put both hands out to catch it. The abrupt action causing that single light purple flower to flutter haphazardly to the ground. However, by some stroke of absolute luck she caught the half eaten apple with both hands, cradling it like she had almost dropped some breakable egg and she was almost damn surprised she had. With all those bites etched, marring it's once its once pristine ruby flesh there wasn't much of that apple left untouched.
Cheap shot, she was sure. She shot him a pointed glare that promised retribution even if by the end of it, there would be nothing but a core. "Distraction by castle... sneaky... and yet almost effective." She stated near cheekily, considering how to answer that previous question before she was struck by that very apple. "I think I was wrong... pretty sure this surpasses Disney." The sound of children laughing in bliss could be heard even at that distance away, the melodious sounds of birds and ducks and action. She considered something thoughtfully. "The real question is what does one person do with more rooms than there are days in a year.. you aren't compensating for something are you?" she cast him a rather daring devilish look then before bringing that apple to her lips once more.

Harley Westward