stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

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

An all too knowing glint flashed within the woman's eye, of course he never met a fae he couldn't remember seeing. Even if he had and merely thought of him as a ghost. No, she had to keep those little tidbits of knowledge to herself. Even when she herself remained almost clueless to what was truly happening here besides the obvious. Although it could certainly be worse. The warlock surprising her with his sarcastic responses. There sure as hell weren't many people like him around. That mention of being lured into the forest for just a history lesson caused the woman's lip to twitch at the corners in amusement that couldn't be helped. Although hearing a man that liked to read? Well, that wasn't exactly common either. "Sounds like that would be one hell of a lesson.. I don't think I would mind, depending on the teacher." She added.

Ah, going into the forest to get your mind fondled. That was certainly a new one.

Any thoughts she might have said were silenced by the sigh that left the warlock's lips at a thought he didn't voice before he returned his attention to massive task ahead of him. Not that she could blame the fae for doing such a thorough little number on her bathroom. Why fuck things up a little bit when you could fuck it up all the way? She swore that could have been her motto for life.

Harley gave the warlock the go ahead, his offer was a generous one she could not refuse. That confirmation was all he needed to continue. How she didn't envy the man. What a mess her bathroom was going to be under construction, did Sly have enough time to even fix it one night? Those problems like cost and showering were floating around her head in a dizzying fashion. Those thoughts predominantly kept to herself as he began the difficult task ahead of him. It was like he could sense her wandering eyes when his tone changed to flirtation, catching the woman off guard. He was surprisingly too good at that.

After a several moments she was once reminded of that hot meal sitting in that pot on her stove. She couldn't ignore its presence for a moment longer as her stomach began its nagging protest of its empty state. After all, how could anyone ignore something that had smelled so good and that shower wasn't an immediate fix. It felt wrong not to at least offer the warlock some of it. She could not lie that she found it endearing that he seemed to double check that it was ok. Quite frankly, she wouldn't have even offered the first time if it wasn't but then again, maybe the offer was strange in his line of work. But he had claimed all she had to do was ask. No time like the present? After a quick towel off, he followed her lead, out into the open concept of her apartment that was once more filled with that all too delicious aroma of food, it was even better than she remembered. The warlock found himself a seat at her table as she wasted no time to fill those porcelain bowls with that hearty, still steaming meal. It barely took a moment before Sly's familiar aka efficient drier was summoned with the task of drying. Although the form was new in comparison to the ones he used at Syn. It seemed quieter, smaller, perhaps far more peaceful than the forms it took in the depths of Syn. It was almost impossible as the fiery phoenix or raging bull. Ace, however seemed almost mesmerized by the tiny, flaming creature, edging closer to the blazing rabbit that perched on his masters lap, his tail proudly wagging and yet some what cautious of that open flame. The curious big black dog approaching several times before attempting new angles, as if trying to piece together just what that unfamiliar creature was. At least until he eventually just stopped, unable to decide what to do.. and stood there... only to stare.

Great, now her dog was broken too.

After a glimpse of that scene, the woman using her powers to send that cutlery toward the table, using her powers at any chance she could. Moving anything metal she could in attempts to hone her often touchy powers. It was much easier to bring things to her than it was to send them away with control. Admittedly those cutlery moved and looked terribly wobbly, clumsy like it was possessed by a crudely drunk ghost with zero manners, dropping them onto that table from a scant two inches from above with a clatter. Yet she was still proud. The fact that they ended up on that table was a victory she would claim for herself. The raven haired woman was nothing but determined to master that magically bestowed skill set, one utensil at a time.

Confident stride with food in tow, Harley found her own chair sitting across from Sly, her.... dinner guest. He was there for her shower and yet there he was. The pair seemed to eye one another before the raven-haired woman questioned about his adorable little flaming friend. She could hardly help the interest that flickered within her striking violet eyes that shifted from familiar to the warlock who seemed more than content to speak on the subject. That mention of his grandma being freaked out when he was born, the boy breaking the laws of warlockdom kind simply by being born different. She noticed the way he faintly smiled as he explained that story. "That is how to make an entrance into the world, breaking all the rules. I am sure most warlock's familiars don't show up on fire either. At least none that I have ever met." She smirked, although she was at least mostly sure that grandparents fussing was practically their only job. Not that she really had much to go after besides some nearly forgotten memories.

However, that conversation shifted abruptly as Sly studied that dish far too intently. His face went a little strange before a question promptly fell from his lips. Of course, Matteo would cook some obscure dish from the warlock's homeland. She was absolutely positive that this was no longer fate's hand they were playing but the game of a bored fae who was much to hard to stay mad at. Regardless, Sly seemed not even mildly convinced by her admittance, that question if she normally cook Romanian food hanging in the air between them. "Nah, this would be a first for me." What she thought she would receive was minor disbelief had turned into a flat out panic.

Did he speak in his sleep? What a peculiar thing to ask. It came so left field she had no choice but to stare. At first, she thought he might have been joking and yet there was no mistaking the glimpse of true emotion in his blue eyes that reflected the fire from his familiar on his lap. He had the right know to know the truth, or at least as much as she could tell him. She was walking a very complicated line. She paused, briefly before offering some form of explanation, free from that sarcasm she preferred to speak so fluently.

She shared what she could of that moment he was barely alive enough to speak. Somehow it earned her the quizzical look from Mihai, that fire creature that contently sat, nestled in the warlock's lap, spreading that delicious heat throughout the entire room. Her inner feline wanting nothing more than luxuriorate in it like a traitor while she looked absolutely insane.

The warlock seemed utterly unpreturbed by her revelation, that panic short lived, despite being left wondering if Mihai remembered, which prompted that question on how that bond worked. Talk about a quick recovery. That fire animal was his soul. She remembered Matteo's words too. Yet another being baffled by Sly. The rabbit seemed to lean into the good-natured warlock's kind, gentle touch and clearly enjoying his attention. How was he not more concerned? Usually when people find out they almost died, they tend to have more of a reaction than this unnerving calm.

Deciding that calm was better than panic, she was willing to let that conversation shift she tried to focus on that information he freely offered her. Harley nothing but entirely sure that she would not appreciate her soul being on display. What if he lost him? Wasn't it bad enough keeping tabs on keys... imaging keeping tabs on your soul too? Could it be captured? Any number of the questioned could have surfaced and yet.. Of course it was most peculiar of them all that won out above all the rest. "What does it feel like?" She questioned before elaborating. "Having your soul hanging out like that. Does it make you feel exposed, like your walking down the street naked?" Yeah, asking the real questions. Hey, surely she wasn't the only one to think it. Mihai was his soul and it was hanging out on his lap. Most people didn't have their souls hanging out. She lowered her gaze to those pointy flaming bunny ears that stuck well above the table top, down to the cute little nose that twitched much like a real rabbit. She supposed it was at least good to know he had soul and yet her slew of questions hardly stopped there. Her mind focused on things like... when the creature disappeared.. Where did he go? Did he curl up inside of Sly like he was some giant human pokeball? Hm. Did that mean Sly was always warm?

It was then that Harley offered that it wouldn't have mattered if he said anything while he was out cold. What did it matter if she heard something? It wasn't like she was in the business of gossip. So what if she possessed the secret of a stranger? He seemed to be concerned over the fact that he was Romanian... although that belief shattered when he claimed he was only half. Huh? So that clearly wasn't it. Not with his near nonexistent reaction like that. The more he explained, the more she didn't understand. Why was she so hung up on knowing? Maybe this was why curiosity decided to kill the cat.

Harley narrowed her gaze skeptically. It wasn't her business. Nope. Harley, fortunately decided to direct her focus on her meal instead, that hunger hadn't lessened since they got sidetracked momentarily. The first heavenly bite was more than she could have hoped for. It was damn good and a welcomed distraction. Damn Matteo could cook. It beat anything she could do, any day of the week. Sly seemed more than content with it too. At least.... Until the questions hit and she lost all gauge of life. So she hadn't quite weathered the storm as flawlessly as she thought. She hadn't expected this particular line of questions, or maybe she was just drowning in her sea of denial. She rose a single dark brow. Everything she had learned to cook was from her Dad and the man was a scientist, not a chef. Maybe they were honestly more similar than she thought. Being a chef was honestly just a scientist but for food. She could not ignore the way Sly's face seemed to light up with the huge mouthful. She contently continued to pick at her own meal with the one singular hope that there were no more questions she had to blunder her way through... If only. That was... when it was like he could read her mind through her eyes, his excitement over that dish almost palpable. What was the base? "Could be the... tomatoes?" That was tomato she tasted, right? Clearly... french tomatoes. That inquiry, if she was a chef had the woman shaking her head. "Oh no. Not a chef. Pretty sure this might be a case of beginners... luck." Or something like that. "I could probably draw a plate of food better than anything else. I tattoo people for a living." The woman tacked on easily before drawing some more food to her lips, savouring the bite of flavourful food, her one and only lifeline.

It was then that he called her name, noting the way his accented voice sounded as he said it. Her gaze flicked up to meet the blue of his own as that new question might have been a dagger sailing through the air and headed right for her inflatable life raft. At this point she should have been prepared for it. Accent be damned, he had her off her guard again. Okay, couldn't he ask her anything else besides that too? How was she even going to answer how he was mysteriously healed with no healing abilities.

Fuck.. she said too much with her little speech before. Did she have some kind of healing power? No, she had the power to stick her own foot in her mouth... metaphorically speaking. Could she pretend she hadn't heard him? No... she had already clearly made eye contact when he trapped her within the confines of his accented voice saying her name. She leaned back into her chair with a hapless sigh on her lips. At what point was it just acceptable to plead the fifth? Maybe she had already surpassed that line and kept going.

"It would be a nice perk to have with all the work hazards of a vampire bar." She added with an attempt at nonchalance to downplay the actual deathtrap that it was. "I just, you know.. I made a tiny deal. If you can call it that."Even then that was a stretch. She quickly added after, lowering her voice to a point that was almost imperceptible, as if that nanoscopic detail could be simply glossed over. She shrugged her shoulders as if it was no big deal, tossing it off into oblivion the moment it was set free. Sure, the deal was struck after the fact and she had no idea what that even entailed. Before he could even inquire about that 'deal' she spoke again. "Although, I am pretty sure that surviving is just a reason to cross off something off your bucket list. You have to have something good on there." Besides meeting the shower to best all showers. That had to be a better topic than splitting hairs on that offhanded comment about deals. That was for certain. After all, there was very little they could do about the past.

Harley Westward