As Glass Shatters

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She heard his words the timbre of his voice the feelings she felt both awaken as well as thrive. Something within her corresponded she did not need to think about it. instead she nodded and as he wrapped her into his arms she encircled his waist with her own.

She felt them land on the roof top of his abode and she stepped reluctantly out of the sheltering warmth within his arms and towards the doors.

"How bout some dinner and then we see where things go? hmm?"

[hiero]

"I may be archaic at times, but that, I know is no suggestion." Andrius said good naturedly sweeping the doors open before them with a small motion of his head. It was an affectation from days long passed. He no longer need motion to focus his will yet he found himself often doing just that from centuries of habit. It helped in lulling many into a false sense of calm thinking him less of what he truly was. With his Alexius he wished no such disseminations.

"Welcome home dear" he said off handedly as he moved to the phone summoning awake his house staff. He could have summoned them mentally but the stirring of his power through the home would surely have the blood freaks clamoring for his attentions. The merest whiff of him and they came offering themselves and all that they would ever be in the hopes of being chosen. He would take this moment with Esme alone without the quiet din of their wants.

Looking to her standing not far from the door he motioned towards the divan, "Sit where you will, consider this akin to your home. We've much to discuss and many appetites to explore."

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Esme slipped off her shoes as she stepped inside more from sheer habit then anything else since she started walking again. And it was because she liked the feeling of the textures under her feet.
She tucked her shoes next to the door and wandered at first aimlessly looking around absorbing feeling things out in the main area.

She heard him say welcome home and she thought yes it would become a kind of home for her at some point. It would certainly prove to be interesting. As time etched its way through the future that is weaving itself in an interesting pattern.

"You are no more archaic then you want to be. I have noticed some things about you its interesting i will say however your always precise in your word and in your action everything is well planned."

She moved to the indicated divan and drape herself across its arm and simply lounged contentedly for the moment while she listened to him rouse the servants

[hiero]

Andrius had begun speaking again into the receiver. His staff was a cut above yet he at times found himself being as specific as if they were new to their jobs. This was in part due to his time upon the globe a certain ageist view on their abilities. He knew he only doted and micromanaged when he wanted their absolute best. This was strangely such a time. He absently watched Esme as she flit furtively about the room. Watching her he found himself doing so from a position that had nothing to do with prey or any sort of preparations for later. He was merely watching this strange beautiful woman making herself at home in his surroundings.

SDomehow he found her intriguing in a manner that was wholly new. It was not the power pairing between him and Sorcha nor the liegedom of his and Chang Hong. There was something he dare not say hovering on the horizon.

"You speak as if you can glimmer the dictates of my unbeating heart." Andrius said in reply, a smile shadowing his lip. " Perhaps you can intuit such a thing." He said easing the phone back onto its cradle. Crossing the room in an ethereally graceful gait. All grace dropping away as he descended on her like nightfall. the divan itself spoke of another time its size and luxuriance echoing centuries long past. Sttraddling her he kept himself a mere breathe away. His size dwarfing hers, his presence near her like flame to wick.

His voice a conspiratorial whisper heavy with what might yet be. "Tell me my dear Esme, what dictates my heart. I would hear it from your soft chaste lips and abide by such edict at least for now..."

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Esme watched him while he finished his call she felt, as well saw him descend over her she didn't go still but she didn't out right move away. She took in his scent as she inhaled a deep breath.

"Your heart is not what dictates your actions, your desires. No instead where others would have their emotions guide their hand for you it is a matter of quality. The quality of the potential. You live on a precarious edge a delicate balance always seeking the edge and barely defining the balance."

She looked up at him with him so close she could see details and glimpse others she smiled a curve of her lips. She took another breath and let it out slowly.

[hiero]

Andrius stared into her bright blue eyes a moment meditating on what it was she said between her words. There was something there in the pregnant syntax of her words. Being a man of action somethings had not changed in his many years of unlife. Bowing that scant breath of a space between them he kissed her fully. He laid for him a chaste lip scorching kiss upon her.

Sadly in the most obvious ways she was right. Most things he did were planned thoroughly. Each nuance a carefully arranged bit of theater. However the vast array of situations that were thrust upon his city were acts of randomness to which he merely adapted. Monster though he was he was not omnipotent.No matter the evidence he presented to the contrary. He was merely one of the few millenials who'd had their mettle tested until the refined essence of his being was like unto the whole of the firmament, everlasting.

Withdrawing a hairs breadth he once more stared into her blue orbs of glittering promise. "Esme," he began aloud. "You are correct I am a planned being. Yet I am given to flights of fancy or whims of wonder. Through it all I am the monster that I am."

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Esme felt him move. She felt the heat of the kiss and with a gentleness born of so many years she returned the heat to him with just the brush of her lips.

She looked up at him as he pulled back away from her.
"Who isn't given over to flights of fancy in any life they lead. No matter how well planned you are you have to break your boundaries from time to time and choose carefully which way you will take a path even if it is an adventure."

She gave a gentle nudge to his forehead with her own. never taking her eyes from his.

"So how long until the food arrives?"

[hiero]

Andrius chuckled from somewhere deep in his chest as Esme pushed at him. He allowed her to move him. She was in the short time he truly knew her mind ever a mystery to him. "We have time for sport or scintillating conversation; or for that matter anything in between." He said rising in that way only the preternaturally strong could, seemingly all at once. As she was now his he began dropping more of the affectations that made his attempts at human so convincing. The fact he now did so unmindfully spoke wonders tohow fast he had taken her wholly into him.

Her blue eye shining out of her face lie search beacons made him remember the sterling human mind hiding behind a face that rivaled some of the great beauties of the millenias.
"As for who hasn't been affected by whims and fantasies I have no knowledge of any being that has not been. I'm sure God had a great laugh when creating man or the platypus." Moving to the chair not far across the room he took up residence. Watching her and the night as a whole.

His mind working over the nut of Sorcha's need to return home as well as the quiet after 'The Butcher's' demise. The city was safe once more for its denizens. He was both elated and disappointed in the final outcome. The monster had taken the Head mage and a rare lycanthrope with him. While the cost of either or was difficult the loss of all three was too high. Focusing on Esme he smiled an actual smile she was watching him and he could tell that while she wasn't privy to his thoughts that she intuited that he was pacing elsewhere mentally.

"Go on my dear what shall it be words or actions that hold us until sustenance arrives ?"