Topic: Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-06-05 19:46 EST
Klara stepped into the elevator, releasing Liam's hand as she leaned forward to push a manicured finger against the button for the lobby. Liam had this certain look in his eye as he watched her in the elevator. It was the look a man gave a woman of admiration. There was something about Klara that captivated him, unlike any other woman had ever done, and this thoroughly intrigued him.

She stepped back as the doors slid shut, leaning a hand against the back rail of the elevator car as the other slid back to curl around the hand of the man next to her. "Am I going to be subjected to your crazy driving again? I'd like to get home in one piece." She teased with a smile.

"Hey, I'll flip the keys to you if you think you can drive it. If you scratch the Beemer though, it's coming out of your as* lady."

"I don't think a Beemer can come out of my as*, smart mouth." Klara laughed, taking a step forward and pivoting upon the ball of her foot to face him. She slid a finger down the length of his tie before those wide baby blues rose toward him. "And I quite like being chauffeured around." She stated before she tipped up on her toes to plant a kiss on him just as the doors sang their arrival. She turned around again and headed out of the elevator, stilettos clicking on the marble floor of the lobby.

"Ya don't know that, until someone has tried." He said, following her out of the elevator into the lobby. Liam smiled at her and motioned his hand and his finger, silently signaling her to wait a moment. Moving over to the main desk, he spoke with the man and advised him to ready his car. Watching the valet snatch his keys from the board, he turned back to Klara with a smile on his face. "They'll bring the car around front."

"Convenient." She returned the smile, her fingers curling about her hips as she glanced toward the bright sunlight outside. Klara looked back toward her companion, brows arching. "Are there any good places to get a late breakfast' I'm starving...and I'll even be nice and offer to treat you, Mister Owens."

"There's a few places," he answered, moving up alongside her and slowly walking towards the front of the building. " It's the least I can do to reward you for the excellent services last night." He gave her a knowing smirk, his eyes purposely trailing down towards her chest before retuning to meet her gorgeous eyes. "What are ya looking for, a deli or a sit down sort of place?"

Klara had reached into her pocket and was sliding lip-gloss onto her lips when Liam began speaking again. She returned the tube to her pocket as those shiny lips curved into mirror image of his expression. "You are quite the gentleman this morning aren't you?" She took a few steps forward to catch up with him as they began to exit the apartment building. "Either one is fine with me. I've seemed to have worked up an appetite."

"Alright then," he said as he proceeded out the front door, holding it for her. "I've got a few places in mind. I'll be glad to work up the appetite that I'm pretty sure I'm responsible for." Liam looked out as he held the door open, waiting for the Valet.

Klara stepped past him, sending a single finger poking into his ribs before she stepped out into the sunlight. "Oh I think my hunger is quite your fault."

"Then I accept full responsibility." Liam said, as he noticed his vehicle turn the corner.

Klara paused on the sidewalk, raising her eyes toward the large, looming skyline overhead. She was used to the New York skyline and towering buildings, but this place almost seemed to dwarf her beloved City.

Terminus was one of the largest City's on Rhy"Din's surface, west of Stars End City and the infamous Stars End Spaceport. It was considered a "port city' as it was created as the receiving end for all cargo and transportation coming to and from a Space Elevator, which connected to Gateway Station Two in geo-synchronous orbit. The elevator was the most direct route for all-intergalactic trading, as freight was shipped down the elevator from the station to the planets surface. Gateway Station Two also served as the counter weight for the lift, and ensuring it's daily operation. The city since expanded outward over the centuries from the core, and was literally built up and around the space elevators receiving point in a circular fashion.

There were flying cars traveling across the skyway, landing in designated zones and traveling on the city floor below. The streets were constantly wet as it rained frequently, mostly due to unstable atmospheric condition due to the city's enormous size and the path of the space elevator.

"I think I could get lost in this place." She commented again, raising a hand to shield her eyes as she glanced upwards.

Liam stepped up beside her, raising a hand to signal the valet before he turned back to look at her, noticing her amazement at the tall cityscape. "How big is, New York was it?"

"One of the biggest cities in the country...but some of these buildings are enormous." She replied, dropping her hand and starting across the sidewalk to where he was waiting.

Liam Owens? sleek black BMW rolled up to where they were waiting, as the front door opened rapidly. The Valet quickly jumped out from the driver's side door and handed the keys to Liam before he sprinted around to the other side of the car and opened the door for his female companion. Slowly, pulling up behind the car was another vehicle, one that resembled a Bentley, while another seemed to be coming up on the passenger side.

Klara's fingers fell to the door as the valet threw it open for her before running inside. She looked after him curiously and was about to make a comment about the service before the two other cars drove up beside them. Her fingers fell from the car door as her eyes rose to Liam and then turned to peer through the tinted windows of the other vehicles.

Liam Owens

Date: 2010-06-05 19:54 EST
"Klara?" his voice wasn't loud, and in fact was trying to remain calm as his own bluish-green eyes shifted over from one vehicle to the next, taking note of their behavior. "Get in the car honey." Liam had never called her honey. That wasn't something that was in his vocabulary. Klara's eyes slid from the vehicles to quickly look over at Liam and his choice of endearment. His hand gripped the door frame tightly as he looked towards the interior of the vehicle. He was contemplating something, evaluation the situation. Something was definitely wrong. Klara reached out for the interior door handle as she moved toward the inside of Liam's BMW, turning her eyes back toward the doors on the Bentley as they began to open. Two pairs of shiny black men's shoes slid out to drop to the pavement, followed by the unfolding of two large men in suits. Klara's blonde head lowered as she slid into the passenger seat, the fingers of her free hand raising to curl about the silver pendant at her neck. Things felt like they were moving in slow motion. Liam's eyes swept over the men, then back towards the other vehicle. His ears heard the sounds of another car, approaching in reverse, heading towards them to completely block his car in. The suited men, in tandem, slowly reached into their suit jackets while staring at Liam from depths of their dark sunglasses. Without any further hesitation, Liam dove into the driver's seat of his BMW and threw the car into drive. Stomping down on the gas pedal, his door slammed shut as the car jolted forward and the sounds of gunshots rang out into the street. "What in the hell is going on?" Klara nearly yelled, her door slamming shut just as Liam slammed on the gas pedal, sending the car lurching forward. She reached up, gripping the seatbelt hanging uselessly next to her as she turned in the seat to look out the back window. The men were scrambling into their cars as Liam sent the car careening around a corner. The third car was easily avoided as they had just enough time to pull out before they were blocked in. Liam wasn't in the mood for answering questions, at least not at the moment; he was completely focused on getting them the hell out of there. While he may seem to be driving erratically, he was in complete control of the car, trying to distance himself from the attackers. "You ever fire a gun before?" Seemed like the perfect question, better than asking her what she wanted for breakfast at this point. "Yes." She turned back around, knowing this was not the time to remind him he already knew this. She reached over the middle console, pushing aside his jacket and sliding the gun out of its holster. She flipped the safety off, reaching her other hand down to slide her heels off and let them fall to the floor of the car. There was a part of Liam that was turned on by the fact that Klara knew where to get the gun, and knew how to handle it, but there wasn't time for that. He refocused on the task at hand; driving them out of there. Klara pulled her legs up, kneeling on the seat as she turned around to face the back window, scared but also infuriated at not knowing what was going on. "So you are the bad guy." She commented more to herself than to him. "As bad as you are beautiful." The car shifted and he spun around yet another corner, trying to throw his attackers off guard, but he knew that they were going to come up close behind him. Liam's head spun around, looking out his back window. He had been paying attention to the rear-view, but he needed further assessment. Using his free hand he also removed one of his firearms and flipped the safety off. This was going to be interesting. "Liam..." she warned, noticing the black Bentley coming down a side street perpendicular to them. She glanced over her shoulder to look out the front windshield. "I sure as hell hope you know what you're doing!" Klara looked backwards again, watching as the Bentley skidded out of the side street and fell in behind them. "How much do you like your back window"!" She yelled once more, dropping her arm to the seat and aiming out the back. "Not as much as I'd love to keep your pretty little ass lead free." Liam's eyes darted skyward as he contemplated taking the vehicle to the air. However as he did so, he noticed that one of the Bentley's had overshot them in the sky. Three cars- they were bound to try and attack them from multiple angles. The bullets zipped past the car as the others began their assault, causing her to duck in the seat and let loose a rather unladylike curse. She wrapped one arm around the headrest; reaching her fingers to clutch the silver pendant as her other hand steadied the gun as best she could in the swerving vehicle. A bullet crashed through the passenger side back window, sending shards of glass flying into the backseat. Klara whispered something inaudible before she let loose a few shots out the back windshield, praying Liam was too busy to notice the glass didn't break. Taking the steering wheel in only his right hand, Liam dipped his left arm out of the window and began squeezing rounds off at forward car. It has lowered itself closer to the street level, trying to get in front of them to cut them off, but Liam was well aware of that. His bullets shot forward as he aimed for their windows, in hopes that it would expose the individuals inside. "I'm not a sharp shooter!" Klara ducked back in the seat. "I own a f-cking shop for Christ's sake!" She dared a glance sideways at Liam before she peeked over the seat and shot a few more rounds toward the car behind them, smiling as one of them managed to go through the windshield of the other car and send them swerving. "Can you just get me the hell out of here?" "I figured we'd take the scenic route. What the hell do you think I'm doing"!" Another blast rang out from his weapon as the side window of the enemy vehicle shattered. Owens could see the driver duck and shutter as he was exposed from tinted glass. Staying true to his name, Lucky Liam steadied his pistol with his non-dominant hand. There was a pause in his shot as he took aim, despite their fast moving speeds. Taking a breath, his finger depressed on the trigger and sent a bullet streaming towards the opposing vehicle. A moment later, the driver slumped forward and the Bentley fell from the sky sideways, flipping and spinning over itself as it crashed down. Klara dropped into the seat, peeking out the passenger side window. The initial burst of adrenaline was wearing off and Klara was getting a bit nervous. "Just drive. Pick a destination and DRIVE." She ordered before she turned back to her own task at hand, which involved fingering the pendant again and whispering to herself. She had managed to get herself out of a few scrapes though nothing of this magnitude. She slid a finger toward the windshield and the quickly approaching side street on the left. "TURN!" she yelled before falling quiet again. He listened to her, something about her shout was convincing. Maybe because it was the fact that she yelled directly in his ear, or maybe it was that he trusted her. The car turned left as Liam downshifted then brought the car back into gear. Slipping and weaving through traffic he slammed on the breaks and then dropped the car into a lower gear again. Sliding into another right hand turn, Liam pressed the button on his stick shift and the BMW streamed skyward through the narrow corridor of an alleyway he turned into. Klara slumped, hugging the seat for a moment before she released it and turned around to face forward again. Her long, bare legs uncurled to once more rest her feet on the floor. She dropped the gun into her lap, her hands following suit as she stared out the windshield at the sky speeding past them, falling dangerously quiet. "I think we lost "em." Liam said as he stared into his rear view mirror. He hadn't noticed Klara yet and he clearly thought that she must have fired enough rounds to take out the other two vehicles, or at least deter them. "Look, let me" let me just get you home." Part of him wanted to apologize but he couldn't figure out what for. "Yeah that'd be nice." She responded, still staring straight ahead and not bothering to look anywhere else. She reached down, feeling around for her shoes as she slid the stilettos back on, plucking the gun out of her lap, tired of having the weapon in her grasp. She opened the center compartment and shoved it in there, slamming the console closed. "Are you alright?" Liam glanced at her, though he was paying attention to the sky-traffic in front of them until he could take the skyway back towards the Stars End spaceport. It didn't take a genius to realize that she wasn't okay, though from the start of the situation it seemed that Klara was initially more than prepared to handle such an event, especially by the way she took to his gun and defending them. "Shooting at strangers in cars while attempting not to get shot myself" I'm fantastic. It was an exhilarating way to wake up." Her voice was strangely calm despite the anger apparent in her face. She still absently fiddled with the necklace, sliding her eyes sideways toward him before looking out the window again. "Nice people you work for." Liam glanced at her gain, noticing the necklace but not commenting on it, at least not yet. "I don't work for those guys," he said calmly himself, "those clowns obviously want me out of the way. Good to see you know how to handle a pistol." "Barely." Klara dropped both of her hands to rest on her bare thighs. "What do they want you out of the way for" Something obviously important enough to send three cars of hitmen. What is this" The mafia?" Feeling like he owed her some form of explanation he opened up to her slightly. "There's a few different organizations. Some of them are more street gang type elements, while others are more organized. Driving Bentleys and sending three cars, they're definitely one of the more organized ones, and I think I know which one." "Right. That explains a hell of a lot." Klara reached up, sliding a hand through the tousled blonde waves that slid down her back. "So you work for one of these...organized organizations that drives Beemers. That's comforting." "I work for the Terminus Syndicate." He answered plainly as he turned slowly onto the main skyway heading outside of the city. "I have no idea what that is." "What does it sound like?" He asked her smartly. "I don't even want to know. I don't think I even care. I'm just glad we're not being shot at anymore." Klara answered, narrowed eyes turning toward him for a long moment before she resumed looking out the window. "No problem. Don't ask, don't tell." Liam had already replaced the 9mm he had been using and now reached into the center console to retrieve the other one. Ensuring the safety was on, he reached into his suit jacket and secured it into the holster. "I'll just take you home." He commented as the Spaceport was now coming into view. "Thanks." Klara brought her arm to rest along the one on the door, turning her head to look out the passenger side window as the Spaceport came into view. She was still angry but less so and more confused than anything; yet she was not going to be the one to pry. "Sure, no problem." It was another short answer from Liam. He wasn't going to offer up any answer either. The way things were going, he just figured that this would be the "end of a relationship". He figured this was the beginning of the end, and it was inevitable that she wouldn't be able to handle his lifestyle. Pulling up towards the spaceport, Liam pulled the steering wheel upwards and began to lower towards the ground now. "Is that the way all your dates end or am I just the lucky one?" She asked sarcastically, glad to be back on solid ground again. "Oh, you're extremely lucky. Some never make it out alive." As he spoke, he looked at her now, seeing as the roads leading back to Rhy"Din were much less congested. "Really." She began the incessant tapping of her fingers against the door handle. "So you don't just care about your own ass. That's reassuring." "You should be reassured," he answered back. Liam wasn't letting it show, as he normally did, but he was quite pissed. Not at her but over the situation. The fact that they were almost killed, especially her, had him bent out of shape. "If I didn't give a rats ass about you I never would have brought you out to my condo. I wasn't lying when I said it'd be dangerous, but I didn't expect that bulls**t." "Isn't that a bit backwards" If it's dangerous why the hell would you have brought me there?" She shot back, finally turning from the window to stare across the car at him. "I don't just bring any woman home, I already told ya that. I brought you out to my place because I figured your saucy ass could handle it." Liam stared back at her now. "Guess I was wrong, huh?" "Sure. Make sure the next one hides in the back seat screaming. That's more your type huh?" "You pulled a god-damned gun on me, I figured you'd know how to use it. I figured you were some sorta "ride-or-die" chick, someone that's more my speed." Pausing for a moment. "But, like you said, I guess we'll see what the next one has in store, huh?" "Ride or die chick" Please tell me you did not just quote a rap song in response." She rolled her eyes. "If that's your speed then yes...on to the next one." She replied with her own cheesy lyrics, smirking. "Good luck with that." Winding through the streets of Rhy"Din, they were quickly approaching the marketplace now. "Thanks. Maybe next time I'll just collar someone and fu**ing be done with it." "Huh?" Klara stared at him, not quite understanding what the hell he was talking about. "What?" She raised a hand toward him. "Wait, nevermind. I don't care." She dropped her hand and looked back to the window at the familiar streets. "Of course you don't care, why in the hell would you care" I'm mean, that's just fu**ing crazy talk, right?" Coming up on her shoppe and apartment, Liam hit the brakes rather hard and then slammed the car into park. "Welp, here you are gorgeous.? There was venom in his words.

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-06-05 19:58 EST
"Have you lost your mind?" She asked, her hand pausing on the door handle as she slid her eyes toward him. "We were just SHOT at, Liam. By people you think you know, and you're angry with ME?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. So this attitude your giving me is just spawning out of thin-fu**ing-air?" He used a lot of profanity when it came to eloquently expressing himself. "YOU are the one pissed off at me for getting us shot at, like I had anything to do with that."

"You had nothing to do with it' Apparently you did considering they were after you or the people you work for. You obviously had something to do with it."

"Right, right. So it is all my fault. Mi dispiace gorgeous." Waving his hand nonchalantly. "Don't worry, I'll make sure it won't happen again."

"You're impossible sometimes." She spat, throwing the car door open. "And just how in the hell are you going to guarantee that won't happen again?"

Part of him really wanted to just give her an open handed smack, but instead he threw open his car and popped his trunk. Slamming his door, he moved around towards the trunk and shouted over at her. "That's easy. You won't be heading back there anytime soon!"

"I saved your ass!" She yelled, slamming her door and casting a sidelong glance at him as he moved to the trunk. With a frown, she turned, her heels clicked wildly over the pavement as she moved from the car toward her apartment door.

Removing both of his pistols from beneath his jacket he set the down inside the trunk, ejecting both of their magazines and setting them down. He was mostly using the trunk to shield himself as he reloaded both of the weapons. Having clips that weren't fully loaded didn't give him a warm and fuzzy feeling. "Well thank you!" he yelled back at her. "I'm sorry you were put in such a position!" His words weren't as sarcastic as they usually were but he still had some anger held in them.

Klara had unlocked and pushed open the door to her apartment, but instead of heading inside she looked back over her shoulder. "Are you?" She yelled back, her hands falling to her hips as she turned and stared at him.

With the weapons reloaded the trunk was slammed hard, making the remaining shards of loose glass rumble from the vibration. Moving around the vehicle he stared her down. These weren't his usual eyes, well they were, but not the ones Klara was used to seeing. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything, sorry ya met me, sorry I put ya through a bunch of crap. It'd be better if if ya never met me. C'est la vie!" He waved his hand at her, but didn't move, seeing if she was really ready to walk out of his life. This, to him, was test.

"Who the hell are you to decide what I should be sorry for?" She returned the glare, not moving from her position at the door to her apartment. "You don't get to decide that."

"I said me! Hello!" Waving at her again. "I said I'm sorry for YOU, not what you should be sorry for. What the hell am I speaking" Cityspeak" " "Sometimes you seriously miss the point." She retorted, dropping her hands from her hips, the keys dangling from her fingers.

"What point' The point that someone actually gives a rats ass about ya, enough to the point that you care for him to; and that guy aint exactly your perfect image of a model citizen?" He pivoted now, facing her head on. "Sorry I'm no doctor or a lawyer or like" a veggie vendor or something. My fu**ing fault, right?"

"I never claimed to want to date a boyscout." She responded again. "Or a veggie vendor." Still flushed and still angry, the corners of her lips twitched at the thought of a veggie vendor. "Is everything your f—cking fault today?"

"I dunno, is it' You tell me!" Pointing to himself as he asked.

"Pretty much. I don't get shot at."

"No problemo. So write me off then, no need to worry about that happening again." Liam started to turn back towards the car now.

"So that's your way of dealing?" The keys had disappeared from her fingers as they once more wound around her black clad hips. "Just write it off?"

"Story of my life," he answered back, "no one has the balls to stick around anyway. So why bother?"

"Do you ever give anyone the chance to stick around?" Klara was beginning to think he had a hidden complex, the idea causing her lips to nearly curve into a grin again. She quickly bit down on her lip in attempt to still look pissed off.

His hands went up in dismay. "You got it, right here and right now gorgeous. He's your muthafu**ing chance! Liam Owens, take "em or leave "em!" He, on the other hand, was still throwing his hissy fit. With good reason, in his mind.

"Jesus Christ, Liam. Get a grip. Shouldn't I be the one throwing a hissy fit considering I just got shot at for the first time in my life" Instead you're throwing a tantrum. Outside my building." She smirked, watching him with amusement.

He realized what it looked like, but Liam was pissed. He figured that someone that he actually started to care about was pissed at him for 1) almost getting her killed and 2) because he wasn't a saint in his profession. "Alright then, I'm out." Attempting to save face, he walked around the car towards the driver-side door.

Klara shook her head, refusing to chase after someone. "If that's what you want." She turned back toward the door, stepping up into the stairwell landing.

The car door opened, and Liam stopped. He didn't yell back at her, but he spoke instead. "Nah, it's what you want. I already said you had your chance. Take me or leave me. Your call."

"Did you hear me tell you to leave?" She asked from the doorway, her hand on the knob as she prepared to close it. "And how the hell do you know what I want?" She asked, both brows raising skyward.

"I didn't hear you tell me to stay, it's a blatant-ass question."

Klara rolled her eyes. "Are all men this dense?" She muttered to herself. "If you want to stay, then stay." She left the door open, and turned disappearing up the stairs. She wasn't going to spell it out much more than that.

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-06-13 10:27 EST
It had been a few weeks now. Klara had invited Liam to the apartment quite a few times, only to find Shawna out and about or off on business. Klara was getting used to having the place to herself.

Klara pulled open the bedroom door, bare feet padding quietly across the slick hardwood floor. Her fingers dropped down to the only item of clothing she was wearing, a man's button down, as she proceeded to button a few of them up for decency's sake. Her eyes shifted to the moonlit kitchen as she entered, pausing briefly as if to decide what she wanted. Liam Owens was stretched out, quite comfortably on the bed back in the bedroom. Remote control in hand as he flipped through channels on the television, trying to see if anything was on in the moments where he was left alone.

"Enjoying yourself, darlin'?" A murmur of that southern drawl went out in the pitch black as velvet caress of words. Shawna was easily reposed against the wall, watching as Klara had padded on into the darkened kitchen.

Klara visibly jumped at the voice, reaching out a hand to flip on the lights. "Shawna!" She breathed out, baby blues widened for but a moment. "Way to scare the crap outta me." She shook her head, uncurling her fingers from their clutch in the shirt. "You're home?" She asked, her eyes settling on the woman in the doorway.

"I'm far from astral projection as far as I know." Wry tone as those midnight black eyes held that center point of crimson, a faint twitch of lips as Shawna blinked in the sudden light.

Liam heard a second female voice, and then the point about her being home. As if it were her mother, Liam quickly snapped out of bed to retrieve his pants and zip them up, trying to get somewhat appropriate despite the fact that his shirt was most certainly missing.

After he ensured his pants and wife beater were back on, Liam peeked his head from the bedroom, trying to catch a glance of the two women talking. He wasn't sure if he should just exit the room or wait to be called upon. After all, who knows what Klara had been telling this other woman"

"Right..." Klara watched Shawna for a moment before turning back to the kitchen. She lifted a hand toward the cabinets, pulling one open as her other arm reached up to slide a box of cereal off the shelf. "Want anything?" She asked, setting the cereal on the counter and turning again to the other woman.

"No I'm good thanks." A twitch of lips again. "Nice shirt." The near forgotten glass of wine she had been sipping at was drawn back toward her then.

Klara's lips curved upward into a small smile. "Glad you like it." She responded, leaning a hip against the counter as those long, bare legs crossed. She dropped a hand to the counter, the other to a hip.

There was an eye roll and a sigh as he heard the shirt comment. "Great," Liam muttered to himself, "I'm hiding in the f**king bedroom."

"Consider it hide and go seek." Shawna called out toward the main apartment with a bemused gleam touching to those scarlet born eyes. A flicker of something wicked in those eyes.

"Shawna!" Klara hissed, despite the quiet laugh that pushed past her lips. "Seriously!" Klara glared at her best friend before she reached back up into the cabinets to retrieve two bowls and two spoons. There was no point in attempting to hide it anymore.

A light shrug. "It's not like I was snipping his hair and tucking it in red yarn." Shawna gave hushed laugh there. See there were far worse things she could do when she was aware that Klara was keeping...company over.

Klara made a rather unladylike sound as she headed toward the refrigerator. "Yes, Yes I know....So far" no red yarn is needed." She paused, as the door to the fridge was pulled open, glancing over it at the other woman with a quick smile before she ducked down to grab the milk. "And he doesn't know!" Klara whispered quickly as she shut the door, setting the milk down before she fished out a tray to put the items on.

Cross of the arms, lean against the wall near the door. Liam Owens, wallflower and hider extrordinaire. He leaned his ear toward the doorjamb now, closer, trying to listen.

Shawna sighed softly. A pointed look to Klara's bedroom. "So he tells you his secrets and you don't share your own sugah?"

"He hasn't told me any secrets." Klara looked at the Shawna.

"Hasn't he?" A lift of brow at that. "How long have you both been together?"

"A month' Or thereabouts." Klara crossed her arms loosely, forgetting the tray of food for the moment. "A bit too soon wouldn't you say' And no...I haven't..." She stopped talking, lifting her wrist toward the other woman to flash the small tattoo. Shawna gave a slight nod to Klara as she saw that wrist flash and the tattoo. The two could speak without using words, and Shawna easily understood what was being communicated.

"She's either got other men, or she's a pathological maniac. Gotta be." Liam whispered to himself, still trying to listen to a muffled conversation

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-06-13 10:27 EST
Klara watched Shawna, knowing this wasn't going to end until Liam was introduced. How did she know this" Because she'd done this exact same thing to Shawna before. The two of them were quite the pair. Klara lowered her arms and slipped past her friend to wander into the living room and toward her bedroom. She pushed open the door, finding Liam nearly dressed, save for the shirt she was currently wearing. "Roomies home. Time to play nice." She teased, gently pulling on his arm as she turned to head back into the kitchen.

"Oh, so I don't have to hide in the closet anymore?" Liam asked with a grin. "Going to introduce me gorgeous or what?" He turned off of the wall, spinning around, and following her towards the kitchen.

"You've already met. Once. Briefly." Klara responded over her shoulder as they entered the kitchen. She stepped past Shawna toward the large island in the center of the room. "Shawna...Liam. Liam..Shawna."

"Yeah, I'm apparently her best kept secret, and the guy she doesn't talk about much." Liam opened up his palm to shake Shawna's hand.

Shawna flicked her eyes up to Liam as he arrived then. A pause before her palm eased into his own. "Hello again." She laughed softly. "Darlin" she speaks on you plenty." Klara rolled her eyes at Shawna's admission, propping a hip once more against the island

Liam gave Klara a sideways glance. "I'm sure she does." Looking back to Shawna. "Pleasure, again."

"It always is." The smile warmed as Shawna released his hand. "She would speak more of you but I have not been around as often to hear it I'm afraid. I have been attending to the business."

"Is this payback or something Shawna?" Klara glared for a moment, crossing her arms loosely once more. "Seriously. And Shawna is my business partner."

"How could it be payback ...when I don't have anyone to taunt you with?" Talbot had been a fleeting vision, only once or twice.

"Ah, business partner?" Liam asked coyly. "Well now, always good to know business associates and the like."

A bemused look at Liam as Shawna lifted the wine glass to her lips. "She doesn't share well, darlin', otherwise I would say that business is ever my pleasure."

Klara had to turn away at that comment, her lips twitching as if to curve into a smile at Shawna's last comment. The girl was not about hiding much, despite the polar opposite actions of Klara. "Yep..you two have a little bit in common." She commented, dropping a spoon onto the tray "Yes, she's my business partner." She looked back at Shawna. "She's always in on the business propositions we get. Shawna just doesn't like the actual working part."

"I do the same," he admitted, "I travel often. To and from here and there, making deliveries and business and such, depending on the needs of the market."

Klara reached over, lifting the two bowls onto the tray, followed by the milk. All set, she spun upon the ball of her barefoot to regard the other two in the kitchen.

"I can go if you wish to resume...your courtship." And there that southern belle nature came back once more, a spill of midnight black curled against the ivory pale of her flesh as her eyes lingered briefly upon Liam before turning back to Klara.

"Oh jeeze." Liam said, turning away to head towards the fridge. A drink was needed.

Shawna blink at that, yes there was a bit of the old charm and ways to Shawna.

"I offered you cereal." Klara looked up at Shawna again, her smile wide as Liam bent into the fridge. She mouthed "You're gonna get it!" silently as Liam was blocked by the refrigerator door before speaking again. "It's up to you if you want to eat with us."

"Apparently." The fridge was open then, juice was in his hand and Liam began the search for a glass.

"Mm...what sort of cereal?" A rub of palm sent to the back of her neck where her own branded tattoo lingered against her flesh. Wide eyes and that beautiful shape of cupid mouth went into a soft pout of unspoken apology.

"Cap'ain Crunch." Klara said, lifting the box for her to see.

"With berries?" A small perk of interest there.

"No..that box is still in the cabinet." Klara laughed. "You know I hate those."

With a drink in hand, Liam smiled at the two women. "I'm gonna head back in the room and find a game to watch. You two have fun." Smiling mischievously as he slowly walked back towards the bedroom.

Klara's eyes flicked back to Liam, watching him as he headed back toward the room. "I think that was a bit uncomfortable." She whispered at Shawna, her laughter starting once more.

"I'm fine." He said. "No reason for me to interrupt girl talk" Calling out from the hallway.

"It's not like talk about moon cycles or blood letting." Shawna called back, offhandedly.

Klara's eyes widened at Shawna before she slid out a hand to smack her lightly on the arm. "Seriously!" She hissed again, despite the loud laughter that spilled from her lips.

Shawna smiled innocently before pressing a kiss to Klara's cheek. "I'm going to head out."

"Okay. Careful....you know where I am." Klara replied as she bent to pick up the tray, keeping her eyes on Shawna. "Always easy to reach me." She teased, knowing full well the two of them did not need phones to communicate.

Shawna moved to the door not without a calling out to the man making a run for the bedroom. "Good night, Liam." Soft as velvet, shadow fall quiet hush her voice as the front door was drawn open and she stepped outside.

He hadn't entered the bedroom yet as he turned back towards her with a wave. "Sure thing Shawna, have a great night, and try to call next time in case Klara's wearing someone else's shirt."

"Oh...I wouldn't have to worry about that." A soft chuckle and out in the night Shawna went, she did so love the evening.

"What is this" Let's blow up Klara's spot?" She muttered, approaching Liam. "Why would she call" She lives here." She pushed an elbow into his side as if shoving him back into the room.

"You sure you too aren't sisters?" Liam said facetiously to Klara.

"Not by blood, but pretty much." Klara lifted her gaze across the bed toward him. "Don't try to get funny with me, Mister Owens. Now you can at least say you've met my roommate, also known as my best friend."

"Oh I'm sure to be funny. I have someone to keep an eye on you from running around with other clowns that I'm sure see you on a daily basis. Ander ring a bell?" There was a grin as he said that name.

"Are you jealous?" She teased, settling back on the bed and picking up a spoon to wave it at him.

"What do I have to be jealous of?" he said while moving back to lay on the bed. "It's not like I'm your man or anything."

"Damn right." Klara tapped the spoon on his stomach before dropping it into one of the bowls and reaching for the cereal box.

"Exactly." Liam said with confidence, despite the fact that he had other thoughts in regards to their relationship.

Klara peered around the room quickly, pausing with the box in her hand as she seemed to almost be checking. "I hope his shirt isn't still around.." She muttered quietly, peering off into the expanse of the bedroom.

"What the hell was that?" He propped up, looking around with her. "You better be kidding."

Klara's blue eyes widened as she snapped her head toward him. "What?"

"Mmmhmm." He said as he pursed his lips to one side, almost giving her 'the eye."

She stared back before dropping her gaze to tip the cereal into the waiting bowl. "Thought you weren't the jealous type."

"I'm not. But I don't want anyone else being with a lady that I'm with. I may not be jealous, but I can be possessive." He chuckled that last word out, quirking an eyebrow at her with a smile.

"I think they're the same thing." She quipped, lifting the bowl as she settled back against the headboard. "And you'll never know the answer will you?" Klara flashed him a mischievous grin, lifting a bite of the cereal to her mouth.

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-06-15 18:54 EST
Klara reached over, turning off the shower. The large glass door was pushed open as she stepped into a steam filled room, fingers curling about a large, fluffy towel. Liam had called earlier asking her to get ready for their first official date. To say she wasn't the least bit giddy would be lying. Always calm and collected Klara was trying hard to maintain the fa"ade, even in the silence of the empty apartment. She had called Shawna right after hanging up with Liam, the two talking animatedly and laughing over the phone as they discussed the contents of her closet. In the end, Klara had agreed with Shawna on what to wear; after all, a girl had to come to a consensus with her best friend. The towel wrapped around her slender frame, Klara's bare feet stepped from the tile of the bathroom to the soft, plush carpeting of the bedroom floor. She paused in front of her large dresser, looking at the mirror hanging directly across from her. Klara reached down into a drawer that was filled with various lipsticks, glosses, eye shadows, pencils, and all sorts of crazy gadgets that women used when it came to "putting their faces on". Klara settled on a dark, golden eyeliner pencil, which she easily swiped over each eyelid, followed by a shimmery, matching shadow. A quick touch of mascara on each eye and she was set, dropping the tube of black liquid into the drawer, turning to look into the mirror once more. She bent quickly, flipping her hair over and shaking her fingers through the wet strands. A minute later she stood back up, flipping her head upright once more where the blonde strands fell in perfectly dry waves down her shoulders. A perk of being her. She smiled to herself, her fingers untucking the towel as it fell away, leaving her bare skin to prickle at the sensation of the cool air. Klara glanced at the clock on her bedside table, noting she had half an hour to finish getting ready. More than enough time, she mused, plucking a bottle of lotion from the confines of her armoire, squeezing some of the citrusy scented liquid into her palm. Slowly, she methodically began to slide the cream on each leg, followed by her hands running over her bare torso and ending with her fingers rubbing the sweet smell into her arms. She replaced the bottle of lotion, drawing her underwear out of the drawer underneath the armoire, slipping into a pair of tiny, white, lacy boyshorts. Nothing else followed as she reached those manicured nails into the closet once more and slid a white dress from one of the padded hangers. Klara drew the dress up and over her head, slipping her arms into the three-quarter length sleeves and with a wiggle of her hips, had the dress sliding tightly to rest just above her knees. Her bare feet easily stepped into a pair of gold stilettos, finishing off her ensemble. Klara shut the door to the armoire, turning to look into the mirror just as her phone rang. http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab118/SeasApart/Klara%20Kingston/KlaraWhitepartydress.jpg The phone was grabbed off the bed and flipped open, "Liam' blinking with each ring. Had the thiry minutes passed already? "Hello." "I'm outside, gorgeous." Liam responded, and as Klara moved to the window, she saw the sleek, black BMW waiting outside the door to her apartment. "I'll be right down." She replied, flipping the pink, jeweled phone shut and dropping it into the tiny, gold purse, withdrawing a small tube of shimmery lip-gloss. She rolled the tube in her hands, eyes befalling the 'strawberry' label. Satisfied, she slid the shiny lipgloss over her lips as she exited the apartment and descended the stairs. The door at the bottom was pushed open and she stepped out into the chill night air, twin baby blues befalling Liam Owens, dressed as usual in an Armani suit, leaning against the car with a single pink rose spinning in his fingers.

Refined Mischief

Date: 2010-06-25 20:13 EST
taken from RP

Liam Owens, dressed as usual in his dapper Armani suit, leaned against his black BMW with a single pink rose spinning in his fingers. There was a smile on his face as he looked towards the door where she exited from, his eyes almost lighting up as they saw her. "Well, well. Come stai?" "Fine, thank you." Klara replied, her steps pausing in front of him as her shiny lips slid into a wide smile. "You're looking quite handsome as always." "I've got to make sure I compliment the lady." He said, opening the door with one hand and extending the rose towards her with the other. Klara reached out with her free hand, her fingers brushing lightly against his as she took the offered rose. "Thank you." She placed a light kiss on his cheek, careful not to smear lip gloss on his skin. "Damn, the cheek?" Liam asked in a chuckled tone. Klara slid easily into the leather seat, tucking the tiny metallic purse on her lap while she lifted the flower to her nose to inhale the sweet scent. "What did I do' Miss a phone call or something?" Closing the door after her, Liam stepped around the car, the rear side, before opening and stepping through the driver side door. Klara laughed quietly as she lowered the rose, leaning over the center of the car. She raised a hand to lightly turn his face, tipping her head to plant a rather long kiss on Liam's lips before she slowly slid back to her seat. "Didn't want to smear the lip gloss all over you so early." She winked, once more settled into her seat. "I severely doubt you don't have more lip gloss in that purse of yours." He said as he started up the car, checking his blindspot before he pulled out and headed down the block. "What' You have something against lip gloss?" Klara asked with a smile, looking toward the window. "Lip gloss never shot at me, so that's a no." Smiling also, Liam made one small turn, then a large one, as he started off on the main road towards the Stars End Spaceport. "Are you going to tell me know where we're going?" "You like..." Liam paused for a moment, ensuring the had the right word in English, sometimes....words escaped him. "Japanese?" "Yes, I like Japanese." "We're heading into Terminus, a place called Ichiban." "Okay." Klara watched Rhydin slowly start to fade away as they moved toward the spaceport. "Did you have the day off today?" Her blue eyes slid from the window toward her companion again. "And why a date now?" Klara's smile reappeared. Though their relationship was a bit backwards, she was not about to complain, despite her curiosity. "Today was fairly easy, it was phone calls for the most part. Nothing overly strenuous, Tomorrow might be a busy day." He looked at her casually, ensuring his eyes remained on the road. "If ya want I could just bring ya back to my place and screw your brains out as opposed to a date." "I seem to think that's how most of the dates have gone already, no?" Klara's laugh was light as it parted her lips. "Why fix something that's not broken?" Her eyes watched him intently as if daring him. "Though all this primping for nothing. That'd be a shame." "We're not even close to the spot," he remarked, "I can certainly divert us to the penthouse." Liam grinned as he looked forward on the Horizon, the Stars End Spaceport was quickly approaching, and his speed gradually increased. "I plead the fifth." Klara turned once more in the seat to look out the windshield, sliding her legs out in front of her, her hands falling to her lap, rolling the rose between her fingers. "The flower was an unexpected touch." "A flower for a flower." He said as he slowly shifted the vehicle into flight mode, the ground gradually moving away from the wheels as the car slowly lifted skyward. "I figured it would be the right thing to do, being this a formal date and all." "Why, Liam Owens, doing the right thing?" She feigned surprise before smiling again. "It's appreciated. Especially the color. I don't know how you guessed pink roses were my favorite." Klara allowed herself to somewhat relax as they went skyward, though she was still unused to the concept of flying cars. "I figured red was too forward. It was a decent guess, especially for a girly-girl." Smiling as the BMW quickly joined the Skyway, speed easily increasing to match and heading off fast towards Terminus. "And as for doing the right thing, it'd probably be the first time in my life I actually did that." "A girly girl" I don't know whether to be offended or not." Klara reached a hand over the car to rest it lightly on his leg. "I think you are too hard on yourself." She let those fingers squeeze his thigh lightly before they relaxed yet did not move. "Or not hard enough." Smiling as he glanced over at her. "Ah, if ya only knew things." Another side glance now as he checked up on her. "You okay' Getting used to this?" "Mmm-hmm....acclimating as best I can." She withdrew her hand from his leg, resting it back in her lap as she turned her eyes back to the window at the sky sliding past them, being replaced by the large, looming buildings of Terminus. "This place is a pretty good spot, real Japanese, none of that store-bought crap. I only eat the best, I don't settle for anything else, and neither should my lady." It was incredible how fast the buildings and skyways caught up with them every time they entered Terminus. Everything was so large and fast paced while at the same time everything was moving in slow motion. "Your lady?" Klara's lips slid into another smile as she draped the rose across her knees, her fingers snapping her purse open. She withdrew the tube of lip gloss, reapplying a small amount to her lips before she dropped it back into the clutch, her eyes sliding toward Liam again, curious as to his choice of words, yet also avoiding looking at the sky as he was preparing to lower the car back to street level. It was the worst part of the whole trip in her opinion. The enormous buildings of the city seemed to hover above them as Liam lowered the car to the street, driving quickly through the streets. It seemed like a route he knew pretty well. Klara's eyes lifted as a blue and white sign came into view, displaying the name of the restaurant that Liam had mentioned earlier. The car slowly slid to a halt, and within moments, her door was opened by a man in a suit. Klara slipped easily from her seat, leaving the flower on the cars eat behind her as she stepped onto the concrete. The warm flesh of Liam's hand found the bare skin of the small of her back, sending a tingling up her spine as he guided her into the restaurant.