A Pair of First Impressions

This woman was testing his patience. What was he? Just a fine specimen to look at and ask to lift and kill things? Well, of course he was. But he was smart and tactical as well and knew how to solve problems beyond making people bleed. But oh well. She wasn't about to ask for help beyond that so he was not going to offer it again to her. Biran would not give her the satisfaction. He scoffed once more in her direction and then helped to see her out.

He grabbed his coat and nodded to Willow on his way out with the woman in question. The job was done for now but Biran was starting to think his night had just begun. Nearly within a moment upon exiting, miss Rune made an observation. Willow? Thinking highly of him? Biran wasn't so sure he'd say that. "I'd say she got the right fit for the job. I was able to subdue you and make you leave for the evening, yes?" He didn't wish to go very far into his personal tie with her, not to a stranger at least.

She then begged a different question. Biran blinked down at her, a little puzzled but otherwise indifferent. "Sure? I don't think it would be much of an issue to me." He wasn't a complete brute after all. Something high class? Whatever it meant, it could be fun. But a test in it? Sure he could pass, but did he really wish to indulge her? He shrugged it off then. Yeah sure, he'll bite. "What did you have in mind?"

She really didn’t think too highly of his capacity to deal with the very sensitive inner workings of her family and his ability to help her think through a way out of this. Hell, she could hardly think past the fact that they wanted her to get married to someone they chose. Just thinking about it made her want to run until she couldn’t breath, couldn’t think, couldn’t move… Or make a porno with someone on the higher ranks and let it ‘accidentally leak’ to the media. Her picture splayed across TV screens, magazines, everywhere portraying their little girl as a slut for hire. How would her suitor think of her then? It was an idea, but one Rune honestly didn’t want to use.

The dog gave him a skeptical look over her shoulder and laughed softly at his way of thinking of it. ”Only because I didn’t feel like fighting you right now. If I were to get into any kind of physical altercation, I can’t say that we would have left that bedroom for the next week as I worked out my agitation.” She said, being almost too honest before she sighed and shook her head with a shrug. ”But I suppose you did your job, huh? Rune admitted softly with a smile.

But as he agreed, her smile turned more mischievous than good natured, her crimson eyes looking up at him as she slowed down enough so that they were walking side by side, lacing her arm with his affectionately and leaning her head on his shoulder. ”We’re not exactly dressed the part, so it cuts off going to my favorite restaurant, but how about golf?” She smiled up at him innocently, but she couldn’t even keep a straight face for more than a few minutes and ended up laughing once more. ”I’m kidding. I was thinking something along the lines of a play? They have The Lion King going on and if I remember correctly, it starts in about an hour~” Rune’s eyes turned from their usual seductive or mischievous to excited as they sparkled with excitement. ”It was my favorite as a child, and I when I heard it was in town, I bought a couple of tickets, but haven’t found anyone to go with. You’ll join me, right?” The look she gave him was something more like a child asking a babysitter to take her to the park than a grown woman asking the man who’d just been hired to remove her from a building. But oh well. They likely wouldn’t meet again after tonight. Might as well give him a side of her no one would believe she had.

Biran didn't know this girl or what her deal was in the brothel. He wasn't that up to date around there anymore so he didn't quite know what Rune meant when she spoke. The male took it as a threat, but did not speak or make any note toward it. Yes. He did his job. His gaze cast out to the city as they made it back to the overworld where they would be partaking in some sort of fancy soiree. He gave her yet another perplexed look as she mentioned her desire to go golfing. She couldn't be serious. Thankfully, she started laughing. "Good. I'm not quite proficient in that matter of stroke..." He scoffed a bit, stopping on the sidewalk now and crossing his arms over his chest.

Biran was just as lost for words as she mentioned her true plan. To go see a play? He was intrigued rather than agitated this time but had this blank look in his eyes. He didn't know whether to be excited or not. "I actually...must have missed that one in my youth." He admitted to her in a quiet rumble. Of course, he had heard of The Lion King before. You couldn't talk to anyone in his modern family over the years without getting some kind of reference from it. It was a beloved film it seemed. "I am excited to experience it though. Of course I will join you."

Rune couldn’t help but give him that wild and mischievous look of hers as he mentioned he wasn’t ‘proficient in the matter of stroke’. It meant that she at least had a leg up on him on that front and she stored the information away if she ever wanted to challenge him to something she was bound to win, though at the same time, she didn’t much like golf either, but still. At least she was semi-good at it. The dog turned as he stopped and crossed his arms over his chest, her gaze turning up at him curiously, but as he spoke…

Her own eyes went wide in shock and astonishment, her mouth opening a little as she stared up at him like he’d just blown her mind out of the water. ”’Must have missed it’?” She questioned him with his own words before shaking her head and giving a slight huff. ”It’s a good thing you’re excited for it. One does not simply ‘miss’ the Lion King. It’s a classic.” She said, her mind still in shock over the fact that he hadn’t seen the Lion King. How does someone miss that?! A tale of greed, murder, betrayal, tyranny, and revenge wrapped up in a cute little kids movie… ”Come on then, Biran.” She gave him another warm smile as she tugged at his arm to lead the way toward the theatre, whether he moved or not was another question. It wasn’t like she could drag this man very easily if he didn’t want to budge. ”I’m actually rather happy that I get to share this with someone else. Going by myself is such a bore…” The dog expressed her own views on it, though she likely would have dragged Silky along with her, but sometimes it was good to have male company as well. Being in a house full of women, it was nice to have the company of men every now and again.

She was quiet for a long moment, almost as if she was thinking too hard on something as her smile dimmed a little. ”But… Thank you… For accompanying me tonight and for getting me out of the house, even if it’s part of your job to do so.” Rune was being sincere with her appreciation and it was clear in her tone that she meant it as she turned her gaze back up to him. ”Not to mention the fact that there are many ways to go about subduing and making someone leave. You went about it the civil way. It says a lot about your character. Good things, at that.”

This female questioned him and seemed shocked that he had never seen the film. He shrugged about it actually, "I'm sure I would have enjoyed it if I had the means to back in the day." He'd allow, but it didn't matter. Either way he was going now and she was whisking him away to the theatre district. If she was happy, he was happy. Much better than dealing with a wild animal problem like his mother not mother made it seem. "I tend to make things more exciting, I know." He tried to act full of himself, and smiled as he joked with her. Before she could turn back and give him any kind of look, he moved up to her side and linked arms with her like a proper gentleman would. He wasn't a complete savage after all.

After a moment of brief silence, she spoke to him again and thanked him. It got his attention and he tilted his head her way but did not make eye contact originally. He found it odd that she was thanking him for getting her out like he was asked to do. Then to top it all off that she was thankful he didn't have to beat her up to do so. "Honestly, it was hit or miss for a moment. If I really wanted punch you, I probably would have." He actually then laughed, like it was a normal part of his day to punch non compliant bitches. He smirked and shrugged then though. "I just wouldn't thank me. I wasn't just doing a favor. But if I didn't come through, I'm a little concerned on who the plan B would of been actually." It could of been a number of fools, that was for sure. Willow did a good job calling the right man though, this woman seemed to be more his type of struggle. "I appreciate it the sentiment, but I wouldn't go ahead and assume my character just yet though." He'd then look down to her and give her a devious wink before setting his sights forward again.

Whether he liked to admit it or not, his wild senses and instincts were on the decline though. He was becoming a little more proper and well groomed each day in this city and he wasn't sure whether or not to accept it. Hearing her describe his actions as civil? It was almost an insult to him but he hid himself well. But then Biran had to look at himself. Really? Arm in arm and heading over to the theatre district for an evening? Wow, how the mighty have fallen. The chimera prepped himself though as they began approaching the establishment. It was in sight now and he saw the line of people who arrived early just to get in, which started to smoothly flow inside. By the time they would walk up there would hardly be much waiting at all. "These theatre's are pretty snazzy and have full bars now, I hear. Obviously I don't know who would want to get smashed at one of these fancy things, but would you like a drink? On me of course. Unwind a bit and get loose after being upset most of the night?" He offered kindly to Rune as she was to brandish tickers to the usher. After all, she got these tickets and the least he could do was buy her a drink or maybe even dinner after this if she was hungry.

The means? Did he mean a television? Or money? Or even parents that would allow him to do so? She was curious, but she kept it to herself rather than ask anything. After all, his background wasn’t her business, much like hers was not his. Pasts were meant to stay where they were. If only hers stayed there. However, his words once more pulled her from her thoughts as he was so very full of himself. She would have scoffed at him, but he moved up to her and linked his arm in hers which eased the tension in thinking he was a total and complete balloon full of his own air.

She laughed with him as he admitted that he would have hit her if he wanted to, or even needed to, she supposed. It was good to hear a man that wasn’t afraid to treat her like an equal, at least that was her take on it. In all honesty, if someone were to act as aggressive as she had, Rune likely would have reacted just as aggressively as they were and there would have been no peaceful solution until one of them was unconscious. But she shook her head as he told her not to assume his character just yet. Looking over at him, she gave him a rather confident smile. ”I’m not assuming. You were calm when faced with a hostile opponent and you didn’t react the way I would have in that situation.” Rune could respect a man that treated every opponent equally and calmly despite everything. ”I can respect that in a person, even strive for that, I suppose.” She said thoughtfully and honestly. As much as she tried, she couldn’t meet an aggressive opponent with a calm demeanor herself, she almost always mirrored people’s emotions or reactions toward her.

When they got to the line of the theatre and waited in the short line, she couldn’t hide the excitement in her, those ruby eyes sparkling with child-like wonder as she fiddled with Biran’s coat sleeve at his wrist with both of her hands as she practically vibrated with giddiness. Sad to say, this was one of her all-time favorite places to be. So many tales told on the stage that she’d seen so many times growing up, even a dream when she was a child of being one of the beautiful actresses that were spotlighted on that stage before reality hit knocked those dreams out of her heart.

Biran’s voice tempered her excitement enough that she peeled her eyes from the entrance and up to him. ”I’ve seen plenty of people get drunk at these.” She said in a matter of fact tone but nodded her head. ”But yes, I’ll take a drink, please. Two actually…” She doubted two would knock her off her feet. Digging through her pockets, she pulled out two tickets as well as her ID and handing them to the usher, who smiled and tore off the ends before handing her the other pieces.

”Thank you, Miss Tyche. As always, your box has been reserved. The play starts in another 30 minutes.” The usher said with a smile as he let them into the theatre. At times like this, it was good to have parents that had pretty much constant reservations at one of their boxes. It’s what happened when they donated a small fortune to a theatre, after all.

”Do you want anything to eat while we’re there? Or would you rather wait until the intermission?” She asked him politely, though her voice was still bubbling with excitement at being here.

Biran didn't think he would ever walk in to one of these fancy establishments. It just wasn't his style to come to the theatre and watch a play and participate in fine dining. He didn't really get what was going on, what a box was, or why Rune had one reserved all special for her, but the male carried an open mind with him at least. This was going to be an experience for sure. The woman beside him sure seemed enthused, playing with his sleeves and practically bouncing with excitement. Biran hardly mind, in fact, he was amused by her and smirked slightly when they finally entered.

The male walked in and was nearly struck with awe as the seemingly standard looking building unveiled a beautiful architecture within, designed with elaborate details. They stepped along red rugs that protected solid marble floors and steps that were accompanied by beautifully carved banisters. It was larger than he thought on the inside as well and it would be hard not to get lost if not for the associates that directed them along the path. But first, Rune had accepted a drink or two or even seven from him and that would be the first stop before making it to their seats.

It was easy to get lost but it also wasn't hard for Biran to find the booze either. The bar was probably the first thing he did identify and approach with vast familiarity. "You're welcome to order whatever you like, drinks are on me." The chimera looked at the different specials that were advertised around, to get a gander and a feel for what he might enjoy. "Are you into wine at all? Apparently we can order a bottle and they'll bring it to our seats before the show starts." He was actually a wine sort of guy so he could get behind an idea like that. "Depends how hungry you are too. I'm not entirely famished, but obviously I can't have you going hungry." In regards to her question about food.

As much as she hated the society she was born in, raised in and then ran from, she loved the architecture of these places. The high society always did have the most beautiful of clothing, objects, and furnishing, but what they made up for in pretty surroundings, they lacked in civility and living in general.

Her ruby gaze turned to Biran as he took in the surroundings, seemingly surprised by the beauty of the place. She didn't subdue the slight giggle that forced it's way up her throat and escaped her lips, but she simply leaned further against her companion for the evening as he led her to the bar, not that she wasn't familiar with this place enough to know pretty much every little inch of this place including all the little nooks and crannies where she could get away with 'hooking up' if she didn't like the show, though finding a competent companion for those endeavors was sometimes difficult for her.

As she stepped up to the bar and Biran told her to order whatever she wanted, the dog smiled happily up at him before tapping the counter. "Can I get four shots of Jack Daniels, please?" She asked the bartender with a brilliant smile before turning her usual flirtatious grin to Biran as he suggested a bottle of wine be delivered to their seats. Her grin widened and lit her red eyes with amusement as she nodded and snuggled her cheek against his shoulder affectionately. "I would love a bottle of wine~" Rune said happily. Gods knew she wouldn't turn down any kind of alcohol.

But food... Hmm... "I'm alright until intermission, thank you." Though she rarely turned down free food either... She could wait until intermission for a meal. As the bartender placed her drink down, she quickly downed it, giving a slight shudder at the burn down her throat that she could never quite get used to, but enjoyed none-the-less. "Do you want one?" She offered Biran. If he took them, she was happy to share two of hers. If not, she would down them just as quickly before leading him toward the private box.

Upon getting there, the small little room was set up nicely with four plush and comfortable seats, a small table between them and a pair of heavy curtains on either side of the window that gave a clear view of the stage. "And this, my dear Biran, is where we will be spending the next three hours. Make yourself comfortable." She said to him before detaching herself from his arm to go up to the window where she looked over the red curtain that covered the stage. A heavy sigh left her as she shook her head slightly and turned back to the male in the room. "So how much did Willow tell you about what happened?" Not that she'd told Willow exactly why she'd been enraged to begin with, but she didn't know how much had been told about her entire situation either.

Biran was thrown for a bit of a loop when the tiny frame before him ordered four shots. That wasn't a whole lot for him, but he didn't quite expect it of her. He thought she said she was enjoying his company, so why was she trying to put herself out of her misery before the show even started? Maybe there was more than meets the eye with her though, but Biran would never admit that any woman could drink more than him. He took this as a small challenge and ordered his own batch of shots as well, to at least keep them on equal playing fields. The bartender lined up 8 full shots of Jack before them, just as confused himself. "And I'd also like a bottle of your best Riesling brought to our table." The large and in charge male knocked back a shot after giving the order and would show his ticket for seating information.

His attention turned back to his female companion of the evening. She essentially said she would survive on alcohol until the intermission which suited him fine as well. She also offered one of her shots to him but he didn't pay it any mind as he knocked back another of his. "I'm good with what I got right now. Thanks." He would be tempted for the numbers to be 5 to 3, but he just stuck with it for now and played everything cool while he was still level headed. Biran finished off his two remaining shots with her and then they would be off.

He was lead up to the finest seats in the house and looked around in bewilderment. Of course, he had never been in a real performing arts theatre before, so all of this was a tad bit overwhelming to his senses. "All this to ourselves?" He didn't quite think it would be this way when it was described to him. The monstrosity followed the woman to the window and looked down to the crowd that was filling in seats quickly before the show was to begin. Yes, that down there seemed more like what he was told about. "Fancy." He offered the compliment in a gruff sort of scoff, almost sounding sarcastic. It wasn't exactly an unimpressed sound but it would sound like one. To be fair, he was actually quite impressed by all of this. It was something he had never done before. Anyone who could critically assess him would know the sound was more so an apprehensive display, that things were different and he was unsure. But even through insecurity, this was fine and he figured he should pay a more sincere compliment than a scoff.

"I mean that this is very different. I've never quite done this before. Thank you for inviting me." He corrected himself and retreated to his seat. Right on time as a server came through with the wine and had Biran inspect and taste it. It was no sweet honey mead of his homeland, but it would do nicely so he sent the server away with his blessing and poured the two glasses himself from there. The woman begged a question that was simple to answer but then raised another for himself. "Willow told me nothing. Just that you were causing a small problem." But why? She could have called on literally anyone else in this whole city. But even through a rough track record in her brothel, he trusted him to deal with the issue. "You aren't nearly as insurmountable as she described. Maybe I caught you on a 'good' bad day." Biran came back to her then with his and her glass in hand and offered it to her.

"But you know, her husband is also the one that tells me the right people come into our lives at the right time. Maybe she's started to believe in that. I...was dealing with a slight issue tonight as well. If not for her call, I'd probably still be haunted by the issue. So I guess...thanks. For making a mess of things and having me here." It was probably the most genuine he had been all night, tearing the walls down for a moment. "Cheers." He offered a slight derail in topic to take the moment to partake in good drinking etiquette among good companions. A clank of their glasses later, he would take a sip of the sweet white wine.

Her crimson eyes turned to him as he matched her order, a whole 8 shots placed in front of them along with a bottle of Riesling to their room. It was ballsy of him to assume she liked the whiter wines, but that was fine. She could drink whatever wine was put in front of her, plus, as much as she hated to admit it, she didn’t mind him ordering for her. At least not wine.

The dog laughed softly as she watched him knock back his second one before she did the same, matching him shot for shot before they set on their way to the box. Rune found herself rather amused by his reaction as he looked around the room, the same splendor and wonder that she used to have for it in his eyes. ”Yep~ All to ourselves. That’s the perks of having your own box at the theatre.” Shrugging at his seemingly sarcastic remark. Perhaps it wasn’t much to him, but to her, it really was a place of excitement. However, after a few moments, Biran correcting his words, offering a more complimentary comment about it. ”If the show is boring, you can even close the curtains and have a different form of entertainment.” She said with a soft laugh. Though there were very few places that she refused to have sex, this was likely one of them. Least of all, at The Lion King, but if he really wanted to… At least he was attractive.

She didn’t even waver in her speech when their wine came, not caring if the waiter heard what she said about them in this room. She doubted they’d give many cares about what they were doing so long as they were quiet anyway, so really, who would it hurt in the end? Her gaze turned to look at the beast of a man in the room as he tasted the wine before sending the man away, a small smirk on her lips as she watched him, amused by him in ways that many men couldn’t accomplish. Perhaps it was the fact that he somehow seemed like herself. Wild and yet restrained, a taste of untamed and somehow civil. It was a strange combination that not many people she came across felt like to be around.

But as he answered her question, she nodded slightly. A problem… Yeah, she’d been furious, threw a fit and even punched one of their regular customers, and not one that signed up for her specifically. No… She’d just had to punch one of their more fragile guests who’d made a comment about PMS or something along those lines before all but running up the stairs and into her room where she destroyed everything within reach, leaving her room a disaster of broken glass and clothing.

His next comment brought a true laugh from her as she looked at him, her brows knitting together in a skeptical look. ”It helped that I took out most of my aggression on that mirror and a buffoon downstairs. It’s now just… Seething anger, I suppose?” Her voice was serious, but she did her best to make it sound lighthearted. The woman took the glass from him with a ”thank you,” before taking twirling it in the glass, taking a smell of the semi-sweet and floral wine. Her attention was once more grabbed by his soothingly gruff voice and she found herself listening carefully to what he had to say as their talk got a bit deeper, a bit more philosophical than she would have thought for a first date.

The right people at the right time, hmm? Perhaps he was right… If they were both having a hard time tonight, then maybe it was best they meet when they could help build one another up. However, unlike for his situation, she would still be plagued by her problems after tonight. Hell, she’d likely be plagued by them until she was married, knocked up and/or dead. As he offered his glass to her with a ‘cheer’, Rune turned back to him with a genuine smile. ”Yes. Cheers.” She followed his suit and took a sip of her own wine, savoring the flavor that coated her tongue. Should she continue to have the serious talk? Get down to the meaty grit of what was going on with her? Open up to someone she’d just met about a problem that she was sure he wouldn’t be able to help with? Well… If Willow thought that they were to help one another, then perhaps it was best to open up and let him in.

”Maybe after this, we could take a run down the beach or through the woods to get our blood pumping? If you can keep up, we might even be able to get our blood pumping in a different way.” She nudged him with her elbow playfully before giving him a seductive wink. Her problems could wait. Before then, despite having faith in Willow, she needed to test him out for herself. "And if tomorrow we still get along, I might just believe that theory enough to open up enough to see if you can really help, if you're up to the challenge."