Summer shrugged. “Sure. Ask me anything.” She picked up the fork and started playing with her eggs, pushing them around. It felt like Victor wasn’t taking her seriously. “I’ve always been weird,” she began, quietly, not looking at him. “I read too much, I think too much, I’m too outspoken. No tact, that’s how my mother puts it. I don’t dress right.” She sighed. “Imagine how you felt when you were a teenager. Then double it, triple it, a thousand times — that was my growing up. Because of what I am. I was shy, and introverted, and not enough like most of my classmates.”
Victor looked at her intently, not even touching his food as he listened. “I’m sorry, Summer. It’s not right that you were treated like that. Honestly, I think you had it worse than I did, having to deal with teenage politics sounds terrible. At least with me I knew what I had to do, the path was straight cut, black and white, but for you, it must’ve been hard.” His eyes had gone from the hazel they were last night to a much more green colour. They warmed while he was talking to her, going from their playful light to something much more serious. “Do you mind if I ask what you are exactly Summer?”
“I’m an empath. I’m not sure there’s a name for the other part of it. I just say firechild.” She got up from the table, picking up a candle jar off the counter. “Watch.” Holding the jar by the bottom, she just … looked at it, and it was lit. Summer put it on the table and sat back down. “I transform the energy of the emotions I take in to fire. If I don’t make that transmutation, the extra energy stays in me, and I have convulsions.” She paused. “I was ten when my empathy showed. We didn’t know what it was, just that I was depressed. I tried to kill myself.”
“You’re starting to sound like me,” Summer returned wryly. “If I wanted you to leave, I’d say so.” She collected forks and sat down at the table, watching Victor. “I’m not really complaining. Just … confused. I can’t remember the last time someone /wanted/ to shag me. Much less,” she gestured around, “/spoil/ me.” With quick, economical motions, she tied her hair in a lovers’ haste knot.
“Am I? Starting to sound like you?” he asked, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Victor smirked then made a show of checking her over with his eyes. “You can’t remember the last time someone wanted to shag you? That’s ridiculous, you’d have to have been living under a rock in order for that to happen. And if you think this,” he returned her gesture regarding the food, “is spoiling then you haven’t seen anything.” Victor shrugged. “I’m a bachelor with money at his disposal, I tend to be a little generous cos in all reality I’ve no need for all of it.” He rocked back on his heels a little bit, he wasn’t the type to flaunt and horde his money, he liked to give things away to his friends and anonymously help out non-profits. “Anyways, what would you like to drink?”
“Victor, darling,” she drawled, folding her arms, “I would /really/ appreciate it if you’d stop insinuating I’m a liar. There’s the end of some apple juice in the fridge. Now,” she leaned forward, “I am, again, not complaining. It’s your money, you do what you like. I’m not ignorant of your — hmm — appreciation? But you have to understand, I’ve been alone in that way far too much of my life, and your particular regard is very unfamiliar to me.” Summer sighed, leaning back and looking down at her hands. “Frankly, I don’t know what you see.”
“Not callin’ you a liar, love, more like I can’t believe that a majority of the males you’ve encountered were so thick headed.” He followed her instruction and grabbed the apple juice and poured it out then placed it in front of her. He sat down then and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Summer. Honestly, I see someone I can trust. Don’t ask me why, like I said, call it intuition, it’s a feeling I get. I see someone that can be caring and can keep up with me if not outwit me in a conversation and I like that. It’s rare that I find all of that in one person.” He paused one moment and grabbed some pancakes. “Why is it that you’ve been alone so much? You seem to know more about me than I do about you, would you be up for sharing?”
Summer shrugged. “Sure. Ask me anything.” She picked up the fork and started playing with her eggs, pushing them around. It felt like Victor wasn’t taking her seriously. “I’ve always been weird,” she began, quietly, not looking at him. “I read too much, I think too much, I’m too outspoken. No tact, that’s how my mother puts it. I don’t dress right.” She sighed. “Imagine how you felt when you were a teenager. Then double it, triple it, a thousand times — that was my growing up. Because of what I am. I was shy, and introverted, and not enough like most of my classmates.”
“You have known me two days, Victor, darling.” Summer gave him a suspicious look. “I’m not going to dis love at first sight, but really. Oh, um … I don’t drink coffee. I have that machine to make hot chocolate and cider, actually.”
He looked a little sheepish then. “Sorry, would you like me to fix you a cup of either then?” Victor paused a moment. “Right, well, you don’t have to love someone to care about them. I can’t say that I love you because I’ve only known you for two days yet, I’ve just shagged you which, for me, implies some level of caring. Like I said already, I’m not the shag ‘em and leave ‘em type. At the very least I feel comfortable around you but this is your house and if I’m being a little too forward I can leave.”
“You’re starting to sound like me,” Summer returned wryly. “If I wanted you to leave, I’d say so.” She collected forks and sat down at the table, watching Victor. “I’m not really complaining. Just … confused. I can’t remember the last time someone /wanted/ to shag me. Much less,” she gestured around, “/spoil/ me.” With quick, economical motions, she tied her hair in a lovers’ haste knot.
“Am I? Starting to sound like you?” he asked, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Victor smirked then made a show of checking her over with his eyes. “You can’t remember the last time someone wanted to shag you? That’s ridiculous, you’d have to have been living under a rock in order for that to happen. And if you think this,” he returned her gesture regarding the food, “is spoiling then you haven’t seen anything.” Victor shrugged. “I’m a bachelor with money at his disposal, I tend to be a little generous cos in all reality I’ve no need for all of it.” He rocked back on his heels a little bit, he wasn’t the type to flaunt and horde his money, he liked to give things away to his friends and anonymously help out non-profits. “Anyways, what would you like to drink?”
“Victor, darling,” she drawled, folding her arms, “I would /really/ appreciate it if you’d stop insinuating I’m a liar. There’s the end of some apple juice in the fridge. Now,” she leaned forward, “I am, again, not complaining. It’s your money, you do what you like. I’m not ignorant of your — hmm — appreciation? But you have to understand, I’ve been alone in that way far too much of my life, and your particular regard is very unfamiliar to me.” Summer sighed, leaning back and looking down at her hands. “Frankly, I don’t know what you see.”
“Yeah. I’d forgotten I even had that thing.” Pulling another plate from the cabinet, she fished the toast out with her fingers. “Oh, hey, there’s strawberry jelly in the fridge. I’m gonna need that.” She grabbed two more plates in the other hand and carried it all to the table. “I think I’m being spoiled.”
Victor laughed, “I hope you don’t mind, I did some rummaging.” His ears perked at the mention of strawberry jelly. “Strawberries? I love them.” He grabbed the coffee and two cups he’d set aside and brought them over to the table as well. “Well, perhaps I am spoiling you a little bit. Call it a weakness, I tend to spoil those I care for.”
“You have known me two days, Victor, darling.” Summer gave him a suspicious look. “I’m not going to dis love at first sight, but really. Oh, um … I don’t drink coffee. I have that machine to make hot chocolate and cider, actually.”
He looked a little sheepish then. “Sorry, would you like me to fix you a cup of either then?” Victor paused a moment. “Right, well, you don’t have to love someone to care about them. I can’t say that I love you because I’ve only known you for two days yet, I’ve just shagged you which, for me, implies some level of caring. Like I said already, I’m not the shag ‘em and leave ‘em type. At the very least I feel comfortable around you but this is your house and if I’m being a little too forward I can leave.”
“You’re starting to sound like me,” Summer returned wryly. “If I wanted you to leave, I’d say so.” She collected forks and sat down at the table, watching Victor. “I’m not really complaining. Just … confused. I can’t remember the last time someone /wanted/ to shag me. Much less,” she gestured around, “/spoil/ me.” With quick, economical motions, she tied her hair in a lovers’ haste knot.
Summer followed Lil Doc down the hall and into the kitchen, stretching widely and trying to smooth down her hair. “Oooh, that smells good. I love pancakes.” Mindful of the stove, pan, and spatula, she slipped her arms around his waist, rubbing her nose into his back. Helios headbutted her leg, and she broke off with a giggle to feed them, filling four bowls.
Victor smiled as he heard her and the cats make their way to the kitchen. He reached back to rub her thigh gently with one hand while he used the other to mind the eggs. “Morning love, sleep alright? Oh, and I didn’t know, how do you like your eggs?” There was something wonderfully natural in the way she felt, her arms wrapped around him and her nose rubbing against his back.
“Plain,” she replied, filling the water bowl at the sink. “Other than that, I don’t actually care.” Padding back over, she glanced over the array of breakfast material. “You are going to make me fat.”
Victor nodded then continued with the eggs, scrambling them. “Nonsense, I’m merely replenishing your energy.” He put all of the pancakes onto a plate and put it on the table so that they could take as many as they liked. “Could you get the toast love?” he asked as the toaster popped.
“Yeah. I’d forgotten I even had that thing.” Pulling another plate from the cabinet, she fished the toast out with her fingers. “Oh, hey, there’s strawberry jelly in the fridge. I’m gonna need that.” She grabbed two more plates in the other hand and carried it all to the table. “I think I’m being spoiled.”
Victor laughed, “I hope you don’t mind, I did some rummaging.” His ears perked at the mention of strawberry jelly. “Strawberries? I love them.” He grabbed the coffee and two cups he’d set aside and brought them over to the table as well. “Well, perhaps I am spoiling you a little bit. Call it a weakness, I tend to spoil those I care for.”
“You have known me two days, Victor, darling.” Summer gave him a suspicious look. “I’m not going to dis love at first sight, but really. Oh, um … I don’t drink coffee. I have that machine to make hot chocolate and cider, actually.”
Summer followed Lil Doc down the hall and into the kitchen, stretching widely and trying to smooth down her hair. “Oooh, that smells good. I love pancakes.” Mindful of the stove, pan, and spatula, she slipped her arms around his waist, rubbing her nose into his back. Helios headbutted her leg, and she broke off with a giggle to feed them, filling four bowls.
Victor smiled as he heard her and the cats make their way to the kitchen. He reached back to rub her thigh gently with one hand while he used the other to mind the eggs. “Morning love, sleep alright? Oh, and I didn’t know, how do you like your eggs?” There was something wonderfully natural in the way she felt, her arms wrapped around him and her nose rubbing against his back.
“Plain,” she replied, filling the water bowl at the sink. “Other than that, I don’t actually care.” Padding back over, she glanced over the array of breakfast material. “You are going to make me fat.”
Victor nodded then continued with the eggs, scrambling them. “Nonsense, I’m merely replenishing your energy.” He put all of the pancakes onto a plate and put it on the table so that they could take as many as they liked. “Could you get the toast love?” he asked as the toaster popped.
“Yeah. I’d forgotten I even had that thing.” Pulling another plate from the cabinet, she fished the toast out with her fingers. “Oh, hey, there’s strawberry jelly in the fridge. I’m gonna need that.” She grabbed two more plates in the other hand and carried it all to the table. “I think I’m being spoiled.”
Summer followed Lil Doc down the hall and into the kitchen, stretching widely and trying to smooth down her hair. “Oooh, that smells good. I love pancakes.” Mindful of the stove, pan, and spatula, she slipped her arms around his waist, rubbing her nose into his back. Helios headbutted her leg, and she broke off with a giggle to feed them, filling four bowls.
Victor smiled as he heard her and the cats make their way to the kitchen. He reached back to rub her thigh gently with one hand while he used the other to mind the eggs. “Morning love, sleep alright? Oh, and I didn’t know, how do you like your eggs?” There was something wonderfully natural in the way she felt, her arms wrapped around him and her nose rubbing against his back.
“Plain,” she replied, filling the water bowl at the sink. “Other than that, I don’t actually care.” Padding back over, she glanced over the array of breakfast material. “You are going to make me fat.”
“That’s Helios. He’s a Ragdoll.” Summer made kissy noises at Helios, who disdained them magnificently, flopping out on the floor and turning his belly up. “Oh, /someone’s/ a stinker.” She rolled her eyes at Helios. “Um, you said something about breakfast? I, um, kinda don’t have any breakfast foods in the house. I’m not really a morning person.”
“Helios? That’s a good name.” He smiled as he watched the cat turn his belly up, he’d always liked animals. Victor shrugged, “Well I can cook lunch as well. If you fancy breakfast I can always go and get some food, it’s not like I have a shortage of money.”
Summer tried to swallow a yawn. “You can do whatever you like, Victor, darling. Mostly I was just letting you know.” Slowly she let one leg dangle off the sofa. “You don’t have to spend money on me, you know.”
Victor shrugged again. “Well, I don’t mind, and besides, I do enjoy food other than blood y’know so I’d be buying for myself as well.” He noticed how she had tried to stifle her yawn and smirked. “Perhaps we should get to bed first though?”
“Oh, yes,” Summer looked over her shoulder at him, returning his smirk. She slid the rest of the way off the sofa, taking Victor’s hand and pulling him along to the bedroom. She stopped to pull on clean sleepwear and pushed him into the bed, giggling, then settled herself in with him. For the first time in a long time, sleep claimed her quickly.
When she woke, hours later, the sun was streaming into the bedroom window and the other side of the bed was empty. From her side, a small chirp-like mew could be heard, and then the thunder of cats chasing each other.
Victor was busy in the kitchen. He had gone and gotten groceries and had helped himself to the kitchen appliances. There was coffee being made and he was making them pancakes, a favorite of his, with eggs and toast. The cats had said good morning to him in the ‘ooh let me rub myself all over your legs’ fashion and he had replied by scratching their ears. He hoped when Summer woke up she would smell breakfast and not be alarmed by the fact that he wasn’t in bed with her.
Summer followed Lil Doc down the hall and into the kitchen, stretching widely and trying to smooth down her hair. “Oooh, that smells good. I love pancakes.” Mindful of the stove, pan, and spatula, she slipped her arms around his waist, rubbing her nose into his back. Helios headbutted her leg, and she broke off with a giggle to feed them, filling four bowls.
“That’s Helios. He’s a Ragdoll.” Summer made kissy noises at Helios, who disdained them magnificently, flopping out on the floor and turning his belly up. “Oh, /someone’s/ a stinker.” She rolled her eyes at Helios. “Um, you said something about breakfast? I, um, kinda don’t have any breakfast foods in the house. I’m not really a morning person.”
“Helios? That’s a good name.” He smiled as he watched the cat turn his belly up, he’d always liked animals. Victor shrugged, “Well I can cook lunch as well. If you fancy breakfast I can always go and get some food, it’s not like I have a shortage of money.”
Summer tried to swallow a yawn. “You can do whatever you like, Victor, darling. Mostly I was just letting you know.” Slowly she let one leg dangle off the sofa. “You don’t have to spend money on me, you know.”
Victor shrugged again. “Well, I don’t mind, and besides, I do enjoy food other than blood y’know so I’d be buying for myself as well.” He noticed how she had tried to stifle her yawn and smirked. “Perhaps we should get to bed first though?”
“Oh, yes,” Summer looked over her shoulder at him, returning his smirk. She slid the rest of the way off the sofa, taking Victor’s hand and pulling him along to the bedroom. She stopped to pull on clean sleepwear and pushed him into the bed, giggling, then settled herself in with him. For the first time in a long time, sleep claimed her quickly.
When she woke, hours later, the sun was streaming into the bedroom window and the other side of the bed was empty. From her side, a small chirp-like mew could be heard, and then the thunder of cats chasing each other.
“I,” she paused dramatically, “am not sleeping on the couch. I have a perfectly good bed, and you are welcome to wrestle the cats for your share of it. Assuming they bother to appear. I think they think you smell funny.” As if on cue, a very large, fluffy, seal-point and white cat squeezed himself out from under the couch, sat down, and scratched an ear before fixing the two of them with a very blue gaze.
Victor chuckled and planted another kiss on her shoulder. “I think they’ll be willing to give up the space for me.” He looked up then to see one of said cats staring at them. “What’s this one’s name? Looks very nice.”
“That’s Helios. He’s a Ragdoll.” Summer made kissy noises at Helios, who disdained them magnificently, flopping out on the floor and turning his belly up. “Oh, /someone’s/ a stinker.” She rolled her eyes at Helios. “Um, you said something about breakfast? I, um, kinda don’t have any breakfast foods in the house. I’m not really a morning person.”
“Helios? That’s a good name.” He smiled as he watched the cat turn his belly up, he’d always liked animals. Victor shrugged, “Well I can cook lunch as well. If you fancy breakfast I can always go and get some food, it’s not like I have a shortage of money.”
Summer tried to swallow a yawn. “You can do whatever you like, Victor, darling. Mostly I was just letting you know.” Slowly she let one leg dangle off the sofa. “You don’t have to spend money on me, you know.”