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DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on August 8, 2020 at 7:29

It was sweet, the way he talked about his dad like he was his complete idol and it definitely made Nora a little envious, but then she would be glad if no one ever experienced the things she did with her parents, all she ever wanted was their time and attention and they couldn’t give her that, so she had convinced herself it was because they were so busy trying to make the world better but in reality, they were just selfish and cruel. “I think being an engineer is just as good as being a firefighter, I mean you’re working to save the world in different ways” she nodded slightly, especially when he was working on military planes before, ones which carried important supplies to those who needed them. “It’s kinda hard to imagine what that’s like for me” she responded giving a sheepish grin “I mean I see the family gatherings in TV and stuff but for me, Christmas was mostly just getting a bunch of extra toys for the day” she looked up at him and shrugged, if they didn’t have time they would just buy her with things.

Nora had been quite an open person when she was younger but every time she let someone into her life and trusted them, she felt like she lived to regret it, her parents were barely ever there, her nannies were her only company but none of them stayed too long because her parents would replace them whenever they got too expensive. She had friends but she never felt like she could be sure they wanted to be friends with her or they just wanted access to her stuff. It was a cycle that set her up to see the worst in others and that coupled with her anger issues, was detrimental to her. Thankfully she had managed to channel it into something good but to this day it still made her wary of other people, even those with good intentions. Julian was patient with her though, despite the fact she had warned him off more times than she could count he was still here, not pushing, just being and she had to admit she liked that.

She grimaced a little, looking down to Cloud and then back up to Julian “So many that I stopped counting for my own sanity” she confessed, shaking her head slightly, thankfully he was old enough now that he was past his chewing phase but for a while, if she left anything on the floor then it was pretty much fair game for the little fluffball “You’d be shocked how much a fluffball like him can destroy” cute on the outside but a mischievous little devil on the inside. “I’d say a solid 6, I mean he’s done some crazy things but he was young and didn’t know better” she sighed slightly under her breath “The worst one had to be when he got in the paint tray while I had a decorator over and walked it all across the wood floors” she let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head smiling. She raised her brow when he said he didn’t think sugar gliders had a special diet “Really? I heard that had to be fed live worms and stuff” she commented thoughtfully, though maybe that was a different animal. Either way, they were exotic animals so she imagined they had some special requirements.

She laughed and scrunched her nose when he commented on Cloud’s excitement to be reunited with his friends “Don’t worry, he’ll be running back to us before you know it” she jerked her chin and pointed out a bench where they could sit while he played, she waved a brief hello to the other owners around watching their dogs, she liked coming here and letting her pup socialize, he enjoyed playing around with the other dogs and letting off steam. Nora did widen her eyes when he quite boldly pointed out that she was someone he liked only to go very silent after, she fiddled with her hands in her lap and then smiled, glancing over at him as though to say it was okay with her that he said what he said “Well you’re probably going to want two girls then so...Buttercup would be cute?” not something you would wanna call a human child, but a fur baby sure.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on August 24, 2020 at 20:04

Who would’ve thought he’d turn out to be an engineer rather than a lawyer like his mother expected? Not him, for sure. Julian was doing well studying during his schooling years until that science fest he went to, then it all changed. Literally. “I never really dreamed about saving the world but doing good deeds because that’s what a good person is supposed to do? Yeah, that one is definitely it. My sister told me being a firefighter wouldn’t pay well and I guess we all knew who’s the optimist and pessimist of the family” he joked, but his optimistic tendencies was exactly why he’s still here with Nora today, accompanying her because he genuinely wanted to spend his quality time with her. “How many toys do you usually get then?” he asked curiously, “I could never ask for a lot. My grandmother told me it wasn’t right to expect gifts from people even if they are your family and I guess it stuck with me.” The woman he met on his first day and this one was different, similar but so different. 

Julian reminded himself that she was a working woman who wished to keep a professional front but really, professionalism could only stretch so far. It was no surprise that the Nephilim was happy to be given the chance to know her better because of it. She has constantly been pushing him away and he couldn’t keep count of the warnings but he wasn’t about to give up easily, he was better than that. What better way to prove to her that he was there to stay than spend his time with her outside of work? Today was a period of getting to know one another even deeper and he liked that, it gave him hope that perhaps this could really work. He only needed to push into it even more, which he had no problem wanting to do. “So don’t wear anything expensive when coming here because there’s a whole Cloud, got it” he quipped humorously, it was a nod that he wished to come over and play with the dog again, and to see her too. He was being quite casual and upfront with his future plans involving her, she agreed to let him in and so he is going to do the most of it. 

This felt like high school all over again, honestly, and maybe… just maybe Julian felt the excitement that rushed within him again. Something he didn’t think he’d feel again after a while. “Oh come on… how bad can he really be” he snorted playfully, Cloud looked like a troublemaker but Julian wasn’t sure what the dog had in him, though admittedly the male had only met him for the first time today. “If I asked him, he’d probably bark and say you were overreacting dramatically to give him a solid 6.” That was until she told him what the little fluff did which had the Nephilim biting his bottom lip so he wouldn’t laugh. Too late, he was halfway stifling his own laughter. “You know I see a cat doing something like that, not a dog” felines are so much harder to control because they’re their own bosses and dogs are generally energetic. Julian casually shrugged and tilted his head slightly to the side as a response to her ask, “Such mysterious creatures... “ 

He followed her to the bench and let out a heaved sigh of relief when he finally got to sit, “ He didn’t expect for her to fall down in the hole of silence afterwards but bit back his remark because he realized he said that outloud and acted so nonchalant about it, “I do mean it though.” The way she was fiddling with her hands in her lap caught his attention and Julian found himself snickering softly while murmuring how cute she was being to himself. “Buttercup? Really?” She wasn’t wrong, it is a cute name but he didn’t expect it from her. “I’ll take it into serious consideration” he winked playfully and leaned against the bench. “This is not how I pictured my Christmas going but I’ll be honest with you, so far it’s a possible contender to go up against 2015 Christmas.” He was playfully whistling at Cloud who was torn between coming to him or continue to play with his mates. Of course, the dog couldn’t resist his charms and ended up running back to them while barking happily. “I told you he likes me.”

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on August 26, 2020 at 22:06

She nodded slightly, he didn’t seem like the type who would do things for glory, he just didn’t strike her as someone who cared for big achievements and titles, he was probably settled with his own knowledge that he did the right thing and took care of those around him. She wasn’t the same as him in that respect but she could definitely understand the sentiment of wanting to do good things in the world “Engineer fits you to a tee” she responded and smiled slightly “Practical and logical” she nodded slightly “Though I might suggest you veer just a little into creating, believe me, there’s no better feeling that making something new from scratch” and with the experience, he had in electronics she was sure that he could make some really amazing things. She blushed a little, shifting on the spot when he asked her to reveal how much her parents bought to keep her entertained “Well one year they bought me an iPhone instead of coming home for Christmas” she spoke softly and then shrugged slightly “I was excited to get the things at the time but...you know, I wanted them not the toys” but she wasn’t the type to complain even when she was young.

She laughed and nodded “And keep anything you don’t want to be chewed off the floor, though he has gotten better, he still has his crazy moments and once he gets hold of your shoe, he isn’t giving it back” thankfully it seemed to be part of his rebellious puppy phase which he was slowly growing out of which was for the better considering how many expensive pairs of shoes she had needed to replace over the past few months “Besides if he doesn’t get you with his teeth he will with his fur” she teased and pointed to some of the white hairs which had already found their way onto Julian’s shirt and picked a couple of them off “You definitely have to accept that fur is a part of your life now when you get a dog” she laughed under her breath.

She gave him a stern look when he asked how bad her dog could really be “See a cat would jump in the paint and then pad around the house purposely leaving a trail just to make a point but this little ball of energy had no idea he’d done anything wrong and it got all in his fur and he was so confused about why I was chasing him around the house which became a game of him running away” she sighed in an exasperated manner. “He’s not allowed to be in the house when painting is happening anymore” it had cost her quite a lot to get it sorted out but in hindsight, she should have realized it was probably a disaster waiting to happen. “He can be an idiot sometimes but he’s my idiot and that’s what counts” she commented as she watched him playing with his favorite greyhound friend, Cloud loved th dog park and spending time with other pups, she brought him here whenever she could because it always tired him out and made him happy.

She glanced over at him beside her and then looked away when he met her eyes, why did him saying that make her feel so nervous? It wasn’t like he was the first person to tell her they liked her. But perhaps he was the first one she could actually believe he meant it, not just in a passing statement but in a way which actually made her stomach feel all tingly “Got it” she responded and tried to resist the smile which wanted to appear on her lips in response to his words. She widened her eyes when he questioned her choice of name “Well you know, I used to like the power puff girls a lot when I was young and I always thought that was a cute name” she blushed softly, how embarrassing it was to keep telling him things like this. She looked up curiously when he said it could compete with 2015 Christmas “What happened in 2015?” she asked tilting her head slightly, was it special? Seeing Cloud come bolting back over to them made her smile “Careful, if you make him miss you then he might demand you have to come back” she jested as she stroked the little white pup’s fur “Are you having fun mister?” just at that moment the greyhound Cloud had been playing with came running over too “Well it seems like you’re just a dog magnet” she teased as she glanced at Julian.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on September 4, 2020 at 16:24

“You really think so?” he raised his eyebrows in a surprised manner, despite being good at what he does, he couldn’t recall if anyone has ever told him he fits being an engineer instead of something else. “Feels nice to hear that.” When she suggested for him to move into the creation field, he swore his eyes lit up at the mere mention of the word itself, “Oh, believe me, I’ve been wanting to give it a try. But drafts are… drafts, you know?” He wasn’t sure if he was just too afraid of rejection or the opposite. The furthest he has ever modified something into one of his own was his wiring scheme, but that alone was a minor detail in a sea of big details. Upon hearing that she was given an iPhone for Christmas gift because they couldn’t go home to her that particular year, Julian widened his eyes, “An iPhone huh, that’s an expensive thing for a kid. But also… kinda sad a gift like that is supposed to be ‘enough’ to replace the company.” And just like Nora said, she wanted them, not the toys.

 He narrowed his eyes slightly at her when she talked about keeping his shoes off the floor when Cloud is around, “Noted, I will keep it away.” He was already eyeing his windbreaker and pants to see if there were any white fur on him and found a few, there weren't many so it wasn't as easy to spot them but they were there. Holding a few of those fur up in the air as he identified them to be Cloud's, Julian scoffed and shook his head, "You're not wrong. He sheds a lot, must've been hellish to clean it up. I assume it's not if Mr Mischief cleaned up after himself" he teased. He remembered his younger cousins who were allergic to dog fur and sneezed every given moment. "Oh god, I can only imagine you wanted to put him on a time out after that… did you? Wait, does Cloud even have a time out? A mama's boy like that, hm?" From his view, he was that loveable to get away with a lot of things but on the other hand, Nora can be strict. So there was no knowing which is which. He had an endearing smile on him when she said Cloud is her idiot, it was cute to see her call him like that. It was all the proof he needed to see that Nora truly loves the dog. 

Given her lifestyle, Cloud is seemingly the only company, or at least decent company, that she has. It helps that her best friend is also an energetic fluff. A small part of him wondered if his blush was prominent enough for her to see because she looked away almost instantly when she met his gaze earlier. Too soon, Julian. Too soon. "Of course you used to like powerpuff girls when you were younger" he chuckled wryly and eyed her from the side, "Buttercup suits you. I actually like Buttercup when I was younger. Still do, actually. She's a badass." When he was asked what happened in Christmas 2015, Julian shrugged absentmindedly, "Memorable year is all. We had a big get-together that time. My fiancé was still alive and my sister was happy with hers. Our families were looking forward to our future planning. We were supposed to get married that year actually. Everything felt… happier, I guess." To say this year's would be close to beating that meant a lot to Julian, who hasn't had a good Christmas ever since. 

"That's the point. If I make him miss me enough, he will want me to come back and you will have no reason but to call me back. Which I will happily do so" he winked playfully at both the dog and the owner. The greyhound's appearance surprised him but the Nephilim quickly grew fond of it, "what's this guy's name hm? Are you here to get attention too? Well you have it, Cloud you have such a clingy friend. Reminds me of me." A dog magnet, seems likely. "Oh believe me, a dog magnet is not the only magnet I wanna be, Nora."

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on September 5, 2020 at 21:43

She had a hint of a smile on her lips when he seemed so surprised and touched by her comment “I’ve seen you working, you always just have this attitude like anything is possible” she noticed the way he would throw himself at a challenge and wouldn’t give in until he solved it, it was those kinds of people who, when put into the right environment, could achieve breakthroughs and go really far “Well...if you ever get tired of just fixing things, I know a CEO who would be really blessed to have you on their engineering team” he grinned slyly, of course she would leave it up to him to choose his own path but she did feel like his talents were limited in a place which only fixed things. She pressed her lips together as he reacted to the iPhone she received and she shrugged her shoulders slightly “I mean I enjoyed the phone and the bragging rights being one of the first who had one but yeah, it wasn’t enough” it was what inspired her interest in tech though.

She grinned sheepishly at the mention of Cloud’s shedding, looking over to the white fluffball and then back to her pants where she could see a few stray hairs “Mostly I just make sure he gets a daily brush, that takes the edge off” she laughed under her breath, he was a fluffy monster at times but it was worth it for the company. “I mean not strictly but I didn’t let him sleep on the bed that day” she responded with an amused chuckle, he was very cute and it was hard to really punish him “But I also didn’t shove him off when he snuck up in the middle of the night” she could be really cold with people but never with her dog. He was one of the only true friends that Nora had and he had never disappointed her either, she would never forget that. “I sound like a whipped dog parent don’t I?” she grinned playfully at the Nephilim.

She wasn’t supposed to like him, hell she had done everything she could to subtly tell him that he was best to stay away from her and yet she couldn’t help but enjoy being around him, it was an unsettling feeling for her in her chest and it made her wonder what he must be thinking right now. All those thoughts only made the blush darken on her cheeks making her purposely avoid eye contact with him for a while. “People seem surprised that I actually had a pretty normal childhood, where I watched cartoons and played with toys and grazed my knees while climbing trees” she shrugged her shoulders slightly “I liked seeing female superheroes, there weren’t many of them when I was a kid” she shrugged slightly. “What shows did you like?” she asked curiously, they were probably around the same age right? She went quiet as he talked about his family get-together and she felt her chest pang a little in sadness when he talked about his fiancee, knowing she was no longer with him “You can have happier times again” she assured him with a slightly nod of her head.

She chuckled dryly when he said he wanted Cloud to miss him so he would have an excuse to come back and she shook her head playfully “Are you flirting with me, Jules?” she raised her brows with a challenging look wondering what he would say to her direct question, she knew he had been flirting most of this morning and she had been playing back with him, perhaps she was curious what it would lead to. Seeing the greyhound run over for attention she laughed “This is Cloud’s best friend Rollo” she responded before shooting Julian an exasperated look when he said he wanted to be a magnet for more than just the dog “Cute” she teased with a grin, she let the dogs play for a while longer before she leashed Cloud ready to head home “And now this one is sufficiently exercised we shall hope he takes a nap while we cook lunch” otherwise he became a kitchen trip hazard.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on September 7, 2020 at 3:18

Receiving a compliment from Nora isn't an everyday's occurrence, it doesn't just happen like that. Julian swore he had to blink a few times just to check if this was real before grinning sheepishly, "You know, hearing you say it…. Feels different." In a good way, of course. The Nephilim does have more ideas than he would show it, there were plenty of those inside his head, living in it rent free. His ideas were often scribbled and sketched over his books too, but they never moved past that. Nobody really wanted to hear what he had to say or what he wanted to suggest. Except her. "Eleanora, are you trying to fix me a better job?" he wiggled his eyebrows playfully and chuckled, it was cute seeing her do that. Not to mention, it made him feel good to be complimented and commended for his work ethics. "And I wonder who this CEO might be" he shook his head. Well, now that she has said it, the possibility of migrating doesn't seem too far. Maybe he would take it. Sooner than most people would think.

 "I imagine it was quite the bragging rights" he whispered, an iPhone back then was pretty much every kid's dream. He never understood why but it didn't mean he didn't understand the relevance of it. Somehow it just clicks. "Yeah with the kind of shedding he does, a daily brush is needed" he was starting to see where it comes from too. His eyes softened considerably when she told him she would never push him off the bed when he comes creeping in the night, that was considerate and sweet of her, "I'm sure he knows and appreciates it even though he doesn't show it" technically there wasn't much the piece of fluff could do to express his… gratitude except barking happily maybe. When asked if she sounded like a whipped parent, Julian chuckled and nodded, "Definitely not a bad thing though. It gives you flair and makes you cuter." It was clear that Nora didn't have another friend to keep her company so Cloud is probably a big part of her life. 

Every smile he received from her, every single time he managed to make her blush or grin, Julian saw it as a part of his achievement. Making the day better hasn't been hard at all, it feels lengthy but within a good reason. "I mean, I'm not sure what others thought your childhood would be like, I assume something that makes you kinda jump straight out of comics like Bruce Wayne. Minus the whole vigilante part" oh, if only he had known what he just said. "And maybe… I'm one of them. But it's nice to hear about your childhood, it doesn't make me feel left out when talking to you." Nora ended up being quite the casual person, after all. When asked what kind of shows he liked, Julian had to ponder for a while, he remembered a phase in his life where he binge watched a lot of cartoon shows, "Would it surprise you if I said Power Rangers? It was the bomb back then, I swear I even tried to get my mother to buy me a Red Ranger figurine for my birthday, which she did. There's also Danny Phantom… I used to think his hair was cool." His attempt to dye his hair did not go well.

 She's right, he could have happier times again. He was still young and there was plenty of time left, wallowing in the sadness of his past wasn't going to define his twenties. "Depends on how you view flirting, Len" he leaned in and smirked wryly, "in my book, this is me flirting. You know… the casual stuff, boy meets girl, he likes the girl, he makes an effort to charm the girl" cliché, but what's not cheesy these days? "Is it working?" He sure hoped it does. Or else he's never going to forget this embarrassing moment. "What does the whipped dog parent have in mind for lunch? Something heavy? Something simple? I think it's time we find out if she's really chef material" he teased. 

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on September 7, 2020 at 21:07

He seemed surprised that she thought so much of him and she couldn’t really blame him for that considering she could be quite stoic with her reactions and she definitely wasn’t the kind to give unnecessary praise. She did notice people who worked hard though, the ones who went out of their way to stay late just to get a project completed, the ones who offered ideas and suggestions when something went wrong rather than complaining. “Probably because I don’t say it too often” she spoke in a soft voice, she did think he could get really far with the right opportunities. She bit her tongue when he asked her directly if she was trying to set him up with a new job “Well you know, it would be a huge waste not to try and persuade you to switch” she laughed under her breath, though she technically wasn’t supposed to be so direct about it “His name is Emilio and he’s a dork like you, you’d get along great” she teased with a grin, her oldest friend and the CEO of Everectronics.

She laughed under her breath when he mentioned how the phone gave her bragging rights “No wonder all the other kids labeled me as a spoiled brat” and perhaps she had been for a time, having all those things kinda made her latch onto material things because they seemed to be all she had. She remembered almost punching a kid at school because he tried to steal it. “Thankfully he’s one of those dogs who actually like taking a bath” she commented wrinkling her nose playfully “Though that’s a double-edged sword because the little brat will jump into any body of water he finds, whether it’s muddy or not” and you could imagine what a white dog would look like coming out of swamp water. She chuckled when he agreed with her statement “I think that’s one label I’m happy to accept” she responded with a wry grin.

She widened her eyes before covering up her reaction with a half-smile when he mentioned the idea of her being like Bruce Wayne minus the vigilante part and then she licked her lips, well that was quite the statement to make. “Heiress was this title I was painted with ever since I was young and perhaps I sound shallow for feeling secluded because I had too much money but” she laughed under her breath, yeah it did sound a little ridiculous “It was never the person I wanted to be” she didn’t want to be the spoiled kid who just lived off the money her parents made and she hoped she proved that by rebuilding a new company from nothing. She grinned when he said he liked power rangers “Red was definitely the best ranger” she agreed with a shrug “and my favorite color too” she pressed a finger against her bottom lip while they talked “Grey hair works in cartoons but not so much in real life” he jested with a half-smile.

Before long they were heading back towards her place, Cloud dragging behind them a little as he took in the smells around him and generally recovered from his crazy play session, she turned her gaze to him when he spoke casually about his attempts to flirt only to them ask her if it was working “Hmmm” she commented pressing her lips together “I mean it’s not, not working” she replied coyly. She wasn’t sure what exactly had gotten into her to allow someone to slip back her defenses but it felt thrilling to actually take a chance, her chest was feeling light and fluttery the more they talked. “Aren’t you British?” she commented with an amused grin “We’re going to have a roast dinner of course” she teased, attempting to emulate his British accent a little, pretty poorly. Before long they had reached the door and she opened it, letting Cloud bundle himself inside before stepping aside to let Julian go first.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on September 10, 2020 at 12:30

He has never been one to stay too long under a spotlight, it was just not Julian of him if he does that. He was content with being a working bee any time of the day, so long as he wasn't taken advantage of or mistreated by his superiors. He had no desire to lead anything or anyone, it was why he still couldn't believe he was in charge of his squadron and team alike. It was still so surreal. "You don't" he murmured silently upon hearing her response, Nora didn't seem like a woman of many words. Either she lets her action take the rein or she simply just zipped her mouth shut. It was what makes her even more intimidating than usual. Eleanora Nordstroem already had this aura around him so when she suddenly stares at you with that look, you kind of want to dig deep and bury yourself. "His name is Emilio huh, you mean the CEO of Everectronics Emilio, hm?" he teased, of course he knew who the CEO of Everectronics is, the woman in front of him is literally the COO, he would be stupid not to do his research. 

"Would there be any other ulterior motive the COO is trying to bait me into her den?" he cooed playfully and chuckled, the opportunity to work with her closely again didn't seem too far now. Maybe he'd think about it after all. "Everyone is a spoiled brat at some point" he reassured, "My sister called me a spoiled brat because my parents always gave into my every want." Of course after he entered the boarding school, he grew to be more independent. "White fur and mud… I bet you had a good trip indeed" he could already picture the annoyed look plastered all over Nora's face when that happens. "But at least you won't have a hard time getting him into the bathtub." It was a start. When she told him being an heiress was never something she saw herself as, Julian nodded in understanding, he could guess that much, despite her childhood stories, Nora didn't seem like the type who would focus on the materialistic side of life. "I'm glad someone agrees with me, red ranger is superior" he huffed, oh he had a whole collection of it and if Nora didn't know him as the engineer working on the aircrafts, she could mistake him as a huge geek. He was pretty proud of his collection. 

"Oh? Any particular reason why?" Red is a bold color and when she said it was her favorite color, he tried to recall all the times he has seen her in said color. But then again, he could be biased and say all colors look good on her. "Some people really do look good in grey and white hair though… I wonder how they do it" he grumbled under his breath. She was being so coy with her responses and Julian couldn't help but smirk as they head back, god knows how much his heart is fluttering right now. When she spoke in British accent, he laughed because it was clear that she was teasing, "Aren't you a charming lady" he narrowed his eyes and scoffed playfully, entering the door as he watched Cloud run elsewhere inside. "Chef Nora, never thought I'd see that. I must be lucky." He cleared his throat and made a dramatic gesture as if he was saying ladies first.

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on September 10, 2020 at 21:30

Nora was proud of what she had achieved with Everectronics because it was all thanks to her hard work and dedication that the company grew. Emilio was the technical mastermind and she was happy to let him have that crown but she was the one who went to every business meeting and made every deal. “So you should realize I’m not just saying it” she responded a little bluntly as she gave him a stern look, it often seemed like Julian downplayed himself and while she could tell he was an excellent team player, he did stand out in a business field and she was sure his superiors at the hangar saw that. She rolled her eyes playfully when he pointed out the obvious about her name dropping her friend “No, I meant Emilio, CEO of a small pasta restaurant in Italy” she responded sarcastically before slapping his shoulder playfully “You drive me nuts just like he does” she grumbled softly.

She raised her brows when he asked if there was an ulterior motive to her asking, maybe there might have been in the back of her mind but she was hardly going to admit that “If you’re implying you’d get special treatment you’d better forget that” she commented with a smirk, when she was in the workplace she was scary, she was sure he knew that by now. She chuckled when he attempted to rationalize the way she was back then with his own story “I guess we all forget our own privilege sometimes huh?” she nodded thoughtfully before shrugging it off, perhaps she wasn’t the only one who got caught up in it. She pulled a face when he mentioned Cloud and his mud escapades “For such a tiny thing he really does love making mess” she commented as she eyed the little fluffball” still, that was part of the deal she signed up to when she got him so she couldn’t bring herself to regret it.

She chuckled at the way he puffed up when she agreed with him about the red ranger only to ask her why red was her favorite color, she shrugged her shoulders slightly “I don’t know, it just...feels like it matches me” there wasn’t a specific reason other than her always feeling like she associated with it “They’re the color of roses too...beautiful but deadly and sharp” she commented thoughtfully, perhaps that was why she chose it. She raised a curious brow when he wondered how people could pull off white or grey hair “Old age?” she questioned with a low chuckle, in her opinion natural colors were better. Her bad accent seemed to bring out the formality in him, she did like the sound of his accent, it sounded refined and perhaps if she was one of those girls, even attractive.

Cloud was already off exploring the house, she shot him an unamused look when he insisted she go in first but did so, taking off her shoes and coat before padding through to the kitchen and then setting the oven to preheat. Before long she was taking out some of the vegetables she had gotten and setting them on the chopping board before pulling out the small turkey joint she had bought. She had kinda written it off because she couldn’t eat it all alone but now that he was here, why not make a real meal right? “Is there anything you don’t eat?” she asked before taking out a knife and setting in on the chopping board. “You can either be on chopping duty or turkey basting duty” she challenged as she ran her hands under the tap, washing them with soap.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on September 12, 2020 at 17:10

He couldn't help but chuckle when she said that bluntly, he was so used to it now that it didn't surprise him to see the shift in her stature, it was almost endearing to see how much she loves her job. "Alright Miss Nordstroem, I see what angle you're playing at and I can tell you I am thoroughly impressed" he teased, giving it a thought or once over wouldn't be hard. Clearly, she saw something in him right? Whatever potential he had, if she saw it then it must be there. Julian wasn't used to being complimented like this by a superior that was higher than his own supervisor, so it was still so new. It didn't mean he didn't like it though. "I drive you nuts? But let's be real here Len, you and I both know you don't mind me doing that. Where's the fun in it if I don't drive you crazy sometimes, no?" he cooed and nudged her playfully, ah to tease Nora like this, he never thought the day would come but here it is. 

Just as he expected, she wasn't going to admit it out loud even if she had any ulterior motive behind the ask, "Special treatment? Me? I am wounded you would even think of that. Don't you know I'm a diligent and hard worker? Gosh" he shook his head and purposely made sure his voice was one key higher just to make it a tad more dramatic. "But at least I still get to see you outside of working hours, right?" There was a hopeful look in his eyes, he was genuinely asking if that's possible. After today, he didn't want to leave it at this only. They have progressed more than he expected and to leave it here would be a shame. Cloud barked as if he knew he was the subject of their conversation, "Package deal, am I right? Troublemaker… but your troublemaker. That makes it all better when you think about it. I mean aside from the whole cleaning up his mess thing." It's a bond only a pet owner would know, he thought. It made him want one of his own too. If Nora could manage a dog, surely he could too? Or any other pet, honestly. 

The way she described roses and the color red had Julian smiling, god how much he likes it when she smiles to herself and just talk like nobody was there to judge her. "Roses are beautiful" he nodded in agreement, "deadly but beautiful. Takes a real one to recognize the beauty and intricacy behind its creation. Rare." It was why roses often prick people with their thorns. "They have such a wall before them, they push people away by hurting them. But it's all just an obstacle… a test to see who is worthy or its attention and who is not." Seems logical and rational. He facepalmed when she responded to his question about pulling the grey hair look, "You're unbelievable" he shook his head, "one day I'm gonna try and pull it again… maybe maturity looks better on it." Admittedly, he was only a kid when he tried to dye his hair prematurely. That was bound to end up bad. "I'm not allergic to anything and not particularly picky so no" thank god for a proper eating diet. 

The way she held the knife makes it look as if she has wielded the knife most of her time, "you really look like a skilled butcher from the way you hold the knife" he pointed out, even her wrist placement was just right so it would not strain her. "I will end up torturing the turkey so I'll take the safe road and take cutting duty." He wasn't a master with knives but did he know how to wield one enough not to hurt himself? Well it's not his first time in the kitchen and as a Nephilim who grew up in a family filled with the same, being handy with the blade is hardly the first time for him either. He's decent with it. He followed suit and washed his hands too, but not before rolling up his sleeves to third of his arm and stretched out his limbs while holding the knife carefully. "Are we ready to turn this into a decent meal?"

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on September 13, 2020 at 8:29

She shot him an exasperated look when he was bragging about the fact he could drive her insane, he was right those, most people didn’t bother her and that was the point, they never mattered enough to her to slip under her defenses. He, however, knew the exact right cards to play to make her feel something. Even if it was a playful annoyance. It was new and she had to admit she did kinda like the feeling. She looked up at him with a playful glare when he spoke sarcastically about her special treatment comment, she rolled her eyes purposefully “Are you trying to make that part of the deal” she questioned, her brows raising because he really did seem set on trying to get her to spend more time with him. She wasn’t really sure why he was so interested in her, she wasn’t anything special and she knew she was hard to approach. Yet for some reason, he seemed set on her.

She nodded a few times in agreement when he said it was a package deal, her troublemaker dog and mess, she’d be mad about it if he wasn’t so damn cute “Wouldn’t change it for the world” she spoke softly, nodding her head thoughtfully, she really was sappy when it came to her dog but at least that showed there was a part of her that actually cared right? She could be thoughtful and even poetic when she wanted to be but most of it was just within her thoughts, no one stayed around long enough to ask her anything silly enough as what her favorite flower was “I think they get this bad rep for just being the thing people get to be romantic and so everyone sees them as cheesy but” she shrugged her shoulders slightly “I actually have a really beautiful rose bush in the garden, I take good care of it” she wasn’t exactly a green thumb but she was quite house proud she supposed. The way he described the flower though, it almost sounded there was a double meaning behind it. Did he think she was like that? Looking for someone worthy of breaking her walls? Perhaps she was.

She gasped when he joked that he was going to try dying his hair grey and shook her head “You wouldn’t dare, look at that gorgeous, shiny, dark hair, you wouldn’t want to tarnish that now would you” she had reacted almost out of instinct and so she hadn’t really processed the words she had been saying until she had said them. She widened her eyes for a moment but attempted to play it off as she stepped back and shook her head slightly. Why was it that he kept catching her off guard like this, it was almost foreign to her to be so affected by one person and it was making her wonder what she needed to do to shake this feeling.

She looked down to the knife and then back to him with a questioning look when he commented on the way she held it. “That’s probably the dhampir in me jumping out” she excused before setting it down on the chopping board because he had picked cutting the vegetables over sorting the turkey “Safe choice” she commented with an amused lift of her brow, she didn’t mind, she would have done it alone if he wasn’t here after all. Before getting started she headed over to the speaker she kept in the kitchen and turned it on, connecting it to her phone and finding a Christmas classics playlist she could play softly in the background while they were working on the food. When she turned back he was already starting to cut up the vegetables “Hope you don’t mind, I hate cooking in silence” she flashed a sheepish smile before getting to work on the turkey, before long she had it stuffed with butter and stuffing and was flipping on the oven to preheat “Bet you didn’t think you’d be cooking Christmas dinner huh?” nor did she honestly, she probably would have gotten lazy and skipped it if she was alone.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on September 19, 2020 at 18:19

Perhaps it wasn't the best things for him to be bragging considering it was all of the things that could potentially drive a person insane but it was Nora, so he decided that part was fine. It meant he was going to be around to annoy her every time. Maybe that's not the ideal approach he thought he would do but anything is better than nothing. He enjoyed their banter and the way he could tease her and make her blush. Those moments were very rare and the Nephilim always found himself grinning whenever he saw that slight blush tinting her cheeks. It made her look cuter. "I mean if you're open to negotiations why not? Make it part of the deal, I mean. Are you not a businesswoman, Miss Nordstroem?" he jested, she is very good at her job after all. The brains of the operation were many and she was definitely one of them. He has seen the passion burning in her light hues when she was working. All the discussions didn't go away from his memory. Push when you still could, right? "You did tell me I have potential. That I should push for the heights. Now I'm doing that. So make a deal with me, Eleanora Nordstroem." 

You won't regret it, he mumbled silently to himself. The fact that she is such a dog parent makes her even more endearing than before, Julian found a lot about the COO since he spent time with her yesterday but today just adds it up to the list. "You do?" That was surprising to hear that she tends to her garden. Another new thing he found out about her. It was ironic how she resembled said roses closely now that he thought about it. A rare beauty, indeed. Just needed someone who wasn't afraid of pricking themselves against the thorns no matter how many times it takes them to take the rose. Was he up for it? Maybe. The way she described his hair when she opposed his decision to dye his hair grey made the Nephilim grin widely, okay that was unexpected but god did that make him feel like he could fly over the roof already. It wasn't like her to blurt it out like that and it seemed like she knew she really did just say that out loud. "No take backs" he interjected quickly, wagging his index finger towards her playfully. 

He always forgot she's a dhampir but was usually reminded whenever she does any physical, it really looks like she could take care of herself well. An independent woman at her finest. It made him respect her even more. "I'm not a 5 star Michelin chef, Len… so yes safe choice." Okay fine maybe he didn't want to disappoint her with what could be his mediocre cooking skills. He's decent and maybe some would say good considering his bachelor status but was he great? God knows. What if she's better and he ends up making an embarrassment out of himself? This could be one of the only chances he had to spend his time with her outside of work. He needed to utilise it well. He was just starting his cutting when he heard the tune playing in the space, it was a Christmas song, "I don't mind at all. It wouldn't be boring." He wondered if she danced. "No. Not really. But I like it. I like knowing I'm here spending my holidays with someone." He spared her a soft smile and continued cutting before pushing it to the bowl. "So you do this huh? Cook and dance to yourself in the kitchen?"

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