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James ([info]jamesownsit) wrote in [info]halcyon_halls,
@ 2008-06-22 22:24:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:cassandra, james

Week Twelve: Saturday
Who: James and Cassandra
When: Saturday Night
What: A date

James, as always, had taken much care in his appearance. He had showered, shaved, had a facial, pedicure, and manicure the day before. His hair had been trimmed and it was styled perfectly, every strand in just precisely the right spot. His clothes were, as always, named brand and impeccable. He had on a pair of nice jeans, straight legged, loose, dark wash, and a white t-shirt. His feet were boot clad, black leather, and he wore a suit jacket, also done in black, perfectly tailored to fit his form, bringing the entire outfit together. He was ready to show Cassandra a good time. By the end of the night, he planned to have her hooked on him. If anyone could make Natalia jealous, he was certain that a girl as lovely as Cassandra would.

Flowers in hand, he arrived at the front doors shortly before seven o'clock in the evening. He held the bouquet behind his back, mostly wildflowers and lilies as she struck him as the type of girl who would enjoy something like that much more than roses. He glanced down at his watch and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. A smirk graced his lips as a girl walking by did a double take to check him out. He laughed a little and shook his head when she nearly ran into a wall in doing so. Cute, but certainly not his type. The scent of Drakkar Noir mingled with the fresh scent of the flowers. He wanted a cigarette, but wouldn't smoke, not wanting to smell like an ashtray when she arrived.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-06-23 12:38 am UTC (link)
Wear something nice, but comfortable shoes. Cassandra hadn't been entirely certain what to do with that. She didn't have a great deal of nice things, in stark contrast to James. Cassandra knew that, she knew that things like that mattered to him but she didn't think that was all there was to James. It was that fact that kept her from worrying too much about the fact that she didn't have the fancy name brand clothing, or the fact that she didn't have a manicure and she certainly had never had a facial. Unless you count washing her own face. Which probably didn't count. Maybe she was putting too much stock in him, but she didn't feel that way. There was always more to someone.

Cassandra donned the only nice dress she had. The same one she had worn to the Spring Fling, she had planned to return it. She couldn't afford but it had been so pretty and she rationalized it by the thought that she might need to wear a nice dress again sometime. And see, it proved right! So yellow dress donned, she put on a pair of sandals. They should be comfortable enough. She had been wearing sandals almost non-stop while at Jasper's school so she was pretty sure that her feet could handle whatever it was that James had planned.

The whole surprise idea was kind of exciting. Though it did make her a little nervous. But that was mainly because of that four letter word that kept getting attached to all her recent outings. Dates. For the most part she didn't think of it any differently than her regular time spent with people... but everyone else saw it as different. Maybe it was. She wasn't sure. But she was going to enjoy herself.

Even if it was a little hard. She was pretty sure she'd always miss Jasper. But it was a little hard being fresh from seeing him and not knowing when she would again. She wasn't thinking about that now though, she'd email Jasper later and talk to Micah and it would all be like it had been for the past few weeks.

Her feet moving quickly, she didn't want to be late and keep James waiting, she flew down the steps that led to the main entrance. A wide smile spread across her face as she spotted James standing there. Look far more put together than she ever could. Cassandra lifted a hand and waved as she approached. "Well you don't look like your break went too badly," Cassandra started in greeting, her head tilting to the side. "At least clothing wise," she finished with a laugh. "Hi James, how are you doing?"

And if he wanted a smoke, she wouldn't object at all. Almost everyone she'd become friends with here enjoyed cigarettes.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-06-23 08:15 am UTC (link)
Cassandra was a naturally beautiful girl and while she could have probably used a manicure and a facial every now and then, she didn't really need it. He adored her modesty, the fact that she was so light-hearted about most everything and then there were those moments when things were mentioned that she really took to heart. It was sweet. Obviously she did not come from the same sort of wealth that he did, and some people, his old friends mostly, would say that he was lowering his standards, that didn't seem to matter. Natalia hadn't come from money either, but that hadn't kept him from enjoying her, spoiling her, and falling in love with her. He anticipated the same now, or at the very least hoped for it, if for no other reason than to the aforementioned Natalia out of his head.

Her appearance was greeted with a smile and he moved forward to greet her. One hand took her own, raising it to his lips with a brief brush of that soft skin against her own. "My break went well. It was a nice vacation from all the normal, everyday stress." Though he had spent it rather busy in order to avoid sitting in his room, thinking about Natalia and what she was doing. That simply wasn't healthy at all. "And you? You look absolutely ravishing. Seems you got a bit of sun on your vacation." He observed, a hand moving up to touch a cheek that seemed to hold a bit more color than the last time he had seen her.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-06-23 05:09 pm UTC (link)
Such flattery he had going on in his mind. Of course Cassandra didn't even begin to imagine that people might think of her like that. It was a great deal of naivety and perhaps a dose more of obliviousness. Maybe more oblivious than anything else. She knew she ought to work on that, that being immune to so many things could get her hurt in life, in actuality it already had. She just couldn't seem to change that aspect of herself, for better or worse.

At the moment though, regardless of what anyone else said she thought James was an interesting person, troubled in his own way even if that wasn't readily apparent behind his perfect exterior. It was just in her nature to want to help, do something for him.

Cassandra's eyes rounded in surprise, though the more she hung out with him the more she expected it, as he took her hand brushed his lips over the back. Her lips curved into a smile at the gallant gesture though. Like something out of a movie. "I'm glad." Her brows came together slightly in a pucker. "I was worried about you." She said honestly, no false flirtation in her voice. "The school can be pretty different, quiet and everything when no one is around." This was the first break where she had gone anywhere so she knew well what it was like.

To her credit, Cassandra didn't balk as his hand brushed over her cheek. She was getting better at accepting casual touches. With her progress in classes and her necklace it was getting easier, though each and every touch was still something she treasured. Something that likely showed on her face with a slight pinkening of her cheeks. "Sun or a blush. I'm terrible about that." She said with a shake of her head and a rueful smile. "But thank you, it was a nice time. It was my first time on a college campus I might have to be jealous of all you college graduates. It was a beautiful place." Cassandra's chin lifted up and her eyes were bright. "That's all boring news though, at least it is until I find out where we are going!"

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-06-23 07:08 pm UTC (link)
Troubled was James in a nutshell though he hardly ever displayed that to anyone. For all his arrogance, all his time spent perfecting himself, he was probably one of the most insecure people that he knew. And why wouldn't he be? His life had taught him to be just like that.

"There's nothing to worry about." James assured her, a smile forming upon his handsome lips. "I've behaved myself, have had a good time." Though a lot of it was tarnished by thoughts of she who shall not be named. He tried his best to stay busy, to keep those thoughts at bay, even though they came filtering in every now and again.

"Which campus?" He pulled his hand from behind his back, the bouquet of flowers held within. "And these are for you. There's a water vile in the bottom." So they would keep in the car while they were out and she wouldn't have to run back up to her room.

"And that I can't tell you. You just have to wait and see." He winked at her with a laugh before turning to offer her his arm. "Are you ready, mademoiselle?" He gave her one of his most charming grins. "Our chariot awaits." He had hired a car for the night since he didn't have his own car here. It would be so much easier than having to call for a cab whenever they wished to change locations.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-06-23 09:10 pm UTC (link)
He did a good job of projecting that arrogant controlled demeanor. In fact if Cassandra had been the sort to only give someone passing notice he could have been dismissed as just another arrogant prick. But she wasn't the sort and that was exactly why she was standing before him now.

"I'm a champion worrier so I hate to break it to you but I can't quite dismiss it that easily." Cassandra replied with a laugh. Though it was the truth, she was a worrywart through and through. Here was to hoping she didn't get an ulcer out of it someday. She liked to think of it as a good thing, at least she had people to care about now.

"Oh, Jasper's at Dartmouth now. Well he just started a few weeks ago but I think he's liking it there. The campus was pretty." Cassandra replied before surprise wreathed her features yet again. Flowers always had that effect on her, she just loved them and especially loved the ones he had picked out. "Oh James, they are beautiful," she said taking them as she lifted them to her nose. "And they smell even better."

The flowers were tucked into her hand, held close to her so she could smell them whenever she wanted. "Still a secret!" Cassandra looked up at him (and it was always nice to look up at someone from her height), "cruel!" She teased with a shake of her head. She only hesitated a moment before reaching over and setting her hand on his arm. It was nice, this whole moment. She wasn't entirely sure it was real but she was enjoying it regardless. "I'm ready, more than ready to find out what you've got planned. You really planned a whole secret evening out?" She followed alongside of him letting him lead the way to their chariot. That word just made her smile. When the car appeared in front of them she looked over with a grin. "What no horses?" She asked with a laugh. "This didn't cost you too much I hope? And I know I shouldn't ask that but I'm asking anyway."

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-06-24 06:55 pm UTC (link)
"Dartmouth." James asked, a brow arching slightly. "That's a wonderful school." He had never been there, on the campus, but he knew it was in a pretty prime location and that it took a lot of hard work to get into a place like that which was probably why he had never gone. He wasn't much into hard work, and the fact that he had been a problem child at the private school he had attended for part of his high school career had not gone over well on his college applications. But that was all water under the bridge now.

He was glad she was content with the flowers. He had a feeling that she would be. Some girls expected them, but Cassandra would never expect anything. He knew that. So it meant much more to her than it would to someone else. "I'm glad that you like them." He remarked, genuinely pleased that he had pleased her, had brought such a sincerely vibrant smile to her face.

"I did not gain the reputation for nothing." A remark given in response to the fact that she had called him cruel. Still, he would give nothing away as he led the way out to the car. He laughed, a smirk gracing his lips. "I thought about it, but I decided that would be overkill." He didn't answer the question of money, never spoke of it as that was in poor taste. Instead he just opened the door for her to climb in. "After you." Once she was settled, he climbed in as well and they were on their way. The ride would not be a long one, but he had managed to find out what the supposedly best restaurant in town was.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-06-24 09:38 pm UTC (link)
Cassandra nodded her head in agreement. "It does seem like a nice school. Jasper is smart, so I'm sure he'll enjoy it there. I mean keep up with it and all." Cassandra didn't think that she could, well actually she knew she couldn't. She'd missed too many years of regular schooling to even be near that level. She had the basics and was smart enough, but it would take years before she could consider college level classes.

She really didn't expect anything from anyone. All those preconceived notions that existed when it came to dating and relationships (of any sort) didn't really apply to Cassandra. Maybe it was bad of her to see anything as a bonus, but she did regardless. Flowers were a wonderful surprise, a door being held open or a chair pulled out were special things to remember. At least for now they were, when they were still new things almost novelties. Though she wasn't really the sort to get jaded. "Of course, I know exactly where I'm going to put them in my room. As long as my cat doesn't knock them over." He tended to do that with lots of things, excitable little fluffball.

Cassandra nudged him with her arm slightly, not increasing her contact with him anymore but just using what she already had. She didn't want to tempt fate anymore than she already was and she was concentrating a lot on it. But it was worth it. "You're terribly mean aren't you, I should probably hightail it back to the school huh?" She said with a teasing voice. Though she was looking at him as she said it. She hadn't missed the fact that many other people thought him a less than kind individual. What she was interested in though was whether he thought that was what he was. Eyes a bit wide she settled into the car, it was nice and plush. More than comfortable as she sunk into the seat. Palms flat on the seats she turned a bit to get a view out of the window to see where they were going. Into the city was clear... but where.

When the car arrived at the restaurant of choice she blinked. She'd heard that it was an exceptionally nice place and she was suddenly worried that she wasn't dressed right or that she wouldn't know how to use all the silverware. "Is this where we are eating?" She asked looking over at him as the car came to a stop. "You have to promise to not laugh too much if I use a wrong fork. I don't think I've ever eaten anywhere this nice."

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-06-24 09:48 pm UTC (link)
"You have a cat?" James asked, a smile gracing his lips. "Those are by far my favorite as far as house pets go." Dogs were too much work. They were too high strung and always required something. Cats, on the other hand, were fairly independent. They didn't take much work but they gave attention when it suited them, a lot like himself. And they were much more clean than dogs. Another plus. "My mother has cats."

James laughed heartily and arched a brow slightly. "You have no idea, Cassandra." The sad thing was, he wasn't lying. Oh yes, he was filled with good intentions, but in the end, his violent streak won out. He was far too jealous of a man to ever be calm, to ever be good, even if he wanted to be. It was sad, really, but perhaps it would change if ever he found the kind of girl that gave him no reason to be jealous.

When they arrived at the restaurant, he looked over at her to see her reaction. She looked more nervous than she did excited. "Yes. That's what I had planned. Are you okay with it?" He asked her, a look of concern gracing his handsome features. "We can go somewhere else if you'd be more comfortable, but I think you'll do fine." He would dare anyone to say anything even remotely off color to her. "Just start from the outside and work your way in." With the silverware of course.

James made sure she was okay with his choice before he climbed out of the car, holding the door for her and offering her a hand out. The driver removed himself from sight but would remain until they were ready to leave. This was just the first stop tonight. He led the way into the restaurant where they would enjoy first a lovely meal and then, if she wanted, some dancing. But no dessert. That would come later on and elsewhere.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-06-26 02:27 am UTC (link)
Cassandra nodded her head. "He was a gift for my birthday." She really did love the little furball. Loved that she could cuddle him all she wanted without too much worry. She didn't think that her abilities worked on felines. At least so far they hadn't, thank God. "Oh she does? Did you ever have any growing up?" She continued on curiously and she was genuinely interested in knowing more about him and his life. Maybe more than he wanted to share, but she was patient if she was anything.

Cassandra's smile sobered for a brief second. It wasn't necessarily the warnings that others had given her that brought the sobering of her features but rather him. The laugh, it just didn't feel right. As though he did think he was a terrible person, as if it were a role that he had to fill and that bothered her. "Well too bad. I'm not going back to the school." She replied with a definitive nod of her head. "I plan on enjoying this whole... date thing to it's fullest." Of course she didn't quite realize all that could mean. If she did, the blush would be neverending.

She didn't like to say it but she was kind of nervous. Not in a bad way necessarily, just in the first time trying something new kind of way. "Oh it's fine, really!" She assured him, smoothing her hands over the fabric of her skirt. "I just didn't want to embarrass you completely. No time like the present to try something new." And that was the philosophy she tried to live by now. "Outside in, can do. I'm learning from the best aren't I?" She asked as she stepped out of the car and began the walk toward the restaurant.

The restaurant was everything the outside led it to be. Beautiful, posh and it smelled delicious! That was always a plus in Cassandra's opinion. She did her best to not look as though she was gawking at everything inside, just as she was doing her best to not think that she looked completely out of place next to James who clearly was at ease in such places. It was all an experience that she was going to enjoy. They were seated and menus placed before them, Cassandra's eyes were scanning the small font. "So any suggestions on what I should order? What's something that will completely blow all my preconceived notions of food?" She asked with a little grin lighting up her eyes.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-06-26 08:33 pm UTC (link)
"No. Never had any pets growing up. My father was not a fan." He had no patience for the beasts, and that was the wording he used exactly. James could remember having a dog for a brief period of time, but his father hadn't liked the mutt and the dog, well.. Let's just say that his father was no opposed to animal cruelty and there were definitely animals harmed in the making of the motion picture of his life. It had made him sad for a long time but he had gotten over it. He vowed never to have a pet again, however.

She was more on spot than she probably realized. He did have a role to play, didn't everyone? And most had already painted him a monster because of the mistakes of his past. What could he do to change it? Nothing really. They would continue to think what they already thought no matter how many efforts he took to change their minds. It all seemed rather pointless. He smirked but didn't point out the ways in which that could be taken. He was far too much of a gentleman than that, at least when he was in the company of a lady.

"You couldn't embarrass me if you tried, Cassandra, and flattery will get you everywhere, just fyi." He teased her. The host was not allowed to open the door for her and they were seated within seconds of entering the place. The waiter was not allowed to pull out her chair because, as with the door, he did it himself instead. He was seated shortly thereafter and looking over the menu his own self.

"I've never been here, actually." He peered at her over top of his menu. "We could always order one of everything?" He suggested, teasingly with a brow arched. "Or maybe just try the special and save the rest of the menu for another time." In placed like this, the special was normally created by some guest chef and had a tendency to be far more exquisite than most else on the menu.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-06-27 01:57 am UTC (link)
"That's too bad," Cassandra replied with a slight downturn of her lips. "You might have to make up for it now that you're grown." She added with a nod of her head, the slight frown easing from her features. "I didn't have any growing up either. I'm starting now, I'm not sure how many I have to have until I'm qualified as a cat lady, but it's a goal." Cassandra said with a laugh. Though there was a touch of truth to that. As far as she'd always been able to imagine she would be that lady, well aside from friends and maybe her sister. But she expected them to be all married off and with children for her to spoil since she didn't plan on having any of her own.

There were roles people had to play, though Cassandra didn't like the word had. She'd had to play her fair share of parts and she'd hated it every single moment. There had been a time when she'd thought there would be no other way and that was what had landed her a nice set of scars on her wrists. But now, Cassandra tried to view those as a previous lifetime. She was probably a bit too optimistic but she was trying to see it all as a new day. Unfortunately the past was always too close behind to mess up that thought but she persisted. And she couldn't would insist on it with others. Whether it worked or not. Everyone deserved a fresh view.

"I won't take that as a challenge, don't worry." She said with a laugh, grinning as she took note of his teasing advice on flattery. Cassandra was 100% certain no one had ever opened as many doors or done as many gentlemanly (was that a word?) things for her in her entire life. She found she kind of liked it, even if she knew that she could very well open her own door. It was nice to be taken care of.

The menu was full of things that sounded delicious, fancier than she was used to but Cassandra was all for trying new things. Deciding would just be the hard part. "Even I can't manage that much in one sitting, well I wouldn't make it back in this dress..." Cassandra began and even she realized how that sounded, her eyes widened slightly and a flush hit her cheeks. "And that came out all wrong. The special, yes the special sounds perfect." She immediately agreed shaking her head at herself.

Where was that waiter!

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-06-27 11:00 pm UTC (link)
"Maybe." That would be all he would say about the pet issue. He had no intentions of ever having a pet, of ever being attached to something that was so fragile and so.. not permanent. Nothing was really, not even people, but they were more so than most pets ever could be. "I don't picture you as a cat lady." She was far too beautiful for that, and if that turned out to be the hand that fate dealt her, it would be one hell of a waste.

James was the type of man that did those sorts of things. Even when he was angry, when he was fuming made, when he was straight up evil, he never lost his gentlemanly grace. He would slap a girl across the face and then turn around and open the door for her. That wasn't something to really brag about, but it was better to be a gentleman on top of an asshole than to just be an asshole, right?

The statement caused him to arch a brow, but not until she pointed out just how dirty it had sounded. He laughed and shook his head. "I wouldn't have even thought of it that way if you hadn't mentioned it, naughty girl." He teased her with a grin upon his lips, lowering his voice so as not to embarrass her too much more. "Adorable." He remarked, a thought voiced out loud but of course it was intentional. He wanted to keep her laughing and blushing and as giddy as could be. She would have a good time tonight. He would see to it. It could be no other way.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-06-29 01:50 pm UTC (link)
Of course a pet could die, it was sad. Cassandra would be the first to cry buckets over the death of any animal. But people could be just as fragile. Even people that weren't supposed to die, like vampires or faes. She'd seen more deaths in her life than she'd ever wanted to but that didn't change the fact that she wouldn't give up her cat for the entire world. He might need the lesson in life that loving something even with the worry of losing it was worth it. "Well I'll make sure to record your vote and in ten years we can see who is right." Cassandra replied with a laugh.

Cassandra slapped a hand over her mouth, to hold in the embarrassed burst of laughter that was working its way out of her mouth. She was perhaps the person least likely to notice an innuendo, but that one she did. The people at Halcyon and their constant sex talk was definitely rubbing off on her. "Embarrassing!" She said finally removing her hand. "Though I'm pretty sure that's the kind of stuff people say on dates but without the really pink face. Am I right?" She said hoping that admitting it would lessen the blush. It didn't work that way though, not especially when the adorable slipped from his lips.

She was saved by the waiter and the whole ordering process. Thank god for that. The special was on the way, she let James order whatever drink he might want, she didn't ever think to order anything other than water. One of these days she'd have to start trying all the rest of the drinks.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-01 09:10 pm UTC (link)
"It's a deal." James had tried that before, the whole love thing, and it had not ended well for him, not with his dog in his youth, and not with Natalia n his adulthood. In his mind, true love was to love someone no matter what, and to bear any faults they might have, to help them, to make them better. She had done none of those things so, in his mind, it only served to reason that she had never really loved him, even if she tried to claim otherwise.

James laughed at her reaction and then even more so at her comment, choking on the water that he had just taken from the table to have a sip of. There were always glasses placed down immediately in the nicer restaurants. "Uhm, yes. Yes. Probably." He admitted, shaking his head as he watched her. Too cute, with her pink cheeks and all that modesty. There were so many things to like about this girl.

The special for the evening had been duck in orange sauce with some sort of vegetables or something on the side. He really didn't pay that much attention. He ordered a bottle of bubbly to go with it, Champagne, and the waiter left to go get the first course, a small house salad, as well as the drinks. "Have you ever had champagne before?" He asked, curious though he was certain he already knew the answer.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-03 06:30 pm UTC (link)
Nothing seemed off about his definition of love. It should be about loving someone no matter what and helping that. Well at least Cassandra could agree with that in the abstract. She liked to think that was the truth even if it hadn't been the case for her either. It had been fickle and painful in her experience but some part of her hadn't given up on it, even if she was somehow unfit for it. Granted the notion of romantic love hadn't quite reached her... yet.

"I swear..." Cassandra shook her head, placing cool palms on her heated cheeks helping to ease the stain of her blush. It was slowly but surely getting better. It was just her, combined with the fact that almost everything was still a new experience. It was all kind of awe inspiring sometimes.

The food arrived and Cassandra couldn't have been more excited to try all of it. She'd never had duck. Well she didn't think so at least, not like there had been many opportunities for her to try an expensive food like that. The first course that arrived, even being a simple house salad looked more than tasty. Cassandra's head cocked to the side as drink was arrived. "I think it's going to be obvious after the first sip. But no." She said watching the bubbles rise up through the drink. "I'm pretty sure it's obvious, but I haven't tried a lot of things, alcohol in general is on that list. Though I've been curious..." She picked up the flute and took a curious sniff of it. "If I like it, you have to promise not to let me drink so much of it that I end up doing all those stupid things people like to write about in their journals." She put out there first before she lifted the glass and took an experimental sip.

It ended in a giggle as the bubbles tickled more than she'd expected. But it was good, interesting and different but good.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-03 07:22 pm UTC (link)
James figured she hadn't tried any of it. But that was what tonight was supposed to be about, trying new things, for her at least. And perhaps some of it would be new for him as well. This would be the first date in a long time that hadn't ended with him bedding the girl only to kick her out as soon as morning came. He wasn't looking to score with Cassandra, at least not right away.

"I promise I will keep you under control." He assured her, a smirk gracing his lips as he took his own glass in hand and sipped the liquid gingerly.

Her giggle was perhaps one of the most adorable things he had heard in years. He smiled, not even a smirk this time, as he put his glass back down and dug into the salad, taking a bite and chewing it thoroughly, enjoying the light violin music that filled the restaurant. He was never really one for conversation over dinner, at least not a lot of conversation. Dinner time was supposed to be about eating. In his opinion, all the getting to know one another chit chat could take place later on in the evening.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-03 09:29 pm UTC (link)
Her fingers held the glass carefully, it was such a thin tube of glass she felt like if she held it too tightly it might break. The bubbly liquid in the glass was entirely new and she found that she was rather pleased with the new drink. It tickled going down but it left a warm pleasant feeling in her stomach. One that relaxed a great deal of her nerves that she felt being on the date as well as just being out and about. That and the wonderful food that was brought before them.

Being an avid fan of food, which thankfully she was graced with good genetics or she'd be on her way to the size of a house since her arrival at Halcyon, Cassandra didn't need to fill every open moment with talking either. She was more than content to enjoy the new foods that were placed before her and it clearly showed on her face.

By the time the main course had made it's arrival and been eagerly consumed, she had finished her first glass of champagne. She knew better than to drink too much of it, the last thing Cassandra wanted to do was lose control, it was far too important to her to keep. But she would be lying if she said that she didn't enjoy the warm and relaxing effect it had. It had been a long time since she had felt that at ease. Years.

"This was a wonderful meal James. Thank you." She said finally folding her napkin down and placing it on table next to her silverware. "I mean that. I haven't done many things in life and I know that in a lot of ways that I... that it makes me different from everyone else. I don't want to say boring but maybe that's the right word." She couldn't help but say it because while she had made friends at the school there were too many times that she still felt apart. "So thank you for taking me here and seeing all this..." She looked around the restaurant smiling. "It's been wonderful really."

Her blue eyes fell back onto her glass. "If I have one more glass you'll still be able to keep me under control right?" She asked arching a brow ever so slightly.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-06 01:47 pm UTC (link)
This certainly was not the best meal that he had ever had, but it was adequate. He wished he could have whisked her off for a real gourmet meal in New York City. The night life there was so much better than anything here could ever hope to compare to, but sometimes one had to make do with what was around them and he had to say that, all things considered, he had really done himself well.

"I am glad that you liked it." He said, having eaten most of his food, but leaving a good portion of it to be trashed. He never had much of an appetite his own self, but it was good to see that she had enjoyed it as much as she had. "I don't think boring would even be in the dictionary where you are concerned, Cassandra, and clearly, it has been my pleasure just as much as it has been yours." Though the date was far from over.

A smirk graced his lips. "Have another glass." He insisted. "And then we'll go dance it off."

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-06 03:06 pm UTC (link)
She was, to put it simply, easily pleased. Have few experiences in life and most of the new ones one had quickly rose to the top of the list. Though it wasn't like Cassandra would admit if the meal hadn't been all that great, that would have just been rude. Especially since he had taken her there. But luckily for her own guilt she had enjoyed it and there had been no need to omit that particular bit of truth.

"I could try, if only to better back up my claims." Cassandra said with a little wrinkle of her nose, though it did make something in her feel more at ease that he didn't think she was boring. That was the general impression she had most of the time, including from her sister who had a life that was infinitely more exciting than anything Cassandra could imagine doing. "I'm glad to know that you don't think so though." That was said entirely heartfelt. Not that Casssandra said many things that weren't.

Cassandra looked at the refilled glass and then over at James before nodding her head and lifting up the glass to take a sip. "You've convinced me. And I might need it since the next part of this is dancing if I just heard you correctly. I've only danced once before and the school was at a weird place then. It's a long story that you should just be glad you weren't here for." Cassandra said before taking another sip of her champagne.

"I'm going to bet that you're a fantastic dancer, am I right?" She should probably not have had a third sip so fast of the champagne but it was so tasty!

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-06 03:29 pm UTC (link)
James laughed lightly. "Be my guest." She could try if she wanted, but who could possibly be bored by the sparkle she got in her eyes at just the smallest of things? It made him feel good about himself for being a part of it, for introducing her to things that she might not otherwise have any clue about. He almost felt like a decent person when he was around her.

A smirk graced his lips, a brow arching slightly. "Not a fan of dancing?" The story that she didn't tell seemed to be an interesting one and he made a note in his head to ask her about it later, to find out what about that time had been so odd, and why he should be so glad he wasn't around.

"I know my way around the dance floor, yes." There was no need to be modest. All the best rich kids in Manhattan took dance in their youth, even the boys. And he could ballroom with the best of them if nothing else. Now take him to a place like Heaven and Hell instead of a country club, and he might look rather ridiculous.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-06 03:59 pm UTC (link)
"This might become a challenge. I might have to start talking about..." One finger tapped on her lip in thought, though she wasn't coming up with many topics that would fit the boredom bill. "Well classes constantly, that is probably the most boring thing that I can think of at the moment. It's your funeral!" She added with a laugh. Cassandra would be the first to say that he was a decent person and if she could help him feel that way for himself then she'd gladly do that anytime. All the time.

"I wouldn't say that. Just never had a chance to before I came here." Cassandra explained. "And well touching people is still novel and new so that only made it more... complicated." She added with a shrug of her shoulders. She supposed she could have always done the fast dancing that people did on their own if she'd had the chance... but she was a bit awkward still with her height and limbs. "But I've been getting a lot better with that lately, so I'm not so worried." As long as she didn't have too much champange and lose her ability to focus on the things she'd learned so far.

Fingers crossed there!

"Guess you'll have to teach me that too then." Cassandra replied finishing off the last sip of her champagne. She was almost sad to see it end. Cassandra set the glass down on the table and looked over at James. "So where do we go for the next part of this adventure?"

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-06 04:06 pm UTC (link)
James laughed and rolled his eyes. "Okay, now that might do it. If you insist, that is." He wasn't the least bit interested in classes, hers, his, the ones offered here, or otherwise. He had had enough of that before he came here and was really dreading it starting up in this place. But so be it. If it could help, it was certainly worth it. And if not, at least he had enjoyed the time he had spent here so far.

"Because of your gift?" He would assume that that was the reason why it was difficult for her to touch people. A smile graced his lips. "If it becomes too much, just tell me, okay?" He didn't want to push her into anything that she would be uncomfortable doing. And the last thing he wanted as for this date to end up with her being sick from too much contact. Funny. Usually a thought like that would be offensive.

James dabbed his mouth with his napkin and then stood up, reaching a hand out for her to take. The check had already been settled, enough money to cover the bill and a decent sized tip left in the little black binder that the waiter had discreetly deposited upon the table.

"The dance floor, of course." There was a small one in the restaurant which he then led her over to. There were a few other couples out there at the moment, and a few people at nearby tables watching them. James positioned Cassandra's hands for her which he had found the right spot, and then dropped his own to the correct places. "Just follow my lead. We'll take it slow."

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-06 05:20 pm UTC (link)
With a tap of her finger on her full lower lip, Cassandra smiled triumphantly. "Glad to know I found my ace in the hole when it comes to your boredom." It wouldn't be sooo boring for her, she had yet to reach her full of school, if that even existed. But then again she hadn't had nearly as many years as he had. She could understand how the lure of learning things in a classroom setting wouldn't be as strong for someone who had already had their run. She was just playing catch up like with most everything else.

Cassandra paused for a moment, the bright smile on her face fading a touch. "Yes, because of my ability." She couldn't quite bring herself to use the world gift just yet. She was doing her best to look at it all in a more positive light but baby steps were still in order and calling it a gift was still out of her reach. "I mean it's kind of silly, it's not to say that everytime I touch someone I see their future. But, I don't like to do it, it's very disorienting. And there is always the bad news that can come with it." That she hated, but she just hated the lack of control the most. "My necklace helps as does the classes so we should be alright." Cassandra assured him as she smoothed the skirt over her legs.

She pushed her chair out and stood up, taking his hand without the usual amount of caution that she usually exuded. There was a slight wobble to her first step though. Two glasses of champagne while sitting for someone who had never had any alcohol before... it was to be expected. But she recovered quickly, only laughing a little at herself. Her eyes were immediately drawn to where he indicated. How on earth had she missed that! Too drawn in by everything else in the restaurant no doubt. She let him walk her towards the floor, she didn't notice eyes on them as she was all too focused on following his lead even before he mentioned it. Her fingers came to rest gently on him as he positioned her for the dance. She didn't remember how it had worked with Micah, that seemed like a million years away at the moment. Concentrating on where her hands were and what his feet were starting to do she realized she had tugged her lip between her teeth. She quickly let go of that tension and just let herself enjoy the sensation of having his hands near her and the pull of his body as he led her in the dance.

There was no wiping the smile off of her face once she let herself do that. Or no making that warm feeling that traced along her limbs go away from the warm pressure of his hands.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-06 08:01 pm UTC (link)
"It isn't silly." He couldn't imagine how it must feel to have something like that. It was bad enough being what he was, doing what he did from time to time, but to not be able to touch anyone for fear of seeing both the good and the bad of their future, that had to be a difficult thing. "I am glad. But again, if it becomes too much, don't hesitate to tell me."

She was impossibly cute, what with the way that she chewed on her lower lip with her teeth. He was a graceful dancer, and he led her slowly, lightly, rather good at guiding her along with the flow of the music.

He could tell when she finally let go. The movements became a lot smoother then. She really did have quite a natural grace even if she felt odd about her height. He had to imagine that the two of them looked rather lovely together. And with the way that he moved her about, twirling her a little and even, at one point, dipping her, he was certain they were quite envied. He too had a problem with the smile on his face being rather permanent.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-08 10:00 pm UTC (link)
"Well it kind of is, in the grand scheme of things. But thanks for saying it's not." Cassandra began, a thoughtful expression etched into her features. It was silly in a way because it was a very desirable skill and one that could do good. It was just that in her case, it had been abused and for that reason she couldn't stand it in any way. Even if she wanted to be close to people more than anything else in the world.

She thought she was doing a pretty good job of it right now. It helped to be relaxed enough to not tense at the touch and to actually enjoy it. Give a thirsty person water and they had to be careful that they didn't drown in it...

There was no denying how smooth he was on his feet. She had to envy him that at first but it was far easier to just appreciate the grace with which he moved her about the dance floor. And the dip! Well that got a giggle and a smile out of her for certain. And she might have clung to him a bit too much when he righted them. A few more turns about the floor and Cassandra found herself getting breathless. Maybe she needed to work out more! or maybe it had something more to do with the excitement of it all, the lovely champagne and maybe the person she was with. Not that she was all that good at recognizing things like that.

"I was wrong." Cassandra finally began. "You're more than a fantastic dancer!"

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-09 02:38 pm UTC (link)
And that was the exact reaction he had wanted to illicit from her, at least at this juncture. A smile rested upon his lips as she clung to him and he laughed when she spoke. "And you're a wonderful partner." She could be better with some practice, but this happened to be one of those things in which the length of her legs could certainly work in her favor. A small dance partner was fine and well, but the lines and patterns that one could paint with the proper tools was much more enticing.

James pulled Cassandra close for a moment and slowed it down, giving them both a chance to catch their breath and remember their feet beneath them. "So.. Are you ready for the next location or should we just stay here and dance all night?" He smirked a little as he spoke, giving her just long enough to make it seem like her decision before he took her hand and pulled her off of the dance floor.

The check was taken care of before they had left the table and the driver already had instructions about where to pick them up, so it was on foot that they headed to their next destination, which wasn't terribly far. An ice cream stand just off of the ocean front.

"What's your favorite flavor?" He asked, deciding upon a chocolate gelato for himself. An ice cream cone and a walk on the beach seemed like the perfect way to end the evening.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-09 05:51 pm UTC (link)
"Too kind James!" Cassandra immediately said in reply. "But I appreciate it and your teaching." She hadn't by any means been an accomplished dancer but she had surprised herself in her ability to hold her own. Well she wouldn't say hold her own per se... but she didn't fall, trip or make an idiot of herself. And oddly enough it had all been about letting go. Something Cassandra had trouble doing but maybe it was just the conditioning of it for years that made it all too easy to do so. At this had been enjoyable. More than enjoyable based on the look that was on her face.

Cassandra's chin ducked slightly as he did manage to pull her close for a few moments. She kept her chin tucked as she knew there had to be a stupid expression on her face. She couldn't help it. Moments like that were so few and far between and he was handsome and charming and she did genuinely enjoy his company. All things that a girl, even a girl like Cassandra, couldn't ignore. Her breath finally caught she pulled her chin back up to look at him. "It is tempting to say stay here... but I'm too curious to see what else you had planned." She admitted as she eagerly put her hand in his and headed off of the dance floor with him.

She shouldn't have been surprised that he picked such a perfect place to take them next. After all it wasn't exactly hard to know that she loved some sweets and ice ream was right at the top of the list. It was a thoughtful decision, took her more than a few moments to finally make the decision. She'd never tried gelato but it looked good. She ended up ordering a hazelnut flavored one. If she was going to go all out... she was going to go all out!

Cone in hand, Cassandra took a first lick of the ice cream that looked like chocolate but wasn't. "Oh! Oh this is wonderful, you have to try," Cassandra held out her cone toward James as she leaned toward him, the scent of the beach just ahead starting to reach her senses as well. She adored the beach. Especially adored walking along it.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-09 08:11 pm UTC (link)
She was such a girl. It was great. It reminded him of Natalia, oddly enough, when they first met, before she had become more jaded, though Cassandra was way more innocent than Natalia ever could be. He frowned a little. Now was not the time to be thinking of her. Hence his decision to move on to the next part of the night. Hopefully a walk an a conversation would be just what he needed to keep his mind off of such things.

He had planned this night out rather carefully in his mind. He had had time to think about it and decide what he wanted to do long before he even asked her out. He knew it would be perfect. He had tailored it to fit her perfectly. He was glad to see that he wasn't wrong.

"Is it good?" He asked, even though she had already said it, and he leaned forward to take a lick of it, making a sound of appreciation. "Mmm. Try mine." He offered his, waiting for her to try it out before he offered her his arm and started to walk. "Do you like the beach?" He asked, though he could clearly see in the look on her face that she did. "I thought we could end the night with a walk."

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-10 12:10 pm UTC (link)
In all her years, well not all her years she did have some rather detailed memories of themed birthday parties from when she was a young girl, she couldn't really remember anyone taking that much time and effort to plan something for her. It was almost overwhelming. Her mind didn't know what to do with it, how to comprehend it all. She didn't want to think that he was doing it all for some ulterior motive. That wasn't the way that Cassandra liked to look at the world, regardless of how that was the world worked all too often.

Those were the sort of thoughts that Cassandra sought to avoid. Focusing on the all too delicious Gelato helped. That and the prospect of having the sand on the beach sliding between her toes.

Cassandra's lips curved upward into a soft smile. "Do you really need to ask that question?" She asked with a laugh. "It's wonderful. Thank you." Cassandra held her cone out for his taste, pleased by the sound of appreciation that he made. When he offered his own cone, Cassandra leaned forward to sample his. Oh yes, that was just as good as hers. If she came back it was going to be impossible to decide again!

Her eyes darted to the water and she slowly nodded her head as she took the arm offered. "Can't imagine a better way to end it." She said honestly as they headed toward the water. She paused as they stepped toward the sand and slipped her shoes from her feet, letting them dangle from one hand. Walking on the beach wasn't right if you couldn't feel the sand beneath your feet. And maybe the water. Cassandra took a slow taste of her gelato as her feet sunk into the ground, a contented sigh falling from her lips. "I really wish I'd spent more time on the beach growing up. I love the sound of the waves rolling up on the shore..." She trailed off for a moment before looking over at James. "You grew up in New York right? I don't think the water there is quite like this is it? Do you like the water?" Her face frowned for a second. "Well that was kind of a silly question wasn't it, with fire and you. This doesn't bother you does it?" She asked, concern working its way over her features.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-10 08:05 pm UTC (link)
"You're very welcome." Honestly he wasn't sure if there was an ulterior motive tonight or not. He wasn't going to try to sleep with her. In fact, he really didn't want to sleep with her. Granted, she was attractive, but he didn't want to soil her and he felt like that was what he would do. If there were any motive that was not sincere, it was the fact that this provided him good distraction from all the things that usually plagued his thoughts.

He smiled at her approval of the idea though he hadn't doubted for a moment that she would want to walk along the beach, and he led her out towards the water. It was nice. The sound of the ocean was relaxing. "It's very different. There's no sounds, or if there are, they're drowned out by the sound of everything else in the city." He laughed a little. He smiled and shook his head softly. "I'm only a little bit demon. It's not terrible as long as I don't try to go for a swim in it, and even that I can be tempted to do from time to time."

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-10 08:47 pm UTC (link)
Couldn't they just have a good time? It didn't look like James enjoyed himself nearly enough. Well maybe he enjoyed himself but Cassandra really wouldn't think of it along those lines. But sometimes the soul just needed to have some fun, feel free. Or at least hers did. Cassandra liked to expect that it was that way for a lot of people. Not many that were at Halcyon could have had an easy life and she didn't place hers above or below anyone else's time, but she knew from her own personal experience that life was all too filled with the harsh and the painful. Had to enjoy what you could, when it was within reach. And if that was all she was for James... she would be content. She just hoped that she was.

Cassandra's toes dug into the sand as he walked, curling and uncurling happily. When she left Halcyon, if that ever happened and sometimes she wondered... she wanted to be live somewhere near water, if just to hear it and see it. She nodded her head as she listened, well between licks of her tasty dessert. "I bet. Cities can drown out a lot of things, but they are kind of like their own living breathing thing. I mean I've never been anywhere as big as New York, just Atlanta and Charleston... but still, sounds all the time. Never quiet and never really dark." She kind of liked the light aspect of it, pitch blackness had never sat well with her.

"Okay good." She said with a slight 'whew' sound escaping her lips. "I didn't want to be dragging you through something you'd hate because I plan on making you roll up your pant legs and walk through some of it if I can." You know, just as soon as all the dessert was finished. She wasn't ready to sacrifice her cone just yet!

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-11 09:15 pm UTC (link)
"They do. But they are." James said, and smiled a little. "As much as I love this, the ocean, the sound of it, the smell of it, I wouldn't trade New York for anything in the world." He missed it. He missed it more than he would care to admit. Everything about it.

James laughed at her response to that, glancing over at her with a grin. "And if I say no?" He teased her, and then he stopped walking, cone held in one hand as he used his opposite foot to push off the shoes that he wore. This would keep them from getting completely fucked up at least.

His cone was nearly finished, so he held it in his mouth while he rolled up his pants legs. "Ready when you are." He went back to enjoying his cone.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-12 03:33 pm UTC (link)
Cassandra listened quietly, tilting her head to the side as he spoke. It was clear just by the tone of his voice that the city he'd come from was important... he missed it a great deal. A soft smile crossed her features as she looked over at him. "You miss it don't you? What do you miss the most?" She asked curiously wanting to know as much as she could about him.

"I can be really stubborn when it's called for." Cassandra challenged back. But she was more than glad that she didn't have to put that to the test. Her smile only broadened as he toed off his shoes and went ahead and pushed up his pant legs. Of course she had to laugh as the cone was held in his mouth, it was a funny image, his impeccable visage with an ice cream cone sticking out of it.

"When it comes to wading through the water, I'm always ready." Cassandra immediately replied. She finished the last bite of her cone and swallowing it down, she took toward the water in a playful run. Cassandra crooked a finger at him to follow as soon as her feet splashed through the rolling surf.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-12 09:28 pm UTC (link)
That was a good question, and one that he honestly didn't know the answer to right off hand. He had to think about it for a moment, his brow furrowing a bit as his lips pursed in thought. Not necessary, but he thought he looked cute that way.

"I miss the fact that you never have to be alone." That was his final answer. "No matter when it is, what time of day or night, if you don't want to be alone, there's always somewhere to go, somewhere to be, someone to be there with." This place was nothing like that. He spent most of his hours here, some of his darkest in fact, alone.

"I don't believe that for an instant." Her, stubborn? He could never see it. Never. She was far too sweet for that. But he was only teasing. He was more than willing to go for a walk in the surging surf.

He watched her with an amused grin upon his face, a brow quirking as she beckoned him to follow. He tossed his shoes down on the sand and then did just that, letting out a small gasp as the waves crashed onto his feet the first time. It was slightly colder than he had expected. It was summer, but then again, it was night out.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-13 04:53 pm UTC (link)
Cassandra was quiet while James formulated an answer to her question and quiet as he answered. Listening to his words, she didn't ask questions that she honestly didn't want to know the answer to. She blinked for a moment, struck by what he said and what he didn't say. Her bare feet padded a few steps closer to him. She hesitated a second, an ingrained habit of hers when initiating touch, and slid her fingers around his hand. "There are lots of ways to be alone even when there's hundreds of people around." She said softly. She knew she could be wrong, but somehow she felt as though even if he was in that city full of people he might still have been alone. Or maybe it was just her hoping that someone else might actually know what that felt like. Realizing where her thoughts were headed Cassandra quickly placed a smile on her face and gave his hand a squeeze. "But I can imagine that it would be nice, to always have those options. It's not quite like that here."

She hoped that she hadn't overstepped any bounds, she had a tendency to push too far with her questions. She didn't mean to, it always came from just a desire to know more about people, to be closer to them since she had been denied that with others for so many years. Her face softened into a smile. "Going to make me prove it are you!" She said with a laugh before she was off toward the water.

Cassandra was glad to see that it didn't take much asking to get him to join her in the cool water. It was always a bit of a shock the first time her toes hit the surf but it was a nice surprise. She waded out until the water splashed up and over her toes and around her calves, there was a bonus to wearing a dress. "So no late night swimming for me if I don't want to freeze to death!" She said with a laugh as she used her toes to kick up a bit of the water. Not that she could actually swim yet. Still a long way off for that.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-14 04:59 pm UTC (link)
James looked down at Cassandra's hand when she touched his own and nodded his head. "I know that." All too well. He could be in a crowd of a million people and still feel like he was all by himself. "But there are more ways to distract one's self from that in a place like New York than there are in places like this." And that was part of what he loved about it.

She had overstepped no boundaries but had got him thinking about things, things that perhaps he would have preferred not to think about. But did he fault her for it? Not at all. Maybe if it were on his mind, she would be the best person for him to talk to about it.

James laughed as she commented on the coldness of the water, and for a brief moment thought about tossing her into it or splashing some on her. But he had told her to wear a nice dress and she had worn the dress that she had on. He had to assume that was the nicest dress that she owned. He didn't want to ruin it for her. So instead he kept the water at calve level as it should be, and tried to reel his thoughts back in to a better place.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-15 02:03 am UTC (link)
A slow nod of her head sent a few dark strands sliding over her shoulders. "That makes sense. Distractions can help with that." She said simply, in agreement. It was when you didn't have distractions that the mind tended to go to less than desirable places. Less than desirable was putting it nicely. She had scars to prove just how bad a place a lonely mind could go. But to her, Halcyon had a million more things to do and while she didn't always feel as though she were connected, she felt a great deal more so than she ever had before in her life. And for that she could be nothing but thankful.

She squeezed his hand before releasing it. While Cassandra could ask a million and one questions she also knew when not too. When pushing an issue wouldn't help but only hinder. She tended to suspect that now was one of those times. That said, she would always be an ear to listen. Always.

The dress was the only nice one that she owned, that was true. But if it got wet... Cassandra wasn't likely to throw a fit. There might be a moment of regret for the dress but she tried not to get upset over things like spilled milk. It just didn't do anyone any good. "So what do the fire abilities you have run to? Any chance of heating up the water?" She asked with a laugh as she waded a few steps toward the beach. Okay so maybe it wasn't the best idea over to go walking through the cold water, but she wasn't going to let that stop her.

She paused and did a little spin in the water, getting the full view of the beach and the water out to sea. "This has been, truly, one of the best nights of my life." She spoke facing out to the water, the waves went so far out that they seemed to merge into the night sky. She turned her shoulders to look over at James. "So I'll say it again, thank you."

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-15 09:19 pm UTC (link)
Asking more questions really would have just made him close up. That was the way it went with him. He only gave a little and only when he wanted to give it. But he had given her more than he had others. She was a good listener. And even more than that, she wasn't pushy, she didn't try to get things out of him. He really appreciated that about her.

The question made him laugh and shake his head softly. "Afraid not." The only thing he could really accomplish with his fire would be to get angry and set something on fire accidentally. Until he learned how to control it better, that would pretty much be it for him.

James looked over at Cassandra as she spun around, a smile coming to rest upon his face. Her words made that smile fade, but not because he was upset by them, but because he was thinking. He moved towards her, catching her hand in his own, the other coming to rest upon the small of her back. If she allowed it, he leaned in to brush lips against her own and then press a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. He pulled away, careful not to allow it to linger too long for fear that he may do her harm.

"I know it won't be me, because I could never possibly be right for you. I am nowhere near..." A pause. "I am not of the right temperament. But whoever you fall in love with, whenever that happens for you, I want you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that that man will be one of the luckiest men to ever walk the face of the earth. And my only wish is that he deserves you." That pretty well covered it. He had never genuinely liked any woman the way that he did her.

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-17 12:42 am UTC (link)
Listening should be a simple thing, but in Cassandra's experience people didn't always do it so well. Yeah they might sit there and hear the words coming out of your mouth but they didn't always listen to them, or they listened only for the parts that they could then in turn relate back to themselves. She tried to not be like that, to instead actually hear what people were saying and to try and understand it all. It didn't always work but she did try.

"Well darn." Cassandra said with an exaggerated snap of her fingers. Instead she just slid her feet through the water, lifting her toes up and letting the water drip off before moving on. "I guess I'll just have to get used to it. But if it's possible, that might be an good skill to work towards!" She said grinning over at him.

Cassandra hadn't exactly been expecting James to move toward her, well not to reach for her. A small moment of surprise showed on her face but it eased almost as quickly as it had appeared. Slowly but surely she was getting more used to it. Instead she took comfort in the fact that the layers of cloth, her necklace and her own growing control were going to keep this from turning into a moment she'd like to forget, rather than one she wanted to remember. And she did want to remember it, especially as his head moved forward and his lips brushed over hers. She could remember Micah kissing her, but that had been during the curse and she knew that it wasn't her he'd kissed. And before that... the only people who had shown her that much affection had been her parents. She didn't pull away, she did however did do the cheesy girl thing and found that her eyes were closed when he did pull back.

She blinked for a moment as he spoke to her, making sense of his words as he started not sure what he was trying to say to her. The words he was saying were all very complimentary but... somehow they didn't actually feel complimentary. "What does that mean?" She finally asked simply. Her brows pulled together slightly. "Why are you saying that you could never be something, whether it's right for me or not?" Was it that he just wanted to be her friend? Was she not right for him? To her that was plain as the nose on her face as handsome and cultured as he was. But still she did care for him, something about his eyes that made her want to be certain that he knew that he really wasn't entirely alone in the world.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-18 08:03 pm UTC (link)
Those moments of blatant honesty were few and far between for James though somehow they seemed to be getting closer and closer together. Everything he had said to her was meant as a compliment, and was completely and totally true to how he felt, though obviously not in the way that she saw it. She thought it had to do with her not being good enough. She couldn't have been further from the truth.

"I'm not a good person, Cassandra." He replied, and looked down at his toes in the sand. "I'm not capable of.. of being in love." He looked back up at her. "I would only hurt you. And I know this. So.. this is just my way of saying that.. that you shouldn't feel anything more for me than you do right now." Was that what he meant to say? He wasn't really sure. He just wanted her to understand.

"I just wanted you to know that.. that I think you're pretty wonderful. And you would definitely be worth it, but I wouldn't be." He looked up at her and smiled. "So just be careful, okay?" Careful around him, in essence. It wasn't typical that he warned people off but, in her case, he felt it necessary. He might not always feel that way.

"We should go. It's getting late."

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[info]with_hope_again
2008-07-19 09:22 pm UTC (link)
It was all just a bit on the confusing side for Cassandra. First it was a bit odd in her own mind for someone to want to take her out like this and then his words.. she had watched enough tv in her life to know about the 'it's not you, it's me' phenomenom. But was that what was going on here? She didn't think so, but a total lack of experience left her without any knowledge to base any of this on. As much as she liked to try and see the good in others... she had her wary side and it was all too well earned.

She frowned as she faced him, watching his head lower and his toes push into the sand as he spoke. "James..." She began slowly, ducking her head slightly so she could see his eyes. "No one is really bad. They make bad choices, do horrible things to others but it's always a choice." She said simply. "I've know bad people, if that's what you want to call them, and maybe life handed them horrible choices to make but... I don't think any of them were bad to the core. I just don't believe that's possible." Maybe she was foolish, she might even say that herself given all that she did know. But she couldn't help but think that was the case in the world. Or maybe she didn't want to live in a place where she believed that people could be inherently evil.

"But it's okay," She said straightening back up. "I don't think much of any good can come from falling in love with someone else. At least that's what I can say having learned from others. Just a lot of heartache and I've had enough of that for a lifetime." An empty lonely life but she'd take the love and care of her friends now.

Cassandra nodded her head. "You're right, it is getting late. I'm not taking any of it back though, not a word of how wonderful the evening has been alright." She added waggling a finger at him before turning and heading back to her shoes. She should probably wear those for the trip back up to the school.

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[info]jamesownsit
2008-07-19 10:14 pm UTC (link)
He didn't really intend this as a "it's me, not you" speech. To him i was more of a "take heed and know that I am bad news before a time comes when I am not so apt to tell you all this" speech. He really did feel like a horrible person. The things that he had done, unforgivable. And he wasn't certain that he would ever be capable of feeling any other way.

But Cassandra was so beautiful. And so sweet. And so naive. At least he thought it was naivety. And that was why he had said what he had said to her. He'd never be able to forgive himself if he did any of the things to her that he had done to Natalia. He wasn't sure he could ever forgive himself for her and she was a far cry from the way Cassandra was now when he met her.

"You shouldn't close yourself off." That was the only part he really chose to remark on. "It.. it can be beautiful with the right person."

James smiled at her words. "Good. I'm glad. I wanted to show you a good time." And he had. He was glad to have done it. He moved to retrieve his own shoes and slide them back on before he offered her his arm. The limo would be waiting for them just up from the stand where they had gotten their Gelatos to take them back to the school.

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