WHO: Lyra and Thanatos WHEN: Friday night WHERE: Lyra's apartment WHAT: Dinner party after-times.
Despite what some of her friends liked to claim, Lyra didn't think she was all that bad of a cook. Sure, she wasn't going to be opening her own restaurant but the few recipes she could do, she did really well. Tonight it was burritos, enough for the seven of them who would be there and a few bottles of wine to cheer the evening along.
It was a crowded little dinner party in Lyra's kitchen but she felt like once the introductions between people were off the ground - classmates, old friends, Thane - it went along comfortably, the wine helping to loosen them all up as well.
After dinner they sat around the living room talking, people finally leaving one by one until Lyra was seeing one of her classmates off at the door and it was just her and Thane left. "I'm not looking forward to cleaning this up," she smiled at him, her half full glass of red wine in hand.
Parties were never his thing. He managed one on one social interaction just fine but in a crowd he was always aware how much he didn't belong. He was too different, but Lyra had asked and he considered her a friend so he had tried.
The wine had helped but he'd kept to himself, listening and observing as he'd always done. He was still glad when everyone left, picking up a few stray plates and glasses. "I'll help." It seemed the least he could do.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 02:04 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Lyra waved her hand at him to stop and shook her head. "Nah, I'll do it later," she told him, pulling the falling strap of her gaudy dress (still Thane's fault) back onto her shoulder again.
"Come on," said Lyra, grabbing his wrist and pulling him out onto the little balcony so they could enjoy the fresh air instead.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 02:13 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "If you're sure." He still set the plates in the sink because he didn't want her to be stuck with the cleaning all by herself. When she took his wrist he smiled, letting her lead her onto the balcony. Out of instinct he glanced up to the stars, remembering when he'd done this and been able to talk to his mother.
"Thank you for inviting me, and I do apologize for being bad company. I'm not too great with a lot of people." He didn't fit and most mortals knew that, even instinctualy. Death had no place amongst the living.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 02:26 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Maybe Thanatos didn't fit in with most mortals, but Lyra had always lingered around death and embraced that. She didn't pick up anything strange about her friend.
Outside she sat down on the railing as she refilled his glass and handed it over to him. "I think you did fine," Lyra assured him. "Brenda wanted to eat you up with a spoon!" she laughed and took another sip from her glass.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 02:32 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select And he liked her for that. He could try and fit in and have a friendship with someone. He imagined he'd need to tell her about his true self sooner rather then later, but not until she began asking questions.
He took the glass with a thanks and laughed to her comment, "so I noticed. It was flattering but there is never an easy way of saying there is no interest. I didn't want her to take it personal."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 02:37 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Well, if you ever run into her again just tell her you're gay," Lyra said, using her wine glass to gesture along with her words. "She has a history of hitting on gay men so she'll take it as a given." She winked at Thanatos and then looked down happily at the street below as she drained her glass. "It's such a nice night."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 02:45 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Smiling he shook his head, leaning against the balcony railing. Falling down wouldn't be an issue for him. "I would rather not lie. I prefer being honest." Then he nodded, "it truly is. One of these nights you should come by. You can meet my twin and wonder how he manages to have such energy." He figured Hypnos would like her. They shared the same cheer.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 02:50 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Ooooh," Lyra crooned. "Meeting the family, I'm in for that." She reached for the wine bottle and topped up her glass again, tilting back her head to look at the faint stars above, almost invisible beyond the ever-present glare of New York. "Should I wear this dress?" she grinned, poking at the sequins.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 03:08 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "If you like. My brother will get a kick out of it." There were some in his family he wouldn't have her meet yet, but Hypnos was the one who mattered to most to him. He figured it was a twin thing and how often they had worked together.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 03:11 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Anyone who enjoys this dress as much as I do is a friend of mine. Mi dress-a es su dress-a or something." She beamed, happily quite tipsy and enjoying the fresh air with him.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 03:17 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Then you'll get along great with him. He's all for bright colors and cheer." Gently he went to set his hand to her back to guide her away from the railing, "here before you fall. It would not be a fun night if you cracked your skull."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 03:20 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I did that once," Lyra told him brightly, letting him move her. "Well, twice I think, but only one time by falling off something. There's a scar and everything," she said, trying to find it beneath her curls. "You're very sweet not to indulge my death wishes."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 03:26 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He set his glass down, preferring to look after her. It would take a lot to get him well and truly drunk but he didn't want to hurt her. "Call it being selfish. I rather like you and enjoy your company. You're one of the few who will talk to me."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 03:31 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select It was clear to Lyra exactly why the girls had all had their eye on Thane at the party tonight. He was drop dead gorgeous - blind people could see that - but he had that quiet sweetness to him that must have always driven the girls mad. Sort of mysterious and romantic all at once.
"Then I'll be selfish too," she admitted with a small smile as she leaned in towards him, as though this was a secret just for Thane. "Because I like having you around too."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 03:36 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He steadied her by setting his hands on her shoulders. He'd survive the fall and unless he wanted all his secrets out at once she would not. And he would not stop any Death from doing what it did.
"You would be one of the few, family not included," he said with a smile. "I'm not the greatest of company."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 03:39 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I like your company," Lyra assured him, and her voice had grown quiet and serious. Thane's hands on her were war, gentle but protective. She liked that. Without another word she leaned in with the plan to kiss him.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 03:45 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He smiled at her, "I am glad..." but he was cut off when she kissed him. Blinking he pushed her away, ever so gently. More because he hadn't a clue what the hell that had been about or what he was supposed to do. He was one of the very few Greeks not obsessed with sex. "I think you had a little bit too much to drink."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 03:49 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Oh god," Lyra said as embarrassment shot through her, her hand moving to cover her mouth as she stood up. "I'm so sorry," she told him, shaking her head quickly. "I thought- oh god, I'm such a moron right now."
Lyra would have very much liked it if she was drunker or if the earth would be nice and swallow her up.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 04:14 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "No, no. It's alright. It was just a little surprising actually." He could count on one hand the number of people wishing to kiss him. It hadn't been unpleasant, but she was drunk. It felt wrong to accept such things. "I didn't mind, just surprising."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 04:19 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Oh boy," Lyra said, hands on her cheeks as she felt them burning. She tried to sound more nonchalant than she felt. "I think I've had a few too many glasses, how embarrassing."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 04:27 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "It's fine. Really." Smiling he offered his hands. "Water under the bridge. Come let's go inside. I can make some coffee if you like?" He didn't know how to react. He hoped going back to the old comfortableness was best.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 04:29 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Lyra laughed to try and cover up the nervousness and with a nod she took his hand. "Coffee, yes," she agreed. "Probably for the best I sober up."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 04:36 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Smiling he led her inside and into the kitchen, picking up a few more things before starting on the coffee. He wished he knew what to do to make her more comfortable. He could soothe the fear of any dying man or woman but this was beyond him.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-06-03 04:42 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Lyra decided that if she didn't start talking about something else, she was going to apologize again. So she said, "I think dinner went well. The burritos were one hundred percent edible which, believe me, isn't always the case with my cooking."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-06-03 04:53 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He smiled to her, letting the coffee brew and rinsing off a few plates. He liked to keep himself busy. "They were good and it went well." No one died and that tended to be a plus. It was different from the parties he'd attended back in Greece, but few could rival those. "So how goes the studying?"