cut_and_run (cut_and_run) wrote in nevermore_past, @ 2014-09-09 18:02:00 |
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Current mood: | determined |
Current music: | "A Sigh" by Lacrimas Profundere |
Entry tags: | theseus |
Who: Theseus and Sophia
What: When Theseus first steps off the boat into NY and finds a new attraction he wasn't expecting
When: 1950's
Where: New York
Warnings: A cute Theseus
The world was different now when Theseus came into New York. A bustling city of new adventures, but not the past he'd been used to. He'd been at sea for months, one place to the next without really finding a place to stick.
Then he'd seen her. His exotic beauty with big brown eyes at a French cafe. He was an outsider, the stranger in a new place where his attentions were still pretty fresh not only for a man, but for a man that was not like her. She was beautiful to him, as all women were when they caught his attention. He didn't see race, color or money (though if she'd been a rich woman she would have been even more appealing), he just saw a pursuit. It was how all his conquests started, his wondering eyes finding their target and warming up to them at least for a little while. It was how that string of broken hearts and broken promises attached themselves to him and most women were quick to bat a lash to his good looks and rugged charm. It was how he'd won Ariadne and coerced her to help him defeat the Minotaur. It was how he'd won Phaedra, and Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen. He had quite the collection of wives, mistresses and women left behind. He hadn't in some time though settled down, because when he did his feet started to get slippery.
So, this new pretty thing was curious for the Greek who looked like a man out of his time. He didn't dress like most for the period, he stood out in a way that was uncomfortable for most. They didn't approach him, but they created wild stories of where he must be from, who he really was.
Sophia sat on the bench waiting for the bus, an older gentleman reaching it about the time Theseus did, but opted to stand on the other side than sit down beside the young girl. Theseus however was quick to scoot up beside her, causing the older man to look down at his boldness. "Reading anything interesting?" Theseus asked, looking to the book in her hand. She wasn't a college girl, he'd learned that when they chatted up the first time at the cafe.
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Sophia's jet black hair hung in a polished perfect wave around the curve of her face and she noticed Theseus well before he spoke to her. Just like she'd noticed him at the cafe when he chatted her up. He was older than her, white, and definitely not from these parts. He had so much... bravado but he was also.. kinda hopeless, in a charming way. She turned the page of her book and didn't move, just looked at him out of the corner of her eye, "Yes, How to Avoid Strange Men."
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She was young as were most women when saddled up to him. He had centuries under his belt, which was a conversation that was never going to pass between them. No one ever knew unless they were immortal themselves. For right now though, he would be the dashing hero looking to rescue this girl from this rather dull and boring book. "Oh?" He peered over her shoulder, leaning in ever so slightly to look at the page. "Strange men don't usually give out their names." It wasn't his real one, but it was the one he had for right now. She hadn't forgotten it already had she?
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She sighed a little and turned her head a little to look at him as he blotted out the sun. Her full lips were painted in a plummy color that suited her and she asked, "What exactly will it take to get rid of you..... Theo." she said his name not entirely sure she believed it. But it was plain to see she was attracted to him, no matter how much she was fighting it.
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"Another cup of tea might do it." His voice indicated he was a little too interested to leave after a cup of tea. With his arm stretched out behind her he settled in as if he were just sitting on a couch instead of a bench. He was slimy and forward, but the pools of her deep brown eyes just pulled him in, and this ship was going down. "So a cup of tea it is?" His hand brushed her shoulder to coerce her to stand with him. "My treat."
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She thought about rejecting him but he was pretty cute. He had the same moves as a boy would, trying to sneak his arm around her. She picked up his fingers with her own pinched together like she was taking a bug off of her and put his hand on his lap. She held up one finger, "One cup." her own tone indicating that was all he was getting.
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There was a confidence that Theseus carried. He never once stopped to think that maybe he was being a little too forward. He was a Greek demi-god, charming women was part of what helped him get himself through very precarious situations when he needed to. He didn't have any raging monsters to kill or anyone looking to skin his hide. He also hadn't gotten to use his charm on anyone quite this attractive in some time. He was just testing the waters to see if he had lost it or just needed some fine tuning. So far, it looked like he had this in the bag already.
"Just one," he held out his hands in defense. The old man never did sit down on that bench as he watched the two leave, eyes narrowing at what was unfolding in front of him. It was just absurd.
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True to her word, Sophia had one cup and could not be persuaded to have more. It was at the same french cafe where they'd met and the entire time she had an odd little smile on her lips as she watched him. It was like she knew a secret of his that even he didn't know. As soon as she finished her cup she said, "Thank you." and stood up to leave.
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Theseus' hand came out as she ruined this little moment by leaving. He held her wrist gently, those blue eyes of his as crisp as the ocean he sailed in on. "So soon, love?" He looked like he needed company, practically was pleading for it. "Maybe you did have your cup of tea, but it doesn't mean I can't walk you home when we're through talking." He was throwing out his line hoping she'd take the bait. "You're company is most enjoyable."
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She didn't resist when he took her wrist and when he was done, she slid it out and reached into her little purse and pulled out a pen, she leaned over the table and wrote on the first page of the book she'd been reading and handed it to him, "If you're going to charm a girl, Theo... Do it right. I'll be home in an hour." and she took a step back before he could change her mind and with a smile, she was gone. The writing in the book was her name written with a big swirly S and her phone number after it. She wanted him to call her. If he wanted something more, he'd have to ask her.
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With a flip of the cover Theseus smiled as if he'd just gotten the biggest catch of the day. "Does this mean when I call for you I'll get an answer? I fully intend to talk to you in an hour." Until then he would sit with another cup of tea. He wasn't sure how far this girl was willing to go to meet him out where his boat was docked by the harbor. If she showed up he'd give her a visual tour. He'd called her from a pay phone, and when she'd insisted on meeting him somewhere he set it up. It perhaps was very unorthodox for her to venture out to meet a man she'd only talked to in passing twice, especially one so much older than her, but he had been very convincing with kind eyes. He always looked kind in the beginning before he broke the hearts.
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Sophia had been adamant to not let him near her home. Her parents were pretty conservative and had gone through hell during the civil rights movement... them seeing her date some white guy? Nuh-uh. It wouldn't end well for either of them. Maybe she should have been worried, scared, nervous... but she wasn't. She was excited to see him. He felt like... adventure. She showed up at the dock he told her to, wearing a dress that had a faint flower print on it and a smile on her lips that appeared when she saw him.
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"You made it," he walked up to her with his hand extended to take onto his boat. "Do I get to give you the guided tour?"
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She didn't take his hand, just smiled. "As long as there're no closed doors." she liked him a lot but she really was careful about him touching her. She was still gauging him and he was incredibly forward and cocky. She wasn't a done deal and she wanted him to know it.
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"Alright." He'd tried to steal Helen once. He'd forgotten really why in the first place but it was one of the first big stains on his name. He'd learned a little over time that he couldn't get just what he wanted by his swagger alone. He had to be a gentleman sometimes. He showed her around the deck then down to the living quarters. He didn't have much, but what he had looked lived in. When he wasn't in the boat he fished through hotels and found one to stay in. Nothing permanent. He hadn't had a permanent residence in some time, this was just temporary, New York. With her there though, he was inclined to stay for a little bit.
"It's home at least." He lead her back up to the deck where a soft wind silently whipped around them.
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She seemed to look more at him than the rooms and at the end of it said, "It's seems very..." she didn't bother with niceities and said, "...lonely."
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"It can be, but I'm used to it." Theseus didn't live in luxury all the time, he didn't have a schedule or date put down in a planner. He just winged his life from day to day. "It's the price of freedom I suppose."
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She smiled, "Liar." she stood at the railing and looked into the black water that reflected the sky. "You wouldn't be here with me if it was a price you were willing to pay." his freedom didn't mean as much to him as having someone with him if he was making port.
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"I just thought it was time to meet some new people. I've been talking to myself for months." Theseus was never a home body, but sometimes it was nice to feel someone else beside him.
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She nodded, "Ah, so that's why you're so strange." but she had a twinkle in her eye. She liked him as strange as he was. And it was a very romantic night, moon and stars and sea and a handsome stranger.
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"Strange? Why do you say that? I'm quite handsome yes, but not strange." He threw in that sly smile, mischievous, but full of life.
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"I never said you're handsome." she moved even closer to him as if she was studying him, "But strange.. there's something.. different about you. You don't.. really fit in. Like you have a secret.." her brown eyes were searching his face, as if trying to find it.
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"Maybe I do have a secret, but I don't just tell any body. You might think me crazy." Most couldn't believe in such wild tales, no matter how true.
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She was right next to him and leaned her back against the railing, she saw something that she wasn't saying. "Tell me and I'll tell you what I think. As long as you're honest tho you won't have much to fear."
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"Why should I tell you? What sets you apart from everyone else? How do I know you won't send me to a nut house?" This was a different time. People only believed what they could understand.
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She chuckled lightly, "Those are an awful lot of questions, Theo..." she leaned in towards him, her shoulder touching his chest, "No special reason. Nothing really. And... you don't. You just have to have faith." it was something she was very good at.
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"There's an awful lot on the line if I do." He wasn't sure when the last time was that he'd superb about it, he usually sailed ship before the questions started to pour in. This was just getting to it before anything else got awkward. Did he let her in on it?
"You are right that I'm not from here. I come from Greece. Particularly Athens." But that wasn't the secret.
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"There always is." she countered and kept her gaze steady. She simply said, "Athens sounds nice." but she was waiting, that wasn't a secret.
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"You are a clever girl," he wagged his finger, "you know that's not what I'm hiding." He was sometimes exhausted from the run. What would he lose by telling her? He was on his boat. He could just sail off if she reacted badly. Or maybe she was already too mooney-eyed to care. "I'm the son of a sea king. He's famous for a bad temper and nasty hurricanes. My mother was a Queen and I'm a demi-god. You may have read a story or two about how I slayed a minotaur." Now she would find him crazy.
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If she did find him crazy, she gave no indication of it. Her expression was as unreadable as ever. She was quiet and seemed to be thinking it over. But when she did speak, she didn't question him or tease, just asked, "And what's a prince demi-god doing in New York?"
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"Just taking a stroll." He waved his hand in the air. "I thought it might be exciting, and I was right." His teeth practically sparkled in the moonlight with that wide smile.
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"Going back to Athens any time soon?" she watched him and wasn't impressed as much as... amused. He was cocky but there was still something so vulnerable about him.
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"No, not right now. I'm kind of curious to what New York has for me." He could take a break, enjoy this for a little longer. "What about you? Any desire to travel?" He'd take her with him, he could use some company for longer than a night or two.
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She raised her brows and sighed with a small smile, "Oh honey, you have no idea how long I've been ready for an adventure." and he seemed just like the type of guy to have one with.
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"Could sail off right now, anywhere you want. The possibilities are endless, for a few weeks at a time at least." He waggled a brow, pretty sure she would say yes.
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She looked out at the ocean as if she was thinking about it and then she looked at him. "Five dates. If you're still around then... I'll think about it." she could tell that he thought she was a sure thing but Sophia was just young, not stupid. And she didn't want him for just a night or a week. She wanted him to see what she saw, a future. She leaned in as if to kiss him on the lips but her lips landed on his cheek, "Goodnight, Prince Theo."