oceancove

Who: Lillie and Joseph Carlisle
What: Spending a little time together.
Where: Starting out at Lillie's apartment.
When: Just after sunset.
Rating: TBD

"Well, well. Red's fallen in love."

Max hadn't said that loud enough for anyone other than Lillie to hear, and he had been rewarded for his observation with a heeled shoe's press against his foot. But there hadn't been any complaints about Lillie's changed mood. There was a considerable lift in her step and a brightness in her smile, and vampire or not it wasn't hard to guess why she was happy. It was ridiculous, poetic, and obvious all at once.

She was in love.

When Lillie had left the club, she'd gone to the bed and breakfast Joseph currently called home. Sunrise was coming and she wouldn't wake him for only a few moments' time, no matter how much she might have wanted to. Instead she'd ( left an envelope underneath the door. )

Who: Lillie and Joseph Carlisle.
What: Joseph comes to Lillie's apartment for the first time.
When: Right after this thread.
Where: Lillie's apartment.
Rating: R / likely not safe for work.
Status: In-progress

The question hadn't been whether or not they'd make it the distance to her apartment, but rather when they would do it. Even though she was beyond pleased about the notion of Joseph being able to spend the night (actually stay, fall asleep, all of those things), the hardest part had been convincing herself to disentangle from his arms and get herself dressed again. Lillie had to bite back a smile at his tousled hair and the hopeless mess they'd made of his room, the wrinkled pages that had been everywhere when they finally found the means to leave. She'd offered to help him collect them, but he'd insisted it could wait.

There were still several hours of nighttime and darkness left when Lillie led the way across several blocks, to the apartment buildings that she called home. For awhile it hadn't been a question of comfort, just of getting by, but in the Cove she had been able to find something suited to her tastes, and she hadn't been about to pass it by. She didn't need a dozen rooms, but the apartment had two bedrooms and more than enough space for another person to live, should they not be opposed to sleeping on a sofa or in a more open room.

Lillie didn't have to detach her fingers from Joseph's to open the door, something that she was glad of. Her keys had been in her hand about a block away from her apartment, and she let them through the double doors and into the entryway. The elevator was around the corner and to the left, and from there it was a quick ride to one of the upper floors. Whether she was conscious of it or not, she hadn't let go of his hand since they'd left the bed and breakfast. Even when Mrs. Jones had fixed them both with a stern, wizened gaze as they left, Lillie hadn't dropped her fingers from his grasp. Instead she'd stifled a giggle with a turn of her head and managed to give a polite, pleasant smile when they stepped outside.

Now, though, there was no one to listen in on them. Neighbors were discreet, and even in that case no one would hear them. They had a relative amount of privacy.

"Do you want the grand tour?" Her voice was amused as she opened the door, looking over her shoulder to his face while she let them both inside. The apartment had definitely become her home, save for the vacant and spare bedroom which was decorated in relatively conservative tones. Her own bedroom was directly across from the front door and the open living area, the door slightly open. To the left was the kitchen and dining area, and a comfortable sofa across from a flat panel television set. Books were lined in stately rows across four book cases, with statues and other trinkets decorating here and there. The apartment most certainly had her touch.

"And here, just put your things anywhere you want. Something to drink?" A pause, then an amused smile. "I haven't played hostess in awhile."

Who: Lillie and Joseph Carlisle.
What: Lillie has plans to take Joseph out on a proper date. Instead, they choose to stay in.
When: Evening/nighttime, three nights after this thread.
Where: Begins at the bed-and-breakfast where Joseph lives, then onward.
Rating: PG-13 Absolutely not safe for work.
Status: In-progress

It was completely spontaneous and Lillie knew it, the same way that she knew it could turn out to be a terrible idea. But for the past couple of nights (and days, before she'd fallen asleep), the idea had been teasing at the edge of her mind. A completely human idea -but then again, Joseph was exactly that. As human as possible, and it was part of what drew her so fiercely to him. Only part, because there were so many other things which made up the whole, but a significant part all the same. Lillie had left the club, having only stopped in long enough to say a hello, and to give Caitlin the benefit of a sharp look. The blonde had been all too willing to cover Lillie's shift to afford her the night off, but she was too inquisitive about where she was leaving to.

"Max?"

"Red?"

"Don't wait up."

"I won't even ask."

The bed and breakfast wasn't too far away, and it didn't take her long to retrace her steps from a few nights before. Lillie hadn't seen Joseph since the night they'd spent together, but she wouldn't forget the way to where he lived anytime soon. The dress she'd chosen was one of her favorites, something suited for a night out.

If she could convince him to come with her. There was no telling what might be on Joseph's mind since the last time that she saw him. But even with quiet inquiries of doubt touching at the edges of her consciousness, Lillie couldn't help the euphoria that wanted to rise up inside of her. She wanted to see him again, and every step brought her closer. It was a hopelessly romantic thought to have, one that she'd shaken her head at anyone else for having.

Mrs. Jones was the one to answer the door, giving her the benefit of her inquisitive stare again, but there was recognition in her wizened face. Lillie gave her the benefit of a smile.

"Is Joseph upstairs?"

"Yes, he is. Been working hard, the poor thing. Did he know you were coming by?"

"No, it's a surprise."

A few moments later Lillie climbed the stairs, tapping the backs of her fingers three times against the closed door.

Who: Joseph Carlisle and Lillie.
When: The evening of May 13th.
Where: The bed-and-breakfast Joseph currently calls home.
What: Lillie keeps her promise to Joseph, granting him an interview for his story.
Rating: PG-13.
Status: In-progress.

Max hadn't objected to Lillie taking a night off. To put a better point on it, he hadn't told her she couldn't go. There had been a knowing grin and flash of teeth, and Lillie had narrowed her eyes in turn, but her employer hadn't asked where she was going. Hadn't required a reason, hadn't asked any questions at all. Vampires were funny about each others' social lives, some cared to ask and others didn't, but vampire men weren't too far away from human men. The less complications, the better.

Once the sun had disappeared past the horizon and she was able to, Lillie left her apartment for the Cove's streets. To get to where Joseph called home would require wheeled transportation for anyone else, but that wasn't going to be an issue for her. Instead, Lillie opted to walk - or rather, run. She was much faster than any human could hope to be, and there was an advantage to a lack of internal body heat. There would be no perspiration across her forehead when she got to where she wanted to be. Joseph had been clear enough in where he'd told her to go, but because she'd taken him back there last night she already knew the way. Never mind that she'd carried him, and would never tell him that. She'd taken him to his room and made sure he was safe before disappearing through his window. For anyone or anything else it might have been romantic. But where was the romance in being tucked into bed by the vampire girl who had drank his blood just because she couldn't help herself.

Oh, sure. Makings of a perfectly happy ending.

She didn't look like anything from a happy ending, either. Lillie had taken to the Cuban tights again, this time with a halter dress that sloped down the curve of her back. and dropped away from her shoulders. Maybe a little more than what was appropriate for an interview, but exactly what she felt like wearing out. Julian had liked this dress, he'd bought it for her centuries back, and now it was still one that she liked.

This time though, instead of the window, Lillie used the front door. She knocked three times with her knuckles, then waited.