Unexpected || Brandon & Pauleen Chatzy
Pauleen crossed both arms over her sheer, purple blouse. The evening was cooler than she had anticipated, but she knew it would be warmer once they entered the club. She rubbed the toe of one heel against the back of her leggings and briefly uncrossed her arms to adjust her short, black skirt.
Brandon: "Are you cold?" Brandon asked, his head tilted and his gaze flickering back and forth between Pauleen and the queue that lined the route into Massacre. A small smirk lined his face as he leaned against the wall of the club, waiting patiently. Part of him was surprised he was even there at that moment. It seemed that his forwardness in conversation had actually paid off for once. "I can't believe you've never been in here before."
Pauleen: "Only a little," Pauleen replied. She studied his casual stance and tried to relax her own body to mirror it. She glanced back toward the club. "It does look like I've been missing out. This place is very popular."
Brandon: "Well, it's occupied mostly by vampires, being that it's owned by one but also, the whole cliche sunlight-affecting-vampires thing means that we get somewhere to go when we're actually able to be outside for a long time." Brandon shrugged, looking almost sheepish. He wasn't prone to admitting weaknesses, and being a vampire in itself was a huge hindrance on his usual life.
Pauleen: Pauleen nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. She could see that he didn't like admitting shortcomings and appreciated that he had allowed himself to do so to her. "Do they mind other species being here?" she fretted. "I don't want to intrude..."
Brandon: "Of course not," At that, Brandon's face broke out into an amused grin. "Hey, relax. Nothing bad's going to happen. I've been here countless times." As the line shuffled further along, Brandon dug into his pocket for his identification. It wasn't necessary, however, because Brandon seemed to be familiar with the burly-looking bouncer guarding the door. After a minute or two of conversation, he pulled the door open and held it for Pauleen. "Ladies first," he said, winking playfully.
Pauleen: Pauleen nodded and sighed with relief. It had been a long time since she had been to any public gathering place without either of her sisters, and it was difficult to quiet a steady stream of worries flowing through her nervous system. She blushed a little at Brandon's flirtatious chivalry and stepped inside. "Wow," Pauleen marveled. "It looks like half of Brookhaven is here!"
Brandon: Brandon dragged a hand through his messy brown hair, straightening down his shirt as he followed her through the entrance. "Right?" Grinning still, Brandon gently pressed his hand to her waist to guide her left, towards the bar. "I'd just advise not wandering upstairs unless you're interested in watching some strippers." A low laugh tumbled from his chest, and he kinked an eyebrow. "Drink?"
Pauleen: The back of Pauleen's neck burned and she shook her head adamantly. "No upstairs," she repeated promptly. "I'll be sure to stay clear." They reached the bar and Pauleen studied the glasses in front of other patrons. "A drink would be lovely, thank you," she said. Pauleen nearly asked what he would recommend, but then she reminded herself that he would be drinking blood and therefore was unlikely to have a favorite cocktail.
Brandon: While a part of Brandon was amused at how easy it was to cause a little embarrassment in Pauleen, another part took it as a challenge to make her relax. After all, if she was on edge or apprehensive all night, it wouldn't be particularly entertaining for either of them. "Maybe when we've got a few drinks in you," he teased. Turning to the bar as the girl behind approached, Brandon slid some money across and was rewarded with one clear glass filled with coloured liquid -- clearly whatever cocktail was picked as the favourite that day -- and one black cup that was filled with blood for himself. Passing hers along, he leaned down to speak above the music. "So I'm guessing if you don't come out often, you don't drink much?"
Pauleen: Pauleen nodded. A little alcohol might take the edge off and help her just enjoy the evening. She admired the almost neon hue of the drink he passed her before sipping tentatively. There was an immediate burst of flavor across her tastebuds before it slid smoothly down her throat. "You would be correct," Pauleen confirmed after she had swallowed the first taste of the cocktail. "At most, I have a glass of wine with dinner." His guess was as good as hers as to just how her body would respond to something stronger. Pauleen hoped that whichever aspects of her personality it brought forth made for a pleasant discovery.
Brandon: Brandon's gaze washed across the crowd, noticing some familiar faces and some newcomers. Probably the most sensible thing about their trip to Massacre was that Brandon knew which vampires were the ones to avoid, and which ones were friendly enough to engage with. Because all species were allowed there, many of the older vampires were known to take advantage. Especially of the Humans that sometimes managed to sneak in against Isabella's wishes. "Well, we'll just have to take it slow, huh? Come on, dance with me."
Pauleen: Pauleen glanced at the drink in her hand. She thought about how it was always strongly advised not to leave a glass unattended in a public place, lest someone add an ingredient of their own. Not keen to experience whatever effects that would produce, Pauleen took a deep breath and threw back her head, downing the rest of the drink in three quick chugs. Granted, now she was in for a bit of a shock to the system, but she knew that Brandon would be there to look out for her. Pauleen held out her hand and allowed herself to be led onto the floor.
Brandon: Following her lead, Brandon drained his glass and put it on the side to be collected by staff. Soon enough, after breaking through the crowd into a space in the main circle of the room next to the soundboard set up, Brandon slid his hand from hers to circle and rest on the small of her back. "So tell me," he was whispering now, his face near her ear to be heard above the roaring music. "Why did you come out tonight?" His body was moving now, gently and in time. "I know a lot of people are apprehensive, apparently I have a 'reputation'." A smirk appeared, and he rolled his eyes.
Pauleen draped her arms around his neck and shut her eyes. She wasn't altogether certain how people were supposed to dance in clubs, so she swayed her hips in time with the beat and hoped for the best. Brandon's breath was warm as it ghosted across her earlobe and her neck. She smiled at his mention of his reputation. Pauleen had a very strong suspicion that Brandon rather liked being known as a bad boy and a flirt. "I wanted to see for myself," she answered truthfully. "Always better to know a man in person than to settle for hearsay."
Brandon: Slowly, Brandon used the beat of the music to drag them closer together until the gap between their bodies disappeared. He was careful, however, to monitor her expressions and body language; even though he had already expressed his feelings about their.. acquaintance, he wasn't about to make any moves that would cause her to feel uncomfortable. "Well, here you have it," He half-shrugged, lazily. "A very average person, and an even worse dancer," He smiled then, following with a small laugh. "Sorry to disappoint. You, on the the other hand, look as great as ever."
Pauleen: The closeness made Pauleen's pulse quicken, but not at all unpleasantly. "I would say you're a little more than average," she determined kindly. "And we are well-matched in dancing ability -- or lack thereof." She laughed. "No disappointment at all. And thank you. I've never tried combining these three articles of clothing before, but they looked all right when I set them out on my bed."
Brandon: There was something about Pauleen that Brandon found seriously endearing; probably, he thought, the fact that she was clearly out of her comfort zone, but was still letting herself enjoy the night. Living as long as she had, he realised that there must have been some difficult habits to break, like keeping up with modern speech and such, and he admired how well she managed to fit in. "Oh, now you're just saying that to flatter me!" He joked, cocking his head to the side and raising an eyebrow, a smug expression forming on his face. "But trust me, as great as they look on you, I'm sure what's underneath is even better."
Pauleen: "No, I mean it," Pauleen insisted. "You look very nice tonight, too." She bit her lip at the very forward compliment that followed. "I wouldn't know," Pauleen said bashfully. "It has been quite a while since any eyes other than mine have had an opportunity to assess it." Realizing belatedly what she had just admitted, Pauleen averted her gaze and rested her forehead against Brandon's chest to hide any signs of embarrassment.
Brandon: "I appreciate the compliment." It wasn't until Brandon felt a slight knock at his shoulder - someone drunkenly stumbling past - that he remembered exactly where he was. Luckily, most of his body was on auto-pilot, and so he never stopped moving with her. At her admittance, Brandon had to bite back a grin. "Well, you've surprised me. Someone as good-looking as you, I would have thought you could click your fingers and guys start drooling." As she leaned against him, he laughed, the sound causing his torso to shake. "Hey, I'm with-holding all judgement. I mean, I totally know where you're coming from, it's been a whole.. like, four days for me." Clearly teasing, Brandon removed one hand to lift her chin, "It's nothing to be embarrassed about."
Pauleen: "There might have been a time when I could have," Pauleen conceded. "But I am very out of practice." She chuckled at his estimation. "Four whole days?" Pauleen played along. "It's a wonder you've survived." She permitted him to lift her chin and looked up into his eyes. Tentatively, she allowed her fingers to inch up the back of his neck, slowly easing into his hair and lightly grasping the short strands between her fingers.
Brandon: Brandon hummed an agreement, dragging a thumb across her jawline before letting his hand drop back to her waist. "Out of practise? Well, that sounds easy enough to fix." He could feel goosebumps littering the back of his neck from the contact, her hands a delicate contrast to the heat pouring from inside the club. Brandon leaned down close enough that it seemed like he was about to kiss her, though at the last second he darted down to press his lips against her neck, before dragging them across her pulse point. Though he didn't move away, the slight pause after that obviously meant he was awaiting a reaction - for her to give permission, almost.
Pauleen: A slight shiver ran down her spine. Pauleen could see the hunger in Brandon's eyes and it made her momentarily forget to breathe. She saw him moving in for what she mistook for a kiss, but then his mouth found her neck. When Brandon paused over her pulsepoint, Pauleen felt the first tingling of apprehension. She nuzzled the underside of his chin and tried to calm the hammering of her heart. Now she wove all ten fingers through his hair, lightly grazing his scalp.
Brandon: In the space of a second, a string of familiar feelings hit Brandon one by one. First came a sense of smug relief from the idea that she seemed to reciprocate his interest. Next, was a buzz of excitement that, thankfully, never seemed to disappear, even after countless partners and nights with strangers. And after that: determination. Dragging away from her neck, Brandon moved to capture her lips in a fervent kiss.
Pauleen: Pauleen inhaled sharply through her nose as his mouth found hers. She reciprocated in kind and let her body relax against his. They had stopped swaying to the music and were kissing in earnest now, fixed to the spot and heedless of their surroundings.
Brandon: Eager hands tugged at the fabric of her top, and Brandon smirked through the kiss. He had done this enough time for his movements to be direct. There was no fumbling around; Brandon pulled away only to kiss her again. He was aware of his motions, allowing space for her to push him away when she wished, knowing personal space and actually finding her breath was more of an issue for her than for him. Eventually, he gently bit on her bottom lip, only to pull his lips away and rest his forehead to hers. "You're better at this than you think."
Pauleen: Pauleen caught her breath and smiled at him. He was certainly skilled enough with every touch to have earned the reputation he boasted. She raked her nails through her own hair, pulling it back from her face where it had been sticking damply. Her hands found his waist and pulled him closer again, dancing a little slower this time. A small part of her still felt the slightest bit scandalous when her pelvis grazed his pants, but somehow she did not think Brandon would find this behavior remotely brazen.
Brandon: After returning the smile, Brandon let his eyes close. A deep, unnecessary breath was pulled in through his lips, exhaled against her neck as they danced together. In the same way that alcohol could be disorienting to humans, the short-term effects of drinking blood took all of Brandon's senses and blurred them together in a heightened mess. The close proximity tested his boundaries, making it difficult for him to differentiate between his thirst and his desire for the woman dancing with him. Both of his hands raised to cup her cheeks, bringing them together in a slow, drawn out kiss. He needed to be as near to her as possible.
Pauleen: Pauleen wondered belatedly if breathing was more of a form of self-expression to Brandon now, given that it was not necessary to supply oxygen. She supposed that it remained somewhat reflexive in nature, a way to illustrate a point or reign in emotions. Her musings were interrupted by another kiss, and Pauleen forgot all about breathing -- both his and her own. She undulated her body as though still moving to the music, but it served the dual purpose of gliding her curves across the fabric of his clothes.
Brandon: Brandon could feel his patience disappearing with every movement of her hips against his. Hands wandered, dragging underneath the fabric of her top to graze across her skin. Reluctantly, he pulled himself back long enough to whisper, "We should get out of here," against her neck, before gently biting down on the soft skin there. The music was overwhelming; Brandon could feel the bass pounding in his chest. "Shall we?" He offered, trailing his fingertips down her arms to lace with his.
Pauleen: "All right," Pauleen consented softly and nodded. The sound system did make it difficult to have any extended conversation, and dancing was quickly falling by the wayside. She held his hand readily and gave it a brief squeeze. "Where would you like to go?"
Brandon: "We could go back to my flat?" Brandon used his free hand to trail it through his hair which was sticking to his forehead, ruffling it back into it's usual messy shape. When she squeezed his hand, he began to maneuver them through the busy crowds of people, aiming for the exit. Even though they were walking, he wasn't ready to relinquish all contact with her yet. Whenever their hands dropped, he would make sure to have one arm protectively around her waist or back, until they'd pushed out and into the night's air. "And you may not believe me on this one, but I'm not /just/ suggesting there to sleep with you." Smiling and looking slightly flushed, Brandon stopped to turn and kiss her once more. "Although, I wouldn't exactly protest."
Pauleen: "It would be nice to see where you live," Pauleen said. She did not withdraw her hand from his, enjoying the hold he kept on her as they wove through the crowd. Pauleen chuckled a little. "Very well. I shall believe the innocence of the suggestion until given a reason to think otherwise." She kissed him back and grinned. They finally escaped the cramped and sweaty interior of the club and made it back to street. Pauleen swung their arms back and forth and lifted her eyebrows. "Lead the way," she prompted coyly.
Brandon: It was nice, Brandon thought, to feel this relaxed around someone. A lot had happened in the past few months. People were tense, scared and angry. Brandon knew all too well how that felt. Gradually, he had been pulling himself out of his whole of seclusion he'd built and had been getting back to his usual, joking, flirtatious self. But he hadn't been out of his flat in what felt like forever, so this was exactly what he needed. "And luckily, it isn't too far from here." He laughed at her swinging their arms. "So, tell me," he said, once he'd managed to quieten the laughter, "Verdict on Massacre?"
Pauleen: Each smile from Brandon seemed progressively more genuine, as though whatever walls or barriers he may have been keeping up within himself were slowly lowering as he let her in. Pauleen was very familiar with what it was like to deliberately remain withdrawn, both out of necessity and fear of being hurt. She tapped her chin with the index finger of her free hand while she decided her next response. "Very loud and crowded," Pauleen declared. "But the drinks are excellent and it does get adrenaline pumping."
Brandon: Nodding his head in agreement, Brandon listened, a smile twisting on his lips. "It's definitely one of the nicer places I've been. I used to know someone who would go to the worst places to drink, and he called me out to be the rescuer more than once, so I've learned to appreciate Massacre." Part of Brandon went to continue, but he soon realised that bringing up other people, especially the ex-boyfriend in name, didn't make for particularly good conversation with someone in the same situation as this. So, instead, he trained his eyes on the concrete road before him and gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm glad the night isn't ending here."
Pauleen: Pauleen wondered briefly about the man he mentioned, but opted not to make an inquiry. The fact that he had not referred to this other person by name might be significant, and she did not wish to spoil the mood by drudging up anyone that Brandon would rather leave behind in his memory. She squeezed his hand in return and nudged him gently with her shoulder. "So am I." Though the alcohol had certainly worked wonders lessening her inhibitions, Pauleen felt a little of that familiar nervousness return as the reality of where they were headed fully registered in her consciousness. She was going back to a man's home with him, alone. Pauleen wasn't altogether sure how well she would adapt to that foreign scenario, but her anxiety was not severe enough to prompt her to withdraw. She would see this through and see where the night led. It was just as Brandon had said earlier; there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Nor did she think Brandon was harboring any lofty expectations that she could not meet... hopefully.
Brandon: For the remainder of their work, Brandon remained quiet. Every now and again, he felt a wave of dizziness, though he wasn't sure if that was because of the blood flowing through his veins, or the anticipation at the possibilities the night brought. Brandon was very familiar with bringing people back to his apartment after a night out, but those were always complete strangers that were insignificant to him otherwise. He knew that Pauleen was already different to those people, because he had actually bothered to speak to her before asking her out for a drink, and because even he wasn't sure how the night was going to unfold. The vampire was dragged back to reality as they began to approach his apartment block. Digging the keys from his pocket, he let them both through the first door and then moved over to press the button for the elevator. "Hey, you've got to promise not to judge me up here, okay?" He began, sounding amused. "It's not exactly a five-star hotel."
Brandon: For the remainder of their /walk/,*
Pauleen: Pauleen nodded and crossed her heart with her index finger. "No judgment whatsoever," she promised. Pauleen followed Brandon into the elevator. As it rose from the ground floor, she realized there was nothing within those confined quarters to look at but each other. Still, Pauleen tried to keep her glances discreet and furtive. She smiled a little to herself and felt her cheeks tinge pink. The elevator dinged and they stepped out into the hall. Pauleen waited for Brandon to direct her toward whichever door led to his apartment.
Brandon: During the short stint inside the elevator, Brandon mostly kept his eyes trained on her, watching -- though, it was more inquisitive than anything. Once they were out in the corridor, he stepped down four doors on the left to the place he called home and clicked the key in the lock. Inside, the place lay just as Brandon had left it; the kitchen area was spotless because it was never used, and there wasn't much mess besides a few odd books and movie cases scattered around. He dumped the keys on the side table and headed for the fridge. "Can I get you another drink?" he asked, "I think there's a bottle of vodka here somewhere that got left behind by the person who bought it." Mostly, he just didn't want to have the awkward, 'welcome to my home' introductions.
Pauleen: "Just a small one," Pauleen called. She surveyed his apartment interestedly, taking note of the novels and films visible from where she stood, tucking away the little glimpses of who Brandon was in his alone time. Pauleen perched on a chair with her hands clasped in her lap. She tried to cross her legs at the ankle, the way she usually did, but the task suddenly seemed a little too intricate to accomplish without slumping to one side or the other. She shook her head at herself and blinked rapidly, chagrined to discover she might be a tad more of a lightweight than she'd hoped.
Brandon: "Shots or nothing, I'm afraid," Brandon informed her, though by the size of his smirk it was obvious that he wasn't particularly sorry about that fact. Bringing the bottle with him, he moved to drop back onto his sofa, surveying her with a raised eyebrow. "You /can/ join me on some comfortable furniture if you want," he told her, pouring the vodka into the lid and offering it forward. "I would.." he motioned to his fridge, insinuating the blood-bags, "but it's a little bit, uh, gross to watch, so I'll pass this time."
Pauleen: "Very well," Pauleen replied with a joking roll of her eyes. She smiled back at him and watched as he got situated. When Brandon invited her to join him, she crossed the room and carefully settled onto the sofa. Pauleen accepted the lid with a nod of thanks. She followed the motion of his hand and realized that he was referring to the blood he kept stored in his refridgerator. "If you change your mind, I can just look away while you drink," she offered kindly. Then she threw back the shot of vodka and gulped.
Brandon: "That's okay, but thanks." He said, shaking his head. Watching her swallow back the vodka, Brandon scrunched up his face. "Okay, okay, I'll give you points for that. I hated straight vodka when I was a human -- help yourself," Stretching back onto his sofa, one arm slung over the top to rest around her shoulders, he tilted his head. "So, we've done a lot of talking about my boring background story tonight, but I still know very little about you."
Pauleen: Pauleen took a bow for the impressive feat. She poured herself one more and swallowed it a little slower this time. Then she leaned back against his extended arm and lolled her head to one side to gaze up at him. Pauleen bit her lip, debating how much she ought to say. Payden was usually pretty close-lipped about their origins when speaking to strangers. Then again, Payden did not particularly enjoy conversing with anyone about anything, regardless of the nature of the subject matter. Pauleen gathered her courage and lowered her eyes, hoping she could keep a cap on her emotions as the memories rose to the surface. "My sisters and I lost our parents when we were very young," she began. "Well, perhaps lost isn't the correct word. Our mother was taken forcibly and our father... had a little help in his departure from this world." Pauleen rubbed the back of her neck. "You see, we grew up during the era of the infamous Witch Trials," she explained. "Our mother was one of many victims during that time, although she was not among the wrongfully accused. Even so, she didn't have the vengeful nature they associated with magic. She was a good person who didn't deserve such a public and painful end. We fought and screamed and struggled to save her, but they wouldn't let us. The last thing she saw before the flames consumed her was our grief-stricken faces, and the last thing she heard was her own screaming." Pauleen wrapped an arm around her middle and hugged herself to ward off the pain.
Brandon: As soon as Pauleen has started speaking, Brandon realised that it had been the wrong question to ask; it clicked, now, that if she had wanted to tell him, she would have. Although, he supposed he was lucky that she had confided in him these details, because it meant there was an element of trust there. His features pulled into a frown while he spoke, and when the silence fell, there was a pause, before. "Shit, I'm sorry," he said, his tone considerably softer than it had been all night. "You're really strong for getting through that, you know? You've got a good head on your shoulders and from what I've seen, you helped people a lot when all of the... stuff... with the council happened," Brandon paused, before shaking his head and moving on; those were memories he didn't want to dwell on. "I didn't mean to drag that all up for you." He said, tightening his grip in a half-hug, and pressing a kiss to her temple. "Your parents didn't deserve that, but from what I know, they'd be proud that you've turned out to be such a good person. You know, you can either go revenge-crazy or you can soldier on, and you've done exactly that."
Pauleen: "It's all right," Pauleen forgave readily. "It's a little easier to speak of now than it was then, although still painful, of course." She frowned sympathetically when he mentioned the Council. Pauleen remembered very well what he had lost then -- so young a life, so sweet and beautiful, and so very beloved to Brandon. The pain must still be there, sitting upon his heart, tightening its grip any time he came dangerously close to letting himself remember it all. Her eyelids fluttered closed when Brandon kissed her forehead, and then she reached up to trace his jawline. "Given my father's involvement in my mother's death, I would say he was the guiltier party of the two. But he paid for that betrayal in the end. I do want to believe my mother would be proud of me, and of my sisters. We leaned toward the revenge craze in our youth when the wound was still fresh, but we've learned to harness the grief with age." Pauleen tried not to recall how angry all three of them had been then, tried not to let her subconscious drudge up their vengeful retribution. Though she could not say she regretted the actions they had taken, the way events unfolded at the time were not exactly a source of pride, either. Instead of letting the past consume her, Pauleen simply nuzzled Brandon's neck and draped an arm around him in a loose hug. "Thank you," she murmured.
Brandon: Brandon nodded, understanding where she was coming from, even if he didn't fully understand the extent of her grief. He had lost people, but none had been taken as viciously as that. And anyway, some of the people Brandon had lost in his time had walked away out of their own choice. He wasn't sure which was worse, but now wasn't the time to think about those sorts of things. "Well, this wasn't exactly the uplifting night I was planning on," he smiled, though it was slightly sad. Still, feeling her nuzzling against him was relaxing so he let his eyes close, and just sat there. "But it's okay, we're both all right." Brandon dragged his free hand down his face, and when he brought it away, a little smile had formed. Sitting there, talking about things that usually stayed buried felt like a weight off his shoulders. And it felt weird, because Brandon didn't tend to get into meaningful conversations, but he couldn't say the change wasn't something helpful. He wasn't eighteen anymore; he had done and seen a lot of awful things, and now was the time to grow up. "Come to bed," he said, then, assuming she wasn't going anywhere. "You're definitely not sleeping on my sofa tonight."
Pauleen: When Brandon remarked on the solemn turn the conversation had taken, Pauleen chuckled a little. "I don't mind, though," she murmured. Pauleen saw Brandon finally smile again and it brought a smile to her face, too. Then he invited her to bed. Pauleen trailed her finger down his neck and nodded a little. "All right," she consented. She rose to her feet and held out her hands, offering to help him rise from the comfortable sofa.
Brandon: It was nice to hear her laugh, Brandon thought. He decided then that he wanted to hear the sound more often. "Well, that's a relief." He replied, though he had to stop a shiver as he felt her touching his neck. It felt good; small comforts. As she offered her hands, his eyebrows rose and he chuckled lightly, taking hold of them to pull himself up. Finally standing, he seized the opportunity to take his hands and brush stray hairs from her face. Then, he cupped her cheeks and leaned down to pull her into another kiss. It was lingering, Brandon seemed reluctant to pull away, though when he did, he shot her a wink and turned back, chuckling again. "You coming?" He called over his shoulder, the laughter still in his voice as he sauntered towards his bedroom.
Pauleen: Pauleen felt herself sway a little on her feet as Brandon kissed her again. He really was very good and putting the evening back on course after the heart-to-heart. She laughed at his roguish wink and followed his lead. When they reached the bedroom, Pauleen waited just inside the doorway, still a little bashful.
Brandon: Now that the atmosphere felt a little less heavy, Brandon felt a little more at ease. Once he was inside his bedroom, he was quick to pick up any clothes that had strewn the floor and deposit them inside his wardrobe. He needed to be forgiven, though, because he was still one person living alone. He could afford to be a little messy. When he heard the footsteps stop, Brandon closed the wardrobe and turned to look at her, his smile remaining. "Are you going to stand there all night?" He teased gently. "Because you know, when people watch others and don't say anything, it's classed as a little creepy." Smirking and shaking his head to insinuate he was joking, Brandon began to rifle through the number of shirts he had hung up.
Pauleen: Pauleen shook herself and smiled. She stepped a little farther into the room and sat on the very edge of the mattress. As she sat, Pauleen watched Brandon hastily tidying the room and felt her affection for him increase. The fact that he cared enough to want to present his living space in the best possible light was flattering. While Brandon completed his efforts, Pauleen worked on untying her shoes.
Brandon: "You can borrow something of mine if it's more comfortable to sleep in," Brandon offered as he tugged his own shirt over his head and moved to put in with the rest. Then, he set about picking out a new, clean one for the night. "If you want." He shrugged then. After a second or two, he finally settled on a faded Superman shirt and pulled it over his head.
Pauleen: "That would be nice," Pauleen acknowledged. She forgot herself for a moment and gaped openly when he tugged off his shirt. Pauleen set aside her shoes and padded across the bedroom to sift through Brandon's clothes for something to wear. Finally her fingers came upon an old, stretched-out t-shirt that would allow her at least a modicum of modesty. Pauleen rounded the corner back into the hall to change. She tugged off her blouse and pulled on the shirt. Then she reached under her skirt and rolled down the leggings until she could step out of them. Lastly, Pauleen removed the skirt and added it to the pile beside her feet. She pressed one hand against the wall to help maintain her balance and scooped up her discarded clothes. Then she returned to the bedroom and neatly stacked her garments beside the door.
Brandon: Brandon couldn't help but grin when she disappeared from sight to change in the hallway. Baby steps at least, he supposed. Glancing up as she turned back into his bedroom, Brandon paused in his step, his gaze washing over her. It was a beat later that he realised he must have been staring. He could have torn his gaze away, pretended that he hadn't been caught slightly off guard, but instead he gave a nod of appreciation. "You look good," he said, honestly. Because, really, if Brandon had any sort of weakness when it came to girls, it was this: wearing his over-sized t-shirts.
Pauleen: Pauleen shuffled her feet as he gazed at her. It made her blush deeply to be so admired. "Thanks," she murmured and tucked her hair behind her ears. Pauleen was not used to having this much of her legs exposed, but there was no denying that the material was comfortable against her smooth skin. She returned to the bed and tucked the shirt around her thighs, unable to keep herself from observing the etiquette that would keep her underwear concealed from view.
Brandon: Moving from the wardrobe, Brandon shuffled himself onto the bed, to then stretch out and lay fully down. While he was relaxed, he could tell that she was still a little uncomfortable. Frowning, he leant over to pull gently on the shirt fabric. "Hey, come here," He stretched out an arm, patting the spot of the mattress next to him for her. "Remember what I said earlier? You don't have to feel embarrassed around me."
Pauleen: Goosebumps rose on Pauleen's skin when he tugged on the fabric. She smiled and inched nearer to occupy the space Brandon had indicated. "I remember," she said softly. Pauleen rested her head on his shoulder and draped her arm over him again. On impulse, she sat up for just a moment to press a quick, chaste kiss to his cheek. Then she snuggled against Brandon's body once more and held him close.
Brandon: Although the night hadn't quite taken the turn Brandon had expected, he couldn't say that he wasn't enjoying himself. "Good," he mumbled against her hair as she moved to lay against him. "Because I meant it." As she kissed his cheek, a smile broke out across Brandon's lips. "Are you tired?"
Pauleen: "Not quite," Pauleen admitted. She traced the design on his t-shirt pensively. "How about you?" she asked quietly. "Are you feeling drowsy yet?"
Brandon: Brandon shook his head, dragging the arm that wasn't wrapped around Pauleen up and through his hair, to rest underneath the back of his head. "No, I'm just thinking about things," the vampire said, inclining his head to meet her gaze. "I thought the evening was going to pan out a little differently, that's all. Not that this is a bad thing -- I'm actually really enjoying myself."
Pauleen: "I thought it might, too," Pauleen admitted. "But it's still been a very nice night so far." She propped herself up and kissed him softly. "I'm really glad you invited me," Pauleen told him. "And even more so that I got up the nerve to accept." She ducked her head and her hair concealed part of her face as she smiled.
Brandon: As she spoke, Brandon felt relief flood through him. If she was telling him the truth - and he trusted that she was - then at least he had done well up until this point. He hadn't made her feel uncomfortable or bored, and that was important to him. As she leaned down to kiss him, Brandon stretched up to meet her lips, extending the kiss for as long as he could before they were then separated. "I'm glad you came, too," he agreed, returning the smile. As she ducked her hair, he dragged the arm from behind his head to stretch and brush her hair up and behind her ear. "I'm gonna kiss you again, okay?" Brandon murmured against the skin of her neck as he placed a kiss down and then dragged his lips down, slowly, until he reached her collarbone. He realised he probably didn't need to ask, but the words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He felt a strange mixture of apprehension and protectiveness.
Pauleen: Pauleen smiled when he restored her hair to its proper place. "Okay," she whispered. Her back arched slightly with each kiss trailing toward the loose neckline of the shirt she had borrowed. Pauleen draped one arm across his shoulders and held onto the back of his head with her free hand.
Brandon: Pulling his hands down to the hem of the shirt she had borrowed from him, Brandon slowly dragged it up until the skin of her stomach was exposed. His lips were still kissing her neck, though each one planted was becoming slightly more hesitant upon touching her skin. It wasn't often that Brandon felt nervous, especially in situation's like these, and that thought alone caused a frown to knot onto his features. He felt hyper-aware of her skin touching his - the hand in his hair, and the way that her body was still tucked against his - and soon enough his lips had reached her collarbone, his movements paused for the slightest moment.
Pauleen: Pauleen's breath hitched as the cool touch of the air raised goosebumps on her stomach. She kept her eyes shut tightly as she tracked the progress of his kisses, but they stopped abruptly and Pauleen peeked out of her eyelids to learn why. The nervousness was visible in his brow, even with his head still angled toward her collarbone. Pauleen smiled a little and gently smoothed his features with her fingertips. She caressed his neck and his cheeks with a soothing, feather-light touch.
Brandon: Brandon leaned his face into her touch as he felt her fingertips grazing across his cheeks, and he started to shake his head, "I'm sorry," he started, "I'm not exactly used to feelings of, uh.. apprehension," In the next second, a smile had broken across his lips, amused at himself for what Brandon would consider his own out of character behaviour. "And I know I've made some intentions crystal clear, but I like you.." As he spoke, Brandon was dragging himself back up, using one arm to rest his weight while the other dragged through his hair and down his face. "I really do, and that doesn't happen often. So, I think what I'm getting at is that I'd like to see you again. For a date, maybe. A proper one."
Pauleen: Pauleen's smile broadened, mirroring Brandon's. "I like you, too," she told him earnestly. Brandon seemed somewhat distressed to be making this confession, but what followed that appeared to require even more courage. His next proposition caught her off-guard, and she blinked as it sank in fully. Pauleen scooted a little higher on the bed and made sure to look him in the eye as she replied. "I would like that very much."
Brandon: The slight pause between when Brandon spoke and when Pauleen replied was worrying, and so relief couldn't quite cover the feeling that he got when she next spoke. His smile didn't fade, then, and instead he nodded, "Okay, great," His hand cupped her cheek, and he leaned up to press a kiss to her forehead. "Thank you,"
Pauleen: Pauleen's heart warmed at the forehead kiss, a sweet and tender sign of affection. "You're welcome," she beamed. "It would be my pleasure." She bit her lip and gazed back at him, mentally musing over how endlessly full of surprises this man could be.
Brandon: It was then that Brandon dropped himself back to lay next to her, burying his head into the pillow and shuffling until he was comfortable, though making sure not to leave much space between them. He could feel her gaze on him and the corners of his lips twitched again, threatening to keep him permanently smiling. He settled, eventually, his gaze tilted ahead, staring at his ceiling. There wasn't much noise besides her breathing, so that was what he focused on listening to. It was calming, in a sense. Eventually, he spoke. "Can I get you anything?" His voice was gentle, "Water, for the morning, maybe?"
Pauleen: Pauleen allowed herself to settle and relax against the mattress as well, sinking back against the pillows and sighing contentedly. Her legs briefly bent as her feet searched for the folded back sheet. Then she wriggled beneath it and hummed as the added warmth encircled her legs. Pauleen glanced back at Brandon when he spoke once more. "Water would lovely. Thank you." She suspected she would likely need even more than that with the hangover she was anticipating, but her lack of experience with strong alcohol left her with no tried-and-true antidotes to prepare in advance.
Brandon: Dragging himself up and out from the bed, Brandon nodded and disappeared out of the bedroom towards his kitchen. There was some shuffling around - mostly because Brandon /knew/ he had aspirin somewhere, because it was all stashed away with a collection of other things that had been left behind by his friends and other 'visitors', but he wasn't sure exactly where that was. Eventually, he found a box in one of the kitchen drawers, and he returned a few minutes later and placed both a glass of water and two small pills on the bed-side table on Pauleen's side. Then, he wandered around to the other side and collapsed down, shuffling himself underneath the bed cover, and turning to wrap one arm around Pauleen.
Pauleen: When Brandon set the pills down beside the water he had fetched, Pauleen shot him an appreciative glance. He had anticipated the need even before it was spoken and sought out a remedy. Pauleen watched him circle the bed and climb back in beside her. Brandon's arm wrapped snugly around her torso and Pauleen draped her arm over his. Her body immediately lost the last vestiges of tension and she was utterly calm. Truth be told, she could not recall for certain just how much time had passed since she had been held in this way, but it felt so protective and reassuring in that moment that Pauleen could not fathom how she had gone so long without it.
Brandon: Brandon felt his eyes close, and he was sure that if he had the ability to breathe, his breathing would have slowed right down to a content rhythm. It felt nice, being able to be side-by-side with someone without knowing that they were going to rush off first thing in the morning, and knowing that /he/ wasn't going to be the one making a quick escape as soon as the sun rose. Nestling his face into his pillow and glancing once more across her features, Brandon breathed out, "Sleep well."
Pauleen: Pauleen's lips twitched in one last smile as sleep began to establish its hold, making her eyelids heavy and causing the edged of her consciousness to blur. She snuggled just a fraction of an inch closer to him and whispered in return. "You, too."
Brandon: Brandon laid there for a little while longer, waiting for tiredness to overwhelm him. The night was silent, it was peaceful, and it didn't take long for him to nod off, one arm still wrapped around the woman next to him, one arm buried beneath the pillow supporting his head.
Pauleen: His arm felt just a little bit heavier where it was draped just above her hip, and Pauleen gathered from his closed-eyed stillness that he had drifted off for the night. She continued to peer over her shoulder for just a moment, appreciating the peace that came over his features while he was not awake. Then Pauleen succumbed to the same pull of exhaustion and allowed herself to slip away into a dream.
