Let's Play!

Looking up as the food arrived, she smiled sweetly, taking the plate, eating the offered meal, eating silently, glancing between the men, catching some rather odd puns, causing her to shoot a few looks towards Dametri in such a way as to tell she was picking up on them, and not liking what they were leading to.

Ephriam looked at her and sighed. This was ridiculous. So, knowing that full and well, he made sure that his mouth was full the next time that Jethro spoke. Suddenly Ephriam was very interested in the play. Jethro knew better, though, and gave a grin of malevolent triumph.



The matinee was actually really good. Ephriam was laughing, at least externally, along with the roaring audience. He cast a sidelong glance at Marina.

Laughing sweetly, Marina soon forgot frustrations with Demetri, if not his friend, shooting him a disapproving glare once and again, arm loosely looped with Demetri's once more.

Ephriam didn't say anything else the entire time, even after the food was taken. After the show was over, Lorraine and Karl were quick to leave. Apparently that something else that they needed to do. Ephriam was the next one to rise. He looked at the woman beside him, offering a hand.



"Shall we go?"

Looking up at her escort, Marina glanced to Jethro and Sarah, nodding to the two.



" Pleasure."



She purred curtly, officially unkeen with how the man joked (Otherwise, fine man, but still) and wanting to be from him, and turned her eyes to Dametri. Taking him in, she smiled softly, following him out.

Unfortunately, Jethro followed after them with his silent Sarah. After Ephriam had watched the stunning Marina climb into their vehicle, his friend lay a hand on his shoulder. With a sort of grudging, Ephriam turned to face Jethro, who raised both brows, shooing Sarah along first. His voice was soft.



"May I come to stay tonight?" Ephriam frowned deeply. His voice was sharp and curt.



"No." Normally it would have been an immediate yes, but tonight was different. Jethro looked at him.



"Really... I think we have some things to discuss." Ephriam stepped away, edging one foot into the vehicle.



"You are not welcome in my home." It would seem like a rude turn away, but (like most everything else tonight) it meant something more between the two of them. True, it was just a gesture - such a rule did not actually apply - but it was the principle of the thing. Ephriam eased into the vehicle the rest of the way and shut the door. He looked at Marina.



"Did you enjoy your evening?"

" For the most part, it was very nice."



Marina replied softly, snuggling up to his side now, looking him over.



" what's going on between you and your friend?"



She inquired softly, waiting for some brush-off answer. Naturally, he had to know she knew better, if not even suspicious of something else, but it was the point of asking, showing she was willing to give him the chance to be honest... to tell her the whole truth.

Ephriam looked at the woman as the vehicle lurched forward. For a long moment he seemed to consider her, to consider what to say. Then he gave a heavy sigh.



"What do you think of Sarah?" He barely even gave a break, casting his eyes away and continuing.



"Well... Jethro would kill me for saying so, but... As quiet as she may seem, Sarah is actually a dominatrix. Jethro has a biting fetish." He glanced at Marina with the expression of expecting a foul response.

" Your too good at covering things you wish not to speak about."



Marina replied softly, not believing that to be what was being referred to at dinner, but having no proof, so letting it drop for now, looking out the window. Thinking things over, she glanced over to Dametri, debating whether she was frustrated with him still or not, and chose to let it go as she moved over to set beside him once more, pouting.



" I really wanted to dance."

Ephriam, unlike quite a few other men, did have the ability to use more organs than his stomach and... arm. In fact, he was somewhat intelligent. His brain told him easily not to respond to the first comment. The man just rode along rather contently. As she commented about the dance, however, he was torn for a moment between brushing it off or offering some sort of appeasement. He had quite of bit of practice when it came to dancing, but that didn't mean that he liked it.



"There is music in the house."

" I know, but it's no fun to dance alone..."



Marina replied, still looking at him rather pathetically. Honestly, she wanted him to say whether he intended to dance with her or not, because truth be told, if she didn't get a solid answer, he seemed to wiggle out of it.

Ephriam looked at her for another long moment of silence. And then another. And then the vehicle stopped and he was still staring. Then he finally sucked up his manliness and just this once decided that he would concede on something a bit outside of his comfort zone.



"Then I suppose it will not be a party song. Those are extremely difficult for couple dancing."

Marina smiled bright, leaning over and kissing Dametri's cheek softly, giggling and glowing from the inside out.



" Let's go."



She purred, pure excitement and anticipation filling every bit of her body.

Ephriam's mouth curved into the smallest of smiles. He knew there had been a reason for his deciding on this, and his little kiss proved it. True, it left a brief prickling warmth on his skin, but he wasn't about to say he didn't like it. It was just that he knew that he probably shouldn't indulge so. At least not yet. Either way, he did like it. He liked her. He always had. That's why he had chosen her. Still, he climbed out of the vehicle and all but lifted her out after him.



"Let's." He gestured towards the... well, castle before them. It was a way out in the country with a fine archaic structure. It was built of stone, of course, but there had been some remodeling over the years. The ballroom, however, was still how it had been since its creation - polished marble floors and stained glass windows.



((No words from you. I've never had a character that owned a castle. I thought it would be fun.))

Smiling sweetly, Marina nodded, looking up at the stoney fortress before them, taking his hand and all but dragging him along with her, giggling and seeing to be walking on the air it's self as she tugged and fussed to get him to come along faster.

Ephriam managed somehow to free himself from her as they entered the ballroom and walked off to a tiny little alcove in the corner. Okay, there had been one teeny tiny alteration to the ballroom....



Suddenly an erratic rap music was blasting over the hidden, surround-sound speakers. Good lord, Jethro! What were you doing in here?! As Ephriam pushed a couple buttons and turned a knob or two, one could hear an almost staticy cacophony of musical blips and volume changes. Country, rock, pop, jazz, instrumental, opera, classical... All in little half second measures, of course. But then the music settled into a fun sort of - not really fast but not quite classical... Like... Tango music.



Ephriam stepped out with his eyebrows raised at Marina questioningly.

Marina smiled impishly as she moved over to him, kissing his nose, taking his hands and glanced down at her dress, then back up at Dametri.



" Well, lead."



she prodded softly.

Ephriam smiled at her, taking her left hand and throwing it to his shoulder as his own rested lightly on her waist.



"Of course, M'lady." And with that, off they went. The man's steps were precise and practiced, yet still fluid and comfortable. He maintained a polite distance from his partner, both for their sake and for the sake of the dance. It was easy though, not nearly as strange as he thought it would be. Perhaps it was like calligraphy - or riding a bike as they say nowadays. You never forget how to do it.

Blushing slightly at the formal address, she moved slightly as she followed his lead, thoroughly enjoying herself as the night wore on, loosing her shoes at some point, light on her feet.



Marina sighed contently about four or so hours later, head resting on Dametri's shoulder, nearly asleep, as she was still easily guided back and forth across the floor.

Ephriam smiled to himself as the woman all but fell asleep, and then with the same sort of graceful ease that he used to do everything, he swept her up into his arms. Without problem, he left the room with the lights still on, the music still softly tumbling through the air, and her shoes left aside.



The man shifted her slightly in his arms as his fingers curled around the knob to pull open the door. Ephriam then lay the woman on the bed, his fingers reaching as though to pull off her gown before he thought better of it. She was conscious, if though barely. The last thing he wanted would be to offend her. Instead he turned and pulled out a nightgown for her, laying it so all she would have to do would be to slip from one to the other.



"Is there anything else you need?"

Looking at Dametri, she smiled and moved tiredly to kiss Dametri lightly brushing his lips, then fell back into her bed, dress and all, pulling the covers over her. ( Don't read too much into the kiss at this point...)

Ephriam chortled softly, leaving it as it was. He stood up, savoring the feel of warmth. It was a feeling he could almost taste. He stepped backwards towards the door, pausing for a moment or two to watch her, and then glance at the mirror he had unwittingly stepped in front of. He sighed inwardly at the sight of an empty mirror. At least, it was to him. He seemed to remember, though, that when he was human he had seen a ghosting reflection of his creator. Shaking his head, he slipped from the room, his head shoot up abruptly after shutting the door. He looked at the man standing there.



"A biting fetish? You must have been saving that one for quite some time now..."

Cuddling down into the bedding, she drifted into a feather light sleep, picking up on the change of foot steps in the hallway outside her room. Making a face, she moved to her door, exhausted, she looked out her little (one way) peak-a-boo window in her door, and made a disgusted face and went to bed ( Much more grump then she'd been ten seconds ago).

Ephriam just turned and stalked down the hallway. Jethro followed.



"Aww, come on then. Not even a greeting for your best friend?" Ephriam didn't stop until they stood in one of the more obscure rooms of the house, a small study that almost seemed to change location every time. He shut the door and then turned to the other with a scowl.



"Not when that friend nearly ruined the ears of my lady." Jethro just laughed good-naturedly and plopped down in one of the squishy recliners.



"Come now, come now. I cannot see why you are so intent on keeping it a secret. Sarah knows." Ephriam stood rigidly with a frown.



"Look what happened to her. Oh wait. I forgot - fear is your favorite flavor."



"As they say, damn right!" Jethro rolled his eyes with a slight laugh and then his tone dropped to one only a degree more serious. "Really though. You've waited all this time before picking one. You might as well screw it up and have some fun. And that I mean in all possible interpretations." Ephriam didn't move. "Aww, you are nothing but a stick in the mud, Eph."



"For the last time, stop calling me Eph. It sounds ridiculous." Jethro just chuckled.



"Fine, fine." He stood up and stretched. "I take it that you don't want to go out for a little pre-dawn adventure then?" Ephriam's gaze was like ice. "Mental note to self: buy a candle to stick under Eph's bum. Maybe then he will be a little more friendly to me." And just like that, Jethro was gone.



For the record, that was a pretty typical exchange between them.

Grumbling to herself, Marina kicked at the bedding as she sub consciously heard the conversation, not rousing fully, the poor feather pillows suffering the brunt of her reactions.

~~



The next day Marina sighed as she woke, stretching slowly, grumbling still, the conversation sticking out in her mind, not entirely sure why, not realizing at this point it hard really taken place as she moved to climb into the bath tub, running the water slowly into her four person jetted tub, watching the bubbles.

Ephriam had spent the night with little errands, which was a little bit of a change for him. He slipped into her room as he heard the water going and changed her beddings, cleaning up the downy mess. He ran through her clothes, pulling out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, laying them on the bed for her.



It was a casual day for Ephriam too. He had to give that to the modern society. They had come up with ways to make convenient and comfier clothes than in his day. After straightening the room and making the bed, he drifted to the kitchen where he began to make omelets.

Climbing free of the tub she dried and wondered to the bedroom, noting the clothes, dressing and walking, barefoot down the cool stone steps to the kitchen bellow, conversation still nagging at her memory, much like a mother's lecture. Driving her nearly insanse as she glanced at Dametri, she barely kept her mouth closed as s forced grin covered her face.

Ephriam noticed Marina the moment she walked in, but didn't say anything at first. He was not at all fooled by the forced smile. He removed the two omelets and put them out with orange juice for the both of them, clicking off the stove. He stared at her with his washed-out out eyes, one brow raising.



"Come now, it is far too early for tensed expression. What troubles you?" He lay out a fork for her to take as he sat to eat.

" Nothing to bother you with, I feel, I just can't shake it, that's all."



Marina purred slowly, looking at the food, slowly taking the juice as she sat, debating on eating, given how upset her stomach was.

Ephriam pushed his omelet about on his plate for a minute before taking another bite. He gave an almost mischievous smile as he looked up at the fair woman.



"Come now, I think I should know the nightmares in my own home. The skeletons and creaky doors and all such things included as well, of course." He paused to take a sip of juice. "Bother away."

" It's just a conversation stuck in my head."



Marina purred softly, faintly citing the entire thing from beginning to end as it ran through her head.

Ephriam had been quite silent through the ordeal, outwardly seeming quite nonchalant but inwardly brooding. He finished off his omelet with a shrug.



"Well if that is bizarre..." He didn't even get to finish his sentence.



"You mean I missed breakfast?!" And, as though (and probably so) on cue, Jethro meandered into the kitchen, smoothing out what looked close to was his hair would have looked like if he had stuck his finger in an electrical outlet while wearing a helmet.

Looking up, disgust only visibile for half a second, Marina glanced to Dametri, and smiled slightly.



" I think I'll go for a walk and let you to be."



she purred softly, leaving her uneatten food on the table as she left.

Ephriam watched her go, each footstep bringing more irritation into his spine. By the time that she was well gone, Jethro had taken up her place.



"Well, if she's not going to eat it..." And then he set in on her plate. Ephriam exploded, save in that quiet, intense manner that he did so.



"Why are you in my house?! Now in front of her as well?! Jethro, I have to say that I am astounded by your impotence!" Jethro munched, completely unfazed.



"Needs pepper." And with that he added pepper. Yes, his actions were quite unpredictable.



"I swear that if you do not leave this instant..."



"What? Are you going to hang me upside down on a cross and crucify me?" Ephriam didn't look taken aback at all.



"I very well might." Jethro gave a hearty laugh.



"Nonsense. Then you would have absolutely no friends - which I could jolly well explain by that temper of yours. Besides, we both know you were never the best with carpentry." Ephriam was fuming as he left Jethro sitting there and went to find Marina.

Marina looked up as Dametri came outside, looking him over slowly.



" Why won't you tell me your name? Or what's going on? Jethro just showed up out of thin air, no door, no nothing.... All your doors make distinct sounds, no sounds at all..... "

Ephriam stood up very straight as Marina turned on him. His face was calm, but for every word of hers, he cursed Jethro twice. As Marina finished her tirade, the aforementioned guest breezed into the hallway with a flourished bow.



"It's because I'm actually magic." He brushed behind Ephriam, his hands gripping the fellow's tense shoulders and speaking in a singsong voice. "Somebody's in trouble." And then he wandered off down one of the countless passageways. Ephriam gave a terse frown and then a sigh before looking at the woman again.



"I kept my name for myself because I was afraid you would never let me hear the end of it. My name is not commonplace and regular, if you understand my meaning. The fact that you have memorized the sounds of my doors aside... I suspect that Jethro may have spent the night last night..." He turned towards where the man had gone. "...EVEN THOUGH I STRICTLY FORBADE IT!" This was thin ice.

" I know every door, no new ones opened as I sat at the table, and I'd not make fun of your name. I haven't made fun of anything you've done."

Ephriam just stared at her for a long moment. I would expect not. It is not happenstance that you stand here today. He gave a low sigh and shrugged.



"Ephriam. Now, what do you want for breakfast? Since our unwanted guest seems to have misplaced your first one, you get to pick." He turned to escape into the kitchen, hoping that she was satiated. I am going to skin him alive... Giving so much to protect the little he had left. It was getting rather ridiculous.

Looking after him, she looked him over as she moved to catch his hand before he could escape her, and her questions, looking him over.



" I expect answers to the rest later."



She purred softly, letting it go for now, as she could tell he was uneasy, due to their unannounced company.



" However, french toast sounds nice, since you make amazing french toast."



Marina purred gently, letting her hand rest in his as he lead her back to the kitchen, looking over their new guest.



" Hi."



she said, a bit over curtly.

As Ephriam pulled out the needed goods for the breakfast, Jethro was grinning like a Cheshire cat in his direction. Even without knowing the situation, a complete stranger would want to smack him. And so, Ephriam did - in a manner of speaking. As he was dealing with the eggs, he accidentally cracked one too hard on the counter (the result being egg all over Jethro's leg). But the guest simply laughed, grabbing a paper towel to clean it up.



When Marina greeted him, Jethro turned with a warm smile.



"Greetings, Cupcake." All the while, Ephriam was cooking french toast.