Let's Play!

<div align=center>--------The Adults--------</div>

[color=663399]Baltic..........................blonde straight.brown......................merfolk[/color]

[color=FFCC00]Byron (Franklin Marborough).....black straight..gray.......................freezing[/color]

[color=FF33CC]Dansk...........................ash wavy........brown......................wolf alpha[/color]

Derrin Terninsky................brown straight..brown......................state change

[color=339933]Ephriam Timothi Dimmura.........black straight..washed green..05/28/1327...biorhythm[/color]

[color=FF0000]Fletcher........................ash curly.......brown......................momentum[/color]

Hector

[color=ff0066]Henry VIII......................red straight....blue..........06/28/1491...insanity[/color]

[color=993366]Hunter..........................ash curly.......red........................momentum[/color]

[color=0099CC]Jethro Ranien Asblamovich.......blonde straight.brown......................consumption[/color]

[color=FF6666]Lance Enrollina.................black straight..blue[/color]

[color=996633]Lucas...........................brown curly.....gray..........03/17/1942...werewolf[/color]

Marina Eliza Dimmura............blonde curly....blue.......................heal/future

Max.............................brown straight..blue

Mew.............................brown wavy......green......................null ability

Moses...........................brown straight..black.........07/30/1412...boil blood

Naomi...........................red curly.......tainted gold...............regeneration

Nikolai (Nikki) Grigoryevich Sokolov

[color=66ff66]Perstisus.......................white straight..violet[/color]

[color=FFFF66]Peter Monditch..................red straight....blue[/color]

[color=FF6600]Sterling Maliky.................dark straight...sky blue.....02/27/2014....mental weak.[/color]

Taren Locklier Hayes............brown straight..blue.......................allure

[color=CC99FF]Timothi Todd....................brown straight..brown[/color]

[color=003399]Travis (Tito) Todd..............brown straight..green[/color]

[color=00FFFF]Warren..........................brown wavy......blue[/color]



<div align=center>--------The Children--------</div>

[color=339933]Annalise Charlotte..............black curly.....gray..........04/02/2015[/color]

Ava.............................brown straight..brown......................witch

[color=FFCC00]Bailey Kate.....................blonde wavy.....gray..........12/12/2014[/color]

[color=0099CC]Bethany Rachel..................brown curly.....brown.........09/01/2014[/color]

Bray............................black straight..green......................shapeshifter

[color=339933]Calder Matthew..................black straight..blue..........01/14/2011...image out[/color]

[color=339933]Camille Monica..................blonde curly....blue..........02/02/2013...melt[/color]

[color=339933]Carson Michavel..................black straight..pale green....12/14/2014[/color]

[color=663399]Caspian.........................blonde curly....blue..........05/25/2018[/color]

[color=0099CC]Chip[/color]

[color=339933]Colton Marshall.................black straight..pale green....12/14/2014[/color]

[color=339933]Coraline Nahme..................blonde curly....washed green..03/04/2014[/color]

[color=339933]Dalia Valerie...................black curly.....green.........06/01/2016[/color]

[color=993366]Eden Tempest....................red straight....tainted gold..02/28/2014[/color]

[color=003399]Emelia Desiree..................blonde straight.brown.........04/02/2015[/color]

[color=CC99FF]Elisa Dawn......................blonde straight.blue..........04/02/2015[/color]

[color=996633]Emi.............................blonde curly....blue..........10/02/2015...half werewolf[/color]

[color=0099CC]Evan Jet........................sandy straight..blue..........12/14/2014[/color]

Ewen Honlin.....................blonde straight.blue

[color=339933]Genesis Evelyn..................blonde straight.green.........10/02/2015[/color]

[color=FF6666]Graham Isaiah Dimmura...........black straight..gray..........03/01/2014[/color]

[color=339933]Greyson.........................black straight..blue..........10/15/2017[/color]

Guinevere Marie.................brown curly.....blue..........06/01/2016

[color=0099CC]Hagan Christopher...............brown straight..blue..........06/01/2016[/color]

[color=FF33CC]Harlow Elise....................blonde wavy.....brown.........06/01/2016...half werewolf[/color]

[color=0099CC]Hayden Alexander................brown straight..blue..........06/01/2016[/color]

[color=ff0066]Henrietta[/color]

[color=339933]Hope............................blonde curly....washed green..05/25/2018[/color]

[color=FF0000]Isis............................ash curly.......blue..........05/25/2018[/color]

[color=ff0066]Jasper Edward Dimmura...........blonde straight.blue..........06/01/2016[/color]

[color=FFCC00]Jeremy Ivan.....................brown straight..gray..........06/01/2016[/color]

Katerina Nikolayevna Sokolova

[color=993366]Kathleen (Kit) Smith............red curly.......green.........02/22/2015[/color]

[color=00FFFF]Kendra..........................d. blonde curly.dark blue.....01/13/2017[/color]

[color=66ff66]Leif Lucas Dimmura..............blonde straight.blue..........06/01/2016[/color]

Liam Owen.......................brown straight..blue..........04/02/2015

[color=0099CC]Madelyn Brianne.................blonde curly....brown.........03/04/2014[/color]

[color=0099CC]Madison Alyssa..................blonde curly....brown.........03/04/2014[/color]

[color=ff0066]Maverick........................blonde straight.blue..........05/25/2018[/color]

[color=663399]Nautia..........................blonde straight.hazel.........12/08/2017[/color]

[color=993366]Night Ryder.....................blonde curly....gold..........01/30/2014[/color]

Noah............................brown straight..blue

[color=FFCC00]Olivia Faith....................black curls.....blue..........09/01/2014[/color]

[color=996633]Paige...........................brown curly.....green.........06/01/2016...half werewolf[/color]

[color=FF6600]Penny...........................black wavy......blue..........12/08/2017[/color]

[color=993366]Phoenix River...................blonde curly....gold..........01/30/2014[/color]

[color=FFCC00]Porter Tansley..................black curls.....gray..........12/14/2014[/color]

[color=FFFF66]Ransom Ranien...................red straight....blue..........12/30/2013...skies flip[/color]

Rose............................gray curly......brown......................half werewolf

[color=993366]Roselyn Raine...................brown straight..blue..........12/20/2013[/color]

[color=339933]Rumor Mackenzie.................black curly.....green.........06/01/2016[/color]

[color=339933]Salina Nicolette................black straight..washed green..02/02/2013...blind light[/color]

[color=339933]Sawyer Nathaniel................black straight..pale green....12/14/2014[/color]

[color=339933]Scarlette Noelle................black curly.....blue..........01/15/2011...image in[/color]

[color=993366]Storm Hunter....................red curly.......red...........11/04/2013...acid[/color]

[color=339933]Sumner Moses....................black straight..violet/blue...12/30/2013...rhythm manip.[/color]

[color=00FFFF]Tobit...........................auburn curly....blue..........01/13/2017[/color]

[color=ff0066]Valarie.........................red curly.......blue..........[/color]

[color=339933]Vivienne........................black curly.....blue..........[/color]

[color=00FFFF]Vlane...........................blonde straight.blue..........[/color]



<div align=center>--------Side Names--------</div>

Coral...........................Baltic's mother

Easton..........................Ephriam's second older brother

Eleina..........................Ephriam's sister

Emily...........................Warren's sister

Ethan...........................Ephriam's oldest brother

Evelyn..........................Ephriam's baby sister

Everett.........................Ephriam's father

Francois Barbe-Marbois..........Byron's name in history

Lannali.........................Hunter's first daughter

Rachel..........................Jethro's mother

Rebecca.........................Ephriam's mother











Important links for Marina's house pages 575-580































" Take my hand."



Those are the words that saved my life. My name is Marina Eliza Pertez. I stand a mere 5'1", with platinum blonde hair down to mid-lower back, petite frame, heart shaped face, ice blue eyes, rosy lips, and a light olive complexion ( My least favorite feature.).



Anyways, this all started with a star studded evening that would be one I'd never forget.







~~ Twelve Years Ago ~~



Roughly around my seventeenth birthday, with ribbons in my hair, and a smile to make all weak at the knees, I walked down the luxurious red carpet. My first movie premiere, landing my first big break, I was the happiest person on the planet posing for all sorts of tabloid photos.



It was the day I got my new 'name', Cupcake. T'was the name of the character I played in the movie. But more importantly, it was also the day I got my first stalker.



Setting proud, smile still in place on my face, eyes sparkling, I couldn't have shown bright if I'd tried as I watch the movie all the way through for the first time... From the watcher's point of view.



The movie was plain and simple, but earnestly loved by all. I was called " Cup Cake". About a young woman, Cupcake, who ended up having a baby girl named Sugar. Well, the small movie followed Cupcake and Sugar through there lives for the next four years until Sugar finds herself, and her ' Happily ever After' .



The Premiere was a hit, the movie topped charts. Soon everyone knew the names " Sugar" and "Cup Cake" .



Setting at the table, movie over... That was the night I got the first letter.



Lovely beauty, you will be mine. I already I own you.You will soon join me in eternity.

~Unknown~





It was delivered to me that night, and I paid ti no mind. I was young, carefree, and on cloud nine. I knew not what was in store after that.



The letters continued over the next two years. Just letters, ranging from ' your mine' to ' come join me in death' to ' wait until your home again'. I was too busy to take them seriously, movies constantly filming, dating, guest appearances, I was simply too focused on other matters. Foolish.



Soon the letters turned threatening. Random items started showing up in my house.



Things started being moved in my house. I found notes in every nook of every car, house, hotel, studio I was in. Phone calls started.









~~ Five Years ago. ~~



I was stolen from my bed, sleeping happily. if a bit nervously. That's when the next few years get sketchy. I was locked in the dark for I don't know how long. I learned to survive in the room. I always had food, and a way to bathe, and the room, from what i could feel of it, was very nice. But the only thing I heard was that man's voice.



I grew to like the voice, simply because it was the only company I had. The only outside contact.



There were moments in those years I considered suicide. But I never gave into it. Something stopped me each time.



I eventually took to talking with that voice in the dark. Until later, I wouldn't know that really, that voice had a body, and that the person himself was in the room with me nearly the entire time during those years.



~~ Two years ago ~~



I remember it clearly. It was the first time I saw light in years, and the whitest face, and sharpest eyes ever. Behind him flames were licking the walls, and smoke filled every corner of the Victorian style room. The thing that confuses me even now, as I recall looking into those eyes, was my lack of hesitation to do as he instructed me as I lay, at risk of burning to my death.



" Take my hand."



His voice was deep, dark, perhaps a bit gruff, and his grip on my hand made me feel as if my fingers were going to be crushed.



He saved my life. Even if it was his fault for me being in that situation anyway. I'm not sure how it happened, and he won't tell me even if I go to ask him now. One moment I stood in that room, completely engulfed in fire, and the next, we were standing in the castle we are now living in. I'm not allowed off grounds, and am only allowed outside at night, but I am rather content with my new life.



My photos still litter the tabloids, years after I've disappeared.Still articles about ' The little Sugar adopted by a young mexican couple'. 'Sugar' is still a name thrown around everywhere... He hasn't cut me off completely, but very close to.





The only thing that's really bothering me right now is... the other night I was dressing up, to go down to the little town about two hours away with him, and he slipped in behind me as I was putting my necklace on in the mirror... and it was like he wasn't there... a faint, ghost like appearance in the mirror, at best.... it's kind of bothering me.....









































(( You have first post, those are just her journal entries, up until the day before we start (( In other words, the last bit happened 'yesterday')) ... and yes, he's a vampire also.))

Ephriam paused on the other side of the doorway, simply listening to the movements on the inside for a little while. With a slow grin he nodded approvingly as his long, thin fingers brushed over the long box in his hands.



In reality, his whole body was long and thin. His stature was almost towering with six feet and four inches, but his build was surprisingly slender, almost having and effeminate touch. His skin was so pale that it seemed utterly rejected to even the idea of light. On contrast, his hair was a charcoal color, and he kept it trimmed short. The man didn't care that the style was long and such - he was not a fan of blindness. Besides, in theory he shouldn't have to follow the trends of the modern world. He was Lord Ephriam Timothi Dimurra, after all (not that people knew it anymore).



As his fingers smoothed out a crease in the bow, Ephriam reached out and opened the door, slipping in behind the girl soundlessly. He simply watched her for a moment or two, seeing the way the light seemed absorbed by her warm olive skin only to be cast out again as a sort of glow.



"I got you a present." That's all there was. There was no announcement to his presence. Just his words. The man held out the long box wrapped in a silver ribbon.

Looking up, Marina looked him over, biting her little pink lip softly, smiling up at him. tilting her head to the side, brushing the creases out of her black silk dress with red lace trim. Blinking slightly, she took the package, running her slender fingers over every inch of it.



Slowly she found her feather light voice, letting it grace the air with it's soft, faint tone.



" I'd much more prefer if you'd tell me your name."



She purred simply. He'd never told her, and she wanted to have something to call him. Anything. She had taken to calling him ' My captor' for a while... but that had gotten old. She wanted a name.

With an excited twinkle in his eye, Ephriam simply tapped on the edge of the box.



"I really think that you'll like it. Go ahead, open it." He ignored her question. Well, he liked to think of it as 'glossing over the issue'. It sounded less abrasive that way. Besides, he had done this before. He wasn't entirely sure why, but he felt like there was a certain sort of... necessity to it.



"Go on, Marina." However, the issue was reversed in his case. He had all of her names. Yes, the man had fiddled around with them in his head for a while. At first he had just assumed he would call her Cupcake or maybe Sugar, but then he realized he didn't like that at all. It was so... so used. No, he liked Marina much more.

Marina made a pout, and looked him over, putting the box back in his hands.



" I want a name to call you by."



She replied simply, turning back to the mirror to finish her hair, to go where ever it was that he had in mind this time. really, she enjoyed outings with him, as it was a time to get out of the castle, and socialize with others. Of course, she wasn't allowed to talk about her life prior to her new one, but still, it was nice to get out, to laugh.

Ephriam pursed his lips slightly, holding the box somewhat dejectedly. It seemed like a foreign object now. With a slight frown his eyes drifted up, watching the girl shift her pale hair about in order to do some fancy thing. He stepped forward with a sigh, reaching into the box of little doodads and pulled out a set of combs. They had pretty little gold-colored pearls on them.



"I like these." The man held them up to her hair for a moment before nodding. He placed the long box on her vanity and tucked back a strand of hair, pinning it with the comb.



"They make you shine." He set the other comb in front of the box and stepped back a pace or two. Ephriam was quiet for a bit as he watched.



"I'd really like you to open it."

Grabbing the combs, she put them in her hair, looking to the box, then to him, she shrugged slightly. without thinking about much. Sighing, she looked up at her captor.



" I don't feel like opening it."



Marina replied, looking him over, slipping on her heels, only adding three inches to her height, still a full foot shorter then him, looking him over.



" I'm ready."

The man's brow arched up as he looked her over. He tilted his head to the side.



"And you look lovely." He paused briefly. "What are you ready for? Why are you dressed up?" This was the nature of his game. It was never obviously mean. He turned to the side and picked up one of her various make-me-pretty tools and began fiddling with it. It was a rouge brush and he absently brushed excess blush onto his finger, wondering about what color she preferred.

" Your issues if you forgotten."



She purred softly, looking him over, tilting her head slightly, shrugging to the issue. It was his problem. Marina wasn't about to fight it though. There were worse things then loosing a night out. Like caving. She'd never caved.

The color on the pad of his finger was a rosy tone. Ephriam brushed it off before running his hand through his hair and looking at her. Every time. I lose every time. Why do I even try? He smoothed out the red satin of his shirt.



"Oh. Those." He sighed and glanced at the box mournfully. He had actually been looking forward to tonight, and he knew how much his guest liked her outings...



"Would you open it if I let you win again?"

" I want a name to call you by. Even if you don't give me your real name. I need something to call you."



Marina insisted softly, looking him over, then looking to the box, nibbling her lip gently.



" I might open it, if I have a name."



She hinted at softly.

Ephriam sighed and crossed his arms loosely before relaxing and shrugging.



"Why don't you just make one up? That way we both get what we want." He shifted his pale green eyes to the box pointedly. Yes, this was in fact a last ditch effort to get what he wanted. He wasn't stubborn, per say, but that didn't mean he didn't like to get his way. After a moment he looked up with those eyes that appeared somewhat washed out in color but deadly in focus.



"I'm sure I'll like it, so I'll answer to it - within reason." He lifted his chin in a half joke. "Come on, what name do I look like?"

Making a little face, Marina considered him for a while, then looked to the mirror, then the box. Men. With a rather heavy sigh she considered the man before her, tilting her head to the side.



" But then I'd simply be calling you another random thing. Not to mention, just because you've given me a right to name you, it doesn't mean I'll open that box....... "



She purred slowly, considering him for a while longer.



" And..... Dametri. I'm calling you Dametri."

The slight widening of his eyes was such a minute change that it would have been easy to miss. If one were to blink it would have come and gone before they got a chance to see it. But, it happened nonetheless. Ephriam was surprised by the nature of the name. She doesn't mind old names? Either way, he cocked his head to the side and the edges of his mouth turned up.



"Oh, I like that very much. I knew that you would come up with something fitting. Your mind is just like that." Ephriam reached out and touched the box.



"Now..." His eyebrows raised in obvious suggestion.

Looking up at him, she sighed as she moved to take a seat on her vanity bench. Running her hands over the little box repeatedly, she carefully started to tug on the soft, silky ribbons. Ever so slowly they came off the box, and settled in her lap.



Sighing, a bit uncertain, she opened the lush black velvet box, eyes closed now, not sure what to expect, fingers running over the rim of the now open box, biting her lower lip.

Ephriam's smile all but uncontained as he looked between Marina at the box several times. It looked like the box was filled with melted gold, shimmering with the light. He reached out and gently curled his fingers into it.



"I know you're already ready, but..." He pulled on the object and it slid out of the box. He held up a golden dress for her to see with a certain sort of triumph.



"I had some issues tying the bow on the box."



([img]http://www.downturk.info/8654-gold-dress.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Picture</a>))



Due to link no longer working, for reading back purposes, the dress it's self looks like this:



[url=http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmf7m ... o1_500.jpg' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmf7m ... 500.jpg</a>



but the color of it is that of liquid gold, all the way down to the multifaucet colors and shimmer:



<a href='http://www.vengeancekennels.com/Pages/S ... 20Copy.jpg' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>http://www.vengeancekennels.com/Pages/S ... opy.jpg</a>





go memory!

" Oh, Dametri, it's lovely."



Marina purred, holding the dress up to herself now, twirling slowly, looking in the mirror, eyes sparkling.



" I'll be more then happy to change into it, if you'd like to see me in it?"



She asked cutely, twirling slightly in the middle of the floor, looking back to him.

Ephriam was just standing there, staring at her again. Just watching the way that she acted and reacted... Even when it was disappointing it was something to see. He spoke softly after she twirled.



"I knew you would like it." And then when she suggested wearing it, his face lit up again.



"It's like you read my mind." Then he slipped out of the door with a breath and paced down the hallway. Ephriam was rummaging through a closet now.

Slowly she shifted from her current dress, and carefully slid into another, changing shoes, keeping necklace and combs, looking her new self over, grin spreading over her face.



Marina lightly touched the knob to her room, turning it and leaving the room, now in search of Dametri.

Ephriam stepped out of the closet, his hair slightly displaced by static electricity. He considered the white wrap in his hands. It was a light material, but that should be okay. It was fairly comfortable outside, sixty five degrees or so.



When he heard Marina's soft tapping footsteps, Ephriam decided that the wrap would do and he looked up. His lips parted just slightly.



"Wow... You look like the sun."

Beaming up at him sweetly, Marina twirled slowly, then moved to look Dametri over, eyes sparkling as she slowly moved to take his arm, mischief clear on herface.



" Funny words for a man who never lets me out during the day."



Marina chided softly, really, she wasn't too fond of the sun anymore, anyway, but still... it'd be nice to have the option... Not that he'd physically ever tried to stop her recently, she just felt that was one of those silent restrictions.

Ephriam's smile was for a moment a bit rueful, but then it was gone again like the faint glimmer in the corner of one's eye lurking in the shadows. In all honesty, it had been so long since he had seen the sun that he almost forgot what it looked like. Sure, there were pictures and videos and whatnot, but they didn't compare to the real thing that still blazed in his memory. Still, he left his compliment at what it was and nodded to Marina.



"I would hate for the world to be cast into darkness. You shine so bright that the sun would flee in a cloak of shame." He offered the white wrap to the woman, eyes sparkling.

" Perhaps I'd like to take on some sort of living skin tone though? I mean, unlike your florescent self."



Marina ventured, simply as a joke. In all honestly, she wasn't too interested in ever seeing it again, as he let her grow her little naked lady plants under the moonlight, and she was happy with that. After all, he wasn't some unreasonable tyrant keeping her captive....

Ephriam just shrugged, moving toward the huge oak doors. He reached out and tugged open the heavy door, holding it for her. They were there, tiny little remnants of his old life showing through. An embedded politeness. A quiet poetic way of turning phrases. Tiny little details that were all too easy to miss.



"A nicer lady would have said that I shine from within, but I'll take what I can get." His washed out eyes turned to the outside with the teasing tone still in his voice. "Besides, tanning is bad for you."

" Bad or not, I enjoyed it at one point in my life."



Marina purred, walking out with him, smiling at the moonlight bouncing off her dress and taking a deep breath in as her hand slowly returned to it's hold on his arm, smiling sweetly.



" You know I'm not really complaining, right?"

Ephriam took her by the arm, almost feeling like he had a prize on his arm. After all of that work...



A ride later, he stepped out, offering her a hand. He threw a quick glance to where they now stood. A simple, almost quaint building was placed before them, and beyond it was a small town. This building was a single story with a light beige exterior, but warm light poured out of the windows.



"Ladies first." Ephriam gestured towards the door, very well knowing what was to come. The minute they would enter the building the warm smells of tea and alcohol and bread would engulf them, the soft sounds of chattering people filling the air. The tables were laid out in a manner to surround a small stage with a curtain.

(( Fine, don't answer her ))



Slipping out of the ride, she smiled as her eyes took in the place, fingers lightly holding to her escort's arm as she walked inside, eyes starting to sparkle as she enjoyed the smells rolling over her, shining in the simple ( yet elegant) settings she was being placed in.



" It looks lovely."



she purred softly, kissing his cheek lightly.

((O.O I could have sworn that I did... I wonder what happened there...))



Ephriam smiled duly, nodding as he lead her down towards the middle.



"I thought you would." There was a table set for six, two of which were already there. Ephriam glanced at Marina before pulling out a chair for her.



"You have met Karl and Lorraine, correct?" He lifted his brows slightly as he looked at the two, a couple actually. They weren't exactly close friends. More like... a friend of a friend's friend. Still, they were nice company now and again.

" I believe I've met them once or twice before."



Marina replied softly, slipping into the offered chair, looking up at Dametri, smiling at him sweetly.



" Set and tell me what you have planned for me tonight."



Marina purred, accent clear in her voice right now.

Ephriam smiled lightly and settled in to the chair beside her as the two friends spoke a warm greeting to the girl.



"Dinner, of course." He gestured towards the full place settings in front of them.



"As well as a matinee. A comedy. You like those, do you not?" Lorraine spoke up before Marina would even have a chance to reply.



"Even if you don't, Honey, you'll have to love this one. And the food! Exquisite!" Karl murmured something under his breath that sounded an awful like, "Should be for the price..." But Lorraine simply elbowed him in the gut.

" Price?"



Marina asked, eyebrow raising slightly, appraising the man across the table. Money was something she still paid no mind, her bank account, even now, had enough money in it to support any kind of lifestyle for herself, for the next five lifetimes, easily.... if not more. Therefore, money wasn't something she really thought about. Now she felt a bit awkward as her eyes took in the curtained stage.

Karl looked up at her almost pathetically and nodded as Lorraine glared at him, raring back and preparing to verbally lash him for mentioning anything like that. There should be no price on treating his lady right. In fact, she had drawn in a breath and the word was posed on her lips as Ephriam cut in smoothly as though by pure coincidence.



"Oh, there you are. I was beginning to wonder if I should be concerned." He stood up, greeting the woman with a bow and the man with a slight embrace.



"Jethro, my old friend. I believe you and Sarah have yet to meet my Marina." Ephriam turned, offering a hand to golden woman beside him. The 'my' was easily overlooked, but the man was very aware of exactly what he said. Jethro, unlike Karl, was a very good, very old friend.

Marina smiled and waived to him politely, seeming a bit more calm when Dametri returned to setting beside her. Glancing up at him, she spared him a smile that probably have set the room on fire as she looked about the room, looking back to Karl and Lorraine, sparing the most charming, ever sweet smile yet.



" 'Tis not the money, nor the price, but the enjoyment and the memories. Money means nothing in comparison."

Jethro and Sarah sat down, Jethro on the other side of Ephriam. The two men spared a glance at each other, and Jethro suddenly gave a chuckle for what seemed like no reason at all.



"Yes... I must agree with what you said before, my friend." There was something about the way he spoke that was familiar, similar to Ephriam. It was like a faint, unrecognizable accent, a bauble that seemed to soothe.



Lorraine smiled broadly, looking at Marina. She waved broadly towards the girl as she turned her pointed gaze back toward her boyfriend.



"See! A woman after my own heart!" Karl frowned deeply, turning his head away and muttering something under his breath.



At this point, a waiter walked up, asking for their order.



Jethro spoke for both himself and Sarah, ordering with a boisterous confidence. Lorraine chose for herself some sort of chicken dish. Karl, however, muttered true to his theme.



"Cheap." Lorraine looked at him with eyes that could kill as the waiter spoke.



"Pardon? I could not understand you." Karl looked at Lorraine with an almost fear as he choked out his response.



"Carp! I said I wanted carp!" Ephriam simply smiled at the waiter winningly.



"The roast lamb, s'il vous plait."

Ordering without issue, Marina considered kicking Karl under the table, but the simply turned her focus on the man beside her, leaning over and kissing his nose softly.



"Please tell me we get to dance tonight?"



She begged in such a soft and sweet little voice it was clear he'd crush her if he denied her.

Ephriam's eyes turned to the woman and his brow raised a fraction of an inch. He smiled at her softly.



"We will see." Jethro suddenly laughed again.



"I'm sure that you would love to dance with her, right buddy?" and Ephriam kicked him in the shin, though this was hidden by the tablecloth. Great minds think alike? The lights dimmed, the first sign that the show would start within the next few minutes.

Marina caught the words and shot both men a look that could have made the sun melt as her eyes turned to the stage, leaning away from Dametri slightly. He was now in the dog house, friend too.



Captive or no, grateful of the rescue, or not, he's not to make me a mockery, or a joke, that's just plain insulting.

Ephriam noticed the tiny difference and suddenly seemed rather unhappy. Still, he left the woman alone. He turned instead to Jethro as the lights on the stage turned on. His voice was a whisper, seemingly having no menace.



"Keep your mind to your own girl. After all, she is cute enough to eat." His expression remained the same, but Jethro scowled as though offended. And then the curtains drew back and the actors entered.

Hearing cute merely made Marina glance to Dametri again. This wasn't going as well as she'd hoped, she wanted a nice evening out, and he was making snide little comments, and everything.

Ephriam was still rather displeased with his friend. He had finally decided that it would be okay, and what did Jethro do? This. Jethro wasn't about to just sit and take it though. He spoke back, his voice quiet.



"Just wait until later. I bet there will be some topics juicy enough to sink your teeth in to." Ephriam didn't know why he was letting Jethro ruffle his feathers so. He wasn't even really sure why he was fighting with his friend. Ephriam was actually not that confrontational, but for some reason... The funny thing was that it didn't seem like they were arguing. At least not to someone that didn't understand the allusion.



Then came the food.