Complete - Bittersweet Openings (18+) (Part 1)

Things were much more cut and dry in the world of the game, but he couldn't just live there. Outside of said game, he lived with the emotional scars that was placed upon him from before. "You escaped" the tired English accented voice spoke out. Of course he was speaking to himself, it was a habit of his that he held within the game and the real world. It was true he had escaped from the Hell that he had been living before, but at what price.

A sighed left his parted lips as he stared at the wall. Had he zoned out? No, he had gone into the alleyway for some peace and quiet. Bittersweet, that was what his life now. The best thing being the fact that he had gotten that email. He didn't know what he would do without that world. Who would he be in this world now? Perhaps by now he would have been driven to drinking the pain away and just been another local drunkard. Perhaps he would have taken on the facade he held when he was Camus here in the real world. He laughed almost bitterly at that as he leaned against the cool wall. That was a joke.

He went to press his forehead against the wall as he thought. He was no one here, just merely a discarded piece of rubbish. America the beautiful, yeah right. This was the land of freedom and here he was still chained by that man. A growl left his lips as he found himself becoming lost in the thoughts of his past. Thoughts of what he had lost that day and the bittersweet life that his life was now....

~~~~​

He had been minding his own business, laughter was actually leaving his lips. He had a smile on his lips despite the fact that blood was coming down from his head and going to blind him in his left eye. He looked worse for wear now, but the laughter had come the moment the door closed. The words still echoing within his head. "You snuck out again! You ungrateful shit!" A strike to his side which would send him flying. His head had been hit in the impact and would explain the bleeding.

He was bruising already.He couldn't scream out, that had been what was always the case. His father had a bit of a temper and would take it out on his only son. "You'll never be anything" he would be kicked in the ribs at that part. He was fairly certain that his wrist was either sprained or broken from the way his father had stepped on it and grinned his heel into him. He held it limply against his chest, but he was laughing. The door to his room was shut. His brunette locks were matted already with his own blood. He had been dragged into this room by his hair. All of this because he had decided to go to the wall.

His father never approved of anything he did. He could breath and if his father was in the wrong mood, he would have to pay for it. His father thankfully never touched his sister, Katheria, so if he had to take all the abuse than he would. He had to protect his precious little sister from the evils of the world. His family was shit, but his sister was the only one he had in this fucked up world. His father was abusive, both mentally and physically and his mother was too afraid to do anything against him. His father was also a borderline drunkard and was more than off his rocker. He refused to be treated, he claimed that the clients were only after money. So his only son would have to endure Hell.

The pain wasn't bad anymore, sure it hurt-- but not as much. He remembered the first time he had been struck and that had hurt like a bitch. His shoulder becoming dislocated due to the impact and his father snapping it back for him. It wasn't to be nice, it was to cause him more pain. He had screamed and he had been yelled at to stop. He was eight at the time it started, his little sister being five at the time. His mother had come in on the thing and she had turned away even when he pleaded her to help him. He had become used to it. He lied to Katherina about it constantly, he didn't want to ruin her little world of innocence. It was his burden.

That was when the door opened once more and his laughter stopped. His father was leading another man into the room. He quickly stood up and his reddish-brown eyes watched the two men. "T..This is my son, Damien" his father never stuttered. He offered his best smile at the other, though he wasn't exactly one to smile much. They were all fake, his sister was the only one who could make him smile. He was sixteen now and that was the day his life changed forever. "He'll do. Not exactly the finest of souls, but he'll do." The man had come to yank his --broken-- hand and drag him out of the door. He didn't get to say bye to Katherina, but he had a feeling his father had told her stories that he ran away.

~~~~​

"F...Fuck" he said as he went to punch the wall. Now he was twenty four and he still was being haunted of those days with his father. He had been traded away because his father had made the wrong person mad. He had found that out the hard way. He had left his home in London, England that night and was under the mercy of the man, Rudgar, The life was rough, traveling with Rudgar was hard-- but by this time it had gotten better.

They had moved a lot, Rudger never disclosed to him what he did. He remembered when they had gone to Budapest, Hungary-- he had felt at home there. Something about the place and the small cottage styled home they stayed in on the outskirts of it. He loved it there, but they moved on. His hand was bleeding, he reached his hand up to lick the wound before touching the red ad black collar at his neck. A gift from Rudgar, it was a reminder that he wasn't exactly his own person.

Rudger and his father were the reason why Camus was the way he was in the game. Not that he would be talkative about anything about his real life. The only reason he was out on the streets of Virginia Beach was because Rudgar had told him he had to not be in the house today. So here he was. He wandered out of the alleyway and into the nearest bar. Why not drink, he had nothing else better to do. It wasn't like he could go back to the world he enjoyed the most. He walked over to a table and half flopped down on the chair. Did he want Fireball or Jägerbomb? "Jägerbomb! I demand them!" he would call out. His hand was still bleeding, but he could care less.

@Lorelei Varic

 

BANG! the sound of the front door slamming startled the little girl awake, her light blue eyes popping open as she managed to bite back a startled scream. Her body flew up to a sitting position as she looked around her small room. Almost sky-blue eyes blinked as if trying to orient her thoughts as she seemed confused on what had woken her, for a few seconds. As the fog slowly cleared from her mind, she could hear the bumps and bangs and crashes of furniture being knocked into and tripped over. A loud, thud, followed by a scraping sound, echoed through the small house with an almost ominous tone, as either the sofa or one of the large chairs was forcibly slid across the hardwood floor of the living room. “Fuuuuckingkk Shiiitt.” The sound of a deep, male voice followed the noise down the hallway; its whispered tones full of anger and slurring with obvious drunkenness.

The child listened as the sound of heavy, stumbling footsteps began to make their way down the hall. Her small frame moved to lay back against the bed, curling beneath the covers on her twin sized mattress. Any eyes laid on her would see the tremble of fear that shook her small body. The feeling wasn't borne of a lack of knowledge for who was in her home. No, she knew it wasn't some stranger come to raid her home or steal their things. The voice she had heard had been proof of that. The footsteps moving down the hallway belonged to her father. There was no mistaking the tones of his inebriated voice, nor the fact that this was an occurrence she had come to expect, at least on Friday nights. Sometimes there were differences. Sometimes he managed to make it to his room. Sometimes he could be found the next morning passed out somewhere in the floor or draped over some piece of furniture. Sometimes, though. Sometimes things went differently.

The thought of those different nights only caused the young girl to shake harder as she realized that she could no longer hear his stumbling steps. She curled tighter into herself as she heard the gentle squeaking of her doorknob being turned. It was a sound she had come to loathe. It meant that this would not be one of his nights to pass out somewhere in the house. His voice floated through the suddenly stale seeming air in her room. She felt a clenching tightness starting in the depths of her gut as her door slowly creaked open. “Daddy's home, Princess.” With his whispered words, her trembling stopped as her body froze beneath the covers she had pulled over her head. She knew already where this was headed, and she knew already that there was nothing she could do to prevent it. She simply stayed there, frozen in her bed, as she closed her eyes tightly, praying that he would turn around and leave the room.

Her prayers were not to be answered this night, just as they rarely were. His boots tapped heavily against the floor as he stepped into her room. The creak of her door closing behind him was almost as loud as the click of its latch as it echoed through the room. Thump-thump-thump his steps moved closer to her, and she bit back a sob as she tried to keep herself still. “Please, let him believe I'm asleep. Let tonight be different.” Her silent prayer came at the price of a single tear rolling down her cheek as she felt the bed move beside her, the area around him depressing in and casing her body to shift with the change in weight, as he sat on its surface. Her tiny body stiffened more as she felt the covers being pulled back from their position covering her frame, and then there was his hand. Callused and work-worn, his digits were sliding up her leg as she heard him whisper. “Is My Princess awake?”

--------- BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP ---------

She sat up with a startled look, her long, red hair falling over her face in damp tendrils from the sweat that ran along her face and body. A dream...It had been a dream... “Of course it was a dream, Ahmbreh. Breathe, you know it's long over.” More like a nightmare. Her personal, relivable hell. It had been thirteen years since the state had removed her from her father's home. Her mother had passed away four years before and it had been three years after her death that Ahmbreh had begun to have to deal with her father's drunken states and the gut-wrenching, heart-stabbing things he had put her through. From that point, her life had changed, though it hadn't necessarily been better. She had spent the time until just three years ago moving from home to home. No one wanted to adopt the broken-souled little girl. She was tainted. At least that's how she had seen it, for a long time. Still did, at times.

Shaking her head, she reached for the alarm clock as it still beeped loudly for her to wake up. She slammed her hand down onto the thing, sighing as it clicked off. The silence that suddenly filled her small apartment bedroom was nearly deafening. Looking at the time, she let out a small curse, before turning herself on the bed, her feet resting on the floor, as she prepared to get up. Her shift was starting soon, and she felt like she hadn't slept in a while. Of course, that was probably due to the fact that she had been up until quite a late hour playing the new VR game that she had found herself quite enjoying, since receiving the strange email that had introduced her to it. Terrasphere was like a special sort of treat for herself. A place away from everything that was Ahmbreh, the quiet girl; the one who had no real friends; the one having to work this ridiculous job to put herself through college.

Pushing herself up from her bed, she let out a sigh, before she went to gather her clothing and shower. The process was quick and it wasn't long before she was heading out the door and off to work. Taking a deep breath as she reached the bar that employed her, she squared her shoulders and stepped through the door. She had made it with about ten minutes to spare, but that was all she really needed to get herself ready for her performance. Making her way to the changing area for the entertainers, she dug through the clothing rack to find the outfit that had been chosen for her, for the night. Wrinkling her nose up, she shook her head as she looked over the skimpy school girl-like uniform. “Gods, Pete, why do you keep doing this to me?” She asked herself out loud, before going to change and pull her hair into a pair of high sitting pigtails. She finished her task just in time to hear Pete's voice call out the next performance.

The music that started as she made her way out onto the stage was some old rock number about a girl having a crush on her teacher. As the music flowed through the bar, her body began to move to the rhythm; stepping and turning with the beats of the music. This was where she had wound up to pay her way through life, at this point. This was what she had become. No wonder the game held so much of her interest. She could be something more there. Something useful, instead of used; something meaningful. It was a feeling she didn't really get from the life she led here. Tainted; broken; unwanted. Ahmbreh was nothing like her character in Terrasphere, and as she moved her body, dancing and twisting, bending and flipping along the stage, she listened to the jeers of the gathered, drunken crowd. She managed to force that smile on her lips instead of screaming at every random touch to her body, as she moved to the edge of the stage. She couldn't have Pete getting angry with her for not letting the crowd have what they wanted, right? More and more she found herself wishing that she were home and connected, rather than in the rathole of a place she worked.

 

Bleed, bright crimson blood-- though it wouldn't be noticed by anyone should they get closer to him. No one knew if he was just a plain asshole, a spoiled brat, or already drunk. The thing was, he hadn't had a drink at all just yet. Sure, he had demanded what he had-- but that wasn't in front of him just yet. Bars worked one way, one had to be loud in this style one. They played their music too loud and had 'fancy' entertainment to keep the ones who attended happy. Though for him, he didn't get into this. Yet here he was. He was just so tired and nothing else better to do tonight.

He had pulled out an red cased Iphone and checked to see if he had an okay message yet. Nothing. He frowned at his phone "come on Rudger, surely the business can't take that long." He wanted to go back to the house and up to his room. He wanted to hook back into the VR game he had just recently started playing. It was addicting and he couldn't get enough, however Rudger made sure that he couldn't just stay in the world of Terra. He would have wanted to, he preferred being the character of Camus than being just plain Damien.

There he didn't have to put up with the Hell that his life was. Sure he had a tendency to make other players mad at him, and he ran a risk of death around every corner-- but it was fun. He liked that kind of risk, he liked the possibility of even dying within the game. The world was amusing to him, and there was so much to see. There was so much to do and Rudger was keeping him away from it. Rudger just didn't keep him away from it at night sometimes, but also during the days. He had a job at this cafe called Dreamland --a job that had been "recommended" by Rudger.

Who the hell did Rudger think he was? He could care less what his 'guardian' did, he refused to put up with this anymore. He hadn't forgiven the man for taking him away from Katherina. Why couldn't he had just killed his father like the mafia would have if someone pissed him off. Who the fuck took a man's son because the man had been a fuck up. The mafia killed the man who fucked up. The Russians would have killed the man. Hell, pirates would have killed the man. It also depended on what type of pirates they were dealing with.

They would kill the man, maybe fuck his wife and take anything of worth. Although, he would have hated it-- they would have tried to take Katheria away. No, he was taken away. It didn't take a genius to see that he had been the one sold away, well it saved Katherina from having to go live with the man. He didn't know what exactly the deal behind his father and Rudger had been , but he was here.

"Temptation, frustration, so bad it makes him cry" the words came blaring as the music continued. Still no drinks have been brought to him. "Damn it!" he all but screamed as he pocked his phone and slammed his hands onto the table. He went walking up to the bar and slammed his hands down there as well. The crimson blood only seeming to bubble up a little more by the second motion of slamming.

The girl at the bar was okay looking, but she seemed to think she was some hot shit. She had short blond hair that was slightly spiked up and was wearing a Captain Morgan logo shirt-- it had however been altered. Her breasts had to be at least a solid D cup and they were exposed greatly thanks to the cutting of her shirts. Aside from the alteration of the breast area , the shirt was cropped so it exposed her midriff and the outfit was completed by a pair of altered shorts.He could only make out these thanks to the way he leaned against the bar.

"Hey there, why don't you give me a drink. I've must have ordered one a good ten minutes ago. Or maybe it has been longer" a smirk that fit a devil showed on his lips. So maybe part of Camus had rubbed off on him. "I've been having a really bad day, so come on and keep em coming" his English accent heavy in his words. The girl seemed to have finally looked at him. "You don't have to be an ass about it" she stated and slammed a shot glass in front of him.

"Oh you think you are hot shit don't ya, you bloody trollop" he spoke as he took the shot down. Thinking of the pass had set him off and it was an insult to injury that he couldn't be at home at that time. It was like Rudger was just taunting him and keeping him away from his relief from Hell. So he was a bit aggravated, normally he wouldn't have been like this. It was just something about today. "It's no use, he sees her. He starts…" the song was coming to an end and he was demanding another drink. His reddish-brown eyes going to take a look towards the stage finally. He smirked at this, tonight looked like a night that he might just be having a bit of fun in real life rather than in Terra.

 

The final words to the song were wafting through the air of the bar, but Ahmbreh had already exited the stage. She had exactly enough time for a quick wardrobe change before the next set. Literally exactly. Pete always did this shit to her. Back to back numbers, so that she looked more a mess, in her eyes, than she did actually decent for anyone to be looking at. She supposed it didn't matter, though. It wasn't like most of the people actually eyeing her cared about her clothing or her hair. No, those were the least of what got her noticed during her performances.

She had left the button up white shirt on, tied beneath her breasts and unbuttoned to just past the lace of her black bra, for this number, and pulled on a pair of cut-off shorts; the legs of which were frayed up enough to show just the edge of her ass cheeks. She kicked off her shoes, leaving her feet bare. Her hair she had pulled loose from its ties, running her fingers through it, so it hung in almost wild waves of red around her heart-shaped face. With this done, she was ready to step back out onto the stage as the music for the next song began to waft through the air.

Break me down..You got a lovely face..

“Jesus, Pete, you're enjoying this aren't you?” The thought hit her mind as soon as she realized what she would be dancing to. She had already reached the center of the stage before the words had actually started, and her body seemed to move on its own accord as she began to move to the beat of the song. Her right hand grasped the pole at the stage's center; her back arching as her hips pressed forwards towards the pole, bringing her body to move in a wave-like motion from her shoulders to her knees. As the beat continued, so did her dance.

Her hands grasped higher on the pole, pulling her body up. As her feet left the ground, her back bent, bringing her feet over her head and wrapping her right leg around the pole, her knee locking around it. Her hands released the pole, grasping into her long, red hair, as her body began to straighten, nothing but her leg to hold her in position, as she rocked her head and body to the beat of the music. Her left leg, currently straight out from the pole, stretched up to run parallel with it before she began to spin down the pole, nothing but her right leg to hold her in place. As her body spun, she let her eyes watch the crowd.

It seemed to be mostly the normal ones who showed, which was fine by her, most tipped well, and it was rare she actually had a problem with any of them, though there had been a few. Her hands moved from her hair, her palms pressing to the floor, as her spinning motion brought her close to it. She pushed up with her arms, at the same time her right leg releasing the pole, stretching up with her left, before she moved into a backbend that would bring her feet to the floor, her hands lifting to grasp the pole, sliding up the slick surface, as she slowly raised herself back up to stand.

When I dream..I'm doing you all night..

The song continued and her movements did as well. Her back now to the pole, her hands slid up her sides, running along her own frame, before grasping into her hair, pulling it out and letting it fall in wild tangles around her face, as her hands continued to move, reaching up above herself to grasp the pole again. Her knees bent, as she leaned forward, her hands sliding down the pole to support her, as the open buttons of her shirt allowed for the tops of her breasts to be viewed, the motion of her legs pulling her into a sort of squat that left it to look as if she both rode the pole behind her, as well as stroked it. She had to hand it to Pete. He did know how to plan his entertainment, even if she didn't enjoy it as much as it seemed.

I'm doing you all night..Scratches all..

The last words of the song flowed through the air as she finished her movements and turned to leave the stage. Two tonight. That was all she had agreed to. It wasn't one of her normal shifts, as she had only agreed to fill in for one of the other girls. She wasn't going to give Pete the satisfaction of keeping her longer, either. Not this night. She had other things she planned to do. Terrasphere had become an addiction if she were to be honest, and she planned to be connected back to it as soon as she was home and fed. As she made her way from behind the d stage, though, her hair back in place and her normal clothing of jeans and a tshirt on, she turned towards the bar, rather than the door.

“Maybe one drink, before I actually go.” She mumbled to herself, as she took a seat in front of Terri, the spiky haired bartender. “Hey, T. How about a drink?” She asked, giving the girl a grin as the other girl slid her a small glass; filling it with a mixture of Jager and redbull, as she gave her a wink. “Just the two tonight, Bre?” The girl asked her, and she nodded, as she lifted her glass to herr lips. “Fuck Pete. Next time he can dance himself, if Janie doesn't show.” She meant the words and it actually surprised even her, but it seemed there were better things on her mind to do anymore.

 

The dancer had left the stage and he only caught the end of her. The locks of fire bouncing in pigtails, okay so maybe she was a decent sight. He had to hand it to this club, if he was truly interested in doing something like that-- this was any guy's paradise. Hell, for the girls who liked other girls-- well it was paradise too. He didn't have any issues when it came to gender or anything, he might have overdone his character's personality on Terrasphere. He tapped the glass on the bar slightly in his thoughts, he was quiet this time.

'Why did you want to make such a hated character?' it was a thought he had to ask himself. He had just ended up pouring his soul into that dummy clone molding of him and he had made Camus. 'Shouldn't you have wanted to make yourself liked?' another good question from the likes of his own mind. One might think he would have wanted to be well liked, be helpful and cheerful-- the life he didn't get to lead. Though, it wasn't so simply as that, his mind wasn't all rainbows and unicorns and sunshine-- he had mental scars that ran deep and they hurt him. They twisted him and that showed in the game.

It wasn't like his overall personality outside the game was that nasty. Sure he could be an asshole, but most of the time he didn't truly do much outside of the world. He didn't have friends, he half was blamed for that-- but Rudger's line of work didn't make it easy to keep people around him. He had made friends back in Budapest, but he had to leave them behind. She was misunderstood-- like him-- she happened to be a gypsy. He didn't think anything of it at all, she had been one of the nicest people in the world.

She was caring and only wanted the best for him. It wasn't like she was dead or anything, she just wasn't in his life anymore. Then there was that one guy he met back in Germany. It had been an incident to have met, but for the couple months they lived over in Dresden-- he had a friend. 'Shouldn't I have made it so I could make friends in the game?' He was asking himself a question as he took another shot. This was around the time that the next music set had started. 'All the people don't get you. They don't try to, they aren't worth it. Friends, you don't need friends.' This was half of the reason why his personality as Camus was so warped.

He was watching the girl, it was the same girl, as she did her set. So maybe she was nice to look at , she was flexible -- than again any dancer had to be. His reddish-brown eyes were fixed on her, but it didn't stop his mind from wandering. 'It isn't like they can actually hurt me. If I die... I could just make a new character.' There was silence before the next thought 'if you do that, you lose everything-- -you wouldn't want that... .would you?' He tapped his glance once more and it got filled, it was probably because he was behaving and wasn't causing a scene. "Well it would be a shame" this time he spoke out loud as he lifted the glass to his lips.

By this time the performance was over and the girl had come to sit next to him at the bar. He offered such a charming smile to the girl with locks of fire. "I don't know who this Pete is, but I'm sure he would love to" he didn't know what he was talking about at all. When it came to social interactions, he didn't know how to conduct himself. He didn't know if he wanted to be an asshole or try to be normal-- but the fact remained he didn't like people.

He worked a cafe, he was allowed to not like people-- right? "Name's Damien , wat's ya name pretty ting" he didn't try to hide his accent (ever), though this time it was particularly heavy. It had actually taken on an almost Cockney sound to it, despite him not actually being from that part (it might have something to do with where he had hung around during his time back in England. Little things did come out during certain times in his life. He was sure that there was a lot about him that might come out when he least expected it.

He offered a cheesy smile to the bartender "oi wy don't ya keep giving us drinks" again he tapped his glass. He didn't want to think he was some lightweight, but he didn't exactly go out drinking a lot. This was the first time he had actually been out, he was a bit fuzzy but not drunk. He just felt free for once, and that was something saying that he still had on the collar around his neck. The collar showed that he was more or less no more than some slave to Rudger, he hated the collar more than anything in the world-- but he was afraid to even try to take it off. Rudger was one of the only people in his life who had ever truly scared him.

 

Ahmbreh turned to her right as she wrapped her fingers around the glass Terri had sat before her; her attention having been drawn by the heavily accented male voice that addressed her. Her light-blue hues scanned over the male as she lifted her glass to take a sip of the mingled liquids inside. His brunette locks hung slightly shaggy around his face, reddish-brown hues seeming lost in thought even with the beaming smile on his lips. She took note of the collar around his neck but didn't think much of it. In her line of work, one saw many things they learned not to question.

“Be glad you don't know Pete. Pete is a douche.” She said, one fiery brow raising, as she pondered over the fact that he had even spoken to her, much less the way he smiled. It was uncommon for her to actually socialize with the customers, and even Terri was giving her an odd sort of curious look from behind the bar. Oh well, let the older woman wonder and think. She didn't rightly care. The male had spoken first, and she certainly saw no reason to be rude, especially when he was simply making conversation. “As for rather or not he would want to, that's his problem, because it surely isn't happening. Definitely not my type.”

She laughed, softly, as she spoke, her light-blue eyes shimmering with the sentiment, as she took another drink from her glass. “Ahmbreh, though around here I mostly get called by 'hey girl', 'lookin good', whistles, that sort of thing, ya know?” The grin that passed her lips was one of solid humor, though a light blush did tinge her cheeks. She hoped he wouldn't notice. Socialization definitely wasn't her strong suit. There was such a difference in being on stage as opposed to being face to face with people and having to speak. At least on stage, she could pretend to be somewhere else; maybe someone else.

That's how she had been for as long as she could remember, though. She didn't let a lot of things get to her. She simply shoved them away, barricaded them behind imaginary walls and created new places to store and make new ones. Finding herself so easily speaking with the male was strange, but she couldn't deny that she was enjoying the idea of it. He seemed agreeable so far, and she seemed to be doing well, at least, so far, he hadn't stopped talking or gotten up to leave. That was a plus, right? Not like the most interactions she'd had lately had been on Terrasphere, and well, they weren't exactly always the best.

Thinking of her days playing the game, so far, brought a smile to her lips. The gesture was genuine and she could only hope that Damien might believe it was meant for him. “I don't know about me being pretty, but I'm apparently entertaining enough to keep my job.” She said, with a chuckle. On the game, it would have been different. In Terrasphere she didn't mind so much how people took her reactions, especially that certain one she seemed to keep winding up around. He was an arrogant one. As for this case, though, she hoped that she didn't seem to be sarcastic. It was simply that she didn't have the greatest opinion of herself. She put on a good face for most, but that's all it was. Her past had a lot to do with the way she thought, but it was something that she had learned to hide well, due to the nature of her work.

As she took the last drink from her glass and set it down, watching as Terri refilled it and she nodded to the woman, her right hand lifting to point at Damien's glass, she smiled. “Add his to my tab.” She said, before turning to look back at him, her left hand lifting her glass to give it just a light shake, swirling the liquid inside, gently. “So, what brings you here, Damien?” She asked him, her long, red locks falling over her right eye as she tilted her head at him. With the accent, she could only assume that America wasn't his home, and she was curious as well as she didn't want to seem rude, even if her mind did keep running back to the addictive game that was Terrasphere.

 

So this Pete guy that she spoke of was a douche, that much he could have gathered. Any man who would run this type of place would be a douche. Not that they would openly claim to be such. Now some were straight with what they were and would clearly state if they were an asshole or a bitch. This was how he had made Camus actually. He wasn't afraid to make people hate him, in fact he would preferred if people hated him rather than liked him. This might have actually come because he would rather not have to deal with people. At least in the world of Terra he could deal with the beasties instead. The beasts were easier and more interesting to deal with actually.

In the world of Terra, he had made sure Camus didn't really have what would be seen as redeeming qualities to most. This including sexism into the mix, though here in the real world he was different. So when she spoke her name and what she was mostly called around the place, he frowned. Sure , he had even called her pretty thing -- but that was because he saw it as a compliment. It wasn't some hungry term, at least in the way he was using it that was. Wait was that a light blush showing upon her cheeks. He couldn't help the small smile that showed on his lips, but it was by far not a true full smile. The only person who had ever gotten him to smile like that was his little sister.

Though there was something about the fiery locked woman named Ambreh, she was like a ray of light in this dump. Though he would never actually openly call her such a thing. 'Why not, it was what YOU think. Right?' There was that almost violent voice inside his head. He had come to think of it as the bad side of himself, the inner demon. When he didn't reply back right away , it started to speak again. 'Take what you want. Want that hot piece of ass, than take it. Put a little flag in it and stake it as you. Better yet take one of those little swords they have in the drinks here and mark her with it.'

He made a face to those words by the inner demon, however it was that this time that Ambreh had asked what had brought him here. The look he gave was so grim and there was a pain that showed in his reddish-brown eyes. This could be taken a few ways, the first way was why he was here at the bar. Though it could be seen as why he was here in this country too. Most seemed to favour the second question when they heard him speak. People both loved and loathed the English accent that he carried. Though there were parts of the different places he had been stuck in certain things he said. Like the Cockney styled dialect that he had spoken in was something that had rubbed off on him.

His teeth went into his bottom lip and started to lightly chew upon it. "Well... it just 'appeneded. I turned 'ight and 'ere I was. Dunno wy I actually came 'ere or anyting" his accent was slinking back into the Cockney instead of taking on what most Americans would take up the 'standard' type of accent for a 'proper' Brit. If his father had been around to him speak in such a "low" way of speaking he would have not been able to walk for probably a week. He had half expected the blow to come and he took a drink to stop himself from flinching or even crying out. 'Fuck him, he isn't here. Even if he was, you don't have to take his shit' there was that inner demon again.

He swallowed and looked over Ambreh to stop himself from focusing too much on the voice in his head. "I don't exactly frequent places like this or anything. Just I couldn't go home" he said his speech going back to being what might be considered proper. The Cockney might have come out more thanks to the alcohol he kept putting in his system. "Well Bre... question back at ya. What brought you here? Actually scratch that, don't answer it. It is a bit too noisy. I mean your pretty , you could do anything you wanted with your life. Though..." he was putting his foot into his mouth and he was looking down at the bar.

He could be an ass, sure. He didn't truly like people that much, but when just talking to people -- he was capable of connecting with them. His job that he had been forced to work at had only made him hate people more though. Though Ambreh seemed nice enough, not like she was plotting to hurt him or anything. She also wasn't being a bitch to him or an idiotic prick. She might have it in her to be a bitch, but he hadn't seen it yet. She had blushed, it was easy to see she wasn't used to talking to others. That would be at least what he had gathered from it at least. "Thanks for the tab though" compared to how he had spoke to the bartender he was a completely different person. Though he did pull out his Iphone to sneak a peak and see if Rudger had messaged him yet. Still no messages.

 

She caught the odd change in his expression as she asked him what had brought him there. Her nose wrinkled a little as she wondered, for a moment, id she had asked the wrong question, though she managed to hide the expression behind a quick sip of her drink. However, as she rested her glass back on the bar, she wasn't able to hide the flash of appreciation and interest that crossed her face as he answered her. The changes in his accent were intriguing, and if she were being honest, she could probably listen to him speak for, well, for probably ever.

“Still that little girl, lost in your dreams, aren't you?” She pushed the voice away as she tilted her head at him. “Well, Damien, I'm glad it just happened, then.” She said as she gave him a small smile. “Even if it is out of the ordinary for you.” She was legitimate in her words. So far, speaking with him was proving to be an interesting time. He was definitely refreshing compared to what she was used to. So far he hadn't tried to feel her up or talk her into leaving with him for some 'fun'. That was a common one.

It wasn't often she got to sit, drink a little, and actually socialize. Pete made sure of that... “Yeah, remember that one time he sold you off to that shady guy? Go ahead, tell him about that. I bet he'll really want to keep giving you that cute little smile of his, then.” For a moment, as her thoughts twisted through her mind, for a split moment, her eyes lost that glow behind their blue depths, but it was only a moment in time, as he was speaking again, and she heard him direct her question back to her, only to tell her not to answer. She couldn't stop the soft laugh that passed her lips at this. The sound was almost musical; a lyrical sound much like the tones she had set for her Terrasphere character's voice.

“It isn't too nosey at all. I mean, I asked you, did I not?” She said as she tilted her head at him. Her cheeks held just a hint of that light blush again. He had called her pretty. He made it seem as if he truly believed she could be more than she was. The question was, how should she answer him? Sure, she could tell him a lie, make it sound like some grand adventure for her life or like she truly enjoyed her work. On the other hand, she could tell him the truth or at least some version of it, but it would probably not leave the best impression of herself for him.

“I'm actually working to make my way through school and to pay for my apartment.” She said, reaching to take another drink from her glass, before continuing. “This pays better than most 'legitimate' businesses.” She said as she looked towards the stage for a moment, before turning her attention back to him. “It may not be what most consider an 'honest' living, but I do what I have to, in order to get by. When you've lived the life I have, you learn to.” She said, giving him a grin, as she lifted her glass to her lips once more.

She was just preparing to tell him he didn't have to thank her for picking up his tab when she saw the way he checked his phone. She couldn't help but wonder if he might be on some time limit, but she didn't press to ask. She didn't have the chance to, even if she had wanted to. No, at that moment, a voice cut into their conversation that she could have gone the rest of the night without hearing. “Ahmbreh, Princess. If you're going to entertain my customers away from the stage, how about you do it right?” Pete's voice cut through her ears like a knife and her eyes widened with a flash of mingled hatred and fear. It didn't help that he had stepped up behind her and his hand was currently resting on her hip.

The sense of disgust that ran through her made her actually shiver, but she did her best to hold back the taste of bile in her throat and to keep the smile on her lips, as he continued, though his voice had lowered so that it barely rang over the music. “Eight hundred, Son, and she's all yours for the night. She's a tight little bit, too.” The expression on her face, she was sure, showed probably more of her emotion than she wanted it to. This wasn't the first time the dark-haired asshole, with his penciled-on mustache, had ever called her out in front of the customers, but it was the first time he had ever been so blatant about it.

"Princess? You gonna let him get away with that...?" Pushing herself up from her seat, she turned to glare at the man, her red locks flying around her head as she turned. She couldn't deny the voice this time. The man had gone too far. “I'm not your prized pet, Pete...Call me that word agian, and I swear I wil rip out your heart and feed it to you.” She said, before turning back to look at Damien. The expression in her eyes was a mixture of sadness, embarrassment, and perhaps pain, as she simply shook her head, before she pushed past her boss, saying nothing else, as she made her way towards the door. “So much for trying to make a friend. Seems we'll have the game for that...If we can ever even manage there.” She mumbled to herself, as she tried to push her way through the crowd.

 

Bars wasn't exactly his cup of tea, they were full with idiots and assholes... not to mentions perverts just trying to pick up a nice piece of ass. For him, it didn't appear. One of his 'buddies' at work tried to get him to come out with him almost weekly to places-- but he always denied him. He heard the words echoing in his head "but Damien, I need a wingman" and he didn't care for this type of stuff. Once he was done with work, he usually just slithered back home. He honestly should want to try to have friends here and do normal stuff, but why bother when Rudger was just going to go to the next city soon enough. It was pointless.

'If it is so pointless why are you talking to this pretty peace of ass. Tap it and get on with it!' Great, the inner demon was yelling at him and he wished it would shut up. He took a nice long drink as he listened to her. Seemed like it wasn't noisy. To pay for her own place, he wondered what that must be like. He was lucky he even got to have a life of any kind with the way Rudger had him on the leash that he was. Then came the typical asshole voice cutting through like some poison and he watched the way Ambreh seemed to change. That word, Princess, caught his ear. He had used it himself, typically it was almost endearing-- but here it clearly wasn't.

It was all in the tone. His hand balled into a fist under the bar, he hated this guy already. He could clearly see that this was the Pete, the douche that was the boss here. He saw himself going forward and punching the guy and saving the 'princess' and running off with her. The inner demon clearly decided to shatter the dream like state his mind went to. 'Hello! Is anyone actually alive in that head of yours? Do you think at all? You a hero, now that's funny. You can punch the guy all you want, don't let me stop you-- but the world is not some fairy tale.'

He crinkled his nose at that comment. His lips parted to speak, but the inner demon cut him off. 'Want to look back at your childhood, you HATED the hero of the stories. You liked the villain. The V- I -L-L-A-I-N. Do you not get that! You wanted to be the bad guy. Then sweet Katherina loved the heroes. Two opposites.' He swallowed slightly 'well it isn't like I can't...' he started but Ambreh had got up to leave. She was making her way out through the crowd. She did hate that word. He took his final drink and stopped in front of Pete.

"How bout ya bloody sod off in ya business deals, mate" he thought for a moment and wondered if the name would do him wonders here. He didn't go after her instead he stayed his ground in front of Pete. This guy was nothing compared to his father or to Rudger. His reddish-brown eyes were blazing. This was going to come back to bite him in the ass and he knew it. Though he kept a straight face "I'm sure ya know all bout Rudger Campbell, don't ya. I could always tell em bout this place. I'll be takin her and if ya do anything ta her I'll be watchin. See I'm a very special customer." Rudger was like the devil and he was terrified from just using the man's name as if he would actually lift a finger to save the boy who he had taken just because his father had done whatever he had.

He pulled out a badge like thing, he had clearly 'stolen' it from the house and kept it on him. Rudger knew about it and as long as he replaced it when he came home, he didn't get harmed for it. He shoved it in Pete's face, it was Rudger's crest. The crest was that of two snakes wrapping around each other with what he took as an apple in the middle of them. He wanted to punch the guy, but a stunned expression was enough for him. He pocketed the badge and went after Ambreh.

He lightly caught her wrist. "Ya a spunky one, I like it. Come on, I know a place we can go away from here. That... is ... if you don't mind" he was stuttering and his heart was beating rapidly against his chest. He was as pale as a ghost, he was afraid and it showed in his reddish-brown eyes. Though only Ambreh would be able to see this, no one else would. "It would look bad if my big hero speach went to hell" he spoke his thought out loud. "Oh don't worry, the place should be quiet. No assholes allowed and well it isn't exactly a house either. So if your worried bout that... I ..." he bit his lip roughly so it started to bleed. Though he needed to shut himself up somehow.

 

Pushing her way through the crowd was proving to be more of a chore than Ahmbreh had thought it would be. She'd only managed to make it a few feet when she caught the tones of Damien's heavily accented voice flowing to her ears. “Rudger Campbell?” She knew the name in reputation only. Actually, she was quite certain that there was something in the way Pete ran this place that had some minor dealings with him, though she didn't hear her 'boss' speaking up about it, either. What exactly had she possibly gotten herself into allowing herself to socialize with the seemingly charming Brit? She hadn't felt anything heinous or dangerous off of him. Was he truly one of this Rudger's cohorts?

She hadn't looked back, but that voice in the back of her mind had surely started up again. “Of course he is. How else would you explain Pete's silence? Have you ever known him to not at least bark back? Especially the way the guy's talking to him?” She shook the thoughts from her mind as she continued to move forward; shouldering past people, as she made her way towards the door. She needed to get out of the place and away from the crowd. The closeness of all the people was suddenly suffocating. It was that word. That one word and the memories that had come flooding back with the way Pete had touched her and the tone of his voice.

Back then she hadn't been able to stand up for herself and there had been no one to do so for her. She had been alone. She had been helpless. She had been able to do nothing but take what was done to her. There was no telling just how much more she would have had to have endured, either, if it weren't for the school she had been attending. The teacher who had seen the bruises she finally couldn't hide. She had broken down in the conference room with the counselor that day; spilled everything of her story, and she hadn't seen her father since the day they removed her from his house. The happy memories of her mother were all she missed about the place and she had never looked back. Foster care had seen to it that she couldn't if she had wanted to anyway.

Her thoughts were running rampant at this point, so badly that even the voice had silenced. It had no need or reason to speak when she was doing such a decent job of pulling herself back into that hell. She had stopped paying so much attention to what was going on around her, simply shoving past people in her effort to make it to the door. She had no need or reason to care at this point who cared how rude she was being. She simply knew she had to get out of there, and chances were she wasn't going to bother returning, either. Who was she kidding? She knew she had to. She needed the money far too much to quit. It was a joke. She was stuck.

Her thoughts were interrupted only when Damien's hand caught her wrist. She stopped dead in her tracks, frozen for a moment, as it took her a few seconds to realize it was his hand that had grabbed her. Turning her eyes to him, she didn't even bother to wipe them. It wasn't like everyone standing near couldn't see her tears anyway. They weren't from sadness either. The fire that blazed through her eyes was a mingled blend of fear and anger that had her trembling. She was sure he could tell, too. She could feel the tremble in his own hand and the way he stumbled over his words had already caught her ear.

He seemed pale, almost frightened himself, and it only added to her confusion, at least until she heard him speak of his 'big hero speech'. He had definitely been that, if only for a moment. Any other circumstances and Pete would have followed her. She moved her free hand to let it rest on his own and she shook her head, slowly, as she heard him continuing to speak. It seemed he was afraid he might be saying the wrong thing or maybe giving the wrong impression, and she didn't want him feeling that way. She probably shouldn't have taken off like she had. It most likely hadn't left him feeling too great about the impression he was leaving, as it was.

“It's-It's okay.” She managed, as she noticed him biting his lip and the tint of blood that came with it. She wanted him to know that it was okay. That none of her actions were anything against him. So far she had been enjoying his company, and she truly hadn't meant to make it seem otherwise. Pete had simply triggered something in her that she couldn't explain; not in the middle of the bar, at least. “Anywhere away from here sounds great.” She said as she turned back towards the door, leading him the rest of the way through the crowd and to the door, before pushing it open. Stepping through the door, she stopped just outside, turning her pale blue hues to look at him. “Where to?”

 

What if he had said the wrong thing. What if he had messed everything up. Why should it matter anyways? Why should he care if he messed up something like this. They maybe had a few more weeks here tops, maybe a few months at best-- but Rudger would be moving on soon enough. He wouldn't exactly miss work or anything, but what about her? 'Tap it and leave it , see she trust you. Now just tap it and leave her in some alleyway.' There was that inner demon again and oh how he hated it. He wished it would go away. He had willpower, but sometimes it wasn't so strong. What if she pushed him away.

No it was okay. She had said it was okay. Though she was crying. Not tears from sadness but teams of anger ad frustration. Pete was the cause. 'Go back and deck him if you want to so badly. Deck him and slam his head against the bar. Smash a bottle over his head and then stab him with it. Go be some big hero.' He bit down on his lip a little harder to try to make the inner demon disappear once more. Her hand had relaxed with his own and it would be okay. She was asking where to once she had stepped outside. He of course would be outside too, it was an odd feeling when he got like this.

He swallowed slightly, his adrenaline was notched up so high and he was already starting to almost gasp for air. It was like he couldn't get enough of the air around him. It was nasty as it entered his system, almost tasting like poison he was being forced to swallow. What if Rudger was alarmed to this. What if Pete ended up calling Rudger and the man found out that he was using his name. He seemed to have everywhere in anywhere they went wrapped around his fingers. They either feared him or they were directly working for him. He hated it and he just wanted to be free from it all. 'You can't! You are his little slave, why don't you go back home after you tap the smoking ass whore and go and coward before him.'

"You'll see" he spoke as he wasn't too sure if they were being listened to. Though anyone would know that he worked at Dreamland cafe, at least anyone who Rudger had sent. So he half pulled her along. Now he should have gone to wipe her tears away, but he was caught up more so in leaving this place. "Come on, it isn't that far" he had purposely taken a few different side alleyways to be sure. He slipped into an abandon warehouse and slipped back out and headed straight to Dreamland. He pulled out a spare key from his pocket and opened the door. The inside was completely dark. He slide his hand over the light to turn it on and locked the door behind them once they were both in.

He finally let go of her hand and went into a bow. One that would have seemed like it was scripted for work, but he was just going through another stage of the adrenaline. The bow had been scripted for his work as a waiter, and oh how he hated it. "Welcome to Dreamland, m'lady" he smiled brightly at her. Though it was almost more like he was delusional. He was still scared shitless, but he might as well make the most out of it. 'Fuckin slam her down on the table and take her. She will moan and scream for you. Her saviour' the inner demon was mocking him on the last part.

"Ya know I always hated this place" he said as he went to take one of the chairs down towards the back and sit there. "He was the one who gave me this job" of course his boss nor Rudger actually knew he had made a spare key to the place. In the back there was a computer as well a TV. He would sometimes come here to slip into Terra, Though he wouldn't tell Ambreh this. Terra was meant to be an illegal game. He was fine being some criminal. He was already a slave to whatever the demon known as Rudger Campbell was-- being a user of Terra was nothing compared to it.

"Do take a seat. If ya hungry, I can always make us something. Despite how much I hate this place, sometimes this place is the safest place out there." Why he hadn't come here and instead found himself at the bar... well that was a mystery. "I mean I can make just about anything. I typically am in the kitchen, but when assholes decide to call out or my boss just wants to be a prick I am stuck as a waiter. I hate people, though it isn't like it isn't uncalled for. Tons of rich people come in here , usually tourists. Not many natives... I'm doing it again. I'm babbling. Don't mind me at all." He looked down at his hands. He wondered if he was ruining this.

 

She followed him, quickly, moving around each corner and over each obstacle with a grace that showed her dancer's agility. She had no idea where they were going, nor why she was following, rather than trying to pull away. She wasn't completely thinking clearly yet, for sure. Her mind still wandered between Pete's actions and the past that he had stirred for her. It was enough to drive a normal person insane. But, she supposed, she wasn't exactly normal either.

As he came to a stop before a local diner, she watched as he produced a key and opened the door; only to turn on the light and lock the door back. Looking around the place, slowly, she took in the look of the diner, her body relaxing, some, as she seemed to find a calming spirit within the place. She didn't know if that was normal for the place or if it was just the quiet that had her feeling more relaxed. She only knew she was glad to be away from Pete.

She turned her attention back to him, about to ask about the place and how he had a key, when he went into a bow, suddenly, and began to speak. “Welcome to Dreamland, m'lady.” The line sounded rehearsed, but the smile he gave her was nearly enough to leave her blushing. He did have a very charming smile. “Since when do you get mushy? It's pointless. You know no one would ever want you. You're damaged goods.” The voice was back and it took her a moment to push it away.

It had been a long time since she had thought of herself in such a way. Why would that demon of self-loathing be rearing its head now? “Thank you, kindly, Good Sir.” She echoed his greeting, giving him a mock curtsy with an invisible skirt. Why had she done that? “Way to go, Ahmbreh. That'll really make him like you. You're an awkward mess.” The voice was right, though. She was a mess with the tears still in her eyes and dried on her cheeks; the slight shake still to her shoulders to show the fear that she'd tried so hard to hold back. She managed a smile, though, as she straightened back up, tilting her head at him, as she heard him begin to speak.

Things were so much easier in the world of Terrasphere. At least, in some manners. She had met a few people whom she genuinely enjoyed being around. Of course, there were a few exceptions. Some were a bit harder to handle; one, mostly, but she did actually enjoy being around him, even; rather she'd ever tell him or not. Her character on the game was slightly different than she was in this, the real world. Lorelei had taken on what could only be considered more of the darker aspects of who she was. That much she couldn't deny.

She shoved the thoughts away, at this rate she was going to wind up saying something, and she didn't need to. The first rule of Terrasphere: We don't talk about Terrasphere. Hearing him speak of hating the place, she glanced around it once more. She still had not spoken, as she was trying to take everything in. The place didn't seem too bad, but then again, she didn't work there. Of course, in her eyes, anywhere was better than working in that damned dive for Pete.

So, Rudger had gotten him the job? Her thoughts shifted as she turned her light-blue eyes back to him. She couldn't help but wonder about a few things. She was fairly certain, though, that inquiring about them wouldn't get her very far. At least, she didn't feel it would be appropriate. He already seemed rather flustered, though she wasn't exactly certain why. He had done a brave thing at the bar, and she, for one, was glad for it. “So why haven't you thanked him? Afraid he might turn out to be a not so shining knight?”

She nearly growled at that inner voice this time, but instead, she managed to keep the small smile on her face, especially since at this point Damien seemed to be babbling through his words. At least, that's what he called it; babbling. To her, it was more so kind of cute. He seemed nervous and after the brave display he'd put on just a little while ago, it was a rather endearing concept. It was quite obvious that he wasn't used to the way things had gone this evening.

He had offered her to sit as well as to feed her. Was he hungry himself? That little voice had been correct, too. She hadn't thanked him. How did one thank a stranger for such things? “It's quite alright. I don't mind listening at all.” She said. Almost chuckling to herself, she leaned over and kissed his cheek as he looked down at his hands, seeming slightly embarrassed with the way he was speaking. “Thank you, by the way.” She said, as she took a seat across from him, folding her hands on the table in front of her. “Not very many would have done what you did tonight. I don't...Really know how to thank you well enough.” She said, biting against her bottom lip, slightly, as she tilted her head at him.

“As for being hungry, I could eat, but don't put yourself out, if you aren't yourself. I can wait until I get home.” She gave him a wide smile, as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table before them. “You sure you're not going to get in trouble of some sort for having me here after hours?” She asked him, glancing around the place once more, as she wondered if it was truly as safe as he claimed. She didn't know much about Rudger and nothing about his boss here, but she did know most business owners didn't care for 'rats' in their buildings.

 

He could taste blood. He had bitten his lip so hard that it was bleeding and a good deal of it had gone into his mouth. He wasn't exactly someone who spent too much time with other's. He had a few friends throughout the years, but well they weren't like her. A small blush actually dusted over his pale cheeks, it was the only colour that he had gotten upon his flesh since the little heroic bit he had so stupidly done. He was so dead when Rudger found out about the ordeal and it was probably only a matter of time before he would be killed. Except this wasn't like Terra, he wouldn't just come back to life. Not that he would know what death was like even in Terra.

"W...welll you're welcome. I couldn't just stand back and let 'im do wat he wanted of ya. Tat would make me a bad person." He swallowed, his lips stung thanks to how he had bitten them. Though it wasn't the worse pain he had felt, this was nothing actually. 'Yes because you are such a good person. You are a fucking slave at best. I'm sure she would love to hear that. That would be fantastic conversation. Yeah, well you see this collar-- it is actually a sign of ownership to the Devil. No he isn't really the Devil, he is just some man who has ungodly powers. Just do her and get it over with. It is clear that she would give you anything you wanted as payment for her thanks.'

He shoved the little demon away to try to focus a little bit. He didn't needed the constant voice in his head. He was having hard enough issues with just trying to go through life. It was so bloody obvious that he had no skills. Camus was a little easier, not that he would ever find himself in such a situation. The reasoning was the pure and simple factor that no one was interesting enough to spark his interest. No that was wrong, though they would need plenty of work before they were worthy of being with a God. Though at least here no one would ever figured out who he was in Terra. The rule of Terra was it wasn't supposed to be talked about. It was illegal after all.

"N...no I would love to serve you" he stated as he quickly stood up to go over to the kitchen. Though not before her question hit his ears. "Nawh I always come here all the time. Not that the asshat that is my boss actually knows I even have a key. That is part of what makes this place even better. I hate it during the day when I work here, but it is easy enough for me to just come here if I just need a quiet place just to think. Rudger doesn't care much as long as well I stay out of his way." He looked down at his feet, who was he kidding, Rudger was going to kill him for this. Rudger would enjoy it too.

He didn't wait for her to reply instead he went into the kitchen. Except he was a little flustered still and couldn't think. Now how did he make a parfait. No forget about that, how did he even make a sandwich? There were a lot better stuff that the cafe served, but he didn't want to have to wash too much or put away too much either. Though what would she want to eat? She said she could eat but she didn't want him to put himself out. No it was no problem at all. He pulled out a plate and two pieces of bread. Okay time to make a sandwich.

First he needed honey or was it jam? He was spread honey upon the bread without thinking at all. His mind was elsewhere as the next thing he put on the sandwich was turkey and then layered that with pickles and American cheese. He looked down at the sandwich mess he had created and he let out a grown. "This isn't right" he said loud enough for her to hear him. He grumbled and finally just made another sandwich with the right ingredients for a normal turkey and cheese. Though what if she didn't like pickles. Maybe he should make her a parfait after all.

There were dishes clanking and cabinets shutting before finally he came out with the tray. There were both sandwiches he had made , a fruit parfait and two glasses of water. "I... didn't really know what you liked . Well I... I... hope you enjoy m'lady" he had set the tray down and had enough guts to actually kiss her upon the cheek. She probably thought he was strange. The blush was back on his pale cheeks. He had completely forgotten why he had been afraid just prior. He took his seat in front of her again.

What if she thought he was weird? What if she turned away and said that she had to leave. What if something did happen to her? why was he thinking like this? 'Cause you like her. Just tap it and go , it is easy.' He grumbled slightly and smiled at her. He had taken the sandwich that was the mess up. He couldn't make her eat that. Though all he had done was put the pickles in a different place and used honey instead of mayo. It wouldn't actually be that bad. Though it might be weird to the taste, though compared to some of the things he had to stomach-- this wouldn't be anything. It wasn't like he used something like pumpkin puree and bananas with curry or anything. Now that would have been disgusting and he would have found a way to not have served that at all. "Well I hope it is to ya liking. Also if ya have any questions just ask me and I'll try to answer them."

 

She saw the way he swallowed as he spoke. He still seemed so nervous and she honestly couldn't think of why he would be. He had done nothing wrong, as far as she could tell. He'd stood up for her; a complete stranger... No one really did such things anymore. Was it something else? Something she had said or done, perhaps? The light blush that colored his cheeks gave him a slight look of embarrassment, and she began to wonder even more. “Maybe your little kiss disgusted him and he just doesn't want to say.” The voice was back. It always seemed to have the worst things to say and to make her think.

That side of herself was pure self-loathing and hatred. It was probably harder on her than anything else in her life had ever been and she could never be free of it. Never, because it was a part of herself. She knew it wasn't some monster or just stray thought, it was a side of herself that harbored everything she hated about herself, every dark thing she had ever been through. It wasn't the only one either. There were others. Some of them even hurtful towards others, but she did well to hold them most at bay. “I'm sure he'd really like you if he knew all that. Why don't you tell him? Tell him how fucked up you really are.” She shoved the voice away, as she watched him, her head tilting as he continued to speak.

He was standing, telling her that he would love to serve her. Was that what it was to him? Did he feel some need to wait on her? To make her feel special? Was this nervousness he was displaying some sort of ruse to help calm her? It wouldn't be the first time she had met someone who was able to do so and had; someone who had pretended to be nice, just to gain what they wanted from her or at least try to. Maybe that was it. Maybe this was all a joke to him and he had stood up for her to start this chain and to get what he wanted without having to pay Pete.

He was speaking of Rudger and his boss not knowing he had a key. It seemed the diner was sort of his refuge. She was confused, though. She knew little of Rudger, but if Damien worked for him...Why would he need such a refuge? What did he have to worry about or get away from? Sure, she knew little of some things, but didn't people like Rudger usually make sure their people were provided for; taken care of? She didn't ask, though, as he made his way into the kitchen. However, she did, quietly, get up to follow him, after he had stepped through the door.

She couldn't help herself. She didn't really want to be alone and she was also curious as to what he might be planning to feed her. She made her way over to the door of the kitchen, positioning herself so that she could see him, but he hopefully wouldn't notice her watching him. Her curiosity had the better of her, for sure. She watched as he began pulling out ingredients. He seemed to be planning to make sandwiches. She didn't mind this, but what exactly was he putting on them? She raised a brow, as he began to spread honey on the bread he had before adding turkey and pickles.

At that point, he loudly exclaimed how it wasn't right, and she almost chuckled as she realized he was having trouble focusing. She wouldn't have been teasing him, really, it was just that he seemed so shy right now, and she couldn't really understand why. Not wanting him to catch her watching, she quietly made her way back to her seat, allowing him time to finish making the food, as she sat and pondered over the thoughts in her mind. Was he really so shy and nervous or was it an act. She still couldn't help but wonder.

She could hear the clank and bang of dishes and cabinets as she sat there, though it didn't take long before he returned. He was placing a tray on the table, and she tilted her head to look up at him as he spoke as he called her 'M'lady' once more. As she looked up at him, though, he kissed her cheek, and she immediately lowered her head, hoping her hair would cover the blush on her cheeks. “There you go acting like a little girl again. Oh, what an impression you must be making, Ahmbreh. You're really reeling him in, aren't ya?”

She nearly growled as she shoved the voice away, but she managed to keep her wits about her. Looking back up at him, slowly, she bit, lightly, against her bottom lip, as her light-blue eyes looked into his own gaze. He was blushing, again. Maybe she really wasn't the only one having some strange sense of shyness, here. “I'm sure it will be amazing.” She said as she watched him move back to his seat, and she gave him a smile. She looked over the tray as he sat, noting that it seemed he had kept the sandwich with the honey, as well as he had made one that appeared to be typical turkey and cheese.

He was reaching to take the 'odd' one himself, and she reached for it in a moment of pure spontaneous thought. Giving him a wide grin as she took the sandwich, she easily tore it in half, placing one half before each of them, before doing the same with the turkey and cheese. She wasn't certain why she did this. She knew that he had messed it up, but he had done so in the course of trying to do so many nice things for her. Would it really hurt her to give it a try? People ate honey ham all the time, didn't they? Surely honey and turkey couldn't be any worse...

He was speaking again, and she shook her head, slowly. “The food looks great. I'm sure it will be well worth it. As for questions, I'm not really sure.” She said as she reached to pick up her half of the honey sandwich. “I...Well...I'm not really used to things like this. Though, I would, of course, answer any for you as well.” It was the truth. She was out of her element, but so far she was enjoying his company, so it wasn't really so bad. She didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing, either, though.

 

He had been smiling, but that was when before she had seemed to take the honey sandwich from him. No, he was going to eat that. She didn't have to eat that at all, she really didn't have to eat his mistake. He would have eaten it and told her how good it was, but honestly she didn't have to eat the one that was a mistake. Sure it wasn't the worse sandwich in the world, it wouldn't eat or poison her. Though he didn't want her to have to eat his mistake. He couldn't force her to eat that. The smile that had been on his lips had turned into a frown. He couldn't help himself.

"You really don't have to do that at all" he stated as he watched her tear the sandwich in half. Each of them got half of each of the sandwiches, but he didn't want her to have to eat his mess up. "You really don't have to eat it, I made you a good sandwich." Why would anyone want to eat a mistake sandwich. He had gone pale once more, but he went to take a bite of his half of the honey sandwich. So it wasn't bad, though it wasn't exactly that would be considered on the normal side either. He really wouldn't have expected her to eat it. Though he couldn't exactly grab it out of her hands.

'Of you can, easy just go over and take it. Shove it in your mouth and say that it wasn't for her. Be sure to call her princess when you spank her ass on the table.' He hated his little demon, he wished there was a way to shut the thing up. He sighed , he didn't react at all. He knew why the demon had even been born in the first place and that was because of everything his body had been forced through. He was sure that parts of his body wasn't even healed correctly. He wasn't allowed to go see a doctor at all, it was amazing enough that he had found a 'friend' who had checked him over when he had been in France.

That was his first and last doctor's visit and that had been a good five years ago. He took another bite of the sandwich, it really wasn't bad. It was something about the turkey and the honey going together and blending. He was allowed to ask anything that he wanted and yet he couldn't think of anything. Why was he so awkward around her? He didn't want to be, hell he normally wasn't even awkward at all. Yet here he was. The little demon wasn't helping at all. He half saw himself going over and bending her down against the table and just doing unspeakable things to her.

He cleared his throat after taking a drink of the water. "Well I hmm dunno. I guess school is a safe topic , right. You said you were dancing because you were saving up money for your apartment and school and all. What exactly are you studying? Personally I study whatever I can. Rudger allows me to go to a few classes every so often, but most of my studies are on human relations and all from the cafe. It sucks. I've made some deals with the teachers and some of them let me sit in on their classes, given I'm not actually caught."

He probably sounded lame to her, even worse he probably gave her the imagine of him sneaking in and out windows. He took another bite of the sandwich to distract himself and even more to stop himself from biting into his lip again. "I mean school shouldn't really matter to me. That is what Rudger tells me. Why go pay for something when you could just teach yourself. I...I'm not dumb or anything. I just can retain anything I read or look at once." It was time to shut up before he was labeled as some nerd and she ran away from him.

So he was either quiet and awkward or he was awkward and babbled.. there was no in-between setting on his mouth at this point. He didn't really get to talk to people exactly, sure he had some relationships because of work and even those teachers he negotiated his way into their classes--- but really Ambreh was the first person he was able to talk with like this. He couldn't exactly explain it either. 'You like her, idiot! Just fuck her already and go. You can't keep some whore around.' He pushed the little demon away and looked over her. He was trying to read her.

"Well how is the dreadfully awful sandwich" he asked in reply to the honey one she had insisted on halfing with him. He still hated that she had taken to eating his mistake. What if Rudger found him here with her? What would he do to him? He had used his name. He had made a friend (would that be what she was?) Though he had to wonder if that meant she would be threaten or perhaps if they would end up leaving town again? They always seemed to leave town. That was why he wasn't allowed to have anything at all. That seemed to be his life. No Ambreh was here, she hadn't ran away yet.

'Yet being the keyword there ,champ.' He grumbled and took another bite of his food. "I'm lame aren't I... I just don't exactly have normal conversations with people. I mean I have the people I work with, but you can imagine the conversations there. Especially the other cook." He was chuckling as he thought about Aiden. He was talking and trying to have a conversation with her, he just didn't know how he was doing at all. He didn't know how to exactly be normal at all.