A rose by any other name

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Alexander wished he could see Mia’s expression when she responded to his emails, specially when the second one hit his inbox. He could win money betting on the blush on her cheeks. But he simply responded with a Great choice before returning to his usual agenda of emails and meetings.

As the blonde arrived, he was already at the table, checking on the menu and dressed in a striped suit. “No worries, Mia. I can survive waiting fifteen minutes if I get the pleasure of your company” the man looked up from the menu, shooting his bright smile to her. Damn, she looked good in that dress. “Are you asking if this is my date spot? Mia, that’s a bit too personal” Alex let out a chuckle, shaking his head before she could respond “Just kidding, but it’s more like my business meeting spot. This is the first time I’m using it for more personal reasons”

;

Nope. She was not ready for this at all. If anything proved that fact to her, it was that stupid striped suit he wore. More than that, the contrast of his tie and pocket square with his bright blue eyes was...distracting. Trying to get herself together, she internally joked that maybe he looked so good today because he knew they would be having lunch. Now that would be something. Settling in across from him, Alexander’s...friendly (flirtatious?) greeting brought more warmth to her cheeks - making the rouge on her cheeks darken. “If we didn’t have so much riding on this  project and you weren’t my senior...I’d almost think you were flirting with me.” Mia replied in what she hoped sounded like a teasing fashion. 

The ancient Lynceus frowned but it was only because he was contemplating the words which Mia spake; while immortality had given him an advantage in knowledge, so much accrued was wasted on account of an increasingly wearied outlook.

Mia, on the other hand, seemed to use her knowledge more scrupulously. At least scrupulous is how Lync saw her advice to him. She was a nurse, yes, but her ability to heal people went beyond that. Like something in the blood. Lync knew not of her past, nevertheless deciding to stick by his deductions regarding Mia’s character.

“… Just one goal? I guess that makes more sense than spreading ones talents Macedon thin…”

;

There was a moment after Mia ended her little ramble that she felt a little embarrassed. Confronted with death, disease and joy on a daily basis, one would think she would be a little more..controlled with her emotions but it really felt like the exact opposite. The blonde was a little bashful, which showed in her momentary reluctance to look at the older man with which she so eagerly engaged. More than that, she was perhaps needlessly concerned with appearing naive and even a little air-headed. Without having to say it, which arguably made his case stronger, Lync had an air of wisdom and intelligence about him. Maybe it was just that she did not encounter many people that actually paused to take someone else’s words into consideration before replying with the first thing that entered their minds. Without exactly meaning to, his reply drew a chuckle from her. “Well, I guess there’s one overarching goal. The one that’s your reason for waking up in the morning. Like...oh I don’t know...become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, climb every major mountain in the world, discover a new species...stuff like that. And along the way there’s the little goals, like finishing college or buying a house. At least that’s how I see it.” She shrugged in that shy way of hers. Pursing her lips more than once, Amelia might have appeared like a fish gawking with an unasked question. “This is a personal question...I know that...but...since you said you’ve experienced everything...have you accomplished your goal or your purpose?” The question was soft, as if to lighten the blow the nuances her words might unintentionally hold.

Amelia was somebody who Grayson held dear to him. That was what worried him. That was what made him distance himself from her and keep her at arms length away to keep her safe. It was another person whome he couldn’t watch suffer. Not again. He couldn’t face more pain. Hearing that she wanted to go it was sort of shocking. It wasn’t something everybody enjoyed but it was him in his element. The city life was still difficult at times, getting used to it all. Everybody on the force would question his bruiting looks but also wanted to be partnered with him when heading out. ❝ You sure you would want to go? If you’d like to I will take you. ❞ He gave a nod assuring her that he would. It was a promise without saying it. The corner of his lips did tug up into a half smile at the compliment. ❝ Thank you. ❞ Nothing was forced being said or done on the drive and the whole conversation. It felt easy and comfortable. Keeping his arm rested against his chest and stomach as it was wrapped up he let out a slight laugh at the promise that he told her. ❝ Right, we will. ❞ He agreed as it was only fair. Getting to his face he shook his head at the offer but thanked her anyways as he used his good arm to push himself up and out of the car, getting his keys that were in one of the pockets to slightly fumble with them, using both hands just to get the key before sliding it into the slot to unlock the door and open it up, holding it open to let her in first.

;

No-one would have guessed Grayson had been n the Army at some point with how careful Amelia watched him walk his way to the door - her eyes almost comically narrowed for the first sign of instability. Her hawk eyes only turned away once she realized he had been holding the door open for her. Having the grace to at least look at little sheepish when she thought of how overprotective she was being, the blonde entered his apartment with a certain air of excitement. It was only thanks to her self-control that she had not raced through the space, looking for various clues about the man who kept to himself. “I don’t mind getting lunch ready if you need a minute.” Mia offered gently, very much aware she was treating him as though his injury was much worse than a bullet graze. His question about camping made her chuckle. She was sure to many people she came across as a little too high maintenance, after all she did enjoy all the creature comforts the city offered and of course, dressing up as often as she could. But really, even someone as talkative as her enjoyed nature and the quiet to be found there. More than that, there was something about wanting to capture the childhood both her and James missed out on. If their trip ever happened, she was sure that she would share that particular story with Grayson...Really it was too depressing to think of too deeply especially after the day they had. “I would! I mean getting to see the sunrise is more than enough to make me want to go, but there’s all the other things too: making s’mores, telling each other stories till late at night...James and I kinda skipped over that part of our childhoods.” For a moment her smile faltered as she gave a small, somewhat helpless shrug.

“I’m a pretty unique person.” he said with a smile. Always has been. Dylan looked around some more; in his usual way he got lucky in a few different ways. The area was nice there was no doubt about that, but in a town right on the water like this, there was bound to be some shipwrights in the area. “It’s no sweat, because now I get to explore an amazing place I might’ve missed otherwise. Not only that, but my boat can be repaired and I’ll be back on the water soon enough. Besides, I’ve also made a new friend here already.” Though her concern was appreciated, not a lot of people would give a confused and almost shipwrecked sailor the time of day. “I’m probably fine, but I also know better than to question an expert. By all means doctor check me out, but is there any chance you can do it while we walk? I need to look for some people that can repair my boat.” he said as he began walking. Dylan brushed off some sea salt off of his bare torso, he should probably get a shower soon, but at least he had company. “Normally I would, but my home is currently halfway in the water.” he teased. “I’m sure some of my clothes are fine. I have a fair bit of money actually, but I don’t know if it’ll be enough to cover both the ship repairs and however long I may need to be in some form of hotel or motel.” Ship repairs could take awhile, best guess he’d be in this town for a couple of weeks.

;

The blonde could only nod her head in amused agreement; unique he most certainly was. His optimistic thinking was a little more than admirable, thought Amelia. There were much less dire circumstances in which most people, herself included, could not see the positives in their situation. “I mean when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound half as bad. Oh I don’t know about that, Ireland has her ways of beckoning people to her shores somehow, some way.” Her own heritage was why she was there in the first place. “What is it you do on the water exactly? Are you a...what was the old fashioned term?...an adventurer?” Strange as it seemed, the word seemed to suit him perfectly, at least in her own mind. The thought that sprung to mind at his reply was this poor man’s boat, sinking further and further into the watery depths. Immediately, the American teetered after him on her wedged espadrilles. “Of course, I was just on the way to the market myself! Luckily, since you’re walking straight and your speech isn’t slurred so we can probably rule out a concussion.Tell me if you feel any tenderness here...” She asked as she reached on the tips of her toes to gently touch at certain spots around his head. Being close to him, Amelia took the time to scan the visible parts of his body for injuries. “Any unusual aches or pains? Have you had a tetanus shot in the past decade?...I’m Amelia by the way, a nurse, though Doc doesn’t have a bad ring to it...” She teased, leaving a moment for the man to introduce himself in turn. Though she laughed at his jest, she did find his circumstances a little distressing. “Hmm...that does sound like a predicament...” For a second or two, she stared at the cobblestones beneath them biting her lip in thought before eventually adding. “...The place I’m staying at is my godfather’s holiday home. It just so happens there’s quite a few rooms open...so you won’t have to worry about taking the room right next to mine, or me being in your space if you prefer a bit of solace. There’s also ample storage space should you need to keep your stuff somewhere while your ship’s being repaired. That is...if you don’t mind the intrusive offer I just gave...” She turned to him with a sheepish, bashful laugh.

Aaron couldn’t help but feel a little bit guilty for not paying enough attention. It was clear she was invested in the case, and she had summoned him here for a reason, for his assistance. And he’d blatantly obliged, happy to help… so the least he could do was lend an ear or two to her. “There’s nothing wrong with your ramblings. They’re kinda fun to listen to,” he said with an offhanded shrug. “It’s not you, it’s me, I promise,” Aaron added then, laughing at himself, at how he sounded like some walking cliche trying to initiate a breakup. Classic. Noticing the way a couple of people had glanced over at them, he grinned, amused that they - or more like she caught their attention by reacting to his silly ways. Still, it humoured him.

“I feel like my brain is always a pretzel,” he chirped back with a quiet laugh. Aaron raised his eyebrows when she laughed again and found himself eliciting a few chuckles of his own. It was always nice to make someone laugh. If it made them feel more comfortable around him then it was definitely worth it, even better. He hoped he was approachable enough, even if his inattentiveness made him look like he was deliberately not listening. “You can have muffins for breakfast if you wanted. Who would be stopping you? I know I’m definitely not,” he teased again, a boyish grin on his face. Looking at the plate before him, his eyes lit up at the sight as he looked back at Amelia, looking at her as if to say 'are you serious?’ “You’re too kind,” he said, a hand on his chest as he elicited another laugh. “I owe you one - next one’s on me,” Aaron promised, breaking off a piece of the muffin. “Wanna try me again with this case? I’ll do better to listen properly this time. Promise.”

;

Self-conscious about her penchant for rambling, Amelia was left in a bit of fluster being told that they could be fun to listen to. Enough that she picked up a random sugar packet to play with to avoid looking at him for a while. “Right~ Mr-It’s-me-not-you, any thoughts you’d like to share with the class?” Asked the ex-nurse once her laughter died down.”I’m told I’m an excellent listener.” And it was true. After all, it was pretty much a prerequisite for her previous occupation and it came in handy now too. 

The camaraderie with the older man across from her made Amelia feel rather warm in the best of ways. It was half of why she approached him in the first place. He did not have a superiority complex like some of her superiors nor did he hold her to rigid formal interactions which made asking questions a lot harder than it needed to be. “Nothing, you say? How about the chance of having a heart attack significantly increasing the closer you get to the big four-oh?” Though her eyebrow was cocked, there was nothing but a teasing amusement written all over her face. One look at him and Amelia assumed he was in pretty much good health any way. She just had time to utter something to the effect of: I can’t exactly let you go hungry before the waitress appeared to which the rookie detective ordered a muffin and another two cups of coffee. It was going to be a long meeting. “Nonsense! I’m the one who asked you here, it’s my treat.” Pursing her lips, Amelia took a moment to compile the facts of the case. “So...a woman’s murdered in her home. Late fifties. Husband was at work and her kids, while in town, were elsewhere that night. We’ve done the investigations, we’ve processed the evidence and the culprit turns out to be her best friend. Everything points to her. The flimsy alibi, the motive, we found the murder weapon discarded in her trash can and the opportunity to do it is all there. My partner wants to close it but...” The blonde sighed, “Something just isn’t right...and I’ve tried telling him that but...nah, you’ll think I’m crazy...” She ended with a chuckle and shake of her head. Now was not the time to come off as the unhinged, overly enthusiastic novice.

The more time that he sat alone the more time he had to think. He hated thinking. Thinking wasn’t something that made him feel at peace of any kind. It made his PTSD worse, it made him punch at the wall and then have to repair it. Overall it just didn’t sit well with him and he knew that her brother would have felt the same way that he did. With a half laugh and gentle smile, he nodded his head. ❝ I’ll keep that in mind. ❞ He stated about how she would be there if he needed somebody to bother. He knew her well enough to know that she would come knocking at his door even if he didn’t give her a call to check in on him. He was grateful for it. She was smart, kind hearted, had a gentle touch to herself. Part of her looked like his late girlfriend which tugged at his heartstrings. ❝ No, real camping is pitching your tend, making your own fire, roasting the marshmallows if you’re wanting them, looking up at the night sky and listening to the sounds around you. ❞ He explained as he could see how most people would camp though. ❝ I did it for awhile. The Army though made it happen a lot more and after awhile it was enjoyable. The little moments. You could see the sun set or rise a lot clearer. ❞ He smiled as his eyes looked upwards. With all the bombs and shooting there were some highlights. Playing card games, leaning against some posts or rocks watching the days go by. His attention was brought toward her face as he was gentle. It was soft as he nodded his head. It wasn’t something anybody would like to see of course. ❝ I’m sorry I worried you. I am okay though and I promise to be safer. I just lost it seeing you get hurt. ❞ It was truthful. It made his skin crawl, felt like it was on fire and made him pull the trigger that much quicker.

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Short and sweet as always, was Amelia’s fond thought at Grayson’s reply. But more than anything, she appreciated that he recognized her sincerity to be there for him and without nagging, knew her door would always be open for him. The drive to his home was surprisingly pleasant despite the injuries both of them carried from their eventful day. She supposed because it felt so different than usual - for once, she was the one taking the lead if only so the man beside her could take a break. “Sounds magical. I’ve been in NY for so long I can’t remember what it’s like to properly see the stars or listen to anything that isn’t cars or people talking loudly...Would you take me sometime? It doesn’t have to be now, just whenever we find time?” Though it had been for his benefit that she suggested camping at all, the nurse could not help but like the picture Grayson painted for her. And who better than someone she actually enjoyed spending time with? At that moment, she had been at a stoplight and lucky enough to see him smile, a sight that stopped her short. She replied before softly adding, “You should smile more. It suits you.” Swollen cheek and all she gave him a grin of her own before focusing on the road ahead of her. From their conversation earlier about kindness, Mia held a faint worry deep down that Grayson would one day do something reckless just to save another person and it was only when he promised her right then that she felt a little calmer. “I’ll hold you to that promise Thorne. And on that note, since either of us don’t like seeing the other hurt, we’ll just have to look after ourselves better, right?” For some reason, her heart raced at the thought that her safety meant so much to him. Parking her car, the blonde walked around to the passenger side to open the door for the injured man. “Need any help?” She offered as her worried blue eyes looked him over.

The way she praised his career and skills, not to mention the way his nickname escaped her lips, didn’t went out of Alexander’s radar. But somehow, he managed to restrain the smirk that was threatening to creep its way up to his lips. However, the way that Amelia started to stumble with her words was too much for him, and he let out a sincere chuckle of amusement, shaking his head “Oh my God I’m just teasing you. Don’t take me too seriously all of the time. You’ll learn how to deal with me.” the man shot her a wink before knocking on the desk twice and standing up and walking out of the meeting room, turning to smile once again at the blonde and say “I’ll reach to Julia then and see how our schedules work”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the very next day that he managed to send Amelia an email with two options for lunch; an Italian restaurant or a coffee shop with amazing sandwiches. Your pick was the only thing in the email’s body

;

It had been while she was typing an email to a client that a message from Alexander popped up in the corner of her screen. Though he said he would speak to her personal assistant, Mia had to admit that secretly she doubted he actually would. Then again, the way he smiled at her yesterday...shaking her head she opened up the email. Italian. Was all her first reply read until the blonde started overthinking. Was that too intimate for a meeting? I flipped a coin to decide. She sent another email with a bold faced lie. 

Thankfully, her day was mostly filled going back and forth between meetings. Truly a blessing in disguise since it prevented her from thinking too deeply about her upcoming lunch with Alex. Until it was time to pitch up that is. Late by fifteen minutes, the blonde rushed into the restaurant, dressed in a simple wrap dress and her blonde hair ruffled by the wind. “A meeting ran over time. I got one of those paranoid clients who can’t stop asking questions.” She explained a little breathlessly. It was a half-truth. The extra five minutes had been spent trying not to freak out, no thanks to Julia deciding to fawn over him. “I hope you weren’t waiting too long? You picked a nice place. Do you come here often?” She offered with a somewhat shy smile.

the corner of his mouth formed a contort when lips slightly tugged off to one side with eyes looking down after having told of the harsh reality that she were a partial victim of circumstance residing now with him and his property to do as he wanted yet the prince was curious and most importantly fascinated by her. yes he was attracted to the young woman yet he was not hasty or desperate to tear off her gown and act impulsively on sexual desires to relieve himself through her and simply succumb to unbridled desire and lust coursing through him. their was clear respect when she addressed him to which he admired and appreciated as most in her position would act rude but in her position it was justified. “ i have not eaten yet but i don’t feed so immediately when i have a guest over. “ showing that the feeling were rather mutual despite the two hailing from different worlds with him referring to feeding and implying in that he meant to drink blood for he was not human or mortal as his sustenance and survival came from feeding off blood. the prince were worried he would frighten her if he were to sink his fangs into her flesh to taste her warm nourished blood on to his tongue yet he knew to be patient and to not be so impolite to his guest. eyes would lock and linger on her own with evidently their being no display of a smirk or semblance of a smile. “ hmm, how interesting of your father to put his faith in me that you would not be harmed by my hand. that does concern me if your father does not fear what i can unleash upon him but fortunately for him i honor agreements. i will not strike your father’s kingdom while you remain mine. “ slightly insulted as he suspected her father wasn’t afraid of the prince yet he was certain her father wouldn’t be so foolish enough to try and attack or attempt a rescue to save his daughter. “ the games we play are rigged yet i for one can not lose if i do not play. i have no desire to play games. i learned if there is something that you want you simply reach out and grab it. “ the corners of his mouth perked up revealing the fraction or hint of a grin as dracula cockily revelled in his power but it was short lived when the topic of discussion became more personal.

 breaking off eye contact with her own as his gaze would lower away from her face. “ i don’t remember who i was before i became this evil. i do know that i did it to protect my people yet i failed. i was a prince but i suppose i might have been a good man yet goodness does not flourish in a world so cruel. it gets trampled on. “ a cynical view but one he solely believed in that no one was absolved of being purely good but rather everyone was capable of cruelty. “ i am very lonely. “ he revealed unashamedly as his eyes would then lock with her own. his hand would recant off to the side. falling silent when her words resonated with him about forgiveness and finding peace through it. she wasn’t naive but pure. “ i don’t want you to live through the horrors i have endured.” he would state calmly and softly only to then follow up with a query as he narrowed his gaze and leaned in a little close. “ do i frighten you princess. would it repulse you if i were to place my lips upon your flesh? a lonely man to take from his guest and feel the furnace of her skin against mind. “ in a way seeking permission to make love to her as he was aroused by her kindness and innocence.  

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The prince’s confession made the young gentlewoman’s eyes widen in surprise, and even though she had not eaten all that much that evening, her dinner sat heavier in her stomach. She was so very confused. Before arriving, the stories she heard prepared her for a monster, a man with no heart or conscience. And yet...he dressed her in all these beautiful dresses and sat patiently while she ate her own dinner while he went without. Her eyes did sparkle with a light amusement that they had something in common. “Well...I won’t be a guest for much longer will I?” The blonde replied in a gentle tone, a small smile on her face. It was true...this was going to be her new home. “Is there anything I can do to make your feeding easier? I’d feel bad if I had dinner every night and you had to wait until I was finished to have yours.” Being quite close with her family, she was used to eating with others and while this new arrangement had some obstacles they needed to overcome, Amelia had no wish to make either of their lives more difficult than need be. His reply about her father caused her face to turn into a frown and in the silence that filled the space, she debated as to whether or not the truth would be more harmful. “He hasn’t put any faith in you...Your Highness,” She started after a while, averting her eyes from the attractive prince across from her, “He views me and this agreement between you as an exact replacement for the wife you lost. Of course I know such a thought is ridiculous because no-one can ever be replaced. I know it’s only been two days...but I’m satisfied with being here for however long you want me. My father understands this too.” Amelia promised, hoping to calm the volatile storm that existed between her father and Prince Dracula. “Perhaps that is a trait you can teach me in time.” By nature and nurture, she was the type to be passive and could not imagine just grabbing something she wanted. 

Heartache was the emotion that flooded her as she watched the prince turn his otherworldly eyes from her. How long had it been since he had the chance to share his thoughts with someone else? In some sense, Amelia felt unworthy of his honesty and to some extent, the trust he showed her. Extending her hand toward his, she spoke up. “What you say is true...but you are still a good man. Truly. An evil man would not accept a young, naive girl in exchange for sparing an entire village. He would throw her in his dungeons and starve her. Never mind giving her fancy dresses to wear to dinner. You’ve been good to me and I’m thankful.” The sweet and kind words were all she had to combat the sadness of the sentences he spoke that broke her heart even further. When their eyes met, she found that she could not look away so hypnotic were his eyes. “Then care for yourself. You’re all I have now.” The thought of being left alone in this big castle scared her, but it did not last long. Having him so close to her made her body feel hot and her breaths became shallow. She shook her head. “I was scared of the stories I was told about you...but you do not frighten me. I just...I didn’t expect you to see me as a woman...” He was considerably older than her and the most she hoped for was that he might see her as a younger sister. The reality made her overjoyed. “My body is yours...my prince...I don’t want you to feel alone anymore.” She breathed, her eyes on his lips before closing the distance and kissing him passionately yet timidly. 

There wasn’t much that Grayson did on his own, most of the time it was a walk, run or something in that sense just to keep his mind busy. His own brain was a dangerous thing and that was what worries him at times. Swallowing he shared a small smile as he looked to her,  ❝ We will see. ❞ He spoke simply and lightly about something that he could do, he started to think of things that he could do more one handed that didn’t involve a lot of strength because he knew she would also kick his ass. ❝ Yeah, I haven’t gone on a night hike or camped for awhile… ❞ The last time he did any of that was when he served and it made him take a sharp breath inward before shaking it off. ❝ I’ve got a burrito bowl that’s enough for two, even three people. ❞ He told her as he walked back toward her car. Stopping in his tracks, he shook his head, ❝ Don’t be sorry. None of this was your fault. Had you been there or not this would have happened regardless. I would have shown up there and if not getting shot today who knows, I could have been shot a different day. ❞ He told her honestly as he looked into her eyes and brought his hand to her cheek that wasn’t hurt, ❝ I just want you to feel better alright? ❞

Mia tilted her head in understanding with a bright smile. It was more than she expected really. Having established the man was a workaholic and was not all too kind to himself in exchange for extending that privilege to others, that he was not thinking of ways to work remotely was a great start. “Lucky for you, you have time to think about it. And of course, you’re welcome to bother me any time you start to feel like you’re getting cabin fever.” She quipped, pointing to her smartphone. The nurse enjoyed keeping up with others, Grayson especially. Hell, maybe she might even take a day off herself and spend some time with him if he did not mind overly chatty company. “I can’t remember the last time I’d been camping or anything like that. Uni, maybe? Though I don’t think it counts when all your friends are drunk and nosily singing songs blasted on bluetooth speakers,” The blonde recounted with a chuckle. “It’d be nice to learn what it’s actually like some time. Have you done that kind of thing often or was it an Army thing?” She could imagine how different anyone’s interests could be after such life changing work. At the mention of a burrito bowl, Amelia’s stomach growled loudly. “Ah...that sounds so much better than the pastry I was planning to get for lunch! We could trade recipes even!” The thought of seeing him in such a domesticated setting made her press the gas pedal of her car just a little harder. After all, it was not a sight everyone got to see. The first part of his reply went down smoothly as he had said something to that effect earlier...it was the hand on her cheek that made her mind sound like white noise. A moment passed and she realized she needed to actually speak. “See, logically  know that and you’re right, ‘course you are. I guess it was actually seeing what you do that made me worry. I...don’t exactly like the idea that your average workday might involve you getting shot, you know?” The nurse answered softly, her own fingers grazing the arm she placed in a sling earlier.