In the Eye of the Beholder

[Maira]

Lilianna was glaring at the clock when one of her students came up and asked yet another stupid question about the day's lesson. Why did she have to be cursed by stupid students? You would think that by the more advanced painting classes most of the idiots would be weeded out but nooo, at least one always managed to stick it out.

Turning her gaze from the clock to the student, Lia smiled and answered. It was a simple question which the student could have asked any Painting 101 student and gotten the same answer that she herself gave. When comprehension dawned clear in the student's eyes and she wandered off Lia returned her gaze to the clock. Just three more minutes and the damn horrible day would be over.

The whole day had started off innocently enough but not even halfway through her first class of the day, her stone carving class, one of the students had somehow managed to break the big table sander. It had been new from the school less than a year ago and Lia had had to fight for it tooth and nail and now, one of the ditzy ones had broken it. Trying to explain that to the head of the Art Department had been fun.

After the incident with the sander, everything had gone downhill. One of her students had somehow managed to get paint thinner in his eye, yet another had tripped and fallen against a table that a bunch of opened paints were sitting on spilling them all over the floor. Cement floors were meant to have multicolored paint jobs, honest.

Finally at 10 minutes to 7, the signal for the end of class sounded and Lia raised her voice, "Alright you guys, get your brushes cleaned out, make sure everything will be safe for the weekend and get outta here." On a whole, Lia loved her classes but there were just some days she wanted to strangle her students. It didn't matter how old a Custos got, her temper never mellowed...

Cleaning up her own project, Lia went to change from her typical work overalls into more casual, and definately less teacher-like clothes. All her Friday evening students knew that Lia was just as likely to be found in a club or bar on Friday night as they were and so none of them ever looked twice at the change in their instructor when she came out of the supply room. Well, none but they guys and girls that gawked at the figure that was almost constantly hidden by overalls.

Tonight was deffinatley a bar night, Lilianna decided as she got changed. Instead of putting on the skirt she'd brought, she dragged out her hiphugger jeans and the belly baring halter top. She had a jacket that would keep her plenty warm until she got where she was going so she wasn't at all concerned about her show of skin.

Jacket slung over one arm, her bag with her clothes over her opposite shoulder, Lia made her way out of the supply room. She had to wait until all the students had left so she could lock up so she dropped her stuff on her desk and leaned against it waiting none to patiently for the stragglers to leave.

[Shinigami]

Talbot was simply lost in creativity. He had Dream Walked through a particularly vivid dream that had belonged to his previous night's conquest and had been filled with inspiration since he had woken his lover. Currently he was standing in front of a good sized canvas, propped up on an easle and filling rapidly with color. Talbot had enrolled himself in the advanced painting class, having studied art for far too long to warrent a lesser class. Usually students used music to lose themselves to their art, but Talbot had no need for that, and though he loved music, this was not the time nor the place.

Talbot was jolted out of his own little world as he heard the 10 minute warning go off, his large sienna-brown eyes blinked as he looked around, realizing that the other students were cleaning up. He grumbled, and must have made quite a sight, as his face, shoulders, and parts of his clothing were flecked with fresj paint of various colors. Even his feet had paint flecks, as he was wearing sandals. He had worn his "pinting clothes," having grown tired of always ruining clothes with paint, so he picked a couple pairs of his loose, low-slung jeans and old slightly tighter tank tops that usually untucked themselves from his jeans as he reached across the canvas.

Talbot grumbled as he rushed to clean up, running his hands through his hair to tame errant strands before hissing when he remembered his hands were covered in paint. He was due to meet his friend, former lover, and current clubbing trouble maker, Cian. They were getting together to get ready for a night of trouble and fun, as they usually did on the weekends, and though Talbot was the older fo the two, they were both Incubi, and enjoyed their weekly activities.

By the time Talbot had managed to clean out his brushes, grumbling again as the oil paint refused to leave the delicate bristles of his paint brushes, he was running a few minutes late. He treated his brushes like children, as he hated to ruin the very tools that created his art, and that always caused him to take longer than truely needed. He put his canvas in a safe spot, keeping it from getting jostled or smeared by some of the other fools he called fellow students, and then he collected his cell phone, wallet, and keys, leaving his tackle box full of paint safely by his painting.

Talbot sighed, and gave his best cute, chagrined, sorry expression to the teacher as he passed her, heading out the door. She seemed quite peeved from a few of the clueless students, and all her students knew she frequented the clubs on the weekends. He had often seen her there, but hadn't tried to approach her. Where the students knew her as an art teacher with a temper, he could tell she was a little more. His held his usual smirk and swagger as he passed her, spinning his keys around his finger on his way to meet Cian.

He eventually made it to the Lit department's main building, but didn't see Cian. He sighed,pulling out his cell phone, reading to call him in case he had left without him again. Even though he -knew- Talbot was always late when he was coming from his art classes. He gave Cian five mintues, hoping he was just late getting out of his own class, before he would call. He passed his time by leaning up against the wall next to the large double doors, just waiting.

[Demeter]

Cian, more then a little impatient to get out of class, glared at the girl currently talking to the intructor. All he needed to do was claifty something and then he'd be out of the school grounds for a weekend. He sat in one of the lecture hall's front seats and leaned against the shared arm rest, rolling his eyes at the girl. He could have answered the girls question in his sleep. Cian glanced at is watch and groaned. Tale was probably waiting for him; thinking he'd wandered away with him again.

Once the second year student left the intructor alone, Cian scrambled out of the seat he'd thrown himself in and asked his question about the paper that was due in a few weeks, he climbed up the steps to the exit, bag clenched in his hand. There were days when he just wanted to reach out at the other students who took the same classes as him, wrap his hands around their necks and squeeze. He'd been a young man when half of the texts the class was discussing had been in their early waves of popularity. He'd read Dante in the original Italian and half of the class didn't understand the concept of allegory. The reason he'd taken this class was to gain different perspective on well known literary works of art.

Cian was growling to himself as he pushed open the door to the lecture hall and tossed the strap to his messenger style bag over his shoulder. He glanced up and down the hallway and, grumbling when he didn't seen Tale in the area, made his way towards front entrance of the literature building. As he walked he past the girl from earlier, the one with the questions, surrounding by a group of her friends. When he passed them, they giggled and started whispering; mostly about the likely hood if he was gay or not. Cian smirked as he heard their comments. Maybe he would plaster himself against Tale and affix his mouth to his friend's as the gaggle of girls exited the building. Tale probably wouldn't mind.

Cian exited the building, glanced left and then right before spotting Tale leaning against the wall. He made his way over, intent on hugging his friend like he normally did, but stopped short once he noticed the multicolored specks and splotchs that his friend sported. Patchs of color ranged from Tale's feet to his hair. "Nope, I'm not touching you until you're cleaned up. I happen to like this shirt. Get lost in vortex that is your creativty again?"

As the two left the campus, Cian happened to notice a person, a very good looking person, and peered around Tale to watch as the woman unlocked her car. "Hey, Tale, isn't that your art professor and I'm I just imagining things or is she not human?"

[Maira]

Finally, when the last student made his way past her into the hall Lilianna gave a tired defeated sigh. Gathering up her things she proceeded to the room that passed as a teacher's lounge for the art department. As she had spent her entire lunch hour trying to explain the broken table sander to the department head, she hadn't had time to eat or check her box for mail.

Shoving the door open with a hip, Lia made her way in. The room was silent and dark, apparently she was the last one to leave....again. If she wasn't so impressed by Talbot's work she'd likely be miffed at him for always being the last out of class. As it was, she didn't mind leaving late if it meant he could work a few extra minutes.

Not even bothering to flick on the light, Lia made her way to the fridge, rummaged out her lunch and stuffed it in the bag with her overalls. Opening the fridge door far enough that it wouldn't swing closed on its own, Lilianna grabbed her mail out of her box and flipped through it. The light from the refridgerator was barely enough to read by but it didn't matter. The department memo with the words 'Budget Cuts' printed in bold stood out immediately. No wonder the department head had been even more upset than she'd expected. "Guess I'll have to replace the sander myself," she mumbled to herself as she rifled through her last few pieces of mail. Nothing else interesting. Shoving the papers in her bag as well then swinging the fridge door closed, Lia made her way out of the lounge.

It didn't take her long to make her way from the art building out to where she had parked. Only as she was halfway to her car and a nice strong breeze came up did she realize she'd forgotten to put on her jacket. She'd been so busy trying to think of ways to get money to replace the sander that she hadn't even thought about it. Since she was already most of the way to her car, Lia just hurried her pace a bit and huddled in close on herself.

When she finally reached her car, Lia had the key in the door before she even realized there was something wrong. Looking at her car for a moment trying to figure out what it was her eyes grew wide when she realized the window was broken and there was glass all over the driver's seat. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!" she screamed as she through her bag and jacket in through the very open window. In sheer frustration she threw her arms up in the air before clenching fists in her whiteblond curls and kicking at her car's front tire. All the while she was growling under her voice, "Damnit all Eris, this isn't fair!" She loved her mentor but the goddess sometimes got too much enjoyment out of letting chaos play with her volatile servant.

Only after she had kicked and raged and spun around in a circle growling profanities at Eris and stupid inconsequential humans did Lilianna realize somebody was watching her. Once she realized that she immediately brought her arms down and folded them across her belly, she was cold after all. Then with one last look at her poor violated car, Lia made her way over to the man who was looking at her and a familiar form that as she got closer she recognized as Talbot.

When she was close enough, Lia asked loudly, "Hey um, either of you got a cell phone? Somebody broke into my car and my phone was in there. I need to call my insurance and the cops to make a report." All she needed to top off her day was for Talbot and his companion to either not have a phone or refuse to let her use theirs. If that were the case, she would most deffinately being going on a vacation. She hadn't been to Hell in a while and her mother would likely be more than happy to see her.

[Tigre]

<<Okay, I hope you guys don't mind if I throw Emyth in here... she needs to do something!>>

Emyth stacked the last cone, shrugging her shoulders to ease the tension that had built during the training. Usually her riders picked up the arena after class, but this particular session had been a meeting and practice or the Equestrian Team - a nervy group of riders bent on being the best nationally yet again for the eleventh year running. Division Championships were fast approaching, and Emyth was swiftly growing sick of the riders on the team - they seemed never to leave! She was all for dedication, but occasionally Emyth wanted to be able to call it a night early!

Which was, in fact, exactly what she'd done tonight. Most nights, the team would simply put on the floodlights over the big arena when the sun went down, and they'd continue on for several more hours. Tonight, Emyth had insisted on finishing with the sunset - in part, for the sake of the horses, all of whom were starting to look a little ragged around the edges. Emyth had called an end to practice nearly two hours early, and had ordered the riders to the barns, there to pamper their mounts before heading home for the night. Emyth had remained in the arena to pick up and prep it for her morning class, hoping that by the time she was finished, the horses would all be stabled or turned out according to rotation and she'd be free to leave.

Sure enough, by the time she reached the main barn, there was not a rider in sight. Even the gelding Emyth herself had drawn to ride for the week, a tall, froggy bay named Remington, was groomed out and munching fresh hay in the stall next to her office. Heaving a sigh, Emyth dropped the stack of cones and scooped up her coat, flicking out the lights and closing her office door decisively.

The walk to the parking lot near the arts buildings wasn't long, so long as a person was willing to cut across campus. There was another lot, rather closer to the barns, but it generally remained fairly full, what with the students on workstudy for the Animal Sciences, who routinely had to stay nights on campus. Emyth had found it was easier to find parking - and thus required less time in the morning - to just park in the other lot. Besides, she'd never minded walking across the silent old campus in the dark... there was something rather peaceful about it.

Well, peaceful and silent - until a screetch echoed across the parking lot, and Emyth looked up to see a rather upset looking art instructor surveying her broken window.

"Here, Lia," Emyth called, pausing the unlocking of her pickup to toss her cell phone in the other instructor's general direction as the woman approached. The Animal Sciences department and the Art department weren't exactly in line for lots of socialisation, so the riding instructor didn't know the art teacher well, but there were a few things that occasionally brought them together - Crash Week and a mutual interest in clubbing, mostly. Then there was, of course, their personal statuses as rather more-than-devout followers of fairly obscure dieties. Emyth might have found the supernatural population of the town somewhat disconcerting if it weren't the entire reason she'd moved here. "I can give you a ride somewhere, if you need one..."

[Shinigami]

<<okay.. just so you know, I knew there would be another character getting thrown in at some point, but I thought it would be when we got to club portion. You kinda stole my response to Maira, but I still have Cian to play with ^^. You're fine, Tigre, just ask -before- posting next time, cuz I was planning a different response and now I gotta tweak it..>>

Talbot snickered as he saw Cian swooping in for his usual greeting. He stepped away from the wall and uncrossed his arms, letting out a chuckle as Cian stopped short, decided not to give him his customery hug and kiss due his current of dress. He pushed away from the wall and uncrossed his arms, as he had a habit of crossing them when leaning agaisnt things. He threw his arms out, as if he were going to hug Cian. "Aww, come on! No big hug? No kiss?" He mock-pouted, blinking his big brown eyes a few times before giving up on charade. Cian knew he was no innocent.

Talbot snickered, blowing Cian a kiss after he lowered his arms. He sighed. "Of course. Don't I always get lost in my work? That's what creativity is meant to do, and it didn't help that the dream's of last night's lover furthered my inspiration." He made a face as the wind blew his paint strewn hair info his eyes. He pushed his hair out of his line of sight and started walking off campus, as his house wasn't really far if you cut through one of the many parking lots. He didn't seem to notice the chill, as he was used to lacking in the clothing department, so he just got used to it. He grumbled lightly as he fussed with his hair a bit more. They were walking with the wind, so it was blowing his hair forward and into his face. "Well, I definately need a shower if we're going to go out clubbing tonight. I doubt I look too desireable covered in flecks of paint."

As Talbot fussed with his hair, he heard Cian speaking; since it caught his attention he looked up. "Huh? What?" As Cian's words finally soaked into his mind, he glanced over in the direction Cian was looking and smirked when he saw his professor. He wasn't surprised Cian had caught on to his teacher's origin so quickly, and in a such a quiet area, he was also a Custos, and Incubus, after all. He smiled. "Yes, that would be my professor. I'm surprised you hadn't noticed last week. She was at the club, in fact, she can often be found there." He saw frustrated look on her face as she cursed. He tipped his head slightly, having sworn he heard her say Eris. He left it go when he heard her address them, asking for a cell phone.

Talbot was reaching for his cell phone when he heard someone else call out, another woman. He glanced up and saw it was another professor. He had seen her around campus, but he had never really learned as much about her as some of the other teachers. He knew her name, Emyth, and that she worked with the equestrians, but that was about it. He gave a nod and short wave to his professor, Lia, seeing that she was being taken care of.

[Demeter]

Cian, given his nature, latched onto to Talbot's arm and started to drag the older Custos over toward's his intructor. If he could help in anyway, well he was damn well going to help. Ignoring any complaints that Talbot might have about his rather rough treatment, Cian closed in on the two intructors, his free hand digging around his bag for his phone. He knew it was there somewhere and did get wonderful reception in the area.

Cian slowed to a stop instead of just stoppimg know that Talbot would have slammed into him and then he would probably have to shower as well. With a triumphant "Ah Ha!" Cian pulled out his phone, held it out to the professor and grinned. He then saw the other phone being offered. "Oh..well, you'll probably want to use hers because you appear to known her and you don't know me and..oh, look your car was broken into wasn't it?" Great, Cian thought as he stared at the shattered glass, way to state the obvious.

Cian started to stuff the phone back into his bag with one hand and offered the other to Lia. "I'm Cian, you know Talbot, anything we can do to help?"

[Maira]

Lia had just about reached Talbot and the other man when a semi familiar voice came from behind her. Turning, she saw Emyth, the riding instructor, making her way towards them. She smiled and waved at the other woman, her sometimes clubbing buddy. She was about to turn back to the guys when she saw Emyth toss something at her. It took only a moment to realize that it was Emyth's cell phone that was flying at her and with a little bit of dread, she reached out to catch it.

To her own amazement, considering the luck she'd been having all day, Lilianna managed to snag the cell phone easily out of the air. "Thanks Emy!" she called before turning her attention back to Talbot and the other man. When the other man started rambling about whose phone she likely wanted to use Lia couldn't help but smirk. He was cute in a silly awkward sort of way.

"Well Cian," she answered in a more cheerful tone than the situation warranted, "Let me give the police a call to report all my stuff missing, and call my insurance company and then I'll let you pick our entertainment for the evening." Giving him a bright sincere smile she flipped open Emyth's phone and turned to make her way back over to her car while she made her calls. Every now and then she'd look back over her shoulder at the two men, flirting shamelessly with Cian and watching Talbot with new eyes.

She'd never seen him outside of class before. Well not really. She'd seen him at the club a time or two but he was always wrapped up in the music or some girl instead of his art. All of which had the same effect on him. Now, not having his attentions focussed on anything, he was quite a sight. Especially with the paint splatters in his hair. At that observation she couldn't help but giggle and it was a good thing she was on hold or she might have gotten some strange questions from her insurance agent.

When she'd finished with her calls she walked Emyth's phone back over to her. "Thanks, you're a life saver!" she said gratefully to the other woman. Then with a look over her shoulder at Cian and Talbot she added, "Though I think you burst the poor boy's bubble, he wanted to rescue me I think." The laugh that escaped her was good natured and warm. Looking back at Emyth she smiled and asked, "So, I've sorta volunteered them to keep me company tonight, I told the one not covered in paint splatters he could pick the evening's entertainment. I've seen them at the clubs before so that is likely what he'll pick, wanna come along? First round of drinks is my treat." She didn't like bribing other people into anything but she really wanted Emyth to join her. She liked the woman's company and they never seemed to be able to spend all that much time together except the occaisional Friday night. Maybe tonight could be one of those occaisions.

[Shinigami]

Talbot yelped as he was yanked over toward the two professors, grumbling and growling as he continued to be dragged by the arm. He muttered on the there way over. "I hope you get paint all over you for this.." His last few steps ended up being little hops as little gravel rocks found their way into his sandals. As they slowed to a stop and he heard Cian addressing his professor, cell phone ready, he grumbled some more while taking of his sandals one at a time and dumping the rocks out of them.

As Talbot stood up fully he had the satisfaction of catching Cian's realization that Lia was already being helped. This was the realization Talbot had come to -before- he had been dragged across the parking lot. He caught himself smirk, however, as his friend's actions gained him a little flirting, and apparently and invitation for the two of them to join Lia that night. He noticed her glancing him over and heard the little giggle. She was no doubt giggling at all the paint all over him, or even the fact that he had gotten rocks in his shoes. He wasn't exactly at his best. Talbot sent his teacher a little mock glare, but there was no anger in his eyes, only amusement, an amusement he couldn't help feeling.

Talbot really didn't like spending too much time with professors outside of class. In his last college, he had accidentally seduced his philosophy teacher. His -male- philosophy teacher. He hadn't honestly meant to, but the man had asked him out to coffee to talk over their ideas, as he was intrigued by Talbot's way of thinking. He was much older than the professor thought, so he had an old world philosophy when it came to certain things. Unfortunately Talbot's flirtatious side arose unbidden, and the professor had responded with his own flirting behavior, which had spawned his Incubus nature to take over. Not only had they ended up in bed, but the professor had gotten fired for fraternizing with a student.

As Talbot rather liked Lia as his professor, he didn't want to get her fired, over him -or- Cian, and they were both Incubi. As Lia walked the cell phone back to Emyth, he muttered something a long the lines of "fool" to Cian in ancient greek, not really caring if he understood or not, as he jabbed him in the side with a finger. He was eyeing Cian, with a slightly annoyed expression on his face. "You know I don't like to spend time with teachers outside of class. Dont' you remember what happened last time?" He knew it was inevitable, he couldn't turn Lia down now, as she probably assumed their agreement, and he hated to be rude.

[Tigre]

Emyth smiled briefly and accepted her phone, then returned her attentions to her pickup.

"Thanks, but no - I've got to get to sleep! Early practice tomorrow, what with divisionals coming up - my god, save me from neurotic competitors!"

Chuckling, the woman stepped up into the vehicle, firing the engine and letting it rumble for a moment before backing out of the lot and disappearing into the night.

[Maira]

Lia pouted a bit once Emyth's back was turned. She'd really wanted to spend time with the other woman, oh well. She waited until the truck was gone from the parking lot, giving a little wave as Emyth pulled away, before turning back to the two guys.

All smiles, mostly for Cian, she made her way back over to them. "Well, the police told me to take my car home and they'd come by and take a look at it tomorrow. Other than that I'm free for the night." Inside her head a small voice was warning off of her spending time with Talbot, he was after all her student. She told that little voice in no uncertain terms that at this point she didn't give a damn. The voice shut up.

Now Lia's clothes may have been cleaner than Talbot's by a long shot (she had changed after all) but as she smiled she felt a bit of stiffness on her cheek and when she reached up to scratch at it, she came away with a small speck of blue paint under her fingernails. With a laugh she turned to Talbot, "Seems like no matter how hard I try to get it all off, I always find paint on me at the end of the day."

[Demeter]

Cian glanced over his shoulder at Talbot as Lia talked on the phone. "Of course I remember the last night you got into a little trouble but what is a little innocent flirting," Cian smirked, "when you have a little more control."

Cian focused on Lia and smiled at her. He sidled up to her side and leaned against the car. "The club you were at last friday, how about we met up there in a few hours, for the nights entertainment."

Cian looked past Lia and smirked at Talbot. Cian believed that his friend, despite his various and many bedpartners, had been looking for companionship lately. Cian, being himself, wanted to help Talbot find someone he could talk to without the possibilty of other aspects. If it killed him, he'd find someone to keep the man company.

Cian looked back at Lia, smiled at her again, and reached out to brush away a few speaks of paint from her face. "So, what do you say, Lia, what do you say? Will you meet up with the two of us in a few hours at the club or will I be forced to deal with old Talbot myself?"

[Shinigami]

Talbot glowered at Cian. He knew he had more control this time around, and a past experiance in the matter, so he knew what to look for, but it was still odd. He sighed, giving in and running a hand through his hair, the wind still throwing it about. He smirked slightly when Lia turned back to them and the flirting between Lia and Cian continued.

He leaned back against the next closest car, tentatively at first just to make sure there was no car alarm, and crossed his arms. He smiled as he saw that Lia had in fact found a fleck or two of paint on herself. "Yes, they're sneaky little things, paint drops. I had to designate a portion of my wardrobe as "painting clothes" because I couldn't get all of the paint off of them. Such as these, which used to be a favorite pair of jean until last year." He motioned to his jeans. The tank top he really didn't care about, as they could always be replaced easily enough.

Tale had expected Cian to invite Lia to the club with them, so at least he had a chance to slip away if things didn't go so soothly. He sighed, maybe he'd have a little more fun this week. Cian knew nothing about artwork, but they had obviously had other things in common, so they managed to keep good conversations, even during their clubbing. He wondered about what Lia was into. She alreay had three things in common with him, and two with Cian. She loved art (as she wouldn't teach it if she didn't), she enjoyed going out to clubs, and she was a Custos. Maybe the night would go okay.

Talbot caught Cian's last comment as he came out of his thoughts, sputtering and standing fulling up right. Old? Old?! He glared at his friend, the nastiness never really reaching his eyes, as he could never stay mad at Cian for long, but he made a show of it, playing the part of the offended. He huffed lightly, crossing his arms and turning his head. "Old, am I? Well, you better remember that the next time you complain about staying out too late, or the music getting annoying." His lips twitched, almost into a smirk, but he was struggling to continue to look displeased.

[Maira]

Finally, when Talbot spoke in answer to her, Lia gave him one of her smiles. Not nearly as flirtateous as the ones she'd give Cian but somehow more genuine. "And why, Talbot, do you think I change every Friday before I head out. If I tried to go to one of the clubs in my paint clothes they'd either not let me in to begin with or they'd scream in horror when they saw what they'd let in." She couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the bouncers dragging her off the dancefloor by the straps of her overalls.

Feeling herself relax, Lilianna rolled her shoulders, feeling the tension leaving them Well, some lucky couple wasn't going to have their marriage ruined tonight after all. When Cian suggested they meet up at the club she'd been at the past weekend Lia nodded. She stiffened a bit with surprise as his fingers brushed her cheeks until she realized he was likely getting off more paint.

As a succubus, Lilianna was used to having men touch her, she was by no means shy. It was just suprising to have a man do so without her seducing him first. Only as he touched her did she realize that Cian was not human. And neither was Talbot, though she'd had an inkling about him for a while now. How on earth had she not noticed before? She was so out of practice, she'd been spending too much time with humans.

Smiling again at Cian as he teased Talbot, Lia answered smoothly, "Alright, I'll meet you there in two hours. That might be enough time for you to get all the paint scraped off of Talbot." The look she shot her student wasn't nearly as 'mean' as her comment about the paint had been. She just looked at him calmly, considering him. He really was something. Quite the artist, one of the most handsome men she'd seen in a while, and of all things she hadn't noticed about him before, he was a Custos. Things were looking up for her night.

As she passed him on her way back to her car, Lia squeezed Talbot's shoulder and smiled at him sweetly. For Cian, she leaned raised her lips to his cheek, giving him a quick peck, before saying, "Thank you for trying to rescue me." Then she turned and got in her car, making sure all the glass shards were out of her seat before sitting down.

[Demeter]

Cian blinked at Talbot and shrugged his shoulders. "So I happen to like curling up with a good 'book' as much as I like clubbing. Besides I, unlike you, Mr. Odd Jobs, actually have a steady job with unconsistant shifts to deal with. Tomorrow may be saturday but that doesn't mean I get to sleep late."

Cian grinned as Lia agreed to meet them at the club. He smirked at Talbot when Lia pecked her lips against his cheek. Cian pushed off from the car, turned and shut the door. He leaned over and braced his arms against the roof of the car. "So, we'll see you in two hours. I have to go make sure the walking mural over there gets cleaned up. Gotta make sure that he gets every last speck of paint off because we wouldn't want him thrown out, now would be, because then a third of the fun would be gone."

He drummed one hand against the roof of the car and pushed away. "Come on, Tale, we have to get you cleaned up for the pretty lady." Cian snickered. He knew he was going to get it later but there were times when he just couldn't help it.

[Shinigami]

Talbot couldn't help but chuckle at the picture Lia had presented, imagining her getting dragged out of the club covered in paint, and in her paint clothes of all things. His chuckle continued for a bit, calming to a smile as Cian spoke up about his habit of curling up with a good book. He smirked at the nickname Cian had given him. Mr. Odd Jobs, wasn't that a character from a movie? Yes, yes it was, and Talbot found himself wondering if he had a top hat back at his apartment.

He was pulled out of his little daze as he heard Lia speak again. Talbot's mock glare was back in place before a smirk slithered across his face. "Yeah, Cian, you gotta get all this paint off me yet." He snickered, pushing off from the other car and walking over towards Lia's, deciding it was a little less rude to go over and see her off than do so from his perch on another car some feet away.

Talbot rolled his eyes at Cian, mocking him from behind until he pushed away from Lia's car, a smile instantly in place. It was one of his "what? I didn't do anything." smiles, one that Cian knew not to believe, but his flirtacious and playful side had been tapped with all the banter. He smiled. "Lets leave the lady to her business then, Cian." He tipped an invisible hat to Lia, a little habit he had every so often. "We'll be seeing you in two hours."

[Maira]

As she pulled out of the parking lot, Lia couldn't help but laugh. Talbot was not in any way just another flakey artist. And his friend was a kick too. Her night was -deffinately- looking up.

Her drive home was quick, for once traffic hadn't been all that awful. Pulling into her driveway, flicking the button on her visor for her garage to open, Lia waited and then pulled her car in. Normally she wouldn't bother on a Friday night but as well, her car had no driver's side window, she felt a bit leary leaving it out. Once the car was settled, Lia pushed the button again to close the door and headed into the house. Time to get ready.

~~~~~

An hour and a half later, Lia was waiting at the living room window watching for the cab she had called. There was no way she was taking her car into the city missing a window. When the yellow car finally pulled up, she grabbed her thigh length dark brown leather jacket off of her coat tree, grabbed her cloth coinpurse that doubled as her purse on club nights, and ran out to climb in the cab.

Unlike her ride home, the cab encountered all kinds of traffic. She grumbled and glared at the stopped cars all around her but there was nothing she could do. She just hoped the guys ran into the same problems she did and that they wouldn't mind if she showed up late.

With nothing else to do while she waited for traffic to move, Lilianna opened her jacket so she could readjust her outfit a bit. The halter top and jean's she'd had on earlier had been replaced by a fitted white tank top with a fairly low scooped front, tight low rise crimson pants and a delicate gold belly chain. Once she made sure the little charm (a small golden version of her in her succubus form) was situated in the front, Lia closed her jacket again, the cab was very cold.

Not long after that, the cab finally pulled up in front of the club. Paying her money, she climbed out and made her way inside. Grabbing her coinpurse from the pocket of her jacket as she left it with coat check, she made her way over to the bar. She smiled when she saw who was behind the counter. Leaning against it she called out, "Hey Sooz, hold my wallet?"

The bartender was a Magic User and friendly to all the regulars, of which Lia most certainly was. "Sure hun, come on back and stash it where you normally do," answered the woman at the other end of the bar who was busily mixing drinks for a couple.

Flipping up the walk-through, Lia slipped behind the bar and crouched down to stick her wallet in the safe that the bartender's all used for their own wallets when they were on shift. Once that was taken care of, she slipped back out from behind the bar and made her way towards the dance floor hoping to spot Talbot and Cian without too much trouble.

[Demeter]

Cian waved as Lia's car left the parking lot and turned to look at Talbot. "Well, she's nice. Lets go off to your house now. You have paint everywhere you could have possibily gotten it."

Cian grabbed a hold of Talbot arm and started to drag him out of the parking lot. Even though Talbot lived close to the university, it would take him a while to get all the paint off. Cian, however, just had to change clothes, spiff himself up and then wait for his friend. Once he reached Talbot's residence and was let inside, Cian went straight to the closet where he had a stash of clothing. He poked his head out of the door and grinned at Talbot. "Hurry up and get cleaned up. We have a pretty lady to meet and I don't want to keep her waiting. Why did you tell me that your professor was such a nice person?"

Cian looked through the small collection of clothing he kept in Talbot's residence and sighed. What should he wear? Cian finally settled on a pair of slacks that were just the right size and a black t-shirt with a grey button up shirt that, well, wouldn't be buttoned. Cian grinned as he heard the water running and started to change.

After dressing and running a brush through his hair, Cian hopped around the hallway while putting his shoes on and calling a cab. The club district on a friday night was murder when trying to find aparking spot. After dragged Talbot out of the place and into the cab, Cian grinned. "So, looking forward to spending some time with your professor?" He really was nothing else but a meddler.

Cian paid the driver after they were dropped off and entered the bar Lia has said to meet them at. He pushed his way through the crowd gathering in the building, on the look out for the art professor.

[Shinigami]

Talbot muttered as he was dragged back to his appartment, contimplating whether or not to just leave Cian outside for all his meddling and dragging himj about. He caved however, letting them both inside rolling his eyes at Cian as he went immediately to the stash of clothes he had in on of Talbot's many closets. It wasn't going to take him -that- long to get the paint of, and they had two hours. He rifled through his own closet, preferring to have clothes ready for when he got out of the shower, and tossed his choices on the bed. "I don't really talk to my professors outside of school. Mainly because of what happened last time." He cast a mild glare and Cian, but continued. "And you know how I can be with my art. I'm lost in my own world, so it's not like we can really chit-chat during class."

He stripped his clothes as he spoke, walking toward the bathroom on his way as well. The last of his words having echoed off the bathroom walls. He wasn't modest by far, and it wasn't as if Cian hadn't ever seen him unclothed. They had been lovers once, after all, so Talbot didn't really see the need to worry about closing his bathroom door during his shower.

Talbot was quick enough, just focusing on getting the paint out of his hair and off his face and hands, a stray speck anywhere else wouldn't really be a big deal. He towel dried his hair, as it fell neatly into place on its own, examining his face in the mirror for a second, making sure all the paint was gone. He found a speck by his collar bone and promptly got rid of it before heading back into his room in nothing but his towel.

He dressed quickly in another pair of low-slung, yet slightly more fitted jeans, this pair devoid of paint, and a thread bare fitted t-shirt with a rather artistic graphic design across the front. A little experiment he had played with in a silk screening class he had taken a couple years before. He snickered as he watched Cian hopping around in the hallway, trying to get his shoes on and call a cab at the same time. Talbot simply slipped a nice non paint splattered pair of sandels on.

Cian all but dragged him into the cab once it arrived, almost making Talbot for get his house keys, let alone his wallet. Usually it was him that was so excited to be going out, but it wasn't everyday they were actually going to meet someone, and Talbot admitted that Lia was attractive, though never aloud as she was still his professor. He could at least understand Cian's excitement. He shook his head. "Tonight will prove to be interesting, but it seems -your- more excited to go see her than I am."

Talbot sighed as he was forced to push his way in, not really in the mood to lose Cian in the crowd and have to go searching. He caught up to him, deciding to drag -him- this time, guiding his friend to the bar so they can get a drink or two in while they wait. Also, he suspected that's where Lia would look for them. It was customery for most people to go to the bar for a drink before working up their nerve to dance, so the bar was the best bet.

[Maira]

After a few moments of scanning the dance floor Lilianna gave up. They either weren't here yet or just not out dancing. Turning, she headed back to the bar where she spotted a familiar form almost immediately. She'd looked at Talbot's back and back of his head often enough while he painted to recognize him sitting at the bar. It only took her a moment to recognize Cian as well.

A smile danced across her lips as she made her way purposefully over to the bar. Draping an arm over each of the men's shoulders, she said sweetly, "Well you boys clean up nice." When they turned to look at her, she removed herself from leaning on them and took a couple steps back so she could look them over better. Her smile never left her face.