A Dance with Danger [Shinsei]

[Bobbie]

The intrigued man bore his shockingly white teeth, considering his bad habit, as he let out an involuntary titter of a laugh, his lips curling into a smile and he looked away for just a moment before he allowed his gaze to fall on the woman again. “Oh, well, let me tell you something, miss… you don’t fall short.” He lowered his gaze to inspect his company once more – his initial intention was that her company was something pleasant that heightened the enjoyment of her fellow interlocutor, but the rest of what she brought was not to be ignored either.

Shinsei was quite surprised at himself and the way he was flirting so openly with this woman. It had been a long time since he’d lost his wife, but he was only regaining his footing as he came back from what he, convinced, calls Hell. He somehow bounced back with ease as he kept the chase for fun that guided his son close to his own heart.

If he were truly to honour his memory, then he must stand by his new life’s motto and enjoy waking every day– and that comes in all sorts of shapes and forms.

“You have no idea.” He replied with another suppressed chuckle as he shook his head, “Trouble can do a lot worse than that, love, but it seems worse if you try to go against it.” He shrugged, before moving away from the wall of the establishment they were at and rotating his body with a swift side step to be facing it and her. “And here she has presented herself, so I suppose I’ve no choice but to roll with it.” He teased, indeed confirmation her mental note of the lady herself being said trouble that found Shinsei tonight.

Taking her hand, he gently pulled her while he took a step back, “I promise it’s no private country getaway, but there’s a nicer place to enjoy each other’s company for the night.” He winked, beckoning the woman to go with him.

“Have you heard of Rider’s Tavern?”

The place he had in mind was not very reputable, but he had a feeling that a woman such as this one would be very capable of looking out for herself and may even be drawn to a place so boisterous.

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[Jess]

Let's make some history together, eh~?

“I'd hate to think I'm leaving you dissatisfied~” Vanity seeming to creep into the heart and mind of Miss Stephens as she noticed both the words and gaze of shinsei wash over her with a sense of sinful sweetness, the flaxen fox would have been quite the liar indeed if she had tried to say that she didn't feel rather a strong note of enjoyment in seeing a hint of avarice in the admiration she was shown, and this left her hopeful about what her night would come to from here on out.
“So it's nice to know I'm doing something right~?” Pulling her hand up to those stray blond locks which framed her face and seeming to speak in a softer and more sultry tone because of that, the lashes of the lass fluttered as she basked in such attention and found her wicked spirit only encouraged by it, and was already deciding to see this night through with the man before her because of that. After all, there was nothing wrong with appreciating a feeling of value in anothers eyes, now was there?

“Teeheehee, yes, probably much better to roll with trouble's design, no~?” Happy to hear that she wasn't the only one here who happened to be planning to go with the impetus that their chance meeting had provided either and giggling as they continued their playful implication, the fair femme was only flattered further that it sounded like this red haired rogue had a spot of trouble denying a desire to spent more time with her, and bobbed her brows as she pointed out how like-minded it seemed they were feeling.
“Excellentement~! I can't promise you won't regret all of it, but hopefully you'll have reason to savour some~?” Even going so far as to repeat an odd turn of phrase a moment later as Samantha clapped her hands together in the spirit of confirming misadventure, the vivacious vixen happily informed her partner in crime that she could predict not every moment of their night of impish enjoyment being sweet because drama only added to the allure, but hinted that she would be more than happy to make up for any shortfall in satisfaction to even out the balance, or even work it into their favour.

“Sounds like you've been holding out on me, hm~?” Titling her head afterward as Shinsei seemed to admit that he might just know of a place that might offer the intrigue and revelry that they both seemed to crave and looking toward him with a narrow gaze and an impudent grin, Miss Stephens arched her brow as she drew attention to the fact that he seemed to have been reluctant to reveal a spot which seemed to suit their design, though guessed he had done so out of some form of chivalry or something similar to that.
“Gosh, with a name like that, it feels like I have been missing out~! Lead the way, Mr Badboy~” Happy to admit however that she would be both able and willing to explore venues off the beaten path and inclined toward the less discerning gentle-woman, the mischievous spirit of the minx perked up once more as she drew attention to certain connotations of the name she was given, and then then with her cigarette and sake finished seemed to urge her friend for the off, even going so far as to aim to entangle their arms in an almost couple-like fashion as she waited for him to lead them to this den of delightful debauchery she hoped for…

	Samantha Stephens	### words
	@tag, Going Native

[Bobbie]

“Some trouble is easier to roll with than others.” He offered with a little smirk, as he waited for her to accompany him, and as she entangled her arm in his, he certainly made no show of disliking it. In fact, he only pulled her closer and began to lead the way to this tavern he mentioned.

“Rest assured that I will not be regretting a darn thing tonight.” He shrugged lightly, while being careful not to tug his arm out of her grasp as he quite liked having it nestled so cosily between her own and her breast. “What’s the point of regret when we could be dead tomorrow?” he asked and truly meant it, but wasn’t expecting an answer – at least, not a serious one. Straightforward conversation didn’t seem to come very easily with this woman, as she seemed to weave a tantalising web of desire and curiosity around her victim, and Shinsei was happy to be caught in it.

“Holding out on you? I would never!” he exclaimed as the pair would soon stray from the path the bar was on and travel down a different route that seemed to lead in the direction of the island’s beaches, which would no doubt increase the odds of nomads and pirates stopping by for a quick rest or celebration.

“Can’t blame a man for thinking such a precious thing as yourself would be equally delicate on the inside and out – but it seems to have been a very wrong assumption. You are undoubtedly a woman who is dangerously capable of reaching your targets and defending them exceptionally well.” He admitted, looking down at the woman who walked by his side. If he himself could be considered a target or not, he wasn't quite sure, but it was certainly clear that she claimed every drop of his attention. “It’s a... livelier place. Depends on what kind of night you fancy…” he uttered, before another involuntary smile appeared on his face – one of the many elicited by the call of this woman whose clutches seem to have wrapped themselves around ‘Mr Badboy’, literally and metaphorically.

Judging by this diva’s daring desire for excitement to fill her night, every part of her being seeming to beckon it to approach her, Shinsei was fairly certain that he knew what kind of night would strike her sweet spot, but he decided he’d like to hear it from her beautiful lips instead.

“So what kind of night are you looking for to thrill you to your peak?” he cheekily enjoyed that innuendo and eagerly awaited her response.

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[Jess]

Let's make some history together, eh~?

“Uffuffuffu, well, I'll certainly do my best to make sure you survive the night~” The brow of the blonde lifting again as her erstwhile companion seemed to mention matters of mortality, she chuckles in a mature and womanly fashion at the prospect of her host pushing himself to the point of death in order to show her a good time, and rested a hand on his arm as she tried to assure him that he would hopefully not need to kill himself to do so. I mean, the last thing she needed was a body count in her wake, right? At least that kind.
“Though, if you do end up in the next world, hopefully you'll have an interesting story to tell none the less~?” Never one to pass up a chance to tease someone who interested her however and in this case grinning and licking her lips as she seemed to fail to make a promise on that matter, instead Samantha decided that it was better to guarantee an experience worth remembering rather than safety, though guessed that their night would have gone rather wrong or perhaps even incredibly right if she couldn't bring both to fruition. Though that wasn't much worth dwelling on, was it? The best laid plans of mice and men, and all that.

“I certainly hope not~” Nodding and puffing up her chest a little in a fashion that had a definite reminiscence of haughtiness as the red rogue reassured her that he would be withholding little from here on out, Miss Stephens narrowed her gaze and spoke with a sense of pride as she affirmed the idea that she wasn't one who much enjoyed exclusion, even when one had chivalrous intentions for doing so.
“Glad to hear we understand each other. Men who handle me with kid gloves don't last long in my company~?” Adventurous and able and never one who liked to feel as if she was missing out on anything, while simpering and sensitive souls could be nice in the right circumstance this blonde bombshell had to admit that she tended to prefer those with a little less regard for restraint, since regardless of the polish she liked showing that married up well with her mood and motivation more often than not. Sure, some might have assumed she was just a girl from privilege indulging a want for something coarser, but she had little trouble admitting when the cap fit, or denying it for that matter.

“Lively sounds good~” The corners of her mouth seeming to curl into a greater display of satisfaction both because of the description of their destination sounded and how her new friend seemed to welcome and smirk so sweetly at the intimacy she offered, the sapphire stare of the siren tightened as she found him looking a little bit goofy with the grin he gave as they locked arms, and squeezed his arm a little closer to her because of that. It was a nice contrast to that swagger he had shown thus far, wasn't it?
“Teehee, hopefully you have an idea of the endgame by now, but how we get there… I'm hoping for a little excitement as we work our way up to it~?” Certainly not about to be all that coy with her implication on how or what she saw herself engaged in when the evening hit its peak either and perhaps setting herself apart from most women as she did so, even though they'd only been chatting for a few minutes the common chord that was struck between them meant that she was happy to admit that the man was hitting all the right buttons with her thus far, and she was hoping he would continue to do so from here on out. After all, he'd lived up to the 'hype' so far, and she had no reason to assume he wouldn’t after continue to do so, had she?

	Samantha Stephens	### words
	@tag, Going Native

[Bobbie]

As Samantha offered to do her best to ensure his survival, he couldn’t help but find that ironic – surviving seemed to be the thing he does best, even when trying to accomplish the opposite. This elicited a laugh from the red-suited man, one that hid quite a story behind it. “I’m not too worried about that.” He replied before shrugging, “I’m sure I have nothing to fear in your capable hands, and if things do turn sideways, then I guess we’re going down in a blaze of hot, steaming glory.” He joked, although that didn’t sound like the worst way to go…

“Oh, definitely no kid gloves on my part.” He nodded in agreement before glancing down at her as they walked, “With a woman like you? Wouldn’t even dream of it.” He frowned a little as the very thought of restricting her in that way instantly put him off. There was no doubt that this woman brought a good time with her, and he planned to enjoy every second of it while it was within his reach.

Yet again, he would nod to her final statement regarding their endgame, fully on board with wherever this was leading. However, as she made mention of an exciting journey to their destination, it took a little bit more thought. He wasn’t quite sure what sort of excitement she was looking for – and he wasn’t sure what sort of excitement he could provide. Even if the bar they were gravitating toward was a lively and rowdy one, a bar is still just a bar, and the most excitement he’d expect from a place like that would be some good drunken humour, dancing, and maybe a fight between two or more individuals, though the latter was less common, he figured.

It seemed to only just hit him that the shadier the bar, the better it would serve the woman’s purpose for tonight, which only brought one question, rhetorical of course, to mind. What exactly am I getting myself into?

As the thought merely crossed his mind, one silent glance at the woman was enough to remind him of the benefits of this ‘adventure’. At the end of the day, this pretty young lady seemed to choose his company among all the men, and possibly women, present in the room, and was clearly open to the idea of more than just casual conversation – would it not make him a fool to turn her down and send her on her way to find other company in his stead?

“Oh yeah, there will be a little excitement.” He finally replied with another sober nod – too sober for the night ahead of them, which was one of many things that he planned to fix once they got to their destination. Another would be the focus of their interaction, which he was eager to shift onto a more… hands-on approach. “The full nightlife experience: music, dancing - the whole shebang.” he added, though he himself wasn't sure that would be enough and he wasn't all that eager to commit himself to a dangerous adventure either... but it seemed it was what she needed to hear.

How wild could it really get, anyway?

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[Jess]

Let's make some history together, eh~?

“Satisfaction is guaranteed~? Well, well, I just might hold you to that~” The brow of the blonde lifting as her red rogue seemed to do a rather fine job of lifting her expectations up with what he promised to deliver, she then tilted her head and shone with a smile as she made sure to make him aware of just what he was getting into, or at the very least the innuendo that had been implied in his statement.
“Hot and steaming tends to be how I like my glory, among other things~” Doing little to stifle the spice and sassiness which came so very naturally to her since he seemed to roll with it so very resplendently, the vision of the vixen tightened once more in regard to the rather colourful description that she was offered, and she bobbed her brow as the implication continued unabated by either the country air or the possibility of passers-by either. In fact, in a way, the promise of the latter only seemed more thrilling given the places that Samantha seemed to insist on taking their conversation.

“Teeheeheehee, what are you staring at, hm~?” Surprised however when Shinsei seemed to stay his tongue for a few seconds and from where she was strolling simply take a moment to admire her image, Miss Stephens arched her brow at her assumption and in spite of the brashness and bawdiness seemed to show a dash of blush all the same at the scrutiny she was shown, though didn't reflect this much in her attitude, that was for sure.
“Can't believe your luck, eh~?” Always one who held a great level of poise in her picturesque image and captivating charm nothing which seemed new to her, while it seemed unusual for her to weave a spell over someone who appeared a little more independent and strong in mind than the average shopkeep or dutiful deckhand she was more than assured of her allure, and as such couldn’t help but exploit the moment to stroke her ego a little. After all, in her mind, she was quite the catch, wasn't she?

“Only a little~?” The playful streak that she showed so habitually proving that it was at least a mile wide again as her partner promised a little excitement for her, Samantha grinned as she took issue with the specifics of volume in that particular regard, and both shook her head and bit into the glossy lower lip she possessed as she contemplated elevated levels of intrigue both for their venue and perhaps, more devilishly the journey there as well.
“Well, if that's the case, I can always make things more exciting, I suppose~?” The confidence of the coquette only seeming to grow as it seemed her charisma, cool or otherwise, had seemed to be turning this rosy haired rebel into a happy little pet from where she was standing and the woman aiming to test the water because of that, she dipped across and let that same silky set of lips glance across the cheek of the man with the scantest accidental graze as she lurched toward him, and then whispered in his ear in a sinfully seductive tone that would leave neither with any doubt toward her intention for where she guessed her evening would be going. Well, with any luck of course, but then, she doubted she would have made it this far if he hadn't been buying what she had been selling all along, right~?

	Samantha Stephens	### words
	@tag, Going Native

[Bobbie]

As his silence was interrupted by the lady’s questions, Shinsei made a mental note as it seemed that silence was one way to get a blush, however subtle, out of this woman. He supposed it made sense, she seemed like a lady who knew her way around flattery, assuming she got a lot of it – when it wasn’t given to her, she could easily take it herself by bringing it out of her company with gentle coaxing and an intoxicating smile on those pretty lips.

Yet, he found himself at a loss for how to reply, as his lips parted, his smile slightly skewed into a bit of a smirk as he found himself wondering if there was enough room for him by her side with the lady’s ego inhabiting so much space around her. He didn’t mind, however. Confidence was something he admired, whether in a man or a woman, but only in the right amount, as reaching the perfect balance of it to glow the way she did was no easy feat: not the least bit self-conscious, at least not outwardly showing, but not tainted with arrogance.

“What am I staring at?” he echoed her question as his gaze fell upon the blonde once more after the mention of luck was also made. It wasn’t something that he believed in altogether, good or bad. In fact, he abhorred the very notion of some other being or force, however abstract, having some sort of influence on the events that unfold in one’s life. That is not to say that every bad circumstance one found oneself in was brought upon oneself, sadly, he was also compelled to believe that control over one’s life may not entirely be in our own hands. Sometimes other people, third parties… meddle.

“Is that what you consider yourself, a stroke of luck?” he turned the question to her with a soft snicker, “I don’t think that does either of us justice, if you ask me.”

The cyborg had been lost in his own thoughts, that he didn’t see his company make her sudden movement toward him, her cheek moving over his shoulder and dangerously close to his own warm one with her lips brushing against his skin so softly. His skin, synthetic as it was, was warm to the touch due to the hot nicotine that ran through his veins, which somehow still allowed for some colour to gather around his cheeks as he returned a blush that matched her own only moments ago.

Her whisper sent a light shiver down his spine as the woman played him like a fiddle with ease and he had no choice but to give in to her gesture as his body seemed to react against his own commands. For just a brief moment, his heart fluttered and his knees felt weak, which were promptly locked as he came to a halt in his tracks along with the whispering succubus. Oh, she’s good… he thought to himself, his attention barely focussed on her actual words but more on her actions. While he suppressed and successfully silenced a hum, the increased tension in his jaw in order to do so couldn’t be prevented, but would it really matter if she noticed it or not? She clearly had a gift for playing with her food, and as he’d already admitted to himself, she was very good at it too.

As her words registered in his mind, he coiled his arm around her waist and nudged his new princess to be directly in front of him, nose to nose. Leaning forward over her and tilting the lady into a slight backward arch, as if they were dancing – perhaps complementing the verbal dance the two seem to have been engaged in for the night thus far, yet another cheeky smile appeared on his face before he prodded her for more. “And how exactly do you plan to do that, hm?”

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[Jess]

Let's make some history together, eh~?

“You tell me…?” The brow of the blonde arching on one side as Shinsei seemed to return her question toward her, Miss Stephens wondered if he was trying to bait her into some bout of self-description or explanation about her, and while it was tempting to toy with the idea of using some rather colourful wording as a result, right now she felt more curious to know how he saw her over anything else.
“Don't they say a beauty lays with the eye of the beholder~?” Batting her lashes softly as she seemed to insist that he lead this verbal charge when it came to scrutiny of herself, the fair fox wondered just what it was about her that he felt drawn to or appeared most prominent in his perception of her, either visually or otherwise, and so provided ample opportunity and poetic reason as she mangled an old cliché to suit her purpose. Entirely intentionally on her part, of course.

“I'm a mix of good breeding and bad habits, luck has little to do with it~” Finding a smile and shaking her head when next he seemed to offer a sly compliment about how simple but fickle fortune was far less than either deserved, the lips of the lady curled upward as she hinted at the none too inconsequential station from which she had come and then tempered such renown with her taste for something a bit more down to earth, though was happy to confirm and highlight how she felt that her esteem had little to do with flukes and windfalls.
“Though it can certainly prove useful to those who might want to find themselves in my company~?” Happy to hint at the positivity and providence that fickle chance might have been able to provide the odd soul here and there when it came to matters of her companionship however, she reaffirmed the idea that fate or something similar might just have been with the red rogue tonight given the favour he had attained, and licked her lips a little as she did so as well.

“My, my, don't you know the screenwriters addage~?” Easing her way back from her wicked whisper after leaving naught more than a hot trail of breath on the nap of Shinsei's neck but little else there or anywhere, even a woman with this kind of confidence couldn't help but feel her body stiffen and chest rise as she gasped at being taken into his arms, but the smile she wore afterward and the way in which she seemed to settle and purr in response told him that this bold bombshell was more than comfortable in his hold.
“Show, don't tell~?” The pulse of the 'princess' seeming to pick up and her breath deepening as she basked in this new circumstance but nothing about the assertive act giving her cause for alarm, the opposite in fact, Miss Stephens lifted her hands and lay each of her hands on and over those broad and firm shoulders and then began to caress his hair and scalp softly with her fingertips, and took to drawing shapes across that canvas with her nails as she waited to see which of them might 'bite' first. I mean, she was tempted to 'show' right off the bat, but thus far it had been no small excitement helping him to earn his rewards, hadn't it?

	Samantha Stephens	### words
	@tag, Going Native

[Bobbie]

The brazen beauty’s reluctance to respond to his question as she filled the gap with little more than a clichéd prompt brought an amused smile to Shinsei’s face as he parted his lips to lick the corner of his mouth, considering what his own response shall be, in silence.

It wasn’t until moments later that he would reply to her first comment with a direct link to the next one that came from her – “I can definitely see the effects of good breeding here.” He said, but bit his tongue before it would rattle any further. Perhaps commenting on any bad habits at such an early stage would be too dangerous. After all, he was enjoying her company so much, he wouldn’t want to do anything to compromise that, although despite staying his tongue, a subtle glance to the side and a little curl of his lips was enough to reveal that his thoughts had gone further than his words. Nevertheless, he moved on.

“It could prove useful to such individuals…” he paused, the woman now held firmly in his arms after his swift manoeuvre. “If it were any part of the deciding factor as to who you choose to dedicate your time to, how much of it you give up, and just how you plan to make use of it. Yet, somehow, I am under the impression that most of that, if not all of it, is entirely up to you and not some magical force in the air that has the power to drive us into the ground or make us fly.” His words were spoken with intent as it seems that the topic of their conversation was one with the potential to strike a nerve within this man. That said, he was able to direct it well, as it was presented in a very playful manner, rather than a bitter one.

His gaze remained fixed on the woman as he witnessed her chest rise at his grasp, her arms now securely wrapped around him in response, draped so elegantly over his shoulders for her fingers to tease at his hair. Seeing her react to him was intoxicating. For the second time, his heart fluttered in a way that he hadn’t felt since returning in his new body, in a way that he wasn’t sure was even possible. This temptress had a certain air to her that made her different to the others, one that seemed to elicit reactions from his partly mechanised body that even he had yet to discover the secret key to controlling. 

She seemed very comfortable in his arms, it was as if this was where she was meant to be. Perhaps she planned for it or predicted that this was where the night would take them, which was not something he could complain about. Quite frankly, she fit so perfectly in his arms as he held her there that he wasn’t quite ready to bring the beautiful scene and their closeness to an end just yet.

“What I’m staring at…” he finally began his reply to her very first question. “Is a bold and dangerous woman with the power to entice any average man to twist himself around her delicate little finger. But I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for tonight.” He softened his tone as he leaned closer until their lips would brush against each other’s for the briefest of moments. “If you want to know what has me so drawn into your web, my sweet divine mistress, you’re going to have to push harder than that.” It seemed that they both shared a similar thought - giving up answers and solutions so quickly would be tragic, the night still so young for so many possibilities. A deep hum rumbled in Shinsei’s throat, his lips gently lingering over hers, longingly, for a moment before he’d finally straighten and pull her with him, but didn’t force any distance between them yet. “And I think that is an art you excel at, quite beautifully.”

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[Jess]

Let's make some history together, eh~?

“Oooof, I bet somewhere my mother is smiling at a statement like that~” Unable to restrain much of the delight that she felt in the redhead's acknowledgement of her 'breeding', Miss Stephens found the corners of her mouth curling upward in a bright smile at the implication of his appreciation for her which was presented therein, though had the humility at least to acknowledge those who were responsible for the splendour with which she presented herself. After all, her matriarch was a beautiful woman, wasn't she?

“Teeheehee, you don't believe in luck, Shinsei~?” Wrinkling her nose a little when it seemed that the man seemed to be a little reluctant to admit how much of a role the fickle tides of fortune had played in their current circumstance, while samantha was far from the sort to let chance play too heavy a hand in her life she did appreciate the gifts and excitements it could provide, and as such seemed a little intrigued by that rejection.
“Come now. There's nothing wrong with letting that magic in the air do the work once in a while, right~?” Left to wonder whether there was a deeper reason for it or simpy a desire to define one's own destiny in him as a result, she giggled girlishly and poked softly at the issue as she searched those eyes, and wondered what lay beneath the roguish charm that settled on his surface as she did so.

“To wrap you around my little finger~?” Smirking once more as he finally offered up a rather colourful and not entirely inaccurate summation of who he was looking at, the vision of the vixen narrowed as she questioned his assumption about her intent here, and shook her head as she did so as well.
“Well, it might be nice, but I suppose I wouldn't wish to stifle your own feeling of liberty either~?” Never the type who didn't seem to enjoy seeing the right man squirm like a worm on her hook but on the whole preferring to keep closer connections on a more even keel, the blonde bobbed her brows as she admitted this fact, and offered an insight into what she truly sought. Someone who felt equal to her. Someone who felt worthy of her.

“What… Makes you think I don't already know, hm~?” All the while their embrace only becoming more intimate as she let those fingers fall and wrap around Shinsei's collar with just enough firmness in her grasp to tell him he would not be backing all that far away until she allowed it, the tone of the temptress settled into an almost hissing whisper as she shared a few sweet nothings with him, and felt the dryness in her throat growing with every moment of the warmth building up between them.
“Women like myself… tend to excel… in many arts~?” Knowing as she smelled the scent of his cigarette on his breath that there would be but one thing to quench that thirst as well, each lilting intake of air drew her closer and closer to the prize she sought, until Miss Stephens was finally able to wrap her pert and pillowy pout around his bottom lip to suckle on it, and send any doubt about her intent here flying right out of the window as she did so…

	Samantha Stephens	### words
	@tag, Going Native

[Bobbie]

Shinsei’s eyes narrowed slightly as she questioned his belief in luck or ‘magic in the air’ as she called it. His eyes had a little knowing twinkle in them as he made no attempt to avert her gaze, though his mind was drifting off onto other things, other happenings that perhaps have led him to not only reject luck, but detest the very notion of it. If luck were ever a physical thing before him, he would rather stomp it into the ground than allow it to flourish – for himself or anyone.

“Lady Fortune must be a very wicked witch who would do best to avoid crossing my path.” He replied, a hint of sadness and anger in his tone. “If she were real. I would rather be in the company of this lady right here than such an elusive, tantalising figure, anyway.” He chuckled, then offered a light shrug, one that he made sure would have no real impact on the woman’s arms draped over his shoulders. “No, I don’t believe in luck. I prefer to give credit to whom it’s due, whether they are willing to accept it or not.” He uttered, before his smile grew, “Whether I care to admit it or not, perhaps I should be thanking the old geezer at the bar who threw a tantrum because of my cigarette – I’m not so sure my red hair and stunning good looks alone would have been enough to catch the eye of a woman of such fine taste.” In a heartbeat, Shinsei’s words returned their light-hearted tone.

As the woman’s fingers were soon grasping at his collar, he could feel the gentle tug at the fabric as it was quite clear that their closeness was something that she quite enjoyed. He did as well.

“Where would be the fun in that, anyway?” he almost snarled in response to her mention of stifling his feeling of liberty, finding it rather amusing that she referred to it as only a feeling rather than any actual liberty. In a sense, that would be quite correct. Whether it was by chains or heartstrings, it very much seemed to be the case that once somebody falls into the reach of this woman, crawling out of her clutches would be no easy task, and here he stood in that very predicament. “Well…” he began to say his next sentence, but his words trailed off into silence as her lips grew closer and closer to his, until he could finally feel them pressed together.

Quite happily returning the gesture, he held the woman by the waist, as the two seemed to exchange the intimate moment that they had both been longing for, their game of cat-and-mouse coming to a swift end as she snatched her prize and he so readily gave it. He had to admit, he was beginning to wonder if he would last until they reached their destination before this exact thing happened.

As his thoughts quietened and the world slowly faded back into existence, he finally parted their lips, speechless. Oof is right… his subconscious mirrored her previous sentiment, applying it to the notion of his breath being taken away by the vixen stood before him, his hands perched caringly at her hips. His hands. Of course, he didn’t want to show this to a woman who maintained such a cool and calm façade all this time – and he felt that he was doing so rather successfully as well – but it was difficult to steady his heart rate at this point. Had he believed in luck, he would be counting his lucky stars right now, just for falling into the company of a woman so attractive in every sense of the word, inside and out. Yet, still... luck had nothing to do with this encounter.

“How many more of such ‘arts’ will I be in awe of by the end of the night, I wonder?” his thought made verbal, he gently urged her to keep walking with her, eager to offer her something cosier and perhaps more intimate as well as fun than standing in the middle of a road.

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[Jess]

Let's make some history together, eh~?

“Humble, eh? Many men might want for not one but two wicked women to hold onto~?” Arching her brow at the sense of dedication that he showed toward her, while Samantha was certainly flattered by comments about her red-headed rogue wanting to focus his attention on her, she couldn't help but tease at the fact that she feels herself far naughtier than any fickle fox of fortune. After all, it was practically something that she prided herself on by this point, wasn't it?
“You think~? They seemed enough for me to take an interest, at least~?” Narrowing her gaze as he mentioned the silly little notion that she might not have paid much attention to him if not for the disagreement in the bar which had seemed to set him apart from the pack, while the blonde belle certainly couldn't deny that this deed earned at least some of her intrigue as she had been keen on finding out what all the fuss was about, she also felt that with that bearing he might have won a nugget of her attention all the same when given half a chance. Contrary to what she might have confessed in the moment, she had already found him drawing her eye before the conflicted had occurred, hadn't he?

Like candy… From a baby~ This a matter which was left for speculation as she showed just how broad her own streak of wickedness seemed to be by standing on no ceremony when it came to their first kiss, Miss Stephens felt herself shiver as she seized his lips, and then felt the surrender which followed as well, and proved she had lost none of her touch. Good gor the ego. It not seeming to take all that long before she too let the world slip away from her as well, all too quickly the satisfaction in her seduction was overpowered by a softness and spice in a kiss that carried the taste of the cigarette she had been smoking, and felt no less rewarding for that fact either.

“Teeheeheehee…” Giggling when the magical moment ebbed away in an aftermath which occurred no short amount of time later, the fair fox couldn't help but leave her digits entwined delicately in the mane of the man she had stolen away, and for a moment of breathy relief was left in near silence as she chuckled and tried to rouse the conversational portion of her brain. This, admittedly, was a tricky task after such sublime sweetness. Instead only able to pant and lick her lips as he questions the breadth of her 'artistry', she shook her head once her mind finally caught up with the moment, and smiled before beginning to tug him back into motion.

“Be a good boy, and maybe you'll be lucky enough to find out~?” Beaming like the cat that got the cream all the while, Samantha led them on their way once more not because she didn't want to indulge further intimacy but rather the opposite, in fact! After all, unsure of how far they might make it if she didn’t steel herself right now, the flaxen femme could well see her evening growing very short and night very long if she let herself, and frankly, even she had to draw a line of decency somewhere, right?

	Samantha Stephens	### words
	@tag, Going Native

[Bobbie]

“Two?” he laughed, though he couldn’t outright say that wouldn’t interest him. Quite the contrary, perhaps he might fall into that greedy category himself, but it would definitely depend on who those two women would be, and lady luck was certainly not one that he would be interested in making acquaintance with. “I don’t know about that, it would depend on how captivating each one of the pair. You are one that I would like to dedicate every part of me to without having to divide my attention.” He explained with a light chuckle and a shake of his head.

He considered what she suggested about him being enough to capture this woman’s interest as he was pulled to carry on in their journey. It made him smile a little bit, somewhat surprised to hear that – was he really such a curious character? He didn’t consider himself all that intriguing, although he’d admit to being fairly charismatic with men and women alike.

Another chuckle escaped him in response to the prospect of being given the chance to find out quite drawn in out of curiosity if nothing else, but he said nothing.

As they walked on for a few more minutes, lanterns illuminated an area ahead of them, the flickering flames giving a rustic look to the establishment ahead of them – this was it. Rider’s Tavern. Shinsei didn’t fancy coming here very often, but he had a feeling it would suit the lady’s desire for adventure very well. The music that was playing from within was loud and would reach the pair’s ears well before they’d make it to the entrance.

Reaching the entrance with his company, Shinsei offered a quick glance around to be met with a much livelier atmosphere than their last location. People were chattering, laughing, and enjoying a good time with their company and their music. There was a wide variety of all sorts of people within these walls, burly men, timid-looking ones, large women, petite women, tall, short, it was very much like a hotpot of many different cultures, brought under the same roof with the united purpose of having a good time.

“Much better?” he prompted Samantha as he gently pulled her inside with him, weaving through the crowd of seated and standing patrons, many of the latter flailing their arms dangerously as they danced and stomped their feet to an upbeat mariner’s tune.

---

Shinsei: #ba0303

[Jess]

Let's make some history together, eh~?

“My, my, who would have known that you'd be such a romantic, hm~?” Arching her brow as the praise of her partner seemed to continue, while she's certainly touched by his comments about unwavering dedication and his apparent eye for no one else at this point, Miss Stephens was surprised by the sheer degree of his crooning. Though, not all that unpleasantly, even if she wasn't all that good at admitting it. At least not with her usual degree of direction, that was.
“And there I was thinking you were just a bad boy with an eye for a pretty skirt~?” Instead allowing subtler gestures to do the talking for her in this confessional regard, the dash of glowing warmth which she showed along with her smile demonstrates her enjoyment, as did the manner in which her grip on his arm tightened as well, and certainly by this stage did she have to compliment her own 'eye' for talent as well. Did she know how to pic them, or what?

It not seeming that all that much time would pass after this before she had the opportunity to take in their destination either, Samantha was left to look around at the rowdy atmosphere and finds her smile widening as she felt that energy and enthusiasm suffusing her as a result, and marvelled all the while as she watched folk singing and dancing and otherwise making merry in every manner she had hoped for. Apparently she wasn't the only one here with good taste, was she?
“Now this… This is more like it~?” DESPITE THAT Acknowledgement the blonde finding her grip ebbing away as she looked at such a scintillating scene, but soon able to replace it with something equally intimate, the flaxen fox slid her a hand downward to interlock her fingers with the man at her side, and then beamed blissfully toward him before she stepped into the welcoming warmth that waited for the pair.

“Well, no point standing on ceremony, is there~?” Wasting no time as she did so either though as she glanced between the bar and the dancefloor, the choice seemed obvious even if she did feel a little thirsty after the walk and more that she had 'endured', and so Miss Stephens began to try and tug her guide toward the latter option. After all, she was just bursting with energy and enthusiasm after that kiss, and curiousity as well now that she saw what had been waiting for her.
“Time to see what my new man is made of, hm~?” Keen on seeing what Shinsei could do and the lively music getting the better of her in fact, it wasn't long before the blonde was practically skipping as she made a move toward the figures which were waltzing and whizzing around this open and animated locale, and before long she biting her bottom lip as well as she readies herself for the tempo by bobbing up and down slowly, and waiting for shinsei for her partner join her…

	Samantha Stephens	### words
	@tag, Going Native

[Bobbie]

Shinsei smiled at being called a romantic. He had never considered himself one, really, but he had never considered himself much of a ‘bad boy with an eye for a pretty skirt’ either. It was hard to believe that he was such a family man so many years ago, and now, here he was, chatting up a beautiful blonde woman and she him, both in search of a good time, however temporary.

“Why can’t I be both?” he asked as he glanced down at her, before any conversation became increasingly difficult over the loud music as the pair stood at the entrance to this new bar. He chuckled lightly, seeing how drawn in she was. Yes, this is clearly more her style. A bit too rowdy for him, but he could make an exception and the music was quite enjoyable anyway. While he wouldn’t come here on his own, being with a companion was a different matter entirely.

Unlike that of the bold woman, the cyborg’s gaze went to the bar first, but he promptly felt a tug on his arm that pulled him in the other direction – the dance floor. No drink first? He wondered to himself and considered expressing that vocally, but she was clearly very keen on moving her body to the rhythm as she was already bobbing and swaying, and he just didn't have it in him to deny her that.

“Alright, alright-“ he started, but right at that moment, the mariner’s melody reached its end and a new tune began playing, taking a more Irish turn. In an instant, Shinsei recognised it and he put up a bit more resistance to her pull for just a moment, “Oh no.” he complained as he ran his free hand through his hair and let out a loud laugh. He couldn’t believe his luck – it was an old Irish song that he had heard countless sailors and pirates sing along to and dance to as well. On many occasions in his former life he was dragged in and made to join in on their little jig, as the whole crew made merry.

He looked away from Samantha to watch the other drinkers at the bar, those at the counter slamming open palms and fists alike on the wooden board in rhythm with the song as it was just starting, others stomping their feet, and the more liberal ones not restricted to their seats were already hopping and linking arms with their partners.

A tad bit embarrassed to be so well acquainted with the dance, he turned to Samantha again, a smile on his face. “Okay, you’re asking for it, sweetheart.” It was a dance routine that stuck with him and he knew it like the back of his hand. Loosening up, he began tapping his foot and swaying his shoulders with the beat, “Just follow my lead… and try to keep up.” He teased with a wink, his smile becoming a playful smirk as he had no doubt that she could do so easily. As the song progressed and became more lively, the whole crowd cheered and began an Irish step dance. His hands behind his back and his eyes fixed on her, Shinsei was also hopping on his right foot first, while his left kicked out to his side twice, then shifted his weight onto his left foot and did the same with his right. "Come on!" he urged her to do the same, shouting over the loud music. A few steps later and his hands were swung out from behind his back and brought in front of him in a loud clap that initiated a few swift sidesteps that manoeuvred perfectly around the other dancers without a single collision. As he came back, he decided to take her hands and pull her with him to repeat the same move, a couple more steps and kicks in between.

His body moved automatically and his steps required little thought, which allowed him to focus entirely on his company. The little glint in his eyes betrayed his thoughts as it revealed a spark of happiness and enjoyment that hadn’t been present in them for a long time.

The tempo of the song slowed down as the crowd began to lose some energy and thinned out a little bit, some individuals returning to the bar to refresh their dry mouths. Pulling Samantha close to him as they had been in the road before reaching their destination, the redhead took advantage of the more mellow riff in this section of the song to throw in a few words. “This lively enough for you?” he stole a brief kiss and gently pushed her back to create some distance between them before she could answer his question or respond to his show of affection. Pulling her toward him once more, he spun her into a pirouette until he let go of her hand once she was steady and the routine started once more as the music sped up in rhythm again.

This time, however, there was a new distraction at one corner of the bar, as some patrons fell into a disagreement. Shinsei glanced in that direction, but had no intention of getting involved – the music was still playing and people were still dancing.

---

Shinsei: #ba0303