11-22-2021, 07:28 PM
It seemed his assertion of a robust ego was not unfounded, because he followed despite the edge of rejection to her invitation. The relative quiet of his company was not unwelcome, and if Natalie had any opinion on the impeccability of his manners she did not remark on it beyond meeting his eye as she slid into the car. The directness of her gaze might have been anything from mockery to a flirtation, bold either way.
Within the town car’s interior was unremarkable luxury. It was the same one that had escorted her from the airfield, probably, though a glance in the driver’s mirror told her it was not the same person behind the wheel, as did the hum of familiarity that drew her senses there in the first place. As Adrian joined her, Natalie's attention turned to watch him with open study. She didn’t hide the curiosity.
“I’m sure you would know better than I where is considered fashionable. This city is still unfamiliar to me. My family have not favoured Moscow in a long time.” If he knew anything of the Northbrooks, he would know why, but he gave every indication of being far too polite to mention her father’s incarceration here. The prompt was intentional, of course. If he hoped for a conduit to her family’s power, he was mistaken in her value. She’d be honest about that.
“I can’t say I have enjoyed Moscow much so far. My first days here were… eventful.” She did not glance at the unblemished skin of her wrists. The scars were erased, but the stains on her memory were permanent. These days Natalie only tipped a shoulder to the lingering of those ghosts, though. They had much company of late, each addition more painful than the last. She laughed low, though it was not a jovial sound, and added. “I could certainly tell you where one does not go for air.”
The engine hummed quietly, and the earnestness of his patience was quite the temptation to exploit. In the shadows her smile was nothing short of flagrant tease. “A wise man would have asked before he got so willingly into my car.” She seemed amused, but did not attempt to hide the directions she presently leaned to make of her driver. The address was rural, somewhere near the river. It would take time to break free of the city’s gridlock. He had plenty of time to ask questions, if he wanted. In the meantime she asked one of her own.
“Have you ever met Nikolai Brandon, Adrian?”
[[ooc note, just fyi, the driver is "Toma", the minder/bodyguard Natalie's mother hired. Toma is Nhysa. I'm not going to post her or anything, but I thought I'd make you aware since a) she's a channeler and b) Nyx and Morpheus were related]]
Within the town car’s interior was unremarkable luxury. It was the same one that had escorted her from the airfield, probably, though a glance in the driver’s mirror told her it was not the same person behind the wheel, as did the hum of familiarity that drew her senses there in the first place. As Adrian joined her, Natalie's attention turned to watch him with open study. She didn’t hide the curiosity.
“I’m sure you would know better than I where is considered fashionable. This city is still unfamiliar to me. My family have not favoured Moscow in a long time.” If he knew anything of the Northbrooks, he would know why, but he gave every indication of being far too polite to mention her father’s incarceration here. The prompt was intentional, of course. If he hoped for a conduit to her family’s power, he was mistaken in her value. She’d be honest about that.
“I can’t say I have enjoyed Moscow much so far. My first days here were… eventful.” She did not glance at the unblemished skin of her wrists. The scars were erased, but the stains on her memory were permanent. These days Natalie only tipped a shoulder to the lingering of those ghosts, though. They had much company of late, each addition more painful than the last. She laughed low, though it was not a jovial sound, and added. “I could certainly tell you where one does not go for air.”
The engine hummed quietly, and the earnestness of his patience was quite the temptation to exploit. In the shadows her smile was nothing short of flagrant tease. “A wise man would have asked before he got so willingly into my car.” She seemed amused, but did not attempt to hide the directions she presently leaned to make of her driver. The address was rural, somewhere near the river. It would take time to break free of the city’s gridlock. He had plenty of time to ask questions, if he wanted. In the meantime she asked one of her own.
“Have you ever met Nikolai Brandon, Adrian?”
[[ooc note, just fyi, the driver is "Toma", the minder/bodyguard Natalie's mother hired. Toma is Nhysa. I'm not going to post her or anything, but I thought I'd make you aware since a) she's a channeler and b) Nyx and Morpheus were related]]