Planning the Hunt

[Nox]

"I can check your crossbow. I don't know if the other bouncers are trained in weapons other than guns. They weren't chosen for their military or hunting abilities." Nox chuckled. He'd chosen Adrian because of his ability to channel. Same with Bruno and most of the others. The ones before he took on security were typical bouncers. "Was my preferred ranged weapon of choice before the power became my goto."

The mention of the weapons though made Nox's smile fade just a little. "Hopefully Hayden can help with some of those feelings. And I'm sure he wouldn't mind meditating." Nox chuckled. "Even if he says he's not a therapist, he makes you think and work. But we can't wait too long. I'm fraying at the edges and have to take care of my own demons. But this is more important and fits the mood. Sterling's parents can take Marta home when they take her.
But she's here most of the day so I don't expect it to take more than a couple hours. You should be good by lunch."

[Elyse]

Elyse nodded. Marta would be fine. The calming of emotions was important though, because it was now that they began to bubble up. The plan was done, but she was feeling like she was going to cry. She had to calm down if for no other reason than to not give anything away to her father.

Her weapons were taken care of. If Nox said he was good with it, he was, and ultimately I’d he broke her baby, she’d beat him up. She wouldn’t really - but it was a thought that kept her emotions in check for a little. If Nox wasn’t fighting his own demons right now, a spar might have done the same as mediation. It was the physical activity that was important in this.

”Don’t care what Hayden says. He is a therapist - just an unlicensed one,” she gave Nox a smirk. ”I really appreciate you sending him to me. It helped a lot,” she sighed. ”okay so we get Hayden to calm me down, and then get this all under way then I guess?”

[Nox]

[color=#0072bb"]"And unconventional. Sex doesn't usually factor into therapy but it seems to be part of his MO."[/color] Nox pulled his hands together and the software closed.

"You want to call Hayden or do you want me to?"

”I can”

Nox nodded. "2 Hours you be at the cafe?"

"Sounds good”

"I have to bathe a baby, feed her and get the rest together. You meditate and maybe take Hayden for coffee." Nox didn't wait for Elyse to acknowledge anything he went to his room to do what needed to do. His focus was on Lily and that would carry him through everything. He could only hope the horde behaved, it itched inside his head.

[Elyse]

Well, Elyse felt less nervous about Nox possibly knowing that she had sex with Hayden. It seemed certain he had known, guessed, or encouraged it. Then again, Elyse knew that, but it was nice to hear that he didn't mind so much if it did happen.

Elyse went upstairs to check on Marta. She was still sound asleep, as was Splash. That was odd. She wrote a note for Marta saying she would be gone for a bit, and that she should stay here or at Kallisti (if she went with the group. Marta would follow that. She also gave Marta instructions to ask Sterling for a ride home if she wasn’t back in time. Marta knew her procedures; this was mostly just a reminder.

She left the room and pulled out her wallet to call Hayden. When he answered, she spoke. ”Hey…I need you - right now. Kind of important. Can I come over?”

[Hayden]

The bar was coming along well. It wasn't completely done yet, but he'd be serving soon. It helped he could throw whatever money he wanted at it. His dad was all for setting up a safe house in Moscow. Something with the Sebastian name. It made sense he said. Hayden's wallet rang and Elyse wanted to come over.

"Anytime. You can come over without calling. I'm sure you'll know when I'm not here. My mark lives with you. And unless he's on an Atharim job I don't have to keep a close eye on him."

Hayden made mimosas while he waited for Elyse to show up. If he were home she'd be here quickly, it wasn't more than a few blocks. He offered her the fluted glass when she walked in the door. "What do you need? Nox bug you too much already?" It was a joke. He doubted it had anything to do with Nox.

[Elyse]

Elyse headed over. He said she didn’t need to call, but she liked to. It felt polite and he had delicious drinks ready for when she got there. She took the mimosa. And took a sip, but she didn’t sit down. She had too much nervous energy. It had been kept in place when they were planning, but now everything was coming at her at once.

As soon as she started talking, everything came out at once. ”Nox is back and my father is in town, so naturally it’s all going down today. And Nox wants my help to draw him out of HQ, and I said yes and now all my emotions are going at a million miles an hour. I have two hours and I need to calm down or otherwise my father will know something is up. I’m upset because he killed mom and upset that he’s going to be killed and I don’t know what to think and I’m freaking out and I need to calm down and I don’t know how. This week has sucked so much and it’s all happening so fast - so much faster than I thought.” Elyse had been pacing nervously throughout the whole speech and she hadn’t stopped to breathe. Her pulse was rapid and her breathing quick as she sat down, realizing that at least getting all of it out had helped.

[Hayden]

Hayden chuckled. "Do you want to talk about it? Drinking until you are numb doesn't sounds like a good idea. I can think of something to distract your brain. Two hours seems like a decent amount of time to do two out of three. Drinking not being an option."

[Elyse]

The venting of all the thoughts in her head helped clear it a little. She was still overwhelmed, but not to the point of confusion. Hayden chuckled at her and she agreed. Getting drunk was not a good idea. She didn’t really get drunk much anyways. Maybe tonight. She might need that later. Hayden offered a talk and distraction. But she need the distraction first to clear her head.

She laughed at the way he said it though. Hayden was certainly good at wading through the bullshit and getting to where things needed to be. Elyse stood up and approached him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She hadn’t put her contacts in yet, but she had them in her bag to switch to before she went to the cafe, but she didn’t like to hide and here she wouldn’t.

She looks at him, gold eyes bright. ”Distraction first. Talk later,” she pressed her lips into his again, bringing her body closer to his. ”I need you to distract me. Not gently. Take control. I can’t think about this. Take me.”

[Hayden]

"Yes ma'am." Hayden agreed as he lifter her drink from her grasp and set it down. He lifted her from the ground and carried her downstairs to the closest bed. The place was still new to him and he hadn't walked it like this yet and stumbled a couple of times and kicked the side table before safely depositing Elyse on the bed.

The safe house room was nothing special, it was clean and comfortable with its own little kitchenette. Something Nox would actually cook at, he'd inspired him to make sure they all had a place to cook. A small wardrobe was against the wall with an embedded safe in the wall behind it for saftey of whatever weapons or riches the Atharim thought they needed to keep safe.

The walls were painted a dark green with splashes of forest themed items scattered through the room. It wasn't nature, just a well designed theme he paid someone to do. Calming and relaxing, perfect for what the goal of this foray was.

Hayden listened to what Elyse had asked for except he was gentle. Every touch, every nibble against her ear or neck. He ravished her with affections and attention giving her what she needed and not what she wanted. His control was gentle. A nudge here, a nip there. His hands coaxing her to where he wanted her.

This was more than just a distraction. It was a reminder that even in the darkest of hours, there were people there for her, and those who wanted to help and take care of her.

[Elyse]

Elyse laughed as he picked her up and even as he stumbled through the building she wasn’t afraid. She felt safe. He wouldn’t drop her or hurt her in anyway. He brought her to a room designed to be calming and set her down on the bed.

Hayden was gentle with her despite her request to the contrary, but she didn’t object. Hayden had read what she needed, not what she wanted and as he kissed and nipped at her, she felt something move within her. All through this week, despite friends surrounding her at Kallisti or the house, she had felt so very alone. As she thought of nothing but her family disappearing into nothingness - of her being the only one left, she had felt the loneliness creeping in. Right now, she didn’t feel that and that’s what she needed from this.

Elyse followed his lead, letting him guide her hands, moaning as he hit the right spots. He remembered that spot in her neck that he had found the last time the were together. She began to mimic whenever she had the opportunity, returning his affections by moving her hands across his body with his guidance and offering her own kisses and nibbles when she had the opportunity and even though he was in control, she wasn’t tentative. She wanted to take clothes off - of both of them - but she was trusting him to guide her.