notfaking_it | (no subject)

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kaine

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It isn't so late that the streets are empty, everyone at home and tucked into bed, but it's late enough. The bars are still open, restaurant patios occasionally overflowing with people who, like Lily, aren't yet ready to go home. She's had a few drinks, danced for an hour or so at a club and now she isn't sure what she's looking for. No one in the club held her interest long enough to make her want to invite them home.

She's entertaining going to visit someone, maybe Eames, maybe one of the new friends she's made since her arrival here, but for the moment she stands on the sidewalk, indecisive.

The city's getting under her skin in a way the island never could. It's not New York, but she belongs here more than she ever did there. Even so she can't make herself forget the people left behind, she can't stop thinking about the way they made her feel, the things they did for her. She can't stop thinking about Sawyer and Faye and Jeff. She can't stop thinking about Nina and it's killing her.

"Hey," she says suddenly, turning to a passing stranger. "What time is it?"

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"And as long as you're not bored, I'd say that's a good thing. I guess something like that can work, too, since money magically appears in our bank accounts every month," she says. It's enough that someone who knew how to budget could probably get by without having to work, but she's definitely not that person. Lily likes having spending money, she likes being able to go out and she likes being able to buy whatever she wants.

"I've met a few people who aren't working at all," she says. "Which, if it works for them, is great. I just like having the extra cash."

"You wouldn't dance if they didn't pay you?"

That seems to run contrary to the very little I know about dancing at that level. Isn't it one of those things you're supposed to do because you love it? I imagine that for someone who loves to dance, having money put in to your account so that you can survive without working much would seem like a godsend.

"I would dance no matter what," Lily answers. She spent more than a year on that island and she danced every single day, even if there was no audience and no company. "Being paid for it is just a perk that I've gotten used to after all these years."

Thinking about it, she grins again and adds, "Besides, I have no idea what else I'd do for work if it came down to that. I'd be extra happy about that cash coming into my account then."

"Probably anything where you interact with people. You're very... personable."

I suppose that 'enchanting' would be a more accurate word, but it sounded rather stupid to me considering I know people that can do magic. Unless she could also do magic. Again, I'm pretty sure I'm over thinking this shit but in my world, pretty girls who take an interest in me are usually trouble.

"I do like people," Lily agrees with a smile, taking another bite of her nachos as she thinks about that. It's part of what she thinks makes her a good dancer, though, her ability to connect to the other dancers, the audience, the people who surround her. "All sorts of people."

This last part she says as she looks at Kaine again, her smile taking on a vaguely suggestive air.

I quickly take another drink of my beer after the look she gives me. I'm not the best at reading people, but it seemed a bit suggestive and I don't know exactly what to do with that. My body is definitely hoping I take it one way while my mind isn't so sure that's a good idea.

"Are you implying I'm a 'sort of person' that most people might not like?" I ask, leveling a wing at her in accusation. It's true, I am, but that doesn't mean I can't give her shit about it.

"Oh, yeah, that's exactly what I mean," Lily answers, obviously teasing as she laughs and sits up straighter in the booth. "Handsome, willing to have a drink in a bar with a near stranger, able to carry on an interesting conversation. It all adds up to something sort of terrible, doesn't it? I mean, you're lucky I'm still sitting here with you."

"Handsome?"

That was new. I mean, I knew Peter didn't have much trouble attracting the ladies but I'd never really considered what that meant for me. General reactions to my previous appearance were that of horror and disgust. Apparently I was handsome now.

"Uh, I mean, if this is what passes for interesting conversation you should up your standards. I'm pretty boring."

"Oh, come on," Lily says, waving her hand before she takes a sip of her beer. "I mean, I appreciate the modesty on you, you're one of the few it seems like it's working for, but just take the compliment." And everyone, as far as she's concerned, has their own ways to be interesting. Everyone has a story and Lily likes knowing them. She likes learning about people and it isn't always about discovering ways to manipulate them.

"Besides, everyone is interesting in their own way," she says.

"I didn't get out much before coming here."

Not entirely true, but these sort of social situations are completely new to me. I figure I'm doing a lot better than I would have thought in a situation like this. I have a feeling that has more to do with her than it does with me.

"But thanks for the compliment. You're very beautiful. And interesting. A nice. Shit I'm terrible at this. I need a lot more alcohol."

"Well, we are in a bar. I'm sure that can be arranged," Lily says, hooking her hair behind her ear before she gets up from the booth and makes her way over to the bar. The bartender serves her quickly -- she gets served before a few other people who were there first, but she tips him well as a thank you -- and she returns to the table a few moments later with two more drinks.

"Here," she says. "Now you're both getting out a little more and you have more alcohol. Not a lot more, but it's a start, right?"

I can't help but watch as she goes up to the bar. It's easy to see now that she's a dancer by the way that she moves. It's mesmerizing and more than a little arousing if I'm honest with myself. I'm not quite sure if I want to be honest with myself or not about that. I'm not sure if I have a choice.

"Well, now that I know what kind of things can happen when I get out more I won't be such a shut in," I sat. Pausing a moment I add. "When we're done here want to see something interesting?"

Lily takes a pull of her beer, looking at Kaine with interest before she puts it down on the table and nods. "Absolutely," she says, intrigued by whatever it is he wants to show her. "Can I ask what it is or is it better if it's a surprise?"

She likes surprises, likes people who are going to surprise her even more. The unexpected is part of what she lives for, those moments when when the world doesn't quite go as planned and although sometimes it means ending up on an island or in a city she can't leave, there are parts of these experiences that she'd never give up.

"You can ask, but I'm not going to tell you."

I hope that's not as creepy sounding as I think it might. I've quickly learned that a lot of the stuff I say comes across a bit like a stalker. Either I'm getting better at it or Lily is not as wary as she should be. Good thing for her I'm not some sort of psychopath. At least not anymore.

"Alright, then I won't ask," Lily decides, but she's still watching Kaine with interest, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she tries to figure out what it might be. In a city here, with so many options, though, it could be almost anything. That's sort of the appeal, she thinks.

"But you better finish that beer quickly," she adds, her smile finally widening. "Because I'm not very patient."

It only takes me a moment to finish the rest of the beer. It's not that I'm eager to get her to this place, but I've gone through all this work to be social and I'd hate for her to run off because she's bored.

Okay, she's also hot and nice and I'm having a good time, so there is that. Pulling out my wallet I leave enough money to cover the food and drinks along with a good tip. No sense waiting around for the check to slow us down.

"You ready to go?" I ask, sliding out of the booth.

Lily tips her head back to finish the rest of her beer, then nods, grabbing her purse and jacket. "Absolutely," she says as she slides out of the booth as well, coming around the table to slip her arm through Kaine's. Whatever it is, whatever it turns out to be, she's excited now.

"I told you that you could think of something to do," she points out as they exit the bar, returning to the night air. It's cool enough that she pauses to slip back into her light jacket, pulling her hair out of the collar and letting it fall over her shoulders.

"Guess I just needed the proper motivation," I say, glancing up at the city skyline as I try to find what I need. I'm momentarily distracted though by Lily as she shakes out her hair and leans against me. There's something about the dark eyes and her almost sharp profile that causes my stomach to twist in a knot.

Looking back to the skyline, I find what I'm looking for and nod.

"This way. Not too far."

There's always the possibility that he's taking her somewhere she doesn't want to go, somewhere that might be dangerous, but Lily's always been good at reading people and she doubts that's the case. If he'd wanted to hurt her, there were plenty of opportunities before now. He wouldn't have had to sit with her through two drinks to do something like that.

Still, she smiles, looking at the skyline as well, as if she'll be able to figure out where he's taking her.

"Lead the way," she tells him. The streets are emptier now, fewer lights on in the buildings around them.

While I don't mind silence, I imagine that Lily will strike up some sort of conversation and I'd rather keep the topic focused on her more than me. I can come up with only so many lies before it's obvious that I'm lying.

"So, uh, what ballet are you training for now?"

"Giselle," Lily answers, knowing already she's not going to be the lead. Not this time. She's too new and there are other dancers who've put their time in -- whatever that means in a place like this -- but she suspects it won't be long. The dancers here are hardly on par with the girls in New York, which is cruel of her to think, but doesn't make it any less true.

"And then they'll do The Nutcracker around Christmas, as usual," she says, rolling her eyes a little. "And Romeo and Juliet will end the season."

"Giselle. Of course."

Of course I have no fucking idea what Giselle is. I'll have to look that up because I have a feeling I'll be completely lost trying to understand what's going on just by the dancing.

"Wait, there's a ballet season?" I ask, because that makes me wonder if there are ballet playoffs and a ballet championship.

"Mmhmm," Lily says with a nod. "Some are longer than others, but it's usually three or four different shows during one season. Each show has five or six performances." It's a lot of work to get there, a lot of time spent in the studio, practicing and rehearsal, learning choreography or attending physical therapy, but she loves every moment of it.

She pauses, thinking about it, then says, "I'm too new to be considered for the lead this time. But next time will be different." But dancing Bathilde not long after joining the company is impressive enough and she's happy with it.

"I'll come to Giselle," I say.

I was mostly kidding about not coming if she was a minor part, but even I know that's a shitty thing to do. Besides, I could do worse than watching women like Lilly dance around in skin tight clothing for a few hours.

"What happens when a season is over?"

"You don't have to, I know ballet isn't for everyone. But if you do, let me know, I'll make sure you get a comp ticket." That's something she always prefers to do, especially if someone is seeing the ballet for the first time. She's not about to ask someone to shell out the cash it costs for a decent ticket if they don't even know if they'll like it.

Then she smiles and shrugs. "When the season is over, we start all over again. There's usually general rehearsals for a few weeks while the artistic director picks the shows for the new season. Then there will be auditions and more rehearsals."