Lunch with a Werewolf -- Not Lon Chaney! (Emerald)

Akshay was barely listening to the movie anymore. He had seen it far too many times to the point that he had it nearly committed to memory. By just listening to it he could see everything that happened on screen within his own mind. He just had that type of attention span for movies, comics, and music. He wondered if maybe that had something to do with his own abilities, but Akshay did not think too long about it. He knew some about his powers, but obviously not all. Maybe one day he’d know if there was a connection.

For now though, he was counting and calculating receipts. As he did so, he heard the sound of the front door to his shop opening but he didn’t bother to look up. He was in the middle of counting, you know.

“Be with you in a second,” he announced as he continued to count receipts.

But as he did so, something just seemed to try to draw his attention. At first it felt like a vibration in the air that he simply could not explain. Whatever it was though, he was having a tough time on his receipts. It was not until it grew closer that he caught the sight of a flash of red out of the corner of his eyes. That was enough to make him lift his gaze.

Breath caught in his throat, he nearly jumped when he noticed that Emerald, the wolf-girl, was actually standing there, at his counter, smirking playfully.

>> “So is this how you prep for all the dates you have with the pretty wolf girls, watch old Wolfman films,”[/color]

“Huh?” he asked a little mindlessly. It took a second but at the sound of a howl from the screen he suddenly remembered what he had been watching. He just grinned a little shrugged his shoulders a bit playfully. “Oh, heh, well, you’d be surprised how helpful the strategy is. Unleashing the primal animal within, and all that jazz.”

Cheesy, he knew that, but it was enough to put a smile on their faces. And it proved as enough of a distraction give him a chance to let it sink in that Emerald had actually shone up. He hadn’t been stood up after all and that was sincerely the best news. A weight lifted from his shoulders and he smirked as he watched the redheaded beauty.

>> “So, still up for that date?”

“Yeah. I mean, of course!” He beamed like a child on Christmas morning. “Just, um, let me grab a couple things.”

Slipping out from behind the counter, Akshay walked backward briefly, watching her momentarily as he was still surprised that she was here. Once he reached the door to the offices, Akshay, while still watching Emerald, attempted to walk through but apparently forgot to turn the knob. SLAM! He the door pretty hard but turned his wince into a not very well masked stretch. Yes, he meant to do that all along. Ahem.

“Sorry, sorry! Be right back!” he said as he did actually UNOPEN the door and slip inside.

Akshay was gone for only maybe five minutes before he finally reappeared. He was dressed rather simply but still nice enough for a casual date, or at least so he hoped. He finished buttoning up his gray sweater over his green t-shirt and smoothed out his jeans. As he did so he adjusted an orange and black backpack over his shoulder and carried a smooth, black motorcycle helmet small, orange LED lights and looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. But it went well with his silver ducati he had parked outside.

He only smirked as he pulled his backpack in front of him and pulled out a single, green rose. A little awkwardly he walked up to her and held it out.

“I’m, heh, glad you showed. Little flower here would have probably wilted otherwise,” he said with a smile.

The rose was held out and just as soon as Emerald caught sight of, Akshay was that familiar blush again. He just grinned wide as he saw her expression. To know that he caught that wolf-girl off her guard again, with a smile that was so wide he was sure that he was sure it was going to hurt her in the morning, it just made him feel a tad bit giddy. Yes, he was a dork, yes he was rather nerdy, and sure, he wasn’t the best looking guy in the world, but it made him feel good to know that he could do things that a woman of her caliber could enjoy.

And it was obvious that he was not classing Emerald on her looks alone (Sure she was a knock out) but also just her whole demeanor. Anyone else would have been terrified of her breaking their heads in but Akshay never was smart enough for his own good. Why though, he was not sure. Maybe it really was because she looked like his character. Maybe he just saw something different in her when he was sketching her.

Whatever the case it did not change the fact that he liked her. He hoped that it would work out.

>> "Wouldn't missed this doodle boy, a werewolf never breaks a promise,"

He smirked and nodded his head appreciatively.

“I’ll make sure to make a note of that for future reference,” he said with a smirk. It was good to know. Not the tidbit, but the fact she spoke so openly about herself and her powers. Most of the mutants he had ever met hid their abilities, so few actually embraced them. Emerald, on the other hand, she was different.

And he really did like different because he himself was different.

Then, she kissed him on the cheek. Akshay grinned, and wide. There was little he could do to stop it because it seemed as if the muscles on his face were on autopilot. The kiss was soft, sweet, something that would not have been expected from someone with as tough and exterior and Emerald definitely exuded. But Akshay knew he saw something, some spark in her when he met her at the park. So far this she-wolf had some surprises that he could not wait to run into.

>> "So, where are we going?"[/color]

He just smirked.

“That’s for me to know and you to eventually find out!” He beamed as he slipped his thin backpack onto his back. Adjusting his helmet under his arm he picked up the keys to the shop and decided that he could close it early this one time! After all it was not like they were going to miss the sale of the century. He began to lead the way towards the door, where he would open it for her, as such the gentleman he was. “So, I hope you’re okay with motorcycles, like, you’re not terrified of them or anything.”

Akshay stepped out of the shop and held the door open for Emerald to follow him outside. Once she did, he smirked a little as he stepped aside to let her past. When was the last time that he was on a real and actual date. Normally his “dates” are just him picking up a girl or two at the clubs that he normally inhabits but this was different. He rarely asked out women on the fly, especially not when he was simply out drawing, and ESpecially not when they were as attractive as her.

This was going to be just as new a territory for him as Emerald was acting it was. He really hoped he did not trip over his own words or say or do anything foolish.

Outside, he turned to lead Emerald to his motorcycle when he glanced back at her comment.

>> "Nice bike you have there, even if it is not as cool as my Green Machine over there,"[/i]

He arched a brow as he paused, stepped back, and watched her retrieve a helmet from another motorcycle that was off to the side. The green beast certainly was a beauty to behold and the simple fact that it was Emerald’s only made him grin all the wider. The more he learned about her, the more he was glad he actually did ask her out.

He nodded respectfully to her bike.

“Impressive,” he said with a smirk. “But don’t knock the ducati,” he beamed as he walked up to his own silver motorcycle and patted it’s side. “Otherwise I may have to race you prove my point and I dunno if you’re green kitten over there will be able to handle it.”

He winked. His “smack talk” was said in a playful and jovial tone. Obviously there was no ill will meant in it so he hoped that Emerald was not going to take his challenge personally. He was a joking guy. Then again, he was damn good at riding his bike. If Emerald wanted the challenge…

>> "So are we ready to go?"

He blinked, then nodded.

“Oh, yeah! Let’s go,” he said as he slipped his own motorcycle helmet over his head. Once it was secure he climbed onto his bike and waved Emerald over. He revved the engine of his cycle. “If you’re worried about your rose, you can slip it back into my pack.”

>> "Oh, You should know better than to challenge me Akshay, it never ends well."[/color]

Akshay say on his bike, revving the engine when he glanced back to see Emerald saunter over in a most dangerous way. He had to admit that he was a little awestruck by the vision that stalked up to him that he really had no idea how to keep his head on straight. The woman was extremely attractive, she was tough, and she even seemed to like him. That was the best part of all.

But apparently there was some spark in her eye the second that he mentioned the possibility of a race between the two of them. He meant it. He loved his ducati and he knew that he was good at riding it. He is sure that he could take her in any race, or at least he was sure. Now he was beginning to have second thoughts. Judging by the look on her face, the way that she carried herself, it was obvious that she had confidence in her skills to. Maybe she was more a challenge than he originally thought?

He would have to keep a careful eye on her.

He turned back around, a smile playing on his lips as he revved his engine once more. Once he felt her climb on, he began to tilt his bike so that he was ready to go. She wrapped her arms around his mid-section and gave him a playful squeeze, to which he squeak. Totally. Un. COOL!

>> "Besides, I've been known to play dirty when it comes to street races. Now come on, lets see what this baby can do."[/color]

A twinkle appeared in his eye as he nodded to her, a smile at the corners of his lips. He reached up and pulled his visor down. Though he could not tell, obviously since he was going to be riding this beast, from the side view, the pair of them did look pretty badass on the bike. Passer-bys would pause and gawk at them, wondering what trouble the dynamic duo would get into.

If only they knew Akshay smirked under his helmet.

Revving the engine one last time, checking that Emerald was secure, Akshay kicked up the kickstand and checked to make sure there was no traffic and rode out into the street. Normally Akshay would have played it far more safe but the young wordsmith knew how to let loose. Besides, Emerald seemed like the type of girl that valued a little bit a speed in her diet…so why not?

“Hold on tight,” he smirked.

With a small laugh on his lips, Akshay tore out into the street, aimed directly for their destination…

The adrenaline poured through Akshay’s veins as he rode through the streets of New York on the silver ducati. Not only was his heart beating fast because of the rush he got from riding this mechanical beast but also for the fact that he had a pretty girl clinging onto him. Akshay was no stranger to giving a lovely female a ride on his ducati but rarely did they ever feel like this young woman. Normally girls were scared or clung tightly out of fear. Emerald, though, was different. She was actually enjoying every second of the ride.

She was certainly a woman full of surprises. Lovely surprises.

Speeding through the streets, but be careful not to be too reckless, Akshay found himself enjoying the ride more than he normally did as well. Sometimes it was always better to share these types of things with someone else.

His destination clear in his mind, he pressed onward, turning corners and weaving in and out of traffic. He hoped that the place that he had picked out would be okay with the wolf-girl. Maybe he should have just met her for coffee first, or something. After all, he really didn’t know anything about her except that she looked almost exactly like one of his comic book characters and that she had a mean punch.

Oh well…he would get to know her down and roll with the punches.

>> "We there yet champ? Not that I mind the ride but I'm mighty curious where we are having this lunch of ours."[/color]

He grinned as he saw the street he was looking for coming up. He nodded his head in reply that they were about to arrive. Though she could not see his face due to the visor, he was clearly smiling.

Rounding the corner, he slowed his bike down and pulled up to the sidewalk. In front of them was restaurant that was very simple looking. It had a green awning above the front doors that said “Gallagher’s Steakhouse” in flowing white letters. Normally on dates guys go for the fancy French restaurants and such, but that was never really Akshay’s cup of tea. He was man of simple tastes and that was something that anyone he asked out should be informed of up front.

Akshay killed the ignition and flipped up his vision as he glanced over his shoulder to Emerald.

“I hope this place is okay for you. You are a carnivore, I hope,” he beamed from beneath his helmet.

Akshay smirked as he stood back and watched as she shook out her hair. Removing the helmet from her head, her red hair cascaded down and Akshay found himself just staring at her. Not in a creepy, obsessive way or anything, but merely because he was enchanted by her appearance. She really was gorgeous. Part of him wondered if she ever realized that about herself. From the way she reacted around a simple compliment, he doubted it. But hopefully she would realize that about herself.

He was sure his fawning over her would help.

Undoing the strap of his helmet, Akshay pulled it off his head and immediately brushed his hand through his hair to fix it. After that was done, he tucked his helmet underneath his arm as he watched Emerald. He truly hoped that she was fine with this restaurant. After all, he really did know if she would have had problem with eating red meat (though he doubted it). Thankfully, by the wag in her wolf tail, she seemed just fine with it.

>> "Hell yeah I'm a carnivore, I need meat to live, to exist, to thrive,"[/color]

Akshay laughed. Her response was enthusiastic and one that he was very thankful to hear.

>> "Aw man the only thing that would make this place better would be if we could hunt our own food. Still, seriously a great choice!"[/color]

“I’ll see what I can do next time,” he added with a wink. He was joking of course but then again he was joking kind of guy. He didn’t even know if this woman would give him the time or day for another date. He could only cross his fingers and hope so. “Shall we?”

Upon taking his arm, he them led her into the restaurant…