(OOC: Continued From An Afternoon On The Town)

"I hate to trouble you more Luke... but I'm having a bit of trouble breathing here. You can't see, but I have gills and they depend on water. I'm doing my best to hold them shut and force my air through my mouth instead but if I want enough energy to change back I'm going to need a few good gasps... I need like a bath tub or something... just enough to submurge my neck and get a good enough gulp of air to hold my breath while I dry off. I've never been in this kind of situation and usually I can dry off right away or change right away so I never have to hold my breath through my gills very long..."

Raina's few words completely changes Luke's gameplan. He had been planning on letting her used the bedroom to change and dry off since his soaked clothes were still piled on the bathroom floor but obviously that was not going to work. It also meant that he was deffinately going to have to carry her up to the room since she wasn't able to transform yet.

"Just hold on Raina." Luke said with as reasurring a smile as he could offer, "Once I get you upstairs you spend as long in the tub as you need." The blind man's enxt movements were performed without the slightest hesitation as he climbed out of the vehicle, closed the door and then made his way around to open Raina's door and pick her up into his two arms. "Keep your hands over those gills and we'll have you in some water in short order." He said again as he kicked the car door closed before walking and then breaking into a slow jog towards the elevator.

It was all to long for the elevator to make its way down to the parking garage but as soon as possible Luke was inside with Raina still cradled in his arms. Balancing carefully on on leg Luke pressed the correct floor button with his knee and then stood silent, waiting as the elevator car made it was upwards.

"Don't stop... don't stop." He thought to himself over and over as he found himself beginning to worry about the young woman he held in his arms. Maybe it was a good thing he had never had any sisters growing up because he probably would have been overbearingly protective, especially if they had abilities that put them in dangerous positions like Raina's did. Finally the elevator doors opened on the correct floor and Luke jogged down the hall, walking into his room moments later.

"We're here." He said as cheefully as possible while kicking the door closed behind him and trying to keep any worry out of his voice, "Home free now."

The living room was probably the standard for bachelors... a cream carpet covered the floor from wall to wall. In corner to their right was a large entertainment system with stacks of CDs next to it. Most of the CDs were either classical or country but there was a sprinkling of jazz and rock mixed in. Straight ahead from the entry door was a brown leather couch with its back towards the door. Directly in front of the couch was a wooden coffee table and two leather recliners were positioned on the other side of the coffee table with a small table and lamp set in between them. Probably the strangest feature though was that there was nothing hanging on the walls... no pictures, artwork, or anything decorative. They were just blank white canvases waiting for someone to breath life into them.

Whether Raina had time to notice any of these details, Luke had no clue because as soon as the front door was closed he was moving towards the bathroom. Gently setting Raina down on the floor beside the bathtub Luke turned on the water full blast and then paused briefly, looking down at Raina with a slight questioning expression on his face.

"Um... are you OK to do this by yourself? I can leave you alone and go get some dry clothes." Even as the words came out of his mouth anyone could tell he was uncomfortable. Luke was willing to help Raina if she needed a lift to get into the tub but after being told he had to get in line with her other admirers he was doing his best to steer clear of accidently copping a feel or anything like that.

The bathroom was decorated very similarly to the bedroom... a sparse bachelor setup that could be seen in any single man's house. Thankfully it was kept immaculately clean. White ceramic tile covered the floors and about three feet up on the walls. Above that the walls were painted a satin white that helped protect the wall boards from moisture. For color, several burgundy bath towels hung on a rack right beside bathtub while several smaller burgundy hand towels lay carefully folded next to the sink.

Luke seemed to understand the situation very well when raina explained it. She was embaressed and wanted to explain furthur that this had never happened to her before and she felt irresponsible and apologetic, embaressed and basically mortified to have put him in it. But she couldn't speak anymore it was too important she try to breath.

Things were spinning a bit so when Luke picked her up out of the car she burried her face in the chest of his tshirt a little. She didn't want to think anymore about how many people might see her she just wanted a breath of air.

The skirt had long since been lost so the long shimmery tail was very real and very in the way. She felt butterflies inher stomach and opened her eyes enough to see they were on the elevator and Luke was reassuring her.

The apartment went by in a blur and she had a flashback to the apartments of Rupert and Flloyd and felt a twist in her stomach. What was the deal with her? Always ending up in the guys apartments...

Soon she was placed on a cool tiled bathroom floor and she was so thankful for the burst of refreshness. She could hear the water filling up in the tub and Luke asking her questions. She wanted to answer but she just couldn't until she got that first breath of air.

Without warning she reached across Luke forgetting for a moment he was bling trying to give him an apologetic look. She pulled herself (her arms were very strong from having to do this many a time) into the bath tub. She completley submurged her head and torso in the water while the tail mostly hung out of the tub. She took the biggest gasp of her life as the gills opened and water penetrated her throat. She coughed and sputtered a moment and then was curiously still. Then like a scene from a thriller movie she shot up out of the water dripping sitting upright. "That's SO much better!" she exclaimed clamping her hands around the gills after turning off the tap and pulling the plug.

"I am so sorry Luke that's never happened before " she apologised rinsing her face and pulling her mess of hair back. Her shirt was plastered to chest and their was a mess of water everywhere. "I've made a huge mess I'm so sorry and this place is probably going to smell like fish for a bit." she told him incredibly embaressed. She reached for the towels and wrapped one around her hair to keep it dry and from triggering her mutation again.

"uh, I know you're blind but do me a favour and don't 'look'?" she said pulling the wet shirt up and over her head. It made a sopping sound as she wrung it out and hung it over the bath tub. She got to work on her tail right away drying it and the tub as she went. It wouldnt work if the tub was wet- she'd keep transforming. She had about 5 minutes of holding her breath to do this but Raina was used to this part. The more she rubbed her legs the more they looked like legs until they finally twisted and popped back to wriggling painted toes. She stood up and pulled the largest towel around her - it was massive and fluffy, warm and dry. "Well that was something," she laughed. "You can , uh look now." she wasn't sure how to put it so he knew he could use his ability again" Everything's pretty much dry now. " she stepped out of the top and on to the floor. "This is now exactly how first dinners are supposed to go I guess..." she grinned.

"But, thankyou. " she said with complete honesty and sincerity. "Not only would I have been a target for any mutant haters out there, I never thought i'd sufficate waiting for help. I'm so used to triggering my mutation myself and being prepared as opposed to having it go off spontaniously like that...."

"Don't worry about the mess or anything." Luke replied with a smile, some obvious relief creeping in his voice, "You had me worried for a few minutes there."

"Uh, I know you're blind but do me a favour and don't 'look'?"

"Oh... sure." Luke replied, turning his back to Raina though really didn't matter... focusing Luke brought his sonar in so that in every direction but the arc going out into the living room it only extended a few inches from his skin. "At least I'm getting better at this part." He thought to himself somewhat wryly as he listened to the sound of Raina disrobing and drying off, "This is deffinately gonna be one of those stories that never gets told."

"Well that was something, You can , uh look now. Everything's pretty much dry now. This is now exactly how first dinners are supposed to go I guess... But, thankyou. Not only would I have been a target for any mutant haters out there, I never thought i'd sufficate waiting for help. I'm so used to triggering my mutation myself and being prepared as opposed to having it go off spontaniously like that...."

"It's no problem Raina... look, my bedroom is right across the living room. Top drawer has shirts and the middle drawer has several pairs of sweat pants. They'll be big but they do have a draw string so you're welcome to them if it will make you feel more comfortable." Luke replied as he allowed his sonar to extend back out as he turned to face Raina. Standing wrapped up in a large towel she was just as attractive as when she had been dressed for dinner.

"Stop that right there." Luke told himself sternly as he swiftly brough his thoughts back under control, "Friends... just friends."

"I'll get the water mopped up here and then um... you want some water or hot tea or something? I can get your clothes thrown in the dryer so that they'll be wearable in not to long." Entertaining women he considered friends and not shoepieces was deffinately new to Luke. What few people would ever know was that while he often escorted attractive women to dinners, it very seldom lead to anything more than dinner. He was no virgin by any means of the world but his so called promiscuity was just something to keep his name in the celebrity section of the paper not actually a fact of life.

Raina was relieved when he offered clothes and something to drink. "Had my fill of water." she joked. "I'd love love love a hot tea though, any kind will do!" She gave his hand a quick squeeze reaching over. "Thanks. a lot. I mean it. I owe you. You ever need anyone frozen into a popsicle you let me know."

And with that she spun and headed out her brain alive with creative ideas to show him back and her appreciation.

It was until she was carefully looking through the clothes in his bedroom that she was reminded of how close this was to the situation with Rupert. When she'd first met Rupert she'd been covered in pea soup and needed to change. This was different. Luke didn't have a crazy poodle, they weren't drinking, and she was NOT under ANY circumstances going to sleep with Luke.

Raina was pretty hard on herself considering Rupert was the only person she'd ever really been with. That was over a year ago and he ended up turning her into the camps. She tried not to count the Flloyd thing... there was no sleeping togeather just an akward morning after being drunk. Her two episodes of drinking landed her in deep trouble with men, so there was a part of her that felt better knowing that at least she'd got here by somewhat better means.

She'd pulled a long black tshirt that actually seemed to fit her well and a pair of gray sweats that thankfully had a draw string. She knew the skirt had been lost on the way so she might need to borrow these pants afterall. She glanced outside the bedroom window with a yawn seeing that it was still raining and even though it was only later afternoon it looked pretty dark out. Not a good sign.

She shook out her hair making sure it was dry enough to not set her going again and hung the towels over the closet door.

She emerged from the bedroom with a smile. She looked somewhat natural in his clothes, it was Raina's nature to be a bit of a tom boy. Her hair was a little wild but somehow she seemed to pull it off. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Luke smiled slightly as Raina gripped his hand and thanked him then walked away. Without thinking about it the blind man automatically turned around, his sonar watching her as she dissapeared into the bedroom and closed the door.

"That is quite a girl... far better than I normally hang out with." He murmured quietly before turning back to the job at hand. After grabbing the remaining towels he did his best to mop up the last of the moisture that was on the tile then picked the towels and Raina's still drenched clothing in one large bundle.

Walking through the living room Luke made his way into the kitchen area where the washer and dryer were carefully stowed in a closet. After opening the closet he began to put the wet items then stopped, sniffing the cloth slightly. "She was right... slight fishy smell but not exactly like fish." He observed before depositing everything in the water. Carefully putting everything on cold water with a tough of detergent he started up the machine before walking over to the stove and filling up a kettle with hot water. This was deffinately different than most of the 'dates' he had been one. Normally if he brought a woman home he was serving them champagne or wine and continueing to romance them off of their feet in order to keep up his reputation. Having a woman in his home that he was comfortable just brewing some tea for was deffinately different.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Raina's voice called out as the bedroom door opened and she came out wearing a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt that accented her figure just enough to keep her attractive but not promiscuous looking.

"If you want to turn on some music you're welcome to and you've also gotta choose... Chammomile, Peppermint, or Green tea?" Luke replied from where he was opening the cabinet doors and touching a couple of tea boxes, "The clothes did smell like fish so I've got them running through a short, cold water wash cycle before I throw them in the dryer."

Well, that was at least half way true... partly he wanted Raina to spend more time here visiting but partly he didn't want everything to smell like fish.

Raina blushed a little. "Sorry about that, you can imagine how Sara feels when she gets wet too." She said thinking of the wet cat smell which instantly made her think of wet dog smell which made her think of Ted.

"Green tea would be nice." she answered stepping carefully into the living room in bare feet. "Hope you don't mind if I sit... I'm exhuasted." she went over to an elegant couch and sat down carefully. "You might be stuck with me a bit, it seems to be really coming down." she said a little worried. "I hope I'm not putting you out." she reached to the right of her and turned on the cd player and soft music began to fill the room (ooc: i dont wanna Gmod so it's best if you describe the furniture/music )

She was instantly feeling warmer and much dryer and much more relaxed. "That was more than enough excitement for one day, I can't believe how cool you looked driving that thing either! And wow you look so different without glasses!" she added.

"You must get lonely though and frusturated. Like a smart kid having to play dumb, having to wear those glasses when you can see better than most with your ability. I understand it though. I don't 'swim' to work though taking a job where I do swim is a pretty big step I must admit." she laughed.

She was eager to learn more about him and eager to move past the embaressment of the day. Tea wouldn't be a bad idea either.

(OOC: The furniture was described back in my very first post in this thread but I'll be glad to describe the music.

"Sorry about that, you can imagine how Sara feels when she gets wet too." Raina said, apparently embaressed about the fish smell. Luke opened his mouth to stay something but Raina was still talking so he remained quiet for a little longer.

"Green tea would be nice. Hope you don't mind if I sit... I'm exhuasted. You might be stuck with me a bit, it seems to be really coming down. I hope I'm not putting you out." Raina said as she relaxed back onto the brown leather couch and turned on the cd player. Second later the soft sounds of jazz filled in as background music to their conversation.

"Oh, it's horrible how much you're putting me out." Luke replied with a laugh as he stood in the kitchen doorway and leaned up against the frame. Behind him the pot of water slowly warmed on the stove, making it way towards boiling. "A bachelor with no steady girlfriend and no close friends... I had all kinds of things to do tonight and now I have to stay at home and endure the pleasure of your company. I think I'll survive."

"That was more than enough excitement for one day, I can't believe how cool you looked driving that thing either! And wow you look so different without glasses! You must get lonely though and frusturated. Like a smart kid having to play dumb, having to wear those glasses when you can see better than most with your ability. I understand it though. I don't 'swim' to work though taking a job where I do swim is a pretty big step I must admit."

"Oh yeah... I can put the glasses back on if my eyes make you uncomfortable. Some people don't really like seeing them." Luke said quickly as he suddenly remembered that he still was without his glasses, "And it is kind of frustrating, especially when I was younger. Thankfully even as a teenager I had enough sense to not just show off my abilities to everyone around but there are times when I wish people would treat me normally instead of always acting like they feel sorry for me because of my handicap.

Walking into the living room Luke enjoyed the feeling of the cream colored plush carpet against his own bare feet before he took a seat on the opposite end of the couch from Raina. He was still doing his best to kepe things casual and friendly so he hoped that sitting on the couch wouldn't seem like he was trying to move to close.

"The water should be done boiling in a few minutes... if you don't mind my asking, do your legs hurt after you go through your transformation?" He knew that it might have been at least somewhat rude to ask but he was curious and thus far they had been open with each other about their mutations.

Raina looked up when he suggested putting his glasses back on. "Oh no!" she said over the calming Jazz music. "I like your eyes the way they are." she announced. "You rob people of them too much." she laughed "No glasses will be fine."

She watched him as he answered her questions and prepared the tea crossing back to sit on the edge of the couch. She scooted a little closer when he joked about her company and laughed herself. "I can be a bother sometimes." she grinned. "Thanks for having me here your home is lovely."

She could feel her percieved energy between them and mentally wondered if it was bothering Luke as much as it was bothering her. She repeated "behave" in her head over and over again. He asked about her pain level and Raina winced at the thought.

"Everytime." she admitted. "It was horrible at first, like someone was pulling me inside out and squishing me into a ball bones and all..." she trailed for a moment. "But I'm used to it now. It's like playing guitar, at first your fingers and hands hurt so much most people stop playing... but when you keep going you build up callouses and it might hurt a little but not nearly enough to make you stop. I do feel pretty stiff, heavy, and tired after I change back"

"Would it help any if I were to massage your feet?" The thought jumped unbidden to Luke's mind and he swiftly pushed it down. Raina was a friend... a friend he had only met not that long ago. She deffinately sne out a lot of mixed signals but it was still up to him to remain a gentleman. "Play it cool and keep things above board... no trying to seduce or romance her." He thought firmly to himsefl as he regained control.

"I'd be willing to guess you are using completely differents sets of muscles when your swimming so your legs aren't sure what to do when they're forced to revert back to their original muscle formation." Luke said with a slight nod, "But I'm glad you've begun to get used to it... maybe with your using it almost every day for work it'll lighten even more."

For a moment the blind man fell silent as he focused on the solo trumpet that had come to the forefront of the jazz song. Jazz deffinately wasn't for everyone but if you could look past how things sounded different from other genre's of music, there were a lot of very talented musicians that were able to showcase their skill in jazz songs.

"It's a nice change to have a visitor that I can, as they say, let my hair down with. Even when I've had people over before I still had to keep up the pretense of my disability. Being able to go without my glasses and act normally is a nice change." The smile was back as Luke focused on simply enjoying time with friends. Right about that moment the sound of the kettle beginning to whistle announced that the water was hot enough for tea.

"Do you like your tea plain or would you like milk, sugar, or honey in it?" Luke asked as he got up and walked back into the kitchen. With practice motions he pulled down two mugs and placed a grean tea bag in each before pouring the hot water over it. It would take a few minutes for the tea to steep fully, but there was something else he remember. Opening a different cuboard Luke pulled out a package of butter cookies and placed several on a plate so that he could take them out at the same time he took out the tea.

"You remind me of a dancer Luke." snorted Raina without answering his question yet. "Your motions are so rehearsed and fluid that they look artistic, unlike the rest of us who may be able to see but look awfully akward." she laughed.

"plain would be fine. Thank you." she said answering his question and watching him with the tea leaning over the back of the couch. "I'm glad you feel like you can be yourself with me. I'm trying really hard to be myself with you." she admitted. It was always a struggle for Raina to be herself with anyone but especially with men.... after Rupert's reaction to her being a mutant, and Flloyd's self ritcheousness she didn't exactly like running ahead proclaiming who she was. She always wanted to be that mysterious barely out of reach woman but her emotions ruled her so easily that she was generally easy to read.

She regretted saying earlier that Luke would have to get in line because he seemed a little guarded since she set it. She didn't mind if he was a little flirty, if that was his personality that was his personality... but had she admitted to being single and potentially free she knew this moment could gear up to be more than it really was so after thinking it over she knew it was for the best. It was better to be a little ambigious anyway.

She gave a yawn and a stretch. She really was exhausted and was fighting falling asleep. She hoped the tea would help, she didn't want to seem like he was boring her or she was uninterested. It had just been a really long day.

She stretched again sinking into the cushions on the couch enjoying the jazz music , she hummed absentmindedly to the music and tapped her fingers. Raina appreciated all music in all forms so it was nice to meet someone else. "I know a great jazz cafe, I've played there before. I'll have to take you there some time"

Grabbing a contain of honey Luke dribbled approximately a spoonful into one of the cups, stirring it in fully before removing the tea bags from both mugs and throwing them away in the trash. "One regular tea and one with honey." The blind man offered cheerfully as he walked back into the living rooms with the handle of both mugs gripped by his left hand and the plate of cookies gripped in his right, "And butter cookies if you want something to nibble at." After placing the plate down on the coffee table Luke gripped one of the mugs in his right hand and after sniffing the air quickly offered the cup in his left hand to Raina.

"I actually listen to more country and classical than I do jazz, but I think the jazz is more relaxing plus I have to admire the skill of some of these musicians." He said as he settled back down at his end of the couch and gripped the mug in both hands. After taking a sip he finally responded to Raina's last staement, "The jazz cafe sounds like fun... we have some training to do first but maybe sometime after that, if you're free, we could go."

Taking another sip of his tea Luke turned and extended his right arm, picking up one of the cookies and taking away half with one bite. "I'd like to hear you play sometime." He offered after he had finished chewing, "Either at the cafe or at the mansion if your more comfortable."

The conversation was beginning to be a little more relaxed and some of the under currents were beginning to dissapear. This was just two friends talking and enjoying time together with no expectations thrown in. "Maybe this isn't as awkward as I first thought..."

Raina was enjoying how easily everything seemed to flow as she took the warm mug from Luke. "Thanks." she replied and took a cookie as well munching away on it. She'd just eaten so much but having transformed twice in one day made her hungrier.

"I like all sorts of music too" she added. "I'm more into folk these days... can't say I'm a fan of country though." she grinned. "unless it's old Good country... like Jonny Cash" she influxed the word 'good' to emphasize her country fan-ness was very small. "But I can appreciate everything from a musical stand point"

He brought up training togeather and Raina felt a little butterfly. Of course, she could see him again for that. "I keep getting ahead of myself!" she said "I think I'm not used to spending time with people in my age group. It's always teens." she explained. "I get carried away sometimes. " It was true. She was all too excited to have adult company for once.

"I think Saturday morning would be best for practicing... it's pretty cold now people will be away from the lakes but I'll gear you up with a thermal wet suit and you should be fine. The cold doesn't bother me" and it never did. Wasn't part of her mutation mostly. mostly it was due to living in the north, "then in the evening if we aren't both exhausted we could try a club." she suggested.

It was strange and exciting to be making plans like this in advanced. Plans that were most defenenantly not a date. Nope. Not a date.

She gave another yawn and leaned her head against the back of the couch watching Luke. She didn't mind being quiet and letting the music drift in and out. It was likely past supper time now and heading into evening. The rain was letting up. Which sort of suited Raina just find, and sort of didn't.

Luke chuckled softly as he sipped his own tea. "Folk is good though I enjoy the celtic folk music more than just regular folk music. Classic country is deffinately the way to go but there are a couple of new artists I like. Not a lot but a couple."

"I think Saturday morning would be best for practicing... it's pretty cold now people will be away from the lakes but I'll gear you up with a thermal wet suit and you should be fine. The cold doesn't bother me, then in the evening if we aren't both exhausted we could try a club."

So Raina was really interested in going to a club... "Maybe I have a chance with her after all." A part of him suggested as he finished off the half of a butter cookie he had been holding, "It's not a date... it's two friends hanging out. Don't read more into this than there really is." Another part immediately corrected, keeping a tight reign on everything.

As Raina yawned, Luke took another sip of his tea and then placed the warm mug on the coffee table. "Do you want me to call a cab for you? Or maybe one of your friends from the mansion could pick you up?" He offered gently, not really wanting her to leave but acknowledging that she did have work the next day, "You're even welcome to take my car if you want but you seem a little tired for that and I'm pretty sure you don't want to sleep in my spare bedroom." The last part was said once again with a little bit of a tease mixed in but even as the word's left Luke's mouth he regretted them. In one fell swoop the tension that had been draining away returned, at least on Luke's part.

"I'm enjoying your company... a lot... but I know you have work and I don't want to be the cause of any rumors about you." He said, his voice still gentle as he tried to keep from hurting any feelings, "But you are welcome to stay as long as you want. A lot of people call me a night owl."

Raina nodded knowing that Luke's words were true. She did have to work in the morning and she'd already used up so much energy, and he was right... it might cause a few rumors to circle the school or some place else. But at the same time she felt like a rock and it still looked misty and somewhat rainy out there. She sunk into the comfy couch not wanting to leave.

"Maybe..." she began "if it's ok with you..." she fumbled unsure how to word it but figure she might as well come right out and say it. "maybe I could have just a little nap here? I'm exhausted and it still looks rainy out. I'll get up and head for home after a little bit when I'm sure it's dry enough out and sleep in my bed then get ready for work." She looked at him hopefully wondering if that would be putting him out or if she'd crossed a line.

She was completley sincere in her intention, if he was ok Raina totally planned on just falling asleep within the next 5 minutes for an hour or maybe a few. She usually felt more refreshed than most after sleep and she knew she could either get home in the middle of the night or the early morning by cab if she needed.

She wanted to sleep here? She trusted him enough to just fall asleep in his presence like that? Luke had given up on trying to interpret her signals some time go and so he just went along with the flow.

"That's fine Raina... I don't mind." Luke replied with a slight chuckled, doing his best to mask all the other emotions that seemed to be trying to come to the surface, "You can fall asleep out here or the spare bedroom is available like I said before. Hopefully by the time you wake up the clothes and towels will be out of the washer and dryer."

What was the game plan for the night? Normally a rainy day helped keep the crime down so maybe taking a night off from his Wraith persona wouldn't be a big deal. His efforts weren't changing the world or anything so maybe he could just enjoy the young woman's company. Of cousre if she was asleep she wouldn't be the greatest company in the world but even having a woman in his house that was relaxed enough to go sleep was a nice change. She wasn't after him for money or anything else... she was just a friend.