just a couple of wayward protectors is all {Tristian}

[Tristian]

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” said Tristian with a grin, “I am perfectly honourable.”

He felt her bump against his hip with her own and he couldn’t help but look round and wink at her. He was just in that kind of mood, he always was after a bit of a fight, and he knew he should be trying to cool the situation because sooner or later it was going to get to a point where he’d have to put a stop to it. However, the flirting, the banter…it was all good fun, right?

“All of the above but primarily a drink,” he said as they left the school.

He noticed her looking over her shoulder and said in a low voice, “expecting trouble?”

[Cal Karnstein]

"Honourable must mean something totally different where you're from, anti-knight," drawled Cal. she focused her attention back on the knight for the team being. She wished that she didn't quite feel the prickling at the back of her neck, but she dismissed it easily enough. No need to worry: they could probably handle anything or anyone that tried anything stupid.

"I could go for a drink," she agreed, before rolling her eyes. "Thought I saw the idiot squad following us. I don't think they'd be dumb enough to actually try anything, since I'm pretty sure both of us were holding back earlier. But idiots will be idiots," Cal shrugged again. "You said the place was close, right? Gotta say, you caught my attention. Could use finding some of the coffee shops and sort in the area."

She smiled, showing just a hint of teeth. "I'm one of those awful, wayward musician types. Case you couldn't figure that out."

[Tristian]

That must have been the first time that he had ever been referred to as an Anti-Knight, or anything less than ‘golden boy’. Back home he was the perfect heir that everyone expected him to be, to both of his parents, he really was an honourable and noble knight. So hearing that made him grin a little more, it was nice to be somewhere that he didn’t always have to be that perfect Prince. Anti-knight, Yeah, he could live with that.

Frowning a little he nodded, “if they’re stupid enough to come back for seconds we can deal with them.”

Tristian smiled down at her and said, “well helping damsels in caffeinated distress is my speciality, it’s not far from here, just there.”

He pointed to a place in the distance where Todd’s Tea Shop sign was swinging in the breeze.

He laughed and said, “oh no, how awful, a bard. What is it you play? Or are you a dreaded singer?”

[Cal Karnstein]

Cal nodded her agreement, flexing and releasing her hands. They could definitely deal with them, and then some. Part of Cal was almost hoping they followed: a good fight could really get the blood pumping, and the moment the blood started pumping, everything would start going.

"Huh, funny how we share specialties," offered Cal along with a wink. She fully lifted her hands, lacing fingers and placing them behind her head as she walked. Her gaze went up, seeing the shop. Todd's Tea Shop? Why did that name sound familiar?

"Oh, oh, you so didn't,' she said, circling around him, holding up a finger. "Dreaded?" She cleared her throat, still holding the finger up. Sucked in a breath: "Hello from the other siiiiiiiiiide; I must have called a thousand tiiiiiiiiimmees;~" blasted with volume and skill, supporting each word, as her face contorted and she reached toward him: "To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done. But when I call, you never seem to be home~" She paused, raising her brows. "That dreaded? Or do I need to hit you with the rest of the chorus?" Adele wasn't actually something in Cal's wheelhouse, but it was perfect for showing off range and power, which Cal had in spades.

[Tristian]

Now what did she mean by that? Because really, that sort of statement could be taken a couple of ways. Either it was also her speciality to rescue those who require caffeine or it was her speciality to rescue damsels who required caffeine? Strangely he had a feeling that it didn’t matter which to the girl beside him, clearly his radar was back up and running again. Well, he would probably have to watch out for her at the clubs.

Then of course she started singing and it didn’t sound half bad, the girl definitely had some talent. Tristian worked to keep his expression nonplussed as she sang to him, trying to look much put upon and bored by the blonde that was belting her little Adele heart out. However the truth was that he was impressed, more than that, her singing and stirred something in him…something which he normally kept well hidden…but then…she had chosen that song…and Adele was something of an icon…a diva really…

“Yes, I think that’s quite enough” he said still playing up the boredom, “we definitely do not need to hear the-hello from the outsiiiiiiiiiiide…”

Now, Tristian’s song of choice had always leaned heavily towards the divas, quite a few of them had the kind of range he could nail and he always preferred actually singing to lip-syncing. Thankfully he hadn’t inherited his father’s tone deaf singing and instead over the years had managed to cultivate a decent singing voice. And Adele…well…she was a house favourite…although he was partial to a little Britney and Taylor…

He turned to face her, pulling his best Adele impression in terms of facial expression and emotional hand gestures, “at least I can say that I’ve triiiiied, to tell you, I’m. sorry, for breaking your heart, but it don’t matter, it, clearly doesn’t tear you apart…anymore…’”

He grinned, “yes…the rest of that chorus…”

Plenty of straight guys knew Adele songs by heart right? And could sing them? He totally hadn’t given anything away…right? Right now, he was trying to remember why he cared if he had.

[Cal Karnstein]

Quite enough? That was just going to get her to sing-- why, hello there. Cal almost stumbled in the song then, particularly as he picked up and sang Adele.

Cal knew songs, and she knew the type of songs that guys were likely to sing and sing easily. Adele took work, particularly the one Cal had picked. She could manage it, but she'd been practicing since she pretty much learned to speak, had a mother who could belt it with the best of them, and had half-vampire breath control. Hearing a guy manage it? With almost perfect expression? And that grin?

Cal's gaydar went off like crazy.

Well, that was on him. If he wanted to say something about it, he could. For now, Cal was just thoroughly enjoying the rendition. She applauded him, nodding, even adding a slight bow. "You got pipes, Anti-Knight. Or should that be Diva?" she gave him a wink, nudging his hip with her own. "You ever wanna do a duet, Diva, you let me know."

They were at the shop proper now; they'd been close enough before the totally necessary Adele break. Cal looked up, then leaned over, pushing the door and gesturing for Tristian to head in. Oh, she was definitely going to enjoy this.

[Tristian]

“Why thank you blondie,” he said with a grin, “and Anti-Knight is fine, I like to try and keep the Diva under wraps, sadly you found my kryptonite, the only thing worse might have been Cher, clichéd, I know, but there’s a girl who has some pipes on her.”

So she might know. It was funny. He thought he would care more, he certainly thought he would be panicking more, however there was something about the girl that put him at ease with it all. Perhaps it was because now he knew that the worst person that could have found out, Mordred, knew about his preferences and everything had been ok…well…maybe…maybe things would be a little easier…still…he wasn’t going to confirm anything until she brought it up. Let her have her suspicions, so long as she didn’t go spreading them around that would be fine.

“Now that you mention it I can think of a few,” he said quietly as they entered the Tea shop, nodding his thanks to her for holding the door open for him, “I’ve always been a fan of Loathing from Wicked, heard of it?”

As they entered Todd gave him a cheerful wave and pointed to Tristian’s usual table that had the little reserved sign on it. “Thanks Todd,” said Tristian with a wink, “two hot chocolates with everything please.”

He turned to Cal, “unless you would like something else?”

[Cal Karnstein]

"Alrighty then, Anti-Knight it is," she replied, giving him a wink. "Gotta tell you though: it's much more fun outside of the closet. More fresh air. Room to elbow people. Partners,' she shrugged, but kept right on going. Why yes, she was perfectly fine hanging out with people outside of sexual encounters.

The question had her tilting her head, closing an eye for a moment. "Sounds... vaguely familiar? That the musical?" She looked back at him, arching her brows. "How camp do you think I am?"

She was tempted to huff and pretend she had a penis or something, but she had a reserved table to head toward, and she let out a low whistle. "Nice," she said, nodding. "And hey, if you're ordering, I'm going to assume it's good. Usually I get something that's got a bit more punch to it, but you know what you're doing, Anti-Knight."

She paused at the table, looked at the chairs, then moved to pull his out for him. "Gotta adhere to the laws of chivalry," she replied, winking, clearly ready to help him push his chair in when he got good and settled.

[Tristian]

Well that settled that suspicion. She knew. Again, he didn’t actually care that she did all that much, interesting.

“But there’s such nice coats in here and if I wait long enough that nice Mr Tumnus might come along,” he said quietly.

It was getting a little crowded in the closet but there were still a lot of very good reasons for staying well and truly in it, not least of all the other secrets he was keeping in there. Besides, he was only in the closet so far as anyone outside of the ‘scene’ was concerned. In the clubs he was very much ‘out’ in the most fabulous and sparkly way.

He laughed when she asked him how camp he thought she was, his eyes focusing in on the colours in her hair and said, “Oh my deepest apologies blondie, my mistake.”

What was it with this student body having to ruin perfectly decent drinks with copious amounts of alcohol? First Aiden, now Blondie, honestly, didn’t the realise that sometimes all you needed as a little bit of sugar? Well, this hot chocolate was sure to change Cal’s mind in that regards, especially the way that Todd made them.

Looking at Cal holding the chair out he raised an eyebrow and said, “how camp do you think I am?”

He crossed over to her and started to sit down, “because you are exactly right.”

[Cal Karnstein]

"Heard good things about him. I think he knew one of my mums," offered Cal cheerily. If Tristian wanted to be a bit more reserved, than that was up to him. There were loads of reasons, several of which Cal knew from firsthand experience (though she'd pretty much come out of her mother's womb waving a rainbow flag and yelling her way through a power ballad). Wasn't her way to push or prod, and it just meant she could shift the flirting from outrageously sexual to just more mutual teasing, a shift that was subtle, but, hey, Cal could handle subtleties.

...

quit laughing. She can. Really.

"Figured," she tucked his chair in, patted his shoulder, then actually leaned over to pluck a napkin and put it over his lap. With a grin, she walked around and slid into her seat, leaning back and looking around. "Place smells awesome," she said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "Always a good sign. Maybe I'll drop by here, see about getting that gold ole caffeine IV drip going," she looked around, curious as to whether there was a stage or some other place for a musician to set up and play from time to time.

[Tristian]

He rolled his eyes as she popped the napkin on his lap, but continued to smile good naturedly, “alright, enough of that. People will start talking.”

Taking a moment to breathe in the aroma of the café he nodded his agreement, “if you are ever looking for somewhere to just kick back and relax for a moment, this is the place. No matter what problems you’ve faced that day…this place can make you forget them even better than any alcohol can.”

As if on cue the ever helpful Todd appeared with a tray containing too mugs of hot chocolate. To simply call them mugs of hot chocolate was doing them a disservice, these things were huge, more like tankards, and the chocolatey scent emitting from them was exceptionally strong. Not only that but they were piled high with real whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate drops. Because it was Todd, and Todd always liked to please his customers, he had also stuck in a couple of chocolate flakes.

“Behold,” said Tristian as Todd put the mugs down, “Todd’s speciality, ‘Better than Sex’.”

[Cal Karnstein]

"Gotcha," said Cal. "wouldn't want to cut off your path to Narnia."

She saluted as she settled into that chair again. So, this was the place to go to relax? Definitely a good place to meet someone for an early morning date, or to take them on that morning after. Cal grinned a bit about that, and she had to wonder about his claim about alcohol. Then again, seeing how much it took to get Cal to the point of forgetting... maybe that wasn't too far off.

Oh look, Todd. "Haven't I flirted with you before?" asked Cal, wiggling a finger at the guy. Of course he'd probably just smile that knowing smile of his, while Cal watched him go. Someday she was going to get one of those Todds, probably someday soon. For now, she just settled back while he set the drink in front of them.

"That's gotta be false advertising," Cal insisted, looking down at the decadent treat in front of her. She touched it, and could actually feel the warmth emanating from the mug. Impressive, given her genealogy. "There's enough sugar on this to make my mom pick up 'Let it Go' again," mumbled Cal, studying it. She lifted it up, starting to smell it. "Gotta take in the whole experience," she insisted to Tristian, flashing that fangy smile of hers.

[Tristian]

Did that smile have a little more teeth in it that it ought too?

Having grown up as a son of Arthur Pendragon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Super fan No #1 he had a fairly decent knowledge on the creatures of the night…albeit from a fictional point of view. Was this Cal one of them? He figured it was probably rude to just come out and ask; then again Cal seemed like a ‘forward’ type of girl so perhaps she would appreciate the candour.

Also what did she mean by her ‘mom’ picking up ‘Let it Go’?

Did he mean that song that was all the rage, about not being that perfect girl and the cold and stuff? It was a favourite in many of the clubs he attended and he had even done his own version of it last Christmas that had gone down very well…did she mean that song?

There was clearly a lot more to this Cal than just innuendos and diva like pipes.

“You won’t regret it, I promise?” he said, taking a sip of his own and letting out a satisfied groan, “I’m sure you’ll find it much tastier than that metallic tasting red stuff…or have I picked that up wrong?”

[Cal Karnstein]

"So many promises," said Cal, taking a sip. Just a light one, for now, letting the smooth stuff slide down her throat. Her eyes closed for a moment as the raw experience of flavor filled her mouth. Delicious rich chocolate, underlaid with cream and a few light spices, all mixing together. It was a bit like licking a melted chocolate bar, only that chocolate bar had come straight from a god's cabinet and rolled in some sort of exotic spice.

She took another sip while Tristian got through his questions.

"Usually mix that with energy drink," she said casually. She pointed at the drink. "This, is amazing. It's not better than sex, so whoever said that needs to spend a night or two with me, but it's pretty amazing." She nodded and took another sip. "Wouldn't recommend trying blood unless you've got the genes for it. You'll end up puking. Awful mess."

[Tristian]

Tristian smiled. It was good to be right.

“I will bear that in mind,” he said pausing before he took another sip of his drink; he winked and continued, “all of it.”

After taking another long drink of the sweet nectar he placed the mug back on the table and said, “So, now that we have established that I have excellent taste in drink and that your preferences extend beyond the norm when it comes to beverages, I would like to know more about where exactly you came from and what your life was like before your stumbled into the school room of Tintagel.”

He sat back in the chair, resting his elbows on the arms of it whilst clasping his hands in front of him he smiled and said, “let’s start at the beginning shall we? Will I have heard of your parents?”