Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

"Stalker," she mused. "That is a silly name, isn't it boy? You are very lovable for something so big and scary. Tenele spun around when he complimented her dress. It made her happy to know he approved after she had been so nervous about it. She smiled. "No, this isn't very conventional. So, you want to take him for a walk?" She pulled the light-weight cloak from the wall and tugged it around her shoulders. "I promised Tenara I would be home in time to read her a story. I hope that is okay... I thought slow would be an appropriate way to spend our first date?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yes," Vlad said cooperatively. "Any way you like. There is just one problem with that." He stepped out of the way, and Stalker bounded excitedly outside, bolting down the hallway. He stopped and whirled at the end, staring at them. "Hellhounds aren't very slow," Vlad muttered with a smirk.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele grinned and shrugged her shoulders. She kicked off her fancy shoes, scooped them up, and took off in a jog after the hound. He seemed to get even more excited by the fact she was chasing him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smirked wildly at her playful reaction, and sprinted after them to join the fun. Stalker acted like the castle was a personal playpen, racing them down hallways before turning on a dime and spinning around them, rearing up like a horse to show Tenele a monstrous grin. Then he would dodge Vlad's mock-capturing hands and bolt off the opposite way.

It was rowdy and indecorous. A few nobles fled to the sidelines to avoid the mayhem as the hound set his own pace.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele laughed so hard that her cheeks hurt. She eventually had to stop for a rest near the castle garden doors. She huffed, placing a hand over her chest. "You are very energetic," she told the hound. "Do you mind if we don't run for a while?"

Tenele pushed the door open gently, feeling the rustle of a warm summer breeze.

She reached down and slipped her shoes back on, clinging to the doorframe for balance.

"This is beautiful," she sighed, wandering down a path that curved about the fountain.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad observed the area around them. "It's a special place," he said. "Over there is where we first met, and where I proposed," he gestured to a bench beneath the cypress tree. "And that is the first fountain I ever threw you in."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled at his words, even the admission that he threw her in a fountain. "Is that a regular thing you do? Throw me in fountains?" She sat on the edge of it, running her fingers through the water.

[Soran Nightblade]

"All men show their affection differently," Vlad said smugly.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele chuckled. "Yours is by throwing me into fountains? What other unique ways do you use to show you care for me?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"You won't know you don't like it unless you try it," Vlad defended, giving the water behind them a furtive glance and smirking at her.

[Emora Deen]

"No, no, no, no," she warned him waving her hands. "Stalker, if he makes one move to toss me in the water, bite him on the rear."

[Soran Nightblade]

The hound looked up at them and flopped down on the grass, yawning.

"It's alright, Maiden Girl. I realize that may be too intimate for our first date," Vlad acquiesced with a flourish of his arm. He paused as he heard a male voice walking down the garden path, and recognized it. A dark grin crossed his face. "Come. This way," he whispered, rushing her behind a bush with him and crouching low.

Lord Barrin Walked into the clearing, alone. He reached down and scratched inside his pants. Vlad narrowed his eyes on his prey while the man began humming and walking toward their bench. An acorn fell and plunked him on the head. Barrin reached up to rub at the spot, glaring into the tree. Vlad sneered, and another acorn smacked the man right in the left buttock. He spun toward the woods opposite them, on guard. Vlad held his breath to hide his location.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele covered her mouth. She glanced warily to the vampire and then to his target. But, she was crouching and her legs were in an awkward position. She inevitably lost her balance and fell into the bush, rustling the leaves.

A panic came over her. She looked around wildly for another place to scurry off to ans hide.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad reached over and pulled her close, sweeping her into his arms while Barrin stormed toward the bush. The world was black a moment, and then they were drenched, standing in the center of the fountain and camoflaged by spraying water. Vlad craned his neck and placed his mouth over hers before she could cry out. Barrin explored behind the bush, muttered something, and left.

The vampire took a moment to realize he was gone, and released her from his kiss.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele drew away from him, completely away from him, until she stumbled out of the flow of the fountain to stand in the pool around it. She pressed her fingers to her lips, lifting her gaze from the water to him.

A hundred different thoughts came to mind, but none of them the ones he probably had hoped would sprout.

"I said slow," she murmured, sloshing back through the water. Her long dress clung to her body, tangled around her legs, and made it somewhat difficult to escape the fountain.

Tenele realized that was a silly expectation for him. He was used to kissing her when he pleased. "I am sorry," she apologised, bowing her head respectfully. She gathered the wet fabric to ring it out, drowning with emberassment and guilt at her reaction. She needed an escape. "I should get back and read Tenara that story..."