@MasterOfSai Spoke, blowing a brown unruly curl out of her face as Ches moved closer to her. And no to answer the question…. No , she didn’t have anyone to talk to.
“What brings you to Paris?” Melea asked him, reaching for her water bottle and taking a large sip.
"Ah. So you're running away," he concluded, bringing up his ankle to rest on his opposing knee. "Probably from some tragic backstory. Not uncommon among Shadowhunters."
He glanced down at his hands, seemingly taking a moment to inspect his fingernails. "Didn't I mention that? Travel year. You know, the thing you're supposed to do when you turn eighteen. Spend a year in some Institute, learn how they do things. Become worldly and all that." His dark eyes flicked back up -- @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai “I wouldn’t say running away.” Melea spoke back to him, though that’s exactly what it was. She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, unable to take his smug and arrogant personality. Who did he think he was?
“Travel year…. Yeah that. Hey listen, you don’t pick up on social cues, do you? I’ve wanted you to leave the minute you said hello.” Melea spoke, narrowing her eyes at him. —
Ches rose his eyebrows, a little surprised. "And here I thought I was being vexing... pity. You see, I actually know you don't want me here. Why do you think I stuck around?" He smirked this time, a little arrogantly. "But apparently, you think it's charming. I suppose I can't much blame you. I am known to have that effect on women. They fell at my feet left and right back in Idris."
Women in fact did not fall at his feet back home. While he had, had a few dalliances with --
@HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai she felt a flush of pink fill her cheeks at that. If she could smack the smug smirk off of his face, she would gladly do so. Melea stood up and centered herself.
“Let me practice my curtsy.” She curtsied , maybe a bit of a tease herself before standing up. Looking up to him,—
Ches let out a chuckle, lolling his head back against the chair lazily to watch her go. It seemed he'd managed to chase her straight out of the room. He often had that effect on people. He'd be lying if he'd said he didn't find it amusing.
"I look forward to spending all year with you!" He called after her, smirking once again.
He cracked open the book in his hands that he'd picked out. Perhaps he'd hang out here for a little while before he continued his tour of -- @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai it was enough for her to rule her eyes again. There was something about his confidence that bothered her. It wasn’t that he was rude, it was just irritating.
Melea could feel his eyes on her as she walked from the library, nearly bounding into Leon a second later.
—
@MasterOfSai “Excusez moi ,mademoiselle.” Leon winked at her as she hurried past him. “Later, Leon.” She mused , studying his handsome features before dipping into her room. Leon and Ches would either be the perfect match or the perfect storm. Who could handle all that ego?
Melea decided to rest —
Ches showed up to dinner not long after @HeavensBlade did. He'd spent the remainder of the day getting to know the Institute, stopping in various places to spend time there, and eventually retreated back to his room to read for a while.
He now took a seat across from Melea, apparently having just come from the kitchen. He'd offered his help to Élodie, but she hadn't required his assistance.
He met her eyes and gave a half-smile in greeting that she would probably find irritating.
@MasterOfSai grew distant and cold to them. She had a lot of pain, a lot of childhood trauma that she just didn’t want to deal with.
She watched Ches sit, offering a small nod of acknowledgment.
“Dinner smells great, élodie.” A full dinner of roasted steak and baked potatoes, vegetables. A welcome dinner.
—
"Thank you for your hospitality," he replied, giving Élodie a charming smile.
He started on some baguette and cheese; a staple to every French meal. There was also a bottle of red wine to go with the steak.
Leon was notably absent from the dinner. Naturally, this was Ches's fault. He's embarrassed him pretty badly earlier.
"Cheers." Ches raised his wine glass, not necessarily in a formal toast, but casually, and took a sip.
"I was thinking about going -- @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai Melea just stayed, like a ghost going through the motions. She poured herself some wine, taking a hearty sip.
Élodie did the speaking for her …
“Melea, wouldn’t it be nice if you and Leon took Ches out to see the city?” Élodie spoke, causing her to look down to her steak as she cut into it and took a bite.—
"All the more reason you should go," Ches spoke up. He would have been fine going out by himself. Though now he felt the need to drag this girl out. "Paris has a great night life, you know. Seems a shame to waste it inside. Aren't you supposed to be experiencing the culture?"
Ches gave a crooked smile for a moment before turning his attention down and began cutting his steak, resting his wrists on the table while he was chewing.
Ches also doubted Leon would want to -- @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai Melea was about to object, but the look on Élodie’s face was so excited and supportive. Would Melea go out ? Have fun? See some night life and the city of romance ?
“I agree, Ches. Melea hardly leaves the institute except for mandatory patrols.” Her face turned beet —
@MasterOfSai red.
“By choice.” Melea spoke, making it clear to the boy in front of her. But now that miss Élodie threw the shade. She had no choice but to go. Aggressively chewing on her steak.
“I’ll go…” she spoke, determinedly as if she was going to war and not out to have fun.
Ches' mouth curved up into an amused smirk. She was so easily embarrassed.
"Great. We'll start at the Moulin Rouge." At Élodie's horrified expression, he quickly added: "Kidding. No worries, I'll take good care of her," he assured Élodie, easily switching on the charm for her. She probably thought he was a responsible, good-mannered young man. @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai Excited about the potential.
Melea pursed her lips, shifting her eyes to Ches as she eventually stood up. “I’ll do the dishes, Élodie. Thanks again.” Melea spoke, escaping towards the kitchen to load the dishwasher and scrub pans, overthinking.
"Are you sure? I was able to sneak up on you so easily earlier," he teased. Really though, he knew she'd be fine. She was a Shadowhunter, after all.
Ches continued chatting with Élodie as @HeavensBlade made her escape. She seemed stressed, but he wasn't. Despite never having been in a place like Paris before. He liked exploring, and was never afraid.
He ate his fill, then helped clear the table. Once dinner was cleared, he walked up behind Melea. "Get changed and meet me in the --
-- entryway," he told @HeavensBlade . For that moment, he was close enough that she could probably smell the wine on his breath.
Then he was gone.
@MasterOfSai “you didn’t…” Melea began to speak, but she was quickly shut off by his words. He was teasing her and she needed to stop being so gullible. As she cleaned up the pots and pans, she felt him move closer.
He was whispering in her ear, and he smelled like wine and steak and all things heavenly. Shutting the thoughts down, she nodded at —
Ches had been idling in the entryway of the Institute, waiting for @HeavensBlade to be ready. Unlike her, he was wearing... Black trousers and a t-shirt. Not dissimilar to what he'd been wearing earlier in the day, though he'd cleaned himself up a bit. He looked stylish, though casual, and he had several basic weapons concealed on himself, just in case.
When he heard her coming, he turned towards her and his eyebrows went up. "... Well. I guess I'm the one who's underdressed now."
--
--
He tucked his hands into his pockets. "Alright. Let's go."
He slid a coat on over his gear jacket, then opened the front doors, letting in the brisk night air. @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai there was snow outside, and Melea realized she may freeze to death. But? At least she would look damn good while doing it. Her legs were long, yet muscular . Her arms were strong and bulging just slightly from underneath the light jacket she threw on.
Melea could see how over dressed she was—
@MasterOfSai Or how under dressed he was.
Let’s just say, she didn’t know what to expect. “Ready.” Melea left the institute and instantly she felt some snow dampening her curls.
“So…” she spoke, eying him as they walked. “What happened with Leon? He wouldn’t come.” She spoke, pursing her lips.
Ches had to chuckle at the mention as he headed down the sidewalk. He'd looked over some maps and guide books before heading out, that way he wasn't going to get himself lost.
"He was interested in shagging... I had to remind him that we were related." Distantly. Still, the thought of hooking up with someone who had the same name as his mother before her marriage to his father made him uneasy enough to deter him from such an endeavor.
Additionally, Ches was who he -- @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai Now that was something Melea didn’t know. About Ches that is. She knew very well Leon would be on him like white on rice. The minute she moved in Leon was on the prowl. He was very sexually ambitious and let’s just say… he didn’t let anyone stop him. Melea considered it before. Leon was good looking … but he was so damn arrogant. And she knew he would never leave her be.
—
Ches let out a chuckle, his breath visible in the night air. He was not offended that Leon didn't specifically prefer him. He applauded him for knowing how to have fun in life.
"Most Shadowhunter families are, at the very least, very distantly related, true. Though unless the progenitors of the Skycrests were both born mundanes and turned into Shadowhunters, I'm sure you are also in there somewhere.
However, my mother was a Verlac. That's where I draw the line." @HeavensBlade
@MasterOfSai “oh I know that. That’s why my ex was a vampire.” Melea spoke, shrugging at that as she walked with him through the streets. It was easy to enjoy Paris. The lights, the bridges… the fashion. And some sun … well during the day.
“Your mother was a Verlac. So now I get why Élodie is glad to see you.” Melea spoke in a soft tone. —
As they got to a part of the city more inhabited by mundanes, there was the signature smell of cigarettes in the air... And some piss.
"At this rate, you probably won't have to worry about marrying someone you're related to..." He mused, taking a moment to look around and get his bearings. "Since the war, so many Shadowhunters died... We're getting more mundanes with the Sight than ever. Pick one of them," he suggested. He then began walking in the right direction.
--
"Élodie never met my mother... Though I suppose simply knowing we're related may please her. I don't think there are many Verlacs left anymore." @HeavensBlade
Ches had to laugh. He looked towards her. "We're about to go partying and you want to talk about the war? Pass. I think someone needs to teach you how to have fun."
He looked ahead and stopped walking. There was a line out the door of a building up ahead, the loud music could be heard from where they stood.
"... Technically... It would be cheating to use glamours to get in unnoticed..." He looked towards her and grinned. That was exactly what he was going to do.
--
@HeavensBlade
--
He withdrew his stele and pushed up his jacket sleeve before beginning to draw the rune on his arm.
"Now before you give me the good girl speech, think about how cold you are, and how long you want to spend outside in a queue." @HeavensBlade
Ches turned towards her and held her arm where the coat still covered her to steady her.
"Didn't you think to apply a warming rune?... I suppose you didn't. Too late now." He carefully applied the rune, trying not to mess it up thanks to her shivering.
Once he was finished, he released her arm and slid his stele back into his pocket.
"Right." He started towards the club, the music growing louder as they neared the building. He slipped right by the bouncer, -- @HeavensBlade
-- unnoticed, then made his way inside.
The music inside was loud enough to feel in your chest, and the lights were down fairly low, most of which was blue. There was a crowd of people inside, probably around their ages, all dancing or drinking.
Ches looked back and waited for @HeavensBlade to keep up. It'd be easy to lose track of one another in this place.
@MasterOfSai “Will you shut up and draw the rune? Yes I forgot.” She snapped, shivering once more and exhaling as he finally drew the glamor on her caramel skin. She quickly replaced her jacket, trying to loosen up. She would need more than half a glass of wine at dinner.
Melea walked forward, easily sliding past the bouncer—
@MasterOfSai As she made her way inside. The club was dark except for the light on the dance floor. She could feel the base from the music in her chest. She was a singer, though no one had to know. Being musically inclined meant that she enjoyed almost all music. Even the loud base of club music.
She made her way—
Melea Skycrest
Ches Hightower