"It is the most sensual men who need to flee women and torment their bodies."--- Friedrich Nietzsche

The creepy noise that startled Eleni wasn't a ghost or a storm or whatever else she'd imagined. It was Dino.

As he walks into the hotel, Dino Dinelli throws his bags on the floor, disturbing the peace with his mere presence.  Finally, he finds the hotel and greets it as if it is an enemy. Dino is angry because he spent most of the day walking, asking strangers for help and ending up travelling in circles. Most were entirely unhelpful and a waste of his breath. He tromps up into the building and pauses at the front counter. His mismatched eyes settle on the woman, sweat gleaming over every inch of his body and sticking his shirt to his chest and stomach like glue. His words could be heard distinctly by every patron in the small hotel. Fuck it. It's a goddamned hotel, he thinks in annoyance before turning to the lady at registration.

"Aight, miss. I ain't one to sound fuckin' rude, but it's been a long fuckin' day. Please tell you got a fuckin' room, an' a fuckin' workin' shower. It ain't even gotta have fuckin' hawt water. Just needs fuckin' runnin' water. I got fuckin' soap an' shit. I need a fuckin' shower an' a fuckin' bed to pass out in." He settled his hands on the counter, leaning a bit toward Kyla. Kyra. Kayla. Whatever. "So, can you work wit' me here? Or do I gotta fuckin' beg?" He smirks to the clerk, then pulled out his roll of cash. He only has a few hundred to last him, and the place looks ritzy enough to be expensive. He can only hope that being the remote town that it is, the hotel would be cheaper than it appears.

In the parlour next to Dino and the bewildered clerk, Marius is finding it difficult not become wholly entranced by the woman sitting near him. It was a respectable distance between them, but he knows what will happen from the moment she first touches his hand. The longer they converse, the more necessary her presence will become for him. It is dangerous territory for the Navy man. What he didn't expect was that she would start to become equally addicted to his reactions, the domino-style response that comes from the way the pair of almost-strangers interacts. It is as if they are suddenly the entirety of the world.

The more he watches her, though, the more he can see it. She isn't merely a lovely and seductive woman, but she likes him as much as he wants her. He is reasonably sure of this, though not 100%. His certainty keeps wavering, along with his confidence. Eleni leans in close to talk to him, her almond-shaped eyes bigger and darker. She smells like rose petals and something that reminds him of picking strawberries in the summer.

His eyes not moving too far from Eleni's, Marius chuckles at the mention of him finding peace within himself. "If I were looking for inner peace I'd take up yoga. A job isn't a bad idea. Something to do at least, fill up my time. Are there any mechanic shops around here? I can do electronics too, but mechanical things have a certain charm. Cars, machinery..y'know.." Marius shrugs to himself a little. "Suppose it goes back to the days I spent with my dad out in the garage," he chuckles.

"Got me started young. I've had plenty of adventures in the Navy. I suppose you're not far off the mark in saying I'm looking for a bit of peace now. Not entirely sure how I wound up here of all places, but when I got here it just... felt right." Marius can hear his words trailing off, his eyes staring at Eleni's legs and their hypnotic rhythm. Damn, the Navy didn't have women like that,  he thinks to himself, but he isn't going to be rude.

Marius also swivels his head to the loud, brash voice that would be at home with any sailor or shore leave. What a way to make an impression, he thinks with a smirk. It is small wonder Eleni hadn't been interested.  Nodding his head as he listens to Eleni explain her situation, his attention gravitates back to her presence.  "I wouldn't know what to do with a whole house to myself." He chuckles nervously. The very thought seems to make him a little uneasy.

"All that space..." His words trail off, shaking his head slightly he smiled at her. "I'm happy for you though. Here..." Marius pauses, setting his phone aside and reaching into his bag to pull out a notepad and a pen. "If you find yourself needing something fixed or moved, give me a little ring. It'll give me something to keep my hands busy and out of trouble, so don't go worrying you'd be putting me out or anything," he explains as he writes.

It is easier to hide just how much she throws him outside of his comfort zone if he keeps talking.

 Eleni laughs a bit, finding it curious he is both so self-assured and awkward at the same time. Mostly, though, he is a gentleman, and she likes that. The sound of his heartbeat is like a song stuck inside her, and it is impossible to pretend it isn't there. "I will admit, I am not very handy that way. There has always been someone around to handle such things for me, so I needn't worry."

A tinge of sadness brushes her face. Eleni, too, misses home and is reminded of loss. Her eyes focus on the man's a moment, her expression strange. It could be a transfixing gaze if taken that way, or just a way of making direct eye contact. Eleni was the assertively subtle type, and so it was often hard to tell. Confusing men was part of the fun for her. "Oh, trust me, darling. It is a tiny house. No bigger than this room, I'm afraid. I'm to be living out of steamer trunks still for lack of closet space." She smiles in a carefree, airy way at this. "However, it is by the beach, so it is perfect for---well, yoga and such".

Eleni chuckles at her own choice of words, giving an inviting little wink that clarifies she has no intention of taking up yoga. "I should thank you so kindly. I am sure I shall require your services at some point, for so much here is very old and run down. You shall not be so idle here for long, I think." Her face softens into an enchanting little look as she leans over to take the piece of paper.

From the outside of the cosy and intimate parlour, Eleni still hears the less-than-subtle exchange. Dino sighs as the woman takes an annoyed tone with him, and raises a hand to stall more of it. "Room, yes or no?" He gets a begrudging answer, then nods, peeling off the price of a few nights. He'd be in the room on the second floor no one even knew was a room. "Here you go. Dis should fuckin' cover it."

Dino scowls since it leaves him with little more than a hundred for food, but he would have to make do. He receives his key after scrawling his fake name to go with his fake ID on the guest book. "Yeah yeah, I know. It's a fuckin' New York ID. I'm movin' to town, so I'll get a fuckin' local one. Not dat I'll be fuckin' stayin' here my whole fuckin' life. Thanks." He raises his key in salute, then trudges through the lobby toward the stairs, only to see the living room place and two folks from earlier on the couch. "Hey dere, Marius, Eleni. Nice to fuckin' see you." Dino is a mess of sweat. Dusk and rain hadn't made the day any more bearable. When he notices Marius still in his jacket, he snorts out a laugh. "Fuckin' bottled water companies must love your ass, bro." He smirks at the man, still moving toward the stairs. He keeps his eyes on the duo. It was nice to know people here.

Marius tears the page from the notebook and hands over his scribbled name and number into her outstretched hand. He busies himself tucking it away back into the bag, along with the glasses and his hat. She might catch a glimpse of some of the cash stacked inside, or she might not even notice as items are shuffling around noisily. There didn't seem to be much else in that bag beyond a change of clothes, money, and the items he had just tucked away. His eyes were on the task of repositioning things in the bag to zip it back up while he spoke.

"Ah, there's a beach? I'll have to visit it. Maybe I will take up yoga after all. Might help me settle into retirement a little more gracefully." He glances at her and returns the wink with an outright twinkle in his eye. Looking at Eleni was a little habit forming. Once he finds the courage to do it, he keeps telling himself enough is enough. Inevitably, he'd sneak a peek again even if she didn't move a muscle. Hopefully, she doesn't notice just how clumsy he is around her and isn't thinking he is a creep.

Sitting in the little world of the parlour with a profoundly mesmerising woman, he doesn't hear the entire exchange between Dino and Kayla the way Eleni does. His general gaze is focusing in Dino's direction when the man makes his way further into the building and walks past the room. "Hey Dino, get lost on the way? Kayla told me there was space for two more here. Didn't see anyone else pass through since I got here. She get you set up?"

The soldier had been looking down at his suit when Dino made his comment about bottled water companies, and it took him a minute to get it. He chuckles when he does and shakes his head. "You got a point..." Marius sighs longingly, thinking of the world he'd left behind, but didn't keep Dino from heading off towards the stairs. Satisfied enough with the contents of his bag, he zips it up and turns back to Eleni, a look of vulnerability peeking through his peaceful gaze. "Well, hopefully, you're right. Idle hands tend to get me in trouble."

Eleni waves a hand to Dino, who is also calling this place home. She feels sorry for Marius a bit. It would be a loud breakfast, as Eleni didn't think the New Yorker came with a volume button. "And ain't it bloody fuckin' lovely to see you as well!" she calls up after him, her lips pulled up in laughter at her mocking of his "people skills".

As she leans over to take the paper from the military gentleman, her hand brushes his. Eleni looks into his eyes with a smile. In that one moment, there is the subtle suggestion that he should consider Eleni a friend and ally from that point on. Marius will likely find it difficult not to desire her presence every day. Poor Marius will find it more difficult than anyone else in the Parish to go through his days without thinking of the girl he'd met in the hotel. She knows this dance all too well and still delights in it. After all, Eleni can only enhance emotions that already exist, not force anything upon other people.

Letting go, she takes the paper and tucks it into her bag with a smile. "Idle hands and trouble can be a dangerous combination, I should agree. Although, I must speak in defence of danger! That combination is not without potential for much enjoyment, yes?." She winks with amusement, and says, "I shall give your number to anyone I meet who might need such work done. Never say I'm one to keep you from growing too bored." She lowers her voice and says, "If you intended upon staying here too long, I'd buy you some earplugs". She motions upstairs with a grin. "And I thought Ali was the least peaceful sound in the hotel."

Eleni watches as Dino nods to Marius, pausing in the doorway. She almost drowns out the monotony of the New Yorker conjugating his favourite word. "Yeah, I fuckin' did. Turns out not knowing where the fuckin' clinic was made it fuckin' difficult to find the place." He smirked, though, shaking his head. "Met a fuckin' cop, asshole that he fuckin' was. Full moon tonight, so might wanna stay fuckin' indoors. There's some zombie shit going on when the sun fuckin' goes down. If you want to listen to a fuckin' asshole cop, anyways."

She chuckles, as she concludes that Dino had no love lost for cops. "Fuckers always gotta fuck wit' da new guys in town, not for nuttin." He snorts a bit, then raises his key. "Yep, got myself a room. Looks like we'll have to fuckin' schedule cuddle time some other fuckin' night long as you're fuckin' willing to share." He grinned affably to Marius, then winked to Eleni. "I'd offer you fuckin' cuddle time tonight, but I need a fuckin' shower before I go spoonin' any fuckin'one."

Eleni would undoubtedly be correct about her assessment of Dino. He had two modes. Loud and asleep. Even that latter could be noisy if he slept on his left side. He'd been known to snore. "Well, I'll fuckin' leave you two to fuckin' chat or what-fuckin'-ever. Catch you at fuckin' breakfast, Marius." If Dino was even awake for it, Eleni thinks in her mocking tone. He didn't keep the best of schedules. Never once had Dino invited her to breakfast. She wonders if it was because he didn't want to stand her up or he merely thinks she doesn't eat.

Although he does not always act upon or acknowledge what he reads in people, Marius is reasonably good at picking up on even subtle giveaways that often went unnoticed by others. However, the brushing of Eleni's hand over his is far from subtle, and he wants to burst out smiling. Marius cannot, of course, but his eyes fixate on her. He is aware of staring and blushes a faint pink. Eleni is both classy and direct, a strange mix, especially for a man like Marius. That silent exchange is met with a curious arching of his brow and small nod as a slight smile forms on his lips. "I do enjoy a little of the good kind of trouble from time to time."

When Eleni mentions sharing his number with others, he adds, "Please do, keeping my hands busy will be a welcome distraction." Innocent as his words are, it is just as likely there is more than a bit of hidden innuendo there.

If Eleni picks up on it, she isn't going to like it, and there's an internal grin on his part. He intends to agitate her just a little. Jealousy in a woman is a very sincere and flattering sign of interest. More importantly, Marius can stop trying to guess what Eleni is thinking and gauge her level of genuine interest, versus flirting. The last, she does exquisitely well. He thinks she is almost too good at it, hiding any real emotions behind witty and suggestive remarks.

Though his expression gives away nothing, nor did his tone hint at meaning anything more by it, he can't hide the gleam in his eyes. It is up to Eleni to figure him out, but she seems just as adept at reading people. Nodding to Dino as he chimes in and shares his adventures of the day, he listens with a growing grin. Marius chuckles a bit at Dino's curious story and also the knowledge that his words would not go unnoticed by Eleni.

"Zombies? Like Michael Jackson's Thriller?" He shrugs slightly and nods to Dino, "I'll be up at O-dark-hundred, likely." Marius turns back to Eleni as she suggests he needed earplugs, a softness in his eyes at her old-fashioned femininity. He chuckles softly and shakes his head, "He's pretty tame compared to some of the guys in my old crew. Won't be a problem for me."

The rain starts to come down harder, and he watches the woman raptly as she smiles in reply to the loud-voiced New Yorker. He is trying not to fall over laughing at Eleni's obvious mocking of the New York mannerisms, which Dino doesn't appear to notice. In fact, Dino is not the most observant of people.

"Indeed, anything can happen on the full moon, so you must be very careful!" Laughing boisterously, Eleni offers, "Ah, you may have my room, the purple one. I do not think I shall sleep for some time and Ali is staying in the one next door with the alcoholic dude. The weird reclusive guy lives at the end of the hall. I shall lament the lack of of..err..spooning. I'm supposing that means forking is also off the table. I shall make do with the knife left behind." She flashes an innocent-looking grin in Dino's direction.

Eleni winks knowingly, watching Marius trying not to laugh. She was a smart one, he chuckles to himself, almost admiringly. Relocating Dino to the purple room made sure Marius would be in the hidden place where no one would see his comings and goings. If that is her response to a bit of jealousy, he is going to bait her a little more often.

"Yes, I suppose you are more used to it. I don't think I could be." She says this to him in a quiet tone that means so much more. Marius keeps needing that bottled water, not because of the uniform, but because Eleni's eyes never leave him. He is still a bit surprised by her flirtation and the unashamed way in which she presents it, but not shocked or about to protest. There is a fearlessness about her that arouses many things in him. He doesn't want to say goodnight just yet, even if they are deciding upon sleeping arrangements. This whole experience is surreal. He reminds himself of his unreality as the playful banter keeps moving from her red lips. He stares a bit. Marius turns a shade of red when he realises how obvious he is being.

"I have no doubt you shall find yourself quite in demand in no time." Eleni lowers her eyelids with a smile at this declaration meant to provoke her. Innuendo and charm is her natural way, but it's obvious she is always a lady. Marius notices how she plays her cards close to the chest, always, and disarms others by revealing only what she chooses. Eleni would make a killer poker player. "You shall have to tell me how your breakfast went, and if the night ended up with you being the big spoon or the little spoon." Eleni looks highly amused at herself.

The reverie shatters as Dino clicks his tongue and looks out the window as he hears the thunderstorm rolling in. It had started with the pattering of rain and the distant rumble of thunder. Now it was growing closer and closer. "Fuckin' hell. Full moon and a fuckin' thunderstorm. Fuckin' lovely." He rubs the key behind his ear, then shrugs. The lights in the place flicker, apparently a problem of which Marius had only recently been made aware. Ancient wires and thunderstorms tend not to mix. "If da fuckin' a/c goes off, swear to God, I'm walkin' around fuckin' naked." He salutes to them both and headed up the stairs. The first order of business for Dino is to find a room, then a shower. 

Eleni's eyes follow as Marius glances in the direction Dino had vanished. It is a belated reply, as Dino shouted about the weather and the potential of the AC going out. Shaking his head slightly Marius chuckles, "Wouldn't be the first time for that either. Well, it would be with him."

The sound of Eleni's laughter pinged ever so lightly as he muses,  his eyes almost conflicted. Marius is unexpectedly excited by the way she turns her attention back to him once they are alone. She carries a world with her that he desperately wants to explore, and it feels almost like an opportunity. It's an opportunity, but he has no idea how to proceed, which makes him feel like a young man wanting to ask the prom queen to dance. If he didn't feel his chest constrict with nervous energy, the room would echo with the sharp inhale of expectation

Marius has no shame in letting his eyes wander briefly, the glances more bold and direct now. He isn't going to be shy about appreciating the attractive woman that perches across from him, but he isn't about to run her off, either. Her flirtations are not at all lost on him, yet Marius is still an old-fashioned gentleman in many ways. He knows how not to be. Like most Navy men, he'd met his share of women who did not need to meet a gentleman. Despite her blatant allure, he knows that isn't Eleni. He has never met anyone more worthy of his best manners.

The Navy had a way of changing boys into men quickly. While some lost their ability to maintain their manners, others improved them. As Marius moved through the ranks, knowing how to speak to people became a more critical part of the job. The higher up he went, the less time he was able to spend elbow deep in grease and engine parts, but the more refined he'd become. It flattered him a little to think he'd succeeded well enough to attract the attention of someone like Eleni, who reminded him of Audrey Hepburn in all those old movies. All she needs is a gown, long gloves, and a tiara. He snickers to himself, imagining Eleni's closet and how she probably does.

The moment's pause feels longer than mere seconds. Marius forces himself to find his voice. "Well, I am certain there will be some interest, but I tend to be picky with where I let my hands find work. I'll try not to let the attention go to my head if I find interest abounds." He smiles coyly, but he speaks in a pointed and meaningful way. All jokes aside, Marius is not one to play the field. He's not one to play at all, which is why Eleni has him trembling inside.

Eleni's smile turns to an endearing one, and her lips naturally move up into a warm, inviting countenance as the gruff New Yorker departs. "He is something else, for certain," she says with a soft look. "I think it is always a good idea to be very selective with where you choose to let your hands do their work, Though not all would agree with me on that one, hands that work too hard tire easily, grow calloused, and lose their appeal." She turns her lips into a ruby red smirk and asks, "How long were you in the military?"

It is a startlingly quick change of subject, and Marius almost glimmers with happiness. He is very confident she likes him in a sincere sort of way, the way he wants a woman to feel about him. It also terrifies him.  "Well, those that don't eventually end up wishing they were pickier about things. I've had enough chaos in my life without going out of my way to create more. I prefer a little discretion when it comes to those sorts of detail-oriented services." He finds himself more than a little giddy from the tone and witty double entendre of the conversation.

Marius is breathless at how he is so easily captivated by her flirtations and the way he enjoys returning them. There is almost erotic energy that comes from simple words. At least, that's what 98% of Marius is noticing. The other 2% seriously needs to shut up. He didn't want to deal with his doubts and insecurities or think of the baggage he carries with him.

Eleni is an unusual woman, sensual in how she carries herself but full of grace and charm. He wants to understand what made her that way. From the brief conversation they'd shared he'd picked up that she was not just a pretty face with a killer body, but keenly intelligent. She was more aware of others than most were, a sort of talent all on its own. "Most of my life. Seventeen years..." He says this with a small shrug. "Took after my dad in that a bit. Made a career of it, but when he passed on, I just..." He pauses briefly and shrugs as if telling her it's hard to find the words. The entire time, he is idly toying with the ring on his finger. "I felt like it was time for a change."

She has a playful grin at the perceptive and accurate philosophy. "Ah, that has been my experience, yes. I have been on this Earth long enough to know that it is those who lack discretion and subtlety in how they conduct all matters in their lives are the first to bear the scars of such things." She leans in more closely and brushes her lips past his ear, a sweet whisper that he swears is made just for him, "You shall find I am a trusted friend and delightful companion to those who earn such an honour."

A smile plays upon her lips, and her face turns thoughtful. "Seventeen years! So you have never known much else, in the way of life?" As she tilts her head, Marius watches her eyes grow sad and empathetic. "I am sorry for your loss. I lost my parents when I was only a bit younger than you are now. I know how it is a difficult loss you do not forget."

Marius is careful to make sure his face doesn't change, but he thinks a couple of her words rather curious in their phrasing, "Oh c'mon. You can't be much older than me. I had you pegged for younger." His tone suggests he is a shameless flatterer, but also telling the truth at the same time. While a man couldn't go wrong telling a woman how thin or young she looked, this one sincerely appeared to be both.

Her surprise over his life in the service earns a shrug. It is Marius' go-to response. As much as he adores chatting with Eleni and doesn't ever want to stop, talking about himself or his life doesn't come naturally. He also is strangely wanting to be honest with her, to let her see the real person. "I enjoyed it. I learned a lot. About myself, about others. I climbed the ladder to the top, chasing power. Honestly, in a lot of ways, I was trying to make my dad proud. When he was gone, I realised I had left all the things I enjoyed behind in exchange for that power. It may sound a bit like a cliche, but I looked around me, and I just felt like I had spent my whole life trying to impress one man. This move, coming here and meeting you, it feels like the first time I did something for myself."

Her mention of losing her own parents made him frown and nod solemnly, "I was lucky to have him around as long as I did. I'm sorry for your loss, Eleni." After a moment of silence, he adds, "I hope I didn't give the wrong impression. I loved my father and still do. It just took him dying for me to realise all he ever wanted from me was to be me. I had his permission to discover who I am, and be my own man. I never thought that was enough, not for him or me or anyone."

The onyx-haired woman smiles a moment, mournfully, and shakes her head. "Non, you've hardly given the wrong impression. It is but part of the natural order of things, to grow and to learn about yourself. It is when you are no longer able to be a child you must be the adult. That means learning who you are independent of your love for others. It is only then you realise you were always loved unconditionally. It is fear that holds people back. Even at this moment, there is fear. It holds you back. A man like you has no reason for such insecurities." Eleni's voice is an expensive fabric, sumptuous but substantial, and the lovely French lilt that wasn't too exotic in this part of the world softens her. His eyes tell her everything she needs to know, the almost twitch of the side of his face as she shares her assessment of him. Eleni is not wrong, but the world is a complicated one. People are even more so.

He idly fidgets with the ring on his hand, not even noticing how intently Eleni is watching him. He feels it, and the overwhelming sensation of being so exposed to a woman he barely knows keeps him from looking at her. The ring is on the wrong finger and too large and decorative to be a wedding band, but it would explain many things about his reaction. He would like to tell her restraint isn't disinterest, but those words are hard to articulate sensibly. Another part of him wants to carry her to his room and let her help him erase all the insecurities and feelings of foolishness he has at this moment.

"Have you family of your own, then, that you have left at home? A woman who would not appreciate you talking with me, perhaps?" As she listens with amusement to him attempting to guess her age, her face softens, and her lips press together in a friendly manner. It is as if she is to divulge a great secret. Her eyes still glance toward the ring now and again, though, even as her figure leans in towards his. "Ah, a woman never reveals her age, cheri. I am fond of saying I am young enough to make incredibly stupid mistakes but old enough to know better." Eleni's features dance in merriment. In his eyes, they almost sparkle."If I am younger than you, tis not by much."

Eleni is a puzzle, Marius thinks even as his head is spinning. She has a style and self-assurance that make her seem older than the years her face and body show but carries a lightness of heart and willingness to take risks that only comes with youth. As she spoke of age, he waved a hand dismissively, "I enjoy a bit of mystery. I wouldn't dare spoil it by asking." The teasing note does not hide how much he enjoys her. She makes it easy to open up and to enjoy life simply, thoroughly.

He didn't even have to know her to guess other people think of Eleni as a siren of sorts, a seductress who used the most simple tools to enchant. Still, others naturally see an overly-refined young woman in need of protection. Men were wired to focus on everything that lonely, single women would offer for that protection. What was she?

Marius couldn't know he already understands more than most ever would. "Did you come here, then, looking to discover yourself?" Her words sound as if they travel to him from a distance, and he has to remind himself to blink. There is a distracted heaviness in Marius, his head reeling from watching her and listening to her talk about becoming an adult.

"My father was not the unconditional loving sort of man. He..." Marius stops suddenly, blinking. Their relationship had been a somewhat complicated one, and he didn't seem ready to dive into that subject. Marius did not miss that her gaze drifted to the idle fidgeting of him playing with that ring, not this time. Sitting up a little, he pushes the ring in place, and he forces himself to stop. Marius quickly shakes his head to her question about family.

"Just my sister. The eldest brother died when I was young, murdered by the second eldest. He's rotting in jail for it. My mother couldn't handle it; she was always a little too gentle for this world. She died when I was young, which left my father to raise my sister and me." His eyes are suddenly focusing inward, no longer distracted by Eleni but by his memories.

"Beyond that, the Navy didn't leave much room in my life to pursue a family. My first love has always been machinery, though some of that spilt over into my artistic hobbies. While the rest of the guys were off chasing skirts, I was finding a place to sit down and make some art." He chuckles, and the playful spirit returns. "It was something to keep my hands busy." He winked at her, having not forgotten their earlier repartee.

He thinks over the latter question in a silence that seems to drag on. When he did answer, it might not have been the expected response. At least, it isn't the kind he'd usually give. It is plainspoken and honest. "I'm not sure why I came here. I just knew I couldn't stay where I was anymore. So I left... and this is where my feet took me."

Eleni releases a soft sigh as the lights begin their flickering nonsense again, demonstrating the force of nature that scared the New Yorker to his room. "It seems the storms are back. I hope the rain doesn't visit us too long this time. I was meant to move out today. I think the Universe had other plans." She leans in, blue orbs growing darker and focusing on Marius. It is a look that says he is the only thing in the world at the present moment. "I am glad for its agenda, though. Aren't you?"

The playful moment passes, and her face turns quickly to one that is serious and contemplative. She had been listening to the officer tell his story about his family. It is a story every bit as sad and tragic as her own. She frowns in sympathy, her mind ruminating on the knowledge that nobody's story is ever straightforward. "I see now why it is so important for you to keep busy, and why the idle hours are daunting."

She nods her head in consideration before speaking, her voice still melodic. "I adore art, all forms of creativity. I should like to think in a different world I might have done something with my own gifts. Who knows, perhaps I still shall yet?" Eleni smiles at him, her hand reaching out and moving gently on top of his. Her large blue eyes examine him in a teasing, merry way. She speaks to him now in a quiet, hypnotic tone. "I think you simply have the need for busy hands, wherever you may travel".

Eleni's touch is a gentle one, but also strange in a way she cannot conceal. It is a touch that is a conquest. She knows Marius is sure to remember it later and that gives her a small sense of triumph. "You enjoy a bit of mystery, do you?" She whispers in a teasing voice, before asking what she wants to know. "Am I the sort of mystery you are inspired to solve?"

It is always somewhat difficult for anyone, including Eleni, to know how seriously to take her words. There is a boldness about her that allows her to say exactly the words she wants to say, and yet, she doesn't always do so when it comes to matters of true emotional significance. Sitting back in her seat comfortably, she says, a contemplative look on her face. "I do not know why I came, either. I do not even know if it was wise. I have a tendency to follow my heart. My heart grew tired of---everything." She gives a light laugh. "People say I have a whimsical spirit. It is not always terribly practical." She grins at this, acknowledging it is the truth.

The Navy man pushes the hair from his eyes nervously, studying her facial expressions. There is some degree of ability to relate to his own past. The sympathetic nature didn't surprise him. It seems consistent with her personality. What did throw him off was the wisdom of her words and the empathy that did not appear to be for show. It made him curious, though he did not pry. His approach is to let her share at her own pace. He is a man that is comfortable with secrets and a bit of mystery. Not all things were for him to know. Her hand coming to rest upon his own did not seem to bother him quite as much as close contact usually did. Instead, he oddly finds himself enjoying the soft touch of her fingers against his own hard and calloused hands. "Agenda? Yes, I am happy, Eleni. I am happy we had this time to get to know each other." He swallows nervously. "It won't be the same without you here."

She would find that his own hand is very much in contrast to hers. It is skin used to hard labour, covered in scars. Hard as rocks, and covered by thick, scarred skin that leaned more towards leathery than anything. The storm and the flickering lights did not even make him blink. He seems to barely notice.  Whether that was due to his attention focusing on her, or because he has an uncanny ability for tuning out background noise, it was hard to tell. When she leans back and her hand leaves him, for a moment, he feels a strange longing for her to put it back.

It is not a conscious thought as much as it is a subconscious desire. Emotionally, the man's mind reacts, but Marius is mostly clueless about what is going on there. His brain tries to justify it in the simple terms of her being a desirable woman. He is a lonely man with normal desires. The inclination to indulge all of them with her is like a heartbeat, pounding relentlessly through his body. Perhaps now without the military to fill that hole in his life, he is finding trouble already. There are all kinds of trouble he wouldn't mind discovering with the dark-featured Frenchwoman, but he is not yet ready to acknowledge she made him feel things. He isn't prepared to explore them, but for a few hours with her that seem like days, surrender is a relief. He wonders how far he can go and how much he is willing to surrender.

Smiling as he listens to her, his mind briefly drifts back to the way her hand felt in his. Suddenly, a loud crash of thunder drew him from his idle daydream. Marius shifts to collect himself, taking it as a sign. Glancing back towards the stairs where Dino had wandered off, he lets out a sigh and moves to stand. "I would enjoy talking about your artistic talents, and where your heart is telling you to go next." Marius muses over this last statement, as his words are not simply polite.  "But I should try to get out of this suit before I ruin it."

It isn't without regret that he moves to leave her, but he has to. If he doesn't, he won't. She has to know that, doesn't she?

Eleni's face registers surprise when he stands up, the reaction nearly the same as if he'd darted out of the room. Is he just leaving? Did he not feel everything that just happened?  Her mind reels as she tilts her head towards Marius, giving him a polite but direct look of fascination. The dark, sensual woman notes a bit of a reserved nature about him, though at times he was quite open. Eleni was not one to push down anyone's walls or force someone from a comfort zone if the interest wasn't there. All people deserve privacy, and whatever manner of self-protection makes them happy. Flirtation is one thing, but Eleni did not chase after anyone. It required too much of her pride to lower herself to ask for interest or emotion or companionship. The world offered plenty of such things, but it was always ultimately up to others to ask what they wanted of her.

Somewhat disappointed, she stands up gracefully. The motion is an almost regal one that shows off her petite but well-curved body. Eleni has the type of tiny waist and youthful pertness to her bosom that makes it look as if she lives in a corset, though it had been well over a century since she'd done so.  Her voice is not wavering in its charm as she says, "Perhaps there shall be another day, and another time to speak of such things."

Her lips curl into a rather bewitching smile, although it is the same one with which she'd greeted him. After all, perception is everything. "I thank you for you spending a bit of your evening with me, as you've been delightful company, Marius."

Eleni moves to the desk, and writes, in her flourished and old-fashioned script, a name and a telephone number. "Here you are. Please do give me a call if you should ever need anything. I am not much for odd jobs and fixing things, but I too grow idle from time to time and have hands to be occupied." She winks merrily and bows her head as if to say goodnight, extending the paper, perhaps merely to see how cautious he is in touching her fingers. If she takes offence at his sudden inclination to depart, she recovers admirably, at least at face value.

Eventually, most people learn not to take Eleni at face value.

Marius waits for Eleni patiently while she writes out her number for him much in the same fashion he had done for her. He feels his heart pounding deep within his chest. The feeling makes him dizzy, unstable, but it isn't dehydration. It is the moment of de ja vu.  It is much like a moment of looking into the mirror and replaying a scene from earlier in the evening. Without hesitation, his fingers brush over her hand as he took the paper from her.

The gesture hardly subtle, he mimics her previous motion to perfection. A jolt of electric current travels through his body as he does. It made it stand out all the more that he was able to recall precisely how and where she had touched him and to return that same touch. Did she notice? He was a man of many strange talents, just as she was a woman with many skills of her own.

"You can expect a call from me soon since I have nothing but time. Maybe you can teach me yoga. If I am going to learn, it should be from the best. " Marius grins devilishly at this. "Or at the very least, you can show me where this beach is if the weather clears up." With a polite bow of his head, his hand withdraws, taking her number with it. He makes a small motion backward, his eyes lingering on her until he is awkwardly half-turning to leave for his room.

The silence and awkwardness have a life of its own, at least in Marius' own head. Finally, he speaks, his voice softer than it typically is

"The weather isn't safe for anyone tonight. This hotel isn't much, but it is comforting, especially with someone who makes it feel that way. Feel free to wait out the storm in my room..." He trails off, realising that is rather blunt. It is perhaps not as suggestive as it seemed, though. He is tired and plans to be sleeping, whatever her choice is. He would be a gentleman, but wouldn't mind waking up to her thin, elegant limbs snuggling against him.  Blushing furiously as soon as he is out of Eleni's line of sight, he does not wait for an answer and disappears around the corner.