A Sommelier's Prey (Maxine)

[AUGUST WITT]

The night was cool and blustery. The wind nipped at his cheeks and August pulled the thin, flannel gray scarf tighter as if that would somehow protect his cheeks from the wind. He was in a mood that night, and needed to relax. What better way than to sit down with a bottle of wine and unwind at home. He though he might go to a club but the thought of surrounding hi with other drunks just did nothing for him this evening. sure, he wouldn't mind company, but he would prefer the quiet subtle company of one, not dozens.

The political world wasn't what he had dreamed it would be at times. It was frustrating and he wanted to be a part of human congress, but of course he could not. It would be difficult to sit in his plush office answering phone calls and going out for public appearances when you were made of stone. His being a Gargoyle was nothing short of an inconvenience, but he was what he was and there was little he could do to rectify his bleak situation. He would need to make due being part of the Gargoyle's political party, which was it's own set of crazy.

Gargoyles were stubborn by nature it seemed, and though he was groomed well, even he lost his temper now and again.

Tonight was one of those nights.

August needed to unwind a bit and he needed to get to the liquor store before it closed. Once there he pushed through the door and out from the bitter night. Neon lights showered down on him from the window as he walked in, looking around. Why did all liquor stores insist on having one of those neon lights advertising a type of beer? They were a liquor store. They had beer. Any idiot would know that.

August himself wasn't much of a beer drinker. He'd had it a handful of times out of polite necessity and could tolerate it, but it wasn't his drink of choice. He preferred wine, champagne, brandy, scotch... anything with a high price tag was fine by him. He could easily polish off a bottle of wine with little to no buzz from the alcohol. Another drawback to being what he was.

He roamed the wine aisle, taking his time. He was in no hurry. He was looking at a Pinot Noir when a head full of red hair caught his gaze. He made no move, but his light blue-gray eyes followed it like a predator. It was practically a neon sign itself, standing out against the rows of bottles.

August grabbed the bottle of Kosta Browne, wanting another bottle or two, but deciding to wait on it. His moves were both precise and casual as he wandered over to where the young lady stood, looking around as if it was the spot he had been looking for.

"Cabernet." He said, looking at the selection they had displayed on the rack. "Would you happen to know a thing or two about Cabernet? I'm looking for something...robust." He asked, looking over at the girl, a pleasant look on his face, his eyes hungry.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi needed a drink. Once more, she had been required to blur out of the school to avoid more work. It was Friday! How did the assistant principal even expect her to stay and work on projects? Midterms were over and she felt as free as her students! Well...until she had to grade them. Still, she was definitely putting that off until Sunday. Right now, she was getting some alcohol. She didn't like going to the liquor store, feeling like the cashier judged her when she went in alone, but their selection of wine was a hundred times better than picking something cheap up from the grocery store. And she was feeling wine tonight. A nice sweet port would help her celebrate the end of a very long week.

If she didn't freeze before she reached the store, that was. Being as small as she was, the wind blew right through her, even though she had multiple layers on. A cobalt blue scarf was wrapped around the lower half of her face and she kept her hands shoved in her pockets. The closest parking she could find to the store was around the corner, so she walked as fast as she could. When she finally came through the door, she sighed relief, smiling at the cashier as she pulled the scarf from her face. He gave a friendly smile back, and then looked to his book once more. The less he cared, the less out of place she felt. She rubbed her arms frantically to warm herself up as she made her way to the wines, totally oblivious to anyone around her.

Her sapphire eyes browsed the shelves, trying to find a port with a nice fruity flavor. She didn't like the sharp taste of most wines, but ports were easy to handle. Maybe she would even pick up a pizza before she went home. With her head cocked to the side, scanning the bottles, she heard someone walking toward her. Her eyes shifted to the man coming up beside her, and heard him read the sign for Cabernet out loud. A small smile came to her face, though she could feel her shyness bubbling to the surface. She always got nervous around handsome men, and the man next to her was definitely handsome. When he looked at her, asking for a suggestion, she tried her best to suppress the heat coming to her face, with reasonable success. There was a strange look in his eyes that made her slightly uneasy though.

The man is only asking about wines, stop being silly, Maxi silently berated herself, which eased the butterflies flitting around in her stomach somewhat. She gave a wider, pleasant smile as she gave a shrug and a hopeless shake of her head. "Sorry, I don't know much about Cabernet. I prefer sweet ports myself," she replied in her soft voice. Thankfully she wasn't holding a bottle; she felt in danger of being her usual klutzy self, and she didn't need this handsome stranger to see that. Sometimes she was too self-conscious for her own good.

To avoid an awkward silence, she offered a suggestion: "If you'd like a robust port, though, I would recommend the Tejas Port. There." She gestured to a bottle which was closer to him than it was to her. It actually was a wine that she had tried once before, but she was much better at suggesting coffees than wine. Ultimately, it was up to him whether he took her suggestion or not. It wasn't likely he would be around to dispute her taste in wine, right?

[AUGUST WITT]

Her smile is kind and gentle, and he can see how very delicate she is as he watches her carefully. He pays a great deal of attention to the way she moved, breaths, talks... the tone of her voice and the softness of it. She is shy and bashful, and August finds himself smiling back at her. Not because he's overly interested in her. Or rather, overly interested in the things about her she would like for him to be.

Women like this were easily intimidated. He liked that, especially when he came off as a gentleman at first. He could hold the guise for as little or long as he needed to, not much different than a lion hunched over in the tall grass of the savanna, stalking a grazing gazelle.

She was his gazelle.

"If you'd like a robust port, though, I would recommend the Tejas Port. There." Her hand was gesturing to a bottle on the shelf and he let his eyes pull away from her long enough to look at it. It wasn't a wine he was overly interested in, not much a fan of sweet wines, but it was part of a game he wanted to play. He had tension built up and he needed to unwind. She could help him.

He reached for the bottle and looked it over, turning it around to see the label on the back which held a little more information about this particular vintage. "It looks lovely." He said, his voice low and throaty, full of mock concentration. His eyes panned back to the young lady and the corners of his mouth turn up. "No wonder you enjoy it." He said without holding back.

Would she play hard to get or would this be an easy conquest? "I apologize, I'm being rude." He chuckled and shifted the wine into he crook of his arm since he was already holding a bottle and wanted to free his hand. "I'm August." He introduced, his smile brightening. "I don't mean to be so forward but... you're quite a sight." He looked back down at the bottle. "I'm sure someone as lovely as yourself needs to rush home to a boyfriend though."

Half the fun was wooing.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi was mildly satisfied that the man took her suggestion and went for the bottle. Her tension eased a little when his eyes weren't on her. As he inspected the bottle, she let her own eyes wander back to the rack, looking for something to snatch up in case she had to make a hasty retreat. But when he looked back to her, he caught her attention. At first she didn't know what he meant by knowing why she enjoyed it, but it suddenly dawned on her. He eyes got wide as she perked up a little, her face flushing as she let out an, "Oh!" Caught off guard by his boldness, she was struck speechless as her cheeks turned a bright pink. She was grateful when he spoke again, giving a breathy laugh and a wide smile. "No, no, I...Thank you for the compliment," she managed shyly.

When he extended his hand, she moved to take it, finding that his name was August. Her movements froze as he continued to compliment her, making her smile grow brighter. She definitely hadn't expected so much praise during her visit to the liquor store, and she bashfully pushed some of her red hair behind her ear. At last, she put her hand in his, giving a warm smile as she said, "I'm Maxi." His hands felt strangely rough, but perhaps that was only because her skin was strangely soft. Those big blue eyes of hers dropped to the hand she was holding and found his knuckles were abnormally large...and discolored. She puzzled over this for a moment, wondering what could have caused it, but she didn't want to be rude by staring. Releasing his hand, she smiled wide once more, looking back up at him.

"And, no, there's no boyfriend," she replied with a small shake of her head. "I just came here looking for something to help me relax on a quiet Friday night. But I'm sure there must be some lady friend waiting for you." Though she was still blushing, she gave something of a flirtatious smile. There was no harm in flirting, but if he got any ideas, she would let him know nothing was going to happen with him tonight. She still wasn't aware what his game was, but she wasn't as naive as to not be aware that he had a purpose to complimenting her. Maxi wasn't one to slink off with a stranger, though. Give her number, maybe, but wining and dining was always a requirement for Maxi.

Seeing the two bottles in his arms, August must have been planning some kind of get together. Why else would he need multiple bottles of alcohol? It also reminded her of her reason for coming here. She absent-mindedly grabbed the last bottle she had been looking at, sure she would be satisfied with anything at this point. Just being complimented had made her evening, so any wine would do for her. Looking to him again, "Looks like you're stocking up." Making playful statements always eased her nervousness somewhat, and she gave a playful smile to off-set the comment.

[AUGUST WITT]

A look of amusement flashed in his eyes as she turned a delicate shade of pink. He liked seeing it. It brought an animal part of him out, but he stayed as he was, firm in his stance, her hand in his. He immediately noted the difference in her skin. August had been around for quite some time, and he was fully aware of the other Guardians. He had been trained to watch for the tell tale signs of them. Blurrs with their skin that was too soft to the touch, Therianthropes who stayed in on the full moon, or acted wildly only days prior to it, and those pesky Avisaille, who had a slight hump on their back where their silly little harnesses hid what they truly were. Then there were other Gargoyle's with their sour attitudes and hard, leather skin.

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he looked back up at her, wondering if perhaps she was what he thought she was. He had a good eye for that sort of thing, but it was difficult to tell just yet. If she were, he could feel less guilty about ravaging her, since she was surely older than she appeared.

"Maxi." He repeated after she offered her name, smiling warmly. He hated it. It didn't role off the tongue as easily as he would have liked it to, and he was under the impression it was a nickname. He hated nicknames, but nothing on his face gave away his inner thoughts. For all intents and purposes he adored her name and her presence. "It's a pleasure."

Ah, she wanted to relax. He smirked a little. Isn't that why most people bought a bottle of wine? To unwind a bit? It was surely his reasoning.

He didn't miss the amorous tone in her voice when she inquired about a lady friend waiting for him. "That depends. Can we be friends?" He asked, raising a brow coyly. He let it sink in for a second before continuing. "I also like to relax a little. This should be enough to do the trick for a bit." And by bit he meant one night, possibly two. He let his gaze linger on her for a moment and then he turned back to the wine selection, going on like he had never flirted at all.

"If you're interested in sweet wines, I recommend and Eiswein." He smiled gently at her, though there was truly nothing gentle about August Witt. "They're typically a harvest wine which are usually sweeter, and because the grapes are frozen when picked, it makes the sugar more concentrated. It's really better for drinking over dessert than relaxing at home." He explained, not seeing any right where they were standing.

He wondered if she would make a move. He certainly had, though it was subtle. Not so subtle that she wouldn't have picked up on it, unless she was completely dense, and in the case he had no interest in her anyway. "Maybe you should try a rose wine. To match your cheeks." He offered and then grinned, looking down at his selection. Two would be enough. For now.

"Thank you for the port suggestion." He held up the wine, knowing he wouldn't really enjoy it, but he had to keep up appearances. "I should let you get to your relaxing, quiet evening. It's been a pleasure, Maxi." Ugh, what a terrible name.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi gave a giggle at August asking if they could be friends. "I don't know," she replied, cocking her head to the side flirtatiously. His lingering gaze from those blue-gray eyes was unnerving, and she couldn't hold it for long. Her stomach was alive with butterflies beneath the weight of it, and she wasn't quite sure how to respond. When he began speaking again, she was grateful. She was awful at filling awkward silences. He gave her a run down of Eiswein, something she actually had before, but never knew the story behind. With the weather outside, she didn't think she could bear a cold drink, but she gave a warm smile anyway. She wouldn't know where to find it in the store anyway.

At his comment on her rosy cheeks, she gave another giggle, looking down at her feet briefly. When she looked at him again, her gaze was subtly amorous. "You're a slick one," she commented. He had obviously done this many times before. It made her less nervous because she was less special. If she was one of hundreds of women he had flirted with, there were no expectations. That was a small comfort, but she was still flattered. August was a good-looking man after all. But she was still curious about his hands...there was something in the back of her mind, something her father had told her, but she couldn't quite remember.

Then she was surprised to see he was making to leave. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and she was sure the surprise was showing in her big eyes. Perhaps there was disappointment there, too. Maybe it was for the best, though. He was a little too slick, and probably was looking only for a one night stand. Definitely not what she wanted. If a guy got up her skirt, it was a hard won victory. Chatting Maxi up in a liquor store wasn't a good enough try. Smiling warmly, she nodded, "You're welcome. And thanks for the Eiswein suggestion. Pleasure meeting you."

Looking back to the wines, she didn't really feel like any of them anymore. Really, she had gotten all the satisfaction she needed from all of the compliments she received from August. A pizza by itself with some soda would be a cheaper way of celebrating, and being a lowly teacher, she had to scrimp. She shrugged, but didn't want to offend anyone by leaving without buying anything. August had been nice enough to give her a suggestion and it would be rude not to take it. Blurring her way out seemed the best answer, but how would she get out? She blurred herself behind a shelf, making sure no one was looking, and made her way to the door, just to check out the scene.

Just as she got there, a man was walking in. Jackpot! She slipped past him as he came in. Unfortunately, the wind outside sucked the door shut faster than she expected, catching her right on the butt. It made the door jump unnaturally and a small yelp leave her. As soon as the noise left her, she could have cursed herself. It was such a perfect opportunity, and she blew it! When she was well enough away, she ducked into an alley and became visible again, sighing heavily. Maybe she should have gotten the wine.

She slipped out of the alley and began walking to her car, completely unaware as to whether someone was following her or not. It didn't even occur to her that anyone would investigate the strange happenings with the door.

[AUGUST WITT]

She was letting him leave, but that wasn't necessarily to end of August. He was persistent when he wanted to be, and though he had a right mind to walk on out and forget her, he was bored. He really had one of two options; one, he could continue to pursue her, or two, he could walk out, go home, get drunk and do whatever the hell he wanted until the sun came up. There was also the option of finding someone else perhaps a little more easy, but he didn't feel like putting in the work it took to find someone suitable. Maxi had been an easy target. She happened to be in the right place and the wrong time. He'd be a fool to let her slip away that easily, but he remained cool as he continued to peruse through the aisles, grabbing another dry wine along the way. He would hold onto the port, just in case.

As he wandered on he tried to keep an eye out for Maxi, his little gazelle. He could see her red hair bobbing around, disappearing behind a shelf. She never emerged. he wondered if maybe he had missed her, but his eyesight was sharp and he would have noticed her fleeing. He was a predator, after all. He made it a point to not let anything slip past him that he didn't want to.

He let his eyes dart around, but there was no sign of her. She had slipped through his fingers somehow. Annoyance seethed through him. He had a good feeling he knew what she had done. Did she know about him? Had she picked up on what he was when he had done the same to her? Likely not considering how flirty she had been.

That or she liked the arrogance only a Gargoyle could own.

He grabbed his third bottle and decided enough was enough. Though they weren't heavy to him, it would be awkward carrying his goods to and from his vehicle, so three would need to suffice for now. He went to the register and waited, not so very patiently, behind a young man trying to buy booze. He was clearly an idiot if he thought for one second that "I forgot my ID at home" crap would work. He let out an exasperated sigh feeling his anger course through his blood. He was about to say something when the owner threatened to call the police, which was enough to get the youth to make his way from the store. He better make a hasty retreat, August thought darkly. He didn't like to be waiting.

Once out he headed towards his door, the bitter chill nipping at him once more. It was April for heavens sake! Where was the warmth? he was nearly to his car when a head of red hair caught his attention and he turned his eyes towards his gazelle.

"I thought you'd left already." He called out to Maxi, a smile on his face. "I never even saw you leave." He noticed her empty hands and raised a brow. "Decided against the port?" He asked conversationally.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi was almost free and clear of the liquor store when a familiar voice rang out. Turning, her eyes wide, she saw August standing by a car. She gave a nervous laugh at his comments, wondering if he somehow knew how she beat her hasty retreat. Of course he didn't know...and then there was that little bit of information her father had told her, nagging at the back of her head. What was she trying to remember? She walked back to him slowly, shoving her hands in her pockets against the cold, a casual smile on her face. "I'm pretty good at going unnoticed," she said off-handedly. Lies. The door had literally hit her in the ass as she left, and she yelped. She had to be the worst Blurr ever. Had he heard her and come to investigate? Probably not. With three wine bottles in his arms, he obviously took time to pay for them. But the way he said he hadn't seen her, though...it sounded like he knew. She must be paranoid to think so, right? And then that thought was nagging at her again. What was she trying to remember that her father said? Something about his hands.

She snapped out of her thoughts at his noticing no wine. She gave a shrug. "Yeah, I decided pizza and soda would be enough for me tonight. Have to save money," she replied, before giving a wide smile at all the wine in his arms. "Are you really going to drink all of that by yourself?" She said with a teasing tone, not judgmental. If he wanted to drink all of that himself, that was fine by her. The man must have a stomach made of stone, though.

That's when she remembered what her father had told her. He mentioned the other guardians, the traits of each one. For gargoyles, it was leathery skin and possibly scars. Gargoyles didn't have an easy right of passage. There must have been surprise on her face as she wondered if August was a guardian as well. Did he know about her? Or was all of this in her head? Giving a nervous laugh, she shook her head, bringing a hand to her forehead. She must have looked crazy.

"I'm sorry, you just...reminded me of something. Something my father told me," she explained with a wide smile, though she was feeling a little nervous. What if he was a Gargoyle? Weren't they dark sorts of creatures? She waved her hand as if to dismiss her thoughts and shoo away her strange behavior. "It's nothing. Just ignore me." A nervous laugh left her as she forced herself to stop thinking about it. Really, how often was it that she met a guardian like herself? Maybe more often than she thought...

[AUGUST WITT]

"I noticed." Came his steady reply when she had had mentioned she went unnoticed. Despite the fact he had been watching her, he got the feeling she was anything but unnoticeable with hair like that. She could easily stand out in a crowd.

"Are you really going to drink all of that by yourself?" He smirked down at his goods, his eyes lighting up with amusement as they danced back up towards hers, his head tilted lower now. She had no idea, but he got the feeling she would be interested in joining him if he put the offer out. It was what he wanted. Wine her and woo her. He wondered how loud she could scream.

"Did he tell you to watch out for men in liquor stores who bought too much wine?" He asked raising a brow, unsure what she was referring to, but not really caring all that much. "Because if that's the case, I think maybe you should listen. Except in the case, of course." He teased, his white teeth showing as he gave her a wicked little grin.

August looked down at his wine and then back at his car as if he maybe had to be somewhere before allowing his gaze to fall back on her. She was attractive and all signs pointed to go. He shifted the wine in his arm, pretending like it was heavy, though in reality he could have easily lifted four times as much without even noticing the difference in weight.

"I suppose I do have too much." He conceded with a roll of his shoulders. "You know.." He started gently, "Maybe it's a good thing I have too much. Lets me be able to share, and I think I have a nice port in this bag. Would be a waste to drink it alone." He offered, giving her his most charming smirk. "Would you care to do your evening of relaxing in the company of a new friend?" He asked as if the thought had just entered his mind a moment ago. The things he would like to do to her..

"I'm not being too forward, am I? I do that sometimes." He licked his lips. "If not tonight...maybe another?"

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

"Did he tell you to watch out for men in liquor stores who bought too much wine? Because if that's the case, I think maybe you should listen. Except in this case, of course." Maxi laughed and gave a flirtatious smile. "He might have mentioned something along those lines," she teased. When he smiled, it was a predator's smile, and it made her heart skip. It had been a long time since anyone smiled at her like that; she wasn't quite sure how to react. Her automatic reaction was to blush, having to look away for a moment to calm her nerves. A brief silence fell over them, and she wasn't quite sure what to do.

Then he did something she shouldn't have been surprised by: he invited her to share the wine with him. Yet she was surprised, somehow. When was the last time she got invited to spend time with a handsome man she just met? So long ago she couldn't remember, apparently. She was known to trust too quickly, and she was afraid the same was true in this case. But he was very courteous. And even though he was obviously a ladies' man, he seemed genuinely interested. He was hard to read, but she was inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I'm not being too forward, am I? I do that sometimes. If not tonight...maybe another?" She realized she had been standing in silent contemplation. His tongue darted out across his lips, making her stomach flip flop, and she bit her lip against the sensation and her internal struggle. Her brain was saying she should let it go for another night, but she badly wanted to be impulsive for once. They were two adults: she could stop him at any time, and she was very good at slipping away. Besides, she was putting way too much assumption into this. It could just be a drink and conversation, nothing more. Finally she answered. "You are being forward," she replied with a wide smile. "But I'll take a chance and join you." She was sure her father, mother, and sister had all warned her at some point about men like August, but she couldn't think about that right now. She wanted to know a little more about this suave stranger. "So where to?" she asked cheerfully, hoping she wouldn't regret this decision.

[AUGUST WITT]

August grinned when she agreed he was being presumptuous. Maybe it was the way she said it, but he knew he had her hooked and as she continued to speak he knew for a fact he had. Soon enough she had agreed to become putty in his hands. She would be coming home with him.

Oh, the things he had in store for his little gazelle. August wondered what he could get her to willingly do, and what he would have to wait for the wine to kick in to do. One night stands were always difficult when his partner had been drinking. Sleepovers were not permitted, and he wondered if he should just suggest her home instead of his own. Then he could leave when he wanted, but there was the added part of not being in the comfort of his own place.

August preferred his home to all others. It was his own private kingdom. His bed was large, plush, comfortable and hardly used. His furnishings were comfortable and modern and his view of Scriptor Bay was a nice one.

"Where to.." He repeated, his fingers sliding across his lightly stubbled chin. "We can go to your place." He offered. "If you're more comfortable with that." In the end he knew life would be easier if they went to her place. She couldn't escape him there, and though he wouldn't have the comforts of home, he knew that by dawn he would be long gone.

There was also the perk of knowing where she lived in case he decided to pop on by again at his leisure.

"Unless that makes you uncomfortable, in which case you are welcome to come drink with me at my home." He had his own ways of skirting around the issues that came with turning to stone at dawn. His smug little grin was back, relishing in his own victory, a tinge of playfulness at the creases of his eyes. "I'd suggest the park, but public consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Scriptor Bay, and you would surely catch your death." It wasn't too cold, but the way the wind blew in from the sea made it nip at the skin far to harshly. August didn't mind it too much. I fact, it felt almost nice.

"I can follow you, or vice versa."

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

August repeated her question and initially suggested her place. Maxi wasn't sure how she felt about that. True it would be her house, her rules, but there was no way of escaping her own house if things got too heavy. She was determined not to sleep with him tonight. It was her mother's fault, really, all that talk of cows and buying milk. But one night stands never worked out well for her. She would feel bad afterward, since often the guy didn't talk to her again or she would realize the next morning what a mistake it was. Even so, she was tempted by August.

He also suggested his place, which was safer for escaping, but it would also mean he was in his element. Also, she had to consider how much she would be drinking...she had to be able to drive. When he suggested the park She pressed a finger to her lips, looking up at the sky in playful contemplation. "I don't know if you'll try to hold me captive if I go to your house..." she pondered aloud, giving him a teasing smile. "Why don't we go to my place? There are no traps in my house." Except maybe for him. He was awfully handsome, even though he had a wicked smile. She had to keep her wits about her!

"My truck is around the corner. It's a beat-up old thing, you can't miss it. And I promise I won't sneak away," she added with a smile. "Just follow me when I come around the corner." She gave him one last smile before walking towards her car. What was she thinking inviting a stranger to her house? There wasn't anything to steal, but he didn't look like he needed to steal, so she was safe there. What if he was a stalker? There were always the cops...She sighed, knowing if she went through every "What if" scenario, she wouldn't go through with it. Shaking her head, she decided she had to have some fun, take risks.

Hopping into her old green truck, she dropped her purse on the seat next to her and started it up. When she pulled past August's car, she threw a wave so he would be sure it was her. Not that you could miss the clunker she drove in. It was old, but well taken care of, and had been the last car her grandfather owned. She also couldn't afford a new car, yet, so she would drive this thing until the wheels fell off. As she watched August pull in behind her, she felt the butterflies fluttering around her stomach.

[AUGUST WITT]

He watched her carefully as she mulled the decision over in her mind. She was obviously weighing the odds as he had only a moment before, but he was glad he had given her the opportunity to choose. She would trust him more if she chose. It would be on her whatever the result was, not him. n the end, she was the decider of her own destiny, and that consisted of him returning to her home. Good. She couldn't escape at home.

"There are no traps in mine, either." He retorted, and it was true. Technically the only trap was him, and she was bringing him home. August nodded when she gave her instructions and then made his way to his own car, which wasn't nearly as beat up as hers. It was sleek, fast, and shiny. Like August.

The man slipped his wine into the passenger seat and then went around to the drivers side, opening his door and sliding in. The music perked up when the car purred to life and he took a deep breath. Was he really in the mood to play nice? He had no idea what he planned to do to her once they got to her home, but his intentions were less than pure. He would have to see where the night took them, but he liked getting his way. He wouldn't be happy if he didn't. Typical politician.

Just as she promised, she slid her car out in front of him which was his cue to follow. He gave a halfhearted wave in return before pulling out of the lot and following the beat up old green truck.

The music hummed on, his fingers strumming his steering wheel as he followed the car, his mind drifting to the evenings start. Sometimes he wished he was a lowly Guardian so he wouldn't have to worry about all the little politics that surrounded keeping his damn species running under the radar. It was migraine inducing, and the council got under his skin, but there was a thrill during debates that he couldn't deny. In the end, as crazy as his job made him at times, he was grateful to have it. It drove him mad, but it also kept him stimulated.

Maxi would keep him stimulated, too.

He parked his car near hers when they had arrived and he got out of the car, grabbing the Port and the Pinot Noir. With a click of a button his car was locked and gave a gentle beep to let him know she was secure in her temporary home. August grinned at his gazelle. "After you."

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi tried to let the music calm her nerves as she drove. Really, she wasn't paying much attention, but she would glance back occasionally to make sure August was still behind her. At least there was wine involved. She could calm herself with some wine. As the music played on, she sang to soothe her worries. Singing always made her feel so much better. The only time she did it, though, was when people weren't around. She had serious stage fright and eyes watching her as she sang made her choke up. But right now, in her car, she belt it out. It's not like anyone was paying attention to her anyway.

When they finally reached her tiny house, she felt her stomach clench tightly. This was it. She had to own it. This was her house, her rules. It was important to keep men in line. Taking a deep breath, she got out of her car, grabbing her purse as she did so. Seeing that grin on his face, she lost half of her resolve. Why did he have to be so handsome? Really looking at his snazzy car, she wondered if he was a salesman. He'd be really good at it with those looks. She brought a smile back to her face and led the way to the front door. There was a small porch outside her house with a small swinging bench. The whole house was small, really, but it suited her just fine. Looking back to August, she gave an almost shy smile. "Sorry if it's a bit of a mess. I wasn't expecting company," she warned.

By anyone's standards, the place was perfect. The only things out of place were a couple pillows on the couch and an unfolded blanket. The sitting area and kitchen were all connected, a small hallway off the front door bringing you to the space. It smelled faintly like cinnamon in her house, though it wasn't a smell Maxi consciously tried to bring to the house. That was just her scent. Turning once more when they walked in the house, she gave another smile. "Welcome to my humble abode," she said cheerfully. She flicked on the hall light until they could get to the kitchen, but stopped at the coat closet next to the door. Thankfully it was nice and warm inside, so she slipped off her coat and scarf. Underneath was a simple cobalt clue dress with a pleated skirt and a yellow cardigan. She hung up her coat and turned to August with a smile, holding out her hand. "I'll put your coat up if you want," she said kindly. Maxi did play the hostess well when she was nervous.

When the coats were secure, she made her way into the kitchen and living area, going to a cabinet for some glasses. "You can have a seat wherever you want," she said as she reached up for the wine glasses on the top shelf. Honestly, she didn't use them often, so she never really had to take them down. She got up on tip toe and still couldn't manage to get them. At this rate, she was going to have to get a chair. She didn't even think to ask for August's help.

[AUGUST WITT]

August braced himself when she apologized for her home. He wasn't obsessive compulsive, but a filthy home made him...itch. He could never feel truly comfortable someplace that had a noticeable layer of filth. He followed her in, bracing himself for the worst but was beyond pleased that, despite it not being modern or highly fashionable, it was clean and for the most part quaint. Exactly what he would have pictured the little gazelle living in.

"Welcome to my humble abode," And humble it certainly was. It was small, and though August lived in a condo himself, he was used to wide open spaces. He preferred them considerably to homes like Maxi's, where it seemed almost boxy. Or at least in comparison. "It's lovely to be here." He said coolly, taking his coat and scarf off, juggling the wine in his hands as he did. It would be time to lock them up for another year in no time, so he enjoyed wearing the coat while he could. Beneath was a gray button down shirt, the top two buttons undone, and below he wore dark, charcoal slacks, a black belt holding them in place.

He admired her attire and gave a smile of approval, not trying to hid the fact his eyes had gone up and down. When she instructed him to find a seat he absently began to wander around the living area, placing the wine down on a table and taking in the sight of her things. His fingers grazed a lamp shade when he noticed her struggling to get the wine glasses.

August made his way up behind her, his step soft, and reached up over her to grab them. His body pressed gently against her back as he reached up high, his fingers gripping the wine glass stem and pulling it down, placing it onto the counter in front of her before reaching up again, his pelvis brushing against her rear as he got the second one. He didn't linger any longer than necessary, pulling away his wine glass in hand.

"Do you have a wine key?" He asked with a slightly raised brow, standing close still, keeping her trapped between himself and the counter. Yes...tonight would be a good night.