[Aro]The Secret Worth Keeping[Kitten]

[Lala Kitty]

Mina waved meekly to Jack as he made his way out, sitting in her chair quietly for a few minutes after he was gone. Her knees were still a little wobbly & her heart was still hammering in her chest. Was she ever going to get used to the winded feeling that Jack left her with? Perhaps time would help her settle down a little.

After a bit of time, Mina got up from her chair & headed upstairs to get ready for her outing with Lucien. Of course, her father was beyond ecstatic that the young man had taken a liking to her. It was as though his every worry that Mina would live her entire life as an old maid had vanished. He hummed happily & had a jump to his step as he finished his work for the day & had Mina prepped for her courtship with Lucien.

Mina was scrubbed, changed, & primped up for the date, somehow convincing her maid to allow her to keep her head down. Jack eyed her neck often when her hair was up, but Lucien seemed to like her hair when it was down a bit more. How had she caught on to this, though? Intuition, perhaps.

[Aro]

Jack smiled and placed his hands in his jacket pocket as the door shut behind him. "Well, Lucius," He stepped off the porch and began making his way back down the street towards home. "I hope you have a pleasant time at dinner tonight. I hope she'll be able to take her kind off of my long enough to pay you some attention." He couldn't help but smirk, he knew he was winning and it was only a matter of time before he would be rid of Lucius for good. And Mina would be all his.

"I wouldn't be sure of yourself, Jack." Lucius replied, the first time for quite some time. "The allure of being around a murdering psychopath day-in and day-out can get quite tiresome. I know from personel experience. It won't be long before she's no longer blinded by the glamor of being with a killer."

Jack couldn't help but scoff at Lucius's statement as he turned another corner. "You're only saying that because I make you clean up the mess." Another small smile spread across his face as the house came into view. "Don't take to long, Lucius. You need be ready within the hour. And may I suggest the black suit, it will look quite great on me, I mean you." Jack said as he made his way up the front stairs towards the door, and in mid step switched places with Lucius.

Dazed from the quick change he stood at the top of the steps and looked back the way they had come. "Don't think I haven't forgotten our little deal Jack. You stay out of my way for the evening and you get free roam until morning." Lucius let a small sigh escape as he turned back to the door and went inside. "Elizabeth," He looked over towards the den when she was finishing something. "Would you please make sure that my black suit is ready for the evening and leave it in my study."

"Yes, Master Lucius, I"ll have it ready you for in just a few moments." She said as she went on about her business and he headed upstairs.

"Thank you, Elizabeth." He said as the house went silent again, it was a little disturbing to him, and made him stomp on the stairs to at least try and break up the silence. He continued to stomp until he had locked himself in the bathroom in the study and began to run water into a basin to clean himself.

"Have a great time, Lucius." Jack whispered to him. Lucius could just picture Jack leaning near him with a smile on his face as he whispered. He pushed the thought from his mind and finished cleaning up for tonight. When he exited the black suit was hung near the door and he dressed and was ready for the evening. "You hold up your end and I'll hold up mine." Lucius muttered as he once again exited the house and began making his way back towards Mina's.

[Lala Kitty]

By the time Mina came downstairs to wait for Lucius, he was already there, having a conversation with her father 30 minutes early. She smiled despite herself, a little happy that he was so eager for the date. He looked very handsome tonight, having a different, less sinister attractiveness that didn't send shivers up her spine, but appealed to her as well. Why couldn't things be easy for her? It would be so simple for Mina to fear Jack or to feel as though Lucius was more of the brotherly type, but she found herself almost equally attracted to them both. It was too hard for her to see either of them as any less than a man.

"Mina, don't keep the dear boy waiting!" Kale announced, drawing attention to her daughter as she walked carefully down the stairs. Lucius's eyes followed her every moment until she stood before her father & him, his eyes barely blinking. Did she look odd right now? Maybe she should have listened to the maid & worn more face powder. Either way, it was too late for her to run off & do that now.

"I know it is usual custom for a chaperon to accompany you," Kale sighed, "But I feel the two of you are old enough to conduct yourselves in an upright manner. Besides, I do think Mina is too old to be involved in scandal." Mina's face turned dark red at her father's words as he laughed heartily. it was like he was begging Lucius to impregnate her so that he could marry her out of obligation. Her father was so underhanded at times, it was pathetic.