Where Darkness Crawls IC (dayleiva+DracoJames)

[dayleiva]

Oscar let go of Grace suddenly, his eyes full of fright at the sight of this stranger. Oscar was under the impression that Grace had no male companions, but even if she didn't, this man did not look like a force to be rekoned with.
"I, I'm sorry Grace" he said meekly "I'll speak to you later. Excuse me." he said to Desmond, his head hanging as he walked off. Oscar was usually one to star a fight, not that Grace knew that, but it was clear it would be of no use here.

Grace straightened her jacket and brushed herself off. "Thankyou" she smiled at Desmond. Her voice was trembling now, her attempt at keeping her regality was failing, she had barely kept her sterness infront of Oscar and she doubted she could infront of her now saviour. She felt the tears roll down her cheek as she rushed forward, her arms grasping on tightly around Desmonds waist.

[Draco_James]

Desmond's gaze stayed locked on Oscar until the man had left the area, and then his look softened as he turned back to Grace. "You are quite welcome, Miss Withers," he said, just before noticing the tears start. He was mildly surprised when she ran forward to wrap her arms around him, but he automatically moved his hands around her, one resting gently on the back of her neck, the other rubbing slow circles on her back, trying to be comforting.

"You're alright," he said softly, slowly starting to move them toward the bench, thinking that perhaps she would be better off sitting at the moment, "You're safe, now." With her so close, he could hear her heart beat again, and was doubly thankful he'd had his fill last night; suppressing the dark instincts was far easier now.

[dayleiva]

Grace noticed his touch, it was so cold, especially on a warm day as today... she sat herself back down on the bench, wiping the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief. "thank you Desmond." She said smiling. Grace looked in the direction Oscar had gone "I've never seen him like that" she pondered "maybe it's wedding nerves...It's two weeks today" She noted carefully, toying with the engagement ring on her finger. She looked up into desmonds cold eyes, wich gave her some surprising comfort, "I do hope he doesn't think you're stealing me from him" She chuckled "Quite a coincidence though, I did not expect to see you here"

[Draco_James]

Desmond just gave a small nod as she thanked him again; there was really nothing else he could have done, as far as he was concerned. He just glanced downward as she mentioned that she had never seen the man like that, and that the wedding was two weeks away. While he was tempted to warn her that he could see it happening again. A man like that didn't seem, to Desmond, like the type to change, especially if he kept drinking.

He glanced back up at her then, suddenly worried what trouble he might have caused her. "Why would he think that? I'm nothing more than a concerned man walking through the park," he said, giving her a small smile. He thought for a moment before taking the apple out of his pocket, offering it to her, "I did not expect to see you here either... nor did I really expect to be here. Are you hungry?"

[dayleiva]

Grace was surprised when Desmond pulled the apple from his pocket, "Oh" she exclaimed, realising the time "Oh, yes of course" She said, taking the apple from Desmond's hand. "I do seem to be late for my lunch." She took a bite out of the apple, it was very delicious, and quite refreshing. "Which reminds me, I did have a table booked for, well, now. I wondered if you might join me? I find it dreadfully tedious dining on my own." She gave a small smile as she took another bite. Normally she wouldn't take anthing from someone lest it was a family member, but there seemd to be no harm in an apple. "this apple is quite delicious, I must say"

[Draco_James]

"Glad to hear it," Desmond said with a smile. He'd heard that the vendor he bought from had the freshest fruit of them all, but he rarely bothered to actually each the apples. While he could still pick up the subtlest of flavours in normal food, they still seemed bland compared to even animal blood. "And yes," he continued with a nod, throwing in a bit of necessary deceit, "It would be a pleasure to join you for lunch... though I'll warn you now, such that I don't seem rude later, that I've already eaten a small lunch, so I may not eat much." Standing, he offered her his hand to help her up, hoping that she wouldn't think too much of his cold skin. He held back a sigh, thinking to himself that this was why he usually stuck to the night, when cool air would explain that. Of course, he also usually kept his distance so it would go unnoticed.

[dayleiva]

Grace took Desmond's hand and linked her arm with his, she looked up smiling, "I don't mind, really. It will be nice to be in different company..." Grace shivered slightly as they began to walk down the path. "'bit of a chill don't you think?"
Grace put it to the back of her mind the ordeal with Oscar, she would find out more later. But now, it was nice enough to be in the company of her stranger once again, something which earlier in the day she would have doubted.

"Sir, do you particularly mind if I call you Desmond?"

[Draco_James]

"Perhaps a bit of one," Desmond replied with the smallest of shrugs, trying to keep the matter of how cold he was out of conversation. That was, after all, one of the most difficult things to explain, especially in the mid-day sunlight. Not everyone was equally warm all the time, but in his case, there was certainly too big a difference for that to truly be an explanation. He returned the smile, careful as always to keep his lips pressed together when he did, lest he accidentally grin too broadly. "Not at all, Miss Withers," he said politely as they continued the walk, trying not to squint his eyes too much, nor flinch from the sudden heat, as they left the shade of the trees, "And you? Do you mind if I call you Grace?"

[dayleiva]

"I don't mind Desmond. To be honest I'm not particularly keen on all the formalities"
The two were leaving making their way down the path, through the centre of the park, Grace doubted that her reserved table would still be empty at his time, but it had kept Desmond with her and in a strange way that satisfied her enough.

"So what brings you to this town anyway? I've never seen you around before" This was true, Grace was well aquainted with most of the townsfolk, not only because of her father but the fact she spent so much time in the 'lesser' areas where working class folk lived and worked. "Is it money? Career? Or a woman?" she asked inquisitively. "Such a handsome young gentleman as yourself...." Grace paused her quesions there, wondering if she was being to forward or not.

[Draco_James]

Desmond smiled slightly before glancing downward to consider his response. "No, I wouldn't expect you would have seen me... I haven't been here long, and I live on the edge of town. I am usually somewhat of a solitary person," he said, shaking his head slightly, then allowed himself a short chuckle at her compliment, "Well, thank you, but no, I've not come here because of a woman... nor really for money, and I haven't yet found work. Nothing close to permanent, anyway. I suppose you could say I just needed a change."

Not exactly why most people moved to different towns, but it was more or less true, in his case. As he spoke of not having work, he thought once more of what he would do in this place. Perhaps blacksmithing... he had done that before, but becoming an apprentice again was tedious, when he already knew how to do the work. He forced the thought from his mind for the moment.

"And you? Have you lived in this fine town your entire life?" he asked, thinking it likely, since her father seemed to have a rather well established business.