Owner	Pose
Johnny Storm	It was later in the evening after dealing with the vampires (see Vampire or Goth) and Johnny had made plans with Kenesha to get drinks. Now that he had secured the yes, he had to secure the location. Taking in her manner of dress and the way she acted, he decided... well, the 20s aren't too far from the 40s, right? Sending her directions to the place and that he had planned to dress for the part. Which brings us to now. Having only arrived a few moments ago, Johnny had made his way to the bar. Dressed in a tuxedo from the era (do you know many theme'd parties the Four get invited to? Much less how many Johnny doesn't miss?), it's fashionable, pressed, he's perfectly manicured and has an old-fashioned sitting in front of him on a coaster upon the fine oak counter. Lifting it up to take a sip, it may be a head start as he waits on the woman he asked out impulsively, but it's a little shot of courage that really isn't needed, but enjoyed.
Kenesha	When Johnny gives her an *assignment* for their drinks, Kenesha laughingly agrees, enjoying the idea of having to dress up for the drinks. She notes the address, chuckling at what the location means, then goes to get dressed! When she arrives, well. Don't ask an ancient being to dress period unless you mean it! Kenesha steps from a cab, the old-fashioned seamed silk stocking tucked into a pair of black satin t-strap heels with gold leather accents. Next, comes a black tiered drop waist dress with hand-stitched gold beading on the chiffon overlay with the silk dress hugging tight to her lithe frame, as is fitting for the era. She has a pair of elbow-length black gloves, a cream-colored *real fur* shawl, and a matching black and gold beded handbag. Up from there, a long lavalier necklace of diamonds and pearls, a pair of drop earrings also featuring diamonds and pearls. And finally, a black and gold beaded headband with the little accessory brooch attached that's antique gold with a large diamond in the middle, a trio of glossy black curved feathers that curve over the top of her pinned and rolled 1920's hair style. She'll enter the bar with a commonly used Prohibition password, moving through and into the bar to seek out her date, joining him at the bar. SIdling up next to him, she glances over, her makeup on point with the ruby red lips and lightly rouged cheeks, curving a sly smile at him as she greets, "Hey there, fella. If you ain't just the bees knees. Buy a dame a drink?"
Johnny Storm	Holy shit, she totally nailed the assignment. Sitting at the bar, there's a glance at his phone - he didn't get that deep into character plus he needs to be on alert, just in case, he had noted the time. Maybe the hot blonde at the park had changed her mind. Maybe little dude with the whole 'who stole my heart' thing had game after all. Swirling around the drink in his hand, that little flame devil of self-doubt was about to settle on his shoulder when... 'Hey there, fella...' Turning to face Kenesha, Johnny drinks in the young looking woman. And she looks like she had just stepped from Al Capone's vault after storing his heart there for safe-keeping. Every bit the lady of the era, he drinks her in from strappy shoes to feathered coif. His own look is classic, a black swallow-tail coat, with a shallow cut vest, bow tie, pocket square. Matching trousers, imported leather shoes. What to do, what to say, oh shit oh shit, what was it that he had read on the app earlier. It's locked, she can't see he was searching 1920s sayings to try to open it. "Wow, aren't you just the cat's me-ow." he comments, that confidence returning as he rises to his feet to grace her with a gentle buss of lips to her cheek. "I checked to make sure this wasn't no clip joint and I'll be your butter and egg man tonight." And... that's about all he got. "More than happy to buy a dish a drink. I'm having an old-fashioned. You?" comes the curious question. "I reserved a table, so we can move from here, just wanted to catch you at the bar first." Then she can see in his eyes, the sudden realization that he forgot something, very, very important. "My name's Johnny, by the way." In case she didn't know.
Kenesha	Smiling at the cheek kiss, Kenesha takes a moment to peel those long gloves off and tuck them away into her handbag before reaching forward to grip one of his hands and give a small squeeze. "Comin' from a sheik like you, that's a real gas. Dig those glad rags, baby, lookin' real jake." She flits a wink at him, that smile kicking up at the corner of her mouth again. She tucks her arm into his and gives a nod up at him, "Let's skedaddle away from this drum, we'll go sit an' have a nice chin." Letting him lead the way to the table, she shrugs out of the shawl and drapes it over one of the other chairs, setting her handbag on the seat before sliding into her own. Her legs slant to the right, crossing at the ankle as she leans forward, one elbow on the edge of the table, chin resting on the back of her hand. "Kenesha. I know who ya are, Johnny Storm. But I made that ya were tryin' to lay low back there, so I didn't lose my head." Then she's chuckling and dropping the 20's slang to murmur, "That was a really good job with the slang greeting, but in the interest of keeping things more easily understandable, maybe we should drop it?" Straightening, she offers, "Old-fashioned does me just fine. Though, to be perfectly honest, I can't actually get buzzed, so I tend to stick to one drink. I'd hate to stretch anyone's wallet for what's essentially a very expensive soda for me."
Johnny Storm	Johnny may have comprehended about seventy-five percent of that. Of course, when he's a walking resource guide of languages, greetings and small talk he's picked up on years of adventures, seventy-five percent is pretty good! His hands squeeze hers in return, her grip is firm, he realizes. She could probably overpower him easily if she wanted to. But the position switches, and when that bare arm slips between his chest and arm, his opposite hand covers hers, a light touch of skin to skin contact as he leads the way to the table. Ever the gentleman, he pulls out the chair for her, allowing her to sit first and scooting her forward before he drops into his own seat. They can drop the act? Oh thank goodness, he had run out of witty 1920s repretoire. "Kenesha? That sounds exotic." Alien is what he means, and she can probably pick up easily that he has an understanding of what she may be, especially as she explains her drink needs. "One old-fashioned it is. And I suppose this will be my only one, since I want to actually hold a conversation." A wink at her. And then a warm chuckle of amusement. "But the food here is pretty great as well. And thanks for keeping your head about you, even if I wasn't. I just knew I had to know more about you. And not because you could just throw a vampire around like tissue paper." There's no probing, though, at least not heavy probing. As the waiter comes by, he taps the top of his drink and gestures to his date. A top off for him, a new one for her. "Pair of menus, too." A grin to Kenesha. "Don't make a guy work up an appetite just to eat alone." Double entendre much? "So. Let's start with the easiest question. What can you /not/ do?" he asks her teasingly.
Kenesha	Kenesha is good at noticing things. It's actually a large part of what she does. Usually she's looking for clues in dirt and stone, but she's found that looking for clues in people isn't terribly much different. And Johnny tends to be pretty expressive, which makes seeking those clues just that much easier. So when she sees his eyes starting to glaze over in the lack of comprehension, she's more than glad to drop the old slang for the modern parlance. That short trip from bar to table sees the true dance of flirtation beginning. Her hip brushes his, the lower curve of her breast brushes against his forearm, close enough that he can smell the light fragrance of her perfume, jasmine and clary sage with a note of neroli woven through. The sound of her dress brushing against his pants leg, the click of her heels, the click of her lavalier. All of it part and parcel of the beginning. She curves a smile at him from her seat, watching him as he takes his own seat. "It is, thank you," Kenesha chuckles softly, knowing what he means even if it isn't explicitly stated. She curves a smile at him and gives a nod, "I'd love to be able to hold a conversation with you, so that's very appreciated." Inclining her head towards him, she offers, "If you must know, I was hard-pressed not to laugh when you told that young man that he was using one of your lines. He's very suave, very good-looking.. but perhaps a bit too.. polished.. for my tastes." When the water arrives, she pauses, looking up at him with a smile before turning her attention back to Johnny, "Not to that I can't be. But it isn't my.. normal mode." As for his tease, she chuckles softly and leans forward just enough to enter his personal space, "Would I be so gauche as to work you up then leave you wanting?" Pitching him a wink, she slides back slowly, straightening and laughing at the question. "Fly. I can't fly." Since that is the easiest question to answer!
Johnny Storm	If people were an open book, Johnny would probably be 'Relationships for Dummies'. He's easy to read, there doesn't seem to be much of a plot, but you might learn something from him? And he is immediately grateful to be off the time trip. There seems to be more hidden there, but if the good archeologist wants to find it, she may have to dig deeper. The flirtation is not wasted on him, her gentle brush is return a gentle rise of his elbow to caress her breast, the scent of aged sandalwood mixed with amber, pimento and lime, undertoned with florals and spices, with a base of vetiver and tonka bean. It's an intricate first step, the mixing and mingling and gentle presses that hint and tease of future contact. Seated in the chair, he's relaxed and at ease - in his element. "He seemed a good kid, if a bit of a try-hard." he admits with a laugh. "And it totally was!" he points out. "But I won't spoil how it turned out for me..." A coy smile as he lifts his eyes to match with hers, a gentle holding of the contact. "...after all, I'm still working on it. You should always be willing to improve. Plus, he went after you both at once. At least focus your effort on what you want." And between booty shorts and aviator lens? He mad his choice. She's into his personal airspace, but there's no warning there, instead, he returns the favor. "I don't know." he admits softly, their lips almost brushing, but not quite, the sweetness of cinnamon on his breath as it teases her lips. "I can work up a pretty incredible appetite with many unique cravings." And then they part again, the flirtation continuing. His foot brushes hers beneath the table, the next point of contact established between the two. "Flight, huh? It's enjoyable, just the freedom to be able to take to the skies and appreciate that freedom." A small sigh. Flight is a good thing. And one of the few things he probably shares in common with Ben. And he has a moment to ponder his next question for her, which may actually open him up to a question from her in return.
Kenesha	Kenesha, meanwhile, is more like a sweeping Greek epic. Full of adventure and tragedy and romance and betrayal, secrets and battles and humans and monsters and godlike beings. She still wears her heart on her sleeve for the world to see, but it's clear there are also some deep-seated issues buried within as well. The question becomes... does he really want to unpack all that baggage? The scent of his cologne draws a wider tug of a smile. He isn't afraid of florals, that's good. That shows there's more to him even than what he's been presenting. There's an added level of appreciation to these first steps of what could prove to be an intricate and exciting dance. Kenesha seems happy to move past talking about someone else from their little impromptu team, though his final comments has her chuckling softly and giving a small nod, "Agreed. I appreciated his compliments, flattery is always nice to hear.. but he was clearly casting a wide net. I prefer a more.. targeted approach." She seems to appreciate that he chose to focus his efforts. There's no judgment for his appreciation of Nico, she's a very attractive woman! Her eyes trace over his face as they linger in close space, a breath away from a kiss as she curves a smile, her lower lip grazing against his before her tongue slips out to wet at the inner edge of her lips, "You say that, but I've lived through some incredibly hedonistic times.. appetites were gluttonous and creativity was high. You'll have to tell me about these cravings.." No, she doesn't doubt her ability to keep up with his appetite. Clearing her throat gently, Kenesha murmurs, "I know. I can't personally fly.. but I can pilot. And have. And do. I have a few of my own aircraft." So while she can't share the freedom of personal flight, she can certainly share the overall enjoyment of flying. Her eyes trace over him as she looks at him. REALLY looks at him. "What is one thing you wish you *could* do?"
Johnny Storm	Considering some of the books that Johnny has been involved in, Kenesha may actually be the best book he's had in a while to curl up beside the fire and get totally intimate with and read cover to cover. Multiple times. Until she's dog-earred and all of the plot is laid bare. "It was an interesting ploy. Just, wholly ineffective. You should know what you want when you approach someone." He starts to say more, but there's that electric graze of lip to lip contact between the two, and the soft noise that he makes only for her may ignite more than he realized as he brushes his foot along a stockinged calf. "Gluttony is terrible sin." he teases back. "It's a good thing I'm not saint." Apparently, he wants to see if he can keep up. "Yeah, Ben's the pilot. Not that he gets too much anymore." He actually sounds like he feels bad for him on that point, much different than the public persona the pair give off at times. And then there's the question of the hour. Leaning back in his chair, he considers. "I've done so much." he admits, looking from her eyes to the drink, swirling the glass around. "Been a hero. Been an actor. Been a race car driver. I'm the very definition of 'what do you want to do when you grow up'." he takes a swig from the glass and sets it down as the fresh drinks arrive. "I even was in love once. Married. Not many people know that." he points out to her. It's not like his marriage to Lyja was heavily publicized. "Turns out it was all a sham. Bunch of lies built on an invasion of Earth." "I'd want something real. Something I can feel. And trust. Because there isn't much of that in the world. Maybe it's just because I'm a sucker. But I see what Reed and Sue have. And there are times where I just want to wring his neck when he's paying all of his attention to his work and not Sue... but when they're together, man..." A pause, and he lifts his eyes back to her, blue eyes settling deeply on hers. "I'm envious."
Kenesha	Kenesha has certainly read more than her fair share of books. Some complex, some simple. Some were a quick read and done. Some were read again and again, enjoyed over a long stretch. Some remembered fondly, others with embarrassment or regret. What type of book will Johnny be? He promises excitement and mystery, adventure and romance.. and she does love a good adventure. "Hmmm.. if you were a saint, I'm not sure we would be here right now," she murmurs softly even as her own foot shifts, lifting to draw the toe of it along the back of his calf, from heel to the thickest part of the meat. "Which does make me very glad that you're not." The wistful note in his tone when he speaks of Ben is earmarked for another time, curious about the relationship between the pair. Tonight, however, is for them. They're just starting to crack the spines of these new books, and it would be a shame to set them aside now. Her lips twitch as he speaks of the jobs he's held, the careers he's had. And she shakes her head slightly. "I'm not asking what you want for a career. I'm not your guidance counselor. I want to know the one thing you want to do more than anything in the world. No matter what it is, no matter how taboo or unusual you feel it is.. I want to know what desire is burning in that heart of yours." Her brows lift briefly when he mentions having been married, but she takes it in stride, and when he mentions it all having been a lie, based on manipulation and evil plot... Kenesha can't help the small, knowing laugh. "I can empathize there. Not with a spouse. My parents." Oh, are those last two words SO loaded. But then he's expanding on what he wants and her smile blooms, engaging her entire face and lighting her eyes as she watches him, listens to him, rapt. Even as his eyes meet hers, she slides a hand across to rest over the top of his, squeezing gently, "I know what you mean. I've seen some truly great love affairs across the years, and always it makes me.. there's this visceral *pull*, right here." The hand propping her chin moves, reaching inward to tap at her breastbone, "A *craving*, strong and sudden and.. almost painful."
Johnny Storm	Johnny is just one of those simply deceptive choose your own adventure books. You never know what you're going to get when you turn the page. But there are so many pages to read, between the pair of them. The touch to the back of his calf draws heat to his cheeks, but his hand settles over hers, his finger tracing the lines of her bones beneath the flesh. It is about them tonight and she is able to easily command his attention and bring the focus back to him. And her passionate words stir him, igniting a fire that he hasn't felt in a while. The words about her parents, like Ben, will be revisited another time. His eyes are only for her. There's noone else here. He doesn't hear the soft mutters from others realizing that he's in their midsts. And she draws her attention to her breastbone with her hand, and the soft curve that presents itself beneath the hand the cloth covering it. "That's the tricky thing with love." he mentions as his hand turns, his fingers curling, sliding between hers, that intimate contact made between the pair. "When it reaches in and grabs you... what is to prevent the one laying claim from ripping your heart out and rending it before your very eyes..." A brief image of one of the many deaths he suffered at the hands of Anhilius flashes in his memory and he has to close his eyes. She could mistranslate it, but it's a bit overwhelming as he fights off that memory and shoves it down into the box it belongs in. "It's a powerful craving." he confesses. "And it threatens to devour all. But if you could find the right partner... perhaps it could become something to build on for..." And again, that pause. That faulter to attempt to seal the deal. She's right there for the taking. He should.
Kenesha	Kenesha is focused wholly on him, on everything Johnny. Every flinch and tic and twitch in his expression. Every flicker and glance of his eyes. The beat of his pulse at the base of his throat. How often he swallows. The flush or paling of his skin. Looking at him. *Seeing* him. Her hand is warm against his, the back of it soft, but with the firm lines of tendons pressing against his fingers. And when his fingers slide between hers, she smiles. A small, intimate smile just for him. Ignoring whatever else might be going on around them. This is about them. About these crucial first steps, the flirtation having grown deeper already. His eyes close as he speaks and she gives the most gentle squeeze of her fingers against his, her features soft as she looks at him. Sympathetic. Understanding. Empathy. There's no way to avoid heartbreak and horror and tragedy, not as old as she is. So her voice is a roughened whisper when she responds, "Trust is hard. So hard." Her tongue darts out once more, wetting her lips as she listens to him, her breath catching briefly as she watches him. Waiting for a moment, perhaps seeing if he'll push past that self-doubt to take that final step. When he can't... she does. "I'm not sure this place has what I'm hungry for... perhaps we should.. find somewhere else to slake our appetites?"
Johnny Storm	Johnny is almost apologetic that he can't close the deal with her himself. He wanted to, but there was just... she could see it for a moment. Fear? It had no place in the conversation. But it was there. And it something else that they will have to unpack if they want go further. Trust really is hard. And it's not the only thing that's hard at this table as Kenesha takes on that husky rasp. And she takes the step that he couldn't, and he's grateful for it. His fingers squeezes hers before he lowers his foot back into his shoe so he can slip it on again. "I know the perfect place." he comments casually to her as the waiter comes over. He takes out his Hellfire Club membership to put it on his tab, and smoothly rises to his feet, his arm offered to the gorgeous woman. "And the best thing is? I know it's open right now." A wink at her.