[Izzy Montoya] The phone call came just as Izzy was stepping out of the shower. Had it been any other, she might have said no, or arranged a meeting elsewhere, but there’s something.. different about Lila. She listened to Izzy, and that? was something in short supply. So, after a moment’s thought, she invited the coggie to come over – and alerted the doorman downstairs that she would be expected and to simply send her up.
An hour later, give or take, and Izzy’s as dressed as she’s going to be – a tank top, and boxers, with a silken robe open overtop. She’s siting on the couch, bare feet propped on the coffee table, killing zombies by the dozens on the xBox. On the coffee table before her – a beer, and an open pizza box. Izzy doesn’t cook, you see. She could likely tell anyone the numbers of half a dozen take out joints without having to think twice.
When Lila arrives at 420 Fullerton, the Doorman gives her a once over, and then points to the elevator. Third floor. Apartment 3C. He doesn’t mention that Izzy never uses the elevator, and that he can’t figure out why. He doesn’t mention that Izzy has some strange fuckin’ guests either – because quite frankly, the cop scares him to death and he’ knows she knows he’s been dealing weed -just weed, nothing more, else Izzy quit looking the other way – on the side.
That – and Izzy can just be plain frightening when she wants to be. So, Lila enters the building without being stopped, or hounded, and all the way up to the door, which opens on first knock. Izzy just nudges the door open, and steps back inside. “Lila.”
[Lila] [I’m asking you to watch this, Lessa, just ‘cos I love you and we’re in the same room: Do I heal you? -1 gn]
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 4, 6, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6) [WP]
to Izzy Montoya
[Lila] The invitation surprised Lila; she knew that Izzy was a fierce person — and figured that she’d just as soon not have one of the People over at her apartment so soon after being permitted to return to it. It surprised Lila, and, also, pleased her; there is something of that pleasure still in the set of her shoulders while she stands in the hall and knocks on the door and sweeps a (narrow, vibrant) glance up and down and — oh, shit. Lila was going to knock on air; Izzy was there.
She looks, wide-eyed, the Fenrir kinswoman over, and then a smile touches (dawn [golden]) her mouth — sensualist’s enjoyment of the moment. And she holds up (here, look!) a little handheld travel box with one tall vanilla latte and one venti coffee, some packets from the condiment bar shoved indiscrimately inside. There’s also a little paper bag, crumpled and slicked with — grease? something — wedged inside.
When Izzy steps back, Lila steps over the threshold. She doesn’t look around yet. Her gaze stays on Izzy’s face. “Hi! So this is home, huh? Thank you for inviting me. Sorry, if I’m a little late. I don’t come very often to this part of town and transportation is troublesome. It’s not too late?”
[Izzy Montoya] She looks at the coffee, and the smirk that finds it’s way so often, so comfortably across her lips appears as she gestures to the living room. “Come on in. There’s a coat rack in there if you want.”
Izzy seems… Comfortable. It’s clear that she is better here, than she is anywhere. She’s not in her ‘uniform’ she’s not wearing her gun (but that does not mean it’s out of reach) and she’s… well, at home. She flops back down to the couch, and picks up her beer, the game on pause as she leaves the controller on the table.
Is it too late? “No, not too late. My sleep schedule is still all fucked up.”
[Lila] [erk! and compulsion]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 6, 6, 8, 10, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Lila] The other (no) woman seems comfortable here and Lila pays attention to this. The subtle difference in the way Izzy carries herself here. The subtle difference in the way she reacts to her surroundings. The way she holds her shoulders. The way she — all the differences add up until it’s not so subtle any longer, and Lila, shrugging out of her coat as soon as the opportunity presents itself, hanging it on coatrack, next to whatever else is hanging, does not bounce across the floor to the couch. Nope: she’s got coffee, damn it, and also some smooshed and cheap pastries, so she’s not going to get anything on Izzy’s floor.
There is a lot of couch and Lila takes a seat next to Izzy, at first. Sets the coffee down on the coffee table, and plops down (echo) as well, slipping her arm around the woman’s shoulder (not hitting on you [promise (not right now)]) to give her a quick squeeze. “You look kind of — ” Pause. What’s the word. What is the word. What is the word. ” — bad ass. Here.”
“How’s work? And everything? And what are you playing?”
Scoot, scoot, give Izzy space again — see? She just got enthusiastic, for a moment. You’d think there’d be a tumblefull of questions after, but Lila actually does want to listen to what the cop has to say in reply, so she doesn’t keep piling them on. The game, hell. Her brother might like it.
[Izzy Montoya] She looks badass here. There’s a snort, amused. “And I don’t otherwise?”
She’s tipping her beer back when Lila plops down and… hugs… her. Izzy stiffens when that arm falls around her, wary and cautious – not used to such casual contact that involves anything other than pain. She withstands the hug, the bear bottle still pressed to her lips, until Lila moves away again. Only then does she finishes taking the swallow, and leans forward to set the bottle back on the table, and widen the distance between them so that she can breathe.
Then there are questions, and Izzy gestures to the pizza box. “Help yourself.” And then, in order. “Busy, depends on what part of everything, and some zombie killing thing Edwin got me for Christmas. Box is over there.. I forget the name.”
[Lila] Lila begins the somewhat arduous process of untying the knots of her heavy boots and a curtain of hair slides over her profile, between her and Izzy; it is far too gold, far too perfectly waved, to be entirely fair. Monsters shouldn’t have fairytale princess hair. Monsters shouldn’t smile, the way Lila has smiled; monsters definitely shouldn’t be aware of what the humans are feeling, and they shouldn’t understand, either. Lila does, though, or seems to, or seems to try, and she cants her head to the side, pushing her hair away from her face to follow Izzy’s gesture to the pizza box.
“I’ll never turn down food; I brought sweet things. I didn’t know what you’d eat, so I just had the man behind the counter pick. I think he put in extra. And I mean all parts of everything; whatever part of everything you’d like to talk about. Edwin who is a Shadow Lord Edwin?”
A glance, to show that she is paying attention, while she finishes the process of sliding the boots off, pulling their tongues until they’re willing to let her feet go.
[Izzy Montoya] A brief amused sound, again. “I’ll eat anything that isn’t moving too fast” She reaches for the coffee though. It’s after 3am, and most would shy away from having caffeine before going to bed, but Izzy – like most folks on the force – drinks it like water and still sleep.
Lila is one of the odder garou Izzy’s met – which is why she’s here, and they’re not at the 24/7 starbucks instead. Izzy doesn’t like mysteries. Lila presents herself as one by virtue of her nature vs her rage. But that’s neither here nor there.
Back to everything. “Better in that I’m here, fucked up in that I’m still somewhat incarcerated and treated like a 2 year old child, confusing due to personal matters, and yes, Edwin the Shadow Lord, Edwin. He keeps my xBox warm for me while I was locked up.” She doesn’t add the rest of the statement there – it’s… well. Lila seems an innocent, more often than not. She doesn’t need to know that Izzy keeps her ‘box’ warm for Edwin either. Or did. Before Daniel.
[Lila] For a brief second Lila looks wary, and half-turns her head to sideglance over her shoulder, and then, very carefully, half-turns her head to sideglance at what would’ve been in front of her mere moments before. She stretches, feigning nonchalance, and she does not hit an unseen and sneaky Shadow Lord No Moon when she does, he isn’t there when she turns around, and she doesn’t feel his presence behind her just after she turns back from checking, so the wariness dissipates, mostly, and she reaches for a slice of pizza.
Once it is in hand, she curls right up in the corner of the couch’s L, one leg tucked beneath her, the other stretched out, body canted toward Izzy. Before she bites down: “I like Edwin. I have a goal, though: to sneak up on hime one day. All of those things sound like personal matters to me.” There is an invitation there, for Izzy to elaborate, to talk whatever she wants out, but there’s absolutely no pressure; Lila’ll hold her gaze, but she won’t try to drag information out of Izzy or force her to talk about annnything she doesn’t want to.
Now? Now she’s chowing down on that slice of pizza, man, and by chowing down, we do mean pretty much inhaling.
[Izzy Montoya] She watches Lila as she looks around, and there’s that huff of breath. Clearly Lila amuses her. “He ain’t here.” a beat. “I’m pretty sure anyway. He usually lets me know when he’s around. And since Daniel still is determined to have me locked in a chastity belt…” Ah, there it is. She and Edwin are… close. Or something. Mutual enjoyment is close, right?
“Good luck with that.” She says, about sneaking up on him. Meanwhile, she seems to be using quite a few sugar packets and a couple of creamers to douse her coffee with, giving it a stir before she takes a test swallow. Satisfied, she takes another, and tosses the empty packets back on the coffee table. Sitting back, she pulls her bare feet under her, spreads her robe over her knees. It’s warm in the apartment – comfortable even in as little as Izzy is actually wearing.
Lila offers an invitation, and Izzy doesn’t take it. Not exactly. “As I’m not allowed to simply speak my mind.” A smirk there. Like it’s actually stopped her… “but required to answer questions.” another. “You get to pick what you want to know. I’m sure you didn’t come all the way over just to bring me coffee.” because they always want something.
[Lila] There it is. Izzy and Edwin are close, or something, and this is just the kind of information that could get both of them in trouble. Izzy must trust Lila to stay silent — or to be too innocent (ingenue [moi?]) to work it out. The green-eyed galliard tips her head, studying Izzy for a thoughtful second. Her gaze has gone still and steady, a little dreamy, and her mouth has quirked — no more chewing; pizza grease shines on her lips, kiss me, until she licks them and says: “I’m just cautious.”
And then: I’m sure you didn’t come all the way over just to bring me coffee. Lila listens, listens to that whole answer, and leans forward a little, folding her arms on the couch’s cushion, cupping her chin in her hand, and then — stillness (take it [artless]). “You’re right. I didn’t. Do you want to ask me why I came? You can; I’ll answer your questions too.”
[Izzy Montoya] That kind of information could get them in trouble – if it were still happening. Before Daniel decided to take an active interest in her sex life and demand full control, who she slept with was no one’s business. It still isn’t, in her estimation.
But she promised.
She promised John.
And she’s still actively keeping that promise, despite what it costs her to do so. Despite the fact it might lose her the very man she’s protecting, too.
Does she want to ask… “Figure I just did. But if you need it more direct – why did you come?”
[Lila] “Because I didn’t get a chance to say hello the other day. Because I meant to; that’s why I sent Kora over. Because I like you. Why else would I come over?”
[Izzy Montoya] Her lips tighten at the mention of the Skald, but that’s the only reaction other than an answer to the question. “Precious few of you come over without wanting something.”
Simple enough. A beat. “And nine times of ten, the wanting is not mutual.” Well, maybe 7/10. But that was BD. Before Daniel.
[Lila] [-_- whatchoo feelin’ Izzy Montoya.]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 (Failure at target 6)
[Lila] [Again!]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 6, 6, 6, 7 (Failure at target 7)
[Lila] [okay, this actually isn’t a roll, so even if I get 7 suxx, it won’t count! I’m just curious to see if my caution was ILL INFORMED or not!]
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 7, 8, 9 (Success x 2 at target 8)
[Izzy Montoya] (Yeah, and for that not a roll – this is not a “you cant see NUTHIN” roll…)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) Re-rolls: 1
[Lila] This is one of the rare times when Lila doesn’t have (a compass [I know your heart]) a real idea of what she should say, or what she could do, or what the person she is talking to wants. How ironic, considering the conversation? So — she looks a little perplexed, or worried, or some commingling of both. “Is that just ‘of you’? Isn’t that — I mean. I do want, Izzy. I like wanting,” and really, there’s a thread of smoke in that word; something that implies how deeply she can want some things. “I like — even if I don’t get — I just like to want. And I know that’s not what you mean, not really; but isn’t that everybody? Wanting something from everybody else? You don’t … I mean, you,” a flush. “I don’t know.”
[Izzy Montoya] [Now, let’s see if the Detective is on her game…]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Izzy Montoya] Izzy watches her. Her own expression is unreadable, but shes a perceptive one, Izzy – it’s part of what makes her such a damn good cop. She sees little things, tiny things, things that people miss, that they don’t realize what they give away in the microexpressions of the face – a swallow there, a twitch of a muscle over there, a slight breath, the upturn of a lip, a wrinkle of the nose… it’s a roadmap to what people really mean, what they really want.
And Izzy rarely misses any of it. Now is not any different, as Lila gets flustered, and perhaps reveals more than she would otherwise. What’s seen is curious, in that it’s still somewhat suspect by virtue of the other woman’s rage. But what’s seen is also honest, and Izzy nods, and takes a long swallow or two of her coffee.
“I like wanting too. I just have been blocked from what I want – and fight only to get my freedom back.”
Speaking of freedom, she stands and grabs the second controller from the shelf that houses the xBox, and then returns to flop on the couch. She offers the second one to Lila, and picks up her own, and nods to the game, flipping through the options easily until a new game is started, and it includes a second player. “Tap in. I’ll teach ya how to play.”
Apparently, what she saw was enough. Izzy relaxes, and settles into Zombie killing mode. No one can be upset when they’re beheading bad guys.
[Lila] The rage is there. Always is. Always wasn’t, but always is now. “I don’t — I don’t usually think in those terms.” Freedom, she means, and the perplexity takes over her expression, pushes what might have been worry away. Izzy offers Lila the second controller to the Zombie game, and Lila bites her lowerlip, and then eases forward — slinks forward, animal grace, elbows on her knees. “Okay,” she says, curiously. Fighting fake monsters? Hunh. “Just don’t let my brother know I played with you, if you ever meet him.”
And the game boots up.
{it’s not real}
[Izzy Montoya] “That’s because you always have a choice.”
But she just chuckles and nods to the last. “Deal.”
[Lila] ooc: (…shamefacedly logs back in)
[Izzy Montoya] (and NOW, thassawrap. :) )