"Mmmmmm...keep doing that!" she says after pulling the blankets away from her head. Nettle entwines her fingers with the fingers of Alec's free hand and sighs. Enjoying the hair-stroking, she asks, "Does this happen to you a lot, Alec? Meeting a girl, and winding up in bed with her an hour later? I mean, personally, I could understand why! When I first saw you, you were like a beacon shining through the fog..." Nettle explains, thinking of her ability to see people's auras, "...and your sexy accent didn't hurt much, either!"

Alec smiles, "Sometimes, love, yes. It depends on if the woman is intriguing enough." looking down at her he nods "A beacon in the fog, I like that. Sounds...very New England." He reaches over and grabs a joint, lighting it, he takes a deep drag. "Tonight you seemed to have a problem with my drug habits."

Nettle sighs-- her hand momentarily going stiff to Alec's touch. "Have you ever met someone who was one way while sober, and a completely different person while on substances? You don't get...mean when you're high, do you? I don't think it's that I'm against drugs...I think it's because of something that happened to me. I think a lot of things are because of that...event." Nettle explains haltingly.

Alec continues to stroke her hair. "I understand, no I'm not a mean substance user." Settling down and stamping out the joint he looks her in the eye. "So what happened to you?"

Nettle is silent for so long that Alec begins to wonder if he's made a mistake in asking her. "My parents were pot-heads-- no offense, or anything-- and so were their friends. I was...well, I learned how to use a knife for self-defense at a young age...I was almost raped when I was a teenager....by a stoned family friend who was more like an uncle than anything else...." Nettle is quiet for a moment. "I've never actually told that story to anyone before, Alec. My parents just knew...I left home because of that. They must have told my aunt and uncle...Natalie never asked me about it." Nettle's face is blank as she stares off at the moon.

Alec holds her even closer and kisses her forehead. "I'm sorry I brought that memory up.Here let me try something..."

"It's all right...it needed to be said." Nettle looks up at him expectantly...

Alec closes his eyes, and suddenly Nettle is flushed with groovy feelings. He opens his eyes and kisses her again. "Feeling better?"

Grinning, Nettle sings, "Feelin' groovyyyyy!" and wriggles around in bed trying to dance to her singing. Then she plants a very long kiss on his lips, and when she pulls away, there's an audible pop-noise! She starts laughing for a minute, and gives Alec a bear-hug. "Thanks, baby.......Alec? I KNOW you must have had an interesting life! What's made you you? How did you end up in Utah-- I'm assuming you're English? And why do you use so many drugs?"

Alec returns the kiss with equal passion. He listens to Nettle and then rubs his chin as he thinks "Well, love, I am English born and bred. I came to the states when I went college in Berkeley. My parents were beatniks and used a lot of drugs, so I was always around that lifestyle. Met a Cultist at Berkeley and she Awakened me." Alec stops a moment, "We traveled for a time, and then I came here. I was on me way to California when I got sidetracked here." He looks down at her for her reaction and then continues. "I use a lot of drugs because I like them, they expand my mind and my senses. That's about as best I can put it." He sighs and puts his arms around her, thinking for a moment, "What's between you and Derek?"

Nettle listens to Alec-- cataloguing a couple questions to ask him after she responds to his question. "You know, I have absolutely no idea! I was sitting on Veil's car with her, waiting to enter the church with the cabal, and the rest after that is completely blank! Actually, the first thing I remember after sitting on the car is seeing you in the church...with that aura of yours..." Nettle smiles. I'm guessing that this Derek must be responsible for the memories I'm missing...and during that blank-space, he must have used some kind of vampiric magick to link me to him, because I feel powerless when he's near me." Nettle gets up on one elbow and looks at Alec. "Do you know what I feel like when he leaves?" Alec shakes his head and listens. "Have you ever lost someone important to you? I feel that same huge ache in the pit of my stomach...an ache mixed with burning desire. It's especially difficult to battle because of my...um...pain-fetish......when I think of those sharp teeth in my flesh, I...." Nettle's eyes seem to glaze over, and suddenly she clenches them shut and holds her breath.

Concentrating, Alec sees her lips moving, and then her eyes slowly open. "I just created a mind-shield, but I don't know how well it will work against Derek." Nettle exhales. "Alec, between you and Veil, don't let anything happen to me! I'm not myself around Derek..."

Alec stiffens a bit at the mention of losing someone. He relaxes and takes her chin in his hand, "I promise you love, he'll never get near you when I'm round." Alec's eyes narrow and he thinks...

Nettle looks steadily into his eyes-- her eyes widening for a moment, and then tearing up. Lowering her head, she hastily wipes her eyes. "I'm...I'm sorry about that...Sam was right about me when she said I can't control my feelings...I...um...thank you for watching out for me, Alec." Nettle watches Alec as he thinks, and asks, "What did you study at Berkeley? Did you graduate? Was this Cultist your mentor..like Veil is mine?

Alec sits up rather quickly and lights another joint. He takes a few drags and closes his eyes. "No I took Musical theory, but then I Awakened so....." He takes a drag and then smiles. "Ready for another go round?" he says his smile seeming very forced.

Nettle seems just as eager to change the mood, and she throws the covers off the bed and pulls Alec back down. "Well, I graduated in English History, and I'm VERY interested in making some English-history right now! You want top or bottom this time??" Nettle grins a seductive grin.

Alec chuckles and scoots down. Wrapping his arms around Nettle he winks "Hmmm tough choice, let's see where we end up!'

"You know what? Let's do both!"

After a time....

Alec smiles enjoying yet another afterglow. He chuckles for a moment. "Our Chantry mates will hate us if we keep waking them up like this." A better mood seems to glint in his eyes, but Nettle notices something underneath. Something a bit sad. "So where are you taking residence? I was thinking the realm. I heard there's a gardener, maybe I can convince him to plant some Cannabis..." Alec suddenly stops and a look of remembrance crosses his face. "Damnit. I forgot all about the store...Ah well I'll go there in the morning."

Nettle's empathy picks up on the sad look in his eyes-- it seems out-of-place on Alec's sunny demeanor. "What's wrong, Alec? I can sense something is wrong-- I'm a blonde Deanna Troi! If....if you don't want to talk about it, don't worry, OK?"
Thinking, Nettle replies, "Yeah-- I heard someone mention a horizon realm in the chantry...that sounds intriguing to me! There's a gardener there?? What do you need to get from the store?" The questions come rolling out of Nettle's mouth as her way to change the subject should Alec not want to mention why he's sad.

Alec sighs and pats her shoulder. He hugs her close a moment then rolls over on his stomach and kicks his feet up. "Yeah there is a gardener there," he says avoiding the question. He looks into her eyes a moment and then smiles again. "Don't worry, love," he says with a kiss, "Everything is settled for the moment. I need my things from the store, and pick up my money."

Nettle glances at Alec's bare bum and grins. Jumping up, she sits on his back and grabs his hair in one hand, and smacks his bum with the other. "Giddeup, horse!" she shouts laughing.

Alec chuckles as he bounces on the bed, he rolls over quickly and gathers Nettle in his arms, and rolls again. He kisses her quick and looks deep within her eyes. "Ahhh I have an idea!" Taking off his ring, he concetrates a moment with his eyes closed. Opening them he places the ring on Nettle's index finger.

Nettle looks at the ring on her finger and back up at Alec. A slow smile spreads across her face, and she starts laughing. "Alec, you naughty boy! You're going the right way for another spanked bottom! Do I get to keep this?" she asks grinning. "And what's this store you need to get your things from?"

Alec grins widely, "Yeah I thought you'd like that. Keep the ring it's yours," he says. "I own this little music shop down the road aways. It has all me stuff. "I should close it, but I like the money."

Nettle smiles at Alec. "Thank you...I..um, nevermind. I'll find something of mine to give you, and you can work your little mojo on that-- or show ME how, so you can have that ever-fresh feeling, too!" Nettle laughs. Standing up and rummaging around the room in the dark, Nettle asks, "Hey-- you sell ABBA records by chance?" Coming back to the bed, she hands Alec her black velvet bikini underwear. "Will this work?" she smirks.

Alec takes the Velvet underwear and smiles, putting it on his folded clothes. "We sell no Abba records, none at all." "Yes that should work, and perhaps later in the month I can work a little something that will..." he chuckles.

"That's too bad about the ABBA records," Nettle says, and sings "S.O.S." until she sees the look on Alec's face, and then slowly trails off and stops. "OK! No singing ABBA around darling Alec!" Nettle announces to no one in particular. "And what exactly do you mean by 'a little later in the month??' What are you thinking, Sir Ecstacy?? That reminds me! I don't believe I've found a single tattoo on your body!" Nettle excaims, crossing her nettle-tattooed wrists over her nettle-tattooed ankles and grinning.

"No tatoos yet, but maybe in the future." Alec scoots down and inspects Nettle's tatoos. "These are nice, love, plan on getting anymore?" He gins devilishly. "Any place special??"

Grinning like the flirt she is, Nettle turns around and pulls her long, platinum hair over her right shoulder and peers back at Alec over the left one. "I don't know if you missed this one or not-- I had it done shortly after the wrists and ankles. Alec sees a round half-sun/ half moon design of about 3 inches in diameter in the center of her upper back, done in brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and purples. Nettle shimmies her shoulders. "It's my pride and joy, and I can't even see it that often-- but I love knowing it's there. Oooh...my aching back!" she says suggestively, leaning her back towards Alec.

"Ah here then," he says as he kisses the tatoo. "There nothing missed." He places his hands on her back and massages her back. "Feel better?"

"Mmmmmmm!! Perfect! Thank you! To answer your question, naughty Alec, I HAD been thinking of getting the symbol for Virgo tattooed somewhere...if I do it, I'll let YOU pick where they put it!" Nettle smiles. "What tattoos would you get if you decided to get some?"

"A Scorpio on the small of me back. That's my sign." he says....

"Oh really? What a cool coincidence about the tattoos! Scorpio, hmm? Happy late birthday, then!" Nettle pauses and thinks for a second. "Scorpios are the detectives of the zodiac-- they're very perceptive and experts at strategy. They're good at sending out subtle signals, or manipulating a situation to their will." Nettle eyes Alec and laughs, and then continues-- her face becoming quite serious. "They're also on a constant search for intimacy, can get quite jealous, and what they feel, they feel deeply and forever. They need to bare their souls from time to time. Scorpios can also become obsessive, and seek out intensity-- experiencing life and death situations makes them feel alive. Sounds like you're in the right place then, Alec." Nettle answers solemnly-- leaving Alec to wonder if she's referring to the cabal or herself.

Alec listens and then laughs, "That's me to a T then. And how about Virgo's tell me about them."

Nettle gets her thoughts in order for a second and replies, "Virgos have a keen eye for detail, and are often called picky or critical because they're good at spotting faults that most people would miss. Because of this, we're great at fixing things, and are always happy to help others. We're willing to adapt to any task, are happiest when kept busy, and are the trouble-shooters of the zodiac. We use discrimination with every project, and are the most-organized-- tending to make lists, agendas, and schedules. Sounds like I'm in the right place, too!" Nettle says, looking around the room and smiling. "I'm a mother-hen AND a queen!" She laughs, and then gets a bemused look on her face. "I have yet to figure out that Sam...I had such a strong urge to pull her under my wing when we first met, but she practically tore the wing off! And why do the vampires hold her in such awe?? They bow to her every whim, and don't lay a fang on her!"

Alec shrugs, "Not sure, love. She does seem to have a way with them. Perhaps I can talk to her..." he says his voice trailing off. "A queen, eh? Well then your majesty," he says stopping the massage and taking her hand and kissing it knightly, "I am yours to command."

Nettle gets a shiver of lust hearing Alec address her like a knight with his English accent. Sitting up straight and assuming an air of royalty, Nettle answers in her best proper Oxford accent, "Thank you, my good Sir Alec! The Queen wishes for you to demonstrate your skill at kissing. Impress me with the many techniques you know!" Nettle commands with an escaping smirk.

Alec leans over and kisses her deeply, changing styles every so often. Finally after what seems to be forever, he ends the kiss and looks into her eyes. "well my highness? How was that?"

Nettle-- losing her royal demeanor-- gasps and falls back on the bed breathing hard. "WOW!" she cries when she gets her breath back. Rising up momentarily, she grabs Alec from behind the neck with both hands and pulls him down on top of her. "The Queen wants more...NOW!" Patting her hand around on the floor until she finds what she's looking for, Nettle whips her dagger up out of its sheath and holds it aloft. "Use this *here* when the time comes, OK?" she asks, tracing a line down her breastbone.

Alec takes the dagger, looks at her a moment and then smiles, "Whatever floats your boat, baby!" he says with a smile. Putting the dagger on the nightstand he looks back at her. "right within reach."

An hour later, Nettle lay sprawled across the bed with one arm hanging off the side, the other arm under Alec's head, and trickles of blood running down her stomach and across her shoulders-- her chest rising up and down like a frightened sparrow's. Alec lay staring at the ceiling with the bloody dagger still clenched in one hand. "Th-thank you, Alec, darling...I hope you didn't mind doing that." she stutters. I don't think I can move-- I'm going to just fall asleep right here if that's OK with you..." Nettle's eyes close, and her breathing becomes more relaxed.

Alec catches his breath as well, while he watches her sleep. Finally when he is sure she is out, he gets up and out of bed careful not to wake her. Donning a robe, he walks down the hall to the bathroom. Returning with a wet washcloth and a basin of water, he gently rolls Nettle onto her back and cleans off the blood. Taking a look at her wound, he notices it isn't very deep at all. He carefully changes the sheets, and when he is done he disrobes. Alec climbs into bed next to Nettle, she moans and rolls over to her side. Alec slides in and wraps an arm around her and falls fast asleep.

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