He followed her. Or perhaps him. One could never be sure with McKale. And, of course, he never followed her in quite the same form. He had to be careful. It had been a might bit difficult, obtaining something to obscure his eyes, but he and Jeffrey had managed to dig up a pair of darkly masked goggles. Said goggles were dangling over the ledge of a portrait, hanging near the main exit of the corridor, barely visible against the shadows of the crooked metal.
Shar had been doing this for four days now, taking on a form of something unrecognizable and loitering outside the apartment until McKale made an appearance. Each time, she would exit as a female, tramp down the hall until she reached the doors, and stop. She'd rest her palms against the glass, breath deeply, push forward...and promptly spin around and rush back into her apartment. Yesterday she'd gone a good two meters out the door before she changed her mind and went back. Shar was getting a little impatient about the whole ordeal.
Each time McKale failed to leave the building, he would return to the original room. Jeffrey would look up at him, hopeful and nervous, and Shar would simply shake his head. Each time, Jeffrey would breathe a sigh of relief (relief!) and sink into the cushion.
But not today.
A clock chimed somewhere along the corridor, marking 11:00. McKale's door opened and she slid outside, smoothing down her skirts and primping her hair a little. She glanced down the left side of the hallway, then the right, and, seeing no one, took a deep breath and began to descend down the hall.
Shar followed her.
She pressed her hands against the glass. Paused. Took a deep breath. The door opened a fraction of an inch. Her arms quivered slightly and she bit her bottom lip. Squeezing her eyes shut she moved to push the doors open. She didn't get far.
McKale let out a strangled groan and spun around.
In an instant, Shar morphed out of his crude insect-like form and into that of Yaidom. Mid-shift his arm shot out toward the portrait ledge and he snagged the goggles, snapping them over his eyes just as his new body finished taking shape. The entire process appeared as little more than a shimmer of air to McKale, which hardly gave her enough time to react. She barreled into Shar-come-Yaidom's chest and stumbled backward into the door. It swung open with her weight and she found her self careening to the floor in a muddle of skirts and lace.
Shar-come-Yaidom arched a brow at her, stepping around her prone form, and shut the door. There was a click, like a lock snapping into place, and Shar-come-Yaidom moved effortlessly around McKale and continued on his way, outwardly unphased by the situation. As soon as he turned the nearest corner he pressed himself up against the wall, peering cautiously around the edge of the building.
McKale's mouth swung open, The door!" She scrambled to her feet and gripped the handle, yanking it fruitlessly, The door!"
Shar watched her eyes widened and her mouth bob up and down like a dying fish. She let out a wail and pressed her face to the glass.
"What am I going to do!" she groaned, twisting her hands in her skirts. She turned around, pressing her back to the unrelenting door, and chewed her lip. Shar could see her thoughts bubble to the surface of her mind.
Stuck outside. She'd already seen Yaidom so he couldn't have gone far. She couldn't go back inside. She had to 'seduce' Yaidom, whether or not she wanted to. Realization dawned, and with it, perhaps an ounce of courage.
Shar rested his head against the wall, smiling softly. Perfect. He turned the corner, hunching his back a little and tapping a finger against his chin. He muttered something quietly about having gone the wrong direction, and crossed right in front of McKale.
McKale froze instantly, but she stopped wringing her hands. Her eyes dropped to her feet and, finally, she sucked in a breath and stepped toward him. She pressed a hand to her collarbone and tilted her gaze up to his,"Umm, excuse me monsieur, I was wondering if perhaps you could help me back into my apartment? I appear to be locked out. Silly me, falling all over the place like that, she laughed prettily, Its not lady-like to be clumsy, but I simply can't seem to stop myself."
Shar, as Yaidom, wrinkled his nose and curled his upper lip, What makes you think I'm going to help you,"he snarled, Im a busy person, I have placed to go."
"Oh, please monsiuer,"she placed her hands delicately on the crook of his arm, I simply don't know what I'll do if I can't-"
Shar-come-Yaidom wrenched his arm out of McKale's grip and strode down the sidewalk with a great snort of disgust.
"Well bugger!"
Shar grinned.
.:.:.::.:.:.
Jeffrey's head snapped up at the sound of someone nearing the apartment door. It swung open, and Yaidom slid into the room with a merry bounce of his feet, grinning like a cat. Jeffrey shot to attention immediately, reaching behind him for the vidcom...when he noticed 'Yaidom' was sporting a thick pair of goggles. Said goggled were peeled from his face and set on one of the end tables. 'Yaidom' shivered a little, and melted downward into the more welcome form of Shar.
Cyilume peered up over the edge of the couch, So, how'd it go?"
Jeffrey's eyes locked onto Shar's, silent, steady. Shar watched his bond's hands clench and unclench at his sides, fingers tugging at the loose material of his pants. He raised his gaze to Jeffrey's and nodded once.
"It's done."
Jeffrey let out a breathy sigh and collapsed into his chair, Thank-god."
"Finally,"whined Cyilume, trotted toward Jeffrey. She leapt up onto his lap and curled herself comfortable between the arm's of the chair, Shes not coming back, is she?"
Jeffrey frowned, Perhaps."
Shar strolled toward the kitchen, immersed in thought.
Jeffrey wanted McKale back.
That called for another plan.
.:.:.::.:.:.
Hours later, McKale returned to apartment, let in by a custodian who was all too happy to unlock the door. Couldn't understand how it had gotten locked in the first place. But never mind that, the dilemma was over. And, even better, it seemed McKale would not have to bother with Yaidom any longer. If he wasn't going to be seduced, he wasn't going to be seduced! Who was she to argue? She slipped into her apartment, strode toward the telephone, and dialed Mr.Winquist's number.
And not five seconds into the conversation she was feeling decidedly less giddy about the situation.
"It simply can't be done, Mr. Winquist. He's not warming up to me at all, in fact, just this morning he-."
"You'll just have to try harder. I'm warning McKale, if I don't get my people, you're not keeping that watch."
At the mention of it, McKale slipped her hand inside her bodice and pulled said object out, clutching it hard, Really, Mr.Winquist, I am trying."
"I find that hard to believe. Yaidom doesn't often pass up a chance at a pretty lady."
"Oh, well,"McKale colored.
"I'm running out of patience, McKale. I'll give you...one more week, and if you haven't obtained Yaidom by then I'm collecting my watch from you."
"Oh, but...Mr.Winquist! I jolly well can't make him-"
"You can, and you will. Good-bye Miss...Mister, McKale." There was a loud 'click' on the other end of the tele and the line went dead.
"Well bugger,"said McKale.
.:.:.::.:.:.
It was late that evening when McKale finally managed to muster up the courage to give the situation another go. Donning her usual sort of dress, of course, with a very 'open' collar, the hem of which slipped well below her collarbone. No corset, although she dearly wished she could have worn one. It was difficult enough to get into the dress without outside help, and she'd be dashed surprised if she could manage to do up her own torso-mangler. She eyed her parasol, lacy and white, smooshed into the corner of the room. It would certainly add a bit of oomph to her get up, but how to explain it? It wasn't as if there was any ruddy sun, or rain, in the space port. No, she'd have to go as she was. Accessory-less and just a little underdressed.
She pressed her hands to her waist, nodded to herself, and charged out the door with her chin held high. She strode triumphantly down the hall, pressed her gloved hands against the glass door and pushed it open. She eyed the lock warily, as if expecting it to suddenly flick outward and trap her outside her apartment again. It didn't, and she snapped at finger at it with a toothy grin.
Now, she thought to herself, striding toward the corner of the complex, to wait. She'd spotted Yaidom out around here twice already, so chances were, he'd come again. An hour later, after much fidgeting and a bit of hushed song to pass the time, her speculations were proven correct.
"Bress, I don't understand you insistent need to bond a dragon."
"I do not have an insistent need to bond a dragon, Yaidom. It was you who wanted to come here to bond. I'm merely trying to get you to...hurry it up. We've been here for nearly a year, Yaidom!"
"These things take time. I don't want to bond willy-nilly and get myself stuck with-" Yaidom stopped outside the complex doors, frowning, Whos this, Bress?"
McKale stood before them, leaning up against the doors with a pleasant smile curling her lips (coated aptly with deep rogue), she pressed her fingers to her mouth and strode daintily forward, Tierney McKale, monsieur. You ran into me earlier today."
"No I didnt, said Yaidom, he turned to Bress, sneering, I don't remember running into anyone dressed like that today. Do you, Bress?"
Bress said nothing. His mouth hung open ever so slightly and he was staring at McKale like he was seizing up a piece of meat.
McKale stirred a little, clutching her hands at her breast, Surely, monsieur, you don't remember? You were wearing goggles then, perhaps I looked differently in the dimmer lights?"
Yaidom lifted his nose and scowled, I do not wear goggles." He strode passed her and wrenched the door open, Come along, Bress, and I'll think about signing up for one of the current clutches."
"I..."Bress' voice faltered, Id like to stay out here a bit longer, Yaidom. I'll be with you shortly."
Yaidom paused in the doorway, shifting his gaze from Bress to McKale and back. He ground his teeth and stormed back into the building.
"Oh, rum, breathed McKale, squinting through the glass to watch Yaidom stalk down the halls, Honestly, I'll never get anything done at this rate. A week! How am I suppose to-"
"Miss?"
McKale turned about. Bress! She'd forgotten about him. She colored a bit, laughing nervously,"Oh! I apologize, monsieur, I...umm."
Bress stepped forward, bowing at the waist. He gently took hold of McKale's wrist and brought her hand to his lips, My name is Bress, miss. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, well, she shifted her weight, chewing her lip,"Th-thank-you, but I really must be-."
"I don't believe I've met a lady as pleasing to the eye as you. That dress is...Victorian earth, am I correct?"
"Oh! Oh yes indeed, she smiled, turning slowly in a circle, Custom made. Do you like it?"
"It's magnificent. Are you busy, miss, or do you think I could treat you to dinner?"
Busy? She glanced over her shoulder at Yaidom's retreating form. Almost out of sight now. She turned back to Bress and shook her head, Not at all. I'd be delighted to dine with you, monsieur. Bress, is it?"
"Yes, and you?"
"Tierney McKale."
Bress offered his arm to her, and she took it with a grin.