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Bar Crossed Lovers (AparinaAkumu and LustfulSins)

AparinaAkumu

AparinaAkumu

Super-Earth
Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Location
United States-East Coast
It was an average night for Corbin Maverick as he arrived at work. On his way in with the sun setting he managed a travel cup of coffee and a bit to eat. Usually something light, tonight his gloved hands held the paper wrapping of a bear claw from the bakery down the road. He knew the closing manager, and had gotten an account with the owner so they could leave him a parcel if he was running late. Luckily he almost never did.

It was set up to be an average night. The slate haired man approached his job in time to stop and chat with the bouncer. As per usual, the man who started an hour before Corbin patted the padded shoulder of his suit jacket and let him in with a few minutes to spare. There he could check himself in the back room and be certain he was up to standard for work while throwing away his garbage and ensuring his gloves were clean. At eight on the dot he clocked in and went to work. He ran a gloved hand over the mahogany polished bar as he stepped behind it and checked the inventory. They were running low on a few bottles, but as long as they didn't run out they would be fine. Instead his eyes drifted as he started his preparations. Running the first set of glasses through the small dishwasher under the bar, making sure all the soda canisters were full. He was quite focused until he heard the red-haired woman he worked with speaking.

"You're going to need to tie your hair back soon," his coworker commented as she prepared the drinks for a waitress to walk over to a table of young women. Corbin's smile returned as he tossed a white towel over his shoulder and tied on the black apron he was given by the short female. He himself was considered rather short, at a mere 5'8. However the red-haired woman was noticeably shorter, wearing heels that brought her up to 5'4.

"It won't get that long Aishling," he assured the ginger, "I'm getting a trim over the weekend. I think the shaggy look suits me, don't you?" The man struck a brief pose in his white button up and vest, only for the woman to roll her eyes.

"We both know I'm not your type Corbin," she tossed back. It made the man fake a hurt look, but the two both ended up laughing and getting to work. The bar wasn't incredibly busy, but it was always a low murmur of noise. Never a dull moment either, but Corbin and Ash had been working together for over a year now. The two had similar personalities and humor, so the nights always seemed to go by quick enough.

Though as the night went on Corbin found himself looking go one particular patron who came in. A man with white hair, rather good looking. While any regular could pin the slate haired man for being a bit of a tease he never really went home with a patron of the bar. It was risky business for him, being what he is with what he could do. The thoughts lingering as he looked at his gloved hands a moment.

Aishling nudged Corbin in the side, eliciting a surprised sound from the man as he blinked to his coworker. She nodded to the very white haired man Corbin had been secretly eyeing.

"Why don't you handle that gentleman? I'm a tab busy on my side," she gave him a wink but the man shook his head and out of habit adjusted his gloves before taking a breath and walking over to the bar.

"Can I get you something tonight, Sir?" He asked in his usual tone. Friendly, chipper, perhaps just a tad energetic. Though his face might have had just the slightest hint of a blush lingering against his blue eyes. Nothing that couldn't be reasoned out as it being warm in a bar under a buttoned collar and vest.
 
Kethras Karn had recently relocated from across the state, having needed a fresh environment after the death of his last adopted family member. New environment, new start. And there was always work. People are always hunting down rogue supernatural persons, whether it's the human department involved in secretly policing the supernatural world, usually with little success, or private employers looking to track down the target of a deal or job. As a bounty hunter, there is always work.

But Kethras also must always be careful. He stands out in a crowd, thanks to his albinism, whether he wants to or not. Despite that, he prefers the nightlife, when the sun isn't around to burn his pale skin. And his recent job hire had recommended this high end bar to him, had said the drinks were good, and the atmosphere even better. So here he is, seated at the bar in all black with his long white hair mostly tied back from his face. The front and sides are shorter, intentionally shaggy like one might have with a short to mid length hairstyle, with only the back reaching to his waist. But it suits him.

When the cute bartender finally comes over, not that Kethras had been impatient, the albino man flashes a smile. The blush does not go unnoticed, and Kethras had seen the way the young man kept glancing at him. It's his job to be very observant, so small details rarely slip his attention. Kethras straightens from his slightly leaned over position, lifting his elbows from the bar counter. Even seated on the barstool, it's easy to tell he's tall. Red eyes scan the bartenders body, pausing at his shoulders. Somehow, they seem disproportionate to the rest of his frame. A focus on them when working out, or perhaps something else?

"A double whiskey coke over ice, if you don't mind." Kethras' voice is deep, but not overly so. It's smooth, every syllable spoken well enunciated, and holds a rich tone that flows well through the air. He smiles, and though it doesn't quite reach his eyes, it's friendly enough. The smile is a wordless invite for conversation, to let the bartender know he's not just another drunk that wants to be served and left alone.
 
Corbin's blush might have been the only thing that betrayed him. He was quite used to being interested in a patron. Though he often knew better than to truly attempt to bring one home. He had blended in with humans perfectly as he moved into the city, and luckily no one had questioned his monthly time off. Only Aishling had noticed that the dates lined up with the full moon, to which Corbin easily explained as a private family affair around a long forgotten religion. Mostly fabricated, but it worked.

"Sure, I'll bring it right over," he responded. His movements were calm, medium toned voice stayed steady, and his blush would fade as he worked. Luckily a double whiskey in coke was difficult to make fancy, so he made it calmly. His movements were careful and efficient; well practiced. Regardless of the tools or bottles he touched he didn't get a spec of liquid onto his gloves.

"Here you are," he delivered the drink with a smile, and his blush hadn't returned. Though a close eye would notice his own blue orbs had no true focus. He wasn't studying or really looking at the white haired man. Instead his gaze seemed to stare off as the slate haired man looked at the patron. A common technique to be attentive without studying.

"We do have a kitchen around the bend," he offered as well when he motioned to the way the partial wall across from the bar seemed to curve in. From the barstools themselves it appeared like the bend was decorative, which it was, but the curved design helped provide more space for the cooks along the flat wall of cooking stations.

"I can grab you a menu if you'd like? They're open for a couple more hours," he glanced up to the clock tucked behind the hanging rack for the glasses as he spoke. Just to be sure he was right. If he wasn't distracted, he would have remembered that just a moment ago Ash had made an order for a table that got picked up by a waitress.

To the normal human his blush would have been a fluke. He seemed calm and relaxed, comfortable in his environment and in control of himself. Only humans would be fooled so easily, which is all Corbin ever expected to run into here. The signs of a dog were there, his sharp canines and the way his eyes never truly met another's. Never initiating a power struggle. But the comfort in his environment, knowing he was smaller than any true threat, was confidence often seen in wolves. The control just didn't add up.

But he would only be standing there for study until he got an answer. Then he would step back into action to complete the exchange, before returning to work. Cleaning the bar and wiping out a few glasses from the dishwasher to dry them.
 
Kethras watches the bartender move around to get his drink made. His eyes follow the way his hips move, unashamedly staring. When the young man returns with his drink, Kethras slides a $20 bill across the bar to him. He listens as he's told there's a kitchen, not even turning his head to look where the bartender gestures.

Kethras is far too interested in the bartender, and he's not particularly hungry. He had come for a drink, to scope out a new hangout when not on a job. And now he has found a new person of interest as well. And though it wouldn't be apparent to humans, Kethras can tell there's something off about this bartender. He won't meet Kethras' eyes, and even for a high end place, he's too formal.

"No, I don't need a menu. But if you don't mind keeping the drinks coming, I'll keep tipping." Kethras smiles warmly. Then he tilts his head, and a shadow of black spreads across his red left eye, outer corner to inner corner. It's fast enough that a human would think it a trick of the light, or a shadow passing in front of one of the bar lights. But Kethras doesn't blink while it happens. It's something he's taken to doing to see if a supernatural being is around.
 
The twenty catches his attention, and Corbin nods his head. "Sure," he managed to stop just before any other words came out to be interrupted. He saw the black spread through the man's eye then away, but it was something he had never seen before. Human or otherwise. With just as much speed as Kethras managed his trick, Corbin processed and reacted.

"No problem Sir," he continued with just the slightest hesitation between the first word and rest of his sentence. He hadn't outright seen another supernatural being in months, though he had a few passing suspicions. The true betrayal to his notice was his own blue eyes. They focused and dilated before he returned to looking a bit more distant.

As he swept up the twenty calmly and returned to his other duties his smile faded to a more distant look. He seemed focused, and one would assume it was on his work. Instead it was on what that new man could possibly be, for something like that to occur? Moreso, if he just tricked Corbin into giving himself away.

"Corbin!" Ash spoke softly as she nudged him with her elbow, "boss is coming in to check the new kitchen manager. No coats." She flicked her eyes over to a woman stopped at the front, and Corbin nodded but did really wish not to expose his figure to this new potential threat at the bar. It had been nearly half an hour since his exchange with the man, and he had forgotten to glance over to check his glass for around ten minutes now.

"I'll go hang it up," he replied softly as he put his towel down. He began unbuttoned his coat one handed as he stepped away, only to return a moment later without the black jacket. His white shirt and grey vest left his physique exposed. The scrawny yet healthy shape of the man revealed as he stepped back to his position and adjusted his waist apron.

When he noticed the man's drink empty, he prepped a new one and stepped over to this white haired man.

"Here you are Sir, double whiskey and coke. Would you like something else next?" He offered. After all, most humans wouldn't take more than three of those a night.
 
Kethras rubs his jaw to hide a smirk when he sees the bartender's blue eyes focus and dilate. He had seen the shadow pass across Kethras' eye. The fact that he said nothing isn't quite proof enough, but he had seen it. Which means the bartendwr's eyes can track movement faster than the average human.

Kethras spends the next half hour simply watching the bartender. He's quite confident in his job, or at least, that's what he shows. And while Kethras has been savoring his drink, after twenty minutes, it's empty. But he has no other plans, and the bartender seems busy, so he just waits patiently until the young man notices.

Kethras perks up when he hears the bartender's coworker speak his name. They might be at the other end of the bar, and speaking softly, but the music isn't overly loud, and the albino's hearing is very good. Corbin. It's a nice name, suits him. When the young man goes out of view, Kethras pushes his glass away from himself so Corbin would notice when he came back.

When Corbin returned, Kethras was only mildly surprised to see his shoulders are not as wide and bulky as they had seemed. The slim frame of his body suits the young man better. Upon receiving his next drink, Kethras places another $20 on the bar. His tips are quite high, as the drink is maybe $8 or $9, but he doesn't really care. "No, just keep the same coming." This time, a black streak races across his face, from the right corner of his mouth to disappear behind his right ear. More obvious, but nobody else except Corbin is looking at him.
 
This time, the streak got a more curious gaze from Corbin as he accepted the tip. He wondered a moment before picking up an empty glass and giving this man another smile. The fact that he was being so brave meant one of two things: he knew Corbin noticed, or he wasn't quite sure. Being of such a smaller stature it was generally in the wolf's best interest to ask questions rather than take chances.

He took he glass over to the dishwasher, and returned with a couple empties that were still a tad wet. Then he leaned on the bar at his waist and began polishing the glasses with his towel to dry them up.

"Such a heavy tipper, is there anything you'd enjoy discussing?" He asked casually as he glanced back to the man. He flashed him a smile that most found charming as his gloved hands continued to work at the cups. Though his gaze didn't linger and he did still focus on his job.

"After all, such an investment usually fares a favor or two. Are you new to town?" He surprised himself a bit at where his mind had wandered. He was giving an effort to decipher the man before him, yet something in his mind had shifted gears to trying to learn about the man as an interest.

Maybe for the better, after all the wolf didn't know what this man's intentions were. Perhaps he was just another being like himself trying to blend into the human society.
 
Finally, some returned interest. Kethras is happy to see his attempts to make a connection have not gone unnoticed. Once again, he takes his time with his drink, but he's glad for the bartender's company. "I am new to town. I moved here just last week, and decided I would look for a new hangout when I'm not working. The atmosphere here is.." Kethras pauses to let his eyes track down, then back up Corbin's body. "Beautiful."

Kethras takes a sip of his drink, them licks his lips slowly. He's made the connection, now just to confirm the bartender's interest. Perhaps by the end of the night, he would have a new number to add to his phone.

Even though he had heard Vorbin's name from spoken earlier by the coworker, Kethras is polite enough to ask for it straight from the bartender himself. "What's your name? Surely one so handsome as yourself must have a name just as handsome." Now Kethras is flirting, and he doesn't try to hide it.
 
Corbin's eyes flicked to give the man a sideways glance. He wasn't sure if he actually caught the man's gaze drifting or not, but he smiled anyway at the thought. Barring anything truly negative the man was handsome enough. Perhaps a chat would be fine.

"Beautiful? Well," Corbin played to match. His own eyes gave a much slower, more deliberate gaze up and down the seated man as he rested an arm on the bar. He did like what he saw, but he was mostly looking to evaluate the man. Appearances could be deceiving, but he didn't look like someone that he couldn't handle.

"I might say...tasteful," he offered back with a rather large grin as he moved to lean against the bar again with his hip. He had finished two of the glasses, and already a third was in his hands. He did falter slightly at the blatant flirting of the man across the bar. It caused him to clear his throat and almost drop the glass in his hands. Luckily, agility was an inherited trait of his.

"Corbin," he offered after a moment as he glanced back to the man. Was he...really just flirting? No catch? It seemed too good to be true, so as Corbin switched to the final glass he shook his head to one side to remove his shaggy grey hair from his eyes. The deep blues focused on the red eyed man. This time, he initiated eye contact.

"What might your name be?" He asked, with a very slight growl to his voice. The problem with being a beta meant he often challenged the alphas from his old home. It had been a key factor in discovering his preference against mating females. Though nowadays he used it for two reasons primarily. In this case it was a mixture of both. He was attempting to authoritate himself as the alpha in the moment, but also test the perception and reaction of this stranger.
 
The falter, a show of surprise, makes Kethras smirk again. Clearly, Corbin is not accustomed to being the target of flirting. Nevertheless, he recovers quickly, and that amuses the albino. The bartender seems to be someone that doesn't like to show weakness. The real eye contact is welcome; Kethras is pleased to know Corbin's attention is truly on him now.

The slight growl isn't missed, and Kethras only finds more amusement. In the context of flirting, Corbin must be testing the waters to see where he stands against Kethras. However, the albino isn't one to back down from a challenge, even a subtle one.

Kethras leans forward, taking up space across the bar counter without actually passing the edge on Corbin's side. It's a use of spacial pressure. He also offers a smile, his more or less human teeth showing. It's like baring his teeth, without the feral expression. Kethras is starting to get a vague idea of what Corbin might be.

"Kethras." The albino runs his fingertip around the rim of his glass, then picks it up and tips back the last gulp. He sets the glass back on the counter, only small slivers of ice left. He had meant what he said about keeping the doubles coming. Alcohol does very little to him. The power he harbors burns through it quite rapidly. He enjoys it purely for the taste. "Have you got a.." Kethras pauses, catching himself before he says pack. He can't assume yet. He has suspicions, but not enough proof. "Girlfriend? Boyfriend?" They're flirting, he may as well be blunt.
 
The eye contact did nothing to determine a true placement, and the human teeth were strange. So indeed this man was not another wolf. Then what would he want with one? Or, had he truly just piqued the man's interest? Kethras, he noted as he wondered what sort of name that was.

With the glass empty Corbin finished his clean ones and put them on a small tray just under the bar. Except one, which he put a little ice in and set on the counter. Now that he had a natural reason to look away, he didn't find it submissive to do so.

"Girlfriend? Nah," he responded casually as his gloved hands made quick work of filling a double shot into the glass and putting the bottle of amber down in the open top cooler behind the bar. There he grabbed the nozzle and selected coke, filling the glass. The foam barely peered over the edge, threatening to rush down if he had gone a moment longer. But Corbin's confidence in his job was thorough. He had been doing it a while.

"Here you are," he stated though he placed a hand on the bar where Kethras had been placing those twenties. Corbin wasn't one to take anything lying down, he was naturally a power seeker and submissive simultaneously. The battle carried little weight outside a pack or romantic relationship. He was realizing his instincts weren't what was causing his mood, but his hormones.

"How about you save some for later," he offered as he leaned on the bar casually and gave a smile to the white haired man. "I know a good place to eat after a night of drinking here, but I'm not off until one," he admitted as he stood up straight and tossed the towel he had been using into a wash bin behind the counter. Wordlessly he grabbed another and glanced back to Kethras.

"After all," he added quietly to test his hearing, "buy a guy dinner first hm?" With a wink he broke into another grin and at a normal volume excused himself to step back over to the other end of the bar where Aisling had gotten a gaggle of young human men from the nearby college. She was a favorite among them.
 
Kethras watches Corbin make up another drink after taking the previous glass away. The albino is getting the idea that even though Corbin might be putting on a display in his flirtations, it would be relatively simple to bring the young man to submission. He's about to pull out his next $20 when Corbin places his hand on the bar. Kethras pauses, meeting the bartender's eyes.

Dinner, or rather, midnight meal, hm? Alright, Kethras will bite. If it means potentially getting into this young man's bed, he doesn't mind spending more money on him. Kethras smiles, inhales deeply to catch the bartender's scent now that he's leaned forward, and immediately freezes. Corbin wouldn't notice though, Kethras hasn't done much fidgeting all night anyway. The scent has confirmed Kethras' suspicions. A hunt of something unknown, maybe the young man's cologne. But beneath that, the unmistakable scent of dog. And not the kind that lingers on clothing of a pet dog owner, but that which is inherently part of a person's, a shapeshifter's, natural scent.

With Corbin's quiet words of buying dinner first, Kethras grins. "I'd like that." His voice practically croons, an almost purring sound to his words. Kethras has never bedded a shapeshifter, of any species. They're generally a private sort, often working in companies owned by their own packs. So it's interesting to see one here, amidst humans.

As Corbin reaches the other end of the bar, Kethras' phone buzzes. Rather than take it out of his pocket, he pulls an ear bud from where it hangs hidden beneath the collar of his leather jacket and places it into his ear. Then he answers the call using the buttons in the wireless ear bud's microphone. "Hm. Yes. One moment."

Kethras stands and grabs a napkin, then reaches over the bar and locates a pen. He scribbles on the napkin, folds it, then places it beneath his unfinished drink. A heartbeat later, he's leaving the bar, out the door, unseen by the currently occupied Corbin. But when Corbin turns around, he would find Kethras' cell number scribbled in the napkin.
 
Corbin managed to get the partners settled at a table with a male waiter, just to limit the chance of a complication with the females. It also took a moment for a sudden rush to die down, and when he started back over he saw the empty seat and unfinished drink. Raising a brow he stepped over and pulled the napkin away to look at it. Half expecting a sarcastic remark. To his surprise, it was numbers.

"Whatcha got there lad?" Aisling teased as she craned her neck. The wolf immediately went red faced and tucked the paper away in his vest pocket. Trying to dismiss the nosey ginger but instead feeling her pat his shoulder.

"At least someone alive will see you without those gloves, eh?" She teased which made Corbin's blush only darken and he gathered glasses from around the bar and began washing them by hand in the back.

The rest of his night was rather uneventful. The boss lingered after the kitchen closed and once the bar cleared out she announced she'd be paying them cash that night and would have paystubs printed over the weekend. Their payroll system was partially down, so she canceled the checks but had eac amount written with a round up to the nearest ten as an inconvenience fee.

So at one in the morning Corbin and Aisling closed up and the bouncer checked around once more before locking up. The ginger waved as she hopped into her car and Corbin adjusted his suit jacket after pulling the padded material back on. A few buttons and he was sighing softly to himself.

He removed the napkin from his vest and pulled out his cell phone, hesitantly putting the numbers in before taking a deep breath and hitting send.
 
Kethras had been called out by a contact, someone who could put him in touch with new jobs. One had come up, but it didn't have a time limit on it. Clearly not a target that knew he should leave town. A private quarrel perhaps? Either way, he called the number his contact provided, then had gone to meet with the hiring man.

Everything had gone smoothly, Kethras even had time to scope out the target's last known location. At half past midnight, Kethras is back at the bar Corbin works at. He stays outside, leaning against a sleek black motorcycle, but not in direct light. So in all black, he's easy to miss.

When Corbin comes out, Kethras stays silent to see if he notices. When he doesn't, Kethras grins. Good to know he still blends into the darkness, even around a shifter. Kethras looks down at his phone when it buzzes; he never has the ring tone on. Seeing a text from the bartender standing a mere twenty feet away, Kethras ignores it, choosing instead to whistle low.
 
Corbin pauses as he hears the buzz of a device, and his eyes glance over. He smiles but keeps his head down as if he saw a text until he hears the whistle. Then he stood up straight and tucked his phone away in his jacket.

He would wait a moment before stepping over, making sure his gloves were on proper and his jacket sat right. The bulky shoulders didn't look too off but they were definitely out of place once someone saw his true frame.

"Whistling, that's quite a horrid habit," he gave Kethras a smile that showed his fangs. He ran a gloved hand through his hair and sighed softly as he looked about.

"So, before I get closer," he offered once he confirmed no one else was nearby, "I'm incredibly curious about your tricks. I've never seen that before." His charming smile faded to a more genuine one. However the reason for his question was transparent, he wanted to minimize his risk.
 
Kethras chuckles, the sound a deep rumble in his chest. He folds his arms over his chest, tilting his head. "I thought dogs respond well to whistles." It's an obvious tease, but there's nobody else around to hear it. When asked about his 'tricks', Kethras straightens his head. Little black lines, like veins, spread out from the outer corners of his eyes, before breaking off and traveling across his temples to vanish behind his ears.

"Not tricks, displays. Small hints I use to discover other non-humans. Anything bigger, even a human could see, and that would cause trouble." Kethras pauses, dropping his arms from his chest. "I could show you more, but not here. I'm no threat to you, Corbin. I'm also hungry, so.."

Kethras moves off the bike, turning his back to Corbin as he lifts the seat to access a small storage compartment. He pulls out a helmet, the holds it out to the young man. Once Corbin takes it, Kethras twists his long hair up and pulls on the helmet hanging from the bike's left handlebar.
 
"Within a pack sure, an alpha might..." Corbin trailed off. He wasn't against whistling, but as a summons it was a power move. One he always tested. Though he did watch the way the lines moved. So they could make complex motions... then he mentioned even bigger shows and he wondered what sort of power that even was.

The bike helmet brought him from his thoughts and he blinked before looking it over. His gloves made it a bit tricky to pull on, though, and he took a moment to manage. Though he was standing beside Kethras once it was on, looking over the machine beside them.

"It's been a long time since I was on one of these," he admitted softly. He could still remember how that went, luckily no casualties but he was left when they saw his powers. He shook his head and stretched his muscles to ward off the shiver.

"There's a diner nearby, they serve everything all day. I recommend them if you're gonna be up these hours often," Corbin's voice was smooth again, keeping his calm was a habit he tried to keep with strangers. Also he hasn't had any fun in almost a year. His hormones were quite excited by the chance despite his mind wanting to keep his guard up.
 
The mention of a pack is the last little bit of proof Kethras needs to know with complete certainty that Corbin is a shifter. He just smiles, though, moving to straddle the bike while the young man gets the helmet on. "I promise we won't crash, then." Corbin makes it sound like his last experience didn't end well.

"You'll have to direct me as we go. Even with the wind, and the helmets, I'll be able to hear you if you speak up." Kethras waits until Corbin is seated behind him before tilting the bike off the kickstand and pushing it up. The bike starts easily, with a healthy purring engine. "Hold on." And then they're off, moving probably more quickly than necessary. But as promised, no crashing.
 
Corbin smiled under his helmet and shook his head. "Please, it's not a crash that worries me," he meant it too. Sure the last time has been an accident, but it hadn't been what hurt him. So as he climbed on and wrapped an arm around the middle of Kethras' waist he let out a content hum.

He had tested his hearing a bit before, but as they started moving he decided to really test it. Both arms around the man, his head leaned against his upper back a moment as he let out a low growl. A pleased sound without a doubt, but still very quiet. Then he would speak up for the directions with enough time for the white haired man to slow down.

Being this close he knew he would have the lingering scent of this man. It would help him in the future to avoid missing him as he had previously. He was just so used to the humans. Corbin hadn't needed to be on alert in a while.

Once they were at the diner, Corbin removed his helmet and placed it on the seat of the bike once steady. The diner was a decent sized building with a closed alcohol bar at the far end just beside an open coffee bar. The two stool paired counters were on either side of the doors to the kitchen and across the large room from the entrance. The lights were orange and easy to see in after coming in from the night. A younger woman greeted them and sat them at a table by the windows, overlooking the mostly empty parking lot. Before he sat, the wolf took off his jacket and hung it on the back of the chair. It was a bit amusing, the way the shoulder padding kept its shape. The woman was joined by a second woman who took their drink orders and gave them time to look over the menus.

Now that he wasn't worried about work he could truly take in the scent of Kethras. It smelled different, very faint. His mind could only compare it to the snakes he used to catch in the garden. His blue eyes looked the man over again before he turned to face him properly again.

"You're very observant, and seem to have your own way of testing very practiced. No one...sent you, did they?" He felt it best to be blunt of his concern. True he was a runt at his pack but he was still an empowered shifter. That meant he could be useful. It had been years since he was there, and anything could have happened for them to hire a tracker. Of course he knew their side of things had plenty of bounty hunters and retrievers.
 
The low growl is both heard and felt against his back. It makes Kethras shudder, and return a near soundless growl of his own, perhaps not heard, but certainly felt through the vibrations in Kethras' back. He follows the directions to the diner, and they arrive in less than five minutes, the speed they're going.

Kethras stows the spare helmet back in the seat, and clips his to the handlebar. The idea is that if one gets stolen, at least there's another. Plus, the seat doesn't actually have much storage space. Kethras follows Corbin inside, looking around. The seat by the window isn't his first choice, but he doesn't say anything. His drink of choice here is a plain black coffee. He barely even glances at the menu, having immediately spotted chili cheese fries.

When asked if he was sent by someone, Kethras smiles faintly. He understands the concern, so he takes no offense. "I cja see why you might think that, but no. Everything I've told you thus far has been truth. And I didn't come to your place of work knowing you were.. what you are." Kethras chooses his words carefully, so that their conversation wouldn't draw too much unwanted attention. "However, I have a lot of experience in finding others like us. So my small displays work quite well to determine who is who."
 
Corbin had ordered a spiced milk tea and a water. He similarly didn't need to look at the menu as he was a regular here. Though he did visibly relax when Kethras confirmed he wasn't looking for him specifically. This helped him relax in his seat and finally revel in the quiet, calmer atmosphere. It wasn't silent, but it was kept around a low murr.

"I haven't seen another in a while," he replied as he stretched in his seat. His head rolling and shoulders shivering just slightly. He hadn't even realized the tension building up in his muscles. It was quite unusual for him. Instead, though, he focused on Kethras. Taking in the details he hadn't been as focused on prior. Idly wondering about that long section of hair...if he always wore it back?

He was about to say something when the waitress returned. A genuine smile on his face as he took a sip of the tea and shivered. It was something he had only recently started enjoying that really fed into his instincts, and he didn't know why. It made him quite happy though as he placed his usual for a rare cooked burger with only mushrooms. The taste was the closest he could get to fresh meat from the forest and he did miss hunting his small prey.
 
As Corbin studies him, Kethras just watches and sips his black coffee. He had done plenty of studying while watching Corbin at the bar. At least, studying while the young man is clothed. That thought makes Kethras smile though Corbin might think it's just because he's staring at the albino.

When the waitress returns, Kethras orders a basket of their chili cheese fries. It's certainly a favorite of his, and he likes to know which places make it well. After the waitress leaves again, Kethras slides his left foot across the floor beneath the table to place it between Corbin's, his calf pressed to the young man's right calf. It night seem like he's just stretching out, since his legs are longer than Corbin's.

"You looked like you were about to ask me a question, before the server came over." Kethras invites Corbin to ask him questions, leaning forward slightly as though to encourage him to ask anything.
 
The wolf set that aside for a moment in his mind, Kethras' order. He liked how that was cooked here but not as much as he craved a fresh tasting meal. He was brought back from his thoughts when Corbin felt the leg of the man between his. His smile returned and he relaxed his posture as well. An elbow resting on the table as his gloved hand cupped his own cheek.

"I completely forgot what I was going to say, honestly," he admitted but gave him a smile anyway. No point in being embarrassed. At least, not yet.

"Ah, I think," he made a bit of a face as he tried to recall, but really it was taking in a few silent sniffs of the man. "I think I was going to ask about you. You have..." he thought another moment. Best to play it safe about their secret, even if humans wouldn't fully understand. But it was always better to be safe in his experience.

"I guess the blunt way to put it would be to ask what your favorite animal is?" Corbin wasn't great at guessing games. He also wasn't an alpha, despite his demeanor. He could play coy and toe the line of dominance but oh so rarely did he ever really take control. It just wasn't his greatest strength.

"Mine is a tie, between a lupine and canine," he offered to show good will, "though you...I'm getting the feeling you prefer something with scales?" It was a bit of a bluff. He was just caught up in that scent. It wasn't like any other mammal he had run into, nor bird. Though the gamble was that his experience with other supernaturals is limited.
 
Kethras' eyes follow the movement of Corbin's gloved hand to his cheek. Why does he wear them? Germaphobe? No, surely not. He wouldn't be eating outside his own home if that were the case. He perks up when Corbin started speaking again. The way he words his question confuses Kethras, until the young man mentions his own favorite, and makes the guess that Kethras' is something with scales.

Ah, he's trying to ask about Kethras' scent, that faint smell unique to scaled creatures. Kethras smiles again, wobbling his left leg back and forth to bump his calf against Corbin's. "Ah, I see. Well, I'm surprised you figured out such a good guess. I like snakes, particularly pythons."

Kethras decides to be more bold, and shifts his foot to rub his leg against Corbin's. "Do you live alone, Corbin? Or with your.. Family?" It's strange that Corbin has yet to say anything about his pack. Most shifters are proud to belong to a pack, even lesser known, less powerful ones.
 
The feeling of his leg being toyed with by another's would have had his tail wagging. He even had to shift slightly in his seat just to be certain it hadn't grown in. He hadn't had a slip in years but he was always cautious. Even as Kethras responded that he liked snakes, Corbin enjoyed the feeling on his leg.

"Alone, I haven't seen my family in a few years. By choice," he responded calmly as he looked over the man across from him again. He did appear to be more dominant than Corbin, so the wolf wondered a little further. His blue eyes resting on Kethras with a small smile. He hadn't bedded a snake before. Though he did have to wonder who would truly be bedding who.

"You said you just moved here. Did you need accommodations for the night?" He questioned casually. Most wouldn't invite a stranger home, though Corbin had a decent sized condo and a spare bedroom he kept clean and put together. Besides he didn't have many physical valuables. His money remained in the bank, photographs aren't worth much to steal, and he usually buys everything second hand anyway. Even his work clothes though he did his best to keep them proper.
 
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