Journey into the darkness (closed)

[Drobabes]

There he went again, patting her head like that. And there she went again, feeling way, way too damn good about it.

After that, there was simply a moment of silence as they both ate, and he seemed to eat much faster than she could keep up with. Though, she was quickly becoming full even though she hadn't eaten a whole lot. She was just reaching over for her napkin, pouring a bit of her water on it to wet it, so that she could clean her face a bit better, when he leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"I heard some have considered both to simply be the same thing."

Her eyes widen and she whips her head up to look at him as he simply walks away, leaving her speechless. He was flirting with her, wasn't he?!

Well. Suki wasn't sure how she felt about that now. She barely knew this man, and while she found his nonchalant cockiness and good looks to be pretty attractive, she found herself feeling just a bit anxious, mostly with herself. She needed to ground herself, slow herself down a bit before she simply became infatuated with the stranger.

Suki finished cleaning herself up, then took a moment to move all of her dishes into a neat little pile near the edge of the table, as she thought it might make it easier for the staff to clean up. She also just really needed a moment to compose herself again before she stood and came to stand next to Jacob, waiting for him to finish up and then following him back outside.

She couldn't bring herself to start up another conversation with the man, finding it just a tad awkward now and not knowing quite how to proceed with things. There was also the added element that she was, for better or worse, quite literally lying to Jacob about who she truly was. Would he still be flirting with her if he knew she wasn't actually the Gabetty's real daughter?

 

[JadeKnight]

"I hope everything was enjoyable for you. Enjoy yourselves."

The waitress smiled to them both when Suki decided to come and stand beside Jacob. He smiled for a moment to the woman.

"It was quite enjoyable, thank you very much."

He waited for a moment to let Suki thank for the meal before leading her out. He thought of letting Suki explore the little town, just to give her a little freedom. However, he was wanting to get her back as soon as possible as well. He was really a tough decision for a moment before he just decided to continue on. There would be plenty of time for her to go exploring later.

"It's only a few more hours till we reach our final stop. I know being cooped up in that car probably isn't the best way to spend the time."

He smiled for a moment as they reached the car, opening the door for her. Once she was seated inside, he got in himself and got them underway. As he had done before, their path took them a more rural/wilderness route. The route really didn't matter much sine they were cloaked, but he didn't want to really draw attention to them.

Even if Jacob had figured out she was lying for some reason, it wouldn't have bothered him. He would have figured there was some good reason for it, since he knew everyone always had some big secret in their lives they didn't want to get out. He did find her interesting, despite the lie, and saw her as something he could mold towards his ends even if it would be a little cruel.

As they flew along, he decided not to read this time, instead watching the scenery go by. He did occasionally glance at her, both admiring her and studying her with a keen look.

 

[Drobabes]

Suki was mostly quiet for the drive once more, as she couldn't occupy herself with a book. The scenery was interesting enough for her though, and occasionally she would fiddle with her clothing.

It seemed that, more than a few times when she looked over, Jacob was looking at her. It bugged her a little, mostly just because of what he had said in the restaurant and her own guilt about the role she was playing starting to eat away at her. However, after about the third time of looking over and catching him studying her, she finally got the courage to speak up.

"What?" she says with a little laugh, letting her eyes meet his gaze for a moment and her smile soften.

"You've been looking over at me at least three times now. Did I get some ketchup on my forehead or something?" she giggles.

 

[JadeKnight]

He laughed for a moment and shook his head.

"No, there is nothing on your forehead. Everything is clean on you."

He settled back into his seat for a moment before continuing to speak.

"I was just trying to figure you out, that's all. Besides, what is wrong with me admiring a bit of beauty to pass the time?"

He winked for a moment before he turned his gaze towards the scenery around them. He grabbed a can of soda and opened it before sipping on it slowly. He was looking forward to seeing what made her tick, inside and out. It would probably take a lot of coaxing to do that, perhaps a bit of force from time to time.

He sat in silence for a little longer before turning on the radio. He didn't turn it to news, but a classical music station. As the beautiful melody came from the speakers, he closed his eyes to listen. Though he held the can in one hand, sipping from time to time, he waved his other hand in the air. He used his pointer finger like a little baton, acting as if he was conducting the musicians himself and keeping in time with the music.

 

[Drobabes]

She blinked, a little surprised by his response. Not the 'beauty' part, as she was quickly coming to realize that he liked to tease and flirt, but by the bit about trying to figure her out. She wondered why that was, and what about herself was interesting to him.

As he leaned back and listened to the radio, she took her own opportunity to study him, letting her gaze roam over him in curiosity. She found it pretty amusing, the way in which he had closed his eyes and seemed to be playing along with the music. Pulling her braid over her shoulder, she begins to fiddle with the end of it as she waits for the song to end.

"How old are you?" she asks softly once it does.

 

[JadeKnight]

He opened his eyes slowly, looking at her with a little grin. The question itself was innocent enough. However, he wondered what answer would suit best for her. If he gave the amount of time it had been since he left the tank, she would have thought him a lunatic. That left the other option, the simulated age he was grown to actually be. Not that it really mattered since the nanities in his system kept him rejuvenated and strong.

"My age? I am 34, even if I don't look it."

He did wonder if she was the type who preferred older men, or if she had developed such tastes yet.

"What is your age?"

 

[Drobabes]

"I am 34, even if I don't look it."

She blinked, a bit surprised by that answer.

"You don't" she confirmed. If she had to take a guess, she would have guessed twenty five at the oldest. It made her feel just a little awkward about it, that she had found the man to be so hansom when he was much older than her.

"What is your age?"

Suki opened her mouth but then stopped, shutting it and thinking for a moment. If she told him her real age, which was only twenty, then he might call her out on it not matching the age of the real Gabetty daughter, which she did not know.

"How old do you think I am?" she asks, getting a little grin herself.

 

[JadeKnight]

He hmmed for a moment as he studied her in an attempt to answer her question. That was one thing he had never tried to do, as he really never had to worry about the age of other people. He gave a little shrug for a moment before smiling.

"I am not really sure. Although I like to watch other people, I really haven't done much to try and guess their ages. How does twenty-five sound?"

He had no idea weather it would be seen as a compliment or not to her. He just felt she was pretty and young, suitable to his purposes. He glanced at the map for a moment, still a little ways till their next stop. He looked back at her for a moment, smiling.

 

[Drobabes]

She gave him a bit of a shocked look, but not for the guess he had made, although she rather liked it as it made her feel more mature in a way. Sure, she was an adult, but she was still a young adult.

"Are you telling me..." she starts, with a teasing tone and leaning her back against the door so she can look him up and down.

"That the great thief, the one who organised a whole plan to secretly plant bombs, knock out my guards, and steal THE Gabetty daughter, didn't do his research properly and know my actual age?"

Her look turns a bit coy and she rights herself in her seat, sitting more forward, but not before she wags a little finger at him and gives him a 'tsk tsk'.

"I don't think I'm going to tell you now. I think, I'll leave you guessing."

 

[JadeKnight]

He laughed for a moment at her, shaking his head for a moment.

"I like to steal things. You are the first person I've stolen, so my research was a little lacking. However, I am sure I will figure such a thing out with time."

He reached over and grabbed her wagging finger lightly in his grasp, holding it steady for a moment.

"Don't be teasing someone unless you plan on using it."

He grinned for a moment before he pulled her finger up and leaned forward, biting lightly on her finger. It was just the fingertip, but he released her from his grasp after a moment and chuckled.

 

[Drobabes]

She had been in a bit of a playful mood and smiling, but when he grabbed her hand, her eyes suddenly went wide, not having expected him to do such a thing. What she expected even less was for him to reach forward and nibble her finger.

Her whole face seems to turn red, not just her cheeks, and she let's out a startled "h-hey!" before quickly taking her hand back and tucking it under her other arm.

"Keep your...teeth to yourself, mister" she grumbles, suddenly feeling very flustered.

 

[JadeKnight]

He laughed and smirked for a moment.

"Just my teeth? And what are you planning on doing if I don't?"

He didn't plan on doing anything to force her into anything bad. He knew if he scared her too much, she would probably try to run away in the most likely scenario. He did know how to deal with that, but he didn't want to have to resort to such tactics.

 

[Drobabes]

"And what are you planning on doing if I don't?"

She was a bit taken aback by that. What would she do?

"Well I... I don't really know."

She crosses her arms in front of her chest and looks away from him for a moment, getting a bit of a pout in her expression. He wasn't scaring her, per-say, but she certainly felt just a little nervous now. What was he getting at?

"I suppose it depends on what you try to do."

 

[JadeKnight]

He gave a little chuckle at the way she crossed her arms and pouted. She just had that little something about her to made her cute no matter what she did.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything bad to you. I couldn't hurt such a beauty like that."

He grinned for a moment before reaching over and rubbing her head lightly and teasingly for a moment. It was a few seconds before the computer beeps to let them know they were close to their destination. He pulled his hand from her head as he took the wheel to take control. He guided them down to another rest area, this one devoid of anyone else.

"Looks like we got the place to ourselves."

He popped the door open as he got out, looking around. The rest area was like the first one they had visited, but back from the highway more. There were more trees in the area and a small pond where several ducks enjoying themselves in and around the pond.

 

[Drobabes]

Suki looked at him from her sideways position, her cheeks still quite rosy with her blush.

"I'm not worried about you hurting me" she grumbles.

When they got to the rest area, she stepped out of the car, but she hesitated to head towards the bathroom. Truthfully, she really needed to go, but after what happened last time she was scared to off by herself. What if Jacob didn't get to her in time?

"Um...are you sure we're the only one's here?"

 

[JadeKnight]

At her question, he took a moment to open the door and get out first. He stood next to the car for a moment, looking around carefully. There were no signs of other vehicles nearby or within the parking lot except his. The highway didn't sound very busy as there was no traffic heard. The ducks occasionally quacked to each other, but he really didn't hear any other sounds.

"I don't hear anything except the ducks. And I really don't think they will attack unless you decide to provoke them."

He smiled for a moment as he looked back into the car to her.

"I'll come inside to watch out for you if you really want me to. Otherwise, Just yell and I will come running. Just tell me where you want me to wait."

 

[Drobabes]

Suki looked hesitantly towards the buildings, feeling just a bit foolish for being scared just to go to the bathroom by herself.

"No, that's ok, you don't have to come with me."

She let out a nervous chuckle, starting to make her way over.

"It's just a bathroom. Nothing to be scared of."

Giving him a little grin over her shoulder, she went ahead by herself. Once she was inside the building however, she took a moment to stop and listen, checking each of the stalls before she felt comfortable enough to go.

When she was done doing her business and had washed up, she came outside and took a moment to just look around at everything. It was very pretty, and something about the scene felt very familiar. Had her mother taken her to a park or pond before when she was very young? She couldn't remember, as most of her memories were of the mansion.

 

[JadeKnight]

Despite her wanting to go by herself, he followed after her once he locked up the car. He watched her go into the bathroom before going to the men's restroom himself. The place was a little dirty, looking as if it had been awhile since anyone had cleaned the place. Since most of the rest areas had been maintained by the former state governments which had collapsed, it wasn't surprising that plenty had fell to disarray like this one.

He didn't come out until shortly after she had. He had taken a moment to look over the leftover flyers that were typical left out for visitors, most of them faded or torn. Leaving those behind, he smiled seeing her admiring the scenery. He came up behind her and gently laid his hands on her shoulders.

"What do you think?"

 

[Drobabes]

She saw him coming up to her, but when he put his hands over her shoulders, her heart all but beat out of her chest. She was torn between wanting to lean back against him, to give into her rushing hormones that were demanding she fall for that flirty smile and comfortable touches, and her guilt about faking who she was. Or if she even really wanted to get close to him like that. Infact, she didn't even really know what she wanted from life, now that she was seemingly being given a choice.

"It's very beautiful. And it feels...familiar almost."

She didn't move away from his touch, but she couldn't really bring herself to do anything else either.

"Hey Jacob..." she said a bit quietly. She wanted badly to rid herself of that guilt, to tell him that wasn't actually who he thought she was, and that in a way, it was kind of manipulation. She was sure he was interested in the real daughter, not her, and if she were to lead him on-well it just felt kind of cruel. However, at the last second, she lost her nerve.

"Um, how much longer is the trip?"

 

[JadeKnight]

He did raise an eyebrow for a moment, wondering how the place could be familiar for her. He didn't think that the Gabbetty family were ever come to a place like this, sticking to the more civilized areas. They would have probably visited places like the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, not some random place like this.

"Not much longer, maybe three or four hours. Is this some place you came to when you were younger?"

He didn't remove his hands from her shoulders, but squeezed gently for a moment with his fingers. As long as she seemed to be fine with things, he was going to wait on her. Though he had a plan, there was no reason to rush things right now.

 

[Drobabes]

"I'm not sure" she said, watching as the ducks moved slowly across the lake.

"It just feels familiar, but maybe it was just another pond with ducks or something."

She went quiet again, trying so very hard to fight that urge to lean back against him. His hands were hot through the fabric of her clothing, and she could feel the strength in them as he squeezed her gently.

"Hmm. You know you didn't answer my question earlier. Why exactly did you decide to take me again? And um...when are you planning on taking me back?"

That last part was a little harder to get out, but suddenly Suki found herself needing to know how much time she had. How much time did she have to find a way to escape that mansion, and have her own life?

 

[JadeKnight]

He chuckled for a moment at her questions. The answers were simple and yet they weren't.

"That true, I never really answered that question. That answer is dependent on your father mostly. He is probably very worried for your safety by now, wondering where you are. As soon as we reach our destination, I will send the ransom demands for you. In the end, it will be up to your father on how long things take."

He leaned closer to her, speaking in her ear so his warm breathe washed over her ear.

"The why is that it was a new little challenge for me."

That was part of the reason, but he wasn't going to fill her in on the rest yet.

 

[Drobabes]

Suki stiffened up a bit when he explained about the ransom, the implications beginning to click in her head. If he sent that ransom, only to have Mr.Gabetty turn around and tell him that she wasn't the real daughter...what would happen? Maybe she should tell him then, right now, before-

"The why is that it was a new little challenge for me."

Whatever thought she was just having seemed to have floated right out into the cool breeze, only to be replaced by that warmth tickling her skin. Her body felt almost weak as she slowly turned her face to meet his gaze, her own reflecting a bit of fire in the way she knit her brows and stared hard into his eyes. He was way too close for comfort, and yet, she found she couldn't move herself away.

"Is that all that people are to you? A challenge?"

 

[JadeKnight]

He smirked a little as she met his gaze with her own. The question was a interesting one as well, as there were many answers to it. He wondered which one would suffice to answer her question properly.

"Yes, yes indeed. Learning and understanding other people is the challenge I seek. It has been an ongoing challenge, one which I hope to someday overcome."

He lifted one hand from her shoulder, brushing the back of his fingers along her left cheek. She had positioned herself so that their faces and lips were nearly touching. All it would take was a little movement from either one and their lips would meet.

 

[Drobabes]

She forced herself to keep steady eye contact with him and not give into the temptation to look down at his lips. Even as she felt his hot breath against her mouth, and his fingers brushing against her soft skin with a featherlight touch. Her face had painted itself with a fresh blush, but she still refused the desire that was running through her veins like fire.

Just as slowly as she had turned to him, she turned away. Her emerald eyes stared down at the ground as she spoke softly.

"People are not just challenges that you seek to overcome, Jacob. If that's all you think of them as, then you will only ever be knocked back on your flirty rump."