tampered | (no subject)

Haydée was playing a soft melody in her apartment as she heard the taps on her door. She smiled softly as she set her harp aside--She was interested in learning a new way to dance. The only dances the Count would teach her were simple ballroom steps...but surely, maybe, he wouldn't mind if she learned a bit more.

She walked over to the door and opened it for him with a small smile. "Good evening again, Monsieur Greed." She said, bowing her head. "Is it time to go, then?"

He bow in return to her and knelt to one knee.

"Good evenin' yourself, beauty. I'm glad you could come out with me like this," he grinned up at her. He reached out to grasp her slender hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the top, "I look forward to furthering your knowledge."

As he stood, he offered her a bouquet of fresh roses he had brought.

"They don't quite do you justice, but here you are."

Haydée blinked as he knelt down, letting out a small gasp of surprise. She couldn't help but smile a bit at the gesture.

"And I am very glad to accompany you." She felt her cheeks redden just a bit. She hadn't met many people--aside from the Count--who had treated her in such a way. "I hope I can be a good student, in that case. There are many things I would like to learn.

Haydée's eyes lit up at the roses as she took them. Her fingertips gently brushed the petals before she looked back up at him. "They are lovely, it is sweet of you to bring me these...I have not seen roses like this in a long while."

"They don't have roses on your world, or ya' just never got courted?" he asked, extending an arm to her, "A shame in either case."

"I've got just the place picked out for us. Small, private, with a nice, slow house band to dance to."

"They have roses, I just haven't seen ones like these in a long while...and yes to the other question as well." She took his arm gently. "Indeed..."

"Sounds wonderful~. You must be very familiar with this city, mm?"

"I guess ya' could say I'm a man about time," he said, twining his fingers with hers, "I've been here awhile."

He showed her several areas as they walked the dim streets, making sure any nefarious individuals kept a wide berth for them.

"It's in that direction," he said, pointing down an alleyway, "That little place."

"Really...? How long?" She asked, curiousity in her voice. "I can't really imagine being in such a city for a long time."

She leaned a bit closer to him--Haydée was timid at heart, and rarely back home would she go out alone. She still couldn't help but look around her, taking in the sights of that strange city.

She tilted her head to look. "My, it looks charming."

"Almost a year, babe! It's not always been great," he admitted, smiling at her, "But I adjust."

He turned his head to her and put his hand under her chin, tilting her head up to face him.

"It is a nice place. Don't worry, I'd protect ya' with my life. No one's gonna' hurt you, Haydee."

"Almost a year? I'm sure you must've expirienced many interesting things here during that time. I can't imagine...being away from home for so long."

Haydée's eye's grew a bit wide as he lifted her chin and spoke. "...Thank you..." She murmured softly, feeling her face go pink. "I ... appreciate it very much."

"I...don't really have a home. I make it whereever I go."

They reached the front and entered, where Greed greeted the maitre'd and was ushered in along with his date. Their seats were pristine and spacious, with a curtain drawn in front of them for privacy.

"You seem rather shy, dear. Does being here with a man make you nervous?"

"Ah...I know how that can be, at times."

Haydée walked along, again taking in her surroundings with interest. It really is such a pretty place... She thought to herself, rather content.

"Um, well..." She paused for a second. "It's really more that I didn't go out much back home. Mostly I went wherever The Count wanted to take me, and not much else. Do forgive me if I seem nervous, but it is all very new to me."

"Oh no, it's no problem. It makes you even cuter, as a matter of fact," he said, pulling out her seat for her, "Sit here, please."

He took his own seat across from her at the small, circular table.

"Ever had sushi, dear?"

"...!" She chuckled lightly. "O-oh, I wouldn't have guessed..." She sat down and smiled up at him. "Thank you."

"Sushi...?" She thought for a second. "No, I haven't. What is it?"

"It's basically seafood and rice, or variations thereof. It's also mostly raw, rather than cooked. It's perfectly healthy, though."

He motioned for a waitress, who dropped off two menus. He pointed to several pictures of different rolls and explained each one to his date.

"So ya' see now?"

"I do. I've never seen food like it...is it native only to this city?" She asked as eyes drifted across the menu, glancing to each picture.

"What do you recommend, then? All of it looks good."

"Dunno' where it originated, but it sure is good!"

Greed perused the menu and took out a sheet for ordering. After some careful glancing, he marked down several things at once.

"I chose some good stuff for us. It should be over soon. So, tell me more about where you're from. What's it like, babe?"

"Where I'm from..." Haydée thought for a minute, a small smile on her face. "Janina was a lovely planet, which is where I was from first. More recently, Paris can also be nice. It's known to be one of the planet's capitals in the arts..."

She let out a small sigh. "...But it is very corrupt, by the banks, law, and even the military." She glanced back up at him. "And your world? What's it like?"

"Eh, pretty much the same, including the corruption. I bet it's the same on most worlds. Humans tend to corrupt rather easily, I find. It's one of the less fortunate things that are part of human nature."

He props an elbow on the table and rests his cheek on his open palm.

"A shame that it's the case, but it's just the way it is, eh?"

"I see...and I can understand what you mean about humans being corrupt no matter where they are...still, I have been fortunate enough to meet humans who don't seem to have that trait just yet. One of them recently came here, in fact."

She let out a tiny chuckle before saying, "You know, I never would have imagined the existance of other similar universes before coming here."

He blinked at that, wondering who she was referring to, "What person?"

"Well, yeah...that is a bit hard to swallow. Especially for someone who first gets here. I don't really mind the idea, it's just that it makes me feel so small, ya' know? I mean, there could be an unlimited number of worlds out there!"

"Franz d'Epinay...Have you met him?" She asked. "I thought it was strange that he, of all people, was the only one I saw here."

"That's how I feel...That this world, and my own world, are so tiny when it comes down to it, when compared to everything else out there, it's endless, and both myself and everything I care about is but a flicker in comparison."

"I think we've talked, yeah. Some guy called the Count murdered him?"

"Well babe, that's how it is. I find it's best not to think about it. Deep inside, what's it matter? Some things are too big for us to do anything about, anyway. You should just enjoy the moment, I say."

Haydée paused, a sad look on her face. "...Yes. That's him. I didn't know the dead could come back to life here until I met him." She paused again. "The Count...had his reasons."

She nodded, and a smile replaced her thoughtful frown. "This is true...I guess there will be times when those questions bother me, but for now...they aren't as important."

"What reason could he have for murderin' a nice young kid like that, eh?" he asked, "He commit some sort of horrible crime or somethin'?"

He reached across the table to put his hand on top of hers.

"Exactly, babe. The past is the past, right? Right now we're here for one another, in this restuarant, at this time."

"It wasn't Franz he intended to kill...Franz's best friend Albert had challenged him to a duel, and Franz went in his place...There's more to it, but it is a long story."

"Yes..." She smiled. "The past is the past and that's all it'll be. I wish everyone could think like that."

"Ah, whatever. No use thinkin' about it, I guess."

"You sound like ya' know from experience."

"You could say I do, many people in my life are closely focused on the past. It can be interesting at times, but usually, it hurts many people."

Haydée looked back up at him. "But those aren't...very happy things. I wouldn't like to talk about them, and I certainly wouldn't like to bore you. Actually, I've had a question on my mind for a little while now, about this city." She thought for a second. "No one has ever told me what that ticking actually is. Has anyone found out?"

"Ah, that's the clock," he said, recalling what he heard, "It affects everyone who is alone. I think the deities made it that way so people would interact. It drives ya' to seek out someone."

Greed perked up as the server placed down their meals, as well as some hot tea and sake. He poured and served for the both of them.

"Time for food! Try that roll there," he pointed to a brightly colored roll, "It's got good stuff!"

"Ah... No matter how antisocial one may be, they have to seek someone out...That ticking is enough to drive anyone mad. The deities are rather clever."

Haydée looked over the food with great interest. The scent of the tea and sight of the colorful fish reminded her how hungry she was.

She picked up her chopsticks gingerly, not quite used to them, and picked up the roll, taking a nibble. "...! It's really good. Which one is this again...?" She asked before finishing it off.

"That's..." he trailed off, picking of a menu, "Fatty tuna, whatever that is."

Greed poured some sake for himself and then plopped a few Eel rolls into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed the food ravenously, quite pleased with the taste.

"I'm glad I found this place. It's got some good stuff in it!"

"It's delicious, I guess that's all that matters, mm?"

Haydée took a sip of tea before settling into the meal. It really was unlike anything she ever had, she found herself fond of the tuna rolls and the salmon rolls the best, finishing them off quickly but as politely as she could.

"It does!" She said in agreement. "I'll have to come here again, it's really unique...but it is good."

Greed took a deep draught of sake, licking his laps afterward in satisfaction.

"Yep, yep," he said, gulping down a few more rolls, "I know how to pick 'em. I range all over this city in the pursuit of finer experiences. I consider myself quite the authority."

He extended the sake bottle in case she wanted a taste.

"You want?"

"So you've been to all the resturaunts around here then...? What other resturaunts and stores are there?" She nibbled on a flounder roll before setting down her chopsticks and dabbing at her lips with a napkin.

"Ahh...certainly. Thank you." She took the bottle and poured a bit out for herself.

She took a small sip, caught off guard by the strong, but sweet flavor. "Sake...was it?" She finished it off and passed the bottle back. "It's very sweet."

"It's rice wine, babe! Alcohol changes dependin' on what you use to make it. Different fruits, especially."

The catalogue of places he had been to flashed through his head for a moment as he pondered her question.

"Well, it depends. What do you like?"

"...Wine? Mm...wines in Paris didn't taste anything like it. Must be another thing unique to here."

She thought for a moment, wondering exactly what she needed..."Well, I'll need to find a good grocery store, a clothing store, a book store, a few good cafés...and..." She paused. "A music store would be of great use as well, if there is one around."

"Certainly. I know good places for all of the above. I'll show 'em to ya' sometime."

Greed soon finished his food, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He emptied one of the bottles into his mouth and swallowed, then set it on the side, along with his plate and chopsticks.

"Woo! I do so love that stuff. Nothin' like a cute date and a good meal."

"Again, I would appreicate that...I'm still very not used to going out around here alone."

Haydée finished hers shortly after, setting aside her own chopsticks and napkin aside. She felt content, and much more at ease.

"I agree." She said with a miniscule blush. "...Oh, is this where you'll teach me how to dance as well? Or is there...somewhere else where we'll be going for that?" She asked, since it had been on her mind for quite a while.

"The temple is better for that, as they have wider floors. Care to go?" he asked, placing a tip on the table, "I'm givin' piggy back rides!"

"A temple...? Mm, that sounds fine with me." She blinked as the term. "What...a piggy back ride? I've never heard that before."

Greed knelt down beside her, exposing his back to her.

"Hop on. That's a piggy back ride."

Haydée couldn't help but blink for a few seconds before awkwardly placing her hands on his shoulders and climbing on.

"Last time I've done something like this...I was still little."

"Well, don't worry about me. I'm really strong," he laughed, rising to his feet with her one him and walking out the door of the building. After walking a few feet, he broke into a run, rushing past buildings and street lights.

"I can see that." She said, clinging to him. A gasp escaped her as he broke into the run, making her instinctivly hold on tighter. Lights flashed in front of her, but all she could do was close her eyes tightly and bury her face against his neck. "Mhn..."

Within ten minutes, they had left the city limits and hit the cleared forest path to the temple. He hurtled the rocky walkway quickly and stopped to left her off at the temple door.

"Kick your shoes off once we step in. We need to keep the floors clean or I get chewed out."

He stepped in, holding the door for her.

Haydée climbed off of his back, trembling slightly and dusting off her dress. "That was...r-rather interesting." She said, running a hand through her hair, smoothing it back to normal.

"You live here with someone else...?" She asked, stepping inside and slipping off her shoes.

"You noticed from all the shoes, eh? Yeah, we've got lots of people. They live all around the place. I was the first here, so I have seniority."

"And when you said you'd be chewed out. Plenty of residents, mm? Are they here tonight?" She said, looking around at the surroundings.

"Dunno. It's a big place, with multiple floors, so it's difficult to tell," he said with a shrug, "We won't be bothered."