lookin' for somewhere to belong [jyli]

[JAYNE LANCEL ASTOR]

Ever since his father had passed, Jayne found that he hardly had any time to himself. Not that it was terrible – he much preferred to be on a schedule, anyway, but he did certainly have to keep a much better track of his time. There were things he missed now that he was a much busier man, and socializing with those he cared about was one of them. Although he did still have his standing weekly lunch 'date' with Eryn, he only got to see Tullia every now and then, and then a certain woman... a woman that he had actually been missing, although he hated to think that he was capable of having such feelings for someone that he'd only met once, had a fantastic night with, and then conversed with solely through various technological methods. That woman rarely left his mind, and Jayne wished that he could reach out to her somehow, maybe invite her to dinner. Their interactions had stopped, ceased within the last few months or so because he had learned – and was a little disappointed to hear – that she had gotten into a romantic entanglement with her boss. The entire thing seemed a little... strange to him, because he had never believed in mixing business with pleasure, but he supposed that it wasn't his business, either.

Jayne used to enjoy going to the art museum so much, especially when there was a show there, some new, fresh artwork that someone in the area had done, or some up-and-comer from a more exotic part of the world. But today, his trip to the museum was solely business. Since he was all but chained to his father's old study, up to his ears in business drafts, meeting notes, treaties and documents and paperwork, Jayne decided that he needed to do some redecorating. The entire room was dark, wood panels, dark stain, bold, brassy colors that made his eyes hurt to look at them for too long. And the whole room smelled like cigar smoke, so while the people he had hired were giving the study a proper cleaning, Jayne had gone out in the fresh, summer air to the art museum to check on a few pieces that he had purchased that would be perfect additions to the dreary space. It was a work in progress, of course, but nothing happened overnight.

After settling up business and writing a very large check, Jayne arranged for the paintings and sculptures to be delivered to the family mansion and left the business office, back into the main section of the large building. The delivery would arrive in three days, which would give the painters plenty of time to finish and everything to dry before he started having people hang things up. He would watch with a careful eye, of course – he had deliberate taste and wanted everything to be done his way, since he had to suffer in there, but it was all part of his job. Authority. Something that he'd been convinced he was bred for until he found a situation or circumstance where he was actually lacking. Oh, he could use a break.

As he made his way toward the doors, he caught a rush of... something distinctly fae, and looked around, catching sight of a petite brunette who was looking at a lovely watercolor. She was beautiful, from what he could tell, and Jayne stared, probably a little longer than was proper until she turned and golden eyes met his glamored dark ones. He knew those eyes, and immediately erupted into a bright smile. ”Jyli!” Jayne said, excited as his steps took him over to her. Smoothly, he took the fae's hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. ”It's a lovely surprise to find you here. How have you been, darling?” He was friendly, charming, and tried to disguise the rapid beating of his heart that started up when she smiled back at him. They were friends... if that, and there was no reason for him to be too warm, or too friendly, but he just couldn't help himself. However, she was spoken for, and Jayne knew he'd have to behave himself during this encounter, happy as he was to be in her presence again.

OUTFIT:

[/color] Here![/blockquote][/justify]

[JYLI DIANE HAYES]

She liked to think that Gideon’s little empire was doing significantly better since she’d shown up. He was dressing better, at the very least… But she was also convincing him to use that immense wealth in other ways. What was the point of having it if you couldn’t use it, after all? Showing it off to the bank just wasn’t quite cutting it. Osbourne Inc., as she had nicknamed it, could use a bit more presence in the real world, not just the underbelly. So today, she was overseeing his loaning the museum some more exclusive pieces from his extensive collection. She had decided that he could afford to be lacking a few pieces in one of every category they were currently showcasing, and they were exceedingly grateful. They swooned and fawned when she walked into the room, offering her refreshments and escorting her around the building. She was gracious about the whole thing, and quite glad she had decided to spare her boss such an endeavor. His patience for their shenanigans would’ve worn thin much quicker than hers did. Hell, she even accepted their offers, giving them some purpose.

’Actually, if you have a flavored water handy, that would be wonderful.’ She smiled sweetly, meeting the eyes of the minion who scampered away from her, clearly inducing some piqued interest with the way her gold irises sparkled. They were probably wondering why such a professional was so quirky as to wear colored contacts during business. The thought made her smile as the curator began showing her where each of Gideon’s pieces would be showcased. A couple, she completely nixed. ’No, nonono. If Mr. Osbourne is having the good will to lend you these, you will have the decency to display them properly, front and center. That dark little corner will not do.’ Cue scrambling, referencing floor plans and paperwork, and ‘of courses’ all the way around. The curator, a lovely man, continued the tour whilst his peons moved to adjust things to her new specifications, making plans and arrangements. Soon, the whole thing was over, and her notes had been added. They asked her- ever polite- to wait in the main showroom while they changed their whole layout plan, and would come to get her advisement once more after that. The faerie didn’t anticipate any problems, and was more than happy to actually enjoy the beauty of the art surrounding her, and loosening the required bitch-face while she waited, because she really did love art. A set of oil paintings drew her first, deeply detailed flowers that practically stood up off the canvas. Jyli knew better than to touch it, of course, though she really did want to. Soon, she was moving on, changing rooms and letting her eye wander until something- a soft watercolor, more abstract in nature- captured her attention for a few moments, until the lightest brush against her senses made her turn.

Usually, she kept her incredibly strong senses dampened in daily interactions, to avoid the headache of sorting out all of the emotions and presences that would inevitably push against her. For something to touch her, even in that state, meant it was powerful, and worthy of note. And this one, of course, met both of those qualifications. She smiled the second she saw him, her eyes sparkling as his long legs carried him in her direction. He called out her name, the happiness evident in the two syllables, before his strong fingers grasped one of her hands, making it tingle, especially after his lips graced her soft skin. ’Hey Jayne. Surprise surprise, indeed. Whatcha doin’ here?’ She knew he had an appreciation for the finer things, but he didn’t appear to be on some sort of showcase… So what would he be up to? Asking her how she’d been, first. ’Pretty wonderful, actually. Just doing some necessary business. Woot. How’re you?’ Her hand encompassed the building upon the word ‘business,’ and she grinned. She could use the supremely formal language, but lords and ladies, with him she clearly didn’t need it. They were…friends. Yeah, friends. He’d gone from bitter enemy to friend. Surprising, but not unheard of. And now, she was really happy to see him. Had almost forgotten how damn attractive he was…

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clicketh for clothes!

[JAYNE LANCEL ASTOR]

Jyli was absolutely a sight for sore eyes. It had been... more than a few months since he had been in her presence, and while there had been plenty of things keeping him busy, he was a little surprised when he realized that the golden-eyed fae hadn't really been too far from his mind. Really, it was unusual for him to dwell on something when so much had been going on. Losing his father had been... well, he couldn't say tragic because he had seen it coming. Caused it, even, but nobody except him and Daphne knew about that. Losing his father had been a stress that he hadn't been able to predict, which was partially why he was so surprised that his mind registered a loss and a lack of having her around until she was right there, in front of him. And she just looked so beautiful that he could barely stand it, so once he caught her attention, he walked over and kissed her hand. It was a bit of an old-fashioned gesture, but one that he thought she'd likely find charming. Really, he just wanted an excuse to be close to her, because whenever Jyli was around, Jayne also noticed that his heart started beating a little faster, as if it was on cue or something. As if it was part of a carefully contained orchestra that sped up to serenade her whenever she was in his presence. Unusual, indeed.

”Redecorating my father's old office, actually. Since his passing, it's been... left to me to continue the family business. I've barely had time to do anything with that dark, dreary little room because there's been so much of it, but now I have. So here I am, acquiring some pieces to fill the space,” Jayne was charming, and he knew that, but he also knew that he had to contain himself. Put a leash on his charm, so to speak, because this one – this magnificent woman standing before him was spoken for. Ah, well, he wasn't the kind of man to be overly jealous or irrational: she had been noticed by someone else who she'd likely taken a stronger interest in than... whatever it was that the two of them had experienced during their one night of passion. If he lost her to a better man, Jayne could at least wish her well and hope she was happy. That was the proper thing to do, after all. Although, the look in her eyes told him rather obviously that she was happy to see him. As friends, perhaps. That was the more likely reason.

Wanting to take an interest as to why she was there, Jayne asked about what brought her to the museum, and nodded. Of course. Business. Her boyfriend's business probably, which meant that things were likely going well. However, Jayne wouldn't be an Astor or a faerie if he didn't possess a bit of unbridled curiosity, and even though he knew the answer would likely disappoint him, he went ahead and asked. ”Business as usual, hmm? How are things with you and Mr. Osbourne?” Oh, he knew about their relationship. Nothing in-depth, of course, because the two of them had fallen out of touch recently, but he knew when she started seeing him on a more than casual basis, because it meant that she and him couldn't continue doing what they had been doing. Jayne never did get a chance to take her out on that second date, much as he hoped he would have been able to do so.

That smile was going to be his undoing, and it took him a moment to register that she'd been kind enough to ask how he was. ”Rebuilding. That's... how I am. My father's death took a toll on the family, and as his next in line, it has been...” Jayne laughed, realizing that he was with someone who was more of a friend than just a casual acquaintance. The way he knew her was certainly far more than casual, and there was no need for stuffy answers and 'suitable' formalities. With Jyli, he could be candid. It was one of the many reasons why he liked the lovely fae so much. ”God, it's been a chore. You'd think the entire world was crumbling as we know it, and even in the wake of tragedy, the strongest people completely lose their heads. Sometimes I fear I'm the only sensible one in that madhouse.” Of course, his sister Daphne was taking Malcolm's death just as well, but that was something everyone expected. Jayne smiled at Jyli, feeling a touch of lightness in his chest before tilting his head to the side, taking her in, and asking a simple question that he hoped wouldn't be too forward.

”I never got to take you out on that date we spoke of before – would you have time to get coffee with me? After you finish here, of course. I'm happy to wait.”

[/justify]

[JYLI DIANE HAYES]

Lords and ladies, he was a charmer. Suave and sweet, the contact he made with her made her skin prickle with warmth. Sigh. Yeah, she’d missed that. Oh, Jyli had her sophisticated demon boss, but that had ended, due to his necessity to leave the country behind, at least for a while. Still, the interaction had been fun, exciting, mind-melting on occasion, and entirely beneficial, all the way around. Despite all of that, something about Jayne just… ugh. Even the brush of his hand on hers made her gold eyes darken, let alone the press of his lips. She was, however, a composed, confident individual who would not melt into a puddle just because a man who practically made her swoon had paid her some affection. Nope. She was better than that, and he seemed to like it, in any case. The faerie woman was even intelligent enough to ask him real questions, after their initial greeting had ended. And oh, yeah, what a fantastic reason she’d found.

’I had heard that Jayne. I’m sorry for your loss. You know I couldn’t stand the man, but he was your dad, and that means a little somethin’ somethin’.’ Her smaller hand reached out to brush his shoulder in a warm gesture, trying to be comforting for him, even though she hadn’t cared about the dead guy. Come on, you wouldn’t love your tormentor either. ’I imagine that’s made you stupid-busy though. Any time for fun in that packed schedule?’ Fun, and the having of it, were incredibly important to the golden-eyed fae. She had to balance her work with her pleasure, or else she would be incredibly unhappy, and utterly refuse to do her job. As it was, well, she was doing a rather lovely balancing act. The faerie had a few friends, lots of pastimes, and she could while away her hours doing fun things, rather than business. Though she did try to make herself also always available for business. The world of being a shark was a complicated one, requiring a lot of time, patience, acuity, tenacity… well, lots of crap that she had discovered she had, in spades. Gideon liked that about her, it was why he trusted her to continue running things. Jayne seemed to be curious about her and her boss though. Only natural, he was the sort who liked to be kept apprised of things, and they were both kind of… power players in the world.

’Yeah. Business. Makes our worlds go ‘round I suppose.’ She chuckled softly, shaking her head with a little sigh before she answered the other part of his questions. ’Fine, I suppose. The corporation’s smoother than ever, thanks to our efforts. But he’s leaving soon, so while I work for him, ya know, no further relationship there.’ Her little shrug was a tiny, pointed gesture that conveyed a lot of things. It was done, she wasn’t worried about it, and she was more than happy with the way things had played out. She’d always have her soft spot for the demon, of course, but not being romantically involved with him would be okay. Besides, there were far more interesting things to contemplate than her career and lovelife, like how Jayne was feeling, how he was doing, in general. His was a good answer, she guessed… tactful, honest… Her head tilted softly, a teasing glimmer in her eyes and smile on her mouth. Come on Jayne, this was Jyli you were talking to. She was aware of how things really went down in the Fae Court. And… there it was, making her laugh softly, nodding.

’Oh honey, people in general are panicky and ridiculous. To keep yourself afloat? A skill, in and of itself. My congratulations to you for managing so far. You have any helpers in that endeavor?’ Her eyebrow arched in curiosity, truly interested. That man deserved some peons or advisors or something to help him take a load off. But, knowing his disposition- even as little as she did- she would bet not. Poor baby. He needed to relax. And she wanted to say something to that effect, even make an offer about that, when he did it for her. What the heck? Was he psychic or something? No. Just endearing and wonderful.

’Oh, Jayne. That’d be lovely. I don’t drink coffee but… dinner would wonderful, if you’ve the time? I’d happily make some for an evening with you. We could both do with a lack of the symptoms of ‘business brain’ anyways. Come have fun with me.’ Her smile was adorable and infectious, and she really hoped he’d say yes to her upgrade. And kinda hoped he’d let her have a peek at his real eye color sometime during. She loved the brown, but the blue just…

[JAYNE LANCEL ASTOR]

There was a lightness in his chest that he had only felt once before, and that was during his unexpected evening with this feisty little fae. Many qualities about Jyli were beyond appealing, and not just the physical, although he quite enjoyed that one to levels that weren't quite appropriate or proper for their current relationship status, and certainly more than he cared to say. Jayne was respectful, proper, and certainly wouldn't tread where he was unwanted, which, while he hadn't always been unwanted in that particular territory, she was with another man now. Not necessarily a better man than he, but a different man, and so Jayne wasn't going to let himself become jealous or overly curious or even bitter about the fact that he had likely lost out on someone that could have been quite good for him, if the chance had been available. Their lives had just been too busy to accommodate another meeting even though they both tried, and now Jayne found himself wishing that he had tried harder. He could have certainly squeezed some time into his schedule, couldn't he have? Found an hour to set aside just to see those golden eyes and that glorious smile and let her know that he was still a very interested party. But Jayne had been... not afraid, because Astors had been taught to fear next to nothing, but nervous about what his family might say if he rebelled against the thought of them choosing a more 'suitable' mate for him when he had found his own that wasn't exactly popular with the rest of them, even though he thought her actions were solidly founded. Now, it seemed that he was doomed to have chance encounters and pine after someone that he should have gone after more persistently when he actually had a shot.

They had barely been in each others' company ten minutes, and already she was making him smile. Not as bright as some people, but smiles on Jayne were incredibly rare unless they were fake. They were even talking about his father's passing, and despite the macabre nature of the discussion, he found it in him to tease her, just a little. ”Oh, you are not sorry to hear of his passing. The more time I spend in charge of his affairs, the more I realize with stark certainty that very few people truly were.” Jayne's smile dropped just a little because he had been directly responsible for Malcolm's death, although nobody but Daphne knew that. The more time he spent picking up the pieces, the more he became aware that he had essentially doing the world a favor by getting rid of his own favor. Also, the touch of Jyli's hand to his shoulder was a little distracting, but in a pleasant way that made him tingle, and not from the fae magic. ”But I do appreciate your condolences.” Then she spoke of fun, and another rare expression of emotion came from Jayne: laughter. Did he have time for...? No, no certainly not. A part of him missed it, but part of him knew that he had essentially become a man now, and most spontaneity that he had possessed before, which had been very little, was now basically expected to be weaned out of his system entirely. ”Fun? Oh, darling – I barely had time for fun before, let alone now. How about you? You don't seem like you've become a dull girl since we last saw one another – life seems to be treating you quite well. There's a glow about you.”

It was a good segue into serious matters, like business and her relationship with Gideon, which seemed to have ended, and Jayne couldn't say that his heart didn't skip a beat at that knowledge. Maybe the meeting wasn't so chance after all, and he didn't even believe in silly things like fate. ”My condolences, although I imagine I'm about as torn up about that news as you were about the death in my family.” There was a comfort and ease with Jyli that Jayne never really experienced except with Eryn, his very best friend, and Daphne, his dearest sibling. It was still different with Jyli, though, because with the smallest of attentions, she could make his heart race, which never happened. It was something that he thought his icy exterior prevented, and his stone-like heart – at least, where his family wasn't concerned – would avoid. Apparently not. ”Helpers? Me. I wouldn't accept help, even if there were qualified parties. I have to have my hands on everything in order to be convinced it won't crash and burn.”

Jayne found that he didn't want to talk business anymore, and invited her out on a date. His intentions weren't exactly clear, but she made them more clear by offering dinner instead. This time, Jayne actually smiled from ear-to-ear, and nodded, trying to disguise a bit of his eagerness. ”For you, I can make time. Dinner it is. Were you nearly finished here, or shall I wait?” Jayne asked, not wanting to rush her since business was as important to her as it was to him. Whatever the wait, he'd happily do it, just to have another evening with Jyli.

[/justify]

[JYLI DIANE HAYES]

It seemed as though the faerie woman had forgotten some things. Mhmm. Yep, in their time apart, which had been a while, actually, it seemed as though Jyli had forgotten just how captivating the leading Astor could be. And it was even more so when he was behaving in a normal fashion with her. Like, being himself, and not the stony, structured king they all wanted him to be. She liked Jayne for Jayne, not because he had the ruling class breeding or life. The faerie woman liked the way his eyes traced her like she was the only creature in the room. The only person in the building. And sometimes- well, one time, really- like she was the only person in the world. That tended to happen when she was a little less clothed, however… Yeah. That had… Um. Right. Wrong moment to be thinking about that. Especially when he was looking at her with that glimmer of teasing in his eyes, calling her out on her condolences. It was not a heated, sexual comment at all, and so she should really refocus her attentions back on the words coming out of his mouth, rather than the things she remembered he could do with that mouth.

’I told you I wasn’t a fan of him, brat. But still! He was yours, and since I like you, I gotta have some sympathy there.’ Now… her sympathy was less for the loss of his father, and more for the sheer volume of crap he was now likely dealing with. Which sounded like a lot, based on the weary note his voice took when he briefly mentioned it. Jyli’s brow furrowed the tiniest bit, worried for him. ’Come on sweetie, if your father hadn’t been such a jerkwad, then that wouldn’t have been a problem, huh? Just, try and be better than that. Shouldn’t be too hard.’ The brunette shook her head with giggle, turning it into a teasing comment, wanting to bump him gently, but resisting. Sure, she’d been intimately familiar with him before, but who knew what he was up to now? And that really wasn’t her place, at the moment, despite the fact that she was unattached. Despite all that, she was happy she could make Jayne laugh. He had a good laugh, this low, rumbling thing that tingled over her scalp and made her smile, looking at the ground for just a moment. Though the things that came out of his mouth were a little disappointing, after that.

’Ack, Jayne. That is beyond depressing. No wonder you looked so bored. And I… You’ve heard that saying, ‘all work and no play?’ Jyli happens to be a firm believer in that saying. I have fun on a daily, because otherwise I would become cranky and probably less efficient.’ She winked, knowing it was slightly untrue. Even pissed off, Jyli could finagle her way around anything she wanted to. Buuuut, she was always happier when she worked a little recreation into her life. She’d bet that Jayne would be too, if only he’d let himself have it. Maybe the fae woman would just have to force some on him… It was a thought. Something to consider. ’As for ‘glow…’ That, I honestly don’t know about. Maybe the faerie’s leaking, huh?’ Her giggle was teasing, and nobody was around to overhear them anyways. And out of context, nobody would understand what she was saying anyway. Just like she almost didn’t understand what Jayne meant by giving her his own ‘condolences.’ Her head cocked and her brow furrowed as she grinned at him. ’’Condolences,’ Jayne? Don’t be silly. Unnecessary. I’m happy. Honest. Though why that comes as good news to you, is something of a mystery…’ The light scrunch in her brow didn’t dissipate as she continued to look at him, mildly confused as the conversation continued. Into the fact that, much like herself, Jayne had some slight issues delegating responsibility. Surprise surprise. She nodded gently with a small smirk, and sympathized with him.

’Well, I understand that, silly. But if you’d just get yourself some reliable, trustworthy help, maybe you’d have a smidgen of downtime that you could use. Maybe with, ya know, me.’ Her grin was infectious as she looked at him, playful, and not really expecting him to take her up on it. But, lo and behold, he asked her out for coffee. Which she would have happily accepted… Except for the fact that just coffee wasn’t what she wanted. Besides, she knew, with almost certainty, that ‘coffee’ would extend into the hours timeframe- because she’d have her way and get more time than a coffee date would reasonably permit- and why not do something a little more conducive to that? And she liked food… so. The brunette practically glowed when Jayne professed that he’d make time for her, like she was special, before asking whether or not her business here was completed. ’Actually, I’m not quite finished, if you don’t mind hanging out with me for a while until they bring me the new estimates and layouts. Gotta make sure things are perfect, of course. But if you have something else… I can meet you somewhere?’

[JAYNE LANCEL ASTOR]

The leader of the Astors was a lot of things, but genuinely happy and amused weren't frequently emotions that he experienced, unless he was having cravings and feasted upon the emotions of others. That wasn't to say that he wasn't a happy individual, but the stoic man was frequently stuck on one serious matter or another, and didn't typically 'lighten up' to the extent that he probably should. In a lot of ways, he was a man in his mid twenties that seemed to be going on sixty because of his old-fashioned nature and overly serious, surly nature that he just couldn't shake. But being with Jyli again made him feel... lighter. Happier, and like he suddenly didn't have as many worries or cares in the world weighing him down. Responsibilities, familial problems, all of it just went right out the window as soon as she smiled at him and they started joking with one another. Even if said joking was surrounding the subject of his father's untimely death. ”Nobody should be forced into being sympathetic toward someone who was... well, out of respect I'll say that my father was difficult and stop there. Still, I'd prefer you were always honest with me about your feelings, Jyli.” Jayne's voice was quiet when he spoke to her, gentle and much kinder than the icy tone he used with most people, but this woman was not only special, but special to him. How special shocked Jayne a little bit, but he was starting to realize how much he truly had missed her the longer he spent time in her presence.

Jayne nodded when she gave him advice on how to be better than his father, and felt proud in a way that she had faith in him, because even though he was confident in his leadership abilities, he sometimes felt that he might end up being a disappointment. As much as he was looking forward to leading, and had wanted to take control of the family enough to send his father toward a sudden demise, now he actually had regrets. Jayne was starting to feel the pressure, and not in a good way – he needed a break, even just for an afternoon, to clear his mind from business related ventures and focus on something else entirely. Something like the gorgeous fae woman who was standing in front of him like a literal sight for sore eyes (his had been focusing on paperwork for the better part of a week), and seemed to enjoy his company. The more time he spent with Jyli, the more he learned about developments since they'd been apart. She'd been busy with work, seemed to have a strong dislike for how busy he was, and maybe... maybe he sensed that she cared about him, and maybe even in a more than friendly manner, if he was lucky. ”Do you now? What sorts of fun do you have 'on a daily?' I mean, there's no doubt that you're devoted to your job, but I do wonder how you manage to balance it all and still look so fabulous.” Jyli claimed that the fae was 'leaking,' no doubt meaning that the positive emotions were flowing out of her. Jayne smirked and raked his eyes over that gorgeous body, humming a little noise of approval. ”No, darling, I'd wager that it's all you.”

The faerie got more good news when he found out that she was single again, although he did try to be respectful by giving some condolences, hoping that she wasn't too hurt by the break-up. What sort of man would toss aside..? Jayne paused, starting to get offended on her behalf for a moment before he realized that maybe some man's stupidity would lead to his good fortune. Ah, well – if Gideon Osbourne didn't want her, that was his loss. Jyli was a wonderful woman; brilliant, beautiful, knew how to make a person feel good about themselves, respectful, cleaned up nicely, and the icing on the cake (for Jayne, at least) was that she was fae. ”You truly wish to know why your parting ways with Mr. Osbourne comes as good news to me?” A brief expression of surprise crossed Jayne's features, and he debated telling her the truth for a minute before he finally decided to break decorum and tell the truth. All of it. ”It might have something to do with the fact that by the time I thought to call on you, it was a devastating blow to learn that another man had won your favor first. I had the best intentions, and truly did enjoy our time together. I might have been hopeful that something more could have developed, if given the right time and circumstances. Now, it seems I might get that chance yet again. With any luck, I won't let you slip through my fingers a second time.”

Finally, Jayne made a bold inquisition and asked for her to accompany him after she finished her business. His initial request for coffee morphed into a dinner date, and he was delighted. ”I don't mind waiting around for you. I trust it'll be well worth it.” Then, Jayne paused and leaned in, pressing their bodies together in a way that was decent enough for the public eye, but enough to cause a sizzle to hit him from head to toe, then he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Just a brief, respectable peck, but the touch of his lips to her skin made him burn in all the ways he had missed, and then he left her to finish her business, waiting patiently outside.

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[JYLI DIANE HAYES]

Oh Jayne… Why he was so considerate of her, she hadn’t the foggiest. But it was really very charming. They’d started off with her being exceptionally pissed at him for some things that weren’t technically his fault, but she was still bitter over. Funny, how things changed. Now he was sweet to her, even going so far as to tell her not to worry about the death of his dad, not to feel bad about it. Jyli shook her head at him with a small laugh, realizing he seemed to be missing the point. ’I don’t feel sympathy for him, Jayne. I really couldn’t care less that he died. I feel sympathy for you. Sheesh. You’re the one I have an interest in, not your daddy. He can rot in the dirt. If you want me to be completely honest about my feelings.’ She titled her head, leveling an amused, semi-sarcastic look at him. He wanted honest, that was cool. She could deliver. Okay yeah, sometimes it came in a twisty, warpy way that made you wonder, but Jyli took issue with lying. Her mouth literally couldn’t form a lie. Why that was, she wasn’t really sure, and she couldn’t remember when it’d started, but for a long time now, she just couldn’t do it. So, him asking her for honesty was kinda redundant. Not like she could lie about it. Sidestep, avoid, outright deny, yeah. But lie? Nope. Maybe he’d realize that someday. Maybe he already did, though she kinda doubted it.

Still, her words about being a better leader than his dad seemed to have the desired effect, bolstering whatever was in him that do he could do greater things. Smarter, kinder, wiser things than the man before him had even hoped to accomplish. What Malcolm’s goal had been, Jyli hadn’t a clue. Fear, maybe. Respect, perhaps. He’d achieved those, with most. But Jyli had lost her fear and her respect for him a very long time ago. Maybe the day he’d given her her sentence. The exact moment, she wasn’t certain. And when she had gained respect and appreciation for Jayne? In that, too, she wasn’t really sure. But whatever the timeline, both were now true. She cared about this man before her, with- almost literally- the weight of a world on his shoulders. Sure, Jyli had a company to run, but that wasn’t the same thing. Similar, not same. Poor man. She felt for him, really she did. And she knew that Jayne didn’t have any kind of outlets, no vents for his frustrations or stress or… whatever else he dealt with. He kept himself to himself. Not healthy, in her opinion. And he did seem to value her opinion… at least a little. Maybe more than her opinion, if she was reading the signals correctly. He was at least curious as to what she did for fun. ’Well Jayne, now that was a compliment, if I’m not mistaken. Thank you, sugar. As for the fun… I swim? I go to spas and get pampered. I read and dance and buy frivolous things. Play with animals? Um… Oh! I played a Scrabble tournament last week. And a mahjong one the week before that.’ She shrugged, giggling at herself. ’Random adventures. A little spontaneity does the body good, I think.’ Perhaps it was doing her body quite a bit of good, since he seemed particularly inclined to spoil her with praise that day. Her lips quirked and her hip cocked, pleased with the attention. ’Well, Jayne, honey, I am the faerie. Whatever way you spin it, it’s me.’ A quick little wink, playful and smart, followed the words, as Jyli continued being a clever brat. But they moved on to talk of other things, like her job and his, and their respective reasons for being there.

Hers was a simple-ish business transaction, and his was more a personal investment. Either way, they were both there with things riding on it. That led to talk of her employer, naturally, and their parting of romantic company. Which, to her legitimate surprise, Jayne was pleased about. In a selfish way that piqued her curiosity. And, as she felt no need to completely censor her mouth and thoughts with him, opened her mouth. The expression on his face was well-worth the question she asked, because it reflected the shock in her own head. Well, what do you know? Two assumptions gone awry. Good thing she asked questions, huh? Otherwise her surprise may have been hers alone. As it was, well… surprise surprise. ’’A devastating blow?’ Oh, prince, are we using our enhanced vocabulary inappropriately here?’ She smiled sweetly, turning his seemingly-heartfelt expression into something lighter. No reason to get quite so heavy at that particular moment. Still, she did appreciate the sentiment. ’I had a wonderful evening with you, too, Jayne. I just… I never expected anything to come of it, given your standing in the world, and my own. Despite the joy I wrung from the experience.’ She shrugged, the expression more eloquent than some of her words might’ve been in hat moment. ’As for second chances, that will have a great less deal to do with luck than you seem to think.’ She grinned, and it seemed to prompt his invitation, which was quickly morphed into dinner plans. After her business there was concluded, of course. Spontaneity only extended so far, even for Jyli. Which he didn’t seem to mind very much at all. A quick smile, and a stroking of his shoulder, and he left her to it.

It wasn’t much longer until her shining presence met him outside, and she asked a simple question. ’Where shall we go, Mr. Astor?’

[JAYNE LANCEL ASTOR]

Talking about his dead father with a woman in whom Jayne had a romantic interest might have been strange, except it wasn't. Somehow, the two faeries managed to keep the conversation somewhat lighthearted because he knew that she wasn't really sympathetic about his father's death, and he wasn't incredibly distraught, either. After all, he had planned the man's death so he could lead the family to what he hoped was a better path than what his father's plans would allow. He still listened to every eloquent word that fell from her lovely mouth, and smiled at a certain part of what she said. ”The part I chose to focus on was when you said you had an interest in me. Perhaps that makes me insensitive.” Jayne said, a sly little eyebrow arch coupling his words as he wondered how she'd react to him taking a more bold approach. To him, Jyli was someone special, because she had so much going for her – intelligence, beauty, a sense of humor, and a way to make him feel so light about himself, even when he was considering some of the darker, more stressful moments he'd gone through recently, and that was no easy feat to accomplish.

Ever since their first meeting, he had been intrigued by Jyli. The golden-eyed fae was astounding, and constantly made him curious which was a rarity because usually he was so level headed. However, he was no stranger to having his mental faculties stolen in one way or another by women. Having three sisters was enough of a testament to that, and Jayne loved them all dearly, sometimes in ways that he couldn't even explain because not only were they his blood, and he'd been taught from a very young age that blood was everything, but he was also something of an incredibly protective older brother. All of them, as they grew, were treasured and cared for by him as best as he could, especially when they went through hardships, and Jayne couldn't help but think that maybe having such care and compassion for his sisters was what kept him from being completely cold, just like his father had always been. There was a kindness that Jayne had to hide from those who would scrutinize his work as a leader, and he was relieved when he felt the lightness that only Jyli could cause in him, along with the smile that was slowly starting to work its way across his features.

The smile only grew when the two of them started to talk about fun, and he inquired as to how the beautiful fae that he found in his company found her own fun. Jyli seemed to be the type who enjoyed life to the fullest, and he could respect that in anyone, but especially in her for some reason. Maybe it was because she seemed to be his opposite in many ways, but also because the thought that she could offer up a different, foreign perspective that had him hooked to her every word. ”I had you pegged as the type to go on random adventures, but your outlets for fun do sound exciting. I haven't heard of anyone actually playing mahjong that was under the age of sixty in some while... perhaps I'll let you teach me. Personally, I'm fond of chess; how do you feel about chess?” He was able to roll with the conversation just fine, easing in to other, more charged topics such as the fact that she'd ended her relationship with Mr. Osbourne, and not even bothering to hide that it excited him, because although it didn't guarantee that he would have any chance with her, it opened a door that made him bold enough to proceed without much holding back.

”I was being honest, thank you very much, although I am pleased that you made such an astute connection to the fact that my vocabulary is above the average that most 'youngsters' seem to boast these days,” Jayne said, then smirked. ”I'm convinced that only my body has ever been young.” Even as a boy, Jayne was more studious and mature for his age than anyone else, but that might have been because he was being groomed for bigger, more important things that anyone else he knew. He could be a prince charming, because he was more than adequate at being charming, and using some of his advantages that came from being part of an affluent family to get women interested. However, his attempts with Jyli went far and above any other 'attempt' that he could remember, because she was a special woman. When she spoke of luck, Jayne grinned slyly and fixed his eyes onto hers, allowing them to flash to their natural ice-blue for a split second before speaking in a lascivious tone that was nearly purred directly in her ear. ”If not luck, then what would cause me to have an advantage in my second attempt to win your favor, Jyli?”

Dinner invitations came quickly after, and Jayne didn't even mind waiting for her to finish her business inside before she met him outdoors, and he stood to greet her. Her hand traversed over his shoulder, and the faerie was tempted to allow his eyes to close and his body to absorb the sensation for a moment before he decided against it, and forced himself to remain calm. Instead, he reached down and found the petite woman's hand and laced their fingers together. ”Wherever your heart desires, Miss Hayes. Why don't you lead the way?” He wasn't used to spontaneity, but for her, Jayne was more than willing to give it a try.

[/justify]