Darren was as nice as he could manage remembering the P's and Q's his mother had taught him. He couldn't remember a time he had tried and was glad that Jo was doing most of the leg work. He quickly noticed she was a natural, knowing just what to say and when to get the information they did.

When they finally stopped Darren noticed Jo's mood shift from personable to annoyed, maybe even fustrated. a
After her voicing her annoyance Darren moved to stand next to her, playfully nudging her and flashing a smile.

" ye did good Blondie, better than I could have...and we did get some information, I assume not many ladies wear her hair like they said...its small but mor'n I'd probably get alone," Darren offered as a way of comfort, his emerald eyes looking back into Jo'S as he spoke.

" an it's not like we's alone, yet cheery friend may gain more info we didn't get," Darren added, he was terrible at comforting people but he felt he needed to try.

"That's part of the problem!" Josephine said, shaking her head, still in her hands, "If Lily figures out more than us, I'll never hear the end of it!" she groaned aloud, knowing her feisty little friend would be giving her no end of trouble over this.

Pausing, Jo's face came out from behind her hands with a curious look on her face,

"Wait... are you trying to comfort me?" she asked, recognizing immediately that Darren was probably trying his best, but 'comforter' was not a role he was designed for...

Darren quickly realized that Jo and Lilly had a strong history and smiles noting she was more upset at their internalized competition than anything else. Upon being confronted about comforting the youth's ears grew red and his emerald eyes flicked nervously.

" Uhhh... I thought maybe..," Darren stared before standing and trying for a tough appearance. " No, I was simply saying it wasnt for nothing," Darren lied trying to appear tough while looking about and avoiding eye contact while his ears showed a red tint.

After a moment Darren inquired," so...uh where we supposed to meet up with yer friend?"

If Josephine was good at anything, it was reading people's body language. Seeing the reddening, and the sudden eye contact avoidance, she raised her eyebrows in shock,

"Oh my gosh, you're embarrassed about it!" she exclaimed, not seeming to mind at all about rubbing it in as her quiet laughter followed,

"Oh my gosh, that's so cute!" she giggled again, rubbing it in as she reached out and tried to squeeze his cheek with another bright smile and laugh, "The big tough guy, all put on the spot by the simple act of comforting!" she giggled, reaching out and trying to grab his hands and put them on her shoulders, and then she wiggled her hips a little, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she locked his gaze with her own,

"Do I make you nervous, Mr. Calhoun?" she asked softly, her gaze intense, and the corners of her lips tilting upwards into the beginnings of a smile as they 'danced' slowly around. She needed this little run off of stress and steam, and she was taking full advantage.

The young red head's face brighten to a matching  hue. It was quickly apparent that Darren hadn't had a lot of opportunities to become comfortable with teasing but his body language shifted quickly once they started 'dancing'.

Darren's face up to the dancing had shifted a few times, each time Darren attempted to mask it with a smile. The youth obviously not learned to raise a proper poker face.

'Dancing' at first, he was rigid and after a moment or two he even tried to match Jo's  movements, his emerald eyes finally resting on her's. The youth seemingly surrendering to the moment. Upon hearing her question, Darren smiled, stammered and cleared his throat before he said," ahh not you so much as..."

Darren's  eyes looked thoughtful," I'm not so well versed in being personable." Darren's hands moved cautiously to her hips, a smile present with only a hint of any awkwardness left.

Smiling in response, a bit surprised as he seemed to grow almost instantly more comfortable, Josephine felt his hands move around her hips, a VERY forward move for this time she would guess, and she raised an eyebrow,

"Interesting... interesting indeed..." she breathed softly, bringing her lips close to his as she spoke, her eyes flicking down to his, and back up to his eyes. After a breathless moment, she pulled away, and started to walk again, that mischievous look back in her eyes, but she kept her back turned to him, to allow him a moment, and to hide her own smile.

"What's our next move?" she asked over her shoulder, being suddenly 'business' to keep him off-balance. She moved slowly enough that if he reached out, he could touch her, but she moved indeed. She was curious what his response would be.

Darren had got caught up in the moment, his body moving now more on impulse as he moved to close the gap and the as quickly as his desire rose, Jo pulled away and turned to walk away. Darren waant sure just how he felt but this was twice now he'd been checkled by Jo and in the same night as meeting the michievious minx.

The youth hadn't had the time to sort through emotions nor proper procedures  but with his emotions high and his body calling for resolve, Darren grabbed Jo's hand as she looked back inquiring of their next move and pulled her back into an embrace bringing his lips to hers.

It could have been seconds or minutes bit when Darren pulled back his emerald eyes looking at Jo filled with mirth. Then realization dawned on his face and Darren moved to break contact. "Pardon my forwardness Goldie, I didn't mean any.. uhh disrespect, Darren said as he tried to recover, unsure as to where his actions would lead.

As Josephine was pulled roughly back, she stumbled into Darren's arms, her hands landing on his chest for balance, and then he kissed her, and her eyes closed instinctively. When he finally broke contact, she looked up into his eyes as he spoke, and she whispered in response,

"Shh..." before pressing her lips gently back into his. Sure, he was unrefined, and a little awkward, but she liked the rough nature of him... the straightforward approach. She could work with that, and frankly, her emotions were in control right now, and not her mind, so she went with the moment, being pulled up into his powerful arms. He was acting like a real man, and she liked nothing in the world more than that.

As they broke contact again, she leaned slightly back to take in his expression more fully, and her hazel green orbs took his in, flashing in excitement as her heart fluttered momentarily. Her hands were still resting on his muscular chest, and she was a tiny, vulnerable creature in his massive hands, leaving things up to him entirely in the moment, breathless as she was.

The youth's move to defuse the situation was quickly interrupted by a audible que right before the sensation of Jo's lips returned to his. His senses overwhelmed; by their contact, her fragrance, as well as his want of her. Timed seemed to slow and upon the break of the kiss, desire flashed in Darren's emerald eyes.

Darren smiled and took steading breaths still holding Jo close and after a time the situation caught up to him and whIle he didn't move to break contact, his smile turned coy.

" what was that about our next move?" Darren asked, trying for innocent.
This message was last updated by the player at 06:24, Mon 05 June 2017.

Pulling backwards a bit, Josephine was surprised as something about him had changed, but she couldn't quite place what.

Gently removing herself from his grasp, she smiled and shrugged,

"If you're not sure, then I guess it's nothing. Come, we need to report our lack of findings to Simon and Lily." she said, tossing her hair as she spun to walk away, ready to do exactly that.

Darren had gone for playful aND wasn't sure it played out that way. As Jo moved away Darren felt something shift and hesitated hearing her comment. " We probably should but that was far from nothin'," Darren said scoffing. It was a damn bit o' fun!" Darren admitting, letting excitement fill his voice.

The young red head moved setting a hand on Jo'S shoulder looking down at her with a smile, " don't seem blayin' coy is a strong suite fer me.

---

Feeling Darren's hand slide onto her shoulder, Josephine dropped her shoulder a bit, smoothly releasing the pressure, and slipped her hand up into his, pulling it away into a less controlling position, spinning around and tugging for him to follow with a smile,

"Don't worry about it. Let's just get this information shared with the others, and we'll catch up on all of this stuff a bit later." she smiled disarmingly, and tugged at his hand again, before letting go and slipping away, and dancing a few feet ahead of him in the direction of Simon and Lily (or at least where she last knew they'd be).

As she walked, her mind raced, thinking through the last few minutes, as well as the information (or lack thereof) about Frederick. Things were getting complicated, but she needed to stay focused, or at least the best amount she could.

Darren smiled as she spoke and flashes her smile. Darren had moved forward at the tug but had hesitated for a moment for his own interest as he watched Jo sway as she danced off. The youth didn't hesitate long before following, he didn't want to be too terrible obvious.

"I look forward ta it," Darren admitted while he followed, unsure as to their destination only who would be there.

It didnt bother him about their lack of knowledge, Darren was used to winging it and felt they'd get some more information in time. Darren was worris for Frederick but he knew if anyone could make it, it was him. A thought about checking local graveyards may yield results but that was only if it was the ghoul who had been the target and evidence said otherwise.

Simon: pm

Darren/Jo:


You find Lily on the next street over, thankfully still free and out of police hands. She grins brightly at seeing you and rushes over. Still intact I see. Good she gives Darren an approving nod and you get the feeling she's relieved to see Jo safe. Any luck? I had a little but the habit was a bit of a distraction she looks down at her attire with a sigh. They kept shoving lemonade and cakes at me, trying to be hospitable. Got so ridiculous by the fourth house I started hiding them. Here, take these. I don't know what to do with them she pulls four small cakes wrapped in napkins from her pockets and holds them up for you both to take. I would have saved you some lemonade too but that wouldn't have gone over well. Had to take the bullet on that one. I feel as though I've drowned she wrinkles her nose. Now, on to business. I heard about a dark haired woman but she didn't seem to match the ghoul's description. We have another player in our midst. Any luck on your end?

PM

Running up and hugging Lily tight, placing a big smackeroo on her cheek, accidentally squishing the later revealed cakes, Josephine was all bright smiles, glad as hell to see that her friend had made it.

"We got SOME luck, but not much." Josephine said, rapidly filling Lily in on the details they'd figured out.

Beyond that, she was curious, and chomped on a cake while she spoke, not minding the silliness of it all,

"What do you really think we're getting into here? It seems... different than I might have expected."

Darren had caught up to the bubbly woman and as she took off to meet Lilly, Darren couldn't help but smile. Jo's energy was infectious and he liked how affectionate she was around her friends.

When Lilly looked Darren's way he straightened and nodded relaxing when he noticed her approval. " my pleasure," Darren said, emerald eyes flicking to Jo and smiling.

The youth gratefully took the cake and ate, he often felt hungry after he fought and thought nothing more of it.

" 'he's 're good, 'hanks," Darren said through a full mouth forgetting his manners. The youth listened and after clearing his mouth offered a pardon for his behavior as an after thought.

" hard to say, I'm still rather green, far as I know we could search nearby grave yards...mayhaps the ghoul had been Frederick's target...but it seems more sinister..., Darren offered knowing he wasn't strong for planning.

Josephine's expression wrinkled, as she absentmindedly rubbed crumbs off of Darren's chin while he ate.

"I don't know if I want to search graveyards... if Frederick is in there, we don't WANT to find him, and if he isn't, we just wasted time." she said, picking another piece of cake out of Darren's hair with a look of incredulity. How the hell did he get it up there?!

Pushing away the thoughts, she turned back towards Lily,

"We can always pursue this Eleanor Rosings angle, though I wouldn't know how to." Turning to groan at Darren still getting food everywhere, she asked Lily,

"Didn't you see the signs? Don't feed the animals?" she teased, sticking out her tongue at her friend with a soft giggle. With a genuine look, however, she whispered,

"He might need it though, he took quite a beating..." she was concerned, but hiding it the best she could. She knew better than doting on Darren while Lily was around.

Darren listened as he finished his cake, gently pushing Jo's hand away occasionally until realization flashed in his emerald eyes around the time pulled crumbS from his hair. He wasn't sure bit he could try. Darren brushed a hand on his pant leg before teniativly taking Jo's hand, entirely missing at Jo keeping him presentable.

" Maybe lawmen might know her, or of her description?, Darren offered, normally his Intel came from Fredrick and Darren hadnt the expierencd to do it himself yet.

"One shouldn't feed strays," Darren offered absently, hearing the comment on feeding animals but missing the joke.

Shaking her head, Josephine didn't think the use of the police would be a good idea,

"Half of us are wanted, using the poli..." she froze in shock as he took her hand in his, and didn't let go. Her eyes went slowly from the grasped hands to Lily's eyes, back to the hands.

Tugging her hand away with a deep red tint coming to her cheeks, Josephine tried to smoothly pat his hand with her other to free her own, and not let Lily in on any shenanigans that may have occurred while she had been away.

Hearing Darren's words about strays, she laughed, perhaps a bit too hard, and nodded, wanting the distraction,

"Yea, haha, right?! Strays!" she said, wishing this blush would go away, but knowing as she felt the tingling that it was just getting worse and worse as time went on.

Darren nodded at the mentire of being wanted, he himself wasn't a great samaritan. Although his thought paused as Jo's hand pulled away anND her following pat. Had he read wrong, the following blush and shifty eyes may give him more insight if he were better at body language. Instead he attempted eye contact and smiled

Whend the laugh broke lose Darren was at a loss. He hadn't thought he had made a funny but whose to say. " Somethin' me Mother would say," Darren offered but after a moment he offered a nervous chuckle.

Seeing Darren's confusion, Josephine knew she was screwing up, but there was so much in the air right now, she didn't want to upset Lily, she definitely didn't want Lily murdering Darren (which she would, most certainly), and she... well she didn't know WHAT she thought or felt at the moment! It had all happened so fast, but watching poor Darren, he was so clueless as to what was going on, and what he'd done... he hadn't meant anything by it, he was just being pleasant, and simple.

Simple was good, simple was safe. After her horrifying experience at the hands of the demon a while back, Josephine had a slight inkling of fear tinging everything she experienced. That pain had been pure horror, and she couldn't deal well with it. In some ways, Darren felt like the safe choice, and she was needing that, at least right now.

But him revealing what had happened to Lily? She hadn't planned on that. It made sense, sure, it was straightforward, like she knew he was, but now?

But looking at him, poor Darren, he wasn't being dishonest or mean-spirited, or anything. He wasn't trying to brag, or rub anything in anyone's face, he was just trying to hold her hand, like a sweetheart. Boys back home were sometimes like that, and it brought a sense of familiarity to her heart. He was trying to make eye contact and smile, despite the unfair situation she'd put him in. He, in his moment of need, was trying to take care of her feelings, however that made him feel.

Her heart just melted. This poor guy was good to his core, that much she knew right off the bat. Was she really so selfish that she wanted both Lily AND him so badly that she was going to do this? Would this drive Lily away? Would this get him KILLED by Lily?

Josephine's mind was racing, so she instinctively shot back into defensive-social cover up mode, one of her worst habits,

"Oh that's nice!" she said about his statement about his mother, "My mother and I are very close... Maybe I'll show you her bar one of these days, if we get any downtime. Do you like to drink at all?" she smiled pleasantly with her question, changing the subject.

Inwardly, however, she was furious at herself, being so selfish.

Damnit, Josephine! Straighten up! Be open! Honest! Fair! What is WRONG with you!? but she couldn't. She tried to force words past her smile, but her practiced control took over and clamped her mouth shut, keeping herself silent. She was trapped inside her own head, just wondering... thinking... planning...

Darren nodded as Jo mentioned her mother, it was nice they were close, something Darren had wanted once. At the mention of Drink the youth's eyes sparkled nearly.
" Nothin' beats a drink with a lovely Lady!," Darren said showing excitement until his eyes flicked back to Jo.

"Uhh yer mother wouldn't be upset?," Darren inquired, not having proper courting rules taught to him, he wasn't sure he had overstepped a boundary and being oblivious to his current situation didn't see a need to be secretive.

Flustered, Josephine answered, with red cheeks,

"Upset? Upset about what?" she asked, her eyes once again flicking between Darren and Lily, hoping to God that Lily was clueless to what was going on, but knowing damn well she was probably up a creek.

Lily watches the encounter with sharp green eyes that unfortunately seem to miss nothing. She arches a black brow at the hand holding exchange, listening to Jo's attempts mutely. At last she speaks. You two seem to be getting along quickly...That's your business not mine Jo, but keep in mind we still don't know the man and until Frederick vouches for him just...be careful. In fact, after that even....be careful. I can attest for the consequences of a romance pursued too quickly. Unless I misread the situation perhaps? she tilts her head questioningly but there is no doubt in her eyes.

It's probably surprising to Darren how blunt she is but Josephine knows Lily tells things as they are. Now, ghoul wise I won't waste time at a graveyard yet. My theory is the thing was attracted by the bodies and ghouls usually don't make their own dinners if you know what I mean. Something else probably killed those people first and the ghoul was attracted. That woman could be a demon. We need to identify her quickly. You had a name, we just need to figure out where she lives. Simon knows this area well, he can probably help us find someone to find someone

ooc: We're going to rejoin Simon next week when I post so feel free to let me know your general plans until you get back to the doctor's.