Living

[Darian Raniari]

((OOC: Thanks, Athrun! lol))

Darian fidgeted a bit in his seat.

This was quickly becoming a lot more dangerous than he'd intended. Lexi herself was bad enough, but the man she was talking too had the air of a seasoned veteran. Whether or not he was in fact a hunter, Darian didn't know, but that didn't necessarily make him any less dangerous.

So...

For the time being, he was content to sit and watch, and listen. He may yet pick up something of value, and there was still a chance, slight though it was, that this man would leave, and he would have Lexi all to himself.

That thought made Darian grin, and he settled back into his seat to continue his observations.

[Alexis Reese James]

Giving her companion a brilliant smile, Lexi waved at the bartender again and ordered a full bottle of the "good" stuff that she kept behind the bar especially for moment like this. As Ben slide it across to her with a grin, she gave him and wink and then poured two straight doubles into crystal tumblers.

Glancing sideways at Athrun, she shrugged good naturedly and raised her own up to toast him.

"Heres to old friends and friendships that stand through the test of time!"

Then, tilting her head, the beautiful blond slammed back the whiskey and closed her eyes on the burn. Generally speaking, she didn't do much drinking these days but one or two shots wouldn't dim her perspectiveness to the danger lurking in the shadows. She was much to wise and experienced for that. In fact, a bit of the good stuff might loosen up the mantle of deary mundane that had settled on her horizons.

Finally opening her eyes again, Lexi shrugged at his question with a rueful look to her sapphire eyes.

"That would be a good question.... Some thing have happened... Simi ... Sim was involved in some pretty nasty going ons and its changed her. I've tried to help her the best way I can but.... Shes a grown woman now... I can't just kiss away her wounds and shes learning to cope with life on her own. Bastian... Bastian's changed from it too.. Luckily, they each have wonderful people in their lives to help them find their paths."

Staring down into her empty glass, she ran a finger around the edge and then sighed.

"Sometimes if feels as if they don't need me at all anymore....They are all grown up with lives of their own and I try not to intrude on them..."

[Athrun Knight]

Athrun touched his glass with hers and threw back the drink. Then smiled. Lexi was Athrun's closest friend. He had been so wrapped up in work that he had forgotten how much he missed her company. He saw Simi once in a while when she stopped by his office and the house once and a while. But he needed to slow down, He was still coming to terms with the fact that he was getting older and needed to enjoy the people and things that made him happy.

"Cheers" he said to her toast.

Athrun looked down at his glass "Simi is a smart girl, Shes tougher then she looks" He said looking up at his dear friend "I should talk to Simi and Bastian, Its been a while since Ive seen those two"

Athrun placed his hand on hers "they may not act like it, but your kids need you, and when they are ready to talk they will"

[Alexis Reese James]

There was something comforting about spending time with an old friend who knew you better than you knew yourself. Although the legacy of her angel heritage caused her to age more slowly than a normal human, she still felt every one of her years deep in her soul. There were times when she longed for the old days for the simple fact that she'd felt useful and ... well.. ALIVE. While she'd loved her husband and children, after Tristians death and the kids leaving home she'd felt as if she were just watching her life move aimlessly by without any real focus or objective.

And from the vibe she was getting from Athrun, she got the feeling that maybe she wasn't the only one. Her old friend wasn't a spring chicken anymore and age had put lines on his once young face. Instead of the brash courage of youth that had once lined his features, he now wore a mantel of distinguished experience. HIis eyes were filled with a wisdom that only came with facing ones worst nightmares and defeating inner demons.

Raising her own glass to his, she watched him toss back his drink and then chuckled huskily. Her sapphire eyes dances with an inner impish mischief that had always resided in her gaze.

"Oh yes.... I still remember the time Simi threatened to run away from home and decided to hide out in your office thinking you would be more understanding than her witch of a mother....." she said, shaking her head and the memory. "And the look on her face when you brought her back and dropped her off.... And Bastians face when you caught him in that compromising position.... I believe my children had the mistaken belief that we old folks had never been young."

Pouring them both another shot, the azure eyed witch leaned more comfortable on the bar and pushed a lock of blond hair behind her back.

"I guess now we know what Bobby and Ellen felt like....Little wonder they were either threating to shoot our asses or smacking us all upside the head."

Then, shrugging, Lexi tossed a glance around the bar again and something caught her attention in the shadows. Instincts on full alert, she made out the figure of a man and the fact that his gaze was glued upon her. Arching a brow coolly, she meet his eyes and calmly saluted him with her glass before tossing her drink back. The beautiful blond had no clue who he was but he obviously know her somehow.

The million dollar question? What the hell did he want? She'd bet her last dollar that it wasn't going to be boring at least.

[Darian Raniari]

A smile spread across Darian's face. This was it.

Standing gracefully to his feet and checking to make sure his sunglasses were perfectly in place, the vampire glided his way across the club, moving to stand near Lexi and Athrun. Flashing Lexi his most charming smile, he inclined his head in greeting.

"My, my, Lexi James. You are even more beautiful than my brother's descriptions have led me to believe..." Gesturing to an empty seat, and pointedly ignoring Athrun, Darian asked, "May I join you?"

[Athrun Knight]

Athrun smiled and laughed at Lex went through all the memories over the years. Athrun loved both of her kids very much. Simi even had his Silver Star Metal. Athrun also took Bastian Simi to of his his Marine combat training sessions which Lex did not find out about until a few years after he retired, his ears were still ringing from being yelled at after she found out.

Athrun laughed when she told the story of when Simi ran away "Wasn't my office she ran to, it was my basement" he said with a smile "And yes I took her home, but i got her ice cream first." He said with a grin. "And as for your son and his compromising position, that is a image I need out of my head." he said shuttering. Athrun threw back another shot and then smiled again at Lex.

When a guy came up and asked to sit next to Lex Atrhun's stomach jumped, He was getting a really bad vibe from this guy. He looked at Ben and gave him the "Trouble" look and reached for his own gun.

[Alexis Reese James]

Well, well, it looked as if the night was about to take an interesting, if unexpected turn. So much for feeling bored.

Let the Games Begin!

As the "gentleman" moved out of the shadows and approached, Lexi immediately got a vibe of power that was unnatural and unwelcome. Although she prided herself on her fair mindedness, Vampires were the one thing she had very little love for. After her capture and abduction so many years ago by the sadistic Luka, the halfing witch was hard pressed to be in the presence of one without wanting to kill it or at the very least, get away from it. Granted, there were a few that she'd grown accustom too but the sort of power that rolled of this one was to much like that of her former tormentor and it immediately set her spine straight in her chair.

Thankfully though, experience allowed her to keep her face impassive, cool even when she met the "man's gaze and arched a brow.

"I'm sorry.. I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage. It seems you know me but I have no idea who you are...." she drawled in a calm, collect voice even as she laid a hand on Athruns arm in a motion to wait. "What can I do for you, Mr.....?"

[Darian Raniari]

Darian shot the man, Athrun, a quick smile before returning his attention to Lexi.

"...Raniari," he filled in for her. "Darian Raniari. And it is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lexi." He stood beside the empty seat, his arms crossed coolly over his chest, his body appearing to be relaxed and completely calm, though inside he was a bit frightened.

This was, quite possibly, one of the most dangerous situations he'd been in in a long, long time. There were few living that struck that chord of fear in him, but Lexi James was one of them. His eyes flicked to the man again, and he was fairly certain that he could make short enough work of him, but Lexi was the one to be wary of.

The fact that once, some twenty-five or so years earlier, Sastre and the woman had been close friends made this even more delicate. Darian knew that Quicksilver had severed all ties with his old friends, including Lexi, decades earlier, to keep them safe from the vampire's machinations. It had worked, too: Darian had not had any desire to use Lexi or Sastre's other old friends against him, for it seemed like the hunter had given up on them, and hurting them then would have no effect on him.

The truth was, though, Darian was running out of ammunition to use against Sastre, and it was now time to start checking off the hunter's old acquaintances... Lexi James, Carey Coulter, the Randals out west, and a couple of others... Not to mention Quicksilver's newest squeeze, Madison.

Clearing his throat, Darian gestured slightly at the seat once again, refusing to sit without first being permitted.