Oriena's flat look made Nox smirk. For all her button pressing, he pushed hers too. But if she truly minded she'd have floored him already or a punch to the face. A look he could live with. She pretty much ignored their interaction and he was grateful she didn't push any additional buttons. Jacob had given her more than enough fodder and he was sure to hear something about it when there weren't so many people around. Not out of courtesy, but because Ori loved to push those buttons.
Her nails dug into his wrist as she wrapped her fingers around it and tugged at him to follow obediently. And there was no protest from Nox. He didn't mind pretending to be her lap dog. It might pull at some of the girls who he'd been sleeping with, if alleys and bathrooms counted as sleeping with. None of them rated a bed. And certainly he wasn't bringing a fling home -- the fact that he'd slept with the same girl more than once said a lot for his usual demeanor. His old self wouldn't have bothered. But then his old self also didn't stay in one place long enough to get laid by the same girl more than once. His one rule -- if they showed up at Kallisti then they lost privileges permanently. He wasn't going to hurt Raffe in any way -- and that meant keeping his frivolous needs away from the club. Also meant that even though he knew Ori would, they wouldn't. He lived by his rules -- much like he lived by his promises. Until he didn't anyway... He was still beating himself up over his slip. This was just another way.
They headed down into the bowels of the Almaz and Nox was grateful for the nails biting into his wrist. Her possessiveness might only be a ploy, but he relished in the facade. The want. Someone wanted him. And that was pretty much the depressive nature of his life and he pushed it away. Locked it behind a bright smile and falling into the role of whatever Ori wanted at the moment. He'd be fueling his needs later -- in the ring and out. But right now he was here for Ori. She needed her own outlet and he was happy to oblige. And as Jacob mentioned there seemed to be quite the show lined up for later in the evening.
Nox saw faces he recognized. A few were regulars. He saw Jaxen with guy he'd seen around probably at Kallisti, he had the look. Several other faces recognized him and their conversations turned excited and watched Ori escorting him by the wrist through the crowd wherever she headed. "Though I find the fun is usually in the ring." Jacob had followed behind them with his glass and judging eyes. Nox wanted to know why he was here -- other than to kill him. He didn't need to come here to do that. Though better here than Kallisti. Jacob might not survive if he attacked Kallisti. At least here he stood a chance.
Her nails dug into his wrist as she wrapped her fingers around it and tugged at him to follow obediently. And there was no protest from Nox. He didn't mind pretending to be her lap dog. It might pull at some of the girls who he'd been sleeping with, if alleys and bathrooms counted as sleeping with. None of them rated a bed. And certainly he wasn't bringing a fling home -- the fact that he'd slept with the same girl more than once said a lot for his usual demeanor. His old self wouldn't have bothered. But then his old self also didn't stay in one place long enough to get laid by the same girl more than once. His one rule -- if they showed up at Kallisti then they lost privileges permanently. He wasn't going to hurt Raffe in any way -- and that meant keeping his frivolous needs away from the club. Also meant that even though he knew Ori would, they wouldn't. He lived by his rules -- much like he lived by his promises. Until he didn't anyway... He was still beating himself up over his slip. This was just another way.
They headed down into the bowels of the Almaz and Nox was grateful for the nails biting into his wrist. Her possessiveness might only be a ploy, but he relished in the facade. The want. Someone wanted him. And that was pretty much the depressive nature of his life and he pushed it away. Locked it behind a bright smile and falling into the role of whatever Ori wanted at the moment. He'd be fueling his needs later -- in the ring and out. But right now he was here for Ori. She needed her own outlet and he was happy to oblige. And as Jacob mentioned there seemed to be quite the show lined up for later in the evening.
Nox saw faces he recognized. A few were regulars. He saw Jaxen with guy he'd seen around probably at Kallisti, he had the look. Several other faces recognized him and their conversations turned excited and watched Ori escorting him by the wrist through the crowd wherever she headed. "Though I find the fun is usually in the ring." Jacob had followed behind them with his glass and judging eyes. Nox wanted to know why he was here -- other than to kill him. He didn't need to come here to do that. Though better here than Kallisti. Jacob might not survive if he attacked Kallisti. At least here he stood a chance.
![[Image: nox_sig.gif]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/nox_sig.gif)