(no subject)

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

Date: April 21st, 2003
Status: Public (Aphrodite)
Setting: The Manor (Outside and In)
Summary: This looks like a good place to stay for the night... do they have a phone?



'Dite cursed and smacked the steering wheel of her little rental coup, miraculously not chipping a nail in the process. The little white dove sitting on her shoulder screeched in surprise and decided that perhaps it would be better to ride shotgun, abandoning the temperamental woman to sit on its cage next to her. 'Dite ignored it and started to plead with the vehicle to keep going. She was pretty sure the engine wasn't supposed to be making that odd popping noise, and smoke was never a good sign. Finally, with a mighty 'clunk' the car stopped its slow forward crawl, steamed profusely, then died. Aphrodite's forehead hit the top of the steering wheel with a dull thud.

"Why now? Why me?" she grumbled, throwing the door open and stepping out of the red vehicle, her heels clicking on the pavement. She bent over below the dash and fiddled with a lever to pop the hood. Moving to the front of the car, she flung the hood upward and stared blankly down at the engine as if that would help her determine what was wrong. She hadn't the foggiest, though. With a groan, she ran her manicured fingers through thick blond tresses. Mechanics were never her strong point.

Frustrated further at her own inability to understand what made the car do what the car was supposed to do, she whistled for her pet and glanced around to get her bearings. There was bound to be somewhere nearby that had a working phone. She had long since lost her cell phone when, during a fit of temper at her lover, she threw it into a lake in the middle of an argument. She had realized in retrospect that it would have been just as effective to merely hang up on Ares as he could not actually see her throw the phone. Hind-sight was always fifty-fifty.

No far away sat a building with some promise. Large, hotel-ish, lots of windows equaling lots of rooms... if there wasn't a phone in that building she would eat her lipstick. With a brief word to Bird to watch the car (not like it was going anywhere but it was the principle that mattered) 'Dite trudged through the gate and down the lane to the front door. Poking her head in, she glanced around at the lobby.

"Hullo?" she called, stepping fully in and moving toward the reception desk.

Comments

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose was sitting behind the reception desk when the front doors opened.

"Hello madam. How can I help you?"

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"I certainly hope so." 'Dite smiled congenially and clicked up to the desk, leaning forward on it slightly. "My car seems to have broken down and I'm in bad need of a telephone to call the rental company. Is there, by chance, one here I may use?" She continued to grin in her most 'let me do whatever I want because I'm just so sweet' way.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

Rose wondered how the woman could walk in those shoes. If one could even call something like that shoes. She'd have called it torture devices...

But she smiled at the newcomer and pushed the phone on the reception desk right in front of the woman.

"You can of course call the rental company from here."

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"Oh thank you!" Aphrodite dug around in the pocket of her jacket for a moment before pulling out the business car of the rental company. She quickly dialed, placed the receiver to her ear, and leaned back against the counter with her other arm draped across her middle. She tapped the card with a finger, listening to the options on the switchboard before telling the phone in a slow, deliberate voice, "Agent." It took at least five repeats of the word for the computerized voice to realize that 'Dite was looking to talk to someone and finally connected her through to an operative.

A brief and frazzling conversation followed in which 'Dite barely contained her temper. Finally, she huffed an affirmative into the phone, told them she was in Lower Tadfield, and hung it up. She took a moment to compose herself before turning back to Rose and smiling.

"I don't suppose there is any vacancy, is there? It seems as though the rental company won't be able to take care of this little problem for a few days and I find myself without reservations."

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

That woman didn't seem to be the patient type. Not at all. And she obviously needed a room. Rose smiled up at her, carefully showing a bit of teeth. Even if a human woman most certainly wouldn't see any difference to a normal smile. Those humans all showed teeth so carelessly.

"Would you like a room on the first, second or third floor? Third floor should be the most quiet ones as the restaurant, the bar, the ballroom and so on are all on the ground floor."

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

Aphrodite took a moment to consider her response. "The third floor would be lovely," she said with a nod. "I'll just need to go get my things." 'Dite turned to walk out of the lobby then paused and looked over her shoulder. "Is there a pool, by chance?"

[mcleod1592.livejournal.com]

Duncan had been outside for a bit of training. The rec room in the hotel was occupied by that moron Michael far too often for his taste, so he preferred to take his own workout elsewhere.

He threw open to door to enter the lobby, and very nearly walked into--

--the most beautiful woman he had seen in a few hundred years. He stopped in his tracks and smiled, nodded to the girl behind the counter, then bowed slightly to the woman.

"Accept my apologies, lady," he said. "I wasn't looking where I was going. I am Duncan McLeod. Are you a new guest here?"

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

"Third floor it is, madam. And no, I don't think there's a pool at the manor." It would have to be very well hidden indeed, or she would have found it by now. Or at least smelled it.

Rose went to the board where Ms Hodges kept alle the keys and selected one for a third room floor that she knew was clean.

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

'Dite took the key graciously from Rose, not showing her disappointment at the lack of a pool, and then turned to the man who had just entered the lobby. She took a brief moment to thank the woman behind the counter before regarding Duncan with a curious gaze. She held up the key with one hand and wiggled it a bit. "I am, indeed, a new guest," she murmured before pocketing the key and moving toward the man. Holding out her hand, she introduced herself.

"'Dite Papadopoulos," she supplied. She knew how these humans liked to be given last names. She had chosen long ago to use one of the most common Grecian surnames available, the Greek equivalent to the American 'Smith.' People tended to ask questions when she had introduced herself merely as 'Aphrodite.' Most of those questions involved the location of the mental hospital she had escaped from. "And there is no need to apologize. I take it you're staying here, too?"

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

That woman just took the key and turned around without even stating her name. Rose was perplexed for one moment and then followed the newcomer.

"Excuse me, madam, but I need your full name still to check you in. Could you spell it for me so I get it right?"

Rose honestly didn't think she'd spell the strange name right without any help.

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

'Dite blinked at Rose for a moment then laughed and put a hand to the side of her wavy blond locks. "Goodness, I must have left my brain with my luggage!" She turned partially toward Duncan. "Excuse me a minute, I completely forgot to check in!" Still chuckling at herself, 'Dite moved back toward the reception desk to do any of the last minute paperwork, payment, etc needed to rent a room.

[roseheerkens.livejournal.com]

"It wont take more than a few minutes."

Rose was glad the newcomer cooperated. She wanted to have everything in order when Ms Hodges took over later. She wanted to show she could do this right. So she took out everything she'd need to properly check in Mrs Papo... Papa... whatever she was called.

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"Now, do you require payment in advance or afterwards? I'm afraid I'm not entirely certain how long I will need to stay." 'Dite dug through her purse to pull out her wallet. She passed her an International Driver Document card with her name spelled on it to make things easier.

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

The arrived on the third floor and 'Dite pulled out her room key. She found the door the corresponded to the number she was given and went inside. It was cozy looking and she smiled. This would do nicely.

"Well, wild doves don't stay with their mothers persay. Bird is just different, though. He's domestic. Doves are smart birds and easy to train, too." She set the bird cage down on the table and Bird hopped on top of it. She opened the door to allow him to go in as he pleased.

"I've never actually been to Scotland. I hear it's beautiful, though. I'm from Greece, originally, but I enjoy traveling when I get the chance." She motioned for him to put the bag down on the bed. "Say, would you be interested in showing me around this place? It looks like there's all sorts of fun things to discover here."

[mcleod1592.livejournal.com]

"Greece, really? I've been to Greece before. Nice and warm. You don't have much of an accent, if I may say so," Duncan told her.

Smiling broadly at the prospect of getting to spend more time with her, he added: "I'd be delighted to show you around. A friend of mine is also running the local bar, if you're interested in some evening entertainment."

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"Why thank you!" she gushed regarding his compliment to her lack of accent. "I make a hobby of studying other languages. I was hoping my English would be passable." She took a moment to rummage through her purse, checking to make sure all her necessary things were in there before shouldering the bag. "I would love to go to this bar and meet your friend. It sounds like a good time and I enjoy a good time."

[mcleod1592.livejournal.com]

Duncan grinned. "What else would ye like me t' show you around the premises?" he asked. "There's supposed t' be a library, though I haven't visited it yet. It's also run by one of the residents. Then there's the ballroom where we just had a kind of an easter party the other day, and a place where ye can work out. That one's been used by a rather unpleasant fellow every single time I've been there, though."

Which was a grand total of once, in fact, but she didn't need to know that.

He went on: "Then there's the restaurant, the park and that's just about it, I fear."

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"I would love to see the park and I am rather hungry, so maybe the restaurant? Then we can stop by the bar and you can introduce me to your friend." 'Dite smiled, not bothering to hide her excitement at the prospect of the day. This was exactly what she needed to get that stupid Ares off her mind. Moving forward, she boldly linked her arm with his and nodded. "Lead on, Duncan."

With Ricky's permission.

[mcleod1592.livejournal.com]

Duncan gave the woman a slight bow, then walked her out the door and down the stairs.

"The restaurant is on the ground floor," he said as they descended. "Are you so hungry we should go there right away, or would you rather take a walk in the park first?"

As they walked down, the blonde one of the two Lokis passed them on his way up the stairs. Duncan gave him a slight nod that the other man returned before inclining his head in Aphrodite's direction and moving on without saying a word to either of them.

"That one's another guest here," Duncan explained to 'Dite. "He goes by Loki."

Re: With Ricky's permission.

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"Loki?" 'Dite repeated with some curiosity for the silent man disappearing up the stairs. She usually got more of a reaction out of people than just a polite nod and wondered if perhaps she was losing her touch. "Peculiar name. Do you know many of the guests here?"

As they reached the ground floor, 'Dite glanced around to get her bearings. "I think perhaps the restaurant first would be nice. I haven't eaten since breakfast."

[mcleod1592.livejournal.com]

"Not only does he have a peculiar name, there's another one around who uses the same one," Duncan said as he guided the woman towards the restaurant and held open the door for her.

"I know a few. There's this rather nice fellow named Gabriel, and a somewhat timid young man - Aziraphale, talk about strange names! - and a pompous loudmouth called Michael who keeps insulting people left and right. There are others... and the girl who cleans and does desk duty. Rose. You've met her."

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that young lady is a guest?" 'Dite took in all the information she was given and stored it away for later. She would try her best to not pre-judge the other guests based on Duncan's personal feelings towards them. "This hotel seems to be pretty busy."

They took their seats and 'Dite flipped open the menu to browse the fair. "Anything you would suggest?" she asked him. "Does this place have a specialty?" She gazed around the restaurant to see if they had a 'specials' board up anywhere. She liked trying the specials, kept life interesting.

[mcleod1592.livejournal.com]

"At least she's living in one of the rooms here," Duncan said. "Though I guess she's working for accomodation rather than paying. She's good at her job, too. If you want your room immaculate, just put a sign on the door to let her know you want her to go in and clean."

Duncan browsed the menu, too. He had been eating in the village more often than here since he had arrived, except for helping to get rid of the easter party leftovers.

"I usually go with pasta," he declared. "But I'm told anything the cook makes turns out well. I've not been here that long myself, I must admit."

[thinksexy.livejournal.com]

"I'm rather partial to seafood myself. I think I'll get the shrimp linguine. That sounds tasty." She gave him an amiable smile and set her menu aside until the waitress arrived to take her order.

"So tell me, Mr. Duncan, what brings you to Tadfield?" She steepled her fingers under her chin and cocked her head charmingly to one side.

[mcleod1592.livejournal.com]

"Oh - just Duncan, please," Duncan said as the waiter approached to take their orders.

"As for me - I'm a historian. I study places that have a past. This one used to be consecrated to someting... I'm studying it. But I'm sure you're not interested in those details. What about you?"

He returned her smile with one of his own. "I gathered you didn't plan on stopping here, but what brought you to the area?"