First Date, No Pressure [Salem]

[Autumn Armstrong]

The sound of Autumn’s small heels clicking on the concrete sidewalk suddenly began to hasten as she walked more hurriedly. She would have ran if it wasn’t for the hot drink in one of her hands. Luckily the bus driver saw her and was nice enough to wait for her. Now in the bus, Autumn thanked the driver and sat in the seat closest to him so she could settle down and collect the bus fee. She wore a cream trench coat that was buttoned up and was tightened at her waist. Along with it she wore skinny jeans and small heels with bows. The only thing about her ensemble that looked usual for her was her wavy half up ponytail. Autumn only dressed professional-like like this when she had some type of business with her parents. She had a little conference with them that morning, where they informed her what her appearance and preparation would be for an event that was coming up the following week. After the meeting with her parents she also had an appointment with a museum that wanted to hang up one of her art pieces.

Autumn held her half eaten sandwich in her mouth to free a hand as she dug in her purse for change. Knowing she didn’t have much time left before the bus arrived, she had grabbed easy to travel food from a nearby café. Autumn carefully stood up on the moving vehicle and dropped the change into the fare box. Sitting back down, she took out her cell phone to look at the time. Right now she was going to meet Salem at the mall. When her parents asked how her flight was, Autumn got a little nervous. She wondered how her parents would feel if they knew she had brought her boyfriend with her and was sharing the hotel room they were paying for with him. Obviously it wouldn’t have been a positive response. Autumn finally took her sandwich back from her mouth and bit it. She was supposed to meet Salem at the mall. Knowing he wasn’t use to this more urban setting, she hoped he found his way there okay.

Several stops later, Autumn arrived at her destination and stepped out of the bus. She threw away the leftover containers from her ate lunch and made her way to their agreed meeting spot to see if Salem was there.

[Salem Krios]

Salem sat in a booth by the first food place of the so called "maul". It was nothing like he had seen. Too many people, too many smells, and so many things he didnt understand. His hands were on his cane, and resting on them was his head. He had tried to get there early so as to find a nice place to eat... But the food was the worst. THE WORST!!! It didnt taste right in any way. He had ended up trying a sampler from a Chinese fast food place,and it was the closest to real meat there.
"Note to self... Dont eat Taco Hell or Burger King.... Or Pizza Hut." He mumbled to himself. He wore a black leather trench coat and black boots, as well as black jeans and some leather gloves. His hair was also covered by a black top hat that seemed abit crooked. His wooden cane was replaced with a black steel can with a silver steel wolf head for a handle. Its eyes had red gems in it and it nearly seemed alive. He looked about, trying to find Autumn. His thoughts going back to the hotel room and the many things they did. A light blush escaped from his normal calm me and rested itself across his whole face. Realistically, they didn't do as much.... Physical pleasure as most. But it didnt mean Salem wasn't thinking about it. Or how cute she was in the mornings. Or... When they nearly showered together.
Salem abruptly coughed to clear his head. Then shook it abit. On the table was a drink called a "mocha latte" which was fairly good. He picked it up with one hand and sipped it. His friend Rudy asleep in the hat.

[Autumn Armstrong]

Autumn was wondering through the weekend crowded mall. She really did not come here often and only had a relative sense of direction. Autumn was about to take a peek at a glossary when a thick aroma caught her nose’s attention. She turned in its direction and starting walking without taking the minute to give the glossary a look over. Using the scent’s trail to help her instead, every intersection Autumn would stop and sniff around a little. Sometimes resulting in the strange looks of others. The strong smell was a mesh of different fried, oily, and high fat cuisines.

Finding her way to the food court, her and Salem’s agreed meeting place, Autumn looked about as she strolled in at a turtle’s pace. This part of the mall was even more populated and noisy, most of the tables being occupied by teenagers around her age. Autumn spotted Salem, it took no more than a few glances here and there despite the place’s overpopulation. His white coloring always made him pop out. Her heels tick-tocked as she made her way to Salem, who was sitting in the little café that dented into the wall. Arriving in front of him, she bent down to his eye level, hands on her knees, and pecked him on the lips. “Hi,” Autumn greeted after, her face close and carrying a smile. She then moved away and took the seat across from him, “You found it.”

[Salem Krios]

Salem had been lost in thought, wondering about how these "city folk" would handle living in the wild life, when a sudden brush of soft lips on his caught his attention. Salem's immediate flush of red and sudden surprise made him quite flustered.
"H-hey." He smiled meekly, and shyly.
"It...wasn't too hard...The odd smells proved to be abundant here...And I figured this is were you meant." He smiled and reached out, gently taking her hand in his, and holding it lightly. He missed being able to be around her at school. Her duties usually eating most of her free time ensured that.
"I'm surprised by how big this place is....And the items around here too." He nodded at the food stores, and clothing stores. Then he looked Autumn over.
"You look very attractive~" Salem smiled, then kissed her hand gingerly. He got up, walked to her side of the booth, and sat down. Then, gently leaned on her, laying his head on her shoulder.

"I love being around you."

[Autumn Armstrong]

A small blush formed on Autumn’s cheeks after having her hand kissed. It had also been caused from seeing the way she had been gazed at. As Salem got up and moved toward her, the two still holding hands, Autumn instinctively shifted in her seat to make room for him. After Salem leaned on her she attempted to also lean against him, laying her head on his. But his top hat was in the way. Autumn peered at it with a little annoyed look until “I love being around you” was uttered from under the black hat. “…” Autumn said nothing at first, her thoughts being somewhere else now. She looked back into the food court at all the people working on their social lives. Everyone was with someone. There were high school cliques, simple friends, dates, small families… she couldn’t find any strays. Until she came, Salem was probably one of the only ones by himself.

While scanning the room Autumn noticed two girls giving them disgusted looks as they passed by. The looks had definitely been aimed at them, but she was perplexed to why. She had seen that look before, but where? After some thought Autumn realized the match, it was probably a “that couple is showing too much public affection” glare. It must have been because they were sitting on the same side of the booth when it was only the two of them. She recalled someone saying how they hated seeing couples do that. She didn't know why. The glares didn’t bother Autumn though, she was kind of use to getting weird looks.

“That’s good. I don’t like to see you alone,” she finally replied as she tried to lean on his head again, forgetting about the hat. It felt too uncomfortable. Autumn knitted her eyebrows and took it off, but then blinked at the sudden sight of Ruby.

“… I pulled out a rabbit.”

[Salem Krios]

Salem chuckled a bit.
"Yes...You did indeed. Though the rabbit is fast asleep..." He smiled, and nuzzled Autumn's cheek gently. He had noticed the looks of other people staring as well. Some with expression's of disdain, and some with expression's of acceptance, and some that just screamed what they were thinking... 'SO CUTE~!'.
Salem paid them no heed, nor did he bother even focusing on the people. He was far to enchanted by Autmn to really care about other peoples opinions.
"With you, and Rudy, I'm never alone. I have my family with me..." He held her hand gently, and give it a slight squeeze. Hoping she understood that he would do anything to stay by her side. Though finally, a comment did catch his attention.
"He's so weird... Do you think he dyed his hair? Or was he just freaky from the get go? And how he's acting with that girl...She must be some kind of freak too~." Someone passing by spoke loudly, trying to ensure he heard the comment. Salem, for a brief second, thought of what to do. Then he knew exactly. A fully grown German Shepherd, Doberman mix was being walked with his master. Salem snickered a bit, then silently whispered to the animal.
"I'll give you a piece of steak if you listen to me..." He smiled. The dog's ears perked up immediately. Salem then silently told him what to do, and the dog obeyed. In a course of thirty seconds the dog ran over to the individual, a teenage girl surrounded by a clique of other's, chatting and being somewhat annoying, and stopped close by with his master. Then, when the Prep teenager sat down to talk about "New clothing" and such, the dog ran over, breaking the grasp of his owner, and charged the girl, only to end with the dog peeing on her leg and brand new sixty dollar shoes.
"Huh... Guess weird things happen here all the time huh?" Salem acted innocent and held her closely.
"Besides... I...Think the smells are starting to get to me..." Salem said, getting up, and offering his hand to Autmn.

[Autumn Armstrong]

Autumn took the hand. Her eyes stared up at him, then towards the situation happening with the girl and dog, then back up at him again. “?” Autumn got up, she had her suspicions, but decided not to ask and just let it pass. “The store I like, this way,” she chimed as she led the way while holding Salem’s hand. Though she was not a regular mall-goer like many girls her age, and so was not very familiar with everything’s locations, she knew quite well where this particular store was. Autumn led Salem out of the food court area, up an escalator, and down a couple of halls. “Usually boyfriends don’t like being dragged into window shopping by their girlfriends… but decided to take the risk because it’s a favorite place of mine.” Autumn smiled a little apologetically at him.

As they neared the destination, the overcrowded atmosphere started to change. This corner of the mall they were entering was noticeably more deserted. Autumn suddenly stopped and faced the front of a store. “Here,” she pointed. The end of her finger directing to the inside of a furniture store. Their first date was going to be at a furniture store.

[Salem Krios]

Salem blushed lightly at Autumn's touch.
'She has such smooth hands. And nice skin. I am so lucky.' When she had said she was taking him to her favorite store, his attention re-focused.
"...."
'Please don't be a perfume store...' Salem begged and pleaded with whichever deity would listen. To his surprise it was a furniture store. He said his silent prayer if thanks to all thirty or so gods that he knew of.
"Interesting. Why is it your favorite beautiful?" He asked curiously. He looked inside, seeing various things, and pondered to himself. He flushed a deep red at some thoughts, but regained his composer after some delicate reminding and rational placed thoughts.
"Well... I won't mind. At least it isn't a perfume store." He smiled at Autumn.

[Autumn Armstrong]

Autumn’s brows knitted and she pursed her lips a little as she thought of how to answer his question. She knew why she liked it, but she was unsure how to explain it in words. “It’s like a… soft museum,” she explained before stepping to the other side of the entrance, “And free entry.” Her features shifted into a soft smile as she looked back at him. Autumn then unhooked her purse from her shoulder, unzipped it, and started shifting through the contents within it. It was a small clutch bag that topped off her formal, aristocratic look today. It was cream colored like her trench coat, with a long golden chain that outstretched to her hips when she wore it. She took out a petite pad.

[Salem Krios]

Salem more or less had no clue what to do. All he had was his basic instinct to go on. And right now it said very loudly...
'DONT TURN INTO AN ANIMAL IN THE STORE!!!'
Salem tended to believe and trust his instinct.
"So... what is it like? Having furniture... and other modern appliances?" Salem leaned against the wall next to the door, looking inside at the 'soft-museum'. He could see couches and chairs as well as tables and bedding. He looked about but couldn't see anything more from the door. He scratched his wrist gently and took a deep breath in to calm himself.

[Autumn Armstrong]

For a moment Autumn’s eyes drifted like they usually did when she was deep in thought. “I would have to know life without them,” she finally answered. “But…” She strolled down the aisle to one of the nearby couches and took a seat, “I assume it’s like life is made easier, comfier, and so lazier.” She then scooched over and patted the sofa cushion next to her, her gesture beckoning to Salem. Autumn looked around a little, now more in the center of the room she could see the furnishing landscape better. A small smile lightly curved her lips. She unclipped the purse that sat next to her, leaning against her thigh, and then took out a few miniature colored pencils. “Always inspiring color schemes here,” she explained as she scribbled in her pocket-sized sketch pad like she was writing notes.

[Salem Krios]

Salem hobbled in, slowly.
"This place is colorful. Though I know quite a few dogs who would love these kinds of couches... Erm... the couch your sitting on... has only two seats, but these others have three... why is that?" He looked at each one and sat next to her.
"Is there a different name for a two seated couch? One that I am un-aware of?" He asked leaning against the leather fabric and gently placing an arm over Autumn's shoulders. He looked around in wonder, seeing many different kinds of colors and schemes.
"So very interesting." He mumbled to himself.