Company of Two (Marko & Nico)

[Nicoleta]

It was just another evening for her, just lounging around at a bar by whim. The Romanian was dressed for the night-life, her body advertising her desire for a little company. Lonely nights never lasted long - well at least she tried to make it so. The thought of sleeping alone was usually an irritating one to bear. Yet tonight, she felt a little different. A plume of smoked escaped through her florid lips. Her eyes became half lidded as she peered down at her shot of vodka. She tapped the tip of the cigarette against the ash tray, the flakes of gray trickling into the black surface. The jazz music continued on, soothingly. The saxophone was having its solo again. Then man's baritone voice began to sing to the audience once more. This was a charming and mellow place. Not much excitement here. She set a leg over the other. Just how she liked it. There were many types of 'company' a person can have. The prospect of having something warm her bed was a nice thought, but this called for a different direction. Something. Different. Perhaps with a stroke of luck, she'd be able to have that wish fulfilled. Meanwhile, she took another sip of the vodka, feeling the warmth travel down her throat. Her attention was seized when she noticed a man - a handsome stranger. Dark hair, olive skin, and foreign. Not very London-esque, actually those features looked very familiar to her. Nicoleta tiled her head at him, propping her arm up. The ghost of the cigarette curled in the air. She flashed him a coy smile, lips parting slightly. Finally. Some company.

made by FLOU of OTE.

[Deleted]

	It had been a lab day, and lab days – whilst generally rewarding – tended to be more stressful than taking care of patients, strange as it may have sounded. Marko needed a drink, and he needed a drink that, for once, wasn’t the rakija he’d smuggled through customs upon his return from Sofia the year before. The drink in front of him was draught beer – foreign and cold; the condensation on the glass smudged with his fingerprints. He’d never been to that particular club before, but he’d been on a fairly long drive beforehand as a means of reducing his initial stress levels, and that was where he’d ended up. The music wasn’t to his taste, but the atmosphere was relaxing, the beer was good, and – even better – the whole place distinctly smelt of tobacco… He’d toyed with the idea of asking how they’d managed to avoid the nationwide smoking ban, but he decided quick enough that he really didn’t care enough to do so. Leaning his arm against the bar in front of him, he scanned the rest of the room with his eyes. There weren’t many people in, and perhaps that was why the place seemed so calm. He wondered, for a moment, if he stood out at all, still dressed in his suit from work. Shrugging that thought off, he drank down another mouthful of the beer, watching the performer on the other side of the bar for a few moments with little interest. He’d finish his drink and be off – what else was there to do there, anyway? He found the answer to that fairly quickly. There was a dark haired young woman seated across the bar and, unless his eyes were deceiving him (which they could well have been, at such a distance), she had her eyes on him and a smile on her face. Out of pure instinct, he leant his face onto his palm, returning the gaze with an acknowledging grin.
Words: 333	Notes: -
Tagged: Nico	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Nicoleta]

Nicoleta raised a brow expectantly, beckoning him over with her gaze. He looked charming, nice enough to please the eyes. Not to mention she kept on having this little thorn on her side that was curiosity. Those familiar features—was he perhaps from the Balkan area? She had an acute eye for people from that area even in the obscurity and diversity of London. It was just a hunch that didn’t mean too much. If he was Romanian too, it might just make the conversation easier to come across. It might just make it easier to bed him. But how to approach this game? Nicoleta wondered if she should start the game by making her way towards him. Yet the other way around would usher no qualms from her end, for she’d prefer to be seated. In her opinion, it was always nice to see the man go the extra length for a woman. Then again, she had been told that men are rather fond of seeing a woman who takes initiative. She inhaled from the mouth of the cigarette and then blew out the ghost of the smoke. The woman looked down at the drink, pretending to look occupied. With a smile still graced on her lips, she gingerly took the shot of vodka and then grabbed her sleek black clutch before sauntering over to the man. An empty seat, just for her. “Is this seat taken?” Nicoleta asked, her tone soft and smoky just to fit the theme of the clouded night.

made by FLOU of OTE.

[Deleted]

	Maybe it was the fact that he was tired that prevented him from approaching her in the first place. In fact, when he thought about it, he did realise that he hadn't actually had his 'let's pick up a girl' mindset in place... All he'd wanted was the one drink. Her eyes seemed to be transfixed on him, though his sight let him down and he couldn't really make much else of her expression out. The fact that the club was dark didn't help. Well, at least the acknowledging grin had proved she was actually looking at him and not at someone behind him. But with all that aside, and before he could even take into consideration the thought of going to talk to her, the woman was now approaching him instead and... Ah, she was pretty... Much more so now that she was in his range of sight. Apart from the grin, he hadn't really even been trying, and he'd managed to lure her over. That fact alone pumped up his ego for the time being, and he leant further on the bar, balancing his chin on his fist and waiting for her arrival. He watched her, but even if he hadn't been doing so, the heady scent of cigarettes and perfume – not an unpleasant mix, in his opinion – that filled the air when she reached his end of the bar would have easily made him aware. “Not at all.” He answered her, his voice barely audible over the music. With his free hand, he motioned to the seat in question, inviting her to go ahead and take it. He lifted his chin back up again then, before picking up his beer and swallowing down another mouthful; all the while, he waited to see what the woman would say next – if she were planning to initiate a conversation with him.
Words: 314	Notes: -
Tagged: Nico	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Nicoleta]

“Not at all” were his casual words. Mellow. Neutral. Somewhere in between. He then motioned her over to sit; it was a friendly and inviting gesture, nothing more than that. Yet she was not going to simply sit because of the flick of his hand; for, she was the one who had walked towards him. The first rule of meeting someone new... was to not coddle them with too much confidence. In turn, Nicoleta smiled, tilting her head coyly to express that she wasn't going to readily sit down. If they were going to 'get to know each other' through words and possibly actions, she'd prefer a more quiet environment. "Would you mind going somewhere with me?" She made the signs of walking away to lead him to this destination in mind, which wasn't too far away actually. The woman wanted to see if he was willing to play the game. It wouldn't matter if he chose not to go yet she was somehow sure of herself in the spur of the moment.

made by FLOU of OTE.

[Deleted]

	He was confused by her actions; by her words. “Would you mind going somewhere with me?” Where was 'somewhere'? And why? He wanted to ask, but upon parting his lips to do so, he found the words wouldn't form... And asides from that, she had now stepped away from the bar, disregarding the seat she'd requested before entirely. He narrowed his eyes a little as he watched her, his mouth closing again and spreading into a thin line. Well... He supposed he had nothing to lose. Whoever this woman was, and whatever she wanted from him, he was curious to know – whether it was just one of those techniques women used to pick men up in places like that club, or not. Of course, he was aware it was probably for that reason, his ego even more so, but all the same, it was equally as questionable as it was obvious. It would have been correct to say he was used to the practise; at the same time, there was always a few moments he'd have to take to think about it. He rarely declined an offer, but there had been times in hindsight – when he'd been younger; when he'd tended not to learn his lesson the first time – when he'd wished that he had. He drew his lips out into a smirk again, taking another sip of his beer – probably the last one he'd have, though barely half the glass had gone. “Sure.” Once the drink was back on the wooden surface, left for the bartender to clear away when he saw fit, he slid around in his seat and then stood.
Words: 277	Notes: -
Tagged: Nico	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Nicoleta]

She didn't lead him too far away from the bar; specifically, she walked him to an area that was a little more secluded with a bit more mood to it. It was essentially a VIP room, a place where she had taken her men to just to enjoy their company. Nicoleta was fond of this area because it was a more relaxing environment compared to the loud clatter of the main room. Most importantly, the music was toned down to complement the ambiance. It would have been a little harder to converse in the midst of loud, heart-strumming music. Dancing was an option, but it was much too early on to ask this dashing stranger to share the heat with. With the glass of vodka in-hand, Nicoleta took a seat on the booth and smiled at his presence. "I hope you don't mind about my... secret hideout," She began, crinkling her nose out of playfulness as she rested her arm on the table. How to start with this, hum. Naturally, one would start off with similarities. Nicoleta could already faintly discern something they might share. Despite the dimness of the atmosphere, she managed to notice some very familiar features with more clarity. Though of course, she was not going to tactlessly tackle him with a question. "It's a little nicer here and the service is quicker. So why don't you take a seat and I'll call for some rakia, hm?"

made by FLOU of OTE.

[Deleted]

	He followed her into a part of the club he hadn't realised was even there at all. It was more secluded, but the music was quieter and he appreciated that. He hadn't thought this was where they would be going, yet, he didn't exactly mind it. When the woman spoke again, he took a moment to process her words. She may have just been using a metaphor, but he couldn't help but wonder... “Oh, so you own this place?” He asked, in what was a more hushed tone than he was used to using. Even if his assumption was wrong, he figured it would have been a fair assumption to make, regardless. She spoke again, and something clicked in his mind... He hadn't been drinking rakija, hell, he didn't even think the place served it at all, so how could she have known... Was it his accent? His appearance? Did he have a gigantic Bulgarian flag plastered on his forehead he wasn't aware of? He didn't ask. “I just had beer. I shouldn't really mix drinks.” He answered, whilst he took her up on her other offer and slid into the booth next to her. The known facts of liver damage were something programmed into his brain by now... Then again, so were the known dangers of smoking, but that didn't stop him from having five cigarettes for breakfast. “But, I might make an exception.” He flashed her a grin. “Providing you're sure it's the good stuff.”
Words: 247	Notes: (( I'm falling short of 300 words I'm sorry ;A; ))
Tagged: Nico	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Nicoleta]

“Oh, so you own this place?”'

"Not exactly," She replied as she adjusted in her seat to get comfortable. The thought of her actually owning the place made her smile briefly out of amusement. "I'm just on good terms with some people here. They won't mind guests, I assure you." To be honest, she hadn't been back here in quite a while. The last time she was here with another person, it was for an important line of business. The nostalgia gave her chills from underneath her skin, prompting a sudden and stiff exhale to recuperate. It was probably time to make new memories instead.

"There's nothing wrong with mixing poison with poison. Especially when it can give you a good time." She replied jokingly albeit disappointed he did not give her the answer she had expected. The woman took a moment to smooth out her dress before he spoke again. She looked up with some interest and returned the smile back to him, one that was coyly reassuring. "Being on good terms means getting good stuff. I promise."

Nicoleta turned to the side to check for a server. Once she caught the attention of a black uniformed server, she beckoned him over with her eyes. Blond haired with stark blue eyes, he greeted them with some professional pleasantry as he waited for their order. By the way the blond grinned at Nicoleta made it clear they were acquainted. A pity though since she could not remember his name. A pretty boy with pretty blue eyes as his probably deserved a little more attention than granted.

"Rakia for the both of us. That is fine, yes?" She flashed Marko a look for confirmation.


(EVEN SHORTER)

[Deleted]

	He gave her an acknowledging nod. 'Good terms'. Right... Well, that could have meant a lot of things, but he decided it was best not to ask. It could've been an interesting topic of conversation, mind, but he didn't want to pry, not when he still had no idea exactly who this woman was. She was a stranger, but she was company now, and maybe she'd even tell him the story on her own accord. Marko noticed the exhale that followed her words – it was only very brief, but it was abrupt and odd enough for him to inwardly question it. Inwardly being the key word; he kept any words on the matter to himself. Again, it was probably best not to ask. “Good to know.” He replied to the topic of 'poison mixing' instead, adding lightheartedly, “I can't seem to get the good stuff without having to involve a hell of a lot of bribery first, nowadays.” To an extent, that was true. He often dished out a lot of cash to his friends (well, aquaintances) whenever they'd return to London after having headed home, in order to get a hold of rakija that was at least half-decent. And... That was providing said aquaintances even got through customs with it all, too – for this reason (as well as the fact that his 'friends' weren't exactly unsuspicious folk, any way one could look at it) he prefered not to pay in advance. He watched her catch the server's attention; he then glanced up at the man and said nothing, letting her take the initive, as she did. He gave another nod in response, muttering, “That's great, thanks.”
Words: 279	Notes: -
Tagged: Nico	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Nicoleta]

what if I was just a painter,*
painting houses on the rich blue coast? Would you ever try to leave me for somebody who deserves you most? Cause darling I am just a painter. I'm gonna make a million dollars, cause nobody's gonna steal you, no, For diamonds & gold -------------------------------

"What a shame that you had to bribe to get something decent." She commented, albeit not surprised at all. The Balkan people had a 'special' and notable kind of way with their friends and acquaintances. It was the kind of camaraderie that could cause people of different cultures to raise a question at. Nicoleta merely simpered in remembrance; she had to go through plenty of that was she was younger. There was a little less of this nowadays since, truth be told, she had hardly made any 'normal' friends since her first stay. To her defense, not many people around these parts had the temperance and patience to withstand Nicoleta's nature. Then again, she rarely made the effort to try.

She would say that she missed her mother country. Something about that region was promising of excitement. Acquiring rakia and quality Romanian wine would be less of a hassle. Talking to a stranger would've packed a little more excitement and danger. It is only in the confines of the cloudy London that things are a more settled in and reserved. 

Perhaps, that was why she was attracted to the man enough to confront him in the first place. He had a different 'feel', according to her womanly intuition. Somehow, he reminded her of someone.

"So, is there a name I should call you or should I just identify you by your pretty face?" 

© cait

[Deleted]

It may well have been a shame, but Marko didn't really consider it so. Neither did this woman, by the way she phrased the words. It seemed like it was something she accepted and therefore didn't question; understandably so, were she from any country in the same region as his own homeland. Normally a statement along the lines of 'my friends only give me gifts at a good price' would have raised an eyebrow or two. “If it's worth what they want, it's worth what they want.” He lifted his shoulders in a light shrug. With rakija, he could normally let deal with it if whoever had brought it for him wanted more than it was worth. He wouldn't be happy to do so, but he could let it slide. Cigarettes, though, they were his weak point. The ones from Eastern Europe were just better. He didn't know why, honestly – but there must have been some logical reasoning behind it because they just were. “Marko.” He cracked a slightly lopsided grin. For this situation, 'Doctor Iliev' was a little too professional and overly-formal an introduction. In a place like that, dark and brimming with the scent of smoke, as much as he'd be willing to boast, his occupation would only be of interest if someone was after his wallet... Not that he assumed that this lady was doing just that, or anything; it was habit, more or less, and he'd tell her the answer to that if and when she asked. “Just Marko is fine.”

Words: 256

Notes: -

Tagged: Nico

Credits: Aquarius of BTN