Secret Coffee (Mik and Darcie)

by **Darcie Vane** Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:51 am

Darcie had just managed to arrange a meeting between Mikhail and herself, she was so very upset that their last one had been cut short because they had needed to get to their lessons last time they had talked, however she had now managed to make the prophecy from the tea leaves even better than before.

Biting her lip she sat in the small cafe that the lovely waitress Niobe worked in, and she cupped her mug of coffee, waiting to see if Mikhail would turn up, hoping that he would do, and that nothing would happen to him, after all there were so many attacks on the streets recently it was getting to be so scary.

by **Mikhail Novikov** Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:23 pm

It was fairly windy for a warm spring day, much to his annoyance. His hair was flying all out of place, and it didn't help that Tigon was tucked securely on the inside of his jacket pocket. Odd cat didn't want to be left alone in the house even if it was just for a few hours.

Entering the establishment, Mik fixed his hair and scanned the faces before one stood out as familiar. He made his way to Darcie, careful to avoid meeting any contact with skin on any other person. Finally he slid into a seat across from Darcie and steepled his hands as he gave her a raised eyebrow. "I trust there is a reason you called this arrangement?"

by **Darcie Vane** Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:47 am

Darcie looked around as the door opened, she hoped that it was Mikhail, and it was, a large grin broke across her face and she was so happy that he had come, although she could not help but smile to herself even more when he fixed his hair as it had been ruffled by the wind.

It was sort of cute the way that he was so obsessed about his appearence although if she told him so, he would probably run away and never come to talk to her again.

When he asked her if she had a reason for making this meeting, Darcie pouted a little bit;

"You mean besides wanting to see you again?" she asked, "I just thought you'd like to know your prophecy, we had to part for lessons last time before I could give it to you."

by **Mikhail Novikov** Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:35 am

Mikhail stared at Darcie, ignoring the slight rustling from within his pocket. He waved over a waitress and politely asked for a black coffee. He figured he'd need it for something, if not for strength to deal with Tigon. Finally, he reached into his jacket and pulled out his kitten, setting her down on the booth.

"Stay," he murmured, poking her nose. "You wouldn't let me leave without you, so you need to behave." He looked over at Darcie. "Seriously. The cat was scratching up my furniture and doors when I walked out without her. She looked as if she would break a window to come and get me."

He straightened his jacket and thanked the waitress when she brought his coffee. He took a sip of the bitter stuff before snorting. She wanted to see him again? Hardly. No one ever hung around Mikhail Novikov for long. Finally, he looked up at her. "You have my prophecy? What is it?"

by **Darcie Vane** Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:59 am

Darcie was a little bit worried when Mikhail stared at her, she thought that she might have some hot chocolate foam over her mouth, so she gently picked up the napkin and wiped at her lips just in case, seeing that there was nothing there she smiled again and placed her hands over her hot chocolate.

Seeing that he had brought Tigon with him Darcie beamed and she was happy to see the cute little bundle of fur again, even if she did seem to be causing Mik nothing but bother.

"Oh you bad kitty, you shouldn't mess up Mik's furnature he will get angry with you and you wont like it when he gets angry I bet." she grinned, before speaking to Mik "I suppose she just didn't want to be lonely, she would have missed you."

When he asked about his prophecy, Darcie grinned and she pulled out a sheet of parchment that she had written up his prophecy on, it was quite a nice one too if she had to say, she'd given worse news. By far.

"Well would you like the good and the bad news, because some people only want to know the good things, understandably too."

by **Mikhail Novikov** Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:17 am

Despite strict orders from Mik, Tigon decided that she liked the lady better and jumped up onto the table. Mik let out a mild curse and reached for Tigon, just as the kitten jumped into Darcie's lap and snuggled there with a quiet mew. Staring up at the ceiling, Mik prayed to Merlin for strength.

Sighing, he returned his eyes to Darcie. "I'm sorry. Apparently I trusted her a bit too much that time." He took a long drink from his coffee and stared at the cup. "At this rate I'm going to need at least three of these cups." He muttered to himself.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "She doesn't seem to mind when I'm angry really," he said, crossing his arms. "I stomp around the house, and yell, and she just sits there and blinks at me. Unnerves me sometimes, but what can I do?"

He leaned forward curiously when Darcie pulled out the parchment. "My prophecy huh?" He murmured before leaning back in his seat and picking up his coffee cup. "I'll have all of it, if you will. No sense in getting half a prophecy after all." He took another drink of his coffee and waited.

by **Darcie Vane** Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:07 pm

Darcie couldn't help a little giggle that escaped her lips when Tigon jumped across the table and began to curl up on her lap, she happily stroked her and smiled happily at Mikhail, she didn't mind at all having her lap play host to such a cute cat.

"Oh don't worry about it at all, I think it might be best if you have a break from her if only for a few minutes, I'll keep her here until she gets bored." Darcie smiled.

Although it was probably none of her business, Darcie blinked and couldn't stop herself from asking; "What do you get annoyed at? Do you have a messy housemate or girlfriend or something?" she asked with a small grin on her lips.

When he told her that he wanted the whole prophecy, Darcie smiled lightly and unfolded the parchment to read what she had written;

"Well there were three symbols at the bottom of your teacup, and they were the tower, which unfortunately represents some sort of misfortune in your life, however, there was also the image of the bouquet which could either signal romance or a reward for excelling in your career, but the last symbol was that of the rainbow which could illustrate one of your dreams coming true!" she predicted hoping that Mik would at least approve of what she had said.

by **Mikhail Novikov** Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:17 am

Mik let out a wry grin and waved a hand at Darcie. "Well, if you don't mind your lap keeping host to a demon kitten, then be my guest," Mikhail said. "I just cleaned these pants already twice, and I'll need to clean my jacket as well since she refused to get in her carrier. Cat jumping into pockets." Mikhail snorted and drank some of his coffee. "Insane."

Mikhail blinked in surprise at Darcie's next statement, nearly choking on his coffee. Grabbing a napkin, he coughed into it and pounded his chest before taking a deep breath. Wiping his mouth meticulously with the napkin, Mik replied hoarsely. "I get annoyed at most things that aren't completely perfect in my house. And I would like to live past thirty, if you don't mind." He smiled slightly and set the napkin down. "Anyway, no. No messy roommate, and no girlfriend. Just me. Oh, and demon cat over there."

He called over the waitress again and politely asked for another coffee. When she brought it, he thanked her before turning back to Darcie. He brought the cup up to his lips before she started, but thought against it. He set the cup down again and just listened. When she was done, he nodded.

"Alright, I understand the tower. Definitely. Now you'll have me looking for some reward in my career you know." He said, chuckling lowly. "As for the dream coming true, I've never had many dreams. But if you say it, then it must be coming true or going to be." He crossed his arms. "I guess I got some interesting things then. What did yours happen to say?"

by **Darcie Vane** Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:26 am

Darcie liked the way the wry smile made her friend look, and she found herself becoming more and more curious about him, although she would try and keep her thoughts to herself, it was none of her business to ask him about his private life, she didn't know if he was quite comfortable around her yet to tell her that.

"I don't mind that at all, I'm sure there must be some sort of charm that would stop your pants getting all hairy, or you could buy lots of pants the same colour as her fur?" she offered jokingly with a soft smile.

Gasping when Mik seemed to almost choke on his coffee, Darcie felf so bad that it was probably her fault that he was now so surprised that he was having to cough to help himself calm down; "Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to surprise you, I just...I was just wondering, I'm sorry." Darcie said, hanging her head and staring in her lap.

When he asked her what hers said, Darcie smiled broadly and shook her head; "No no, you are forbidden from divining your own future, it's just not done, after all with powers like mine you could see anything like...I could die in a German attack tomorrow, what kind of a burden would that be for me to know...no no I prefer to stay out of it." she smiled gently "You could try and give me a reading if you wanted."

by **Mikhail Novikov** Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:28 am

Mikhail snorted, taking a drink of his coffee to hide his grin. Honestly, who thought about buying pants the same color as the cat? He would have some orange striped pants then, and he wondered what people would say. When he lowered his cup again, the grin was nowhere to be seen.

"That would be an interesting feat," he said, still thinking about the orange pants. "How do you think I would look with orange striped pants? I'd probably be taken into some back alley and beaten because of how weird they would look."

Mik raised an eyebrow when Darcie seemed to get all worked up about causing him to choke. He reached out to touch her hand before pulling back so quickly he almost smacked himself in the face. One wrong move, and your secret is gone. He ran a hand down his face instead and thought about what to say. "You don't need to apologize don't worry," he said, smiling slightly. "Trust me, I've had worst surprises than that. But seriously, I would like to live past thirty."

Mik held up his hands and shook his head. "I don't think you want me divining any of your future. I'd end up probably breaking the cup or mixing up the symbols or something." He said, setting his hands down on the table. "I can understand the whole 'forbidden' thing though. Makes sense on some magical level."

by **Darcie Vane** Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:50 am

Darcie giggled a little when Mik snorted and she had to admit that it seemed funny that he was going to be wearing orange stripy pants, she couldn't see him wearing them in reality, although the thought was something that was very funny, even if she was certain it was never going to come true. When he asked her how he would look, Darcie tilted her head to one side and poked her head under the table to look at his legs;

"I think you would look kind of funny, although I would make sure that I would never let you get beaten up if I was with you....oh wait, thats a bit embarrassing isn't it, I mean I'm sure you can handle yourself...I mean you're a better fighter than I I'm sure but...oh stupid me I'll just be quiet now." she groaned.

When he told her that he would like to live past thirty Darcie winked and tapped her nose; "I can safely say no surprise will stop you living past thirty, trust a soothsayer on that matter. So you can relax."

Grinning a little Darcie pouted when she saw that he had finally wanted to shake her hand or something and then pulled it back...did he think that she was dirty or somethingand wouldn't want to get him all germy? Biting her lip Darcie giggled a little and shook her head;

"Oh don't worry about that, it's a bit of fun really if you don't have the art, although if you don't want to I can always get someone else to do it if I ever get curious. Even though the other professors in Durmstrang kind of scare me..." she shared, with a small shy smile.

by **Mikhail Novikov** Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:34 pm

A smirk played on his lips as he listened to Darcie fumble around with her words. It was very interesting to hear, and he waited until she had finished to speak. "It was a figure of speech you know," he murmured, winking at her and lifting up his cup of coffee. "Any man trying to pull me down an alleyway will find himself on a one way ticket to Die Krankhieten Haus. Permanently."

Mikhail leaned back in his seat and relaxed a bit, closing his eyes. It was summer after all wasn't it? He was done with teaching, until the next school year after all. He knew he wasn't the most sociable, and he wouldn't be surprised if there were some rumors started about him. How he kept to himself. How he didn't like to touch anyone else's bare skin. He looked at his hands. How useful they could be. How bizarre. A curse.

"Honestly wouldn't care if I lived past thirty," he murmured to himself, shaking his head. "Anyway, I'll be sure to trust your instincts as a soothsayer. You are more versed in the art of Divination and the like than I am, that much is for certain."

Mikhail raised a lone eyebrow at the woman across from him. If she was so afraid of the other teachers at Durmstrang, what made her think he would be different? If she even thought that at all. "Tell me something, did you introduce yourself to every single one of them?" He asked, tapping the handle of his coffee cup. "Or just me because you knew I wouldn't be so scary? And a better question is, why weren't you scared of me? Or at least weirded out."

by **Darcie Vane** Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:36 pm

Darcie had to supress the urge to flush when Mikhail winked at her, he was getting more comfortable around her which made her feel so much better about meeting with him, maybe they would even become friends properly now, although she had thought that they were already, he had seemed so closed she wasnt sure.

"Oh my...I don't think I could hurt anybody if I tried, although I suppose I will have to if I ever find myself in an attack, I'll probably hate myself for a good week after though." she said with a small laugh.

Biting her lip Darcie was a little concerned that Mik didn't seem to be all enthused with the idea of him living past thirty, it was worrying her and she thought she would soothsay more about his future when she got back, she wanted to be reassured.

"Well...I would care." she whispered quietly "I would care very much."

When he asked her if she had seen every single teacher she shook her head, some of them were just far too scary for her to try and talk to, although she thought that the reason she had gone to talk to Mikhail was one that showed even though they she was nervous about talking to him, she was glad she did.

"I didn't introduce myself to everyone no...but I came to talk to you because I was worried about you and I wanted to see if you wanted someone to talk to, it can get awfully lonely without someone there for you." she smiled gently "So...that's why I came to see you, and you're not weird, you're funny and sweet."

by **Mikhail Novikov** Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:15 pm

Mik sighed to himself, resisting the heavy urge to get yet another coffee. It would be his third or fourth for certain, and he didn't want to be jumped up on caffeine all day and night. Sure, he was a bit of a coffee junkie, but who could blame him? He needed his sustenance.

He had to raise an eyebrow when Darcie explained about not being able to hurt anyone. Or feeling bad if she did. "So you're telling me," he murmured, leaning forward in his seat. "That if you were under attack and they were firing curses at children, that you would take them down and then apologize? Or take the fools down and regret it for at least seven days after? Would you still feel bad if the life of a child was taken within that confrontation?"

Mikhail leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms, his ears twitched as he heard her whisper to herself. Damn, he hadn't meant that to be for her ears, only his. "Can't say I believe ya on that one Darcie," he said, tapping the table with a lone finger. "You haven't known me long enough to elicit such a reaction of caring or even worrying."

Mik nodded. Made sense. Darcie seemed like a pure soul, someone Mikhail should never be able to talk to. The things he could learn if he tapped just one little pinky on her skin. Her birthday. Her favorite color. Her address. Her blood status. Everything. This is why Mik didn't get close to people. They started to care. They started to wonder why he never touched anyone; not even a little hug or a pat on the back.

He clenched his hands into fists and put some money down on the table. "My thanks for your company, and you can keep the damn cat. She'll find her way back to me one way or another. Getting close to me isn't a good idea. If I were you, I'd just go back to well, dealing with nicer and better people." Mikhail stood quickly, straightening his jacket before striding off out of the little cafe.

He made the right choice. He always did, in the end.

by **Darcie Vane** Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:52 pm

Darcie blinked and she couldn't believe that she had managed to put herself across in such a manner, she looked like a rabbit in the headlights and she did not know what to do when Mikhail told her that actually she was lying and didn't care about him, she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.

Her dreams of them becoming friends were slowly going down the drain and she couldn't believe that this was happening it was all some sort of nightmare to her, how could someone believe that she wouldn't care if a child died? That she didn't care about them?

"Mik...wait did I say something wrong? Please don't go." she said when he stood up to leave and as he walked out she looked at Tigon for a few moments before she couldn't stop herself and she burst into a flurry of tears.

She was so upset that Niobe the waitress came over to see what was wrong with her, and gave her some more hot chocolate to try and calm her down, Darcie didn't know what to do and she decided after waiting for a while, that he was not coming back and stood up from her table and began to make her way home.