First Time For Everything

The chattering of people, the tweeting of birds, and the sounds of cars driving down the street. These were the sounds for the day. Rather peaceful when you think about it. The sun shown down brightly, giving off a warm glow. It felt good. There was a light breeze, but that only added to the pleasantness of that day. Not a cloud in that bright blue sky.

A perfect day for a farmer's market. At least Peyton thought so. She was walking around the tables, examining all the goods that were for sale. Some vegetables, some fruits, some baked goods, some honey. Everything looked good. She stopped at a stall that was selling some yummy looking bread. Still smelled fresh.

She dug through her pants pocket and pulled out her wallet. As she began pulling out some money, she heard a soft tinkling. Some of her coins had hit the ground. She softly cursed under her breath. Peyton then proceeded to bend over to retrieve the couple of cenz she needed to pay for the bread.

East city... Always with east city. LAst time the General had been there a riot had broken out and he had barley managed to get out of it alive and intact... He gazed down at his hand and and smiled a tad, he had managed to out out mostly intact at least. He shook his head to clear those disturbing thoughts from it. For now it was enough to just enjoy his day, and well all the sites to be seen. Not that there was much in this city,

Eventually he found his way to what could only be a market, and one not unlike those held in his homeland which may have been why he was attracted to it. He was a wanderer by choice, but he still felt those pangs of home sickness that everyone else experienced. So to cure this, he walked among the stalls and people that where so similar to those of Gelemort.

Though there was one thing Gelemort didn't have that this particular market did... And that was busty red heads... And just like that his home sickness was gone. He started over as she was buying bread and smiled as she dropped her money... An opening like that was a sign from above. With out saying a word he passes the baker some money. "Need any help hun? It looks like your cash got away from you."

"Need any help hun? It looks like your cash got away from you." She heard a smooth voice say. It sounded as if it was close.

She turned her head a bit to see a man standing at the stall who hadn't been there a second ago. Quickly she collected her coins and stood up straight. Her face flushed a bit at the fact he had called her hun, but not very much. Peyton set the coins down on the table and trailed her eyes over at the man again. To say he wasn't attractive would be a complete lie. He had very good looks and his eyes were a pretty shade of green and a bit of brown. Usually she hated long hair on men, but this was an exception. His hair was well kept and clean looking.

He also seemed to have a radiate feeling about him. It was as if the sun had just walked over and made her day have a more lively feel to it. Her long blonde eyelashes blinked for a moment as she looked at him. Yes, he was definitely good looking. The fact he had come over here and communicated with her surprised her a bit. Maybe he was here to buy bread and she was holding up the line?

"Uh, no it's fine. Just dropped a bit of change that's all," She quickly explained with a little smile.

"Uh, no it's fine. Just dropped a bit of change that's all," He had to smile a little as he saw a faint blush come to her cheeks as he spoke, if something so little as a hello got this reaction he had to wonder what more... Direct actions would bring. He let his hand drift up and swipe the hair out from his eyes, and those hazel orbs looked directly at the woman who he had his sights set on."In that case my names Marcus, and you look vary much like the person im taking to lunch" His bronze hallowed eyes wink at her and the grin on his face grows a little wider as he speaks.

"Now you could say no of course, but that would just be rude. I did pay for what ever you where buying here after all, and its never nice to let such a good deed go unrewarded, didn't ya know?" He moves to the side, so that he wasn't holding up the line and held out a hand. "And like all good gentleman i must offer to carry your bags, its the least i could do if you choose to grace me with your company."

Most days he wouldn't be nearly as flowery in his speech and mannerisms but he was in a good mood, and that deserved a little bit of entertaining speech.

She felt her face grow hotter as he grinned and winked at her. Peyton's heart skipped a beat as he said, "In that case my names Marcus, and you look vary much like the person im taking to lunch"

Was she being hit on? Oh dear god, WHY? Why now when she was totally unprepared!? And why her? Was he perhaps playing a prank? Did he have friends waiting around to watch? She was wary of this because she'd had this happen to her many times before in her highschool years. It always played out the same. A boy would walk up to her and ask her out or ask her to a dance. She'd agree of course, and they would plan to meet somewhere.

Peyton would show up, and there would either be no one there or her date would deny everything that had been said, his friends backing him up. One of the worst encounters was when they had actually shown up with another girl.

"Now you could say no of course, but that would just be rude. I did pay for what ever you where buying here after all, and its never nice to let such a good deed go unrewarded, didn't ya know?" He said as he stepped out of the line. Peyton scooted a bit out of line as well so other people could buy their things.

He was basically forcing her to go to lunch with him, which made her even more suspicious. What was he playing at? Did he plan to order a lunch and leave her with the bill? That had happened too, but with a group of girls at her highschool.

She decided to give it a shot. But if she saw the warning signs, she'd leave. He had offered to take her bags, so she complied and handed him the bag of things she bought. She seemed calm and normal on the outside, but on the inside she was thinking of millions of theories on what could happen.

Well... She just seemed to fallow him with out saying a single word, which was odd considering most people felt like they could open up to him. Hell the least she could have done was give him her name. But meh, he could work with what ever she gave him, and that of course was next to nothing. But based on her speech and accent he would have to say she was born or at least raised close by, even if her hair and eye color said otherwise. But what was odder still was the fact that she seemed on guard, yet had decided to go with him which he found remarkably interesting. Was she one who enjoyed danger? Did she thrive on adventure as he did? Or did the woman just not care? It was something he was just dying to know...

"Now i dont know this area nearly as well as id like, so why dont you tell me where we are going? A local secret that is kept hidden from us tourists." He started to walk slowly, waiting for the woman to take the lead in this instance. "Ohh and i didn't seem to catch your name... Care to remind me?" She hand't told him in the first place but he doubted that really mattered, unless it did. He didn't let things like that bother him though, you had one life to live and it should not be wasted on petty concerns and worry.

"Now i dont know this area nearly as well as id like, so why dont you tell me where we are going? A local secret that is kept hidden from us tourists."

"Well uh there's a sandwich shop down the street there..." This man seemed to do all the talking here. He talked so fast she had barely been able to get a word in.

"Ohh and i didn't seem to catch your name... Care to remind me?"

Was he really genuinly interested? Was she dreaming? What the fuck was going on? She couldn't figure this man out at all. Peyton guessed she'd have to find out the hard way.

"My name is Peyton Powers," She answered as she walked to the end of the sidewalk, waiting to cross the street. She twirled her hair idly a bit, she did that when she was feeling shy or when she was thinking. It calmed her nerves.

Her startling light blue eyes wandered back at the man who was apparently taking her out to lunch. He had ulterior motives, she knew he did. But what were they? Damn, this man was far too mysterious.

The light still hadn't turned, so they were stuck at that cross walk. Peyton sighed a bit and stretched with a soft moan. Stretching helped her relax too.

"My name is Peyton Powers," Well, well well, That was an interesting name. Not that Bronze had ever heard it of course but that was well besides the point. What mattered was the way she spoke it, with both power and what one might call dignity and for that the general gave her just a tad more respect. To many people these days showed so little pride in their names and their families, it was... Sad. "Well miss powers, it seems like we've gotten the awkward pleasantries out of the way...for the moment at least." She stretched then, and let out a little moan that made the mans blood stir, was that little thing intentional? Bronze had to hope it was...Because that could mean he was in for a good day, and a divine night.

"And if you don't mind leading the way it will be my most sincere pleasure to treat you to lunch, i think we could both use some company on this rather pretty day... Dont you?"

He of course laid it on just a tad to strong, but that was who and what he was so there was honestly no helping it... And if she decided to not take him up on his offer? Well he could deal with that and it of course would be her loss and not his.

"Yes I agree," She nodded slightly in response.

The light had finally changed so they were free to cross the roads. Peyton walked across, her right leg making a bit of a clunking sound as she did. Her automail made that sound a lot when she walked. After a few minutes, they arrived at a quaint little sandwich shop. It was vintage looking, but she knew that inside was the best lunch in town. She knew this because she went there often on her lunch breaks.

Peyton opened the door, a small tinkling sound could be heard as she did so. An older gentleman was behind the counter cutting up some meat. He gave a little wave as he continued the task, making each slice as thin and even as possible.

"C'mon let's go place an order," Peyton waved her companion in as she headed for the front.

The aroma of the freshly baked bread hit her nose and she breathed it in a little. She liked that smell very much. Peyton peered past the counter at the little list of prices at items you could pick from. She started reading down the list, slowly building her sandwich in her head.

"The prices here are great so don't worry about buying an expensive lunch," She remarked, not taking her eyes off the board.

After a few minutes of deciding, Peyton wrote down her order for the old man and slid it over to him on the counter. She moved to the side so Marcus could do the same.

They walked on, and ever so often Bronze could make out an odd sound coming from the womans leg. He dismissed it though and decided to just enjoy the walk and the little bit of small talk that passed between them, the words mostly meaningless aside from the fact that it helped them each gauge one another. It was one of those things he enjoyed with out meaning to, and he found that he was at his happyist(At least recently) when he did not need to focus on him self and his own inner most thoughts. The simple distraction that new people brought just made the man... Happy, and that was something so rare for him in these recent months that he found him self going out and striking up conversations with the most random of people.

They eventually found them selves outside a rather charming looking delicatessen and the smell of fresh baked bread just washed over him as he walked inside. His belly made another gurgle as he inhaled, and he blushed just the smallest amount. "Its like im hungry or something hahaha...." Okay the laugh was a tad... Awkward but it was better then nothing... He hoped.

After ordering and paying for their meal he found his seat and smiled over at the woman who had so suddenly agreed to eat with him. "So Peyton, do you often eat lunch with total strangers, or is it just my lucky day?"

"So Peyton, do you often eat lunch with total strangers, or is it just my lucky day?"

She pondered about it for a moment. Normally she really never ate with anyone. Peyton liked her solitude at lunch. It gave her time to enjoy her meal and possibly catch up on the news by reading the newspaper. So it was certainly odd she was eating with someone, let alone someone she met a few minutes ago.

"It's just your lucky day I guess, although I'm not sure why you'd consider it lucky," She answered with a small shrug.

The elderly gentleman had finished their sandwiches pretty quickly, and rang the bell whilst hollering their order. He set the two sandwiches at the top of the counter, and disappeared into a back room of some sorts. Peyton got up and retrieved the sandwiches quickly and set it down at their table. Peyton plucked her food from the plate and took a bite from it. After swallowing she looked up at him, and questions formed in her head again. But this time, she'd actually ask.

"So uh Marcus right? I have a question. Why'd you want to go out to lunch with me? We've just met, and I'm not exactly an exciting and flamboyant person who'd show you a good time," She questioned and explained, taking another bite afterwards.

She eyed him carefully as she chewed, looking for any sort of nervous tick or reaction to her question. Waiting for an answer. She was still incredibly suspicious of this man, and had not let her guard down for a second. She refused to be made a fool of. Those days were over...

"So uh Marcus right? I have a question. Why'd you want to go out to lunch with me? We've just met, and I'm not exactly an exciting and flamboyant person who'd show you a good time," Bronze lets out a small laugh at that and closes his eyes some. Why was it the women always thought he had a motive behind asking them to dinner? Where men such scum? Pfft some where he knew but those few did noit give the entire gender a bad name, at least he wouldn't allow them to. He took a bite of his food before speaking, mauling over his response. "Well thats, pretty simple there darling, because i could." His smile grows a little wider like a cat who had managed to get into cream. "Have't you just walked up to a stranger and started talking? Its thrilling and you get to meet all sorts of new people that way, i suggest you give it a try some time if you haven't all ready" With a wink he gos back to eating.

"Now a beter question would be, why did you decide to except my invitation? I could be a creeper or a freak, a monster or a saint... Now why did you risk that hmm? Do you seek adventure? Or do you just not care?" Now that would ber interesting to hear, considering he had not pegged her as ether of those, but why else would she want to go out with a perfect stranger? He had gone up to her with with the knowledge that he would be rejected. "Oddly enough, you don't really strike me as ether of those, so whats the deal? Maybe... Maybe your the freak... Or the monster... Or the psychopath and you just use this charming exterior to lure in your unwitting victim" He gives a fake shudder. "Ohh dear you have caught me in your web!!... Please be gentle!"

Marcus' answer was simple, blunt, and left her with no further questions. She couldn't dance around that. He had honestly just did it, because he wanted to? Now this was something new. Maybe she'd hang around him for a bit longer than expected.

"Have't you just walked up to a stranger and started talking? Its thrilling and you get to meet all sorts of new people that way, i suggest you give it a try some time if you haven't all ready" Well no she never had. Her anxiety always gets to her when talking to strangers and she chickens out. It'd be nice to have the kind of confidence Bronze seemed to have. When he winked at her, she felt a little bit of heat on her face. She suddenly came to realize the amount of power this man really had. His charisma levels shot through the roof, and she was pretty sure that with a little flirting he could make her go weak in the knees. This was a problem.

But, she was getting ahead of herself. Nothing said he had those kinds of intentions. And honestly, who would want to do that with her? She was nerdy, her boobs weren't that much, she was a twig, she's a ginger, she was a nervous virgin, she's awkward, the list just goes on.

"Now a beter question would be, why did you decide to except my invitation? I could be a creeper or a freak, a monster or a saint... Now why did you risk that hmm? Do you seek adventure? Or do you just not care? Oddly enough, you don't really strike me as ether of those, so what's the deal? Maybe... Maybe your the freak... Or the monster... Or the psychopath and you just use this charming exterior to lure in your unwitting victim! Ohh dear you have caught me in your web!!... Please be gentle!"

This actually made her chuckle a little. It was funny how animated he was. So vibrate, and lively. And the fact he called her charming? Psh, now he was just trying to stroke her ego. But, Peyton found it to be rather... cute. She bit her lip a little and started playing with her napkin a little to rid herself of such thoughts. Peyton knew better than to get her hopes up or anything. Otherwise she'd just crash and burn later. Peyton didn't need that right now. She needed some form of stability. She was still in the middle of putting her life back together after all.

"Um, to be honest the reason I said yes was because um I was just curious."

"Um, to be honest the reason I said yes was because um I was just curious." Well that made an odd sort of sense, considering he did things on nothing more then curiosity more often then not, but he was odd. Or so he was led to believe, maybe i just wasn't true. Which in all reality would have been some what disappointing. But, at the same time would it not also be reassuring? Knowing that others out there are like you even in some small way would usually bring a smile to someones face, even if that smile was some what short lived. Hell did we not form friendships based on common personality traits? Bronze smiled over at the woman who seemed to be some what beside her self... For what ever reason and calmly patted her hand before resting his head on his finger tips. "Well now, you must be my type of girl, cuz that sounds remarkably like something i would say ~ Though im betting your already taken, considering well... Never you mind~"

He lets out a little titter of a laugh and takes a rather large bite of his food before going on. "Though i seem to be doing all the talking, and that just wont do... But i have to say im sorry, i do tend to ramble, or so ive been told. In all honesty i never really noticed one way or another, but im sure im just blind to my own faults. We all tend to be." After he finishes his little ramble he takes yet another bite, chews and sighs in contentment. "This really is good~"

Peyton couldn't help but blush and look down at her sandwich. There was some serious and blunt flirting going on right here. "A-aha I'm not really anybody's type," she mumbled with a nervous chuckle. Peyton really had no idea how to react to all this. "I-I'm single.." Oh dear god, why was she telling this stranger all of this!? She was going to fall right into his web, but Peyton didn't know whether that was a good or bad thing yet.

Peyton watched as he took a wolfish bite of his sandwich. She herself took a smaller bite and chewed it slowly. Peyton was kind of a slow eater at times. "Ah, it's fine, really. I don't mind your rambling. I honestly don't have much to say. I'm a quiet person I guess you could say.." She lightly drummed the table with her small fingers and looked him in the eye. Those emerald green eyes, they were hypnotizing her. She was falling under their spell. Peyton couldn't stop blushing now, and she felt dizzy.

How could he do this to her, with just a simple glance? It was stupid. You read about this bull crap in books. This does not happen in real life! Oh man, she was gonna get screwed over somehow, she just knew it. Time to think of an excuse fast! "Uh.. I have to leave soon." She pretended to look at the clock on her phone. "Uh, nice meeting you though!"