new york wolves } of shopping trips and personal tours

[cunningwolf]

Nadia: [opens the door with a wide smile] You made it. Come on in.

Peter: [he comes in, hands in his jacket pockets, taking in the front hall] Thank you for the invitation.

Nadia: Of course. I love company. [closes the door behind him, before leading the way inside] Can I get you anything to drink?

Peter: Just water. I'm not much of a drinker.

Nadia: One water, coming up.

Peter: Thank you. [and he's going to explore the living room and then look at the view] This is breathtaking.

Nadia: I think this was the first place I saw and just had to have it. [getting a glass of water, doo doo doo] The view was just ... perfect.

Peter: Well, I can see why. I'm sure the inside is just as spectacular.

Nadia: I can give you a tour if you like? [and returns with the glass to hand to him]

Peter: [takes it with a nod of thanks] I would love a tour

Nadia: Follow me. [and there's a tour! She will talk animatedly about the pieces of each room, leading her way through until she reaches one of the rooms that used to be a bedroom. she'll pause as she turns to face him, taking hold of the doorknob behind her] And this is my favorite room.

Peter: [and he's been interactive and asking good questions between compliments. He smiled at her face as they got to the last room, the pride and enjoyment in her eyes] Alright, I'm ready

Nadia: [and with that she'll push open the door to her library. It's a little more unkempt than the rest of the apartment, but it's not in a bad way - if anything it feels more loved for it. shelves of books line three of the four walls, and there's a well worn leather couch in the middle of the room, which she heads forward to drop into] If I'm home alone, odds are seventy percent of my time is spent here.

Peter: [his eyes take in all the books, his feet wandering to the shelves, letting his fingers dance along the spines] This is amazing. I could never imagine having something like this in our loft.

Nadia: You don't want to carve out a little space just for yourself?

Peter: [sighs softly] I should, but the last few years my focus has just been in protecting those kids. I actually don't know what I want anymore now that that role is no longer needed.

Nadia: Personally, to me that sounds like an opportunity rather than a deterrent.

Peter: It is. [he tossed a smirk over his shoulder] You'll come to learn that I don't tend to react in typical fashions.

Nadia: [laughs] Alright. So why so daunting a prospect?

Peter: [sighs] Investing in something in New York for myself means to me that I am not going to return home. The kids probably will never willingly want to go back and restart the pack there, and I don't blame them. But my roots are in California, and I'm torn between them. Especially... since our family dynamic is changing.

Nadia: Do you intend to leave them to go home, even if they don't?

Peter: [his fingers trace over the spine of a book] I'm not sure yet. Probably not, since Laura is my alpha and I won't survive well without them.

Nadia: Then I think that having something here, something to keep you grounded, isn't going to hurt you. Because even if you did go home, if there was something that was yours, they'd keep it for you. It would be waiting for you when you came back.

Peter: I already have something here for that. Someone.

Nadia: Is that enough?

Peter: That has yet to be determined.

Nadia: [nods] I suppose that's just something that will have to come with time.

Peter: [nods, sipping his water and turning to look at her] Of course, the kids are going to move on and form their own lives here. Derek is far past due to move out on his own, and Cora and Malia aren't that far behind. I think there is a small fear at that though among them.

Nadia: That if they wander too far, it will all come crashing down again.

Peter: ... Yes.

Nadia: It's understandable. It's something that will take time.

Peter: [he goes to sit on the couch near her, but giving her space] I'm sure I will find my place in the world one day. Before it's too late.

Nadia: Some things need a little time to ... percolate.

Peter: [chuckles, shaking his head a bit] Perhaps.

Nadia: Or maybe you just need better friends than the Ivanovs.

Peter: [rubs at his neck absently where the tattoo still shows] That's what Laura has said. I think she's hoping I may do better with you and your brothers.

Nadia: Well, we are excellent company.

Peter: I have yet to be able to disagree with that.

Nadia: [smirks] I doubt you will.

Peter: [ leans back in his seat] Good. Because I do prefer company that is intellectually stimulating, and I have been severely lacking that of late

Nadia: I'll do my best to fill in the gaps.

Peter: [smiles a bit] If nothing else, we are obviously well matched for interesting chess games.

Nadia: But now you know my little trick. I'm going to have to stay on my toes.

Peter: I don't see knowing you are good at the game as being an advantage.

Nadia: I like being underestimated. It's a matter of pride.

Peter: [he's confused a bit by that] I guess I don't get why. But I'm also from a matriarchal family line and tend to have very powerful and dominating women in my life.

Nadia: [shakes her head] Not for the Kirsanovs. It's always been a patriarchal family, and ... well, you've met Nik and Victor. Big burly powerful men, and most look at me as though I'm some kind of damsel. It's their mistake.

Peter: Well, then you have become allies with two male wolves who are under no such assumptions. Derek being the other.

Nadia: Good to know.

Peter: Hopefully you don't find us overestimating you.

Nadia: I do hate to disappoint.

Peter: So you have said. [he looks at the books] So, beyond reading and your job, what do you enjoy doing?

Nadia: Art. Theater. I do adhere to some stereotypes. Most of the time it depends how far I can go.

Peter: And here I was actually hoping you would say fashion. I don't have a single thing in my wardrobe to cover this damned tattoo and I'm not fond of the idea of what I would have to endure to remove it.

Nadia: ... Fashion was a given.

Peter: My mistake.

Nadia: If you need someone to take you shopping, all you have to do is ask.

Peter: I'm honestly clueless when it comes to fashion, and none of my nieces [or daughter] are really on top of it, so yes, if you could, it would be a great help.

Nadia: Of course. Would you prefer to work with a tailor for something custom made, or just ... combining pieces for optimal coverage?

Peter: Combining pieces. I'm not comfortable with tailors. [he's not comfortable being naked in front of people]

Nadia: Got it. I know a couple of places we can check out.

Peter: I'm usually out by five most days, and weekends off. My department at the library is very easy on hours.

Nadia: Weekends are better for me. I usually work evenings.

Peter: How is your schedule this weekend then?

Nadia: Free. Shall we make plans for Saturday?

Peter: Saturday works. Start with lunch, my treat?

Nadia: Sounds perfect.

Peter: Good. I'll text you the place I'm able to get the reservation at.

Nadia: Good. I'll look forward to it.

- - - - -

Peter: [Comes out to stand in front of the mirrors] I didn't realize button downs had collars this high.

Nadia: [glances up as she looks it over] Some do, but not everyone can pull it off.

Peter: [looks at where the tattoo is just barely peeking over the collar, and it's color blends into to make it disappear] I never thought suits came in khaki.

Nadia: Khaki doesn't always work. [she makes her way closer to stand just slightly in front of him] May I?

Peter: [deep breath as he hesitates, then nods]

Nadia: [she senses that hesitation which is why she'll barely touch him, mostly reaching forward to adjust the jacket a bit] How do the sleeves feel?

Peter: I wish they were a little longer, but I have long arms so that's normal.

Nadia: [moves to check the hems of the sleeves] Shouldn't be too hard to take them out and have them adjusted. How about the shoulders?

Peter: Shoulders are actually fine, which amuses me because there's where I normally have problems with jackets there.

Nadia: [smirks as she reaches up to double check to make sure that the seams are lying properly] And the trouser length is good?

Peter: [looks down at his socked feet] I tend to wear boots, so the extra length will make up for the heel.

Nadia: Okay. So it's just the sleeves, then. Do you like it?

Peter: [turns to the side to look at his profile, then nods] I do.

Nadia: Then get it. It looks good on you.

Peter: Alright. I may look for one or two more of these shirts in other colors so I'm not always in cranberry.

Nadia: Good plan. What brand is this?

Peter: [tells her]

Nadia: I'll go poke around. [and with that she wanders back off to the racks]

Peter: [and once she's gone he's going to take the opportunity to strip his shirt off and reach for the more casual button down and he flicked out the shirt and examined an area where there was a bad stitch. Of course, that left him standing there in just an undershirt, his burnt arm, shoulder, and some of his chest showing]

Nadia: [she picks up a few shirts in a variety of colors for him to choose from before making her way back. She stops short of the doorway, watching him for a moment, before clearing her throat. She's not going to stop and spy on him.] I got you a few options. [she doesn't look shocked or an attempt at sympathetic, just pretends like she didn't see it]

Peter: [jumps because he had been focusing and hadn't realized she returned. He shifted back, his body automatically hiding his burnt side with his profile, his eyes dropping a moment not to meet her gaze. He sighs, then looks up and nods] Thank you

Nadia: [nods and hands them over before stepping back] Let me know which ones you like. [And she'll leave him alone, unless he asks her to stay. She may wander over to check out some of the ties.]

Peter: [takes them, holds them a moment and then runs his hand along the top of the fabric a moment. He doesn't know what to say though, so he's going to let her go as he puts them down, and goes back to the casual shirt before pulling it on and buttoning it up, covering him again and making him feel a bit more armored. He will wander back out in it, tugging at the sleeves.] Tie or sweater vest with this one? [as if she hadn't seen him in a very vunderable state.]

Nadia: [she's a socialite. She's very good at pretending nothing's wrong. She steps back and studies it for a moment, before tapping her fingers against her chin] What are you wearing it to?

Peter: This one? Probably just for out and around town running errands. I don't think it's date worthy. [small smile]

Nadia: [wrinkles her nose before shaking her head] Neither. Open collar is much more casual. Otherwise people may be asking who you're trying to impress.

Peter: Point. Neither then. Which is good, because I'd rather not wear ties unless I have to.

Nadia: [nods] It's a good approach. That tends to be my preference as well. [on men, not for her wardrobe]

Peter: I used to be more of the jeans and nice t-shirt type of guy. Sadly that's no longer an option for me, but I'm also not in my twenties.

Nadia: I think the shirt/jacket combo isn't a bad look for you. It works.

Peter: And most of these shirts will also go well with a good pair of jeans.

Nadia: Exactly.

Peter: Which, now I need to see what else I need to get to fill out the wardrobe.

Nadia: Anything I can help with there?

Peter: Just anything you've seen that you think I should try on.

Nadia: [her eyes turn a little mischievous for a moment, before she glances around the rest of the store] That might require a little trust.

Peter: I think I can extend that.

Nadia: [she holds up a finger, before heading off to collect various articles of clothing from around the store]

Peter: [is going to take off the button down and undershirt and pull on a turtleneck he had grabbed to see if it fits tight to his body to work as an undershirt]

Nadia: [she's got two jackets in her arms] For if you want to wear something without such a high collar.

Peter: [takes the black jacket and pulls it on, seeing how the collar of the jacket covers a good portion of his neck] Yeah, this would work.

Nadia: And, for when it's colder ... [she'll hold up her hands for a moment, as though to silently ask permission before touching him again, but if he gives it, she'll flip the collar, zipping it up the rest of the way so that it looks more like a motorcycle jacket]

Peter: [he nods and lets her, his eyes just watching her hands as she zips it up] Multifunctional. I like that.

Nadia: [nods in agreement] Try the gray one. It's a little more casual.

Peter: [nods and he goes to switch them out, pulling it on. He shifted his shoulders, trying to get it to sit right.] Not sure I like this one as much.

Nadia: [moves to step in front of him, reaching up to help him resettle it] Is it in the shoulders?

Peter: It feels a bit too tight. I don't think it's the turtleneck effecting it, because it's very thin.

Nadia: Think it would be worth it to try the next size up?

Peter: Probably. I can have it taken in where it needs to be easier than having this taken out.

Nadia: [nods as she gestures for him to take it off] I'll see if they have it.

Peter: [shrugs out of the jacket and hands it to her] Also, if you see anything in green? I was told it was a good color for me.

Nadia: Green. Got it. [and off she goes again]

Peter: [and he is going to look at the clothes he has, and pull the turtleneck off. He's shirtless at this point, steeping deeper into the dressing room so no one passing could see him, but he was going to do something he hadn't done with anyone but family and trust someone to be shirtless around them. Nadia had asked him to extend trust, and he was going to show her just how far he could extend it. He had a feeling that she wouldn't disappoint him in this, so he just looked at the next long sleeve shirt as if debating on it]

Nadia: [wanders back with the next size up and a couple shirts - some in a dark forest green to go with a darker suit and when she sees him she stops, again. Her eyes wander, just for a moment, but there are hints of appreciation more than scrutiny, and she doesn't skip a beat] Hopefully dark green falls under the same category as green?

Peter: [he turns to look at her, standing up a bit more proudly. And there is a hint of a smirk, shadow of the old Peter who had felt he was God's gift to women, and he nodded] Dark green is preferable.

Nadia: [smirks back before handing them over] Try them on. I also found the next size up in the jacket ... [she pauses to place it on the rack next to them] ... but you'll need a shirt for that.

Peter: [he chuckled and went to put on the dark green shirt, then reached for the jacket and shrugged it on]

Nadia: [nods as she watches him, before moving closer to adjust the lapels of the jacket] Better?

Peter: [when she's close, he takes in a deep breath, then smiles] Better.

Nadia: [and she'll read that as it being okay to linger a bit closer, under the guise of adjusting the clothing] Good.

Peter: [there's a bit of stiffness as she touches that side of his body, but he doesn't push her away. he just breathes his way through it] It doesn't hurt, for the record. I actually can't feel much on that side of my body.

Nadia: [she glances up at him, letting one hand come to rest against his chest for a moment] They say that fire ... it's bad for your nerves.

Peter: It is. It lasts for a long time, even after the fire. And unless you're an alpha, fire is almost impossible for a beta to heal from.

Nadia: [considers for a moment] There's a caladrius in the city. Have you seen them?

Peter: They're the ones who got me this far. I wasn't supposed to live, and the fact I was stable enough to be transferred out here was a miracle in itself.

Nadia: Grim determination can get us far, if it's something we want badly enough.

Peter: I had my sister's children to protect. You'd be surprised at how far I'd go to do that.

Nadia: I doubt that. I'd do the same for my siblings.

Peter: Healing the scar tissue isn't painless. I did my face... my hand because you can't hide those from the world under clothes. I didn't want pity from people when I walked down the street. i didn't want to draw notice. But I lived though that fire where the people I loved most didn't, and I don't want to erase that. I can't, even if I wanted to.

Nadia: [nods a bit in agreement] I get that.

Peter: And part of me does find it being a bit selfish to ask them to heal what amounts to cosmetic damage with their feathers when there are others who may need it more.

Nadia: [and that makes her smile] I'm sure that goodwill will go a long way with them.

Peter: And to think, I use to be a selfish egomaniac before the fire. [shakes his head] Raising children apparently can change you.

Nadia: I wouldn't know. Never raised any children.

Peter: It seems I apparently raised one of my own without knowing it.

Nadia: [blinks before tipping her head to the side] What do you mean?

Peter: Malia was raised as a sibling, but Laura actually found her the night of the fire abandoned from her family and took her in. It's come to light that she's actually my daughter from a relationship I don't remember in my twenties.

Nadia: ... It must have been some relationship if you don't remember.

Peter: It's very complicated, but it seems whatever it was, it wasn't good for the pack and my sister was very overprotective to the point of invading.

Nadia: [she can put two and two together, and it makes her shudder a little in response] I hate that trick.

Peter: Seeing that I didn't know it had been done to me, I agree.

Nadia: [shakes her head] There's a wolf that we took in in DC. Their alpha liked to abuse that. Left him a mess we're still trying to put back together, and he was just a kid.

Peter: Poor boy.

Nadia: [she nods] He's doing better, now that he's here, but it's talking time. He doesn't like to be alone with Victor, understandably.

Peter: How many do you have in DC?

Nadia: Not many. Most of the pack is here, but we have properties across the country. My mother liked to travel.

Peter: Well, depending on how young he is, we could always introduce him to Cora and Malia. If he comes up to the city at all.

Nadia: [her head tip to the side] He is about their age. Nineteen?

Peter: They are both turning it soon, so yeah, he would be.

Nadia: [she nods] I'll see. He could probably use a break from DC anyway.

Peter: If you do, let me know and I'll prepare the girls.

Nadia: I will.

Peter: [deep breath] Well, I think I have a wardrobe picked out. I should probably get dressed and pay for this all.

Nadia: [she nods, before taking a step back] I'll wait at the counter.

Peter: [and he will move quickly to redress, and then bring his purchases up and pay for them, paying extra to have it all delivered to the penthouse so he didn't have to carry it all, and then made to leave with Nadia] Thank you again for your time today.

Nadia: [turns to follow him out, waving a hand as she does] It was my pleasure.

Peter: I would like to repay you, if you would let me.

Nadia: I'm intrigued. What'd you have in mind?

Peter: You mentioned you were into art?

Nadia: I am.

Peter: I have something then I think you would love to see. Let's get a cab.

Nadia: [and goes to do that. into the cab they go!]

Peter: [and they will end up in a warehouse in Chelsea. Peter will walk over and unlock a padlocked door] I don't know if you knew my cousin, Michael. I don't know if Talia told Victor about him coming this way for a few years since he was human.

Nadia: [shakes her head] I only really know bits and pieces about your family - what you've told me.

Peter: Well, Michael had an amazing gift, one I think you'll appreciate. [as they walk in, Peter will turn on the light and the room will show a workroom of an artist who worked in metal and wood. There were pieces in various states of completion]

Nadia: [her eyes widen a bit as she makes her way closer, leaning in to get a closer look at the art]

Peter: [he watched her, leaning against a pillar and affectionately putting his hand on the head of a wolf sculpture] He had an amazing eye. Some of his pieces are in galleries around town. I can't stand to see then rust away here.

Nadia: You shouldn't. It's amazing work.

Peter: He was home visiting when the fire happened. The hunters didn't care about the humans in the house at the time. They just saw Hales.

Nadia: [she softens a bit at that, before shaking her head] They're so reckless. We don't put up with that kind of bullshit here.

Peter: I tried to warn Talia about it, that they would come after us but she wanted to hope for peace. She had hope. [he pet the dog] Hope isn't really all that it's cracked up to be.

Nadia: No, it's not. But that doesn't stop us from having it.

Peter: No, it probably shouldn't.

Nadia: [she nods a bit, before turning back to the art again] Still, it's awful. They call us monsters, when they have such a clear disregard for life.

Peter: I think they do that because they can find a way to justify murder by removing our own humanity.

Nadia: They don't need us to be monsters. They just need us to be different.

Peter: [he pushed away from the wall to open a cabinet in the wall and pulled out a bottle, wiping the dust off the label] Michael was also a wine drinker. I don't know these well enough. Is a 1940 Chateau Haut-Brion a good one?

Nadia: [her eyebrows go up] That's a thousand dollar bottle of wine.

Peter: Really? [he looked at the bottle] Shame it's gathering dust in his pantry. [he holds it out to her] I think he would want someone who would appreciate it to drink it.

Nadia: [eyes it, and then gently reaches to take it from him] Are you sure?

Peter: Yes, I'm sure. I think it will pair well with your library.

Nadia: [there's a fond smile at that before nodding] Thank you.

Peter: No, thank you. [there's more to those words. It was a thanking for how she had reacted to his burns, how she had treated him, and for her time. Because he hadn't actually spent time with someone like her in a long time and he was enjoying it]

Nadia: [a small smile] It's been my pleasure.

Peter: Well, I should probably get you back and head home, otherwise we may start rumors.

Nadia: [And there's that smirk again] Can't have that.

Peter: [he sees that smirk and chuckles] I have a feeling you are enjoying that idea.

Nadia: [she shrugs] What can I say? I like a little buzz.

Peter: But do you just want buzz, or are you wanting action behind it? That's what I’m curious about.

Nadia: [she glances back at him, taking a few steps closer and closing that distance between them] And what if I said I did?

Peter: [it's an unconscious reaction, the half step back of someone getting too close. but he takes a deep breath and stills] I would say that you can probably do a lot better.

Nadia: [she stops, not pushing the issue any more than she already has] Better probably wouldn't be half as interesting.

Peter: I haven't been with someone in over a decade. I'm not even sure I know how to anymore.

Nadia: I'm not expecting anything, Peter. I just like spending time with you.

Peter: I like spending time with you too, Nadia.

Nadia: So ... let's just keep doing that. See what happens.

Peter: I'd like that.

Nadia: Good.

Peter: [and that's a small smile] Good.

Nadia: Anyway. I believe we were calling it a day.

Peter: Yes. Would you like me to see you home?

Nadia: I would love that.

Peter: Then let's get a cab.

Nadia: [and off they go to do that]