Clearer in a Dark Room|Christine;; (Casual)

[JACK THE RIPPER]

Victor had been spending an unreasonably substantial amount of time in Central Park while the weather stayed neutral. Two things he could not handle were extreme cold and extreme heat, but the park provided cool air to help him think, and this week had been marginally less hot than the previous ones. He'd been going a lot at night, specifically, because he found nature prettier when it was silent. Victor didn't have the normal fears of any New York citizen; there were no monsters to jump out at him when he was the monster. That... was a nice feeling.

Today, though, he hazarded to venture outside a little before dinnertime, walking to the park; through the smoke and noise of the city, like some sort of circus act, and straight for the tributary of green that stretched out to meet him. Within a half hour, he was deeper into the park, approaching the archway of a bridge. There was a bench near it, which he sat on, arm slung over the back of it, his legs crossed casually.

Victor was busy letting his mind wander, hopping from stone to stone in his memory, daring him to dwell on any of them. He didn't want to think about any of them; today was just... not a good day for thinking.

It was then that he realized that he'd been staring at a lingering, gentle-looking blonde, who was snapping pictures of some dewy leaves across the walkway from him. Victor blinked a moment, tilting his head, evidently accepting the fact that he'd been staring and not minding all that much. Her hair was the most peculiar shade of flaxen...

[roseofluna]

Christine had been strolling around Central Park for quite some time now, capturing pictures of anything that caught her eye. She had always loved the city when it was first being lit up in the evening; it made her feel safe, somehow. Perhaps it was the rich colours of the sky, or the fact that there weren’t as many people around to bother her. She had become a resident photographer of Central Park tonight, it seemed, and she wasn’t planning on leaving until her camera couldn’t handle any more.

After some time, her legs grew tired of standing and scampering over to new subjects every few seconds. She took one last photograph of a few leaves, then sighed gently and looked up at the sky. It was then that she felt a sharp gaze, like knives, boring into her. Cautiously, she peered around her for the source of that gaze, and spotted a man sitting a few yards from her. She blushed uncontrollably and stared back at him for a few moments, hoping he would look away.

When she realized that he wasn’t going to look elsewhere, she took a few steps toward him. Words caught in her mouth as she thought over speaking to him. She finally gained the courage to speak, and blurted in her little, French-accented squeak of a voice, “It isn’t polite to stare, you know.”

[JACK THE RIPPER]

Victor smiled at her once she noticed him, and smiled wider still when he saw her blush, that handsome and charming smile which had served him so well so many times before. He could see her struggling to say something to him, and it was both funny and pathetic to watch. Eventually, though, she spit out whatever she was going to say in a charming little sing-song voice that made him relax slightly.

“It isn’t polite to stare, you know.”

"'Scuse me, Miss. I just thought that what you were doing looked interesting." It was obvious to him that she was a lot younger than himself, but he didn't bother with it; he flirted shamelessly anyway. "Are you a photographer by profession, or is it just... a hobby?" He gave her a discreet once-over. A good little French girl, he decided, unless she was a fabulous actress. He casually gestured her over.

[roseofluna]

Christine blushed a little more at the stranger, bringing one of her hands up to her flushed cheek. He was incredibly handsome, she had to admit, though a bit old for her. Though, he seemed to flirt with her anyway, so perhaps it didn't matter. She wanted to melt away when she heard his voice, but shook her head slightly and just smiled at him again.

"It's my profession. It doesn't bring me much money, but I love it anyway!" She told him, widening her eyes a little as he gestured her over. Feeling that her legs would not hold her up much longer, she walked closer and sat next to him on the bench.

Christine cleared her throat a little and asked the stranger, "What's your name?" She never spoke much around people. She much preferred to listen, which she found most people appreciated.

[JACK THE RIPPER]

Victor watched her with a rather knowing gaze as she jellied her way over to him. He let his eyes break from hers to look ahead at the leaves she'd been taking pictures of, though he stayed with her in the corner of his eye. She was petite, not too curvy, and very, very blonde- a kind of white, honey blonde that one didn't find too often. Her accent was charming as well, he observed, his smile returning.

"Well, I suppose it's a good thing that you've found a job you enjoy; that's the most important thing. I had always wanted to be a doctor, you know." He shrugged a little and looked at her.

"What's your name?"

"Victor," he said, leaning toward her a fraction of an inch. She was like a little bird, so easy to startle, and yet so beautiful and charming. Cute, even, though that wasn't a word he liked to use. "And yours?"

[roseofluna]

Christine looked him over while he was staring at the leaves, turning her head away in time for him to not notice much. He looked even better close up, she noticed, especially his eyes. A striking, ice blue that made her shiver just to think about. She fiddled with her camera nervously as she thought about him, getting an idea. She hadn't taken many pictures of people before, and he was so handsome, she didn't want to forget him.

During all her thinking, she missed his name, but caught the question. "My name's Christine, though you can call me Chrissy." She informed him, holding out her hand to shake. "Would you mind if I took your picture?" She asked to fill the silence after her statement. She knew it sounded ridiculous and sudden, but she didn't want to be left in silence with this man. He seemed friendly enough, but Christine could tell there was something slightly off about him.

[JACK THE RIPPER]

Victor tilted his head slightly, so that he could have a half view of her face. She really was shy, wasn't she? Looking away and hiding behind her hair. He liked that. Call him... old fashioned, but he liked modest women...

"Christine... beautiful," he commented, shaking her hand for a bit longer than he would someone else. Their fingers brushed as they parted and the smile came back to his mouth.

At he next request, he was a little surprised. Victor knew that women thought he was handsome, but none had ever asked if they could take his picture. "Sure," he said with a light laugh. "I've never really posed for a professional's pictures."