Heart of a lion, and the wings of a bat, BECAUSE ITS MIDNITE! (Chelle)

She might not be as skilled as he was, nor have his speed or coordination, but she was a dangerous opponent no less. Not only was she far stronger than he, or any human for that matter had any right being, but she also seemed to be tougher too. Normally he could slice through the toughest bank-vault as if they were made of butter, yet she seemed to be able to survive getting hit with his weapons. This had intriuged him from the start of the duel. Well, that and her beauty. She may be gray and winged, but she had a certain classical beauty to her. Sort of like the medieval statues of the virgin mary or something similar. But the most enticing thing about her was her playfull attitude. not was it exciting in its own right, but it reminded him of someone he admired and loved. It reminded him of himself.

However, as he managed to find his metaphorical footing, he realized that the situation was not as dire as he had thought only a few minutes ago. Her sudden outburst indicated that she had been rather pressed before making the strike that had cut him. He had been the one leading in their little aerial dance. The expression of a cool, collected calmness as well as an all-encompassing smug concietedness once again returned to his features as the pair continued circling one another in the sky. This time he was looking for the perfect place to strike at next

However, this time she was the one to make the first move. As she tossed her blade into the air, The Gentleman, moved only a few inches closer, making two quick repeated slashes at her, barely more than flicks of the wrist, all the while keeping his eyes focused on the blade. He had already realized what she was up to when she caught it, and so he easily ducked under the slash, backing a few inches away once again, creating some distance between the pair

"I assure you, sweet rose. My sleeves are deep and full of many woundrous tricks. But like all good wizard, I only reveal a select few to my audience, even one as lovely as yourselves" He teased, as he twirled the umbrella in his hand artfully.

That was when he leapt to the attack, attempting a fast slash across her chest whilst his left hand had produced a few coins from his pocket, one of wich he quickly charged and fired her way. He had, however, made sure it was not charged with more energy than the woman could survive, but still enough to cause quite a bit of pain.


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A somewhat crooked, yet wolfish smile appared on Manfreds lips as she asked him to step out with her. It was rather obvious that the idea appealed to the young man. "It would be a disastrous mistake to refuse a woman as lovely as yourself, miss Takeiro." He said, offering her an arm in an old-school gesture of gentlemannery.

Maybe this boring meeting wouldn't turn out so boring after all?

The gentleman kept twirling his umbrella in his hand as the coin left his hand. He smirked arrogantly as he did so, and his smirk grew to a full-blown arrogant grin as as the coin connected and sent the girl crashing towards the ground. For a while he wondered if he had used too much force, but he soon realized he had not. After all, if he had, the coin would likely have gone straight through her, and that would most definately be a waste. After all, this woman she was quite a looker, and rather fun to tangle with as well. Most of the super-types would not play along with his antics for some reason. Probably because they realized how ordinary, dull and run-of-the-mill they were when they were in his presence and needed to lash out at him to prove to themselves that they where not emasculated monkey-men that lacked the upbringing and breeding of a proper aristocrat.

The noise of the woman crashing brought him back from his thoughts, and it was a mighty loud noise indeed. She had managed to land on on an intake for a Air-conditioner, and it had crumpled under her, making a sound not entirely unlike that of a giant, empty cokecan would make if it was crushed by a giant. He slowly descended after her in a dignified manner looking as if heas standing in an invisible elevator going down. His cape whipping around behind him due to the wind from the nearby helicopters rotors, and he dainily grabbed his hat to make sure he did not lose it in the wind. It was not that he was overtly fond of it, since he had more, identical hats in case of costume-breakage, but it would be quite undignified to lose his favourite piece of headgear just like that.

He approached the downed Winged woman, still twirling his umbrella daintily as he walked. There was something rather Charlie Chaplin-ish about his whole performance.

"Oh dear. It seems like my little sleight of hand was quite a let-down, pardon the pun." The gentleman said smugly, his theatrical voice and arrogant smile indicating that he was quite pleased with the result of his demonstration. However, the effect of his attack was already wearing off, and the woman staggered slowly to her feet, seemingly winded and hurt, but not seriously injured. However, her colouration seemed to have changed. She was no longer the deamonic-looking woman he had fought, but rather another woman, whom he had previously made his aquaintance. The Undeniably lovely, classy albeit less exciting Chelle Takiero. He could not help but to smile at this revalation, as he was well aware that he would have use for it later on.

"My, my. Watching you rise from that heap of junk is truly inspiring, my lady. Like an angel, ascending from the scorched, ruined earth rising high, into the heavens. True beauty, untainted by the slow decay and ruination that inadvertedly tarnishes all beauty in the end." He said theatrically, as he took a flamboyant bow.

"Oh, I believe that is the talent most of my repertoire is based upon. Although, this little demonstration was a mere trifle of my true abilities." He said, the smugness returning to his voice in spades.


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It had been far too long since Manfred had been able to interact with a member of the true elite like an equal. He remembered the parties he had went to with his families during his childhood, before the scandal afflicted his family. His father had been a man of respect then. A well-bred, well-behaved aristocrat, and a grand speaker to boot. His mother had said that manfred looked just like his father had when he was a young man, and whilst there was obviously quite a resemblanse between father and son, he had never really felt as powerfull and important as his father had seemed. Untill now.

He smiled as the pair went onto the rooftop and repressed an urge to fly away, and play the role of 'the gentleman' for a bit. After all, this time, the rooftops and open sky belonged to Manfred Gentle, rather than The gentleman. This was one of the few times he actually liked being Manfred more than the Gentleman.

As Chelle gave him the bottle to open, he smiled cockily at her. "It should not be a problem, I have quite deft fingers." He said as his fingers touched the cork. He grabbed it gently, loading it up with just a teensy amount of kinetic energy, and caused it to push upwards, to give the impression of a very strong man, effortlessly pulling the cork.

He lent in closer ans sniffed the wine. "You have a good taste for wine, it smells lovely. but nowhere near as lovely as yourself, my dear." he said with a smile.

The gentleman flamboyantly rested his umbrella against his shoulder and leant back, as if sitting in a comfortable leather armchair whilst floating in the air, looking down on the woman with a bemused smile as he smugly adjusted his tophat. Even though the Gentleman was seemingly at ease his body was tense as a spring, ready to leap into action if the beautiful yet dangerous woman made any sudden moves in his general direction.

His bemused smile grew slightly wider as she spoke to him. Fighting this fiend was like bullfighting on steroids. Poke and dodge, poke and dodge, but woe would be you if you failed that dodge and the proverbial bull got its charge in. Nevertheless he quite enjoyed this dangerous game, in fact, the danger was the thing that made it so enticing and fun.

Gentleman smiled widely as she accused him of being unkind, and after letting out a quiet chuckle he spoke off.

"I do apologize most sincerely, but I am a villain. There are certain expectations when it comes to my behaviour, I'm sure you understand. Especially when the Hoi polloi are watching, wouldn't you say?" He said theatrically with a playfull smile as he nodded towards the news-chopper that was still circulating the pair.

"All in good time my dear, all in good time. I would not be much of a poker player if I showed my opponent my hand before I played it, hm?" he continued as he rose from the imagined chair, twirling his umbrella as he watched her skin once again turn dark. Even though he had seen it before, it was quite unsettling, but even more unsettling was the sudden charge towards him, now armed with savage claws instead of a blade, she tried to slash at him with it. Luckily his reflexes were faster than hers, and thus he dodged sideways, barely evading the first slash. He quickly brought his twirling to a stop and extended his umbrella, ready to defend himself from any further blows she might throw his way.


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She was quite a woman, there was no denying it. Tall, curvaceous and all-around lovely. But she improved her appearance even more as she let her hair out, as stereotypical as that might sound. Her wild locks cascaded over her back like an auburn waterfall, glistening in the moonlight. The only imperfection he had noticed were the scars that ran across her back. They had been very visible earlier, especially under lamps of the party. However true to most people with power did not concern herself with the opinions of the plebeians surrounding her.

"What I want in life? Well, I could go with fame and fortune, of course, but what I realy want is probably the restoration of my familys good name. For starters of course." He said with a grin as he took the newly poured wineglass in hand.

The gentleman at first looked at her hesitantly, as if expecting some sort of feint, but his expression of doubt soon melted away, as she extended her hand towards him. If she had not tried to slash him to bits a few moments earlier, he would have been far quicker to take her up on the invitation. For about half a second he considered taking a few cheap-shots, but ultimately decided against it, After all, she had discarded her more monstrous features and the rage or bloodlust or whatever unpleasantness that had triggererd it seemed to go away with it. A somewhat smug smile appeared on the lips of the tophatted supervillain as he raised his umbrella. . .

. . . And let it go, causing it to shoot up into the sky like a missile. as it shot up further and further it soon dissapeared somewhere in the skies. The gentleman now uarmed to. The Blueblooded Gentleman Thief smiled even wider as she asked if she could have this dance.

"Nothing would make me happier, my lovely rose" He said as in theatrical baritone voice as he gently took her by the hand and pulled her close, placing the other hand around her waist. as they spun out across the night sky. Now people were looking out the window, assumingly alerted to their presence by the noise made from the helicopter rotors.

Manfred was an excellent dancer, and it helped greatly that you cannot misstep if ther is nothing to step on, but despite being airborned he moved as if he was standing on an invisible floor. Even though he was well-aware that the woman he was sharing the sky with was in fact very dangerous and quite likely to rip him apart, he could not help but to lose himself a bit in the moment. The imminent sense of danger only adding to the experience

"You dance like an angel, my rose. Truly, I have lost both heart and mind to your charms" he said with a confident smile on his lips. Of course it was boulderdash, but he considered it to be a fitting comment in a situation such as this

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Manfred had heard it time and time again. It was a bit of a public secret that he was the heir of a shamed noble from europe somewhere, and that had earned him a certain sense of notoriety in some circuits. Many had bragged that they could restore his good name and his standing with the lift of a figner, but for the most part he had seen through their bluff. They wanted him to be impressed, but he rarely was, for all he saw was a the heir of a peasant that had once escaped europ out of poverty trying to hold himself above a true aristocrat.

However, with Takiero it did not feel this way. Her power was well-known and he had little doubt that she would be able to restore him if she would want to. She may be one of the nouvoe-riche, but there was something about her that seemed almost Royal in a sense. A sort of dignity and grace that you did not see often in this day and age.


"Truly? I must say, I never expected to hear a woman of your stature, beauty and affluence say such a thing, Miss Takiero." He said theatrically as the woman spoke of regret. It seemed strange to him. How someone that had the economy of the land by the throat had regrets. It was something to ponder on after he went home.

Gentleman smiled as he drew her close and the pair spun through the air as gracious as leaves on the autum wind. He could not help but to smile as he lead them through the intricate dance. The fact that he could fly under his own power whilst his partner was dependent on wind and wings somehow made it even more gracious. As their eyes met, her soft eyes told her more than she would presumably have wanted. They were soft and tender, and the smile on her face was no longer one of bloodlust and anticipation of carnage. it was of another nature entirely.

It begun as softly as a whisper, but soon it could be heard audibly, a non-existent orchestra had struck up a waltz. It was grand and majestic, but with a somewhat sinister undertone to accompany the movement of the two dancers. The gentleman was rather pleased. Theme music had happened to him on a few occasion, but this time it had actually added to the mood without ruining whatever scheme he had planned.

"Oh, you most assuredly do, my rose, and deadly thorns at that, to which I can attest from personal experience." The gentleman said theatrically, his well-modulated voice oozing with charm like the sweetest honey. Unlike Manfred Gentle, the Blueblooded Gentleman Thief was quite the charmer when he wished to, and he had the instincts of one aswell, and it did not take much scrutyiny to realize that this woman had fallen for his masculine wiles. It was far from the first time that he had affected women this way, both friends and foes, and he was hardly surprised by it. What did surprise him was how happy this made him. It was quite terrifying in a quiet sort of way.

Normally his exercise in charm was to stroke his own ego, just like most things in his life was. whoever he used these abilities on were of little consequence as it was never about the woman, it was all about the thrill of the chase and the joy of the capture. It was the game that amused him more than anything. However, this time it was different. Normally the game would be over at this point, but he wanted it to go on for a bit longer.

"Ah, It pains me to admit that you are right, my rose. I fear that this will be our last dance for tonight. After all such tawdry bracelets would ill become a being of your radiant beauty, my rose." he embraced her as they spun through the air gently. slowly losing momentum. soon they would simply stand still in the middle of the air.


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Manfred nodded as she spoke. She probably did not realize how much that sentence felt true for him. After all, to most people he had managed to do well for himself. he may not be rich, but he was wealthy, and he lacked for little material goods. However, he loathed the way he had to act. He had to be dull gray and adequate whilst people no different from the ones his family had ruled for centuries in the old country were ordering him down and talking down to him. He who was a descendant of kings, chancelors barons, dukes and viscounts. He could almost feel how his ancestors squirmed at his humiliation, and how he was meant for so much more.

At times he wondered wether The Blueblooded Gentleman Thief was his true identity and Manfred Gentle merely a dull compromise with a world that had failed him. After all he felt that he was more like himself when he donned his tophat and cape. Then he was one hundred percent Wilfred von Athelstane, whilst "Manfred gentle" was like a great movie that had been censored beyond recognition

"It is quite the same for me, miss Takiero. " he answered politely, but there were cracks in his gray facade. It was clear that there were words hiding behind that sentence. Manfred wanted to tell her about her secret and show her his true self, but this was not the place. But the next sentence is what truly stunned him

'you can be more than you think you are' she had said. And even though his face revealed nothing, this sentence made him ever so happy. He would not be surprised if she had noticed the greatness within the Blueblooded Gentleman Thief, for the Gentleman Thief was noteworthy. But that she noted the greatness within someone as drab and dull as Manfred Gentle? He could have kissed her then and there.

"Thank you" he said, and it was clear from the intonation that he truly meant it. He looked at her. She was beautiful, it could not be denied, and the the way the wine had trickled from her lips gave her an almost predatory look, but the danger did not scare her awy from her, but rather the opposite. Manfred Gentle may be seem dull, but that was an adaptation to survive. He did in fact prefer both to live and love dangerously.

The gentleman had his arms wrapped around the woman and even though the pair had fought feverishly minutes ago, he still felt completely at ease being within the embrace of an inhuman being who had proven herself to be many times stronger than he was. After all, the only reason he had ended up on top in their little duel was because he had not given her oppurtunity to use hre superior strength, and here he was, at her mercy.

Her hair brushed against his face, moved by the wind. It felt like being caressed by a cool silk feather. The smell of her was simply intoxicating, especially in combination with the adrenaline-pumping, heart-pounding duel they had just fought. The excitement had put him on the edge, it had sharpened his instincts and senses, and made live in the moment, nothing existed but this moment. The combination of passion, adrenaline and combat made him forget the drudgery of his everyday life and feel far more alive than he had in a long, long time.

He buried his face in her hair, feeling the warmth of her cheek through the thick locks. and as he rested his head on her shoulder he wished he could slow time down so that he could enjoy this moment a bit longer, just a little bit longer. But, as the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end".

He could hear her apologize for being so rough with him, and he coculd feel his mouth curl upwards into a smile "I should apologize for lifting my hand against a creature as lovely as yourself, my rose" He said, his voice sounding more geniuine and less theatrical than earlier

"But I will not apologize, for I am quite certain that our little 'dance' was quite enjoyable and more than worth every drop of blood, sweat and every bruise, would you not agree?" he continued, but now his theatricality was back, in full swing and his smooth voice was once agin oozing charm as sweet as honey.

He moved his head back to look upon her face, study it, memorize it, so that he would have it with him in some form or another, but as she looked it shocked him to see that her eyes had once again turned red. At first he was frightened, but then not of her, but rather because of his own inaction. He was in a very dangerous spot, yet he had let it go on for far longer than prudent. He was risking his life, by remaining in her embrace, and even though he realized this, he would not let her go. as he looked into her eyes he realized that the danger did in fact have the opposite effect and made him even more attracted to her.

"You will, my rose. To me, you are like the flame to the proverbial moth. I cannot help but to be drawn to your presence." He said theatrically as he kept his gaze locked into hers.

. . .Regardless of the obvious risks he added with a smile

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Manfred was slightly taken aback as she moved her hand to his neck, letting it rest against it. it was alot warmer than he had anticipated, and he could feel that warmth spreading into him, through his skin and into his flesh. It was quite the lovely feeling. He was not quite as surprised as she closed the distance between them. He was now quite 'up to speed' on how these things had progressed. He hd no ideas of why a woman like Chelle Takiero, THE Chelle Takiero would take an interest in someone like him. If she was after looks, there where more attractive men that would give their right arm for a chance, same if she was after power, charm, fame or anything really.

As she moves her lips towards his own, he takes the initiative and kisses her passionately as he wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her as close as he can. He could hear her glass shatter on the floor, but it might as well have happened miles away, or in another galaxy. There was simply no way he would let something as trivial like a shattered glass interrupt a moment such as this.

But apparantly her Personal assistant was not trivial enough to ignore. Manfred turned towards the woman, and even though he gave her a polite smile, he was seething at her. Of all the bloody moment she had to bloody come and bloody interrupt she had to choose now. A few minutes later would have lovely. Or better yet, not at all.

Chelles treatment of the woman indicated that the pair of them was truly of one mind when it came to her intrusion. They could probably have resumed it, but the mood was ruined now. And the buisness had to be attended to. The real world had once again crashed through the window of fantasy-land, and just to make a point it had pooped on the carpet.

he smiled as she once again spoke to him.
It's quite alright he responded, his voice far more relaxed that it had been when they had initially spoken. He did not feel as though he had to use the mask of 'Manfred Gentle' with her.

Will I see you again? He asked, gently taking her hands in his, looking into her eyes. Even if she did not respond he was sure he would find his answer there.