subtle ways

who: medea and porter
where: nevermore
when: afternoon

Working at a book store was something that could be done when one's elbow was sprained. It didn't require a whole lot of back breaking labor or anything, and so she was there, and putting books away from a shipment that had come in or something. Whatever, mostly she was looking at titles, and thumbing through now and again. It was only the second day she'd worked since getting hired, and so she still had so much to really look through. Currently, she was very much looking specifically for any clues as to what Porter might be. She really needed to know that. If she could figure it out, she'd have a much easier time catering to it, and manipulating him through it. So it was just the best plan, regardless.

So far, however, she'd found nothing. She'd skimmed on psychics, werewolves(and apparently there were other were-animals, who knew?) vampires...but nothing that involved throwing weird light around that messed things up something awful. But then again, it was a huge store, and she didn't know at all what she was looking for, so it was trial and error. As she was shelving some books, she was sitting on the floor near the entry way, not in the way but just beyond as she put books on a low shelf. She had one set aside, because it was about demons, and she was curious on that. She still maintained that she and her sister must be demonic.

Porter had been eager to find Medea again; eagerness shifting at some point to anxiety over the passing of Saturday. He could've spent the whole day with her if he hadn't needed to sneak her out, and once she was gone? his parents had kept him busy the whole day. Somewhere in there, he had to wonder if she was panicking about what she'd seen, so when Sunday came? He was resolute about finding Medea.

Her foster parents had greeted Porter when he'd stopped by her house, telling him that she wasn't in and pointing out how to get to Nevermore. They seemed nice, but that could change if they found out his interest in Medea. Plenty of parents shifted in regard to the difference of male friends and boyfriends, after all. But he'd thanked them, trudging off in search of Nevermore. And now? There he was, slipping through the door and tugging his earbuds free and smiling at the sight of Medea, seated on the floor. "You don't waste any time when you say you're gonna find a job, do you?"

Looking up, Medea smiled brightly, looking pleased. "I'm a go getter, what can I say?" she asked rhetorically. "Besides...it's a book shop. My first and dearest love, next to theater." she added. This was a surprise, but a good one. Hell, if she could get him to help her find out what the hell he was, assuming that he didn't actually fully know, they could be in on it together. It would make her even more indispensable to him.

"Yeah?" Porter asked, glancing around at the shelves, "Must be nice to work in a quiet one like this, you get all the time you want to sample the shelves." If he had to have a regular job? he'd want one like this, albeit in a comic shop. Moving over to where Medea sat, Porter crouched down a little to drop to her level with an equally-pleased smile. "Sorry to track you down, I was just sorta hoping to see you again."

She grinned at him, then glanced around, as if looking to see that they were alone. Then, satisfied they were (what with the shop being empty right now in the first place) she leaned forward to give him a little kiss. "I'm happy to see you again." she told him. "So, I don't mind being hunted down. You'll give me someone to talk to for a little while if you wanted to stick around. Though I give you fair warning, I might have you move a box or two for me. Books are heavy and my arm's still non-functioning." she said, gesturing to the proper sling she had on it. It was decorated, something that she'd done a long time ago. She had a lot of little things like that, considering how often she got herself injured. So, her sling was hand made, with colorful material, and had little buttons and patches on it.

He was all too happy to return the kiss, but the sight of her sling put a line in Porter's brow. "Is it still hurting?" he asked worriedly, reaching out to rest his hand at her shoulder. Porter wanted her all better again, but it had only been a full day since she'd hurt it to begin with. At least she seemed in good spirits, not freaked out by how she'd shared a bed with a genetic anomaly like him. "Whether it is or not, put me to work," he offered with a grin, nodding at the books, "I wouldn't want you doing this alone if you were fine. Healthy, that is."

She laughed lightly. "Well, you know me and bruising." she said. He'd seen it. She'd made sure he had. "And yes, it's sprained, officially. I'm okay, though. It'll be alright. Nothing I haven't dealt with before, with my frail constitution." she said, blowing it off. But she did so in such a way that it was meant to stick in his mind, which, with the frown at seeing the sling and such, she figured it would. She wanted him to view her as a damsel. Someone who needed saving. Saving by him. Mentally strong, physically weak, someone who could cater to him on a lot of levels. "But here. Help me put this box of books away, then I'll show you where some others are?" she suggested. "These books are on demons, I guess. I was thumbing through. Kinda...disturbing stuff." she put in there, even if she was fascinated.

"Demons?" porter asked with vague surprise, looking at a row of titles again, "Wait... is this whole store just, like, one big occult section?" What a weird place to work, or to even open in the first place. It was like a comic shop for pagans. He grabbed a stack of books from the box she sat near, checking each title before putting it on the open shelf next to Medea. "I'd have to assume they're disturbing, yeah. It's demons after all, the best you can hope for is that modern fantasy-fluff treatment where they're all smutted up like vampires." He didn't like this though, her sitting around books like this might make Medea decide he was some monster.

"Yeah, demons." Medea confirmed. "And yes, that's pretty much exactly what this shop is. Lots of interesting things. I mean, some of it is hard to believe, but after the other night..." she trailed off, looking at him through the curtain of her hair as she put another book onto the shelf. She made sure he'd notice, though. "I mean, it kind of makes one into a believer, y'know?" she asked softly.

Porter hesitated with a book in each hand, nodding slightly. "I guess so?" he murmured, musing on that. Was it a real werewolf? Some sort of deranged beast? He hadn't seen it change shapes, so who really knew? "Doesn't mean it's all real, though, does it? Vampires and ghosts and everything? It's... it's a lot to buy into." He didn't think of himself as supernatural, that was for sure. He had powers; maybe his mother had sat too close to a microwave while pregnant with him or something.

"I don't know." Medea said. "I mean...okay, here's how I'm looking at it." she said, settling in after putting another book away, and she faced Porter more. "Obviously, the other night, that was...I'm calling it a werewolf. And if they exist, and no one's bothered noticing til now, then there's got to be other things out there no one did either. Or did, but didn't live to tell the tale, or do and just keep it secret, because who's going to believe you? So, why not vampires and demons and other things? I saw a book on angels as well." Not that they interested her much as of late. "Why not all of it?"

"Well, for one thing? With this many books, someone's going to get something wrong," Porter insisted, shrugging a little. Really, he just didn't like thinking there might be details on whatever he was somewhere in here; that he might fit in with demons or angels or whatever. "But... maybe. Maybe there's more out there than those... damn. Can I just admit it's weird to say 'werewolves' and mean it?" he asked with a helpless smile, freeing up his hands and looking around expectantly at where else he could help.

She smiled. "Yes, you can say that." she said. "And yeah, sure some of this has to be wrong, but there's a hell of a lot of books in here, and a lot of them have to be right, too." Medea said. "I think--" she looked a little sheepishly at him. "I think it's kind of exciting, actually." she said, sounding as if she wanted him to keep that to himself. "I mean think about it, a whole world out there that exists beneath the surface? And we've seen a part of it? That's fascinating. And with what you can do..." she trailed off there, basically just wanting to gauge how he felt on the matter.

He didn't look thrilled, that was for sure. If there was something in here that applied to him and what he could do? Well, Porter wasn't sure he was ready to consider the idea that he wasn't human. Still, he nodded in thought at Medea's perspective. "It's amazing in concept, but... it's a little freaky too," he admitted. "Just sorta leaves me reeling? Like, I thought I was weird, but if all of this is real? I'm a tiny drop in a big bucket." So maybe he could be a hero, her hero, if he could get past his own insecurities. "But hey, if you're working here, maybe I should be doing some research."

"Well I figured I would." Medea said. "You're more than welcome too, there's a ton to look at here." she added. "And I guess maybe a little freaky, but I guess for me...I'm a little more freaked out by the idea that there's all this stuff I don't know? So, I'd just rather go about remedying that, than sitting back being weirded out by it all." she explained, going for being a positive influence, and putting into his head that she wasn't disgusted or repelled by any of this stuff. "I um...I'll admit that I was looking around for some book that detailed what you could do." she said, careful not to call him a 'thing' in any manner. "I haven't found anything, though."

Oddly chastised by the way Medea seemed more willing to embrace this, Porter nodded and reached out to tilt a book back, glancing at the cover. "I suppose I should try to do the same," he agreed, "Just in case there's more trouble or weird stuff. I don't know if I'll be so lucky twice." He looked surprised by her admission, though, sitting forward a little. "I don't think you will find anything, Medea. I... I don't think I'm like a werewolf or a demon or anything." He was a mutant, or he wanted to be. "Maybe I am, though. Not like I've ever found anyone like me, or like that thing from the other night."

"You never know. I mean, I was reading up on this book about psychics earlier, and there were a ton of different kinds, not just like in the movies." Medea said. "So it might be worth a shot to find out. I mean, just think, there could be all sorts of things you could do with it that you don't even know about." she said with a light smile. "I figure it would be more than worth finding out. And for me...I just kind of want to know, in case there's anything I can help with." she added, looking a little shy again, like she was unsure if she was treading on ground she shouldn't be.

She hit him on multiple levels there; soothing his worries with the idea that he could be some kind of psychic, flattering him with the offer of help, making him hopeful with the idea that his powers might have more uses. "I guess it would be good to try and find," he admitted with a grudging smile, reaching out for one of Medea's hands and squeezing it like he wanted to solidify the uncertain expression she wore. "I just... it weirds me out? And I don't want it to scare you off too. I've been doing it solo for a while now, you know? I don't want to go back to it already."

She squeezed his hand in return, and made eye contact, smiling at him. It was a soft sort of expression. "Porter...I'm not going to be scared off. You saved my life. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you. Why on earth would that scare me?" she asked. "Besides that, this is just...it's just something more to you. It doesn't change who you are, who you were before I found out." she said, of course playing it that everything was fine, and she was happy to accept it all. That and playing the 'you're my hero' card again, because it catered to him so terribly well.

And it had yet to fail, for that matter. His eyes lifted as she brought up the rescue again, Porter's hand squeezing tighter on Medea's as he nodded. "I guess I just feel like... if you know everything, you might start seeing me like that thing. And I'm not, but you know that. I just need to keep reminding myself," he assured her, "So bear with me. I'm still getting used to the whole 'sharing my secret identity' idea. But I like it so far."

She smiled sweetly at him, and gave him another little kiss, letting it linger this time. "I'm not going to see you as anything but who you are, and I like who you are, Porter." she assured him. "And personally, I'm happy I found out about your secret identity. It's just one more thing that makes you extraordinary. Unique. Not like everyone else in the world. And I like that." she continued. "And you'd never be like that werewolf." she said. Even if he had kind of done some switchy-changey thing when he'd...done whatever he'd done. So there was some jeckle/hyde action going on, she just needed more time to figure it out.

He was lucky to have fallen for someone who was so patient; not only did she assuage his fears, but she was gradually making Porter feel like his worries weren't as big as they seemed. "I think you being okay with this is one more thing in your court, too. Exhibit fifty in reasons you rock," he teased, leaning in after the kiss to rub Medea's nose with his. "I like that too... like even if we're both a little weird, we still fit together?" Which made him feel good inside, and it showed as the concern smoothed from his expression. "So... where should we start looking?" he asked, "I think we can rule out weres, vampires, and demons. you said nothing matched with psychics too, right?"

There, that was better. At least he was playing along according to the correct script. She was playing it right. "And yeah, lets." she agreed. "And none of those things even looked close." she agreed. "The psychics book didn't have anything to do with like...that sort of thing." she said. "I don't know where to look next, really, but I'm sure eventually we can figure it out, right? Why don't you go look through some titles, and see if anything catches your eye? I'll go break this box down in the back." she said, since they'd put all the demon books away.

"Okay," he answered, rising from his squat and moving down a row of shelves, "I'll start down this way." Porter moved off with a little smile, oblivious to the machinations he'd been caught in. As far as he knew, he'd won the lottery. And as long as she was gently encouraging him? Porter would keep taking baby steps towards the truth about what he was. He started down a row of books slowly, squinting at titles and eventually plucking one free that was titled "Hold the Line: A Protector's Life". Porter thumbed the cover open, skimming the first few pages curiously as he waited and squinting at the words to try and see beyond the perpetual shadow clinging to his vision.

Medea let him go, mostly just letting him browse for a few moments on his own as she took the empty cardboard box into the back and broke it down for the recycling. Then she gave him a few more moments, merely standing back there as if she were busy. After giving him enough time, she walked back out, and leaned against one of the stacks as she watched him, a little appreciative smile on her lips.

He'd moved on by the time Medea returned, browsing past a solitary book about gorgons that Porter figured was one of the fakes and settling on what sounded like a fairy tale; people who could manipulate dreams. He was smiling a little as he flipped pages, eyes lighting up at a translated panel of old artwork that was still splendid, even by today's standards. He read for a minute before folding the book shut with a sigh; curious or no, it wasn't what he was looking for. He finally noticed Medea as he put the book back, eyebrows raising playfully at the sight of her smile. "What?" he asked with a smile of his own, hands tucked in his pockets as he started her way.

She beamed at him, eyes not leaving him. "Nothing." she said, playfully toned as well. "Just admiring the view." she told him. She wasn't sure exactly what effect that statement might have on him, but she wanted to find out. It was all about pushing the little buttons and seeing what result occurred, and then compiling it all to get exactly the sorts of reactions you wanted.

"And people say I'm strange," Porter joked as he got closer, reaching a hand out to slip around Medea's side. "Though it's a pretty great view from here too," he added with a slow flush in his cheeks, "Close up's just stunning." The pessimist inside him still wondered, from time to time, if she was messing with him. If she was? Medea was really going through a lot of strain just for an eventual punchline. And until she did, he was bound and determined to get over his awkward grins and self-doubt. She likes you. Next to everything in these books, is it that strange?

She smiled at the compliment, looking like she appreciated it. Was flattered. She also leaned closer to kiss him again. This one she drew out more, made a little more substantial than those previous. As if their being hidden from the door and windows gave them more freedom for that sort of thing. It was part of the adventurous yet virtuous good girl thing. the idea that she would definitely go through with kissing her boyfriend while at work, but she was going to be discreet about it.

He was more than happy to draw her in, mindful of where his hand settled. She was definitely still sore, her arm was in that sling... but Porter wanted to touch her and feel that delicate build against him. He kissed her slowly, gentle and mindful of the space around them. Porter was in no hurry to break the moment, but he'd feel like shit if he got her fired for making out while she was supposed to be working.

She kissed him until she had to draw back for breath, and even then she didn't pull back far. "You should come visit me more often." she murmured, voice soft, a little breathy. And, technically, breathier than it naturally was. She wanted him to think that he completely rolled her, no matter their circumstances.

"Total agreement," Porter murmured with a pleased smile. He hadn't kissed many girls, but apparently he'd learned from the ones he had. He leaned down and in, pushing past Medea's hair to kiss at her neck boldly. "But then neither of us would get any work done," he whispered in her ear, actually liking his shaded vision in this moment. It smoothed out the surroundings and made this moment feel far more private for him.

She made a soft little giggle sound, and tilted her head to give him whatever access he wanted. "True..." she agreed. "But...a few minutes of not-working won't hurt, right? I've been putting books away for two hours now, that's a whole lot of work, especially for a currently one-armed girl." she continued. In reality there simply wasn't that much work to do in a book shop as small as this one was. Shelving and re-shelving was terribly exciting in comparison to sitting behind the counter, doing not a lot of anything. Well. Other than reading.

Porter grinned into the curve of Medea's neck as he kept showering little kisses along her skin. "Won't hurt anything at all," he agreed in a soft voice, "Aside from leaving me a little frustrated." He could admit to that, after all. Porter leaned back with a little sigh of acceptance, knowing that he couldn't really push beyond that point in here. "But you deserve a break. Otherwise you'll end up with both arms in a sling and me hauling all your books around at school."

Medea laughed and smiled at him, playfully pushing at his shoulder, but then she just hooked her arm up around his neck. "Poor thing. Frustration to deal with." she teased. "Because it's not at all frustrating for me or anything. I don't at all want you to continue just what you were doing..." she trailed off, giving him a cutely impish expression.

He sighed, biting his lip and brushing his fingers across Medea's cheek. "Well, at least it's not just me," Porter teased with a wink. "But I don't want you thinking that's why I'm here, either. So... I can wait." Maybe his folks would go out of town, or hers. He was close to buying a car, but the backseat scenario was so sleazy. "I could keep it up, if you didn't feel like reading more random books," he offered, drawing his hand from her cheek to her ear, fingers stroking Medea's hair.

She made a show of being drawn in by his touch, and then drew in a breath and made a faint little frustrated sound. "I should work." she said with a heavy sigh. "And I don't want to get caught, so...guess it's back to trying to find books relevant to you." she said, sounding terribly reluctant about it, and she gave him a slight pout for show.

"I've never wanted to read less in my entire life," Porter joked, leaning down and in to kiss her pouting lip lightly. He stepped back with a faint sigh, looking along a shelf and frowning. There didn't seem to be much of a theme here, a few titles at a time followed by apparent subject changes. But one book caught his eye, it's spine bearing only the symbol of ouroboros where a title should be. Maybe it didn't mean anything? But Porter was curious now.

Medea followed his gaze, and arched an eyebrow, pushing off of the stacks and reaching out to tap the one she thought he was looking at. "This one?" she asked, taking the book from the shelf and handing it to him.

He almost didn't want to take the book, there was some buried sort of panic inside Porter. The truth of what he was seemed a terrifying prospect, and while this book might not have it? What if it does? What if I'm a demon or something? But he swallowed a little, taking the book and turning it over. That symbol was plain on the cover as well, and with an apprehensive glance at Medea he flipped open the cover.

The book was obviously old, Porter was enough of a literary geek to recognize a printing-press book when he saw one, and he was careful as he flipped past a few blank pages, pausing at the first words he saw. A title page, apparently. 'Vita Nutritor in Vita.' He didn't speak any semblance of Latin, but recognized it and the words that came from its roots. If Porter had to guess? "Life feeds on life..." he murmured, flipping a few more pages.

Medea arched a brow, leaning in closer so she could look at the words as he was flipping through. "Does that sound like what you do?" she asked. She wasn't sure, since she didn't really know what he'd done to the werewolf once it was down. She just knew he'd done something. Something obviously heavy, and something fatal for it.

"I..." Porter trailed, eyes fixed raptly on a page, "I'm not sure yet? It looks like a journal or something." More than a journal, actually. He was seeing references to other places and times, like whoever'd written it was compiling details about people like them, whatever they were. "I just saw... 'vampire'," he muttered, flipping back to show her a page, "So maybe not. Psychic vampire? Sounds... kinda fucked up." He was unsure but fascinated, and Porter held his page as he turned the book to check the price on the back. "Holy shit, seventy five bucks? Does this book come with kung-fu grip?"

Medea smirked faintly, thinking that she could probably get away with saying 'no, but I might' at some point in their relationship, but not just this second. "Sorry, a lot of the books are expensive." she said with a sigh. "Which is why I read them on my shift, and don't actually take any home with me." Then she paused. "Psychic vampire...I don't know if it sounds fucked up. More just...I don't know, it's just a title, right?" she asked, in her steadfast, reassuring tone. Making it all Okay for him and all.

He nodded a little, but wasn't sure he meant the gesture. A title was one thing, but if it was true? It was a lot more; it was what he was, like a werewolf or a demon or anything the books in here talked about, things that were very possibly true. "I think I'm gonna get this one," Porter said at last, flipping the book shut and nodding resolutely. Sure, he'd have to explain it to his parents, but he had a few expenses he'd need to clarify to his mom and Carter soon enough. "Was there one you wanted?" he went on, managing a small, promising smile for Medea, "Anything you haven't read yet? My treat, since I wouldn't have even found this without you."

"Oh, god no." Medea told him. "Don't worry about that at all. Consider it my pleasure. I don't need compensation for helping you out." she told him, in a 'silly boy' tone, though it was light. Like she understood right now he was a little freaked, so she was being gentle. She leaned closer to kiss his cheek lightly.

"It's not compensation," he insisted with a helpless smile as she kissed him, "It's an expression of gratitude. And it's not just for this? Just for... everything. Being patient, giving me a chance, just being you." He wished his parents were here, just to see how he'd found a girl who apparently refused to enjoy his money. That'd show them. "If you say no, I'm just going to surprise you with something else later," he promised, letting the book hang and drawing Medea in close again.

She smiled at him at that, letting herself get drawn in, and she gave him another little kiss, this one on the lips. "Then you'll have to surprise me." she murmured. "I refuse to pick out my own present. Especially when I don't deserve one! I'm just enjoying you, and being with you and everything that comes with that. Hardly difficult work." she continued, smiling at him before she gave him another brush of a kiss.

He was smiling right back, grinning into the kiss even. Not for the first time, Porter had to wonder how he got so lucky, what he'd done to deserve even the chance of someone like her. But he didn't wonder for long, enjoying the closeness while he could and leaning back a little. "I'd say the difficult work is this," he murmured, eyes dancing with delight, "Coming up for air and all." But as unenjoyable as it was, it let him think. And now Porter was thinking about what he could get that would surprise her nicely.

"Well, coming up for air really is difficult, but somehow I manage. I think it's the promise of things to come." Medea told him, smiling. "You going to let me read this book when you're finished with it?" she asked. "I was thinking of taking notes and the like...sounds silly, I know, but..."

"I think I'm going to burn through it," Porter told her with a content little smile, pushing aside his curiosity about the book in favor of the matter at hand. "So yeah, sometime this week I can get it to you. What're the notes for?" He knew what he'd need them for, of course. The details the book promised could go a long way in his work, and quite possibly help him understand just what he was.

"Learning comprehension, as well as extrapolating out ideas." she answered him. "I mean, a book is all fine and good but if you can see the important details laid out in front of you, then it might make more sense, give a better idea about the actual big picture...everything. That and see if there are any things that don't make any sense, details the book may have gotten wrong, or areas that it doesn't cover."

Yeah, he was definitely going to involve her with the comic. That? That was an editorial perspective, and it could only be useful. "Maybe we could have a study night and compare notes," Porter teased softly, "Except instead of algebra or whatever, it'd be weird creatures that might not exist. I'll order pizza and everything." Plus, if they called it a study night? His parents probably wouldn't object.

She laughed softly. "Sounds like a plan to me." she told him firmly. "Study night. Can I call it a study date?" she asked. "And possibly look cute when I come over so we can talk possibly nonexistent individuals in reality?"

Only if you want my parents to worry. But he wasn't going to say that, she'd been offended by the implications of her last visit, after all. "That all depends on how much you want me to actually study," he teased, "I might not be able to look at your notes at all. I know I'm having trouble paying attention to anything else right now." Which wasn't a No by any means. How could he even hope to say otherwise?

Medea grinned at him. "Okay, I'll...come dressed in frumpy clothes and try and ugly myself up a bit, so you pay much more attention to my notes than me." she teased. "I think I can get you to pay attention to the notes. Plus, I'll be an absolute peach and make you your own copies and everything, so when I have departed from your presence, you can look them over too." she assured him.

"You know you could come over dressed in a Green Goblin mask and it wouldn't deter me," Porter pointed out, shaking his head a moment later. "Don't comment on that, I know it sounds all kinds of weird. But I promise I'll do everything I can to be a good study buddy, deal?" He didn't doubt that she'd share her notes and insights with him; that was just Medea, in his mind. She was giving like that, wanting to share her worldview and hoping others would share theirs in kind. It was way up there on the list of reasons he just didn't want to let go of her in any sense.

She arched an eyebrow. "What about a cat woman mask?" she asked, winking at him. "But witness me not commenting further! And okay, you'll be a good study buddy, I'll make you notes, we'll discuss things." she said, starting to tug him back around the stacks towards the counter. "I should probably pretend to want to get back to work." she told him, reluctance heavy in her tone.

He was all too happy to let her lead the way, and Porter didn't have another glance to spare on the shelves or the books on them. His eyes were fixed on her, mind reeling from that throwaway statement Medea had made. "Good thing you can act so well," he murmured after her, "People are going to think you love working here, even when it's slow. But okay..." He wasted a pout on her back, injecting it into his tone as he raised her hand up to kiss the knuckles. "I should probably get home, anyway. I need to try and find a Cat Woman mask online now," he said with a joking tone, wondering if he actually meant it or not.

She grinned at that. "You find one, I'll model it for you." she told him. "I could probably even manage the purring." Then she leaned over the counter towards him and demonstrated a deep throated purr type sound. "Meow." she told him, giving him a sultry look to go with it. Cat Woman was supposed to be as such, right? She was pretty sure. She'd have to research. "And it would give me opportunity to act, play around a little. It's fun."

What if I bought you the full outfit? That? Was weird. And it most definitely wasn't getting said aloud. But that purr, the meow, the seductive edge in Medea's eyes... it all rolled together and overwhelmed him. Quite suddenly, he got how some guys could end up fixating on a comic book character when there were real people around them. But for him, it was the idea of this very real girl catering to ideas he'd never considered before. And for all of his mental interplay, Porter just stood there with a goofy grin hanging on his lips in response to Medea's impromptu performance. "It's definitely fun," he agreed, setting his book on the counter to one side and fishing out his wallet.

She seemed to like that, caught on looking at him for a long moment before she seemed to 'catch' herself, and she rang up the book, messing up the first time like she was terribly distracted by something going on in her mind. "Well, maybe you'll indulge me occasionally." she suggested, a touch belatedly. Like it was a comment she wasn't sure about, and sort of expected him to shoot her down on or laugh off.

"Any time," he promised with an enamored sigh, fishing out his debit card and holding it out for Medea. "My mom's got the complete works of Shakespeare? Come on over, I'll read any parts you don't like and just watch you do everything else." Because he'd get to stare at her and wonder over it all, and the offer might do something about the lack of confidence Porter just couldn't understand. He wanted her to see what he did, but so far? it just didn't seem to happen. Still, he'd find a way, it was the least he could do. "Are your foster parents picking you up tonight? I don't know if it's cool to walk home."

"I'm sure we could come up with something a little more interesting than that." she said. "But don't you regret that you told me that, I'll hold you to it." she told him. She'd give it a little while, then see what she could do. See what she could introduce into his world that he'd enjoy, and would be just strange enough that he'd keep it between them. Running his card and handing it back, she smiled. "They're coming to get me. They're kinda paranoid after the other night, and with me already injured and everything...they're getting overly protective. Which...I don't actually mind. It's kind of nice to know they care." In reality she thought it was irritating and in the way, but that was hardly the point. She just was taking the opportunity to introduce into his mind in subtle ways that she wasn't used to being cared about.

If he was aware of it and not on the receiving end? Porter would've been amazed, he would've wanted to script her as a villain instead of a heroine. But the kid was clueless, and it showed. The only clues he was catching were the ones she wanted, and they made him feel good. She'd find happiness, in Porter's mind; she had foster parents who were looking out for her, she had talent and beauty and a big heart. And now she had him to encourage her, to remind her of how wonderful she was. "Okay, cool. I was gonna offer to walk you home, but if you've got a ride then I guess I'll just have to wait to see you again," he sighed, pocketing his card and tucking his book under his arm. "Speaking of? When do you want to hang out and study?"

She leaned over the counter and reached out with her good arm to tug him closer so she could sneak another smooch before she gave him his slips to sign. "Whenever you want." she said. "Soon?" she suggested. "My nights are free and clear for you to do with them what you will, dear sir." she added, adding a touch of a southern drawl to her tone.

He was all too happy to return the gesture, nodding emphatically and scribbling his name on the receipt. "Definitely soon, then," Porter agreed as he stepped back from the counter with a frown, obviously reluctant to leave or even distance himself from her. "I'd be honored," he went on, mangling a drawl in response for Medea and wincing at himself. "Ouch, sorry for that? I'll just... go, before I try a British accent and scare you off forever."

"You'd have to try far harder than that to scare me off." Medea said with a wink. "But off with you! I have work to pretend to do, and you have reading to do! I'll see you soon--promise." she told him, adding a touch of shy in there, and her own 'reluctance' to let him go. Even if she was trying to play the good employee card.

She was right, of course. If Medea was the type to be easily scared away, she would've left when he'd fought and killed a werewolf. The little hints she gave Porter were nearly enough to keep him there, but he knew the job was important to her, and he wasn't about to ruin it or get Medea in trouble. "Promise," Porter echoed with a nod and a grin, backing up into the door and pushing his way out. He breathed deep of the cool air as he hit the sidewalks. So there's werewolves. So your parents don't like your girlfriend. So she knows you have super powers. It's still a damn good day.