I sat down slowly at the table I was directed to, and hummed softly. The place across from me was empty, and several people around me were armed.

The waiter, when he approached, shook a little. "M-May I take your order, Sir?" He asked.

"I'll just have wine, for now... bring me a decently aged bottle of sweet red wine, sealed? I like to open my bottles, it always tastes better fresh." I smiled charmingly.

He bowed his head, and slipped away.

I hummed and smiled, giving myself full defense with my Juggernaut ability, just before someone walked by, and a small shiv was rammed between my ribs.

I smiled again as the blade snapped, and snapped the person's wrist without looking, then grabbed his hair, pulling him towards me slowly.

I smiled at the handsome face. "I wonder who's Familia you're in..." I pushed his head to the ground, and stepped on it, ripping his suit down the back to see his status. I nodded slowly, ignoring his cries. "I see. Jealous that I'm going to see your goddess in this way? Go on, then, boy, you bore me." I released him, and leaned back, just as the waiter returned.

I smiled at the bottle of red wine in a bucket of ice, and nodded. "Quite timely, thank you." I picked up the bottle, and cut the wax seal off with a claw, then dug the claw into the cork, pulling slowly, until it popped out with a refreshing sound.

I set the wine on the table to breath, and a gentle feminine voice spoke behind me. "Ahhh, I can always tell the make of a man by how long he lets his wine breath..."

"And I can always tell the beauty of a woman by the sound of her voice... are we both satisfied? Or disappointed? You tell me, dearest Freya." I said easily.

She blinked slowly in the reflection of the glass in front of Me, and I poured myself a glass. "This is a rather sweet Red... I knew it would be your favorite." I poured her a glass, and leaned back, after corking the wine.

She stood next to her chair, and I stood, quickly pulling it out, and then pushing it in until she lifted a finger to stop.

I sat back down, and smiled, sipping the wine, and finding it delicious, (though I wasn't very experienced with wines, only Whiskey,).

She hummed. "And how did you come to that conclusion?" She asked, studiously ignoring the glass.

I smiled slowly. "It's the color of blood, and it, just like blood, can be spilled in ways that are simply... beautiful." I smiled at the fountain, which was pouring low-class red wine over a white marble statue.

She smirked just a tiny bit, and took her glass, sipping it. "It is a good year..." she said as an excuse.

I smiled a cheeky smile. "So is this one, I'd say... all the wine being placed in the cellars will be sweeter, after tonight... wetter." I rested my elbows on the table, my left hand under my cheek, my right holding my glass.

She raised an eyebrow. "Flirting already? How bold..."

"I'm very skilled at two things. Carnage, and Poetry. And... What are women but the most beautiful Poetry, Creating Carnage?" I shrugged slowly, and sipped my wine again.

"I cannot make the connection..." she raised an eyebrow.

"You say 'how bold', and I hear, 'interesting...', and therefore I say 'Women are poetry, and I am a master poet'. So what did you hear?" I smiled.

She raised the other eyebrow. "You are remarkably cocksure."

"I'm Italian, dearest Freya, I was cocksure." I grinned. "But, in all seriousness, I am so confident for a few reasons... you, unlike me, have never been on a date with someone who wasn't immediately in love with you for some reason, be it the size of certain attributes or... divine intervention." I smiled faux-modestly.

That surprised a giggle out of her, and the waiter fainted. I caught his collar calmly, and lowered him to the floor.

She seemed surprised, and I nodded. "Yes, see? That is why I am confident. No divine intervention will make me fall hopelessly in love with you, and so I am free to talk to you as a man to a woman, not a man to an untouchable goddess." I gently traced a finger over her knuckles, and leaned away, smiling.

She hummed gently. "Very interesting..."

"Now why don't you tell me what you ?" I asked.

She froze her expression into a gentle smile. "Hmm... a cocksure young elf, protected from my magic charms... but still under my spell."

I laughed. "No, Dearest Freya, not in the slightest. And I meant my soul. I can see a reflection of it in your eyes. What do you ?" I asked gently.

She hummed softly, and hid her smile behind her glass. "A man who is far too observant.."

"Ahh, a Man, versus a Boy! I am making progress, I think? Would you like to order food, then? I admit, this wine is very good, but... sustenance, comes to mind." I smiled.

She nodded slowly, and raised a hand.

A small woman waiter came, and stood a bit away, clearly afraid. "Y-yes, Goddess? How may I help you?"

I cleared my throat gently. "Look at me, dear, that will make it easier to speak with confidence. I'll have a Grilled Sirloin Steak, 16oz, Rare, liberally spiced, and a bowl of maraschino cherries on the side." I said swiftly.

She scribbled it down, and stared at me, only glancing at the goddess.

Freya hummed disinterestedly. "A House salad, lightly tossed in olive oil, no meat or cheese, and a-... a bowl of Maraschino cherries. How did you know?" She looked at me again, confused.

I smirked. "Because, as I said, without your power, you are a woman first, and goddess second. Also I like cherries, so you'll need your own bowl."

She giggled again, and I covered the waitresses ears quickly, then sent her into the kitchens as I sat down.

"Quick... you have improved, Sir Dorian..." she smiled.

"Yes. I am almost Lvl 4." I chuckled.

She blinked slowly, staring at me.

"Yes, I know, I'm Lvl 2, but all my stats are quickly closing in on X Level..." I chuckled.

She slowly smiled, her facial expression relaxing. "You are very interesting... tell me, would you like to be a part of my Familia? I assure you, the things I can do exceed those of that tiny goddess you have now..."

I chuckled gently. "True, I'm absolutely sure that you're correct. I'll honestly think about it, Lady Freya. But how about we have a nice dinner, and no more boring matters such as Levels and Familia's? How do you enjoy my Games?" I said softly, and sipped my wine.

She raised an eyebrow. "Your games? Ahhh, yes. You defeated my Ottar so brashly to claim the Title of . I was very with that." She showed the first negative emotion so far, frowning slightly.

I smiled knowingly. "Yes... he's a very interesting man. And strong. A good fight... And how did you like your Lvl 6's fighting against those other opponents?" I mentioned the last four days of games.

She frowned. "The structure seemed to be created to favor the Lvl 1's and 2's."

"I got the same impression... but is that so bad? Letting the Lvl 1's see that their 'superiors' are only men and women, not gods... the real gods are so much higher than that. Almost... out of this realm." I smiled gently.

She gazed at me critically, and smirked. "I see. Your passage from Midgard... an unfortunate accident, I'm sure."

I nodded slowly. "Of course. The goddess who sang that spell couldn't have possibly meant any harm. I would even thank her, were she here... this world is so much more... than my old one."

"Vibrant?" She asked curiously.

"Mmm... Without the gods to mix their Divinity with Human Creativity, the world turned Grey... though, the poetry is very good, wouldn't you say?" I looked aside as the waitress returned, and set our plates next to us, then two small bowls of cherries.

I began calmly cutting my steak as she stared at me, then popped a piece of the juicy sirloin into my mouth. I moaned softly at the exquisite taste, and sipped my wine, to test the pairing.

I found it perfect, and smiled, swallowing. Then I picked up one of my cherries, as she reached for hers, and dipped it into my wine swiftly, popping the entire red delicacy into my mouth

She froze. "And again, you anticipate my cravings... do you have the Sight, as I do?"

I smiled and chewed the fat cherry, then swallowed. "Not telling... but that really is why I got these Cherries... though I usually do this with Vodka or Jaeger."

She smiled again, and gently dipped the cherry into the wine, then brought it to her lips, which were the exact color of both, and slowly ate it.

I smiled. "Beautiful. Even without your Aura. You put almost every woman I've ever known to shame, you know. And I have known some of the most beautiful women in Midgard."

She raised an eyebrow. "?"

I nodded. "I don't believe in Absolutes." I cut the steak again, and savored another bite, and a sip of wine.

She hummed softly. "I see... I suppose that is logical, though I don't like men to assume there's someone more beautiful than me."

"Ahh, Jealousy. An ugly characteristic in mortal women, and just so in a Goddess. Perish the thought, Dear Freya. As of right now, in this moment, only one woman is in my eyes, and that woman is you. That, alone, should tell you who I am most infatuated with." I said sweetly, masking my misstep of calling her ugly.

She was miffed, I could tell, but chose not to react.

I finished my steak, just as she finished her salad. Before she could speak, I topped off my glass, and filled her empty one. "And now, for Sobremesa. I know it's a Spanish Word, but then Italians love it as well." I chuckled.

She smiled gently. "You spoil me too much and I may steal you from your goddess..."

I chuckled. "I am yours until Sunday. That day I must fight in the final Tournament... it will be a Grand battle." I sipped my wine slowly, never taking my black eyes from her Violet ones.

She narrowed her eyes sexily and leaned back, stretching her body, and allowing me a better view, yet remaining nonchalant. "All mine, hmm?" She asked, smiling behind her glass.

I chuckled and nodded. "Indeed. I have no plans until Sunday Morning. Perhaps I can cook your breakfast tomorrow? I am told I am a very sexy chef, if not very skilled."

Her eyes sparkled a bit. "Hmmm... well, another glass of this wine, and more cherries, will be needed to make that happen."

"I'm willing to take my time." I perched on my chair languidly, and sipped my wine, gently biting a cherry, and ripping the stem out.

A tiny amount of red colored her cheeks, and she smiled. "You are a charmer, aren't you? Are you sure you're not descended from me? ... or Freyr?"

I smirked. "I'm Italian, Love. It's impossible to tell how many gods are in my bloodline... but I think they would all be Roman. Maybe Anteros or Priapus, if any."

She chuckled in a normal tone. "I suppose you're correct... well? How about that wine?"

---

I tossed Johnny's glasses onto the bedside table, (which held the Mirror's that Loki and several other goddesses were watching through, the only way to get a Godly Mirror into Freya's Room,) so that they were facing the bed, and allowed myself to be pushed down into my back.

I smiled as the Goddess of Love draped herself over me. 'And so my saga begins, hmm?'