No Prince Charming (Tempus)

The girl was something else.

Of course that could be said for just about any of the girls in the 552. They came in all different shapes and sizes and for awhile Tempus was just dazzled on the variety. It did sadden her a bit that those of the darker skinned variety, such as herself, seemed to be non-existent but at the same time she didn't really mind. It made her unique and she found more and more that she could use her skin tone to her advantage when she went trolling for someone to keep her company. And in truth, it really wasn't all that hard. Even back at the Cat's Paw the girls were slightly prudish, usually more for keeping to themselves than warming a bed with Tempus. But these girls? It was like an all you can eat buffet.

This girl, Lacey Von Eric, was of German descent with golden blond hair and silky pale skin. Tempus had been working at chipping away at the armor the girl had seemed to put around her and while it didn't take all that long the thief enjoyed the chase while it lasted. It was probably her favorite part, besides popping the lesbo-cherry, and Tempus knew this one was a keeper. She was a tad stern with a serious face but when she blushed it was absolutely stunning. Tempus usually caught up with Lacey at her locker and now was no different. She had popped th question about the Spring Fling Dance several times and Lacey had always rolled her eyes and walked away. Tempus never took it as a rejection, though, as if Lacey truly wasn't interested she would say so. Instead, it was a 'maybe'.

Until now.

“Glad ya finally see tha light, love.” Tempus smiled, taking Lacey's delicate hand and bringing it to her lips for a soft kiss. “I knew you'd say yes, ya know. Already got us tickets.”

“Hmph,” the blond girl grumped, though her eyes danced. “I suppose you probably have several girls on backup, am I correct?”

“Nope.” Tempus denied, shaking her head as she reached a hand forward to clasp the other girl's chin. “Never even crossed my mind.”

The kiss was soft and Tempus' mind reveled in the softness of the other girl's lips. When they pulled apart a dark red covered Lacey's cheeks and Tempus felt herself filling with pride. 'I did that!' she cheered inwardly. 'No one else, just me.'

“See ya later Lacey,” Tempus grinned as she took a step back. “After class, yeah?”

With an affirmative nod from her date to the dance, Tempus turned around and started to walk down the hall to her next class. Really, though, she was probably going to sneak out of the school and grab something to eat. The day was about halfway over and, really, Tempus felt as if she'd already accomplished a lot. She was about to whistle a tune when she saw a short boy with glasses and a helluva blush on his face. Tempus blinked, then looked back to where he was looking, then back to him. She cocked her head a bit, thinking that this kid kinda reminded her of Wally from Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire before she gave a little chuckle.

“Like whatcha saw kid?” Tempus took a few steps towards him before she held out a finger and gently nudged the kid's forehead. “Kinda rude ta stare, ya know? What gives?”

She almost felt sorry for the kid.

Aw, who was she kidding? She did feel sorry for the kid. The dark skinned woman pursed her lips as she quirked them from side to side before she stood up straight and put her hands on her hips, looking as authoritative as she possibly could. Which was to say, not much, but in her mind she could pull off intimidating if she tried hard enough. Least she'd heard that, from across the ring, she looked like a straight up hellcat or some such thing. But she really wasn't trying to scare the kid. No, she was merely sizing him up in the only was she knew how. He looked meek, kinda nerdy and was small, but Tempus had learned never to underestimate anyone, which was why she was sure she was alive today.

Well that, and stunning good looks.

“Naw, dun worry about it Shortstop,” Tempy adopted a friendly smile and reached out a hand to ruffle the kid's hair. “Not often one gets ta see ol' Tempy lay the smack down on some fine ass like dat, amirite?” A pause. “So...ya never seen two chicks go at it, huh? I gotta couple a magazines I could borrow ya...” Another pause, then a blink. “Wait...yer like ten, right? Prolly not a good idea.”

The thief adopted a thinking pose as she continued to quirk her lips from side to side, a habit she had gotten when she was thinking on how to continue on with a job whose original plan had been blown to shit. Needless to say, she did this often. Her eyes, focused on nowhere in particular on the ceiling, slowly descended onto the little guy before she locked her mismatched orbs with the big, brown eyes that were staring at her. Tempus raised a singular eyebrow before she suddenly snapped a finger.

“Say, look...I ain't one to judge but...ya look like ya need my help,” Tempus nodded sagely, as if she were some benevolent being talking to one of her subjects. “Girl problems, yeah? Why you's was starin'. I'm thinkin' you be needin' a dose of Tempy Lovin'. That is, some lessons on how ta snag ya some good ole' poontang pie. Whatcha say Shortstop? Wanna learn to bag ya the girl of yer dreams in five or so relative easy steps?”

“A pro? Me? Naw...well, kinda.” Tempus gave what she felt was a winning smile with an offhand gesture to dismiss the compliment. “I mean, I've been around the block a few times, I'll admit. And don't get confused, kid. Any game you spit could be refined. Nothin' you do is ever gonna be perfect. Hindsight will make ya think twice, but dun let it. Sometimes, it's all about what's in here,” Tempus poked the kid in the chest in the general vicinity of the heart. “Ta let the one you care about know that you're her guy, savvy? Course, learning tha skills ta be settin' that moment never hurt yer chances, right? So let's get on it. First things first; I'm Tempus Rose. New to these parts but I'm getting' the hang of the game. What be yer designation?”

“Miss Rose was my mother...probably.” Tempus looked thoughtful for a moment before dismissing that particular sinking feeling and disguising it with a big grin. “And pleased to meet you Kyou. Call me Tempus. Or Sensei! Sensei works too!” Something about that title tickled the thief and she actually laughed at her own joke for a good minuted, doubled over, before she stopped suddenly and wrapped her arms around Kyou's shoulders and began to lead him outside of the school. “Now, first things first; tell me 'bout the girl ya got her keen eyes on. Tell me everythin', cause that's how we're gonna catch her, see? Lotsa guys wanna do all these heroic and romantic things that ain't them. Gives the wrong impression, cause then the girl, or guy, whatever, thinks that's how they really are. So first lesson, Young Padawan; don't be someone you're not. Worst thing ya could possibly do it being a relationship by being someone else. You're greatest strength is your own personality. So describe the girl, and quick! Off the top of yer mind. Go!”

Tempus stopped their walking and took a step back before looking down at her young charge. Yes, he was speaking but it wasn't from the heart. As such she really wasn't sure if he was in love or it was some sort of crush that would pass in time. Tempus had plenty of those and while she was still attracted to the girl she'd happen to be chasing, she didn't crush on them as she did beforehand. There had been a few that had slipped through her fingers to be sure but Tempus knew how soul crushing love felt. The kind of love that felt almost impossible to live without. The kind that left you weak, unable to get out of bed and unwilling to eat. That was what she was searching for. She wondered if this was what Kyou wanted, what he longed for. Getting someone laid was childs play. Getting someone their 'forever' was like doing a rubix cube while blind.

“No,” Tempus said sternly, then crossed her arms under her chest, her face suddenly deadly serious. “Tell me how she makes you feel, Kyou. Feel[/b]. Here,” Tempus poked the kid in the chest again, where his heart was. “In your heart. No matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel, speak. I wanna hear it.”

He looked so confused that it actually kinda broke Tempus' heart a bit.

She wasn't good with the whole 'emotion' thing and never really had been. Tempus was real good with giving advice to other people but when dealing with her own personal problems? She was a god damned mess. And it wasn't like she acted tough or aloof, she simply played 'the ignoring game' until she know she was alone before curling up into a ball and crying her eyes out for whatever reason. After that was out of her system she did her best to forget and move on. Usually with alcohol, cigarettes and joints and another warm body in her bed. But she was a whiz at helping others, and this little guy needed her help. Or so she thought. After a moment of hard staring Tempus burst out laughing as she clapped her hand on Kyou's shoulders and shook him hard.

“That's fine! Confusion in times like this is usually best. Keep you on your toes, ya dig?” Tempus stopped shaking Kyou for a moment before she tapped his forehead. “Alrighty. Tell me her name. Also, ya got a picture? Show me. Cause I know you got one...right?”

She eyed the shorter male with a knowing look.

Hmm.

Well, he wasn't wrong. He really wasn't being that much help at all. But that didn't mean she didn't want to help in any way she could regardless of how hopeless a situation might seem. Tempus felt she was a romantic at heart, despite what some people might say, and Kyou seemed like a nice guy who was just way to awkward for his own good. But the dark skinned woman felt that everyone deserved a chance. A chance at happiness, a chance at love, a chance to be yourself with someone and have that person love you regardless of your true personality and, in fact, embrace you for it. So while Kyou not having a picture of the girl was rather odd (to her), it was by no means a set back.

“You're a rather difficult case aren't you, Shortstop?” Tempus tapped her chin for a moment, deep in thought. “Well, alrighty. Let's do this another way. While we walk, tell me about yourself. What you feel you're good at, where you fall flat on your face, all that jazz. I've always found the most success I've had with other women is playing to what I'm good at and, barring that, trying to get more proficient in things that might attract those to me in subjects I be frail at. Like, say...poetry. I'm balls at poetry, right? But once I read some books, researched online and all that, just to go to a poetry jam and get this girl to notice me. But that's me. We're gonna go with what makes you comfortable. So, let it all out Kyou. Tell yer Sensei what makes ya tick.”