CHAPTER TEN
THE NOT - A - DATE
"It sounds like a date," Rosalie's arms are crossed, watching Carlisle carefully, eyeing his outfit and perfectly combed hair - something about it feeling more deliberate, purposeful, as if he wants to look his best. He's preening.
Carlisle sighs a bit at her tone of voice, denying that it is just a friendly outing, that all of the staff will be attending. Edward even cocks an eyebrow in disbelief from across the room. Alice buzzes with excitement, her eyes twinkling with mischief and glee. Jasper makes a point to add an extra step between them, her excitement making his skin buzz, but not having the heart to try to calm her.
"You don't go to staff parties," Emmet argues, a large shit-eating grin stretching across his face, "At least you don't unless she's going."
"Yes, it would be rather hard to pay her tab otherwise," Carlisle replies dryly, "I avoided her without explanation and as such, I need to make amends."
"It's more than that," Edward piques up, his voice almost accusing, and Carlisle flinches as he sighs - he was always rather poor at hiding his thoughts from Edward.
"I've confirmed that she's not human, thought what she is exactly is still unknown," Carlisle confirms, feeling the buzz that his words create and the tension in Edward's stance, "Her brother visited the hospital yesterday and their conversation had made that very clear - just as she made it very clear that she knows what we are and that she has no issues with our coven."
"In fact…" A ghost of a grin threatened to break on Carlisle's face, his eyes growing somewhat fond, "She rather defended us against her brother."
Defended us. Defended me. Carlisle's ears still ring with the echo of her words and Edward listens to the replay of the conversation. A part of him, the part that still thinks himself a monster, feels a melonachic relief that someone who is a potential mate for Carlisle does not see him as a monster.
There's a share look between the rest of the coven, that mutual understanding as they all see the gleam in Carlisle's eyes. Edward leans back, refusing to comment as he accepts the fact that Carlisle is more likely to pursue her now; the memory that Carlisle relayed of her passion over her protectiveness of a coven that is not even hers serves as a point in her favor.
Despite being inhuman, he doubts that she will prove a threat to the coven - her brother, on the other hand, is a different story. But for now - he can't deny Carlisle the chance of finding his mate after all of this time alone.
"Okay, fine," Rosaline's voice is tight as her lips thin. Emmett takes a side-step away from her, eying her cautiously as he recognizes that look in her eyes.
"Let's say it's not a date." Rosalie continues, "Do you want it to be?"
The pause in Carlisle says all that they need to know - it's answer enough to Rosalie's question. The hesitation in his eyes - the way he tightens his lips and rolls them over before he finally speaks.
"What I want is hardly up for discussion," Carlisle chooses his words carefully and slowly, "If it's a date, then it is not my decision to make. Unless Ariel chooses for our relationship to progress into something more, understands the restrictions and the dangers of doing so, then we will cross that bridge."
Alice pouts with a huff, her vision still plays in her head. Jasper places a hand on her shoulder to comfort her and she leans into the touch.
"What about the Volturi," Edward finally asks, "If that bridge gets crossed - what about them?"
The mention of them makes everyone tense, shifting eyes with stiff shoulders. Alice shifts uncomfortably, the council being far from the forefront of her mind while she focuses on the potential of her vision. Despite her confidence that if something really bad would happen that she would see it coming, she is never fully sure about it.
Carlisle's lips thin, while his respect for the Volturi is present, his disagreements with them are far from few. It doesn't change the fact that the Volturi are never scared to enforce the rules nor are they ever quiet if they don't like something.
"If we reach that bridge, we can discuss more of it," Carlisle finally decides, "For now, Ariel has been in Forks for months. I doubt that they are aware of her presence, just as I doubt that they are aware of whatever she is. If our friendship progresses, I think that they won't find out for a while. That will give us time to decide what to do if it becomes an issue."
No one can quite argue with that answer. If the Volturi become an issue, they'll handle it like they always do - but it's not as if anyone of them have mates that are outside their own species either. At least not yet.
It doesn't change their shared want of Carlisle having someone to share his existence with after everything he has done for each of them. But Rosalie takes a step forward, worry in her eyes. Despite her want for Carlisle to be happy, she doesn't know Ariel - she doesn't know if something will happen that will ruin Carlisle's chance for happiness. She doesn't know if he will get his heart torn apart or worse.
She just wants her coven - her family - to be happy and together.
"Just, be careful, Carlisle," Rosalie finally speaks up, her eyes almost as soft as her voice.
"Always."
Carlisle decides to take his car. More out of appearance than anything and he still isn't sure just how much knowledge of vampires that Ariel has, if she knows about their speed or if she could even match it. The train of thought makes him wonder about what she can do.
She opens the door before he knocks, smiling coyly as her eyes run him over. The lack of scrubs and stethoscope is different, almost foreign. But she can't say that his clothes don't suit him - the casual clothes still being cleanly pressed and just shy of being too formal for a staff party at a bar. He still looks like a doctor - a handsome doctor.
"You look rather fetching, Dr. Cullen, should I have changed into something more formal?"
Her compliment momentarily takes him off guard, bringing his attention back to her face, having looked her over just as much as she did to him. The jeans being tighter than the ones he had seen her in before, lacking the flare of her usual bell bottoms and the high waist highlighting her figure. The satin tank top looks expensive, but comfortable, suiting the light tan on her skin and is just low cut enough to show the middle of her breastbone.
It's something so simple, yet so different and very much suitable for her. The closer he looks, the more he can see the subtle touches of her makeup on her face, highlighting her cheekbones and the color of her eyes.
"No," Carlisle processes her question with a smile, "You look perfect."
The honesty in his voice makes her cheeks flush as she lightly huffs, letting him lead her to the car.
"If you compliment all the nurses like that, it's no wonder that they're all so stricken with you."
The car ride was different than what she is used to; it was very different than riding in her own vehicle, but at least it was not as chaotic as Lucifer's driving nor as suicidal and carefree as Mazikeen's driving. It was quiet, quick. Comfortable.
She didn't imagine being so comfortable in such a confining piece of metal, yet she hardly felt the longing for fresh air during the ride. Carlisle's presence driving gave her a sense of trust and safety.
He opens the car door for her and she accepts the arm he offers. The bar is still in Forks, but more on the border than she expected it to be. It looks different the other bar she saw in town - more up to date, bigger, and cleaned up. Being closer to the highway gives it more foot traffic. She sees a couple of odd cars in the parking lot with out-of-state plates, but a majority are the same cars that she's seen before in the staff parking of the hospital.
She sees a few unfamiliar faces inside, giving a soft thanks to Carlisle as he holds the door yet again and gestures for her to head in first. She spots most of her coworkers already getting to work on their drinks. A karaoke is an odd choice until she sees a sign on the wall that it's their special karaoke night, which makes her wonder if her coworkers set it up for tonight on purpose. She thinks so considering that Beth is the one currently on stage belting out her rendition of Don't Go Breaking My Heart with several of the other nurses cheering her on.
It's more casual than she thought it would be, too used to the parties that Lucifer would throw at Lux and the formal charity balls at the police station in LA. But it's not an unwelcome development as she breathes a sigh of relief.
"I'll get us drinks from the bar," Carlisle offers and she nods knowingly that his drink will just be another prop to appear the same as everyone else. After a second's hesitation, he continues, "Any preferences?"
"Anything light," Ariel offers, "But if they continue singing, I may go heavier as the night goes on."
As Carlisle heads to the bar, looking every bit as uncomfortable and out of place as she expected him to be, Ariel takes a seat at a table half-way hidden by the shadows and more out of the way. A few of the nurses noticed Carlisle's presence, giving him unprovoked, slightly tipsy whistles and waves. He rolls his eyes good-heartedly, giving them a small friendly wave that sends them into a frenzy.
To Ariel's displeasure, the only person who noticed her is Brett who gives her a flirtatious wink that makes her regret coming in the first place. Thankfully, the moment Carlisle appears at her table with her drinks, Brett makes a point of ignoring her presence very quick.
"Thank you, Dr. Cullen," Ariel raises her drink to him as a thanks before taking the first of many drinks.
"Carlisle. We're not at the hospital, Ariel. Please call me Carlisle."
Ariel mouths his name on her lips, her eyes softening as she nods in understanding.
"Well, Carlisle, thank you for the drink - I open you kept your tab open."
Her eyes twinkle as she gives a soft laugh, as Carlisle reassures her that she can order as much as she'd like, "I hope so, considering you ignored me for weeks, I plan to at the very least, take advantage of the offer of free liquor and food."
Carlisle smiles, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at the light teasing as she nudges him lightly. The strength of the nudge surprises him only for a second, recovering fast as he realizes that she meant to do that on purpose. He can see it in the mischief in her eyes.
It takes a while for Ariel to spot another friendly, more welcomed face in the bar; with him going unnoticed due to the dull roar of the nurses that have been taking turns on stage. When Carlisle notices that her attention has shifted, he follows her gaze and grins at the unexpected patron.
Charlie. Seeing the cop is unexpected, with him seeming slightly uncomfortable at all the noise. A part of her wonders if it would be rude for her not to at least say hi; if it would raise suspicion if he saw them, but they ignored him. She stayed with Lucy long enough to know that when it comes down to it, it's always best to have the law enforcement on your side - or at the very least, a friend on the inside.
While her interactions with Charlie are limited; usually occurring when she happens to venture through town for one reason or another and almost always just in passing, he is always friendly. They always have a decent enough chat. She definitely prefers his company to her other nurses and is one of the few simple, honest humans she's met.
He sits at one of the tables against the wall, keeping to himself and his company - a Native American man with long dark hair seated in a wheelchair across from him. Ariel isn't sure who the other man is and almost hesitates on going to say hello since she has company of her own, but she stands and makes a gesture toward Charlie.
"If it's alright with you, Carlisle, I think our town sheriff over there needs to see another friendly face before the nurses scare him off."
Carlisle raises a brow at her interest in Charlie; while he's mentioned Charlie in passing, he didn't even know that she knew of the town sheriff personally enough to feel the need to say hello. Carlisle hesitates, eying Charlie's company with uncertainty before joining her.
As they approach Charlie's table, Charlie notices them immediately. His eyes lighting up at more friendly faces, grinning as he raises his glass to them. His company, however, almost makes Carlisle flinch at the intense, understanding glare in his eyes. Billy Black focuses most of his attention on the doctor, but looks to Ariel with careful, cautious curiosity. The side look that she gives Carlisle lets him know that the hostility isn't unnoticed by her.
Ariel puts on her best face - the charming, enthralling smile that she learned very quickly while staying with Lucifer. The energy that she usually keeps a tight lid on, the exception being her moments of emotional weakness, the same energy that sits in the chest of all angels, the heavenly presence that only one of God's can produce. That peace that makes others calm in their presence, knowing that everything is okay. Amenadiel was always the best at controlling, being the messenger it came in handy so that humans stayed calm when confronting with divinity while Lucifer never felt the need to control it, always enthralling and charming the wits off people.
But as the change in energy washes over them, the tension starts to ease. She can see Charlie's friend lose the tension in his shoulders and she hopes that it's enough to prevent whatever may have happened otherwise.
"I have to admit, Sherriff, I didn't expect this to be your usual choice," Ariel's eyes beam.
Charlie flushes slightly, his chest warming at the sudden emotion of peace that rolls over him. He hesitates slightly, glancing between Carlisle and Ariel with curious, questioning eyes.
"Billy and I have come to a decision that we have to at least try something new every now and then to keep us on our toes." He nods in Billy's direction, "Jacob is the one who suggested this place - apparently a lot of the kids come here for the darts and karaoke."
"We should have known better than to take a suggestion from a teenager," Billy adds in, his eyes never leaving the pair as he offers a stiff hand to Ariel. "Billy Black."
"Ariel Sera," Ariel returns the handshake firmly. The warmth of her skin makes him pause, looking at her curiously before they part.
"Ariel Sera," Billy repeats, "I've heard some chatter about someone new in town a while back. I hope that some of that attention has died down by now, Miss Sera. If you're not used to small towns, it can take you off guard when these boys will try to hit up any new pretty face."
Billy gives a pointed look to Charlie, "-Or a certain sheriff."
Ariel glances at Charlie teasingly, looking at him with a raised brow. Charlie's flush deepens as he waves off Billy's comment with half-assed excuses that make the both of them share a laugh. The comment makes Carlisle frown slightly, but knowing the banter between the two of them is common and often not sincere, he forces a friendly face.
It takes a while before they go back to their own table with fresh drinks and at Ariel's request, some bar food. Charlie and Billy had to leave fairly fast, the hustle and bustle of the patrons becoming a bit too overwhelming; considering that Charlie seemed sober enough to walk straight, no one commented on the fact that he was the one driving back. Even their coworkers have begun to disperse, only a few staying behind for heavier drinks likely due to a lack of a shift tomorrow.
"Just out of curiosity," Carlisle asks, "How high is your tolerance?"
Does alcohol even affect you, Ariel reads between the lines and the careful tone in his voice. She takes a sip of the drink.
"I'm practically unaffected by liquor," Ariel's eyes twinkle, "But I've come to enjoy the taste - I usually stick to the old-fashioned classics, but my little brother - the nightclub owner in LA - expanded by palette quite a bit."
"Interesting," Carlisle hums and Ariel winks as she takes a few sips of his drink before placing it back in front of him.
"What about you," Ariel asks curiously, "Before you become a doctor?"
Carlisle leans back in the chair, looking around cautiously. Their coworkers are content near the stage, hollering and drinking and perfectly fine ignoring their presence while the rest of the patrons are scattered out away from them. Their table is the furthest from everyone and it brings him enough comfort to answer.
"I - My Father was a priest," Carlisle slowly answers, a far off look in his eyes, "I followed in his footsteps for a long time. - but after - after this happened, I have to admit that I'm not sure where my faith lies."
Her tongue rolls over her bottom lip as she swallows thickly at his words, her chest feeling a bit tight. The uncertainty of his faith explains why the intrigue of what she is; priests, genuine believers with good hearts, have always been able to tell. She knows Carlisle has a good heart, but a shaky belief and the dis ownership of the title of a man of God - a former priest being different than a current one - would hinder that knowing that tends to reach into someone's heart.
But it creates an uneasiness under her skin; a part of her wondering if that is where his interest in her came from. That need to know, the need for answers.
"I've never been a fan of people's suffering. Priests are made to help people so I choose to follow a similar route that allows me to help others."
The raw honesty creates a somber silence between the two, Ariel finishing her drink immediately afterward as she mulls over his answer, not expecting the heartfelt response. When she finally thinks of something to say - something to let him know that she understands - she decides otherwise and looks over the patrons of the bar instead.
"What do you say we get away?"
Ariel's question gets his rapt attention as he raises a brow toward her. She ignores the look of confusion and intrigue, standing up as she finishes his drink for him; crinkling her nose and almost commenting on the fact that for someone who wasn't planning to drink, he definitely ordered one of the stronger ones.
"Get away," he presses and this time, she turns to him.
"All of our coworkers are completely content without us or are already gone. And to be honest, I don't think this is either of our…. Forte."
Carlisle stands with a soft smile of understanding, noticing the almost itchy look in her eyes and uncomfortable stance; while she's trying to dance around it, she isn't doing a fantastic job at hiding the fact that she wants to get away.
"Tell me, do you have anywhere in mind that you'd like us to go or would you simply like me to drop you off?"
Ariel mouths his name on her lips with soft eyes before she continues, "I have an idea."
"Then please, do lead the way."
Another day, another chapter. Please let me know what you think! I tried to explain a little bit more of the idea of Ariel's presence, her energy. I feel like it makes sense since in the show, most of the people who meet either Lucifer or Amenadiel are immediately charmed by them or are more likely to listen to them.
As for poor Charlie, as Lucifer once said 'the simpler the mind, the easier it is.' Charlie isn't stupid, not by any means, but he is simple (in a very good, honest way). He is very content with simple answers and doesn't look for trouble or question things that don't need to be questioned. So I feel like he would be effected more by Ariel's energy (as seen in the previous chapter when she got her birds).
