Henry hovered at the gate of the Sanctuary, taking much longer than was strictly necessary to fix a shorted sensor on the gate's security system. He kept glancing down the road and fretting over the wiring until he saw the dark blue Audi sedan turn up the drive toward the Sanctuary. Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding he gave a friendly wave to the car when it approached the gate. The car stopped and Prisca Ferko poked her head out of the driver's window. "Hey, Henry. Am I on the list?" She asked, smiling and giving him a gleaming look.
He chuckled and entered the code to open the gate for her. "Don't you know that pretty girls are always on the list?" He said. Prisca grinned. His cheekbones colored a little. "So, can I get a ride back?" He asked.
"Hop in." Prisca moved her purse from the passenger seat and Henry got into the car. The car rolled through the gate and he entered the code to shut it behind them on his notebook computer.
"So, you here to see Tesla?" Henry asked.
"Yes." She replied.
"Good. That's good." He said. "It's going okay, right?"
She pulled a face. "As well as can be expected. He's impossible."
Henry smothered a laugh. Prisca's tone of voice was that of an indulgent and doting grandmother.
Prisca gave Henry a look from the corner of her eye. "Are you laughing at me?" She said sternly.
"Never. I would never." Henry asserted. Smothering a smile. "Hey, do you..."
"Yes?"
"I mean, would you like to maybe..."
"Henry, I'm driving slow on purpose here..." Prisca said, her eyes twinkling.
Henry glanced around, noticing the car was barely creeping along. He looked at her and grinned, his confidence boosted. "Want to go out sometime?" He asked.
Prisca smirked. "Yes." She said definitely, and stepped on the gas.
They reached the Sanctuary main entrance and exited the car. "So I'll call you? Or?" Henry held out a hand in query.
"Walk with me and we'll make plans." Prisca said. Henry looked uneasy. "Oh, for heaven's sake! He's a genius, he already knows. Plus he's watching from the library window." She pointed up at the Sanctuary.
Henry whirled and stared up at the second floor library windows. Tesla stood holding a large volume in his hands and a ferocious scowl on his face. "Damn." Said Henry succinctly. Somehow the genius-slash-world-class-jerk made him feel as nervous and awkward as a kid showing up at his date's house for his first school dance.
"Come on." Prisca snatched Henry's hand and gave Tesla a mutinous stare. "I don't need his permission. In fact, I'm pretty sure he needs mine." Henry hesitantly smiled. He was pleased to be holding Prisca's silk-gloved hand. Today her hands were the color of lemons. He thought that was kind of cool.
"So, I was thinking of just grabbing some dinner and maybe a movie. You know, classic first date stuff?" Henry started as they walked into the front entrance. "Then I thought, man, how many first dates exactly like that have you probably...you know...? Geez."
"Not as many as you might think." Prisca shrugged. They got into the elevator and Henry pushed the second floor button. "Dating has only really become common practice in Western culture in the last hundred years."
"Geez." Henry repeated. "What I meant was: would you like to go out to dinner and a movie?"
Prisca gave him a sidelong, calculating look. He was again momentarily startled to see Tesla's mannerisms displayed on this beautiful girl and secretly hoped he would eventually get used to it. She smiled. "Yes, I'd like to have dinner and see a movie with you. When?"
"Tomorrow?" Henry suggested.
"I have to work. Thursday?"
"Yeah. Cool." Henry nodded. The elevator door opened revealing Nikola Tesla, looking peevish.
"Paws off." He said, pointing at Henry.
Prisca gripped Henry's hand so he couldn't pull away. "I don't think that's for you to decide, Nikola. Unless you'd like me to weigh in on your personal life?"
"Ohw! So that's what you haven't been doing this past week?" Tesla bickered in return. "You're concerned about Helen's intentions – which are always honorable and good, might I add, it's one of her worst traits – but I can't be concerned about this…situation?" He waved a disgusted hand at Henry.
"Life isn't fair." Prisca shrugged dismissively, still gripping Henry's hand tightly as he shifted uncomfortably beside her.
"Oh! Life isn't fair. How very cynical and adult of you. Words of wisdom from grandmother. Maybe you could embroider that on a cushion for me so I'll remember to pass it along to future generations." Tesla spat.
"I'll tell them myself." Prisca fired back. Henry was now discreetly tugging on his hand.
"You." Tesla pointed a finger at Prisca and leaned into her. "Are utterly awful."
"What can I say? It's a family trait." She replied smugly, sticking her chin out, completely unintimidated. Tesla gave her a long, cool look and then grinned at her. Prisca grinned back. Henry wore an appalled expression.
Tesla drew in close to Henry and, with a smirk, said. "Sure you want to join the family, kid?"
"Uh." Henry said. He looked at Prisca. She smiled at him with glowing eyes full of mysteries and promises. "Yep."
Tesla's eyebrows rose with surprise at the werewolf's staunchness. Then he said dismissively. "Dogs are such loyal creatures. Wolves, I don't know." He leaned into Henry's face and said in a deadly flat voice. "One wrong step and I'll turn your skin into a rug." He tapped Henry once on the chest with his fingertip, delivering a brief shock. He straightened away from Henry's wide-eyed face and looked at Prisca mildly. "That wasn't too much, was it?"
She shrugged. "Graphic." She said, wiggling her hand in a so-so way. Henry recovered himself and, before he could prevent it, a low rumbling animal growl came from his throat. He glared at Tesla and rubbed his chest with his free hand. Prisca stared at Henry with deep feminine interest.
Tesla gave Henry an intrigued look up and down. "Fascinating." He murmured to himself. Then he turned briskly to Prisca. "Come on, we have work to do. Bring your pet if you like." He glided to the library doors. "My lab is this way." He gestured grandly for them to proceed down the corridor.