Just as he and Phoebe were ushered, or rather shoved out of the lab, he noticed Phoebe latch onto his hand, the door was still not closed, but he smirked and flashed Raina an evil wink before pulling Phoebe closer and whispering protectively 'Its ok, I didn't know the lab girl would get so mad, we're safe now.' Raina, of course, had had it at that. She slammed the door behind her followed with several clinks of the bots as she locked it shut, he heard a second thud, as she probably leaned against it, or something. Victor just shrugged, usually, he wasn't so brutal, but just for a kiss Raina had been too dramatic and he teased her a little for it, perhaps cruelly.

The one he had glued to him now, was definitely more fun to hang out with than the clingy lab dweller, also had proven more useful and less... Judgemental? Dramatic? Maybe she had evil inclinations like he did deep inside.  He pulled away from Phoebe just a little, to look at her while he spoke. 'Sorry about that, I didn't know she'd take it the way she did' he said, pretentiously thoughtfully, then let a slightly naughty smirk play up. 'I mean, I knew she liked me but what can I say, it's just been way better with you. I thought she'd get that.' he wrapped his arm around her waist tight and guided her away from the lab.

'Well, at least we left her some free pasta... I snuck away some special the wine though.' He looked at his watch and sighed. 'Too late for any fancy restaurants and I still owe you, dinner.' The blonde scratched his chin thoughtfully. 'How about a late night beach picnic? I know this great shack near the lighthouse...' He had hoped for something more elegant, but this would have to do. 'Difficult find since it is in a deserted cove. I'm glad I stumbled upon it, the shack doesn't see too many customers so we'd get special service. It serves some crazy starters and drinks, fun music on request too, in case you'd like to dance.' he said a gentle sparkle in his eyes, selling the place, to himself too... In retrospect sounded better than some pristine restaurant, where they'd be bound by etiquette.  

Victor wasn't just going for romantic, but it could be coined that way for the convenience of the lovely lady, he'd let that be the term to define it. He just nodded, with a sheepish and slightly naughty grin, which his pursed lips barely hid. 'Just almost?' he asked, narrowing his eyes, he didn't feel the need to lie, or defend himself, but he did want to know what made her consider that he didn't truly love nature? In all fairness, he did... He just wasn't as truly ambitious as Raina to go and change the way of man, he had other duties and objectives. Victor liked the gifts of natural beauty, but he didn't feel the need to return anything.

Before she even finished saying the word champagne entirely, he already placed a hand on the waiter who was just leaving to allow them to deliberate their order. 'Before we order food, get us the finest champagne you can find.' loud and clear. 'For all the trouble, I probably owe you more than just that bottle, lady.' he said sliding into his own chair across the woman. Another waiter swiftly returned with the bottle, quietly upturned their glasses and poured the shimmering golden liquid into their glasses, Victor held up a hand when the waiter had filled the glass sufficiently, the man proceeded to light the candles on the three-pronged candelabrum. The fire instantly made Victor feel even better, like the flames completed the scene.

The glow lit up Phoebe's face, he clasped his fingers and placed them on the table as the menu interrupted his view, he shrugged and picked his own, peeking over it frequently to keep an eye out. After carefully assessing the situation, he wondered if she too was passionate about nature or something... To be on the safe side, he made an order of a fancy vegan dish, raising his hand and looking towards waiter, and then pointing to his choice. Once he put down his menu and she'd made her choice as well, he watched her carefully. 'So, do you generally not discriminate on the kind of missions you under take, or were the ones we did an exception?' he asked curiously.

He heard her ramble about nature and put on his best I'm interested face even better than the one he'd wrought for Raina. Placing his elbow on the table, he leaned in, so his open palm cradled his sculpted face. 'Nature is a gift indeed, I mean look around us.' he echoed her statement and nodded when she said it meant a lot of things to her, just to glean more information of off her, he decided to have her elaborate that point in a bit, maybe as they ate their food...

But for the moment, she'd turned up the intensity by asking him what his offer entailed. 'It is a bit risky to say "whatever you'd like, isn't it"?' he joked playfully, air-quoting with his fingers as he chuckled, casually throwing back his head and coiffing his hair after he finished. 'But if the drinks, company, food and moonlit dancing doesn't make up for everything, I'll let you pick any other...' he paused for effect and winked  'single thing you'd like from me.' He said, tempering his laugh into a gentle smirk as he raised his glass, to indicate that's what he was toasting to and took a sip.

She went on to explain that she's the master... or was it a mistress, of her own will. Just with that, Victor couldn't help but sense a challenge, his need to control stirred inside him, he calmly took a sip of his drink, first, he'd need to know more. She provided some more in explaining her favorite part amidst all the questionable requests they'd fulfilled. 'Wait, you didn't have to distract guards for the retrieval of the rum right? That was just the workers, so you mean...' he said pretentiously pondering for a second, and taking another sip and stalled as he contemplated giving into his vainglorious instincts.

'That's interesting, you got a lot more attention from the workers.' he remarked before surrendering to his vanity and leaning in closer to whisper jovially 'I suppose the kiss must've been really good indeed.' he grinned for a minute before clearing his throat dramatically and adding. 'Or would that be too presumptuous of me?'

Victor narrowed his eyes upon catching the candlelight kiss her eyes, there it was... that shade of green again. It got him wondering if it was something to do with her magic... He'd seen a glimpse of it when they'd broken into Buscon's ex's apartment. It was safe to assume, with her love for nature and all, that it was the type she was aligned with. Perhaps it was easier for him to surrender to the moment because he knew if push came to shove, the blonde had an element advantage over her. He had given no inkling of his own abilities yet. 'I like to play with danger.' he added with a playful dramatic undertone. 'Who said I was offering any more?' he responded, maintaining the nonchalant jovial intonation.

She mocked him gently, with the clicking tongue and the assurance, to which he just smirked and took another sip. She went on to elaborate what exactly were the drawbacks of the lavish attention she was showered with, summarisable to; It was too easy and so, not interesting. So the girl liked a little challenge too... Victor wondered how much she could really handle. While she spoke, he slid his chair, around the table, so he was no longer placed across her, but next to her instead, at a right angle. 'Does she not...?' he chided as she used the common phrase. He casually took her hand in his. The red eyes watched her carefully, as she went on to bait him... At the mention of the word 'we' his ears perked up. Did she actually consider herself so grandiose that she referred to herself in plural? And then to say she'd forgotten all about their little tryst.

As a natural instinct, the slight caused his jaw to tightened momentarily, as well as his gentle grip on her hand, which got a little firmer before relaxing again. No... She wanted this, she wanted to bait him into losing control, he wouldn't fall for that. He recalled with full clarity, which one of the two had to break the kiss, while both were probably left wanting more... He had an upper hand. Letting his hand leave hers, to snake behind her, he pulled her close, sliding forward on his seat as well.

'Some people need reminders and a man can't give up a chance at fun if it is offered this way, can he?' he asked, his nose barely a centimeter away from hers. 'Are you just going to let a guy do whatever he wants? Don't you have a say in it? Don't you... want...' he paused on that word before adding. 'a say in it?' he teased her back, dangling the option of letting her take charge, but then having to be the one to makes the move... 'If not, I can arrange that...' In the twisted game they were playing, in his head, Victor was the winner no matter what she chose. If she gave up the reigns, her surrender was his victory, if she took charge, her lack of control was his triumph.

So she wasn't just going to give in either... Their breaths mingled in the night air as she drew herself even closer to him. that's it... come on... just a little more he thought, almost willing her closer so that their lips could touch. All he could see were her green irises, all she could see were his red ones. His brows twitched as she toyed with his instincts. She too stopped. There was now no way to go closer, without being the one to surrender. Hmm. He thought, considering his new options.

Victor could take her on. He turned her hand in hers, so he could feel her pulse it made the blonde smirk wide. 'True...' he whispered. 'I don't need words to know what you want...' he continued. Their noses touched and it made him smile wider. Instead of going forward, he pulled back suddenly, breathing deeply and sighing as his back collided with the backrest. He wore a mock expression of sullenness. 'But what's the point in, you'll probably forget again... Won't you?' he said, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. He played with her fingers, looking down at them still not having let go of her hand. He looked down at her palm, like he was too sad to meet her eyes.. 'Or is that just an excuse to have me remind you... Often?' he inquired, his eyes flitting back to hers and brightening considerably, but perhaps only betraying the darkness that lay within as they glinted in the candlelight.

As she pulled her hand out of his grasp, he was beginning to feel the impatience creep up on him. She had laid out his options, maybe he would just leap and take what he wanted. The sliding of the table muffled the small groan that left his lips, his muscles coiled as though ready to make his final strike. But then, she placed herself on his lap. That was a welcome surprise, it was more than he had bargained for. 'Tapping out... Is a graceful option, lady...' he said with a wink, admitting that they were in fact in a contest, perhaps redundantly, it was apparent they both were aware of the game.

As she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, his fingers laced behind her back. She had her own weapons, he had to admit. Maybe this impasse was good enough. 'Perhaps I shall remind you after all...' he said almost against her lips. He decided to compliment her, offering her a saving grace, for not drawing it out too long. A reward, for literally falling into his lap. 'And it will be an honor.' he added almost sweetly. Finally letting his lips touch hers and then press closer. It was she who backed away first, this time. 'Hmm.' he said playfully. 'That was hardly fair, that would make for a very very... poor reminder.' he said inching forward, gently his arms guided her closer too and the blonde offered another peck.

This lady was playing for keeps, yet not with any strings attached. There was something... Different. Briefly, he parted enough to catch a glimpse of her eyes again. Reminding him of their color, he decided to finally pop the question... About that. 'Is it my imagination, or do your eyes really change color, Phoebe?' he asked, in a whisper filled with curiosity, as his head leaned against her shoulder, cradled in her neck.

'Mhmm... Best one...' he'd muttered against her as they remained entwined. He was sure they were getting eyeballs from the waiters, he peeked through her hair to check... And one of them turned away from them so abruptly, quite red in the face. Victor just smirked to himself. Just like Phoebe, he was quite ok with the attention and perhaps the jealousy this encounter of his was sparking in the poor men around. The only person who did not show any interest, was the man with the pipe, near the pool table... Somehow still obsessed with challenges, Victor wanted to glean that man's attention too... Perhaps the ethics of dangling a pretty girl in front of men was debatable, but Victor wasn't putting her in harm's way or anything, plus she admitted that she craved the attention too.

But then, Phoebe went ahead and decided not to answer. The word secret triggered the innate desire to unravel her entirely... Mind and soul... The challenge made him giddy with excitement, now he had to know. This exhilaration was, in so many ways, far deeper than just a pretty girl on his lap. He held her face in his hands. 'Oh I always find out what I want.' he warned, a slightly sinister tone in his voice, but he kept it under control, for the most part, letting just enough slide to perhaps instill an ounce of fear in her, it could just serve to heighten the thrill of the game...

Adding a hefty dose of playfulness in his voice again, he jovially explained a light-hearted game. 'How about you indulge me?' he asked, throwing his head back, to see more of her face... and body.  'With a simple game?' he added and then went on to explain 'We play a little pool and... each time one of us pockets a ball, we get to ask the other a question, if the person doesn't want to answer, they must complete a task of the other choosing, instead, fair?' he asked, really hoping she'd take the bait. 'Let me see how long the reason for your eye color changing can, last with the relentlessly evil tasks I set.' he was just fooling around, of course and he made that very obvious too, grinning wide, this time rather at ease, hiding all the malice inside.

'Perhaps...' was all he said. At least it was a when he'd know rather than an if he'd know, while that was not satisfying, at least it was a small victory. She agreed to play the game, of course, he was fully aware that her agreement wasn't binding, in such games one had to tread very carefully. He wanted to ask enough to know more, make it fun enough for her to want to stay. She slipped off his lap, he watched her strut away, through narrowed eyes.

Just as the waiter took this as a cue and brought their meals to the table. How polite of him not to bother the couple while they were... busy. 'You know what? I'll have another bottle of champagne.' he ordered as he downed his glass prompting the waiter to top up the pair's glasses with the first bottle, so it was emptied. 'Just bring the bottle after we finish eating, to the pool table.' he added. 'Yes, of course, sir.' the man nodded and scurried away. 'I'm trusting you can handle your liquor if not odds are in my favor.' he said to the dark-haired girl with a wink.

The two probably didn't realize how famished they were. The few bites of pasta they'd had in the lab, felt like a lifetime ago. They ate mostly in silence, now there was a gentle note of competition in the air like the food was fuel for the little game. Finally, he took her by the hand, guiding her to the table slowly and carefully, just to gauge if she was drunk yet or not.

With a half-smirk, he picked up the stick, methodically chalked it and then took his shot. He'd played this game before breaking usually guaranteed a pocket... Today was no different. 'And one down. I get a question... 'If you could be any animal you wanted, what would it be, and why?' he asked, starting off easy. If the questions were punches, this was one of those easy testy blows... But with the right analysis, he could still glean a lot.

'We are celebrating...' Victor had responded, raising his own glass to his lips with her. Mostly silent consumption of scrumptious food had followed... And then the game. Her answer to his question was intriguing. So she was a talker and prided herself on it too, snarky one. Victor just smirked at her and nodded, a snippy comeback clambered to the tip of his tongue, but he didn't want to take the risk yet... If he could remain patient, there would be plenty of time to wrap her around his finger, maybe change her need to tell people off. Perhaps he'd find a way to make her do his bidding one day. The feeling of needing to control was gnawing at him...

He watched her like a hawk as she lowered herself on the table. He idly chalked his own cue stick again. But he was a man and the way she was draped over the table, had its... perks that he couldn't help but notice. The blonde's conscience strained to keep his gaze civil. He wasn't sure if he pulled it off completely, but it was also safe to assume that Phoebe wanted this... It wasn't his turn so he wasn't going to get thrown off his game, he wondered if showering her with his attention, could be used to manipulate her into taking a bad shot... Only time would tell.

His mind raced as it always did, to anticipate the kind of question she'd ask if the woman did pot the ball, was she even the kind who was bothered to get to know people, or was she the sort who just took things as they came? Victor definitely wanted to unravel her. 'Go on...' he cooed softly, his fingers tapping the wooden border softly. He urged her to take the strike... Maybe even when she wasn't perfectly pleased with the angle, he wondered if he'd had a part to play in her split-second decision. The familiar knock of the stick on the ball filled the air, the white balled rolled rumbling softly on the table...

Victor followed the trajectory of the ball, knowing well enough that she was going to score, he had enough experience to gauge that. He just threw his head back, while leaning casually against the table and waited for the events to unfold. Upon pocketing she gracefully called it beginner's luck, he wagged his finger playfully. 'No no, now don't throw me off my game with that, you seem to have a natural talent for this, not sure if you've played much before though?' he asked, offering his assumption post his assessment of the way she took her shot. He folded his hands and walked around the table towards her.

'So your question...?' he prodded, as he slunk up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, with his chin leaning on her shoulder, so they stood cheek to cheek. When she asked her question, he chuckled softly in her ear. 'Oh no, my sweet Phoebe, you don't get to pull out the big guns like that... That is so vague...' he whispered, with a note of mock complaint. He nuzzled her neck with his nose softly, just brushing it against her skin, almost as though it was naturally accidental as he reached over her to pick up the bottle of champagne.

He then let go of her, to step away. 'But since I'm a gentleman, I'll stick to our rules, since I'm refusing to answer that question, you... lovely lady, get to give me a task I must accomplish.' he offered, as he took a swig of the alcoholic beverage. Setting it down, he narrowed his eyes and smirked. 'So what's it going to be?' he asked standing next to her with his arms folded, his hip leaning on the table again. The kind of task she set, would also reveal much about her, this game was designed so Victor could gain answers, without giving up too many, as long as Phoebe didn't call foul, things would unfold wonderfully.

Victor's eyes flicked to her, as she offered him the idea that she didn't really want to know him. As disrespectful as that could sound, he was glad for it. Unraveling her would be like a free meal then, no real cost to him. When she asked to see more of him, it was a hefty enough clue about her task, but just like she toyed with him he played along too... 'I wonder...' he responded as she pretentiously thought about the task she wanted to give him. He cocked his head and flashed his trademark smirk. While she wasn't adding anything new to the platter, she was a rather pleasant balm for his ego and pride...

He looked away, acting innocent as she scanned him. She'd probably know it was just a ruse. When she finally revealed her task, he looked at her with mock shock. 'Oh my! Phoebe! How could you ask for such an indecent thing from a gentleman like me?' he said, with exaggerated sarcasm. Of course, he had absolutely no qualms about her request. In fact, as he spoke, he lifted his hand to relinquish the first button. With every small step he took towards her, he opened more. Till the garment hung from his shoulders and arms.

Now, while standing right next to her again, he reached to tuck a wayward strand of her dark hair behind her ear, following which he held onto the ends of his shirt, tugging at them like he was offering them to her. 'Want to do the honours?' he asked, and then added 'Fair warning though... I have to say, I can't wait for you to not answer my questions now, but then we'd probably need to take this elsewhere.' he finished with a quick wink. It was a lie though, while he'd appreciate the physical unravelling, the mental one still took precedence, still... there wasn't any strict order in which he had to go about it.