It'd been a bit of a stressful week for Integra, she was glad for some downtime. Even though some people wouldn't consider hunting for a home to be downtime. She saw it as stress-free time she got to spend with the man she loved, Alucard. That was good enough for her, hell she couldn't remember the last time they had uninterrupted time together. Unless one counted the night they had shared at Alucard's business, The Chaise Hotel. She smiled softly at the memory as she sat inside a small diner, her guards were at another table keep an eye on the place as she drank the coffee the waitress had brought her.

He had agreed to meet her for breakfast, seeing as she couldn't cook something without free of burning the place down. She had ordered some waffles for herself along with some eggs and bacon. She knew she wouldn't eat all of the food, but that was the point of this, right? To share a meal with Alucard. SHe was dressed in black suit pants, a soft red button up top and a dark charcoal suit vest. She had a different colored trench coat due to the chill in the air this morning, it wasn't her usual Tan one... instead, this one was more like a medium brown. Her hair was even braided for once in her life and off to the side. She wasn't sure why, but she'd been particularly annoyed with it this morning. 

Shrugging it off, she continued to sip the coffee as she waited, watching the people come and go.

Alucard pulled the staff of his hotel into a brief meeting. He was spending the day with Integra, and he was greatly looking forward to the day, completely uninterrupted by business with the woman he loved.   "Now, I've brought you all together here to let you know that I will be completely unavailable, all day.  Even though I will stay around Detroit, I want you all to treat it as if I am out of town.  Which mean, Wesley is in charge, even though it is only a day."

Margrette rolled her eyes, "Why's Wesley in charge?  He never was a good employee under Makar.  He only is with you because he wants to suck your dick."  She finished with a hint of disgust to her voice. 

"Well, at least he's honest with what he wants Maggie."   Wesley's face went a bright red until he heard Alucard's retort.  In fact, everyone started laughing at the reply except for Margrette, who was now the one that was blushing.   Alucard gave a smile and a nod to Wesley.  "Okay, since we got that we have that out of the way,  I just want to add one thing.  If the Lady Integra and I wind up back here, it will be as guests. So treat us as such." 

Alucard parked his motorcycle, an almost cherry red 1932 Indian Four.  As he walked up, he took not of his looks in the mirror.  He managed to tidy his hair up a bit, but he couldn't get his tie straight so he just shrugged and took it off and shoved in the side bag of his bike.  He loosened his shirt-collar up as he walked in.  First looking in the direction of Aaron and Jason, he saw them nod in the direction of Integra, and he gave them two men a wave as he walked up to the woman. 

Alucard paused at the side of the booth Integra was sitting in. "Tegs, not your usual look... but you do make it work. You look nice."  He leaned in and softly kissed her cheek, before taking a seat opposite her.  He ordered himself a stack of pancakes, some bacon, and a coffee.   He just smiled at Integra, he knew he was crazy for being excited to go looking for a new place to call home but this was the first step to having her with him.  Plus this was a whole day of them being totally uninterrupted by any business.  "Any preference to where what you think you'd like? Home in town?  House in the country,  nice apartment?  I'm thinking something in the country, or a top floor flat, something like mine current place... only nicer.  A lot nicer."  Alucard added with a bit of a laugh. "I enjoy seeing the stars."

Hearing Alucard's voice, the blonde smiled warmly as she glanced towards him, her eyes softening as she looked at the man that she loved. "I figured it'd be easier to keep it out of the way." She shrugged slightly as she thought nothing of her hair being in a braid. It was something different that she had never done before, but at the same time, it was nice to not have to worry about it blowing in her face. She placed one of her hands on top of his, listening to his words, thinking on an answer to his question before grinning softly.

"Well, since you enjoy the stars so much... I would say the country. nothing out there to dim the stars." She has grown up in the countryside of England, so she had always liked the countryside, and since coming to the United States, she couldn't get use to the ways of the cities, between the smog-filled air from the cars and the loudness of everything going on. 

"It's good to see you again, I quite look forward to today."

"You do look quite lovely," Alucard said with a soft smile across his face. His thumb ran along her hand, "I am too, really looking forward to today.  We don't get enough opportunities like this.  Just us."  He looked at her, a gentle gaze, he wondered if there would be a time when looking at her didn't make his heart feel so light, he hoped not. 

"Now for the type of home, what do you want.  Don't just say the country because I like staring at the night sky.  If you like the convenience and speed of the city, then we can stay in the city."  Alucard took a long look at Integra, "No, the city isn't you, is it?  Too loud, too busy.  The country is perfect.  Nothing huge or sprawling, just something for us."

Alucard just beamed a huge goofy smile.  He was completely entranced with the very notion of us, we, and ours when it came to him and Integra, that he never even noticed the waitress put down his food.  It wasn't until Integra pulled her hand away to begin eating that even took notice of anything but her.  "Oh food!  When did this get here?  How long have I been mesmerized by you?"  Alucard laughed as he asked the question. 

After taking a few bites he asked, "So what were you thinking? Small cottage? Or do you miss the sprawling estate?"

"I'm glad I still look lovely with such a small change." She smiled warmly, her cheeks getting a tad red, feeling his thumb running along her hand. There was something so mesmerizing about the man in front of her that she never wanted to not pay attention to him. She could do this every day with him and be perfectly content. She listened to his words about the type of home to get, smirking as he realized the city wasn't her, and that the country was indeed perfect.

Once the food arrived she pulled her hand back so she could eat her breakfast. Hearing Alucard's question about how long he had been mesmerized by her, she chuckled softly, swallowing her bite of food she nodded towards Alucard. "It got here about a minute ago, but I think you've been mesmerized since you arrived." 

She laughed softly as she thought of him asking about what kind of home in the country, shaking her head slightly. "Definitely not a sprawling estate... it's too large and feels too empty for just the two of us. A small cottage would be nice though... just us."

"Us.  Are you as bewitched by that notion as I am? Or, is that just my selfishness coming through, wanting you near me?"  Alucard gave the woman he loved his usual charming smile.  He was happy, genuinely so, feelings he only ever has when he is with her. 

He happily ate all his food, and stole a piece of bacon from Integra as well.  "Hey Tegs, how do we go about buying a house?  I mean I can't imagine its really proper to just knock on the doors of houses and go, 'excuse me, can we buy your home from you?'" Alucard laughed at the very thought doing that.

"There has to be people for that right?  Or do you just want to ride around and look for signs?  I will admit, I didn't really think that far ahead."

"Us... It's something I have thought about for some time actually... even more so when we were younger... and everything happened. If days were rough and I couldn't spend time with you for one reason or another... I would think about that... So, I would say I am as bewitched by the notion that it's not just me or you anymore... but both of us, together." She smiled softly as she watched him, finishing up her own breakfast as much as she could, not overly minding that he'd stolen a piece of her bacon. 

Hearing Alucard ask how they actually go about buying a house, she froze slightly in drinking her tea, putting the cup down before thinking slightly, looking up towards Alucard, looking a bit clueless. "Honestly, I didn't really think that far ahead either. I've heard there are people for it though... and I overheard Billy talking about it a bit... but he built his own." She frowned a bit. "Why don't we see if we can find someone, somewhere who might know... or we could just drive around looking for places, couldn't hurt to just drive around. Just us and no one else..." SHe smirked softly as the waitress came back with the check, Integra's eyes sparkling with mischief as she thought on just having her guards follow in another car, or even really asking them what they knew about buying a home. Aaron had bought his own home... or at least she thought he had.

Alucard couldn't believe it has been that long for Integra as well.  He wondered where they would be today if everything hadn't happened... if her uncle hadn't tried to kill him, to kill her, if her father hadn't passed as soon as he did.   Would Arthur really have been okay with his only daughter marrying someone as loutish as he is? As that thought crossed his mind, his heart gave a nervous skip as he softly sighed.  With gentle eyes, he looked at her and how much stronger, fiercer and more independent she's gotten over the last 6 years. Marry her? That thought seemed so foreign now, compared to when Arthur told Alucard that he would have been proud to call Alucard his son. That, however, was another time and another life. What they're doing now isn't really that different, just without the theater and formality. 

When he heard Integra admit she didn't think of how they would go about purchasing their home, he just laughed. " We're quite the pair aren't we?  Jumping head first into something neither one of know a damn thing about. "

He finished his coffee, then leaned on his hand as the thought for a minute. "What about Aaron, perhaps he knows? We could call or stop by the hotel, Wesley might be able to point us somewhere?"

Alucard paused for a moment upon the last thing Integra said dawning on him, "Wait, are you saying you are WILLINGLY going to get on the back of my bike?"

She heard the soft sigh come from Alucard as she glanced up at him mid-chew. Swallowing her food she frowned slightly as a worried look came into her eyes, watching the man in front of her while thinking as to how she was lucky to have him. There wasn't anything she'd change about him at all, especially since he wouldn't be Alucard if he was different. Sure he was rough around the edges at times, but she loved that he was protective, that he spoke his mind in a way she wasn't sure she ever could quite reach. In the small moments when he was taking care of the kids at the home, or those who didn't have homes. In those small exchanges, she could see him caring about others and not wanting them to be in the situation he'd once been in. There were things she wished she could have changed about his past, make it happier for him, but the past was the past and all she could do was be there for him here and now, and in the future.

She chuckled after eating a few more bites before nodding, taking a drink. "We've always been headstrong in a way though, haven't we?" She enjoyed the moments of just running into things and letting whatever happened, happen. When it came to a house though, maybe she should have asked a few people who might know more about this subject than she ever did. "We could ask Aaron... he's only sitting a few booths away... and yes..." She smiled softly as she finished the last few bites of her food before putting the dish off to the side. "I did indeed say that I would willingly get on the back of your death trap." She smiled again as she knew it would make him happy. Besides, she couldn't help but admit the closeness in which she needed to sit with him to hold on was kind of enjoyable. Much more personal than a car was.

"Headstrong?"  Alucard couldn't help but laugh out, "That is one way of putting it.  We get done what we intend to though don't we."

He beamed a bright smile when Integra said she would ride with him on his bike.  It was a pleasure in life he very rarely got to enjoy, the wind in his face, the warmth of Integra against his back, and the complete contentment he found in having her arms so tightly around him. 

"You make me very happy with that, a ride out to the country does sound very lovely.  But first, it couldn't hurt to ask Aaron. I think it might be good for us to have a direction to charge head first in."

He ran his fingers through his black hair as he stared at the woman across from him.  He had no idea what he'd done in this life to deserve someone as wonderful and beautiful as she was, he never seriously dared question his luck in this either.   After he finished off his coffee he flagged down their waitress, right before the waitress got there, he gave Integra a mischievous wink, as he lightly ran his foot up along the inside of her leg.  He was laughing when the waitress arrived.  He was feeling generous today and handed the waitress a small stack of money.

"This should cover everyone in the diner at the moment, and be a decent enough tip for you?"

The waitress looked shocked at dark-haired man, "Yes, of course, sir.  Thank you."

Excited to get the day started he looked to Integra with a bright smile, "Shall we get started, see what Aaron knows?"

Hearing Alucard laugh as he seemed to agree that they both were indeed headstrong lightened her heart and brought joy to her as she enjoyed simply being near him. She was glad that by simply stating that she would willingly get on the back of his motorcycle with him, could make him beam so brightly and make him so happy. It was moments like this that she really enjoyed with him.

"I'm glad I can make you happy with such a simple thing since my cooking surely will never do that." She laughed softly as she watched him. As he basically paid for the whole Diner, she smiled softly, feeling a shiver rise through her spine as he ran his foot up along the inside of her leg. She gave him a look, returning the smirk he had given her.

"Shouldn't be too hard seeing as he's right behind you." She chuckled softly as she watched Aaron lean back from the booth behind Alucard, thanking the man for the breakfast.

Alucard laughed as she mentioned Aaron sitting right behind them.  He slid out of the booth and walked over to Integra, offering her his hand.  He smiled as she stood up, gently cradling her cheek in the palm of his hand.

"You make me happy just being near me, my love."  He softly told her, before he gently placed a kiss to Integra's lips. 

He ran his fingers along the braid she had done her hair in, still smiling at her.  "I cook well enough for the both of us, don't you even worry about it. Though if you want to learn, think of all the fun we could have in the kitchen."  He finished with a more playful tone to his voice. 

He took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers before heading over to where her bodyguards were enjoying their breakfast.  He looked at Aaron, and lightly shook his head and laughed. "You are very welcome for breakfast.  Though I have to say, I do believe I owe you both more than just breakfast for everything you do for my lady here."  He gave Integra's hand a light squeeze as he finished. 

"Your love is all I need MY Lord,"  Jason said in a playfully sarcastic manner.

Alucard grinned and wasted no time in responding, "Why would I want to love you, sir?"

Jason, looked at Alucard and just smiled, "For the same reasons people love you, of course."

"Ooooh,  because you're an asshole with a sexy accent!"  Alucard quipped back, then laughing as he said finished up, "Come on then, let us hear it."

The men just laughed for a brief moment before Jason simply muttered, "Asshole."

With a grin, Alucard nodded to Jason and Aaron.  "If I could ask you boys for a little more of your time, and possibly some advice.  Uuum... How do you properly go about buying a house?  We are both, clueless."

Integra grinned softly as she thought of the hidden meaning to his words about learning how to cook and the kind of fun they would have in the kitchen. She smiled softly up at Alucard, taking his hand in hers as she climbed out of the booth, feeling his hand cradling her cheek. Hearing the words he spoke she couldn't help but ignore everything that was going on around them as she kissed him back softly.

"As it makes me happy being near you. I do agree though, learning to cook from you could be fun indeed, though I feel as if not much cooking would be done." She grinned softly before walking with him over to Aaron and Jason's table, knowing that the two of them were fine with Alucard and enjoyed the light banter that went back and forth as she just mainly listened to them, smiling softly.

When Aaron heard Alucard's question, the older man of the two reached up to scratch the back of his head. "Honestly there was someone you can reach out to, an investor of sorts that can help you buy a house and or get a loan. Or you can go the root of buying a plot of land and then hiring builders to build whatever kind of home you design. It's really a choice of the matter honestly. I can't say for sure if buying a pre-built home is better or worse than buying land and having your own design built. I guess it would depend on how soon you wish to move..."

Aaron was leaning back in the booth as he watched the couple, glad for the fact that Integra had someone like Alucard. He'd seen how she had been before she started working for Don Mastrosimone and to see her lighten up now and seem much, much happier was something he had hoped would come to her in this harsh life. 

"Oh, the cooking will get done..." Alucard grinned and gave a faux thoughtful expression, "eventually." 

Alucard turned and looked towards Integra after listening to Aaron, "So what's your thoughts on that straight up buy, or build?  You know I don't care too much, though my impatience leads me to not wait to wait.  I mean, just talking to this investor man couldn't hurt anything.  If we decide to build, maybe looking at houses can give us ideas on what exactly we want."

Alucard laughed as he realized the anticipation was beginning to make him ramble on, "Let's have that name Aaron, and if you know the address or phone number that would be excellent."  He turned and looked towards his love with a grin on his face, "then Tegs and I here can start our ride on my death machine." 

He brushed his free hand through his hair while giving Jason a coy grin. "Don't worry Jason, I can take you on a romantic ride sometime later if you want. I know you're dying to get those strong arms around my chest."

"Oh, keep dreaming big man!" Jason just laughed back at him.

"Big man?!"  Alucard said in a flirty tone, "Just what HAS, my lady been telling you about me?  And yes, dearest Jason, I will see you in those dreams."  Alucard pursed his lips and blew a kiss towards Jason.

Integra couldn't help but shake her head at Alucard mentioning the idea that the cooking would get done... eventually. Just the thought of such things had her trying not to blush at hearing him talk like this in public, mostly because of how she had been raised and such things were never really talked about in such a public place. Not that she minded though, his teasing words kept things amusing, and just seeing some people squirm at overhearing their conversations at times was entertainment.

Re-focusing on the question about whether they should buy outright or build a house, she couldn't quite decide either. "How about we go check out some that are already built... if we don't like any of them... we can just have one built." She made it seem like it was a simple thought, but then came the hard decision... what kind of houses were they really looking for?

Hearing him go back and forth with Jason had her trying quite hard not to laugh out loud, if only for Jason's sake, but in all honesty... the man dug himself into these kinds of holes and it was extremely amusing and warming to watch the banter. Hearing Alucard comment about what she might have been telling Jason, she felt her face heat up slightly as she started to nudge him towards the door, seeming a bit flustered. "Okay... nothing here... why don't we go take a ride on your bike?"

He wasn't sure if Aaron or Jason noticed, but Alucard definitely did not miss how flustered Integra got.  He leaned down, and whispered into her ear, "You are quite irresistible when you're flustered..." softly kissing the area right below her ear before he stood back up. 

Aaron just shook his head at Alucard's antics and slid a piece of paper with an address on it.

Robert Heartly

Heartly Investments
134 Broadway Ave

Alucard couldn't help but give Aaron a huge smile when he thanked him.  He was nervous, but very excited as well.  If anyone would have told him 10 years ago that he would be standing where he was, about to go looking for a home with a gorgeous woman who loved him as much as he did her, he would have laughed in their face.  Yet here he is, fully enjoying life and the unpredictable turns that lead him to this moment. 

He continued smiling as he handed the paper over to Integra, "Looks like we have our first stop, let's go see what Mr. Heartly has to say."

As he held the door open for Integra, he couldn't help but wonder what exactly it was they were looking for.  After all, agreeing on a smaller house, doesn't really narrow things down a whole lot. There was a good part of him that just believed that when they would know the right house when they saw it. As they reached the bike Alucard turned to Integra, the morning light giving his eyes a warm glow, he gave his woman a warm smile. "You do make me genuinely happy."

If it was even possible, Integra's face turned even more red as she heard Alucard's words whispered into her ear before feeling the kiss below her ear. She was not used to being so flustered, especially since she was normally so stoic and cold looking. There was just something about Alucard that warmed her to the part that she reacted normally, not able to hide anything about how she felt, especially when it came to him.

Taking the piece of paper that Alucard offered from Aaron, she glanced at the name and address on the piece of paper before nodding. "Let's stop by and say hello then... see if he can help us. Aaron, Jason. I can catch back up with your boys at the Hotel." She offered them a small smile as she left with Alucard, smiling up at him as she walked past him while he held the door open for her. Once they got to the bike she glanced at it as if rethinking over her decision before looking up into his amber eyes, getting lost in them for a moment. Hearing his words she smiled warmly back at him, bringing her hand up to cup his cheek.

"And you make me feel like the only person in the world... I couldn't imagine anyone else being at my side." She reached up to plant a small kiss on his cheek.