[A DARKER PATH] - A proposition

"Hmm, don't see many men who look so perpetually lost in thought," Valkyrae spoke, her voice so soft that the sounds around them seemed to fade into the fringes, a cocoon of confidences forming between the two.

You took a sip of his whiskey, allowing the burn of the liquid sink into his weary mind.

"Just enjoying my usual drink, but I am lost in thought. What about you, girl?" your eyes twinkled with a spark of intrigue that could not be easily dismissed.

Valkyrae smirked, her lips curving upwards like the bow of a sail in the wind. "I could say the same. I'm a streamer, and tonight was a long night. The chat was a real handful, and I'm here to unwind."

"I'm a writer, been working on a novel, but it seems like the words just aren't coming." you replied, your voice laced with a strain of frustration. Valkyrae leaned forward, resting her elbows on the cold, tarnished surface of the bar, her voice low and her attention devoted. "A writer, huh? That's interesting. Maybe you're just stuck, like me when I'm playing a difficult level." A few notes of laughter escaped her lips, a mix of amusement and sympathy swirling within her eyes.

"That's a good point. Maybe I need to take a different approach." You slouch back into your seat, your posture softening like the resolve of your thoughts.

"So, what do you stream?"

"I do a little bit of everything, but mostly I play games and chat with my lovely chat." She added with an impish glint in her eye. "Maybe you should check me out sometime, if you're into that sort of thing."

"I might just do that." The corners of your eyes crinkled ever so slightly, betraying the visage of intrigue that was becoming all too familiar.

"So, Valkyrae, do you come here often?"

"Not as often as I'd like." She breathed, releasing her gaze, allowing her eyes to cast about the room with a nostalgia that hugged them together, unseen by the naked eye. "This place just feels like home sometimes."

You nodded knowingly, "I know what you mean."

"So, Hank, what brings you here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in mock playfulness. "Just the drink or something more?" Valkyrae typically played coy, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her emerald eyes, illuminating a darker side of her nature.

You took a deep breath, the nervous energy rolling off of you in waves. The tension between them grew thicker than the smoke in the air.

"I'm just looking for a little inspiration," you say, your voice barely above a whisper. "I heard this place was a good spot for that."

"Well, inspiration is a tall order, but I'll do my best to provide it," she purred, her smoky eyes laced with arched brows. The challenge was baked into her every word, and you could barely contain the fire that flickered within him at her seductive tone. "For a certain price, of course."

"Oh? And what exactly do you propose as payment?"

She smirked, her fingers circling her emerald glass, her eyes smoldering with lust. "I'm open to negotiations. But I have a feeling you'll find it well worth your while."

Valkyrae leaned back, unconsciously exposing the creamy space between her breasts. "I'll be your muse, and you'll be my...inspiration." She leaned forward again, her lips brushing his ear, her voice a silky purr. "What do you say, Hank?"