£10,000 Jackpot

[Rae-Star Berii]

Rae had been to the bank. She was dressed in wet-look leggings and a beautiful lilac tunic. The soft purple matched one of the strands in her eccentric hair. Today, the pink and rainbow wisps were knotted on the side of her head, just under her ear in a sweet rose spiral. She was even wearing purple tinted heels. They were brand new and bought for the occasion. Rae was trying to look older; trying to look like a home owner; like someone capable of owning her own home and being worthy of a loan. Rae had needed a bank account, she had needed money and she needed it now.

After returning to London Rae had un-covered things she had not wished too, but these were things that had led her to the firm belief that what she was doing was the right thing to do. Following ‘The Casefile’, a file of information that her Uncle had given into her care the night he was murdered, she was learning the ways of the world, of the shadows that lay in wait to destroy the human race.

The bank had not disappointed and Rae had been given her own account, she had used her old address- where she was currently squatting – and had passed off as a twenty-something business woman. She had been granted a loan; of £10,000 and this would be paid into her brand new account in the days to follow. Of course, she had already spent the money and knew what she intended to do with it- and now, her intention was not to buy a wardrobe full of shoes. Rae needed the money to get her started in her fight against the imminent darkness.

Now, after her meeting, she was sat in a café on Oxford Street. The busy London day had begun and she was watching from the window as the 4pm rush hour began. There was no way she was getting the underground, not at this time; no. She would wait, sit quietly in the coffee house and enjoy the bustle of the people around her.

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Adikartika slowly strode in to coffee shop and picked seat out in the midst of the crowd and waited for a server to come by. Evanesca was asleep far outside of town having gorged herself on a magnificent meal of wild deer and a cow pilfered from a nearby farm and was attempting to sleep it off like a giant snake in a small little forested section nearby but still far enough away to remain unnoticed. He finally managed to flag a cute little serving girl down and asked for a simple glass of water and lemonade and the harassed girl nodded before moving off to do more work.

He smiled and leaned back in his seat, watching the crazy people around him moving this way and that in eccentric patterns. They where nuts, the majority of them. Living simple day to day lives doing nothing and having no adventure what so ever. However, hidden in this midst of humanity Adi knew there where those who where not classifiable as "human". Probably a few of them hiding right here in this very cafe. Could be that young serving girl....or even that wild looking pink chick in the corner though she had human scribbled across her forehead like neon sign.

[Rae-Star Berii]

The place was busy, there were people everywhere. Rae watched as the poor girl ran around like a blue-arsed fly. She brought Rae her coffee, but as she did she was so flustered and so over stressed that the coffee split. Fortunately, it missed Rae, but the cup upturned as she stumbled and the black, beautiful liquid spilt everywhere, splattering the floor and the table. Rae swore under her breath and moved the book she had been reading to one side.

“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry- are you okay?” The waitress asked, flushed and pink with her mistake. Before she had to babble a further apology the woman, the one from behind the counter yelled at her go back to work. The girl turned scarlet, and fumbled, unsure what to do she dithered from foot to anxious foot.

Rae had done enough waitressing jobs to know how difficult it could be when you were overwhelmed. She watched, and she pitied the poor girl. Rae was killing time, she wasn’t particularly enjoying her book either, so she decided to do something that was mostly unheard of in London. She decided to be helpful.

“Go- I’ll sort it- leave me your cloth.” She offered the girl. For a moment they argued about it; wherein it was unthinkable of Rae doing what she was offering, but a call from the burley mistress behind the counter made up the young waitresses idea. Rae glanced at her name badge, and smiled. “Honestly, Beth- go get your next order, I can clean this up.”

So Rae did. And when she was finished she went to the counter to return the cloth. “Do you want an extra pair of hands?” She asked, in her gentle way. She had grown into a considerate woman after the tragedy she had been through, it had changed her from the superficial Barbie blonde she had been at thirteen. For a moment, the woman blinked at her, then smiled; “Table Twelve-“and she pointed, so gratefully, at the table in the corner.

Picking up the little black tray and the two glasses on its surface, she smiled and nodded. Her heels clacked on the tiled floor as she took the lemonade and a glass of water with ice to the man sitting at table twelve. She placed the drinks down on the table surface, with an angelic smile. “Anything else, sir?” She murmured, like a pro.

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Adikartika watched the entire interaction between the pink girl as he was affectionately thinking of her in his head and the waitress. Interesting indeed, most girls would definitely not have been so nice as she had. In fact, most would have been exactly like the female who obviously ran this join. Uppity, snottish, and in general....a bitch. Those kinds actually really grated upon his nerves. The poor waitress was doing her absolute best in this busy hour and was actually doing a good job. The lady of the establishment needed to lay off her and give her a break, actually a pay raise but he knew all to well how THAT would go over. Instead he simply watched as the waitress scuttled off to accomplish other things and the Pink Girl walked over to him with his drink. She was so sweet and polite, he instantly pointed to the chair across from him as he stood up. "Sit there for a second. I'll be right back."

Striding pointedly through the establishment, he stepped directly behind the counter to the loud exclamation of the burly lady. He grabbed her arm firmly and lead her out of vision range behind a wall from everybody. A minute or two passed, and the male walked back out, followed closely by the lady who now looked remarkably like a whipped dog instead of the bossy brute from earlier. As he returned to his seat, the mistress grabbed an apron and began serving as well instead of sitting around being the boss.

"There, weight off that poor girls back and you can now return to enjoying your own day. I do hope you where enjoying your day after all, right?" He smiled at her charmingly, not at all perturbed by what he had just done or what her reaction would be about it.

[Rae-Star Berii]

His answer was unexpected, of course, and Rae blinked at him and then sat opposite him. Smiling to herself, confusing marking her lightly made-up face she watched him stride across the café and address the supervisor. Rae chuckled to herself, shaking her head and tucking a stray strand of hair back behind her ear. When he came back, she smiled at him; “Thank you.” Rae told him; though she hadn’t been too bothered and had offered her help, she wasn’t by any means going to refuse his solution.

“I felt sorry for that poor girl- Beth.” Rae explained further, not one for massive conversations Rae was rather shy, this meant she didn’t question the conversation that had happened between him and the supervisor. She didn’t have the gall or confidence to ask a complete stranger such a thing. “I understand how hard it can be, being a waitress sometimes.” She added, shyly, almost angelic in her introversion.

Her fingers ran around the ridges of the little black tray she had used to carry his drinks over with, setting it between her lap and the table edge she massaged it somewhat anxiously. He had told her to sit, so she felt obliged to stay there until he let her go, but Rae wasn’t sure what the socially adequate length of time for such an interaction might be. “Well, thanks again, sir- have a lovely day.” The rainbow haired teenager smiled and made to stand.

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He simply sat across from her, sipping his drink. He would have got her one but she seemed way to occupied with something on her mind. When she spoke he smiled and nodded kindly, listening to her words. Yes, he knew what it was like to he a server as well. However when she stood up to leave, mentioning it was a good day he stood up as well. He dropped several bills on the table more then enough to cover the single drink and leave a nice tip and he nodded.

"Indeed it is a good day. In fact I would say its a beautiful day just like yourself. Perhaps we can take a walk?" He smiled warmly at her, offering his arm to escort her from the premises and to wherever she wished to go after.

[Rae-Star Berii]

He stood too.

Rae wet her lips slowly when he stood too, well that was interesting. For a long moment she seemed to hesitate, it seemed a little bit too difficult for her to comprehend. Why would a random stranger in a café in the centre of London be so interested in her? She smiled though, gently, sweet with her manners and something of an actress; so she was quick at hiding her confusion. Still, people, strangers, met each day and good things happened- maybe she needed to stop being so negative?

“Rae.” She introduced herself and in that moment she seemed to be accepting his offer of company.

Then it occurred to her that she had also given her own name; that was something she hadn’t done since she’d first travelling on her own. No, Rae had always gone by Maria for protection’s sake, for the sake of her individuality and her need to stay alive. She smiled though she did not take his arm; by general rule she didn’t seek human contact, having had some seriously bad experiences in her youth, and this rule was not one she would ‘slip-up’ and break.

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Adi smiled as she gave him her name. She didnt take his arm, a small disappointment but he understood it. Instead he opened the door for her like a good gentleman and let her edit first and followed closing the door behind them. As they exited on to the streets he smiled warmly back at Rae, his eyes full of life and genuine care.

"Well, Miss Rae, it is a extreme pleasure to make your beautiful acquaintance. My name is Adikartika, but everybody I know simply calls me...Adi." He was being very open, and felt the negative views with in his mind from Evanesca.

~Always acting with your heart, Little One...~

He pushed gently to one corner of his mind and slipped his hands in to his pockets lookin up and down the streets as if he was nervous and expecting something. Old demon hunting traits died hard, especially when they had saved his life many countless times over.

[Rae-Star Berii]

”Well Miss Rae, it’s an extreme pleasure to make your beautiful acquaintance….everybody I know calls me Adi”

It was a strange one, forwards but in a sweet sort of way, confident but not arrogant and self-assured but not pushy. He didn’t seem to mind that she didn’t take his arm, but simply led her out into the street and she seemed to think that was a good idea as she followed him. Her eyes ran over him as he stepped ahead of her a little, and for a moment Rae tried to familiarise her-self with him and the structures of his body. It wasn’t perverted in any sense, but Rae was afraid of him, anxious of men in general. She struggled with how to communicate with them, because of the things that had happened to her, and this made her curious.

“A pleasure to meet you too.” She said, in her delicate London accent. “Adi.” And she tested his name on her lips for the first time, as she moved beside him once more. He was leading her on this walk after all, and for Rae this was inquisitive behaviour, behaviour that kept her guard up.

Adikartika smiled as she said his name then simply continued strolling down the street. His pace was neither a hurried one nor was it a baby's crawl. It was just a simply stride, with neither specific destination nor purpose besides a simple stroll within it. He walked down the street and looked over at her. Dodging around the few people ho came their way, he looked her over. She seemed like a sweet girl, although quite and a bit withdrawn. Perhaps a little nervous. Well, it wasn't everyday one went on a walk with a complete stranger. He could be some creep. A mugger, serial killer, a rapist for all she knew. Well, she obviously didnt think that because she was here, walking beside him almost practically alone.

~ No. Not alone, and stop looking at her like that little one.~

Adi rolled his eyes as Evanesca spoke in his mind. She was partial and wasn't being fair. Besides, it wasn't like he was even on a true date or something here. He was simply walking with a girl he had just meet in a bloody coffee shoot. He paused and mashed the button on a cross walk sign and waited patiently for the little white light in the shape of a walking person to appear.

"So Rae, what do you do for a living?" He asked casually, looking to get to know the female a little and sooth her obvious unease around him although it was a only mild and she hide it extremely well. He was also simply curious, for he like getting to know new people and making friends. You simply never knew when you may need one or what might become of a friendship.

(Welcome back Rae!!!!)

[Rae-Star Berii]

Rae, dressed in her wet look leggings purple tunic and heels, walked with him. Each delicate footfall perfectly aligned with the other as she stepped out graciously and with a slight sway in her step. Momentarily she glanced back at the café over her shoulder, before she followed him over the street-crossing to the sound of the bleating machinery. Her chocolate eyes glanced sideways, checking the car within stopping distance of them and smiled gently at the driver awaiting their crossing. She glanced around a lot, but this was not surprising behaviour, she was anxious. This was an odd situation to find herself in. But, simply, Rae had nothing to lose.

So Rae, what do you do for a living? He asked, and as he spoke her gaze returned to him. She followed him down the street, meandering a little through the oncoming people but the walk was casual, calm you might say. It was easy to assume his question was to put her at ease, unfortunately for Rae this was where the lies began. One did not simply say that they were a hunter of all things daemonic and impure. It didn’t tend to go down well, and she had learnt that you could never safely assume the person beside you was actually human. Rae wasn’t sure what it meant to be human anymore.

So she smiled, and found truth in the lie, as she answered; “I work with robotics, for a small company.” Well, she considered herself the small company didn’t she? And she was building a robot. There was a brain inside that pink haired-head.

“You?” Of course she returned the question, trying to gauge how old he was.


(ooc: thanks! It's nice to be back)

The draconian was simply leading her in a wide sort of circle like shape as they walk, starting at the cafe and he simply planned on ending back there for simplicity's sake. She answered his question and he nodded. Seemed like a good answer. Then she asked him what he did himself, although not in so many worlds but with a much more elegant you. He contemplated the question, having never been asked that one before really outside of a supernatural circle.

The real answer was he hunted daemons sort of. At least he use to work with the Daemons of Rome to hunt down rogue daemons and angels. Now I had even a while since he had even been contacted by the group, and he had been busy raising his dragon. He watched a really nice and brand new car drive by but it only made him wish he could ride upon Eva all the sudden.

"I'm a pilot. Also, I suppose I am a wet boy." He used a layman's term for a hitman. Anybody who knew the work would know what he meant, and anybody who didn't wouldn't have a clue.

€ Liar € Her cold tone cut in to her mind.
€ Why not tell the truth? If anybody questioned it I would turn them in to a crunchy snack. € Adi sighed and shook his head.

~Because not everybody needs to die darling. Please, stop. She's clearly playing some game for some reason. I wish to see why.~ Contempt filled his mind from his dragoness for human games.

[Rae-Star Berii]

"I'm a pilot. Also, I suppose I am a wet boy."

She had been about to say that his job sounded amazing. She was about to ask him more about his work; whether it was commercial or private sector. But unfortunately, possibly for both of them, Rae knew what a ‘wet boy’ was and she didn’t suppose he meant it in the slang sense of ‘pathetic’. How did Rae know this? She had met assassins before; her line of work always seemed to bring her close to the belly of the world. There was a large section of names in The Case File that she had been left by her family that came under the title.

Then why did he just come out and say it? Was he looking for a reaction from her? Was he looking for her to be afraid of him? Rae made a conscious effort not to react, she was very good at keeping a stone face and though she gave a twitch of her eyebrows to the initial statement her face quickly returned to calm and passive.

“Oh.” She commented, thoughtfully.

“Tell everyone that, do you?” She asked again after a moment.

It seemed more than likely that he didn’t trust her answer, that he didn’t buy something about the appearance she had set up for herself. It seemed plausible that she was being tested. After all, she was eighteen, pretty, dressed to impress for her interview at the bank and yet was determined to come across as shy and retiring. Almost with too much kindness in her heart, she had helped out the waitress in the Café moments ago. She supposed, in many circles, it would seem too perfect. The truth being, of course, that it was.

Alekzander raised his eyebrow at the female, watching her reaction. She was....something. Surprised wasn't one of them however. He was intrigued by her answer and reaction. "Perhaps I do? Most don't know what that is. The fact you do tells many things." He continued walking, glancing over at her occasionally as they moved down the street. She wasn't telling everything, but as they where strangers he wasn't a about to force her to tell him what she didn't want. That would be just rude.

€ You may not but I will. €
~ Behave Eva. She isn't even a threat. She hasn't attacked me or even made a move to do so. Relax please.~
€ I'll relax when your back with me... €

He sighed and continued walking. "So what is your...involvement with wet work?" He ask, seeking to better understand the girl next to him. If he knew more about her he may be able to piece together why she was so jumpy and anxious. If he found some more out about her he would be able to better understand her.

€ If I was there I could force her to talk. €

Adi simply ignored her and watched the female beside him.

[Rae-Star Berii]

He was expecting an answer, though he didn’t necessarily ask her a question. His gaze suggested that there was more to him and he watched her with intent curiosity. For a long moment, Rae said nothing, then she gave him a sweet smiled and offered him a cryptic answer; “I’ve had a hard life.” she said by way of explanation for her knowledge; and her answer, rather pleasingly could imply several reasons for her understanding his urban slang. First, she could be one too. Secondly, she could have a ‘wetboy’ in the family, an assassin within her family ranks. Both of these seemed unlikely, how often did assassins meet and walk through the city centre with other assassins? More pleasingly it suggested that she had fought, or been stalked, by an assassin and survived. This was an answer that Rae favoured and while it wasn’t strictly true it wasn’t false either. But she did not allow him the secrets of her thoughts, merely, gave him a smile very like his own. Let him work it out for himself, or continue to ask his questions. Shy though she was, she was not afraid of him right then.