The heat was oppressive, and though she preferred to be outside on sunny days she had had to seek refuge in a Starbucks of all things.  Corporate greed clinged to the walls and the atmosphere of the place. The cheap soykaf tasted about as bad as the first time. Back home in Tir Na Nog, she had been able to get real actual coffee when she had socialized with the Danaan families… But that was the problem, she wasn’t back home. A number of bad decisions on her part had placed her in a racist dump in a whole other country. She doubted she would have liked it much even without the racism. Initially, it hadn’t been so bad to live in the UCAS. The worst part had been how much she had missed her love. The one person she had thought was her true love had only answered her calls once after she had arrived, to tell her that she should never call again, and that had been that. If she’d used her brain, she could have seen this ending coming before the affair begun. It was another harsh lesson she’d been forced to learn.

[b]“Would you rather be dead?”[/b] Mirage asked, from where he sat on the table, having known her long enough to be able to tell what she was thinking too often. [b]“You bloody well would be if it weren’t for me.”[/b] 

Caewil made a grimace at him, feeling no need to respond, smile or give him her entire attention. It had always been a welcome addition to have someone in her life she could be rude and uncaring towards at times. Especially since she had become a face and learnt how to play nice with everyone, despite what she really thought of them. No one else would stick by her side in the same way, and after losing her true love she’d likely never love anyone else than Mirage.

She hadn’t spent her entire time in Louisana sulking though. It was the damn soykaf and Starbucks that put her in a sour mood at the moment. The team she was a member of could be entertaining if she was bored, but there were a couple of establishments nearby that had been fun to visit.

The racist dance club called Samuel’s had been interesting. She had only meant to try and see if she could talk her way inside while covering up her ears with fake long hair. It had worked better than expected. All she had done was shout at the bouncer at the door that she was no metahuman, and how dare he suggest such, until a member of the staff told him to let her inside. It was probably her eyes that had made him suspicious. Fake IDs that identified her as human had been in her possession for years. Caewil had been the life of the party once inside, dancing and spouting racist nonsense with the rest of them.  Those who hadn’t been careful with their jewellery would find some of it missing after the night was over, but she needed it more than them anyway. It was still in her possession actually, as she hadn’t decided whether to keep it or pawn it.

The other night she had visited Under the Floorboards as well. The difference between the two clubs had been large. Yet, she hadn’t gone to either as her true self. At the metahuman bar she had donned some of her trashier clothes and a few facial piercings to fit in better. Somehow, it had been less exciting than Samuel’s. Maybe because she wasn’t facing the same threat if anyone found out she was faking her entire persona. Caewil had made a few contacts at the bar before calling it a night with another elf. Losing faith in love, didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy physical pleasures of the flesh.

She hadn’t decided on what place to visit today, and her thoughts were interrupted by the vibrating commlink in her pocket before she could. Apparently the briefing was about to begin. Well, at least it meant she didn’t have to bother trying to drink anymore of the soykaf. Caewil made her way back to their hotel across the street, and entered their room with a confident stride before long. She found most of the team gathered already, except for the Ork it seemed.

[b]“Greetings.”[/b] Caewil said with a wave of her hand, and a smile. [b]“Such a sunny day we’ve got. It might burn your skin right off!”[/b]

[b]“Laying it on thick.”[/b] Mirage muttered behind her.

She took a seat where she could find one. Mirage jumped up her in lap to listen to the briefing with them, and out of habit her hand soon petted his soft fur. It doubtlessly looked off to anyone else that couldn’t see him. The team had probably already heard her talk with no one more than once in the past month.

[b]“Mi be wonderin’ if ya gotta clue who dey belong too, yeah?”[/b] Caewil asked after the woman had stopped talking, trying to mimic her dialect as best she could. After the botched run, she’d be willing to listen to suspicions. [b]“Who else be wantin’ de CDs.”[/b]