LOCATION & TIME : THE COFFEE POT , MORNING INTERACTIONS : ASSOCIATES MENTIONS : ATLTAS - @SamaraJayne96
Alejandro ignored everything and anything that had to do with work during the daily morning work out. Mara continued to tell him about new stuff she had dug out about Nikki or their new friend Shannon. He didn't want to hear anything about them or the business for the rest of the weekend. Saturday was supposed to be his day off from work and any worries from the whole drug ring thing, but it was ruined by their new friend. Although, he did had to admit he liked their new friend despite everything that Mara was telling him now- which he was trying to ignore very very hard.
As long as Alejandro secured Sol under his family's name and business- the rest didn't matter. He had been successful so far. Before Sol, Huston had been his last conquer. The city had been riled with so many gangs and corrupt police that bringing it down to its knees before Alejandro had taken him quite a while. But as always, he came out on top. His sister had stayed behind to help keep Huston under their family's thumb, but she would have to move on soon and follow close behind him.
Before that, Alejandro had to make sure Sol was under his control.
"I'm not supposed to be thinking about this!" Alejandro groaned loudly as he dropped the weights he had been carrying on the ground, startling his personal trainer. "We're done for today. I need to get out."
"Alejandro, we still need to discuss about you-"
"No, no we don't. Mara take the day off. John will be with me. Just go out and enjoy your day. Call your mother or your siblings. Just- just rest, okay?" Alejandro didn't let her finish. He didn't want to hear about it anymore. Just like she did, Alejandro had to keep his mind clear from it all. At least for one day.
The two men arrived at The Coffee Pot just an hour after. Alejandro had dressed in black jeans, a gray hoodie, and a black coat over it to keep the chilly hair from making him freeze his ass off. He was not made for the cold one bit. Unlike John, who seemed perfectly fine in his usual black suit with only a black coat over his shoulders, Alejandro never understood how the hell could that man be perfectly fine in the searing hot and the freezing cold.
Alejandro guided John to the closest table to the counter, where he took a seat and glanced around the place. It was his first time in The Coffee Shop, and since John recommended the place, he had been okay with coming here. The place looked homey enough, and it wasn't cold like it was outside. Besides, the people here weren't so bad on the eyes.
"If you keep looking at the waiter, I might get jealous." John said as he pulled out his phone to look at the text message he had reieved from Mara.
"Shut up." Alejandro rolled his eyes and turned to look John with a smile. "You're not the jealous type." He took John's phone and turned off the screen. "However, I am. Stop texting Mara and pay attention to me."
John gave Alejandro a glare before taking his phone back and looking at the waiter with the silver hair. "He is cuter than you."
"Rude." Alejandro huffed and looked back at the waiter too. "I'm hungry. I could go with some pancakes. Or cake. Or some of that as- Ouch!" He couldn't finish due to John;s fist meeting his head in a not so gentle manner.
"Stop talking." John said as he stood up to take two menus. The faster they got their breakfast, the faster they could get out, and Alejandro ould stop talking about eating cake. With that, he waved down the waiter with the silver hair to take their order.
Marinalia Romus Olympus "Mali" & Victoria Darya Romus "Vika"
Sunday snooze day - free skip - mixed locations
Flying, Fencing and random encounters
Marinalia (Luna Sports Centre) Marinalia was swiping her card to pay and get the reward points because who doesn't love a free drink every so often. The fact they always have her extra Mango made this her go to smoothie stop. Marinalia just loved Mango. The cutting it side of things was gambling on a hospital visit at times though.
Turning round she hered someone calling for a "English Chick" looking round for the person to unload on for the random call out. Turning round part way through a pre planned rant / tirade at the whole thing. "Am I really that much of a unicorn, and for your info... Oh." Suddenly the memory linked her with the woman from coffee shop and good festival. Pink hair yep. Obviously works out, some career that seems to require a good figure perhaps. The work out gear the woman had on did not exactly hide everything. It was Sunday morning gym session? After a food festival. From the brush against her that morning. Definitely kept in shape. How, what or why was a mystery she could live with though. More random curiosity than anything. "Oh, not a jerk. hello... I hope I did not ruin your date?" A little more nervous now, though not as awkward, what was she after? What was her intentions? It was a public place so she decided to join her sipping a smoothie and putting down her hand bag and gym bag that was resting over her shoulder. Unzipping her track jacket, well she was not cold now, the double layered design was a little more but really handy when things got a bit cooler.
"suppose I should say hello properly after walking into you, twice. I'm Marlinalia Romus Olympus, cute blonde pilot? Food festival?. You where with a Asian woman who seemed dressed rather nicely?. You made a cute pair." glancing over her smoothie with eyes a dark slate grey eyes, she was rather unsure exactly what kind of situation she found herself in. Was she after anything? Or just being friendly?
Hearing a beep that turned out to be a silly message from her sister going on about picking up some custard of she was passing anyway that sold it. A small smile she could not hide as the beach photo of her arm in arm with Xia that was her internal picture on that beach in the Caribbean. It really told a 1000 words and she had no care in the world. That photo was... It just was nice."Sorry just my sister bring a bit silly, thought it might be important. My... Ma moitié, or just Girlfriend in English but that was cuter. Umm.. ok so rather awkward meetings aside. I really outdid myself on Saturday... what brought you here? Rather surprised they had fencing classes here myself." Trying to break a little of a self created massive awkward berg that Marinalia seemed to have been taken by the previous day. Mixing up terms of endearment into limited french she knew, though calling people a cabbage or shrimp was plain weird. Who wants to be referred to as there little cabbage? Marinalia was rambling abit, not so awkward but nervous, the whole situation was an unknown. Unknowns made her nervous.
Really unsure what to do she just enjoyed a bit of her smoothie and a breakfast bar that probably costs like 5 times as much but hungry was not logical. Her fencing class had worked up more of a appertie than Marinalia has planned. Good though surprising.
It was not a date, she barely knew the woman but she seemed oddly friendly and it was less embarrassing to just roll with it. If anything this city taught her. Just roll with the chaos. Relaxing a little more dressed up than you probably should be for a gym trip but comfortable. Did a pale blue track jacket with a floral skirt? Eh. Lazy sunday. It was not like she had to walk. Even if it got cold it was pretty easy to get a parking spot near the gym especially with everyone probably feeling too full to move from the bed to the sofa to watch the news. Well despite the bottle of wine polished off after she made it home. That required a paracetamol.
Lilith had to stifle her laughter when Marinalia began to cuss her off. She didn't blame the chick, nor did Lilith mind. It was something she was used to for being overly friendly and abrasive with people. Although, it was cute to see the shorter girl get so worked up over it. How could she not stand out with her overly fancy clothes and posh accent in a smoothie bar?
"Deffenetly not a jerk, but I could be one if you want me to." Lilith gave the girl a grin as she brought up her sandwich to her face and took a big bite from it. Maybe she should have gotten a soup with her meal. To warm her up a bit more before she was forced to face the cold again.
"Oh! Aria, you mean? She's the cutest girl in this city! Ohmigosh, she's so cool too! Last night- she took me to her apartment, and we did some very very nice things." Lilith winked at Marinalia just as the blonde put her phone away. "Anyway, she showed me all of her equipment- and gosh was she so cool. It was even better to wake up to her bedhead. I honestly never knew anyone could look that good with bedhead." She began to fan herself as if she was getting hot.
Lilith took her smoothie and slurped a good amount as she listened to Marinalia. "Oh! I'm Lilith without all those fancy-sounding names. Just your high-end local stripper." Lilith motioned to her body with the hand that was holding her green smoothie. "My body is the money maker, babe, I gotta keep this thing looking nice if I want to stay on the top. I am pretty hot, ain't I? I would have shown you move if we had met in the showers." Lilith didn't mind telling people where she worked, as long as they didn't insult her for it and if she wasn't looking anything serious from them. Marinalia seemed like a fine person, and she was sure she wouldn't mind befriending a stripper. Or a dancer. Whatever.
"Hey- you can always go over and visit. If my memory is correct, you granddaddy is some rich guy right? Spend some money on me." She crossed a leg over the other with a grin as she took another sip of her smoothie. "We got specials for couples. You can bring in your little girlfriend," she said in a teasing tone and winked at Marinalia.
With everyone going as smoothly as Aria didn’t expect, Hoon was rather suspicious that everything went well, the only thing Hoon expected was Lilith renewing Hoon’s V-card if you get me. Hoon’s been... Let’s say... ‘dry’ for awhile now, for years even. Hoon didn’t even get to play her a song before the whole getting wasted thing happened. At least they did not do anything they would regret. Having slept through the drunk night after their session of bitching of life, Aria was pretty happy which was something pretty rare ever since how her life went to shit.
Hoon awoke, her face was buried in the pillow that Lilith was using, it was now instinct to move close to Lilith’s scent and Hoon didn’t mind, she loved it to be exact. She got up with haste after realising that Lilith was gone, her eyes darted around the room, she grabbed her phone and hurried out to the main part of her apartment. There she slowed down after seeing the readily prepared breakfast and a note sitting on her dinner table. She closed the jacket she wore as she walked over to the note, she picked it up and read it. Aria just smiled, she thought that she just got into a person into one night stands, even though there was no sex involved. She sat down to see the large stack of pancakes and strawberries that rested over it. She sat down and grabbed a fork, she rubbed her nose before digging in. The first bite was surprising, it was delicious but that wasn’t what surprised her, the thing that surprised her is the taste of something homemade, something she hadn’t tasted in awhile. This was the part that she was glad that Lilith left the apartment because tears slowly streamed down her face as she happily ate the pancakes, the pancakes tasted a lot like the pancakes her dad made whenever she was having a bad day. She quietly cried, tears dripping on the table but the sudden buzz of her phone snapped her out of it. She wiped her tears away and read the text from Lilith.
Her eyes lit up after seeing Lilith’s text, so she replied pretty quickly.
To: Lily 💜 From: HoonHoon I have a lot, is it my college hoodie? The green one with a dinosaur on the back? The mustard yellow one? Dude you have to be specific.
Anyway... Where are you?
She then looked at her phone, her thumb kept wiping the screen as she was anxious for a reply. Hoon then looked behind her to see her apartment running out of supplies, she decided to go grocery shopping today, but first she needs to hit up her neighbour who usually helps her, Elise Brooke.
She got up, the icky feeling of yesterday’s clothes was now taking hold, but she needed to ask Ela first. She then walked out her door and knocked on room beside her. "Hey Ela, you wanna go get some groceries today?" She stood there for a solid minute, she heard nothing from inside so she knocked again. Her phone then buzzed, a text from Ela appeared.
To: Hyooooon From: Elais Bruk Can’t go to the groceries with you, I got food poisoning from something yesterday, and I think I was allergic to rattlesnake. Sorry.
Hoon then nodded at her phone before putting it away, she then knocked once more and replied. "Alright, you want anything though, nothing large though." The door then swung open right after she said that, There stood a very pale looking Elise Brooke, her eyes were puffy and her nose was red, she appeared to be crying but it was probably something related to her allergies. A physical written list was presented to her face by the digital artist, most of it was meds, though the bottom of the list did say large cheddar pringles. "Hyoon, you’re a life saver, I’ll buy you dinner sometime okay?" Said Elise as she thanked Hoon, she even bowed. "Alright, hey no prob, we’ll get ramen tomorrow or something, you down?" Elise just nodded at that, they then said their farewells and Aria was off.
She returned to her apartment, took a quick but warm shower and got into really comfortable and warm clothing. She was wearing sweatpants, a thick shirt, a thick hoodie, and a pair of sneakers. She then grabbed a black cap on the way out and put it on, she then made her way to Haven Square and walked in the grocery mall, doing everything she needs to do, or all the shopping that she needs. She did keep checking her phone, and since she was feeling it, she took a selfie from below the chin, so there was a double chin and her hair was drooping down in the picture. She held out her fingers in a V and her tongue was slightly out. She then sent it to Lilith.
To: Lily 💜 From: HoonHoon ~Attached Image~
Anyway, I’m in the groceries at Haven square.
Miss ya’
She then put her phone away and continued with her grocery shopping.
Marinalia Romus Olympus "Mali" & Victoria Darya Romus "Vika"
Sunday snooze day - free skip - mixed locations
Flying, Fencing and random encounters
Marinalia (Luna Sports Centre) Marinalia sipped on her smoothie, rather mangoey, but exactly how she liked it, her favourite of the flavours on offer. The breakfast bar was a bit boring but filling though it was exactly what she wanted after a long work out. She gushed rather much about her date? Girlfriend? Well the first part. The second part was... What did you even say to someone you just met describing how they had sex in slightly obscure formats of equipment like your going on about a blue ray player. She was....a character? Yes character."Sounds like she a keeper. But I'm the cutest, well according to a poll from me. Umm, well...glad you enjoyed your... recreation..." How else could you congratulate a random person on getting laid? Getting a little more awkward, was that strange innuendo? Granted she did not exactly mind a little personal recreation but this was... Interesting. "Ok... Much as I find sleeping alone missing something somehow ever since my holiday... Umm... I give up...happy orgasams and nudity" Marinalia, nothing. Utterly fuck all nothing. Just flat out nothing. Drinking her smoothie with no idea how you could answer that statement. The holiday statement was honest, Marlin got used to someone to cuddle and just not bring alone. It was still cold and sharing was hardly a chore.
Oh... Lilith. Rather interesting name, especially when you counted in her profession. Name with a rather mixed history, you don't come across many Lilith's or strippers for the most part. Well ones you know are... finally a old-fashioned English upper class education came in useful. Just take things as they come... Xia and Victoria would be laughing half the night on her random luck. Softening her accent, with a chime like tone sneaking in"Ok, little fancy, Marlin or Mali is fine Lilith. Pretty name, rather mixed origins, The first defiant woman. Jobs a job, you were nice enough to tolerate a random mega awkward Englishwoman. Your not a traffic warden, that's unforgivable."
Jobs where jobs you did, not made the person. The fact she was a stripper in work hours was not a problem. The last comment made her blush rather, Lilith was... First she gushes about her girl, then swaps, it was fun, if not hard to keep up. "It shows, Aria is a lucky girl. I'll hold that answer as my better than I deserve girlfriend works here, and I rather like someone to cuddle at night.
You always this forward with strangers?" Looking into her smoothie to regain calm, trying to lighten things and also making sure to look after her own best interest. Her question more curious than really offense. Lilith was... Well she reminded a little Xia in her utter self confidence and almost infections ability to take you along with the craziness. You just rolled with it.
Most people worked out she was not exactly poor but very few had clicked that she was an heiress to a major European conglomerate of industrial ship builders and heavy industries both civilian and Military building everything from river boats to Frigates and cargo ships"Umm.. yes. I might that Olympus, Grampa Max. How even....just curious as most never make the link. Just think I like the name or colour?" Guessing being a high end stripper meant you met Rich business people and had to keep up abit with the basics to make small talk and flirt with them to separate them from there dollars. Maybe the grand Prix? A client who a sponsor?
Her offer of spending some money on her even a couple's discount was...how did she even answer that hiding badly behind her smoothie trying to just even work out what to say. Though Lilith's shear confidence just... "I can safely say that's one of the most unique offers I've had in Sol City, London, Anchorage and Africa combined. ummm. Thanks? Much as your attractive, umm... I kinda very much like Xia" Trying her best to be polite, she really did not have much experience when the fairer sex where interested in Matlin that way. Xia, the blizzard, and the whole drama just kinda took her along the way and things worked out nicely so far. "I kinda still getting used to a few things so don't take anything the wrong way." @Pyxis
Victoria (Atlas mountains to the Coffee Pot) Victoria veered off the main route and decided to see what the car could handle though the old starboard mountains as the 6 litres of engineered state of the art V12 powered Bentley hit the mountains roads with glee to be let off the city millage leash. The back road was not alone as two older American cars that looked like out of... That car was out of supernatural? Another old car sped out of its parking spot kicking up dust a distance ahead. "Vika... It ain't the rally. Food can wait. I ate a bit on the plane" Victoria glanced over braking into the bend and weaving tightly round with a noticeable change in tone as the car picked back up speed on the straight. "Trust me Cardinal. I passed same driving test you did." Smiling, she pressed harder and turned up the radio tuned to the local rock station. Driving did not have to be boring...
Following the looping curves with ease the traction control and power management keeping the tyres tight on the road with little effort. Keeping on the Mustangs tail at a safe distance the driver really was throwing it harder than Victoria felt comfortable to do so and backed off a little, modern advantages kept her in the little game though she would have to be fairly crazy to overtake on the winding mountain road.
The car ahead eventually was lost in city traffic as Victoria took an alternate route to pick up something from the pharmacy and threw her friend the antihistamines he always forgot to bring. "You always forget. how many times in Moscow? Now. Food, there's a decent cafe nearby. " Charles had to laugh, Victoria always predicted that particular problem. But cafe and food sounded ideal. "Hey...I've got better. Had like 3 left.... Umm.. a few....food. let's get food!" she was right... Urgh, the raven haired woman whom was sat next to him never let that go.
...
Reaching the coffee, the small car park was fairly large for a city bat so she soon found a spot next to the Winchester car. It was huge, gleaming and the bonnet seemed to go on forever. A dusty Mustang, a few other cars though thankfully no Jurassic park jeep. What did Siobhan drive? Be nice to know to help avoid the red headed woman or least get some warning.
Heading in, Victoria balanced carefully on her cane over the gravel, with a little help from her taller blonde companion offering a little insurance. Dressed in a short pink, white and pale blue tartan skirt over black leggings, trainers and warm st Petersburg ice hockey hoodie. Long raven black hair though the contrast to pale skin, cane and 4'9 height made her harder to hide into a background. "You'll like it. Come on. Stuff is safe in the car, I need someone to steal pasistry from" teasing abit. Though she really was a snack thief. They just tasted nicer when you did not order them for some reason.
There was a server she did not recognise, a white haired man, fairly tall who bore a resemblance to the woman there? Related? Or just random chance? A larger rather muscular man was sitting with a stern looking guy in a dark suit? Something about those two did not scream casual or friends. Somehow he reminded her abit of how Isosef kept an eye on the room when keeping an eye out for her. He was way too alert to be a normal lazy Sunday city dweller. The place was not too busy, guess the food festival had fooded everyone out. His hair colour though, he was not quite her old snow white but either he had a really really good hair salon or that was something strange. The tall man near the counter, he did look fairly healthy, must be a really good dye job.
Finding a booth with Charles, a hand to help her down as she transitioned into seating. Not that she always needed the help but he least knew when Victoria would accept it and when to leave her be and let Victoria manage herself. "Thanks, Its yup a little low."
Wait, that was Ryan? Chef guy? Was he really just a chef? The cookout, did he owns one of the fancy cars? So many questions but it would be a bit rude to just burst in with half a dozen questions that floated round her mind. Food definitely was not a subject they excelled in, computers yes. Charles had been one who had learned how to hack with though Victoria had never really seen the appeal. She knew because you could not defend Vs an attack without knowing how the opposing forces thought and worked.
Just taking quietly, just another pair of accents in a rather multi national city, her part Russaim English Hybrid and Charles clearly English straight off the plane. The larger man quiet tones that did carry was not local it seemed. Quietly watching people as they waited for service, the old starboard was a good place to see the wide array of the cities people. @Pyxis@KillBox@SamaraJayne96
There. A job well done. Atlas thought to himself once completing the pyramid of everything bagels on display.
Remembering the chime of the bell just a few moments ago, he looked up to see who had entered the store. A tall, slender male with blonde hair sauntered up to the counter. Atlas couldn't help but notice the air of confidence that seemed to surround him. Not quite superior but... something else he couldn't put his finger on. What can I say... blondes do have more fun.
Sage leaned forward, her nose practically grazing the screen of her laptop. A large number of emails seemed to flood her inbox overnight. Intensely focused albeit a little stressed, her fingers flew over the keyboard with determined precision. Once a week the local newspaper would publish an advice column known as "Ask Roman." The column was hosted in the papers as well as their virtual platform online. The article was known for accepting citizens' questions about life, love, and everything in between. The participants who submit their entries have the choice of whether or not they would like to remain anonymous. The author, Roman Myers, would then answer their advice in his column giving readers a juicy insight into what could be their neighbor's life. Roman Myers was in fact nonother than the town introvert Sage Lunarie. In an attempt to avoid any publicity, the redhead preferred to use this alias when writing. In fact, the only person who knew of the authors' true identity was her twin Atlas Lunarie. Not even Sages' publisher had a clue as to her true identity. Her work was always submitted online and she was always paid through PayPal.
After reading an email about whether or not the submitter should ask out his best friend of 10 years; Sage leaned back in her seat and sighed, already tired from the onslaught of responsibilities that seemed to be piling up. Rubbing her face with both hands she contemplated retiring to her room and napping for the rest of the day. A silly thought due to the fact that her deadline was less than 24 hours away. She picked up her peppermint mocha and took a sip of the warm, minty liquid. An action that seemed to delight as well as fuel her motivation.
Her gaze flitted up momentarily locking eyes with a stranger standing at the counter. Momentarily she stopped breathing and felt as though she would faint. The redhead's cheeks began to warm as a slow blush crept across her face. Immediately her eyes fell as she stared at the number 3 on her keyboard. Her hands repeatedly clenched and relaxed at her sides all while she nibbled on her lip in embarrassment. The very thought of socializing with strangers made Sage uncomfortable... borderline fearful.
What I wouldn't give to be invisible... Then no one can see me. No one can hurt me. The thought surprised her with how quick it flitted through her mind.
Hastily she continued on with her work hoping the distraction would quell the anxiety beginning to swirl in the pit of her stomach. Another submission... this one having to do with a local citizen nervous about coming out of the closet.
It did not take long for Atlas to notice that the customer that had walked in was looking over at his sister. Glancing over, he saw the blush that appeared across her face. The twins have always seemed to have a sixth sense around each other. Almost as if they could tell what the other was feeling. The emotion coming across now was almost second nature to Atlas. Sage had been struggling with anxiety for quite some time. Frowning, he coughed into his fist in an attempt to get the blonde's attention.
"Excuse me sir..." Atlas smiled warmly placing both hands on the counter. Doing so caused his rings to sound from the friction. "How may I help you?"
While waiting for a response Atlas' thoughts began to shift towards the past. To a time before Sol City. A time when they still lived in a mansion surrounded by servants and gilded glory. A time when the twins had been spoiled as well as abused. Atlas tended to think that he had an easier upbringing... Physical abuse while still terrible, was easier to heal from than psychological turmoil. His sister, however, was another story. Their aunt and guardian at the time had certain... expectations. Having no children of her own the twins were expected to inherit the family fortune as well as all the responsibilities attached to it. Including what to wear, how to act, and what to say. Being yourself was strongly discouraged. On a daily basis, Sage would be brutally reminded on how a lady should act. If she did one thing wrong, a nasty punishment was sure to follow. Surely the drastic repercussions were due to their aunt having always despised the twins' father. In fact once while having dinner Sage accidentally used her salad fork for the main course. As a result Aunt Laura locked her in isolation for three days.
It pains me to know that no matter how far we travel, our origin still follows. If it wasn't for that old hag maybe Sage could have a normal life. All I want is to see her smile and be happy. All I want is for her to have one person outside of the house. She may enjoy being alone... feeling as though the loneliness gives her some control over life... but that comfortability, that so-called safety is what is killing her. Constant fear is not a way to live.
"Ouch!" Someone shouted pulling Atlas out of his thoughts.
The waiter looked up to see that two gentlemen had made their way into the cafe. Both tall and rugged, their bodies toned to perfection. The two of them seemed tough in an oh-so-delicious way. Atlas' mouth hung open in shock noting how the male with an inhumanely clear umber skin tone just punched his mountainous companion square in the face.
"Excuse me sir." Atlas murmured to the blonde in front of him. "I will be right back."
One of the males waved their hand in an attempt to get his attention. Cracking his knuckles, the waiter emerged from behind the counter and, almost catlike, sauntered over to their table. He stopped in front of them and crossed his arms, a smirk spread over his features in an attempt to look domineering.
"I hope I don't have to kick anyone out... I detest conflict." He paused for a moment, winking flirtatiously. "Especially two customers as cute as you guys. But rules are rules... you gotta behave."
The bell hanging above the entrance chimed once more as two more customers walked in. Atlas smiled and waved in greeting.
"I will be right with you. Feel free to look over the menu." He called over to the newcomers as they sat down.
Crossing his arms once more, the waiter returned his focus on his current task. Maintaining peace and tranquility at the cafe.
Siobhan rolls over onto her back and blinks up at the ceiling. This is soooo not my room. Nor is it Joel’s. The dry feeling in my mouth tells me that I indulged a bit much. What do I remember?
Siobhan lifted a hand to her head pushing her thick hair off her face and she realized she wasn’t actually wearing much of anything. Blushing she sat up on her elbows and shook her hair out. Immediately dizzy she stopped and groaned softly. Flashes of last night came back to her.
Luggage carts used in a rally race. Where she dropped a napkin to start the race and giggling ran for cover.
Singing all the drinking songs that most anyone could think of.
Cheering on Joel as he finished off something called Das boot.
She danced with anyone who had asked. She’d left the sexy moves for Joel thought. She gave him the look all night and he was the only recipient of that look.
She’d almost eaten him alive when they got to their room. He’d done nothing to discourage her behavior which only heightened her daring. Reenacting the scene from True Lies that everyone remembers from that movie. Okay so there wasn’t a four poster bed so she’d improvised to the strains of Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) by Joan Jett of all things. The resulting scene was… well there weren’t enough words invented for the description of that.
She recalled how she had woke Joel up later for round… well it was more than two… or three. She had been shameless. Joel didn't seem to mind, the reverse in fact. He’d encouraged it. Sighing contentedly she stretched and then remembered how truly drunk she’d been. Drunk enough to fall into speaking Czech. Siobhan covered her face and groaned as she remembered what she said.
Well she’d leave the ball in his court. She had no intention of lying to him so if he asked about it she’d tell him. Pushing the thought aside she slowly rolled over to see the object of her thoughts grinning up at the ceiling.
Siobhan ran her nails lightly up Joel’s arm and found that she wasn’t so dizzy anymore as she leaned up on her elbow looking at him. Grinning she leaned over and planted a scorching kiss on him. “I’ll start the shower, you start the coffee and come join me.”
Much later…
Siobhan looked at the six pack of Blue Moon she had grabbed as she walked out of the grocery store. Knowing the drive was short enough to keep the beer cold on the way home she didn't worry about it one bit as she sang along to Hot Blooded by Foreigner. The music cranked up to just under damaging. Foreigner’s hits just seemed to go with her mood since the party. Which didn't really mean much more than she was stoked about something. Kissed, and more, by an all around hot guy that is your boyfriend kinda makes one excited.
Siobhan watched as the rain was starting to be more than a drizzle. Her black combat boots snug on her feet. Her black leggings on a vibrant red long sleeved tunic shirt and the splurge purchase she'd bought in London years ago; a black wool trench. The trench had served her well over the past five years when she'd needed it. A black newsboy cap finished off the outfit.
As she turned down her street Kiss by Prince came on and she grooved to the music as she got out of the car. She smoothly transferred the music to headphones. Humming the song to herself she got to her front door and unlocked it. Getting in she left the door unlocked and ordered a pizza, well two just in case as Feels Like The First Time by Foreigner played. Moving the music to the stereo system she pulled out her headphones and started moving her canvas of the festival into the spare room. It was close to done so no harm in storing them. There was no helping the nightscape of the City from the roof of City Hall, she couldn't move it. She'd risk smearing the oils. It was Joel halfway in shadow with the lights off to his left and disappearing off the canvas. She had multiple light sources and different colors for them. She was quite proud of the painting but wasn't sure how he'd take it. Sometimes you had to do a piece for yourself.
Siobhan shrugged out of the trench tossing it on the end of the couch. She was concentrating on the unfinished painting as she pushed up her sleeves and put her hair in a ponytail. As she called out to Alexa. “Alexa play album Imaginarium by Nightwish.” Alexa did as requested and the strains of the Nightwish, best described as a blended mix of Celtic and Metal, came across the sound system. Siobhan was quickly sucked into the painting and grabbed a round detail brush and started blending colors for her light sources that reflected onto several surfaces in the painting.
Siobhan had come home after the party and decided that the two of them were going to chill tonight. Pizza and beer. Only a small quantity of beer. It was fairly far from being time for dinner and Joel had needed to get some things from the shop, tidy up, what not. She grinned at him and told him she needed to work on a piece but the door was unlocked.
Nightwish sang in Swedish as the doorbell rang in a rapid fire barrage and Siobhan was lucky enough that she didn't have the brush on the canvas at the time. If that was the pizza guy she might entertain visions of tossing him off the second story balcony. He'd survive. “Alexa zàntíng.” Siobhan said.
“I'm sorry I don't recognize that language, was that Mandarin? Would you like me to change language to Mandarin?”
Apparently she was so flustered she'd said that in Mandarin. “No, volume five, Alexa. It's open!!” She called out over her shoulder cleaning off the brush and tucking it behind her ear. Grabbing an angle brush and mixing colors to create a green that exactly mirrored the color of a traffic light she was absorbed back into her work.
The green glow was reflecting on the hair and the wall. It was a three quarter profile with the subject, Joel. Hearing the door click open she scrapped the color into a container and capped it. Cleaning the brushes and placing them bristle side up. Extending pegs she flipped a sheet over the painting covering it but far enough away so as not to touch it. “Hang on a second. Cash is on the counter but...oh.” Turning around Siobhan saw Joel and grinned.
Ryan held his gaze a moment longer than he really should have. Its just the morning grey-ness seemed to have been illuminated by the girl's red hair. Its as if the hair is telling you not to stare at it. What does one do when told not to do something? In Ryan's case, he most likely goes on and does the thing.
While waiting, he noticed a familiar figure walk in as well. Small smile curved his lips. Surely by now Vika knows that he isn't the person he said he was. Having won the impromptu cooking competition during the festival. There was no sense keeping who he is from Vika any longer anyways. Should she approach him with questions, Ryan would answer truthfully. For now, while in line to order his morning cuppa joe, Ryan simply offered a small bow and smiled, if Vika would look his way and notice.
"Of course she has a Bentley. I think I'll go give Nicolosi a call when I get my coffee and sit down...I wonder what he was up to after the festival. Probably in a garage pounding something.... He thought to himself.
The metallic 'clank' brought him back to reality. "Oh. Uh. Hm. I think I'll have a large Chai. Thank you. Oh and a buttered croissant, please." Ryan said to the man taking his order. This man looked remarkably similar to the red-haired girl sitting in the corner. "They're probably related somehow...Interesting." He thought to himself. As he finished his order, the man in front of him had to excuse himself, as there was some commotion in a different part of the cafe. Ryan waiting for the man to return, credit card in hand and ready to pay. He idly looked at his phone, swiping through Instagram, noticing the various travel ads. "Hm. I should take a trip somewhere. The slower season is coming anyways... I wonder if I can find anyone to come with...Hmmmm....." He thought to himself.
As soon as the man returned, Ryan paid for his items and walked away, looking for a quiet spot. He would brush past Vika, offering a soft "Good morning Vika, fancy seeing you here." Before nodding once softly and continuing his search for a decent spot. He found one, close to where the red-haired girl was sitting but not close enough to be bothersome. He put his hand up and offered a small wave before quietly sitting down and waited for his items to be ready.
Lilith didn't know what to think of this... Marlin chick. After listening to her BBC English accent almost made her seem fake. Like she was trying too much? Lilith couldn't quite put her finger on it. Everyone in Sol seemed to be pretending. Maybe that is why she had liked Aria so much. Aria had been genuine. She had problems, and a fucked-up life like real people did. Was it the accent? Lilith tried to imagine Marlin talking without an accent, but even then, it sounded even faker.
"Hun, I'm a high-end stripper, not an idiot. I read- I went to college." Sure, Lilith didn't finish college, but she wasn't going to tell "Ms. I'm The Cutest Because of a Poll" that. How that sentence had really buttered her egg roll in a way, she did not enjoy one bit. "Not everyone has a fancy name like yours, babe. It ain't hard to connect you to your very wealthy family. And I know all about my name- bible shit- storm goddess- blah blah blah." Lilith seemed nonchalant to be having a conversation with such a wealthy person, or someone with a wealthy family. She was used to it, and it was always fun to tease these kinds of people.
"Tell me, Mali- are you always a prude?" Lilith leaned forward, pressing her chest together with her arms to give Marlin something to look at. "I mean, I don't know you- but I have met people like you. Pretending not to look. You do look. Like everyone does." She took another drink from her smoothie and licked the straw without breaking eye contact with the woman in front of her. While she wasn't trying to start shit with Marlin the way she just gave off the "I'm too good for you" vibe wasn't sitting right with Lilith. "I've seen you look." She winked at her before she leaned back on her chair and crossed one leg over the other.
She may be a stripper whose main clients were wealthy people, too, but they were there to unwind. Show how fucked up they were. Sometimes those clients would book her for private sessions, but instead of having Lilith on the pole dancing half-naked, she would be sitting with them over a cup of a hot drink talking. At some points, she wondered if she really was a stripper for them or someone they could just dump their problems to. Perhaps that is why she was acting like this towards Marlin.
Whatever.
"Nothing taken the wrong way, babe." Lilith gave the blonde a grin as she brushed her hair off her shoulder. "Just know friends are always welcomed in the Pink Kitten. With girlfriend or not." She gave her another smile just as her phone ran in her pocket.
"Aw, well, would you look at that. So cute." She smiled down at the photo of Aria but made no effort to show Marlin the absolutely adorable picture. "Don't mind me." She lowered her phone and looked down at it with a similar pose to Aria's but instead gave the camera a kissy face.
To: Ariaaa 💘 Attached Image Had to leave early to the Sports Center- can't miss a workout day or my thighs might get too thicc. I took your mustard yellow one :b Wanna meet up later? I'll give you back your hoodie!
After writing the message and hitting send, she brought back her attention to Marlin. "Anyway, how long have you been with your girlfriend? Man, my last relationship was crazy. The dude was a major asshole and broke my window after I broke up with him. Seriously." She rolled her eyes as she continued to tell Marlin her story. "Dude went crazy when he found out I was a stripper- like how fragile do you have to be to get mad over that?"
At least now she knew that Aria was okay with it. If Lilith hadn't told her since their first date and she had been cool with it. Lilith wouldn't give up her job just because of a partner. Nah, she had earned so much from that job alone. Hell, some of her clients had offered to be her damn sugar mommies and daddies. Lilith had said no because- well, she didn't really need to. While her start at the club had been shaky, she was one of the top dancers now. She liked her job anyway despite the few bad clients here and there.
Hoon carried on with her shopping, her cart didn’t have much until she moved over to a k-mart and her cart was practically full after awhile, all those special cut meats and authentic spices really made it for her, she loved them so much since it reminded her of home, and everyone there. She then glanced down at her list which was on her phone and remembered that she was low on her face care essentials. She then went over to the multiple aisles of face cate and filled her cart with what she needed.
After that, she went to grab Ela’s meds, at the nearby pharmacy and of course her pringles. She didn’t waste any time getting it since she saw how bad Ela was doing, so once she had finished she called an uber, she usually wouldn’t call an uber since she always rode in Ela’s car but once the uber driver arrived, she quickly made her way home. The uber driver was nice enough to help her bring the groceries to the twenty-fourth which was nice of him. He paid the man extra and they said their goodbyes.
Hoon then looked down and her phone buzzed, another text from Lilith a photo of her attached. After seeing that photo, Hoon couldn’t help but smile after seeing Lilith’s face, she didn’t get to see it this morning so seeing it now was really nice. She then replied as soon as she could with
To: Lily 💜 From: HoonHoon Yea yea sure!
Where do you wanna meet?
Oh you can keep the hoodie for awhile, I don’t mind.
After she replied, she moved all her groceries inside her apartment and put it all in place, Korean cut meat isn’t exactly the cheapest thing in the world. Her fridge was now jam packed with meats and veggies, her pantries were full again, and she had a lot of fresh toilet paper. Once she was done, she took the small paper bag of Ela’s meds and walked to her door. She knocked and said, "Hey Ela! It’s me, I got your meds!" She then took a step back and lightly heard some footsteps going towards the door, the creaked slowly and Ela looked worse that before, her nose was red, her eyes were puffy and she looked like she was freezing. Hoon handed the bag to Ela with an audible "Here you go," Ela took the bag and looked inside, there were the meds and not one, but two pringles cans in there. Ela’s face lit up, her signature smile finally formed on her face and she went in and tightly hugged Aria, Aria’s hands were still on her side but she loved the hug. " Thanks Hoon, you just made my day!" After that, they said their goodbyes and Hoon left the building. She stood by the entrance of the building and started smoking, waiting for Lilith’s reply on where they can meet.
LOCATION & TIME : THE COFFEE POT , MORNING INTERACTIONS : ASSOCIATES MENTIONS : ATLTAS - @SamaraJayne96
Alejandro had been rubbing his chin when the smaller male with the silver hair approached them. It made him smirk how much he was trying to look intimidating. While he was not much shorter than Alejandro, he was still pretty slender. Not that he was complaining about it, of course. The waiter was not bad on the eyes one bit. So as he scolded him and John- who only rolled his eyes- Alejandro gave the waiter a wink.
"Sorry to cause you trouble, my associate here is just a bit too excited about breakfast. He sometimes forgets that we are in public spaces." Alejandro patted John's shoulder with a grin. "We'll behave, wouldn't want you to kick us out. Not when our waiter is such a good looking guy like yourself."
"Uh-huh." John pulled away from Alejandro opened up one of the menus to bury his nose in. It was clear he didn't want to get in the way of Alejandro's very blatant flirting. John just wanted to eat a bagel- no two bagels and leave.
Alejandro waved, as the waiter returned to his previous customer. "What?" He looked at John, who was staring daggers at him.
"I would punch you again if I could." John rolled his eyes and looked back at the menu before him.
"I'll fire you." Alejandro grinned and gently slapped his shoulder.
"You can't fire me. I'm the only one who can satis-" He couldn't finish his sentence.
Alejandro laughed and put a hand over John's mouth. "Shut up! Find what you're going to order already. I wanna go to Central Point and shop around." He rolled his eyes and opened his menu.
Marinalia Romus Olympus "Mali" & Victoria Darya Romus "Vika"
Sunday snooze day - free skip - mixed locations
Flying, Fencing and random encounters
Marinalia (Luna Sports Centre) Marinalia let her accent ease a bit but it was her natural accent she grew up with. Her "Garden" she went out to play in was a private estate with several miles of woods, lakes, lands and fences between the house and the nearest dwelling that did not form part of the Olympus estate. However much she traveled she retained the crisp clean upper class English accent, even if she made an effort to soften it, which she got the small hint Lilith though was fake but it really Marlins real self. "Not everyone is as on the ball as you are, we have old family property off Corona Park that's been restored." ignoring the education minefield comment, that one could only end in a rather dramatic disaster.
Her next question caught her off guard as she her eyes drifted exactly where Lilith wanted them to go and directly into her posture enhanced cleavage and long toned legs crossed. Her ability to blush and deflect had been fairly well tested and outmanoeuvred. Leaning back abit, Marinalia did not have an exact answer to her question and relaxed back crossing a leg over, sipping a smoothie as Lilith deliberately used her natural assets. Marlin really was unsure how to take Lilith. "The view is not exactly unwelcome. Though the fun part is more tactile and less visual.
That's... I'm not even sure, my baggage has baggage companies and own international logistical chain. Let's not go there. I unloaded enough on random strangers in past few months." Lilith had turned back to her phone, obviously a cute message off someone from the reaction to it. Her offer, pink Kitten... Oh that building was hard to miss really driving back on a late shift and one of the guys from work mentioned it in passing. "First time for anything I guess, well second but the first I was too drunk on a hen do and just remember losing my bra somehow and kissing a statue rather publicly." Remembering a rather drunken hangover, bar hopping, ending up at a strip club, something about a being dared to make out within statue and losing an item of clothing at some point and managing to spend nearly a thousand pounds.
"Hey Cutie
My luck strikes again. I met the woman I bumped into post workout. Turns out Is a exotic dancer who is dating the Asian lady she was with and called out "English Chick" across the smoothie bar at Luna sports. Fencing class went great though, thanks for the heads up. :)
Free tonight? I miss you, please. I have new lion king blu rays, wine and curry. :) Victoria has a friend stopping by so he a decent guy though. I just miss not sharing you with work and all the life shit in between. Ok. I just don't like sleeping alone anymore... Feels... Cold.
Stay safe and warm! Hope your day goes better than mine :) Mali X "
Marlin sent a message including a photo of her smiling in fencing gear, masks in one hand, sword in other and long blonde hair tied back into a practical ponytail with a light braid to keep it tidy and out of the way. The message was one to laugh at partly, Marlin would not stray from Xia not after she took the time and care to help her heal and rebuild. Marlin really felt like it was better than she deserved at times. The whole sleeping alone thing, after 2 and a bit weeks straight together and happy something had clicked and did not want to go back to how it was. It was way too forward but part of her silly as it sounded really wanted to ask if she wanted to move in. It was safer part of town, no annoying cousins and she could save the money on rent to start her massage business or get a better more reliable car. Practical... Or was she just trying to justify it to own mind and not feel selfish wanting her girlfriend?
Distracted from her thoughts. Oh that was a ridiculous story... If she wanted the answer...maybe minus the odd part... A little nervous yet happy, it was pretty crazy in its own way, but not hiding it either clearly comfortable to talk about it within reason."Me and Xia?, 2 going toward 3 months or there about. Depends how you define it. You're probably going to ask, so story time. We met... Well here over a smoothie infact. Swimming contest. Then the big Blizzard hit and I invited her over because she had no power or food thanks to her cousin being a neanderthal. We had a wood burner and well stocked up.
It dragged on for nearly a week, ended up sharing a bed to keep warm when power failed. One thing lead to the obvious. Never had a girlfriend before but my luck before that sucked, so well could not get worse right? Got closer over the time. Kissed, date etc.
Fast forward to a holiday in Jamaica, and while abit crazy, maybe a bit fast but honestly, all thanks to a blizzard and a woman who struggles in cold weather. Bit of a head rush how fast it's all changed." adding a rather cleaned up version minus the whole story, minus the drama, a pregnant half sister, first kiss thanks to a claim that may or may not be true, a lost robe, topless wanderings and fact of baring her deeper secrets to the woman who had stolen her affections with little resistance. It would be obvious to someone like Lilith it had more than met the eye but that was rather personal. "least you found the yolk was toxic before he hurt you. Really... His loss not yours, sounds a right twat to be like that.
Last relationship?. While ago. I've skipped between counties as a pilot. Sol is the first time I've been in once place longer than 6 months" Adding a uniquely British insult, abit vulgar and alien in her accent but it covered the point perfectly. Her own history was interesting to say the least. A few partners came along but not one for several years seriously. Too much movement and short contracts meant there was no point getting too close. Just a recipe for failure and getting hurt. @Pyxis@King Tai
Victoria (Atlas mountains to the old starboard) Victoria grabbed a cracker from her bag to nibble on as she sat, while not entirely cafe appropriate, the alternative was less pleasant and washed it down with a small amount from a small bottle of water handily kept in her handbag. She could manage a pastry after really overdoing it on Saturday she had paid a price, Definitely sticking to something less heavy and intense. Nothing bad... Just nope. Not a fun morning before she left the house. "Urgh... Be thankful your not female." Glancing over at Charles with a make fun of me right now and die a painful death from a coffee stirrer, a decorative plant and not a sword.
Victoria spotted Ryan, giving him a nod and definitely working out the fact he was a lot more than his original introduction. The people at that show where restaurant owners and the sous chefs? Is that was they called them? They worked for him not the other way round. Just a chef, he probably owned the whole restaurant and used her as a sideways accessibility study too. Crafty...
Meanwhile the white haired man was dealing with the two gentleman, a larger tanned man with the dark suited one who gave off a major don't fuck with me vibe. Turning back to Ryan That vibe she could tell was definitely not a faker. Victoria gave him a smile and waved over to her taller blonde friend as of explaining with her mixed accent that was a tad distinctive though purely dressed for comfort. "Oh just showing my friend the city, though I understand you wanting to hide things. Umm, I wish I could blend in so easily. Ryan, Charles, an old friend from London and an acquaintance who was kind enough to rescue a woman from the cold even though not open.
Congratulations on your win, Bruno was a little ... German though. He is... A Bit much." Her friend was a little protective of Victoria, he knew her far better than most and the layers she tried to hide. A little protective of her but offered a hand to shake and with a english accent straight off the boat from southern England "Nice to meet you, yes, known Victoria since we where teanagers, Charles, or Cardinal as Victoria always almost calls me. Old nicknames, meet the not always honorable Lady de winter" Being one of the few females of that group where she earned the name, well Kitty, or the mistress really where not her style, and her darker aspects. The name was perfect. "Lady Victoria Darya Romus, if we are not hiding who we are." Giving a small smile, she was being honest. If Ryan was. Only fair.
Glancing over Mr white hair and Mr built like a slightly smaller version of the rock where seeming to be engaged in something, who knew what. She was abit too far away to pick up everything going on. Flirting? Argument? Something else? She had enough problems to not want to get involved into another problem. Her life was interesting enough. Feeling hungry abit. Hopefully she could order some pastries soon... @KillBox@SamaraJayne96@Pyxis
In the back of her mind she could hear Milo’s voice in rolling darkness. In an instant she was back in his shop with the gangster informant, Titus. The dim light bent obscure shadows over the old workshop as it cast over the profile of tools and unfinished metalwork. She watched how he worked over the poor man. From years of labor with his hands, Milo’s arm strength was nearly machine-like in its pure utility. The tension in his forearm smashed like a piston while the other gripped and pulled the deadweight of his target back into place as if setting a railroad spike to be driven. For a split-second she could see herself, watching, her face cold and unmoving in spite of the man’s pathetic pleas. Then she could see him again. The look on his face. Milo gleaned little enjoyment from he was doing. Later, when the adrenaline wore off, he would he reflect on himself harshly and question what he had done. Deep down he was a good person. As she watched his fist crash against Titus’ skull again, she felt nothing but satisfaction. Deep down, she knew she wasn’t so sure about herself.
The room was unnaturally quiet save for the sound of the scene in front of her and the increasing pounding of her own heartbeat as if the rhythm blended into her thoughts, growing with the tension in the room.The scene blended with a memory. She could remember how she had drawn her gun and fired before it happened. Simultaneously, she could see herself and she could feel the weight of Milo’s hammer in her hand as the words came, “That’s enough.”
Her hand moved just as swiftly as she remembered. Her pistol draw was as natural as a snap of lightning over the ocean. The weight of the gun and motion of the barrel rotating in her hand were something she had complete control. It was like magic to watch. The fluidity of the movement of the gun from the holster on her hip she could see herself looking down from behind the aligned sights; her hair moving in a breeze that wasn’t there. Snapping back into her own eyes, Titus was gone along with Milo and all of his shop. Sitting in the chair and staring back at her from infront of her gun was Ana.
”What are you doing, Paige?” Her voice was clearly nervous, but carried her familiar note of sincere concern. Her eyes looked up past the pistol and into Paige as if not even seeing the weapon pointed directly into her face.
For a moment it felt like she could feel her heart hit the inside of her chest and the sensation was so overwhelming, it was excruciating, like a wave of emotion that washed over her whole body and pounded down into the farthest reaches of her soul. The gun lowered slightly, but not all the way. She could still feel the weight of something in her other hand and she realized she had never tossed the hammer aside like in her memory. She looked down to see a withered bouquet dissipate out of her grip into dust. Around her, the sky was a solid overcast of gray clouds rolling with the wind of an approaching storm. Strands of loose blonde wisps danced over her eyes. Still her arm did not lower the gun. They were in the middle of nothing, just a large field of swaying grass with a single tree behind Ana. She could hear the wind swaying through the branches and moving the leaves. Time seemed to feel non existent as she looked at it, almost mesmerized by the sight. It was different somehow, like it didn’t belong, mossy and vibrantly green like something from a rainforest instead of the northwestern plains.
“Paige?!” Ana’s voice snapped with an audible tinge of anger. Her eyes were narrow, glaring up at her.
Paige looked back at her grimly. The sudden contempt in her friend’s voice igniting a wholly recognizable fire in her heart. The raw anger roared up through her heart and into her extended arm. As she felt herself pull the trigger, she snapped awake.
Joel very groggily rotated his feet to the floor rubbing one hand slowly over his face feeling the stubble of a day under his fingers. He glanced around, somewhat adjusted for the darkness, looking for his phone and that maybe it was on the nightstand, but no luck. His hand searched around nearly knocking over a lamp when he felt Siobhan shuffling beneath the covers. Her fingers eased up his arm as she crept over behind him and kissed his shoulder. She mentioned something about coffee and a shower to which he gave a slight chuckle. “I don’t think you ‘start the coffee’ here,” He said, having found his phone with his foot, tossed aside along with some of his other clothes from the night before. Her breath was warm against his shoulder as he glanced back in the dim light. He could just make out the grin on her face.
A light knock sounded at the door.
“You can go ahead and start that shower though,” He said, close enough to kiss her cheek, but pulling away to go to the door. His eyes had adjusted enough that he could see a path through the furniture. He yawned and scratched at his midsection, pulling his shorts up slightly before tripping over something unseen as he approached the door. He flipped the latch aside and turned the knob slowly to get a peek out into the hallway. A rather dapper looking server glanced back at him from the other side with a cart of covered dishes and a pressed pot of coffee that Joel could instantly smell. He didn’t remember ordering any room service, but he certainly wasn’t about to turn it away.
“Good morning, Mr. Nicolosi,” The young man said with a crisp sense of professionalism designed to make any guest feel like the most important person in the building. “Compliments of Mr. Hinkelstein.”
Joel cracked the door just enough to let the cart through catching a brief glimpse of the very posh room in the beam of light that cut through from the hall before closing the door and reaching for a small lamp he’d seen. The room glowed from the small light and he gave the tousled red hair and scantily blanketed figure of Siobhan a once-over before examining the contents of the cart. Among the covered dishes was a note and a bottle of Stroh 80. He opened the note to find a chicken scratch of hard-scribbled cursive that he had to look at carefully to read:
Wakey-wakey! Welcome to the land of awake! I’m sorry I could not stay to make everyone breakfast, must get back to Stuttgart! Remember, you come to Germany, I take care of everything, breakfast, lunch and dinner. You bring Siobhan and you want for nothing. My treat! We race again! I left a prize for first place luggage cart driver. You can put more than sugar in the coffee!
Wasn't going to ask. Lilith almost said that as she listened to the rather long story from Marinalia. It was good to know that the woman this chick was seeing wasn't another rich chick. Or at least she didn't sound like it. Might humble the blonde a bit more. Oh, who was Lilith kidding? Humbling some rich snob. Really, who told a whole ass story from a single question? The woman was probably just showing off without even knowing. How fucking arrogant.
"Not long and already going to vacations already?" Lilith looked down at her phone to read Aria's message. It all smelled like a disaster, really. Hadn't the blonde even dated another girl before? Funny. "The honeymoon phase is always the best. You're always all giddy and sweet but it wears off after a few months. After the six months mark, you finally get to know the person. Ah, but you probably already know this." She didn't look up to see Marinalia as she talked, her fingers moving fast over her phone screen.
To: Ariaaa 💘 Wanna come over? I can go pick up some food and cook up some pasta or something warm. I got HBO too! Or Netflix. Borrowed it for the neighbor.
Lilith looked over at the woman in front of her, offering a small smile. "I really like that word. Tawt. Rolls right off the tongue." She said a few more times, getting looks from the people around her. She didn't care for them as she laughed quietly and brought the straw to her lips again. "Anyway, I bet you and Xia, was it, make a cute couple. It would be cool to have a double date; it might be fun." She should just stop talking about it, or the blonde would accept her offer, and Lilith didn't want to put Aria through something like that.
"Anyway, I think I should hurry and finish this. Aria might be coming over, and I really need to pick up my mess." Lilith began to pack up her sandwich and finished the rest of her smoothie. "Anyway, here." She pulled out a card from her bag and handed it to Marinalia. It was a small black business card with gold trimming and rose-gold words that read "Pink Bunny." "It's my work phone, but if you need anything just give a call." She winked at the blonde.
Hoon stood there, scrolling through her phone, she hadn't opened social media at all today and her phone was on silent for the whole day other than time she texted Elise. Her twitter was booming and instagram was still notifying of a lot of things, what was going on? She opened twitter and there was a constant stream of random accounts tweeting to go listen and follow Hyoon on spotify. Why was this happening? After minutes of scrolling she had seen it, apparently her newest song "Rogue" blew up in South Korea because an idol was caught listening to it during a V-Live. She was going through the messages and notifs, and her followers practically doubled overnight, was this Lilith doing? When she told people to listen to her music did it chain react like crazy? How did it get to Korea? Hoon was entirely confused.
Her phone then buzzed, and a text from Lilith appeared, after a quick read she took one huff of her cigarette, and blew out the smoke before replying.
To: Lily 💜 From: HoonHoon Yea... Uh... What's your address?
And I don't watch anything, I've been living off Youtube and K-dramas for the past few years.
Also uh... Are you famous in Korea? My follower count just doubled, was that you?
She then hit send and finished her cigarette and put on her hood before stuffing her hands in her pockets since it was pretty cold, she sat there thinking how it got this far, how someone like her, who's seem herself having a pretty crap life have it this good. She thought something was up. Though maybe she should just be glad that things are looking up for her now.
Dazed and exhausted, the images of her dream splintered and faded away as vividly as she had just seen them leaving only a feeling instead of a memory.
She hadn’t slept much and when sleep finally did come it was more of the body’s final surrender to an absolute need. Hours passed in silence as she stared at the ceiling or looked at her phone, anything just to take her mind off of what she and Tao uncovered at Luna Sports Facility. It was an impossible task. She knew it and she knew what was going to be the right thing to do, the thing that would make everything fall into place the way it should. In her years in law enforcement, she’d seen the same thing play out. People got greedy and stupid. Good people. She had laughed in amusement at the stories. All the old-timers said the same thing: Greed would get you killed quicker than a bullet. Still her mind wandered through the possibilities.
Wiping hair and sweat away from her eyes, she looked straight ahead at the end of the bed, feeling the weight of a tired, sunken scowl on her face. When she returned from LSF, she hadn’t said much to Milo and she knew she hadn’t been exactly pleasant either. Pulling herself up on her elbows and propping her upper body slothfully against the headboard, she felt like she had only picked up where her mind had left off, like television left on white noise. She sighed, hearing the sound of him tinkering in the shop. The sound of metalwork traveled easily through the converted living space. She hadn’t told him and if she wanted to be honest with herself, she knew the reason was because she was afraid.
Her stomach groaned suddenly with a pang of hunger and with some dogged energy she grudgingly tossed the heavy blankets aside and made her way to the kitchen. Nothing that he had was safe from her grasp and she rummaged through the pantry and cabinets without a second thought. Setting the toaster up and ramming down two slices of bread, she turned and leaned against the counter, looking over the living room outside at the rain covering the street and waterfront. She wiped a hand over her face. Another fucking shitty day in this shithole city. The thought that followed blasted through her groggy mind quicker than she had time to stop it, the same pattern that repeated all night: You now have the power to do something about it.
Marinalia Romus Olympus "Mali" & Victoria Darya Romus "Vika"
Sunday snooze day - free skip - mixed locations
Flying, Fencing and random encounters
Marinalia (Luna Sports Centre) Marinalia was just talking through her eyes flashes to phone keeping an eye on the time for her parking. Much as it was quiet you still had palming limits and while the fine would not worry her as much as others, paying them was annoying of you had 300 or 300,000 in the bank. Least her membership let her park there and not have to squeeze into one of the side roads or the private multi stories where you could barely park a moped yet alone a land rover. "yep, I had a fair bit of leave pre training on current class, a suggestion became something more solid. Next thing it's cocktails In the sun." It was hard to explain, add Xias family from her mum to her dodgy uncle and it ended up how it ended up. "Yes, though you can usually see who is a good egg pretty early on."
Holding back her desire to snark the comment, of course she knew. Did Lilith think it was her first relationship and she was going in blind. Well first in one way but not blind. Some things did not change regardless of genders, people, ages or countries. The word Twat, agh a classic, easily said and event without the full context easily understood for what it was. Alaska spoke, well they were different again. America states might as well be mini countries it seemed on regards to language usage. "Yep, Swim team coach was more like a sailor and a pair of ex military uncles will expand your vocabulary. Especially if your starting to give up on a run." Maria was less pleased, Milo has calmed down since he had one kid and a second on the way though both could be abit course out of their wives earshot. Especially when you were crazy enough to join in there exercise program. It worked though they helped her recover her fitness in there kind but slightly crude way post her major injuries.
Sipping some of the last of her smoothie relaxed with a leg crossed letting the energy recover and a natural fruity vitamin boost kick in. Answering with an easy smile,"I hope so, she helped me alot, snow. Cutely terrible.
Long as not Jazz music. Bad experiences with Jazz. You never know." Far as random offers went that was a new one, everything about her morning seemed to have been getting ever more random. Lilith reminded her she had a few things to do, errands to run and a parking ticket to avoid. "No worries, I got some things to run plus it's so much harder to sweet talk American parking wardens out of a ticket." throwing a smoothie into a trash nearby and checking she still had her gym bag where it was. Slotting the card into a case into a slot in her handbag. "Thanks, who knows what lies in the future. Fancy, have a good day Lilith" The wink, she was... How did you describe that woman! Handing her a small card with a local contact number as a return polite gesture with a simple flowing single silver line making her initials on the face and writing a number on in fountain pen with a looping hand. It was only polite to least offer. The cards were blank and her go to thing for everything from noting down minor appointments, short few item lists or just a bookmark. They were not mega fancy. Just a handy little thing to have. It was easier than an old sol bucks receipt. Her more private number was only known by family and a fairly short list. Thankfully Vika was abit of a genius at times and set her phone up to operate more than one number including a disposable one or two in her at times handy paranoia over redundancies in tech.
Smoothing out her skirt standing up and doing up the pale blue jacket heading out after grabbing her gym bag, just outside the door she looked over to see a stalking parking warden lurking by the white land rover Discovery shaking her head. "Nope... 10 more minutes... Nice try though. Better luck next time" Happy she won that small moment of life, no one likes parking wardens... A small blip, and she was climbing In and throwing her gym bag into the passenger foot well, hand bag on the seat and firing up the White Land rover.
Onward, things to do, places to be, a city to explore.
>>Still in the coffee shop, interacting with the gathering crowd. Joel, through text message from a phone number he never received...lol.@Pilatus@PrinceAlexus
Ryan nodded once, softly, and taking the hand the man offered to return a firm handshake. "Very nice to meet you, Charles. Say. based on your accent, it sounds like you're from London. Got a team out there you support? I do wish one day to visit Stamford Bridge..." Ryan said, chuckling slightly.
"And to you, Lady Romus. How crude of me to not introduce myself properly. You already know my as Ryan, the Japanese cook. I was formerly known as Kobayashi Satoshi. I'm willing to bet that by know you've already deduced the fact that I'm not really who I said I was. Yes, I am the chef-owner of Kobayashi's, sorry to have deceived you. I wished to get the truest review of my restaurant and one is often...hesitant...to provide the head chef their most scathing reviews." Ryan laughed softly. "However, the offer I made previously still stands. Should you, or anyone you wish to bring with you, want to visit my humble establishment, a table shall be made ready." Ryan offered a sincere smile-nod.
"But first, coffee." Ryan then said, chuckling as he stepped away briefly to pick up his order of chai and croissant. Sitting back at his seat, he reached for his phone to send a message,
"Mr. Nicolosi, its Ryan. Do you have a moment?"
Setting his phone down, he sipped his chai lazily and let his mind wander on the day's frivolities.
Lilith smiled all the while Marinalia threw away her trash and made her exit. Once she was out of the door, Lilith dropped the smile and rolled her eyes until it hurt. "Feckin' bloody twat." She mocked the blonde's accent as she stood up and threw her stuff in the trash and picked up her stuff. Really, Lilith had no idea what it was about that woman that just rubbed her the wrong way. Was it the unchecked privilege? The accent? Nah, she had already ruled that one out. Maybe it was just Marinalia all around? Fancy ugly name? Check. Fancy posh accent? Check. Too much money? Check. An aurora of superiority and showing off by oversharing details of her life no one asked for? Check!
Whatever- Lilith had more important things to worry about. As she made her way back to her old truck, Lilith quickly replied to Aria's text.
To: Ariaaa 💘 Oh! Then you can recommend me some k-dramas! I've always wanted to watch one but never knew where to start :c Your numbers doubled? That's awesome! I haven't talked to anyone yet, so it's all you, babe! Congrats! We have to celebrate. I'm buying wine. I'm gonna buy the stuff for the food now!
Address: 3961 Pheasant Ridge Road (on the edge of Wester Shore, the apartment with the blue door)
After the text, Lilith climbed in her truck, threw her bag on the passenger's seat, and drove to the market near her house. Everything was supposed to be organic in there, which meant it was more expensive, but Lilith had money to spare. Besides, they were going to celebrate the boom of Aria's followers! Lilith picked up all the ingredients to make some pasta, including a few things she was missing from her fridge. With her shopping done, Lilith hurried back home to begin boiling the water for the pasta. While she waited for the water to boil, Lilith tidied up her apartment a bit.
Lilith slapped on some mascara and put on some early 2000s hip-hop over her Bluetooth speaker as she cooked and waited for Aria. She had to admit that she was a bit nervous about having Aria over. More excited than nervous, but nervous nonetheless. Now all she had to do was make sure the food didn't get burn.
2x Laugh
