Arista

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

She almost snorted at his assumption of her being a chef, but instead thought of what dishes she favored. Russian cuisine was of course a given with French and even Spanish foods. "Asian." She replied with a tilt of her head, fingers tapping along the table before falling still. Though they hadn't been poor they'd picked up skills from watching their family members, in her case it had been her Grandfather Nikolai and Uncle Andrei who had taught her. Shaking her head slightly to rid the memories of standing beside her burly-muscled Grandfather and lanky Uncle, Ellie offers a shrug of her shoulders. "One would think I'd say Russian, but honestly with Asian cuisine it makes one want to invite their family and share it with them." Which usually ends up happening she doesn't add out loud, her apartment filled with the rich aroma of food and laughter.

She silently curses herself at her own words, teeth biting at the edge of her cheek. Telling anyone even a small cornel of truth can lead to any number of situations, and here she does just that as if she owes him anything. She adores what she does at the hospital there's no qualms there, it's that she's letting herself speak any of it outloud. She can't be vulnerable around just anyone, she can't let anyone in, she can't let herself show any weakness. His soft smile drew her attention, mental cursing stilling at his words.

The waiters arrival offered a distraction, though his eyes never do leave her even as he speaks to the young man. Like she was someone he didn't want to look away from, like she mattered when she was sure he had women lined up and ready to accompany him to wherever he went.

Movement beneath the table has her blinking, before shifting slightly to see what it could be. Seeing Stella sniffing Delta had her lips lifting into a small smile, heart warming when a lick was placed on her nose. Delta for her part stretches out her limbs, pressing in close to her feet before falling still again.

The clearing of his throat has her eyes lifting up from her plate, steam rising from the soup before her. His question had her pausing for a moment, because she didn't exactly have plans. She was on call if anything major happened but she didn't have a shift until Monday, Ellie hummed and lifted up her phone with a finger held up in a silent wait a moment gesture. "You've been nice company so far, you and Stella both." Ellie replied absently, focus split between the man before her and her screen. "As for further plans, no I don't have any until later in the day." She adds while her fingers fly across her screen, the message before her has her fighting a delighted grin from spreading across her lips.

Sofia(Sonya)
Stopping by later. I have a surprise for you. ♡

Me: I hate surprises.

Sofia(Sonya)
I know. But you'll love this one.

Her sister works crazy hours and shifts like her own, enough so that Ellie rarely gets to see her despite the fact that they live not to far from one another. She's not one for surprises but with how today is going so far, she's going to let the world do as it wants.

Slipping her phone away, she glances up at Calvin she offers an apologetic shrug as she lifts her spoon once more. "How would you make it worth my time? The rain doesn't look like it has plans on stopping soon." She remarks with a pointed look outside, voice teasing as she takes a sip of her soup.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

His response when it came, sounded genuine and held emotions that Ellie could almost feel. It helped assuage and disband the rant she had unconsciously been forming in her mind, enough so that she felt her shoulders relax and her expression soften. "It does." She replied with a half-smile lifting a corner of her mouth, fingers tapping along the cloth-covered table before falling still.

When Calvin replied to her question, his answer wasn't what she was expecting at all. He looked like someone who spent time outdoors, with people or attending lavish parties dressed in dazzling suits. As he continued to speak her mind brought the image to mind, though blurry at the edges with no real scene aside from him with a book and a glass of cabernet.

Eyes blinking at him when he asked her in then what she did, Ellie turned her gaze away from his for a second before returning them to him. "I love trying out new recipes to make." She replies with a hand lifting so that a knuckle can rub along the edge of her nose, shoulders rolling once before falling still. "If I'm not doing that it's a tie between watching trashy reality TV or reading a book." She bit the inside of her cheek with enough force for it to hurt, willing herself into silence before she really begins to babble.

It's far too close to the truth, to what she does when she's not at work or visiting her family.

"I..." Ellie began quietly, gaze focused on to the darkened street instead of Calvin's eyes. "I play piano at the hospital when I have time, nothing fancy or anything like that but it does seem to help." Her words are softly spoken, chest tighting with emotion at her own admittance. It had started as something to do when waiting to meet her sister for lunch or dinner, then she'd seen the expressions of a group seated in cushioned chairs once and it reminded in her mind for days. How tired they'd looked until the music reached them, how they'd relaxed and closed their eyes if only for a moment.

She was well known around the hospital now, with paitents even requesting video calls to hear her play when they couldn't get out of bed.

Coughing once and ignoring what felt like fire on her cheeks, Ellie lifts her glass and takes another sip of her drink.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

The rumble of thunder had Stella tucking herself closer to Calvin in search of comfort, a glance down at Delta showed her relaxed and slowly blinking as if falling asleep. Her nose wrinkled slightly at the rain pouring outside, not because she disliked it but because LA residents seem to become stupider when any change in climate happened.

The question had her blinking in genuine surprise, eyelashes fluttering unconsciously before she exhaled softly. "Fashion and Retail." She replied with a slight wave of her hand, gesturing down to her attire before lifting her glass up to her lips. Here at least she wasn't fully lying, her father wanted to help expand her mother's fashion store, small in Russia but growing in popularity. He himself doesn't mind handling the business aspect so she can focus on a dream she's had since childhood, his own dream of owning a clinic as a Pediatrician on hold due to a recent rather large surgery.

His almost nonchalance about what he does, has her frowning with a tilt of her head. Her parents loved their jobs, even her siblings despite their complaints and grumbling wouldn't change their careers unless they absolutely had to. She herself had clawed her way up a ladder filled with egotistical men who didn't believe a woman could be an investigator, she didn't quite understand. "How can you not be?" She asked with a brow arching up, mouth smoothing out as she watched the man before her. "How can you not be impassioned by the things you do?" Her glass is set down, head still tilted at him. Maybe it was an American thing? To choose so many different jobs and not care for them? Odd.

The arrival of their waiter had her glancing down at the menu she'd forgotten about, eyes flicking over each item until she settled on something somewhat familiar. Ordering a Cassoulet with a smile she focused on her companion once more, rain continuing to pour restlessnessly outside.

It felt odd to sit here with someone, with a stranger who didn't know what her actual job was of who she really was. Not that anyone here in LA really did, except her siblings and Director D'Angelo. And here she was building another lie that she had to keep closely guarded, much like her heart and wayward mind that liked to fixate on things until it consumed her completely.

She needed a drink. Maybe two.

"Tell me, what does someone with so much on his plate do to unwind?" She asks after taking a sip of her tea, legs crossing under the table as she settled in more comfortably. Though she was nonchalant towards him and wasn't too fond of his aggressive flirting, she had time to kill and with the rain outside continuing she didn't quite want to walk home just yet.

A series of quick vibrations came from inside her bag, muffled but easy to feel where it sat against her knees.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

The restaurant wasn't far, and yet the clouds above only seemed to darken further and take over more of the sky. The staff Calvin greeted by name grinned wide, she found it slightly odd but then again she'd somehow made friends with the head Librarian within the FBI's archives and books so she remained silent.

Delta settled on her side with her belly directly onto of her feet, folded hands resting atop the table once she'd set her bag agaisnt her stomach. Though no stranger to being flirted with, she rarely actually accepted any offers to meet for any sort of meal. The restaurant wasn't full but the air smelled of devious scents, the basket of bread before them lay untouched except for the piece that Calvin had taken.

His first question had her mentally flailing just a bit, though her expression remained pleasant. The compliment afterwards had her expression smoothing out, though a half smile remained on her lips. She had a story to follow and even though this hadn't been expected at all, Ellie knew she keep herself and her words in check. "I work for my father for the time being, his company while very popular in Russia is in need of an expansion." Her gaze left his rather intense eyes, a flash of lightning signaled the beginning of what looked like a very large storm. At the end of the day, this man who oozed the aura of someone who was rich and got what he wanted, would never really care for someone with nothing to offer.

"So I came here in search of some support." She finished just as then waiter arrived, she asked for sweet tea and was met with a grin. Taking a sip when the cup was set before her, she tried not to squirm at the feeling of his eyes on her.

Like he was trying to see through her, to see how she ticked.

"And yourself? What do you do?" She asks with a slight tilt of her head, a hand lifting to push her braid behind her shoulder with an absent flick. While she doesn't much care for the man before her, she's a trained investigator with a wandering mind that sometimes leads her into trouble. She's curious.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

Stella looked a bit older then Delta, though no white fur decorated shining silver yet. His words had her crouching down to be eye level, hand offered but not immediately reaching for her. Calvin's words echoed in her ears and she couldn't help but agree with them, even now three years later Delta was her world still.

The hand being offered to Delta had Ellie internally grimacing, though she trusted her partner wouldn't lash out unnecessarily. Instead Ellie had to bite back a laugh when Delta turned her head away, nose held high in a way Ellie had rarely seen before. "Her name is Mishka." Ellie replied with a small pet to Stella's head when she pressed into her hand, a smile on her lips.

The comment had her shaking her head, a finger lifting and wagging in a reproachful manner. "You mean three." She chided before standing, Delta moving forward as Stella mirrored her until they were nose to nose.

She could admit he was gorgeous, if a little forward and too flirtatious for her liking. Hands curling together behind her back, she glanced up at the sky only to blink in confusion at the looming dark clouds above.

"I was promised food." Ellie chirped out with a practiced grin on her lips, facial muscles beginning to strain at the edges. The dog's were circling each other with their ears perked and tails wagging, friends already in such a short time.

Delta barked once and spun in a circle, gently nudging Stella's muzzle before she was focused on them again.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

A frustrated groan left her lips as soon as Calvin was out of the room, hands reaching up to press into her cheeks. Mentally berating herself for agreeing to even meet the man for lunch of all things, she exhales a huff of breath and glances up. Julie is working on Delta again but this time to wash away the soap, no doubt ready to move on to the next task at hand. "All I can say isn, work." She says with a wrinkle of her nose, tone irritated and brows furrowing, lifting her phone into her hands she unlocks the screen with a tap.

"I'll let the Manager know. Some warning would've been nice though." Julie adds with a huff, glancing up Ellie witnesses the girls hips wiggle as she stores the hose attachment away. Clicking her tongue once she stands and moves towards the window that overlooks a little garden, leaning against the wall with her ankles crossed. Sending bother photos to the group chat labeled K-9Fam, she locks the screen and returns to collect her bag.

"I'll be out front." Ellie murmurs with a grimace on her face, Julie snorts at her before waving her away. Delta comes running ten minutes later with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth, fur shiny and smelling of kiwi. Opening the bag she pulls out a collar that her brother, Dimitri had brought a week ago from a trip overseas. Dark green with gold on the inside, it was decorated with flowers that she didn't know the name of. Slipping it on now with Delta waiting patiently, Ellie released another exhale through her lips in the silence of the room.

Rising to her feet she pats the knees of her pants twice, then shakes her head and turns to the front door. She'd be taken by surprise by his sudden appearance, but now she'd had time to collect herself and with it came her usual calm demeanor.

Peeking outside to make sure the vans had gone, she stepped out into the sunlight with a wave towards the Manager. She needed to act perfectly, to see if she could get any information from Calvin that could help the case move forward despite her accomplishment from last night.

Spotting a figure not too far ahead, she lifted a hand and let a practiced grin lift her lips up. "And who's this gorgeous one?" She asks as they draw closer, Delta's tail thumping against her leg at the sight of the other dog.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

Julie had asked for a story, while her hands worked through Delta's fur until she was completely coveted in suds. So Ellie settled in to tell her about the time she and her siblings decided they wanted to skate on a frozen pond not too far from hone. And how they'd left the house without a word, wore non-appropriate clothes for an outing in Russia and made the trek down a rather large hill.

To say they'd all gotten terribly sick despite having grown up in Russian before moving to LA, was an understatement. The lecture they'd received by both their parents had been overshadowed by the one their grandparents had given them once they'd recovered.

Julie was doubled over in laughter, hands and face covered in suds until it had Ellie's lips lifting into a smile. Discreetly taking a picture and then another of Delta who looked unimpressed, she was just debating on if she should post them on her Instagram or to the group chat she shared with Delta's siblings owners when a new face appeared.

A voice almost cooed at Delta, her ears dropping and face the epitone of a dog not at all enjoying the groomer. Half-focused on her phone she didn't pay much attention, legs stretched out before her as she waited for Julie to finish.

The name being blurted out into the air had her head snapping up, muscles coiling tight as she came face to face with someone who she never thought she'd see again. Before she could think of a reply, not that she was sure what exactly that would be Calvin Crawford was speaking once more. "Italian? Not on your life." She replied with a twist of her mouth, hand discreetly slipping her phone between her thighs to keep it hidden. His next words mentioned lunch and it being dog-friendly which had Delta barking in agreement.

"You had me at bistro and dog." She replied with a smile lifting her lips that felt half strained, a hand lifting to point at the overhead clock just above the bathing station. "Julie will be in done in about...twenty minutes? If you'd like to go ahead I can meet you there when she's finished." Julie was giving her a very confused look, Delta remained quiet but her ears were pricked in attention.

She needed time to collect herself, to get her bearings and tell these two as much as she could without spilling it all so that Director D'Angelo didn't rip her a new one. She had to tred carefully, act just right until this encounter was over.

God she needed a drink.

"I-I know the place you're talking about! You also just adopted a dog, right? Let me get this beauty finished and then your new friend and then you can get some delicious food." Julie was wide-eyed as she spoke, emotions so clearly written across her face it was almost painful to see.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

The moment they stepped through the door, Ellie felt her shoulders relax. She hadn't expected camera crews to be crowding the front, Delta hadn't been too pleased either but had kept quiet. Now her tail was wagging with so much force it made a breeze, lips pulling up into a smile at the sight.

"Well! Aren't you two a sight for sore eyes!" A voice chirped seconds before she was tackled into a hug, a grunt leaving her at the added weight. Her nose was filled with floral perfume before she was let go, and Delta became the subject of her attention. Julie's hair was violet and tied high in a bun, last time it had been pink if she remembered correctly.

"I wasn't expecting the cameras." Ellie muttered dryly, Russian accent peeking through and coloring her words a bit more weary. Julie waved a hand while her free hand pet through Delta's thick coat, loose hair lifting into the air.

"Some big shot businessman came by to drop off a donation or something. Right, Mrs. Roberson?" The name had Ellie glancing up to meet the managers gaze, Delta wiggled happily on the floor with her paws batting at the air. Offering her a wave a grin, she was offered a smile in return and a nod.

"Hmmm, interesting." Ellie replied disinterestedly, not one to really mingle with those if money unless it was family or close friends. Julie jumped up and led them down the hall and to the empty grooming room, chattering happily as she gathered what she'd need. "I forgot to ask, have you seen any of Delta's siblings?" She's seated on a couch Julie has set up so new adopters can watch how to properly groom their pet, a throw pillow held in her lap. Though they have bi-weekly playmates when their schedules line up, she doesn't keep track of the others with how busy she is.

"I have! The other day Magness stopped by and my goodness has he grown! And then I saw Jax and Iris at once and they were so big they nearly drowned me with affection. Now here comes Delta while Alphonse and Luca are scheduled in the next two days." A tab of her fingers agaisnt the metallic tub has Delta obediently jumping in, Julie pets her head before sliding the door closed.

"We'll be meeting them all next week, let them all tire each other out." Her accent curls around the words, a habit she's never been able to break when she's with people she knows. She's trained herself out of her accent not because she hates it, but it pops up easily when she's in a familiar atmosphere.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

She awoke to bright light and a heavy weight on her chest, remnants of a dream or her childhood home fading before her eyes. Delta is sprawled across her chest in a way that she hasn't done for awhile, flanks rising and falling slowly with even breathes. Inhaling as best as she can, she stretches slowly until her spine pops satisfyingly.

"You, Missy need a groom. Look at all this fur." She mutters with a shake of her head, spotting the black-brown fur decorating her blanket. Regular grooming sessions keep her apartment clean and her colleges from complaining, but they also mean visits to the human society that had visited them with a box of six puppies barely a week old.

Brown eyes blink at her slowly, before a tongue lulls out and licks along her nose. Snorting softly Ellie shifts and Delta jumps off, stretching before shaking herself once. "Let me schedule with Julie and then I'm going to clean everything until it all sparkles." She mutters as she sits up, a hand running through her hair. Then she's up and moving towards her bathroom, Delta following behind with a toy in her mouth.

The director of the humane society had pled with them that the pups needed a place or they'd be put down, which is how she'd ended up with her furchild three years into her career. Her siblings were trained like Delta had been, and placed within jobs not only in the FBI but LAPD as well so they had playmates often. Now as she brushes her teeth and wills sleep to fade, she mentally reminds herself to do just that.

Julie's text is a flood of emojis and a time when to drop by, which motivates her to begin deep-cleaning her entire apartment. Sure she could hire someone to do it, but she found it only soothing to work within her own space and know it was her own hands that had left it clean.

When her alarm blares just as she finishes wiping down her stove, Ellie exhales a pleased huff as she scans her gleaming kitchen. Showering quickly and changing into black jeans and a white sleeveless shirt, she braids her hair before moving towards the door. White tennis shoes complete her look, a white backpack holds her wallet, phone and a few necessities for walks. Grabbing Delta's leash but not putting it on, she opens the door and locks it behind her, then she heads down the hall with a wiggling pup not far behind.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

The written out words before her eyes had her baffled, each passing streetlight illustrating them until they were imprinted in her brain. She'd even double checked by turning on the little overhead lamp, brows furrowed at what should be simple text and nothing more.

There wasn't a sixth floor to that hotel, Ashton and Director D'Angelo had both assured her after looking at the building schematics that it only went to five before she'd left. A heavy head settled on her croased knees at the next red light, tired eyes blinking twice before slipping the card into her purse. Hand settling into soft, warm black fur Ellie let out a soft sigh.

The remainder of the drive was quiet except for the hum of the engine and the occasional car horn. She awoke when a door closing rocked the car sometime later, eyes squinting at the harsh lights of a parking garage she vaguely remembered they kept their rented cars in. Slipping out with Delta not far behind, she's met with a familiar looking dark-gray SUV with its back door behind held open.

"You've done well, Agent Hale." Came D'Angelo's voice with pride echoing clearly in his tone, he appears around the SUV with a grin on his lips. He's followed by another male with a beanie covering his hair and a laptop case slung over his shoulder, he's dressed in a white button-down shirt and brown pants. "I'm pleased with how both you and Agent Goldstein handled tonight's event, your first time out in the field." The praise settles something in her chest, her lips lift into a small tired smile as the young man beside D'Angelo straightens and lifts a hand to rub along the back of his neck.

"It was all Ellie, sir. I just watched through the cameras." His voice was soft and it clicked together like a missing puzzle piece, she recognized that voice and now she knew the face and person it belonged to.

"I'm glad we worked well together." She replies with a thumb hooked over a shoulder, moving towards the car with her eyes never once leaving Ashton's lanky form. "Thanks again, Ash. Sir, I'll see you in forty-eight hours." She added with a half wave of her hand, slipping into the back seat with a grimace as her feet shifted within her heels.

She heard a squeak before it was drowned out by booming laugher, then it was silence as she pulled the door closed. Her apartment was a welcome sight as the car parked before the main doors, Delta hoping out with a jingle of her tags the second the door was opened. The lobby was quiet as they entered, the ding of the elevator as it arrived nearly deafening. Delta wiggled as they ascended to their floor, no doubt ready for dinner and some down time. A glance at her own phone which had been handed to her the moment she'd stepped into the limo, held notifications she had no energy to even open.

The sound of her front door clicking shut behind her was a blessing, her head thunking agaisnt the wood in relief. Her mind flashed back to Cal for whatever reason, his innuendos not hard to miss despite how focused she'd been on her task at hand. Hanging up the purse she used the door to aid her as she removed the blasted heels, then the dress as she moved towards her room. Maybe she'd run into him again, a carefully crafted story would need to be prepared if that did happen. But in a city as large as LA she highly doubted that would happen, not to mention her work kept her busy enough as it was.

Clad now in soft pajamas with her hair loose and free around her shoulders, she filled Delta's bowl with food, washed her hands and sat on the counter while she reheated some Chinese food her sister had brought her two nights ago. Once they were both full, they settled on her couch with a large blanket spread out, control in hand she let her thumb press down to change the channel. Body all but melting into the cushions, the control slipped from her hand and landed on the floor with a soft sound. Bleary eyes blinked as Chopped stared at her, Delta curled up atop her folded legs. Not a horrible way to end the night, not at all she supposed.