Comings and Goings [Tytonidae]

[Legion]

OOC: For any brief interactions between two or more Tytonidae players. Posts may not have anything to do with previous posts in the thread.

* Soleil stepped off the elevator, fresh from a few 'adventures' around the city. A hand reached instinctively toward her head, tucking the flyaway hairs beneath the ballcap she wore. The pack on her back was stuffed to the max- the shop would probably be a good place to head. If nothing else, she was sure someone would be around to take an item or a few off her hands...."Anybody up?!" she called cheerfully, bright irises roaming over the figures gathered.


* Legion had only just sold a few of his own items to the vendor who sold and bought exclusively from Tytonidae - mainly wares he'd picked up in the sewer. There had been a raid ongoing for the past couple of days, but he had tried his hand at a couple of those, finding that they weren't exactly his cup of tea. The paladins and hunters in the sewers put up a good fight and seemed to like keeping him well funded and stocked - which was a good distraction from the lack of hunting that had been going on lately. Either people had gotten smarter about vampiric discretion, or they were deliberately waiting, lying low for...something. Legion didn't trust it, but he rarely trusted anything (or anyone), making paranoia part of his daily life. Upon hearing someone calling out for him, he glanced up from where he'd been going through some of the wares, carefully placing a gun back in its case. "Over here." He called out. He knew that voice; it was Soleil.


* Soleil drew level with the shop counter, wincing slightly as she swung her pack around to set it down. Relieved at being able to rid herself of the weight at her back, Soleil began rummaging around the frontmost pockets, seeking gauze and adhesive. "How's it going, Legion?" she asked, sparing a moment to glance over at the other person stirring on her side of the stand. Waiting for his reply, she turned her body and began to tend to several wounds beneath the thin shirt she wore. He was in a relationship, as was she- baring flesh carelessly in front of him didn't seem appropriate


* Legion glanced over to the shop owner as the pair of them were joined by Soleil, only for him to draw out his wallet and toss some crisp hundred dollar bills onto the counter before he plucked up some boxes of ammo that had been laid out. One of the boxes immediately went into the backpack he had at his feet, and the other was 'juggled' with an empty magazine. While Soleil saw to her wounds, he began to push bullets into their holder, until the magazine was full - only to move onto the next once he'd placed the full container on his person. He liked to be able to move quickly between rounds, and so he kept himself well stocked at all times. As for the wounds - he had a few of those, but he'd patched himself up on the field. Since he'd taken a proximity mine to the chest during a hunt back during the 'Order of St. James' scare, there wasn't really much in the way of pain that phased him. He couldn't get an infection, so his work in that particular area tended to be just a little sloppy. "It's going well. I've been trying to find some things for the ritualists. I figure they could use severed heads, condoms and those shrooms that grow down in the sewer."

* Soleil laughed lightly, giving a nod of her head. "Mhm. I'm sure they could! I've got quite the stock of items myself. I've been putting off sorting through them properly, but now I have no choice as I'm running out of room to keep it all.....is there anything You need?" she asked hopefully, pulling down her shirt over the freshly bandaged flesh. Her clothing cost too much to be ruined by bloodstains


* Legion finished loadng up the last cartridge, only to shove the magazne into the base of the gun with a firm mechanical click of a sound. He holstered his handgun and then turned a smile on Soleil. He didn't know the woman very well, save for the few times they had worked together during hunts or socialized at one of Ty's gatherings. The longest conversation he'd ever had with her had probably been the one involving Hadrian, and that had been more towards Velveteen and the pair of them hoping to find a way to make him work for the group. Unfortunately, that hadn't panned out terribly well. Kent was somewhat of a friend though, and she was Kent's woman, which meant she was good people. Not exactly the fairest of ways to view it, but Legion wasn't known for being purposefully reasonable. "Not right now, no. I'm actually holding onto a few crafting items for whoever needs them, but Nix might want something. I know she's good on Zombie Ears at least - Vigilant had a few hundred ready to give her and I think she's still set from the last batch I gave her." He was rambling. Not entirely his fault. He was a man who liked to keep ledgers orderly and neat. It drove him mad to just gather and hope people would need something he got, as opposed to telling him specifically what to look for. "What about you? I don't think I ever asked what sort of business you're into. Are you a ritualist or crafter, or something?"


* Soleil 's brows knit as she listened to him speak|Vigilant...Vigilant....she tossed the name over a few times, trying to remember why it seemed familiar. Ah! She recalled Legion looking for people to join a group with his childe-Vigilant- for the TFF hunt or something along those lines.| Head bent over her pack, she neatly sorted out like items atop the counter to sell to the vendor. Harder to come by items remained where they were. Items that were useful but abundant were also sacrificed- she needed to put a bit of time into finding a few people who'd need the items on a regular basis, people without connections to the things themselves. Stirred form her thoughts by the silence that followed the question he'd posed, Soleil turned her gaze back to Legion, a grin spreading her crimson mouth. "Oui, a crafter...and something. I craft cameras and traps. I'm hoping to try my hand at cages as soon as I get my hands on a few items...I also bartend and perform at Necropolis Pub. Do you know of it?"


* Legion let his shoulders roll back some. He was actually ready to go, but it seemed rude to cut their conversation short - not that it would have stopped him under most circumstances. He had been known to turn his back on someone mid-word and just walk away, if he didn't like what they were talking about. Of course, the quality of the discourse wasn't the issue in this case. Legion liked learning about his faction mates, when he had the opportunity. Crafters were as vital to a group's defense as marksmen were to offense. So once he had put his gun away, he simply hauled himself up onto the counter, while the shop keeper made his way towards the back with an aggravated sigh aimed at the vampires. Legion assumed it would take the woman a little bit to get things sorted out, so he pulled a cigar from his jacket - one he'd been working on before but had to snuff out. "Mind if I smoke?" he asked as he glanced down to the different things she'd laid out. Generally, he was happy if he had weapons and ammo, so he didn't give much thought to anything else. "Ahh, I look forward to learning how to craft someday. All in time, I suppose." He muttered as he fished his lighter out as well. "I have indeed heard of the Necropolis - read about it somewhere actually. Nix mentioned it once or twice. I guess it's owned by the Grigori. She's not a fan of them." He shrugged then. He had no dog in that fight. "What sort of performances do you do? Singing? Dance?"

[Soleil]

* Soleil shot the vendor a frown he'd never see- her items were still laid out. She didn't mind though, he'd be back and she had nothing but time anyway. Kent seemed to be dozing so she'd likely end up beside him for a nap. Watching Legion hoist himself up onto the wood, she gave a tiny shake of her head. "Non, go ahead..." Truth be told she Did mind, in any other situation she'd distance herself from smoke. It couldn't harm her though, and she could tell it was something he'd enjoy so she wasn't going to pull the reins. "It took me awhile to find my way to it. I had ideas about what it was and thought I'd never be interested...but the work is time consuming at times, intricate, detailed, so it ended up being more fitting then I'd imagined. When you do get started, don't hesitate to seek me out of you need anything. As for the Necropolis, I sing." A ghost of a smirk turned her lips, it had been awhile since last she'd been on stage. With things slowing down for the most part, perhaps she'd have time to work on new pieces. "Though, I dance as well...just not there."


* Legion didn't hesitate once permission was given. He lit up the end of the cigar, until it burned orange and red, before he replaced the zippo in his pocket. He briefly pushed a 'ring me for assistance' bell to one side before his legs curled inwards and he assumed an 'Indian style' position right beside an opened gun case. "I will have to do that. I know Vel is good at crafting as well. Other than Nix, and Sammael - I think she's the one I speak to most frequently in the gang, but I'd feel like an *** if I took up too much of her time with dumb questions. I'll just split them up between you two." He responded with his own smile. Legion was the sort of man who didn't often wear that sort of expression, at least not when it was good for the one he had it directed at. "You will have to give me your performance schedule sometime. We could make an outing of it, me and Nix, going to see you sing." He assumed she meant some kind of exotic dance. First place his mind went - total guy thing there. "I'm sure Kent enjoys your dancing." He teased good naturedly as smoke drifted from his nostrils.


* Soleil stared, fixated by the mixture of colors on his cigar end, they were quite lovely. Tearing her gaze away, she clapped her hands together a single time. "That would be great! I really do enjoy helping where I'm able! I've not spent much time with Sam- he seems nice though. I'll have to give him a ring and see how he's coming along." Head tilting to the side, Soleil considered the smile on Legion's mouth. It was somewhat foreign in that she didn't recall seeing it very often, but it suited him well all the same. Straightening up, she cleared her throat. "Sure! It's been a fun challenge for me, adapting my voice to songs more suited for a pub atmosphere- I'm classically trained, with a concentration in opera." Smiling as she thought of just how silly it sounded, she felt flush when he spoke again. "He does." she responded simply, matter-of-factly. She wasn't sure what kind of dancing Legion thought she did but it didn't really matter. Ballroom or exotic, Kent would like it.


* Legion chuckled. Such a 'there it is' way of saying it. As if the woman completely owned the fact that she was a good dancer - he could respect that. Legion enjoyed confidence in the people around him. He didn't do well with anyone who doubted themselves, because he wasn't the sort of man who could conceivably stroke an ego into inflation. His compliment were hard won, and he didn't believe in humoring someone who was fishing for attention. This made him both 'difficult' and horribly honest at the same time. "He's a good man, been gone a bit lately, but we tend to see things the same way. I think he's sired to the woman who runs the Necropolis? At least the nightclub portion of it. I never did get why it seemed to be split down the middle like that." A shrug was given to convey his confusion before he drew the cigar from between his lips to give a low, long exhale. Time to think. "Opera? A lot of the men I used to work with loved opera, but I've always been more of a jazz man myself. But being classically trained must be interesting. I'm only trained in one thing - and that's being a bad guy. High school drop out."


* Soleil "Amaranthia" Soleil confirmed, in respect to Sam. She wasn't sure enough on the reasons the place was split to speak on it except in a casual manner. "It's a large space. I think it's a great mix, seems a bit 'dark vs light'?" she teased. She'd been working a bit sporadically as of late, and was hoping to get back on a set schedule. Tending and managing weren't easy jobs, but they kept her on her feet which she enjoyed. "I think we should start up some Summer events...if anything comes up I'll be sure to let you know." Shifting on her feet, Soleil leaned into the counter, getting comfortable. "Really, the men you worked with...opera?" She couldn't fully stifle a faint laugh that ended up escaping. Something about Legion...she'd assume the company he kept would be similar and they didn't seem like opera folk. Then again, it was one of the things she loved most about music, it didn't show favoritism, it was universal. "I sing a mix of styles, though I'm most 'at home' as they say, in opera and show tune genres."

* Legion considered that for a moment. She seemed amused at his former colleagues - but that was an understandable misconception. Legion was fairly open about the fact he'd been a former gang lieutenant, but he didn't elaborate that it wasn't one of those 'newer' gangs styled after a bunch of street thugs without any sense between them. The Demons of West Harper Rock had more closely resembled an old school mafia, and the majority of the members had roots in the States. He was about to respond when the vendor made his way out and began to price the wares Soleil had laid out. "It looks like you're about to have some business so I should probably get going back to the hut to spend some time with Nix. Just email me that schedule and I'll be sure we're in attendance." He offered another smile before - just like his smoke dissipating in the air, he was gone.

* Soleil trained her eyes on Legion as he seemed to contemplate internally. Her focus soon fell to his mouth, his lips had parted as if preparing for speech...then ceased. Confused, she instinctively looked around and a barely audible "Ah." left her own lips. The shop keeper had returned and was quickly sorting through the array of items she'd set up- no doubt trying to get rid of her as soon as he could. She couldn't blame him, she had a tendency to talk him down in price when she bought things, and up in price when she was selling. Legion was saying his farewell now, and Soleil didn't want to hold him up. "Yes, yes, go on!" she insisted. "I'm sorry for keeping you so long. Take care and have a nice evening." she called, just before he disappeared. Giving her full attention back to the shop keeper, Soleil screwed her face up into a slight frown. "Non, non...are you sure that's all you can give me?..."

[Velveteen]

Velveteen: Velveteen sat at the table on the fourth for a long while reflecting. Micah was out breaking and entering to get her the things she needed for more traps and until then it was just her and her thoughts. She thought on the faction, those within it, present and past, her childer, all of them and then finally arriving at the two lastest editions to her line- Tameka and Sathanda. Sath was definitely the quieter of the pair but was doing quite well and Meka....well she was...Meka. She grinned a little and shook her head. Perhaps it was time for a more serious Sire/Childe talk. She reached out with her mind to touch lightly upon Meka’s. “Drop whatever your doing. I am going to count to ten and then summon you.”

Meka: Meka got the text sitting on the toilet. She had her legs crossed and her finger nails were tapping on the top of her knee. Not that she was doing anything, (doh) but she had stalked some woman into the loo to bite her so she needed to wait it out. Except, the sudden invasion into her brain interupted her stalking and the message made her sigh. Sshe just stayed where she was because, what the hell else were you meant to do when notified of getting yourself beamed up. She'd have to eat... at another time.

Velveteen: As soon as she counted to ten in her head Velveteen focused her thoughts and within a heartbeat the other woman appeared before her, seamlessly ripped through space and time. The dark haired woman wore a crooked grin as she silently appraised the other and waited for the barrage of....words she well expected to follow.

Meka: See, now you know what the problem is with sitting when you're beamed up, yeah, you guessed it. It's the fact your *** is sitting at the time you're placed in the new spot and now commode under your butt to keep you from failing *** first. Which Meka did. Loudly. "Ow ****!" She swore, rolling onto her knees and rubbing her poor posterior. "Word to the wise Goth Chick... don't sit when beamed up..." sitting rubbing her butt Meka stood, stretching out her shoulders. "Yo MOMMA!" she laughed... her hand about to run a hole through her pants.

Velveteen: All she could do was shake her head and chuckle. She really had no clue what she was gonna do with this one but she had to try. She watched as the woman found her feet and motioned to a nearby chair, and indication that she wanted this woman with the larger-than-life personality to sit. “Thank you Meka...but I already know that and I did give you fair warning after all.” She tilted her head a little and waited a moment while Meka eased her bruised behind. “We need to ...talk.”

Meka: Meka sat with a lazy (if graceful) sprawl. She got herself comfy, crossed her legs and leaned back in the chair. "Did you know... Doc and I are teaming up for the etiquette thing?" She started talking right away, as if she was the one who had called the meeting andnot Velveteen. She grinned then, her humour just a bit cheeky. "That's gonna be hoot don't you think? That man go a rod rammed so far up his *** it's a wonder he had spitting lead."
"Cute though and man, he's got a fine ***. I like me a man with a fine ***. Too bad he's so damn sour. A girl be tempted to see what the fool looks like when he smiles."

Velveteen: Her brow rose in mild surprise at the woman’s quasi announcement and couldn’t help but think that was going to be an interesting couple of hours. “I did see it on the Bridge yes. Are you sure that is such a good idea? You will both be there to learn. Not be checkin’ out asses or fishing for smiles.” She inclined her head a little and a faint crease etched her brow. There was no sense beating about the bush. “I’m a little worried about you Meka.”

Meka: There aint no set time and place for *** checking. It just is. I mean, it's a little on the flat side. I aint seen a white man with a really NICE ***... but it's got a nice round.. hrm hrm to it." Shrugging Meka gave Velveteen a long look. "it's not like I don' tknow how to concentrate to get the job done. I did manage to get my *** through two degrees. I just don't think it needs to be so damn serious all the damn time... " Leaning forward Meka gave Velveteen and worried look. "Now, come on honey child.. you tell me what you so worried 'bout. I'm doin' just FINE... I'm sucking blood and taking names ... tell me 'bout it. See if Meka can help fix it for you."

Velveteen: She had never in her entire her life ever met someone like Tameka Vassey and not having been the most socially adept individual to start with left her feeling at an even greater disadvantage right now. “Sometimes Meka seriousness is exactly what is needed. Now I understand how being turned can affect a person, heightened emotional states, needs and all that but jesus woman, you really need to tone it down a notch a ten. Were you really this .....ummm.....Like this before?” Velveteen leaned forward in her chair and crossed her arms on the table as she watched Meka through intense silver orbs. “I just get the feeling there is way more going on that you aren’t letting on and well...I just don’t know how it is gonna go for you if we can’t perhaps mellow you the **** out a little.”

Meka: Meka laughed then, her expression delighted. The amusement took over her whole face animating it completely. “Oh hot damn.” She exclaimed, sounding more like her grandfather than herself, stealing his favourite phrase because it seemed the situation fit it. “Day always said I had enough mouth for two women and the energy to exhaust a person. Momma said it comes from being the girl in a family of two brothers. I had to speak the hell up or they wouldna listened or I’d just be ignored. I just aint shy is all. I don’t know if toning down gonna be possible really. It aint like no one has tried before. You just gotta take this as a part of my package. God knows, I got me a fiesty on. But you get me where I need to be serious and I’ll get her done. It not like I was cracking wind when I was scanning for them babies… know what I mean?”
Meka felt a bit sorry for the poor woman. She looked so serious and there was a pinched look to the corner of her eyes. It’s times like this that a woman needed her Momma. Not that Meka could have explained this at all to hers but sometimes that woman came up with the damnedest things, and some of it good. “You just tell me when I’m sposed to be serious and I’ll give you a bit o straight face. Seems to me you lot got a bad case of ‘too serious’. What will all that killing and all.”

Velveteen: Velveteen could barely understand a thing she was saying though she caught the general gist of it here and there. She didn’t doubt that Meka could do it but she couldn’t but worry that the woman didn’t take things serious enough. She sighed and raised one of her hands, though her elbow remained solid on the wooden surface beneath, to rake her nails lightly over her scalp. “Oh you have no idea.” She knew she took things too seriously at times and sometimes she hard time recognising a joke even when it was shaped like a trout and smacked her in the face. It was true...she knew it. But like Meka...it was just how she was and she a whole bunch of other people that relied on her as well. She took all of her responsibilities serious despite what others may think. “I just worry is all. Immortal for now, you might be but that does not mean people still can’t **** your **** up for a bit.”

Meka: "Well, I aint never had to fight my own battles mind. I always had my brothers. Hey, can I turn my whole family into what we are? Like, just bite the **** out of all of them? That'll get me my family... the old fashioned way. Though, I aint sure if I want my Daddeh around forever. That man, never let me do nothing. I swear, he got protective and then... put it on warp speed."
"Ummm... I know you're gonna say no. Just asking." She added quickly. "So.. how exactly would my **** get fucked up?"

[Tameka Vassey (DELETED 4152)]

Velveteen: Now they seemed to be getting somewhere but damn..really? Did she even just consider turning her entire family? “Meka I’m not entirely sure that the vampire world is ready for more of you. But I guess this is in part what I am trying to say. You already are kinda starting on a bad note just by being my...childe. You really do not want to draw a lot of attention to yourself. There is a time to play and a time to be business and well...you seem to have a handle on that well enough...I think. You just....You are like a stone being dropped into the middle of a pond and your ripples tend to spread quickly.” She sat back and grinned a bit then. “I want you here with me so I can keep you safe. It is true you can survive being dead forever for now but...each time you die you get a little weakened and it takes time to heal that. I know you still don’t know a whole lot about everything but it will come with time. Just..respect that, I guess, is what I am saying. Just be a little more aware of how you make others around you feel?” She looked at the woman questioningly to see if anything she was saying right now made an iota of sense to the other.

Meka: "How I make them feel? I aint been mean to nobody. I aint been around long enough to get a mean on with no person. I aint saying I won't one day, but it aint happened yet." Meka stopped then stared at the smaller woman. "Has it?"

Velveteen: The woman shook her head. "No...I don't think so. But you have to consider...." She paused for a moment and dragged her pursed lips to one side of her face. There had to be a way to explain this. "Ok...think of it this way. Someone you are your family have never met before, none of you know them, rock into your house and start making themselves at home all over the place. Being loud, and having a good time and what have you. How do you think you or your family would react to that?"

Meka: "Give em some sweet tea and tell em not to put their feet on the table?" Meka wondered if this was an Australian thing, or maybe it was a Georgia thing. You're neighbourly and you're welcoming. You stay for a sweet tea and you greet a person with open arms. She wondered if they did things different over there in Australia. Maybe they didn't think being comfortable around people was quite the thing. Meka also wondered if that just wasn't a damn sad way to live. "If you want me to act all white bread, I'm thinking you got yourself the wrong person. That aint me. I aint changing who I am, just cause people don't like how a person acts. If you want serious, I got that, when I need to. But if we aint killing something... then there aint no good reason not to be mysellf right?"

Velveteen: "I'm not saying don't be yourself." She sighed in exasperation. Why is it everybody always took there. "Just be respectful of those about you. You are another world entirely now Meka and we all come from different backgrounds and places. Just...I don't know...I don't even know. You are right. Be yourself. Not asking ya to act all white bread, brown bread or ******* wholemeal...whatever bread has to do with it. I just want you to survive."

Meka: Meka grinned then sitting back and swinging her folded leg back and forth. "Well, that makes two of us.. survival is a prime directive too. Look..." she started, deciding she needed to throw the poor woman a bone before she had herself an apolexy. "I'll just be myself at 80%... how does that sound? Quite frankly, I think I'm better full Meka but I can give it a bit of a nudge.... or I'll try. That work for you?"

Velveteen: She had no idea why she suddenly laughed. But there it was and she shook her head, maybe she was just completely and utterly losing it. She really didn't think she asked a lot of people but somehow it always ended up sounding like she was asking them to sell their god damned souls. Maybe she should. "Look, if you are ok with that and can actually do that I would appreciate it. Just give people a chance to get to you know better before getting all all full Meka up in their ****."

Meka: Meka shrugged. "If they don't like full Meka they aint gonna like 80% any damn better. You either like it or you don't. It's a bit like dark chocolate. You either love that bitter **** cause it's got a nice bite to it or you're a mediocre milk chocolate sorta person. Trying to get a taste for it by nibbling at it aint gonna make you like it anymore. You either do or you don't. They're either gonna like me or they don't and you can't go your whole life trying to please the 2% of assholes that don't. But if you wanna give it a shot, then who am I to stop you from trying to piss in the wind."

Velveteen: She just kinda stared at her then for a few silent moments. "Pissing in the wind? Meka....I have worked long and hard to build this faction. It is important to me and really...if you are gonna make feel like a retarded twat for asking you to respect that then this is dicussion is more over than I thought it was. It would also do you well to remember that just because you were turned by me, it does not give you an key to the city. You have to earn it just as anybody else does. These people you are talking about are the ones who will be assessing and voting on your suitability to the faction and if they don't like you ...then you are kinda on your own. So....whatever you choose to do now is up to you."

Meka: "Then I choose to be myself." Meka said, her normal humour stopping, as if someone had thrown a switch. Her gaze narrowed and her smile stripped away. "I've given up enough of who I am to become what you made me. You dont' get to dictate that I then become someone else because the people you have surrounded yourself with don't like how I talk. If they vote and I'm out... then I'm out. If that means I get a short drop at the end of a tight rope then I'll take that too. I've giving you 20% of me. If that's not enough.. then it wasn't ever gonna be anyway."

Velveteen: She shook her head and looked at the woman as if seeing her for the very forst time. Was she really that difficult to understand, did she speak another language entirely because sometimes she certainly felt like it. "I have not once asked you to change who you are. Just to tone it down a little when around the others. If you were a ******* a nudist would you be parading up and down the streets naked just because? Are you the same person in every given situation? At work? At home? When you are about to get a bullet in your goddamned thick skull?" She had partly risen out of her chair. Everything lately was just....getting stupid and people being so god damned difficult was really starting to grate on her nerves.
“You know...for the record I find you to be a real breath of fresh air and I enjoy you. I would without question willingly put my neck on the chopping block for you, but if I ask too much then so be it. We will just have to see where these chips fall.”

Meka: Shrugging again Meka stared at Velveteen across the room. "I figure you been at this a while. People are stupid. Stupid people make stupid choices. The only person you can be true to is you. Now. Nice to see you got yourself a temper but I'm not the one who is giving you grief over something as little as a person speaking. Cause, that's all I done. You gonna take the 20 or you're not gonna take the 20. How about I make this easy and I'll give the 20 and see how it goes. But mind my words, it aint gonna change ****. You'll be pushing their crap up the same hill you were before you called me here.. and it aint gonna be me the one asking you to push it.

Velveteen: It was true. She'd been dealing with a melting pot of personalities and even the smallest thing lately was like a naked flame in a room filled with oxygen. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she should just step back, let everyone go for it and just see who comes out at the end. It was a nice thought, but ultimately that is all it was. She nodded then. "It's not all the time...you can be who you are tens time over around me, you know that. I don't know. Ok...we will see how it goes."

[Tameka Vassey (DELETED 4152)]

Meka Vassey: [TEXT] GIRL! I can see dead people!!
Meka Vassey: [Text] And I totally said that in my head like that creepy little kid off that movie. What you doing?

Nyla: Frowned at her phone. She didn't recognize the number, but she wasn't in the habit of giving hers out a lot. She had told that Tameka girl to give her a shout....She grinned.

[Text] Can they see you? Or do they walk around unknowing of the fact that live people exist around them? Did you try talking to it? Are they capable of logical speech? And I'm... eating a Klondike bar!

Meka Vassey: It didn't even occur to Meka to introduce herself. She was (mostly mistakenly) of the belief once a person met her, they'd just automatically know (probably psychically) that it was her on the other side of any communication. Instead she texted blithely on.

[Text] GIRL, I aint gonna talk to it. Did you SEE the damn movie? **** was creepy. I don't wanna talk to no dead spirits. Good GOD. You crazy.

Nyla: [Text] Would you do it for a Klondike bar? Maybe then you could find yourself on TV! Do we show up on TV? Hmm... Might want to check that before you apply to be a commercial person and be all ill talk to them there dead ppl for a Klondike bar! Micah and Vel might get mad if you didn't show up. And then our secret got out. Scrap that whole idea maybe.

Meka Vassey: [Text] I can't eat no more! What you talking about?

Nyla: [Text] Oh right. Sucks to be you! ~Noms on the yummies~ <.<

Meka Vassey: [Text] So? What's up with the dead people? I don't know if I'm all good with this ****, they're just hanging about around me... what do they want? They want me to guide TO THE LIGHT?

Meka Vassey: [Text] Call me! You can walk me through what the hell to do with these things

Nyla: Snickered, before adding the number to her contacts and clicking the dial button and holding the phone to her ear. She wasn't sure exactly how much help she was going to be but hey, why not? She threw the empty wrapper in a garbage bin as she continued to walk down the street, looking for somewhere more private

Meka Vassey: "Nyla!" Meka fair to yelled into the phone, except it was really just an overly enthusiastic greeting, her voice glad. "I swear to God, these things are just floating about me and I'm standing here STARVING, I just don’t get it... cause I need to go eat but I'm scared to leave these things on their own. What. Do. They. WANT?"
Nyla: She frowned then, as she was sure that the Tameka girl was fairly new to their life. She remembered Micah and Lia mentioning that you had to be careful, especially when you were new when it came to your hunger. "Have you been...eating?" She still wasn't in a private enough place as she weaved through other pedestrians, she didn't exactly want to be overheard. "You should... eat regularly. Every day you know. You shouldn't be starving."

Meka Vassey: "Course I eat every day." It amused Meka that she was calling it eating, when in fact she drank, but it was hard to give up calling it what it was and Meka wasn't all that fussed about it anyway. "I eat until I'm full. I was full before the spirits started hanging around my damn head. Now they're just floating there like these bright yellow balls of ... ghost ****. You don't know what I'm supposed to do with them? Cause... it's like I aint eaten in DAYS ... and I feel like I could just go crazy hungry."

Nyla: If there had been much colour in Nyla's face, it would have drained then. This wasn't good. Crazy hungry newish vampires were not good. Not at all. "Do you know where you are?" She pulled the new hands free headphone set that she'd gotten and slipped it on, so that Meka's voice was in the earphones so she could use her phone to shoot off a text, if need be. "I could come there? Help you figure it out? Two heads are better than one I hear."

Meka Vassey: "Oh ummm in the sewers or ... no, where the old zombies are? In the south Catacombs I think." Meka stared at the spirits and poked at one with a tentative finger and it disappeared, the glow spreading along her finger, into her hand and up her arm. The act surprised her so damn badly she nearly dropped the phone. It certainly fell away from her ear but her scream was loud enough to wake UP the dead. "GOD DAMN what THE HELL was THAT. Nyla! The things just crawled into my SKIN ... God damn God damn I think ... I think I might be infected with a Rotavirus... or a DEAD VIRUS... NYLA!" She screamed, the phone well away from her ear as she turned her arm back and forth trying to see if it was about to fall the hell of where the spirit got sucked into her skin.

Nyla: She knew were the catacombs were. The thought dried up as she heard Meka's scream, and she thought it was a miracle it didn't cause her ears to bleed from the damage to her ear drums. None of that mattered in that moment, however, as she took off, not even paying attention to see if anyone noticed as she continued to gain speed, turning into nothing but a blur as she raced across town to the mausoleum. She stopped in her tracks so fast that she slammed up against the wall to the building, with her focus more on the woman inside than on where she was going. She opened the door, sending a one hand text to Solara as she did telling her to get her *** into the South Catacombs quick like.

Without another moments hesitation she was down in the Southern Catacombs. The pathways were well known to her, and with the woman’s voice echoing across the walls it wasn’t long before she found her way to the woman, hoping her thrall got there soon as well. She’d never seen the things that were surrounding Tameka, so she hovered just outside of their reach. “Tameka (Tuh-Meh-Ka)?” Her voice was whisper soft, not wanting to spook the woman even more.

Meka Vassey: 'YES!" Meka looked up from her careful examination of her arm, the phone was back at her ear and she was talking into it and looking as the woman who approached thinking the person asking the question was Nyla coming out of the phone. "Of course it's Meka... I'm talking to you on the phone... you crazy. And I swear I don't know what's going on with these THINGS... there's two more and I have half a mind to just ... leave them here. Is it a good thing that they soak into my skin like oil of OLAY? I don't think so. Surely not?"

Meka wasn't a coward, nor was she a person to panic but you have to give a girl some credit she had a lot go on in her life lately. She had been turned into a vampire, she had learned to walk on water and she had been beamed up. This just seemed to be one of the last straws on the camel's back moments where she thought maybe, just maybe she was in crazy and this whole thing was making her even more crazy. "I don't Nyla." She finished still talking down the phone. "I just don't know."

Nyla: She frowned, realizing that Tameka hadn't realized it was her just as overly loud steps sounded behind her. It wasn't the sound of a vampire stealthily hunting the creatures, it was the sound of a hippie running, she was sure of it. It didn't hurt that she could feel it deep in her bones that it was Solara. "Tameka. It's me. Nyla." She waved, trying to illustrate her point, before taking a tentative step forward, eyeing the apparitions hovering around Tameka while trying to hide her panic from her face. "My... thrall..." She hated that word with a passion. "is on her way. You can feed some from her while we figure this out, okay?" She put a hard emphasis on 'some', as she was unsure just how much the woman was going to need.

Meka Vassey: Putting her phone down slowly the smile that wreathed Meka's face bloomed as bright as the sun. "Nyla!" she greeted. "Oh look at you... you're as cute as a button aint ya?" Pushing her bangs off her forehead knowing the nature of hair would see them flop right back where she'd styled her hair this morning. Her Mommma had always told her she was the overly dramatic sort, she'd have told Meka to bite her lip and get a grip, and hide her damn crazy except Meka wasn't old school southern. She wasn't raised to be contained and had been allowed the luxury of outrageous emotion tempered by the quiet (and mean looking) support of her two brothers. "You know what to do with these things? I'm thinking, I'm thinking I'm just gonna leave em here, hanging about."

Nyla: Her head shook. Cute as a button? Well, Tameka had never seen her when she was covered in all sorts of filth. She opened her mouth to reply when she felt a weight connect with her back, pushing her forward and nearly toppling her over before she caught herself. She couldn't stop the quiet sigh that escaped her as she took a step to the side, revealing the platinum blond hippie that had run right into her. "And this lovely thing is Solara..." She eyed Tameka over, a calculating look on her features. "Are you... okay to feed? I'd really rather not spend my night taking her to the hospital...." Solara didn't even flinch at her words. She never did. She was just happy to help, as always.

[Nyla]

Meka Vassey: Meka stared at Nyla like she'd grown two heads then at the human she'd introduced. "Umm aren't we supposed to not let humans know about us? Are you sure Velveteen aint gonna kick your *** if she finds out about you cozying up next to some humans? I know she aint that keen on lots of things. She's got like rules about everything. I aint never seen anyone so crazy about this stuff but I guess she didn't get to be the leader of the biggest bad asses in the city being slack about this... and I aint gonna tear out her throat or nothing. I'm hungry... not... a serial damn killer." Stepping forward Meka held out her hand to Nyla. "Nice to finally meetcha though... I'm Meka."

Nyla: She shrugged her shoulders while her brain worked on processing Meka's words. Nyla took a mirroring step towards Meka, one that the blonde hippie behind her did as well, as if she were tethered to Nyla. It had taken months to get used to that creepy factor. With a grin she took Meka's hand in hers, giving it a friendly squeeze and a subtle shake. "Solara is well... special. Have you never met Bunny? Micah's human? Solara is bound to me, sort of.... some days I swear she's nearly as bad as a renfield. Maybe some people hide from their humans, but I've already taken her life from her, be mean to lie about it too."

The human behind her snorted at that comment. It was an out of place reaction for her, as more often than not she acted like a devoted follower in a religion where Nyla was the god or something. It was fairly creepy. Solara despised it when She started talking like She’d taken anything from her. The girl still remembered cold nights trying to keep warm in abandoned buildings. Days without food. Nyla had taken nothing from her, no matter how much She thought so.

Meka Vassey: "You sure Solara? That I know you... “she chomp chomped her teeth at the human because it seemed so strange to her that a human, any human would willingly let themselves be served up like some blood bank smorgasbord. It was one thing to sneak up on a human and nibble, leaving them to wander away as if they had a ginko moment and forgot what they were up to. The anonymity of it was a shield to hide behind. It was easy not to think about how you ate when the thing you chewed on didn't remember what had just happened to it. When the human nodded Meka stepped forward and took a needed drink, replacing the blood she wasn't aware she'd lost by summoning the spirits. "Ohh god, that's SO much better." She answered, stepping away. "I didn't realize I was quite THAT hungry. Now… what are we going to do with them?" She asked, pointing at the floating dead things still hovered just over Meka's shoulder. "Do you know what they are and what we need to do about them?

Nyla: The blonde's head shook as she was bent over her phone, tapping away at the keys. She'd flicked her gaze up a couple of times. Lev said she was overprotective of Solara, but she was only human after all. She sent off the message before reaching out to Solara and guiding her back to sit down with her back against the wall, smiling at her as the girl pulled out a bottle of orange juice and started drinking. "I'm not sure, but we'll know in just a second. I'm sure it's just a power or something... the way they're hovering right where you were...." She shrugged her shoulders, waiting for her phone to beep letting her know that she had a reply. "I'm sure it's no big thing. It's not like you're turning into a cat without realizing it or anything."

Meka Vassey: "A power." Meka parroted before spinning on her heel to look at the spirits as they floated behind her. "Like the walking on water? Or that other stuff like Velveteen can do?" she asked, but to no one in particular really. She knew there was so much she needed to know and if this was a power something she did for herself then it would translate that it wasn't really going to hurt her was it? That it could well be something that could benefit her. Lifting her arm she checked it out again. The spirit had soaked into her skin but it hadn't harmed her, hadn't made anything fall off, and as far as weirdness goes, since nothing bad had happened, maybe something good might. It wasn't entirely scientific but it was better than nothing. Stepping towards it she held out her hand. "Maybe... maybe I should touch it again? See? You can tell me what it does or something and watch me? See what happens?"

Nyla: She tapped out another reply as her phone beeped. Then another. She'd expected Micah to know what was going on right away, but she didn't want to worry her new friend anymore than she already was. "Right... It's probably just something like that. And of course I can watch while you touch the...dead ghosty thing." She nodded her head, and then squared her shoulders as her sharp gaze stayed locked on the woman. "I'm sure that that hunger thing was the worst to expect... “Her phone beeped at her again so she lifted it up, a smile coming over her face.”Micah says not to freak out. You've... summoned spirits apparently, which requires you to spill blood to do? Which is why you were starving." She grinned up at Meka. "I wonder what the spirits are for...there must be a reason..."

Meka Vassey: "Well, ask him cause I’m gonna touch em and then, maybe I can do some stuffs or something... gotta know what though.” Meka said, staring over her shoulder. "I'mma gonna touch it and let it do its thing and if something happens to me do CPR or some **** would you? I mean, I don't think nothing is going to happen cause it didn't before, but you never know, it might build up and get in my system or something." Reaching out her hand she pressed the flat of her palm against the next one and this time when it sunk into her skin she just oooo'd at it. "Oh well now, it don't hurt or nothing." She said quietly, watching captivated by the light and how it seeped into her skin until it was gone. "Well, I'm glad it doesn’t' hurt but it sure would be nice to know what it does and stuff."

Nyla: She nodded her head at Micah's text. It was nothing to worry about, just like she thought. A mischievous glint ran through her eyes as she looked up. "Micah says... if you let them touch you... they will become linked to you. You've summoned them, and by touching them you're inviting them in to stay." She continued to stare down at her phone, half because she was reading the last text Micah had sent her, and half because she was sure she wouldn't be able to keep her face straight if she actually looked at Meka. "He says it's a very dangerous and painful procedure to remove the spirits afterwards. And that sometimes they take over altogether and control you... Like a demon or some ****."

Meka Vassey: "WHAT THE ****!" Meka exclaimed, jumping away from the last spirit and glaring at Nyla. "I don't want no evil taking over my body and ****. I aint going near that one, you better believe it. Why would I summon something like this and it wanna kick my ***. Good god, that's not good. Is he for real??"

Nyla: She blinked up, her face contorted as she tried to hold back the laughter bubbling up inside of her. If Solara hadn't been there, all low on blood, she would have just high tailed it out of there. But she couldn't. So she just stood there. Staring. Then burst into laughter so hard she had to grab her middle, even though it was more reflexive than anything. "Ohmygosh! Your face!" She just continued to cackle, bent at the waist now as she clutched her phone tight in the hand that was pressed to her stomach.

Meka Vassey: "I'm gonna kick your ***!" Meka exclaimed her hands slamming themselves onto her hips as her gaze narrowed on the woman. "You can't do that to a woman, I swear there is so much kooky crap going on around me I don't know when you're puling my leg. Quickly she snagged out a hand and touched the last spirit and letting it sink into her skin. Walking towards the woman she motioned for Nyla to follow her and made her way outside. "Come on, let’s get out of here, I need to go get me more to eat... I'm still so freaking hungry and while we're heading out. You can tell me what Micah really said. "

Nyla: She snickered. "I'm sorrrry. I couldn't resist." She stopped briefly, helping Solara up and curling her arm around the girl as she followed Meka up out of the cats. It was no place for a human low on blood anyway. "Spirits apparently increase your...magical energy? I think that's what we use for our powers or whatever. So they're good for you. Like an apple a day or whatever. Keeps the crazies away." She grinned at that, glad that Meka hadn't stabbed her or something.

[Tameka Vassey (DELETED 4152)]

Meka: Meka was fuming. The man was a damn menace anyway. Feeling up her ***, then giving her **** in the Tytonidae meeting and then shutting the damn door in her face at the training then feeling up her tits in the catacombs. She wondered briefly if he wasn't just a bit deficient except, she had been around enough men to know that some of them were just this way and she couldn't really say she didn't know a man alive (except a gay one) that wouldn't gladly cop a feel if they could. Coming on him again in the sewers, she stood with her hands on her hips. "What's wrong with you anyway?"

Doc: “Well isn't that a loaded question?” His voice calm and amiable. “I'm old.. or so I have been told. I am old fashioned.. again.. been told.. but I actually agree with this one. I am unreasonable, hateful.. mean, spiteful,.. and” He mockingly holds a hand up as though he is deep in thought.. “ah yes.. an arrogant son of a *****.” He smiles a closed mouth smile at her, “Do you have an adjective to add.. or do you even know what an adjective is?”

Meka: Well that aint what she was expecting. The man surprised her to silence and she stared at him like he'd grown himself a second head. I mean, as far as self assessments go she had to agree with him cause he was pretty damn accurate so far. "Is it old fashioned to be grabbing women's tits ... I mean I agree with the rest of it cause man, you got ornery cornered but you got some wandering hands. And how the hell did they find themselves on my tits?"

Doc: “Pockets.. a pocket on your boob.. might as well check it..You women shove money and **** everywhere.. then you get pissed when we look. You don't want us to look.. wear baggy *** clothes so we don't have to feel your cellulite.” He pulls his jacket open, “If it makes you feel better.. you cant check mine.. and I promise not to get even.. remotely” his voice dry as as desert, “aroused.” Doc smirked, “Though I should warn you, I have banked already.” He holds his jacket open waiting.

Meka: Meka gave him a look that was all sassy black woman, arched eyebrow, pursed lips and a slow assessment that dragged from his head down to his toes and back again. "That's it? That's what you got? You want me to run my hands all over your body." Her hand lifted, up and down, her finger pointed. "in search of 'MONEY' and that's supposed to what? Make me want to jump all over you like white on rice?" Flipping up her hand, palm out she shook her head. "Man, if I'm gonna run my hands all over YOUR body, it aint gonna be because I'm 'pretending' to rob your *** for money." She scoffed then, shaking her head. "And you called me desperate."

Doc: “When did I say the fuckin' word desperate? I didn't. If anyone.. and I do mean anyone” he looks around and only sees the two of them, “Thinks.. you are desperate.. it must be you.” He had the gall to smile pleasantly, “I was merely giving you the option to fuckin' hit me if you wanted..” He smirked for good measure, as he buttoned his jacket. “Snooze you loose.. oh wait.. you were supposed to have already learned that lesson.. sucks to be you.”

[Doc]

Meka: Flipping up her hand Meka gave him the palm of her hand again and shook her head. "Whaaaatever. You got too much to say for a man who keeps putting his hands my *** and my ta tas. If you wanna pretend you don't got yourself a good grope then whatever. I don't need no man who don't have the balls to just take it... I can get half assed somewhere else." Spinning in her heel Meka walked off. She rather liked battling words with him but he was an infuriating pain in the ***. As she walked away, her hips swinging cause, she was female and she could she grinned enjoying leaving him where she'd found him. Sometimes, a nice spicy war of words was just what a girl needed.

Doc: “Awww, you're a wannabe Diva.. “ he tuts sadly for her. “God how that must just suck for you. ..I mean.. here are legitimate thieves, just trying to make a living.. and you think.. they actually -want- you, instead of your money.” He didn't even bother to raise his voice. It was just to damn sad. “Poor Poor Teka...”

Meka: Throwing up her hand she wiggles her fingers. "I'm hearing you, but I aint believin' ya. I swear, you talk too damn much and not much of what you're saying got any substance to it. You got all nasty and grumpy *** but what else is there? Nothing. As far as I can see that all you got and you might be a sexy looking thing but you got the personality of a wet TROUT." She was about six feet from him when she spun around. " How you get any with that sour damn attitude I have no idea. I mean, you gotta loosen the hell up already, get LAID cause... at least I know I aint got blue balls going on. With how you acting I think yours must be arctic."

Doc: Mutters, “I talk to much? How many syllables did she just use to say that? 'I would say, 'shut the hell up'. Four whole syllables.. and she takes.. 30..? How the hell does she get I talk too much?' He half snorts and half laughs, he had no desire to 'get laid'. Sex was a weakness. A weakness he didn't need or want. And if anyone -needed- to get laid it was her. But **** if he was gonna say it.. she would probably get in his face and waggle her head to the point that he would want to shoot it, saying she was righteously indignant that he didn't 'want' her; cause by god.. he did not.


Meka: At his silence she waited for a second. "No? Nothing?" Then she shook her head, spun and kept walking. She knew his sort. He'd keep picking at her, cause that's what he was like. The next time she saw him he'd probably find something else to have a moan about and that too she'd roll her eyes at. Maybe he even enjoyed it, like that movie with Walter whats-his-name and that was fine. She thought that movie was hilarious. But damn if she'd feel sorry for the man and his little bubble of grump. Turning the corner she started singing under her breath as she pulled out the gun Velveteen had bought her. " *singing* "My mama came from a softer generation, where you got a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face.." And then she swung out of sight.

[Doc]

Abelle: I opened a second business a few days ago *smiles*

Doc : *Doc gives her a look* Workaholic. *his voice drops to a soft tone* Bella.. we have eternity, take some time.. smell the roses..hmm?

Abelle: *lowers her eyes and sighs* I know but money makes me happy and for me that is fun, but I guess your right to a degree, maybe some free time is in order. Luffy has been on me for weeks about taking a break. But I have a goal...If i can reach at least 85 in net at HRN and 120k in my bank account again, I'll take a few days off, like a weekend or something

Doc : "Goals are good. Goals are what we need. I fully support goals. But realism is also needed, yes?" he pauses, "Think about it this way.. look at all the business in the past 200 years.. that are still around. What made those businesses work? We see businesses come and go. We see some that grow like a son of a *****.. but implode 10 years later... what is the key? Slow growth is the key. Yes.. we 'want' it all now. But slow, methodical growth is best. Conservativeness. You follow?"

Abelle: "I do follow you, but my businesses are so young and need more attention right now than perhaps in the future. They say the first year of business is the hardest, and I want to make sure that I'm one of those businesses that flourish for 200 years, not one that fizzles out after 10." pauses and thinks. "The time that isn’t spent at either office I spend on training, so I can endure my days longer in the long run" takes out her ear piece and nods slowly. "But perhaps your right, I could be a little better seasoned."

Doc : "Another key.. to strong businesses.. are partnerships. The best long term businesses had partners that shared the load. Each partner had a strength, one have the business acumen and one had the force to get it done. You have the business acumen...You need a force to get it done. If you do it.. you will burn out. When I think of force.. I think of Chain...

Abelle: She laughed at Chain's name. "Well then perhaps I should get a better sales person...I don’t think I could partner up with anyone. I had originally asked Etienne...when I was dating him, if he would partner with me," she shrugged and rolled her eyes. "That would have been a bad mistake now wouldn’t it...?"

Doc : Doc shrugs, "I don't know Etienne.. Hell I don’t know Chain.. but if you need someone that would get the job done.. I would think Chain would.. or die trying."

Abelle: "Chain works for my sire's business,there’s nothing he can do at HRN really right now,"she smiled as her cheeks flushed. "I don’t doubt he would die trying, hes a tough guy"
Doc : "Turn of phrase Bella.. I can't see anyone getting the best of him either. I know I sure as hell will keep him at a health distance."

Abelle: "I'm gonna push every one of his buttons until we go head to head" she laughed and shut her phone off. "So what do you suggest for fun?"

Doc : Doc grinned, "Well Pushing Teka's buttons for one. She's so easy to rile up.. and amusing to watch.. but for you.. I think you need good old fashioned fun. Juvenile and petty.. but fun. When was the last time you went shoplifting.. without powers.. right under the nose of the shop owner?

Abelle: "I guess I never have to be honest. It's why i make money is to just buy what i want," she raised an eyebrow. " I do enjoy a good rush though, so I wouldn’t be totally opposed to the idea," she thought back to the days when she was perhaps too juvenile.

Doc : "So what do you say.. we head to a shop.. you have to steal condoms.. and I have steal.." he thinks.. "tampons." He nods. "Gotta do it right under the nose of the clerk. What do you say?" He lifts an eyebrow. "Oh.. and no powers..."

Abelle: "I have to steal what?!"

Doc : "Condoms.." He grinned

Abelle: "What the hell are those?"

Doc : Doc burst out laughing, "Oh my god. Girl.. you don't know what a condom is?" He raked a hand through his hair, and tried to stifle the laughter, he had to look away. He coughed to get his composure back. He turned back to her with a serious look on his face, that was in serious jeopardy of dissolving into laughter again, "When a guy wants to have sex.. but not make a baby, he wears a condom..." he swallows, "And that’s what you have to steal..." He is biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

Abelle: Her face scrunched up as he laughed at her. Sometime she just assumed everyone knew her backstory, but of course she never told her even a little bit of it. "If humans aren’t ready for children then they shouldn’t be *******," it almost went along with her fathers biblical teachings, that of course she rejected at every angle, but this was something she just figured was common sense. Apparently not though from the sounds of these condoms. "I swear western civilization has some loose morals," she ran her fingers through her hair and tried not to look so embarrassed at yet another thing she was forced to learn.

Doc : "Of course, you are absolutely right Bella.' He smiled good naturedly, "You have to steal condoms.. I steal tampons, Right under the ose of the clerk.. I will even go first.. deal?"

Abelle: She didn’t bother to ask what tampons were, he would laugh her out of control. "Yah ok fine...condoms...any kind or just whatever kind? One better than the other?" she grinned as she fed into her naive behavior at times.

Doc : Doc grinned, "This is going to be fun.. half the fun is making the clerk answer those questions for you.. the other half.. is getting out with the goods."

Doc : Outside a shop, Doc looked at Bella, “I will go first.. wait a few minutes and come in behind me .. but we don't know each other.. got it?”

Abelle: "Got it" she nodded and looked around casually.

Doc : Doc entered the shop and went to the isle of feminine protection items. He stared dumbfounded at the array of different items. Hell he had no idea that there was that much variety in feminine protection. He looked at the clerk, as Eastern Indian man of about 60 years. “Excuse me sir..? Could you help me..?”

The Clerk came over, “Yes, how can I help you..?”

Doc leaned in toward the man and said softly, “Never had to do this before.. the girlfriend sent me to get tampons.. talk about a raging she devil.. no way I was going to say no to her.. But what the hell do I get?!”

The older clerk looked very uncomfortable. “Just get this one..” He pulls a box from the shelf and hands it to Doc.

Doc looks at it, “It says slender.. as much as she wants to pretend she is slender .. shes not.. do you have one for like a size 10?”

The old man frowned, “They don’t come that way.”

“What do you mean that don’t come that way? How else would they come? You're not saying a size 2x and size 10 would wear the same?”

The old man nodded, “Yes.. that is what I am saying.”

“You're lying.. No way.. really?” Doc played into the ignorance of the situation.

The clerk was uncomfortable “Yes. Yes.. it is.. um.. same size for all.. just take this..”

“Wait.. she's had a kid.. are the pre-kid or post-kid tampons? Cause squeeze out a kid.. that has to change the size some, yea?

The clerk grabbed a box of Super-plus. “Here.. these.”

Doc nodded, “See.. I knew there had to be size differences...”

[Abelle Broussard]

Abelle: Waiting outside the store, she gave in to her odd craving and pulled a cigarette from her favorite blue hoodie and lit up. He said to be a few minutes coming in. She really had to think on this. There would definitely be question to be asked. Why in the world did people wanna cover themselves when going for the gold? Shaking her head she gave it a good five minutes, put the smoke out and headed inside. She would have to use charm on this one, but it wasn’t hard with image of almost perfection on the outside. Angelically she tapped her her naturally pouty lips in thought as she began walking the isles. Little did anyone know she was looking for the youngest male she could find. There was always one, the out of place one stacking shelves or unpacking boxes.

"Ummm hi," she let her cheeks flush, as she rocked on her heels a little, obviously embarrassed. "Can you tell me what isle the condoms are in?" the guy nearly fell over as he had been bent over putting away a stack of paper towels.

"Umm yah sure..."of course he escorted her over, how could he not?

"Thanks," Belle grinned and stopped him quickly before he disappeared. "I just have a question?"

There was an eager nod, that she mentally noted as her perfect target. "Its umm..its my first time sooo...ya know" she giggled in a way that made her wanna puke. This was so not her.

"Your first time...buying condoms you mean?"

She immediately shook her head. "Non, my first time! I know its a big moment, I just need help picking out the right ones, like what size, brand, and are these ones made from goat skin?"

Doc : Doc saluted the Clerk with the box of super-pus tampons in his upraised hand “Thanks Mate! Couldn't have done it without you!” He sauntered to the door slowly, as the clerk barely glanced at him, as he was staring at Bella, who was looking for all the world as the virgin Mary, asking about condoms. He barely contained the laughter as he slowly left, the door jingling as it closed.

Doc : Doc waited a block away for Bella to exit. The look on the clerks face as she said it was her very first time. It was hysterical. How long would it be, before the clerk even realized Doc never paid? He really wanted to go back and watch Bella, but that would ruin it for the both of them.

Abelle: The guy was stunned. Abelle was sickened, but her plan was going well so far. "Well its hard to tell what size cause ya know..." he tilted his head and nodded, which only made her raise her almond shaped blue eyes."You mean how big he is? I guess he's about this long" she used her hands and held out something that was nearly out of proportioned size. "Oh ****!" the guy burst out and couldn’t help but laugh. "Is that big?" she giggled back with him and picked up a package. "These say extra large...does that sound right then?" she raked her fingers through her hair and lowered her eyes, as she read the back of the package. "So they just slip on huh?" He was nearly speechless, nodding his head here and there. "Ok great thanks," she smiled sweetly and watched as he made his way back.

Abelle: "You were so nice to walk me over and help me...let me walk you back over" she laughed and followed him back as though she had just found a new crush. Laughing the guy was so overwhelmed by her, he didnt even think twice about anything. Into her pocket her hand went and so did the condoms, just like that. "Have a good day," she winked as she took off towards the check out, but as quickly as she could move was out the front doors, picked up her half smoked cigarette lit it back up and looked down the street to spot him.

Doc : Doc saw Bella exit and he whistled and motioned her over. He met her half way. He held up the tampons grinning, and looked at her, “You get yours?”

Abelle: She smiled and took her time down the street, tossing her smoke before she got to him. "Yah extra large condoms cause I might have purposely exaggerated on size a bit" she laughed and looked at the box, still amused.

Doc : "Good girl! And how did it feel? Fun yea?" He grinned lopsidedly at her.

Abelle: "It was a bit of a rush yes.." she laughed and tossed the condoms in a nearby garbage can. "I felt like an idiot in there though and you know you wanted to laugh when you saw me" she couldn’t help but call him out on that one.

Doc : Doc grinned, "God.. the look on the clerk's face when you said it was your very first time.. and you needed help" he laughed. "It was all I could do to leave without ruining it for you.."

Abelle: Belle smiled proudly. It was really hard to pour on the charm in any given situation. "Man and I thought I was naive, he couldn’t take his eyes off of me for even a second and didn’t even see that i pocketed the condoms" she said the last word with a shake of her head.

Doc :"And ... ? You enjoyed it? It was juvenile.. fun.. and little bit exciting?"

Abelle:"Yah it was fun," she nodded with a new found appreciation for a little silly fun."Thanks Doc...your a really good employee," she laughed. Had it not been for him and Luffy harping on her so much to relax, she supposed she would have run herself right into a wall.

Doc :"I want the Boss happy.. happy boss .. happy employee. Besides.. I am always up for a new cohort in crime. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. I have been just as guilty. If it weren't for a couple of the kids in the family, I would be a right old cranky ********. But, we got to be able to laugh at ourselves. See the humor in things. One of the ways we can see our mistakes and learn from them.. see the humor in the mistake." He smirked, "I am glad you had fun.. "

Abelle: "You're a good guy Doc " she nodded and smiled. "We're lucky to have you around Ty,"

Doc : Doc leaned toward her, "Our secret.. No way do I want Blackula to find out I have a sense of humor.. deal?"

Abelle: She nearly died laughing. "Give her a chance, shes really, actually pretty cool and I don't get along with most females; and yes I promise not to let on about your sense of humor," she rolled her eyes and laughed again.

Doc : Doc nodded, "Thanks Boss.. " he winked.