Charity or Selfishness? [Thistle]

[Kayden (DELETED 1099)]

----Before Auction------

He hadn't planned on attending the auction, in fact he had been reading one of his crownet boards and wondering if it would too rude to slap a lovely lady upside the head and tell her she was being less intelligent then she should be. But it wasn't technically his job to do that and he didn't quite want to step on any toes. Closing his computer, he felt the need to get away and clear his head.

Leaving a place he rarely used in the Cedar housing area, he strolled down the road towards one of his past haunts, The Necropolis.

Figuring he'd just slip in for a quick drink, he saw advertisements for the charity auction happening October 31st with signups just having closed. A list of those to be auctioned off was provided and his smile tilted up. Thistle. That lady had an air about her that had always lured him, before he'd fucked up and fallen in love with another.

His emotions were still strong in that regard, but he needed something to focus on and gods knew that he had been a stranger to a lot of his older friends such as Thistle.

Maybe this was a chance for him to at least renew old friendships, and perhaps even revive the business he had let go to waste.

---After Auction---

The bidding was fierce, but then he wasn't surprised. Thistle was a woman of mystery and she friends all over the place. He didn't blink an eye as the bidding went over 10,000. Having funds from a successful business, and working for Spicey had kept his bank account growing, since he rarely had to spend money on anything.

A few hours later, it was over. For twenty thousand he had beat Amaranthia and earned himself a new helper for whatever he desired. He figured he'd would make use of her services while getting to know her again. Scrolling through his phone, he tried the phone number he had and texted her.

"Just got myself a worker, up for a meet Thistle darling?"

[Thistle]

All Hallow's eve had begun with a bang. The shade bought herself a tailor. More rightly; she's rented a seamstress to do her bidding for a time and with the right bit of fabric, her costume for the night would be divine. But until then, there was a mission to be had. Thistle did not quite know what that would be. Not a care in the world would ever detain such a lass to seek it out either. It was then her phone rocked in her pocket. A palm thrust inside the depths of her coat in search of the small gadget before it switched from vibrate to blurt out a random Dropkick Murphys tune. Thistle flipped the cell face open. Grey empty orbs in a frustrated glare as she scanned the keypad for the right key read the incoming message. This marked the twentieth device for the year. Some had been lost to the junkyard while attempting to carry new found thing-a-ma-bobs. A few dead ones strewn about in pieces on the street or in her place of residence. As she would tend to find most cellphones with limited battery and usually the charging cable was no where to be seen. Others simply dropped out of her pocket while scrounging the underbelly of Harper Rock for paladins. Alas, there was always another to be found for use.

"Yes. Yes. Just open it." She pressed on and wished she never had lost the nifty smartphone she carried around last month.

"Thank God for Google voice else my number would have changed more than a dozen times this season." Which would not have been good for customers.

An ever pleasant grin lightened her mood when she discovered who the message was from. Kayden. Her first boss. Thistle rarely worked for anyone because she had to look out for no one but herself. Secondly, she did not fair well in crowds. The rules and regulations of the business he was about to spring had many loose ties that allowed for the girl to remain free. The rules were simple, clients a mystery to be forgotten. The bonus was working for a charmer such a he. In a few weeks time Thistle found that some clients would return for additional services. Some would return for a conversation or two. Suppose she did find a few friends in the batch so the eventual closing, (or rather diminished state of her job) was no let down. Thistle simply moved forward to where her abilities proved to be an asset when they were required.

Without hesitation she replied: A worker ya say? Meet me at Bullwood station. I got nothing to do.

[Kayden (DELETED 1099)]

Having gotten some blood on the previous clothes, he decided to hit his apartment and get into another casual suit. He had to admit to being a bit vain and not wanting thistle to see him not at his best.

The casual suit was armani and that probably made him the peacock his sister accused him of, but it would be nice to just get out and look damn good for once.

A 5 minute walk brought him to the Honeymead train and 10 minutes later got him to the Bullwood station. Going to the back of the station, he waited with two bloodpacks disguised in large coffee mugs to greet her.

[Thistle]

Fingers tiptoed down the cold wrought iron banister of Bullwood station. A delightfully faint aroma caught the tracker by surprise. It was unlike the others; humans that often linger here. Unlike the dead that passed through. It was genuine, unique. Thistle tugged down on her knit cap. Flicked blonde locks behind her shoulder. Ivory hands dug into her pockets. Invisible to the rest, She closed her eyes and focused upon the scent. It passed through here, but had not made exit yet. She was sure of it. The shadow shifted to the far wall making way toward the target in as indirect as possible. The closer she got the more curious she grew. Thistle threw her eyes open at the strongest point. Standing there was a man in the finest fabric. A smirk upon pale lips wondered if he'd been in this part of town long. That thought churned into another. Kayden. In that second she caught sight of two mugs the man was holding.

A palm plastered to her forehead, "Silly, shade."

"Well, Howdy, handsome." The shadow popped up on Kayden's left side.

Her appearance was not as fancy as he. Black knit cap covering flowing blonde locks to hang in her face. Leather arms of her jacket made a slight whooshing noise as she brushed his side pocket, stepped in front of him and danced to his right. The distraction of her movement mixed with slight of hand pulled a coin from his Armani suit pocket. Thistle gave a sly grin than held it up in show.

"Penny for your thoughts." A brief chuckle escaped. "I don't suppose there is someone else you were waiting on?"

Thistle did not know Kayden well. In fact, that was another part of the jobs condition she embraced. No 8 hour meetings, team brawls, or water cooler conversations. When he needed her, he called, and she was there. Now that's not saying she'd rather be a hermit, but that bit of personal information hadn't risen to the occasion yet. Thistle was no beauty shop biddy.

[Kayden (DELETED 1099)]

"Well hello beautiful." His lips quirked at her casual outfit that could be called skater chic. He had to grin at her, not only was she a sight for sore eyes, but her brushing against him, had him distracted from the constant depression that had haunted him for the last year or so. It made him grateful that he had thought to bid on her, not just for the pretend slave labor he would get out of her, but for the fact that she was still one of the few he considered a sort of friend. Despite the fact that they most the time had simply spoken then walked off separate ways. Thistle was just the type that didn't attract drama and kept things blunt in a way that drew him. He knew a portion of his feelings were in sheer desperation to get out of the funk he had been in, but it didn't keep the facts from being true.

"I don't know if a penny could pay for my thoughts.." He gave her a roguish grin as he made a clear point of looking her up and down. How nice it was to be able to flirt and not feel constrained by the emotions that had sunk their claws in him.

Feeling the need to play a bit, his grin lit up devilishly as he spoke again. "I mean, if you are my slave, shouldn't you be dressed like Princess Leia from star wars..all gauze and sheer fabric?"

As he teased her, he held out his hand with one of the mugs filled with blood.

[Thistle]

"Pft, Leia is too subtle." She retorted without a second to think.

"Princess Amidala, now that is more my style. Shall I fetch an outfit for you?" A bat of her lashes in a wink, she curtseyed dramatically before him. No need to be shy around someone not a stranger.

Round copper coin flipped over her knuckles, around her palm, and sunk into the offered cup to drink. The fresh blood danced in the subway air as it swirled with the motion of her hand as if to stir and sample the finest of wines. Grey-blue peering o're the mug as lips brought it closer for an enticing sip. Bracelets jingle just so as her wrists raise the drink.

"And you? Fine necromancer, what would be yours?" She paused.

"Let me guess... Gomez Addams missing his Morticha?" She played upon the bit of gloom that surpassed.

"No seriously," She got to the point. Thistle preferred the blunt facts upfront and honest to avoid any sort of emotional baggage or drama that would come from not being so candid. In this, she appreciated Kayden's outward onset of emotion and was more apt to play along. It was in her nature to do so, especially since he was not the alluristy type. Thistle was not quite sure what she'd do if she were cornered with one of those do-good lover types anyway. Surely, she had a 'type' that would suit her just fine, but later shall be revealed.

"Just as the ad says: One week," She nudged him. "..or more of socialization with Muahh." A week or more than a week would suit her just fine. The shade kept a low profile and friends nearby in reach for random drop-in conversations.

Fingers counted a few options,"Services, Hydro, Scavenging, .. decoy demolition." Thistle smiled bright with pride.

"Dangerous missions, shadow realm search party & confinement for the lucky bint." Ivory digits tapped her chin to reminisce upon a time when her visit to the realm became an article upon Crownet's Word on the Street. The shade had just learned a few new tricks and decided to test out the rouse of encompassing an impassable maze around some unsuspecting orb. She shrugged. She laughed, "Pick your poison or all of the above."

[Kayden (DELETED 1099)]

He had to chuckle when the quick reply about Leia's outfits came out. At her offer, he considered what he remembered from the newest movie of Princess Amidala. She was definitely the hardass type of Princess, but what he remembered of her clothes were that they were too covered by far. Retorting with a grin. "What about dressing as Mystique. All makeup and thongs."

Snorting at her fake curtsey, he brought the cup up and drank from it to keep from smiling like a complete pervert at the ideas her curtsey and the thought of her graceful form covered in makeup, brought to his mind. In a way she reminded him at times of a graceful but deadly swan. Never making public waves, but always prepared for any situation. It must be the extensive training she had with fighting that brought those qualities to the forefront even subtly.

"Don't get me wrong, Gomez is a childhood hero. But if I had to dress or be anyone it would be Bond. I have a "secret" passion for women and drinks. Must be why I am such a damn good bartender." Even as his fingers did air quotes for the secret part of the sentence, he had to admit to himself that the rest of the statement was probably true. Bond always got the women, had damn nice suits and somehow avoided all the sticky situations that came at him.

He listened to her offers and considered each of them. Any of those services would be useful but what he wanted and needed was to start his business again. Not only that but he wanted her to be the official ceo of it. His reply was vague but that was necessary until he had felt her out if she would truly be interested or not.

"A little bit of all of those really. And possibly more, but I'll let that be until later. Sound good? "

[Thistle]

"Don't get me wrong, Gomez is a childhood hero. But if I had to dress or be anyone it would be Bond. I have a "secret" passion for women and drinks. Must be why I am such a damn good bartender."

“Ah it is settled. Call me a modern day Miss Moneypenny, James.” Mischievously kittenish, it fit the role she acquired perfectly.

Thistle downed the remainder of drink. Copper taint upon pursed lips with the last swallow. She twisted to her left to close the distance between the two. Pulled and pocketed the penny in thought. Mug in hand wrapped and rested to her lower back balanced between two fingers.

Deep blue paint would take weeks to scrub off in order to be present at work. While at Kayden’s beck and call she still had clients to keep, Digo’s business to tend to, and being blue would leave too many curious questions. Right boot crossed over left and she circled him. Index finger brushed a trail across his shoulder blades beneath the suit coat.

“Allllllllthough.” Spoken purposefully slow, she cringed.

“Miss Moneypenny’s attire is rather… princess Leia-like. Surely, in need of spice. Let’s rid the makeup and keep the bottom. Black.” Digit of opposite color tapped his chin as she came around to face him. “With matching triangle bikini top. Unfastened white collar shirt. And one of those silk bow ties.”

"A little bit of all of those really. And possibly more, but I'll let that be until later. Sound good? "

A simple tug of the knit cap loosened dishwater blonde locks, some fell messily to her shoulder. She listened attentively. “Yes, sounds good. Now that I’ve found you, where and when shall we begin, Bond?”