Paper Soldiers [PM]

[Levi DAmico]

Levi D’Amico: Levi gave a slight shrug as they continued to walk. They had bypassed the betting counters by the time Levi gave her an answer. “Just didn’t want you to be bored,” he told her. He came to a stop when they entered the main arena where rows upon rows of chairs marked the parameters of the track. A race was just about to get underway so a swell of people were marching in all directions, very much like a confused bait ball of sardines. Levi growled under his breath as people passed them, his focus gaining height over the crowd as he scoped the main viewing box for VIP guests. Levi gave his attentions back to Isabeau then, a weak smile showing. “Well, it’s up to you what you wanna do, but I’ve gotta go into that room over there,” he said and pointed. “There’s a guy in there I need to have a chat with. He’s not expecting me and that’s kinda the point. If you wanna follow and make me look good, I’m fine with that.”

Isabeau St Martin: She smirked ever so slightly as she gave a nod and then fell silent for a moment. When he growled she barely caught it, but caught it she did. She glanced at him then in the direction he pointed as he spoke of needing to meet with some guy. The offer to join him was shocking, but she nodded silently and motioned for him to lead the way. "I think I'd need to be in a bikini to make you look good," she teased with a smirk.

Levi D’Amico: Levi gave her the once over again with a quirked brow. “You got your underwear and that’s basically the same thing,” he said with a smirk. “I’d advise you to wait until we get to the room before stripping mind you. I mean, I’m good, but I ain’t fighting off a hundred horny men just to save your dignity.”

Isabeau St Martin: She arched her brow, this time smirking inwardly while her face remained stoic, then he continued and she shook her head. "How touching,” she said flatly and then leaned in a little. "I'm not wearing underwear," she said with a straight face, but again her eyes told of her amusement.

Levi D’Amico: Levi was about to shrug at her less than enthusiastic response to his advice. As far as he was concerned, she was lucky to be getting anything from him. He wasn’t some Samaritan that went around lending a hand to anyone he came across – his actions might have said otherwise, but Levi decided to ignore those facts, countering with notions of selfishness and intrigue, determined to prove that there wasn’t an altruistic bone in his body. He was going to shrug that is, but he didn’t get the chance. As Isabeau leant in to talk to him, Levi met her someway and inclined his head just enough. At her words, he grinned to himself, and staying where he was, whispered back. “I reckon that’s probably better than a bikini.”

Isabeau St Martin: She shrugged and glanced to the door once again before looking back at him. "Guess that depends on who you ask, but it doesn't bother me," she said smoothly.

Levi D’Amico: Levi rolled his eyes a little. “You’re fine,” he told her gruffly and began to make a bee-line for the viewing box. Obviously the security there might have a few words to say about him arriving unannounced, but he had a set of magic keys stored inside his shoulder and belt holsters – it wasn’t likely they’d be turned away. “These guys are probably accustomed to the type of lowly prostitute anyhow,” he said casually on the march. “You’re probably the best they’ve seen outside a porno.”

Isabeau St Martin: She nodded, her hands ready for anything despite being hidden in her coat. Her eyes hardened and she let the inner ***** out. Stone cold. "Well they will be quite shocked if they think me a prostitute when we go in. Shall we?" she said in an even tone.

Levi D’Amico: Levi nodded, but didn’t say a word. Her hard-*** performance was amusing to say the least and he really considered stepping back to watch things play out. It wasn’t like Viktor Dalca was one of Levi’s most favourite of business associates anyway. When they approached the viewing box at last, they were halted by a pair of large men in high-collared suits. Levi looked them over, umber eyes brimming with ferocity even despite their superior height and muscle mass. Even when he was mortal, these fuckers did nothing to scare him. In fact, few things ever did. “It’s D’Amico,” Levi said. “Tell Dalca I’m here, won’t ya.” The two men looked to each other, one giving a nod to the other who then disappeared inside the room. Levi could hear the people inside the room muttering to one another, Dalca’s hard accent grating on the ears like chips of slate. Levi stepped back from the door when he heard the returning footsteps, a smile on his face because he’d already heard their invite. “The boss will see ya now,” the security said and he stepped aside to let them through.

Isabeau St Martin: Bo watched him, smirking on the inside as he gave his last name. She paid attention to everything he said with the two men. As they looked at her she paid no attention what so ever to either of them. Not scared or intimidated in any way. It was like they weren't standing there. When they vanished she glanced at Levi and then back to the door, rolling her shoulders a little, waiting for Levi to enter before she did. It was his show, she was just supervising.

Levi D’Amico: Levi gave a glance in Bo’s direction to make sure she was still there and happy to play along and then he walked inside. The room was surprisingly ostentatious within. White walls soared above parquet floors, standing proudly below the ceiling which was some twelve feet above their heads. Of course there was a large corporate desk in the centre of the room surrounded by luxurious leather chairs. There was a refreshments cart and dresser in the corner of the room, a door on the far side for the servers to come in and out of, and then there was the focal point: the floor to ceiling stretch of glass that faced the tracks. Levi predominantly disregarded his surroundings and fixed a glare on Dalca; the copper-skinned man who was sat – legs akimbo – facing them. He looked like he was dressed for a fine day at the horses or golf rather than at the hounds. Dalca looked Levi over with the same kind of consideration, but his focus quickly shifted to Bo. There was a hungry look in those old black marbles and it made Levi grumble a little. “I wasn’t expecting you today,” Dalca said. “It’s not so polite to drop in unannounced like this…” Levi shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I was in the area… I thought I’d come by for a chat.” Dalca brought a hand to his chin and hummed, thinking the proposition over, but he was still fixated on Bo. “So how can I help you today?” Levi checked Bo’s position and then looked across to Dalca incredulously. “You asking me or are you asking my friend, there?” Dalca began to laugh waving his hand around like there was a bad smell to be excused. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s just… when you bring me a beautiful lady, I can’t help but to admire. Does the… lady have a name?”

Isabeau St Martin: As she stepped in, she took the room in and was a bit impressed, of course her mind was already putting a price on everything in the room. Then her icy blue gaze looked at the man. Her face was completely blank, as if she were staring at nothing at all though inwardly she was rolling her eyes as the man was nearly salivating over her. She ignored most of the conversation, but when the guy asked her name she locked her eyes on him. "Valentina," she said with a near perfect Italian accent, glancing only ones at Levi, letting him and him alone see the amusement there.

Levi D’Amico: Levi almost choked on his own surprise when Isabeau introduced herself as Valentina. He glanced back at her with a frown, but seeing the amusement there, decided to roll with it. He could see Dalca taking his sweet time to mull over the name she’d given, those beady eyes crawling up her skin like ants. Levi’s frown returned, hoping he’d looked nothing like that when he’d checked the woman out earlier. “That’s a pretty name,” Dalca said with a wry smile. “Would you like to take a seat? We’ll have that chat then.” So it had been a good idea to bring her along after all, who knew? Still, that didn’t mean Levi was going to be playing tea party with this Romanian ****. “It’s a quick chat. We’ll stand,” Levi said. Dalca frowned also, finally taking his eyes off of Bo, but he was quick to steer his head around Levi to address her. “You’re free to take a seat right next to me if you’d like, darling. I don’t bite.”

Isabeau St Martin: Oh yeah, real pretty... She thought to herself before ignoring the way he looked at her. She was tempted to just kill the man and be done with it, but that wouldn't get her closer to Levi. Then she looked back at the man as he offered her a seat. "I do," she said flatly.

Levi D’Amico: Dalca was a little too excited at her comment and began rubbing his hands together. “Good,” he drawled. Levi decided to cut the man off before someone marched over and punched him. He had a feeling that Bo would be quicker to lose her temper than he was. “Look,” Levi said curtly. “This is a courtesy call, so, you might wanna consider giving me the courtesy in return.” The sharpness of Levi’s tone caught the man’s attention and he finally looked to the Italian, eyes fogging over with seriousness. Obviously he understood that he was in trouble now. “That’s better,” Levi remarked with a grin. “So… I figure there’s been some kind of confusion about when payments are supposed to be made.” Dalca looked a little frightened, though he tried to hide it. “It’s not that, D’Amico. You know how it’s been lately. This time of year is always a little slow…” Levi laughed at the excuse. If anything, this was the time of year things got more active in this line of work; people were begging, borrowing and stealing to have that Merry ******* Christmas they all wanted. “Wow… Seriously? That’s the best you’ve got? Oh **** you, Dalca. Don’t spin me a thread of **** and pretend it’s gold. If you make an agreement with someone, you stick to that agreement. I ain’t somebody who’s gonna accept your lame-*** excuses. Sort your **** out and don’t make me come back angry. Capisce?” The Italian and Romanian stared one another down for a while before black eyes moved off and Dalca nodded. “Alright, alright. I’ll get **** sorted.” Levi continued to glare at the man and turned to leave. “Good. Great ******* chat.” Dalca growled. “Yeah, thanks for stopping by.” The security looked a little uneasy, their glances passing between Levi and Dalca as Levi was expecting them to step aside and let them out. There was a hesitation, a moment of uncertainty, but eventually the doorman opened the door and let Levi and Bo out. Free at last.

[Isabeau Valachi]

Isabeau St Martin: Bo seemingly ignored the entire conversation, listening to tones, noting fear and sweat. If he was anything, he was clear about what he wanted and what he was. Consultation her ***. Still she made a mental note of everything said. And when Levi turned to leave she mirrored his turn, moving in sync with him towards the door. The hesitating men made her antsy and she gripped her weapons tighter in her jacket. Once they were out of the office, she glanced over at Levi.

Levi D’Amico: Now that business was sorted, Levi could tick off the small matter of having to deal with that ****** for a while. Dalca had been used to dealing with pushovers, clearly, but now that he realised he was swimming in a tank of sharks, he knew what he had to do. Levi took a deep breath as they exited, stilling the excitement that came over him from that petty victory. He ******* loved his job and the only thing that could make this moment sweeter was another cigarette. For that though, they had to move away from the door, so he began marching back the way they’d came – just, slower. It was when he started moving that he noticed the look Isabeau was giving him and he frowned. “What?” he growled.

Isabeau St Martin: She smiled ever so slightly as she looked at him. "Consultation, my ***!" she said with a soft laugh. "You're like one of those mafia guys, aren't you?" she asked, but she used a teasing tone so that he could believe that she was asking as someone that didn't already know the answer and didn't expect it to be the right one. In fact, she still expected him to lie through his teeth that that was exactly what he was.

Levi D’Amico: Levi quirked a brow at her accusation, still walking though and shifting his gaze away from her as they had to negotiate their way through the crowd, which were fixated on the race at hand. “There ya go being racist again,” he said with a grin. “Just because I’m Italian, I’m somehow involved in the Mafia? Grow up. Business is business,” Levi said flatly.

Isabeau St Martin: She looked over at him and then slowly rolled her eyes at him as he called her racist. "Well, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. And chere, you are quacking like a duck." She said in a flat tone, though her eyes showed the amusement and jest there. However, with him leading the way through the crowd, it was unlikely that he would see it. "Really though, if that wasn't a shake down, than I'm the queen of England."
Levi D’Amico: “It’s mon cher, by the way,” Levi growled. He knew a little French – the language wasn’t that far from Italian. European languages were pretty strict about their feminine and masculine words and he was getting pretty sick of being addressed by the feminine. “And sure, it was a shake down,” he said, rolling his shoulders. “ He owed me money. I came to give him a warning. That don’t make me a criminal. I’m just… really hands-on.”

Isabeau St Martin: Bo rolled her eyes a little as he corrected her. Granted, he was right, it was mon chere, but at the same time, by adding the 'mon' to it made it possessive, she did not possess him. He was not hers in any sense of the term. Plus, if you spoke to a Cajun, a 'race' of people that had once been French Canadian like she claimed to be, calling someone Chere was just a way to address everyone. "'Mon' would make it possessive, are you saying that I own you in some way?" she asked with a smirk. "And the Cajuns tend to use it for both sexes," she added with a shrug and then went on to address the shake down. "And what exactly does he owe you money for if it's for something legal?" she challenged. Granted, it was his business not hers and he had every right to tell her to stick it, in fact, she expected it, but still... quack.

Levi D’Amico: “Consultancy,” Levi said frankly. He wasn’t going to argue with her over the French because he didn’t know enough to correct her supposedly Cajun usage. He only knew vague amounts of what he’d picked up over the years and how similar in design it was to Italian. “Dalca owes me money for the advice we gave him concerning his finances. Money was leaking out of here like water from a loose faucet. We looked at his expenditures and income and sorted **** out for him. But we’re not a ******* charity. So unless he wants me to sue his *** over the contract we signed, he’s gonna pay up.”

Isabeau St Martin: "Uh huh," she said with a slow nod that made it clear that she wasn't buying any of the ******** he was currently shovelling her way. However, instead of ruining what little progress she currently had with him, she switched the conversation to one flaw... be it his or this Dalca guy they had just spoke to. "The money being leaked clearly was being put into that office of his... because he clearly spent a pretty penny on that monstrosity."

Levi D’Amico: Levi gave her an incredulous look. “Actually, we told him to do that,” he said frankly. He wasn’t expecting her to understand why, but he was curious about whether she’d ask. Isabeau wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box. She hadn’t finished high school and she worked a very menial job as far as Levi was concerned. Still, she wasn’t all that ignorant and oblivious to the world. She had asked questions, proved she was curious, and Levi wondered how far that curiosity would lead her.

Isabeau St Martin: Bo arched her brow and then once more just gave up on the topic, though it seemed silly to put so much money into that part of the **** hole they were currently standing in. Putting it into something where the public would have use of it or the security, since what she had seen so far seemed to just scream 'open season' to any criminal. "Well that seems like a silly place to put that amount of money, but what the **** do I know? I'm just a common thief," she said in a flat tone before she glanced over at him and then around where they were standing, her eyes always moving, as if she was expecting an attack of some sort.

Levi D’Amico: Levi shrugged his shoulders, deciding here was just as good as any to light up another cigarette. He would have offered, but, she’d refused the last time so he wasn’t going to bother. “Their footfall is fine in terms of general commerce. As you can see, there’s loads of fuckers here and they ain’t here because they like the wood floor or that the lights bring a certain kind of ambiance. They’re here to bet. That’s it. If they don’t demand more, don’t waste money on it. What they were lacking was some place for businesses. Corporate hospitality is big money. Customer retention is important and it’s a lot easier and cheaper to keep a repeat customer than it is to look for new ones and build relationships from scratch. So having a nice viewing box like that can bring people with money in. It’s another avenue for business for these folks. Still…” Levi paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “Dalca there is a bit of Neanderthal. As you probably noticed. I can only advise so much and at the end of the day, it’s his business. If he wants to use it as his own personal pussy palace, then fine. Just so long as he pays me what’s due.”

Isabeau St Martin: She relaxed mildly as she listened to him going on about business **** she really didn't understand, but she didn't let that show in either her eyes or her face in general. She kept her face completely neutral to everything. "Oh and here I thought that was just his office..." she said rather offhand and then added on, "calling him a 'neanderthal' is a total disrespect to neanderthals of the past. What he is... I don't even think I would bother to dirty one of my knives for him... or even waste a bullet. Ammo cost too much for that," she said and then sighed. "But if he doesn't give you your money, let me know... I'm more than able to make his death look like an accident," she said with a laugh.

Levi D’Amico: There she was boasting again about her criminal undertakings. Levi frowned because he wasn’t sure what she was trying to achieve. Since she thought him Mafioso, maybe she felt obliged to prove that she understood him or something. Levi just shrugged his shoulders at his own thoughts, lazily smoking his cigarette. Anything he could say to counter her argument might have just confirmed her suspicions about him. “So there’s job number three, is it?” he asked, somewhat serious. “You’re up for hire on assassinations? Sounds like you’re the mobster to me. Stealing, threatening, killing…”

Isabeau St Martin: She rolled her eyes. "No, still the same two jobs, but that pompous *** needs to be taken out of the gene pool. And if I was a mobster, or even in that life, would I be so blatant about it?"

Levi D’Amico: He took a long drag on his cigarette as she spoke, spilling a drawn out breath of smoke that hitched on a bit of a laugh she went mentioned being blatant about stuff. So she did notice. That was interesting. “Why are you so blatant anyway? I mean, if I was ripping someone off, the last thing I’d do is boast about it.”

Isabeau St Martin: She shrugged a bit as she glanced around for a moment then looked back at him, meeting his gaze. "I figure I have more than enough strikes against me already... why deny what I am? Why lie when many take the truth for ******** anyways. I'm a *****, I know I am, I'm not book smart, I'm a thief, I street race, and I kill people who try to stop me from getting things I want."

Levi D’Amico: There wasn’t much to say to that. He disagreed with her entirely, but confessing such went against his careful nature. “Better to be safe than sorry,” he said, which was what he always told himself too. “People will always believe what they wanna believe. Sure. But there’s a lot of power in doubt. I wouldn’t wanna take that power away from myself by just proving what they wanted to think. Nah, **** that.”

Isabeau St Martin: She shrugged a bit. "I guess we agree to disagree on that," she said as she pulled her hands out of her jacket pockets and just let them rest at her side.

Levi D’Amico: The change of atmosphere wasn’t hard to miss and since Levi didn’t like to deal with morose women, he just shrugged his shoulders and looked past the stands to the tracks. A mass of lean muscle, teeth and lolling tongues were sprinting for the finish on thin legs, or rather, sprinting against each other for that fake rabbit that rather looked like Buggs Bunny had been tied onto the lure with cable ties. Most of the mutts were running at the same pace, with only two pulling ahead. Levi – not being one for canines – just saw it as a beige dog and a grey dog running neck and neck with the numbers 2 and 4 respectively hanging from their spindly jackets. Levi eventually took his eyes off the dogs and looked back to Isabeau, regarding her casually. “You a dog person?”

Isabeau St Martin: She followed his gaze towards the greyhounds running balls to the wall for the lure that was zipping along the inside of the track. If she were a betting kind of woman, she would have chosen #2 but she wasn't and she really didn't give a **** about the race at all. "I'm not really an animal person. Never had pets so never learned to care for animals in general," she said in a flat tone. Of course when she had been younger, she had always wanted pets, and of course she had always been denied... eventually she just learned to stop asking for one. "How about you?"

[Levi DAmico]

Levi D’Amico: “Yeah, I ain’t really had an animal to care for either. My dad hated animals for whatever reason, but I’ve never cared for owning one anyway. Least of all a dog. Dogs are ******* stupid and needy.”

Isabeau St Martin: She laughed a bit. "That they are, that they most definitely are," she said and then smirked a bit. "So what exactly got you into this consultation business of yours?"

Levi D’Amico: Levi smirked a bit, breathing out another stream of smoke. She was going to think him arrogant, but, she’d be right. “I’m really good at telling people what to do and I’m usually right. So, it made sense to make a living out of it. Money makes the world go round.” This was where he had to ask her a question. “So you got into cars, how?”

Isabeau St Martin: Bo smirked a bit and gave a slow shake of her head that said that she was expecting an answer of that kind but didn't say anything about it. Instead, she concentrated on the question he asked her. "I was always a tomboy, hanging out with the guys and such. So basically I went through their likes when they did. When they got into cars, so did I. Only difference is, where they were using their cars for their egos, I was using mine for my freedom, as well as the fact that when men look at me, they could expect me to know jack **** about racing. So when I kick their ***, the look on their face... it's quite pleasing to me. I learned how to not just make my car look good, but run and performance levels that, most men don't even take into consideration. It's why I'm a mechanic. I do the tuning mostly, all the stuff your normal 'grease monkey' would."

Levi D’Amico: There wasn’t much he could comment on, but he nodded along as she talked anyway. She was speaking vaguely about her profession, just as he’d done about his own, meaning that she expected him to know **** all about what she was talking about. Levi found it amusing. In contrast to his opinion about curiosity and asking questions, Levi didn’t think it was necessary to show an interest and learn more about her profession. To him, business knowledge and those kinds of problem-solving skills were important in everything to do with living and thriving. Building a car that could more efficiently burn its fuel and reach higher speeds to leave others in your dust, was not so important… was it? “So what kinda life lessons have you learnt from that career of yours?” he asked her, almost pausing to emphasise the word career and how he rather doubted it was such.

Isabeau St Martin: Her brow arched at his question and she was almost tempted to roll her eyes at him, because the answer was literally staring her right in the face at the moment. "That arrogant pricks will always underestimate me, and I will always monopolize on that and eventually, it will bite them in the ***."

Levi D’Amico: Levi shrugged again. Should he have expected that comment to be aimed at him? Probably, but he didn’t care. “Some people are arrogant because they’re stupid. Ignorant. Unaware that there’s a bigger world out there that can crush them anytime. And there’s people who are arrogant because they’ve seen that bigger world and have learned how to use its crushing force to satisfy themselves. Whether either type is justified, is a matter for debate. Frankly, I don’t care if it’s justified or not. Until someone gives me a reason not to be arrogant, I’ll continue like I am. Like I assume you will.”

Isabeau St Martin: Bo slid her hands back into her jacket pockets as he did his song and dance about two kinds of arrogance and she had a sneaking suspicion that she was the 'stupid' one that he mentioned. A small part of her was actually hurt by that. Not so much that he cared that she was stupid, but that she came off that way in general. She licked her full lips for a moment, to ease the dryness the cold air was causing. "A bigger world huh? Looks like the same shitty world that is what it is. I highly doubt there is anything 'bigger' that could 'crush' anything for too long. Then again, this city is filled with all kinds of loons," she said with a laugh. "The things I have seen people do here all my life. ******* nut jobs."

Levi D’Amico: Levi drew on the last drag of his cigarette the tossed the butt to the floor, stomping out the cherry light under his shoe. Her observation didn’t surprise him in the slightest – like she’d said, she wasn’t book-smart, whereas he was the complete opposite. He hadn’t been considering the supernatural all that much when she’d mentioned weird things going on in the city because the fact of the matter was that he was still very much within the mind-set of a Human. He was getting used to the supernatural world, but there was still a lot of unknown variables to consider that he still felt like an outsider to it. Maybe that would change in time, but for right now, he was still himself, just... better. “Things like what?” he questioned. He had to admit, he was curious about the knowledge of some average Joe living in this city. She might have lived in her own little bubble of existence, but she’d at least managed to acknowledge the strange goings on. He wondered how much she knew.

Isabeau St Martin: Bo arched her brow as he asked her about the strange things that she had seen and almost laughed a bit at the fact that that was something that had caught his interest. Was he really one of those freaks that believed in vampires and ghosts and little green men? "I've seen some pretty messed up ****, like one time i saw some blond ***** biting someone else. Others around me called vampire... like I said, ******* nut jobs the lot of this city."

Levi D’Amico: Levi quirked a brow at her, pulling the most convincing look of disbelief seeing as how it was actually quite genuine. “Far too much TV and movies for you lot,” he rumbled with a smirk.

Isabeau St Martin: She snorted a bit. "Hey, I never said I believed the freaks..."

Levi D’Amico: “Good. At least you have some sense.”

Isabeau St Martin: Again she snorted a little. "All that paranormal mumbo jumbo is ********."

Levi D’Amico: Levi shrugged his shoulders. “While they do say one man’s magic is another man’s science, I still gotta kinda agree that I don’t think you’ve got Vampiri running around here. I, for one, ain’t seen anything weird.”

Isabeau St Martin: She eyed him for a bit, taking in his demeanour for a moment. "You obviously are new around here..." she said with a laugh.

Levi D’Amico: Levi smirked, rolling his shoulders back and turning to address her fully since he’d been standing side-on from her for a while. “I think it’s been about seven or eight months actually. That count as new?”

Isabeau St Martin: She faced him, eyes locked on his. "Yup, especially in comparison to me. I was born here."

Levi D’Amico: Levi’s eyes narrowed. “Well you can hardly compare them. Unless you wanna go with that whole debate of what makes someone an immigrant compared to citizen and all that. It’s a ******* long debate mind and the night’s not that young.”

Isabeau St Martin: Bo smirked as she looked at him. "I never said you weren't a citizen, I could care less one way or the other. I said that you were new compared to me." She then pulled her phone from her front pocket and glanced at the screen. "Do you have somewhere to be?" she asked as she slipped it back into her pocket and then slid her hand in there as well to keep someone from going for the phone.

Levi D’Amico: “Well,” he drawled. “I guess that depends on if I’ve decided to finish up work for the night. Why, have you?”

Isabeau St Martin: Bo smirked, "no, was just wondering why you are so worried about the night not being 'young'." She teased.

Levi D’Amico: Levi laughed at her. “I ain’t that subtle,” he commented with a sneer. “If I wanted to piss off and be done with you, I would have just left and said goodnight.” There was a pause though, as if he was now considering it. “Nah, it’s just I can’t be arsed to think anymore. Long day. Need coffee.” He gave a glance back to the entrance. “Did you wanna stay any longer because I’ve decided I’m going to get some coffee. I’ll leave you here if that’s the case.”

Isabeau St Martin: Bo gave a slight laugh and an even slighter smile at the situation and then gave a bit of a shrug. "Why not? I could use a good strong cup," she said, but then smiled wickedly at him. "I'm surprised you don't drink that espresso crap."

Levi D’Amico: The second he received the go-ahead he began to walk toward the exit, but he soon stopped in his tracks when he heard heresy come out of her mouth. “What the **** do you mean ‘espresso crap’?” he asked, quirking a brow. At least she hadn’t pronounced it expresso though…

Isabeau St Martin: She laughed as she looked at him, her arms crossing under her chest. "Oooooo so that you do like... So does that mean I can't make fun of pasta and pizza too?" she teased.

Levi D’Amico: Levi’s brow knitted into a frown, but at least he’d started walking again – or maybe it was better described as stomping. “I really don’t get why you think it’s ******* funny,” he growled.

Isabeau St Martin:She followed along, quickly catching up before she rolled her eyes at him. "Chill, I was just ******* with you, Hulk... I have no problem with any of it. Hell I practically live off pizza," she said with a shrug.

Levi D’Amico: “I hate pizza,” he growled under his breath, still marching toward his favourite café.

Isabeau St Martin: She watched him stomp towards the cafe like a two year old, smirking the whole way.

Levi D’Amico: The silence wasn’t a hindrance as far as he was concerned. If anything, being alone with his thoughts for a while and just taking in the sensations of his environment was helping him relax. It was cold, but since he was in a rage, that chill in the air was like a sweet caress across his skin. It was dark, the streetlamps dim and unobtrusive, so he wasn’t squinting to look around. The streets were fairly desolate, becoming more so the further they walked until it started to become more active again as they made their way back to the more privileged side of town. And, of course, by that time Levi could pick up the scent of bitter coffee on the air and he finally smiled. Bo might have noticed that they’d basically walked in a circle tonight what with the café being just a few doors down from the bar they’d met at, but it didn’t matter to Levi. This was, by his criteria, the best coffee shop in terms of quality and location so that’s the one he always went to.

[Isabeau Valachi]

Isabeau St Martin: Bo let him stew in whatever it was that had crawled up his ***, following along silently with her hands in her pockets. By the time she noticed that they had walked in a circle, she let out a light laugh and shook her head. "Well, that was some circuit we took. Live in the neighborhood I take it? Or do you just like to keep in small circles?" she asked with a tone somewhere between amused and teasing and her normal sarcastic self.

Levi D’Amico: “I work nearby,” he commented casually as he opened the door to the café for her to enter first. He thought nothing of revealing that piece of information because as far as he was concerned, it was very public knowledge. He assumed that Isabeau was a pick-pocket rather than a burglar, but if he was wrong, she’d pay for it. He had cameras and hired muscle in spades – security was not an issue at his headquarters.

Isabeau St Martin: Bo gave a bit of a nod to his response as she entered the cafe first, smirking a little at the fact that he had been polite enough to open the door for her. Then she glanced around until she found the menu and looked at what she would like to order. "Interesting, I thought perhaps - with our little outing - that you worked wherever you wanted."

Levi D’Amico: Levi frowned at her odd comment and even though he knew exactly what he was going to order, he stood by her until she had decided. He was being awfully polite and chivalrous all of a sudden and he couldn’t quite understand why. As Bo looked over the menu, Levi gave her and it a quick glance, offering a suggestion. “If you like milk, I hear the latte macchiato is alright here.”

Isabeau St Martin: She glanced over her shoulder to him at his suggestion and then gave a little shrug of her shoulders as her lips curled down a little. It wasn't so much a sad look as just a look that said 'alright' and then she nodded and looked to the barista. "I think I'll have that then."

Levi D’Amico: The Italian was still full of frowns. Bo didn’t seem happy with his suggestion, but she ordered it anyway. If she was trying to be polite or something, he couldn’t understand it. Nevertheless, Levi shrugged off the weirdness and gave the barista his order. When it came time to pay, Levi automatically assumed he was paying anyway so he did so. The barista took the cash, smiled, and told them to take a seat. Their drinks would be sent to them in a couple of minutes. “So. Where do you wanna sit?” he asked.

Isabeau St Martin: Bo arched her brow for a moment as he paid for her, but then she gave him a rare but kind smile and nodded to him. "Thanks for that..." she said and then glanced around the room for a moment, then she pointed to a corner table, it was near the back exit and it would allow for them to not only sit privately away from some of the other guests but also let them both have a view of the cafe, should anything go down. "How about over there?"

Levi D’Amico: The weirdness wasn’t the only thing to be shrugged off quickly, but at least when Isabeau expressed gratitude, he was gentle about things. She didn’t need to thank him as such, it was just a coffee. Umber eyes looked across the stagnant space to the table she had set her sights on and he had to agree, it wasn’t a bad choice. Just close enough to the door as to know your exit, but not too close as to be the first targets. Levi gave her a nod and then held out a hand. “After you, then,” he said with a brief smile, ready to follow her to the table.

Isabeau St Martin: She gave a nod of her head and smirked ever so slightly as she passed him and moved over to the table. She then unzipped her jacket, now out of the weather and waited until she was seated so that the gun in her waist band would be hidden from view still before she let the leather slide down her toned arms, then leaned her elbows on the table to 'relax'.

Levi D’Amico:With Isabeau seated, Levi took the seat opposite her. He gave her a quick check as her arms came out, but he didn’t take off his jacket. Even with less than a handful of people inside the café, it wasn’t wise to flash your weapons. He wanted for this place to be a regular hangout, so not upsetting anyone was pretty high on his list of priorities tonight. The café was chic in its design, mixing the old and the new seamlessly. There were raw wooden tables and floors, meaning they hadn’t been stained or glossed or if they had, they’d been stripped and sanded smooth. The walls were painted a soft hue of caramel that went well with the whole natural kind of décor in the place. Dark brown and black pieces of furniture were set creatively around the café and there was Columbian inspired art on the walls. Levi was content with his surroundings and the coffee was good here, so he was going to be on his best behaviour. Lucky Isabeau. Once seated, his back planted firmly into the leather of the encompassing bucket chair, Levi addressed her. “So…” he said, trying to summon a conversation out of the ether. “Liking the place so far?”

Isabeau St Martin: Bo glanced around for a moment before she let her blue gaze rest upon Levi and his umber eyes. She then gave another little shrug but smiled a little. "It's quaint... It's not often I drink coffee. I find that the caffeine makes me more than a little jittery. That makes it hard to work on a car, especially when working with the smaller parts. One slip can ruin the entire thing," she said softly, leaning back into her chair, crossing her legs under the table. "Still, it is quite relaxing here. Also something I don't get a lot of," she said with a laugh.

Levi D’Amico: Levi listened as patiently as he could, but he couldn’t help but get a little bored. This must have been what it was like to be in her shoes listening to him yap on about business. It wasn’t that he was entirely disinterested in her line of work, but when you’re vague with the matter like she was, Levi found it hard to discover the joy in what she had to say. When Isabeau had laughed though, he warmed a bit. Shifting some in his seat, he perched his elbow along the rim of the chair to get more comfortable and gave her a wry smile. “If you don’t like coffee, you probably shouldn’t have ordered the latte macchiato then. But maybe it’ll have enough milk in it to not give you that buzz.” It was only one shot of espresso though, so, maybe she’d be fine. Espresso was the only thing he would order and the only variation in his routine came when he had to choose between a double or single.

Isabeau St Martin: She smiled a little as she looked at him. "I didn't say I didn't like it. I just said I wasn't big into drinking it, especially if I need my hands to be steady. A lot of those nuts are hard to handle when your hands are shaking like an earthquake."

Levi D’Amico: Levi quirked his brow, keeping the grin on his face. “I figure you’re not going back to work tonight then.”

Isabeau St Martin: "Nope," she said, popping the 'p' a little as she relaxed a bit more. "Not really much else I can do right now, all the cars are pretty much ready to be picked up. Plus the cars usually come in in the morning. That gives me at least a few hours to find some activity to work off the jitters," she said with a playful wink.

Levi D’Amico: Levi frowned at her wink, not sure that he really got what she was trying to say. He could be awkward socially. “I figure you have to sleep before then,” he commented, confusion clear in his tone.

Isabeau St Martin: She gave a short shrug. "I've never really been a big sleeper, 3 hours is enough to keep me going. Usually I end up spending my nights working out or playing pool."

Levi D’Amico: The short shrug was returned. He could at least relate to that. He’d never been much of a sleeper when he was mortal either, which was just as well because there was always something to get done. “D’you have any other hobbies, or is it just the two?” he asked her casually.

Isabeau St Martin: She arched her brow for a moment but then gave the only answer she could. "I do anything really that keeps my hands busy. Working with my cars, working at work, crafting gadgets and such. I like working with my hands."

Levi D’Amico: Levi hummed, umber eyes drifting as she went on, glancing over himself to check his attire. You know, just in case something had happened to his suit and he’d somehow completely missed it. “I remember.”

Isabeau St Martin: She smirked as she watched his eyes and then laughed. "What? Do you think I stole something from you? Do you think I would be chilling here with you if I had?"

[Levi DAmico]

Levi D’Amico: After a quick shrug of the shoulders, Levi looked to her. “Well, ya never know. Appearances can be deceiving and all that.”

Isabeau St Martin: "Tell me something I don't know," she said with a laugh.

Levi D’Amico: Levi hummed again, but didn’t say anything. He wasn’t right good at sparking conversations about nothing. He assumed that Isabeau would be the chattier one of the pair, but her short and sharp responses were getting them nowhere. It was just as well that their beverages were ready and brought over by the barista who appeared to be the only one working tonight. Levi frowned, eyes moving to the security cameras out of habit. It really wouldn’t be much for someone to rob this joint. Levi didn’t say anything to the barista and barely gave the kid eye contact.

Isabeau St Martin: Bo watched him, watching the barista then looking to the security cams for a moment before she picked up her drink and then looked around for a moment. "Something wrong? You act like someone is going to come out of the walls and shoot you or something?"

Levi D’Amico: The barista quickly left them once their drinks were delivered and Levi acted like the kid hadn’t been there at all. Umber eyes set on Isabeau under heavy brows as he listened to her talk and then he shook his head. “Nah, I’m good,” he said vaguely. “So… I figure we’re supposed to talk or something?” He lifted the small cup to his lips at that point, sipping slowly while it was still hot. It was practically a sin to let the coffee cool.

Isabeau St Martin: She sipped her drink and then nodded a bit. "I suppose that you are right, though to tell the truth, not really all that good at small talk. Or... talk in general..." she said scrunching her brow at that last part. Who needs to talk to someone when they are under a car? Or robbing a building?

Levi D’Amico: Well wasn’t that perfect; a pairing of two people who didn’t speak much. This was going to be a long night if he decided that putting up with her was still an option. He wasn’t going anywhere right now though, he had coffee to drink. Levi gave her a sympathetic look before sighing deeply. “I don’t talk much either, but sitting here in quiet is… kinda odd, honestly.”

Isabeau St Martin: "I guess you are right in that respect. So what shall we talk about then? More about your job? My job? Home life? Things either of us like?" she asked with a bit of a smirk before sipping more of her coffee, giving a small sound of pleasure off at the taste. "This is actually really good. Thanks."

Levi D’Amico: A shrug was given to answer her barrage of questions. As far as he was aware, there wasn’t that much to talk about. While he was giving it some thought, however, Isabeau made a comment about her drink and Levi gave her a smile. “Yeah, that tends to be a girly drink,” he said smirking. Although it would have been funnier if someone besides himself knew what he was talking about. “I dunno what else there is to say about our jobs, do you? Is there anything you wanna share with a complete stranger?”

Isabeau St Martin: Her brow lifted as he said that she was drinking a 'girly' drink and she set the cup down for a moment and shook her head. "I wouldn't call it a girly, drink, it's not one of those fru fru pink monstrosities that women love to down at bars. Plus I'm hardly ever likely to do anything that's 'girly' I haven't even worn a dress in... 15 odd years..." she said and then continued with his next question. "Again, you make a good point. There really is nothing else I could tell you... everything else I'd have to kill you." She kidded before she picked up her cup and took another sip.

Levi D’Amico: Levi rolled his eyes at the cliché line she’d given, but it was mostly in jest because he was still smiling gently. He wasn’t feeling hostile toward her because it just felt pointless to be. Isabeau wasn’t directing anything his way so all was amicable between them as far as he was concerned. People were quick to call Levi a hot-head and accuse him of jumping the gun on drawing a weapon, but he figured he was pretty peaceable so long as people didn’t piss him off. “Well, whatever,” he said with a shrug. “But for an Italian, having milk in your coffee is generally just… un-masculine. Let’s put it that way. It’s just not done is what I’m trying to say.”

Isabeau St Martin: She smirked a little and shook her head. "It's a good thing I'm not Italian then isn't it?" she said, purposly thickening her French accent before she took yet another drink of the coffee.

Levi D’Amico: Levi shook his head, rolling his eyes. “I’m saying— Ah, never mind.” He couldn’t be bothered to finish that sentence.

Isabeau St Martin: "I get it, I get it, you're a man and you don't do milk in your coffee," she said with an almost teasing tone.

Levi D’Amico: “You’re such an uncultured little ****,” he said smirking to himself.

Isabeau St Martin: "On purpose... anyways? Who do I have to please? No one but myself. And I'm more than happy just the way I am," she said smartly, downing the rest of the coffee before she leaned back into the chair. “Even if I am an uncultured little ****."

Levi D’Amico: “I’m sorry, all I heard there was you agreeing with me.” Levi put his cup down now that he was finished with it and brought the other arm up onto the rim of the chair he was in.

Isabeau St Martin: "Of course you did... you are quite an arrogant son of a *****, I'll give you that. Do you think you are good at everything or just being an asshole? Because if it's the latter I'm going to have to step up my game," she said, running a hand along her cup, it was starting to shake a little as she felt the caffeine setting in.

Levi D’Amico: Levi rolled his shoulders when she called him an arrogant son of a *****. It wasn’t something he was particularly surprised about and nor was it something he took offense to. “I’m pretty much good at everything I try,” he said sincerely because he wholeheartedly believed it.

Isabeau St Martin: She looked over him again and then nodded. "Good to know... perhaps I'll see if that is true one day," she said with a smirk and then slipped on her jacket and zipped it up. "However, I do believe that I have to get going... by this rate I'm going to have to run several miles before I can even think of sleep," she said with a smirk.

Levi D’Amico: Levi gave the woman a nod as she stood to leave, making her excuses that she had to go for a run or whatever. Why he didn’t believe her exactly, he wasn’t sure, but he just didn’t. Still, he wasn’t about to get insulted by her leaving even if it was totally because of something about him. Levi just didn’t care. “Well, you have a good one then, bella. Enjoy your run.”

Isabeau St Martin: She stopped for a moment as he called her bella and then arched her brow as she looked at him. "Making fun of my name again or actually meaning to call me beautiful?" she teased as she slid her hands into her pockets.

Levi D’Amico: The Italian’s eyebrows lifted in surprise and then he smirked to himself. “You know, I hadn’t even thought of that,” he said quite sincerely. “So what’s wrong with calling you beautiful?”

Isabeau St Martin: She shrugged a little as she looked at him. "Nothing wrong with calling me it... Of course, I don't believe it though."

Levi D’Amico: Levi shifted to rest his jawline on his fist as he looked at her from her higher position. “Well, why not? Ain’t there something said about repetition leading to certainty or something? Like, if you’re called stupid and worthless enough, you believe you’re stupid and worthless? I figure it’s gotta work for positive **** too.”

Isabeau St Martin: She snorted a bit. "Perhaps, but contrary to popular belief, I do own a mirror. I'm no runway model," she said as she made sure she had everything and started to walk away, but then she stopped and gave a real smile for once to him over her shoulder. "Thank you for the compliment though," she said and then made her way out of the cafe before he could say something else.

Levi D’Amico: Sure as **** she weren’t no runway model. The girl actually had some meat on her bones – the good kind as far as he was concerned. Of course, he wasn’t your average guy so he couldn’t account for their tastes, but he had no problem handing out the affectionate little, off-the-cuff, nickname. Levi wasn’t going to say anything to contradict her beliefs though and as it turned out, Isabeau wasn’t going to stick around to hear it. He did frown to himself though as he watched her leave, giving this girl’s psyche a lot more consideration than he probably should have. It didn’t last long though because sure enough Levi got a phone call that he just had to answer. It was time to get back to work; good thing he’d had that coffee.