Those who can ((Marcus DV))

[CharlotteC]

The moment that he began to tell his story, she knew her gut instinct about him had been right. And at the same time, the smile she had on her face had slowly dropped to the point that she looked almost pissed off. That was because she actually was pretty pissed off, it was funny how just hearing how someone went almost through the same situation she did made her want to rush home and beat the ever-loving **** out of her ex and her ex-best friend, and now this woman - whoever she was. She had to remember not to squeeze to hard on her coffee cup because of her anger that was starting to brew like the coffee in the cafe.

Setting the cup down, she sighed and sat up a little more. He wanted answers, and she couldn't help but tell him why. After all, she was cursed with the inability to lie. Of course, the curse didn't force her to say anything that came to her mind, but whatever came from her had to be the truth. She leveled her chocolate eyes on him and gave a bit of a shrug. "When I saw you I flashed back to my first night in this city. I had gotten off the bus when it stopped for a break and somehow I had missed it. I was stuck here, just what I had in my backpack, no money, no food, basically an illegal citizen. As I was trying to find out about a bus, I noticed a guy dealing, saw how much money he got and then followed him into a cafe much like this one." All the truth, though she left out what he was dealing.

"I watched him as he worked, then he got up and went to the bathroom. That was the first time I had ever stolen anything from anyone. I was able to get a meal into me, but the guy tracked me down... saved me from being attacked and likely raped in an alley and then brought me back to his place." She also left out the fact that he had been smoking the whole time because the sun had begun to rise and he was a vampire, or the fact that she too was a vampire. "After that I began to get around this city easier. Found a job at the library, I had been a librarian back in Maine as well, and worked there for a good long time. Eventually I found a place and my footing, a good mentor who trained me well... and well... now I like to pay it forward in a way."

It was all the truth, especially the last part. She had become a mentor for the Fledgling Foundation, but now it seemed that the foundation was no more... sadly. It left a hole in her heart she believe, not being able to help. "Anyways, like I said earlier, you reminded me of me. And in a way it seems we have a bit in common." She said as she glanced to the computer that was still running the script she needed and then back to him. "In more ways than one." She added thoughtfully.

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

Marcus didn't notice her reaction to his story and thus was unaware with the anger that passed over Charlies visage. When he did look back up he saw her sitting up a bit more straight in her chair and hoped he hadn't pushed her too far. Then she began to fill him in on her story and listened patiently. He was surprised that she too had a similar story to his. Maybe his story was more common than he even thought. He smiled genuinely when he heard she too had attempted to steal from someone just as he did. She even got caught too, though what followed next made him begin grinding his teeth. Just imagining some guys trying to take advantage of her in an alley made him mad. He wasn't exactly a law abiding citizen but he had some morals and unprovoked violence was too far in his book. He didn't even want to think about Charlie getting raped. He couldn't stop himself from grinding his teeth as he hardly noticed when he was doing it and continued to listen.

By the end of Charlies story Marcus decided he could trust her enough to stop eyeing the exit and doubting her motive. He could usually tell when someone was spewing some BS his way but he doubted Charlie would lie about something as intense as almost getting raped. Paying it forward, Marcus hadn't heard that term since he watched that cheesy movie based around the idea a few years back. It was an older movie but brought fond memories at least. At the end he sat in silence contemplating everything she had told him.

"Well... I don't know what to say to that. I certainly didn't expect that coming." Marcus says at first trying to gather his composure again. "I guess, just thanks for sharing that. I mean, I know I have it rough but you had it worse. I guess we're both lucky we tried robbing the wrong person, right?" He asks in a lighter tone, trying to make here smile a bit. "So, we're both thieves and both failed spectacularly early on. What else could we have in common?" Marcus asks genuinely. "Could it be you're also suffering from a broken heart and someone to fill it too?" Marcus asks jokingly. He couldn't resist sometimes and nearly regretted his inability to control his borderline snarky remarks at times.

[CharlotteC]

Charlie smiled at the guy, he was extremely easy to talk to and she knew that could actually be a bad thing... or would it? After all, she wasn't exactly waving the Masq flag high and proud. In fact, she didn't give a **** if people knew she was a vampire. Of course, if he knew, that could be a danger to him as well and he would have limited choices. Something in the way he spoke at first caught her attention, he seemed... upset... that was an interesting thing, especially since she too had been feeling that way when he had brought up his cheating ex girlfriend. She shook the thought of ripping her a new one like she had her fiance and concentrated on what Marcus was saying.

His question about her broken heart made her smile turn a little more sweet and she finally shook her head after some thought. "Indeed, we do seem to have a bit in common, though I wouldn't say either of us picked the wrong person to rob." She said with a smirk, and though she disliked Killian, she knew that he hadn't been the wrong person to rob. The wrong person to rob would have been the bullies that came after her simply because she was sired by Killian. She then continued on with what she was going to say before she was pulled into darker thoughts, "After all, I plan to help you not drag you into a back alley and gut you like a fish." She said with a playful smile before leaning back in her chair again. "As for that last question of yours..." She went silent for a moment, thinking about what she was going to say to that.

Was her heart still broken? After three years? Yes, she still got violent whenever she thought about finding her fiance in bed with her but that she was striking up to the fact that Allurists were highly emotional. One could say they were constantly PMSing because of their mood swings. But was she still feeling that pain in her unbeating heart? No, I think it was safe to say her heart had healed from that trauma ages ago. Of course she was lonely at times, she hadn't had a love interest since that one *** who said he would hire her and then vanished only to return married... ******...

"I wouldn't say my heart is broken currently... but it had been when I got here. See, I found my best friend and soon to be maid of 'honor' in bed with my fiance." She had practically hissed the word 'honor' but she was still looking relatively calm. "I beat the crap out of them both, I knew I would get in trouble so I ran here... of course I didn't know that they could technically still indite me and send me back if they found me... but that's why I am pretty damn good as a hacker and can keep my *** out of the system." She said with a soft laugh.

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

Marcus chuckled a bit at her response about picking the wrong people. Maybe she was right after all, and that whole not gutting him thing was a great way to put it into perspective. He admired her form a bit more as she leaned back in her chair, he knew he shouldn't but he couldn't resist. Something was different about her and that drew him towards her. He couldn't even begin to imagine what it could be. He noticed she seemed to be contemplating his last question. Marcus really hoped he hadn't prod into some sensitive territory. He didn't want to cause Charlie any more trouble than he already had.

Marcus listened and visibly flinched when Charlie described walking in on her ex and her best friend in bed. Hell, he may have gotten a single text breaking the news to him but at least he didn't walk in on her with the guy. He could practically feel the venom that dripped from her mouth as she uttered the word /honor/. She maintained her composure though and he couldn't tell if she had let her true feeling on the subject slip through there or not. That statement about how she beat them afterward worried him a bit, but it was somewhat reasonable. While Marcus himself detested violence he never ran into a hellish situation like that and would find it hard to believe anyone could walk out without throwing at least one punch. Her last statement about hacking brought back his full attention to the conversation and off of her. He couldn't believe she was also a hacker but she did mention they were more similar than he thought. Wait, did that mean she knew he was a hacker too?

"I have to ask, did you some how know I was a hacker too? Or is this just a big coincidence? I don't really believe in those but you're making me question myself in that belief." Marcus says half joking. If she is able to keep herself out of the eyes of the law online then she must be a pretty talented hacker herself. He was still trying to grasp basic scripting and could only succeed in his own simulations, albeit rarely. He wonders if there isn't anything she can teach him. Hell, she mentioned having a mentor once and paying it forward. Maybe, just maybe, she can be his mentor too. Marcus grows excited at the thought of having someone he can not only trust but learn from in this town. He was already tired of his meager existence as a petty criminal and it wasn't exactly as successful as he had first hoped. He would bide his time and see where she leads him for now. Wouldn't want to appear too desperate despite the fact that he sort of was.

[CharlotteC]

Her brow arched slightly and she smiled a bit, then she spoke "Actually, I didn't know that." She stopped herself because she was tempted to add to that line that she couldn't read minds, but in a way, she could. Her telepathic skills allowed her so much, she could speak to someone mentally, could be online twenty-four seven and then a bunch of other things. Like seeing certain memories. "Coincidences are real though, if you ask me. After all, I don't think fate would drop not one but two thieves into my lap within days of each other. Unless of course it's telling me that I need to turn you and her into my little cohorts." She said with a soft laugh.

That would be interesting, having her own little band of thieves and hackers. Then she glanced around and was glad to see that no one was watching them anymore, they were all busy working on whatever on the computers, then she glanced to the script and smiled as it finished. She stuck a thumb drive into its slot and down loaded it before glancing back at him. "This certain beauty will be helping the first thief I mentioned." She said with a soft laugh and then stuck it in her pocket. "Do you have a place to stay in the city? If not, I know a few places that you could stay... places that you would be safe in while you are here." She said, thinking of course of her main job, that the Backpackers had space and would be a good place for someone to lay their head at night. That is if they slept. And then there was Solace and a couple other places. It would all depend on his answer to her though.

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

Marcus laughed a bit at himself for outting his other criminal past time. Not that it mattered with Charlie. Marcus's attention was peaked when she mentioned that she had found another thief as well. He remembered her mentioning something like this vaguely earlier but at the time he was too shocked to really pay attention.

"Make us into your cohorts? I'm honored that you would allow me to serve beneath you." Marcus says with a wink knowing full well the crude double meaning in his words. She didn't seem to mind so far so he would have his fun. However her attention was back on her computer. He recognized when someone was writing a new script but this one he didn't particularly recognize. It seems way more advanced than his own and had apparently just finished since Charlie pulled out her thumb drive.

Marcus felt a bit ashamed at her next question. While he wasn't too prideful it was still humbling for a stranger to offer him a place to stay like this. He looked away for a second and took a deep breath. It was one thing for her to possibly offer some work as a "cohort" if she wasn't joking but to offer him a place meant he would be deep in her debt. He didn't have much choice at this point though, he just didn't want to admit his desperation.

"I don't. Any help you can give would be appreciated." Marcus admitted truthfully. "Hey, this is a lot you're dropping on me so far but all I've done is try robbing. So, if there's any way I can pay you back just ask. Alright?" Marcus said looking a bit sheepish as he rubbed the back of his head.

[CharlotteC]

Charlie arched a brow at the clear-as-a-bell double meaning in his words and then smirked and nodded for a moment. It had been a long time since she had experienced someone actually flirting with her. And it was a bit more amusing that it was a human that was doing it. It was actually very refreshing and it was adding to her power in a way that she did not have to use her own powers on him. It was almost like he was feeding into her power and for a moment - a split second - she contemplated just what this guy would be like as a vampire. From everything that he was saying, the way he was easy to talk to, she could almost peg him as her path - as an allurist - but that wasn't for her to decide.

Bringing herself back to the present, she smiled a bit more and nodded at what he was saying. "Well, the whole point of paying it forward is that you don't pay it back." She said with a wink and then leaned against the desk, ignoring the computer now as she continued on "Seriously though, I do miss helping out. See, when I had started to get a foothold in the city, I joined a group of people that went out and helped those that were new in the city. Not to long ago, I believe it closed down... the forum no longer worked or the site. It was all mostly done online so it shutting down on there was a sign. I have missed the feeling of taking someone under my wing and teaching them not only how to survive this city, but how to flourish and grow." She spoke with the passion of someone that really did miss that feeling, getting to teach someone something... be it how not to get caught by guards while breaking and entering buildings in this city, or teaching them how to fight against the zombies and mooncalves that were around. Not that she would be introducing him to those particular demons. Talk about waving the violation flag.

She stood then and stretched once more before grabbing her stuff and looking at him. "Why don't we start with a good place for you to stay that actually allows you to get a good night's rest, hmm?" She asked as she waited to see if he would join her. If he did, she knew just where she would take him, and knew because of the fact that she worked there that she would be able to keep an eye on him.

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

Marcus was happy to see that Charlie didn't take offense to his playful flirting. He knew it was too soon for him to trust someone enough to become an item but it did help him cope. He did notice the way she would occasionally look at him, almost as if sizing him up. It made sense since she obviously has experience with other thieves. He knew enough about his own skills to know that he wasn't anywhere near professional or even proficient for that matter.

Marcus was both relieved and in a way disappointed that she didn't expect him to pay her back. Sure she had the whole "pay it forward " idea going but he also figured it was because he could offer little she couldn't already do. None the less, he was determined to pay her back somehow. He was brought out of his thoughts by Charlie once more. He could see that she really missed that student teacher relationship and wondered if she was a teacher in some past life. Not that Marcus particularly believed in reincarnation but nothing wrong with accepting it as one of many possibilities.

Marcus decided he would take Charlie's offer for a place to lay his head for the night. He grabbed his backpack and looked at her with a grin on his lips. "I sure hope you don't plan on taking advantage of this poor but charming gentleman by offering a false sanctuary to him." Marcus jokes with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But in all seriousness, I think I'll take you up on that place to stay. Beats bumming around here till some employee gives me a few too many looks."

[CharlotteC]

Charlie smiled to him, one of those coy but playful smiles that gave her a mischievous look to her. "If I were going to take advantage of you, I doubt you would mind too much." She replied and then began to lead the way out of the cafe. In a way, she was glad that where she was planning to take him was quite a distance a way, because then she could really get a feel for this guy and find out if he was the kind that she could trust with a secret. So far, her gut instinct was telling her that he was fine, but she had been mistaken before. Case and point... her sire... not the guy that she called her sire, not Elliot, not the man that took care of her in her times of need and gave her a job. No, she was talking about the *** that had turned her - regardless if she had willingly allowed him to do so - and then promptly abandoned her *** multiple times.

Outside the snow was slowly drifting in the night air, she stopped for a moment and lifted her face to the sky, inhaling deeply. The cool air was refreshing to her lungs, and the cool air - not that she felt it as cool given the fact that her own body was cold as well - was a bit harsh on her skin. Yet, three years in Canada and then the rest of her life in Maine, she was used to the feeling. She lifted her hand to catch the flakes drifting in the air, her supernatural senses allowing her to actually hone in and see the design of the flake itself, before she smiled to Marcus and glanced around.

"So I take it that you have spent most of your time in the Cafe, I guess that means you haven't had a lot of time to explore the city itself hmm?" She asked, though it seemed that it was one of those 'here's your sign' kind of questions. "The place I have in mind is a bit of a distance, we could walk or we can take one of the transits, I believe we are closest to Gullsborough." She said both talking to him and herself at the same time. She normally drove places, but tonight had been a walking night. "What sounds better?" She asked with a soft smirk.

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

Marcus actually laughed at Charlies response and promptly followed her out of the cafe. He couldn't wait to see where she was taking him. His giddiness could almost be described as childish but he was honestly just glad at the thought of having a roof over his head and some safety. As they stepped out the air hit Marcus like freight train but one that he was used to. He had lived in Canada his whole life and was used to this weather. He even got into snowboarding for a while, though he wasn't very good at it. He remembered how him and his girlfriend would laugh whenever one of them had a tumble or when they actually pulled off a new move without looking like complete dweebs. He sighed and decided to push these thoughts aside. They were painful.

Marcus personally enjoyed the snow and found it beautiful. The only thing that ruined this moment was the chill seeping into his body already as he remembered he had no other warmth besides his t-shirt and jacket. He stuffed his hands into his pocket and glanced over at Charlie. She was catching a snowflake and seemed to be really focused on the task. He admired how her dark hair contrasted with her light skin and how she seemed to fit right in with the snowing landscape. Marcus was actually a bit taken aback at how much she reminded him of how he felt when he first met his high school sweetheart. It wasn't as corny as love at first sight but just little moments like the one happening now that made you see a persons true beauty. Marcus knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help but marvel at Charlie at that moment. When she smiled back at him he quickly looked away. Idiot. Too soon, you're just looking for a rebound. Don't do that to her, she is too good for that.

Marcus was more than happy to answer Charlie's question, hoping she hadn't noticed him looking at her. "Yeah, I sorta stuck around here. I usually chatted with some of the locals on the web to keep myself busy. Got some places to check out from them but didn't actually get a chance to head out. Even got a job offer at some diner, said I'd meet the person some time later. Hey, even the owner of Voodoo Cafe said hi to me on there!" Marcus decided to leave out those private emails he had been exchanging about people not being who they appear in this town. Maybe he could bring Charlie in on that later. "I don'd mind a bit of a walk. But I wouldn't want the lady to trudge through this cold weather just for my sake. And it can get dangerous at night..." Marcus trailed off remembering what he saw his first night a few days ago. His eyes showed the fear as the image flashed across his mind again. The hungry eyes, the blood, the vicious way he tore into that mans throat. "Maybe we should take the transit tonight just to be safe. We can make you showing me around a date for another night, sound good to you?" Marcus asks with a goofy smile signaling that he was joking and attempting to hide his discomfort about traveling around at night. It's the reason he spent a good amount of money for the gun in his backpack.