Conversation Over "Tea" ((Zodiac))

[Jonah]

Jonah walked to Zodiac's shop from a new direction in clothes similar to what he always wore but finer quality and a better fit. What was noticeably absent was the lack of a hoodie to disguise the most obvious inhuman features. His stride was more confident and though he knew that he was dropping in semi-unexpectedly, he had informed the mystic that he would be stopping by soon but not designated when, he entered the building without waiting for the door to be opened to him.

Unsure if she would be there, he did not actually know her schedule and knew that she had a few other businesses, the possible drawbacks of his visits began to dawn on him. He had come this far though and it would be more problematic to try and turn back now. Vaguely remembering the way around the shop, he found the sales desk manned by the human that had given him the instructions for contacting Zodiac about his reading.

"Jennifer?" He questioned, doing his best to remember her name. "I was wondering if Zodiac might be in and free?" The smile that formed on his face seemed less forced than normally appeared there.

[Zodiac]

Mentally, Jennifer did a double take when she turned to face the voice speaking to her. She had gotten over Jonah's appearance quickly enough. Compared to some who came wandering into Pandora's at times, the big guy was downright normal in ways.

"Hello, Mister Jonah," the girl smiled. "Is the boss around and free? That is a good question. Gimme a sec and I will find out, okay?" She excused herself and checked in the back of the shop, only to return as she pulled a small keyring from her jeans pocket.

"She must be upstairs. I will tell her you have arrived." Jenn unlocked the door and went up the stairs.

***

Jennifer fidgeted a bit as she decided how to announce herself. She found Zodiac sitting Lotus-style in the center of the large pentacle that had been made into the floor above apparently meditating. Fortunately, Ginny- Zodiac's cat- did it for her by meowing. The gypsy's eyes opened and focused on her assistant. "I swear, one night I expect to find you levitating or something." Jenn chuckled.

"True levitation is possible I have learned. Just too lazy to devote the time and effort into learning how." Zo smirked as she stood up and stretched. "So what's up?"

"Your friend Jonah is here asking for you."

"Back already? Interesting." She quickly made sure she was presentable and stepped back into her shoes. "How does he look?"

"Besides the bat ears and the big claws?" Jennifer joked, then got serious when the mystic gave her 'the eye'. (A joke she gave to her employer's most disapproving look in response to things). "Seriously? He looks different."

"Different how?"

"You'll see. Shall I go put water on in the parlor for 'tea'?"

"Please," She followed the girl downstairs with Ginny following the both. As Jennifer turned to go back to prepare the 'purple parlor' Zodiac saw what the girl was saying as she looked over her guest. "Well, well, well," Her nose scrunching as she smiled. "If I had know I was to have a gentleman caller this eve, I would have paid more attention to my hair before I came in. Blessings of the night to you, my dear one," Zodiac placed her palms together and inclined her head. "And to what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

[Jonah]

The killer nodded and leaned on the counter as Jennifer searched through the store for her boss. When she finally determined that she was upstairs, he turned and just looked through the shop as he waited. On his second visit, he still had no idea what anything was but still found her wares interesting. At some point, he would ask her about all of this.

Footsteps echoed softly through the store as her voice filled his mind. He could not tell if the southern accent was something that she was mentally projecting or if he was the effect himself. Either way, it made him smile and he replied with his best version of a matching accent. "I have found that my callings are less likely to be denied if they are not given forewarnings, especially when one has such vigilant servants as you to maintain their lady's reputation."

His head inclined as hers had. "I just...thought I'd stop by. Had a lot going on and thought you'd enjoy hearing how things are progressing." He shifted his weight slightly, unwilling to take up her time if there was something else she needed to be doing. "Unless this is a bad time?"

[Zodiac]

Zodiac giggled at his reply. Apparently he did have a sense of humor after all, and not a bad one. The mystic listened to him explain himself, then stepped closer and offered the man-giant her arm after giving a deep curtsey.

"No, it is not a bad time at all, actually." She escorted the killer down the hall to the familiar parlor. "Progress already? I knew you were a fast learner, I did. Was all in your aura." she nodded. Inside the more normal lighting was on, pushing back the air of darkness that the gypsy normally counted on to add to the experiences of her fortune telling. The small water pot was already simmering with two blood packs floating within.

"Please, have a seat," She gestured as she began to look for cups for them both. "So, how about starting at the beginning? I know you said you wanted to think things out first, so what happened after that?"

[Jonah]

Having already bowed, he thought it would be too over the top to do so again in response to her curtsy so he merely fitted his arm through hers and let her guide the way to her parlor. "It's been...what, at least a month? Not that fast."

He eased his heavy frame back in to the same seat that it had resided in last time, though he was more confident that it could support him since it had managed to on his last visit. Watching her look for cups, there was a part of him that hoped she managed to find the same heavy tankard he had used last time. The mug had a certain amount of character and would be familiar in his hands. Though he had come to Zodiac, opening up was still somewhat new to him.

It took him a few moments to figure out where the beginning really was. "I suppose it starts with a violation report." He tried to remember if Zodiac had been involved in the discussion on CrowNet, a part of him thought that she had been, but was not sure so decided to go in to detail. "Remember when Crow was running the Bounty list? A lot of things were...ok to do. I needed to get in to the sewers and instead of looking for an entrance, I just dug my way in."

He adjusted in his seat, crossing his leg, and trying to get comfortable as he spoke far more than he was used to. "I had done it...I don't know how many times previously, and it was never a problem. Apparently I was seen, video taped or something, and the report got put up on the new list. I didn't think anything of it, there were lots of people on there and nothing was being done. Then Ty started hunting again."

Sighing heavily, he put both feet on the ground and leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on his knees so that his legs could bear his weight. When he'd started speaking, he didn't realize that it was going to go down this road. He gestured to his scars, "How much did I tell you about these?"

[Zodiac]

Zodiac listened to him as she looked about her cupboards. She knew almost at once where his story was going. It was one she had heard many times recently and it was part of the reason why she was more of a recluse now outside of work. She still enjoyed a nightly drive around the city some evenings, but for the most part she stayed indoors away from prying eyes as much as she could. She smiled a bit when he mentioned Tytonidae . Though she was no longer part of them at this time, she had no regrets from her time spent in their services. "So you were suddenly spotted for doing something you had done at least a hundred times before and was on the list? I saw your name on there and was surprised, actually."

She finally found the metal tankard in a place it had no business being in the cupboard. Jennifer had cleaned up in here after the reading, the gypsy recalled, so that explained where it was stored. She pulled it down, rinsed and dried it and then filled it with the 'tea' of choice for the evening.

Ever the proper hostess, the mystic sat the tankard within Jonah's reach and then took a seat with her own cup and saucer. Her eyes blinked as his talon tipped fingers pointed to his scarring. "Not much at all, actually," she replied. "I admit I was curious, but it was not the subject to bring up in the middle of our session. I had assumed they were a result of your peculiar 'feeding patterns' from before." She took a small sip and got comfortable in her chair.

[Jonah]

He shook his head. "No, this happened before. I...killed a cop in the streets. I don't know why I did it. It just...happened. I couldn't stop myself." Large hands wrapped around the tankard and he could feel the heat from the liquid through the metal. "I had a massive bounty on my head. This was during the time when people were being told not to drop their bounties in the QZ, that it did nothing to help the city, so I was just waiting. Others were on the list too, no one was getting attacked, so I thought we were being allowed to drop naturally."

Looking in to the red liquid, he swirled it slightly before taking a small sip, enjoying the slightly unnatural burn that came from the heated drink. "Long story short, they came and tried to send me to the Shadow Realm and it didn't work. I fought back but I knew that what they were doing was fair. I went to Mircea and asked him to do it for me. He...accepted with stipulations. It had to be a lesson of control."

The tankard was set back down but Jonah continued to stare at its contents, his tone apologetic for bringing what was supposed to be a happy meeting down. "I don't remember everything that happened but...there was a lot. That's what all these were from."

Breathing in deep and changing his tone, he finally got to his point. "With Ty hunting again, I...offered myself up. Velveteen's response was to ask me to join." A small smile formed and he looked back up at Zodiac. "It's been...interesting."

[Zodiac]

Her face softened as she listen to his tale. She knew their existence could be cold, hard, often brutal and unforgiving so part of her was not surprised at all. Vampire lessons as well as judgment was often extreme. The term 'insect politics' from The Fly with Jeff Goldblum came to mind. So far she had avoided a trip into the Realm mainly by staying away from things that would bring such punishments upon herself. She had meet the Grigori patriarch only a few times, but knew enough to know he was capable of such things with chilling ease.

Her mind reached out to her cell phone in her dress pocket and brought up the note feature. Call Habs. Overdue to hangout the letters appeared. She saved it and took another sip of her blood.

"You're kidding me." she smiled when he mentioned Tytonidae and Velveteen's offer. "Well, I am sure you will be an amazing addition to that organization. If I was still part of them, I'd probably be advocating in your favor to be allowed in. I think you will find the experience most interesting to say the least." she lifted her cup as if in a toast.

[Jonah]

He shook his head and smiled, "Not kidding." The mood had lightened considerably and he was happy for it. "I'm glad you think I'll do well. I didn't know you were part of them though. Makes me have a little more hope that I'll do alright."

Raising his tankard and clinking it against hers, he took a long draught of the liquid, enjoying the metallic burn as it passed through his mouth. He hadn't tried to make the drink himself and reminded himself that he needed to ask her how she prepared it since it was hard for him to believe all it took was hot water.

Once he finished his drink, he sat more comfortably in the chair. "It's been enjoyable so far. I'm meeting people and doing more." He began to mention his relationship with Aysel but decided not to. Maybe if he was asked he would, but he was already worrying that he'd been talking too much about himself. "What about you? How have things been?"

[Zodiac]

The gypsy was tempted to tease the man. What exactly did he mean by having more hope if they had had her in as a member before? But she chose not to. Jonah was open and conversing away so rather take the chance of making him clam up again with misunderstood humor she stayed quiet.

Her smile remained constant as he mentioned meeting others. He would certainly have an interesting variety to intermingle with within Ty. She was in mid sip when Jonah asked about her own situation.

"As you can see around you. Things have been well. I am kind of a homebody now. Work and home. Until some things can be understood properly and perhaps adjusted, it is probably safer that way as well." Zodiac stood up and gestured to his empty tankard inquiring if he wished another round.