Some Senceability < Invite >

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

"I put your pay cheque in the employee mail box next to the computer. Could you let Victoria know that, Felicia?" Lita asked as she moved past the woman who was coming inside the cafe, as Adelita was going out. "I did all the prep for the night. I'll see you tomorrow." Origines wasn't making a lot of money yet, but enough to keep all three woman getting a pay cheque every week. So that meant Adelita needed to pull her weight too-which she didn't mind. Lita had no qualms about getting her hands dirty.

Felicia answered back in Spanish, letting Adelita know she had heard her and would let Victoria know, before the glass doors closed behind her, the smell of chorrizo and flour for the flautas disappearing from Adelita's nostrils with the closing of the door. She was only a block from the cafe when she pulled out her cell phone and sent Winny a text. 'Are you busy tonight?' Adelita hit send and before stuffing the phone in her coat and crossed the street.

The Mexican woman had no plans and no final destination for the night, but she wasn't ready to call it a night yet. While the woman waited for Winny to reply, Lita stepped inside a McDonald's and ordered some fries and a water. She knew they weren't real fries-not even close, but it was her secret indulge. Some people has stashes of chocolates or booze in their home, not Adelita. Once a week she stopped at the McDonald's to get the taste of salty grease at its finest. While she waited for her order, her phone played a few seconds of the main chorus of the song 'Fun.' Winny had her own tone, like everyone did in her phone, so Adelita knew who was texting her phone before she even looked at the screen.

Winny was more than agreeable. Final exams had been today and she was ready to blow off some steam. Adelita assumed that was a saying she wasn't familiar with, but all she needed to see was Winny's excited 'YEEEEES!' on the screen to know that they had plans starting now. Only, as Adelita turned to leave the McDonald's with her order, there was a flier taped to one of the clear windows near the main entrance that had the Mexican woman's attention. Something about making businesses boom. Being successful and loving what you do. Only, it was tonight. "Well, shoot." Adelita pouted as she looked at the time and date again to make sure that it was tonight. It was.

Exactly what she needed. To be successful quick to make lots of cash to go back to Mexico. Lita ripped the taped flier from the glass window without any second thoughts and left the fast food place in search of the hotel location printed on the paper. With the bag in one hand and her phone in the other, Adelita used her thumb to text an apology to Winny, but they would celebrate tomorrow night.

Hotel West. Near Gullsborough. Adelita wasn't too familiar with that part of town, but she had seen the hotel once or twice while riding the train in the city. She would be a little late, but Adelita was positive they wouldn't turn down her twenty-five dollar entry fee either. In a hurry, the Mexican woman peeled her heels off and made for the train station. Thankfully she was tiny, so Adelita could worm her way around people and under arms that were in her way. She wouldn't stop until she was on the train and on her way to the Gullsborough district.

On the train, Adelita inhaled and exhaled twice while putting her black heels back on. She probably looked crazy, but she didn't care. She was on a mission and this time it was more personal than ever before.

[Sence]

“Theo, it is for businesses. Not date.” She frowned at her friend and thrall as he walked around her, checking for any signs that she wasn’t up for the room of crowded people at Hotel West. “How are your ribs?” He asked and she sighed. “I am fine.” Her eyebrows furrowed together, although it wasn’t entirely a lie. In the years since her turning, Sence had gotten over the pain that plagued her from the unhealed wounds that would have claimed her life had Kyrian not found her in time. “You will make me late if you do not henning.”

There was a brief moment of confusion that accompanied Theo’s handsome features until he realized what she had meant. “I am not mother henning you, Sen.” He paused, taking a look around Light ‘Em Up before his blue eyes returned to her amber gaze. “Are you positive you don’t want me to go with you?” Today, her candle shop wasn’t too busy. Christmas shoppers came during the day, she had noticed with his exhaustion, and she shook her head. “I will be fine.” And that was the end of it as she settled her purse over her shoulder, mindful not to snag her necklace on her dress.

Afterwards, Sence waited until the last customer exited the shop before she gave a wave in the direction of Theo and removed the tome from her purse. The fae language felt strange on the Spaniard’s tongue, but without any hesitation, she left her shop and returned to the family apartment. Without Kyrian or Mercy around, she didn’t dwell long as she slipped through the fadeportal into the dwelling where she collected her jacket off of the makeshift couch and a pair of foldable flats that she put in her purse.

“Hotel West… that is… west of transit.” She reminded herself, but paused to check a map that she had pinned up by the computer just before she left. Pulling her jacket on, she was relieved that it kept her bag from view of thieves - the last time she had come across one, her ribs had ached for days after the man had yanked too hard and caused her to let out a squeal of pain. With the pain had come anger and Theo was still recovering from violent way in which his normally calm master had grabbed the other human and sank her fangs deep.

Pressing her hand lightly against her ribs, Sence passed the cameras and the sensor on the door of the dwelling. The exit came next, followed by the climb to the surface - which prompted several ill mannered hisses under her breath without profanity before she took a deep breath and straightened out. The amber eyed telepath walked past the transit, using her phone to ask Theo once more where it would be held through texting - a task that didn’t turn out entirely in proper English before she put the device away into her jacket pocket.

Sence looked to the left, and then the right before she stepped out onto the street, stepping backwards as a man on a bike rode past her quickly causing the young woman to panic briefly before calling out, “Watch where you are going!” in an annoyed tone before exhaling loudly. Maybe she should have taken Theo up on his offer, it would be less of a hassle. After a few minutes, and a second time of checking the street, Sence crossed and reached the transit as the train arrived, looking at a map once more to find her destination from there. She knew, at the least, that it was near another cafe.

“This city is too large for sanity.” She sighed, trying to memorize the quickest route.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

"Next stop, Honeymead Station." The male voice over the PA system in the train boomed as semi-familiar buildings, like the Towers and Station Net could be seen from the outside of the frontal windows as it came to a slow crawl and a stop, not far from the library. As it did this, two thoughts came to the Mexican woman's mind. She could walk the length of the park, or Lita could get off at Gullsborough and take the city streets.

Adelita debated both choices. The ground hadn't froze yet, which meant it was wet and muddy, making it difficult to walk in the grassy areas of the park, in heels. There weren't many spots where she couldn't walk on sidewalk, but there were a couple. It was quicker though. Or get off at Gullsborough, which was further away, but she wouldn't have to potentially ruin her heels.

As she debated, Adelita's choice would be made for her as the train started up again, just as she was about to stand and vacate the train. She would have to walk briskly, or take her heels off to run on the city pavement again, like before to get there at a half way reasonable time.

"Gullsborough Station in five to six minutes, folks." The same voice boomed over the PA again as the library became a distant memory of what the train travelers had seen on the way to their final destinations. Lita pulled out her phone and sent Winny a text, securing a new time and night for their make-up hang out session before dropping the phone back in her purse and closing it with a simple snap of the top.

When the train came to a stop at the next station, Lita sprang up from the plastic bucket shaped seat, weaseled around various train travelers and zoomed out the door that threatened to close and take her to a different station. One that was even further from the Hotel she needed to be at over thirty minutes ago.

And just as she plotted, the heels came off one at a time. Left first, and then right, so the petite woman could get a firmer stance on the concrete ground so make faster time. Again, she probably looked insane, but she had places to be and needed help desperately with her business.

By the time Adelita arrived, the bottoms of her feet were pounding and sore, and slightly cut open in a couple spots from ice on the city streets that she hadn't had time to care. They weren't bleeding too badly, just a couple knicks here and there from her skin biting into some sharp edges of ice that hadn't been taken care of by the owners of the bank, the cafe and other places.

"Please." Adelita said as she dug one foot at a time in her heels at the check-in desk. "I need to go in." Adelita started opening her purse, where her small clutch would be, to get the 'cover fee,' or whatever they called it in these situations. "I'm sorry, Miss, but it's waaaay past entry time. It might be considered rude." A curvy, middle ages woman with glitter strands spoke, holding a hand out as she sat behind the desk. "Here. Keep the rest as a tip. I want to make mucho dollares." Lita threw a fifty at the woman, moved past her and the table and pulled on the golden colored handles of a wooden door that would lead her into a conference room.

Rows and rows of seats were all faced in the same direction-most of them filled. The door closed, softly, but still made some sound as it closed behind the tiny woman. A few looks were tossed her way and Lita waved to the onlookers and even gave a couple of them a wink with her left eye before she moved to find a seat somewhere in the middle back. Where she would hopefully sneak in, unnoticed by the person talking on stage.

[Sence]

A man jostled her, not apologizing and Sence resisted the urge to snap at him as she recoiled into herself. Her arm wrapped around her ribs where the three-year old wound had remained and she sighed. She could do this. Theo didn’t have to do everything for her, did he? “No.” She answered the question and then continued on her way. One foot in front of the other, she’d paused every now and then to avoid being ran into or ran over by a car. She didn’t like other drivers and she hadn’t thought to return to the apartment parking garage to retrieve her own.

“Maybe Theo will collect it before the night is over.”

She knew all she had to do was ask.

“I don’t think the Mercedes has chains.”

She frowned. It wasn’t going to happen.

Looking at her phone as she walked briskly, Sence realized she was late - it wasn’t too bad. Maybe a few minutes, at the least. It wasn’t so much as she needed to be there, as she wanted to be. The three businesses had never had a rough start, she made a good revenue every evening; the numbers that ran across her spreadsheet were ones that she enjoyed to see. However, there had been a promise to open a fourth that had crossed her mind as a new mall had sprung up.

Newer businesses were tricky for Sence. She hadn’t an idea where to begin, what was becoming more “hip” as Theo often teased her about. Upon arrival, the small woman removed her purse and collected the cover fee, ignoring the woman’s rude comment as she took her money. “Tardy is natural. Busy people understand.” A sweet smile was visible on her lips afterwards and she slipped towards the doors, feeling her anxiety tugging at her insides as she saw how crowded the conference room was as people had filled the room.

Keeping her head down to avoid eye contact, she sat down quietly in the back. Most wanted to be closer, didn’t they? She would never understand those people, so desperate to hear every single last word. It helped, really, for the telepath to sit in the back with enhanced hearing, anyway.

As it began, Sence didn’t remove any paper from her bag to take notes. Instead, she simply listened. Comparing notes to what she knew, and what she could learn. Every now and then, she would type something down on her cellphone; the screen having been dimmed after an old man gave her a dirty look and commented about young women being disrespectful.

Behind her, when the door opened, and then made a noise, Sence was one of the ones that turned around enough to look over her shoulder. A small smile played across her lips as she saw the wave, but she turned back around and leaned back in her seat. There was a light pulse of pain against her ribs from the movement that was ignored as Sence continued to listen to the speaker. If he noticed the latecomer, the man chose not to say anything and Sence tapped at something in her phone to create more notes.

As she heard someone settle down near her, Sence turned her head to look and saw that it was the woman who had entered. Hesitantly, she considered using telepathy before Theo reminded her that not everyone was like her. It was something that the shy woman had trouble with even now, but at least she was getting more considerate and easier at speaking out verbally. Even if she was still quiet. “You have not missed much.” She whispered, “Chatter at the most.”

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

Maybe it was because it was one of the few empty seats in the place, or maybe it was because Lita suspected the other woman was a latina that she sat down next to the woman. Regardless, Lita was glad to have sat there when the woman let her know that she hadn't missed much. The opening speal, more or less, which she was fine with missing. Life stories were great and all, but she would never see the speaker again...Lita looked at the speaker and made a squinty face with her nose and eyes. No, she would never see him again after tonight. If he were a little younger, and more attractive-maybe, just maybe she would see him after the show, but no. Adelita did not care that she missed his life success story. She only wanted to know how to get rich quick and if he had the answers, hopefully he would share them sooner than later. How long was this conference supposed to be anyways? An hour or two?

"Gr-Thank you." Adelita smiled to the woman, her eyes meandering over the woman's features as she brushed some hair behind her ears. Lita could appreciate a pretty woman, as much as a handsome man, and this woman was very pretty. Lita turned her attention off the woman and to the male speaker on stage who seemed to be doing some sort of plug for some book he wrote earlier in the year.

She ignored it and let her eyes wander, half listening, half tuning him out. Maybe she would buy his book, but that was a choice she was going to make after Adelita heard what he had to say. She might have already wasted enough money as it was just coming here. Not that she had anything better to do tonight. Other than go out with her thrall.
"I'm sorry, but do you know anything about the speaker up there?" Adelita returned her line of vision to the woman besides her as she asked that question in a tone just barely above a whisper.

[Sence]

As she listened to the man talk and the woman settled beside her, Sence flipped screens to go through her email as an alarm was triggered. A picture of Theodore holding up a sign saying You can do it! caused her to roll her eyes before she checked her business emails. A new employee still had yet to finish his hiring process and she frowned softly. She didn’t text Theo suggesting he bother the male, as she figured he would lecture her about her phone and lectures. Afterwards she checked her bank accounts before eventually taking another looked at her notes.

 “You are welcome." Sence spoke, oblivious to the other's traveling gaze as she looked down at her phone and hesitantly held out the device. “These may catch you up." Sence wondered why this was important for her businesses. Theo had set the idea up, maybe it was his idea to get a better reputation - that going to these things may cause people to visit the advertised shops. Didn’t he say there was a brochure somewhere?

She considered going through her bag, but knew that she would be looked at by the busy bodies in the conference. That was what they liked to do, mind everything but their own? Her amber eyes looked at the other woman as she heard her question and Sence thought back to the book that Theo had. “He was divorced twice, worked too hard. Went to good business school, but graduated from Harper Rock University, too, for Human Resources, I think."

The quota of words that Sence had been expanded, no longer seemingly at a constant limit per sentence. “My business partner thought it would be good. Something about five ways to build success easy." She could almost hear Theo telling her not to frown at that, as Sence had mentioned that cutting corners did not help once.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

Lita listened to the other woman, positive she was a latina now that the accent was heard as she answered Adelita's question. Lita could see the phone just fine, but in an attempt to feel the woman out, Lita's hand enveloped the phone to angle it better in her direction, fingers accidentally brushing against the Hispanic womans. "Thank you. Again." Adelita laughed before her eyes narrowed and focused on what the woman had typed in her app on her phone.

Business partner. Maybe that was what Adelita needed to help improve her business. After all, she wasn't used to running anything, but dove in head first with eyes shut. Time was what some of her girls told her was needed. That in time, working hard and a good reputation will help Adelita become successful. "Only five? Really." Adelita sounded as if she didn't know what the conference was about, and maybe even a little slightly skeptical. It seemed strange that if someone did whatever the five things were that they would never really have to focus on anything else. That everything would work in their favor.

"I'm Adelita. Lita." She smiled warmly to the woman before her hand slipped away from the phone and from the side of the woman's fingers just as the male on the stage started his plug about the things people would need to purchase. First, his book and then his software, followed by a membership to something online. All of which would cost just shy of four hundred at thirty dollars. Lita whistled as she tallied up all the prices in her head and then frowned. "So much monies to get successful right at the start." Lita murmured to the woman, finding some of this to maybe not be all that she thought it would be.

[Sence]

When Kyrian first had sired her, Sence would have likely jumped out of her skin at even the slightest amount of movement in her direction. Because of Freyja and Constance, as well as she supposed, Caliopa and Circe, it was easier to suppress the urge as she was touched. “You are welcome." She smiled and listened to the male talking about fiscal responsibility and how risks were important to take in the business world.

It almost made her snicker, really. Risk was important, but she had done fine so far without them. It was a risk just being a vampire, wasn't it? The fear of being found out? Sence felt her lips twitch in amusement. “There is more that comes with it, the more he speaks, the more I wonder if he is loco." Even if he was successful, she wondered if there were any company secrets that she could get off his computer systems... “More detail iin his book, Theo says it is brilliant." Her thrall might be smart, but she didn't think that the man knew anything further than his wallet, really.

“Lita is a pretty name." Sence said softly, returning the warm smile before her attention to the man. She frowned at the prices, a shake of her head being given. “He does not seem very successful out of anything but tricking some of their money." She sighed. She then inclined her head as she nodded in agreement to Adelita's words, “I own three - plan to start four. Business is not difficult if one can balance time." Sence asked curiously, her attention turning from the man to the woman beside her.

[Adelita (DELETED 5973)]

Adelita couldn't hide the laugh she expelled from her lips as the woman next to her said she believed the speaker was crazy. Adelita appreciated someone who could speak her native language, it oddly made the woman feel connected to meet other Latino's in Canada. It was a rare thing, to see other people that were the same as her, but once she noticed another Hispanic, Adelita made sure to engage them in conversation and ask what life was like in Canada compared to the country the left behind. Which was why she had Origenes. People of her descent seemed to be unhappy with the lack of legitimate Mexican food, followed by music, clothing and the holidays that were celebrated in Mexico, or somewhere in South America.

"Theo?" Adelita echoed, looking around for someone who might be this mysterious 'Theo.' "That is your business partner, si?" Adelita inquired before she smiled at the compliment the woman gave her about her name. Again, a second laugh, much softer than the one prior passed through her lips. "I like Lita more. My name comes from a woman mi madre knew. Adela." Adelita confessed, barely above a murmur. "She was a strong woman. Mi madre said she was...a fighter. Mentally and physically." Adelita confessed with a small shake of her head. "He won't be tricking me out of my money. I work too hard for it and want to make more. Not give it away for a few dollars more." Adelita's eyes narrowed as her arms crossed and she shook her head. "I only own one, but if it turns out to be successful, I want to own one or two more. Start small, aim big. Or something like that." Adelita laughed before turning the conversation at the woman beside her. "Como te llamas?" Adelita asked, forgetting about the talking man and his scams for now.