Under the Hood [Mayhem]

[Every]

<Mayhem> He busily working under a car, laid back on a Mechanic's Creeper (as all the spots for lifting the car were in use). He absent-mindedly held a hand out for the next tool expecting someone to be there to give it to him because he was so use to Dante being at every beck without the need for a call.

<Every> Dante had been helping with her shop since it had opened. She assumed he had asked Jayden, Zachary choosing to sit in and watch after him, calling the boy 'her dweeby little brother' with how the two connect. With her hands in her pockets, she approached the car that Jayden was underneath and blinked at the pale arm, "Wrench, I take it?" She questioned, picking up the tool and then moving to crouch down beside the male.

<Mayhem> Was that voice...? “Eh? Ah? Yeah, please. Jeez, that Dante. He's useless lately. My things are never readily available.” Obviously he hasn't completely realized the thrall hadn't been around. “I've even had to remember to feed myself.” As if he remembered all on his own.

<Every> "Jayden... Dante's been at Apparition." She lifted her eyebrow, "He told me he cleared it with you." She handed it over, amused. "Zachary's been here keeping an eye on you, even if you can't see him." Stretching out her legs, Every pushed her short brown hair over her shoulder, "Why aren't you on a lift? Do you have a jack?"

<Mayhem> “Ah? Maybe... He was probably talking about it... I wasn't really listening. I tune him out if it's not work because I automatically assume it's nagging.” He took the wrench, not thinking much on 'Zachary', he still didn't believe in spirits. He began to work, absently. “Ah? Yeah. We have that kinda stuff. But the workers are using them. This is just a small repair job.”

<Every> "I nag enough for that." She snickered lightly before she shook her head and stood up, moving to collect a jack. Might as well make sure he was safe. "You do know that if it rolls, you'll end up hurting a lot, yes?"

<Mayhem> “I'd survive.” He said pluckily with a puppy-like playfulness. He rolled out just as she came back with the jack and sat up, holding his arms out to give her a hug, granted he was covered in grime and oil, but ehhhh she wasn't a girly girl! “What's up, pretty lady? Did you need something or did you just know I wanted to see a cute face?”

<Every> "Yeah, but you'll be whining and then Zach'll tell me to send Dante back." She sat back down, adjusting to set the jack under the car. "The simple fact you know how to even use a wrench against something that races amazes me." She smirked, leaning over to curl her arm around Jayden in a light hug. "Nothing's up, much. Just thought I'd come by and make sure Zach wasn't just lying about you taking care of yourself. Could be a little bit of both." She laughed, adjusting her hat.

<Mayhem> He grinned and wrapped her in one of his big, bear hugs. He winked at her. “Anything I can take a part and put back together, I can figure out how to work. The only reason I can't do people is because it'd be illegal to take them apart.” He was joking of course. “Has Dante been working hard then?”

<Every> "Not really, you could get a job with Vel in the Morgue if you wanted that." She snickered softly, leaning lightly into him. She didn't mind the oil and grease, she worked on her own car enough. "He's been doing well, don't know if he's more interested in the cash or the dancers sometimes, though."

<Mayhem> “If it's that calculating ********, it'd definitely be the money. I bet he'd trade me in if he thought I became a liability to my businesses.” Despite the griping, it was obvious that Jayd was very dependent on his capable thrall. He let go of her and moved to actually stand up. “Well, I look fine, don't I look it? Here I thought I was pretty handsome.” He gave her his dopey, puppy, lop-sided grin. “But I bet you came here for the cars more than for me.”

<Every> "Nah, because he'd probably end up on my list if he even tried." Every laughed, clearly more at ease around the male than she was with others. A soft smile was settled across her lips as Jayden stood, getting to her own feet and unzipped her sweatshirt. "Eh, it's a fifty-fifty split. You forget I'm usually in MRC working on mine." She shifted her weight, adjusting to look the car over anyway, "You are handsome, you just don't like lady parts."

<Mayhem> He continued to grin as he listened to her words...except that last part. His grin faltered and his face went to one of chagrin. “I like lady parts! It's not my fault I can't seem to find a lady that thinks I'm a good man that sees me as a man AND is not a psycho.” He crossed his arms, his brown Bambi eyes sulking at her.

<Every> "Well, you can't find a lady who isn't psycho, and I can't see to keep a man around so we're both in the same boat." She laughed, "Pop the hood, Jayd." Every pulled her short hair into a ponytail so it'd be out of her way, "What's the issue with this anyway?" And then going back to the topic of relationships, "It ain't really a bad thing though. Most of the women in this city are crazy."

<Mayhem> He went and popped the hood for her. “Eh, just some tune ups, a check up, and putting a new hose in.” He blinked at her lightly. “What about your Beau? What happened to that guy?” He leaned back to let the woman at it, she knew her way around a car. “Eh. It really isn't so bad. Women cost money, money I don't have when I need to save for the next big idea.” Said the man that had recently been sitting on 2mil and isn't far off from it again.

<Every> "I don't know where he's gotten. Not like I'm dependent on him anyway." She let out a breath of air, "If he comes back, I'm here. If he doesn't, well. **** happens." Once the hood was popped, Every leaned into look at the radiator. "Heater or radiator?" She asked, in reference to the hose, "And not all women cost money, Jayden, just gold diggers or those that you spoil whether or not they want to be spoiled." Reaching in, she checked the radiator hose, anyway.

<Mayhem> Of course the woman had reached for the right hose, go figure. Smart *****. “Radiator.” He grinned and shrugged a bit. “It's not the gold diggers that scare me. I at least know what their agenda is; and, I know my agenda and their agenda don't match up.” He grinned a bit more at her. “I only spoil you every once in awhile.”

<Every> "Got a bucket?" She said after feeling a crack, ignoring the wetness - the most it would do is make her sick, anyway, after she wiped it on her jeans. "Place it under the petcock." Glad that the talk of Spade had gone away, Every looked over at Jayden over her shoulder before frowning. "Yes, but it's gold diggers that are essentially useless and the ones to look out for. At least with crazy bitches, you only get certain levels of crazy. Plus, it ain't like I'm not going to just let them walk away."

<Mayhem> He got the bucket and did as she said. He gave her a small smile and then a brotherly kiss to her cheek. “Right, right. You'll save me from the crazies, right? And in return, when you get tired of your Beau, I'll replace him, deal?” He gave her that playful, lop-sided grin of his.-

<Every> "I honestly don't know if I even want to think about a relationship period." She admittedly, glancing to Jayden after he kissed her cheek. She gave a soft half smile, "But I could use the bear hugs more." Even if she didn't really like to be touched, he was an exception as some in the Andras family were. "Yeah, the crazies... you attract them just as easily as I attract asses." She frowned.

<Mayhem> He gave her his concerned little 'Bambi' stare and chuckled a bit. “Bear hugs I can do. I don't think I could imagine the naughty with my sis-type person.” He teased, softly as he moved to idly help her with the task she was working on. “I'll point out asses to you, if you'll keep protecting me from the crazies, deal?”

<Every> "If you could, I'd be concerned for your mental health." She smirked, but then studied his features, "I'm okay, Jayd. Really." And, to an extent, she was. She'd be okay. "Deal." After a moment, Every leaned down to open the valve after double checking that the bucket was in place, beginning to drain the coolant. "Do you have any extra clamps? Looks like these aren't going to come off easily." She pointed out the tension pieces on the hose, where an indent had been made. "I'll cut 'em."

<Mayhem> He grinned at her cheekily. “My mental health is the most stable in this family, thank you kindly.” He nodded and went to dig some clamps off the wall. bringing them back to her and holding them out without much concern. He did tease her though. “I hope you know, this isn't a paid intern.”

<Every>:"That can be argued. You don't feed yourself without prompt." She smirked, waiting until the coolant was drained before she got to work, thanking him once she got it back. "Oh please, like I need an internship." She snickered, "And I ain't doing anything that requires a brain."

<Mayhem> “Tell ya what, maybe I'll buy ya lunch if ya do a good job.” He winked. Leaning back, he crossed his arms over his chest to watch her work and wait for any other 'get me this' or 'do that she might need. “So. Otherwise, how have ya been? What's been up with the Familia?”

<Every> "It's kind of hard to play the 'I'm not paying you for your work card' knowing that if I asked, you'd give me money." Every commented before letting one of her claws grow, snipping the old clamps off, letting it disappear and beginning to twist the hose of. "A Paladin went off on an attacking spree, swiped at me and missed." She shook her head, "You need to get out more. But, basically nothing much. We've been chilling out at the farm a lot."

<Mayhem> “There is that.” He remarked offhandedly like that was neither here nor there. He frowned at the Pally answer though and snorted at the fact he 'needed to get out more'. “And do what?”

<Every> She snickered softly, clearly amused when he didn't deny it. "I don't know. Come spend time with the family, go dancing. Have a social life that doesn't just include me, your thrall, and coworkers." She then glanced to Zachary as the wraith entered, commenting about Jayden having a less interesting life than she did. "Oh, shut up Silas."

<Mayhem> “Don't talk to yourself in public, please.” He eyed her, with a quirked 'brow. “As for a social life.... I never know when the family's hanging together. I don't like strangers, and I'd rather not spend my time sulking at all the couples. Especially around this time of year.” He stuck his tongue out at her.

<Every> "I'm not talking to myself, I'm talking to my wraith." She motioned in his direction, "You need to make your way to the necromancer path, bunny boy. It'd make my life a lot easier." She sighed, eyeing her old friend and then looking back to Jayden. "You can look at the family board, and you don't have to sulk."

<Mayhem>: “Spirits aren't real. They're a manifestation of another side of you that shoots out from latent telepathic abilities.” Very factually put. He rolls his shoulders at the family board thing. “That would be just looking at a bunch of family drama, wouldn't it?”

<Every>: Every just stared at Jayden before she stepped back, proceeding to summon a spirit and pointing at it. "That's not a manifestation of me." The man was hefty in his previous life, his features difficult to make out. She heard Zachary laugh and then ignored him, dropping the hose into a garbage can. "Not when you can look where my events are."

<Mayhem> Jayden eyed the man for a long while before a logical explanation came out. “Physical projection of something lurking in your mind. We see many people every day that we only remember subconsciously.” He gave an astute nod before leaning to watch her car repairs better.

<Every>: "You're a vampire and you don't believe in spirits. How do you explain us being able to use powers? We get our power from them." With that being said, she reached over and absorbed the spirit, "You're still in denial from the Nevaeh thing." It was her opinion, but she made it out to be a fact as she shook her head, collecting the new hose.

<Mayhem> He twitched at the name, but it was a long cry better than how he use to react to the name directly after the incident. “I didn't believe in spirits even before Nevaeh. People never use the full potential of their brains. It's simply a matter of more of that potential being put into play with us.”

<Every> "Jayden, again. You're a vampire. Spirits are real, as are fae. You shift into a rabbit, I shift into a wolf. How that doesn't connect in your brain as something other than a manifestation, I will never understand. Please keep in mind that I took Psychology in college before running into Micah." She rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she then began to carefully twist it back into place.

<Mayhem> “There is a logical explanation for everything. Let's say, for arguments sake, spirits were real. They don't have a Cerebral Cortex to think, I want to haunt this person. It would be a manifestation of a projection of the electric waves that once made up that person, not the person themselves.” He sulks. “And you say your psychology thing like there's something wrong with being logical when Psychology isn't even an exact science, lady.”

<Every>: "You're sulking." Every commented without looking in his direction, holding her hand out for one of the clamps when she was ready for it, "They are real, you're just being a stubborn *** and refusing to accept what's in front of you." Once she got the clamp, she adjusted it over place, "Screwdriver please."

[Mayhem]

<Mayhem> He handed over the clamps and snickered at her insistence that he was just stubborn. Then he went ahead and handed her the screwdriver when asked. “I'd rather be stubborn than believe in everything I'm told.”

<Every> "When you can physically see and connect with one mentally, it's not believing, Jayden. It's fact. I turned Silas, and then he died. And when I summoned my wraith, I got him instead. A wraith is a dead vampire, what we are in the shadow realm." She frowned, taking hold of the screwdriver and using the handle to poke him.

<Mayhem> “If that's how is, I think I'm good with just Dante.” He squirmed at the poking and tickled at her side.

<Every> "It's a power, connecting your mind. I see and hear what he sees, it isn't always like that." She shook her head, swatting at his hand absentmindedly, "And it's a little bit irritating considering the man knew me as a kid."

<Mayhem> “Alright. I don't -want- to believe in such things. Will you leave it then?” He snagged a handkerchief and patted her down as though she were sweating. He glanced around at the people working on their own projects before turning his attention back to the woman.


<Every>: "That, I will accept, because it means I was correct with you being in denial." She eyed him as he patted at her. She glanced at his workers afterwards, and twisted the screw on the clamps into place.

<Mayhem> “Acception acknowledged.” He rolled his eyes but smiled. He moved to the vending machine and got a cola out, and on top of that, he went into his office to pour a saved blood back into a solid colour water bottle so people couldn't see. He came back and held out the water bottle, as he sipped his cola.

<Every> She shook her head, chuckling quietly before she moved to collect a bottle of coolant before filling it up. Blowing a few strands of hair from her face, Every looked into the car quietly, studying what else she could do as she figured he'd been working on the tune ups under the car.

<Mayhem> He smiled a bit cheekily as he leaned back and let the woman to work. Free labour from a mechanic? Score. Of course he wouldn't complain.

<Every> "All done." She commented, setting her grime covered hands on her hips before she turned to face Jayden. "Why do you want to refuse that they're real, anyway?"

<Mayhem>: He held out a hand to give her a high five before giving a small shrug. He just didn't believe. “I just don't believe in them. At least not in the sense people consider them. People are made up of energy. We're energy at our cores. My dad was a good old boy type; but I didn't share those beliefs. There is no Heaven, there is no Hell. There is just energy and what we do with it. 'Spirits' aren't people that get left behind. They, if anything, are the energy left behind like a recording device stuck on loop from the time the energy was the strongest. Horror movies are great! But it doesn't work like in the movies. Energy doesn't have the cortex to consciously go around tormenting people.”

<Every> "You'd probably feel different on the no Hell front after you visit the shadow realm for anything other than your own decision." She stated, stepping forward and returning the high five. Whereas with others, Every preferred to be guarded, she allowed herself to be more relaxed by the male and her hazel eyes looked at the male in amusement. "I'm not big on the topic of Heaven, I used to believe when I was younger. It's been about nine years since I've considered it." She shrugged, "You look at everything logically, as if you don't consider the possibility of other things."

<Mayhem> “Logical is the best way. For instance. You guys teasing me that I'm gay? Let's say, for arguments sake. I did have homosexual tendencies. The logical answer is to not act on such a thing. Logic tells me that the safe route is to avoid any relationship of the romantical variety. Before, I'd say women all the way. But in hindsight of now... I still believe that women should be treated sweetly. Not because they're weaker or inferior... But because I just feel like it's something -I- should do. Whereas I don't think I need to give that kind of respect to men. However... As of late... Logic tells me, while emotion says to be sweet, that the logical and safe choice is to not want anyone.”

<Every> "I wasn't teasing you because you have homosexual tendencies - I'm bisexual, Jayden, I like men and women. I just prefer men." She shook her head softly, a soft chuckle escaping past her lips, "I don't think it's a bad thing at all. It gives you more of a chance to find the person that you're meant to be with." Every paused to put down the hood, folding her arms in front of her chest, "Is that because of Nevaeh scaring you, showing that even the nicest person can be crazy?" She questioned.

<Mayhem>: He pinches her hip. “You guys always tease me at family gatherings! -He then shrugs, kinda shrinking in on himself.- It's not just that, and it's not quite that either. It's just…”

<Every>: "We tease you because we care about you." She reached over and swatted at his hip, sitting on the hood of the car before crossing her ankles as she found. "You're afraid of love?"

<Mayhem> He nods. “I can't take the people who are already in my heart out of my heart; but, I can at least protect myself by not letting anyone else in it. I'm not like the rest of you. I'm not strong. All I can do is play the fool and put a smile on my face. I can't beat the crap out of anyone, I can't help anyone. You get what you give. I can't give anything, so what I would get would be equally as bad. I got full of myself... I hurt Lilz by being harsh on her for hating Nev. I thought she was just being jealous that I was expanding my world. And I didn't think it was fair that she was allowed to expand hers while I couldn't expand mine. In the end, I was the one who was wrong. I had noticed the signs of Nev's dependency issues and her Psychosis issues, but I was so confident in myself, that I could handle it, that I could take care of my friend. And in the end, you had to save me.”

<Every>: "Jayden." Every sighed as she gave a shake of her head, "Stop thinking like that. You don't have to protect yourself from people, not if you have those that are willing to fight for you... I used to shut everyone out, and I was alone." She crossed her arms in front of her chest, shifting her weight, "You're strong in ways that I'm not. You don't have any issue asking for help, or having Dante do it for you. You try. I don't. I don't like people, at least not like I was used to." She frowned, "And the thing is, you aren't wrong on the Zoey thing. She was jealous, and she was treating you as if you couldn't have any friends past her. She was afraid you were replacing her, that's how it looked and I'll always stand by it."

<Mayhem> He blinks and gives her a half-hearted, but warm smile before wrapping her in a big, puppy hug. “So you're going to be my knight in shining armour each time something goes wrong if I try letting people in, eh?” He sighed and shrugged his shoulders, hands in the air, palms flat open and upward in an American style, complete with the head shaking. “Even if I wanted to open it, I wouldn't know how. I don't really know anyone. My world is kinda small.”


<Every> She leaned slightly into his huge, a soft smile playing across her lips as she chuckled, "Eh, not like it's a difficult thing to do. I'm a talented shot and I'm a badass with a blade." Every frowned, then, and then lifted her shoulder in a small shrug, "You talk. Make plans to meet family members in Andras, go out of your computer sometimes. You can always come to a cards night with us."

<Mayhem> “Yeah... I... Might try that, sometime.” He snuggled the woman tight, nuzzling his face into the top of her head.

<Every> "It can be extremely gross and offensive, but I think you'd have fun." She laughed.

<Mayhem>: “Gross and offensive? You haven't seen gross and offensive until you've played Cards Against Humanity, that game is awesome.”

<Every> "What do you think I meant by cards night?" She smirked, shaking her head.

<Mayhem> He blinked and grinned. “That sounds perfect, lady! You'll have to drag me to the next event.”

<Every> "I will, I will. It's been pretty enjoyable." Every crossed her ankles lightly, a soft grin dancing across her lips.

<Mayhem> “Oyeah? Havin' lots of fun, eh? Without me? I see how it is.” He snuggled the woman tight before letting go.

<Every> "Well, to be fair I did tell Dante to drag you to Apparition once." She shook her head, "He said something about seeing you dance and then went quiet."

<Mayhem> “…That ********.”

<Every>: She laughed.

<Mayhem> “Anyways. I'll deal with him later.” He squinted.

<Every> "It's a dance studio, tech friendly. You could have some fun there, play video games on the projection screen at the least after it closes up for the night."

<Mayhem> “.... Yanno...I could probably get you built some REALLY cool projections for the screen, if ya want? I could even set up the projector to give an ambience of wave and color that syncs to the music you have played.” He looked like a kid in a candy shop at the idea of tinkering.

<Every> She laughed a bit, "Most of the computer screens are set up so that you're capable of watching yourself dance and are hooked up to the projectors. It's fang friendly, not only human friendly."

<Mayhem> Psh. If that's all, you haven't decked it out nearly enough, lady. I'll come look at your system some time.

<Every> The brunette gave a shrug of her shoulders, "I'm not a serious hacker. I hack, but I'm not all bad *** with it. So you're welcome to."

<Mayhem> “Did you have Dante help? He's pretty good with that stuff. Or what *did* you have him working on?”

<Every> "He's been keeping an eye on it, I think some of the dancers." She shook her head, "I can't run it during the day and I don't like interviewing people, so he handled it for me."

<Mayhem> “Oooh. Yeah. He's really good with that ****. You can keep borrowing him for as long as ya need. The creepy ******** is way too efficient. I hadn't even noticed he was gone because he still made time to bring me paperwork and **** I needed to work on, file, fill out, and sign.”

<Every> "Zachary said that he saw him, I wasn't keeping him there so it makes sense." She smirked, clearly amused before she got up and went around to check tire pressure. "I usually go and dance in the evening so."

<Mayhem> “Gotta keep a close eye on that ********. He's tricky. He'll do anything to make things run efficiently and smoothly. The ******** even tricks me into signing things I don't wanna if it's good for the business.”

<Every> "Well, there's also a difference between you and I." She snickered, "I pay mind to my surroundings and the studio itself. He knows if he tries tricking me, he'll likely end up with a black eye."

<Mayhem> He grins. “Sometimes I wonder who's the boss and who's the subordinate with him.” He glanced down and dragged his phone out of his pocket as it went off. “Speak of the devil. 'Go to the storage and check over the supplies. I have prior work arrangements to deal with. It won't kill you.' The ********, maybe it will. I might be allergic to the outside.” He grins, playfully at the woman.

<Every> Every's hazel eyes looked over the text, her lips twitching in amusement as she stuffed her hands into her pockets. "Prior work arrangements likely being the studio, I think there was a new girl that wanted to be hired." She shook her head, "You know, I know a few workaholics but Dante kind of pushes it to a whole new level." She lifted her hand to show that it was over her head.

<Mayhem> “Ahaha. I think he likes it because he never got the real 'school experience'. He had to be an adult before he even knew what 'it' was for. So I think getting to do such studious and social things is important to him.”

<Every> "Eh, not all of us got the childhood we wanted." She understood it, really, and she eyed the car before sitting back down on top of it. Her ankles were then crossed, her head inclining slightly. "So I get that."

<Mayhem> “S'probably why he gets along with you so well.” He tucked the phone away; and, moved to give her a hug. “Wanna come with me to the storage or got other things to do? Or just wanna hang around and fiddle with cars? Doubt anyone here will complain about an extra pair of capable hands.”

<Every> "That and I probably have already scared him into not pissing me off, he has seen me save your *** and take down a fadebeast." She gave a huff of a chuckle before her hazel eyes studied Jayden in thought. "As if they're complain to the boss about another mechanic." She shook her head, "And if they did, I'd just start singing along with my music and ignore them. I'll help with storage."

<Mayhem> He grins. He lifts her up, bridal style and starts carrying her out and off to the storage. Where they would surely toil away doing boring, misc. tasks such as counting and noting items.