Paper Flowers (Alexandrea)

[Jack Diddly]

The foot traffic around and outside the area of the mall was relatively heavy tonight. This wasn’t at all surprising as it was one of the first unseasonably warm evenings of the winter. It had been a bitter one this year and Harper Rock was no stranger to snow and ice. The residents of this fair city, though, had become quite accustomed to the bite of the frost against their fingers and cheeks, above all else. A night like tonight, preceded by a warm, sunny day, where the breeze was low and cool, rather than heavy and frigid was just the type of reprieve folks were craving. They had spent too many nights cooped up in their homes trying to stay warm or battling off the ailments of this cold or that flu…they didn’t know how good they had it. Yes, nights like tonight were a sure signal that the ghost of winter was upon them and they couldn’t help but revel in it. That was all fine and good for Jack, it meant more bread in his hat courtesy of the fine people of Harper Rock. Plus fortune was certainly on his side tonight, for a small, pop up street fair was taking place. Coupled with the warmer than usual night, it would draw even more crowds. He made sure to find himself a nice little spot between a few of the more ‘groovy’ tents...you know the type that sell all manners of crystals, gems, incense, hemp apparel, tapestries etc. The proprietors of those tents generally enjoyed a good song and they would be less likely to shoo him away. They may even give him a bite to eat or a smoke, if he played well enough. The canopy to his right was even burning a nice mix of incense and a soft, woody, earthy aroma filled the night around him. As he breathed in the air, the floral hints dancing through his sense, he couldn’t help, but think of her.

Jack was sitting, indian style, up against the outer wall of the mall, the legs of the passerbyers filled his line of sight for the most part. The stars were shining above him, even though it wasn’t too late yet. He cradled an old mahogany acoustic in his arms, the fingers of his right hand dancing away over the strings, as the fingers of his left jumped around the frets. Jack took a night full of chit-chatting heads and foot steps against stone paths and filled it with song. He was halfway through a folksy tune, dripping with blues. He had made the number up on the spot, really, inspired by the smell of the incense and a past he couldn’t forget. It was a slow, haunting melody, but it added character to the bazaar. The passing pedestrians seemed to agree. Every few minutes or so someone would drop a little coin in his overturned patchwork, ivy cap. It was placed on the walk, a few inches in front of Jack, just within his reach. He wasn’t singing tonight. He didn’t sing so much these days.

As Jack was winding down his song, a well dressed, dark haired woman reached down and placed a ten in his hat. Jack saw the bill and turned his attention to the benefactor. He considered her quickly. She was young, maybe mid to late twenties, dressed for a night on the town or to kill, maybe a bit of both. She donned a ruby evening gown and quite a set of pearls adorned her slim neck. Her eyes were hazel and distracted and her heels screamed ‘I can’t give chase.’ It looked like it was showtime. Jack wrapped up his song just as the woman turned to walk away. “S’cuse me, Miss,” he called after her as he set his guitar down for a moment. Jack had a gruff voice, but it was strangely smooth all the same. It had a tint of a drawl to it. It was unique, though it commanded attention. The woman turned back to him, she looked hurried and Jack could almost hear the questioning in her face. He stood up slowly and took a step towards her, “I believe that you dropped this.” He extended an empty left hand towards her and with a seeming flick of the wrist a paper rose appeared in his fingers. The woman gasped, blushing a bit and a few folks in passing, who happened to catch the trick, laughed or clapped. The woman thanked him and Jack nodded with a wink and a smile before stepping back and sitting down next to his guitar. She hurried off again without a second thought, Jack like to hope a bit mystified. She, nor anyone else for that matter, didn’t even spot his quick reach into her purse or that she was missing her wallet. It was tucked up inside the sleeve of Jack’s worn, black leather jacket. He’d check out his earnings later, but anyone who slipped a ten to street guitarist had to have a little cash to spare.

It was all sleight of hand really. Jack had become a pro at it. You had to be when you lived by the case of your guitar. The paper flowers, he made a few every night before heading out. They could flatter the ladies like nothing else. He turned for a moment and made it seem like he was ruffling through his black guitar bag. Really though he was slipping the wallet into one of the pockets. The bag was black leather, decorated with a few pins and buttons. You could wear it on your back and Jack did as he wandered from place to place. It contained his worldly possessions. Now he had the clothes on his back as well, of course...the black t-shirt, the faded blue denim jeans, and pair of black and red chuck taylors. Let’s not forget the leather Jacket, also with a few pins and buttons on each lapel. They represented various bands, Alkaline Trio, the Larry Arms, the Bosstones, even a Steal your Face skull, just to name a few. And when it wasn’t filled with a night’s earnings, Jack would cover that wavy, reddish brown hair of his with his grey, blue, and black patchwork ivy cap.

Jack picked up his guitar again and began to strum softly. He turned his dark blue eyes to the sparkling night sky, look for a bit of inspiration. He let his fingers graze the unique sound hole...it was fashioned as a heart that came together at the ends in a downward pointing arrow..in the style of the band that they had both loved. It was his prized possession, if only because she had given it to him...she had spent all she had to give it to him...He began to play again, this time the song was more upbeat, more fast paced, folksy still, but tinged with punk. There was anger in the melody, regret in the tune. Some folks were stopping to watch, but Jack hardly noticed. He was lost in the design of the song.

[Alexandrea]

She was spoiled. There was no two ways about it. The blonde was a bit of a klutz when it came to complicated things, like opening a bag of crisps without making a mess. But when it came to her favourite things? Alexandrea Quartermaine had the grace of a cat. And one of her favourite things was being a cat bugler.

Alex had broken into so many buildings she could do it in her sleep, and practically had, more than once. If what vampires did when they were down for the count counted as sleep. Alex herself had dreams, and even nightmares. She didn't know if any other vampires did. And she didn't ask. Her dreams were too vivid and personal to risk having to discuss them with anyone.

And the tiny Allurist had gotten into some bad habits. She had gotten cocky and lazy. Pausing to just listen for guards for the briefest of moments as she danced from sweet spot to sweet spot in her long ago memorized targets. In fact, the blonde had gotten so cocky, that she had even started wearing earbuds as she prowled. None of the businesses she paid her nightly visits to ever seemed to even notice that they were being robbed repeatedly, at least they never did much to update their security.

Invetiably of course that came to change. And it took Alexandrea by complete surprise when it did. One minute she was bopping along to The Grateful Dead about to pick another lock and the next she was looking down the barrel of a gun.

Slowly, she raised her hands up and then pushed back the earbuds. She gave the security guard one of her biggest grins and then tried to explain that she had been working late and fell asleep at her desk. For some reason, the guy didn't buy it. Maybe it was the head to toe skin tight black outfit or maybe it was the set of lockpicks in her hands. Who knew? Alex was just glad she had used that awesome ability to make herself look like someone else as she made a break for it. She had a rule about killing innocents, so she never risked fighting the guards.

Once she was back on the roof, she retrieved her weapons from where they had been stashed. And after checking that the coast was clear, the blonde made sure her hood stayed in place while looking over the loot from the night's haul. It was mostly the same useless junk as always, most of it was worth just a few bucks but some odds and ends might be useful to some of her friends who did a lot of rituals, like Zodiac. Not enough to call it a night, by a long shot.

Moving now along the rooftops, the 8th dimension mall came into view. It was just a few blocks to the south on the other side of the bank. She couldn't miss the signs of a small crowd gathering around what might have been Meara, doing one of her not frequent enough street concerts. The grin reached from ear to ear and she headed to the street down the closest fire-escape. The Allurist removed her hood and quickly blended into the crowd as she unzipped a few inches and tossed out her hair. She chuckled to think her own childer might not recognise her, if she didn't speak. The blonde had a quite distinctive way about her and her personality tended to 'bubble over' when she spoke.

It didn't take more than half a block for Alexandrea to figure out that the performer wasn't her own beloved Meara but some unknow busker, on her daughter's turf.

WTF?

Low growls began softly in her throat as she now decided to lurk in the shadows and watch the young human male from a distance. And stalk him if necessary. Maybe even if it wasn't. It had been awhile since she really tried to stalk and she was bored.

But then she realized that he was good. VERY good. And her mood shifted. Just like it always did, at the drop of a hat. And she watched, impressed and delighted, as he passed off a paper flower to an easy mark and then relieved her of her wallet. Grinning once again, Alex tossed the contents of her pockets (which sadly wasn't too much in coin but a lot in hard candies and bubblegum) into his very awesome cap and then planted herself on the sidewalk close by to listen and wait... and see.

By the time his set had ended, Alex had made up her mind. She was going to adopt another Quartermaine.

[Jack Diddly]

Jack was playing through the moments of his past and they flashed through his mind with every chord. Each strum was like a tug at his very own heartstrings. This happened to him from time to time, more often now than ever though. Maybe it was being here, in Harper Rock, the city of his birth. He’d spent few years here, but the time that he had spent was precious. It wasn’t like being here sparked any real memories. Truth be told, he couldn’t even get to the home he was born in or the neighborhood he had played in as a young boy. No, Harper Rock was just another strange city, with avenues to be explored and folks to rip off. He wouldn’t stay long. Lay down no roots, the consequences are always too dire.

As Jack was bringing his song to an end, he noticed that more than a few pedestrians had stopped to watch. They formed a small half circle around him. Some even had little ones with them, whom they pushed to the front. Had he been that lost in the melody? He quickly let his eyes fall to his hat. It was still there! And heavier with coin, among other small trinkets, than it had been before. Thank the Lord for that small miracle. He had, more than once, been taught the lessons of inattention to one’s earnings...especially when one was earning in the dark. He was fortunate as his listeners had provided him with a bit of a shield tonight. It had allowed him to breath true life into the song. Jack would need to sort through his hat later, but tonight was amping up to be more productive than he had first hoped.

Jack brought his song to an end, making sure to take it out just as strongly as he had brought it into this world. There was a series of applause from the onlookers. Jack gave a them a smile and a nod as a ‘thank you.’ Though the clapping played into the bit of vanity that’s natural to all performers, Jack didn’t stand to bow or anything of the sort. It was a great song to be sure, but he had the knowledge that there were at least ten other schmucks out there this evening who were playing something at least twice as great. He really had no delusions of grandeur concerning the quality of his songs. Jack played for the pure joy of it and, as he learned long ago, for the enjoyment it brought others...who in turn brought him dough.

The little crowd that had formed about him began to disperse. Jack noticed that the evening was growing colder now. ‘Old man Winter, he is a trickster,’ he mused. The people shopping and perusing the popup bazaar would begin to seek warmer pursuits to finish off their night. Of that, Jack had no doubt. He placed his guitar to the side and rubbed his hands together, trying to warm them a bit. He looked up, seeing that a young boy, probably no more than ten, had approached him. “Hey Mister, that was a great song! Are you going to play another? I can play, but not like that! That guitar is neato, can I take a look? What’s the say, written across your fingers? I want a tattoo, but Dad says ‘no way.’ Are you going to sing?” The kid was speaking a mile a minute, asking questions before Jack had even the chance to respond. He spotted a man, who had to be the boy’s father, standing a few feet back shaking his head, with an amused, but apologetic smile on his face. Jack couldn’t help but laugh at the precocious child.

“I think I’m all out of songs for tonight, son,” Jack responded to the inquisitive kid. He could see the disappointment take hold in the boy’s excited hazel eyes. They seemed to dim upon the revelation that Jack was wrapping up. “Tell you what though, why don’t you take a look. Just be kind to her and she’ll be kind to you,” Jack picked up his guitar again and handed it to the boy. The boy did take Jack’s axe quite gently and with care, as if he had been handed a small child. The excitement in those eyes returned as he examined it. “Well, what are you waiting for?” Jack asked with that smooth gruffy voice of his, “Show me what you got.” The boy’s fair cheeks turned a shade of pink, probably for being put on the spot, but it didn’t deter the young man at all. He began to strum away, free fingered, playing something upbeat and simple. Jack grinned, “that’s the way,” he was bobbing his head to the boy’s beat.

The boy, Jack learned his name was Tom, didn’t play for too much longer. His father called him back. When Tom handed Jack his guitar back, Jack made sure to tell him to stay warm and keep on rockin’. It was nice to see that not all kids were sucked into their cellphone screens. Perhaps there was some hope for the world yet. With that, though, Jack was ready to wrap up. He hadn’t counted it yet, but he was sure he made himself a pretty penny tonight. Time to hit up a local watering hole and warm up his hands. He picked up his hat and dumped his earnings into the pouch on his guitar case where he had stashed the wallet. He noticed that someone had left him a few hard candies. When you’re hungry, you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but you take what you can get. Jack unwrapped the plastic sealing one of the pink treats before popping it into his mouth. It was watermelon and pretty damn sour. Not that that was a bad thing.

Seeing the wallet again, Jack figured now was as good a time as ever to see what he had picked up. Very carefully and clandestinely, he opened up the teal pocket book, making sure not to move it outside of his case. No one had come back snooping, but it was better to be safe than to be sorry. Two fifties, three twenties, three tens, and four fives...not too shabby for one rube. He pulled the cash out of the pocket book. He had no interest in the various credit cards or licenses stashed throughout, those types of things got you in trouble. He slipped the wallet, now empty of cash, up his sleeve again as he zipped up the pouch of his guitar case.

Jack placed his guitar in the main compartment of his bag. Just like young Tom, he handled the thing as if it were a baby, situating it ever so gently before zipping up his bag. It truly was the closest thing to a baby that Jack had ever had the pleasure of holding. His hat was back on his head again and he slung the guitar case over his back. He took a few steps out onto the walk, checking out the people. It was thinning out as the temperature continued it’s plunge. He considered his options for a moment, before heading into the tent burning the incense. “Evenin’,” he said with a kind smile and a tip of his hat to the canopy’s proprietor, an older woman in dreadlocks and a hemp dress. She responded in greeting as she assisted a few customers who had found their way in. Jack pretended to inspect some of the brightly colored and psychedelically designed tapestries, but in reality he was slipping the wallet amongst them. Better not to be caught with it. Someone will find it eventually, probably even tonight. He turned from the tapestries and stepped out of the tent, back out into the fading crowd, sucking on the candy.

[Alexandrea]

The blonde had melted watching Jack with the little boy, she almost had bitten her own tongue to keep from saying; 'Aww' out loud. It had been adorable. The young male was looking more and more promising. She kept her distance as he started to walk away but still kept a close eye on him, wanting to know more, to be sure, before making a move to get to know him. The Goddess knew, Alex had picked badly before.

But this time felt different, and the Allurist was confident the musician was worth the attention. She could already picture the busker playing side by side with her beloved Meara and for a change, Alexandrea didn't plan on pussyfooting around. No more life and death turnings, like what her poor Cyrus had been forced to go through. Although, if Cyrus hadn't been shot... would Alex had ever met him? The blonde sighed and shook her head to clear it of distractions and watched Jack leaving the vender's stand... after having bought nothing.

She pursed her lips and wondered. Had he just been window shopping? It was possible but it more likely that he was dropping the wallet he had liberated earlier somewhere while he was in there. She hoped not. It was so much nicer to put the mark's personal things into a posty box. That way they would be sure get back their personal items. Pictures and id... getting a license to drive in Harper Rock was a real pain, Alex knew from first-hand experience. Briefly, the blonde wondered if Mr. Fife had ever recovered from the driving test he had given her a few years ago.

Remembering how the timid man had kissed the ground after getting out of her car, a wicked chuckle escaped Alex's lips. And for a moment she paused in her shadowing of Jack, waiting to be sure he hadn't turned around if he had heard. Mz Quartermaine wasn't ready yet to make his acquaintance. She still wasn't wearing her own true face and wanted to be when she finally introduced herself.

The Allurist pulled her cell out of her pocket and looked down as she kept walking but at a slower pace, just another drone with their nose buried in a phone.

[Jack Diddly]

A little bit of booze to warm his belly, that sounded like the best way to top off the evening. Perhaps he’d even run into a little honey. It wouldn’t make the night any less lonely, but the right kind of mixture of girl and alcohol could be the best medicine to dull the insistent pain digging through his heart. Like any medication though it only treated the symptoms leaving the virus to eat away at his soul. It kept him coming back for more. When the bar becomes a hospital, a man generally doesn’t have too much longer to live. This was true for Jack. This excursion to Canada was the longest he’d been in one place yet and he’d only been here about two weeks. He was already antsy to be on his way. How long can a fellow make a beer his dinner before the beer makes a supper of him? Perhaps it was that he wasn’t living a sedentary lifestyle that saved him, in both body and mind, from addiction? Maybe it was how often he’d seen it happen that created an unconscious desire to stay sharp of mind? Whatever it was, Jack danced a dangerous tango in order to cope.

And what brought him to Harper Rock anyway? Especially now, when everyone and their mother seemed to be fleeing in fear of the monsters under their beds? It was simple really, this was where he was born. He came back looking for something...some kind of meaning...something to make sense of the senseless. He’d only spent a precious few years here and his hazy memories were of a woman he seemed to hardly know, nevertheless, she was the woman who had brought him into the world. He didn’t even know her name, but he did know where they had once lived. Jack’s aim had been to get back to that place, but like most things in young man’s life, his plan fell through. The neighborhood of his youth was under quarantine and, as of yet, he hadn’t figured out how to get in. It was what was keeping him in this cold, dark place. If Jack was one thing, he was determined.

A devious little laugh seemed to radiate from behind Jack as he was midway through a thought. It shocked him a bit because for a moment it seemed directed at said thought. Walking through the dark towards the bar he’d been haunting since he’d arrived, Jack turned to scan the night behind him. The further that he wandered from the mall the less pedestrians shared the sidewalk. There was a nerdy, couple, arm-in-arm, giddy as could be, hurrying through the night, a small family of three where dad carried a sleeping child against his shoulder and mom held dad’s open hand, and a young blonde girl dressed like catwoman, face sucked into her cellphone. Jack’s paranoia seemed to be getting worse, he shook his head and continued onward.

The Banshee was a small hole in the wall pub where Jack had been essentially living since he had arrived in Harper Rock. The proprietor, Tito, was desperate to bring people in and Jack had been playing there every few nights in exchange for the spare room Tito had above the bar. It wasn’t much, but it beat camping under a bridge or in a tunnel...much warmer. For whatever reason Jack often found himself a good person or two willing to take in a weary traveler, especially one who could play a tune for them. He really hoped that the man wouldn’t ask him to jam tonight. Jack liked the guy and everything, he was actually a really great drummer, but Jack just wanted to relax.

When he walked in Tito was behind the bar. Jack greeted him with a simple, “Yo.” Tito returned the greeting by pouring Jack a pint, which he slid down the smooth quartz finish of the dark, stone bar. The place was grey and dimly lit, it reminded Jack of a dungeon, with sconces hanging like torches over small rustic, industrial style tables. Like most bars, a wall of booze was shelved behind the counter for the patrons to see, a small chandelier of edison bulbs hung down from the ceiling above it. Jack loved the place, it was a wonder Tito couldn’t get a bigger crowd in here. The location couldn’t be hurting him that much. Despite the fact that it was nestled away in an alleyway, word of mouth should have brought chic hipsters running. There was a pretty brunette sitting at the end of the bar. She had a heart shaped face and her hair fell in ripples about her. Jack took a swig of his beer, a bit of liquid courage, before moving down the bar. Tito just shook his head as he wiped down the bar.

“How does a lovely lady like yourself end up alone in a place like this?” Believe it or not cliche lines could work for Jack especially when he turned on that charming smile of his. The woman returned his smile with a smirk of her own, “When said lady decides that she wants to be alone,” her sardonic reply was all Jack needed. Though he still offered to buy her a drink, desperation did that sometimes. She politely declined and Jack returned to his previous seat. Tito walked over to him, “Better luck next time, Romeo.” Jack had him send her a drink anyway, the night was young after all.

[Alexandrea]

Her eyes watched where she was going from below her hat's brim and a fringe of hair, it only appeared that the blonde only had eyes for her phone. Most of her attention was on the street performer as he moved further away from her. Alex wasn't sure if the glance he had cast behind him was anything for her to worry about but as the street cleared of other pedestrians she slowed her pace, all the same... calling for her wraith once she saw him enter the bar.

"That's a lovely cape you're wearing." Came the soft breathy voice into Alexandrea's ear.

The Alluriust sighed and shook her head. She wasn't wearing a cape. She absolutely never wore a cape, at any time, ever. Yet everytime Aphaythea showed up, it was the first thing that she said. In a weird surreal sort of way, it kind of reminded her of the Holographic doctor from Star Trek Voyager. Just an automated response that suggested limited programming. Or in Phay's case... insanity.

She projected her thoughts into Phay's mind, a clear image of the target and clear directions for the job. The wraith was to follow and watch and to listen. Nothing more and nothing less. No nonsense. The wraith's departure was immediate, and with a grin Alexandrea's Quartermaine watched through Phay's eyes as the young male struck out, chuckling softly.

Alex hurried back from the way from way that they came from while pulling her hood back up and hiding away long strands of blonde hair. She still had time before her fake face wore off to do a few more robberies, and then track down the musician after she was back to herself. With any luck, he might still be up drinking at the bar, and might offer to buy her a drink.

[Jack Diddly]

Smooth and heady, it was the best way to describe both the aroma and the taste of the brew that was flowing over his lips. It was having its desired effect...feeling was returning to his fingers and a bit of a fire had been kindled within his stomach. He leaned back a bit and breathed a sigh of relief. Tito was cleaning a glass behind the bar, “Rough night, my friend?”Since he’d met the dark haired man with the same dark eyes, Tito had always had a way of reading Jack. It was a bit disarming, since he was quite sure he didn’t let his features betray his true emotional and spiritual state. Jack wouldn’t give the barkeep the pleasure though, “Quite a productive night actually, just got a little too cold too quick.” Tito raised an eyebrow at that and Jack knew, after the words had already escaped his lips, that he had inadvertently fed into the man’s superstititons. “How about yourself?” He asked in response taking another sip of his beer. From the scarcity of patrons Jack was pretty sure he’d know what the answer would be, but he was trying his best to avoid another conversation about ghosts and goblins.

"Take a look around, my brother…” Tito responded placing the clean glass behind the bar and flopping the towel over his broad shoulder, “No one comes, even in troubled times, when a good brew should poison the mind just enough to make it all seem like a dream.” The barkeep sighed, a sad smile gracing his features. “But, hey, you were pretty bumping in here just last night,” Jack added trying to blow some positive vibes in the man’s direction. Tito only responded with, “One rain does not make a crop.” Now Jack had never asked the proprietor about his heritage, but from both is physical appearance and the manner in which the man spoke, Tito was clearly of Native American descent. The young man seemed to rain down old wisdom whenever the chance arose. Jack wished he had a notebook to write down some of the guy’s proverbs. "Besides, we had a talented young guitarist in here to provide a little light in the darkness,” Tito continued with a smirk. Now Jack knew that he was referring to him and he got the hint, he should have been playing in here tonight. Honestly though, it wouldn’t have mattered, it’s not like Tito had taken out full page ads about Jack playing at his bar or bought himself a billboard with the musician’s handsome face on it. Even if he had, would it have mattered? Jack was nobody special, just a guy with a guitar and the good folks of Harper Rock could hit any bar on the main drag to see that and more. No one had come to The Banshee last night to see Jack, they just came and he happened to be there strumming away. It was almost as if Tito thought his guitar mystical or something of the like. “Yeah, right,” Jack responded shaking his head.

Tito took a look around his establishment. It was still just the three of them, Jack, the barkeep and the young lady at the end of the bar who wasn’t paying them a bit of notice. Though she was enjoying Jack’s drink. The dark haired man put his arms on the bar and leaned into Jack, speaking in a low voice, “It’s the taint of the Wendigoag keeping people away. The vampires brought it upon us...man should not consume man.” And here it was, the conversation they’ve had at least four times already and the one Jack had really wanted to avoid. “Tito,” he responded wryly, “You can’t really believe that mumbo jumbo.” Tito had the most serious look in his eyes and the dark orbs were locked into Jack’s. The barkeep nodded his head slowly, "How long you’ve been here now, two weeks? You’re telling me you haven’t seen any of them…”The ‘them’ that the superstitious man spoke of were zombies, vampires, and various other nightmares that lurked the shadows. Jack couldn’t help, but chuckle, he’d been out and about a lot and he hadn’t seen much out of the ordinary, “Have you, Tito?” The barkeep, with the gravest of looks on his face, nodded in affirmation. “Look, man,” Jack began, “none of this is real. It’s just a move by the government to consolidate power. They do this kind of thing all the time in the states. The media pumps a narrative that makes everyone afraid of their own shadow so that they’ll cry for security or reform. The State promptly delivers by infringing on the liberties of people.” Tito interjected, “A rabbit’s ears grow longer with every lie, I know what my eyes have seen.” "It’s not that I think you’re lying, Tito, I just think you’re being duped. You may have very well seen an actor made to look like a zombie for this little farce. The pursuit of power knows no bounds,” Jack paused as Tito was shaking his head in disagreement, "Stick around a bit longer my friend and you too, shall see.”

Jack was finishing up his pint as Tito catered to his only other patron for the evening. Maybe it was real, the reason Tito gave for the empty bar. All the stories Jack had been seeing in the papers, it made for a great hoax. Start in a small town and slowly the military is sent to invade their own nation to ward off some imagined threat. And their they would remain, indefinitely. It could be some kind of bioweapon, Jack wouldn’t put it past the State to unleash that sort of thing on its own people. The vampire thing sounded like a strange fad, but the elusive and mysterious creatures made for great boogeyman. Targets that could be hunted into infinity and never be eradicated. The musician wouldn’t be surprised if this particular ‘event’ were to spread even into the U.S. Tito yelled over to him, “Eh Jack, you going to play tonight or what?” He noticed that the girl at the end of the bar was smiling in his direction. Jack had wanted to call it quits for the evening, but a few tunes couldn’t hurt. He picked up his guitar case and walked towards the small stage in the back corner of the bar.

Jack overheard Tito as he was conversing with the girl, “this one doesn’t sing, but you should hear my voice, like a gentle river on a spring day.” The young lady giggled. Jack had to admit, the guy had a knack for his craft, still couldn’t imagine why he was struggling so much to get people in. The musician was sitting on the edge of the stage tuning his guitar a bit. The stage was grey, wooden planks, not too high off the ground, just a step or two. Jack sat indian style cradling his guitar. The fingers of his left hand began to tickle the guitar frets, while the fingers on his right started their dance over the strings. He had decided on another haunting, melody. He played it with all the passion of the blues. It was a tune for the bar's namesake and he hoped the old ghost wound wail on to it.

[Alexandrea]

She had kept her earbuds put away this time, and prowled throughout the night doing her burglaries much more carefully than she had in a long while. It really did seem as if almost overnight old haunts had become tougher targets and after filling up just the one loot bag, Alexandrea decided to call it quits for the night. Her wraith was still at the small tavern where she had last seen that young male musician from earlier in the night, as her infrequent checks on Aphaythea had shown, and Alex's face was once again her own.

The blonde debated going home to change first but decided against it, just because the human was young and an artistic type didn't mean he would be a night owl. Yet. Alex almost giggled, resisting the urge to rub her hands together and cackle wickedly. She really hoped he wouldn't prove to be a hard sell on joining her collection. It wasn't as if she would ever force anyone to do anything against their will. Sometimes some people just needed more of a push in the right direction to know what was best for them. But that could take awhile. Like it had with her beloved Meara. Alexandrea had needed to take it slow with her favourite redhead, but then again vampires hadn't been 'out of the closet' yet back then.

She teleported as she pulled off her hood and once she arrived back at the little hole in the wall she went right inside and headed straight for the bar. She set her bag down on the floor at her feet after tucking her hood into a side pocket, then shook out her hair as she straightened up to give the barkeeper a bright smile and a cheery wave.

Aphaythea the wraith moved to join the small blonde, who was still wearing the same clothes as before (still without any cape) just a different face. "That's a lovely cape you're wearing." the Wraith sang into Alex's ear, making the Allurist's eyes roll.

[Jack Diddly]

A third of the way through his third song and Tito’s prediction came true, another guest entered the bar. At first Jack didn’t pay her any mind, he was so wrapped up in his tune that he didn’t even realize she had come in. It was only when he caught Tito’s eye and as the barkeep mouthed ‘what’d I tell you?’ nodding his head towards the arrival of the young lady. Seriously, the supernatural nature that Tito attributed to the sounds of acoustic guitar as performed by a traveling hobo was quite lost on Jack, though he did find it rather humorous. Pointing out the girl, however, would prove a blunder for the barkeep as Jack still had his own plans for the evening.

Upon wrapping up his song, Jack let his gruff, drawling voice radiate through the nearly empty bar, “Thank y’all for coming out tonight. This next number goes out to the little blonde with the big bag.” Tito rolled his eyes as he made his approach to the rather bubbly looking lady asking, "What’ll it be tonight, my dear?” Just as the musician began his next tune. It was an upbeat piece, but also light and calm. As his inked fingers danced away across the strings he had only his target audience in mind. She was a rather small thing, quite young, maybe too young to be sitting in a pub at this time of night, and there was a certain something glowing about her. Perhaps it was confidence or maybe a certain serenity, whatever the case it only added to her particular charm. So Jack played something he made up right on the spot, trying to capture the essence of the lass as he saw her...as well as trying to capture her heart, if only for a night.

Here’s where Tito’s mistake comes into play. Jack’s fourth melody would be his last. After he brought it out with a slow finish, Jack, placed his guitar to the side and hopped off the stage. “You’re not really serving her are you, my man?” Jack asked Tito in a playful tone as he approached the blonde at the bar. The proprietor yelled back from the other end of the bar in response, “Hey, she’s been in before.” Jack doubted that very much, but it was a standard answer for the barkeep and far be it from Jack to deprive him of one of his only customers for the evening, “I think we’d all like to hear some more songs,” Tito added. The musician ignored the comment, completely focused now on the small girl at the bar. “You can’t be more than eighteen years old, you’d break your mama’s heart if she knew you were hanging out in a place like this…” He looked her up and down, “and in that get up.” There was something strangely familiar about the woman, almost as of he’d seen her somewhere before. Jack couldn’t place her though.

“I hope you liked the set,” Jack said as he sat down on the stool next to her. With his elbow on the bar, right fist holding his head up by the temple, Jack positioned himself just so that was looking right in her shimmering eyes. There was a look of exaggerated bewilderment on his face and he reached his left hand towards her smooth locks, “Is that where you always stash your cash?” The musician seemed to pull a twenty dollar bill right out from under those tresses. He then crumpled the bill into a ball, hiding it tightly in his fist. Blowing on the top of his fist as he were trying to keep warm, he reopened his left hand quickly and the bill was gone. Picking his head up off his right fist, he outstretched that hand across the bar in her direction, opening it slowly he revealed a small purple, paper orchid, jutting out from underneath was the twenty, neatly folded to look like a leaf. “Name’s Jack,” he said with a charming smile, “And you are? I mean other than breaking your Mama’s heart.”

[Alexandrea]

Dozens of replies danced through the Allurist head as she fought a losing battle to keep a straight face. At least she did (somehow) succeed in stifling a bark of laughter. Her throat actually moved as if it was literally swallowing down Alex's laughter. But the grin on her face soon was stretched ear to ear. Oh... this guy was perfect.

She kept smiling even while turning her head slightly to the side and catching Tito's eye as he claimed to have seen the blonde in his place before. It WAS a lie but Alex blew the barkeep a kiss, and spoke directly (and only) to him. For a few moments, she very intentionally acted as if Jack wasn't even there.

"It's so nice to see you again! I haven't had time to get out in way too long. I'll just take one of whatever's on tap, like always, thanks darlin'."

She watched until Tito was pulling her a pint and then turned to face the musician. Then the blonde looked up and directly into Jack's eyes.

She knew he had had a lot to drink, she had kept eyes on him all night, But trying to act as if he thought she was too young to drink? It was just priceless.

Was he that drunk or did she look that gullible? Or... was he just so used to his charming ways winning everyone over that he just used it like it was his superpower at every opportunity. She would put betting money on his counting on his charms to always get him by.

The Allurist stood up from her stool and did chuckle out loud this time, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She knew a kindred spirit when she saw one. It hadn't been that long ago she also had relied upon her charms to con her way through life.

This guy... was born to be an Allurist. And a thief, she reminded herself gleefully... still grinning from ear to ear while picking up and moving her own bag of ill-gotten gain up on to the bar beside her, where she could watch it more closely.

She resisted the impulse to grab his hand when his touched her hair, and kept the smile on her face while still looking at him directly. The cash was not worth her shifting her eyes for even a glance at it, and Alex held his eyes with her own as she made sure he could see her fangs when she smiled her biggest grin.

"I'll thank you to not speak of my human Mother, and no harm done. But if we're talking about the Vampiress who sired me? That cold fish disappeared the day after she turned me. Something that I would never do to any childer of mine."

Right to the point for once, the blonde thought to herself and nodded firmly. "And I must say, I enjoyed your music enormously." She took out one of her lightly scented (lilac and jasmine) business cards and placed it down on the bar in front of Jack.

She turned as Tito brought over her beer, and paid with him with her debit card but tipped the barkeep a fiver in cash. Alexandrea gave her new friend Tito a wink, then took a healthy swig of the pint glass before reclaiming her seat on the barstool with a little bit of a half jump.

Alex turned back to face Jack and then she held out her hand to shake his; "I'm Alexandrea Quartermaine and I have a job offer for you. Perhaps more... if you have got the balls for it, that is."