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Another night at the same bar. She was a nomad, never staying in one place longer than a month, but this place held her. It has been a few months now and she still had no understanding of what she was doing here. Surviving off her savings and the occasional pick pocketing just for the thrill. What are you doing here Sun? she thought to herself as she ran her finger over the rim of her glass. She had been staying at a run down hotel in the city and if she was going to stay any longer she needed to find somewhere much more suitable. A job as well perhaps. Her funds were only going to last so long.

Turning to her bag she rummaged through it to retrieve the city newspaper. Maybe she could find a job that paid something reasonable. It would give her something to do since she wasn't going to be leaving any time soon. There was no one in the city she knew that she could reach out to for a job. The classifieds would have to be her best bet if she wanted to survive in this city. Even though she kept to herself she did hear the rumors about the city. About the Vampires and the supernatural. She was a strong believer in if she could see it, then it's real. The rumor mill wasn't what was keeping her in the city though.

Maybe faith just decided that it was time for her to stop moving around. Time to settle in. Whatever it was Sun was ready to keep pressing forward in the city and laying down some roots. She flagged the waitress down and ordered another drink. She was only a pint in and by the looks of the classifieds she was going to need another. Starting from the top she began circling potential jobs with a red pen. "Data Entry.... seems pretty easy" she said under her breath as she circled it. It wasn't till she was halfway down the paper that she felt like she was being watched. She brushed off the feeling and made small talk with the waitress.

The small talk was enough to get some insight on some places in the area that might possibly hiring. Thanking her she returned to her pint and classifieds, but was interrupted moments later. "Can I help you?" she asked not pulling away from her paper. She had heard the footsteps approach from behind as she circled away. Before giving them time to reply she added "Whatever it is. I am not interested".

Antonio Segreti drunk really only occasionally, no, that was the wrong phrasing. He drunk in public only occasionally. He generally preferred to do so int he confines of his home. There wasn't any real reason for this, it was just what happened often. Exceptions were made for certain meetings or situations naturally. Today it was because he was already out, and the bar was closer than his home. And so he sat, drinking sip by sip.

There were a lot of people in Harper Rock. A lot of them were unsavory, a lot of them were actually here trying to help, and then there were those who were just too stubborn to leave. Those were the most common categories he was familiar with. He looked up, noticing someone at the bar. An unfamiliar face. There was no reason really for him to know her, nor pay attention. But he was. He found himself staring and wondering, where they stood in this world. Why they were in a place like Harper Rock. He could tell they weren't a vampire, ever since he learned how to simply mimic a vampires powers by touching one, he'd managed to find a way to touch just the right ones. Including ones that allowed him to see certain facts about a person, useful power indeed. Technically, it didn't tell him who was or wasn't a vampire. But it gave him an idea of what they could do, and that worked well enough for him.

He wondered, if given the option, would they choose vampirism? Sorcery, mimicry, paladin runes? What would they do if given the offer. Did they have a job yet? Contacts? Friends? She spoke.

Ah...he was staring. Shoot. He sighed, stood up, and walked over to her. "At least interested in an apology?" he prompted, "Cause I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I was a bit...distracted."

He took a sip from his drink, "Would you at least let me ask why you're in Harper Rock? Just about everyone has a reason. Mine's...a mix of reasons. Some more noble, others more personal."

The leering soul was a man. A man with an apology. "Apology accepted for burning a whole through me" she replied as she folded up the paper before her and shoved it back in her bag. His question took her by surprise. A stranger, asking her what she was doing in Harper Rock. Hell, she didn't even know. " I am just passing through" she lied before taking a huge sip of her pint. He wouldn't know. Sun wasn't very trusting of strangers. It was one of the reasons she managed to survive on her own so long. She depended on herself alone.

Turning around she met his gaze. He was taller than her and possibly even older. She gave him a small smile. Taking another drink of her pint she motioned him to the seat next to her. Her trust issues didn't stop her from enjoying a bit of small talk sometimes. It even helped time go by faster. "Do you always go around staring people down?" she asked.

Raising her glass she introduced herself. "My name is Sun and you are?". Before he could even answer she flagged down the waitress again she yelled "Can this guy get a drink?". She couldn't very much be the only one drinking. The rosy read color started to appear on her cheeks. She hated the reaction she got when drinking. Damn this alcohol flush reaction! She would have been happier not being blessed by such a feature. She was only on her second drink and even though she could hold her alcohol this flush was deceiving.

He smiled and nodded his head as she accepted the apology, "Thank you for that." he said honestly. It was a legitimate apology, he really hadn't meant to stare, and definitely not for her to notice that he was doing it. He cocked his head as she said she was just passing through, "Heh, well, you sure picked an odd place for that. Soldiers galore and all the stories you could dream of. Not all true naturally. I've met some vampires, good and bad alike. Just like everyone else."

Segreti shook his head, unfortunately, most people didn't think of it that way. He chuckled at the question of his staring, "Oh no, sorry." he said sitting down as she gestured, for someone just moments ago telling him she was uninterested, she was still relatively friendly, which was definitely a plus, "I um, well I was distracted. There's a word for it specifically, like...when you become absurdly aware about everyone living their own lives just like you, different, yet all full." he knew he'd heard the word, but for the life of him he couldn't remember it right now.

She gave her name even, and then asked a waitress to get him a drink. He smiled, leaning slightly on the bar, "Antonio. It's a pleasure to meet you." he said smiling, he could see the flush on her face. She certainly didn't act drunk though, or sway any. Maybe she was just a little buzzed or something, getting to that first bit. He nodded as a drink was brought around, he took in a good sipworth, "Don't do alcohol in public too much. Just not my thing I guess, at least in bars. And in a town like this, gotta keep yourself capable. Or at least near someone you trust." He said it partially as an indirect warning for her. Naturally whenever he was around he would try to help people, but that didn't mean that he expected her to think that of him. And getting drunk in a town where zombies or mooncalves, or worse, could roam, wasn't the greatest plan.

"Not to sound a little odd, if I didn't already. But you kind of have the personality of someone I'd expect to meet here." He took a sip from the drink, "It's uh, hard to explain. Most people here are different though. Due to experience or simply who they are. I even changed after awhile, and I knew what I was getting into. I think I got a little less selfish. And that's not the pride speaking...I hope."

He liked this one, she was interesting. She might not be a vampire or some other supernatural creature. But she wasn't what he would consider standard.

"It was just a lucky roll of the dice I guess" she commented. She has seen what it's like out there and it didn't help justify staying in the city. There was always going to be chaos in the world though. Sun wondered if a person can live their whole life just being a nomad. She assumed that was going to be her life till she made her way into this city. This strange city had a hold of her now.

Here we go again. The rumor mill. Vampires and now more supernatural creatures. What was everyone on. She had yet to meet these so called supernatural beings. Sure she was aware of the heavy amount of soldiers. She just assumed that maybe there was a military base near by. She wasn't going to stop and ask someone in the city why the soldiers were around. Sun would look like a nutjob.

Sun avoided eye contact. Her light hazel eyes shuffled from the rim of her glass to her manicured nails.It was easier to focus on something else to avoid getting close to someone you were making small talk with. She wondered if that was rude and if it was frowned upon to not make eye contact with someone you were talking to. [color=#FFOO66]"We are all a bunch of lives inside someone else's life story. It's crazy cause their significant day has no effect on your significant day or life in general, unless you both share some line in this world."[/color] she continued before realizing she had gone on a small rant. Still she had a point.

"Antonio" she thought to herself. He didn't look like an Antonio. Naaaah. He is more like a Michael" she continued trying to catch a peek from the corner of her eyes. Sun stuck with her Korean even after leaving South Korea. Since she left when she was a child she didn't develop an accent. She learned English at a young age and only used Korean at home. Now a days she didn't have anyone to talk to in Korean, but she still found herself cursing in her native tongue every now and then. "Live a little. The world is always a crazy place" she lectured at his reply about drinking.

He was right though the City probably wasn't the best place to be getting hammered, but when at a bar, you drink. She finally turned to look at him when she heard his last comment. "I'm sorry I have the personality of someone you'd meet here? What exactly do you mean?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow at him. Did he mean a loner? Did she look like a traveler. She scoffed and turned back to look at her drink. " You never know. Maybe I'm someone you should be afraid of." that of course was a lie. Sure she knew how to fight and take care of herself, but she hardly called herself a fighter. She avoided people and sometimes even confrontation. It's easier avoiding.

Lucky roll, well that was one way of putting it. He certainly would, but that was because he was fascinated by such things. There were also many people who would not be able to get back what they might lose here. For some that might even be their humanity, others it could be lives or loved ones. He really did consider vampires to be worth calling human, or at least, quite close. But Harper Rock seemed to breed chaos. And vampire or not, that meant danger.

She wasn't making eye contact, which was interesting. Some people were that way, usually introverts. He worked in business though, and had worked in crime, and in both situations, knowing how much to look someone in the eyes and how much to not was important. In crime, he often found that more could be more valuable. For some reason they acted more like animals, which meant staring each other down was very much a thing. However he wouldn't consider it rude, or at least he wasn't offended, that she didn't maintain eye contact.

He smiled taking a sip as she added her bit of knowledge, "Living inside someone else's story. I like that. I may use that if you'll let me. Depending on who you ask or how you use it, someone would say it's a reference to god, others that it's just other people, and some might see it more as a collective 'someone else' who's more conceptual than anything else."

Truth was he used the name Antonio about as much as he did his surname. Segreti, or Tony. He never really had a personal feeling for his first name, at least it's official form. But, a name was a name. He chuckled at the living comment, "Heh, true enough. Guess we'll go sooner or later so might as well enjoy it." he took another drink and furrowed his brow, "I wonder how long though." when he was taught the abilities of sorcerer, he was told that like others with supernatural abilities, they may not change quite the same. He didn't know if that meant his life was extended or if he had some extent of immortality. Though, history wise, it did seem wizards or sorcerers had long lives.

She asked about what he meant and he started to think, until she added in the bit about fear and he instead released a quiet laugh, "Oh maybe, maybe not. Maybe I'm dangerous too." he gave her a sidelong smile but simply shook his head, "Kidding, sort of. I really don't like violence. I am, however, not entirely average."

Segreti swirled the drink in his cup before taking a bigger swallow, "I can, and have, made it so that nobody could even fight inside a building. That takes ingredients though. However, right now, I could give you more energy using 'chi,' that's the word I was taught it with. Or, whenever we go outside, I could leap over this entire building." everything he said with a very specific smile, like someone enjoying sharing an experience they had, "And one of my favorites, I can heal wounds, or a wound, almost instantly. That's not as easily demonstrated though, I am not keen on shooting myself in the foot as a demonstration. But that's not why I responded the way I did. Right now, I can get an idea of what you can do. If you had a power, I'd know. If you were incredibly skilled at combat, or particularly strong, I'd know. And that sounds creepy because it really kind of is.I know I think about it when going out, even before I learned how to get it. Because there are those out there who can see and sense things that we may never be able to."

He realized he might have gone a little too far. If she wasn't familiar with things, there was some of it that might go over ones head. Or, maybe she could just tie it all in with what she'd heard. The final option was that she'd simply think him a loon, at least for now. "Full names Antonio Segreti, in case you look me up later. Run some businesses here, and been a sorcerer publicly for awhile now. Figured some of what I said could bother you, so if you want me to leave, say so. I won't take offense."

"I think that man get too much credit for Man's work" she commented referring to God. It's funny how often he can be brought up in a room full of people. Especially in the right setting. "Sorry I use knew people who believed he was involved in everything and I'm leaving the religious talk behind now"she added her voice trailing into a whisper. Religion was the last thing she wanted to talk about. It was a touchy subject, but she got the feeling that subject wasn't on the man's agenda either.

There must be something in the air in this city. Here was another one going on about supernatural stuff in the city. Besides the large amount of soldiers she has yet to see anything supernatural. Was she immune to the crazy in the city. Did the side effects from the air take time to work on someone? "You sound like those crazy people going on about Vampires in the city. I have yet to meet one. Next your going to tell me Casper the friendly ghost is real" she said shaking her head.

She assumed he was just pulling her leg, but as he continued talking she wonder if maybe what he was saying was true. The way he teased back that he was the danger. Who was this guy? Fact or fiction she played along and entertained the idea. Even after teasing him just minutes before. "Bet" she said before turning to face him completely. "Show me then? she continued with one drink in hand. Sun wanted to call his bluff. She wanted to point of the strings or flaws in his trick. She wanted to catch him in a lie.

Yet, he seemed so certain of himself and his abilities. For all she knew maybe she was the naive one. Maybe she was the one who wasn't seeing the world that was actually around her, but how could she tell unless it was placed right before her eyes. He was quick to change the topic. This time formally introducing himself. Antonio Segreti. She kind of wanted to just call him Anton or Tony. Maybe she would ask him later.

Her ears perked up as he mentioned owning business. Was it to soon to see if any of them were hiring? Maybe she needed to get to know him a little more. Businesses - plural meaning there was a high possibility one of them was her ticket to earning some cash. She bit her tongue from asking even as he started to pull away from the conversation. "No, your company is fine. I'm still waiting to see a demonstration. You can't leave now that I have asked for one" she teased. A smirk on her face as she finished her pint and waved down for another one. Her cheeks slowly growing rosier.

He chuckled in her response about God. He wouldn't verbally agree or disagree there. His opinion on God or Gods was rather loose and open. He was fairly certain something or someone existed outside of the normality of rules of physics and science that could have caused everything, however he was not convinced that any one religion really knew who or what it was. And so as she said she was leaving religious talk behind he simply nodded his head. That was perfectly acceptable.

Segreti raised an eyebrow as she said he sounded like the rest of the 'crazy people,' "Is it really so hard to believe?" he asked simply taking a sip from his drink as he smiled. She asked him to show her and his smiled grew. "Alright, but outside. Just outside, we don't need to go out of sight of the door. I don't exactly feel like slamming myself into the ceiling right now." technically he did have powers he could use in here that were proof. But they were vampire powers. And he wasn't sure just how much of those he wanted to show her.

She told him he could stay in spite of what he'd said so far, but definitely still wanted a demonstration. He thought for a moment, "You know what...there is something I can show you in here." he made sure she could see his mouth, made sure to keep his lips pressed shut, instead of with his mouth, he spoke to her with his mind, How's that? And no, this isn't 'voice throwing' they have to have their lips open at least a little. he opened his mouth to show his tongue wasn't moving, I can send messages to your mind. Don't worry though, I don't go around reading thoughts.

"Yes, just like people believe that vampires actually walk among us." she replied still shaking her head and wrinkling her nose at the nonsense. "Is this a city full of fantasy junkies. I must have missed that memo" she added in a teasing manner. Still her comments didn't seem to break his hold on it. S***. He is a crazy she thought, but she let him continue.

Sun braced herself for his first magic trick. She was quick to assume it was something like pick a card, but she was mistaken. The moment his mouth stopped she heard his voice clear as day in her head. "I got roofied". She looked at him then at her drink and continued that pattern a few more times before setting the drink back on the bar. That was enough alcohol for the night. But then he opened his mouth and his voice kept coming. Her heart began to race. "This can't be real" she thought.

Her hand reached out to his jaw. "Do it again" she ordered as she waited to feel some movement from under her fingertips. This city air was getting to her. That was the only explanation. He couldn't be serious this was all a big trick.Here she was touching a stranger. The closest she has been to human contact in years and she blamed the alcohol.

Segreti smiled at her doubt, and then more at her disbelief. She looked at her drink, "I never touched it." he affirmed. She might have had enough to make her cheeks change colors, but that wasn't enough to hallucinate. At best she'd be a little more suggestive.

He chuckled as she touched his jaw, ignoring normal boundaries. He didn't mind though. He did the same thing again. Keeping his lips, tongue, and jaw, as utterly still as possible. Mindspeak, it was a fascinating power, Now do you see? Clear as any other sound but unimpeded by them. Do you believe me yet? This and so much more are at the fingertips of many in this city and we just don't see it.

There was nothing more enjoyable then showing someone something you yourself enjoyed. And that was exactly what he was doing here. Revealing to her what he had gained over his time here.