"don't you tell me to take it easy, mate!" he snaps, scowl deepening. jules droning on doesn't spare him any rage, it boiling beneath his skin like the blistering heat of the wastes. an irrational response to being questioned, certainly... but not particularly to seeing someone who he had supposedly put in the ground ages ago! "you can pull my bloody identification out of your skull!" to prove his point, he pulls out his badge and slaps it right into his face. "satisfied?"

                            “ not you bein' mad,  like,  actually .  you're a grown ass man,  you feel me .  a childless,  grown - ass man,  at that .   why wouldn't i be suspect of you lurking around an after - school care center ?   there's a set time for transpo's pick up and drop off,  the hell're you doin',  damn near an hour after ? ”  pulling a face,  he's quick to bend and snatch up the other's identification,  hues skim the name,  and while it doesn't ring any significant bells,  it does cause an unexplained jolt of paranoia .  sort of like a deja vu,  though jules is quick to denounce it .  and even quicker to send the badge soaring through the air like a frisbee .  admires the air time it catches before landing in a nearby dumpster and re - focusing on ezra . “  tsss  . . . bummer .  sorry 'bout that,  my sister's always harping on me about being a klutz,  gotta admit she's got a point .  good luck trynna find that one,  mate . ” 

"bloody hell, watch it!" he snaps, shoving the arm off his shoulder and whirling around... to stop dead in his tracks. this is the worst city in the world. the worst city in the world. doesn't anyone ever just stay dead? "do i look like i've got kids to pick up? i'm just the transpo." it irritates him that he has to explain that, but not nearly as much as it irritates to him to find this person here in front of him at all.

                            “ yeesh,  like,  god forbid a guy narrowly avoids crashing inta'ya .  i apologized,  man,  take it easy . ”  shoving hands into hoodie pocket,  he does a couple of lazy circles around said ‘ transpo ’,  head cocked almost comically to the side as he squints him over . “ transpo, ”  he swivels to a halt and takes a quick peek at his watch,  eyes narrowing further as he questions the other.  “ and since when d'ya drop off after scheduled routes,  that's mad sus,  i'm not gonna lie .  imma need to see some sorta government or like  . . .  i dunno . . .  somethin' that doesn't paint 'ya as some weirdo that creeps 'round daycares . ”

Ah. Right—he was sure that this was something, Victor simply wasn't just sure what. Half-seduction, half-dinner: it almost felt like a get-together with Seth. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not much of an exciting ssnack for you. Just don't go around killing people, alright, I might need their asses for sales," he says, half-jokingly. The casual thoughts of murder in this place is good enough to let anyone's teeth get on edge. Victor specifically; he never dealt well with violence, even though he's a walking laserbeam. "What kinda food do you need anyway? Maybe I can help."

                           “ oh,  please .  don't be selfish .  i'm not concerned about your sales, pretty,  and it isn't food m'lookin for . ”  sighing dramatically,  she sprawls across the bar - top,  a hand simultaneously reaches over to snatch an unattended bottle from behind it . “ what do i look like, some goddamn damsel in distress, i don't want your damn pity help .” flicking the lid off of swiped spirit,  she takes a generous sip from it before sliding the bottle over to him . “ so what about you, pretty ? you're a regular 'ere or new blood, don't think i've seen your face 'round here . unless you just never registered on my radar . ”

` Min sits at the bar, waiting for her husband to join her- nursing a glass of sparkling water. Her eyes scan across the patrons of the bearded lady- cool, calculating, ready. She spots the woman leaning into the man a few feet away, she can practically smell the danger emanating from her and her brow arches as she watches the scene unfold. Careful flattery, quiet promises, dark gazes through fluttered lashes- using every trick in the book, it seems. A scoff escapes her and she sips her drink, intrigued and unsure if she'll intervene or let the sap reap the consequences of being so easily influenced by a pretty face.

                           hooked,  lined,  and  sunk .  the patron is both the easy target and meal for her .  eager to be shown a good time,  they're quick to scamper after her and up to her private quarters . . .  just to be left in a heap on her expensive carpeting .“ that your thing,  hun .  hmm ?  stickin' yer goddamn nose where it don't belong .”  forgoing any pleasantries,  aaliyah leans against the bar,  crowding what's left of the other's space .  “ look 'ere,  little miss can't say it shit 'less it's behind some else's back,  why not put your big girl panties on .  say it with your chest and not behind, whatever your nursing here, all on your lonesome . ”

"something like that," he answers, curt as he yanks the tip of his tail out of her reach. it's not just anyone that's allowed to manhandle him, after all—his recent restoration hasn't changed that! "good thing i'm not focusing my efforts on looking like you then, huh? i've got my own ideals in mind, don't you worry. not that i don't love you, liyah."

                            “ bitch, ”  there's a litter of affection somewhere in that adjective,  heavily diluted with her usual aggressiveness . “ you could only hope 'ta look like me .  see how good you look with my foot in your ass,  you cunt . ”  with absolutely zero finesse,  she lifts said foot to swipe at the back of his knees with enough force to buckle them . “ we aren't drunk enough for you to be pissin' me off like this,  we need shots,  urgently .  first,  second,  and every round after that,  s'all on you ━━ so let's go n' get pissed,  cunt . ”

Shiro had smiled politely as her fingers traced along his sleeve, the gesture noted but not indulged, his gaze calm and discerning as if weighing more than what was merely offered. ❝ I did enjoy your show, ❞ he admitted with a slight inclination of his head, voice warm with quiet sincerity. ❝ You are a very talented young woman. ❞ The faintest glimmer of knowing passed through his eyes as he gently stepped back, excusing himself from the side of his two grandsons with a soft murmur, before turning his attention fully to her. Yet when he spoke again, it was not aloud, but within the stillness of her mind, his presence measured and composed: You need not try so hard. I already know you have something I will enjoy, Ms. Badwi. His smile never wavered, neither mocking nor naive, simply certain, as he joined her on his own terms.

                            an upturn of the corner of her mouth is offered to his kudos .  she's fully aware of her talents,  both in and out of the spotlight;  it isn't anything she hasn't heard all before . “ aren't i, ”  responds with a flutter of mascara - coated lashes,  a triumphant beam accompanying it as she glides to move them to her private suite . though she quips a brow in curiosity as his voice pierces her mind,  the feeling is invasive in a way she isn't keen on,  but whatever gets her fed,  right . “ that's a cute little party trick . . .  on anyone else . i don't like it . sack up and say it with your nuts, keep outta my head . now, we doin' this or what ? ”

                            too easy .  “ care to elaborate whatcha mean,  hun .  haven't done a thing . ”  which isn't entirely untrue,  she isn't intentionally doing anything . . . yet,  at least .  “ lookin' a bit weak in the knees there sweetheart,  cold gettin' the best of 'ya ?  take a load out,  off,  all the above .  and if you want some help,  don't be shy,  let me help fill that gnawing inside of 'ya . ”

Victor hasn't stepped foot in the Lady for a while—the trials and tribulations of pushing and pulling against the proprietor aside, he had thought it best to stay away from the seedier parts of town. The resolution all but lasted half a month—his best time yet before he walks through its debauched halls again. He takes a second before someone catches his ear, and a smirk pulls at his lips as he feels her power start over him. "Holy—well, hello?" He didn't know if she was barking up the wrong tree or if he was more receptive to the invitation. "You new here or are you... a regular?"

                           “ regular,  newbie,  none of that matters,  babydoll . you ask too many questions;  it kills my vibe . ”  nothing beats down her hunger ( or high ) quite like potential prey spewing query after query,  but she's determined to walk away sated . “ ahh shit,  don't tell me . . .  wrong team,  aren't i .  fuck me,  first decent sap i seen all night and 'ya just had to be burst my bubble . ”  it's cause enough to cease her actively trying to lure him in .  what good is a kill that doesn't come with the thrill .  “ thanks a lot,  jackass .  looks like i'm starving tonight . ”

the light that flicks on momentarily stings his eyes, but her fresh panic is enough to assuage that discomfort. ah... he's almost forgotten what that's like. to enjoy it, that is. "apology accepted," he says, once she's finished; "but try not to let it happen again, you hear? not a very nice way to treat a guest." although as far as an unwanted one goes, she's owing points on inhospitality. most other people would have called security on him by now. "see, i would... leave, that is... but then your cat might throw a conniption fit. he turns to his side, revealing the way the naked beast is clinging affectionately to his back. "and i'm in the doghouse, anyhow. figured i could kill a few hours here. what's the harm in that, eh?"

                            “ oh my stars,  ezra !  it's been months,  we're no longer affiliated,  what're you doing here !?  this has to count as stalking,  or like,  harassment !  you can't do this ! ” to her credit,  she's much quicker to stand her ground now,  hands raised and surrounded with channeled energy . “ your personal issues are so not mine, ezra !  now get out,  before i decide to stop being kind !  and trust me, you wouldn't like it .  i've been chanting my daily,  noon,  and nightly affirmations ━━  you so don't wanna mess with me right now . ”

"not obvious at all." aside from the clear signs she gave off that she's lost, of which there are many. but he's more polite than to point that out directly. it doesn't matter if that knowledge would benefit her or not. "actually, i'm good friends with the owner. i'd be happy to point you in the right direction. is this your first time visiting?"

                           “ it is !  i'm uhm,  supposed to be meeting a friend there .  hang out and uhm,  do some casual drinking and catch up on everything new . . .  a super eventful night ! ”  if only that were her evening plans .  not that she's going to spill her guts about her latest attempt at a spy mission .  “ friends with the owner,  huh ?  have you known each other for long,  is that how you became friends ?  or it was more recently ? ”

"it doesn't bother me too much... the cold, i mean. as long as i don't leave the city." not that he's tried. "i hear it's even colder out there..."

                            wishing she could agree with him,  analyn's bundled up from head to toe,  layers upon layers .  “ i can only imagine,  it's horrible enough that we had that solar flare not too long ago,  and now it's this freeze !  like,  yeeesh,  sol city can't seem to catch a break these days !  regardless,  we have to find you at least a comforter to wrap around yourself .  you said it yourself,  it doesn't bother you too much,  not that it doesn't bother you at all ! ”

                            “ that so wasn't on purpose,  i'm so sorry !  i've been like,  trying to be more on the offensive,  if that makes any sense .  and like,  total overshare here,  but i've actually been bullied into having an unwanted house guest and into the trunk of my own car .  which,  like,  mind you,  is so degrading.  anyways,  again,  i'm incredibly sorry .  totally love your scepter though ! very striking ! ”

"no, not long at all." it's not the wait that concerns him ( or IT ) as much as the reality of her situation. poor, shoved aside analyn... he hopes that she can be swayed to consider herself more highly, but not everyone can be saved. at least they might still be useful, though. sliding a water toward her, he offers a thin smile. "sit with me, won't you?"

                           sitting feels like an acceptance of her fate,  and she isn't quite ready to let that be her reality .  not when she's unsure if these are her final moments . “ santi,  truthfully,  is this the part where you regret letting me off the hook ?  because i wasn't really given a choice,  i need for you to understand that !  they pretty much put me on a curb, that i bombed their mission so badly,  i'm not even affiliated with the society any longer !  so,  like,  please don't smite me in front of all these witness . plus,  like,  drawing more public attention to you and everyone else  . . .  wouldn't be like  . . .  a good thing ?  right ? ”

                            “ does anyone really know earth anymore ?  it's gone through an awful lot,  y'know . ”  there's no use in trying to pretend she's able to understand what's going on in jiro's thoughts truly,  but she is capable of easing his creeping anxiety and worry . “ i don't think that's the case .  you're perfectly alright,  at least in my book . ”  she deliberates what she's about to offer . unsure if she'd cause more problems for him . “ i might have something that could help,  if you'd be willing to let me try .  just . . . i can't promise it'll do more good than harm . ”