CRIMINVLS

Yelena snapped out of her daydream with a smile that was more polite than it was anything else. Olivia was looking at her, and there were the beginnings of two pints on the bar top. Yelena tilted her head to the side and grinned suddenly "-No?" That's a shame." Yelena shook her head, as if disapproving. "-come on Olivia, there must had been something here that's peeked your interest?. It's a big city. Lots to do, lots of people to meet. Anyone caught your eye yet?"

The 20 Olivia had pulled made Yelena shake her head, "Olivia-" she said, tutting under her breath. "Please let me-" It was too late though, the bartender having picked up the money with a flourish. Yelena glanced in his direction with a frown, she grinned though, suddenly and then with a flirtatious arch of her body, angled herself toward the men behind the bar. The pints came quickly then, and she and Olivia were left mercifully alone.

"Not yet, but here's hoping." Olivia made a show of crossing her fingers as she raised her hand for her to see and looked hopeful before trying to swiftly move on, hoping that Yelena wouldn't delve deeper.

"I've got this round, you can get the next one." Olivia flashed a grin as she pocketed the small change before lifting a pint in each hand to take back to their table.

Olivia was nice and Yelena liked her. She was good at making you feel liked. Olivia was good at making you feel like you deserved to be liked. And that was a slippery slope of praise that Yelena preened for.

"Hmm-" Yelena dumped her coat and bag at the table Olivia had driven them toward "-drinks just, I think." Yelena shrugged then "-we can always get chips on the way home."

Yelena smoothed her hands down over the stretch of green satin that made up her shift dress as both women wandered to the bar. There was an easiness in that, of idle chatting and soft laughter as they made the short trip from table to bartop. Yelena lounged against the countertop with all the grace of a fat housecat when they made it. She flagged down a sweet young bartender with big brown eyes, and soon, had 4 pints being poured for them both. One for each hand, Yelena had said and then laughed about.

"-How have you been Olivia." Yelena asked her as their drinks order was put in. Yelena turned to the other woman, dark eyes ringed in sparkly green eyeshadow. It didn't suit her, the heavy makeup, but it hadn't stopped Yelena from pilling it on like her life depended on it. "-has London started agreeing with you yet?"

Thankfully, having a friend like Yelena was a blessing. Olivia knew that she could always count on her, and vice versa, as long as their hectic work schedules allowed. They could spend their time together, laughing and having fun, instead of getting caught up in the daily grind. However, despite the joy she found in Yelena's company, it still didn't quite satisfy Olivia's longing for something more. She wasn't sure what she would do if she couldn't find it.

Lukesh hated being included in something when they weren't on the job. When their face was recognised or when they felt that annoying itch that they had to participate, which is what they did. And after they always regretted it. They weren't dressed to deal with it, their shirt was ripped and their lip bleeding.

But a few of the fighters had been arrested and they were free to continue their night. As if that was such an easy thing to get back from. Lukesh licked their lip and hissed at the pain. "Fuckers and alcohol, I swear, almost makes me want to take up drinking myself."

As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, she heard someone talking. She couldn't tell if they were talking to her or just talking aloud, lost in their own world. She responded anyway. "It's not as good as people make it seem," The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the streets and buildings. The light was fading, replaced by the dull glow of streetlights and neon signs. "People might look like they're having fun, but the hangover the next day isn't always worth it," she added, her voice trailing off. She noticed the person she was talking to had a busted lip and a ripped shirt. They looked like they had a story to tell. "That looks like it hurts," she remarked, nodding towards them.

After texting Yelena to tell her where to meet, Olivia stood outside the small pub with one hand shoved into the pocket of her jacket, her other hand holding her vape. She was certain the label on the packaging said strawberry-flavored, the taste was not at all like any strawberry she had ever eaten. She had hoped that vaping would be better than smoking, but the chemical taste left behind made her doubt it. Or at least, it's enjoyability. The pub at her back wasn't the best place to be. The drinks were cheap, likely because any spirits were watered down, and it was full of retirees throughout the day and sometimes families that popped in for their Sunday lunch. However, it was quiet, and sometimes Olivia liked the peace and quiet. Sometimes she'd just drink there because it was cheap and convenient. After waiting a while she sent another text to Yelena while debating whether to go inside and wait.

It was a text sent half running. Typically, her sacred routine of getting ready to go out could be rattled of in about an hour. But today, it had been halted half way through when her good ol' GHD's had gone kaput.

Yelena was furious. She had ben forced to abandon the outfit she had planned entirely, and settle for something else. It had taken forever to choose something to go with the half up, half down hair-do she had settled on. She had left her room a riot, a mess for drunk Yelena to clean up later.

So now, she was rushing through town and hoping Olivia wasn't too fed up with her.

"Sorry!" Yelena appeared suddenly, reaching for the other woman to give her bicep a slight squeeze by way of an apology. "-getting ready was a nightmare."

Yelena grinned at her before nodding her head toward the pub behind, already half alive in the early evening. It was the kind with stained glass windows and little gin alcoves. They served chips in buckets, a novelty that Yelena had adored the first time she had seen it. The heat was always on full blast and the pints were cheap. What more could a girl want.

"I'm dying for a drink Olivia. So come on, I do not want you to freeze to death out here."

It wasn't too long to wait, although she had turned to wait inside and get out of the cold. As she was about to put one foot through the doorway, she stopped in her tracks upon hearing Yelena's distinct Russian accent. She quickly put both her phone and her vape inside the pocket of the lightweight leather jacket she had paired with her outfit.

"No problem. You look great though, love the hair. Come on girl, let's get warm and get some drinks in then you can tell me what's new with you. Are we eating or just drinking?"

Olivia linked an arm with Yelena's as they stepped through the doorway together. Inside the quaint pub the comforting warmth surrounded them making Olivia let out a soft sigh of relief as she immediately felt herself warming up and soon her leather jacket would be thrown across the back of a chair once they found a spot to sit. First, she headed towards the bar with Yelena to order the first of what would undoubtedly be many rounds.

He had walked up to the counter and figured out easily enough that he would have no luck ordering an iced chai or matcha latte, respectively with oat or coconut milk. That was rather disrespectful of the place, but Malo settled for a proper cup of tea, with a dash of milk and peach scones that looked quite appetizing. He picked up the cup and the plate from the tray, serving his most sugar sweet smile to the waitress before he found his way to her.

"The seat's free," it was an affirmation, not a question, but for him to sit down without waiting for her response wasn't that strange per se. They were in London. Plenty of weirdos around here.

"If the clouds clear," she agreed though her voice came out stiff. It was difficult to lower the guard she kept up due to the fear of her past possibly sneaking up on her when she wasn't looking. However, Olivia knew that it was entirely possible that this was just a stranger making polite conversation and she was coming across rude. "The weather can be a little temperamental," she tried to make the small talk seem casual but she couldn't shake it. She popped the piece of sweet potato into her mouth as she had another quick and discreet glance around as if she were looking for someone else. When she had finished chewing and swallowing she placed a hand around her mug of tea. "Do I know you? I'm sorry if we've met before," she hoped they had not, "I'm bad with names and faces."