INDEFINITE HIATUS

     sounded like she didn’t believe him and for a split second, dmitri found this to be a waste of his time. if she wasn’t going to help him then there was no need to try and expend anymore interest in trying to resolve this. if it ended up being the case, he’ll kill everyone by himself. or at least attempt to. surprise evident on his features, dmitri put on a cocky smile the moment she put her gun away. “let’s walk and talk, hmm? it’ll be a bit obvious if we just gawk in the middle of the sidewalk.” he started to walk elsewhere, anywhere around the block, to discuss the terms of his situation. “as a kid, there was a group that wanted to overthrow the dolohov family. my parents, and those before them, were rich. were aristocracy. had influence over regions. and... they had powers. so naturally, they wanted every bit of it. i thought every last one of the members had died.. but that doesn’t seem to be the case. that’s where i need your help -- to abolish them.”

     oh how that giggle filled his senses, his eyes squinting behind his lenses in sheer happiness. it was lovely to see her in this light, to be sketching on napkins and going where the wind takes her. it was flattering that she had sketched him and that alone was more than he could have ever asked for. “are you kidding? this looks very much like me!” he exclaimed, reaching into his book bag for his phone and taking a few pictures of the item. “if i was a cartoon character for a show, i would want you to be the one designing my character,” he cheesed, reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze. “if only i could draw you but you would end up looking like a cactus for sure.”

     interest piqued as she started to etch something onto her napkin, something that he could only assume was produced out of boredom. was he really that terrible of company? doubt filled his mind and he was hesitant to look at her, so aleric sat there and listened with eyes to his sandwich every time he finished taking a bite. at the mention of his rehearsals being more important, eyes went wide and he snapped his head up ( unfortunately for him, there had been lettuce sticking out from the corner of his lips briefly before wiping it away. “no no, that’s not good. my rehearsals should be the last thing from... your....” voice trailed away as she slid the paper across the table, heart melting into a pile of goo at the sight of her sketch. she really did have such immense talent. “is... is this me...?”

     “we can start with fifty thousand... and if you actually up helping me finish the job, i’ll pay you ten times that.” there was no indication on his face that he was lying, and he was more than happy to show her his bank account. dmitri did not come by this money.. legally, necessarily, but he did attempt at helping others more than he ever cared to help himself. THAT was his reasoning and THAT is how it will stay. the air of mystery around her confirmed that she was the very person that he needed to help him, but how else to convince her of this? “i don’t have a dna test that says i’m not a demon. my family was born with powers, we know no heaven or hell. demons, as i understand it, are hell-ish. i’m just.. a doctor. what do you say? otherwise, i’ll go on my own. and keep the money to myself.”

     “because of how much i’m willing to pay you,” dmitri smirked, only to mask his shuddering thoughts. in truth, there was much resentment in how he was feeling. dmitri never cared to ask for help and the only reason why he was doing it now was because he thought his past had ended. apparently not. head tipped to the side and his face turned sour, as though it were in insult that she called him that. “a demon? i’m not a demon. don’t lump me into that category. i’m perfectly.... human.” last bit was spoken with a devilish hint to it and he dared to step closer. “you don’t have a reason to kill me. unless you want to be thought of as a murderer, then by all means, i URGE you to try. i have plenty of money. you wouldn’t want to pass that up, now would you?”

     “something like that,” he chuckled sheepishly, running his slender fingers through his hair. “they’ve all moved on. to bigger and better things.. places.” there was no malice in his voice ; it had been his intent to stay here and so far, there have been no regrets. soon enough, their food arrived and he took to eating as though he hadn’t eaten in days ( as politely as one can ). “have you painted anything new lately? i’d love to see it, if you’ve got pictures. i know it’s been a while since i’d seen you last... and i apologize for it. rehearsals take hours and by that point, i’m trying to find enough time in the day to sleep.” and, well, eat.

     meeting his brother would make him so... so happy. and atlas was always OVER THE MOON when he met aleric’s friends, half because he was automatically attracted to people and half because he was happy to see that aleric was breaching out of his comfort zone. fingers grabbed the plastic number to hang at their table as they sat, tucked in one of the cozier booths in the back of the cafe. “hm, i think it was after rehearsal one day.” it’d been quite awhile since the first time he’d adjourned here that he hardly thought it was necessary to remember. “it was my first professional quartet and we practiced in the same hall that you saw me perform at. it was just as late as tonight and it was the only thing open. good thing too, because we never decided to eat anywhere else again!” he mused, letting out a hearty laugh in its wake. 

     “then you can try if you want.” bullets wouldn’t affect him, not if he could procure bones out of his palm as a shield. last time someone shot at him, they very much regretted the outcome. “i’ve heard about you,” dmitri started, calmly, with hands in the pocket of his italian tailored pants. he was always WELL DRESSED to throw off those that were hunting him. “i’m going to need more than just myself to deal with this... problem. consider it a bounty.”

( sms : katerina ) THAT’D BE SO FLIPPIN SWEET!!!!!

( sms : katerina ) so is that a no to the vampire or....?

( sms : katerina ) excuse me!( sms : katerina ) i am a perfectly likeable guy!

( sms : katerina ) that’s.... fair( sms : katerina ) can you hook me up with one? ;)

( sms : katerina ) you are such a tease( sms : katerina ) are you going to find a vampire or something to surprise?

( sms : katerina ) pft pft pftttt( sms : katerina ) a surprise?( sms : katerina ) i def see it coming

( sms : katerina ) haaaa yeah right!( sms : katerina ) MAYBE I WILL!( sms : katerina ) loser :P

     for a moment, he looked at her funny, her words having double meaning. “funny, i didn’t think that you needed strength to play the cello. i definitely don’t have the muscles for it,” aleric teased, in the hopes that she understood that his joke was under the assumption of physical strength. “that’s my brother’s forte, i’m afraid. his muscle mass is about as heavy as i am.” chuckle escaped his lips and he patted her on the shoulder, cheeks stained red from embarrassment at how pathetic the joke actually had been. moments later, they arrived at the cafe and he ordered himself a large panini with chips, and tea as his drink ( an addict, he was ). “and whatever you want.”