Jade "Jay" Herrera-Hammer

The tension was palpable in the air for the past half hour, ever since Astor had decided slacking while playing cards became tedious, and started playing like he meant it. But it was now, that the last cards were scattered on the table that it reached its peak and everything went still - even the cat that had been brushing against his leg all this time. The hand of a man he’d been playing against twitched slightly, and Astor moved his hand lazily over the hilt of his dagger, tucked safely at his side. It meant a warning, even if Astor hardly seemed to pay attention. 

The man cursed and got up, knocking the chair back as he stormed towards the men that were watching him - friends, Astor guessed. He also guessed it’d be smarter to stay here for a while, he had a job to do, not pick a fight with the five of them in the street - no matter how much he wanted to do just that. “Do you want to sit? Or play.”, he said casually, looking up from the cards to the person whose eyes he felt on him, “The drinks are on him.” 

Jade had a habit for seeking out trouble, it was like her to go out and find it without even looking for it. Even a situation that seemed relatively normal the young woman found a way to make it interesting. She watched off to the side in her usual shade of mourning black. She wasn’t mourning anyone or anything but her financial stability. She raised a brow as soon as she was being addressed and approached glancing at the pair. “ Are we sure his game is honest?” Jade smiled as she glanced over. “ I would be thrilled to have one if hes offering”

“Not to sound cocky, but nothing in this city can hurt me.” Claire said with confidence. “Plus if you walk with a certain attitude most people will leave you alone. For the other small percentage that don’t take the hint a good punch in the throat will be the trick. I could teach you if you’re worried about your safety. It’s quite simple really.”

“ Unless you’re a robot without emotions I seriously doubt that. Everyone has an Achilles heal. Even the strong. “Jade replied with a shrug. She herself straddled a lien between life and death and she was closed off emotionally to most she still knew she had a button that could be pressed. “ Yeah no, I’m good. When you’ve been married to a psycho you tend to know how to take care of yourself” She smirked 

Claire’s anxiety had shot through the roof. She had been up all night reading various texts trying to find anything about the Ouroboros. There has to be some record of them in history whether they went by that name or other. She just needed to clear her head too many thoughts invaded her mind. Not realizing the time she stepped out for some fresh night air.

Jay wasn’t heading home but heading out. She wanted to stop by the studio early to plan a few thing’s out and she just found it easier to sleep there some nights. She was surprised to see anyone out this time of night and couldn’t help but find it interesting. “ You know this city is a beacon for dangerous activity this time of night?”

“Will you tell me more, or do I have to tune into the show to find out?” Matthias asked teasingly. He really did want to know now, though. His curiosity had been peaked so he would find out one way or another. 

“I mean who am I to deny someone who genuinely wants to hear about it?” Jay countered, giving him a genuine smile. She was rarely really happy unless it came to her hobbies and work. “ Honestly everything about her contradicts other accounts. It’s almost as if she wasn’t a real person, but there’s all theses dates and accounts, so something must be real. She used arsenic and was always starved for attention which is why he did what she had done”

“I don’t have opinions, I only know facts.” This was untrue and hew knew it, but he also believed he was always right. “I hope you’re valuing everything I’m saying to you.” 

“Of course not. your secret is safe with me.” She wasn’t sure how much that promise meant to the woman, seeing as they barely knew one another. But Cali liked to think their family upheld the image of being trustworthy, for supernaturals and hunters alike. Jay might just have saved her life by intervening that night, this was the least she could do. “Can’t say I’m not glad you helped ‘team not snake assholes’. It’s bad enough they have someone like that on their side. Or anyone, really.” The sooner they could be brought down, the better. She was getting sick and tired of it already. “What’s shadow stepping? Is that the disappearing thing?” They sounded powerful, and almost intimidating. But it was clear that they could be harmed in their tangible state, and that was enough for her. 

“Okay, that makes sense. So long as someone is paying the salary,” Matthias nodded. It was easier being a host and working on your own show than having to start it up and keep it running yourself. He had no idea how people like Instagram models and Youtube influencers did it, aside from advertising and product placement? “Yes, of course. The world should know about Vera Renczi,” he nodded seriously, as if he had any idea what he was talking about. 

“Precisely. I sign the checks when it comes to my partner for the show but other than that it’s me doing everything through sponsors and just good networking.  “ Jay explained with a half smile. She really did love to talk business. She raised a brow at his comment towards one of the names she had mentioned and let out a soft chuckle. “ She’s considered a black widow but there is potential evidence that her legacy is a hoax. It’s very fascinating”

“A lot of tourists and a lot of regulars. I don’t really care so long as they don’t destroy the store or steal.” It was a sure fire way to make him very mad, very fast. “But I suspect, with tourist season coming up, that I’ll likely have a few problems this summer. Somehow there’s always a few guys, maybe even a woman or two, who mess something up.” 

“Tourism. A blessing and a curse all in one. You get more business but it tends to get a little too busy at times. “ She replied nodding her head. Honestly while she loved city life, she found there were far too many people in New York. “ Define how bad it gets messed up?”

“Exactly. All the evidence sitting right in front of their faces and still– nada. It’s delicious.” He was talking about those stories, he was talking about himself, the Oroborous and it fed his enjoyment all the more. His smile, wide and real as he nodded, “Most people talk too much. They give too much away. Makes them no fun at all.”

“Oh well that’s cool. Keeping it fresh,” Matthias nodded, as if he knew what he was talking about. He had only recently gotten into podcasts. They and e-books were easier to carry around than physical books. All he needed was his phone. “Can I ask? How do you make money from that? Like, not to be rude or anything. It’s just something I’ve always wanted to know.” 

“Everyone can have a story about HH Holmes but not everyone will have a story about Vera Renczi, I wanna be the one who talks about her. “ She smiled. It was the lesser known cases that made her feel like she was actually contributing more as a host. “ It’s a company owned show, despite it being mine. Then there is the press that can come from it and the paid sponsors. It’s not rolling in the dough but it’s worth enough”

“Yes like the classics,” Aalis confirmed before making a mental note of the name, “I’ll be sure to look her up because I’ve never heard of her. But anyone who pushes boundaries is interesting to me,” she smiled widely.

“ They have their appeal. I’ll give you that one” Jay conceded despite being more into horror. “ She can come off a little scary cause of how avant garde she was but it really was amazing all that she had accomplished “

“Hm.” Kieran hummed, questioning but silent as he glanced off into space before shrugging. “I can’t really relate. I own a shop in the Frey; an art store. I also sell liquor and the only people I deal with daily are drunkards or the occasional artist - sometimes both in the same customer.” 

“ I think I’d like having my name on a liquor. I should get into the alcohol business” Jay smirked before processing how he had mentioned working at the Frey. “ And how is it working at the Frey? I imagine you get a lot of people with no concept of what they’re looking for”

“If everyone listened to my advice, the world would be a better place. My tone is the only thing that makes this conversation interesting, thanks for noticing.” 

“There should be a rule,” the witch countered, motioning sharply at Josefine. “One gets too hungry and it’s over for all of us!” In response, the vampire sighed and rolled her eyes. Stereotypes died hard, apparently–they were all barely hanging on and yet some people still had time for pettiness. “I promise I won’t rip your head off,” Josefine deadpanned, then looked at the newcomer. “Seriously, don’t waste your time–I can just leave.”

Jay raised a brow at the comments that were being thrown back and forth. The shade kept a lid on what she was and aside from members of the Rhodes family she hadn’t told a soul what she was. She figured letting a first family in was bound to benefit her. It was also to prevent the kind of comments from being thrown at her. “ No it’s fine. I’m just observing the prejudice right now and I gotta say, this really is bad business. “ Jay replied tilting her head.