Your Savior

With a flippant eyeroll, James gave Matt three more of his little lost lambs who wandered too far from the pasture. He cared not what Matthew would do to them since they had betrayed James and his principles. "Is that all you wish to talk about, Matthew? You are becoming terribly tedious if it is. Perhaps I will take you up on that ring recharge if only to avoid having to spoil my appetite with work before a good meal."

for: @james-johnsen location: a restaurant near pandora's, hedon

James had contacted Matthew again in recent weeks to ask to meet, something the fallen deity had kept putting off each time. He knew what the human was after. It was always the same thing each time they met when James held up an item that needed a little demonic recharge. This was not something Matthew could manage right now though, not in his depowered state, and he still did not know if or when his powers would return.

There was, unfortunately, only so long he could put off this meeting until James got suspicious and he decided to meet the man at a restaurant near Pandora's, the city's black magic store. He would be able to find some trinket or other to keep James occupied for awhile once the man told him what he needed.

"James," Matthew said in greeting when James took the seat across from him. "To what do I owe the pleasure this time? Did you drain the ring of magic already? I only just replenished it over Christmas..."

The human rolled his eyes, scoffing as he waved his hand in the air. The gem of the ring already showing signs of overuse with its dulled color and tiny cracks. Whenever someone asked, James claimed it to be a sentimental piece that no one but himself be allowed to touch. The stories he told behind it growing ever more intimate as he dissuaded his followers from questioning why their profit wore such a thing when they would eagerly buy his something much more befitting of his station.

"All business with you." He tutted, gesturing for Matthew to sit. "It makes you incredibly dull. I happen to be here on pleasure." He leaned forward, sliding a drink Matthew's way. "I figured that we could talk."

"A tease, I should have known." The statement sounding more entertained than annoyed however. Not giving away all his secrets was a good thing to her. Afterall she had many of her own secrets to keep and hold onto. "Well then I guess I shall have to come see this whole show. I would hate to miss out on something far more more interest and given my perception of you thus far... I'd wager you're smart enough not to toy with a woman like me."

He chuckled. "A secret keeper and much more." He couldn't give everything away in a first meeting. He would never have gained his following if he did. It just took that first step through the door into his spider web to get most enthralled, but he knew that Mab would be a harder sell. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a cream business card. He handed it to her with a flourish. "For whenever you may have need of me."

He was almost thankful for the continuation of riddles and he just about held in an irritated huff. “I’m starting to realise I prefer it when men are blunt with me.” He muttered.

Eiji supposed it wasn’t surprising that people thought all he wanted was revenge, but revenge had never been at the driving force. He’d only ever wanted his father’s love, genuine love that didn’t stem from what part he could play in the coven, and for him along with the rest of the supernatural community to at least recognise that the human race deserved more dignity, respect and rights than what they were being afforded. He didn’t hate them. He’d loved magic. He hated the way humans were treated. Perhaps Eiji was being naive for still offering his father the chance, time and time again, to be the one to make changes, even when he’d proven numerous times that he wouldn’t— not even for him.

He snorted softly. "Sad I'm not asking if u r up?" He was familiar with the to the point ways that most communicated, but he was far more refined than that. He required a certain intellect that got him.

"You're a darling," Matthew smiled and he leaned forward to press a soft kiss to James' cheek. It helped to turn on the charm when it came to asking for something too, even after James had already agreed.

"Unless you want to help me melt the igloo?" He winked, giving him a lascivious smile, believing that Matthew certainly would not take him up on the offer.

"How kind of you," the fallen deity returned, his smile practically radiant knowing that James would do exactly as he asked even if the human did not seem entirely happy to be at Matthew's beck and call at times. "Then I believe our business today is done, don't you think? I'm looking forward to these souls you've promised me."

"Give me a month, and I'll have them gift wrapped for you." He'll start with his own congregation. They should not be answering to or for anyone aside from James. He was their leader. Those unable to commit to the cause could find themselves outside it.

"Damn it, James!" Matthew hissed and hastily looked around, his face a bright pink colour even though he found the kiss rather thrilling. He pushed the other man away and attempted to straighten his already neat clothes to give himself something to do. "Hard to trust you if you're going to do things like this!" he huffed, sufficiently distracted right now.

"Would you relax? No one saw us. Even if they did, who would believe it?" The Enquirer might run with a witness, but they would just be rumors that the studio could squash in a second. It wasn't as if there were any photographers around to see the kiss. "Would you rather we go to your trailer?"

"If I was still some sheep I certainly wouldn't be here." She'd fought tooth and nail to get where she was and even more so since she'd become a human amongst those that couldn't help but see her as lesser just because she was human. "Now that darling, is something that I'd be curious to hear what you mean by beyong human..." She said as her lips almost brushed on his ear.

"You have my undiveded attention."

He chuckled, tucking a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "That was the preview. If you want to know more, you have to come for the full show. I can't give it all away for free." Besides she was part of the same world as James was. If anyone was on their way to becoming more than human, it was the woman before him. With her connections, she could certainly become someone more.

Eiji huffed a small breath of amusement. James wasn’t wrong, at all, Eiji very rarely let anyone in past the walls he had built up, least of all a complete stranger who now knew his identity and could use it against him at any point. Perhaps that was reason enough to try to make him believe he was getting to know the real him. “I’m giving just as much as you are.” He pointed out.

He lifted a skeptical brow at Eiji's words. The man hadn't even used his real name until James used it first. Of course the preacher understood the need for secrecy, but that alone meant that James was giving Eliji more than Eiji was giving him. "You just haven't asked me the right questions yet. I'm an open book."

"I would love to," she mused eagerly, the phrase Be Cool playing on a loop in her head throughout the interaction. She bit her lip to contain the expanding smile at his caress, feeling the curl placed as gently as his touch behind her ear. "I don't know about all of that. I don't think there's a place on Earth I could go without being in my parents' shadow." Hearing him use a different last name to describe her had her eyes bulging slightly at the near blasphemy from the man. Her family used to coach her relentlessly, even at an early age, to always stick with the Drake family name. Regardless of money, love, or title, she was always to honor and abide by the Drake name. It almost felt rebellious to consider defying her parents in such a way. "Vivian Jones has a nice ring to it..."

"I'll try to pick out some scripts for you so you've got a reason to come back too." He'd make her bigger than Dallas and Isabelle. Girl had the talent to be the biggest star in Hollywood if she wanted. He would make certain that she'd be a household name sooner rather than later. "Then be Vivian Jones if you want, Babydoll. I can make it possible, have my lawyers called in the morning and change the credit on the movie. This could be your breakout role."

"The next picture. And the one after that. And the one after after that. We both know well enough how much money I can make you, so you'd better keep delivering for me."