COME HEAR THE MUSIC PLAY

busy cafe. noisy, too. one of those where there's not really any tables but they've stuck a bar up against the window with a few plug sockets. the crowd is very oooh i have a call with japan at two and hr at three, need to sneak in an acai bowl when i've got the time!!! busy people with fancy laptops and too many phones.

the guy beside you seems out of place though, eh? full nike tech tracksuit. fidgety. honks of weed. he's nudged your arm a few times accidentally but seems too focused on the iphone of the person sitting on his other side. any minute now you'd swear he was gonna ---- oh he's fucking done it!!!!!!! business man looks over when the barista calls his order and the kid swipes the phone, pockets it. locks eyes with you.

It is, however, close to where she's dropped off an order. There's a lot to be said for convenience when you're de-caffeinated.

It also means she spots the guy in his tracksuit get up almost immediately, as out of place as she is. Callisto waits for her coffee, elbow perched on the bar-table thing near him, when his flash of movement catches her eye.

Well. That makes more sense.

he stares at her, maybe a little longer than you'd want for comfort, but he's sussing her out. can't be too careful with this sort of thing, can you? nox has been tricked before and you know what they say!!! fool me once, shame on you! fool me twice, what's your fucking issue pal have you got a problem??? can a man not make a living anymore, eh?? can no one mind their own business??? some neck on you getting involved in matters that don't concer-----

"We run, I guess." An amused smile curls at her mouth, not necessarily at the idea of running, but more at the idea of her running and how far she'd get before her knee gave out.

His offer though - Callisto considers it for a moment. Considers him. Stealing is not really within her bag of tricks, but the idea of halfsies is appealing - money is money.

there's one thing they have in common; scars! granted, most of nox's are hidden beneath badly done tattoos, but the kid wears a lifetime of beatings everyday. he's noticed, don't get me wrong, but knows what it is to be stared at. questioned. call it solidarity how he avoids looking. as she moves he stands a little straighter, giving her a wonky smile and a wink.

" you're some woman, you. "

not ideal to be robbin' your own da now is it? but sure what choice has the aul fart left him??? see when he was little nox never had much of anything right --- yeah no i know like, a child yeah what the fuck would a child have?? few teddies, few hot wheels like? not this kid. little noxy's favourite toy was a zip tie he'd fashioned into an armless, legless little man he named kevin. kevin's long gone, and actually fuck kevin we're not talking about kevin!!! not talking about childhoods!!!!

He rubs his chin under the ski mask- if he wasn't wearing it, Nox would be able to see him pulling a face.

"Ach, c'mon - is that all ye brought me out here for?" Eisen gesticulates towards the back door. "'Giz a boost'...Honestly. You've got to let me pick the lock, man. I even brought my fuckin' tools and all."

"Aye, sounds like a plan." He pulls a cigarette lighter out of his pocket and groans. "Where’s the wee fuckin'-"

He pats down his breast pocket and has to remind himself this is a stealth mission and he can't indulge his instinct to yell 'ha!' Out loud.

"Ah, ya wee dancer!" The device he pulls out is palm-sized, obviously homemade from junk with uncovered wires and visible soldering. The end is key-sized, made up of a line of small metal pins that extend and retract when the device's buttons are pressed.

" yerrup ye boy ye, wha' a manoeuvre dude you're fuckin' -- sexy fuck you are, righ', crack on with tha' an' let's get movin'. " he'll go for a little stroll while he waits, trying a window one last time just to be sure it's not an option.

busy cafe. noisy, too. one of those where there's not really any tables but they've stuck a bar up against the window with a few plug sockets. the crowd is very oooh i have a call with japan at two and hr at three, need to sneak in an acai bowl when i've got the time!!! busy people with fancy laptops and too many phones.

the guy beside you seems out of place though, eh? full nike tech tracksuit. fidgety. honks of weed. he's nudged your arm a few times accidentally but seems too focused on the iphone of the person sitting on his other side. any minute now you'd swear he was gonna ---- oh he's fucking done it!!!!!!! business man looks over when the barista calls his order and the kid swipes the phone, pockets it. locks eyes with you.

It is, however, close to where she's dropped off an order. There's a lot to be said for convenience when you're de-caffeinated.

It also means she spots the guy in his tracksuit get up almost immediately, as out of place as she is. Callisto waits for her coffee, elbow perched on the bar-table thing near him, when his flash of movement catches her eye.

Well. That makes more sense.

he stares at her, maybe a little longer than you'd want for comfort, but he's sussing her out. can't be too careful with this sort of thing, can you? nox has been tricked before and you know what they say!!! fool me once, shame on you! fool me twice, what's your fucking issue pal have you got a problem??? can a man not make a living anymore, eh?? can no one mind their own business??? some neck on you getting involved in matters that don't concer-----

what a place to spend your friday night. from the moment you step inside the first thing you'll smell is cigarettes, followed closely by booze and vomit. the floor ( carpeted ) is sticky and the crowd is difficult to manoeuvre; careful when you get a drink or you run the risk of losing it the moment you step away from the bar. everyone is talking - shouting, actually, over the live band nestled in front of the stage. by time you arrive it must be, oh jeez, past ten???

you've missed the headliner!

the whole reason to get here! haven't you heard she eats fire??? did no one tell you about how she belts jazzed up pop while doing a strip tease?? what do you MEAN you didn't know she told jokes?!?!!? well, you're in luck anyway, fool. she's there by the bar when you fight through the crowd. granted she's locked in deep conversation with a long haired man in a hawaiian shirt but she spots you over her glass, finishes the dregs and points. she's making a beeline for you.

But no! He has perservered, and turned up at the club frazzled, and out of sorts, and yes, late. One of his shoes is soaked through.

And now he's being directly addressed by the woman who must only be the star of the show.

" good boy. you should be. " you wouldn't believe the night she's had. the day, actually. month. well i mean so far the year is pretty shit but hey man, the show must go on! she's clocked in; the lights are on, the club is packed and there's a wide eyed boy out of his depths ---- there's simply no time for reality.

in here, life is beautiful.

without a word stefani takes him by the hand, pulling him up to the bar where she rests naked elbows on the sticky wood and goes up on tip toes, shouting at the bar tender for two more, joe. a pause, she smiles at the newcomer. " do you like gin? vodka? you strike me as a spirits kinda guy ---- even if you're not, you are now. i refuse to be seen with you if you're drinking beer. " as she speaks she looks him up and down, quirking an eyebrow at the soaked shoe but deciding there's more pressing matters at hand.