#((textgore))

Carnelian sparks to life as darkness falls. Loud music pours out of shady buildings,. It's almost enough noise to cover up the screams of those caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Almost. But fortunately for partygoers and brothel patrons, it's easy to ignore after a few drinks.

Anju: *Anju stalks through the night, creeping through shadows as she tails a group of three. Her target sways in the middle, having already had something or other at a sleazy bar. She pants as she follows them, drool pooling at the corners of her mouth. They smell delicious even from this distance. Anju grunts in delight once the group of three darts into an alley to rest and prep themselves for the next party. She darts out of the shadows, intent on making a move.*

Akira: *The mafioso is nearby. watching the drunken fools dart in the alleyway from above, sitting on a low rooftop and enjoying something from a small steel flask, she had come to carnelian to enjoy the moonlight and perhaps bruise a few unwitting drunkards; she was itching to lash out at something or someone*

Anju: *silently enters the alleyway after her prey. It's not easy to make out her features as she sneaks through the darkness, but the brightness of her red cap is still detectable. She drops to a crawl, creeping towards the group similarly to a big cat*

Akira: *spots the crawling fourth wheel and begins watching more intently* oh? a hallucinating fool, perhaps? *said whispered, she readies a knife just in case it's needed*

Anju: *she springs when she's on the group. They never see her coming. Anju goes straight for her target first, pouncing on them and punching her first straight through their stomach. The rest of the group screams in horror, sobering up at the violent attack*

Akira: hmm. either the drugs in this town are more fearsome than I thought or perhaps I've struck some talent *she whispers poison magic into her knife, a paralytic, waiting to see if the attacker shows more of their abilities*

Anju: *Anju grabs their spine and easily snaps it with the force of her grip. Her hand snakes upwards, forcefully pushing aside ribs and organs until she's got a hold of their heart. She rips it out of their chest and bites into it like one would an apple. Anju glances around at the other two people in the alley. One begins to make a run for it and using the spilled blood that's pooled at her feet, she forms a thin, sharp spear. Almost carelessly, she tosses it into their back. They fall dead within seconds.*

Akira: *having seen enough she hurls the knife at the other partygoer, aiming the spins of her knife to sink into the third's jugular, on a hit the poison would quickly paralyze the heart, an unpleasant but brief demise*

Anju: *the spear forms into a hook and liquid rope, the body reels in fast towards her. Anju finishes sucking the blood out of the first victim's heart and casts it aside. She bites into the second body's neck but stops when she sees the other partygoer go down without any actions on her part. Anju drops the body in her hands and hisses, tense in preparation for another threat*

Akira: *claps slowly and laughs menacingly* Well done, I have to say. Effective, creative even! Though, if I do say so myself, lacking a...proffessional touch.

Anju: *her eyes whip to Akira, she continues to hiss and growl incoherently. Her teeth are bared*

Akira: *let's loose a low rumbling growl at Anju, sharp fangs bared and toxic smog on her breath like steam, after it subsides she stands straight again and adjusts her hair so it is all back in place* Now can you talk like a person or perhaps you'd prefer to wake the whole district.

Anju: *Anju remains tense but the snarling evens out, eventually growing quiet. She doesn't take her eyes off Akira but licks at the blood that's caked around her mouth and on her hands* I possess the ability to speak, yes *she says after several moments. Her voice is a bit hoarse* Is there something you need of me? You interrupted my meal.

Akira: by all means continue with your meal, I apologize for interrupting but I couldn't afford to let someone with such artful skill to simply disappear into the night. I would like to offer you some work that might make use of such skill, assuming you aren't...already employed?

Anju: *she cocks her head to the side, somewhat considering. When it's clear Akira's not going to pose an immediate threat, Anju huddles on the ground with nasty remains of her victims. The alley's filled with an unsettling slurping as she takes her fill* 

The work I do is... how you say, freelance? *her mouth draws up into a pout, as she figures out her words. She nods when the term comes to her, satisfied with the choice* Requests are given to me, I grant them... My reward is given after I have given suitable proof that the job has been completed. That is the process, more or less.

Akira: Ah! so this is more than a hobby, excellent. Now...have you ever considered working for an organization? We could offer you security, a wider range of contracts, resources, and! *pauses for effect* I can assure you it would be no more restrictive than your freelancing.

Anju: *the entire pitch is lost on her, Anju just stares at Akira with an extremely blank expression* I feel... that you are misunderstanding my motives. I suppose what I do would be most equivalent to purchasing a meal --in a reverse manner, of course... given that I am paid for my services. Few are willing to relinquish as much blood as I need to comfortably survive.

Hunger is quite uncomfortable... the gnawing sensation is rather unpleasant.

Akira: Well, then, how about this, if you work with my group, we will be able to offer you a ...wider menu and ensure that hunger of your's stays sated.

Anju: *she almost starts to drool again at the thought of a wider menu, but keeps a hold of herself enough to stay civil* Whom would I be targeting? I should hope that innocents shall be spared? As feable as it is I do try... I do try to avoid those that have done no wrong. This *she gestures towards the carnage in the alley* is by no means perfect yet they were indeed marked for death.

Akira: We are a criminal organization, that much I can't deny, however we evaluate our contracts carefully, and targeting innocent people is something we work rigorously to prevent. Simply we feel, to target those who have made many enemies and done many wrongs.

Anju: *nods along, though whether or not she's getting the fine details is open to debate. But she's satisfied after the explanation and she visibly relaxes. She rises from the mess on the ground, brimmed hat shifting into a long cape. It catches the light oddly, almost like it's made of liquid* Very well. I have no other queries, thus I shall accept your offer.

*she steps over the bodies towards Akira and extends a hand* A handshake is proper in this situation, yes? To commemorate the agreement and establish good tidings. *Anju doesn't smile, but her expression has softened somewhat*

Akira: *Akira drops from the building, landing in front of the vampire in a crouched position, she rises and takes the vampire's hand, giving a forceful, firm shake.* The Shakudo looks forward to working with you.  *she smiles with a closed mouth*

Anju: *returns the force of the handshake, instilled competitiveness making her interpret it as a subtle challenge. Absently she wipes at her mouth once her hand is free, the action smearing the mess more instead of cleaning it up* Are there any formal papers I must sign...? I am unfamiliar with official employment. It is not something I have experienced before.

Akira: I suppose we could meet at *looks up at the moon for a moment* suitable hours... to work out your salary, any benefits, some... terms of service and the like *twirls her hand in the air dismissing the last part as drivel* as well as working out a  preferred means of getting contracts to you. You will most likely be interacting with someone other than myself in a third-party location associated with neither of us.

Anju: *she starts to zone out, not having expected the matter to be as complicated as it sounds* That is fine *she breathes out, words spilling like a sigh* As pleasant as this has been, I am starting to feel quite itchy. If you do not mind, I feel that I should take my leave... it would not do to linger near here for much longer... lest one is content to have an intimate encounter with armed forces.

*she gives a graceful bow in Akira's direction* I bid you good evening.

Akira: *Akira bows in turn* the same to you, good evening. Oh also *reaches into the breast pocket of her white shirt and takes out a small white business card, hands it to Anju* contact that location if you have any questions. If and when you're ready to start burn the card in a discrete location and we will come to you.

Anju: *Anju takes the card and briefly examines it before stowing it away in her cape. She nods in acknowledgement and skirts around Akira to the entrance of the alley. After glancing around, she leaves... disappearing around the corner to who knows where*

((Ships)) 

Jaquelin - I think these two are interesting because they're opposites. I don't think they'd work as a romantic ship. Anju's physically 23, but on a mental level she fluctuates between 23 and her actual age of 53. She's lived long enough to find Jaquelin's behavior childish. He amuses her but it grates on his nerves when he blatantly denies the existence of anything "bad" because the thought troubles him. She doesn't take him seriously at all... so it would be hard for her to see him as her equal in a romantic relationship. And that's not something she'd be happy with at all, despite how vicious and dominating she is in other situations.

As for a friendship... I'm not sure how likely that is either. They might be two people that are just meant to understand one another on a deep level (due to their opposite views and upbringings) but aren't friends.

Adrik - They haven't interacted at all... which means Adrik doesn't exist in Anju's eyes. Her focus is really narrow. If you've never spoken to her then it's unlikely she'll notice you.

But! Anju would get a kick out of how straightforward Adrik is. Her default is to be as confusing as possible, so she'd enjoy teasing him with weird cryptic statements. I don't think they have enough in common to be friends... and Anju's too unhinged to be a good sparring partner. She fights to kill, not for any sort of enjoyment. Something romantic might be unlikely as well.

Idris - Anju doesn't feel one way or the other about Idris, but they've spent enough time together that she wouldn't mind speaking to them more. Idris has seen Anju rip people to shreds and slosh their blood down her throat in a feeding frenzy. And they still seem willing to associate with her even after all that... so given time, it's possible for them to become friends.