Spiders were wonderful creatures. The elegance with which they moved and the fact that many people stayed away from them simply when mentioned by name. So many variations of them and many people didn’t know the difference at all. Some completely harmless, others that could easily kill you. Astraea was by no means a spider expert but she knew enough to know the spider making it’s way across the table wasn’t one of those spiders to be feared. Big enough to make a impression but it wasn’t poisonous.
Similar to what her table-mate had done, she allowed the small animal to move across her hand and fingers freely, moving her hands with a small elegance, just as freely as the animal working it’s way across them. She heard the man’s question but let it sit for a few moments, rather than answering immediately. And when she did speak next, it didn’t quite answer the question.
“Of all the threats possible, why would you go for the virgin daughter one?” She asked, eyes still on the small creature in her hand and not looking at the creature across the table from her. She wasn’t one who enjoyed hearing threats to third parties made but she didn’t know the circumstances and wasn’t going to stand up for someone she didn’t quite know just yet. “So many options for threats that hang in the air and yet you grasp at threatening a daughter that’s not even here. I’m curious as to why you might choose such a wording.”
The question wasn’t why she was there, but it was a question that she had. There was no concrete reason for her sitting down at the table to talk to a man that was obviously not human. No reason at all other than curiosity. And she was getting tired of the rather normal man she had been follow. A normal she hadn’t questioned til he found a seat at this table, with this man, and made a deal with him. Human hearing only got her so far though and she hadn’t heard the extent of the deal. Perhaps her curiosity would lead her to an answer to that question as well.
He watched the creature travel across the table in admiration. Feeling as though she was avoiding the question he leaned back against his chair and raised a brow. With a tilt of his head his eyes flashed a glimmer of sinister nature as he studied her as he wondered why she might have sought his company but suspicion arose. ”You’re not a cop are you,” he gawked. Because I have an arrangement with the authorities here.”
He smirked. The legislative power in the city over her was nearly non existent. Sometimes it felt like he owned that town.”You can always arrest me if you want to though. I don’t have any previous engagements. I have the time. Illegal or not the point of that last was decided because if doesn’t collect what is Valuable to me… I will take what is valuable to him for the tremendous favor i gave so generously. What I did for him, however, is somewhat confidential in nature.”
Astraea had been sitting at a table close by and watching her fellow human and the non-so-fellow-not-human as their conversation progressed. She was much more interested in the non-human, although she’d found herself here after following the human. A simple follow and report back assignment, nothing involving killing or death, sadly enough. But she had what she needed for the moment and knew how to find him again so she wasn’t concerned when he walked out of the tavern and she remained behind. Her client could stand to wait a bit before she reported back with what he wanted. Her curiosity had been peaked by the other man and she had a wonderful habit of following that curiosity of hers. Carefully, she’d follow it, but she’d follow it nonetheless.
She tilted her head at her new curiosity’s outburst and follow the gaze and action to the small animal he was in the process of saving. Interesting once again. Perhaps the outside appearance of tough guy was all that was there. Or perhaps it was simply a show. Both were equally as interesting to her. And she wanted to know the answer. And a few other things but she wasn’t going to get too pushy. Not right off the bat anyways.
As he crossed the room to save the defenseless spider, she stood up and moved as well. Her movement brought her to sit in the seat the human had just left, although she spun it around the side of the table so she could see the rest of the room. Having her back to a crowd made her uncomfortable. Having her back to anyone she didn’t know or trust made her uncomfortable. But her curiosity was returning and she leaned back in her chair and crossed right leg over left. “Interesting business you run here.” She stated simply. Enough to show she knew something, but didn’t reveal everything. Her bluff had been perfected over the years, the man wouldn’t know that was, in fact, all she knew at the moment.
Satisfied with his capture he watched it crawl across his nimble fingers. Twisting his hand in front of him he followed the creatures movements around his hand as it scurried around. He turned on his heels to go back to his usual spot when he looked up to see a stranger sitting beside his table.
A devious smirk spread across his face as he gracefully swept over to his seat. “You could say that,” he chuckled as he plopped down. “What can I do for you, lass?” Leaning forward he let the spider down crawl across the table.
You have three days… or I get your virgin daughter for a night…
[Rumple sat in his usual corner at the tavern he frequented. That was where most of his ‘business’ knew where to find him. He was the only one in the place that wouldn’t be scolded for putting his feet up however his fights were still to be taken outside after an episode that almost leveled the building between he and a werewolf. Running his finger along the rim of his mug of ale he dismissed a nervous ‘client’ filled with hope and despair wrapped in one. The human had his wish granted but he was off on quite the quest to acquire what was owed. He sat back and lit a cigarette. Sure they weren’t healthy but it wasn’t like he was going to die. Being a demon had a large list of perks. But it was simple pleasures that counted.]
WAIT! Hold it! STOP!
[The panic in his voice got the entire room’s attention. They all turned to look at him. Embarrassingly he found himself frozen halfway over the table. Rumple continued at a slower less frantic pace. Making his way around a few bystanders he leaned over.]
You almost stepped on this spider…
[Cupping it in his hands he knew he was receiving odd looks.]
I need the chatroom now… :/
HAHAHAHAHAHA…. FOUND MY USERNAME AND PASSWORDS!!!! I”M BAAAACCCKKKKK
“If we looked at everything as predators and prey life would be much simpler, wouldn’t it? I suppose I would be on the constant lookout for what might devour me. However, I can’t think of anything that might do so.” He shrugged eyeing the pub. ”Perhaps everyone is trying survive their inevitable fate and there is no use trying to avoid it.” He knew a few of the faces at the tavern from having done business with them. ”Would you care for a drink?” he asked.
He was a Demon, of course there weren’t really any real threats that could devour him. Except for maybe perhaps other demons. Raina remembered Jesebel talking about devouring other Demons to work her way up. Rolling her eyes at him she was waiting for him to turn a corner and head off to wherever it was he was going. There was a very affectionate woman who Raina could meet up with for the night, their time in bed was always amazing. Her house was near the Metropolis so a good distance away. “No, I’m alright. I’ll be up all night drinks can come later”she responded hoping he would leave her side to get a drink for himself. Good riddance.
Rumple shrugged. “Suit yourself, i suppose. You sound as though you are on quite a tight schedule tonight. Or is that just some sort of front to be rid of me?”
“No matter. I have business to attend to as well… imagined or not.” Flipping out a pocket watch he checked the time. One of his clients had minutes until his debt was owed. Wether he retrieved it in a timely fashion depended on Raina. He had always been intrigued by her. He hoped that she wasn’t his typical flying fancy.
“I really didn’t think you were trying to protect me”she stated. The man’s intentions to accompany her couldn’t have been that simple and honest. He also didn’t look like the chivalrous sort of Demon. Raina was starting to grow hungry and wondered if she should head over to the fields for a hunt or try somewhere else. They walked past a pub serving food and she wasn’t interested, nothing quite like fresh food if she could have that as her first preference.
Making a face at him, she didn’t turn to let him know exactly how she was reacting. “No, I’m not invincible. Nobody is. I can take on most things to a certain extent. Every animal has a predator”she finished not wanting to elaborate. Vampires were definitely better company than Demons she was starting to realize. Or maybe it was just the ones she had run into.
“If we looked at everything as predators and prey life would be much simpler, wouldn’t it? I suppose I would be on the constant lookout for what might devour me. However, I can’t think of anything that might do so.” He shrugged eyeing the pub. ”Perhaps everyone is trying survive their inevitable fate and there is no use trying to avoid it.” He knew a few of the faces at the tavern from having done business with them. ”Would you care for a drink?” he asked.
Was he ever dramatic. Choosing to ignore his words, she wasn’t going to willingly let him get a reaction out of her. Which was exactly what she wanted. People like him were always looking for the cracks that they could dig beneath to get to someone. One little slip up was all they needed, and with that they could do so much. She wasn’t exactly threatening him. What could she possibly do to a Demon. However she was making sure she wasn’t scared of him or going to be submissive. “I’m not a fool”her words travelled quietly.
Raina doubted he was really headed the same way as her. The panther was tempted to just take over and run. She could outrun him, unless he was one of those demons who could teleport, or had some other enhanced ability. “Really, there’s no need to join me. I’m fine on my own”came her words with haste and irritation. Wrapping her arms around herself she was starting to grow impatient with him.
He noticed her impatience with him but didn’t pay any mind. “I’m not tagging along to protect you. We are simply going the same way,” he assured. “I’m sure you could handle yourself.” Looking her up and down he raised a brow.
“A find young girl such as yourself could take on ANYTHING. You’re invincible,” he said rolling his eyes. In his mind he was imagining all of the things a demon such as himself might do if he were in a different sort of mood.
“Let me rephrase that. You’re not important to me.” Her patience with this demon was running thin. She knew that’s what he was even before he got close, one of the many perks of being a Changeling. As much as Raina wanted to know who he was and why he act like he owned all of Andrann or something close, she just wanted to get away from him and possibly even forget she even met him. That’d be nice.
“Oh I’m calm”she laughed at the situation. If she weren’t the panther would have been on him by now. “I’m sure you would know if I wasn’t. Still standing here talking to you so patiently aren’t I?”she asked. Standing up straighter she was going to end this ridiculous conversation. “I’m sure you have somewhere to be as do I, so goodbye”she turned around hoping to never meet him again. If she saw him at the studio or theater she’d just avoid him.
He tilted his head back and laughed to himself. He owned her and all her friends’ livelihood. It was amazing how important he really was to her. “Alright, then. I am absolutely meaningless to you,” he playfully whined dramatically holding his chest as though his heart hurt with anguish. She wasn’t the only one that could act.
Part of him really did want to see her lose her calm and collection. Perhaps it wasn’t the time. “I hope you weren’t threatening me,” he stood back upright and collected some composure. “That would make you a fool,” he added darkly.
When she turned he noted her direction. “I do believe we are heading to the same place. I’ll join you,” he invited himself. Long graceful strides caught him up beside her.
“Yes. That’s exactly what I said. Why would I want anything from you of all people when you can’t even tell me something as simple as your name and who you are. Clearly you have something to hide”.
She rolled her eyes and scoffed, the man was easily flattered. “You’re not that important”she tried to assure him. When he finally said his name, gears were working in her brain. Raina had heard the name before, in passing and mentioned in whispers at times. However, she had no idea who he was which was starting to irritate her.
“How do you know my name?”she snapped in alarm. Maybe he had watched a show she was in and someone had had mentioned it. Most people didn’t know her name specifically. Now it wasn’t just the panther that was on edge.
“How do you know I’m not important?” he shrugged. ”You must have quite the library… all those books you read merely by giving their covers a glance.” Looking at her with his crystal blue eyes he smirked mockingly.
The shock in her face made him laugh. “Calm down.”
