[hr][hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/F0VbQBu.png[/img][/center][hr][hr][b][color=1F9B3B]Time:[/color][/b] 14:00 ⇒ 14:15 EST
[b][color=1F9B3B]Location:[/color][/b] Café comfort
[b][color=1F9B3B]Interacting with[/color][/b] Khione Crusch[sub][@Hoekage][/sub] & Alexander Tepes[sub][@Legion02][/sub][hr]Alexander arrived at the strangely spacious looking café. The place seemed modern, yet just a touch out of place. Like it came from another time and tried to settle here without sacrificing too much of its old identity. Though Alexander couldn’t really place where it came from. At the counter he ordered his tea with a delicious looking apple pie slice. As the people behind the counter prepared his order he looked around. His eyes counting the few people present. He smiled. The stage was set. With a polite yet cold nod as he received his order, he took a seat in the back. Though with his back against the wall, so he had a clear view of everyone who would come in and approach the counter.

The morning seemed to be just the beginning of a long day of nuisances for Khione. Phone calls from the order, summons from the NYPD’s Supernatural Unit (that she chose to ignore), and then to top it off another summon, but from someone more powerful than she (this one she couldn’t ignore). The young huntress entered the cafe, in a [url=http://lacelebs.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/madison-beer-at-we-day-california-in-los-angeles-04-27-2017-3.jpg] casual yet flattering outfit[/url] that matched the trends amongst the few people coming and going as she walked to the counter. The exchange with the girl at the register was pleasant and quick, and Khione found herself setting the tawny colored americano on the table and filled the vacant seat slowly.

Face to face with the man who shouldn’t know who she was, wasn’t as unnerving as she thought it would be. There were probably a lot of people, and vampires, out there that wanted to kill her. At least this one was showing his face.

[color=ec3b83][b]“Alexander.”[/b][/color] Was the simple, curt greeting she offered as she took a sip from her second iced coffee of the day.

Alexander looked up to face Khione. [color=92278f]“Miss Crusch, I presume.”[/color] He returned with a warm, almost fatherly smile. The moment he saw her, he began to compare her with the description he was given. [color=92278f]“I must say, our mutual friend has done you no justice with his description.”[/color] He said as he vividly remembered the blood choked account of Khione: [i]‘Black hair, darker skin tone. Bit of Latino look. Cold gal. Distant.’[/i] He outstretched his hand, an invitation to take and shake it. A sign of good faith. [color=92278f]“I’m so happy you could make it. Apologies for the last-minute invitation. I was held up by a certain royal before I could dispatch the letter.”[/color]

[color=ec3b83][b]“Most people don’t.”[/b][/color] Khione replied her tone trailing off as calculating dark eyes trailed over the stranger across from her. Alexander was handsome, but she never came across a vampire who wasn’t. The smile on his face was neutral but there was [i]something[/i] in his eyes, maybe it was just the age, but she knew better than that. Despite that she met his invitation, yet again, and placed her hand in his giving him a firm handshake,[color=ec3b83][b]” I have a flexible schedule, as you can imagine. Though today happens to be a busy day for me, so if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to get to business.”[/b][/color]

Alexander was somewhat surprised by the firm handshake. Then again, she was a Daughter of Aeternum. That alone made her stand up from the common rabble that humans usually were. [color=92278f]“Ah, very well.”[/color] He said as he lifted his cup of tea. [color=92278f]“Let us proceed to business then. Though perhaps we should first get some privacy.”[/color] He said, then he took a sip of his tea as he lifted his left arm and snapped his fingers once.
 
All around them several chairs began scrapping over the ground. Everyone sitting in the back of the café, a total of fifteen people, stood up at the snap and moved towards the exit. Much to the surprise of the girl at the counter. When Alexander lowered his cup again, they were nearly all alone in the back. [color=92278f]“Much better. Now, I do understand you are pressed for time but I insist that I do introduce myself. Even though I am fairly certain your people have extensive archives. My name is Alexander of House Tepes. Elder and trusted advisor of King Dimitri Tepes. Now, with that out of the way, let us proceed to business.”[/color] He took out his phone and quickly tapped a few keys. It took a moment, though he continued talking: [color=92278f]“Under normal circumstances I would only invite you as a courtesy call. As my king insist on amicable relationships. Sadly, as of this morning, terms have changed.”[/color] He passed her the phone. On it was a picture of two young people. A man and a woman. They looked like they were in a nighttime bar. Together. Happy.  [color=92278f]“You will find them in Central Park. Dead. Murdered, I might add. They were… associates of mine. I find the circumstances of their death quite troubling.”[/color]

The uniform movement of the people around them was slightly surprising and she turned her head to see the emptiness of the lobby. The bewilderment of the nice girl at the register made Khione crack a small smile as she turned back to face the man. [color=ec3b83][b]“Cool party trick.”[/b][/color] The statement was promptly ignored, at her request he sped things along, but, not without an introduction.

Alexander of House Tepes, Elder of Dmitri who was already an annoyance with hundred of years under his belt. There was plenty of information on Dmitri in the records of Genesis, but nothing on an Alexander. Was he lying? The thought was brief as she remembered the seal that had been stamped into the letter mailed to her, no not lying, but to remain out of the Orders eyes from the beginning of Genesis and until now? Khione hasn’t said a word as she lost herself in her thoughts, perhaps it was rude she didn’t offer an introduction in turn, but he knew who she was, and she [b]was[/b] rude.

Only when an artificial source of bright white was placed in her line of sight had she come back from her thoughts. Blinking in the familiar faces of the couple found dead this morning in Central Park had a coolness awash her senses. Not a trace of the tension in her muscles or chaos in her head showed in her facial expression nor the more difficult to control signs like a heartbeat. An outwardly nonchalant shrug was given in response to his concerns about the nature of losing his associates, but inside Khione was stewing with anger. This was the fourth time that day the annoying [s] and very fuckable[/s] hunter on the verge of termination had managed to slip up in her conversations. 

Khione wasn’t sure how much Alexander knew, unluckily for her, there were several reasons he had to choose from to justify calling her here. Not that he needed any justification, knowing her name and address practically put her life in his hands. This was the exact situation she never wanted to find herself in, yet here she was.[color=ec3b83][b] “I heard something horrific happened in Central Park but decided not to get involved on my day off, seems like I made a good decision.”[/b][/color] The best way to lie was to always tell half-truths, it was her day off, but she knew about the incident, and knew about the previous incidents similar to this one. [color=ec3b83][b]“What about their deaths is troubling? It’s a big city, everyone has enemies here, unfortunately, it seems like your associates had enemies with money. I’ve heard the relations between your kind can be pretty volatile, but I guess that’s where the Zeno’s rack in all the cash? Well, besides arms and drugs.” [/b][/color]

Alexander took his phone back and began to swipe through it. [color=92278f]“I know my people. While they weren’t saints, they most certainly weren’t criminals. Death is an unjust fate for them. Furthermore-“[/color] He said as he once again slid the phone towards Khione. This time the picture on it was far more morbid. The corpse, sitting against a tree, clutching his stomach. It was burned completely. [color=92278f]“-this is an unusually brutal way to kill. That is a sentence given only to the worst transgressors amongst the Tepes. So I highly doubt it was a vampire that killed them. No, I believe it is a human. One with an exceptional hatred for making such a torturous kill.”[/color] He took a quick sip of his tea, draining the last of it as he let Khione observe the picture a little bit in silence.
 
[color=92278f]“However, I am not here to tell you about the killer. The police will surely know more by tomorrow.”[/color] He said, after which he took his phone back. [color=92278f]“But I have an obligation towards my people, Miss Crusch. Retribution.”[/color] There was no emotion in his voice. No sadness, no hate, no rage. He was simply, coldly, stating the facts. [color=92278f]“I will find whoever did this. I will find who houses them. Who helped them. Trained them. Then I will right this wrong.”[/color] He stated his intentions as one would state facts. His words were frigid, immutable prophecies. [color=92278f]“I will give you one chance, right now, to tell me if you know who this was or could be. If I leave here without a name, there will be no leniency.”[/color]

‘Retribution’ the single word almost made her laugh, humans were ugly beings, but finite in their existence. Unlike the vampires, who always danced just on the edge of meeting justice with their powerful existence and hundreds of years of manipulation. Khione didn’t hate them, not all of them, but she’d doubt killing one wouldn’t have served for an injustice sometime in their past.

The threats were a poor treat paired with the already bitter coffee, she should have ordered something sweet like a caramel macchiato or a white mocha, to really savor them. The true Khione was rearing her head in that moment, as she leaned forward, aware of the dipping neckline of the tank top she wore,[color=ec3b83][b]” Alexander… if I didn’t know better, it sounds like you were threatening me. I can appreciate a male who knows the importance of foreplay and I am interested, but I’m afraid I just don’t have the time to play with you today.”[/b][/color] A pout played at the lips of the young woman who was burning with rage inside, she had come across vampires like him. Old and arrogant, they never paid her any attention more than stating their demands, and never looked at her with a hint of lust their younger kin could be tempted into.

[center]Ah, to be underestimated once more.[/center]
Alexander answered her seduction in kind as he inched closer to her as well. A small, hungry smile formed on his lips. As he got closer he first looked into her amber eyes. Then he trailed down towards her pink lips and then lower. [color=92278f]“Then how about I make you scream tonight?”[/color] He whispered playfully. His hot breath falling upon her bare neck. He was but inches away. Something inside of him wanted to give in. To lower his fangs into her skin. To take her then and there in a bloodied embrace.
 
As suddenly as he had leaned in, he pulled himself back against the chair. The coy teasing stopped immediately. Replaced once more by the friendly smile. [color=92278f]“No leniency then. Very well. Then I am afraid I must take my leave.”[/color]
 
He took a last sip from his though and began to shuffle sideways to get out of the boot seat. Though halfway out he stopped and checked his watch. [color=92278f]“Ah, how foolish of me. I have forgotten the most important thing.”[/color] He looked up towards Khione.[color=92278f]“It is to my understanding that this city is somewhat of a… hotbed for the youngest generation of vampire royalty. As we are speaking now, my gracious king is announcing a change in all of their lives. They are expected to form a house of their own, while they are cut off from their original bloodlines.”[/color] He got up- [color=92278f]“Enjoy your day off, Miss Crusch. I suspect it will be your last for a very long time.”[/color] And he walked away.