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With no real way to decline the invitation for drinks Annabelle found herself at one of the many bars in the Red District. Though this one seemed to be mostly populated by those who worked for Regal. Which made the red head more than nervous. She didn’t want to be here of all places, and certainly not with Damien who seemed all too happy to see her again. There was no way the dark haired male knew what she was planning. She kept her plans to herself, hidden from the boy she called her best friend. If it had gotten out that Annabelle was planning to overthrow Albert in some way, and Damien knew about it, he would have been in just as much trouble as she would have been. So the thoughts never became words. She was eventually even more glad she had never articulated her plans when Damien joined the ranks of Albert’s Brutes. 

She was snapped out of her thoughts by Damien placing a drink in front of her and snapping in her face. [color=silver]”You sure still space out just as much as you did before you left, glad to see not much has changed.”[/color] His teasing smile was almost comforting to Annabelle, almost. [color=silver]”So Belle, what exactly are you doing back. I was pretty sure when you left I was never going to see you again. Not that I am complaining of course.”[/color] 

Annabelle fiddled with the mug in front of her. Damien knew she didn’t drink but it must have slipped his mind, or maybe he thought she had picked up the habit in her years away. [color=6ecff6]”Just, checking in. Had a few things to check in on, unfinished business and all that. Just here a few days, then I am leaving again.”[/color] She managed to give him most of the truth hoping he wouldn't pick up on her not telling him the full thing, but when she looked at him he seemed to believe her.

[color=silver]”So your first step wasn’t to tell your best friend you are back for a bit. I’ll have to convince Gabe to take my watches.”[/color] He feigned offense and chugged his drink, signaling for another one, which was quickly brought. 

Several hours of talking later Annabelle had managed to give him a complete rundown of her ‘adventures’ while she was away. Leaving out the parts that would potentially clue him in that she was the gun for hire Deadeye. He knew she was good with a firearm but she had always left out the fact that she killed people for money. She was sure Damien was still convinced she was simply wielding the weapon for self defense, which, once again, was only partially the truth. 

When had Annabelle started to hide things from Damien? There was a time when she told the boy everything. When they were in the orphanage together and he was the closest thing she had to family. I had to be when she started taking jobs that were less than savory. Now telling him half truths was second nature. Even more so now that he worked for Albert. Would Damien be loyal to her or Albert if he ever found out the real reason she was back? It was a question she was terrified to find out the answer to, but for now she could use him. At least running into him had some benefits, she could ask about the state of Albert’s men and she was sure he would never suspect a thing. The switch to ‘work mode’ was easy. Treat Damien like any other person she got close to in order to get information. She could feel guilty about it later. 

The conversation went late into the night and Damien got more than wasted. Annabelle left the male passed out at the table and slipped out, walking back to the Inn she got a room at. She felt like she was being watched. She hated that feeling, she was usually never wrong about it, but she needed to do her best to not give any indication she knew she was being watched. Was someone tailing her? Was she just paranoid? She quickened her pace only slightly when she was within eyesight of the Inn, entered swiftly and went up to her room. She couldn’t shake the feeling, and when she rounded the corner from the walled off doorway she froze, realizing exactly why she felt like she was being watched. 

[color=fff79a]”Hello Deadeye, so nice to finally make your acquaintance.”[/color]