[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ovQDg3F.png[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/ItU46sA.png[/img]         	[img]https://i.imgur.com/AhVmyFc.png[/img]
[h2][color=8877BD]Nessa Mendoza[/color] & [color=0D6793]Elay Motta[/color]  	[/h2][/center]
[right][code]The Trough Bar, Tauro Boulevard, Junglelands: 15th Ward[/code][/right]
The rundown, dimly lit bar was busy for a Monday evening - but not in the way Nessa wanted it to be. People without jobs who’d been here since she arrived, middle aged men who’d trickled in at the end of the working day… and the few young enough for her to consider seemed a little too familiar for comfort. Normally it wasn’t this bad. She’d come to this place first because it was normally where she had the best luck. The Trough was a shit bar, like most down here were, but it was [i]cheap[/i] and near some still functioning factories. That made it popular… normally.

It was early. It could get better. Nessa tried to console herself from where she sat in the corner, nursing a shitty beer. From here she could just about see the whole place while being relatively hidden herself. The lights above her strained to work, casting her mostly in shadow. It was quiet in this corner, her only company the damp and mildew on the wall behind her. 

Dull brown eyes moved from the grimy tables filled with shouting drunks to the bar itself. It was busy as workers trickled in, regulars and newcomers. Most ordered what was on tap - the same drink in front of Nessa. Tasted more like water than beer, but it was dirt cheap. Still nobody caught her eye… but it was fine. She had to be patient. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do.

But she was beginning to feel… on edge. Like she was being watched. It was a prickling feeling, her Pink Lux attuned mind especially sensitive. Maybe she was just being paranoid. She was used to someone being in her head. She still sensed him, sometimes, even though she knew it was all gone.

Maybe it was a ghost, maybe it wasn’t. She’d learned to trust her instinct. She’d just try another bar.

Nessa stood up, pulling back on her worn black puffer jacket. It was her only protection against the bitter cold. The revealingly low cut crop top and tight black shorts weren’t weather appropriate, but looking attractive was way more important to her. It wasn’t like she’d freeze to death in the time it took to walk bar to bar, or home. 

She carefully made her way across the room, making herself as unnoticeable as possible. It wasn’t difficult when she was so short, easily weaving through people until she pushed out the scuffed door. 

Cold, fresh air filled her lungs. She’d grown used to the awful smell inside, as if it was trying to live up to its name. She could breathe much easier out here. Her hands shoved into her pockets before they started to freeze, taking a few steps down the street bar patrons used to smoke. 

“Nessa? Fuck, it is you- fucking stop!”

Nessa froze, not given much of a chance to respond as one of the smokers pushed off the building’s wall and got right next to her. He loomed over her, forcing her to tilt her head back to look up at his face. It was dark already, street lights flickering and making it difficult to make out his face but… [color=8877BD]Oh shit.[/color]

“Recognise me? Good. You’re lookin’ well after fucking leavin’ me like that, you bitch.”

Nessa bit her lip, body tensing as her magic tightly coiled inside her. She recognised and remembered him… Alex. They dated three months ago for just over two weeks. She didn’t even need to curse him. It had been alright for a couple of days, the sex was good enough, but he didn’t like her attitude. They fought, shouted at each other, then he’d hit her. They’d make up the next day… and it repeated until they were both sick of it. He’d ended it.

And she’d hit him with a curse to give him crippling self doubt on her way out. Maybe done a few other things too.

“Ain’t sayin’ anythin’? Y’scared, Nessa? That ain’t-”

[color=8877BD]”Move out of my fucking way, Alex. I don’t have anything to say to you.”[/color] Nessa hands balled into fists in her pockets as she glared up at him. It would be so easy to just take control of his mind. She could send him away… not, it wasn’t that bad yet. 

Alex’s head tilted back, and he laughed. When he looked at her again he was grinning. “I don’t think y’understand, Nessa. You ain’t in control here… y’think I’d just let you go after what you did? I’m gonna make you suffer just like I did.”

[color=8877BD]”You think you can make me suffer more than you already did? At least I brought something to the relationship. You-”[/color] she glanced downwards, then back at his face, [color=8877BD]”- certainly didn’t.”[/color]

“You fucking bitch.”

Magical shields flared up around Nessa’s hands at the same time as Alex’s shot forward, grabbing her shoulders. There wasn’t enough time for her to actually defend herself, shields petering out as she was slammed against the wall. [color=8877BD][i]Fuck, fuck, fuck-[/i][/color] Pink Lux started to build up inside her as he pressed painfully close. 
[hr]
The case was simple. [i]Where’s my Husband gone?[/i] Got ‘em all the time, and it was ninety-nine percent accurate that they’d simply run off for “greener” pastures. Whatever the fuck counted for that in this day and age, Elay didn’t know. Didn’t care to know. Some woman with bigger breasts, or more inclination to swallow than the last. Men were simple animals, almost never bothered if certain needs were met regularly. The only complicated part seemed to be what exactly the needs were; varying from Man to Man, they could be as simple as some nightly cuddles, or as difficult to perform as trapease line sex across-

[color=FF8604][i]Lazarus…[/i][/color] 

The booze was good at least. This place was an absolute shit heap, but it was active enough that he could sit and drink unmolested. He’d taken the scant bits of jewelry he wore and stuffed them deep into his greatcoat’s breast pocket before he even got out of the car… Flash a little bit in this part of town, all of a sudden people looked at you like a mark. Not that [i]he[/i] looked like too much of a mark. Too tall, too big, too angry. His hands were like ham hocks, practically screwed around the cup of gin and water he was drinking. The Bartender knew him, at least well enough to know he was here on business.
Or, should’ve been… But the amount of dollar bills Elay had slipped across the counter told another story entirely. He was ten down now, number eleven cooling his palm as he heard the chiding little voice in his head. It wasn’t so little…

[color=FF8604][i]She’s getting up, Lazarus.[/i][/color]

Elay took a sharp breath.

[color=0D6793]”You win some, you lose some.”[/color]

He tilted the glass back gently, taking another sip and feeling the burning followed by the evergreen taste of juniper berries. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it was the most alcoholic shit they had, and he needed the ethanol in his system… 

[color=FF8604][i]Not this one, Elay. Stand up. She’s headed out, but she’ll be stuck in a crowd.[/i][/color]
[color=0D6793]”If she’s stuck, she won’t be going anywhere.”[/color]
[color=FF8604][i]That’s absolutely not what I meant, now stand![/i][/color]

Elay spun the liquid in the glass, letting the shitty chipped ice clink around. Then he brought it up, and took another sip. Big sip. Gulp. Chug - Slam. 
[color=0D6793]”Hey! Morris! Another…”[/color]
The bartender was receptive to Elay’s bills, as they were immaculate from a North-End bank and marked as such. Little dog-ears from where the marker ran down the side… They were [i]real[/i], and that was the important part. Not some company credit from the factories nearby, or someone’s food stamps that the bar would use to restock its supplies.

So he had another drink lined up within moments, and the barman was quick to claim the money as the joint had long ago ceased to offer tabs. You want a drink, you pay up front for each. Elay was content enough to keep in his spot and keep forking them over, much to the dismay of his partner. Granted, nothing could be done about it in this setting… Not as a fat orange tabby subtly perched in the rafters above. So, the large man continued to sip on his new drink, finally feeling like there was a little bit of joy in his life, and like he’d find a mint condition Cadillac with tinted windows at the bottom of the next glass.


[color=FF8604][i]She’s tiny, Elay! It’s hardly stopped her! She's at the door! Door! Door! Elay, she’s-[/i][/color]
[color=0D6793]”Can you shut up? I’m- Fuck, y’know? Garf? Like, seriously, how’s a guy-”[/color]

He pulled the glass back all the way, letting the entire drink slide down into the bottomless alcohol receptacle of his stomach. As it disappeared, he shunted himself upward and practically tossed the stool behind him.
[color=0D6793]”-supposed to get some fucking peace and quiet in a bar!? You think I wanna work? Fucking… [i]Work? For what?[/i][/color]
Business wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t even fun anymore. It was sad, frankly, and made him think of everything he didn’t want to. Triple P’s: Peoples’ Petty Problems. Oh, where’s my husband? Oh, is my girl cheating? Is this person who owes me money still around? Can I pay you extra to collect?

No, you can’t. How else was one supposed to live than the petty thievery of half-caving someone’s head in and rummaging their wallet? Their money was [i]his[/i] money, because the fee for these kinds of things was never enough. The mortgage on the agency needed paying, the lights had to stay on, and all just North of the Bridges… Stuck up clients refused to shell out much more for simple detective work than that. Negotiations involved lawyers, and nobody was forking over for them on his own behalf… It never worked out. 

So here he was, compelled by the almighty dollar, pushing his way through the crowded bar floor toward his current mark… She was supposedly seen with the target he was really hunting for a few days prior; a conclusion he’d come to after following the chain and the money that was slowly being sucked from his employer’s account. A hotel room, a few nights of stay… A little company. Seeing her on the camera, it was obvious what the “missing” old fart saw in her. Less obvious was whether or not she had any intention of making her way [i]back[/i] to this guy. But she was leaving, and it was worth casing her out before stopping her to peel the info out of her skull.

But he got to the door far too late. There was a cloying weight that cascaded from the ceiling and landed itself square on his shoulders. Like a scarf, warm fur surrounded his neck, and Elay reached a hand up to secure his partner a little tighter before heading out the door. It was a cold night, especially in this part of town. When the lights went out, there were a million eyes from the sewers and alleys that stared up at the misery of life in South Cloverfield. They ate well, presumably on the refuse and the occasional dead. 
Long ago, they’d picked clean what was left of the nightmares. One may still find a bone or two, but the pests claimed the flesh. Garf’s senses extended to Elay, forcing the two of them into a stark awareness of the hungry rodents in the dark on all sides of the street.

[color=FF8604][i]Woah, El… She’s got a John.[/i][/color]
Elay peered through the strange glow of sparse street lights and down the block to something of a fuss. Focusing, he could hear the beginning of an argument.
[color=0D6793]”There goes our plan then… We’re gonna have to wait fo-”[/color]
[color=FF8604][i]His muscles are tense. Violence is coming.[/i][/color]

Well he didn’t want her [i]hurt.[/i] That wasn’t very fair, after all, she was just a girl. But there was a very potent flash of Lux that rippled across their shared senses, crashing into Garf’s Emotional Field and turning into a wave of deep pink in front of Elay’s eyes. Which one it came from wasn’t clear, but-
[color=FF8604][i]If you bleed him, maybe she’ll help us.[/i][/color]

Elay’s jaw clenched. He was already pissy… Maybe this would feel better?
[hr]
[color=8877BD]”Get off me,”[/color] Nessa hissed, her chest heaving up and down as she tried not to panic. She tried to shove him off, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. 

“I ain't letting you get away so easily,” Alex leaned forward so his face was right in front of hers. She could smell his breath- acrid, laced with booze. Her nose wrinkled in disgust. 

[color=8877BD][I]Mind control him- no, too nice. Take over, fill his mind with curses so he feels pain every time he thinks of me-[/I][/color]
Alex's free hand went to Nessa's throat, and she winced.

As things came to a head, there was a gentle noise from above. 
[color=FF8604]”Mrrrrmmrrrrow!”[/color]
Then it was on Alex’s back and shoulders. Not clawing, not biting or scratching, just hanging like a limp noodle… A massive, probably close to twenty pound, tiger tabby had made purchase on Alex’s shoulders, and it didn’t stop meowing for anything… Not until it had [i]all[/i] the attention in the moment.

[color=0D6793]”Oh, shit! Garfield! Oh my God, buddy, I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Excuse me, sir!? That’s my cat! Hold him, hold him! So he doesn’t run again!”[/color]
Elay didn’t bother playing drunk. But the two of them both loved playing with a meal… Anything for an extra laugh, to make themselves feel just a little bit smarter. As he spoke, Elay was fast on the approach.

“What the fuck?!” Alex shook his shoulders to try and dislodge the sudden weight. 

His hand loosened on Nessa's neck enough that she could push through the immediate panic. Her Pink Lux pulled right back into her body, dissipating as if it had never been there in the first place. It was the careful control of someone who'd been casting since she was a child- and had been punished for any stray Lux or accidental spells. There were no signs that it had come from her in the first place. 

It was too risky with someone else appearing to use it. She [I]could[/I] take control of them both, but then she'd be more limited. She had two options right now: put on an act and beg the approaching man, who looked large enough to easily beat Alex, for help, or wait for a moment to escape. If Alex pulled his body back at least a little bit further she'd be able to knee him in the crotch… 
And this was the South Side. There was no way some attractive stranger was going to help her. 

“You think I give a fuck about your cat? I'm in the middle of somethin' here- get the fuck off me.” Keeping Nessa pinned, Alex removed one hand entirely to try and grab the massive cat clinging to him so he could throw it off.

As Alex's hands grabbed Garf roughly, there was another burst of magical energy outside of the Lux that Nessa had been exposed to all her life. Apparitions, uninterested in the silly and petty lights of the Ancients, each gave their own unique and personal signature independent of Lux overall. It was only enough to confuse the Blind, as in an instant the horror of what was actually perched atop his shoulders was revealed to him. 

He could only work overtime to try and peel the “monstrosity” from his body, and only as Elay made it within arms reach did Garf finally release his claws to allow himself the opportunity to escape what was coming. From Nessa's angle, it was easy to see right away that the approaching man had no intention of playing nicely. He'd pulled his sleeves up, revealing leather-bound hands that gripped themselves for a moment. The knuckles cracked, and the leather on leather made a subtle stretching noise as it caught on itself.

One large hand caught Alex by the face, thumb instantly squeezing into his temple and causing a shout of pain as the free hand wound back. It was a single hard throw, and Nessa would be able to hear the loud snapping of broken facial bones as the giant in front of her proceeded to do his own bidding. The first shot was devastating, causing Alex's legs to wobble as blood pissed out of his nose. 

[color=0D6793]”Grimy shit-fuck! You'd hurt a fucking cat? Prick!? Bet this feels nice, huh? You-”[/color]

The second and third blows caused him to go completely limp, punctuated by a whimper that was probably some attempted plea to stop the violence. Elay was pissed enough that he had to turn his hand over to this stranger, but he hoped this would at least earn him the info he was after. 
They were still next to the light pole, and Elay took the head still gripped in his hand along with the man attached, and crammed him against the light pole again and again until there was one last loud pop. The sound of the skull fracturing.

Then he finally let him go. The brain-damaged douchebag hit the pole full-bodied, and slid down it into the wet, cold muck of the South Side street corner. 

The moment she was released, Nessa took a step to the side so she was out of any blood spraying range. Her back remained pressed against the wall, eyes slightly narrowed and wary as she watched the man who'd been harassing her get beaten to unconsciousness. Was he even still alive? She didn't care. What mattered was her reaction. Did she pretend to be shocked? 

No. Violence and death were just a way of life in the Lower District. Luckily she'd experienced plenty of it before she came here. She felt very little looking at Alex's prone body, aside from a bit of disappointment that it was over so quickly. At least it had sounded painful. A problem for her gone just like that, and she didn't even need to use her magic. Thank fuck.

What did she do now? Her eyes, shadowed by thick hair that had fallen in front of her face, moved to the large man that had protected her. Well, protected the cat… it didn’t matter. He [I]could[/I] protect her. He was very strong, attractive, and… didn't look so badly off. His clothing certainly looked of a nicer quality than most of the people's in this rundown area. He was the one- her next target. She couldn't just let him move on. [I]Ensnare him[/I]... But she felt magic. 

Not from him. From the cat. It was fine. 
[color=8877BD]”T-thank you, you saved me. I think he was gonna- gonna kill me.”[/color] Nessa forced her voice to waver slightly, approaching Elay. She brushed her wavy hair back off her face to look up at him with large brown eyes. There were even hints of tears in the corners, conjured up in a moment. 
[color=8877BD]”I d-dunno how to properly thank you.”[/color]

Small, delicate hands moved up to touch Elay's arms. They weren't soft, not anymore, but they were gentle. Upon purposeful skin to skin contact, Nessa had to make another quick decision- which curse. Easiest. [I][color=8877BD]Want me…[/color][/I]
Elay would feel something crawling across his Emotional Field, scratching to try and get in. But it was so weak… there was no way this was the person the potent Lux he felt earlier had come from.

It didn't matter too much, however. He felt magic, he read magic, and thanks to Garf's keen senses, he could see the strands of color lifting Subtly up and off the woman's skin. Blue ripples across the little bit of open space, like plasma arcing off a Tesla Coil. 
Before she had the chance to react, Elay's massive hands gripped both of hers tightly. Not to crush, but to detain. But the question was whether or not he told her he knew now… 

In the short span of time, Garf had climbed back onto Elay's shoulders, nesting into the collar of his greatcoat and getting comfortable again. Now, four inspecting eyes landed squarely on Nessa's face… But the first one to speak wasn't the man.

[color=FF8604]”Curses, curses, curses… Maybe you're not such a mark after all.”[/color]
Elay scoffed, shaking his head.
[color=0D6793]”Stupid choice. Probably should've kept the magic in your back pocket. Th'fuck do you think I am, some brain dead Blind?”[/color]

[color=8877BD][I]Fuck.[/I][/color] She was trapped. She had thought he was a fucking Blind. What did she do? Her protective curse, cover him in boils? No, did that even work when someone was already touching her? Fuck. Start cracking his emotional- no, she wasn't even going to consider it. There was no magical way out of this. 

[color=8877BD]”You gonna crack my skull against a pole now too?”[/color] Wide eyes turned into a heated glare as she blinked away the fake tears. 

[color=0D6793]”Answer my question, and you're free to go… William Finkle. Maybe you know him as Billy Pears? You spent a few nights with him in the Hemlock Inn, down on Virginia Ave recently. I know you did, so don't lie to me, there’s video evidence. I don't care what your angle is. His wife is looking for him, and I'm the sucker getting paid to drag him back home. So, if he's not at the Hemlock, then [i]where the fuck is Billy?[/i][/color] 

Elay's voice was calm, stern, and had no sign of fatigue from the previous actions. 

[color=8877BD]”You’ve got the wrong person. Video’s can be faked, y'know. [I]Magic.[/i][/color] As Nessa lied, the Pink-Yellow protective spell she was constantly casting across a section of her mind expanded to completely protect her from any possible intrusion. It took more energy… but she had more than enough magic to keep it up like this for hours if she had to. 

Of course she knew Billy Pears. Knew both names, knew about his wife, didn't care. He'd been her last hook up- a desperate one, older than she'd normally gone for. But he'd looked like he had money and she needed that more than anything. Except he was a stingy fucking bastard who tried to get [I]her[/I] to pay for some of their stay. So she'd dropped him… and spent the next few days in a depressive nightmare struggling to leave bed. 
She didn't actually care about protecting him. She just didn't actually want this guy to leave… Was it stupid? Sure, but what the fuck did she have to lose? Her life? Big deal. She'd been beaten badly enough before that she wasn't too worried about it. Best case… she still ended up in his bed tonight, somehow.

[color=8877BD]”Bit creepy following me around cause of some 'video evidence.’ Sounds like you're just a stalker. You want to fuck me or something?”[/color]

Elay's eyes narrowed. For a moment, his mind flashed an image of every single woman in his life. It prevented his hand from curling back and drilling this moron just like the last.
[color=0D6793]”Are you stupid, or are you on his payroll? Because I promise, protecting Billy Pears isn't worth it. You're dealing with North Side money, and [i]Mr. Finkle’s wife[/i] is a powerful woman in her own right. You don't want me pointing a finger at you because you stole my paycheck from me, do you?”[/color]

And this was the truth of the matter. If the trail ended here, then both parties got what they wanted… Mrs. Finkle got someone to point a finger at for the “murder” of her husband, and Billy got to escape Cloverfield forever.

[color=0D6793]”And don't bullshit me about magical doctoring. The cat knows what's fake and what isn't…”[/color]
In his head, Garf spoke up.
[color=FF8604][i]Gentle, Lazarus. Blue Lux… She's not the type to worry about her own state with depression like that. Maybe the carrot rather than the stick?[/i][/color]

It was a little too late, so Elay simply stared down waiting for a response, never letting her wrists go.

North Side money… powerful woman… she couldn't be that powerful if Nessa had never heard of her. Not powerful like… someone with very little power now. She wasn't particularly scared by threats. The risk of getting arrested because of a North Sider was a bit more unnerving. What if they found out who she [I]really[/I] was. 

But how likely was that? She was more likely to get beaten up before being thrown in a crowded cell. It would be so easy to get out. Nothing like where her father had ended up, a prison made by the Elite Adepts of the north in collaboration with the PRA for people just like them… 
[color=8877BD]”So you'll drag me across the bridge and what, hand me over to this woman and the police? Might as well just throw me in the river and call it a day.”[/color] Nessa rolled her eyes. 

[color=8877BD]”Since when was sleeping with someone a crime?”[/color] There was no point continuing to pretend she didn't know him, because he wasn't going to let go of it. Did she just let him point the finger and get her sorry life over with? That would be easier… but there was still that contradictory spark to live. And the want to make things as difficult as possible. 
[color=8877BD]”Maybe I'll tell you where he is… if you treat me to dinner.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Bitch, do you understand that you’re currently preventing me from eating?”[/color]
Elay’s voice hung in the air, all the wind and hot air rushing from him as the situation diffused itself.
[color=0D6793]”Look… I’m not a cop. I’m a detective. Private Eye. I was asked to find Finkle, and until I do, I don’t get paid. So either you help me, and [i]maybe[/i] he’ll be carrying enough cash that we can [i]both[/i] eat something… Be practical, don’t be a moron about this.”[/color] he growled, implying very openly that he wasn’t above running his Target’s pockets.

[color=8877BD]”What’s to stop you taking his money and fucking off?”[/color] Nessa shot back.

Elay’s hands released Nessa’s wrists, rising up into open palms… He even took a step back.
[color=0D6793]”What’s to stop you from turning and running now?”[/color] he asked, calling the bluff. If this chick was so desperate for a meal, then maybe Garf was right. Play it slow. See if she shows her hand.

Nessa glared at him, rubbing her wrists as if he'd actually hurt her. She could just run. Go to the next bar, try to find someone else, a different bed for the night. But this could work out for her. [I]Maybe[/I]. 
And if all she got out of it was seeing Billy get punched a couple of times… that wouldn't be the worst night. 

[color=8877BD]”I turn and run and you find me again, stalk me to my place or some shit,”[/color] Nessa snorted, as if she had much of a place at all. She shoved one hand into her coat pocket, pulling out a shit, battered phone. 
[color=8877BD]”Fine. I'll find out where he is, but I'm not doing it for free. I'll get something outta it.”[/color]

She didn't bother waiting for a response, flicking to one of her latest contacts and calling. It only buzzed a couple of times before the other side picked up and she held it up to her ear. 
[color=8877BD]”Oh, no, I wasn't ignoring you at all!”[/color] Nessa's voice changed immediately, from the harsh tone she'd been using on Elay to sickly sweet. 
[color=8877BD]”Just family issues… I'm alright. Do you want to meet up tonight? Mhm… Mhm. Different place? Fine by me. Just text me the address. Mhm. See you in a bit- yeah, don't worry, it'll be just how you like it.”[/color]

Nessa wrinkled her nose, lips pressing into a thin line as she tried to clamp down on her disgust as he started going on about just how excited he was. Thankfully, he wanted the real thing more than he wanted to talk about it- so he hung up shortly. 
[color=8877BD]”There.”[/color] Nessa looked back over at Elay, gripping her phone as it buzzed with a text message. She quickly checked it, scanning the location he'd sent. A different place… Roots Hotel, though calling it a hotel was generous from memory. It was barely a motel. 
[color=8877BD]”You got a car, or are we walking?”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Well how fuckin’ far is it?”[/color]
In telling him, Elay’s face soured and he took a deep breath.
[color=0D6793]”Oh… Yeah, I ain’t walkin’. C’mon. Time to earn your dinner for once.”[/color]
As he turned, the big orange cat stood up and gave a gentle leap from Elay onto Nessa… Garf could feel that she was cold, and his hot fluff wrapped around her neck with the dexterity of an actively compensating and intelligent creature. 

He purred.
[color=FF8604]”You’re not starving… This must be terribly convenient for you.”[/color] he spoke quietly enough that a normal person wouldn’t hear. Elay didn’t acknowledge it, knowing full well what Garf was actually up to. Examining in between comfort, as a cat could only do.
[color=FF8604]”That was a cute curse. Do you do that with every man you meet? Or just the biggest ones?”[/color]

Nessa stiffened as the large magical cat curled around her neck, somehow growing more tense than before. The warmth was nice but the fact he was a cat… bad memories. She tried not to think about it. She ignored his first comment. Not starving, sure. Technically true, she’d eaten some pasta in the morning. The only reason she wasn’t was cause she was used to one or two meals a day now. 

[color=8877BD]”Only the ones that look like they might punch me.”[/color] Nessa let out a short laugh. [i]Cute curse[/i]… it sure was compared to some of the others. It was just a harmless little curse lightly laced with Pink to make people varying degrees of more attracted to her. She used it when she was really desperate, or didn’t see any other way to get a man’s interest. It was quick and effective, but always bit her in the ass when it wore off.
[color=8877BD]”Y’know what it was meant to do?”[/color]

The cat took its own deep sighing breath.
[color=FF8604]”And more. Light births shadow; one rarely understands what can be read in the spaces between.”[/color]
If a cat could be smug, this one was. Incredibly smug, and it radiated from the little creature. “Little” like it wasn’t one of the chunkiest cats ever. Practically spherical. 

[color=FF8604]”You’ve gotten lucky. We may have a reason to stick with you.”[/color]

Nessa didn’t like what the cat was implying. How much did he know? Was the shield on her mind not strong enough? Fuck, she thought her skill in Pink made up for the inexperience in Yellow. Did he know about what she’d… no. He couldn’t. No way he’d keep it from the human he was presumably attached to, and there was no way that guy would still be anywhere near her.

[color=8877BD]”Cause of my somewhat useful magic, unique skill set and wonderful personality?”[/color] Nessa deflected, not wanting to know what the reason he’d gleaned from her was. It was strange talking to a cat like this but… it wasn’t like he was a cat. An Apparition… not that she knew much about them, just that he was probably much older than she was. 

[color=8877BD]”What’s lucky about it?”[/color] Nessa said, as if the idea of anyone sticking with her wasn’t the luckiest she’d been in a long time. She jerked her head towards Elay.
[color=8877BD]”He that good?”[/color]

Garf didn’t answer. Elay’s head turned slightly, brow furrowed as he tried to think about why something like that had been said…
[i]A reason to stick around[/i]?
Right. Dinner was dinner. But if she was some hopper, like ten thousand other people living and dying in the South, she needed the help. Maybe it was consistency, maybe she was a piece of work. Or a thief. Or someone gang related whom you didn’t actually want in your home. The type of person to let the wolves in through the back door so they can eat your pet and leave.

There was some reason she was hopping. Not stuck in one place with one person. Not living a boring life of working in a factory, or in a nurse’s office, not somewhere mundane where life could just pass along quietly. Elay’s suspicious nature was abound, and he cleared his throat as he hung back a moment to let her come next to him.
[color=0D6793]”So what’s the deal with the cat flinger? Just another John gone wrong?”[/color] he asked with a gruff tone.

[color=8877BD]”You could say that,”[/color] Nessa laughed slightly. Now this was one thing she could talk about honestly. Normally there was that whole stigma around how many guys she’d been with… but he’d probably already guessed. So why not give him the full gorey details?
[color=8877BD]”Relationship went toxic real quick. We’d fight, then fuck to make up. Got violent once or twice-” understatement, “- y’know, normal stuff. Kept happening. Then after a few weeks he wanted to take a ‘break.’ He’d broken my fucking nose and he wanted a break.“[/color] 

Thankfully it hadn’t been bad enough to have any permanent effects… the piece of shit wasn’t actually strong enough for that. But she’d been so pissed at the time.
[color=8877BD]”I was still hot with a broken nose, and had keys to his place so… I fucked another guy on his bed. He couldn’t do shit about it when he got home, either, cause the guy was bigger than him. Then I hit him with a curse on the way out. Piece of shit deserved it.”[/color]

Elay shook his head. This girl was nothing but trouble… The chances of her leading him to something like a gang jumping was rising by the second, and if it was a [i]coven[/i], that was only going to make things worse. Because then there’d be dead bodies. He didn’t care about that part, but it never made things easy. Dead people didn’t speak to him. They couldn’t cough up information.
[color=0D6793]”And what kind of a curse was that? The curse of ‘get your head popped like a grape’?”[/color] he asked, the streetlights growing more frequent as he led Nessa along toward the parking lot on the other side of the building.

[color=8877BD]”Didn’t need a curse for that one, did I?”[/color] Nessa looked up at him with a wry smile. Her eyes subtly darted about, making sure to keep track of where exactly they were.
[color=8877BD]”It wasn’t much, just made him feel a lil worse about himself. My magic isn’t strong enough to actually hurt anyone.”[/color] That was a lie, of course. She could’ve easily gotten inside the guy’s head to fry his brain… and that would’ve been showing mercy. But she wouldn’t. So casually thinking about using that magic, the thoughts constantly creeping in, made her feel a bit sick. 

It was safer to appear harmless.
[color=8877BD]”I only use it when people [i]really[/i] deserve it. Tiny curses are hardly as bad as beating someone till they’re dead.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Whatever makes you feel better, Dame.”[/color] Elay scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. He didn’t believe anything a Blue Adept said, or a Pink one for that matter. All they ever did was manipulate and then when they started to experience hardship, they lied and cried until life changed to suit their position. It just so happened she appreciated the help…
It only felt more like a setup because of that. She’s magic, she doesn’t need someone to defend her, she’s lasted this long; what would she need a man for? Or a free lunch?

Getting into the parking lot, Garf made his transfer back to his companion’s shoulders without words, pressing off Nessa’s shoulders as he jumped.
[color=0D6793]”Fuck, you’re gonna knock me over with that shit.”[/color]
[color=FF8604]”It’s cold, Lazarus. She’s made of bones.”[/color]
[color=0D6793]”There’s gotta be blood in there.”[/color] he joked, looking down at Nessa. At the cute little woman he didn’t know. It was a damn shame she wasn’t going to last very long if his suspicions were true.

The vehicle Elay approached was nice twenty years ago, but at this point it was showing its age… Not that it diminished the comfort factor of the heated leather seats or the power windows. Features that were top of the line long ago, now relegated to basic functions that anyone would expect from a modern car. The front seat was occupied by a cat bed, and Elay made no motion to move it for Nessa as the cat climbed into his spot and looked up at her. 

Just looked. Stared. Didn’t say a word, despite her [i]knowing[/i] that he could talk. Just… [i]Waiting.[/i]

Nessa stared back. Her eyes narrowed slightly. What did he want? Was he waiting for her reaction? Did he expect her to put up a fuss about a cat getting the front seat over her? Quite frankly, she didn’t give a fuck. It would be harder for them to physically kick her out of the car if she wasn’t right next to the guy with extra long legs. 

But she did crouch down in front of the cat so they were at the same level. It was easy enough for her to use telepathy on something with an Emotional Field- at least when it came to sending something mentally.
[color=8877BD][i]Stay out of my head. Keep anything you’ve learned in your own.[/i][/color]

Garf seemed to smile as much as a cat could.
[color=FF8604][i]Your connection is deeper than what you know. Fate is more than chance, and Fate has brought you to us. And we have been brought to you. Try to relax, and don’t worry about whether or not I’m in your head… I’m far above you. And far above your Father.[/i][/color]

And then, with a wag of his tail, Garf picked his bed up in his mouth before dragging it into the back seat to leave the passenger vacant. Elay felt the strangeness in the act, since he [i]never[/i] did that for anyone.
[color=0D6793]”Dude… You’re giving up the front?”[/color]
[color=FF8604]”I have empathy for a stray. Let her feel like a princess.”[/color]
Elay scoffed, shaking his head.
[color=0D6793]”Dumpster Princess. Whatever, get in girl.”[/color]

[color=8877BD]”Nessa. My name’s Nessa,”[/color] she managed to snap, pulling herself out of a momentary daze to get in the car. The mention of her Father… so the cat knew. But he must have kept it to himself. She hoped so. There was a slight comfort in the possibility of something being above the man that had spent so long controlling her… even if the rest of what Garf had said sounded like absolute bullshit. 

She pulled her knees up to her chest, a tense little pose even as her spine relaxed against the seat. It was [i]comfortable[/i]. She’d been sleeping on a lumpy mattress and sitting on the floor because it was more comfortable than the chairs at her place. This was practically a luxury. She waited until Elay was in the car before talking again.
[color=8877BD]”Why even bother bringing me along? You could’ve just taken where he was and left.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”You can get me into the hotel room easier. And you asked for dinner as payment, so you’ll get it. I’m not in the habit of making enemies in the South, contrary to how your friend with the concussion may feel.”[/color]
And if his inclination was correct, that meant more pockets to run. If every moron she brought carried fifty bucks, he’d eat dinner for free for the next week.

[color=FF8604]”Lazarus is lonely and sad! He’d talk to any woman that breathed at him.”[/color] came from the back seat, a snicker beneath it.
Elay didn’t even blink to acknowledge it. He wasn’t in the business of parsing out what was in his head versus what Garf actually said aloud: Both sounded identical, and if he wasn’t putting any effort into translation before hearing, he’d never be able to know… Unless someone else [i]also[/i] responded.

[color=8877BD]”[i]Awww, poor Lazarus.[/i] Luckily I can do more than just breathe at him.”[/color] Nessa couldn’t hold back the little snide remark. It wasn’t possible to unless she was trying really hard to win someone over… and that act had ended the moment her curse had failed.
[color=8877BD]”How do you get sad and lonely when you’ve got a talking cat?”[/color]

Elay sighed loudly, shaking his head.
[color=0D6793]”Don’t listen to the [i]talking cat[/i]. Most of his relatives eat children… Not someone to buy bullshit from.”[/color]
There was a click as one of Garf’s nails clicked into place between his teeth, picking a chunk of [i]something[/i] out from between them before flicking it onto the back seat floor.


[color=FF8604]”I would never. That’s so wrong.”[/color]
His voice didn’t sound insulted. Not even hurt. Casual, like nothing was said at all… Until he gave a wry smile with his eyes.
[color=FF8604]”Once or twice maybe. Long ago, when that sort of thing was acceptable. I’m more of a Manacott kind of cat. Y’know, milk products. Fresh pasta. Burrata balls fried golden and dipped in-”[/color]
[color=0D6793]”Can it, Garfield… Christ, y’know just how to piss me off.”[/color]
[color=FF8604]”Oh, someone’s hungry too. No wonder you’re in a bad mood. Should you be driving?”[/color]

Eleven gin and waters was barely a drink. He turned the key, and the engine started right up despite the cold. Backing out of the spot, Elay took a deep breath and began to focus on his driving, leaving a chance for Nessa to ask more silly questions. He hoped she wouldn’t, but he wasn’t exactly getting lucky today.

Nessa was silent for a little bit. Her gaze never left Elay as she just observed him. Like she could figure out more just by staring. She was mentally weighing up risks. The risk of him killing her, or hitting her, or doing anything else to hurt her. It was difficult to tell. Probably… a moderate risk for now. 

Her intense staring was interrupted by her phone buzzing again, and she fished it out of her pocket. A text message from Billy saying he was already there, with an attached picture she thankfully couldn’t see because she had no data. 
[color=8877BD]”What d’you do to the guy when you catch him? Aside from stealing his money,”[/color] Nessa asked as she mindlessly sent back a flirty enough message. 
[color=8877BD]”Beat him up? Tie him up and hand him over to his wife? Will you be able to do it if he’s naked when we arrive?”[/color]

Elay just shrugged.
[color=0D6793]”Client’s choice. This one’s cheap: I’m serving him divorce papers. She doesn’t want him hurt [i]’Unless absolutely necessary’[/i], so I brought a gun I can throw in the room. When the ambulance finds him, they’ll find the gun and report it to his wife as confirmation, so I don’t get screwed if she goes to patch things up later.”[/color]
He didn’t seem to have an excited expression about the action, but on the inside he loved a little trick. A silly little thing like that. He could imagine the questions later, and the man desperately trying to wave away his illegal firearm charge. Elay would absolutely testify too, even if it meant having to spend time in the courtroom… There was a chance for a settlement then, and probably out of court so that nothing has to happen publically. 

Rich people were the easiest to soak, because while they were stingy in purchasing, they were quick to throw money at not-so-legitimate problems. Just bury it in green dough, and you never need to think about it again.
[color=0D6793]”And yeah, I don’t mind him being naked. Means I don’t have to feel him up for his shit.”[/color]

[color=8877BD]”Then it’s your lucky day, cause that’s quite likely. I doubt the picture he sent me was him all dressed up.”[/color] Nessa shoved her phone in her pocket, watching Elay out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t quite get the gun thing. So the man could shoot himself, or something? It would be a pretty reasonable action but… didn’t seem quite right. Whatever. She didn’t need to know all the details. 

[color=8877BD]”Must be nice to have enough money to pay for someone to hunt down your husband and give him divorce papers. Sure is different in the North…”[/color] She knew that better than anyone, of course. She’d fallen from so high… not that she’d enjoyed life there either. But at least she didn’t starve.
[color=8877BD]”You must live up there if you get jobs from ‘em- but you’re not from there, are you? North Siders wouldn’t come into the South to beat people up or steal cash.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”I’m from a shithole suburb outside the city… The fuck d’you care? You hear me askin’ personal questions?”[/color] Elay responded, his tone finding a register between annoyed and joking. Rather than explaining any more details, Elay pulled his card from his jacket and handed it off to Nessa. 

Colombo-Waiting Detective Agency
[i]There’s always one more thing.[/i]
Lazarus A. Motta, Lead Investigator
20133 West 9th Ave, North Cloverfield, VA

[color=0D6793]”My office is just north of the Prosperity Bridge. I look out the window, I see the checkpoints.”[/color] he added.
[color=FF8604]”Yeah, right, from the second floor above the coffee shop. Y’can definitely see past the-”[/color]
Elay turned his head to Nessa, a sad and drained look on his face.
[color=0D6793]”You ask me why I’m lonely with a talking cat? Because the cat is an asshole.”[/color]

Nessa’s eyebrows raised slightly as she slipped his card into her pocket, but her expression was otherwise neutral. Strangely. She didn’t really understand it. She’d never been around anyone that wasn’t at least a bit of an asshole. And having someone- or something- around was better than nothing. 

[color=8877BD]”[i]Weeelll[/i], you’ve got an amazing opportunity right in front of you to have some non-asshole company,”[/color] Nessa smiled playfully, as if she hadn’t already proven herself to be a bit of a bitch on multiple occasions. 
[color=8877BD]”At least I’ve got a pretty face to make up for any annoyances. Much better than a talking cat. I don’t even have one of those.”[/color]

She laughed lightly, not visible sadness in her expression. She was good at hiding everything she didn’t want seen. 
[color=8877BD]”Never really been a cat person myself.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Talking pussy in the back seat, talking pussy in the front seat. What’s the difference? I owe you a dinner. That’s all.”[/color]
He only meant what he said because he couldn’t imagine this situation squaring out any other way. She was cute; great. Fantastic. She was also another Southern Rat, and was already trying to weasel her way across the bridge. Probably to higher paying opportunities. If she wasn’t such a bitch herself, Elay imagined sending this girl to his older sister… For everything else, she treated those kids who worked at the club better than anyone else got treated in the North. 

[color=0D6793][i]She’s a cult leader, El. Of course she treats everyone like that.[/i][/color]

[color=FF8604]”The only pussy talking right now is you, Laz. Don’t deny it.”[/color] Garf scoffed, shaking his kitty head.
Then he did something unexpected… Standing, stretching, his hanging belly wobbling as he passed one foot and another onto the center console. Then, he was sitting on Nessa’s lap as if he had always been there, curled up and looking at her.
[color=FF8604][i]You’ll learn to deal with it. He’s got too many sisters to ever actually hurt a woman, but he isn’t easily swayed by your whiles either.[/i][/color]

Just like a cat does naturally, Garf had ignored the part about staying out of her head… At least he was being… Comforting?

[color=8877BD][i]That just makes it more fun.[/i][/color]
Nessa resisted rolling her eyes at the cat. She wasn’t exactly bothered by how Elay was talking… it wasn’t even that bad. She’d rather not have all the pretend niceties anyway. Then she had to try too. 
But if he wouldn’t actually hurt her… she could relax just a little bit. 

[color=8877BD]”We’ll see if it ends with just dinner,”[/color] she said, smugly confident it wouldn’t. And if it really did… Well, fine. She wouldn’t have to worry about eating for another twenty four hours if she had enough. 
[color=8877BD]”I won’t even make you take me back to your place if you’re that [i]scared[/i].”[/color] She doubted he actually was in any way, but if the flirting didn’t work so well? There was nothing quite like hurting someone's ego. 

[color=0D6793]”Oh, good! I won’t have to put plastic down.”[/color] was his only reply besides a big smarmy grin crossing his face. 

But it was worth noting in his own mind that Garf had no trouble settling in or being around her. Despite his proclivities, Elay knew the cat wasn’t just good at judging character: He was a [i]perfect[/i] judge of character. He just never [i]warmed up to things[/i]. Nor did he share his secrets typically, which were themselves rather fickle things that were only as secret as the good they did staying hidden.

More importantly, they were getting close to the address at this point.
[color=0D6793]”About our Mark… Not like us, right? Blind?”[/color] he asked, hoping her knowledge would maybe prove useful enough to justify not handing her a few bucks after dinner and never seeing her again.

[color=8877BD]”Blind. [i]Really[/i] scared of his wife finding out. His thoughts about it were so loud I would’ve had to get rid of my channeler to stop hearing them.”[/color] Nessa offered up without much resistance. It was, after all, in her favour that this went well. Then they’d steal his money, and get some decently filling food… and whatever might come after it.
[color=8877BD]”He’s pretty paranoid in general. Said he wanted to meet somewhere else cause he thought someone was following him. Funny that. Also he thinks he’s still in his prime, somehow, and is convinced he’s got an attractive face. I’d threaten that first if you have to.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”I don’t threaten. I serve, and I serve. Now, how about his cash? His wife said he’s been pulling bands out of his personal accounts for months now, and now he’s dipping into the business. D’ju see anything like that? Or, y’know, gold, jewellery, flashy time piece?”[/color]
Elay cared far more about the loot and the resulting pay from a job well done than his performance in bed for obvious reasons. 

[color=8877BD]”No jewellery, but his watch looked pretty fancy,”[/color] Nessa shrugged. She knew just how fancy… enough for a couple month’s rent for her now. 
[color=8877BD]”He tried to hide it cause he was a cheap bastard, but his wallet was stuffed. He was fucking paranoid about that too, counting it all the time like that’d matter if he was mugged.”[/color] Though it was probably her he’d been worried about taking his money. It was pretty pathetic. 

And sad. Her life really was so sad. 
[color=8877BD]”He wasn’t stupid enough to show off any gold, but I never went through his bags.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Geeze, what kind of a Hopper are you? Not snooping through the John’s bag… [i]Christ[/i], at least you could be professional.”[/color] Elay scoffed.

He was only half joking. While he didn’t find any particular taste or distaste in how some people chose to make a living, he did believe in being decent at whatever one chose. Some said he had high standards, but to him there were [i]much higher standards[/i] to strive for… And he certainly didn’t try. Some ideals were too lofty even for him to meet, and his love for alcohol certainly didn’t help. 
He wasn’t [i]quite[/i] like other freaks. After a certain point, even he’d get drunk. And boy did he… It was an expensive habit at that volume, so scores like these were necessary.

[color=0D6793]”Not like it matters to me. If anything of mine ends up missing, I’ll just fucking torture you in a different way.”[/color]

Nessa’s eyes narrowed, head snapping around to glare at him. Hopper, be professional… of fucking course. Sure, maybe it looked like that. With Billy it kind of was… but he was the exception to the rule. When she’d been desperate. She got with men to survive, but also because she wanted to [i]be[/i] with someone. She didn’t fucking take their money. They paid for things mostly with their own free will. 
[color=8877BD]”Why don’t you just call me a whore like a normal person. I’m [i]not[/i] a fucking prostitute. I don’t steal from people.”[/color]

Why even bother? He’d think what he wanted to think. 
[color=8877BD]”But you’re making it really tempting to see if you’re really enough of a psycho to [i]torture[/i] me. What kind? You gonna break my bones? Or is it sexual… is that the kind of shit you’re into?”[/color]

Elay shook his head.
[color=0D6793]”Nah, the cat eats you from your core memories outward. You lose your sense of self, your identity, your name, your interests and hobbies… Eventually you wind up a living, breathing husk, still fully aware of your surroundings without the chance to understand or retain any of it”[/color]
His voice was so matter-of-fact that there was little room for assuming he was joking. This man was serious, and the look up from Garf gave the most sincere expression of empathy a cat could create.

[color=FF8604]”I’m not [i]that[/i] hungry.”[/color]
And then the cat winked. Just enough that Nessa would be able to see it.

[color=0D6793]”And uh, honestly I wouldn’t call you a whore. Someone in that service industry usually has to, y’know, work for their pay. A [i]Hopper[/i] is a whole different breed of sla-”[/color]
Garf’s massive paw slipped out, a hand resting on Elay’s arm.
[color=FF8604]”Can’t we be nice for now?”[/color]
[color=0D6793]”Not until I’ve got my hands around a bottle.”[/color]

The cat frowned as best it could, clearly shaking its head in disappointment.
[color=0D6793]”Point was, you’re an Adept. You, just like every other Adept, have some kind of talent that lets you skim cash off people who are trying to be legitimate.”[/color]

The look Nessa gave Garf as Elay talked about him eating memories wasn't one of fear. Instead, it was interest. He could do that? How selective was it? Could he eat the memories she wished she didn't have? Even if he couldn't… it didn't sound like the worst thing ever. How much different would it be from how she was now? She already felt like a living, breathing husk. At least then she wouldn't carry these feelings of guilt. 
Though the cat seemed to have no intention of actually doing it. 

[color=8877BD]”Careful, this [I]slag[/I] could text and warn your mark.”[/color] Trisha glared at Elay again, hands clasping together so her chipped nails could dig into her skin. He wasn't [I]wrong[/I]. That pissed her off more. But he didn't know her. He didn't know her circumstances, the shit she actually had to do to survive. Just how awful she was. 

And exactly why she couldn't use her magic. 
[color=8877BD]”I’m too lazy to work on my magic enough for it to be useful,”[/color] Nessa lied. Better to be seen as a lazy slut than risk him finding out just what she could do with her magic. It was more than just controlling people actively. It was implanting commands to do her bidding whether she was there or not… causing them pain… fundamentally changing them. Just thinking about it again made her feel a little sick. 
[color=8877BD]”Cursing people to want and need me is enough. Why do you fucking care, anyway? Tryna feel better about your sad, pathetic life of smashing heads in and stealing cash by looking down on me? Does it boost your little ego?”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Oh like you’d know about my ego… I care because now you’re eating into my dime! I swear, this was supposed to be a normal fuckin’ case, now I’ve got you to deal with because I agreed to feed you for the fucking trouble. Why couldn’t you just be a normal chick, I mean… Every woman in my fuckin’ life! Every single one!”[/color]

The hotel in question was starting to creep into view now, its shitty lights and neon sign above the street calling attention to itself like a naked nun. It was everything one didn’t want to see, but once it was witnessed, you couldn’t look away. This didn’t stop Garf from giggling to himself as the two argued, speaking again in a break. His paws pressed against Nessa, and he looked up at her with a twinkle.
[color=FF8604]”He’s a master of doublespeak, but I’m quite the translator myself.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Garf… Not now…”[/color]
[color=FF8604]”Eh-em: Please forgive my insecurities and gruff external thoughts. I’m too scared to tell you I’m interested in you, and I’m only being rude because I have high standards for Magically-inclined Individuals. I’d like to offer you the opportunity to resolve that, and intend to consult you about it over a plate of spaghetti that we’ll share.”[/color]

Elay turned his head, closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
[color=0D6793]”What fucking room is this guy in? Please? For the love of God?”[/color] he asked in an extremely curt and clearly frustrated fashion.

Nessa let out a quiet laugh as Garf ‘translated’, considering scratching him behind the ears or something for a moment before stopping herself. High standards for people with magic… sure, she probably hit those standards. She didn't want to. And she certainly didn't want another person who just wanted her for it. But if he actually was interested in her just a bit… she had a chance. 

[color=8877BD]”Let’s see… oh.”[/color] Nessa pulled back out her phone, raising her eyebrows. 
[color=8877BD]”He really is a paranoid fuck, what did you do while tryna find him? Or does he have a gang after him or some shit? 'I gave your name to the front desk, with a description of you. They'll give you the room number and key.’ Didn't know you could do that in a shithole like this.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”I ain’t given him a lot of options… You get to where they’ll go first, and cut it off. Doesn’t matter if they know you’re looking; all that matters is that they’ve got nowhere to go.”[/color]
Elay scrunched his nose, fully pulling into the parking lot and pulling open his center console. Out came a .38 snub revolver, its black metal frame matte in the dark car interior. Garf stood on Nessa’s lap now, stretching slightly before moving toward the gun. His mouth cranked wide open, separating its skull from the rest of the jaw before accepting the gun and swallowing it like a monster. He simply licked his lips and meowed happily, then disappeared in a puff of smoke to leave the duo alone.

[color=0D6793]”Now, go get the key and the room number. I’ll be waiting.”[/color] Elay grunted, head nodding out toward the office separated from the motel’s main building.

Nessa was reluctant to leave the comfort of the warm car with its heated seats. She shifted onto her knees, leaning in towards Elay with narrowed eyes. 
[color=8877BD]”I don't like being told what to do. Try to learn how to fucking say please next time.”[/color]

She didn't actually wait for a response, immediately pulling back and getting out of the car. It was fucking cold. She shivered, pulling her jacket close around her. It didn't do much for her bare legs, an icy wind brushing against them and only causing her to tremble more. But it wasn't far to the office - a walk she did quickly, thankful for her sturdy boots which allowed her to walk the most direct route without care for how many potholes there were.

The inside of the office was a bit warmer. It wasn't actually as bad as Nessa had expected. The one receptionist on duty was separated from her by a desk that cut the room in half, with two doors behind her. One was half open, showing a couple of other staff members sitting around. The girl behind the counter looked bored, scrolling on her phone without even looking up. The place was worn, lacking a bit of the gaudiness of the actual hotel. Almost discrete. The perfect place for a rich man to bring his illicit lover. 

Nessa rapped on the scratched wooden counter to get the woman's attention.
[color=8877BD]”I need a key for a room- under Billy Pears. Nessa? He should've said.”[/color]

The receptionist looked up at her, then shuffled about some papers. She glanced over Nessa again before handing over a keycard.
“Room 304.”

Efficient. Nessa took the card, turning on her heel and walking right back out. She shivered again, shoving her hands into her pockets to help protect them from the chill as she headed back towards Elay's car. As she approached, she pulled the key card back out of her pocket to wave it at him. She then shoved it back in, keeping a tight hold of it. Just in case Elay decided to snatch it and go up himself. She wasn't waiting out here in the cold. Alone. No fucking way 
[color=8877BD]”304. No escaping out a window for him.”[/color]

Elay was wordless in his acceptance of the situation, and didn't acknowledge what was said fully. He waved her away, pointing toward the left side of the building hosting the lower numbers. 101 to 104, then each floor above it, we're the “suites” that the building offered, and Elay was remotely watching as Garf made his way into the top floor.

It took a great deal of concentration to maintain remote viewing at this distance. They couldn't directly communicate, though Garf was good at picking up Elay’s faint thoughts, and read the directions to the target room with little lag time. Poised on the roof above, the fat bastard of a cat took a single vertical leap and dove into the roof, leaving a ripple like water as he slipped right through the solid surface.
He spent another moment wriggling through completely, finally finding himself landing [i]perfectly square[/i] in the room’s closet. He had two jobs: Assess potential loot, and plant the gun somewhere incriminating. Enough so, that when Elay started snapping pictures for Madame Finkle, the gun would be there and present to show that there was direct danger.

The cats massive double paws were dexterous, and they pulled zippers open quite easily. Thus, he began rummaging through the man's bags looking for anything fun or important that Elay would want while listening for the commotion to start.
Taking stock, the cat was quick to toss out shirts and pants, underwear, nothing in the main holding pouches… 

[color=FF8604][i]The sides, the sides! These human containers, I swear on K'nakz-[/i][/color]
Garf proceeded to pull open the first side pocket, and out came three or four different clam shell-like containers. These were a little more difficult to open, and he had to use his teeth for now. Popping them open revealed designer watches, and the cat stared at them for a moment confirming the mineral content of each. 

Platinum, gold and pearl, diamonds; one was particularly distinctive as it's face was separated into twelve different sections full of a rainbow of precious stones. This would've been enough for a petty thief, but Elay didn't usually take jewellery with such distinction. It was a dangerous game to fence things like that, as they were usually easily recognized and tracked should the client party try to short him. He'd learned that the hard way some years ago.

The other side had a similar pouch, and this was more up their alley: A plastic bag full of fresh, crisp fifties and twenties. He plucked it by a claw and hoisted, feeling the weight and determining that it was close to half a kilo of money… Depending on the denominations, he knew from experience they were looking at something in the upwards of [i]hundreds of thousands[/i].

Again, couldn't take [i]all[/i] of it. If the Madame was looking to recoup her losses, which it seemed like she was, there was only so much money one man could spend. Better to skim than to dig greedily and deep.
Topping it all off, a fat diamond ring. An engagement band, audacious white gold wrapping itself around several hundred karats of diamond. She had requested this particular piece if possible, and Garf was quick to swallow the ring for safe keeping.

Now he simply curled up, waiting to step out of the dark when things got crazy.

Back on the ground, Elay could only smile as the two humans started their trek up the outside stairs toward the third floor. He had a manilla folder in his hand with the documents.
[color=0D6793]”Alright… Garf confirmed good things. There's enough to take quite a bit. So, I guess I'm not so worried about dinner. Now when we get up there, I'm gonna hide on the windowless side of the door. You're gonna knock, and then get in as quick as you can. I'm gonna end up pushing you, so just don't be shocked. I just need to make sure that door doesn't close, ‘cuz if he sees us and we don't stick together, he could hurt you. Capice?”[/color]

Nessa looked up at Elay, widening her eyes slightly. Billy couldn’t actually hurt her. Not enough that it would matter. Maybe a hit or two before she breached his mind and stopped it. But… it was nicer to have someone else protect her. But still, she quickly cast her Alarm Bell spell across herself just in case. It would at least give her the option of protection if he tried to attack her.

[color=8877BD]”Wait… I’ve got the fucking key. You think the guys suddenly gonna gain a ton of muscle and sprint over, throwing me to the side and slamming the door in your face? Seriously? Are you a fucking idiot?”[/color] Nessa paused on the third floor as she realised what he’d actually asked. They were still a few doors along, but she lowered her voice just in case.
[color=8877BD]”I can knock and alert him if you want!”[/color]

Elay bit his lip… It wasn't usually convenient like that, so he could only shake his head.
[color=0D6793]”Jesus, you made your fucking point. Just open the door then, I'll be right behind you.”[/color] he frowned, shaking his head and tossing a hand upward in a dismissive fashion.

[color=8877BD]”[i]You’re welcome,[/i][/color] Nessa shot back sarcastically, hand not holding the key card coming up to flip him off. She let out a quiet huff as she continued forward. Of was the dismissive hand gesture… Fuck, so annoying. 

Both her hands remained out of her pockets as she approached the door. She didn’t bother waiting around or hesitating, pressing the key card against the reader on the door. With a little click it opened and she pushed right in.

The room was larger than she expected. There was a dark red couch immediately to the left, with a couple of stains on it that Nessa didn’t want to think about. The curtains were already drawn closed, thick enough that there was no seeing in and out. The walls were made to look like a darker wood- fake, of course, but a strange attempt at classy even with an incredibly… crude ‘art piece’ on the wall. It was clearly catering to a certain audience.
Beyond that was the bed. The main attraction. Large, with gaudy red satin sheets. The lights were dimmed, the main source coming from a pink toned strip light across the bed’s headboard. 

On the bed lounged the target: Billy Pears. William Finkle. He wasn’t particularly bad looking for his age. At least his body was in enough shape that Nessa didn’t feel too much embarrassment that she’d spent [i]three[/i] nights with him. 
“Nessa- what the fuck?!” Billy sat up in a panic, the gold silk robe that he was wearing falling open a bit more than Nessa would’ve liked it to. 
“Who’s that? What’s he doing in this room?!”

[color=8877BD]”I thought you wanted someone else to join?”[/color] Nessa’s voice pitched up mockingly, lips curling up into a smirk that was directed towards Elay.

As Garf heard familiar voices and felt Elay close in, he stepped through the wall of the closet and landed squarely on the bed next to Finkle. One large gag saw the revolver coughed up and spat out onto the bed by the man's pillow, probability shifting just enough that it would land perfectly next to the hand reaching out to push himself up. 

The next moment was a blur of violence. Elay didn't say anything- no quirky one liner, no discussion of terms -as the truncheon he kept in his coat slipped from the sleeve. There was a hollow knock that followed, and the moan of someone who was knocked utterly unconscious by a swift and accurate blow to the temple. 

Elay had learned to leave minimal bruising on his marks. It didn't have to be a struggle, after all. Sometimes it was, and maybe they were more fun… But chumps like this guy didn't deserve the time or effort.
Now Elay had Finkle by the ankles, dragging him halfway off the bed so it looked like he'd been standing and fell backwards.

[I]Perfect.[/i]
His phone came out, and he snapped a few pictures. Information bridged his and Garf's mind, notifying him of the good stuff.

[color=0D6793]”Alright, fuckin’... [i]Please[/i] go into the closet and get his duffle bag.”[/color] he “politely” requested, the please still coming off as aggressive and demanding.

Elay had taken the manilla folder, opening it and reading through the divorce notice briefly.
[color=0D6793]”Alright Finkle… You in there? Hey, come on…”[/color]

His fingers snapped towards Garf, who placed a paw on Finkle's head. He waited a moment, then the man's eyes shot open without another movement.
[color=0D6793]”You're a wry little fucker, I'll give you that. Carmella sends her regards, says she wants your rings back. And the Holtz and Rekker, if you still had it. I reckon you do, right? That's the real pretty one?”[/color]

He was staring up at Elay unable to move. Was he even really awake? It wasn't clear to the outside, but he held the papers up anyway.
[color=0D6793]”Congratulations, Billy. You're free now. Just cough up what you owe the cunt and spend the rest of your life doing what you please. Good luck.”[/color]

And then he was released from the spell, passing back out abruptly. Elay waited for Nessa to drag the heavy bag out from where it was stashed.

[color=8877BD]”Making a weak girl do the heavy lifting, fucking bastard,”[/color] Nessa muttered as she lugged it out of the closet, not bothering to be quiet with it. She went as far as bringing it over and dumping it in front of Elay- or more accurately, attempting to drop it on his feet. 

She stepped back towards the bed, one hand moving out to subtly brush Billy’s limp wrist. A pink tether flared into life between them. She didn’t need to touch him but it just made things easier. Quicker. 

[color=8877BD]”That was more boring than I expected,”[/color] Nessa commented snidely. At the same time part of her mind was carefully delving into Billy’s. She was erasing herself from his most recent memories, changing them so it was just Elay that had come into the room. And it wasn’t her who’d phone him earlier… she made that memory fuzzy so he wouldn’t quite remember who it was.
[color=8877BD]”I expected at least one scream.”[/color]

Garf’s ears flicked toward Nessa, eyes turning in the sockets for a moment. Elay was already picking through the bag, pocketing the less recognizable watches and pulling a hunk of money out of the bag. Hundreds wrapped in fifties that were wrapped in twenties… Bundles, set up for him to carry around as was necessary… Which meant there had to be more in his actual wallet. Or, the pants. Not paying Nessa much mind, he started to look around the floor before finding the pair and the thickly padded back pocket from which he pulled another half-used fold.

[color=0D6793]”You’re sick, y’know that? Questioning my fetishes when you’re waiting to watch a man get beaten? Have some self awareness.”[/color]
Letting the half-used fold spin through the air, the money smacked Nessa gently across the forehead and caused Elay to laugh.
[color=0D6793]”Probably not the first time you’ve been hit in the face with a wad of money, huh?”[/color]

[color=8877BD]”Normally I find it pretty sexy, but you wouldn’t be able to keep your mouth shut long enough to be vaguely attractive,”[/color] Nessa sneered, squatting down to pick up the wad that had fallen on the floor. She shoved it in her coat pocket without even checking how much there was. Then she swivelled towards Billy again, still crouching. The Pink Lux linking them pulled back into her body. 
[color=8877BD]”Piece of shit deserved to be beaten a bit more.”[/color]

She didn’t bother explaining the why, letting the statement hang there for a moment. Finally, she slowly turned back to look at Elay, lips pulling up into a malicious grin.
[color=8877BD]”But yeah, I’m pretty sick. Sick enough to still be around you.”[/color]

Elay stepped forward. His eyes locked with Nessa’s as he did so, hand slowly but surely reaching down and grabbing ahold of Billy’s collar.
[color=0D6793]”Y’know, maybe… You’re right.”[/color]
In a single motion, Elay hoisted the dead weight so his ass was on the bed again. Still holding him tightly, Elay’s hand pulled back and drove itself once, twice, three, four, five times… 

There were little gurgling noises escaping Billy’s throat now as blood began to pour out of his nose.
[color=FF8604]”Lazarus!”[/color] Garf exclaimed, a disappointed tone behind it. 

But Elay didn’t pay it any mind.
[color=0D6793]”That make you hot? Huh? Get the engines running now? Sick fucker?”[/color]
He got incredibly close to her now. There was tension, and the source wasn’t entirely clear…
[color=0D6793]”Now say [i]’Thank you Elay.’[/i][/color] he growled, looking down at Nessa with the eyes of a predator…

Nessa didn’t flinch. Not as he beat the piece of shit nor when he got so close. It was like there was a storm brewing, and she didn’t know whether it would destroy her or sweep her away yet. But it was exciting. Heat sparked across her skin and her body tilted forward slightly; a light brush against his, not quite enough to be properly touching. 

[color=8877BD]”Mm, I think [i]you’re[/i] the one it made hot. Just need the little obediently parroted words to push you over the edge? That’s pretty cute.”[/color] She stared at him with half lidded eyes, smiling tauntingly.
[color=8877BD]”[i]Make me.[/i][/color]

This wasn’t going to end well…
[color=FF8604][i]For the love of everything, not here![/i][/color]
His massive hands grabbed Nessa by the jacket, torso bending down to join their lips together in a rough show of passion. It only took a few moments before he’d picked her up and sat her on the dresser of the room. He shoved her back into the large mirror, banging it against the wall with the force as he continued to kiss her for several long moments. 

Hands groped places they shouldn’t have, and Elay knew this wasn’t the right move… But she was so smug. Was it a spell? Garf would’ve prevented it, so it couldn’t have been. There was just something about her attitude, the way she carried herself and didn’t give an inch. Usually women got quiet when he acted like himself, or made it a problem that he wasn’t interested in solving. But this? It felt so strange… So powerful.

When he finally pulled away, drool pulled from between their mouths and he stared her down with those same hungry eyes.
[color=0D6793]”Say. It.”[/color]

A soft groan escaped Nessa’s lips as they parted, dark eyes somehow swirling with want and that ever present smugness. Her legs had wrapped around his torso, one hand tangled in his hair while the other gripped onto his shoulder. It slipped down, fingers slowly trailing across his chest. 

It was exactly what she’d hoped for. More, even. There was an excitement that she hadn’t felt in a long time… a stronger spark pushing through the dark cloud of depression. It was rough without proper violence, enough for her to feel something without hurting. It was actually [i]hot[/i]. He was. 

She leaned forward, head tilting to go past his face so she could whisper in his ear. 
[color=8877BD]”Thank you Elay.”[/color] Each word dripped with sarcasm. She was mocking him even as she said exactly what he’d wanted.

There was a pained moan again. From behind. Elay’s expression shifted slightly, and he closed his eyes while shaking his head.
[color=0D6793]”Good. Now, go get in the fuckin’ car. I’ll be right down.”[/color]
[hr]
So there was enough money to eat… Big whoop. The rent for the office, the share of utilities- unevenly offset by the landlord to keep his dying coffee shop afloat -came out to more than six grand a month. Not to mention employing Loretta, and the inevitable kickup to the Twin Hill’s coffers. At least he wasn’t still paying for the property in Raven’s Rest…
After that, the apartment; utilities there, and the monthly booze bill… Not to mention food when it was necessary? Probably another five or six grand. So he snagged fifty grand? That wasn’t half a year of expenses… And these jobs almost never showed up, making this particular instance sting that much more.

Because now he had a leech. A leech sitting across from him at this quiet diner, a pot of coffee in between them. Garf happily purred on the warm seat next to Nessa, head in her lap.
[color=FF8604]”I thought we were going to Moriah’s restaurant.”[/color] he grumbled from below, half dreaming of a plate of steaming hot lasagna with the bechamel sauce he loved so much.

[color=0D6793]”You either want the fuckin’ chicken, or you don’t. It’s not something to make a big deal out of; go suck a Blind if you think it’ll help.”[/color] Elay responded coldly, a flask of something that smelled like ethanol gasoline being poured into his current cup of coffee.

He hadn’t stopped staring at Nessa, however. Not after the mistake he made. He didn’t want her thinking that she was going to get one over on him… So they were getting separate checks. It was only fair, he’d already given her money. 


Opposite him, Nessa calmly sipped on her own cup of coffee. Or at least, she gave the illusion of calmness. For once, she’d pushed down her immediate annoyance when Elay asked for separate checks. Not out of politeness… but because she was playing the long game. Know when to push, know when to stop. She was reeling him in. He’d already kissed her like that… and now he couldn’t stop looking at her. Things would progress.

At least she could pretend to be confident about it. 
She met Elay’s gaze with a playful smile. As she did she pulled back her hair, tying it into a low ponytail. It revealed slender collar bones, verging on unhealthy, and a smattering of fading bruises. As her head tilted down to read the menu, the cat claw earring swung in her right ear. It stood out against the more simple gold toned hoops she wore otherwise. 

Since she was paying herself she was looking for one thing: value for money. Large and cheap. At least this place wasn’t too expensive. If she got something big enough she’d only eat half, maybe, and she could get the rest bagged up for tomorrow. It wasn’t even like she was actively hungry… there was just a constant, slight ache in her stomach. For a moment, she considered not getting anything at all. How much pasta, rice and eggs could she get for the amount a meal would cost? But something that actually had flavour was too tempting. 

[color=8877BD]”I can’t believe our first date is in a shitty diner instead of a fancy restaurant,”[/color] she teased, looking back up at him. 

[color=0D6793]”’S not a fuckin’ date. Save that shit.”[/color]
Elay shook his head, taking a deep breath as he tugged back the cup of coffee wholesale. It was hot. Like, hot enough that his next exhale was full of steam.
[color=0D6793]”I told you I’d get you dinner. I did and then some. Go find your own shitty motel room after this, live like a ghetto princess for a few months before you go and find the next motherless sucker to leech off of.”[/color]

Garf chuckled.
[color=FF8604]”Come on, Lazarus! What’s another mouth?”[/color] he asked playfully, pawing Nessa’s leg with a gentle tug on her pants with his claws.
[color=FF8604]”Besides, she can be useful. My curses aren’t exactly safe for working people over. If we get her employed, then we get a grant too. You can pay her salary off that.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Oh, and what are you? Some fuckin’ city councilman trying to convince business owners to hire up from the South? She’s bad news. You can smell it, and so can I.”[/color]
Elay was already pouring another cup of coffee with gasoline and plenty of sugar. He [i]always[/i] got his money’s worth.

[color=FF8604]”She is… More than she wants to admit. That just means the partnership will work. Hell, why not run scams? She sets ‘em up, you knock ‘em down!”[/color]

It had been hard to tell at first, but there was [i]always[/i] something clawing at the edge of her Emotional Field. The protection was working, or at least it felt like it was working, but the thing seemed to still know more. Whatever little moment of weakness she’d accidentally given it during their initial encounter, it had to be enough for it to grab ahold of somehow. The feeling had only become more clear now that tensions weren’t hot.

[color=0D6793]”What am I to you, a fuckin’ pimp? No chance. We run an honest business.”[/color]

[color=8877BD]”They must have a different definition of honest in the North,”[/color] Nessa couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t enjoy being talked about when she was right there, so she was quick to get a dig in. 
[color=8877BD]”Are all businesses stealing and beating people? At least the gangs here don’t pretend that’s part of their honest work.”[/color]

She glanced down at Garf, eyes narrowing slightly. Just how much did he know? If he was suggesting that Elay hire her… that just wasn’t possible. Nessa Mendoza didn’t exist. She had no social security number, no way to be legally hired. They couldn’t get a grant or whatever for a Southsider that didn’t exist. 

[color=8877BD]”Also, this ‘bad news’ is sitting right here. Weren’t you taught it’s rude to shittalk people to their face?”[/color] Nessa didn’t even bother acknowledging the whole hiring or setting up a scam thing. That wasn’t what she was looking for… But she wasn’t going to turn around and say that it wasn’t just for survival, but because she was [i]lonely[/i].
[color=8877BD]”Not having a mother explains a lot.”[/color]

[color=FF8604]”Oooooh! Oh no!”[/color]

Garf’s sarcastic exasperation echoed up from under the table, but in reality there was a completely different reaction under the surface. Nessa would be able to feel the unlatching for a brief moment as the Cat’s attention turned to Elay fully. Inside his mind, there was a great deal of calming that crossed its way between the two entities faster than the speed of light. It was the only option to keep Elay calm as he could be after a comment like that.

[color=0D6793]”Don’t you [i]dare[/i]. I had a mother. Still do. I wasn’t talking about my-fucking-self, understand?”[/color]
A bold-faced lie. A reaction like that? Easy to read from an outsider’s perspective. Defensiveness almost always meant that one hit the mark on the head. But whatever had happened, the clawing feeling at the edge of oblivion was back. Like there was a tiger six inches from her face, but it wasn’t moving.

[color=0D6793]”Now, as far as talking shit? You owe me. I could’a let that hushpuppy throttle you outside of the bar, and I didn’t. I even [i]paid you.[/i] As far as I’m concerned, I’ve well and good earned the luxury of being frank in front of your basic witch ass…”[/color]

The waiter finally made his way over… They only had the most masculine presenting people working the tables at this hour; half bouncers, half servers… These guys got paid by the unbroken window at the end of each shift in this part of town.

“What’ll it be, Motta? The usual?”
[color=0D6793]”Yep… And the fried chicken for my pal Garfield.”[/color]
“You got it… How about you, Shortie? Ain’t seen you around these parts.”

Nessa took a moment to respond, moving her heated gaze from Elay to the waiter. She was annoyed, and getting interrupted before she could respond didn’t help. Her inability to prove him wrong was even more frustrating. Because he [i]was[/i] wrong. She hadn’t needed his help. She certainly [i]wasn’t[/i] a basic witch. But showing up this asshole wasn’t worth risking her safety. It just made it more frustrating. 

[color=8877BD]”Burger and fries,”[/color] Nessa said, incredibly to the point. She didn’t react to anything else said. But the slightest hint of Pink threaded into his mind, pushing him to immediately leave after he’d got the order rather than stay and make anymore comments. Then her gaze went back to Elay, eyes narrowing. She ignored Garf completely- seeming unbothered by the claws in her Emotional Field.

[color=8877BD]”I don’t owe you shit. Did I ask for you fucking help? If it weren’t for me you’d still be chasing Billy around town. For all you’d known what you ‘saved’ me from was just a bit of fun.”[/color] It hadn’t been, of course. But if anything Elay had saved Alex. A cracked skull was nicer than what Nessa had considered doing to him. He’d saved her from herself, too. She didn’t like that thought either. 
[color=8877BD]”You just [i]wanted[/i] to feel like the big strong man that came in and saved the damsel in distress, I bet.”[/color]

The waiter didn’t stick around to chat…
[color=0D6793]”You just [i]blitzed[/i] that poor guy! You absolute bitch, I can’t believe you! You’d do that to [i]anyone[/i] wouldn’t you? Christ, I’m lucky I’ve got Garf or you would’ve done it to me too! I’d be wrapped around your finger feeding you grapes out the fuckin’ bag: Do you know how [i]expensive[/i] fresh fruit is these days?”[/color]

Of course she was like that… You didn’t survive as a paranormal individual in South Cloverfield without using it in any way you could. That’s what was bothering him most at the moment… The fact that, if she wanted to, she could’ve [i]and should’ve[/i] been living the high life North of the bridges. But she wasn’t. So, either she was a stupid, lucky priss with the ability to trick suckers out of their cash, or…

Elay leaned in across the table, mug in hand. He took a sip, then another, and another still.
[color=0D6793]”Hang on… You [i]can’t go North, can you?[/i][/color] he asked, eyes narrowing on their own as he drilled suspicion into her.

She should have just suffered whatever the waiter was going to say. Snapped at him, maybe, and verbally pushed him away. But she’d hardly blitzed him. It had been the lightest tap of magic. A push away… she had barely done anything. It wasn’t even really mind control. But it had been a mistake. 

[color=8877BD]”I can.”[/color] Nessa stared back, expression unwaveringly pissed. Narrowed eyes, scowl, but no different from how she’d been a moment before. It wasn’t entirely a lie. She could go. Her father had been careful enough that her face wasn’t anywhere. It was the name, and the risk of people in true higher society who might recognise her. The ‘poorer’ side of the North? Less risky. But further in… the risk was too high.

The poor way she lived really was down to her reluctance to use her magic as much as it was the risk of the North Side. With it she could live somewhere nice down South. She didn’t. She couldn’t. Not with the spells she normally let herself use. A light push here and there… but mind control to the point of getting money or property? Ensuring it stuck so they didn’t turn around and turf her out? The thought made her feel sick. 
[color=8877BD]”My magic really isn’t strong. That was a light tap, barely a blitz. I nudged him away. I can’t do much more than that. I use magic to get money, a moment later they snatch it back. I’m too busy trying to survive to improve it.”[/color] 

Elay laughed aloud. Garf did [i]not[/i] like that. Elay never laughed aloud unless he was either too pissed to seem angry, or too drunk to give a fuck anymore. But, knowing and feeling his mind intimately, neither of those things were happening. It was pure smugness.

[color=0D6793]”So you really are the most useless little Witch in South Cloverfield… Fine. I guess you’re not worth hiring then. Cool. Then after dinner here, we part ways and I ignore my partner here who keeps trying to convince me that I should linger around you for more than five minutes… I’m not in the habit of keeping stray kittens. This one found me, so…”[/color]

[color=8877BD]”I never said I wanted a fucking job from you.”[/color] Nessa narrowed her eyes. Stalling for time as she tried to figure out what she wanted. Did she just let him go? After [i]that[/i] kiss earlier. The prospect of finishing the meal and going back to her shitty place… able to fork over enough for months of rent, sure, but alone. Back to that depressing hole, to struggle to drag herself out of bed for another day. Just fading away. 

Was it really worth keeping herself safe when she was barely living at all? The only thing worse than this was the prospect of prison… but if that came to pass? She could just fry her own brain. 
[color=8877BD]”How would you even know how useful I am?”[/color] She leaned forward too, hand sliding across the table towards him. More than anything, she wanted to wipe that smug fucking grin off his face. 
[color=8877BD]”Open your mind up and I’ll show you. Or are you scared?”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”You don’t want that. I promise.”[/color]

Garf was quick on the uptake, and jumped into the line of fire in a figurative manner.
[color=FF8604]”No, Elay, let her! Go ahead. I promise I won’t bite too hard.”[/color]

Elay shook his head.
[color=0D6793]”Not happening. Just because you think you’re some big bad predator doesn’t make you one. And I don’t want to be responsible for cleaning up your vegetable ass off the bench seat after he treats your mind like a carbonara.”[/color] he asserted.

[color=FF8604]”Ooooh, fettuccine… Seriously, why didn’t we go to the Trattoria?”[/color]
[color=0D6793]”Because Momo already tried calling me today! Going in would be asking for fucking trouble.”[/color] 

[color=8877BD]”[i]Ohhhhhh.[/i][/color] Trisha’s lips pulled up into a teasing smirk. She’d been rejected from proving her magic on him, but that was fine… it had been an impulsive suggestion from desperation. She wanted to destroy that smugness. But the cost… the guilt from using the spell she’d thought of, even if it was immediately dispelled? It wasn’t worth it. 

[color=8877BD]”I [i]see[/i].”[/color] She spoke as if she had just understood something. She leaned forward, making sure to give him a clear view of her cleavage. The way she looked at him was simultaneously seductive and mocking. 
[color=8877BD]”You also have a wife at home you’re avoiding! No wonder you didn’t jump at the chance to fuck me. You’re feeling guilty… [i]Awwwww.[/i] Worried you’ll be in even more trouble?”[/color]

Garf instantly laughed at the suggestion that he had a wife at home.
[color=FF8604]”Spend more than a few hours with him: You’ll know why that statement was more funny than you intended.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”The fuck’s that supposed to mean, Garf?”[/color] Elay snapped, polishing off the second cup of boozy coffee.

[color=FF8604]”Unmarriable sack of pain. Missing Mama’s Boy.”[/color] the feline chided back fully audible to Nessa.

[color=0D6793]”Fuck you.-”[/color] Elay threw back at the cat before turning and pointing at Nessa.
[color=0D6793]”And fuck you too: She’s my oldest Sister, and she’s a fuckin’ bitch too. I hope she falls off that pole and breaks her back.”[/color]

[color=FF8604]”That’s just not going to happen, and you know it.”[/color] Garf shook his head. But Elay didn’t bother stopping to acknowledge him any further.

[color=0D6793]”As far as knowing what you can and can’t do? I used to have magic just like yours. Pink, with all that sappy lovey dovey bullshit. I remember fucking around in people’s brains, trying to get them to do what I wanted… It ain’t that hard. So, if you’re tellin’ me you can only do little shit like that? I’m confident you’re useless.”[/color] he asserted, willing to die on the hill in the hopes that she would just fucking [i]go away.[/i]

He wasn’t even sure why he’d kissed her earlier… His blood was up. She goaded him. He had to do something to take control of the moment… But… Why did she feel so [i]warm?[/i]

[color=8877BD]”Fuck me too? That’s what I’ve been trying to get you to do this whole time!”[/color] Trisha’s voice pitched up playfully, eyes squinted slightly as she laid it on thick. What did she have to lose? 

Really… what did she have to lose… 
[color=8877BD]”You didn’t have magic like mine. Could you make them do things for you even when you weren’t there? Could you make a single thought cause them intense pain? Just one cast, and that’s it…”[/color] Two spells she hated, yet they were just the tip of the iceberg. There were ones she could never mention. Her ability to breach emotional fields. Turning Blinds into monsters. Cursing someone to a slow and painful brain death. Of course, what she was saying now was contradictory to what she’d said earlier. Weak magically, not so weak magically… It would be hard for Elay to tell which was true.

Even mentioning this much was risky. She was pushed by desperation, and the [i]need[/i] to prove him wrong… to make him stay. She wanted him. It wasn’t unusual for her, but it was… fast. 
And if letting slip a little bit resulted in her losing what little she had? She could barely bring herself to care. It was a gamble. Something better, something she wanted, or losing it all was better than staying as she was. 

[color=8877BD]”I have [i]many[/i] uses.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”See, now you’re just playing your hand. Funny how easily we’re goaded into things, huh? You tell me to shut you up, I shut you up. I tell you you’re useless, you try super hard to prove you’re not.”[/color]
Elay was, in fact, a [i]detective[/i]. His primary function wasn’t beating people up, it was listening to what people were saying and reading between the lines.

[color=0D6793]”’Cuz, earlier? You said you were just a weak lil’ thing. [i]’Oh, Elay I’m no threat! I’m not!’[/i] Then, what? You try to convince me you’re some crazy pink-blue killer witch? Like I’m supposed to believe anything you say at this point?”[/color]

[color=FF8604][i]Give her what she wants, you get what you want. Period.[/i][/color]

The thought echoed through Elay’s mind. He [i]could[/i] do things like that at one point. On his own, not using Garf’s power. Lux. It was so natural to him, and he’d been so [i]evil[/i] in his teenage years. So full of love and joy and grief and sorrow…

[color=0D6793]”Y’know… I’m half tempted to keep you around just to watch you spin in circles around yourself. And what’s with you tryn’a get in my pants, huh? I give you a little tongue, you turn into an actual factual groupie? I’ve got a big dick, but c’mon…”[/color] he chided.

She was lonely. So lonely that just a night spent in someone else’s bed was appealing enough for her to do things she really shouldn’t for it. Then, for the chance of another. And another, and another, until it became an unspoken relationship that eventually fell apart. Even just the feeling of someone [i]there[/i]. Sex was a way to get men, and to keep men, but it also reminded her that she was alive. Not alone in that moment. 

Of course, she wasn’t going to tell him that. She wasn’t going to tell him how right on the mark he was about her being a pink-blue killer witch either. It was better that he didn’t believe anything she said. Then if she let something slip he wouldn’t even believe it. 

[color=8877BD]”Believe whatever you want to believe. But you should keep me around, I don’t mind if I’m just entertainment,”[/color] Nessa smiled as if it had been a compliment, rather than all shit he was flinging at her. 
[color=8877BD]”What can I say… I haven’t had good sex in months. It’s unfulfilling. I liked what I felt from that little bit of tongue action… but I think I was just being too hopeful. You’re clearly like the rest with some extra kissing practice, big dick or not. The size doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to use it.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Fine… Garf? She [i]clean?[/i][/color]
[color=FF8604]”Quite the question, Elay… How would I know?”[/color]
[color=0D6793]”Whatever… But we’re using [i]my[/i] condoms. I’m not letting some floozy poke holes in my shit to leash me into a fucking eighteen year long debt. No chance in Hell.”[/color]

Garf shook his head, looking up at Nessa.
[color=FF8604]”At least I like you for who you are… Just, don’t cut my throat, huh?”[/color]

The words hung in the air like lead. Elay wasn’t sure why, but he quickly chalked it up to Garf’s nightmare sense of humor.

Nessa’s eyes dimmed, smugness at getting what she wanted- even if it wasn’t in the way she wanted- disappearing. She managed to keep it off her face, playful smile frozen there as she subtly bolstered her own mind with her Lux. Forcefully pulling herself back from the panic attack a single sentence had thrown her into. 

Pained yowls echoed in her ears. Phantoms. A memory she wanted to forget, but couldn’t bring herself to erase from her own mind. The Pink Lux meant it was so clear. One hand crept up towards the claw dangling from her ear, curling around it. It hadn’t been her. She hadn’t been the one that did the deed… her Father had. She’d watched, helpless. 

[color=8877BD]”I’ll try my hardest not to,”[/color] Nessa intoned sarcastically, trying her best to sound like she had this whole time. More Pink pumped into her own brain. Delaying the inevitable for when she was alone and everything came crashing back down around her. 

But she wasn’t going to be alone tonight. And with one night would come others. 
[color=8877BD]”We can [i]use[/i] and [i]do[/i] whatever you want, [i]Elay[/i].”[/color] Nessa went back to the previous conversation, before what Garf had said. It didn’t matter how much he liked her ‘for who she was’ if he was pulling trauma directly from her brain… It was easier to shift back into surface level thoughts. Physical intimacy, goading someone who’s reactions she found interesting.
[color=8877BD]”If you ask nicely enough I’ll try my hardest to be [i]so[/i] obedient in bed, if that’s what you want? Since you seem to enjoy ordering people around. I’m flexible.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”You can cut all the bullshit out… I’m not a [i]foreplay[/i] kind of guy, I don’t [i]do[/i] roleplaying. It’s cringey, all that [i]’Oh Master!’[/i] bullshit. Just get what you want and get it over with, y’know?”[/color]

His aversion to sex certainly had nothing to do with his hefty bag full of insecurities… Nor did it have anything to do with the memories from [i]the other places[/i]. Other places he didn’t want to think about at all.

[color=FF8604]”Yeah, Elay [i]hates[/i] when people are in pleasure. Bit of a sadist, honestly, you were right about the torture thing earlier.”[/color]
[color=0D6793]”She was fucking [i]not![/i][/color] Elay growled a reply.

At the same time, the food was arriving. Like his entire family, Elay didn’t need to eat often. But when he did, it wasn’t normal. The tray of food slid in front of him dwarfed the burger combo Nessa had gotten for herself, and consisted of nine different plates of distinctly different foods.
At this point, he’d pulled his jumbo flask out and was just drinking it straight without the coffee. As he started wolfing food down step by step, he was taking whole swigs of whatever horrifyingly high proof alcohol he was drinking. 

To Nessa, it probably smelled like isopropyl alcohol… Because it [i]was.[/i] Far cheaper than actual booze, his superhuman liver and kidneys were able to handle the excessive alcohol load. He was going to need to get drunk quickly if she expected anything out of him other than a rough time.

Nessa wrinkled her nose, unable to avoid the smell of whatever it was he was drinking now that he was doing it so openly. It smelt [i]awful[/i]. Like a human shouldn’t be drinking it. Yet he was. It was almost impressive. She just hoped he was able to do [i]anything[/i] tonight with the amount he was drinking. 

[color=8877BD]”No foreplay? Really? Either the cat’s right, or you really are shit at it.”[/color] Nessa commented, not even bothering to say anything in a particularly clever way. Of course there was still that teasing little smirk to go along with it. She pulled her burger towards her, unable to stop her wide eyed stare at the amount of food he had. It was enough to fuel her for… weeks, probably. 

But there was her own food to worry about. Hot, flavourful food. Nessa took a bite out of her burger, and practically [i]moaned[/i]. It wasn’t even on purpose. She’d been living off plain pasta and rice for weeks now- the only person she’d been with being Billy for those three days, were all he wanted to do was fuck and sleep. He hadn't bought a single fucking meal for her. So this was her first proper one in a while… even if it was frustratingly coming out of her own money. But for a moment she could forget about that, about all the shit. Concentrate on the simple pleasures.

[color=8877BD]”[i]Fuck[/i],”[/color] Nessa mumbled around another mouthful. She was eating slowly to savour it- and to allow her stomach time to adjust to some actual food. Food with weight and flavour and more than just basic carbs. She didn’t bother trying to be neat about it, though, or holding back the little sounds of pleasure.
[color=8877BD]”You may have been a complete dick this whole [i]date[/i] but at least the food is good.”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”Listen, [i]Missy;[/i] This is [i]an obligatory dinner accompaniment.[/i] A chance for you to ask any more questions, debrief, whatever. You’re entitled to it as an informant of the case, and there’s a chance you could be called to testify as a witness to the altercation.-”[/color]

Elay took a moment to savor a massive bite of grilled cheese fries, matching Nessa’s intensity of pleasure from the food. It was always good to eat a bit of garbage before settling back in on the typical ration food. His Nana’s Ragu, the cheapest meal you could make with good North-Side ingredients. It kept like lead in the fridge, and the extra carbs never went to waste with Garf around.

[color=0D6793]”-Now, the sex? You’ll shut your mouth after. I have no doubt, I just want you to remember that you asked for it. Capice?”[/color]


Nessa laughed. She popped a fry in her mouth, chewing on it slowly as she just smirked at him. Oh she sure hoped he managed that. Then he'd be [i]really good[/I], and maybe she'd actually feel alive. 
[color=8877BD]”Ooo, so confident… you're right, I did ask for it. But do y'know how many men have said something like that? They always think they can fuck me hard enough to shut me up.”[/color]

She didn't bother acknowledging anything about being an ‘informant.’ She wouldn't be called to testify. She'd removed herself from Billy's recent memories. To him she was just a fling he'd had a couple of days ago. Unless Elay brought her along… which hopefully wouldn't happen. 

Her half finished plate was pushed to the side and she rested her elbows on the table, leaning her body towards him. Under the table, one leg swung forward to brush against his.
[color=8877BD]”It never works out. It's always all big words till I push back. [I]‘Why do you always have to fight, why can't you just take it, what do you mean that wasn't enough to tire you out?’[/I] I ain't gonna just ‘shut my mouth' after a bit of a good time… but I'd [I]love[/I] for you to prove me wrong.”[/color]

Elay was neck deep in his food with the spoon crammed behind the fork to hold down the amalgam of food in a strange chopstick-like manner. He didn’t even flinch from being dragged, feeling the tip of her shoe ride up his shin.
[color=0D6793]”So… Why’s my cat got a brainer for you, huh? He don’t cling to people like this.”[/color]

It was a whip crack of a question, and one that Garf himself relished in. He loved the joust; the interpersonal communication necessary for Elay to carry out his work. The man, despite his pain, had a burning need to find something more. Whether the cat had it or not, Elay could be guided with the carrot. It only took the apathy of lethargy to be broken by the slightest shift in behavior. 

Which is why Lazarus was in dread over the fact that it was [i]such a big shift.[/i] It wasn’t normal; too pushy and in his face to be anything besides some sort of test! These always had consequences, and for the last few years of their relationship, Elay had learned to just let them happen. They surely wouldn’t press him to break. Couldn’t. He had the greater spirit, and gave it up for them. 

To gain knowledge.
[color=0D6793][i]What am I looking for here?[/i][/color]

His deep green eyes stared up at her from behind a slightly dishevelled mop of raven hair, face tilted to shovel another bite of food in and wait for an answer.

[color=8877BD][I]My father's a psychopathic mass murderer who passed his spellbook down to me. My magic's strong enough to create an army of Adepts and cursed creatures with enough time.[/I][/color] There was a temptation to tell the truth - at least what she presumed was the reason. How likely was he to believe her? It sounded so far-fetched… but insane as it sounded, she wasn't going to risk it just to see how he reacted. 

[color=8877BD]”He thinks we're [I]fated.[/I] Isn't that cute? I didn't expect a presumably ancient being to believe in something like that.”[/color] She met his gaze unflinchingly. Technically, it wasn't a lie. The cat had said a bunch of shit about Fate. She knew it wasn't that. It had to be her magic - always was. 
[color=8877BD]”Maybe he just likes me. He’s a cat with good taste.”[/color]

Garf puffed himself up as another whole fried chicken leg deposited itself into the maw of the beast. It was a comic come to life, and proportions of the cat ebbed and flowed with the moment. Perception upon it was never fully complete, at best serving as a rough summation of what was actually inside, or behind the veil of the fat orange cat. It was only the longer that time was spent around him that these changes became noticeable, and only to those who walk with their Third Eye Open. 

[color=FF8604]”Oh, I’ve got [i]great[/i] taste, and you have [i]so much[/i] to taste, little Honeysuckle. Buuuut, I have a feeling this’ll be one hell of a test for the both of you. I’ll have to choose a side.”[/color]
 
The cat’s cocky voice was so full of itself, so smug and self assured, that it would drive any sane person to violence.

[color=0D6793]”It’s just another in, Hun. You’ll spill the beans eventually, and I’ll have what I want. Case closed on the lonely curse Witch outside the-”[/color]”
[color=FF8604]”-The Case of the Wicked Witch of the South, you ricotta-head!”[/color]

Elay tossed his head back in an exasperated sigh.
[color=0D6793]”You got what I meant!”[/color]

[color=8877BD]”That mean you're gonna keep me around till I spill all of my secrets?”[/color] Nessa smirked, eyebrows raising slightly. She looked down at Garf for a moment. What benefit was there for him to ever choose her over the person he was attached to? It was strange. But if she got to stick around… it worked out for her for now. 

[color=8877BD]”You’ll be stuck with me a [I]long[/I] time if you want to crack that case.”[/color] Forever, if she had her way- both in never revealing her secrets, and him being stuck with her. Forever was always the goal… 
[color=8877BD]”But I'm not just a Wicked Witch- or a curse Witch. I have Yellow too, y'know. That ones not such an evil colour, is it?”[/color]

[color=0D6793]”None of ‘em are evil. It's what people do with ‘em that shows the [i]true[/i] colors. And, uh… I really didn’t feel it. So, either it's not somethin’ you use a lot, or you’re real good at hiding it.”[/color]
He leaned forward, looking around conspiratorially as if anyone could be listening.

[color=0D6793]”You are gonna work. And I don’t mean on your back. If you’re as good as you say you are, you’re gonna learn how to be useful.”[/color] he asserted, punctuated by the cat pawing against Nessa’s leg.

[color=FF8604]”What he means is we’re a Hannah Barbera cartoon now. Inexorably linked at the hip… Because he wants a sidekick who can hold him at night.”[/color]

Elay didn’t respond, continuing to scarf down whatever food he could pile between two utensils.

Nessa thought about it for a moment. She had no idea what the cat meant about the cartoon… not like she'd ever had the chance to watch stuff like that. Even fiction books had been looked down on by her father, if thankfully not restricted. The whole thing wasn't normally what she looked for. But did it [I]really[/I] matter. He didn't know what she was capable of, so she could avoid using the magic she hated. And she still got what she wanted… company day and night. 

[color=8877BD]”I like the sound of 'inexorably linked at the hip.’ If you're [I]that[/I] desperate for my company all the time, I'll work, I'll learn, whatever.”[/color] Nessa smiled slightly, seeming unbothered by the implication she wasn't already useful. She didn't like just being seen for her use and magic- but it was fine. Just a start. It was a nice thought that none of them were evil, but blue? Very few good uses.
[color=8877BD]”And the Yellow's only on myself… so of course you wouldn't feel it.”[/color] And it was almost useless. Not weak, just underutilised. She'd spent years forced to ignore it. But she was always using it in the background- an extra layer under her emotional field to protect her worst secrets.

Incredibly carefully, Nessa found one of her hands pulling back from the table and going to very lightly pat Garf's head. A cautious motion. 
[color=8877BD]”I don't think I'll be the one doing the holding… but I can try. If [i]that's[/i] what he's into.”[/color] Her gaze moved back to Elay, mocking light behind the fake genuinity. 

[color=0D6793]”I'm way more into you keeping your lips clipped, instead of babbling like you have any idea what's about to happen.”[/color] Elay grunted, shaking his head.
[color=0D6793]”Now finish eating. You’re gonna need the energy.”[/color]