[Herded. Right--there had been talk of that, of what happened to those that got caught instead.]
I ran into some friends. I made them promise to do what they had to if I came after them.
[He had given them his guns, fate in their hands. He almost wishes he never asked at all, the what-ifs the only thing keeping that particular brand of guilt at bay.]
I know Hell's a shitshow, doesn't mean I can't apologize for when it pits us against each other, yeah? What about you...Did you end up herded with the rest?
[It's the truth, and she is doing her best to remain a friendly face whilst she's here.]
But I'm glad you had friends who had your back. I locked myself away so I wouldn't harm anyone. The people who might've helped me went looking for the cure.
[Which meant that they did help, even if they didn't put her down with a bullet to the head.]
Okay, that's fair.
I did get herded, yes. I remember everything that happened as well, but I haven't talked about it much. Part of me just wants to forget the whole bloody thing.
Which I had half the mind to lock myself up, but by the time it really hit... [Being one of the initial infected meant that he hadn't realized how bad it was really going to get. He hadn't considered it really until it was too late to do anything about it.]
You know the best solution for forgetting shit? Good drink, good company, and a good hand of cards.
That sounds like an excellent solution to me. Name the place and time. I'll be there.
[Perhaps not the healthiest way to deal with trauma but she's never really been good at facing things head on. Distractions usually worked best for her.]
[ The thirty minutes gave her enough time to freshen up and one last look in the mirror before she leaves the room to meet up with Jesper. In fact, by the time Bela reaches the bar and finds a table for them (ordering the drinks of course) she has five minutes to spare. She waits for him patiently, looking forward to having a fun night. ]
[Thirty minutes is more than enough time for Jesper to make sure he doesn't look like he's bordering on death again. Oddly enough, dying in Hell takes a lot out of a person--and the nightmares that came with it did his usually abysmal sleep schedule no favors.
When he slides into a seat across from her though, he wears his usual sense of casual ease, a welcome grin firmly in place.]
[Months had passed and Bela still had nightmares about her time in the hospital. Last month had only added to those nightmares, but she had people to reach out to when things got really bad. Even if she felt like a burden sometimes.
Bela greets him with a warm smile when he takes a seat, pleased to see Jesper looking like himself again.]
Not at all darling. About five minutes.
[She gestures to the drinks. Some kind of bourbon.]
Sounds good to me. [Bela nods, knowing that she'd need a few drinks before she shares anything too personal and dark.]
I'm from Earth, the year is 2008 and I suppose you could say my world is modern. The technology might be a little behind whatever Hell has, but I've got a handle on it. I'm used to the existence of supernatural creatures - demons, ghosts and so on. Oh, and there's magic too.
[The next part is something she doesn't mind sharing.]
As for me personally, I'm a professional thief for hire. Specializing in the procurement of occult objects.
Well, you have something on my lot--if things here are more modern, we're a far cry from it where I'm from.
Ketterdam, by the way--technically Cofton in Novyi Zem if we're talking origins. Earth seems to be where a lot of us are from, though the versions seem different. Ghosts and demons aren't really much of a thing, but magic...We consider it more of a science.
[There's a layer there. Something that might require more than a few drinks for him to really dig into.]
Thievery though--that's more my speed. I'm not necessarily for hire, I'm part of Kaz's crew. He finds the jobs, we run 'em.
I'm not surprised about the different versions of Earth, considering whom I've spoken to here. [The part about magic is what catches her attention moreso than anything.] Hm. I've never heard magic being called a science before.
[Bela files that information away for later, taking a sip from her drink. There was always a chance she could ask him some other time.]
Always nice to meet a fellow thief. Though I don't work as part of a team, I always work alone. Does that mean this Kaz individual is your boss?
[She can't imagine having someone telling her what to do.]
[He grins over the rim of his glass before taking another sip. The Small Science, Grisha, Zowa. It didn't matter the name you used for it, abilities like his fell under each of those monikers in kind.]
Wasn't always a thief, but--[A shrug. Circumstances led to such paths sometimes.] You could say he is, yeah. He runs our crew--He's around, if you ever chance to meet him.
[If he wants to elaborate, she’ll happily listen. If not, then Bela will remain intrigued and come to her own conclusions about what he meant by that.]
Maybe I'll run into him at some point. Unless he's the kind of person that keeps to himself and doesn’t mingle that much. Failing that, perhaps you could introduce us.
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text; un: Lugosi (backdated to October 2nd)
You might not remember me but we met months ago at the casino and we played a game of cards.
[ There was another reason why Bela was contacting him, but it required a more delicate touch. She doesn't want to come right out with it. ]
Did you make it through the ghosts and undead okay?
text; un: sharpshooter
[Under normal circumstances, he might have even called it a cute face, but give recent events...]
I was one of them; ended up shot, but that's probably for the better.
I'm sorry. [Might as well get that nastiness out of the way now. Best to have it done with.
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[She did enjoy the game and their discussion. Bela is only sorry that they didn't get to talk again, until the unpleasantness.]
You weren't herded then. Like some others.
[Just when Bela was going to bring up what happened, he apologises.]
I accept that, though it really wasn't your fault. Blame hell.
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[Herded. Right--there had been talk of that, of what happened to those that got caught instead.]
I ran into some friends. I made them promise to do what they had to if I came after them.
[He had given them his guns, fate in their hands. He almost wishes he never asked at all, the what-ifs the only thing keeping that particular brand of guilt at bay.]
I know Hell's a shitshow, doesn't mean I can't apologize for when it pits us against each other, yeah? What about you...Did you end up herded with the rest?
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[It's the truth, and she is doing her best to remain a friendly face whilst she's here.]
But I'm glad you had friends who had your back. I locked myself away so I wouldn't harm anyone. The people who might've helped me went looking for the cure.
[Which meant that they did help, even if they didn't put her down with a bullet to the head.]
Okay, that's fair.
I did get herded, yes. I remember everything that happened as well, but I haven't talked about it much. Part of me just wants to forget the whole bloody thing.
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You know the best solution for forgetting shit? Good drink, good company, and a good hand of cards.
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[Perhaps not the healthiest way to deal with trauma but she's never really been good at facing things head on. Distractions usually worked best for her.]
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Shall we meet in around thirty minutes?
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30 minutes? More than enough time for me. I'll meet you there.
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[ The thirty minutes gave her enough time to freshen up and one last look in the mirror before she leaves the room to meet up with Jesper. In fact, by the time Bela reaches the bar and finds a table for them (ordering the drinks of course) she has five minutes to spare. She waits for him patiently, looking forward to having a fun night. ]
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When he slides into a seat across from her though, he wears his usual sense of casual ease, a welcome grin firmly in place.]
Not waiting long, I hope?
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Bela greets him with a warm smile when he takes a seat, pleased to see Jesper looking like himself again.]
Not at all darling. About five minutes.
[She gestures to the drinks. Some kind of bourbon.]
I ordered ahead.
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[He teases, gesturing to the drinks. He settles back into his seat, reaching for the glass closest to him.]
A toast? To...surviving another Hellish bit of excitement I suppose?
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Sounds like the perfect thing to toast if you ask me.
[Bela lifts her glass in preparation for the toast.]
I think we should also toast to new acquaintances.
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[He amends, before tapping his glass to hers and taking a drink.]
Assuming, of course, that's still in fair play after everything.
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[To put everything that happened behind them.]
So. What do you want to know about me?
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We can start with the basics and work our way up to the soul-baring stuff once we're a few drinks in. [He grins.] What's it like, where you're from?
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I'm from Earth, the year is 2008 and I suppose you could say my world is modern. The technology might be a little behind whatever Hell has, but I've got a handle on it. I'm used to the existence of supernatural creatures - demons, ghosts and so on. Oh, and there's magic too.
[The next part is something she doesn't mind sharing.]
As for me personally, I'm a professional thief for hire. Specializing in the procurement of occult objects.
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Ketterdam, by the way--technically Cofton in Novyi Zem if we're talking origins. Earth seems to be where a lot of us are from, though the versions seem different. Ghosts and demons aren't really much of a thing, but magic...We consider it more of a science.
[There's a layer there. Something that might require more than a few drinks for him to really dig into.]
Thievery though--that's more my speed. I'm not necessarily for hire, I'm part of Kaz's crew. He finds the jobs, we run 'em.
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[Bela files that information away for later, taking a sip from her drink. There was always a chance she could ask him some other time.]
Always nice to meet a fellow thief. Though I don't work as part of a team, I always work alone. Does that mean this Kaz individual is your boss?
[She can't imagine having someone telling her what to do.]
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[He grins over the rim of his glass before taking another sip. The Small Science, Grisha, Zowa. It didn't matter the name you used for it, abilities like his fell under each of those monikers in kind.]
Wasn't always a thief, but--[A shrug. Circumstances led to such paths sometimes.] You could say he is, yeah. He runs our crew--He's around, if you ever chance to meet him.
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[If he wants to elaborate, she’ll happily listen. If not, then Bela will remain intrigued and come to her own conclusions about what he meant by that.]
Maybe I'll run into him at some point. Unless he's the kind of person that keeps to himself and doesn’t mingle that much. Failing that, perhaps you could introduce us.
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