let me down easy --- [CJ/CLAUDE]

[SCARLETT EVA KELLER]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 505px; -moz-border-radius: 0 185 185 0px;background-color:#09281d;] so we burst into colours -------------------------------------------- colours and carousels, fall head first, like paper planes & play ground games -------- Sometimes Scarlett appreciated being able to get out of her work place. It was nice not to see the same drunk faces everyday, watch the same people flirt and pick someone up. Of course, there always was a stray person here or there, but the whole environment got a little overwhelming sometimes, so Scarlett would like to get away. Have fun of her own in a place where no one knew her name, and even where no one knew that she bar tended. Flipping through her touch screen phone, Scarlett settled on a name. She was going on a date that night, well, not specifically a date, they were going to a run down little bar in Manuka, and really Scarlett didn't want to get used to lavish just yet, so a place like that was just fine. Texting the girl called Sophia, Scarlett told her she was on her way, dressed casually but sexy as she liked to do when going out, the blonde knew that she looked good. If nothing, she liked to make an impression, and the girl she was meeting was gorgeous to say the least. Dark skin and eyes, beautiful hair and curvaceous body. That made Scarlett smile a little bit. With a last check in the mirror, Scarlett was out of her apartment. She lived alone, having moved away from her family about five months ago, when she had sold her soul to become immortal. It was a strange notion, how she would never age, look like this, be this beautiful forever. The world could be at her feet, and that is her goal, for people to adore her for her talent, to want to watch her on the screen because she could give the performance of her life. Scarlett really lived for acting, and she didn't even mind when it was on a stage, a play, a musical. Although singing was not quite on of the talents that she possesed, she mightily tried her best, and it paid off in the end. She was moving slowly, working her job at the bar, going to auditions, living life not in a shadow but in her own spotlight while she waited for her break through. After all, she was in no rush, she had time to enjoy the journey to success, savour it, before she became a sensation. That thought made her smile. She wasn't sure if she'd like the fame or love it, she supposed love it, she wanted her name everywhere in golden lights. Yeah, so she was a dreamer. But for now, she had a sate to go to. She barely had to act around people, she liked people, and she liked just being her quirky if a little sarcastic self. Locking the door behind her, the blonde slipped her key into her purse, her heels making a sound on the concrete floor of the corridor, her skin tight jeans not making the walk uncomfortable. She called a taxi, she planned on drinking that night, and there was no way she'd be able to drive home. She hoped that she would end up at Sofia's place anyway. When she got there, Scarlett saw the bright lights, and a few people milling about. The dive tank was really nothing special, a little bit run down, cheap, sometimes there were creepy people there, but Scarlett enjoyed it none the less. Entering the room, her green eyes roamed around, settling on a few faces, searching out for glowing dark skin, but she couldn't find her. Pulling out her phone for the second time that night, Scarlett stepped outside, pressing the call button, and Sophia picked up, her breath fast on the phone, and the blonde frowned. "Hey, where are you? We had a date." She teased, since they both knew that it was far from a date, but none the less, she didn't hesitate shoving that tease at her. "Oh shit, I'm so sorry, my brother ran into some trouble with the cops, I'll have to take a rain check!" The voice was quick and panicked, and Scar frowned a little, before licking her lips, and nodded, even though the other woman couldn't see her. "That's fine, I hope it goes well. See you, Soph." She said, and out her phone down, chewing her her lipstick reddened lip for a few moments. Then she decided that there was no reason she couldn't have a bit of fun without Sophia, she was sure that there would be plenty of people to hold her interest. Tossing her head back, she squared her shoulders a little bit before heading back inside. She could see colours all around people, some looked a little bit distorted due to the fact that they were intoxicated and could not decide on the emotion which they had. However, Scarlett always tried her best to close off her mind, because she usually didn't like other people's thoughts in her head, so she had to put up a barrier. Licking her lips, she headed over to the bar, offering a smile to the bartender who seemed to be sheathed in shadow, smoke all around her from the fumes of people smoking. Yes, this was a dark place, with a bad crowd, but Scarlett actually quite liked it. Taking a sip from her first drink, she looked around, her eyes setting on a figure, a small smirk quirking up at her lips. The girl was gorgeous, all curves ans hips and bright violet eyes. Scarlett was instantly interested, although her aura radiated something other than intoxication or happiness, it was a little bit neutral, the colours a little grey, and she was curious as to why that was. Not that she hasn't seen those colours before, but she never thought to ask. Making up her mind, she threw a smile at the bartender, before making her way over the woman, a friendly smile on her lips, a sparkle in her eyes. "Hello, I hope you don't mind if I join you? I had a date, but got ditched, and you look lonely." She explained, not actually sure if the other woman was waiting for someone, but she was willing to wait for her to tell her that before making her own assumptions.

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[CLAUDIA LUNA ELIADE]

Ever since she escaped the Gypsy camps and was taken to the United States, Claude had been thoroughly enjoying her freedom. There were many things to love about this country, but one of her favorites, she had found, was getting well and truly drunk. Alcohol hadn't been readily available in the camps, at least not for her, but when she was a teenager, her best friend Aleksander stole a flagon of honeyed wine from one of the huntsmen and brought it back to their tent. They had gotten drunk for the first time together that night, and spent the rest of the evening deep in the woods, lying on their backs giggling up at the stars. Nothing had happened between her and Aleksander, nothing romantic at least - Claude had absolutely no desire for romance, but he had been a good friend. He had been her beacon of hope in a world of darkness that good people existed, and there was still a chance she'd turn out all right, that things would get better.

But they took Aleksander from me, too.[/color] Claude thought to herself, and downed another shot of tequila. The Dive Tank was one of her favorite haunts: she didn't have much money to spare, and most of her money had been acquired from things she stole, until she had procured a job at a local herb store. Granted, the money she had gotten paid from that job had immediately gone to buying "work-appropriate" clothing, but she'd have a steady income now, so she could afford to splurge a little. Her splurging tonight was as much celebration than anything else. Some people might look at her and think she was drinking alone out of depression, but those people didn't know her. And, even if they did, she doubted that they'd understand that she preferred to be alone. She enjoyed it, even: the quiet of her own thoughts, the freedom to act as she wanted, go where she wanted, and do what she wanted with nobody to intervene.

Claude found that most people kept to themselves at The Dive Tank anyway. Sometimes, when the dartboard was clear, she'd play darts, and just a few weeks ago, she found that she had relatively decent skills at pool. There had been an older biker, probably in his late fifties, who was betting money on pool games. Claude had challenged him, won, and taken home seventy-five dollars that night, after she bought another few rounds of tequila, which she had discovered was her favorite hard liquor. The bar had the relatively same crowd tonight: the older biker gang members, a few young people on dates, and a few singles, like herself, who were looking for some companionship, which was unlike her motivations. There were lots of humans in this bar, and even though she wasn't terribly fond of humans, she wasn't terribly fond of anyone, and didn't mind being clumped within their numbers. It was a good way to disguise, she found, and when people started drinking, they rarely ever thought to ask about her eyes.

Claude braced her hands on her form-fitted jeans, which were one of her new acquisitions in an "improved" wardrobe and matched nicely with the soft cotton v-neck tee shirt she wore that was in a stunning emerald green. Her shoes were old, a favorite pair of Hi-Top Converse, but they were so comfortable, and she wasn't working at the moment. The witch eyed the pool tables, looking to see if anyone appeared to be looking for a bet and might consider making a wager. She found that few things she excelled at ended up being attributed to "luck." Claude was a very fast learner.

Just as she considered walking over to the pool tables, however, maybe racking up a solo game, a young woman who appeared to be about her age took the vacant seat next to her with her eyes instead of her body, almost as if she was considering it, but sought permission first. Claude wondered why that was: it wasn't as if seating was assigned, and she had been alone for hours. The woman was blonde, with a bright twinkle in her eyes and a friendly, warm smile on her red lips. After Claude looked up to regard her, she asked if she could join her, and explained a situation about a date that must have fallen through. Then she suggested that Claude looked lonely, and the witch furrowed her brow.

"Drinking alone and being lonely are two different things entirely," Claude explained, hoping that her thick accent wouldn't make her too difficult to understand. "But you're free to sit here, if you'd like." Claude downed her last shot of tequila before signaling to the bartender that she needed another and slapped a ten dollar bill down on the counter. He came their way, and she placed her order of another double round, then looked back at the blonde, who seemed too pretty to frequent a place like The Dive Tank. "Do you drink?" Claude asked, wondering if that was why the blonde had settled in at the bar, or if she was looking for something else.

[SCARLETT EVA KELLER]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 505px; -moz-border-radius: 0 185 185 0px;background-color:#09281d;] so we burst into colours -------------------------------------------- colours and carousels, fall head first, like paper planes & play ground games -------- "Drinking alone and being lonely are two different things entirely," Scarlett cocked her eyebrows at that, a wide smile spreading across her features as she decided that she liked the girl. Her words made complete logical sense, and even from that one sentence, Scarlett knew that logic would be the way to go with the pretty brunette. The sinfully pretty brunette that could maybe make her forget about being ditched tonight. Hopefully physically, but conversation would be fine too. "Ah well, can't argue there, but I say that company saves you money ... can I get you a drink?" Scarlett still smiled, her smiles always reached her eyes, whether they were large, revealing perfect white teeth, or small and subtle, but still lighting up her features. She laughed a little and nodded, moving to sit gracefully onto the stool next to the girl, shifting a little to get a comfortable position. She was curious about the colours around the girl; she wasn't sure what to call the colours that she saw, but they were different than of most people and that intruiged her. They were so .. neutral. Other people usually displayed wild and bright emotions, happy yellows, gloomy blue's and all the colours in between, but this woman .. well, it was different and interesting. Her green eyes eyes her for a second, nothing suggestive, just examining really, and then the question which she asked really made her laugh. Scarlett chuckled and shook her head, because of course the girl was not to know that she was a pro drinker, they only just met really, but she glanced back up at her anyway. "I'm kind of a pro." She winked jokingly, amusement and light humour on her face. Really, Scarlett was a bright and happy person but she wasn't annoyingly bubbly either. "Well, I guess when you work at a bar you learn how to handle your liquor." She spoke, Scarlett liked talking, it seemed like words spilled out of her mouth without her really realising that she was saying them. Really, the blonde was very easy going. "You know how men are, they see a woman and think instantly that they'd win easily in such games of drinking, I like to prove them wrong." She nodded, because Scarlett did not like to be stereotyped. She was never afraid of being who she is, and liking the thing she does. She may want glamour and to be a famous actress, but there were times where she liked to wear flimsy t-shirts and shorts, hair tied up, driving a car. Really, she loved cars.She may not look like it, but a lot of people didn't bother asking. "So, are we far enough in conversation for me to be able to ask your name?" She teased a little, watching the girl as she put money on the counter, and ordered herself a drink also, putting some of her own money to pay for it. The whole name thing, Scarlett figured that she would have to tread carefully with this one, so she thought she would make sure in a joking manner. She looked around a little, and noticed that this place was a bit more run down than she had expected, with people who seemed almost dangerous. However, Scarlett did not fear the big bad guys, or well, she could pretend that she didn't, because she was able to brush off words so easily. She brought her thoughts back into herself, and licked her lips, taking a sip of her drink when it was given to her, thanking the bartender when he gave it. If anything, Scarlett knew her manners. She ran a hand through her long blonde hair absently, as she liked to do out of habit and thought that both of them looked kind of out of place there. If course, who was Scarlett to judge what kind of place this stranger would fit into, but she hoped that by the end of the night they would both be leaving together. When Scarlett knew what she wanted, she was no afraid to seek it. It either went well, or it didn't. Usually when it did, the trying was worth it. "I wouldn't have expected to see a woman like you in a place like this, though of course forgive me for the assumption." She spoke smoothly, tilting her head to the side curiously, because asking questions offered answers, and Scarlett really did love listening to people talk. She had enough practice from where she worked. "Do you come here often?" She smiled, because she hoped that sometime tonight, talking wouldn't be the only thing they would be doing. However, it would be just her luck if the girl turned out straight. Yeah, that had happened a few times, and Scarlett laughs about it now, but none the less, it would be a risk she'd take.

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[CLAUDIA LUNA ELIADE]

Interacting in a normal sense was still a skill Claude was trying to learn; she hadn't really gotten any good at it. She hadn't really interacted in the gypsy camps; there, she just survived. Aleksander had been her only real friend, and then she lost him. Ever since he had died, she just hadn't tried to make friends, mostly because she felt it didn't matter, and her heart had become so cold, anyway. Claude went through her days feeling close to nothing, if not nothing at all, and it didn't bother her. She had survived the camps, and now she was free, so she could do as she pleased. Making friends wasn't on her itinerary. Yet, this woman who was seated next to her seemed quite interested in her for some reason that Claude couldn't quite put her finger on. And she was talkative, too. Which was probably a good thing, since Claude wasn't the talkative sort. First, the woman offered to buy her a drink, and Claude nodded her acquiescence. If she was so determined, it was a free drink, and it seemed like it would be a silly thing to say no when one didn't have a reason to do so.

Besides, the woman seemed nice enough. Not that such a thing mattered to the young witch, either. She had dealt with all types: cruel, mischievous, lecherous, nice, annoying... there were many differences in humans in the world, but particularly in this town, she felt. Even though she tried her best to stay under the radar, she had already made some acquaintances: some pleasant, and others... not so much. Yet, she hadn't found anyone that truly scared her, but she blamed that on the fact that she didn't fear. Whatever was to happen, whatever her future had in store, was going to happen. It was best to just live in the moment, and let the future deal out its cards accordingly.

Claude's brief questions gave the woman plenty of room to talk, and the witch learned that she enjoyed alcohol, worked in a bar, and was, apparently, pretty good at drinking games. The witch chuckled a little at that comment; she learned that she could hold her liquor incredibly well for her size, and wondered what these "drinking games" were. She hadn't ever played one, and placed it on a mental list of things to do in her head. Live for the moment, right?

[/color] Claude thought.

It was a fairly one-sided conversation up to that point, but the woman asked if they were to a point where she'd disclose her name, and Claude furrowed her eyebrows for a moment. It wouldn't hurt, because she doubted that this woman was any kind of threat; just seemed friendly, if not overly so, and besides, part of the reason she had taken 'Eliade' as a surname instead of her given name, her mother's surname, Cristea, was to be more difficult to track. 'Eliade' would denote gypsy blood, and even though she detested their kind with a deep, rich passion that was practically the only hint of emotion she still could feel, she knew that they wouldn't go looking for one of their own kind.

"Claude," she replied, then looked at the woman's sparking eyes and debated reading her mind for a moment. It was something she did with most people, as a habit, but it was invasive, and if this woman had some way to detect what she was doing, it might make someone who hadn't been dangerous to her before turn that way rather quickly. So, she held off... for now. Her conventions hit her, and she continued. "I suppose you have a name as well?" It wasn't that she was interested, per se, but she didn't want to seem rude for not asking. The woman thanked the bartender when he brought over their drinks, and Claude immediately took a sip of her own. "Gotta love the drinks here. Cheap, and strong." It was idle conversation, but she didn't want to make the blonde woman do all the talking, amusing as it was.

That sparked her to ask about Claude's being there, in the smoky dive bar. Apparently, she didn't seem like the type of person who would frequent such an establishment, but she was. It was convenient, and she didn't mind the patrons, or the atmosphere, and the drink prices were cheap. "It's close to my work and where I live; convenient. Also, cheap drinks, and I can play pool all I want." That was because most men were more than willing to give up their tables just to watch her play, which was a disgusting thought for Claude to think of, but she was always happy for the practice, and could usually talk them into playing her for their hard-earned money, which became her hard-earned money, so she took something horrid and turned it into something useful. She didn't admit this to her new acquaintance, however.

Claude turned the question back on the blonde, laughing softly before she spoke. "If I don't seem like I belong here, you certainly don't, despite your apparent fondness for drinking. What brings you here, anyway? Certainly can't be the guys; they all smell, and most of them are twice our age." The witch took another sip of her drink and noticed that the blonde was halfway through her own, making decent progress that was surprising, even though it did reinforce her previous confession about drinking skill. "Today was payday, so next round's on me, okay?" She figured that the blonde would take it as a kindness, and she didn't mind people thinking whatever they wanted, but it was really just because she didn't like to owe people anything, even the cost of one drink. The way she saw it, her debts were paid off, and her life was her own: she didn't need to answer to anybody other than herself.[/blockquote][/justify]

[SCARLETT EVA KELLER]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 505px; -moz-border-radius: 0 185 185 0px;background-color:#09281d;] so we burst into colours -------------------------------------------- colours and carousels, fall head first, like paper planes & play ground games -------- Scarlett wasn't sure where she was at with this woman. Whether she even swung that way, because her stance and aura gave zero away. Thoughts she avoided listening to, but the whole aura thing she couldn't stop. None the less, it was a little worrying since she couldn't tell if she was interested. Her whole being seemed so neutral, to her words, to her surroundings, it threw Scarlett off a little bit, but she hid it well. If it was a completely lost cause, she knew she wouldn't carry on, but as long as the woman replied, she wasn't alone, and she'd feel a lot better at being stood up. The blonde nodded as she was given a name. Claude. It suited her, she thought. She liked to think that names suited people. She knew hers suited her, maybe Keller didn't suit her that well, but it was a personal preference for people that weren't going to stick around to call her Keller. When she was asked if she had a name, the wording made her chuckle, since it was so far from a logical question. "No, my mum didn't think a name was necessary. I think I've been called 'her' all my life." She joked, a bright smile on her features, and she hoped that the woman was not someone who took jokes in a bad way. "Just kidding, you can call me Keller." She nodded, wetting her lips with her tongue a little absently. Scarlett took a large sip of her own drink and nodded in approval of her words. She wasn't that much of a drinker, she only did it when the occasion arose. When she was with friends, or like she said, when there were challenges. But it wasn't that she liked the taste of alcohol, she didn't suppose that anyone did as it was so bitter and sharp almost, it was more the effects that it caused. It loosened people up a little bit, made their minds a little open and their bodies more relaxed. She liked that feeling herself, and according to Claude, she felt the same too. "Agreed. It seems like the less money something costs the better it tastes." She chuckled, although she didn't mean crap like baked beans or something, but if something was cheap, you enjoyed it more because you got to save some money. Or so she thought. Scarlett nodded at the woman's explanation. It made sense actually, looking at her, that she would go for something that was convenient over fancy and long winded. She just looked like the kind of person, even though that was her assuming again. Then she mentioned pool and Scarlett brightened up. She loved pool. "I like a game of pool myself ... would you be interested in playing a round with me? We could even make it a competition." When Scarlett wanted something, she wasn't shy in asking for it, and she would like to play pool with Claude if she'd let her. Scarlett quirked an eyebrow when the woman said she didn't look like she 'certainly' didn't look like she'd be in a place like this. She wasn't sure if that amused her or offended her, but whatever, she was allowed to her own views and opinions. When she mentioned the guys, Scarlett laughed a little as she looked around, and her every word rang true. Smelly and old. She wasn't here for the guys, but she also wasn't going to go home just because her company couldn't make it. "I was supposed to be meeting someone for a casual date of sorts, but she cancelled when I was already here. So, I didn't fancy going home without at least some alcohol in my system." She nodded. She knew she talked a lot, it was much more than Claude had spoken, but Scarlett was able to carry the conversation on her own rather well. However, Scarlett knew her boundaries, as she knew from experience that 'talkers' can get annoying if they don't let a word in edgeways, and as you know, she likes to listen to people as much as she likes to talk to them, it was just the way she was. Claude didn't seem like much of a talker, and so Scarlett spoke in a lot of words. But it wasn't like she wasn't saying things back, she just didn't look very interested. Scarlett smiled but looked a little surprised when she said that the next round would be on her ... since she didn't know if the woman would be leaving after her drink, or if she'd want her around. This was promising, and Scarlett couldn't help but notice the woman's striking beauty. She was dark haired and her eyes were violet, which told her that she was a witch, but she had this air around her that was at the same time inviting as it was scary and avoidable. Scarlett decided that she liked that. "If that will make any difference, sure, you can buy my next drink." Scarlett nodded, since she didn't have issues with paying for someone's drink. She never really expected much back. The mention of 'payday' made Scarlett curious, so she tilted her head to the side a little, her drink at her lips for a moment longer before she spoke. "What do you do?" She was curious to see what would someone like her would do for a living. She didn't know why, but she couldn't imagine her in almost any kind of environment, it took seeing to be able to imagine it. "Sorry, I like to ask questions, if at any point you don't want to answer, you don't have to." She assured her, because she didn't want to feel like she was prying all the time, and if there was a chance for Claude not to answer er questions, she'd be willing to give it, since the last thing she wanted was to make the other woman uncomfortable.

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[CLAUDIA LUNA ELIADE]

The blonde woman was sarcastic; Claude learned that from her dry response that claimed she didn't have a name. Humor was a funny thing, and seemed to vary from person to person, and Claude appreciated that this woman's sense of humor was somewhat like her own. There weren't many people she truly got along with, and part of that was her own doing, but she did appreciate the rare occurrences when she came across someone with a similarity. Whether it was another witch, an independent female, or someone with a dry, sarcastic sense of humor like her own. Even though she certainly didn't mind being alone, Claude liked knowing that she wasn't a complete oddity, and that her distance from civilized society hadn't been some sort of detriment to her overall progression as a person. At least, not much.

When the woman finally did give up her name, Claude raised an eyebrow. Normally, she wouldn't comment based on sheer intuition, and she didn't always read people's minds, and hadn't yet with this woman, but she didn't need to read her mind to have the nagging feeling that she was secretive, and that wasn't her real name. ”I'm not from this country, but that seems an awful like somebody's surname here. Keller's your first name?” Claude asked, wondering if now she'd be considered rude and left to her own devices yet again. Either way, the witch wouldn't be bothered; she was used to getting strange looks and not always saying the right thing at the right time. She'd never really learned manners, and she was trying to be more sociable because of her job and because she wanted to make Chloe pleased with her progress, maybe even grow to trust her a little more and give her more privileges where making potions or handling the plants were concerned. Maybe Claude's forwardness and blunt nature was what caused the woman to take a rather large drink, but she did, and Claude noticed, but chose not to comment. If her previous inquiry hadn't been considered to be rude, that sort of comment about someone's drinking would likely do the trick. And she wasn't trying to be off-putting, at least not on purpose.

”I apologize. Sometimes, I can be a little too forward.”

The comment she made instead was about the drink quality at the bar. Claude certainly did like alcohol, and she found another common bond with the woman when she suggested that she liked it, too. Keller could certainly handle it, which was impressive given her size and that she didn't exactly seem like a barfly. She had said that she worked in a bar, though, which was interesting. Claude recalled her talking about that briefly, and wondered what bar she worked in. An expensive one, probably, from the looks of her. Well-dressed, attractive, well-spoken, and certainly not like the patrons in the Dive Tank.

Apparently, she hadn't scared her off because she was being invited to a game of pool. Claude grinned from ear to ear when she mentioned that it could be a challenge. ”Well, all right,” Claude said simply, then stood up, taking her drink with her and walking toward an empty pool table. She noticed people looking at them as they made their way over, and didn't pay them any mind. Perhaps later they'd interfere, and then it would become an issue, but Claude had dealt with similar come-ons before, and had learned a quick and efficient maneuver for blowing off the rougher patrons. Flip them off and act tough or invite them to play and steal their money. The first method generally got her some laughs, but respect, and the second way was rather profitable, since Claude really was good at the game.

Despite Claude's many questions, the woman didn't seem fazed, and continued to answer in a good-hearted way that Claude felt comfortable enough around. She wasn't predatory like some of the guys in the bar, so if she was going to be bothered by someone, she figured that this one wouldn't be as bad. Or at least as much trouble; Claude could certainly handle her if things did get dicey. She was tough in words, but the witch doubted her ability to really throw down physically. Not like she'd want things to happen that way, and doubted they would. She just wasn't good at understanding people, so she tended to think the worst until proven otherwise. Not that she gave people the chance to prove her otherwise very frequently; Claude didn't have any desire to make friends or build a social life like most people did. Her life of being home alone, out by herself, or at work was good enough for her, and it was probably safer for her to remain under the radar.

Keller explained why she'd come there: for a date. That was something Claude certainly didn't understand. Romance. She had never wanted it, really. She didn't understand it, and felt that it was a colossal waste of time: why devote yourself to someone and leave yourself vulnerable with little to no reward. No reward that Claude could see, at least. She had no interest in physical contact, affection, or general closeness with other people, so a relationship definitely wouldn't work for her. But, she didn't want to discount what other people wanted. Romance and love were two things that people frequently came to the shop for help with... love potions, potions to mend a broken heart, questions about love spells and whatnot. It all seemed a bit ridiculous, but it was in high demand, and at least turned a profit.

”Nothing wrong with a little alcohol in your evenings, if you ask me,” Claude said, not commenting on Keller's loss of a date. The witch didn't know how to sympathize, only pretend, but she didn't enjoy having to fake sincerity around people, considering that she basically had to do just that all day. Chloe knew she was faking, of course, and appreciated it because she'd learned by now that Claude couldn't change. She just didn't have the normal social skills and emotions that regular folks were equipped with. ”Are you still looking for a companion for the evening?” Claude looked around at her options, and tried to focus on females, since the blonde had mentioned that the would-be date had been a she. Not that sexuality mattered to Claude; if someone wanted love, why exclude any person that might have potential based on gender? That certainly didn't make sense. There were a few relatively pretty women in the bar, and they were already being sized up by the men. Claude looked a little closer, and noticed that they weren't the kind of pretty that would stand up to this woman, but also knew that looks weren't always the most important thing to judge.

Claude racked up the balls in the center of the table, and made sure everything was in place, then handed one of the cues to the blonde, and heard her ask her next question: about Claude's work. It seemed harmless enough, and she answered curtly before removing the triangle surrounding the balls. ”I work at the plant shop just a few blocks down. Heliconia, it's called,” Claude said, then added. ”I do all the basic shopkeeping tasks, but my main pride is in my alchemy. I'm an alchemist by trade.” Apparently, now Keller was concerned about questions, and placed a caveat on her words, giving Claude an out any time she was uncomfortable. Talking didn't make her uncomfortable, and soon conversation would become staggered anyway since they were going to start a game. ”I'll let you know if you get on my nerves,” Claude said, then gestured to the table. ”You go ahead and break, and let me know when you'd like another drink.” Claude took a step back, giving the blonde plenty of room and took a swig of her own drink, watching carefully to see how she'd set up the table, so Claude could figure out how to win.

[/justify]

[SCARLETT EVA KELLER]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 505px; -moz-border-radius: 0 185 185 0px;background-color:#09281d;] so we burst into colours -------------------------------------------- colours and carousels, fall head first, like paper planes & play ground games -------- It was like second nature for Scarlett to introduce herself as Keller to strangers, and she responded to both names. She guessed she was a little bit weird, for introducing herself as just that, and she was curious as to how Claude had noticed. She said it just as she might be talking about the weather or what not. Keller. She didn't think it was that odd of a name, some people had even weirder names than that. None the less, a secretive little smile appeared on her lips and she took a moment to think about the fact that she was called out. Really, there was no point in lying, and she didn't feel like she owed her an explanation, but she also didn't mind talking about it. So, the blonde shrugged and chuckled. "You are either reading my mind, or you have a good intuition, Claude." Scarlett smirked a little, before leaning against the top of the bar. "But you are right, Keller is my last name, not many people really question it." She tilted her head, curiously regarding the beautiful brunette for a few moments. "I guess it's a weird thing I do, but by now, Keller feels as much my name as my first name does." She explained, but she wasn't sure why she wasn't telling what her real name was. She decided that if Claude didn't ask, she wouldn't bother saying it. And she had confidence in herself that that wouldn't make the woman shy away either. Scarlett still could not get over all the grey areas in her aura though, like she wasn't particularly bothered about much. When Claude apologised, Scarlett only countered back with her own question, not really think about if she was forward or not, because she figured if the other woman could ask such questions, Scarlett could too. "If you're not from this country, then where are you from? I'm not very good with accents." Though really, she couldn't hear much of an accent in the brunette, nothing to really tick off what country she could be from. But she figured that blunt would be the way to go in this case, and holding back was not one of Scarlett's strong suits at all. She waited a moment for her to answer, and then she was inviting her to a game of pool, and Scarlett returned the grin when she accepted. Score. If nothing else, Scarlett would have a good time with her. If one opportunity is pulled out from under you, then just take up something else instead, which was precisely what she was doing here. Better than spending the evening .. and hopefully the night on her own. Scarlett followed Claude to one of the pool tables, her blond hair framing her face in a way that most people would think she was hiding behind it, but she was observing. Scarlett was not blind, she could feel the eyes on her and Claude as they walked. Yes, she knew she was attractive, and hell she sure knew that Claude was attractive, but much like the other woman, Scar paid them absolutely no mind. She could take care of herself. Really, working at a bar was full of men who thought themselves on a high horse, and figured that a grope and a sleazy smile wouldn't matter to someone like Scarlett. Well, let's just say that their minds changed the moment her fist connected with their nose. She had almost lost her job a couple of times, but she will not work in a sexist atmosphere, where she is looked at like a slab of meat, objectified and all. Sure, her dream might take her to something of a similar atmosphere, but Scar knew that she'd want to be famous for talent, and not because she was pretty. Scarlett laughed a little when Claude explained that there was nothing wrong with some alcohol in the evenings. "Of course, but you know, some people take it too far." She shrugged. She had seen it a lot, bar fights because someone had a few too many and their judgement would be clouded and they'd think that the guy next to them were the ones who fucked their girlfriend and oh lord, those were entertaining but stupid as hell. Sometimes too much alcohol resulted in broken bones and bleeding noses, and generally nothing good at all. But she herself didn't mind a drink, she knew how to tolerate it. When she was asked if she was looking for a companion, it was clear as day that Claude was not offering, and that brought amusement to Scarlett. Her eyes followed the other girls gaze at the other patrons in the bar. The men ... well, she'd seen better on street corners, and some of the women had some potential, but Scarlett was positive she picked the best of the lot. A little challenge, a little flirting, and maybe ... maybe a possibility of a good night, if only she could get Claude interested. "I don't ... look per say. But if the opportunity presents itself, I wouldn't be likely to decline." There, that could be taken in many ways. Scarlett took the cue from Claude, and watched her movements as she removed the triangle from the balls, a soft smile playing around her lips as the other woman spoke. A plant shop. She guessed that fitted, since she couldn't have even imagined what this woman did for a living. "Alchemy huh?" Scarlett asked, interested in a word that was somewhat foreign to her. "Like, turning lead to Gold and things?" She asked, hoping that the brunette would elaborate, as Scarlett was actually pretty curious about the implications of what the word presented. But Scarlett couldn't hold in a loud laugh when she was told that Claude would let her know if she was being annoying. "Good to know I can trust you to be completely honest." She grinned, a wide smile and nodded when she was told to break, taking a sip of the drink which she still had in her hand, she placed it on a bench, moving in to take the first shot, more expertly, she was sure, than Claude expected, but Scarlett liked to play the whole 'I'm going to play not too well, so I can surprise you by winning in the end.' She knew a few tricks.

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[CLAUDIA LUNA ELIADE]

Even though she wasn't ashamed of her legacy and heritage as a witch, Claude tried her best to keep her abilities and powers under the radar. Alchemy was different, because even though mostly witches were the only ones who could pick it up with any real aptitude, she was certain that others could learn, if they really wanted to and had the dedication. It was an old fashioned science, and helpful to witches, but it didn't 'out' her as a witch specifically. Now, the fact that she could read minds would definitely do just that. So when Keller called her out for knowing that she was introducing herself by her last name, the witch felt the walls rise up a little taller and stronger immediately, surrounding her. She'd done her best to avoid reading the woman's mind, and really hadn't gotten anything since they met, but the accusation made her a little nervous that the woman might cause problems. Instead of running away immediately, the witch gave her a blank stare and tried to conjure up a response that wouldn't give her anything, not even the slightest inclination that her seemingly playful accusation was true. ”Maybe you're just easy to read,” Claude suggested, shrugging her shoulders as if it didn't matter to her one way or another. Truthfully, it didn't. This woman's name was her own business, and if she wanted to introduce herself as Keller, that was her prerogative. Claude wouldn't go about introducing herself as 'Eliade,' but that was mostly because she considered one's surname to be more personal than their first.

The blonde confirmed Claude's suspicions, however, and the brunette nodded as she spoke. She didn't give her first name out, but that was probably for her own reasons. Everyone had reasons for behaving in certain ways – Claude could certainly understand that, because she didn't exactly act normally under most people's definition of the word. The witch was slightly paranoid, but also found herself being interested in reckless behaviors because she'd never really gotten a chance to live any semblance of a life. Her childhood had been taken, her mother taken, her only friend taken... she had gotten used to being alone, and that was just fine for her, but she hadn't gotten a chance to make her own decisions. In the camps, everything she did was dictated by someone with authority over her, and if she didn't toe the line, Claude knew that death was always close behind. Now, she could do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted to do it, and the only 'authority' in her life was her own desires and the woman who signed her paychecks.

”It's not my business. I'm fine with calling you Keller, if that's what you prefer,” Claude said amiably. It went along with an apologetic explanation that told the blonde why she had figured it as her last name to begin with. Claude tended to pay very close attention to people around her, even if she didn't care for them, so she would know if she was being followed, watched, or if there were any suspicious characters in her general vicinity. She'd learned a lot about American culture, which varied vastly from her own, and because she was generally good with names and other identifying features, that was why 'Keller' stuck out as strange. ”Romania. I haven't been here long, but it's home now,” Claude replied simply, careful not to go into too much detail. She still wasn't sure that she trusted Keller, and didn't know that she could ever trust anyone. It was always better to keep people at arm's length, so you could watch them and predict their next movement.

The next movement ended up being pool and more conversation. Keller didn't seem threatening, and Claude decided that if the woman was so determined to hang around her for the evening, she might as well play along. Even though it was forward, Claude had a tendency to be blunt and asked about Keller's reasons for being there, or if she'd taken an interest in anyone there. The witch could appreciate aesthetics, even if she wasn't interested in any companion, and the blonde was lovely. Well built and proportioned, feminine, but not overly so, alert, pretty eyes. Claude noticed those things like someone would look at a portrait or painting that was well done, but didn't feel any emotional connection. Not like most others did. ”I can't see how you'd want to go looking here. There aren't many good options, if any,” Claude said honestly. She doubted that the burly, sweaty biker guy was this woman's type. ”I just don't look.” If she expected answers to her silly questions from the blonde, she knew that it was only polite to give some kind of response of her own.

Claude set up the pool table, deciding that she would let the blonde break. She wondered if this woman had some hidden skill that she wasn't play up, as a sort of strategy. Most bars that Claude had visited had a pool table, and since this woman worked in a bar, she probably at least understood how to play, if she didn't rack some up during breaks or before and after her shifts. She was the one who had suggested a competition, so Claude knew that she wouldn't be able to give anything away. The break was generous enough. Keller asked about her profession, and where she worked, and Claude was easily able to answer this question. She was incredibly proud of what she did, after all. It was something that few others could do, and very few could do as well as she. ”I've never tried turning lead to gold, but that might be something I should look into,” Claude said when Keller asked further questions concerning her profession. ”Mostly, I create ailments. Supplements. Vials and remedies to help people with a variety of needs,” Claude said, not wanting to come right out and say that she had a private, lethal stash that could take out deadly supernaturals and made love potions as well.

Keller took the first shot and broke quite well. Claude couldn't say she was surprised, but now she knew that she'd have to bring her best game possible. ”Impressive,” Claude commented, because it really was better than she'd seen in a while. Claude chalked her cue, and aimed for stripes, since Keller had claimed solids with her break. On her first shot, she sank two striped balls into the same pocket, and then one more on her next hit. ”I think you certainly knew what you were talking about when you wanted to compete.” Claude raised an eyebrow and set her spectacular focus on the table, already figuring out her next two and three shots like a chess master. Either way the game ended, she found that this evening was already less lonely and more enjoyable than she had expected when she first decided to go out for drinks on her own.

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[SCARLETT EVA KELLER]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 505px; -moz-border-radius: 0 185 185 0px;background-color:#09281d;] so we burst into colours -------------------------------------------- colours and carousels, fall head first, like paper planes & play ground games -------- The girl was blunt and that had always been a quality that Scarlett admired. A lot of the time people liked to sugar coat things, make them seem nicer than they actually are, and that just wasn't the case. She smiled a little at that, all bright white teeth showing because the girl was funny, and the best thing was, she didn't even realise it. "Wow, if I was anyone else I feel like I'd be wounded. I mean, I'm the epitome of mystery, just look at me." Scarlett cocks her head with a slight grin, a teasing tone to the beautiful woman before her that just looked like she needed to lighten up a little bit. Claude was curt, and she seemed disinterested, and Scarlett supposed that that was what drew her to the woman. The taste of a challenge that she'll gladly admit defeat of as long as she knows that she tried. When Scarlett asked what country the mysterious woman was from she didn't know if she expected a reply. However, she was pleasantly surprised and urged by the words, finding them promising. "Romania. Sounds exotic. I mean, I've never really been out of America, so it is exotic to me." She laughs a little, bright eyes holding a spark. "But I mean, I do wanna travel one day. Worth visiting?" She asks, because as much as Scarlett wanted to be an actress and all, and she will be, she wanted to travel the world too. It seems do vast and great, and hell, it would be amazing. She might seem like a city girl, but from her job she was clearly able to get her hands stuck in dirt business so it was no matter where she went. Hell, she'd even embrace the countryside. It would be just so nice to get away. While at the pool tables, the conversation, at least from Scarlett was more flirtatious than it had been. The comment about not looking here because there weren't that many good people made Scarlett laugh and she licked her lower lip. "Yeah well, I wasn't cause I was gonna be here with someone sexy before she ditched me, but I think I've found someone just as to keep me company." She bit down on her lower lip gently, lipstick a contrast against white teeth, her green eyes meeting violet ones which she held for a few seconds too long to be innocent, before glancing away with a small smile. When Claude said she didn't look, Scarlett looked curious because she couldn't imagine not looking. Hell, she was not shallow, well not more than a lot of people, but not to ever look? It sounded absurd to her. She liked to flirt, and to get people into her bed to relieve tension from a difficult night. "If it's not too forwards, may I ask why you don't look? God knows there are some amazing specimens out there that could make excellent partners, or sex partners." She spoke because Scarlett knew that she herself would love to get settled down one day. But she hasn't found anyone as such. "I think that if anyone could turn lead into gold, it would be you." Scarlett flirted, a wink from her before she took a sip of her drink because Claude actually sounded like an interesting person. A witch, clearly, but the fact that she was helping people was a really admirable quality and one that Scarlett liked seeing. "That sounds like a very noble cause. Honestly, a lot of people waste their talents away on selfish reasons. I think if I could do what you do, I'd also choose to help." She shrugged, nothing but genuineness in her voice because she meant it. Yes, the blonde had a talent in acting, but how could that help anyone? She hoped that when she was famous she would make enough money that it wouldn't matter if she gave some to charity. Maybe giving money was the easy way out, but it was always said that every little helps. Even now, if Scarlett saw someone homeless in the street, she would make sure that she would give at least some of her change passing by. Not that working at a bar really made her earn enough to throw it around, but it made her feel better. As they started playing, Scarlett took the first shot, wiggling her butt a little as a teasing gesture before shooting and grinned when it broke well. The praise coming from Claude made her eyebrows arch up because hell if she was expecting that, but she liked it. "Thanks. I've had practice." She shrugs a little and watches the other woman pot her shots, and colour Scarlett impressed. "Gee, I figured you'd be good competition, but damn." She eyed the table in curiosity, not having passed up an appreciative glance over the woman because she was certainly the best looking person at the bar hands down. Though Scarlett was not counting herself, as she wouldn't be so up her self as to out her own beauty above someone else. "I can tell you'll be brutal." The blonde smirked because she wondered if Claude would also be brutal in other areas. Even though they were interacting, she hadn't show too much interest in Scarlett and the immortal vixen wanted to change that but she'd need to think about how. Watch her aura closely and all to see which of her actions were helping her. She moved to take her own shot, potting one coloured ball and then another before taking a drink.

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[CLAUDIA LUNA ELIADE]

The witch wasn't extremely well-versed in human interaction, but she knew a few things. Sarcasm, for one. But even though she figured that the woman's claim to being wounded by Claude's decisive appraisal that she wasn't very mysterious was sarcasm, Claude was also trying to figure out what exactly she was trying to accomplish by their entire interaction. Of course, she would likely have a little while longer to figure that out, since the woman didn't seem to be going anywhere, but it was still cause for piquing her curiosity. Claude had been to this particular bar several times, and she had never been approached like this. This was... well, it was something different and sort of foreign to her, which made her mind wander over logical possibilities as she was wont to do. ”Perhaps you and I have a different definition of 'epitome.' Yours is likely correct, since I've not spoken English my entire life.” But the witch's diction was excellent; her vocabulary was immense, and despite the original language barrier and the fact that her accent had a tendency to become heavier in some places, Claude had been determined to pass as a native speaker, accent and all. She wanted to communicate well, and not miss anything, since she was so stunted socially. Also, she was a survivor, and with that mentality came an innate desire to overcome any and all obstacles that were set in one's path.

Claude's own thoughts about learning to speak English and trying to overcome a language barrier ended up leading them into a conversation about her home country, and the description of it as 'exotic' almost made her chuckle. From what she remembered, it had been beautiful. But the parts she remembered most weren't exactly pleasant... she only had eight years of good memories there, and twelve years of terrible ones. She wouldn't fault the blonde for wanting to travel; Claude had hoped that she'd be able to see more of the world when she wasn't still on the run, but for right then, this country and Manuka were both a pretty decent pit stop for her. The witch had just about all she really needed: a job so she'd have money, an apartment, and her life. ”It's not really a place where tourists go, Romania. But it's nice enough.” With that, she shrugged, wondering if her answer would really influence the blonde at all, and not really caring. If she had an adventurous spirit, and wanted to travel, she'd likely make an attempt to do it someday, and wherever she ended up, she'd find out what any given place was like with or without Claude's input. The blonde didn't really seem like the type who would be outside of a big city, though, and while there were cities in Romania, Claude had never been to any of them. Her mother's village had been fairly small, a close-knit community, and then after that, she had traveled around the countryside, living in the forests with the gypsies. Even though it was home, she couldn't give much advice.

As they made it to the pool table and Claude commented on the other patrons in the bar, none of whom seemed like they'd be the kind of 'company' that someone like Keller would want, she furrowed her brows a little at the blonde's comment about being in the bar with 'someone sexy,' and likewise, her brows stayed furrowed when Keller asked her a peculiar question about why she didn't look, and even mentioned 'sex partners.' Claude blinked her wide, violet eyes and stared ahead, completely devoid of emotion, and considered this question. Of course she knew why she didn't look – it wasn't an interest of hers. Where most people on the planet seemed to enjoy intimate interactions, sex, relationships, romance, none of it made logical sense to her. Claude was a free woman, and an independent woman, and had never felt any sort of connection enough to a person to become attracted or desirous toward them. There were a number of reasons for that, probably, but she had to give this woman some sort of an answer. Well, technically – no she didn't, but she figured that it'd be rude not to, especially since the answer was one that was so simple. Logical. ”I don't understand the appeal of finding someone for physical intimacy, nor do I usually experience attraction. And 'sex partners?' Why?” Her features contorted just a little, confusion obvious on her face. Okay, so she'd lied a little – she never experienced attraction, but didn't want to completely give herself away as a shell of what most people lived as, with all their emotions and feelings. Claude had parted ways with hers long ago, and functioned just fine without, but she also knew that most people wouldn't understand her strange ways.

The topic was making her a little uneasy, which was something that she really tried to avoid so she could maintain her even keel, and then they started talking about her alchemy, which was something that she was very comfortable with. Even if Keller thought it was noble, she did it just because she was good at it, because it was her legacy, in a way. ”I don't know that I'd call it a 'noble' cause when it's profitable and that is part of its appeal for me.” It made Chloe money, made her money, and so she didn't judge what people wanted potions for – if she could make it, and they could pay for it, it was a simple exchange. No further analysis needed.

Playing pool was a good opportunity to slow the conversation, and Claude was happy to see that she had found a good opponent. Keller was talented, taking solids, and then Claude took a few more stripes on her turn. The compliment on her skill threw her for a minute, and she blinked, then just shrugged it off, letting Keller take the table for her next shots. ”I play solo most of the time. Gives a different perspective.” Then, the blonde sank another ball, then one more, and took a drink. ”It's nice to have a challenge, though – though I still intend to win. You're good.” Claude took a sip of her own drink then eyed the table. Keller had left more than a few shots open, and Claude knew exactly how to handle it from here. When it was her turn, she hit two balls in on the first shot, then landed the third in perfect position for her next turn, then stepped back. ”Your turn.”

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[SCARLETT EVA KELLER]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 505px; -moz-border-radius: 0 185 185 0px;background-color:#09281d;] so we burst into colours -------------------------------------------- colours and carousels, fall head first, like paper planes & play ground games -------- Scarlett couldn’t really decide what kind of girl Claude was. She didn’t invade her mind like she could have, but her aura really put Scarlett off. It didn’t waver or flicker from the grey it was, not with anything that Scarlett said to give any indication if she was interested or not. It was both frustrating and interesting; making her want to stick around to see just what Claude was made from. “And what would be your definition?” She asks, interest in her tone, green eyes searching her face, and keeping to her face because Scarlett didn’t want to seem sleazy. She wasn’t. The girl was attractive, that was true. But Scarlett had to say, the thing that really attracted her to Claude was her eyes. The violet was not a shade she’d seen before, yet there was a depth there. Scarlett was interested to see what was behind those eyes. “I have tried learning languages before, but I found I was better at other things.” She laughed softly, offering up information about herself as well as asking the woman about her, and to Scarlett it seemed like she was doing all the work, but she would see how it went on. At the conversation of travelling, it didn’t rouse much more reaction from Claude. Not even a smile, really, and that wasn’t something that Scarlett was used to with her advances. It was either flirt back or tell her you weren’t interested. Sometimes she could even see it in someone’s aura if they were interested or not, but Claude seemed to be neutral in almost everything Scarlett said. “I see, I’ll think on visiting that country if I do travel.” She nodded, in thought. “And why are you in Manuka then? Following dreams or?” The blonde asked, not wanting to assume so her assumptions ended there. Scarlett realised that Claude would be hard work, and that wasn’t something she’d wished for the night, but she was interested in the woman, just to see what else she could find out about her. Seeing as her aura told her nothing, Scarlett didn’t want to be left hanging, so she stuck around. While at the pool table, Scarlett brought up the reason why she had spoken to Claude in the first place, though she didn’t say it right out. But the answer that Claude gave, Scarlett realised that Claude didn’t know that the blonde woman was hitting on her. It wasn’t logical? Scarlett furrowed her brows in thought for a moment, not knowing how on earth someone could not get attracted to anyone. Even if you didn’t have someone emotionally close, it still felt nice to be able to be close enough to someone to not feel lonely. And sometimes she body became frustrated and wanted a release. Either way, that was something that Scarlett didn’t understand, but it just showed how different people could be. “Well, why not?” She asked when she was asked about the sex partners. Her eyes were filled with curiosity now, how could someone have such a thought process? That was interesting to her. She licked her lips and eyed the girl. “You really never have sex?” She asked, not rudely, just with interest, something Claude didn’t have to answer if she didn’t want to. “I suppose people just want to feel close to someone physically. Sometimes just one person and sometimes no strings attached.” She shrugged, and that was the best explanation she knew. Scarlett’s lips quirked into a small smile as Claude spoke of her work in such a manner that told her she wasn’t passionate about her work. But that was just an assumptions, it was barely possible to tell anything about Claude. “Alright, so if that’s about the money, do you have any job you’d rather do?” She asked, another question that came from her for the other woman to answer. It was weird, for the conversation to be so one sided, or rather for the curiosity to be so one sided. Scarlett wasn’t butt hurt or anything, hell, she knew she wasn’t the most interesting person around, yet Claude wasn’t telling her to pack it in and go away, and she wasn’t really taking interest. Usually, Scarlett would have moved on by now, but she didn’t want to go home yet, and more so, there weren’t any more people that were her type in this bar, and she wanted to see if she even had a chance with this strange, logical woman. Scarlett seemed to see he conversation less of a competition than Claude did, and the words about intending to win raised her eyebrow. “It’s alright sweetheart, against you, I don’t mind losing.” She put on a blatant flirtatious tone there, the sweet pet name falling naturally off her lips as it always had. “But thanks for the compliment.” She grinned, though she was sure that Claude was stating a fact because it was assumed that she didn’t give compliments just to make people feel good about themselves. She saw the shots taken, and they really were good, but Scarlett also found a shot to take, not missing. She didn’t always not miss, but when she was concentrating hard enough, she was able to calculate the angles just right. Even professionals made mistakes, and Scarlett was no professional. She perched on a bench behind Claude, taking in the woman. She wasn’t wearing anything particularly revealing, but Scarlett could tell that she had a nice shape to her body. She did check out her backside when she bent over for her next shot. She was human, or close to it, after all. “Do you play anything else challenging?” She asked, wondering about what hobbies could someone like Claude possibly have, though she assumed they’d be challenges or something of the sort. Scarlett needed to be way more drunk for this.

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[CLAUDIA LUNA ELIADE]

It had taken her a while to learn proper English. Sometimes, the traders from English-speaking countries came to the gypsy camps where she was held to trade for goods, merchandise, wares, and sometimes even slaves and they spoke English with the gypsies because Romanian was a difficult language for those who weren't native speakers. But the witch supposed that all languages were difficult to learn when such was not your native tongue, or something you had been exposed to. Learning from books and hearing language were two entirely different things, and the fact that she had been exposed to English in an auditory way in sporadic intervals during her childhood – if you could call such a span of years a childhood – had given her an advantage. Still, there were words and concepts that she didn't understand, and while she was starting to get a better grasp on slang terminology, sarcasm, and certain colloquialisms that were region-specific or country-specific, she tended to have a more 'dictionary-based' approach to the language. ”Mine would be the dictionary definition. Epitome as something that is 'a perfect example of a particular quality or type.'” Claude said, reciting most of the words verbatim, because the dictionary had been something she had studied intensely in her quest to learn English to a passable degree while she had first escaped from her owner's clutches. The words she considered favorites had definitions that were easier to remember, and 'epitome' just happened to be one of those words. ”Does it match yours?”

It seemed to be a natural progression to the blonde's confession that she had an interest in language and learning them, and Claude's brows furrowed a little. It wasn't that she thought the other woman was unintelligent – she could usually spot those who were – but she knew the difficulty ahead, and while she didn't want to discourage anyone from pursuing something, mostly because she didn't care, but also because she felt that such a thing limited freedoms, she also wanted to be honest about the challenges that she could be facing. After all, the witch was speaking from experience, and while it wasn't in her nature to be helpful, it was completely in her nature to be honest. ”You have to be dedicated to reading, but also immersion. There's something about hearing a language spoken by native speakers that is invaluable. Of course, when you start trying to speak to the natives, you'll look like an idiot.” Claude gave a little neutral shrug, then wandered toward the pool tables, more interested in some sort of socialization that didn't require as much talking. But not before leaving a comment about Romania. ”You won't find much there if you go. Most of the good things there no longer exist.” At least, to her, but there was much that had changed over the years, and tradition and simplicity had gone by the wayside. The old ways that her mother had clung to had died out with her coven, and Claude knew that even though there were likely still witches with strong bloodlines, the major ones had all been wiped out.

The witch frowned again at the blonde's question, because she couldn't tell the real reason why she was in Manuka. She was running away, but part of staying under the radar, changing her name, and trying not to make any connections that could lead anyone in her direction meant that she had to lie. Not that she had a problem with lies, even though she preferred honesty. This lie, however, was a logical one to tell, so she could rationalize its existence as the words fell out of her mouth. ”I wanted to be able to find my own path, my own way in life, away from my home. Freedom. Manuka seemed to be as good of a place to start as any.” The witch might have acted like she had just thrown a dart at a map and jumped onto a transport vehicle to find her way, but it hadn't exactly been like that at all. After being sold to an American gypsy woman and living as her house guest, Manuka had been the final stop on the bus line when she'd run out of money following the woman's death and her escape. The only money she kept was enough to afford a place to stay, and that was because she promised herself that she would keep enough for a roof over her head even though she could have traveled further away. Claude was tired of sleeping under the trees and starlight, and wanted a bed of her own.

The blonde explained sex to her in the next part of their conversation, and Claude wasn't really paying attention because to her, this wasn't something that she needed to know. It wasn't valuable information, and she knew that people had all sorts of reasons for involving sex in their lives, and she had just as many reasons not to do so. ”Celibacy comes as a shock to you? It's not something I consider to be missing. It's simply unwanted, that 'closeness' to another body. At least, for me.” It was as good of an explanation as she could give, and finished with a little nod. She didn't mean to seem judgmental, because really, she wasn't judging Keller for her desires, she just didn't share the same views of have the same needs. But she could understand how it could seem strange to any 'normal' person why it just wasn't in her physical needs to have any sort of interpersonal relations, even ones without 'strings.'

The rest of the questions and the gratitude for Claude's unintentional compliment were met with a small shrug or a nod of neutrality and the witch continued to play. She played brilliantly, continuing to knock balls into the correct pockets with every shot she took, although she was surprised that the other woman managed to keep up, since most couldn't. ”I haven't found many challenging things that interest me yet.” It wasn't overconfidence, it was just that she took a natural devotion and intensity to studies that she found interesting, and could quickly master them. ”How about you?” She could at least try to keep up with her end of the conversation, even if she was just sending the questions right back to Keller. It was her best attempt, and she wondered if it would be appreciated, or if she'd be left to her own devices yet again.

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