Tequila! (open)

Her mother would've been mortified - little Dawn heading out to a location with flamenco dancing in a white dress! For shame! Her mother had been of the opinion that only red and black were appropriate colors for the dance. Of course, she also felt that hair was supposed to stay its natural color, so obviously she was fucking clueless. Grinning as she ran her fingers through her currently crimson hair, she shook it happily. Maybe dear old ma would have accepted the compromise of red hair for the dance.

Laughing aloud at her thought, she headed into the festive environment. She'd been a good dancer once upon a time, but no practice for so long...she was probably rubbish now. Can't win 'em all. Heading straight to the bar, she was pleased to see an habanero infused tequila - maybe this place knew what they were doing. That would be a serious find - she missed real Mexican food, and everyplace else had been rubbish to what you could get in LA. Ordering a couple of shots, she leaned on the counter and surveyed the crowd - a wide mix of folks, to be sure, but no one she knew.

Well, someone would likely turn up - fun like this brought out all sorts of interesting people. If not, well, then she'd meet someone new. Lovely worst case scenario. Winking at a stranger who'd heard her order, she slammed back one of her fiery hot shots and started looking for fun.

Peter Haines 16 years ago
Peter chuckled at Amberelle's joke and took a piece of the chicken offered to him. He glanced over the food before starting to pick and choose pieces from all the different plates, before placing them on his plate. When he was done, if his plate had been a Tetris game all the food would have disappeared instantly. Peter took a bite out of something on the right side of his plate that had a red sauce that’s color and smell screamed ‘spicy' then attempted drinking his glass of orange juice as calmly as possible. He noticed that Alexandra was looking at him hungrily... and not in a sexual way either. Peter had seen the same look on wolves before they leapt for their prey’s throat. The tomato sauce didn't detract from the image. He faintly wondered what Alexandra's job was again. "I try to work out a little in the station’s gym a day was slow, but mainly I just work." For example, trying to calm down a bar fight when half the participants look as if they could be linebackers on the college football team usually managed to break a sweat. He could feel himself calming back down and slipping into the flow of the conversation; the professional paranoia was still there but it was behind the half façade of him being calm and at ease, just like a normal day at work... Great... He took another bite of one of the many different pieces on his plate. At least everything was cooked enough; one time he had a hamburger so rare that there had been some blood still in it. He had had to stay in the bathroom for ten minutes before he looked fully human again. Granted that had been when he was much, much younger and he had more control over the change now, but it was still an experience that bore not repeating again. He looked at Amberelle and Alexandra in turn and asked nonchalantly "By the way, I don't remember hearing what either of you did for a living."
Alexandra 16 years ago
What she did for a living? well that was an interesting question, especially coming from a man in his position, taking another bite of the food on her plate she pondered her reply for a moment, she could go about this in a few different ways, 1. she could just blurt out what she did and have it over with, 2. not answer the question at all and act like she didn't hear it. 3. make up something lame.

What to do... O hell what did she have to loose?

"I'm an Assassin, profesional killer, gun for hire? you know, I kill people for money, it's a dirty job but somebody has to do it"

Picking up her bottle of Corona beer she took a swig, the slightly tangy taste and bubbles evading her senses as she calmly watched Peters reaction.
Amberelle DeEspionne 16 years ago
Fork hovering halfway to her now gaping mouth, Amberelle simply blinked at her friend for a few seconds. The completely nonchallant way she'd admitted what she really did do for a living to a total stranger, a total stranger who was a member of the police force even, had floored the blonde. Only one way to recover came to mind and she set her fork down as she burst out laughing, a wide grin plastered on her face.

Oh, Mon Dieu girl that was hilarious! You know for a few seconds, I almost believed you. Amby winked at her, obviously teasing as she turned towards Peter and made a pretense of wiping the smile from her face but not completely. Yes yes, I think I like that profession. So, I too am a... what was it.. yes, a hired gun! Holding her hand to her mouth she giggled like a teenager. Years of experience with subterfuge and deception came in handy on occasion, she thought drly.

Please don't be offended Peter, we're really not making fun of you. The blonde gave him a soft smile, trying to make sure he didn't think they were having fun at his expense, but were merely just playing around.

Honestly though, she picked back up her fork and cut a fresh bite of the spinach enchiladas, letting it hover over the plate as she spoke. Thanks to some good investments and a nice inheritance from my family I don't have to work. I dabble in a few things, whatever catches my fancy really. Oh, and I shop. A genuine, wide smile appeared on her face and her amber eyes sparkled. A lot.

She silenced herself, and that train of conversation she hoped, with the gooey bite and make a loud mmmm sound, nodding her approval to her companions.
Peter Haines 16 years ago
Peter’s eyebrows shot up when Alexandra proclaimed her profession but he joined Amberelle’s laughter when he realized the joke was on him. “Well it’s a good thing I’m off duty then.” he joked back in a way to say 'no offense taken', “I think it might be considered bad form to arrest eating partners without a warrant.” He took a bite out of one of the pieces of steak that was on a shish kabob and noticed one of his mental warning lights seemed to have gone off, but on what he didn’t know. The ever watchful cop inside him knew that something was fishy here though, besides the tacos. Alexandra had seemed rather more guarded then people normally were when he said was a cop, the wink between Amberelle and her... they would probably think it was a pretty good joke if a detective happened to be eating dinner with two hired killers or maybe a hired killer and an accomplice. Yes, Amberelle had laughed, but he had hidden behind the truth many times. Someone usually asked why he was always taking holidays during the full moon, and he would answer with a completely straight face ‘Well, every full moon I go out into the country, turn into a wolf then I go attack some farmers chickens... Colonel Sanders style.’ They would both laugh then Peter would lie and say he’s a Wiccan and that full moons are religious holidays. It worked and they wouldn’t ask again, some devout Christians would never talk to him again, but all in all it worked. It all made sense and fit into place and it led to one logical conclusion. ‘I’m way too paranoid’ thought Peter. Yes, it was possible that the women in front of him were mercenaries, but most likely they were joking around. What sort of killer would say that they were to a cop? They tend to spend a large amount of time keeping that sort of thing from happening. His smile hadn't wavered, it truly was laughable to think that they were hired killers. Peter smiled back at Amberelle “Oh really? I don’t exactly sit around in my spare time either. What sorts of things do you tend to ‘dabble’ in?”
Alexandra 16 years ago
At Amby's reply Alexa almost spit out the sip of Carona she had taken seconds before, managing to regain her posture she swallowed the beer and cleared her throat, picking up her fork she began to eat while watching the people around her, the profesional in her didn't blind an eye or show any signs of the truth behind her words.

Responding to Peter's question directed towards Amby she smilled at him.

"She's an excelent linergie shopper and shoes, if you ever need advice on good clothing stores in Nachton Amby here's your girl"

Nodding she took another bite, chewwing slowly on the piece of meat in her mouth, she knew damn well that Peter was looking at her strangly and probably thinking she was either crazy or making fun of him, well maybe she was a bit crazy... but being an 500+ old vampire gave her that right didn't it.
Amberelle DeEspionne 16 years ago
Shrugging off her friend's compliments with a modest smile and shake of her head, she just grinned at Peter. Well, I like to dance. I've been taking lessons locally for a little while now. 'Never mind that they're exotic dance ones,' she thought with an inner giggle. Sipping her tequila, she looked thoughtful. Back when I lived in N'awlins I was involved in a lot of societies and charities, but since I moved here a couple of years ago I've been fairly self absorbed. Mainly just having fun and meeting new people. The blonde grinned at Alexandria, then at her cousin. Dawn knew who had been monopolizing most of her time recently.

Taking time to just enjoy being me. Doing a little soul searching, you know? Looking slightly embarassed, she gave him a sheepish grin. Nothing very interesting!
Peter Haines 16 years ago
"I'll keep that in mind,"Â? he replied to Alexandra's comment. He had been meaning to go shopping for some better clothes for when he was undercover. Though judging by how Amberelle was currently dressed, that might not be type of shopping she liked to do. "Well, while soul searching isn't always interesting, I've found it's usually necessary."Â? Peter shrugged, eating a guac laden chip. "In fact I think more people should take some time to... Did you say you were taking dancing lessons? What type?"Â?
Peter only heard the first half of Amberelle's answer though because, to allude to the notorious pop culture reference, his 'werewolf senses' were tingling. The general idea of a question started to form in his head as he saw the specter start to 'come into focus' behind Alexandra. He was an older looking man, missing enough hair to show his age but had enough to still get a decent part in it. The crisp brown business suit he was wearing looked as if it had been tailor made for him (and it probably had). He would have looked like a very well off business man if not for the look of anger on his face, and the evil look he was giving the back of Alexandra's head, that and the small circular hole in the middle of his forehead where a bullet seemed have gone in.
"Huh." Peter's jaw fell slack as he stared at the ghost. He lowered his sunglasses part way look over them at the angry spirit before realizing what he was doing. He quickly closed his jaw and flicked his sunglasses back up to cover his eyes, but not before the spirit and he momentarily locked gazes. "You can- can you see me?"� asked the ghost, showing he was British with his accent. Peter heaved an internal sigh. Well, ghosts couldn't get more cliché then with that question, but with no way to answer without making his dining partners worry about Peter's sanity, he couldn't answer. Thinking of which, Peter noticed that they were looking at him as if they were expecting him to answer a question or something. Crap.

Stephen Harrison felt someone looking at him, which by all accounts didn't happen much, and broke his hate glare to notice the younger man looking over his sunglasses at him. "You can- can you see me?"Â? He spoke, astonishment apparent in his voice, before the young man quickly turned back to face the two ladies at the table and the foul murderer. If this young man could hear him then he could finally have his long waited revenge enacted.

((OCC: Permission for ghost given by Alexandra, Ghost's POV is in Comic Sans MS))
Alexandra 16 years ago
Taking another sip of her Carona beer she recrossed her legs at the knee, looking over at Amby with a hint of amusement she grinned at the mentioning of dancing, remember their little dance in the café they went to, turning her eyes back towards Peter she put the bottle down, she wasn't very hungry at the moment, at least not for this kind of food.

As Peter slid his glasses down and looked at something behind her with great intend she shivered slightly, the hairs in the back of her neck suddenly standing up, narrowing her eyes she watched the young detective as his mouth opened and he gasped like a fish out of water, what the hell was his problem?

Stephen Harrison blinked a couple of times while looking at the younger man sitting at the table across from him, he felt like reaching out and hurting this woman Alexandra who had killed him all those years ago, he had been around her ever since, following her, screaming at her, but somehow she always seemed to ignore his presence, or she simply didn't care, just like when she had killed him, he could remember it as if it happened yesterday, he had been working late in his office when she had come in, dressed all stylish and elegant, she had smiled at him sweetly, told him who she was and why she was there and then she had taken out a small handgun and shot him right between the eyes, looking back at Peter he spoke again.

"Why won't you answer, I know you can see me, she... Alexandra, she killed me, you need to help me!"

Alexandra kept her eyes fixed on Peter the whole time, she could see the emotions flicker across his face as he tried to regain his calm and in control appearance.

"Something wrong Peter? you look like you've seen a ghost"

Amberelle DeEspionne 16 years ago
Peter had made a huge mistake when he asked Amberelle what kind of dance she had studied. The young vampire's face lit up and her amber eyes warmed as she started to ramble on about the different forms she'd studied. Her hands waved as she spoke and a smile never left her face. She was poking at her food absent mindedly as she finally got the the more recent studies she'd done at The Studio and she delicately skirted around their more risque nature. The Creole noticed Peter seemed slightly slack jawed and was staring at Alexandra.

Pausing in mid sentance, her cheeks pinkened as she thought she'd been boring everyone. She glanced quickly back and forth between the two and was still quiet when her friend spoke. Amby instead used the distraction to turn and watch Dawn, marvelling at how quiet she'd been since they began to eat. It was probably the longest stint she'd ever seen the Californian NOT say anything since she'd known her.
Dawn Ratana 16 years ago
Mind wandering, Dawn ate on auto pilot, and went through the motions of following the conversation. Something that had been nagging her for awhile had resurfaced, and demanded her attention. Why the fuck had Ko sent her here, anyway? All the games, assignments, the getting to know and being put on the back burner for various people, the directions, the misdirection, the riddles, the distrust between people who were in her life...what was he REALLY getting at?

Wrinkling her nose as she chomped another chip, she decided it was high time to find out. Staring at the pay phone, she muttered


"I'm...gonna find sumthin' out. Back inna sec."

((Dawn out))
Amberelle DeEspionne 16 years ago
Amberelle watched Dawn walk away, her golden eyes swirling with questions as to what had come over her normally boisterous friend. Something was amiss but the young vampire was clueless as to what it could be. Maybe the food had gotten the Californian homesick, she speculated. Creole food was certainly known to do that to her. Sighing softly, she pushed her plate away slightly and leaned back, resisting the urge to groan at how full she felt. The table was covered in half eaten dishes, the group of them had managed to put a decent dent into almost everything. But there was still enough food left to feed four or five people.

Over the PA system the music ceased and a voice booming with enthusiam announced the start of the dance competition in a few minutes. Jerking upright in her chair, the blonde glanced towards the outdoor courtyard then back to her companions.

"Umm, you two are going to have to excuse me for a bit, I want to at least go watch since it looks like I won't have anyone to strong-arm into being my partner," she said and shrugged a shoulder. It really didn't bother her not to enter the competition, she knew how good she was. Just watching the others would be entertainment enough.

Standing and tossing her napkin down beside her plate, she scooted around to Alexandra and gave her friend a warm hug. Turning her head to look at Peter, she grinned and gave him a wink. "Don't be hitting on her too hard now Peter!" Giggling, she rumaged around in her purse for one of her calling cards. Slipping one of the powder blue linen cards to him with her name and cellphone showing she gave him a slightly flirty look. "And if you do want some shopping advice, just give me a call some time." Music and voices could be heard getting louder outside and she made a small squeaking sound. "Let Dawn know I've got the check, ok? And you call me sometime soon Alexandra.. Got to go!" She waved as she scurried away quickly.

As she made her way to the open doors leading outside, the blonde stopped their waiter and handed him a sizeable stack of bills to cover their check and a bit more for all of the assistance he'd given them. Amby managed to make her way outside and to an empty chair just as the first couple began their dance.

((ooc - Amby out!))
Peter Haines 16 years ago
Peter who had been trying to deny that he had been eating dinner with a killer, cursed silently in his head. Did this mean that Amberelle was too? Were they partners or just unknowing friends? He would look on Interpol later. Peter turned slightly to Alexandra when she spoke, ‘If only you knew...’ he thought, mind racing furiously for an excuse. Peter leaned forward lowered his voice conspiratorially, “I thought I saw someone from I know from work,” he whispered, "and if they see me, I’ll never be able to live down the jokes about me and my three ‘lady friends’.” It was a good lie as far as they go since, if there actually had been one of the guys from the precinct (depending on which of course) he would have been greeted the next day by other officers with questions about who the three girls were (one of which whom looked as if they were, to use the technical term, jailbait). How was he supposed to answer the ghost though? He couldn’t tap out Morse Code like he did with some older ghosts, since business men wouldn’t have bothered to learn something so ‘trivial’. He couldn’t do any of the non-verbal languages because they would either be noticed or not understood by the ghost. The ghost would stay with Alexandra so he couldn’t wait for the meal to be over and talk to the ghost afterwards. Normally, at crime scenes, he just murmured questions quietly and wrote stuff down in the notebook. The questions would have to be carefully phrased so that if another officer noticed, they thought he was thinking aloud and asking himself questions, and ignore it. ‘I guess that’s what I’ll have to do. I’m going to have to fit it my answers into the conversation so he will understand but no one else will suspect.’ He paused momentarily. He opened his mouth to begin as Dawn stood up, muttering on having to check something. A moment later the PA system boomed, announcing the dance competition starting and he was left alone at the table with Alexandra. He took the light blue card and slipped it into his pocket, now he had a bit more solid of a way to check on her on Interpol and find her again afterwards. He looked up at Alexandra and her specter stalker, ‘Well, things either just got a lot easier or a lot harder.’ he thought. “It seems like there’s still a lot of food left.” giving the ghostly watcher a quick look, “Let’s see if I can help with that.” He said helping himself to another portion of what was in front of him. 'Let's go through the list one more time,' he thought, 'Keep calm, don't have a murderer suspect anything while talking to the ghost of one of her victims, don't overtly hit on the Alexandra, and... oh yeah, try to enjoy dinner.'
Alexandra 16 years ago
(( ooc sorry for posting after the 25th been so busy i'll be sure to wrap it up so this thread can be closed ))

Alexandra smiled at Dawn and waved her goodbye as the younger woman left, as Amby left shortly afterwards she blew her a kiss and made a little phone sign indicating they would call each other soon, looking back at Peter she studied the young man for a moment.

"Yes there is ... a lot left"

Feeling she had enough to eat she didn't touch the rest of the food, gesturing for a waiter to take her plate away she sat back and watched Peter eat, there was something in the atmosphere that unnerved her, something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but like always her senses were working on high speed and something told her she had to get the hell out of here.

"Tell me Peter, do you have any plans after this? maybe we could go for a coffee at this café I know that's not too far from here, that is if you would like the company"

What was she thinking, the voices in her head were yelling for her to leave, get away, but her curious nature got the best of her, she wanted to know why this man made her feel like running, she had NEVER ran from anyone in her life and she wasn't about to start now"
Peter Haines 16 years ago
Stephen blinked, Help with the food? What- Ah. He smiled, catching the hidden message. 'Finally' he thought elated, 'The murderer will die, and I'll have my revenge.' "Thank you very much. It's very annoying being dead and having your murderer go free, killing others afterwards." he said telling the young man that he got the message. Though hearing that they would be leaving, he added, "Be careful with her, if you die, then there will be no one to avenge me."
Peter ate seemed to eat about a half a plate before Alexandra asked him the question. He seemed to be eating a lot recently, hopefully he wasn't growing again. "Coffee sounds nice, and the company of a beautiful woman never goes amiss." he shrugged, stating the compliment casually as possible. 'Sorry Amberelle,' he apologised silently, 'but it seems I may have to bend the rule a little to stay inconspicous.' Anyway he would need to find out more if he were going to do anything. "We could go now if you'd like, though it'd be a shame to let the rest of this go to waste." He asked another waiter to pack up the rest of the food in a doggy bag. The waiter got back with the packaged food almost immediately. 'They must have an army working back there for this type of service,' Peter thought, 'And she's killed others since him. So now I just need to find out whether she's a hired assasin like she said, or if she's a serial killer.' Peter looked at Alexandra through his sunglasses, knowing that he didn't need to be warned to be careful around her.

(OCC: ditto to Alexandra's comment & ghost in Comic Sans MS (again))