Illia visited the police station early enough in the morning that the sun was still rising, painting the horizon in a splash of orange and pink. It'd have been a lovely sight any other time. As it were, Illia couldn't find it in herself to let the beautiful colors of the sky or the cool morning air get her pumped.
She had donned thick, dark sunglasses to better hide her identity as she's approached the counter at the station. A few choice words and some good-natured laughter got her in a private session with one Felix Verma, a police contact of the Rosales gang.
Illia wasn't a spotlit member of the gang, even while she had been raised by Klaus and Vito's side, due to her father's close relation to then. She'd watched them as she grew up, taking in how the business was done and accepting their help in getting a foot up on the whole celebrity business.
Set up in a backroom with a steaming cup of semi-good coffee, Illia waited for the man of the hour, trying hard not to come off finicky. It wasn't like Senka had murdered anyone (to her knowledge), but her Bogeyman half did have the tendency to take things too far. She drummed her fingers along the table's surface; the beat was one she remembered from her mother.
♠♠♠
Felix came to the station around seven, like usual. It was pretty early compared to the others, but not early enough that there weren't people at the station. Felix pushed open the doors and dragged himself through the hallway, waving weakly at passersby, making a beeline straight to the break room so he could get coffee, a bagel, and hopefully three more cigarettes before he had to clock in for the day.
"Verma, someone's here to see you," someone behind the counter told him. Felix blinked owlishly, caught off-guard, before being briefed of the situation.
Rosales business. This was dangerous, especially in this place. The station had eyes and ears everywhere.
Now awake, Felix headed straight to where Illia was. He looked around to see if anyone was watching. They were. Felix played up the excitement, a bright smile on his face.
"Illia! You big goof. You didn't have to see me at the station." It was incriminating, having them both here, and he hoped people would forget the encounter as soon as it transpired. He moved next to her, pulling her up, whispering a quick 'not here' into her ear. He started walking her out of the door. "I haven't seen you since college, babe. Come on. I'll take you to Krispy Kreme, I'll buy you a glazed or a pull apart — you still on that diet? Your figure's so lovely already."
Felix waved at the guy at the counter. "I'll be back at 8:30, Joe! See you later!"
Felix put on his coat as soon as they were out, leading Illia to his car. "You'll have to forgive me for that. Since Damon, Crow's been watching the cops like a hawk. I don't want to get in her shit list. It would sabotage operations." He paused, tapping his lips. "So, Krispy Kreme?"
"Verma, someone's here to see you," someone behind the counter told him. Felix blinked owlishly, caught off-guard, before being briefed of the situation.
Rosales business. This was dangerous, especially in this place. The station had eyes and ears everywhere.
Now awake, Felix headed straight to where Illia was. He looked around to see if anyone was watching. They were. Felix played up the excitement, a bright smile on his face.
"Illia! You big goof. You didn't have to see me at the station." It was incriminating, having them both here, and he hoped people would forget the encounter as soon as it transpired. He moved next to her, pulling her up, whispering a quick 'not here' into her ear. He started walking her out of the door. "I haven't seen you since college, babe. Come on. I'll take you to Krispy Kreme, I'll buy you a glazed or a pull apart — you still on that diet? Your figure's so lovely already."
Felix waved at the guy at the counter. "I'll be back at 8:30, Joe! See you later!"
Felix put on his coat as soon as they were out, leading Illia to his car. "You'll have to forgive me for that. Since Damon, Crow's been watching the cops like a hawk. I don't want to get in her shit list. It would sabotage operations." He paused, tapping his lips. "So, Krispy Kreme?"
It was a true enough statement that he hadn't seen her in quite some time. Illia was becoming adept at burying Senka's habits. It wasn't that her other half was insane, or murderous, just that she was... well crazy. So, maybe insane. Not deadly, just bad for public relations.
Slipping into her role and following him along was all too easy for Illia. If there was one thing she could do, even in the morning and tired out of her wits, it was pretending. She laughed airily and laid her hand on his upper arm as he led her from the station.
"Yes, dear, I'm always on some diet or another, but I'll make the exception for you."
Once outside and out of sight, Illia deflated a little, most of her energy depleted. God, she hated the day. Why couldn't she just be a morning person? "Christ, I'm sorry. I didn't know." And she was sorry, there was sincerity in the way she said it.
Illia wasn't as connected with the Rosales gang as she might have been when she was younger. It would have led to rumors she wanted to be hidden deep under the rug, far far away.
The hybrid took off her dark shades, revealing dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, and scrubbed her face to wake herself up before climbing into the passenger seat of Felix's car.
"Krispy Kreme is fine, or somewhere more private if you want. The celebrity status tends to have people approaching me a little too much."
♠♠♠
Felix smiled and shook his head at Illia's embarrassment. "Don't be sorry. It was a rational course of action to go to the station, but the circumstances behind your case make it a dangerous place for both of us. After all, the evidence against you stacks things against your favor, and turning that around would need... more beyond the book handling." The kind of evidence clearing that nobody at the station would approve of.
Felix drove off towards Krispy Kreme. He glanced at Illia from time to time. He wondered why her presence didn't impress him. Perhaps, with the way the island was, it was difficult to impressed with big, dazzling things anymore. He did date a supermodel back in Police Academy.
"We can order things and talk in the car, say you didn't want to go in because of the paparazzi. They do gather around areas like flies." He paused, laughing. "Sorry if I seem so stereotypical! I'm developing a very huge love of donuts lately, even when they go straight to my thighs. But, hey, meeting a celebrity. That's not something I get to do everyday. I haven't gotten to look at your file, FYI, just got gossip from certain nosy co-workers. What exactly happened?"
Felix drove off towards Krispy Kreme. He glanced at Illia from time to time. He wondered why her presence didn't impress him. Perhaps, with the way the island was, it was difficult to impressed with big, dazzling things anymore. He did date a supermodel back in Police Academy.
"We can order things and talk in the car, say you didn't want to go in because of the paparazzi. They do gather around areas like flies." He paused, laughing. "Sorry if I seem so stereotypical! I'm developing a very huge love of donuts lately, even when they go straight to my thighs. But, hey, meeting a celebrity. That's not something I get to do everyday. I haven't gotten to look at your file, FYI, just got gossip from certain nosy co-workers. What exactly happened?"
Illia ran her hands through her hair, prolonging the contact with the silken locks. She recalled a time her mother did this to calm her when she was much younger. She remembered long nights alone, and a wild-haired, tired-eyed woman working two jobs and still barely paying the rent. Too proud to accept child support. Then the powers came. At first, it was assumed Illia was lazy, sleeping all day, staying awake all night.
Illy shook her head and stared out the window as they drove. She loved the vibrations of driving. It was relaxing, watching things as they passed and let one's mind wander.
"Right," she said after another moment of silence. Illia might have been willing to apologize again, but she thought better of it. She'd done so enough now.
She relaxed, smiling and turning more toward Felix as he laughed. He had a nice laugh, a soothing one that matched well with his presence. "Funny, I hadn't even thought about how stereotypical it sounded until you brought it up." Briefly, her eyes flicked over his body, "you don't have the physique of the usual trope."
Now came for the serious part, right. Illia looked out the window again. She was glad Senka's memories were hers for times like this, even if watching everything unfold without having control was terrifying in the moment.
"My shadow magic is sentient and goes by the name Senka. Sometimes, usually at night, she has the tendency to come out and cause trouble. Mind you she's not particularly violent or anything, just tends to cause a ruckus. Ruckus like driving over the speed limit. Anyway, she did a hit and run."
Illia searched through her purse and pulled out the location and other necessary information for when he parked.
♠♠♠