Just my Luck [Omino]

"If you ever need an internship, I am always available," Yoka said, hesitating on the sidewalk for a moment as she reached into her purse for the small folding case that she kept her business cards in. She didn't sense his unease with her mistake, but she elaborated anyway with a small laugh. "It's so hard to tell age and grade on this island. I could guess almost everywhere else, but there's nothing like insulting a 2000 year old vampire high school student."

She chatted with him while she looked, and meanwhile the shadow from the piano loomed above them.

"California is such a beautiful state," Yoka said. "I've visited Los Angelos many times, but I really prefer northern California--the way those mountains hit the coast line? Mm! So serene."

The cabel wires from the piano snapped.

Just as she pulled the case of cards out, the metal slipped from her hand and onto the side walk, skittering away.

The dark shadow over Yoka and Murphy grew and grew.

"Oh goodness," Yoka said. "That's just my luck."

She took a few steps and bent over, her round bottom sticking up in the air and her skirt riding up a little bit as she picked up the amber case.

The piano crashed only a few inches behind Murphy and Yoka.

"Well," Yoka said, turning around and looking at the broken piano. "Someone is having a shitty day. Are you okay?"

He looked like he needed a moment, so Yoka rubbed a small circle in the center of his back, patted it once, and then gave him some space to breath.

She waved up at the workers and then picked up her case and tucked it back into her purse, and tucked that particular card into the hemline of her shirt. It didn't seem like the appropriate moment to hand it to him, but she didn't want to have to go fishing for her case again, either.

Yoka picked up her coffee and took a sip. He seemed to be regaining his composure.

"I am glad you are alright," Yoka said. "I'm also fine, although quite hungry. There's nothing like a near death experience to make you want a panini, am I right?"

She laughed, but when he made the comment about luck, Yoka's face faltered.

"Oh, I suppose that could have been some bad luck," Yoka said, shrugging. "It seems like it's a lot more unlucky for the person who ordered the piano, or those workers."

She hesitated for a second, and then shrugged, figuring what the hell. "People around me tend to be pretty lucky, but only if they're on my good side."

If they're on her bad side it's not like anything unlucky happens...only what Yoka herself does for spite.

She didn't miss his hostility, but Yoka's response was to give a dry, humorless laugh.

"It might seem so, if that was what actually made me popular," Yoka admitted. "It was hard work securing my position. A lot of the work was degrading, and if I had less of an opinion of myself, it would have been easy to believe I was only the sum of how other peoples perceived my powers. Please do not make the same mistake I almost did."

She started to walk back down the street, continuing the conversation by answering his questions, though she did need a moment to think of a few of the answers so she would hesitate and take a sip of her coffee.

"I graduated...oh goodness, now that's a good question," Yoka said, frowning. Mostly, she was talking to herself to try and muse out the date. "I'm sure it's on record somewhere. Maybe 1756? 1856 seems much too late, but I believe I was still trading spices around 1650.."

She shook her head, running her hand through her long hair again.

"Regardless of the date, I've graduated from the academy on a few occasions. My degrees are in Business Management, Finances, Economics, and Performance Art. Right now, I own a series of businesses and yes, work is going quite well. Unfortunately,"

Yoka motioned to the strip around them.

"When I started my business, this was not here. But times change, and real estate changes, and I must adapt. I don't want to move my original business, but I do want to open a second one down here. The key to thriving on this island is to not compete, but to compliment. "

Yoka tried to find a way to explain to him what she meant.

"Are you fond of ladies, Murphy?" Yoka asked suddenly. She spun on her heel to face him, and her gaze was a little bit mischievous. The piano had given her an idea.

Her powers couldn't compete with his--his bad luck was far, far stronger than her good luck. But her good luck could compliment his and Yoka had an idea.

Yoka's grin widened.

"Let's take a detour," she said, linking her arm with his. "The super model look is fake on practically everyone here. Myself included. Glamour is such an easy and cheap trick, so I can't really blame anyone for using it."

She was leading him to the restaurant she had in mind for paninis, deciding it would be worth it to show him what his powers could do in a controlled setting. Bad luck with good luck could be a fantastic deal maker.

"Can you...control your luck?" Yoka asked. "Like, can you pick the target, or is it more of a radius thing?"

She knew he didn't have to touch the person because he hadn't touched the piano, although truthfully maybe it was supposed to have hit her and it was only her dumb luck that it didn't.

"I ask because I want to show you what you can gain from being unlucky, because there is so much open to you, dear Murphy," she grinned.

"I think we should be okay," Yoka said, musing over his words. So he couldn't direct it, and it was just as likely to affect him as anyone else.

Yoka was banking on this being altered by her presence. If worst came to worst, she was still sure they'd come out okay, even if they didn't come out unscathed or ontop like she planned.

Behind her illusion, her tails waggled in excitement.

The restaurant was a small, chic-looking place, with a mixed theme that catered to both college students and young professionals. In other words, ti catered to people trying to make money who were in horribly in debt.

It was one of Yoka's best hunting grounds for new employees.

Her eyes found a pretty blond in the corner. Her eyes were red rimmed and she had three empty paper cups of coffee infront of her, but she still looked exhausted. She had an open book and a stack of notes, and the facial expression that belonged to someone who didn't think their day could get any worse.

"She will do, yes?" Yoka said, tilting her head to the girl. "If you find someone down on their luck and take them to rock bottom, there is so much more you can offer them in return."

Yoka flashed him a wicked grin and said, "Why don't you go sit at a table near her and I will get us something to drink? What's the worst that can happen?"