Melaised Meetings

Sunlight barely showed through the clouds, the buildings along the street being painted a dull grey by it's filtered light. Small stains of dew still stretched along nearby the cracks in the sidewalk. The mild overcast unfortunately didn't stop the sunbeams from trying to drill a hole into Jessabelle's skull.

A groan escaped the half-elf as she laid a hand over her eyes, trying to find some relief from the morning. She had drunk way too much last night, and had made the mistake of allowing it to ware off. She had dressed herself up in fancy purple tank top, accented by a matching miniskirt and boots, as well as a few too many belts to truly get into the spirit of the party she was now slouching away from. An unlit cigarette dangled from her mouth, she couldn't remember how long ago she had put it there.

Jess let her hand fall away from her eyes just in time to narrowly avoid walking into a streetlamp. A quiet growl left her mouth as she regained her balance after the sudden action. Blood began rushing to her face, and despite herself she glance around, wondering if anybody had seen her almost concuss herself.

Jess' muscles tensed, her eyes darting to the man as he head spun towards the sound. Suspicion flashed behind her irises before fading to a dull pain as her hangover punished her for so foolishly moving her body. "... No. No I'm fine..." She waved a hand in the air in a dismissive gesture.

Hobbling back from Bastian a few steps, she glanced over the man briefly before her eyes fell on his cigarette. Digging out a lighter from her pocket, Jess lit her own death stick as she continued to eye the stranger. It's nothing. He was just trying to check on you. Anyone might do that.

Jess turned towards the street, forcing herself to stop watching Bastian if only for a couple moments. "... You're up early..." She said without thinking. Crap. Now she had initiated conversation. It wasn't like she wasn't willing to talk to the guy, but now she'd come off pretty badly if she just walked away.

She pressed her fingers into her eyes. Why did daytime have to be so bright?

"Yes I'm sure." A small voice in the back of Jess' head told her that question was a threat, and at least a little of that showed on her face before she forced the thought away. "If I'm still drunk, then someone really needs to turn down the sun." She turned her head away from him, though keeping him in her peripheral vision. "... Am I really that bad?"

Jess took a deep breath through her cigarette, finally letting her eyes drift away from Bastian as they scanned the street. "Best time to be. Night owls never miss out." She suddenly closed her eyes, a wave of nausea washing over her. She leaned against the light post as addressed the stranger again. "Well, I guess you've pieced together why I'm here. What about you? What's your story?"

"But... But coffee....." Jess mumbled as she folded her arms and pouted a bit. She was joking of course.

Okey half joking.

She slipped her cigarette in between her fingers as she ran her other hand down her face. "God a burger just... sounds SO good right now. Why haven't I thought of that before now? Where's the nearest grill?" She glanced around a bit as if trying to pinpoint her location by the landmarks.

"Alright so you're a quick study with vague answers." This wasn't all that strange of someone. Was it? Her eyes shifted back to him, taking a quick stock of his stance and if he might have any weapons on him. Just calm down. it's nothing. He's just out for a smoke.

"I bet you're girlfriend likes getting the bed to herself for a few hours. Maybe that's why, hm? Trouble in paradise?" The jab was more meant to give her a bit of ground back then actually get under Bastian's skin. It wasn't really all that rude, right?

"Half a click huh? I can make that... I can definitely make that." Jess bounced lightly on her toes. Nothing too rapid, but a brief show of excitement bleeding through the pain in her head. His fiddling with his cigarette reminded her of her own, and she popped it back into her mouth before it also burned itself to cinders.

The sharp change in Bastian's voice caught her off guard. For one moment, all her suspicions were true. She set a foot in the ground behind her and her shoulders rose tensely as her body fell into combat mode. There was a soft crunch as her teeth crushed the filter in her mouth.

Her eyes failed to match the rest of her body. For the moment they focused on him, watching his movements and only darting away once or twice to gather information from the surroundings. Her pupils flared open as her fear flashed behind them.

Then the moment was gone.

When Bastian stopped himself, so did she. She took a step back and clasped her hands in front of her, bringing herself back to a neutral stance. Her face fell to examine the ground near her feet. "... That one... Doesn't usually get at people... I just wanted to know why you were here..."

What do you even say in this situation? I thought you might hurt me? I thought you had ulterior motives? For the first time in a while Jess was self-conscious of her overthinking.

"..... My name's Jessabelle... I don't think we said our names..." She turned to the side, looking away from him as she floundered around the awkward situation. "... S... Sorry..."