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It had been an hour into business as usual, the red-headed true demon bartender was leaned over the bar in a very revealing show of bosom as she wiped down the glossed wooden surface, dents and knicks lined its overused exterior. She sighed for the, at least, thirtieth time, keeping a close eyes on the peculiar purple-haired girl in the back of the club, hogging up the usual corner booth. "That girl has been here every day this week." one gentleman commented with a determined glint in his eye. The woman behind the bar turned up one side of her mouth in exasperation, "Don't bother, she isn't interested in anyone. You'll just be wasting your breath talking to her, she hasn't given a single person the time of day since she's been here. She's waiting for someone, and who the hell knows when he'll show up..."

"What, she's been stood up?"

"Hardly.. He's just.. busy." she glanced up at the clock then to the girl.

"That's a shame."

The bartender shrugged apathetically, "At least she's a paying customer... don't really care otherwise."

The gentleman raised an eyebrow and looked again to the girl in the corner, her face in a book titled 101 Thing to Do Before you Die. "Okay, yeah, I think I'll pass on that one."

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Hexxis sat there, a short glass of a mixed alcoholic drink sitting on the table in front of her, ice already melted as it went to waste from her neglect. Her eyes skimming through pages of the book she was reading. Next to the drink, towards the side of the table, was a stack of books:

Modern Swordsman: Realistic Training For Serious Self-Defense
Love, Sex and Long-Term Relationships
Treating Post-Trauma Nightmares
Deliverance from Evil Spirits
The 33 Strategies of War
The Gentle Art of Cookery

She didn't seem to care there was loud music playing or that it was fairly dark, her red eye skimmed the pages, finally content to have purchased an eyepatch recently to cover her left eye. Her expression was blank as she read the book in her hands, almost nearing the end of the book as she glanced to the other books in the stack to decide what to read next when she finished.

The bartender raised a concerned eyebrow at Zephyr as he stretched, "Damn, you look like hell." she commented off-handedly then sighed for, what, the fortieth damn time. "Yeah, she's in the back booth over there. Strange little thing. Poor girl comes in at the same time every night with a handful of books like this a damn library or something." she leaned over the bar again to talk more personally to Zeph, not wanting the other gentleman to hear what she knew. "You know, she came in her 4 days ago asking for you. Brought in a cup of hot chocolate. You get that? Hot ******** chocolate. Obviously told she can't do that even if she insisted she wasn't going to drink it. Also told her she had to be a paying customer to sit there and read books all night thinking that would make her stop coming around. But, no, she sits there and orders a drink every other hour and just let's it sit there." She shook her head in annoyance and confusion. She rested her head in one hand as she leaned on the bar, her other hand on her hip. "Honestly, was a little worried she might be some bounty hunter... Had the boys tail her, get some kinda info on her." She retracted away, standing up straight, a bit of sway to her stand as she looked over to the girl who was obviously not paying attention to anything but the book. "Apparently, she is staying alone in a cheap hotel at the edge of town. They said she's a creature of habit, does the same thing everyday. She goes to the library down the street every morning and spends all day reading books. Disappears for a bit to do some mercenary jobs then shows back up here to... read more books." she looked absolutely perplexed, "Careful, Zeph.. I don't get a good vibe from her. She's kinda creepy. Talk to her, and get her outta here. She's starting to weird out some of the other regulars." she spoke with deep concern then poured him two drinks. "On the house.. Just get her to leave."

The bartender raised her eyebrow again then snorted a bit. "Sure, you got it." she waved a hand dismissively as she went back to tending.

As Zephyr slid into the booth across from her, she glanced up then back to the book, noting where she was as she closed the book and set it on top of the others. "I would ask you if you come here often, but I already know that answer now." she spoke calmly in a monotone voice, her expression blank as she rested her hands calmly in her lap. "I asked for you 4 days ago, yes." she responded blandly. She stared at his face, knowing instantly this was the person she was looking for. "Zephyr Kardos. Mercenary." she gave a pause. "Haven contractor." She blinked with what looked like unamusement as she gave no emotion to go off of what she was feeling.

Hexxis gave a single nod. "My name is Zero. I was contracted by a girl name Hexxis Luz who wants to know why Haven is after her. I intended to retrieve this information in an amiable manner, but will use force if necessary." she explained in a very calm and matter-of-fact tone, her voice barely fluctuating sounding almost robotic. As he made the comment to scream her name, she blinked. She opened her mouth to retort in her normal fashion then glanced down to the books she had then returned her gaze to him.

'...don't.'

Despite Ashral's protest, it only egged her on more at this point. She looked down to her cup as she spoke, making her voice sound slightly softer as she could manage, "I might have to ask you to take a step back since you are melting the ice." she spoke as smoothly as she could, glancing up at him with the same bland look as she hoped it would be a good enough retort for what she assumed was his own pick up line.

She never even glanced down to the books, knowing exactly which one he was talking about, recalling which title was stacked where from her memory. She kept her gaze locked on him. "While I am intrigued about the topic, I am apprehensive about the subject. I read it earlier, and while some parts of the subject are rather... fascinating, others are not and quite frankly are too complicated and time-consuming for my tastes. I do not have the patience to pursue all the serenading and flattery. My goal was to learn as much as possible about feelings and emotions so that I can experiences everything that I can." she explained, then paused, not exactly why she had felt the need to divulge her intentions of reading the book. "I am sorry if that comes as a surprise to you." she added then stayed quiet for a few moments, then her gaze narrowed ever so slightly, "However... you did not answer my inquiry. Why does Haven seek Hexxis Luz?"

She continued to stare at him, mulling over in her mind his offer. The implications were barely being understood, but she had read enough to get a bare bones comprehension of his insinuation. At first, though the very last comment she didn't catch the hint.

'This is a bad idea, Hexxis. Let's just go. He's a mercenary. A real mercenary. He could kill us.'

She shoved Ashral's voice back, annoyed by her interjections. "I have money to offer you for the information, but if you would rather have my company in your room, I will oblige." she paused, it finally donning on her what he meant, though her expression never changed. Her thoughts landed on what he could want to do with her. If the book had been any implication... Her curiosity was peaked as she sat there for a moment, looked down at the untouched drink for a second, before reaching over to the books and picking them up. She placed them inside a decent sized satchel bag, clasping the top shut. "Please, lead the way."

'Hexxis, you don't know what you're doing!'

'I know exactly what I'm doing.'

'What would Tri think?'

There was a twinge of anger in her eyes for a split second a she closed her visible eye and adjusted to get up with a calm attitude. 'And what about Ree, he said I am supposed to experience these emotions, good and bad. I suggest you leave me to what I want, I do not have the patience to deal with your constant talking.' She stood and looked to Zephyr, waiting for his lead to wherever his room was.

Hexxis stood there for a moment as he moved off to the bathroom to shower, she looked around, not noticing any affects of his in the room. She stared over the bathroom as he removed his clothes, quietly analyzing every wound and scar on his body. She moved a hand to her stomach for a brief moment then dropped her hand slowly and wandered around the room slowly, taking in the objects in the room carefully. Hexxis waited until she heard the shower running before moving back toward the bathroom, leaning down to quietly check his discarded pants for a wallet. She looked at the cards in it, looking over the id and mercenary card then replacing it and putting the wallet back. She had taken note that it did confirm his name, that he was a meta, and the year he was born. She slowly came to a stand and stared at the curtain before turning to walk back into the bedroom section of the room.

'Last chance. Get out while you can.'

She hummed quietly to herself until Ashral stopped talking, hoping that would be the last she'd hear of her tonight. Stopping the humming she moved to the window and looked out at the city lights and placed a hand on the window, her eyes narrowing slightly at the darkness that enveloped the night sky. Closing her eyes she sighed then open them to look back at the open door of the bathroom.

Hexxis watched as he emerged from the bathroom, removing her hand from the window as he approached. She turned fully to him, staring at him at eye level. "The book did not explain much about how this works. Just spoke of intimacy as a concept rather than an action." she explained calmly, "Most of the book consisted of the courting aspect of a relationship with another person." she looked over her scars again, quietly thinking. "Help me understand what the emotion even is... I would appreciate that much." she tired to grasp the idea of it all, comprehending some parts while other aspects of the whole situation was completely foreign to her. She tilted her head very slightly, a glint of curiosity as she stared him in the eyes again, her expression still blank and unreadable.