Another New Face ( Phoenix/Open )

[Ceraphine Davis]

Kevala had a long enough day today at school that she had figured the best place to go was a nice, quiet cafe after work to rest and clear her mind. She was not sure that she would actually get to do such, but the prospect of it was enough to get her into her car and headed there.

Today she had dressed a bit differently than she normally did, which was just another way she tried to branch out of what they all thought she SHOULD be like.

Her long black hair pulled back slightly, just letting a bit of it hang down into her face...Giving her the classic, elegant look that she was able to pull off so well.

She was a beautiful girl, even if others did not see it, and as such she felt the need to prove it every now and then. Though down deep she still thought herself horrible and ugly.

But that was beside the point. The point was, she was not at the cafe, seeing that it was practically abandoned, she moved inside spotting a table off to the back to take her seat, once of course the waiter got off his dead ass and chose to seat her.

For now, she would stand there, in the front of the place with her arms wrapped lightly over her chest. Ever the patient one, for the most part.

A light sigh passing her lips as she cast her icy hues about the room, taking in the different forms of art that filled the room and committing them to memory. It was a bad habit...One she really did not see any point in stopping any time soon.

[Phoenix]

The day had been uneventful so far; Phoenix was almost depressed by the unintelligent turn the day had taken after such a promising beginning. School had began with English where Phoenix had cleverly initiated a debate about Shakespeare and proceeded to utterly destroy his teacher in the battle of vocabulary and logic. From there, the day had deteriorated until Phoenix was bored out of his brain with nothing to do at all.

Deciding to change up his usual routine of going home, Phoenix wandered around San Diego mapping out the streets within his mind and making note of anything that seemed interesting. Walking around in such a manner, Phoenix learned much about the city that he now lived in and just how different it was to his previous city of residence, New York. As Phoenix came to a café, he opted for a rest and a bottle of Pepsi. Opening the door to the café he would see that it was deserted except for a few people of insignificance scattered throughout the room. Walking over to the counter, he would order his soda and turn around to see the café from a new perspective. Seeing the his previous analysis of the inhabitants of the café had been wrong, he would walk over to a friendly face who had managed to procure a table and sat down opposite her.

“Hello, Kevala. You probably don’t remember me, I’m Phoenix”

[Ceraphine Davis]

Kevala's eyes shifted upward just slightly to adjust for height as the male sat down beside her, a smile brushing over her features as those icy hues lit up ever so slightly.

"Yes, I remember you. You are Jacks friend are you not?"

Her tone soft, a delicate sound upon the air of the room. Gentle as a summer's breeze filling the space that had otherwise been devoid of anything beautiful and light.

"It is nice to see you again. Though may I ask why it is you are sitting with me now?"

She folded her hands together in her lap, clearly not always the brash, bold girl that she came off to be. Quite capable of being...well...a lady if you must.

It was just another change in her mood...Something that happened often in her life, as those who really knew her could tell anyone.

She was always something different, something better and more refined....It was just a matter of catching her in the right mood, as he seemed to have done today.

Waiting for her drink she would take it once it arrived, bringing it to her lips and taking a much needed drink. Her tongue brushing over her lips slowly as the drink was withdrawn...setting it down on the table and then turning her attention back toward him.

[Phoenix]

Phoenix was conscious of his eyes meeting with hers and quickly lowered his eyes down slightly, not wanting to cause any affront. He had plans for her after all. As a smile crept across her face, Phoenix already knew that she had remembered him. Conforming his thoughts, Kevala spoke and what she said caused Phoenix to laugh. Three seconds later Phoenix would regain control of his emotions and be a little surprised at himself for laughing at such a thing.

“Yes, I am a, what was that word you used? … friend… of Jack’s. “

Still smirking, Phoenix would turn his intelligent eyes so that they now met with Kevala’s. Listening to Kevala’s angelic (or demonic voice, depending on your point of view) voice, Phoenix would laugh again. No doubt she doesn’t even know why I’m laughing, thought Phoenix.

“It’s interesting to see you again as well. I was simply memorising the streets of my new city of residence and decided to come to this café for a drink.”

Not asking anymore questions or providing any more answers as Kevala was given her drink by the waiter, Phoenix would catch his attention as he turned away from Kevala.

“Bottled water. No ice. Irish, if you have it.”

Phoenix would redirect his eyes back towards Kevala’s face and saw why Jack enjoyed being around her and spending time with her. She was indeed pretty, however, this didn’t appeal to Phoenix. He understood the concept of beauty but never found himself especially attracted to it. He preferred cold, calculating intellect over aesthetics.

“May I ask why you are here, school captain?”

[Ceraphine Davis]

Kevala's brow raised slightly at the sound of his laughter, her head shaking softly as she took a sip of her drink and then replaced it upon the table.

When he finally chose to speak her attention once more turned toward him, a bit of interest held in her gaze though nowhere near what it could be. She was a lover of anything interesting, and though she was curious about this boy that Jack seemed to call friend, it was nothing like the games she usually found herself engaged in. At least not yet.

"I am here because I wanted a drink. It is an out of they way place that I find peaceful and relaxing. Not to mention it is not far from my studio. Though I do not see why I should have to explain myself to you. Free country, I may drink where I please."

Of course that was followed up by that charming little smile she always held, her eyes turning back to her drink as she slowly traced her finger along the rim of the glass.

"So, I would ask again. What is it that I may do for you today Phoenix. As a friend of Jack's I suppose that I should do what is in my power to play nice though I am a bit unclear on just how deep your friendship with him runs."

It was true, for all she knew this guy could just be some lacky that hung around Jack for the hell of it. She had never bothered to ask Jack about it seeing as how it was his business....She would however later, now that said business had been brought to her doorstep.

[Phoenix]

Phoenix listened to her explanation as to why she was here and barely contained another laugh within himself. Regaining control of his emotions, he would notice Kevala’s charming smile and almost smile. Phoenix would raise he hands in mock defeat.

“Peace. I never asked why you were here, only if I may ask why you were here.”

Smirking, Phoenix knew that his smart comments weren’t going to earn himself any favours with Kevala but they made the conversation more interesting and provided an easy way for him to gauge people’s intelligence.

Turning towards the side of the table, he would reach out a hand for the glass of water. The footsteps of the waiter had been loud across the floorboards and reflective surfaces were plentiful in such an out of the way café. Taking a small sip of water before he put the glass onto to table, Phoenix would listen to Kevala speak. Analysing the questions in his mind, Phoenix knew that the answers he provided would determine how the next phase of the conversation traveled. He decided that being smart was, now, more hindering to his cause that amusing.

“What is it you may do for me? Simple. When you ask Jack about this meeting, which I have no doubt that you will, say that I mentioned Sanguis. I’m sure that even someone of Jack’s intelligence will realise the connotations.”

[Ceraphine Davis]

She was playing nice, nothing more, and then the statement about Jack was ushered and her brow rose slightly. She was usually never one to question another's perception of somebody but she did not like people that were......yeah.....

Her head tilting slightly she would grin once more, her hands coming to rest in her lap.

"So, I take it that you make a habit out of insulting his intelligence?"

She would shake her head turning her attention away from him as she shrugged and reached up to tuck her hair back behind her ear.

"I will bring the matter up with him when I speak with him again. Though I must admit, he may lack in intelligence as you say, but at least he has always had the courage to speak to me about something outright. Not send me chasing leads. But then he knows how much I detest doing such."

She let out a little sigh and then lifted her drink to her lips once more. Kevala was never one to enjoy being around somebody who refused to speak straight forward and outright. It was just how she was, thanks to Gabriel no doubt, and his uncanny ability for being so straight forward.....She had come to expect it from everyone it seemed.

Which was just silly really. Honestly who could ever compare to that man? To think she now expected such high standards from everyone was ridiculous, but then, she was never one to make sense really.

[Phoenix]

Phoenix watched on as Kev tilted her head to the side in a dangerous manner whilst flashing a carefree grin. Phoenix knew that he was walking a dangerous path by continuously insulting Jack’s intelligence around Kev, however, it was still a game to Phoenix and he decided that the only way to explain his actions to Kevala was to do just that.

“Yes, I do make it a habit. It's a personal joke that Jack and I share between ourselves. I degrade his intelligence and he complains about my lack of physical prowess and fighting experience. It’s more of a motivational tool than an argument as it pushes Jack to be smarter and myself to be stronger and faster. Hopefully it hasn’t given you the wrong impression about me.”

Listening on to Kevala’s answer to his other question, Phoenix understood the frustration that revolved around having to chase up leads and information but he also understood the feeling of successfully discovering what was at the end of the trail. He would have preferred to not lead Kevala on a goose chase across town to Jack, however, he knew that it was the only safe way to proceed.


“I understand how frustrating chasing leads is but it is the safest way to proceed for both myself and Jack. This matter is the only matter that I will not be straight to the point with. Generally, I would never use such a clichéd and time wasting method. If you have anything you want to ask me I would be happy to answer bluntly and straightforwardly.”

Phoenix would return his hand to the glass of bottled Irish water on the table and take a short draught from it. It wasn’t as fresh as he would’ve liked but it refreshed him and that was the result he had required. Placing the glass back on the table, he would glance over at Kevala awaiting her response.

[Ceraphine Davis]

Kevala sat there, and as any polite young lady would she listened. Sort of. Her mind of course growing rather bored with the conversation and attention instantly being shifted to something that could entertain her mind. Like the shiny spoon her fingers began to twist about in her hand much like a baton, rolling it through her fingers back and forth.

Yet she showed that she was paying attention, even if her mind was lost on how shiny the spoon was.

Soon enough however he became silent and she took that as her cue to speak up, running back over the bits and pieces of his words she had actually paid attention to before finally offering up her own comments.

"Well, there may be things that you do with each other to motivate and to encourage. However to do such in my presence when he is not here to motivate tells me that despite what reasons you THINK you might have, or how valid those reasons are......You in fact are doing such just to be an ass."

She rolled her shoulders in a light shrug. It was just her way of thinking. If it was strictly for the purpose of getting Jack to work harder then there would be no need of it outside of Jack's presence. She never heard Jack bad mouthing Phoenix when the boy was not around. But then who was she to try and understand the ways of men. Despite how intelligent she may be, it was always a losing battle when it came to that species.

But then onto his second statement, the one he was being so cryptic about yet one that seemed to ignite some forms of recognition in her brain. Yes the manner in which he was acting and the words he spoke all pointed to one thing, though it was only a guess in her mind and nothing more.

"Let me go so far as to venture a guess here Phoenix. Could this very secretive and touchy matter have anything to do with a gang of sorts? I mean, the words you speak are not common and the fact that it is important to your safety would lead me to believe that indeed it is some form of secret organization. If I am wrong feel free to correct me, though I warn you......tread carefully on how you do such."

She would think back to the day of the orangutan incident at school. His words had earned him a one way ticket to her bad side and though she tried to be a nice person most of the time, it was not likely that she would stay that way if her own intelligence was attacked. Seeing as how she was a very smart girl. Even if she did not appear to be most of the time.

[Phoenix]

Phoenix was learning more and more the longer that he talked to his school captain. He had slowly began compiling data from their first meeting and he now felt that he understood her better, nowhere near as Jack, of course, but enough to predict certain things. For instance, Phoenix now knew that despite her polite appearance and demeanour, she probably thought that listening to him was a waste of time. Her fiddling with the spoon showed that this was either true or that she was simply growing bored with the conversation, he wasn’t sure which was the case just yet.

“Your answer is not quite correct, however, it is logical. The main reason why I was insulting Jack in your presence was to ascertain how intelligent you were. I’m glad that I’ve found someone who may be able to engage me intellectually. The ulterior motive was to inform you of the motivation technique so that you weren’t surprised by it later. As for me being an ass, well, that’s a matter of perspective.”

Phoenix knew that his people skills weren’t exactly at the epitome of perfection, however, he knew that they allowed him to get by in this social world and at least be able to maintain a conversation. Hopefully he hadn’t lost his touch.

Taking a sip of water from his glass, Phoenix would admire Kevala’s ability to deduce what was true and what was false. Her ability to dissect a statement and gather information from it would be very valuable in the times ahead, should everything go to plan. His admiration of this ability only grew when she guessed that by being so cryptic and by using uncommon words that he was alluding to some form of gang or organisation. Smiling, he would place his glass back on the table.

“It could.”

Phoenix debated as to whether he should explain himself further. He knew that if it was someone of less stature and ability he probably wouldn’t bother, however, with Kevala he thought that he owed her more information than that. Only allowing a brief pause in between his sentences, Phoenix would continue speaking.

“We have much to discuss. You may be correct, but you are not wrong. I know my vague answers are frustrating, however, I ask, if it is not too much, that we leave specifics out for now. Actually, I think it’s best if we went and saw Jack now. You can ask me some more direct questions once we leave the building.”

[Ceraphine Davis]

She listened intently, of course with the exception of the shiny spoon she was playing with. Finally when he was again done speaking she would look at him and tilt her head lightly to the side.

"I allow Jack to handle his own matters when in my presence. I may not like it but if he allows it then so be it. I still do not see the reason behind your words other than to be spiteful for some reason I have yet to figure out. Sure, you could have been testing my intellect but honestly, no matter what I say you will think yourself better so we shall leave the matter at that."

With that she would then push herself away from the table and stand. She was more than ready to be out of this place, her quiet afternoon no longer in the picture as she was never one to stop until she had whatever information she needed.

Granted his response to her guess meant she was right. Any fool could see that. However she would humor him a bit longer. More than ready to speak with Jack, seeing as how it had been awhile since they last met up.

Waiting for him to get his butt up she would tap her foot lightly against the floor, and then move toward the door, shoving it open as she slid her shades down onto her pale eyes.

"Now we are outside. I want to know what kind of danger you have put Jack in."

Oh yeah, she was curious. 1) Because she cared for Jack on some level and she worried and 2) because any threat to him was a threat to her pillarship and she was not about to have that.

Reaching up and combing her hand through her hair she would begin walking toward her car. Her attention focused on Phoenix as she grabbed out her keys......

"I dont walk unless I have to and I am NOT getting in any vehicle that belongs to you. So if you wish to continue this then you had better get in."

She then hit the button, unlocking the door and climbed into the drivers seat. She would wait of course........for now......