French Quarter

-When she passed Russ, she swore it was going to be her life’s mission to get him to like her and to smile at her. Prayers would be needed for him. She moved through store room and made a face.- “Looks like the maids off.” -said to herself as she glancing at the rest of the set up in the room. It all seemed so low-tech, but what people failed to realize low-tech was some of the best. It was better and less easy to crack then hi-tech.

She heard the call and swished her way into the room as if she had been here before. Her level of comfortability in unfamiliar places should always be noted. She moved through every new terrain as if she had been there 100 times before. Her eyes taking note of everything in the room barely moved from looking forward. 

Sashaying over to where he was, she stopped and did a little twirl. However her heels were in her hands because she didn’t trust going on the stairs with them. After her twirl she had lifted one foot up and placed the heel on it and then did the same with the other. Doing a balancing act with ease as she stood one foot on the heel to put on the other.-

“If you must know, I have a date.” -she said so matter of factly, however it wasn’t the date that was important it would probably be who she had a date with. Though unless asked she’d keep that to herself and honestly she might not even be aware of the implications of it.- “It was the only way out, it was either the date or I’d get caught. So I chose the date. Don’t you worry your precious little heart, though. I’m pretty sure it’ll be one time thing. I mean have you met me? I’m obnoxious. Adorable but obnoxious. And he seems a little stuffy, but really cute. Not in your rugged type way of cute. In like a ‘I’ll slit your throat’ kind of cute.”

She shrugged for a moment before lifting her small matching purse up and waved it in the air with a smile on her face.- “But let’s get down to business.” -opening up the purse, a small white bag was produced. High end of course and it looked to be white pristine velvet. Maya walked over towards the desk, she opened the bag reaching inside she pulled out the necklace. Letting it glint in the dim light of the bulbs.- “She really is beautiful. The necklace and the battleaxe I stole it from. She was kind of intimidating to be honest. Either way, here’s your prize.”

-She managed to pull it off, quietly and perhaps a little to quickly. Those were skills. Just as a human she was that good. There would be no doubt that there was talks amongst the Nosferatus about turning her, except she could not be turned by one of them. She was to useful to become like them. Also there was a still a code there.

Standing there for a moment pretending to be Vanna White with the necklace. Allowing her hands to show case it and move it around so it glittered in the light. Placing the white bag on the desk she then situated the necklace on the bag so he could either look at it or pick it up. It was his now to do what he wished with it. –

“Sorry it did take so long, I had to wait for the right moment. Then I found out that your ex was holding a little gala at her new man’s house. Anyways, I just invited myself to the gala and low and behold found the necklace there. I guess maybe she’s planning on moving in with him? There’s boxes..or she’s moving out. I don’t know, but I do care because I’m nosey and want to know. I’ll ask Iggy to find out.” -Ignatius sure know how to pick them, but he seemed to be the closest one to her. Where ever she went he was somewhere lurking in the shadows. Chances are she knew he was there. He was always there when the sun went down. They were best friends and were almost like siblings. She had created a bond with a Nosferatu, had him thinking about her, and now she had a date.-

“You want to sort out payment now? Or you got anything else for me?” -she gave him a bit of a glance over, sure she had a date but that didn’t mean the flirtation stopped. It was a date not a commitment. She knew she was going on a date with a vampire, she had learned how to spot them. She just knew not to say anything that she knew. Butch was different. She knew he was dangerous and yet she didn’t feel danger around him. Not yet anyways. She had taken note of how he coddled her when she brought up the Prince and how sweet he was about it. That was a man she could trust. That wasn’t a test from the Nosferatus, it was her own. And it wasn’t so much of a test as seeing if she could trust him. This might only be their second meeting but Maya had a pretty good read on people. He wouldn’t betray someone for funsies. There would have to be a reason.-

-She had stood up when he did, but he had gotten close to her. She didn’t lean back but stayed her ground. As she was to do. When her phone was presented to her only a smile crossed over her face. It was as if she found him to be utter adorable like a puppy. She took the phone and held it to her chest. The phone didn’t surprise her but what did surprise her was the ring she caught. Though one would think she might be angry or mad. Instead she looked incredibly happy about it and also she looked at her finger a few times to see the ring missing.-

“Ohhhhh you!” -she said as if she was going to curse him out in a joking fashion but the moment he turned his back to her he could hear her coming up behind him quick, but not threatening. He’d feel her shove the phone into the back pocket of his jeans. She was still behind him but her mouth was close to his ear.- “That’s for you.” -she whispered and he voice had a deeper sultry tone rather then the bubbly voice she had since she first walked into the bar.

Maya took a few steps back from him, if he turned around or was watching her. The young woman took another phone out, her hand grabbed the crew neck of her crop top pulling it out and she positioned her phone over it taking a picture down her shirt. A second later the phone in hand dinged. Now it was her turn to give him a wink and walk out with a toss of her messy straight bed head hair. The door  closed behind her leaving that heavy feeling in the bar. As if the bar itself missed her presence the moment it was robbed of it. That was the most dangerous gift of all.

If he hadn’t realized it when he first met her, he might now that something was wrong. Someone was playing a very dangerous game. The thick of it hung in the air. It was palpable. The air clung to the clothing and created a lingering feeling of dread. A simple thief, a necklace, an ex, and a bar owner with power. And the Nosferatu’s might be hedging their bets with something. They knew something. Didn’t they always?

4 Days-No Contact-The Return
Butch’s Bar
-It had been four days past since he gave the thief the job. The air still stirred with something unpleasant, something big. An unknown force felt like it creeping into the very roots of the earth below. Nothing was as it seemed. The others felt it too. They felt something shifting in world around them. Power being moved to and fro.  The wind held a crackling to it. The fear that it could spark was looming.

The door to the otherwise stale smelling bar was opened and in walked the tall, lithe woman. This time she was not dressed as casual when she first entered into the bar. Tonight she was wearing a light blue halter flowing dress, she on a pair of little heels and jewelry. She had on a dainty gold necklace, earrings along with rings and bracelets. She looked dressed up for something.

Her hair, while curled and styled, still presented with that bed head look. It was either she had taken nap prior after she got ready or she did this on purpose. The thing about the hair could have two effects, one perhaps the person did think she napped a lot or two it could elicit the feeling of wanting to create that bed head for her. It gave the thought of messing up her hair in a sexual manner.

She gave Russ the happiest of waves and the brightest smile even if the man completely ignored her.- “Hiii!” -she said to him in a slightly higher pitch tone as if one was speaking to their most beloved pet.- “I’m just gonna go see Big Man.” -she said pointing at Butch’s door. She walked over to it and put her hand on the knob ready to just walk in. She hesitated though. Pulling her hand back she knocked on the door.-

“I highly doubt it’s been some time. Now look who’s lying.” -she playfully chided him. There was something natural about her. Maya didn’t seem to play by human rules nor did she play by vampire rules. Both were extremely dangerous to teeter and yet she somehow managed to balance that line. How she comes off and how she acted might seem like it was fake but this was who she was. A child who grew up on the streets in NOLA, taken in by the Nosferatus it seemed. It wasn’t well known but those that knew her in his world knew that her protection was absolutely other worldly. It was not something she ever spoke about. Even with out their protections she would still be the same young woman sitting across from him. Unless she was either dead or in prison. Those were really her only two options in life. She flirted with death and she was known for a few prison breaks.

She didn’t even try to pinpoint his accent. It didn’t matter to her. All that really mattered was the job. There were few things she cared about but her reputation as a thief was one of them. She also had no idea that he was reading her. She was only a mortal after all. There was no lycan blood in her, no witch, no special human. Maya was a plain run of the mill human with a good set of skills.

Playing coy for a moment, she folded her shoulders in and smiled cutely acting shy and coy.- “I know.” -she said in an adorable voice because she did know she was pretty, and she wasn’t exactly shy about knowing it. She slowly relaxed her body from the marshmallow pose.- “But it’s one thing to be pretty and then to be called pretty from someone like you.”  -this time she gave him a different look, something beyond just innocent flirtation. Maya was trouble.-

“Of course I’ll deliver. It’s just a necklace.” -she gave a shrug of her shoulders because to her it was necklace to him it was something else. But her feelings on the items didn’t matter. It only matter if she got her hands on them. Her eyes glanced to the money and there was no real reaction from her. She had probably stolen that much money before but she then let out a laugh.- “Butch, my sexy soon to be boss, you never show a thief you are carrying. You’re lucky I have some integrity. I’m also so confident in my skills that I don’t get paid till after I deliver. There’s no upfront fee.”

-She then listened as he described the necklace it sounded beautiful and something that a lover would give. It was making sense to her. And for that she was all in. He also called her a battleaxe and that got a hard and loud laugh from her. Oh this was defiantly a job on a ex. She wouldn’t comment on it. Sometimes she would, but honestly who wanted to talk about their exes?-  “Got it necklace, mogul, and a battleaxe.” -she gave him a bit of a knowing look with that. Even with that knowledge her demeanor never changed.

The moment he took her hand, that was the only time he might notice there was a small uptick in her heart rate. Her hand was putty in his. The way she was relaxed and not once did she tense up. She allowed him to move her hand around. She had been expecting his hand to be cold. Her eyes looked at his hand as he was touching, her brows furrowed for just a moment in slight confusion. He could have just fed, she thought.

Slowly she brought her eyes to look up at him under her thick raven lashes. Her fingers lightly curled over his own hand as he was speaking to her. Her face was blank and void of emotion. One moment her expressions were easily readable and the next they could be so blank one would wonder if she was even home. For a beat she said something, but then a slow smile crept upon her face.- “I have a cat named that. So I’m not sure what you are referring to?” -her words were filled with a naivety that only expression confusion.

When he took his hand back she allowed her finger tips to caress his skin as she was wanting just one more small moment of touching him. Maya was good. She had completely took back control of the conversation in such a innocent way that if had not know she was in the know of things, he might have believed her. Maya then grabbed her beer and took a sip from it but never once did she break eye contact with him.-

“We’re good here right? Unless there’s anything else you want to talk about, I’m on a bit of a schedule. But I could always make time if you keep calling me darlin?” -She still continued to flirt, it wasn’t the seduction of Grace this was different. It was just honesty.- “Damn, I never knew that could just..” -she mocked having  a shiver run down her body.- “You’re cute, no strike that, you are handsome. But we’d never work out. Don’t be get all broken up about it.” -she said as she leaned over and running her hand under his chin. Obviously she was joking by her light hearted tone and she started to slide herself out of the booth.- “I’ll leave it on the table for when you’re not paying me. I’m a thief not a prostitute. I don’t look down that though. I have met some wonderful prostitutes. There was this one named Jerry. The women loooooved Jerry. He’s gay, but for the pay he’ll straight  up suck the clit right off you! Well…from what I hear. I never had sex with him. “ -she was a talker but sometimes she was strange. It was a stream of thoughts that left her when she was comfortable and it was worse when she was uncomfortable.-

“Anyway.” -she said as she tapped the imaginary watch on her wrist, in that universal way to let him know they should be wrapping up. She really didn’t have anything else to do today. She was just wanting to make herself seem busy as if she had a lot to do. Mostly she just wanted to go to the store and get some Fruity Pebbles and that was her big planned day. Also she had some leg work to do on the minor heist. This was going to be such a piece of cake.-

-Leaning in towards him, the scent of the recently smoked cigarette and a very light perfume radiated from her.- “I’m more then just a pick-pocket, but everyone has to start somewhere. I’m a no more of a pick-pocket then you are an average Joe.” -her words were steady but then her tone picked back up again as if she was never serious in the first place.- “I’ll pass on the summersaults, for now anyways.”

-He did get a laugh from her that was clear and rich, Maya was a firecracker. There was no shame with her, there seemed to be no fear in her either. Which was either really brave or really dangerous. However, if she was brought up the Nos’ chances were she wasn’t as innocuous as she seemed.  They had likely taught her how to navigate certain situations and how to keep her ear to the ground. Maya did not seem to be completely level headed, but again this was his first meeting with her. For all he knew this could have been act, however it was to genuine to anything but real. She might be a thief but she was no liar.

She brought her elbows up, placing them on the table. Her hands were fisted and she rested her chin on them. She was silent for a moment. Her eyes were locked on his.  Her blue-green eyes were looking into his. Almost as if she was memorizing all the different colors in his eyes.- “You do have really pretty eyes. Has anyone told you that recently?”

-Her voice was soft when she asked him that question, it was a genuine compliment towards him. Maya was not blind to him, she also knew that he was Kindred. It wasn’t said as information, it was told to her as a warning as if to be on her best behavior with him. This was not exactly her best behavior but it was the best he was going to get. Maya had a way with people. While she joked a lot, there was always a sincerity in her that was hard to overlook. It was if she wanted to care about something or anything, but life was cruel to her and yet she never stopped smiling.-

“I wouldn’t put it past Nacho to set anyone up..in both terms of the word. But you really think I’m pretty?” -the question was accompanied by a wide doe eye look, with her lips parted making her bottom lip especially pouty.- “That’s so sweet.” -her voice was filled with reverence for the small compliment she received from him. Even if he was being funny, she was running with that he called her pretty. She couldn’t wait to tell Iggy.

With a clear of her throat she composed herself once again as she listened to the request of what he wanted from her. It was just a snatch a grab job from the sounds of it. So far it didn’t seem to complicated. At least not for her skills. For which she had many, she just didn’t always tell anyone all of her skills. It was always best to keep them close her chest. Some of her skills did include B&E, safe cracking, cat burglering..but how she did it was just her little secret.-

“Sure. I can get the necklace back. I’m always down for a little petty revenge. I support the right to enact vengeance upon thy enemies!’ -with the last part she depend her voice and held a shaking fist in the air.- “Just a few details, what’s the necklace look like a picture is ideal but I’m really good with descriptions. And the name of your rival. Don’t worry you won’t scare me. Even if it’s the Prince. I’ve stolen from.hi….” -she trailed off realizing what she was about to say.- “I’m also trying to win some cool points with you, because for some reason I want to impress you. I feel like, if maybe you like me you’ll hire me again and I get to watch you walk out of that backroom each time.”

-Maybe a filter would be good, but that was not how her brain worked. It was connected directly to her mouth with no filter to it. What she said should be considered as an inside thought, however, Maya wasn’t very good at that. She said whatever came to her mind and made her strange thoughts the problem of others around her.- “Like that was such a badass entrance. You probably already know how cool you are, I mean you are in alligator boots!” -there was a slight pause and she realized she derailed their meeting which she was told not to do.-

“Ok back to the necklace and your rival.”  -she steepled her fingers and pressed them against her pillowy lips as if she was trying to keep her own mouth shut.- 

-She gave Russ a grin as he spoke about the snitches, she wasn’t always the best at reading people and their moods. If she could it never stopped her from just being herself. The door opening caught her eye. As Butch walked out she turned on her chair, putting her elbows on the bar and she watched him. Her head tilting a little to the side. Maya had no problem checking him out so openly. It wasn’t her fault that she was not expecting Butch, the Butch she heard about to look like that. Her eyes went down to his boots and took note of the. She took note of everything.

Maya wasn’t smiling but more so having a more appreciative look on her face, when her eyes finally tore away from either checking him out or sizing him up the smile touched on her face. It was bright and sunny as if she never had a bad day in her life. Except that would be the farthest thing from the truth. Her past was not really up for discussion as far as she was concerned.

His voice was surprisingly smooth. She thought it sound more like gravel. It did not. At his question he received an affirmative nod of her head while she was smiling. Jumping off the stool where she had been previously seated to move towards the requested destination of the booth. That did seem more criminal activity. When she had jumped up from the booth he’d see that Maya was a tall young woman. Her form was lithe, slender but she was toned and not skin and bones. She was overall a healthy human with a very steady heartrate. The hyperness of her was palpable but she sometimes knew when to reign it in.

Taking a sip from her beer she put the bottle on the table and leaned back a nostalgic smile crossed her face at his question. She didn’t even hesitate to speak.-

“Jacob Kinnamens heart.” -she said with her whole chest and a wistful smile.- “Though you are probably not talking about that. The first thing I stole was a wallet. There’s no big story there. That was the first thing I was taught to steal. Thought I do tend to go for gold watches.” -she said as she then slid his own watch that was on his wrist across the table to him. She did not even seem to have gotten close enough to touch him, but this was an audition she released and he could get angry with her for it. That was a chance she was taking.

Butch’s reputation was not something she was ignorant on. The nosferatus would have told her and she would have heard his name around. There was one Nosferatu outside the bar watching. They were always watching though. So that was nothing new. Dealing with her seemed easy.-

“Do I pass your test or should I do some summersaults, maybe sing? Or a swimsuit contest? I do got some killer abs.” -the way she spoke was never with sarcasm, it was always as if she was curious and looking for clarification.- “I’m not above cheating for the trophy if you know what I mean.” -with that she gave him a little wink before leaning back in the booth.-