It was funny, really, seeing that distinctly Asian woman so try and repeat that indisputable Australian phase, my own lips spreading into a crooked grin of sorts at the effort, unable to stop that slight chuckle before she asked just where it was from. Didn't she know? I thought that sort of slang was the very thing most Americans enjoyed teasing us about, they always had in the past. Although I suppose, to be fair, there was every chance my new companion wasn't American either.

"It's Australian, I was born there, I didn't come here until after my parents died when I was about eighteen. I took over running my father's company then and I couldn't do that from Australia."

I shrugged easily enough, affording her that rather simple and unremarkable story of my own arrival here and perhaps an explanation as to why those phrases seemed to occasionally find their way through into my vocabulary even after all these years away. I hardly offered her any further details, at least not on the topic of family and one of my least favoured lines of discussion. I hardly had anything to hide of course, I simply had no real story to tell in that regard. My parents, I think, were never that overly fond of me and my own baby sister tried to sue me not a year ago for inheritance money she was still sure she deserved. Such a happy family unit we were! I was better off away from them and I am entirely assured my sisters life is less stressful without my being there to interrupt it. It was Chizue's mention, I suppose, of her own troubles with her species that prompted that sharing of my own understanding. After all, that I could relate too. Why half the Hunters of this city walked around as if they were better, more important, above the creatures they hunted I hardly know. We were just the same. Entirely as cursed as the rest of them. The only thing that attitude had done was make it a damn well sight harder for me to find anyone to sit near without either outright fleeing or trying to drink their drink or eat the meal so fast they were almost choking. Maybe it shouldn't have bothered me as much as it did but, well, I always was social. This Hunter thing had seen that veritably nosedive.

I hadn't truly anticipated my somewhat self-depreciating words might have had that much of a profound effect on the young woman, one eye lifting slightly as she closed that gap between us before rather abruptly throwing her arms about me in a hug. Well- that was new. I was stiller then I probably should have been, my body taking a moment to truly comprehend exactly what was occurring before attempting to decide whether I was supposed to hug her back or not, relaxing just slightly in her embrace all the same, one arm wrapping loosely around her to return the gesture in what I was entirely sure was companionable before she moved to pull away. Her features flushed with her own sudden boldness, a soft chuckle parting my lips. I can't remember the last time anyone hugged me, at least, not simply because I needed it. Her sudden declaration that I could come back to visit her and scare away her guests saw my lip quirk all the more, blue gold eyes meeting her own with ready amusement, one hand brushing the dirty blonde hair from my gaze.

"Sure, why not? I can make time to come back."

It wasn't like I had anything else to do. The Council had no interest in me, Kat had all but disappeared and I spent most of my day asleep because honestly it gave me something to do with my life since killing things wasn't really working out. She barrelled on with the conversation then, as if somehow fearing I might question her about the hug, my experience with women entirely extensive enough to know she hadn't quite meant to offer the gesture and yet I hardly saw any need to embarrass her further by mentioning it. Conversation turned back to that unusual mention of sunglasses, why she seemed to think I was talking about glasses at all I have no idea, my words attempting to correct her all the same before she nodded. Sun, it seemed, affected her just the same as it did any other vampire- even if she didn't go around drinking blood. Seems like a raw deal to me. She didn't even hurt anyone and she was still stuff inside? Then again, isn't that just what I do all day, sleep? Maybe I should have been a vampire. Then again the idea of blood was a little....unnerving. She is the first person to ever really show any interest in my skill with cards, at least outside of a casino (of which I was banned from no less than eight), another simper pulling at my features as I made some effort to show her what I could do, assuring her I surely could work with origami even if I'd never rally contemplated it before. I mean, what was I going to do with a folded card duck? Her mention of credit cards however saw one eye lift upward suddenly.

"I....guess I never tried. I don't see why not. I mean it's a card, there's no reason I couldn't, I suppose I could have it say anything I wanted. Although I'm fairly sure that's probably starting not the most....legal of practices."

I grinned all the same, a chuckle rising from my throat once more. My words were true, I never had considered credit card manipulation. After all, I hardly needed money and yet Chizue made a fairly excellent point. Maybe I could do more with my cards then I anticipated. My mind had already begun to wander with the thought of that before the young woman so made an effort to answer my final question, her sudden delight almost infectious. I never had heard of anyone called Isolt- even if she apparently owned this bar, the information simply stored for later as I nodded. What was a coven? My mind was never really given the option to consider it, Chizue speaking once more, her voice almost tentative as if she somehow feared I might reject her. A smile easily tracing my features then.

"I could always do with more friends, so sure, I'll be yours. I'm not much of a Hunter but if you ever need a fast car or a plane or your computer fixed- I can do that."






k o h l
so you want to play with magic?