It wasn't often that the Leopard strayed far from her familiar haunts on the western side of the city anymore. Once she had prowled the well-lit streets of Sacrosanct's wealthier boroughs with the intent of feeding one objectionable vice or another yet so much of that life seemed behind her still. Part of it due to how her life had settled once more into the steady rhythm of working all night and sleeping all day; with what seemed like the worst of the pandemic behind them the Ark was near full to bursting every night which left precious little time for Carolina to take to herself. The other part due to the fear she still harbored seemingly engrained into her very bones that her past would come back to haunt here. The West was safe, rather ironic considering she spent most of her time in what was undoubtedly one of the seediest places in the city limits, but she knew and trusted everyone in that vessel. It was the rest of the world where her darkest fear seemed able to hide in the shadows simply waiting for the opportune moment.

Most of that was farm from her mind today however, a rare day off gifted to her the opportunity to do a bit of shopping which she had desperately needed. City Creek Center always held a bit of an appeal with its wide variety of stores all in one location meant she could get what she needed and get back home quickly. It was easy to get lost in the aisles of clothes and jewlery, one boutique after the next each hosting such a wide array of items she might purchase. The southerner had quite the savings these days it seemed, what with her apartment not being in the flashiest part of town, only having to feed herself and Grayson the rather pudgy tabby, and the fact that Tetradore kept seeming to find excuses to pay her more than she needed it added up rather quickly. It was nice to splurge on herself once it a while, treating herself as it were to a few new pairs of jeans and some comfortable boots for work, some eclectic jewelry which suited her tastes rather nicely, and the pair of sunglasses that now sat atop the golden waves of her hair.

She pulled them down over her hazel eyes as she finally exited the building, the glass doors sliding shut behind her as she surveyed the town. The sun was still in the sky though it was steadily approaching the horizon and she was already scanning for an available taxi to return her to her normal 'territory' when the tell-tale rumble of her stomach reminded her she had skipped lunch earlier. For a moment she considered heading back into the mall, its food court having a wide variety of offerings, but instead Carolina decided to wander as she was rather prone to doing. Bags swinging from her delicate hands she strode down the sidewalks as if she knew where she was headed, though her gaze danced from sign to sign appraising each option as it came into view. True, she could have easily whipped out her phone and searched what was nearby but there was something almost organic about simply wandering the city in a way she had not in so many years.

Carolina liked to think that she had overcome most of the fear and trauma of the previous year, but it seemed to jump out at her like a spectre at the most random of moment. Even now she had to make a conscious effort not to panic when she sensed someone walking closely behind her for a moment longer than might seem normal. Her heart quickening at the idea that somehow Alaric had managed to find her even after all this time. Yet every time the feeling would fade as the person would veer off to their own destination and the were would chide herself anew. She had the reassurance of her bond with Sebastian now, she reminded herself absentmindedly stroking her wrist as she was sometimes prone to do as a physical reminder of what tied them together. He would not allow harm to befall her if he could prevent it, and though the fae who haunted her was powerful in his own right she did not doubt he vampire. Even still such intrusive thoughts seemed hard to push away at times, always dancing at the back of her mind and plaguing her steps. Perhaps that is why when she saw the sign for the pub rocking in the evening breeze she didn't think twice about stepping inside.

Like most places of the variety the interior of the restaurant was dark and quiet, regional paraphernalia hanging on the wood-paneled walls along the booths and leading to the rather large bar at the back. It was there that she strode, her shoes clicking across the polished hardwood evenly until she arrived. She quickly dropped her bags on the floor, perching atop the comfortable bar stool before breathing a sigh of relief. It was quiet here, early still for most patrons and it soothed her. Looking up she gave the bartender an easy smile and he was quick to put away the glass he had been drying and walk her way. "Can I get a double of Jameson neat, please? Oh, and a menu." He nodded quickly, handing her the menu before hurrying around behind the oak countertop with practiced ease which she recognized well. She let her eyes dance across the variety of options on the menu, mostly standard fare for an Irish pub but the comfort food seemed more than appealing to the leopard at the moment. She didn't glance up again until she noticed the bartender's return, reaching out to draw her drink across the bar top with an eagerness that undoubtedly would not go unnoticed. "Is there anything you recommend?" Nodding towards the menu between them, those who worked at a restaurant always knew what was best to order.