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Maya Stillwater

Maria's best friend, she also lived within the Bistro and is well aquantied with the Oocheto Family.

0 · 2,124 views · located in Chicago, IL

a character in “The Black City”, as played by xfaithyx123

Description

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Maya Stillwater

Role:

Cocktail Waiteress/Maker

Age:

23

Gender:

Female

Skin tone:

Pale rose

Eye colour:

Dark chocolate brown

Skin features:

A mole on her right shoulder and a tattoo on her left hand that stops just below her elbow, her ear lobs and her right rook are pierced also.

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Height:

5'8 Foot

Weight:

132Ibs

Hair colour:

Dark brunette

Hair style:

Can change from straight, curly and tied up but she always has a full fringe.

Body Appearance:

Slender with muscular tones that are flattering to her hourglass frame, she has a big bust and ass.

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Sexuality:

Bisexual, she is openly do as she has a high sex drive.

Personality:

She is a witty character and always finds herself in sticky situations though her silver tougue can get her out off nearly everything and as a Cocktail Waitress/Maker she can get alot of tips for this. She as strong willed and hard to break and cames secrets locked up unless someone gives her something she wants as in her words, ''Knoweledge is Power.''

She is a good listener too making her a great friend and spy. You can never see her as predictable because she simply isn't as she can easily become a friend as much as a foe but with the Oocheto family her loyality is thick and unshaken, not even her most desired thing or person could make her betray them, she would die for them is she needed too.

History:

She grew up near the Oocheto family and her ability to listen but stay hidden got her noticed at a young age, she was only nine years old and was living on the streets, they took her in whether it was out of pity or usefulness she didn't know or care she was just happy to be able to have a home even if she had to work behind the Bistro until she became the age of eighteen to work as a Cocktail waiteress/Maker though she only learned to make cocktails at the age of 20 and has been doing it since.

She also has high training in kick boxing, of course only a number of people know this like Maria, her best friend and Cole Maria's brother. Most of the Oocheto family know this but rarely see it, but when they do it is both surprising and helpful. She is not bothered by the idea of dirtying her hands with other people's blood.

She lives in the Bistro just a small room as hers, more like a walk in wardrobe but she didn't mind, as long as she had a place ot sleep, wash, eat and put her clothes, bags, shoes and cash she was happy plus she could drink as much as she wanted. What? Just because she works with and lives with the Oocheto family doesn't mean she isn't going to have fun!

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_-*Her theme song*-_

So begins...

Maya Stillwater's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Kazuki "Daniel" Takahashi Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Aurora Ivanova
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Cole Occheto

Blinking idly as he continued to pour himself drinks, his eyes vacant, hollowed azure, he seemed to bob his head with the ticks and tinks of the rain hitting the roof. "I'm ahh," he exhaled, trying to withhold a belch and grasping softly at his chest, "Not trying to overwhelm you man. I know this isn't exactly your forte, per say, but…" Clearing his throat, he pushed his empty glass away. He struggled to get his voice back. Finally he released an intemperate cough and rubbed the back of his head,
"You're intelligent and you think on your feet. I don't even think I need you to negotiate that much, just make sure everything is transcribed correctly."

He looked over to Aurora, whose slate eyes were gradually closing and opening as she nodded off, slouching a bit in the chair beside Cole. He would have laughed had he not felt so guilty for pouring her drink after drink. Her mess of hair was perfect, sliding along her shoulder in cooperation with the movement of her bowed head. Cole screwed a cap back on his vodka bottle. In a hushed tone, he continued, "We ask a lot of you. And I know my father is a man of few words, but we're grateful for everything you do."

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The tempest outside would never become merciful as it cleared the streets. It seemed to be angrily battling within itself, the rain against the gale, the shadows against the street lamps. Cole stretched, looking towards a window to take a peek at the storm, "I can't send that kid into such a risky situation, you know?" Just the thought of Daniel, shaking in his boots and fumbling with paperwork at the pier made Cole cringe. "I'm sure he's got potential, otherwise my dad would have gotten rid of him, but he doesn't have assertiveness." Cole relaxed an arm to drape around Aurora's bijou shoulders, slightly cradling her.

"And nothin' for nothin', I think Maria would have a lot to say if I sent him to the pier. He's like some god damn baby animal that she is obligated to entertain and protect." Cole's indigo eyes rolled around in his head for a moment. Was he just saying this because he was siding with his best friend naturally? He then turned his gaze back to Martin, leaned against the counters, "Do you know how stupid I feel for letting that FBI shithead slip right through my fingers?" Grunting, he sat up a bit, careful not to disturb the sleeping ingenue beside him, "But I had to. I couldn't have FBI blood on my hands. That would be bad news for all of us."

It wasn't that they hadn't dealt with such things before, in fact, they'd disposed of quite a few authorities and law enforcement hired hands. Despite what anyone may have thought, Cole wasn't a knucklehead. He knew some cops were just corrupt and wanted a cut of his father's business, that's why a lot of them kept their mouths shut. Cole hoped that was Lance's intention, otherwise he'd be a fool for letting him walk. "I won't keep you. I figure I'll see you bright and early."

He pondered for a moment, then bluntly added, "Well, not so bright. Figure quarter to four at the docks." With that, he stood and scooped the small woman into his arms, mockingly puppeteering her arm and waving to Martin.


Maria Occheto
"So, sweetheart," Maria smiled, leaning over a bit and looking into the back seat, "I have to ask why you live here of all places." The salary provided by her father was by no means small, especially for perspicacious men who attended universities and helped him out of sticky situations. Her eyes glanced beyond the passenger window, curious about the premises.

"I was going to move here," she laughed a little before he could answer, "It was all I could likely afford fresh out of high school. So I'm not insulting you, I'm just wondering if my father pays you fairly." Again she'd stifle a chuckle as she readjusted herself in the seat, clutching the keys in her grasp. Again, questions about his mother came to mind. They still hadn't finished that conversation. Daniel then slurred something she could not by any means decode. Her lips quirked a bit as she raised a brow, "Huh?"

The young man hampered a 'thank you' as he uneasily grasped for the door handle. Maria took little time in hopping out of the car to meet him when he managed to get out of the back seat. "I'm fine, I'm not defenseless," she'd smile at him as she spoke and help him towards the building. He was hardly maintaining his balance, the trance-like smile on his face even still. She roped one of his arms around her shoulders as she helped to steady Daniel who was easily half a foot taller than her. The rain bore down on the two as they hobbled in the general direction of his residence.

Once she managed to get him to his door, she propped him up against the frame, only centimeters between them. Leaning close to him, a hand rested on the wall beside his head as she slightly panted, she grinned and whispered, "I told you it would be fine." Her lips got close to his ear, "You're welcome." Then, she pulled away and jingled her car keys as she waited for the poor thing to get inside. "Goodnight," she trilled before turning on her heel and returning to her car.

Her manner of flirting was kittenish, and she never quite followed it up with anything which rendered her the nickname of a tease. In her mind, she'd rather be a tease than a common slut. Besides, flirting was also a mechanism of communicative etiquette. That's just how she saw it. It wasn't that she meant to lead anyone on, it was simply just her hospitable demeanor. But it was entirely possible that she had been doing a little more than innocent flirting where Daniel was concerned. It was obvious she was intrigued.

When she finally reached the house, she was happy to see that her brother had made it home alright. Slipping out of the driver's side, she grabbed for her bag. The slippery stairs to the front door greeted her with a glistening finish. All of the lights were out, Martin surely had gone by that time. After unlocking the door, she spilled in and breathed with ease, just happy to be home. She nearly tripped a few times, trying to pilot herself in the darkness of the condo while being sleuth-like.

From her bedroom window, once she was stripped of her tainted clothes, she crawled. Most people would be stunned to see a half naked woman on the roof, stretching like a feline and absorbing the weather. It was entirely too late for anyone to notice though, as Maria lingered on the roof top and unwound. She let go of all of her notions from the stressful evening, forgetting completely about Lana and only thinking of her mother.

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Soon, she would crawl into bed and give herself up to the force of siesta. The rain would lull her to sleep as she tangled her toes in her sheets. Sleeping would be nothing short of a luxury. She would let it take her into another world where she rested and everything was nothing.

Jackson Hughes
An enormous, raised truck rounded a corner downtown in Chicago. Its windshield wipers could have passed for hockey sticks as they obliterated bits of hale and rain. Behind the wheel sat Jackson. His left hand gripped the steering wheel and his right held the neck of a bottle of Wild Turkey. Half of him wanted to stop at Windy City, he was sure he wouldn't be sleeping. But the other half of him dreaded it; he knew he'd wind up in bed with a historically fragmented woman whose name he couldn't remember.

His truck passed the gentlemen's club. If Cole wasn't having company, Jackson would have showed up. For some reason, he was feeling slightly antisocial and beside himself. Images of Maria's green eyes and cherry lips flickered in his brain as he took swigs from the bottle. Then that goddamn young asian kid popped into his head. "What the hell," he muttered as he whipped his truck down another street, the name of which he did not know.

When he moved from Chicago, he wasn't resentful or envious. He was relaxed, at ease and fairly well mannered. When he moved, he considered himself a new man. Now, he wasn't so sure. All the emotions and specifically, the jealousy, came rushing back all at once. He couldn't figure out in his own mind if he returned for the family, the money, or just her.

It appeared Jackson had wound up in a not-so-nice area as he slowed down a little, wedging the bottle between himself and the center console. He looked down for an instant, and almost side swiped a cobalt Ford Fusion. Was… Was that her? He hit the brakes, looking in his rearview mirror skeptically. Was he really going that far? A stalker now, too?

With a vexed sigh, he waited there for a moment and killed his engine and the lights. As he sat, the silence was alarming aside from the storm pulsing. He watched from his mirror, only to see he was right. The small Italian girl hopped out of her car, her blood stained outfit clinging to her as she helped the translator. Instinctively, Jackson's fist snapped towards the mirror, knocking it off center and causing the reflection of the two to disappear.

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By the time he readjusted it, they had vanished all together. "Son of a bitch," he growled and still waited, grabbing for the bottle of Wild Turkey again. It wasn't until the liquid was nearly gone that he saw her return, trotting towards her car skillfully in her heels and hastily jumping in to hide from the rain. The sight of her made him grin. Maybe he was pleased to see she wasn't spending the night, maybe he was reminiscing as he watched her. She started the engine, and he looked at the time. In a little while he'd have to be heading off to the pier. Silently, he pulled away and out of sight.

Before he knew it, he was parked at the pier in the darkness below a blown lamp post. He was more than two hours early, but he didn't mind much. Showing up early and being prompt was a better option than renting a hotel room he'd use for a total of three hours max. Something passed in the reflection of his mirror, though. Was he drunk? No, he handled his alcohol really well, everyone knew that. Looking towards the reflective glass again, he saw a drenched woman he recognized from the bistro.

Jackson cautiously opened the door of his truck, looking towards the shapely woman and calling out through the rain, "Hey!" She had to be freezing. He stood, the rain inundating his clothes in no time, "What are you doing out here?" He looked around for a car that might belong to her.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes
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Maya stopped dead as she heard a familar voice, it was so long that she heard it but still reconized it. She was so nervous to turn around, she must of looked out of it, mad, confused...cold. She would just stand there, her head moving to the side to face Jackson but then turn away again. Her lips were chattering, but not from the cold as she held her tears in, she'd cried so much but she didn't want someone to see her, at least someone she may of known.

She'd put her slender hands into fists and continue to walk, not run, but walk. Apart of her wanted to turn around but she was so shameful and so walked on, to the edgy of the pier, she rested her shakey hand onto a post, the sea bashing against the piep to the point that it almost splashed her, though she resembled a mop so it wouldn't make but difference, if you looked bad then that was that. She'd look out to the edgy, the loose chained up posts rattling against eachother. She stood there with her for a moment, wiping tears away from her eyes.

She'd then fall to the ground and dangle her legs over the edge, the bitter cold salted water thrashing her slender and soft legs about alitte. She held her hands on the loose chains and her shoulders moved up and down in hard motion due to her hard crying, forcing herself to keep it silent, her eyes shut, red and buffy. Her skin was more paler, goosebumps everywhere and her skin tight due to the teeth chattering cold and harsh wind and rain.

She'd then open her eyes and rage appeared on her wet red face and she screamed in anger, rattling the loose chain in her hands just to cry again. ''I am pathetic....all I do is screw everything up....why...why didn't he just leave me..'' She'd cry out, the wind making her words clouded but still understood. She'd then lift the chains to the back of her, her hands on each side of her as she looked down. ''I should just....disappear..'' She'd mumble out, her head rested again the metal post...

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Kazuki "Daniel" Takahashi Character Portrait: Cole Occheto
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Jackson Hughes

Rolling his neck with irritation, standing in the rain with a look of tenacity and impatience all at once, Jackson glanced over the girl's form, blurred by the rapid water droplets. For a moment, she looked at him. Then she padded off like a scared animal. He wrung out his hands and shut the door of his truck. It looked like she balled her fists before she continued to wherever she was going, clad in way too little clothing for the state of the storm and temperature.

He really didn't feel like playing superhero, but he still stepped forward with a gun wedged into his waistband. It wasn't likely that he'd take any more chances, being that the Russians would be arriving in an hour or so with the shipment. "Come on now," he'd called out in a pleading voice as he pursued her, "I'll take you home, wherever you need, alright?" She still continued towards the cudgeling water, even making him a bit nervous. And that was hard to do when it came to Jackson.

When she was within inches of the choppy bay water, he jogged towards her where she was slowly sinking towards the surface as she lowered herself. The poor woman's legs were worn and anemic from the weather, pendulous above the bay. He was far too familiar with the conveyance of her palpitating shoulders to guess anything but that she was crying. For a minute, it even reminded him of Maria. He'd not seen her cry a whole lot, but she would go into these moods when it rained…

The thoughts drained from his brain, out of his ear and into the atmosphere as he drew closer and finally stood just a foot or two from the girl's shuddering frame. Her hair was soaked and she would likely catch a cold from this whole affair. "Hey now," he'd say as softly as he could while still being heard over the rain, "I don't think disappearing would be a good idea." He cracked a weak smile, trying his best to keep the girl at ease, "Us guys, you know, we hate to see beautiful women cry." His own teeth were exposed in a handsome, knight-like grin.

He knelt, resting a large hand on her shoulder and continuing, "Whatever happened can't be all that bad." Charcoal eyes moved to look over her and observe her position. Both of the woman's hands were rested on each side of her as if she was going to jump. After a few moment's of no reply, he took initiation and scooped his hands beneath her shoulders. "Alright," he say sternly as he lifted her and pulled her away from the battered waves. Before she could react, thrash, or just sob, he pulled her into his chest and stroked her hair. He had to witness a lot of shit, suicide by a beautiful woman would not be one of them.

As he held her, he slowly walked back towards his truck, occasionally muttering things into her hair and telling her it would be alright. He felt bad partially because he could offer her no jacket, being that he left his in the truck and he himself was completely soaked.

Cole Occheto
Cole's alarm vibrated fervently around 3AM, to which he smacked it lazily and pulled Aurora's pygmy body into his own. Nuzzling her neck with his nose, he'd whisper, "Don't miss me too much." She simply groaned a little, her lips that Cole adored so much quirking into a tiny smirk. After a few extra minutes of cuddling, he carefully crawled out of bed and tucked her in. Intuitively, he reached for his phone and read a text from Suri. She was already there, which meant he was pretty much late. He hated to arrive after anyone else, it made his father bitchy.

The storm outside continued, making the city all too dark. This displeased him, but he figured it was a beneficial factor. It would keep people away from the pier for the most part; it wasn't like many wandered there in the first place being that it was so ghost-like. The Russians were generally good with cartel and being hasty, but sometimes when Cole would remind them they were short on time, they'd point a gun at his face and growl in their native tongue. Usually he'd relent, but when they turned around it was hard for him not to crack a joke with whatever employees accompanied him.

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Figuring there was no time for a shower and the whole nine yards, Cole pulled on a simple black tee shirt and shrugged a leather jacket over it. He wore dark-wash denim jeans and a pair of older, beat up vans to withstand the rain appropriately. Before he straggled out the door, he grabbed a duffle bag that his father ordered him to give to the man in charge on the other side. In the parking lot, he saw his sister's vehicle. She must have gotten home pretty late for him not to have caught her coming in. He wondered what her night entailed, driving Skye and the translator home. She probably had her work cut out for her.

The time between getting in his car and arriving at the pier was potted. In the face of the weather, he still had a lead foot and an obligation. He patted the trusty steering wheel as his vehicle guided him safely to the destination. When he arrived, not only was Suri already there, parked in her car, but Jackson was hugging some woman in the rain. Then, as his windshield wipers crossed the window again, he could make out that it was in fact Maya. She looked a hot mess, or a cold mess, he'd think to himself. He was confused by the interaction, but wouldn't ask questions as he pulled up next to Suri.

Abandoning his car, he'd quickly jump ship to Suri's passenger seat to avoid becoming drenched. Shutting the door, he said heavy breathed, "What the hell are those two doing?" Off in the distance, a large ferry was braving the storm to get to the pier, its deck packed with boxes and crates. Men stood on it, unfazed by the rain as they peered into the distance, what they could make of it anyway. Cole could trust that Martin would be arriving shortly, no matter how much paperwork or how much sleep he had gotten. The man was diligent, and that's why Cole needed him.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes
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Suri Desmond

Suri was just liatening to her music and smoking cigarettes as she waited for Cole. Her wipers were going back and forth as the rain hit down on her windshield. She could see Jackson and after a few moments she recognized the woman he was holding was Maya "huh" she said outloud wondering what the hell those two were up to. She decided not to get involved in whatever that was.

She had went through four cigarettes and all her coffee by the time Cole pulled in and got into her car. She didn't take odf her sunglasses because it would show the dark circles under her eyes and she didn't want Cole questioning her. Her arm was pounding with pain but Suri was notbone to show pain. In this kind of business she couldn't.

When Cole asked about Jackson and Maya she shrugged her shoulders "I have no clue, but Maya looks like shit" she then offered Cole a cigarette and put another one in her mouth. She noticed the carton was already half way empty already. "So what are we expectig from this traid? Anything to worry about?" she asked as she lit the cigarette in her mouth and offered the lighter to Cole.

"Another thing...I need to still deal with Frankie's brother...how should I go about that" she asked as she looked out towards the pier and saw a ferry approaching "looks like our shipment is in".

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Rosalinda Romero Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Julian Ortiz
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Rosalinda began to set up for the shoot of the giggling baby and the glowing mother. "Can I get a gold reflector over here? Or some bronzer, this glowing momma looks like a limp lump." she said in annoyance, testing the lighting of her camera by taking shot after shot. Julian let the make up girls squeeze past him, the cabin of the boat gradually becoming more and more cramped. Rosalinda began bossing around the others, there was something satisfying in being in charge of people. Julian had recognized the power hungry look Rosa began to develop, and knew it was not going to be pretty soon enough.

He caught Rosa's attention, mouthing the words 'Imma step out' as he pointed to the upper deck. Rosa nodded in understanding and turning back to taking test shots. Julian stepped up onto the deck, inhaling the familiar smell of the lake. Sadly enough it reminded him of sewage. He remembered hearing stories about the pier as a boy. How mobsters used to meet up for business there. In the distance he could see a Ferry approaching the pier.

Julian normally isn't such a nosy person, but it was strange to see a ferry approaching a run down pier. The cop in him wanted to investigate. He hopped back onto he pier, waiting until he rounded the corner to withdraw his weapon. Sneakily he lurked behind abandoned boxcars and storage units en route to where the ferry was headed. The storm drowned out any noise he made, so he didn't think the people he spotted in front of a pair of parked cars. He threw himself behind a pile of crates netting draped over it.

It was difficult to make out any faces, Julian wondered if there were anyone in the cars.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Aurora Ivanova Character Portrait: Jackson William Mathis
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Martin listened to Cole, idly turning his empty glass in his hands. Of course, the family didn't try to overwhelm him. Heaven help him if that ever happened, he had his hands more than full with them just giving him the necessary work. But it was an unavoidable part of his job- take the work given to him, finish it quickly and competently, turn it in, repeat step one.

A small smile, a very real one, grew on his lips at the praise. If there was one thing that could fluster him, could make him stop to blink, it would be compliments. Growing up, they had been few and far between and so now, even when coming from the son of a mob family, he couldn't help but bask in the praise.

The smile was gone just as quickly as it had appeared at the mention of Daniel. Just the thought of the young translator trying to broker the deal at the pier, particularly as he was now, beaten, frightened... It sent a cold chill down his spine. Daniel wasn't ready for that and, even if he was, Martin would be damned(well, more than he was already) if he allowed Daniel to get even further caught up in this mess. At least he wasn't the only one looking out for him. Maria, as Cole had pointed out, had taken a shine to him, that much was obvious... He bit back a sigh. It probably wouldn't end well, whatever was going on between Daniel and Maria.

"I'll do my best and see you at the docks," Martin said, lips curling into a half smile as Cole used Aurora's arm like a marionette, waving goodbye. The rain wasn't dying down, nor the blustery wind, so Martin ended up looking like a drowned rat by the time he actually hailed a cab in this ungodly weather, hair sticking to his face and glasses all but useless. Ugh. Maybe he should wear contacts tomorrow.

A few hours later, stacks of completed paperwork surrounded him like a fort on his bed, empty cups of strong tea, the tea bags still in place, remnants of an all-nighter that would make even a med school student cringe in sympathy. He huffed out a sigh, falling back on his pillows, just missing the agreement he'd drawn up for the upcoming deal. His eyelids began to shut torturously slowly, exhaustion lulling him into a state of peaceful slumber, when he suddenly remembered that he wasn't quite done. He still had to enquire about the FBI agent. Martin let out a quiet moan of distress, pulling himself back into a seated position and groped around the papers for his phone. He scrolled through his contacts blearily before stopping on the name "Jude" and sending out a quick text.

'Wnt to get 2 know new friend. Call you tmrrw -M' He stared at the message before sending it, grammatical errors and confusing lack of vowels and all. That done, he let out a content sigh and snuggled back down on his bed. Only for the alarm to go off the moment he got comfortable.

Martin gave the alarm clock a look of betrayal from across the room before dragging himself unwillingly out of bed to turn off the alarm and prepare for what would most certainly prove to be an uncomfortable job.

Martin didn't cut a very intimidating figure as he made his way to the pier, decked out in a navy rain coat with the hood pulled up in an attempt to keep the worst of the rain from his face, old jeans, a well-worn pair of sneakers, and dark shadows under his eyes made even more obvious by his choice to wear contacts today. A water-proof bag was slung over his shoulder containing the paperwork he'd spent so long on. Honestly, he looked more like a very young, rumpled college professor than a translator for a crime family, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Exhausted as he was, you really had to forgive him that he didn't care to notice the melodrama unfolding between Maya and Jackson or some of the other happenings around him. Instead, he made his way to the rain towards Suri's car- he'd seen it often enough to know what it looked like- and tapped on the passenger side window to get Cole's attention. He wanted this over with, thanks.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Aurora Ivanova
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"Shit is an understatement," Cole joked back to Suri as he searched his pockets for a cigarette. Being that the car itself stunk so sourly of cigarette smoke, he assumed it was alright. "You look nice," he'd add, knowing that he was definitely not her type. He glanced at her quickly then lit up a cigarette, pausing to answer her, "I think that Martin will help things go smoothly so I don't go pissing off a Russian when I tell them to hurry up and tap on my Rolex."

As he was about to continue, there was a faint rapping on the window. When Cole's indigo eyes shifted from the dashboard to the passenger door, he saw Martin's slightly disheveled face. Cole popped open the door for him, allowing him to get in with a mock greeting, "Top of the morning, sunshine." Slamming the door shut, he looked through the windshield again where he watched Maya and Jackson, his head hovered over by an invisible question mark.

"Nothing to worry about, just be on the look out. We've been having a string of bad luck with these --- unexpected visitors lately." He moved the seat forward so that Martin had plenty room to relax his legs. The driver then mentioned Frankie. Shit, Cole thought to himself, another one I let get through my fingers; am I losing my touch? Not wanting to cause concern, his lips jerked into a grin as he exhaled, smoke exiting his perfect white teeth, "Give it a few days. We'll get him, and your money."

Pulling into the harbor, the ferry shut its large search lights off. Cole saw a shadow dodging around the pier, but didn't pay much mind to it figuring his vision wasn't as honed as it should be. It was still so early that his eyes may have been failing due to lack of sleep and processing alcohol. "Time to get this over with," he stated to Suri and Martin, finishing his cigarette. Two large vans and an industrial-sized truck pulled up to the harbor, undoubtedly the ones to collect the commodities. Cole signaled to them as he got out of the car, the rain making his skin shiver vigorously. The drivers pulled up near the docks, opening their doors wide.

A few men jumped from the ferry, shouting and waving towards Cole. Nodding to Martin, he headed for them and threw his lamented cigarette into the thrashing water of the bay. Two broad shouldered men greeted Cole and Martin. The slightly taller one on the left muttered something in Russian, to which the one on the right explained, "I am Alexander and this is Kazimir." The shorter man Alexander had expired, cold looking gray eyes. His smile was friendly, but surely a ploy. "You must be Cole," Alexander continued, his accent thick. Cole curtsied a little with an eyebrow raise, then gestured towards the translator, "This is Martin, our business associate who will be helping with conversations, translating and paperwork."

As they conversed, discussing details, the men on the opposite end of the agreement never seemed to be bothered by the rain. While Cole and Martin worked out the specifics, Cole occasionally shuddered with the cold. He yanked at the sleeves of his jacket, listening as Alexander spoke.
"Let us be… Ah, hm… Vague, right?" Alexander's fangs shone as he asked.
"Sure," Cole nodded.
"We have… Hmm," Alexander appeared to struggle and glanced to the taller man.
"пятьдесят фунтов кокаина," Kazimir grunted, "Ассорти наркотиков."

Cole raised an eyebrow, looking to Martin. Alexander seemed a bit anxious as his crew began wheeling out the receptacles. He raised a hand for them to pause at his command, a short distance behind him. He wanted to be sure there was an understanding of payment and cartel, and by the looks of the Occheto boy, no one was quite sure.
"30,475 rubles," Alexander demanded, rubbing his hands together.
"Fifteen K," Cole said, at least confident in his currency converting skills, "I just need some validation."
"Validation?" Again Alexander looked confused and a bit flustered. Surely English wasn't his specialty.

Perhaps it would have been better if he had asked the girls to come along. More specifically, Aurora. She was of Russian descent and damn fluent in the language. Suddenly Cole felt like kicking himself in the ass for dragging Martin all the way out to deal with such things so early. He could have just asked of the paperwork and allowed the poor guy to get some rest for once in his life. Jackson was notably the only hard hand around, which made Cole nervous as it neared 4:30AM. Twitching, he grabbed for his phone and sent his sister a text. It was a last resort, and a fucking horrible one. But she could at least handle herself and keep her mouth shut. If no one spoke a word of it to Big Daddy, it would all be peachy keen.

Big Daddy would throw a fit like some sort of diva if he knew his son showed up after Suri and Jackson and then fell back on his baby sister for reinforcement. Antonio hated to see Maria get her perfectly dainty hands dirty; but to be fair the man was quite the contradiction. He threw her into a mess of drug dealings and weapon cartel, not to mention the murders, and treated her like an encased china doll.

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Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes
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Suri Desmond

Suri let out a small chuckle as Cole commented on how she looked "you don't look half bad yourself sugar" she said with a wink. She watche the ferry but then heard a few taps on the passenger sides window. Cole opened the door and let Martin in "Hey doll, you sure don't look like a morning bird" she joked then looked back at Cole.

When Cole mentioned that they should give Frankie's brother a few days she nodded her head and said nothing more on the subject. Cole finally said it was time and she nodded "Ill keep a look out, I am armed pretty good today". She got out of the car and watched as Cole and Martin went to speak to a couple of guys. She walked slowly behind them but kept a good distance as she kept an eye on the pier.

She looked over to Jackson and Maya then looked over towards the vans that pulled up, her good arm she held behind her so it would be easier for her to grab her weapon if anything was to go down. She really hoped this would go smoothly, she was sick of having to deal with dead bodies. She paced a bit as she kept lookout, she may not have the strength of some of then men but she sure was hell of a fighter and she also had her way with knives.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Kazuki "Daniel" Takahashi Character Portrait: Cole Occheto
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Rousing from her sleep, Maria twisted the sheets around her bare body and groaned in a dead, unenthusiastic manner. The clock on her dresser read 3:35AM. "Gotta' be shitting me," she muttered as she slammed a pillow over her face, clutching it. Assuming no one was home, she released a yawn that sounded more like a yell. Something stirred in her conscience. This generally meant she had no chance of getting back to sleep for at least a few hours. Rolling around for a moment, she met the edge of the bed. Shortly thereafter, she trundled onto the floor half intentionally.

Her landing was not pleasant, causing her to stand rather quickly. She fumbled with the sheets and eventually stripped them away, tossing them carelessly as she strode into her bathroom. After stealing a look at the mirror, she recoiled and grimaced, "Yeeeeesh." She gritted her teeth as she slunk into the shower. As she washed herself down, she recollected the events from the night before.

Did Skye get some rest and make up her mind about what to do? Maria hoped the young girl with the spunk would stay. Then her thoughts ambled towards the translator who now had become a bit familiar. Would Daniel even remember what happened after being so incredibly stupefied by the pain killers? Maria then recalled even kissing his head and invading his intimate space. God, she hoped he wouldn't remember. It almost made her look vulgar and rude. He'd think her some sort of tease that was out to toy with him and screw with his head. She didn't want that.

Her hands grabbed towards the shower knob, shutting it off. The rain was still making its presence known, pounding on the windows and roof. As she blow dried her hair, with her free hand she softly touched the bruise on her eye. It was fading, but it was taking its sweet time. When she finished with the dryer, she went to her phone only to find a text from her brother:
If you don't wake up, that's fine. But if you could come to the pier and help me oversee things that would be cool. Thanks Mae.

By the time she was nearing her vanity, it was obvious she wouldn't even have a minute to cram coffee down her throat before she rushed off to meet her brother and whoever else. She slopped her hair into a bun, some of her bangs falling to frame her face. Though her feet were still recovering from the night before, it was a labor of love. She pulled some suede short heel boots on after sliding into incredibly tight jeans. Usually she'd rather be caught in yoga pants before jeans, but it was barely light out and she didn't plan on seeing many people who'd actually care.

Nearly leaving the house topless, she was halfway down the stairs before she realized she had no shirt on. With a faint gasp, she hurried back up the steps and grabbed a long sleeve jean shirt. Adorning her thin wrists, she wore some clashing jewelry just for the hell of it. She hastily grabbed her keys and trotted towards her car. The rain was only letting up as she pulled into the pier. She jammed a glock into the back of her pants and hoped it would be enough. Hoping nothing at all would cause her to use it was a better invocation.

Image
Just beyond the loading vans, she could make out the silhouettes of Martin and Cole. Maria's brother waved to her, then turning to say something to the Russian men. Suri was making her way down the docks as well, meaning Cole had enough help where he was. Maria hoped Suri's arm wasn't too bad, being that she couldn't even stitch it up the night before. It was a tough job, and her hands were too shaky. She'd rather not risk it. Maria figured she could work on it later when she was less distracted. As for the time at the pier, she'd simply sit and watch, making sure all went as planned. It was an easy enough job, given that nothing unsightly occurred. She slumped halfway out of her driver seat, finally forcing herself to her feet and trudging to a brick wall to sit and watch. For a minute, she peered in the opposite direction of the transaction where Jackson's truck was parked. She had to wonder why her brother asked her to come if Jackson was there.

Overhead, the empyrean broke apart as clouds separated and gave way to the eager sun. It was as if it was outstretching its arms and yawning as it splashed light over the pier. Regardless, it was still lightly gray outside. She squinted at the ferry, then back to Jackson's truck. Then she saw him, cradling Maya under his arm like she was a lost puppy. That was why. "Inevitable," she mumbled to herself, slightly amused.

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Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes
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Maya looked at Jackson from the corner of her eye, taking a breath in, her eyes shut with shame as her head looked down into her lap, her hands in her lap, still with a elegant touch dispite her appearence and emotional break down back there. ''I-I sorry about your truck seat...I don't mean to be trouble. I just am.'' She'd then breathe out and in as she tried not to cry anymore especially as now she knew who it was, it wasn't who his was that bothered her, it was the fact that they knew eachother.

She'd dare not look out the window of the truck as she saw Maria look her way, she'd just place her hands over her face. ''They hate me...they do...I know it...why am I so stupid? God...I really have screwed up....'' She'd outwardly say, her words muffled by her hands then she'd turn her gaze, not her head to Jackson as he mentioned a place to go, taking her hands away from her face, her back arched inwardly. ''I...I can't go back to the house...Cole...Aurora..M-...take me to the Bistro...wait no..I can walk..yeah...I can walk...I am sorry for the trouble I can pay for your clothes..'' She'd then go to open the truck door then stop and her face crumbled into a pained sadness again. She'd look at the truck door's handle as she held it, her hand shaking.

''I have no where to go.'' She'd cry out. ''I am sorry...I can't hold in the damn tears...why am I so weak?'' She'd then take her hand away from the truck handle and put it back into her lap. ''I am sorry you are seeing Maria again...I know how much she meant..means to you.''

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Rosalinda Romero Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto
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Jackson Hughes

As he was nearing his truck, he saw a familiar car pull in. Maria was in the driver's seat, her hair pulled up in a sloppy mess and appearing less polished than usual. Truth be told, he preferred her that way. She was beautiful in whatever she chose to wear or embellish herself with, but he preferred the extremely short, wild haired girl if he was being honest. He pulled his attention away from the lost cause, plopping Maya into the passenger seat of his truck as he sighed a little, rubbing the back of his head.

Despite the state of her being, Maya was still debonair and aesthetically appealing. Jackson couldn't even deny that as his eyes raked over her, once up and once down. The woman crumpled under the weight of her own thoughts as she cradled her face in her hands. He leaned against the open door and the truck itself, almost shielding Maya as he began, "You've been with them almost as long as I have Maya. Shit, you know they don't hate you. These things happens. We work with the Occheto's, nothing is rainbows and butterflies."

As he looked over his shoulder briefly, he could make out roughly Cole, Martin and Suri. Slowly but surely their profiles began to fade, eaten up by the morning bay smoke. Then, trotting across the gravel and black top came Maria. Shortly after, she disappeared as well. He knew he was running short on time, and he wouldn't be able to get Maya any place now until after he was done with the Russian trafficking. "Just a second," he muttered as he shut the door after making sure Maya was secure and her hand was removed from the handle. He was by no means worried about his seats, they'd endured way worse things in their time.

He strode to the driver's side and pushed his body into the seat. He left the door ajar as he followed up Maya's rambling, "Tell you what," a hand reached towards his head to graze the skin as he contemplated what to do, "You just rest here and when this little transaction is over with I'll get you a hotel room." His muscular shoulders tensed a bit as his slate eyes glanced at her, "You're not weak, Maya. God damn, relax." A large hand rubbed her arm for a moment, then he continued, "Maria, she uh…" His eyes searched for the words.

The ferry shut all of its lights off as the sun finally made its presence inextinguishable. In spite of the gray color of the morning, it still fought ferociously. "She's not the same. She hates me, Maya. That's all there is. She isn't just some --- girl. She's different and I was the first man to be accepted into her life the way I was and I kind of fucked that up," he realized he was rambling, and suddenly felt guilty. "It's irrelevant, Maria, anyway… Let's just worry about getting you warmed up and then we'll see what happens after all this business is finished." He started up the truck and cranked the heat, "I'll be back."

The tall man slid out of the driver seat, shutting the door and holding the keys. He didn't want to risk the frazzled woman driving off or doing something stupid. As he made his way towards the ferry, he bumped into a petite woman with large eyes and dark hair. "Excuse me," he grunted, not wanting to seem rude as he stepped aside. She was unfamiliar and surely she --- well she had no business being there. Jackson stopped to examine her, unsure of her presence, "I didn't see you because of the fog," he waved a hand. He had to be polite to get some information out of her, so he sighed innocently and said, "I'm Chris." He almost gave away his real name, but he had to keep things under wraps.

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Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes Character Portrait: Jackson William Mathis
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Martin ducked into the car, grateful for the relief from the pounding rain. Water slid off his raincoat, dripping onto the seat, but he couldn't really bring himself to apologize for the swiftly dampening seats. The acrid smell of cigarette smoke, both imbedded into the very upholstery of the car and fresh, the cloud of smoke swirling around the enclosed space. He held in a cough. Of all the vices that the Occheto family had introduced him to- alcohol, drug dealing, lying to authorities, even...even murder- somehow he'd managed to stay away from the ever present cigarettes.

He made a long suffering, unamused face mixed with an undignified pout in response to Suri and Cole's comments, stretching out his long legs as space allowed. Just because they could pull off little to no sleep with style didn't mean that he could. As they finished talking business, he carefully tuned it out and stared out the window, watching little rain drops i a constant race down the side of the window.

Sooner than he would have liked, Martin followed Cole back out into the deluge, closing the door carefully behind him and holding his bag tightly. There was so much that could go wrong, even with Suri keeping an eye out and Jackson... doing whatever he was doing with Maya nearby. However, despite the nagging doubts that plagued his thoughts, Martin had schooled his expression into a serene look as they approached the ferry, all realistic but mostly fake confidence in his stride. Which was just as well since the two men they were meeting reminded him of sharks, ready to attack the moment they smelled weakness.

They went through the details with relative ease, and the paperwork was produced quickly and signed with no major problems even as the water continued to fall around them. Martin shivered, chilled despite his layers. His eyes widened slightly at the Russian, if only for a moment. No wonder this was such a big deal.

"аттестация," He said, smoothing over the language barrier with calm ease, his Russian almost impeccable. The only reason he switched over was his desire to be done with this. If they kept stumbling over words, this wouldn't end anytime soon. "это просто протокол, вы понимаете. Мы просто хотим, чтобы убедиться, что все в порядке для всех наших пользы. (Validated. It's just protocol, you understand. We just want to make sure that everything is in order for all of our benefits)



( Ooops. Didn't even realize that I'd put him in there. Sorry, sorry. XD )

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Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Julian Ortiz
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Maria's lime, nearly lifeless eyes wheeled around in her skull as she recognized Suri's voice. Her senses were dulled and blurry, her muscles ceasing to react to any violent attack made on her as she went slightly limp. The sky overhead once again turned inky as her mind fell under the power of hallucination induced by lack of air circulation. Her torso quaked with uneasiness, her abdomen buckling all at once as it was bare and exposed.

She blacked out when she hit the planks, only coming to when her eyes rapidly blinked at the sound of her brother screaming something. The noises and words were fuzzy as she rolled on the docks, her hands rubbing at the tender flesh of her neck. The mystified young lady looked around, scraping her body against the rough timber. A short distance away was Kazimir, the man who had attempted to strip her publicly. He was fumbling and grasping for his gun. On the other side of her, she heard Suri scrambling.

"Oooh," Maria groaned, the reanimated brain cells in her head throbbing from sudden flux of oxygen and pressure. Her eyes batted vigorously as she continued to teeter around on the boards, nearing the edge without knowing it. Her back hit a post just as her eyes were forced to face cudgeling water below. "Oh." She remarked almost sleepily, her palms grasping the very last margin of wood before the water. "Shit." Her voice was plain and unenthused as she realized she was just inches from tumbling into the bay in her half-conscious state.

She was sure she heard her cousin's voice blaring a warning. Her tired face cracked a smile beneath the sunglasses that still lingered on her face. You could always count on family. Hazily, she could make out the voice of Suri threatening one of the Russians indubitably. The small Italian ingenue lay there, dangling over the water laughing out loud. "Oh Suri," she said to herself, not aware no one was listening, "You're such a trouble maker." Her eyes closed again as she tried to regain a sense of focus. She had even fallen into a brief sleep, but was awoken by Suri hovering over her. "Hey," she crooned to her friend, "Hmmm."

Again she started to chuckle a little as she sat up, rubbing her head. Her throat felt coarse internally, her vocal chords strained whenever she spoke. Lying on the ground squalling was Kazimir, to which Maria grunted, "Huh. Ain't that a bitch." The man clambered to his feet, looking around with uncertainty.

Jackson Hughes
He hadn't realized he lingered there after Suri, Rosa and Julian left. Idly, his hand searched his pocket again for a cigarette but came up empty. It wasn't until he heard Maria's screaming that he booked it towards where the ferry was anchored. When he reached the quarrel, he slid to a halt, nearly falling right on top of Cole and Alexander. The Russian's face was almost an unrecognizable bloody pulp. "Man," Jackson intervened once, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Come on man, ease the fuck up!" Jackson tore Cole from the blubbering, whining man. Upon the announcement of the police being present, Alexander attempted to stand but fell hopelessly on his ass, his eyes too swollen to see. Cole tried to kick at the man's ribs, to which Jackson held him back. "This fucking scumbag tried to take Maria hostage or some shit," Cole yelled, kicking at the air as Jackson pulled him away. Heeding to that comment, Jackson's eyes trailed in another direction where Maria lay, topless.

Then he looked at Martin, a little angry that he just stood there the entire time. Well, in retrospect, Jackson was angry at himself for not being there. It wasn't Martin's job to enforce or handle. He was more of a bystander than anything. Sighing, Jackson dragged Cole past Martin and set him few feet away from the translator, "Just relax." Kazimir finally scrobbled to his partner, dusting him off and hastily getting them onto the ferry. Remarkably, none of their henchmen had come to betide.

Grimacing, he looked over his shoulder at Maria. His face crumpled as he looked at her bruised throat and the way she was draped in Suri's coat. He knelt beside her and snatched up her shirt, putting a hand to her face, "Hey," he said smiling, "You okay kid?" She simpered a little, nodding up at him. He nodded to Suri, trusting she had it under control. He handed the shirt over to Suri. As much as he wanted to scoop Maria up and take her home, he had other things to tend to. When the ferry was a safe distance away, a bullet struck the post beside Cole.

The wood splintered violently, causing the Occheto boy to shield his face with his forearm and yell, "Fucking pansies!" Faint laughter could be heard from the boat, as if the Russians thought it was all some sort of game. The mist finally broke away, the bay eating it up hungrily. The pier could clearly be seen from leagues away now. Jackson grinned, rolling his eyes as he strode past his friend and back to his truck. When he opened the door, he found Maya bare and scrunched up in his seat. He raised a brow, figuring his morning didn't end half bad on reexamination. Quietly he crawled into the driver seat and towards a hotel.

With a screeching halt, the truck pulled up in front of a Sheraton. It was Maria's place of choice, which somehow rubbed off on Jackson. Pulling a spare coat from behind his seat, he cloaked Maya in it as he tried to wake her, "Hey." His large hand grasped her shoulder, shaking her softly.

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Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes
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The way his touch enlivened her, or so it seemed, was satisfying and gratifying to Jackson. He hadn't experienced either emotion in a long time. Still, he felt conflicted. Just moments before muttering a sexual comment into Maya's hair, he was cradling his ex girlfriend's face. Instantly, he wanted to facepalm himself for thinking of Maria. Those feelings on her part at least, were long gone. Halfway out the door, he'd want to answer Maya.

He stopped dead, cracking the door to reply to her last suggestion as he relived her touch on his torso, "I guess it depends on whether or not you like to be roughly handled." A grin played on his face, handsome as ever yet devious. He could have quivered with delight and anxiety as he thought about how she played with his earlobe before he pulled away from her.

"I think you should go buy yourself something nice to wear to work tonight. Let me show you off a bit." He winked at her and let the door close.Turning on his heel, he headed back for his truck and fought the urge to turn right around and drag Maya to the suite and throw her in the bed. He sat back into the driver's seat, inhaling deeply with his hormones and thoughts raging. He'd have to return to his friend at some point, make sure he was alright. Cole was probably going insane after not being allowed to gut Alexander in the broad daylight for what he'd subjected Mae to.

He had to grab a fresh pack of cigarettes to calm his thoughts where Maya was concerned. He stepped out of his truck, pulling on a fresh suit coat that he'd bought a couple of days back. The sun overhead lit up the parking lot of the Sheraton, making him crack yet another smile as he stuck a cigarette between his lips.
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Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Kazuki "Daniel" Takahashi Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Aurora Ivanova
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Cole Occheto

The sun descended as the Chicago morning droned on. A few blocks over, car horns blared and the sound of metal gates could be heard. Everyone who had business to attend to was already wide awake, reducing the security of their shops and vehicles. For such a harsh storm, Cole was amused to see it had dwindled into mere dew drops. The air was brisk, chilling his fingers as he retrieved a cigarette, lighting it and looking at Martin, "It is my fault." Virile hands rubbed together for a moment before one reached for the nicotine stick. No sooner than the smoke left his mouth, it deliquesced into the dawning's frigid, moist breath, "Because I was more worried about the conditions I was under with some bullshit drug deal than my sister's well being."

Even in the state of his repentance, he still wore a goofy grin. When Martin said it wouldn't happen again, as if it were a promise, Cole had nodded briskly and took another drag of the coffin nail. They made their way to their vehicles, which stopped Cole short as his azure eyes hardened with his jaw line. He fumbled with his keys in his free hand before he hit the unlock button, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." The words had slipped so carelessly from his mouth, perhaps meant to be more of a silent thought. "Just don't tell anyone about what happened here. My dad's got a bug up his ass already."

He paced to Martin, locking a hand on his shoulder. "If I ever freeze up like that, if there's no time to slap me in the head to put me in the right mindset… I mean if it's Mae…" His fingers flicked the cigarette away, an instant reflex of his hand then followed by a palm on his head, "Even if I'm not around. If you see something like that --- …" He didn't want to tell anyone what to do in retrospect, so he stepped back, shaking his head and smiling, "Shit, forget it man. I'll see you in a couple of hours." He turned on his heel and readjusted his leather jacket before stepping beside the ajar door of his car.

"We'd be lost without you. You're a great help." He made a mock salute before getting into his car to disappear from the scene of a macabre delinquency. When he reached the house, he darted inside and began singing some opera in Italian, undoubtedly a call for Aurora to make her presence known. Then, after a bit of silence, he leaned against the fridge and sighed. His eyes were weighing his head down and it didn't help that his thoughts were ugly and corroded.


Maria Occheto
Though she was in an odd time pendulum the majority of her life, causing her to feel deja-vu-esque or even irritated with the downtempo passing of moments, she never found herself bored with Daniel. Well, perhaps she was jumping the gun as she'd only really noticed his existence a few days ago, but she did enjoy his company. She felt pretty at home, even in his miniature apartment.

Daniel crumpled physically, seeming to sink into the chair. If Maria knew body language as well as she thought, this was an undertaking produced by ill thoughts and not pain. But she felt as though she were already asking too many questions, so she wouldn't pry much more. He didn't seem the type to disclose such things, anyway. When they met eyes again, the most she could do was give him a reassuring grin from over her tea mug. Finally a smile crossed his face again at long last after he spoke about the tea bundles and ceremonies and his mother. It was magical for Maria to just sit and listen for a while. She nodded occasionally as he told of his mother's history.

"I could have guessed you were a bit of 'this' and 'that.' I see a lot of different origins come in and out of Buca." In one swift gulp she had finished all of the piquant tea, satisfactory to her sore throat even despite the burning. She set the bare glass down on the nearest surface, sitting upright to rest her elbows on her knees. "But, as I was saying... my mother grew up with tea and she made sure that well, I did too. She has always been... very adamant that I 'stay in touch with my roots'." Maria wore a silly simper at this, completely comprehending the precise ideals behind the saying. She rose to her feet, itching her head a bit. Her mind was all at once clawing its way out, wanting to speak.

Instead, she picked up the mug and idly paced to Daniel's kitchen sink where she set it after rinsing it out. With her back to him, she gripped the metalized veneer, "I know all too well. I'd like to meet her, you know. Maybe learn something about tea bundles." Her head sunk between her shoulders, her voice straining and croaking. Once agile, perhaps turned feeble and dim by the morning's events, her eyes closed. She let out a hoarse cough before turning around as if nothing happened, "I should go." She had lost track of time and she would be needing to open up early at the bistro. She completely forgot they ran a morning bakery special on Mondays only.

Jackson Hughes

As much as the alcohol and lack of sleep weighed on him, he simply couldn't get tired. Wicked images of his best friend's sister twisted in his thoughts along with the sultry grin that belonged to Maya. A little excitement mangled in the pit of his stomach as he drove towards Cole's condo, thinking about seeing Maya again. Even with his feelings and conscious quite jumbled, he knew he was at least interested in the cocktail waitress if nothing else. If nothing else, it would be some fun.

The large truck rumbled into the driveway, nearly hitting one of Cole's mirrors. "Whoa," Jackson said gruffly as he cut the wheel violently and hit the brakes to park. The word came out in a slurred garble, obvious enough that he needed coffee and plenty of water. He tumbled out of the driver seat and made his way up the set out of outdoor stairs which wouldn't have bothered him any other day. But today, he was just plain beat. And judging from the lacking character and enthusiasm of Cole and Martin at the docks, everyone else was too.

He pushed the door open with brute force that nearly hit his friend who was slouched against the fridge. "Well hey there baby cakes," Jackson said with a handsome grin, then continued, "What are you doing, crying?" Cole lifted his head to look at Jackson and shook his head. Jackson only laughed, "Faggot."



[sorry trying to keep everyone on the same page and make everything as jointed as possible.]

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Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Kazuki "Daniel" Takahashi Character Portrait: Lance Coyer
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Maria Occheto

It was far beyond the realm of practicality for Maria to fathom the idea of conversing and relaxing for a day. But she was prone to fantasizing especially in the company of someone who was so --- untainted. The quaint home swallowed her, making Maria a victim of its charm. Or maybe it was that... She felt safe. If anyone really wanted to find her it would not be difficult. But there was some unorthodox comfort settling her nerves. She was far away from what threw her into the line of fire so frequently. In spite of her stirring conscience, at least she was away from the contraband and monsters she encountered regularly. It wasn't just the Russians, she had seen evil come in numerous different shapes and sizes.

"You didn't bore me," she began. She truthfully wanted to tell him he entertained her mind in a way that hadn't been executed in months. But, that was all due to Her personal taste and intrigue. Disclosing that may be too much. "I enjoy talking here... With you." Her grassy eyes scanned the kitchen, "It's just that, I remembered it's Monday. Most people don't know, but I run a morning special only on Mondays out of the restaurant. A little bake sale type of thing. Since I do it alone, I should probably get there early to get ahead... " A further explanation was about to leave her lips when Daniel made a not-so-subtle gesture about her throat. How would she deflect that?

"Thank you for the tea... It should help with this cold I seem to be getting." An idle hand dug for her keys in the back pocket of her jeans. Finally she managed to jam her hand between the fabric. She wondered how she even fit the keys in there in the first place. The sentiment of the conversation she shared with Daniel lingered heavily in her mind. Despite the pain it caused her internally when speaking of family, there was some sort of bliss to be had there, and that much she was sure she shared with Daniel. She felt guilty for just leaving but it was nearing 9:30AM. "I'm sorry Daniel," she blubbered as she hurriedly unbolted the door."I'll see you tonight?" Suddenly she felt awkward as she smiled and blew a kiss and disappeared from his apartment.

The sign was dull and unlit in the daylight as Maria forced the front doors open. From miles away the sun greeted her happily, to which she smiled and squinted as she backed into her father's establishment. She nearly fell ass-first, bumping someone or something. It was the FBI agent. With a sigh, Maria glowed and mused, "Something tells me you're not here for Maya." With a sort of disdain, she walked past him, her long dark hair billowing behind her. She disappeared into the kitchen where she began heating chocolates and sauces, prepping dough and batter.

[please everyone read this post before you send your characters to Buca; it doesn't open officially until 3PM. no one really aside from Lance, Cole, Jackson, Aurora, Suri or should be showing up until 3. I know it's a pain to wait and I'm sorry.]

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Cole Occheto Character Portrait: Aurora Ivanova Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes
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Cole Occheto

With the entrance door flying in his direction, more than likely going to split his nose open for the second time in just days, he didn't move. A large hand caught it before it hit him though, and in strode Jackson. Jackson's toying didn't amuse him much as he rejoined the insult that rolled off his friend's tongue with a swift, somehow compassionately soft kick to the nuts. From the open doorway a short distance away, Aurora came through like quite the little busy homebody. Before anyone answered her about a request for coffee, she got right to it. "You're an angel," Cole said quietly as he smirked at Jackson, the comment directed towards his girlfriend.

His petite ingenue scolded Jackson for instigating, but it was generally how the two got on. "You're probably the one who's been crying, pussy." Cole grinned as he slunk towards Aurora as her back was to him while she pulled mugs from the pantry. A line of soft kisses was planted down her neck, "I missed you." He wrapped his arms around her for a split second before pulling away to grab some aspirin. Sunlight ardently gushed through the window above the sink, sparking the kitchen with exultation and triumph. It was nice to see after such an evil storm.

Cole's foot extended to hook under a chair and pull it from the table so he could sit. Once planted in the chair, he popped three aspirin into his mouth dry. He had to force them down, but they were much needed. "By the way you were pouting and throwing a fit last night, I wouldn't be surprised if you followed Mae home from Buca." It was mere taunting. Little did Cole know he hit the nail on the head with that one.

The morning had dragged on even though it only took an hour or two. Events such as that had the tendency to gnaw at Cole's compunction and make him feel like less of a man and more of a golem. Martin probably thought Cole was the saddest excuse of a big brother and business associate. He wanted to face palm over and over. He still had some trouble admitting to himself that he more or less dangled his sister in front of the Russians calling, "Bon appétit!" and ringing a fucking dinner bell. It was really stupid of him in the shape of recent events to ask her to cover his ass when he couldn't even cover hers.

Jackson Hughes

Doubled over, the broad shouldered man sighed and lamented, "Alright you got me." In his mind, he was planning a way to get Cole back. He'd have to do it when he least expected it, though. Which would make it all the better. He had to restrain himself so he wouldn't rub together his hands deviously and give away his master plan. Straightening up at Aurora's question, Jackson rejoined, "I might still be buzzing, actually." A stupid grin spread over his face as he took a seat near Cole. He seemed fairly jubilant.

His mind was discharging in ten different directions at once as he plotted a prank on Cole, anticipated seeing Maya again, and regrettably how Maria was doing. As a matter of fact, when Cole mentioned his little sister and Jackson stalking her, he winced a little. He almost jumped to defense then inwardly told himself to just relax, it was a joke and not a sworn statement. "Pouting? Get the hell out of here. I was just tired and bitchy." The scar on his lip became protuberant as he smiled, running a hand over his head and continuing, "So how about Maya? Opinions?"

He directed his questioning more towards Aurora. Perhaps if it was asked to Cole, he might get himself into trouble. It was no secret that his eyes wandered and he would rarely pull his eyes from a beautiful woman. But even that didn't negate the fact that Aurora and he were more than likely soulmates.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Jackson Hughes Character Portrait: Maxxie Williams
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Jackson Hughes

He lingered for a while until the puppy love between Cole and Aurora was too much. In a bag he had lugged inside with him was a change of clothes he'd get into after showering at Cole's. There was no use in getting a hotel room if he could avoid it. He wasn't even cheap, he just didn't sleep much. For a while after getting dressed he stayed in the back yard, chain smoking and wondering if he should go get breakfast. It was a shame, being so torn. He was craving one of Maria's pastries.

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As it neared 10:30AM, he finally shrugged and pulled on his jacket and a black beanie en route to his truck. He yanked his hood over his head, the weather surprisingly biting for the sun being so bright. When he was finally to Buca he hastened inside, literally ready to kill someone just for a canoli. The sweet smell of Italian bread and fruit penetrated his senses when he walked in, greeted by the sight of Maria still in the same clothes from this morning. He would have worn a grin had he not seen Maya.

Gracefully, he slightly slid over to her and said, "Well well, you put that money to good use." His eyes grazed the woman thoroughly, she still looked good enough to eat. She, like Maria, was beautiful and breath taking with or without the make up. He considered himself blessed to be in the company of so many beautiful women. He shrugged towards Maria, escorting Maya over to a table where they could leave Maria to her business and have some privacy.

"I didn't expect to see you so soon." He bit at his lip, locking eyes with her for a moment and sucking air through his teeth. "Did you get any rest?" A hand moved a chair for her to sit, then he sat across from her.


Maria Occheto
Maria had rigged a bell up on the entrance doors especially for Mondays. When it chimed, she rushed out of the kitchen, a tray of bread and cake in hand with her apron spattered by eggs and flour. She set the tray down on the display case, "Well good morning," she breathed to the rather extraordinary brunette woman. "Looks like you definitely need something to eat." Maria wore a charming smile, careful not to offend but merely joke and be hospitable.

For a moment the small Italian girl disappeared behind the counter to park her panettone and cakes on the shelves to be presented through the glass. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, which usually caused an instinct reflex of grabbing it and reading the message instantly. But while in the presence of the new woman she simply ran her manicured hands up and down her apron, anticipating the customer's next move.

But then someone else spilled through the entrance --- Maya. Tilting her head and raising a brow, Maria simpered at her friend as if giving her a sort of 'I know what you're up to' look. Then Maria was even more floored when Jackson strode in, wearing a Supreme jacket that was well, her favorite. More times than one, she would wear it despite it being a dress on her as she sat outside to endure the cold and keep Jackson company as he burned a cigarette. She fought the urge to grind her teeth at the way Jackson greeted Maya. "Hello, you two," she sighed and turned her attention back to the newcomer, wearing smile that could fool anyone. She didn't have time or patience for Jackson's games, so she wouldn't entertain them.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Skye Keaton Character Portrait: Suri Desmond Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Lexi Belle Character Portrait: Katherine Valle
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Suri Desmond

Suri was leaning against the door as she waited for Lexi to come out, she looked through her bag that carried some of her drugs. She was craving a fix, she hasn't had one in a couple days because of all the shit thats been going on she hasn't really been able to focus on her own needs. But unfortunately before she could even decide what to take Lexi came out....but not dressed. Suri looked at the skinny girl and quicklynshook her head "Ah come with me, I think I have a few things that you could wear. They might just be a bit big though".

She led Lexi to the spare room and opened the closet "there has to be something in here" she muttered under her breath. She sorted through the clothes and found a small pair of dark jeans and a white tank top and handed them to Lexi "If the jeans are too big there is a belt in the top drawer of the dresser over there" she pointed to the dresser and then went to head out. Before she left the room she turned her head to look at Lexi "ill be in the car waiting, don't dilly dally I have a customer showing up soon". Suri definately did not like showing up late for anything.

Suri went outside to her car and got in, she took a few pills from her bag, wishing she had the time to smoke but she didn't. After taking the pills she lit up a cigarette and smoked while she waited for Lexi. Once Lexi got in the car, Suri smiled and then drove off down the road, it didn't take long for her to get to the parlor. She parked in her usual spot "okay lets go open up shop" she said to Lexi then got out of the car and headed to the front door of the parlor. What she didn't expext was a red haired beauty curled up in front of the door, trambling badly.

"Demi?" she knelt down and put her hands on the girls knees, she knew the signs of withdrawel, she has been through them herself before. She stood up and quickly unlocked the door and picked up Demi. "It'll be okay Sugar, I got just what you need" she whispered and went to the backroom of the shop and laid Demi down on the table she had back there. "Lexi just start going through papers, if a customer comes in tell them I will be right with them" she yelled to Lexi then put her focus back on Demi.

She opened up her bag and got out a needle and some crank, she got the drug ready then got Demo's vein ready. When everything was set she gently eased the needle into the girls vein and let the drug seep into the vein. After she was done she put a blanket over Demi to keep her warm and sat down on a chair that was positioned across from the girl. "Its been awhile Sugar" she whispered putting her own hand on Demi's.

Skye Keaton

Skye fidgeted with her shirt a bit "no need to be nervous around my mom, shes pretty laid back and pretty much accepts anyone." When Kat went on about furniture she nodded her head in agreement "I love this couch, one of my favorites and it also has a lot of memories". Just as she was going to explain some of the memories her mom called them to the table because the food was ready. "Don't want the food to get cold" she said as she stood up and went to the kitchen and sat down at the table that had four chairs to it. On the table there was two plates that held pancakes and eggs, there was two pitches of juice, one grape and one orange, and there also was a bowl of fruit.

"Okay girls eat up, I have to take mine to go. Julie just called and needs me to come in early" Shannon explained as she went over to Skye and kissed her on the forehead "Stay orut of trouble sweetie, I still wished you would have come worked at the Bakery but I understand you don't want to work with your Mami" she joked but gave Skye a hug then went over to Kat and patted the girls shoulder "Eat up sweetie, there is more in the fridge if you are still hungry afterwards, I will probably see you later" she then headed our of the kitchen and went to get ready before heading to work.

Skye blushed a little as her mother went on, after her mother left the room she poured herlself a glass of oranje juice then started to eat small bites of her food. "My mom will probably try to feed you alot, that is what she does with me. She thinks I am too skinny and needs to put on some weight, I think I am fine but they always say mothers know best" she let out a small laugh as she continued to eat.

While she ate she thought about last night and her hand gripped her fork, she finally made up her mind, she decided she wasn't going to go to work tonight. Every time she worked there someone died, and last night she murdered someone, she took someones life and she just couldn't get the image od her jabbing the knife into the guys chest out of her mind. She also wanted to be available if Frank decided to want to meet up. She really hopped the investigator would be able to find out who her father is. As she was thinking she stopped eating and she was looking down at herbplate but her faced showed that she was distracted with her thoughts.

Maxxie Williams

Maxxie was looking at the muffins when she heard someone else walk in, she turned to see a good looking guy walk over to a women and took her to a table a bit aways. She looked at the two for a few minutes before she heard footsteps which made her look back over to the counter. There stood a women holding a thing of bread in one hand and a cake in another, flour and egg splattered over the apron. She couldn't help but smile. The women greeted her warmly and commenting on that she needed to eat more. "Good morning to you also, and yes I have been told that alot but I eat alot and still can't seem to keep the weight on" she smiled then looked over the food.

She watched the women put the food in the display "this is my first time here, I am new in town kind of and just having a loom around and alao trying to find something good for breakfast for my sister and I" she said as she tried tondecide on what she wanted. She kept her eyes on the women as she seemed to greet the other two that were sitting at the table. The women then looked back at her but she could tell thebsmile the women gave her was kind of fake.

"How about you pack me up a bag of your best, suprise me" she said with a smile and went to grab her wallet. Thats when she noticed that she must of left her phone at the house. She hoped Kenzie wouldn't notice or try to call her because that would just make things worse for her when she would go back home. She took out her debit card that was in the name of her alias Grace Parker, she was not suppose to have anything on her that held her real name just in case anything happened, she could not have her identity breached. Also in her bag she held a gun, the bag was a big one so that no one could really tell what was in it.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Skye Keaton Character Portrait: Maria Mae Occheto Character Portrait: Martin Ross Character Portrait: Maya Stillwater Character Portrait: Kazuki "Daniel" Takahashi Character Portrait: Cole Occheto
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Cole Occheto
By the time Jackson had crept off to the shower, Cole was holding Aurora in his lap and tugging at her hair with his fingers as he kissed her. He had put away more than three large mugs of coffee and was ready for whatever else the day provided or challenged. His cobalt eyes were vital and dancing in the presence of Aurora, who he playfully tossed out of his lap with a bounce of his knee, "As much as I'd like to drag you to the bathroom with me…"

He stood, threw off his jacket then pulled his shirt over his head. With a wicked grin, he laughed, "It looks like you already got yourself dolled up for the day and I'd hate to ruin your hair and progress." When she raised a brow at him, he tried to withhold a chuckle as he grabbed his shirt and jacket. It was obvious that despite what he spoke, he was going to take her with him whether she agreed or not. He charged her suddenly, dodging under her and wrapping one arm around her waist to hoist her over his shoulder.
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After the two shared a hot, protracted shower, they got dressed. Cole's body heaved and shuddered with lechery from the encounter. It wasn't often, or, well, ever that a woman intrigued and continued to deliver and surprise him the way Aurora did. Maybe what his sister said was right, their destinies were wreathed from the getgo. Since he laid eyes on her. As he looked over her in her towel, he was sure it was the case.

He dressed himself in gray dress pants and suede boots. As usual, he buttoned up a white Ralph Lauren long sleeve and messed with his hair a little. It was long after two by the time Aurora and himself ceased their play and lunch together. Soon they'd both have to be off to work. He insisted he drive her to work in the case that he drowned her in shots again.
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Maria Occheto
The sun curtailed a little, the keen wind outside picking up. She couldn't rightfully decide whether she was happy or sad for that matter. Maria had planned in her mind a little dress for work that night, and regardless of the weather, she was damn sure going to wear it. The more she thought about it, the more she ached and longed to be home. Usually running the bakery on Mondays was relieving and relaxing; she just wasn't going to shake the upheaval from the illegal traffic this morning. The rain should return. It would suit her rather clandestinely tyrannized mood that Jackson and Maya's presence was not helping.

With all the Italian gourmet treats garnishing the shelves, it really was a site to see. Canolis were stuffed to the brim with a variety of fillings: strawberry cream, chocolate chip, caramel and plain. Though her mother taught her the classics, she liked to mix it up and experiment. Circular trays bore reflections of decorated cakes and loafs. Unbeknownst to Maria's father it was all priced reasonably low. She sold whole homemade cakes for just $8.98, and they were generously sized. Besides, who would he be to set the prices? She was the one who took the time to prepare it all and came up with the idea.

From the beautiful woman's mouth came a request people too often entrusted Maria with. But it was always flattering and a desire she was happy to handle. Maria opened up a brown paper bag, "You got it." Into the bag she placed carefully wrapped muffins and canolis, various slices of sweet Italian bread and cakes. Since the girl was new to town, Maria rolled up and folded the bag neatly, handing it to her, "It's on me. Welcome to Chicago." When the woman took it, Maria rejoined, "I'm Maria. My dad owns this shack." Her tone was sarcastic as she gestured around the dining room with an extended hand.

"Come back, alright? Our dinners might have the desserts beat." With a grin, Maria bade the woman farewell and began to close up the case and put the leftovers in the fridge. Time had gone extremely slow but then unexpectedly rushed past, leaving her with little time to get home. She wore fronted joviality on her sleeve as she waved to Jackson and Maya, hurrying to her car. She'd have time to handle her emotions and whatever Lance needed from her in an hour or so.

When she was just getting in the door, Cole and Aurora were on their way out. She called to them as they passed, letting them know she may be a little late. The Occheto girl dashed around her house between showering and preparing her hair and make up. Finally, after too much time being taken it seemed, she yanked a pale gray-blue dress over her body and buckled a series of rather obnoxious clasps on her shoes. Her hair was for once flat ironed and silky, her neck adorned in a gold necklace.

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Upon her return to the bistro, it was already buzzing with bar clientele and the occasional Monday regulars. Many came for the fettucine special and baked lobster. Maria couldn't blame them. Her stomach ached at the realization she hadn't eaten in over a day... And at the thought of seafood. She dwelled in the daylight for a bit, remembering to check her texts. A good friend had sent a warning:
This is just a guess, but does a dark haired girl with piercings work for you? She was running her mouth by a local cafe. Just curious.

Maria huffed a little, shoving the iPhone into her bra. Skye, she thought to herself as she gritted her teeth. That would have to be taken care of promptly, but for the time being she had customers and a bar to tend do. She inhaled the last mouthfuls of sunlight and daytime air she'd get, then strode inside of Buca where she was greeted by a crowd at the bar and smiling wait staff. Running a hand through her hair, she plopped her purse behind the bar and began serving. She trained her eyes on the door, as if anticipating Martin and Daniel.