Whether or not she knew of his presence all along was unclear, she did not seem surprised when he called out, though. When he complimented her work, she gave a thumbs up. "Thanks," without much heart in it. Until he spoke of buying her a drink, and that's when she stopped and turned. It wasn't greed that motivated her change of heart, though, it was curiosity. "Do people actually pay for drinks here?" she asked, a blond brow perking up above the rim of her sunglasses, a smirk painted on that pretty face which was admittedly a bit twisted. The shining of her burning eyes was visible through the glasses, but ultimately harmless when filtered. A hand was resting on her hip which was slightly cocked outward, awaiting his answer, expecting to be impressed, or amused by it.


Her not turning around or being surprised by his presence didn't seem to hinder him as he pushed on. It wasn't until she turned around that he stopped in his tracks a few paces behind her, loosely crossing his arms over his chest. He wasn't built too impressively, but he had the torso of a swimmer and the legs of a runner which pushed him a few inches above six feet. Her question brought a wry grin from him as a steel gaze lifted to the clouded sky. "It depends, does a five finger discount apply?" His chin lowered then, his own brows lifting expectantly at her. He looked to the swarm of color portrayed through the dark shields of her glasses, a moment before he kept a steady stare to the bridge of her nose for safe measure. When he replied, a smirk threatened her features, but was bit back and she squinted at him, almost sternly, like she was assessing him. Looking on with heavy consideration, she nodded. "Yes, but only if you tell me all about your favorite parts of the show," she said, perhaps a bit of a narcissist when it came to her work. She chewed on her lip and raised a brow that spoke of those being her terms. Take them or leave them! She came out of that lean and folded her arms back over her chest, awaiting his answer with the patience of a damned saint.


Standing his ground beneath that heavy stare, he merely kept his brows raised and waited. It wasn't until she answered that the wide smile split his features and he nodded, brief in it's appearance before he furrowed his brows and took a slow step forward. "Hm, I suppose all of it isn't a suitable answer then," he said it as a statement instead of a question, his tone teasing. With a slow sigh escaping his lungs, he rolled his shoulders and closed the distance to stand next to her. "I guess I'll start from the beginning then," a flash of a toothy smile was shot at her before he nodded his head. "Unless you want to subject yourself to this ****ty tavern, shall we go find a bar?"


Watching him carefully, her own expression split into a grin. There was a part of her that wanted to figure him out, find out what made him tick....why he didn't seem even remotely afraid of her. "Mm... No, it's not," she shook her head. "Too vague, would hardly stroke my ego," Jamie told him. Then he spoke of starting from the beginning and she nodded. "Pass," to subjecting herself to the tavern in question. "I know a place, walk with me," said Jamie as she began down the alley. "You got a name or am I to just refer to you as my number one fan?" she asked, glancing over to him with an amused smirk.


It wouldn't be suggested to ask him directly, he'd only do his best to piss her off in the process. Releasing a sigh again when she said it wasn't enough, he nodded. "I understand," with a shrug of his shoulders. "Since that's what I'm here for, right?" A coy smirk hooked the corner of his mouth as he arched a brow at her, mirth flickering though otherwise cold steel. He almost looked relieved that she had no interest in the Red Dragon, fighting a roll of his eyes as he lifted his chin instead. A brief narrow of his eyes was shot to her. "I will... because I want to, not because you told me to." His tone hinting to defiance as he trailed after her. The request of his name brought a snicker from his lips. "As endearing and ego-boosting as that may be for you... you can call me Hyde." Cutting a glance her way when he reached her side. "And you? Or should I just call you Ego?" His tone teased again while that crocodile smile returned.


Lips pursed lightly as she walked, she stared ahead and the corner of her mouth twitched in a light smirk. "At least you know where you stand," said Jamie with a crinkle of her nose. He amused her, she'd give him that... "Oh, aren't we sassy?" she said to his response to her 'request' for him to walk with her. Snickering lightly, her eyes shifted over to him. "Hyde," she repeated it, then mouthed it as if wanting to taste it on her lips. "I like that," she finally gave her assessment. "Ego... I don't think that suits me very well," it totally suited her. "...How about Jamie?"


Her retort brought a snicker to his lips, a glimmer of amusement with it. His arms stayed crossed over his chest, relaxed instead of stiff as he walked alongside her. "I prefer the word 'bold'... my jeans aren't quite tight enough to be defined as sassy today," he noted with a lean of shoulders to look at his pants. They were tight just about everywhere except where they hung low on his hips and loose enough to accommodate. There was a brief nod to her repeat of his name, that only one he went by now. "So do I," he cackled lightly, a sound that crackled in his chest. He cut her a side glance with one brow lifted in a... 'bold', not sassy, bold.. expression that said he wasn't so sure he believed her objection to the Ego name before he turned his eyes forward. "Hm," he hummed, "Jamie..." As if giving it a thorough inspection with his tongue. "...It'll do," he resolved.


When he spoke of his jeans, she turned her head as if to inspect them herself. She tilted her head from one side to another before nodding, "I can agree with that," biting back the urge to call him Sassy Pants. If he ever did wear a suitable pair of jeans around her, she'd definitely stick him with that nickname. Pursing her lips, she finished her assessment and then turned away from him. An old door was located to the right of the alley, and she moved toward it. "Place is abandoned, but... that's part of its charm.. I prefer to drink alone," she told him. "But... I guess I can make an exception for you." Squint! She grinned and pulled the old rusty door open.


Well Sassy Pants rolled off the tongue better than Bold Pants, so he'd make it work. He'd claim he'd make just about anything work even if he clearly wasn't, sometimes the magic of illusion was confidence. There was a shift of a glance while she assessed him, that inevitable lift of a brow but he said nothing about it. Keeping in step with her, he turned toward the door when she did. "A loner.. Can't say I'm totally surprised," he muttered, giving her a once over. There was a hook of a smirk when told he was an exception. He fought back the lame pun of being 'exceptional', else she decided to stick him with the Sassy Pants description anyways. Not one to be a gentleman, her opening the door had him heading toward it though took no care of her personal space as that crocodile grin spread wide to flash teeth. "Inviting a stranger to an abandoned building for a drink. Bold," though he really wanted to say reckless. The grin disappeared as quick as it came before he slinked inside to give a look around.


"I make my exceptions, but yes... I tend to stay alone," she said. "Unless I'm bored..." When he stepped through she walked after him. When he talked of her recklessness but used a nicer word, she quirked a brow. "Seems like the best way to do it... Nobody around to hear one of us scream," then she looked him up and down with a smirk. "...or both." The place was lit only by the moonlight filtering in through the windows and holes in the foundation. There was a slightly musty smell to the place, but all-in-all, it wasn't falling apart. The bar was in one piece, the shelves were still stocked. If he didn't mind a little dust and a lot of privacy, this was the place.


He snickered, that touch of mirth to his tone as he fought a smirk. "What else are people good for other than entertainment?" Though it hinted at sarcasm, the sharpness of his words leaned more toward truth. He didn't have much use for people other than entertainment... or things far less pretty. He stepped further inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting after a moment and set the room much brighter than first glance. Thank youuu, Jackson. A brow perked to her mention of screaming, able to be seen when he turned his head slightly to glance over his shoulder at her. The sweep over him was caught and those two words that brought that toothy grin back. "Don't care for an audience?" He teased. "Shame." That grin followed him as he turned his head and stalked toward the bar, pausing to swipe fingers over the dusty counter before rubbing them to his palm. "You're in desperate need of a maid," he informed her, that crackling sound rolling through his chest before he plucked at the sleeves of the shirt to hike them up higher. His nose twitched to the musky scent, but didn't seem all that bothered by it. After another sweep of steel orbs, he glanced to her. "And yet, still much better than the Inn," he noted.


"Not much... Most people are just playthings...and food," she admitted with a crinkle of her nose. She wasn't a fan of people, but he'd have a hard time figuring out why just yet. She followed him behind the bar and raised an eyebrow, "Not on the first go of it," she admitted. "If a guy's lucky enough for round 2, then we can talk the kinky stuff." Moving past him, she put her back against the bar and lifted her hands to shove herself up onto the wood and sit there with her legs dangling. "You know, I had one, but I have this awful habit of pissing off the help... Go figure," she shrugged and snickered. "The Inn loses its appeal with all the obnoxious patrons it brings in... Seriously, some creatures should just live in a cage..."

"Feel free," to the idea of him haunting her. Especially if he was an angry spirit that would just be like a wandering buffet. All you can eat, baby. She crinkled her nose lightly and puffed on the cigarette. As for the manners, she preferred him without them. "So, Hyde." Blowing out the smoke as she regarded him with smoldering orbs filtered through the glasses. ".. I do believe you owe me an ego-stroking," she said, raising an eyebrow. "A deal's a deal~" she almost chimed with the filter of the cigarette tickling her lips.


"Just remember you gave me permission," he let out a cackle. If he died from losing a fight? Oh yeah, he'd definitely be an angry spirit. Downright poltergeist at that point. So she'd have her own little feeding bag with him haunting her. It's good she preferred him without manners, else she really would really be disappointed. "Hm?" He hummed, raising a brow as he fit the filter between his lips and sucked down more smoke, switching out that vice for a swallow of Everclear. Setting aside the bottle, he grinned and nodded, letting out a cackle when his mouth was clear. "That was part of the deal wasn't it?" He settled that sterling gaze on her then, faintly narrowed as he took his sweet time inhaling another drag of his cigarette. "From the beginning, right?.." Though the question was rhetorical, merely stalling as he got his thoughts together. "Well, I showed up with you talking to the homeless guy before he started going Rocky Balboa on some poor son of a bitch," though the way he said it had no sympathy in the least. Sighing, he shifted in his lean on the bar. "I guess I'll have to start with your blas? approach to it all," giving her another look over, it was more assessing than anything else. "As if you couldn't care in the least what was happening. Almost bored, really. Not many people can pull that off," retrieving the bottle again, he lifted it as if to toast her before finishing it with a heavy swallow, setting it aside when he was finished with it.


Those legs dangled from the bar top, the one kicking lightly over the other as a brow was raised. She listened to him speak in silence and puffed on her cigarette with amusement painted over her face. A spark of excitement in those fire eyes when he began, and she chewed her lip. "Mm," she agreed when he lifted that bottle and said what he said. When he set it down, she took it herself and nodded her head. "It's an art, really..." she mused.


"It is an art. Something you have over me even," he claimed. "I get too into the moment," a downright twisted grin presented. Using the opportunity for another deep inhale, he turned his head to expel the smoke from his lungs, adding to the grime of the place as he tapped an index finger to the filter. Ash rained down from the tip of the cigarette, sprinkling the floor. "Let's see now," he very nearly purred the words. "The attitude when you do the whole..." Pointing with the two fingers he was scissoring the filter with, he gestured to her glasses. "...Mesmerizing?" Tilting his head. "Mind control?" Lifting a brow. He was quick, that was for sure. "Whatever it is," he resolved, shrugging before taking another drag. "Demanding, dominant. But not too much so," lifting his chin, the smoke wisped between his teeth as he grinned. "Almost seductive," he chuckled. "From my point of view at least." Though his idea of seductive was... of the darker degree.


Taking a few swigs of the bottle, she kept those eyes on him and smirked lightly. Setting the booze aside, she snickered lightly and shook her head to correct him. "It's not mind control, not really... I can...suggest things, but mainly I just bring out rage. Something they feel deep down..." she leaned in toward him and smiled. "I find that raw, primal spark inside of them, and I..." Taking a finger, she dragged it along his chest, and then moved downward. If he didn't stop her, she'd be hooking her finger into the front of his pants and pulling him a bit closer. "...amplify it..."


While she talked, he smoked. Uncaring about littering in her little sanctuary, he just dropped the cigarette when he was finished with it. The toe of his boot crushed the burning ember, smearing a streak of ash over the floor while keeping his gaze settled on her. You'd think she was talking dirty to him the way he was smirking, talking about rage and he stared at her more intently when she leaned forward. Teeth a touch sharper than they should be caught the thin swell of his bottom lip when she mentioned the raw, primal spark and he flicked his eyes to the wandering finger. A brow lifted, arching high as she trailed it downward but he didn't move away from it. Instead, he let out a light cackle to the hooking of his pants and the tug to bring him closer. Far from shy and even further from caring about one's personal bubble, he took another step forward. The heels of his hands moved to the edge of the bar on either side of her legs, almost close enough to touch but not quite as his tall frame shrunk some with the lean forward. "Amplify, huh? So how does it work?" His tone somehow deeper, that rolling thunder of a purr coming from the pit of his belly to his throat. "You look 'em in the eyes," with a tick of his head to the side. "Make 'em your bitch to bend to your whim?" His brows rose.


When he moved closer willingly, she let her finger fall free of his waistline and her eyes danced up within his. She chewed her lip and smiled almost innocently before he questioned it. There was a shake of her head, "No, no... I can plant a seed, but... I don't actually control them." That was advanced for her... She was still coming into her power. "If someone bumps into someone, I can make it into a bigger deal to the person, but... I can't actually control them at all.. It's all about how you play the hand you're dealt... Do you wanna find out? It's...kind of intense."


His chin lifted to the explanation, a bit more of an understanding how that nifty little trick worked. It was when she offered to show him that the crocodile grin showed a full display of pearly whites. Forcing his lips to straighten, he nodded slowly and pull out of his lean which only brought him to nearly touching her legs where they dangled off the counter. Fearless in his expression and eyes, his arms lifted with the palms showing. "Impress me." A request more than a demand. She had him a bit more than curious at this point.


Lowering her eyes a moment, she nodded her head. Collecting herself as if needing it for a display of restraint, she brought the cigarette back to her lips for a final drag before tossing it down. That's when she pulled off the glasses and rolled her eyes up to him. The flames sparked to life and she looked into those sterling orbs. If he looked back, she wouldn't be provoking him with words, but he should feel himself getting angry for no reason. Rage bubbling up to the surface as she stared for about 3 seconds. It was more than enough time to impress him without making him fully crazy with rage. She lowered her eyes after that moment.


He waited as she prepared herself, watching her as his hands found the edge of the bar again, legs shifting weight to lean but not as intensely as he had the first time. When her eyes lifted sans the sunglasses, his own steeled gaze was waiting for it. Locking eyes, like a forges' pit: steel and fire. He could feel it the moment it hit him, rage rising like steadily heated water, bubbling to the surface yet didn't manage to spill over. Looking into his eyes, the moment he felt it click, there was a spasmodic flash in his irises, the splatter of sterling that spread out before settling. Those three seconds granted the beginning of a growl, low and deep like distant thunder settled in his belly. By the time it reached his throat, there was a thick and loud hiss that rolled to his tongue. It was that moment that she downcast her eyes, breaking the connection and the muscles that had tensed in his shoulders without him realizing it. Turning his head, he coughed a bit to swallow the hiss and silence it. Pulling from his lean, his darker brows lifting high on his forehead as he seemed to stare at the counter without looking at it. After a second, he blinked rapidly and nodded. "That, ahem," coughing a bit, the tell-tale tickle of a hiss cut off too soon, "that's..." Cackling a bit, a toothy grin spread as his chin lifted. "...Color me impressed. Exceptionally so."


Just as he had tested out her abilities, she tested out his reaction and resolve. She hadn't really been trying, that was just...What general eye contact did for her. Maybe he'd understand now why she tended to piss off the help! She slipped the sunglasses back on and bit back a smile at his hiss before raising a brow at his response and how he seemed to need a moment. He'd... Done better than most people. A lesser man would have raged out then and there, and she'd have to put him down. "...not so bad yourself, there, Slick." Reaching for the bottle, she took a drink, flicking orbs up to him and taking a couple gulps before offering out the bottle.

Pleased that he didn't try to wiggle away, Jamie held him there, locked against her. A finger was held up for a moment as she hot-boxed the cigarette, dragging the cherry along the stick as her eyes danced into his. She flicked the cigarette away, leaning her head back to blow a cloud of smoke that would almost rival a dragon before she returned back to him. Arms wrapped around his shoulders and she moved for his cheek, she'd give it something of a rough bite before dragging her tongue along the side of his face.


He didn't seem bothered or displeased by her locking him in place. One of the few times the beast didn't mind being caged: between a woman's legs. There was a lift of brow to the waiting gesture, seeing her hotboxing the cigarette had him tilting his head questionably. With the patience of a saint, he merely waited to see what she'd do next. Curiosity, challenge, a faint addition of amusement mixed in swirled in those sterling eyes until she flicked the stick away, exhaled and was wrapping her arms around him. Balanced on both palms, leaving her to hold herself up for the moment as he peered down to see her next move. Though that move came rather close to said peering when she went for his cheek and bit him, making him roll his eyes closed and a guttural growl roll through his belly, not so much threatening as... well, Hyde. He was naturally aggressive. His nose crinkled a bit to the dragging tongue until he let out a cackle when she followed through with her intent. "Well," he said, his tone still littered with that grumble just a note or two away from a growl. "Not bad," he smirked, peeking one orb open at her since he'd expected a lick but she bumped up her game with the rough bite beforehand. Nodding his head slowly, he turned his head a bit with a lift of his chin to smoke over the arms hooked around his shoulders before flicking the spent cigarette away. With his hands free, he craned his neck back to exhale a train to the ceiling before giving little to no warning before his hand was slipping into her hair and giving it a tug back to expose her neck. A flicker of a grin was shown before his head dove down to lay a rough bite to the side of her throat, his teeth sharp enough to cause pain but not pierce. He'd leave dents, maybe a bruise if it stuck around long enough before he'd be flicking the tip of his tongue slowly over the wound. An action that some might believe to be an apology, licking the wound, with Hyde it was no more than savoring the taste of flesh.


Still holding onto him as if he were some prize, Jamie let out a hot breath against his face that purred into a giggle, "Not bad, hm? Think you can do bett--" Those words were cut off when he snatched her hair and tugged her head back, her jaw tensed as her throat seized in a hard swallow. Flaming orbs flickered to him, but squeezed shut when his teeth met her flesh. There was a flutter of adrenaline in her chest, her eyes rolled back into her skull. Legs that were already wrapped around him, tugged him closer so that their pelvises were grinding into one another. She finally let out the breath when his tongue lashed across the pink flesh. "Ngh....you win..." It was almost painful.


His lips contorted through the bite, a grin like a crocodile and in the moment had been rather accurate as he had to fight clamping down on the flesh and locking his jaw. A rumbling low chuckle reverberated through his chest when she tugged him closer still and he only presses his pelvis more firmly to hers. When informed of his victory, he grinned and subtly inhaled as his head lifted, a drag of his nose along her jawline. Someone that knew the beast better might worry about it. "Do I? Or did you just get lucky?" He teased, the deep rasp of his voice a direct tell of the sudden shift in his mood as he lifted a brow.


The lack of jaw locking was appreciated. She liked it rough, but damn! Jamie kept him pinned against her body for a moment, a little laugh singing from her lips, "Not yet," she answered back. Her fingernails found his back and dug into his flesh without much care. "We're wearing too many clothes," she informed him as if it were a little clue leaving her lips. The go-ahead. She unbuttoned her jacket and pulled it open, shrugging out of it as if to start amending the situation.


End Scene