Asher had said the Fist & Fang was hiring and he'd put in a good word. Needing the money and something a little more exciting than sitting behind a desk all day, Caitlin Ross finished out her day at the office, went home for a bit to change and then headed to the local Vamp hang out to speak to the manager. She wore a sleek black dress, fairly plain in design but it hugged her body in a way that left nothing to the imagination. It was paired with a pair of black stiletto heels. The ensemble was topped off with dark red lipstick and her hair pinned up to show the long, untouched lines of her pale neck. Fingers clutched a small purse at her side, the other hand pinching her trench coat closed to ward off the cold as she headed for the loud bar just down the street.

Cait didn't seem to have any trouble getting past the doorman. His lecherous staring didn't seem to bother her, either. The brunette breezed past him with little thought and smiled, pausing just inside to remove her jacket. She carried it to the bar and hung it on the back of an empty stool. "Water, please?" She lifted her voice to the bartender, leaning against the bar top. "And could you tell your boss that I'm here for my interview?"

The bartender moved away from Cait with a nod and paused to take an order from a patron a couple stools over. The two conversed a moment, and the bartender came back with her water. "Miss, it's a bar, you should have a drink. The gentleman's buying." He said in a deep baritone with a nod toward where the other man sat with a smile.

Caitlin glanced in his direction just long enough to flash a brilliant, polite smile. He appeared to be late twenties, medium length hair, well dressed and well off. She slipped onto her stool, legs crossing at the knee which made her dress hike up an extra inch or two. "Much appreciated, but in the off chance I get a working interview tonight, I can't be drinking."

"Trust me," gaze dropping to watch her hem rise just briefly. "I know the owner, he won't mind if you have a drink." He nodded his head. "If you were falling down drunk, there may be an issue."

Brown eyes settle on the stranger again, jaw tightening. "You're used to getting what you want, aren't you?"

That brought a genuine laugh as he thought about things in recent past. "No, not anymore."

His sincere laugh set Caitlin at ease and her expression relaxed, mouth settling into an easy smile. "I'm sorry, I'm just really focused when it comes to work." Not to mention that she was technically too young for this job. It helps to act as mature as possible when on the job.

The man gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "Focus is good, especially in this place." He pointed to a couple behind her who should have really been in a room of their own. ?So is some sort of weapon, at times.? He smiled again, watching and studying her without trying to seem like he was a predator himself. ?I am usually focused, but I come here to relax and unwind." Though he didn't look like anyone else in the place, in fact, they both stood out a bit.

That's what happens when you're in the minority. Cait looked around again, arching a brow. "Unwind here? You strike me as a little too warm-blooded for that."

He gave another bit of a laugh. "Well, I know many of the locals, and I may as well be a part owner of this place."

"Oh," she replied, smirking. Her elbow was resting on the bar, chin in her hand now. "Is this a secret interview, then?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm sure he'll be down to interview you at some point." He looked at her and smiled before he turned and lifted his drink from the bar and took a long swallow.

Assuming their small conversation was over, Cait turned away from him to study the mirror on the back-bar, watching the bodies on the dancefloor grinding against one another. She sipped her water now and shifted her weight, uncrossing and then recrossing her legs in the opposite direction of the man.

"Are you new here?" He wasn't one for small talk, he never had reason to, so he wasn't sure which way this went. He was used to buying company lately.

Caitlin looked back around at him, wondering if this was some attempt to pick her up.

"I don't think I've seen you around."

"Here, as in this bar?" She asked, turning to face him. "Yes. I've never stepped foot inside before, even though I live just down the road." A gesture of a hand in the direction of her place. "But I need a second job and my boss said he'd put in a good word for me here. It's convenient enough."

"In town?"

"No, Rhydin born and bred."

"Who's your boss that he'd suggest you come here?"

A brief smile flickered across Caitlin's face. Another sip of her drink, eyes focusing on a door that seemed to lead to a back room while wondering where the owner was. Then she returned her gaze to Deacon. "I'm Asher's secretary." The few vampires seated nearby glanced in her direction, recognizing the Vampire's name.

"Asher's still around?" He seemed shocked that someone hadn't staked that one. "We go way, way back."

She couldn't tell if he was pretending to know who he was to sound important. Brows furrowed lightly, inclining her head in his direction. "What's your name?"

"I'm sorry," he smiled and stood to move closer and offer a hand. "Deacon Wrath."

Deacon compromised and took Caitlin to a gourmet burger place. Kyle had driven them over ,and Deke told him that he'd catch a cab home. They were shown in and seated toward the back. The place was no regular greasy spoon burger dive by a long shot. Their orders were placed and drinks brought back to the table while the cook prepared their food.

He picked his beer up from the table while waiting and watched Caitlin a moment. "So," he turned slightly her direction. "What spooked you at the interview?"

"Oh, I guess it's silly really," Cait wrinkled her nose, reaching for her Badsider. She took a drink and shrugged. "He wanted me to be open to being bitten. Which I'm not even remotely okay with. Weird, I know, considering I work for vampires. But..." she trailed off, looking a little embarrassed.

"But?" He watched her with dark, shining eyes. "I've been around them my whole life, and I'm still just human."

"Why is that?" Caitlin turned the question around on him, leaning forward. "Aren't you going to take your father's place in the business?"

"Actually all of that was recently settled," He grinned at her and glanced at the table, then out the closest window before meeting her eyes again. "I'm now the sole proprietor of Toulson, Inc." It was still settling on his mind that he was now the one in power, and the money involved. He knew people would come to him for answers, and come after him for their shot at his Father's place. "I've just never really thought about being turned, changed, bitten, whatever the cool kids call it nowadays. A good song says 'who wants to live forever? Who dares to love forever?' So, yes? maybe I just want to be able to spend a sunny afternoon on a picnic somewhere. Take the convertible for a drive down the scenic byway along the Daggers."

The picture he painted with his words brought a smile to her face. Though she'd never admit it, Cait was surprised by this 'normal' behavior, even if he was just human. It was no secret the vampires in their circle weren't Saints; it was refreshing to be around someone who constantly act like a thug. "That sounds really nice. Though, perhaps a bit too cold to do either of those things anytime soon." She grinned at him. "But it's not just refusing to be turned. I don't want to be a doll, either. Not my style. It just seems like such an intimate thing, you know?"

Deke nodded and tried NOT to think about his lips on her body anywhere, but there was a flash though his mind as he was still just a man. The thought of her as a doll was nearly enough to make him angry, even though he'd just met her. Nodding, he lifted the beer to his lips again for a swallow. "Well it is too cold for the top down, but the view is still striking." He finally said as a small smile settled on his lips. "I've thought, while waiting for all this legal nonsense to clear, of ways to legitimize Kingsley's businesses and have less dealings with?" He paused and looked at her again, before he shook his head. "I sound like I am trying to sell you something. Tell me more about yourself?"

A quiet chuckle escaped the brunette. "I really don't mind hearing about it, but something about me? Ah, let's see." Another quick sip of beer and then her head tipped back while she pondered. "I'm a little boring, if I'm being honest. My parents are well off and I grew up getting dragged to parties constantly. Everything was handed to me. As I got older, that scene really started to drag. I wanted independence. So I moved out and got a job. It's hard, but rewarding. I think for being nearly twenty, I'm doing very well for myself. Though, my parents are horrified with my apartment."

"Why would they be horrified with your home?" He knew the type of first homes most of his friends that tried independence with. Rats, bugs, leeches outside, or worse.

"My mom can be rather dramatic." After a short pause, she added quickly, "It's not dirty or anything. Just a small apartment over some artsy shop. I think the owner is a glassblower. It's not exactly as classy as my parents would prefer. But I can't exactly afford a Brownstone yet."

Brownstone. He smiled thinking about his crappy first apartment. "Is the owner any good?" He didn't want to pass judgement on her parents. "I like art." He didn't know a Picasso from a Ross, but he did like to look at some of it.

"I think it's a pair of brothers who make the glass pieces. They make all kinds of things. I've seen everything from tableware to chess pieces. There's ornaments and little tiny figurines. It's pretty impressive to me. I know absolutely nothing about art as a culture, but I'm a fan of pretty things." Another swig of her beer, lifting a hand to brush a lock of hair away from her face. "What about you? Tell me something no one knows about you."

"Something that no one knows is pretty broad, don't you think?" He grinned. He loved the feel of silk sheets, but too many knew that. A good beer was obvious. The finer things in life, also a given. He tapped on his chin in thought a few moments. "I love the first of Spring. New life, new growth, new opportunity to thrive. The smell of rain as it cleans the grime and worse from the air?" Why he shared that with her he started to wonder. It was truly something no one knew.

"That's very poetic," Cait told him seriously.

The waitress appeared then, bringing their plates and Caitlin leaned away from the table until everything was in place. After thanking the server, a napkin was draped across her thigh and the brunette went right to town. Her classic bacon cheeseburger was drizzled with Jack Daniel's sauce, sliced down the middle and placed artfully on the pristine white plate atop some lettuce. Deacon's burgundy mushroom burger was equally as beautiful.

"I like Autumn. Crunchy leaves, apple cider, all that jazz."

"Crunchy leaves." He nodded as he made mental notes of what she said. Things filed away, should this turn into something more. "There is something about a crisp, Fall day, but Spring just tops it on my list." Maybe because of the volatile storms and other things that could remind him of his life as he grew up. There was a smile as he watched her with that burger, then his own napkin was tucked into the collar of his shirt. He didn't want burgundy dripped on his tie as was always the case when he ate here. He had to chuckle before he took a bite. "Good?" She ripped into the burger like a Raptor into, whatever it was they ate. One thing about her, she wasn't afraid to eat, and he found himself enjoying something else about her.

"Very," came her response after swallowing. At least she had enough sense not to talk with her mouth full! But how any girl could eat a burger with a fork--like many of the ladies in the restaurant were doing--was beyond her. It's alright to get a little messy...that's what the napkin is for. "So what brought you to the Fist & Fang tonight? Did I distract you from a night of drinking?"

"I was looking for you." He replied in the most ominous voice possible.

"Am I going to have to mace you before the night is through?" Caitlin smirked.

She was sassy and he liked that. Deacon shook his head and started laughing. "Honestly, I've been gone for a while and I just wanted to go see if it was how I remember it. I like going for a drink, but I also have a nicely stocked bar at home, not that I drink to excess nightly, but I do enjoy a nightcap from time to time."

"My parents kept a well stocked bar as well. Encouraged me to do my experimenting at home instead of out with friends where we'd likely get in trouble. Most of the stuff I find pretty revolting. And other than a few beers," she tapped the glass bottle in her hand with a long, nicely manicured fingernail. "I'm not much of a drinker. See, I told you I'm boring."

He shook his head with a smile. "That isn't a bad thing, Cait."

She shrugged. "Maybe not. But you have to admit, most guys go for the party girls."

His smile never faded. "Some of us grow out of that." He washed down a bite with a drink from the bottle. "Sometimes, you have to grow up, and see what you've been missing." He thought about that for a minute. "That sounds sort of bad, doesn't it?" An image of the last night he?d spent with Sarah drifted through his mind, and that too was pushed away. She was, however, the epitome of party girls.

"We're the ones the guys want to take home to mom. So in the end, us quiet gals are the winners." After another bite of food, brown eyes searched Deacon's face for a moment. "Does that mean you're all grown up now? Or, in the process at least? Did you do a little soul searching while you were gone?" Eyebrows lifted minutely with the question, beer bottle brought to painted lips.

He gave her a bit of a crooked smile then. "I'd say more in the process of it."

She looked amused by his answer. "At least you're honest. But I promise, I'm not as boring as I claim to be."