(For Giggles... Jeb's Jobs)

Marilyn was in an odd mood. She borrowed into the leather she swiped from her uncle. She was wearing the old standby of jeans, a tee and sneakers as she pushed into the teashop. Still this meeting was business.

The steady, nearly whining roar of a motorcycle is to be heard moments later, coming to a stop as the engine is shut off just outside the shop. A moment later Sarah walks in, a blond dressed in leather pants, heels, a leather jacket and t-shirt. Blond hair is tied behind her in a ponytail, and her glasses automatically seem to adjust to the lighting as she enters, going from brilliant yellow to clear.

Marilyn was at the counter ordering a coffee, something very sweet and caffeinated. She had her laptop with her. A tilt of her head had her looking to the door. The coffee paid for, she made her way for a table.

Sarah doesn't stop at the counter - no coffee or tea for her. Instead, she heads right for the table Mari's on her way to, looking quite cheerful, satisfied, her eyes nearly alight, as though for the first time in ages she's happy after a long depression. "Hello there."

Marilyn looked up at the woman that had approached, must be the lady she was supposed to meet, "Evening, Peregrine?"

Sarah nods as she extends a hand to her. She almost looks... well, as if she's glowing, strangely. Positively bouncy. "You got it, chummer. And you're Marilyn?"

Marilyn stood and shook her hand, "That would be me. Phoenix told me to get in touch with you."

Sarah nods, chuckling as she shakes Mari's hand back, her eyes roaming over her unashamedly, soft blues that almost seem to x-ray the woman before coming back up to her face. Just as Becca had described. Nice. "Yep...she told me you were interested in starting a BBS?"

Marilyn gestured to the table and the laptop set up there. "Has Rebecca given you the 411 on what she's been doing for J and what J is?"

To that Sarah shakes her head, taking a seat at the table. Quickly, she taps into the 'trix grid to see if it's accessible here, and has no trouble linking in. The laptop, though, doesn?t seem to be on. Small wonder - most of the computer hardware would probably have to be upgraded before they got there. Seems most of the stuff here still ran off the old WiFi connections that were ancient beyond belief where she's from. She might have to do a bit of modding to the transmitters. "No... She said it was secret, that she wasn't really allowed to explain."

Marilyn nodded, "Well, I'm going to let you in on this because I need to have specific security measures in place. J is what is called a Dark Hunter. She is only able to work at night. Sunlight will burn her alive. She hunts a specific predator called a Daimon."

Sarah doesn't seem surprised by a bit of this, only nods. They have just as odd - if not moreso - in their world. "Not like... demons." She'd heard the difference in pronunciation.

Marilyn booted up the state of the art laptop from her timeline. "No, Daimons are Apollites that chose to cheat the curse of Apollo. Long story there. We do face demons..." Her face grew hard at the mention, "Though some are our allies." She shrugged out of her jacket and a couple of tatts were visible on her arm.

Sarah takes off her jacket as well, showing the t-shirt beneath. Emblazoned across the front is the stylized letter S that Mari would have seen on Becca's shirt when they had met. No ink on her, though there may or may not be any on the slender body beneath the shirt...it'd be hard to tell. "Interesting...so what is it I can do for you?"

Marilyn nodded thoughtfully, "I'm sure Ash won't mind. Probably appreciate the boost a bit." She finished the coffee she was nursing, "Damn it feels good to talk geek with someone."

Sarah laughs at that, nodding agreement. "No drek. I can talk a little of it with Speed, but he goes off on tangents that are outside my field."

Marilyn tilted her head, "I bet, You'd probably talk circles around me, and I'm no slouch in this."

Sarah grins, giggling. "I... well, I've got some... special talents along these lines. I hack with my head, not with one of these." She waves a hand at the laptop. "One of these days, I'll have to take you on a ride my way."

Marilyn grinned at that, "Now that sounds like a plan. Tad would be so jealous of that."

Sarah grins. "Well... we'll have to be careful, the first time. The experience is... overwhelming, to say the least. I'm sure you have VR where you're from?"

"In it's infancy. Not on any widespread use as if yet." Marilyn looked thoughtful.

Nodding to that, Sarah laughs. "Well... this is like that, but... where in your world, if I have it right, it's probably just an audio/visual experience... what I'm going to show you is a full-body, sensory experience, if I can get the sim rig working."

Marilyn nodded, "Yeah, Pretty much an AV thing." She was curious though. She absently ran her fingers along the tattoo on the inside of her left wrist; the four teardrops seemed to be falling from towards her wrist.

The motion attracts a curious gaze. "What are those for?"

Marilyn murmured softly, "It's an Atlantean custom. Each tear drop represents a family member lost."

Sarah?s eyes widen slightly, her voice going soft. "Oh...I'm...sorry...I didn't mean to pry."

Marilyn shook her head, "It's okay. Not a state secret. Family knows, so that means it's spread to the majority of the squire branches and the Dark hunters. If it wasn't for Sin and Katra..." She shook her head.

"Well? still, I'm not really... one of you." She reaches out tentatively, brushing her fingertips against the back of Marilyn's hand.

Marilyn gave a shrug, not moving away from the touch, "J vouches for your guys."

?She has a lot of faith for not knowing any of us."

Marilyn nodded, "She's gone on Becca and Becca is gone on her."

On that note, they wrapped up their meeting. It had felt good to open up to someone who didn?t think she was a freak. It was scary though, Marilyn was so unsure what she felt. And would she get pushed away for longing? It had been a huge step to confide in the other woman.

(Adapted from Live RP between Marilyn and Sarah Peregrine.)

Marilyn took the sunglass and the headset, "I.. Thank you." She smiled, yet a little bit of hope disappeared within her. She had hoped to get her to come over, even if it was just business. The glasses were clipped to the strap of her dress.

Sarah smiles, nodding to her. "Oh, my pleasure. I also have a few other toys in here, but I'll have to come over to set them up myself, if you want them."

Marilyn smiled at that idea. Inwardly begging. "Oh, I'd like that."

Sarah raises an eyebrow at that, though she's still smiling. Inwardly, nearly cheering. "You don?t want to see what they are first?"

Marilyn giggles a little. "Sure" Boy, was she anxious.

Sarah reaches into the bag, leaning over perhaps a bit more than she had previously, pulling out what looks like a black disc. Shiny and slightly convex on the top, like a lens, and flat on the bottom. "This is a holovid projector... to replace the monitor on your desktop. I'll have to adapt it to your computer, of course, but that's a quick operation."

Marilyn was surprised by the gifts, "That would be such a big help in the small space I've got. I'm running everything out of a loft apartment."

Sarah smirks at that. "Oh, I'm sure we can come up with some things that would be a help there, make things a bit more compact, give you some room, but I'd have to see what we're working with."

Marilyn smiled, "I couldn't snag commercial space in the same building, so I'm scouting out close and something I can secure. The apartment is in the West End of town."

"Really, now?" Sarah leans closer, slightly, her arms resting lightly on her knees, a thoughtful look on her face, lips pursed slightly. "You know... we have some space at the warehouse that isn?t being used..."

Marilyn gave it a good thought. "Would make sense, especially with J and that." She was thinking now, glad that Ash refused to let her go home now. She shifted a bit trying to peek into the bag.

Sarah grins, leaning over and patting the bag. "Also have a complete Mag-Lock security setup in here, with a Matrix linkup package that transmits to the main node back at the doss, biometric locks that can be coded to your handprint, retina, whatever you'd like."

Marilyn sat back picking up the Iced Coffee she had purchased and sipped. "Good Deal. I plan on talk to Liza about some specialty equipment. She is our *doll maker*.

Sarah tilts her head at that. "Doll maker?"

"Liza is an Oracle and our resident weapons expert. She can turn a Barbie doll into a lethal weapon."

Sarah laughs at that. "We have someone like that in our little circle. She's just a kid, really, but she has a way with stuff like that."

"Would be good to keep things on hand locally. The Stuff that J and Crew deal with. Well, you have to get close to them." She took another drink of the coffee and pulled down her skirt a bit. The empty cup was set aside.

Sarah pretends not to notice the self-conscious act, even as she uncrosses, then re-crosses her legs, an unconscious gesture, as she smiles, settling comfortably into her chair. "It would be, yes." Her voice is softer, almost lazy, as she watches Mari.

Marilyn blushed a bit, "More comfortable in jeans and a tee... I wanted to look nice for once." Her voice was almost a whisper.

Sarah nods at that. "Yeah, there is that. Back home I had a private place, secured like you wouldn't believe, and always had someone keeping an eye on my meat when I was out. Takes a lot of trust, though... I... had a bad experience with that once, hiring out to someone I didn't know very well..." She shudders, a look of disgust and hurt on her features.

Marilyn?s hand reached out to lay on one of Sarah's. It was the left with the two tats. "(vq) One thing I don't do is backstab. I'm... The one that takes care of the ones that betray."

Sarah twitches as Mari's hand touches hers, though she doesn't take it away. She almost looks as if she wants to cry, but is holding it back. Her voice, though soft, is dark. Furious, murderous in fact. "Oh... I believe that, Marilyn. The fragger that decided to do... what he did to me... he had his brains splattered all over my wall. I don't think he even saw it coming."

Marilyn?s hand was gentle, "(vq) Did he try to..." She couldn't even bring herself to say the word.

Sarah shakes her head, looking away, sheer disgust and dark hatred in her quiet voice. (vq) "He didn't try... I came out of the Matrix while he was in the middle of it... he better have enjoyed it, because it was his last act."

There was a squeeze of Marilyn?s hand, "(vq) Gods Peregrine..." There was a hitch in her voice.

Sarah?s own hand closes on Marilyn?s as she looks away, closing her eyes and taking a deep, ragged breath. (vq) "I'd never felt so...dirty...and used..." Loathing filling every syllable as she speaks, and finally she shakes her head. (vq) "I made damn sure that never happened again."

Marilyn murmurs so softly, "(vq) I'm so sorry. He's damn lucky you got him first." There was something in her voice.

Sarah smiles again, though it's not the teasing, mischievous smile of before. Something in that gaze would make even the most hardened of men take a step or two back. "Oh, in that he is lucky... the way he went out was relatively painless compared to what some people I know would have put him through."

Marilyn must have had that mirrored looked, "(vq) Me included... Me included. It is said my uncle has no sense of humor when it comes to anything that threatens a Dark Hunter or a Squire. I take after him."

Sarah?s voice, at long last, softens. (vq) "Well... it never happened again, after that... I met Becca not long after that little episode. If it weren?t for her and her brother... they helped me through that, gave me some much needed support."

Marilyn smiled at that, "(vq) I like Becca. I'm just glad you are okay."

Sarah smiles back, nodding. "Yeah... but it sort of... changed my view on a lot of things."

Marilyn kinda got where it was going, "Like... guys?" She asked shyly.

Sarah sighs, that smile showing again. Not mischievous this time, but almost resigned, and yet somehow slightly shy. A contrast to her earlier behavior. "Yeah, for the most part... I had leanings toward both sides of the sexual path before that, but... after, I wasn't able to be with a man again."

There was another squeeze of Sarah?s hand. "(vq) Never... been attracted to them myself. I... didn't know what I was until I had a rude guy thinking me and a female friend are lovers."

Sarah laughs softly, unconsciously intertwining her fingers with Mari's. (vq) "You don't think it's something to be ashamed of, do you?"

Marilyn shook her head, "(vq) No. Gods, I? I've been kinda envious of J and Becca."

Sarah grins at that, an almost wistful look in her eyes. (vq) "Yeah... Becca... she really seems to be hooked on Jissin."

Marilyn smiled there, "(vq) It's mutual... You can see it. Still." She looked at their joined hands. "(vq) Maybe... us?" She was hopeful in the asking.

Sarah grins, leaning forwards towards her, her blue eyes holding that mischievous spark again, her voice soft. (vq) "You didn't really think when I was talking about a ride, I was referring to your car, do you?"

Marilyn smiled at that, glad to see the spark back, "(vq) Well, yeah, but hoped for more."

More would have to wait. A code red was sent out and she had to get back to her systems. She hated leaving Sarah's company, but there was a hope that started that night.

(Based on Live RP between Sarah Peregrine and Marilyn - More to Come!)

Sarah smiles, following after Mari to settle on the couch next to her. "Well... I wasn't sure if the invitation would be accepted... at least, not for there..."

Marilyn tilted her head. "Now why would you think that?" She sat close by, "Hell, I'm trying to resist the urge to manufacture an excuse to get you over, yanno?" She confessed softly.

Sarah smiles softly, leaning closer to her for a moment. "And why would you need an excuse??

Marilyn smiled softly, "Wasn't sure if an invitation might be accepted."

Sarah smiles, leaning in still closer, her vibrant blue eyes fixed on Mari's, a long, steady look. "I suppose we've both made the same mistake, then." Her voice now low, very soft.

Marilyn own blue eyes meeting with Sarah's, "(vq) Yeah. Wasn't sure... ummm..."

Sarah smiles, not leaning in any closer for the moment, simply staring into her eyes. (vq) "Wasn?t sure of what?"

Marilyn blushed a bit, "(vq) Umm... Never been attracted to anyone before."

Sarah sets the tea down on the low table nearby, then takes both of her hands and places them on Mari's cheeks, drawing her in closer, stopping when they are only a few inches apart. (vsw) "Are you attracted now?"

The coffee had been set aside and those hand of Mari?s run along Sarah's arms, "(vq) Gods, yes."

Sarah smiles, leaning just a hair closer, licking her lips. (vq) "Well, then... do what you feel is right with that."

Marilyn closed the distance and hoped she was reading things right the lips met lightly briefly. Oh, she'd read right, all right. As those lips begin to pull away from hers, Sarah leans further forward, prolonging that soft, tender kiss, her hands gently and yet firmly pulling Mari's face closer into hers. There was a soft murmur as Mari?s eyes fluttered shut. Soft hands running along those arms as the kiss continues. Hesitant at first, growing surer as she continues.

There is a soft gasp at Mari's hands running along her arms, her lips parting slightly as Sarah murmurs softly with her, now shifting closer to her on the couch, seeking to be nearer. Marilyn moved her hands to Sarah's shoulders, then to her back gently. The kiss broken if for nothing else than that pesky need to breath.

This kiss broken, but Sarah doesn't move away, the smile on her lips rich and inviting as she opens her eyes to meet Mari's. (vq) "Well... that wasn't so hard, was it?" Her voice was soft, nearly breathless.

There was a soft smile on Mari?s lips, "(vq) Not hard at all. Better than I had hoped."

"Hmmm..." Sarah grins softly at that, her fingertips tracing against those lips so softly. "I've wanted to do that since I first laid eyes on you."

There was a light kiss to those finger tips. "(vq) And now?" Mari sat so close to her.

Sarah smiles at that, her fingers moving from her lips to her cheeks, then to trace lightly along her neck. "Well, that all depends on where you want to go from here." She gives a sly, bold grins then. "An invitation from one of us to the other wouldn?t go amiss, I don?t think."

Marilyn smiled leaning close. "(vq) See where it all goes from here." She nuzzled close, "(vq) Even after that kiss I am finding I want more."