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Post by Valen Blackthorne on Nov 8, 2016 2:42:11 GMT
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The past year and then some here in Valhaven had been quite enjoyable. Valen had gotten to know quite a bit of the citizens, knew the town inside and out by now, and always could tell when something new was happening. Change was easy to sense anymore, not to mention, he being a bartender got to hear all the latest in news and gossip. The latest sounded awfully familiar to the demon, it sounded a lot like when he had first came to Valhaven. He had purchased and old run down restaurant and put a lot of hard work into it to get it where it was today. A local hotspot, and that was what it sounded like this cafe just down the road was wanting to be as well. Valen welcomed the competition, though he wasn't simple minded enough to think that there would be actual competition considering their most beneficial hours were at different times of the day.
He was just out to be friendly, welcome the new face to the neighborhood, or some other typical mumbo jumbo like that.
Wandering down the street in the direction of the newly opened cafe, Valen really had no idea what to expect. He hadn't heard much about the new owner, just whispers of rumors. The only thing he did know was that it was a woman, which he was more than okay with greeting. He wouldn't shy away from tossing on a little charm if he could, make the little lady feel a bit more welcome here not only as a business owner, but as a citizen of Valhaven. Hopefully the other people in town would also make her feel welcome, so long as she ran a nice place and had good people working there...she'd likely have no problem whatsoever, but Valen would probably get a good feel for that once he actually saw the place, and met the lady in question.
Stopping outside the cafe and giving it a look over, it looked to be set up nicely. Giving a small whistle as he wandered inside, taking a look around and noticing a few people already partaking in checking out this place, he had to admit, this place had come a long way from where it used to be. The few run down buildings down in this area hadn't been in the best of shape, so the fact that this place was up and running in a short amount of time...absolutely impressive. Giving a small nod of acknowledgment to a few familiar faces within the cafe's doors, Valen just looked around for the unfamiliar one before just...outright letting his voice carry, though not yelling and being too disruptive. “And here I was hoping to meet the woman behind this masterpiece...” Pocketing his hands in his jacket, he continued to look around, while the cafe scene wasn't really his forte...he could definitely see himself visiting often, keeping the business neighborhood nice and friendly and able to depend on one another.
TAGGED: kallie | WEARING: >>clicky<< | LOCATION: that cafe~ | NOTES: have a thing! Template made by Raz at Valhaven |
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Post by Kallisto Motte on Nov 8, 2016 3:06:09 GMT
I'm in love with a stranger
Hard work was finally beginning to pay off. Renovations on the old building had started up as soon as she’d purchased the property last month. She’d not even settled into her own home on the outskirts of town when she brought this place. Kallie was eager to prove to her family they could make this town a real home. What better way to show them than by owning a business here. She knew her older brother would go off to do his own thing, he always did. If she could rope in the younger ones into working for her, she’d be able to keep them busy as well as keeping an eye on them. An overall win in Kallies mind, her plan couldn’t have gone better.
Wiping down one of the tables she watched the elderly couple leave with a small smile on her face. She’d overheard them talking highly of their visit with her sensitive hearing. Entirely accidental, she didn’t always pry into conversations. Kallie was hoping to catch any kind of criticism to work on. So far she’d learned the soup was too creamy, but other than that she was seemingly doing okay. The door went again as she placed the empty mugs into the sink behind the counter.
Turning to face the source of the voice she was hit with an entirely new smell. Far different from that of the elderly couple. Hesitating for just a second her smile snapped into place. Hands reaching out to lean her palms against the edge of the counter. “That would be me - welcome to Strongbrew Cafe” she answered him with a curious look. Her mind was already working through his words, he seemed to already know the owner was female. Word moved fast around these parts. “I don’t believe we’ve met?” she tilted her head slightly, hoping he’d be the first to introduce himself. Kallie was more interested in knowing what a demon was doing in her cafe.
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Post by Valen Blackthorne on Nov 8, 2016 3:44:02 GMT
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Those within the small nicely lit cafe seemed to be having a good time, and judging by the atmosphere...they were correct. Everything looked to be up and running just fine, he had to commend the owner for working so quickly and efficiently, reminded him a bit of himself. Valen was quick to let his voice sound off before his eyes drifted back behind the counter, the feminine voice counteracting his own wasn't hard to miss. There was something that struck Valen as different about the young lady who had addressed him, she wasn't like the normal humans that wandered these parts, that fact alone was interesting enough, he could almost sense it, like it were a feeling. All suspicious feelings aside...she was rather nice to look at, at least.
“The masterpiece...behind the masterpiece,” Valen quietly breathed out in amusement, looking so at ease in here, even if he was in the presence of someone who was out of the norm, but not like him. If she were like him...he would know right off the bat. Approaching the counter, still taking the occasional glance to the left and right, Valen kept his hands pocketed for the moment before giving the blonde a nod of agreement. “No, we haven't. I'm sure I'd remember if I'd seen your face before...” He resisted the urge to make a rather flirtatious comment, not wanting to rub anyone the wrong way, he could keep himself in check if he really wanted to. “Nice little place you got here, surprised to see it up and running so quickly, congratulations.” He was sincere in his words, giving off a nice vibe – he hoped – after all, they were both now 'leaders' in the community, in a sense.
“Name's Valen, I own the bar just around the block...Valhaven's only bar come to think of it. I was in a situation just like yours about a year ago. Worn down space landed in my lap, made it into something good, seems to be a trend.” If she kept it up just like how it was now...she'd have a good business on her hands and would continue on for however long she intended to keep it open. “Just wanted to stop in and welcome you to the neighborhood...everyone around here kind of looks after one another...so if you need anything...feel free to ask.”
TAGGED: kallie | WEARING: linked already | LOCATION: cafe! | NOTES: valen shut up.
Template made by Raz at Valhaven |
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Post by Kallisto Motte on Nov 8, 2016 4:23:50 GMT
I'm in love with a stranger
Kallie eyed him up as he strode through the cafe. He had an aura of confidence around him, almost at home here. Some of the other customers acknowledged him and went back to their own business. The way he was holding himself might have been appealing had the smell not alarmed her. Her family had plenty of run-ins with other supernatural beings, moving regularly meant she expected to encounter some supernaturals wherever they moved to, but a demon was the least expected. They were few and far between. It had been some time since she’d picked up the scent of one.
Her smirk grew when he spoke quietly. She already knew this was going to be interesting. Part of her wondered if he’d picked up any kind of hint she wasn’t a typical human. Kallie wasn’t about to give him a hint. Arching a brow at him when he commented she gave him a small nod in agreement. Pulling her gaze from the demon she took in the decor of her cafe “Thanks, I had some help. Always been interested in running my own business and I finally got the chance to do it.” Her eyes scanned the room until they landed back on the man across the counter from her. He certainly wasn’t like the other demons she’s faced.
When he started talking again she listened quietly. Kallie was always good at that. He seemed to be genuine enough but Kallie wasn’t entirely convinced. “Good to know. I’m Kallisto, but just call me Kallie. So the bar had the same start, good to see it’s still around.” It meant he’d been in the town for more than a year, she thought to herself. She really couldn’t pin him down. A demon owning a bar. Just when she’d thought she'd seen it all. “I’m surprised. It’s not often your kind come to do meet and greets... Bar owners that is” she spoke coolly with her smile still in place. Reminding herself of her manners she quickly added “But thank you, really. I appreciate it.” Tapping her fingers against the wooden counter she leaned backwards to glance at the glass display beside her. “In the mood to try something? My treat. We have sandwiches, cookies- muffins too. Soups are stored but I make them fresh each morning.” Kallie felt at ease in her own place, having decorated herself she liked to keep everything clean and in their right places. A knowing glance back his way she smiled “I also cater to all kinds of allergies.”
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Post by Valen Blackthorne on Nov 8, 2016 7:33:57 GMT
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This was the neighborly thing to do, even if it was among a neighborhood of businesses. Not to mention, this woman was new in town regardless, giving her a proper greeting from a face of the community was important, wasn't it? However, Valen was met with something a little different when he had finally met the woman behind this cafe. There was something off, something he couldn't quite place, but he did know that she wasn't like everyone else that lived here, but also not like him. Interesting. Not wanting to voice anything about that, he wouldn't want anyone to blow the whistle on him either, he chose to ignore it, but that didn't mean he wasn't still curious about what she was...where she came from...he was sure in due time he'd find out. He was good at getting information out of people, even if it wasn't directly from her, she must have talked to some people around here already.
Living the dream then, huh? Wasn't that nice and stuff. “Mhm, been doing well so far, hope to keep it that way.” Valen tacked on, very proud of the efforts he had made regarding his bar, a simple little place really seemed to be a place the town of Valhaven seemed to like, that was what he had been shooting for after all. “Nice to meet you though, it's nice to have some new blood around here.” However, Kallie's next comment did cause Valen's comfortable expression to falter for a brief moment, until she had added on the part about it being because he was a bar owner. For a second...he was certain she was regarding what he was, not that anyone had questioned him before...but if she wasn't like the humans in town here...then she likely had a way to sense these things as well. The smile that was on his lips had disappeared for the moment, diverting his gaze from the blonde in slight hesitance, that comment having thrown him off guard. “Ah...yeah. I guess you could say I'm not...like everyone else...” He started, moving a hand to rub at the back of his neck, showing obvious discomfort. “Not like other bar owners...I mean.”
Smooth.
Shaking out of that temporary funk of his, Valen placed the small smirk of a smile back onto his lips, eyes back on Kallie as she spoke. She was a nice girl from what he was seeing, so that would go well with Valhaven nicely. Giving a nod of acknowledgment to her thanks, Valen was impressed by Kallie's hospitality, it was a good thing that was what this business was all about, she was a natural. “Sure, then I can rave about how fantastic this place is from experience, right? Cross advertising and all.” Amusement soon colored his tone once more before offering the blonde a small shrug. “I'll try whatever you want, and don't worry about any allergies...I don't think anything you give me could kill me.” A small joke to himself, unless she planned on serving legitimate crucifixes and holy water, which he highly doubted. “Whatever you would consider your favorite, however, this also means you need to stop by the bar sometime...it wouldn't be nice of me not to extend the invitation back to you.” Despite a small moment of awkward and slight panic, Valen considered this all to be going well, he could see himself coming back, not really for any food or drink – especially since he didn't need any of those things anyways – but...the company was nice, so far.
Curious, but nice.
TAGGED: kallie! | WEARING: linked! | LOCATION: cafe! | NOTES: --
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Post by Kallisto Motte on Nov 8, 2016 9:28:27 GMT
I'm in love with a stranger
She nodded thoughtfully to his words. Building up a business from scratch was no easy feat. He’d seemingly done so while keeping in favor with locals from what she had witnessed when he came into her establishment. Those that were there seemed to like Valen. “Yeah, you must be doing something right. Keep up the good work.” Kallie could only hope everything he’d been doing was legitimate. She couldn’t imagine he’d manipulate so many people to establish himself here. New blood. She quite liked the sound of that. “Don’t get many newcomers, huh?” she mused back at him. Her arms came up into a fold while she still leaned against the counter.
Kallie could see the moment where the gears in his head started really turning. The small change in expression as it faltered had been immensely satisfying to watch. While it was risky to do, she couldn’t deny it was a little fun to watch him mentally squirm. He seemed so much more human as he stumbled over his wording. She breathed out a small chuckle and shook her head “Don’t worry about it. I think it’s a nice change” she smiled some at him. Definitely still talking about bar owners. Super smooth.
Having done so much travelling she’d gotten used to having a revolving door of strangers come in and out of her life. It wasn’t unusual for her to be able to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Another reason why a cafe seemed so appealing for her, just about anyone would stop by. She laughed again “Exactly! Don’t forget to mention how great this place is for hangovers. I’m sure your patrons would appreciate it” she teased while picking up her tongs and a paper bag, making the tongs click out of habit. Glancing back to him when he spoke once more she grinned and wiggled her eyebrows “Never say never.”
Bagging up one of the sandwiches and also a cookie for him she placed them onto the counter and slid them towards him. “I might be a little biased when I say the sugar cookies are my favorite.” Kallie had a sweet tooth, something she didn’t often indulge in. It was torture. “I might consider it. When’s the best time to stop by?” She was certainly curious, part of her wanted to figure out what other supernaturals lurked around town. Bars were usually the best place to find them. Another part was interested in getting to know Valen more.
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Post by Valen Blackthorne on Nov 9, 2016 6:47:16 GMT
Things started out okay here, Valen wasn't quite sure what the blonde was...but he was fairly certain she wasn't like the human folk he interacted with on a daily basis. Not wanting to breach that topic, not yet – and maybe not anytime soon – Valen just kept idle friendly chatter, hands pocketed, curiosity running through his head as he continued to stare at Kallie. “Small town like this...you're lucky if you can even find us on a map,” He shrugged slightly, a small chuckle escaping his lips at the statement, though Valhaven was pretty busy for the small population it held, that kept businesses running though, so long as it didn't become some tourist hot spot. He highly doubted that one at least. “The new blood becomes the talk of the town, so if you hear your name...don't think much of it.” He would likely hear it quite a bit at the bar if he knew his customers well enough...and by now he liked to think he did.
That somewhat friendly and idle chatter had been somewhat halted, Valen sent into a slight downwards spiral with his words, unsure of how to really jump back from that one. Did she know? Or was that just...a lucky choice of words? After a slight mental setback, and while it was fairly obvious there was some discomfort with what she had said, Valen tried to bounce back rather quickly, shaking it off for the moment and choosing to ignore it. “Good.” And thankfully that more friendly chatter seemed to pick up again, that he could easily do on any occasion. “I'll be sure to remember that. Better start coming up with a good hangover remedy, or something.” He shrugged, a bit of teasing in his tone as he really couldn't stop thinking about her words, that combined with not really knowing what she was...it was a little aggravating – only on the inside at least. If he was determined enough, Valen would figure it out, not that it would really affect him regardless of what she was.
Dropping back to what could be called his 'normal' demeanor, Valen watched carefully as Kallie bagged up some food for him to take with him, likely down towards the bar or back to the shop, wherever it was he decided was his next destination, reaching forward and grabbing the bag from the counter, he didn't let his gaze drift from the dubbed 'new blood'. “Sugar cookies? Are you trying to tell me you aren't sweet enough?” Okay, yup, he was back! There was only a small stumble along the way, but he had gotten over it...for the most part. If his – mostly – likable demeanor didn't do the trick, throwing on a little charm never hurt anyone...and it likely did keep himself in a better light with most people, especially the feminine folk. “Well, the best time to stop by would be anytime I'm there of course...usually after normal daytime work hours. Be careful though...” He started, hesitating slightly and deciding that if she could get by with a comment that struck a small nerve with him...he could fish around a bit and try to do the same with a comment of his own. “Night time is when all the wicked creatures seem to come out...or you know, so they say. Not that I would admit to Valhaven as to having anyone truly monstrous, but...you never know what sort of people might be hanging around.”
And just what kind of creature was she?
tagged; Kallie | wearing; already linked | location; cafe | notes; well he tried. Template made by Raz at Valhaven |
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Post by Kallisto Motte on Nov 9, 2016 7:22:12 GMT
I'm in love with a stranger
She listened to him with a small nod. Kallie had been lucky to come upon this place, it seemed almost too good to be true for what her family needed. It was a respite from many of the other places they’d stayed at. She had no intentions of moving again. This was going to be their permanent home now, Kallie would do anything to make it work. “Thanks for the tip, it’s a little strange being in the spotlight” she admitted carefully. Having spent most of her life attempting to lay low this was something else entirely. She was taking it all in her stride.
Kallie expected he wasn’t one to stumble over his words often so she took the moment in without overdoing it. She was rather amused with herself for prodding him and watching him squirm. It would likely come back to bite her in the ass sooner or later, those kind of risks always did. Kallie would need to be cautious. “I suppose I’ll have to get to know them some more, find out what sort of food they’d enjoy while hungover.” She found it easy to converse with Valen, he wasn’t going to ruin his own reputation in such a public setting so she felt safe enough.
Placing the utensils back into their usual spot she watched as he picked up the bag. Her arms came back up into a fold while she leaned against the counter. His next comment caught her off guard. Her eyebrow arching as her smile widened, “No such thing as too sweet, though it seems like you don’t need any extra” she teased back with a small shake of her head. Kallie wondered if he gave out this sort of welcome to all newcomers. She chuckled to herself at the thought of him pulling that move on one of her siblings. That would be something she needed to see.
As he spoke about the bar she nodded, thinking of when would be a good time to stop by one of the evenings. She didn’t want to come across as overly interested, so maybe give it a few days. His own wording caught her attention, her smile dropped some but her relaxed demeanor stayed the same. “Huh, never thought of it like that. Thank you for the heads up.” She played dumb, far easier than throwing out any other blaring hints. She couldn’t help adding in a question of her own. “Is that the kind of thing that drew you into the bar scene?”
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Post by Valen Blackthorne on Nov 9, 2016 8:24:35 GMT
There was just a small hiccup to get past, which was fairly easy once Valen got his thoughts set straight once more. He felt almost as if he had been called out, which he hadn't had that feeling before...it was weird, uncomfortable, but he could push past it. At least he could cope better next time, if there was a next time. Moving past that though, at least mostly, Valen did drift back to more idle and friendly chatter, stuff he was good at no matter who he was talking to. It was all part of the business he was in as well, hospitality and what not. You had to fake it until you made it sometimes, and he could certainly put on a sociable act if the day called for it – he'd had plenty of practice over the course of his life already.
“Well don't worry, I'll have plenty of people to send your way, day after day...you might even thank me after awhile. Anything to help get a new business full of potential off on the right foot.” Most people went places due to recommendation anyways, right? Coming from the bartender they'd be talking to, he expected that many faces would end up in this place, though hopefully not all at once, otherwise it could be overwhelming. That was the kind of environment that Valen thrived in, at least when he wasn't being called out, there was a distinct difference between that kind of overwhelming and the kind that came from a busy and bustling bar at night. While this was nothing more than typical easy conversation, there was that feeling of the need to do a bit of...subtle digging if he could, though sometimes that in itself wasn't the easiest. Not like normal conversation, at least. Especially if you had a smart person answering you on the other end. Regardless, Valen was going to give it a try, the worst thing that could happen was he would get absolutely zero vibes or answers from Kallie.
In time though, he was certain, and maybe a little determined on that as well.
A real chuckle had to escape his lips, her counteractive comment regarding his own sweetness, it was rather unexpected, but it was almost fun in a way. A few flirtatious comments now and again never hurt, charm tended to get people to lean more in your direction anyways, it was nice to see someone that could keep up wit him, at least for now. “So you think I'm sweet, hm? Are you sure about that?” This was just a small dose of charm he could throw out, he was curious to see how much she could keep up with him though, it was just part of his personality...the one he had adopted and adapted to, and now truly thought of as his own. It was a part of the demon now, and sometimes he felt more human than anything...even if those moments were few and far between, he enjoyed them.
Now it was time to get down to business, after all...not all conversations could last forever, so if he was going to dig, it was going to have to be now or never – or whenever he ended up seeing Kallie next. No doubt if he failed at gaining even an ounce of information it would bother Valen, but...there wasn't much else he could do if that was the case, he couldn't force her hand, though...that was a lie in a way. Manipulation of the mind wasn't exactly his favorite way to get what he wanted, but if he truly was that bothered or curious, it was a last resort, wasn't it? Though a real demon's manipulation was a lot more malicious than what he had in mind...he supposed it wasn't all that bad. “Monstrous beings? I can't say anything like that would drive me to the business, but...the variety of people you get to meet...that sounds a bit better. I have met my fair share of...monsters though, I like to think I can spot them a mile away...” Giving Kallie a look over rather quickly to accompany his words, he was still fishing a little bit. He would keep conversation rolling until he got the impression that things were coming to a close, or that his presence wasn't welcome anymore, whichever came first. “I'm sure you know what I'm talking about...some people just give off that vibe.”
Himself included?
tagged; kallie | wearing; linked already | location; cafe | notes; i ramble a lot. Template made by Raz at Valhaven |
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Post by Kallisto Motte on Nov 10, 2016 4:55:02 GMT
I'm in love with a stranger
Kallie was known as the more level-headed one of her siblings. She was always good at easing tension between them and helping to sort out problems with them. That being said, Kallie also liked to play with fire occasionally. She had no qualms with other supernaturals, she just knew to be wary as they can be dangerous too. Valen didn’t seem like the sort but he was practically a stranger still, Kallie knew nothing about him or why he was here. Maybe in time she’d learn more. She had a feeling she’d be seeing more of this guy around town considering they were both business owners.
“It’s good to know you’ll be giving a good recommendation from this encounter” she smiled back at him. She brought a hand up to point at him with a more serious look, still in good humor “But don’t take all the credit if this place does kick off.” While she wasn’t keen on the idea of being in debt to someone else, she would return the favor some way or another. As of yet, Valen hadn’t been the worst supernatural she’d encountered. Maybe his charm was rubbing off on her.
Kallie enjoyed the back and forth between them. Conversations flowed naturally with that hint of mystery behind the both of them. “Well I don’t know about that, I’ve just met you” she shrugged lightly in reply. This sweet human act he had going on could be just that, an act. “I’d suggest laying off the sugar, just for today maybe” she smiled sweetly.
She listened to him carefully, his wording hinted at something far less innocent than a simple discussion about humans. A more stoic expression rested on Kallies face, she had the feeling they were both getting vibes as he’d said. “A monster is a person who has stopped pretending” she stated back flatly, maybe his words had struck a nerve with her. Kallie was no monster. Pulling her eyes away from him to mask her discomfort she sucked in a deep breath and went back to a more cheery tone, “On that note, I should probably get back to doing some work. It was really nice to meet you Valen. Hope we cross paths again… enjoy the meal!” She patted the counter as she nodded to the bag of food she’d provided him.
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Post by Valen Blackthorne on Nov 10, 2016 7:50:00 GMT
While slightly weird and awkward, Valen found it easy to be a little more friendly to Kallie, he wasn't exactly sure why but he wasn't going to overthink it. Normally sarcasm tended to flow through his words on a regular basis, alongside a few unsavory choice of words, but he was keeping to being rather friendly for the moment, if anything it did make a good impression for the business neighborhood that she was now joining. It would be very impolite to just waltz into her cafe and turn out to be an asshole anyways, right? Maybe after another meeting or two he could be a little more himself, not that this was too far from it...just a little...sugar coated.
“Hmm, I can promise nothing on that front, but we'll see.” He was only teasing, if this place did kick it off...it would likely be more because the business itself was good, not just his good word – not that it would hurt any to have a real local's view on the place. Easy chatter, but there was also too much curiosity to bear floating through the demon's mind right now, but there didn't seem to be an easy way to get the answer he was looking for. If anything, he was certain that he wasn't talking to a normal human being, and she knew him not to be the same as the rest either. Or he was completely overthinking it and nitpicking at her choice of words there a moment or two ago. He couldn't let a few bits of speech throw him off course though, even if she did assume he was something unlike the rest, what was she actually going to do about it?
Nothing.
A low chuckle escaped Valen's lips, he was mildly amused at all of this as a whole, but he couldn't help but do a little fishing of his own. Not quite as sweet as he might have been, he couldn't help the whole monster talk, it was what any human would have called either of them if they knew...maybe more so Valen than her, not that he had an idea of what she was. There were a few options, of those he had come across in his years, but he had no special way of knowing just what that was. That flat tone of hers was just enough to confirm that a nerve had been struck, that was oddly satisfying, a sound of amusement moving past Valen's lips as he offered a shrug. “Not all monsters wear a mask, of that...you just aren't looking hard enough.” Perhaps...that was a little unnecessary, but it wasn't wrong either. But then again, not ever monster lived up to the true title of what a 'monster' was.
It seemed as if their conversation was coming to a close though, much to Valen's dismay, though he still remained casual in appearance as he made sure not to forget the food she had packed up for him. Lifting the bag slightly and offering a nod and starting back towards the door. “I'm sure I will, New Blood. See you around, and good luck...” If curiosity continued to plague Valen, he would be back a lot sooner than he probably wanted, but...that wasn't going to be anytime soon if he could help it. Perhaps it would work in his favor to just listen extra closely at the bar, see if he could catch wind on anything, after all...it was kind of his job to know the ins and outs of Valhaven, as well as everyone who lived here.
tagged; kallie | wearing; linked | location; cafe | notes; done~ Template made by Raz at Valhaven |
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