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Why it was so consistently cold in Destiny City? It was the question that was on Shahar Montague's mind a full ninety-nine perfect of the time that she was awake, and probably haunted her dreams. Where she had grown up on sand, she now got to suffer through the cold and wet doom that most people called 'snow'. Quite frankly, it was bloody miserable. Her hands got cold, her feet got cold, her nose got cold, and if she had nerves in her hair, she would suspect the, of growing cold as well.

Tonight, she was looking for a quick drain. She needed energy, and she didn't have much tolerance to wander through the snow. That meant either a movie theater, a mall, or a club. Any of these would be acceptable, especially a club. On the flip side of that, if she went to the club, she wouldn't come out sober, and then she certainly wouldn't get any work done. So to the movie theater it was, and she considered the entrances and the exits, who would come out where and- aha!

Having to pounce someone and drag them off to hide so that she could drain them was.... unpleasant. Still, she had to do what she had to do, and it wasn't like they would miss the energy in the morning. She, on the other hand, might feel her punishment for days.

The civilian hadn't much fought Titanite, and was quietly sagging into her arms as the Negaverse agent drained her energy. It was terribly unfortunate that she had needed to do this, and maybe even more unfortunate that she wouldn't even have time to properly try and thank or settle her victim. Tonight, she would have to drain and run.

The sound of a voice startled her, and the energy that she had been draining fled back into the civilian with a pop; the woman in Titanite's arms opened her mouth, and once again began to make a fuss, and Titan dumped her more roughly than it would have pleased her to. She cursed aloud, taking a shoe to the shin, and turned her eyes on the creature at the end of the path.

She should have been paying enough attention to have noticed the aura of order, but she had not. More the fool, her. The civilian wriggled, trying to flee, and Titanite obligingly let her go. "Apparently I am now halted." An arrow stared her in the face, and Titanite lifted her chin. "Would you care to donate your energy? I promise it will not hurt."

Though should she wind up being shot at, she did fear there would be an unnecessary escalation of force.

Ugh. Why did they have to make her job so complex? Titanite just wanted to make it from one day to the next in relative peace and safety.

Her inability to do so made her temper trigger, and she cracked her knuckles, glaring at the member of Order standing in challenge to her.

"I think you should be the one to go away," Titanite said with forced cordiality, "Before I am forced to take an action against you which is in direct opposition to our best interests." or, you know...

Just charge. Which is what the kickboxer did, unnatural strength and speed propelling her towards the stranger who had caused her to lose a perfectly good energy source.

The little one jumped, made nimble by her powers, and it was to the page's luck that Titanite was still off kilter by having been forced to kill someone for the first time in 5 years. Such a good streak, and she had needed to... No. She was not going to think of such things.

"You threatened me!" Titanite protested as the arrow nipped her on the head. "And you hit me. And now you want to talk? I just need to drain energy for my quota so I do not get punished or something, and you people will not leave me alone!"

It was quite frustrating, and she swiped out with her legs, hoping to knock the page over as she landed.

"They have energy, which clearly has to do with this." Titanite couldn't help pointing that out. Of course they knew civilians had something to do with it- they were the need; the root cause.

But why?

"Of course we do!" Titanite protested. "This is an organization after all, not a simple, ragtag group." The younger female was tripped up, and Titanite sprang away from her, getting back out of arms reach. "You should not refer to them as.... crazy nut cases." the name was, debatably, accurate; Titanite rather resented the idea.

"My happiness is unimportant." Titanite paused, actually sounding confused by the idea someone may be concerned with it. "I am also not blaming you for anything more than your decision to interfere in my quota!"

There was genuine confusion on Titanite's face as she examined the other female. "What makes you think this is a punishment? Just living drains energy. It is why we eat food. To replenish that energy, continue the circle. As for someone slighting me, or deserving to be drained, I do not harm them. I do not drain them unto death. She will be awoken by someone coming out that door, go home and sleep soundly."

She straightened her spine, standing tall. "Just call them the Negaverse," she suggested. "I suppose it is a Dictatorship. A monarchy, at the least, but we have no option but to serve our Queen and our Sovereigns. Our master is not always a kind master, and our allies as dangerous as our enemies."

Why do you energy drain?

Her lip curled, not with derision, but... "I do not know what purpose it serves, but I do know the punishment if I fail too often. I will not sacrifice myself for others. I will not die or be twisted into a monster to better serve my Queen because what I must do may make someone else sleep more soundly at night, or spend two dollars on an extra hamburger or french fries."

Titan felt her lips curve again, the smile dry and unamused. The Order member was apparently innocent, regardless of how pretty that flimsy little dress. "I would like to live in that world that you get to see, to think this is cruel, page." her head tilted. Cruel, she supposed, was a matter of opinion. "I can think of many worse things that could be done to them than this."

She rose up, popping her spine, considering the other woman. "Everyone has different reasons. Mine are different from the next person. As for why I am still here? I have served for years.If I leave, what is to say they will not seek me in those most vulnerable?" Who was to say they would not take revenge on her family? What depths would the Negaverse sink to, in order to punish a traitor?

What she did was one thing. What they may do should she become more than just a small pain in their side was another. "I appreciate your regard for my sleep." it was an odd wish, though she suspected that the woman wasn't actually wishing her a good night's sleep so much as trying to gauge how moral she found the situation, herself.

Giving a nod of her head, Shahar felt her mouth quirk. "Pleasant as you have been to look at, however, I have several other places to be." she stepped back, away; "I would make the suggestion that you let me take my power from you. I make this as a standing deal. I rather like the irony of taking my power from Order to feed Chaos, and I feel much less guilty when I drain from a senshi or knight."

But not tonight.

It was an interesting point of view, and unusually selfless for those Shahar had grown up knowing, Worrying about friends struggling was a thing that she was used to, but Shahar offered what she could in trade. Her body, her goods; it was a rare occasion when she took without feeding something back. But sometimes.

"Protection, perhaps, for me. For my family? Nieces, Nephews, Brothers, Cousins, Sisters? Happiness is negligible." Happiness seemed to be something many saw as a commodity on the side of Order, assuming that the Negaverse agents all enjoyed their Chaos.

Enjoyment was irrelevant.

"Just your energy. Unless you want to offer something more." her laugh was wicked, soft and short. someone younger making such an odder may have been met with irritation, but this woman was older, and surely knew the risks inherent in what she offered.

But Titanite was growing progressively familiar with making trade of energy. "And I do, of course, offer fair trade to those who choose to accept that offer. Allowing myself to be assaulted is not something I enjoy, however. Think, before we meet again, what kinf of trade you may seek." she blew a kiss, tossing the 'enemy' a bawdy wink. "You'll find me fairly flexible."

Another step, backing up. "I have most of what I need for tonight, however, and the hour is late. I look forward to meeting you again. And enjoying our truce." She bowed, taking another step back. "I will be here again, in a few nights, should you follow through on your offer."