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Vincent

Vincent groaned as the door opened and shut. It was soft and more of annoyance that someone had disturbed him. He opened his eyes expecting the harsh light of morning and instead got the harsh light of artificial bulbs. He shimmied gingerly into a sitting position and examined the technological surroundings.

"Who's s**t is this. There stuff in here that isn't supposed to be available to the public." Then he noticed Naomi.

"Oh wow, sorry didn't see you there. Is this all yours?" Then a rush of memories brought back a flood of pain to his lower back. He rolled onto his side to take the pressure off of it. This made him realize he was missing stuff from his pockets.

"Where's my product? Did Vas take it? Where'd he put it?" That was the last of his stuff, the last bit he was going to sell. Enough to make the pile of cash at his room equal a million pounds.

Naomi

Naomi eyed the boy. He could have been killed and he was more worried about his drugs. She shook her head, not feeling to move from her seat just yet. "You're a dumbass. You know that, right? Psh, Vas did nothing with your drugs. I flushed them. I ripped up the bags and threw them away. Now, you don't have any reason to be back on the streets. You can make an honest, legal living and be happy about it." Her tone was that of a disinterested person because frankly, she did not pay much mind to those who could land up in jail of their own choice.

"You'll have to stay here for a few days so that wound could heal. Try to leave before the end of the week and I will pin you down with no care for your injuries and you'll probably end up here for even longer. In other words, play nice and be a good little boy. Disobedience just might kill you." Her eyes had been drifting from the one set of machinery to the other as she spoke. "As for the things in here, you'll have to ask Vas. It is his room." Naomi stood. She dusted her pants and sauntered over to him. She looked down.

"Look, I don't know exactly what type of life you've had. Maybe you have a family somewhere and left for whatever reason or it has just been one lonely a** road. However, whatever it is, for now you do have a home and you're welcomed to stay beyond the week if need be. I'll see if I can find clothes for you later. Now, I want you to rest and if you need anything, I'll see if I can oblige." At last, her gray eyes found his blue ones but only because she wanted him to know that she meant it - in a friendly way, of course. "Any questions?"

Vassili

Vassili finally felt her calm and her arms were around him. He slowly calmed as well. So he had been right. He always jumped to the worst conclusion. Always thought the worst of people's past lives. It was how he was, his own past just as bad. Her warmth seeped into his body and he relaxed more.

"She was right. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I know it sounds bad, but it does and that anything that bad in your life ends up being a thing of sorrow in the past, something to reflect upon." He moved a hand and raised her chin so he could look into her eyes.

"You learned that what is happening on the outside is not what is real. It made you wary of trouble and able to read people better. Brought you and your sister closer, and kept you care free in the end. What happens shapes who you are, and you are incredible." He chuckled and slowly let her go. He walked to the bar and pulled out the flask, and then one of the others from his duffel.

"Though maybe not as good as I am. I was made perfect. From birth to death, a machine to kill and spy. That just makes me better." He laughed loudly, hiding his own grief under the mirth. He held out one of the flask for her taking a deep draft from the other.

Sal

She sniffled and sat down on the nearest stool, taking the flask from him. "Thanks." Sal took a swig and let that familiar warmth slide down her throat, relaxing her from the inside out. She had never shared that story with anyone. What was so special about him? Her lips found the flask once more before she said, "That can't be true. You must have a flaw somewhere, even machines have defects."

((Bye Cuppy, you will be missed. *sigh*))

Vassili

"I guess your right. I'm not perfect. I just think I am. A flaw I guess, one of many." He sat heavily next to her and took another long draft from the flask leaving only a small gulp left at the bottom.

"I like you. I guess that's a flaw as well, I mean who could like you." He chuckled heartily, trying to goad her into a happy mood once again. She was one of those people that just didn't seem right in a sad place. It made you feel sick to see someone that should be happy, sad. Hell his stomach was turning, though that could be from something else.

"I like to drink, though it can't do anything to me, I think its the burn down my throat. I like to talk to the wilderness though it can't reply. Those are flaws. Your right, I'm not perfect. Wow that deflates the ego a bit." He chuckled again.

[Test Drive of Post Style]

Sal smiled at him. When was the time that she had been up this late with a guy only to share a conversation? She allowed her mind to examine his points.

"One," she began, holding up a finger to mark it off, "Liking me is not that big a flaw. Your mistake is assuming that there is someone out there who can't like me. Two," she continued with the fingers, facing him, "craziness as evidenced by your...fondnees of talking to inanimate things, is so common but yet alas, are not accepted. You're right. You're just awful, not a perfect bone in your body - figuratively speaking, of course."

Sal laughed at herself and took another drink. Time was flying by. It would be opening time soon for the Cafe, another work day. Customers would come in and life would go on almost as though there had not been gunshots just some hours ago. With that thought, she drained her flask and rested it by Vas, already getting off the stool.

"Thanks for the drink and well, everything else. I think I'll head downstairs and see if I could catch some sleep before work starts. Hopefully, word about Vincent has not spread already. I think Nami would blow a fuse if her business suffered because of that." She shrugged and fiddled with her dress before heading for the door. "Good night, Vas. See you for work."

Vassili

Vassili watched her go and decided that he would get one last smile out of her.

"That would be good morning. Cause by my watch it is five and time to start the ovens and get the coffee brewing. So good morning." He had moved quickly, quietly and caught her arm before she made it over the threshold onto the stairs. He leaned in and kissed her cheek gently and then, slid past and made not a sound not a sound on the stairs.

Sal's face flushed and instinctively, she rushed down behind him. Once she was on the same step as he, she stopped him and turned him to face her. Sal flashed her 100 watt smile at him before pressing her lips against his. It was the simplest kiss that she had ever given anyone.

"Whatever," she whispered, running down the rest of the staircase and then turned the corner to Nami's room, grinning to herself. It was early in the morning and this was her first day on the job. Nami would have her head if she messed up the little job to which she had agreed to do. Sal ruffled her hair as she decided on what to wear and do. What got people pumping at these kind of hours, anyway? She examined it more while taking her bath and changing her clothes for a casual tee and shorts with slippers. The point was that she looked more like a customer than a worker. That should be easy since she did not receive wages.

Once she was ready, the young woman headed for the display window nearest by the door with a book and portable music player. She slid into the booth and settled in with the headphones in her ears. However, her eyes were scanning the outside crowd for more answers about the general interests of her latest place to call home. Ever so often, she would write down an observation or two for the record as well as for any further analysis needed.