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The cafe had a very...warm feeling. Its outside structure looked like wood, and the windows were stained glass. There were vacant sitting places outside on the wooden porch, but of course, in the cold weather no one was making use of it. You could see the outer structure of a stone fireplace. It wasn't the common brick, but seemed made of miss-matched larger stones. The large red wooden door, curved at the top, stood as the entrance. The Celtic Cafe, as it was known, was becoming a popular hangout. Over the summer its proximity to the hospital had been rather convenient. Not that Billy had visited anyone. He hadn't a soul to visit.

Inside the cafe was very homely. Where the fireplace was sat a nice little alcove of sorts - the flooring took a couple steps down, and a plush couch sat on a rug before the fireplace which crackled and emitted a comforting warmth. A bar wrapped around the semi-circular alcove for others who had rather not sit so close to the fire. It also served as a 'fence' so that unsuspecting people didn't step off into the alcove.
All around the place was decorated in tapestries, faux weapons and suits of armor. The tables inside were expensive wood, and a few had names engraved in them by naughty patrons looking to leave the evidence of their love.

More importantly, prices were affordable, and they didn't just offer coffee and sweets. On their menu was soups, salads, pastas, and sandwiches. Light meals. Billy had happened upon the place when looking for a new place to set up shop. It was fate, really. And so a few days later he called Ladon and set up the date. Billy figured these dates should happen on a regular basis. Once a week sounded reasonable. It gave him time to slowly work his way into the heart of the innocent boy, and to plan his plan. It also afforded enough distance for Billy not to become attached. Which he wasn't going to do, mind you.
Tonight was to be dedicated to digging for information. Aside from what he observed, Billy didn't know much about Ladon, which made it hard to plan things properly. Flattery was all good and well, but appealing to Ladon's interests would undoubtedly go further.

Billy had given Ladon the name and address of the cafe, and now he stood outside of it. A brownish coat, flattering of his form and skin tone, rested over a white button-up shirt which Billy wore with the long sleeves rolled up above his elbows. His dark-wash jeans were equally flattering. All together this was casual for Billy. He didn't bother dressing up for the occasions any more than he usually did. After all, a button up shirt tended to be fancy enough suit any occasion. The weather was warm enough in comparison to the past weeks for him to not mind too much waiting outside. He was sure Ladon wouldn't keep him waiting long anyway.

"I don't question the appearance of much in this city anymore," Billy commented in a casually amused tone, although the thought was more bitter than anything in his mind. Everything happening in this City, all the strange occurrences...Billy hated them. In his mind, it was getting in the way of his success as an artist.

"No, I haven't been waiting long. Even so," Billy said moving to open the large red door for Ladon, "I don't mind."


Once inside the cafe there was a rack for patron's coats. Billy slid out of his with all the fluid grace of a cat before stepping behind Ladon and leaning close to his ear, "Care if I take your coat?" The question came velvety and smooth.

Billy might have been pushing it a little in the manner which he slid the coat off his date - far slower and a little less impersonally than other might have. It probably didn't help that he kept the same proximity as he had when asking. Billy, by nature, was an intense person, and so this might have been predictable, by someone who knew him better.

"Hmn," he pretended to spare a moment to consider Ladon's question before, "The fireplace offers privacy. I suspect you would find that preferable?"
Billy had already decided on that place beforehand. Sure it meant sitting their food or whatever on the half foot tall base of the fireplace - the cafe seemed to think this made a nice make-shift table - but it had the couch, and gave the illusion of something much more homely and perhaps romantic. Billy figured Ladon would be more willing to submit to Billy's digging for information in a more private setting.

There didn't seem to be that much of a crowd today, and the people that were there seemed to be either the lonely souls or..oh yeah, there was that group over in the corner playing D&D,... It figured this place would attract such...

Billy had made sure to grab a couple menus on their short trek over. As Billy sat they were casually tossed aside where they could look upon them later.
"I discovered it recently while scouting for places to set up my wares," was his simple explanation. "It seemed like a quiet enough place for a decent date."
Because in winter you really couldn't just go to the park and sit around without freezing parts off that you'd rather not lose.

"Nice and quiet. Comfortable. I hoped you wouldn't mind telling me about yourself. Interests, hobbies, anything at all. This evening," Billy grinned, placing a hand over Ladon's, "Is reserved entirely for you."
It was a good line. A good line.

"Average?" Billy gave a small laugh, "I would not have selected you if you were average. The average guy wouldn't tense at every touch, wouldn't...see them self as average." Billy removed his hand. He wasn't about to settle for such little information. It looked like he was going to have to trade a little.

"Before being sent to Hillworth, I went to Meadowview as well. What year are you? It comes to my attention that I never really asked your age... My bad on that part. Tell me, Ladon," Billy gave the boy a excitably curious look, as if he were truly excited to learn about him. "What do you like? What do you excel at, your hobbies... I promise in return I will tell you more about me."

"All good things to know how to do. It is good to know how to be self-sufficient. You won't go hungry, nor will you simply have to throw away a good article of clothing because of a simple tare. And on the note of track and self defense, well,..if you find yourself in trouble, at least you can fight back or flee," And now it was time to turn all those genuine comments into something more endearing; "Not that you would ever have to do either if i had my way about it. They'd have to get through me first."

Billy sat back a bit, taking more of a lounging position, "As for me, you know I am an artist. Self taught, started when I was young. Between that and school, I don't do much. I don't like to rely on others any more than I have to. It is also my goal to become well known for my talent. It takes perseverance though. Especially in this city. Ever since about a year ago things have really started going down the gutter," his tone turned bitter, "People as a whole seem to be degrading. Sometimes I think the monsters I sense are more human...which is perhaps why I choose to be better identified as a monster myself."

Now it was time to turn the conversation back to Ladon, "You are a kinder person than I though. Perhaps you can restore my faith in humanity. Or maybe reassure me that I'm not just bitter..." he shrugged.

"You forget, I go to Hillworth - den of the bad boys and bullies. Give me a list of names of people who've harmed you in the past and I assure you, they'll be delt with if they've been sent there." Billy smirked. he had merely taken the small laughter as Ladon being flattered. Perhaps he still did. Of course in the future Billy would probably want to face palm at ever saying such a thing....all things considered. But hey, at the time he didn't know Ladon's other self. Still, it would no doubt hurt Billy's bravado.

"Why am I a monster? The mind can be a vile thing, Ladon. You should know I am...quite arrogant, actually. I hold myself above many of these people. I believe I am, no, know I am better than them and will fully admit it. In many people's opinion, that makes me a royal a*****e. I find it hard to see people as people, if you know what I mean. That makes it easy to think of them as...something to be used."
Billy was treading dangerous ground - fully admitting he was like this. However he hoped he had at least made it seem like Ladon was an exception. If not then perhaps a little reassurance was needed... "You stood out to me. An exception to my arrogant self. Holier than thee, were you to me." And then Billy's hand, which had retreated earlier, found its way to Ladon's face, knuckles lightly gracing over his cheek. Billy issued a look he hoped was soft and endearing.

It was amusing, watching Ladon's reactions. His discomfort added a great deal of enjoyment to Billy's game.
"I don't enter into a place like that because I don't expect people to recognize me as better than them. They don't know how to read minds. Neither do I for that matter, but I like to think I know how to read people." It was true. Billy had certainly done a swell job with Ladon. Then again maybe the boy was just painfully easy prey. It was time to add a little more sweetness to conversation; "What you see is what you bring out in me. All I ever hoped for... A reason not to be so vile."

Billy let the be silence, and spared a well rehearsed warm smile for Ladon, before leaning over and grabbing the two menus, "Would you like dinner? Maybe a drink, since we've done so much talking?"