Welcome to Gaia! ::

Truthfully the sound had started off as merely annoying, a soft background static that most white noise machines made. That's what she thought it was at first. Her apartment was small, cheap, and had thin walls so when the noise just started she figured one of her neighbors was using it to sleep with. But then it kept following her. In the shower, in the streets, at the store, at work, even at noise clubs, and while out filling her quota. It was there, a constant noise. Could it be an after affect from that stupid, freaky, and honestly nerve shaking ‘game’ that she ended up in because she gate crashed Wither’s little pow-wow?

Ugh! Even if it meant the sound would go away she wouldn’t want to do that again in a million years. Toss a few others into it and watch? Sure! That actually sounded like such a fun time. Make a few bets here and there. Sell popcorn and other drinks to the officers who would show up. Yeah that sounded like a grand old time. Shannon made a mental note to suggest something like that to Beni. It might not be up his alley but hey, never hurt to share her ‘fun’ little ideas. Especially if they are just for passing the time. The ones that were for money or energy, those would cost if they wanted her to share.

“Heeeey pretty lady,” The slurred speech was a massive marker that the guy who had just slid up to the bar next to her was more than just three sheets to the wind. He would actually be a perfect target on any other night but Shannon was there to meet up with her cohort… her ‘maker’?... technically her ‘boss’. GROSSSSSS! The curvy woman sighed audibly and turned to glance at the guy. Nothing about him told her he was worth entertaining, no flashy pieces of jewelry or name brand clothes. He was as common as they came. Granted it wasn’t like this was an upscale bar, it was a fairly middling bar when factoring in décor, prices, location, and patrons. Neither rich nor poor. But this guy… definitely not worth her time.

“Sorry, I’m waiting for my boyfriend.” She smiled and turned away, mentally gagging at the idea of WITHER being her boyfriend. The drunk tried a few more times but when she just ignored him, he slumped off muttering something under his breath. That was quite alright with her honestly. He had actually been the third guy in the last two hours who had tried chatting her up, normally she would happily take the offered drinks but she wasn’t sure why she had been called out so no point in being smashed when the other officer showed up.

Where the ******** was he anyway? The noise was giving her a headache. It was incessant. Never ending. Just THERE! With a huff of frustration, Shannon finished her glass of wine, she was at a bar so she had to order something, and slipped out of the establishment. She needed some cold fresh air. Anything really to help with the throbbing she knew was building behind her eyes. A dark and relatively quiet place. Unconcerned about the safety implications the woman slid into the alley behind the building, fading into the darkness. For a moment there she was tempted to power up. Instead she just stood there and took a deep breath, wrinkling her nose at the smell of garbage, her eyes naturally drifting shut as she gently massaged her temples.

The general silence of the space was bliss. No buzz, no clink of glasses, no chattering patrons, no muted tv playing some kind of sport, no music… Shannon froze as it hit her.

No buzz. No static. It was gone. Just… not there.

A chill ran down her spine as her eyes snapped open.

Just what was coming to take it’s place?

When nothing appeared after the noise stopped Shannon sighed, her tense body relaxing some. She took a few more deep breaths, doing her best to ignore the smell of trash, before turning and heading back into the bar. She was still waiting for Ryan to show up so she couldn’t exactly leave, well she could but that would be a bigger pain in the a**. She hadn’t settled back into a seat at the bar for more than the time it took to get another drink before Ryan slid up next to her. “It's ok, I haven't been here too long myself.” Lie. She wasn’t going to tell him that though, nor did she make any overt reaction to the card he pulled out for the bartender. A black card. A little piece of plastic that practically screamed that he was too good for this place. God she hated that, she hated that she didn’t have that kind of money. That kind of freedom. She took another swallow of her drink, squashing down her jealousy since if any of her plans actually worked out she too will be rolling in it sooner rather than later. That was for sure.

The bartender snagged the card, only a brow raised indicating that the idea of a private lounge was laughable, before asking the male what he wanted to drink. With that delivered the purveyor of alcohol nodded towards a few back nooks. “Those are the most ‘private’ tables we’ve got. Only other spot is the pool room but thats not private thats for sure.” With that info he went away to serve more guests.

Shannon held her tongue through all of this only to sigh once the bartender left, “because I can afford it and no one really looks at you twice here. Not so much now I guess,” a pale brow rose as she tossed him a look. “I’m going to have to remember to not come back here anytime soon. It makes it so much harder to find marks when what you look like sticks in people’s minds.”

“You got it boss man,” She smirked and made a mental note to actually follow that particular order. High end bar on his dime? Hell yes! “Yes, yes, don’t rub it in. Just keep me in mind if he has a rich friend who likes women ok?” Shannon said, only somewhat teasing him as she slid into the booth seconds after he did.

She got comfortable even as she huffed in annoyance, “Yes well. Apparently being out of the main action for a while didn’t give me any brownie points or anything so yeah, still a lowly Lieutenant. It sucks that's for sure but I’m hoping that the few things I have in the works will boost me up the ranks sooner rather than later.” And make me filthy rich too, she mentally added before explaining somewhat to Ryan. “I’ve mostly been out of the city. Bouncing from place to place for my muggle job, no real need for other fun and games elsewhere after all. Of course I wasn’t just sitting on my pretty little a** while working, I’ve detailed a few plans that I passed to Beni.” It wasn’t her entire idea stash just some of the more labor intensive ones. The ones that needed money or other resources to start up. The ones that would take a General to push it through. “Right now though?” She shrugged, “Mostly renting a crappy apartment and working for a crappy blog. So, same old, same old. You? You mentioned kids? When did that happen?”

Shannon sighed and shrugged, “I figured. Not to many unattached rich men our age thats for sure. Still, keep me in mind if you hear anything on the stupidly wealthy grapevine will ya? Don’t even need marriage, I’m perfectly happy just being showered with attention and gifts.” She finished off her drink and smirked. Ryan knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t interested in the men per say but the pleasure, power, and money they bring with them. Shannon wasn’t a ‘love’ kind of gall. More like ‘lust’ if anything. Any amusement she felt went down the drain when he mentioned not disappointing the bossman, aka Beni.

“I really am working on it,” She paused while the drinks arrived, her third one at this point but she was still doing fine, mostly. “I don’t suppose you would be interested in investing would you? I’m happy to share my plots and plans for assistance,” Shannon made the universal gesture for money already knowing he was likely to say no. It was predictable but it never hurt to ask. She really did need to talk to Beni again, see what he thought of the larger scale plans she presented him. Determine if he was game or not.

Shannon nodded and made all the appropriate sounds and innate words one did when talking about kids and family but not really caring at the ******** all. Like yes, Ryan was her superior so keeping him happy was a good thing. But the very idea of wanting to have kids was just foreign to her. No crotch goblins for her thank you very much. “Makes sense. No point in overwhelming yourself with family and work afterall.” She absently sipped at her own drink while he made his job offers, both tempting because of the pay but neither really anything she particularly was interested in. Out of the two, the assistant position was more up her alley because while she wasn’t bad at customer service, being the one berated from behind a counter at a store was a good way to get someone killed… and not her.

“I could give being an assistant a shot, I’m mostly freelance writing myself so I have the time. The blog is really the only one that is a regular for me, hence the crappy apartment. I don’t suppose you need someone to help write reviews, packages, and the like for your website do you? That I can do fantastically. It was a major part of some of the things I’ve done while traveling.” That and sleep in crappy hotels, eat horrid food, and learn that no matter how ‘on-time’ a plane was, it was always going to be late.

“I figured as much and don’t worry. I am and will pass everything by Beni first.” Mostly because the more intensive ideas required money and resources she just didn’t have access too. Mainly energy draining apparatus. There had to be something she could use. Something that could be done. “My ideas are damn near full proof and they should be since I’ve spent the last few years working on them. Every angle. Every possible issue, mistake, or error. Hell, I even looked into the laws and jurisdictions.” She shook her head, “I even factored in ‘escape’ plans that would wipe any and all involvement on our part. Not saying they are perfect but they are.” She had spent so much time on them they had to be. Or else what was all that time worth? It had to work. There were no other options.

Shannon finished her drink with one long pull and put it down on the table where it made a solid thunk. “Ok fine. We will figure out the details later, you pick the spot though.” She was curious to see just how fancy he was going to go. Restaurant? Club? Bar? Honestly it didn’t matter since it was still likely going to be better than this place. “Roger Wilco Captain,” She gave him a little finger salute before actually following his instructions and once again making her way outside of the bar. This time it was for the final time of the night. Their night was just starting though. If the fates were kind they would even get some starseeds out of it.

No one ever said who the fates would be kind to though.

It would definitely suck to be one of the goodie goodies tonight.