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**Set a few hours after this


Harker made a quiet noise to himself as he watched the scene before him. A young man sat at one of the tiny cafe tables. And all though he made it seem like he was skimming through one of the books of the small pile he had collected, he was watching as one of his employee's moved about the shop.

Specifically, Judas.

The brunette seemed to pay no mind. Going about his job as he normally did. Though, it seemed as if something was different. Though Harker, couldn't quite place his finger on it.

Occasionally the white haired man would turn a page, or he would swap out the books but this had been going on for a few hours now. Those books couldn't take that long to finish.

He would know.

Harker glanced at Judas, who was currently and quietly arguing with Jean about something before slinking out from behind the counter. He snatched a book off one of the book ends, as he sat down in a chair opposite of the stranger. "Tell me something." He said quietly, opening the book as if he was reading it. "How concerned should I be, that you have been staring my employee down for the last few hours?"

"Sitting and reading, no. By all means. Bring a laptop next time. We don't charge for the wifi and unlike most cafe's, it's strong enough to get the job done. And thank you, finding furniture that fit here was a bloody nightmare." Harker waved a hand, dropping his chin into it with a smile.

"Again, my problem is with you staring my employee down when you think no one's looking." Harker tilted his head slightly, gaze flicking back to the bickering pair. Whatever it was, Jean had the upper hand and both knew it. Judas huffed, Jean snickered and he rolled his eyes turning back to the stranger. "I'm simply looking out for my employee, my friend. Surely you can understand that. It's not often Judas brings people to the store. In fact, I would say you are the first. I'm sure even you would be concerned, if you were in my position."

"Don't mind the idiot with him. Those two argue like cats and dogs every other day. They can't live with each other, can't live without. Now, how about we start over and get things sorted out, hmm?" Harker extended a hand. "Harker Sterben. Welcome to Ink and Blood."

He snorted playfully, waving a hand. "You're definitely not hurting my foot traffic. I think I've counted... at least a dozen boys and girls who wandered in here just to shoot shy glances in this direction." He smiled, pointing at a gaggle of girls over his shoulder before turning and giving them a small wave. The girls made a startled noise upon being noticed and darted back down the aisle. Honestly, he was half tempted to offer him a job. Though if things were playing out like he thought they were, he would likely lose an employee by doing so.

Harker then turned back to Lonnie, staring for a long moment before making a quiet noise. "You don't see the issue. But that doesn't mean I haven't seen this one before." He fumbled with the book he'd brought, trying to muster together what needed to be said. "I'm just going to cut out the middle man here. Whatever this is... It's not going to end how you think it is. I would consider cutting ties sooner rather then later. I'm telling you this for your own good. You don't need to get hurt the way you are if you keep this up.

"You want to play that game, then fine. We can do that game." Harker said, shrugging. "This? You and him? It won't last. You will wake up one morning and you will receive nothing. Not text, no call, no show. Nothing. The mere second he has realized you, or god forbid somehow he has developed feelings, Judas will have ghosted you. You could turn this city on it's head and you would not find a single trace of him. And now as it stands the one place he could go to hide to avoid everything he now can't." Harker glanced towards where Judas had been, trying to keep his voice down. "So in a really weird way, yes this is a work problem."

Harker sighed, rubbing at his temple. He could feel a headache coming on. "I know this cause I have seen this, many a time before. Judas.... Judas does not do feelings. He will not let himself. He's too afraid of getting hurt and, honestly, given my own experiences, I don't blame him." He tossed his book onto Lonnie's little pile, abandoning it. "I'm not trying to split you up. Believe me. He is what little bit of family I have. I would give just about anything to see him actually happy for once, without someone who just wants to hurt him. But I'm not about to sit by and let you get hurt, when I know I could have given you a warning first."