Ice Cream (RP)

Max finishes dressing, smooths down her outfit, then steps over to Alara, cupping her cheek in her hand and giving her a taste of her own smoldering look of hunger that she had been treated to as she stood in the nude. "I know you do, babe. You're on my territory. You're one of my people. I'm gonna do what I can for you." She gives the vampiress an infuriatingly self-confident smirk, strokes her cheek with her thumb, then lets her go, turning to the door. "What are you waitin' for? We got a train to catch."

When they arrive at Piccadilly, Max follows the sound Benji and Aart's music and waits for them to finish their song, applauding vigorously when they do. Then she strides up to Benji. "Benji old boy!" She cries. "How are ya?"

— Persephone —
Persephone sighs. She thinks about her life, her damned soul, and her feelings for Viv. Maybe… maybe if she gets Viv to sign, they can work together to escape the contract? Maybe … maybe then she wouldn’t have to be so alone in her situation…

She takes a breath and says, "Yeah, I know it all sounds kind of ridiculous. And I know I’ve made my employer sound awful. But honestly it’s been mostly positive so far. They bailed me out when my start up failed. They got me out of a jam several times. And they even tried to help me process the trauma, though it ended up being a bit too strong a treatment for my liking. They provide for every need, every comfort. Honestly, I’ve never had a better job. But yeah, they do business with some very wealthy, eccentric people."

She shrugs and says, "I… I could show you what I mean, if you want?"

Max sighs heavily, her cheery expression fading into one of contemplation. "Damn, yeah it has. I gotta say Benji, I've been through a lot since we last spoke. I'm grateful you answered my text even though I've kind of had a lot going on. Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime, over some whiskey." She looks Benji earnestly in the eye. "I ain't gonna lie to you, things have been rough for me. Got evicted from my apartment, now I'm basically living on a friend's grace. But I'll pick myself up, I always do, and I didn't come here just so you could hear me mope. Who ya got with you?"

Her eyes drift from Aart to Circe casually and then focus intensely on Circe. She takes a step towards Benji, looking quite astounded that this 'harmless' vampire would do such a thing. "Wait... is SHE the capri sun?"

-- Circe --
Circe stands back and listens as Benji and Max talk. When Max stares intently at her, however, she squirms, unsure of herself, though she feels some relief when Benji introduces her as a friend. Circe can't help but marvel at Max; she seems so effortlessly cool, but clearly not someone to be messed with. When she hears that Max is effectively homeless, however, she exclaims, "Ohmygod you're homeless? Like for real? You know, my sister and I could totally put you up for a while, if you need a place." Circe smiles warmly, but then stops short and looks aghast and says, "Oh shit that was really weird, wasn't it? Like, I just invited you to live with me, uh, with us and I don't even... OK yeah, um, Benji, help?" Circe seems to be flailing socially at the moment.

--Persephone--
Persephone stands up before Viv and looks down at her, smiling, almost giddy with excitement. She says, "OK, so this is gonna be weird, but... Well, I'll just show you! Stay calm, ok?"

She spreads her arms and suddenly shadow and smoke billow out from her and envelop her in a cocoon. After a moment, the smoke dissipates, revealing Persephone, but now in a new and different demonic form. Whereas before, her form was horrific, now it is awesome and beautiful, though still filled with dread. Now, her skin looks like polished marble, with black veins and cracks running through it. Her eyes glow like hot embers in dark pits. Her hair floats wildly around her head, undulating like snakes. And wings sprout from her back, looking like large, iridescent dragonfly wings. Her body is naked, and identifiably hers, and she floats a foot or so off the ground. She speaks, her voice sounding like a Greek chorus chanting a song in a minor key. She says, "Don't be alarmed, Viv. It's still me! My employment comes with some unique perks..." She hovers backwards, her body passing directly through the sofa as if it weren't there. She lands and does a beautiful, balletic forward cartwheel in perfectly controlled, slow movements, bringing her back in front of Viv. She then sits down, curling her arms and legs around herself in a position that is eminently comfortable and relaxed, but one only a contortionist could accomplish. She smiles at Viv once more and then, as before, a sudden whirlwind of smoke whips out of her and, with a spin, dissipates, leaving Persephone sitting on the sofa comfortably, her human self in her human clothes, just as before.

She smiles and says, "Cool, huh? Oh, and check this out..." She turns around and shows Viv her back, where the gash she had made a few minutes ago was entirely healed, leaving only a faint line up and across her back. She looks back at Viv and says, "What do you think?"

Max gives Benji a warm look. "Hey, don't feel sorry for me or anything, sweetheart. Not everything new in the life of Max is a negative. I take the bad with the good, y'know? For now, all I need's a friend, Benji. That'll do me just fine."

She turns her attention to Circe again. "Nice to meet ya, Circe. Kind of you to offer up your place when we just met and all, but I'm gonna have to pass. I've got needs beyond just a simple couch to crash on, and I'm not sure if you and your sister are up for accommodating them." By which she meant that the Morgan's who she was staying with were willing to take care of Madison when she couldn't and even had a kid of their own who was only a few years younger. Not that she'd object to changing things up a bit, but she doubted Circe had daycare in mind when she made the offer.

"So," she continues, still addressing Circe. "What do you do? Where do you know Benji from?"

-- Circe --
Circe frowns and says, "Well, um, I’m a recent college graduate thinking of going into graphic design. I’m here visiting my sister Persephone, who introduced me to Benji. My sis works for… um. Like the corporation from hell, I guess? And she knows Benji from… uh… work? I guess? And I’m hanging out with Benji because my sister is …" she blushes visibly and stammers, "Um she needed the condo for the evening, for, um, stuff."

Max's eyes narrow as she recalls the animal control van she saw outside the park. "A hellhound? I think we need to trade some info Benji. Some shit's going down on my end too, and I need answers fast. But more pertinent," and here she inclines her head to Alara. "Why don't we get the lady her martinis? She's been waiting patiently."