[o] A Day Off

[Zadaxtrina Wall-Flower]

Blood had a way of sticking beneath one's fingernails. Dax looked down at them now, her nail beds were lined with dry, crusty red and the tips of her nails were darkened from the dried blood beneath them. After her last job, she had to evacuate the area immediately, in case someone nearby had heard the screaming. The local watering hole was as best of a place to disappear as any and after she had slunk in through a back door (locked, momentarily) she went straight to the lavatory.

The water ran out of the faucet and she picked at each nail until her fingers were pink with clean. She checked her reflection in the mirror and adjusted her hair so it didn't look so ruffled--running sucked--and adjusted her mid-drift top so it covered her better. She smoothed out her shorts before she moved back out into the bar, with a cast of her eyes about she decided to sit at the bar instead of a table. Once seated she looked around at the drinks before she decided to just get a water and a small plate of food; it was dinner time after all.

She glanced around with her back to the bar. She glimpsed at everyone's profile and what they were drinking before she moved on to the next thing. Dax was trained to be acquainted with her surroundings and she was comfortable when she was aware of everything around her. Whenever the bathroom door opened, she turned her head to see who had come out (or went in) and kept up with the seating arrangements. When her food arrived she paused to focus on looking for poisons. Habit.

Her meal was safe, so she started to pick through it and sip the water. She didn't have a job to complete tonight so she could relax, for a little while, anyway.

[Phoenix Psyche]

To be honest, he wasn't really one for the bar scene, but Phoenix found he wished to be there for some reason. It hadn't been long since he had been introduced to his new home, but already he was weary of his little dorm. In truth, Phoenix wasn't even sure that the Freshmen were allowed to be out and about whenever they wanted, but since he had agreed to help all those people in need he imagined they might indulge him a little. It wasn't as if he was doing any real harm sitting at a bar, listening to the familiar sound of obscure conversation. Being alone in him dorm waiting for his first day of classes tomorrow just wasn't good for him and the noises of the bar almost made him feel like he could be home again. It was a little sad though that he was drawn to the exact district that the Elegies warned him about. That, perhaps, was foolish on his part.

Disregarding the thoughts, Phoenix turned his gaze to the rest of the bar. He didn't think he would see anything particularly interesting, but if he stared at his drink too long it might give the bartender the impression that he was just dying for another, and considering that was Phoenix's first 'beer' he decided not to. It was already making his head grossly fuzzy. His parents back home had always told him that the effects of Alcohol were only for the despondent and broken, yet being away from home and being a fully grown man, Phoenix decided it was time to do what he pleased. Though that implied he took real pleasure out of it and he really didn't. Another plus about going to a bar though were the men. They all looked at him, the most beautiful man in the room, and automatically thought he had to be a woman because of it.

Phoenix didn't mind because he got the free beer out of the matter and the attention made him feel nice. Flirting was an act that most people didn't invest much into, but it was something that Phoenix enjoyed greatly. His soft voice lent to the fact that he must be a woman in other mens eyes and they were so ready to give him the attention he often craved. It never lasted very long though because Phoenix didn't care to mislead anyone for very long. The last one who had come over to flirt had displeased Phoenix though, so the young man pulled down his shirt to show his bare chest and that was enough to scare away the suitor. Funny business it was when they learned you didn't have even the impossibly flat boobs they expected.

When the young man cast his glance out on the crowd again he caught someone in particular. A girl with an interestingly dark style. That wasn't something that Phoenix was really used to yet. Back home there was a deviation in style, but something such as what she was wearing was mostly unheard of. Phoenix watched her take a seat and get something to eat, but she seemed somewhat reluctant at first to actually eat it. The young man wondered why as he continued to observe for a few moments. It was only when someone said, "No wonder you ain't hittin' on men. You're some kind of dyke" that Phoenix removed his gaze from the young dark woman. He stared with intensity at the one who said as much and, without betraying any form of emotion, pulled his shirt down as he had done before to reveal his lack of breasts. The man stood and stared at Phoenix for a oddly prolonged time before taking an unsteady step back, then disappearing into the crowd.

That in particular was the best way to get rid of unflattering men. Phoenix didn't want to do it too often though, for it could have easily taken away from the numbers of people who might actually flirt with him. That outcome didn't seem very desirable at all. With a slight disapproving frown, Phoenix stood from his seat and made his way over to the young woman who caught his eye. He wanted to talk with her. Ask her about her clothing maybe. But mostly he just knew he had to for the simple fact that he had taken in interest in her and he wasn't very good at resisting those urges when the arose. In mere moments the girly man was standing across her table from her, staring in an odd way that wasn't approving or disapproving. "I like your clothing," he stated simply.

[Zadaxtrina Wall-Flower]

Her ears had long since adjusted to the dull roar of the tavern, and she caught most snippets of conversation around her. After a while of sitting at the bar, she decided she actually wanted to fade to the background at a table. She paid for her food and picked up her plate and glass of water and moved to a table where she could pretty much see the entire place without having to move her head much. Sure, it was a bit far off to the side, but at least she could eat with peace of mind.

Growing up in her household, her father often set traps with his magic that would pretty much incapacitate Dax if she didn't spot and disable the traps before they sprung. Just as well, her father had a way of melting into the shadow and pop out of no where. She learned her lesson about not accounting from all directions and Dax always felt best with at least two walls to her back. Most people would find backing one's self into a corner silly, but there was more to it than just losing a bit of movement. There was a psychological thing behind it; if someone chasing Dax figured they had her cornered, their guard would drop (because honestly, if anyone was chasing her they were an idiot through and through) and would put them in a mind that they had already won. And when that happened...well it was over for them before it started.

Dax picked at her plate when she spotted a particularly noticeable character being chatted up almost like clockwork. A man would go up to them, talk and look very interested and then suddenly just leave like they were disgusted. Dax watched with keen interest while she ate at her food, her eyes never actually looked directly at the character, she used her peripherals and what she could catch in reflections. If anyone else was looking at Dax they would see a girl (pretty young looking) eating by herself with her head down. This part of town knew well enough not to judge a book by its cover, but drunk men were men. She had to dissuade two people from sitting across from her by just muttering her family name--it wasn't any of their business to know she excommunicated from the family because of a job that went bad for her father. Once they heard the name they went scuttling away, which Dax preferred.

The only time she spent with other people, she was prying information out of them through torture or the more normal forms of interrogation. Dax just never developed those few people skills that would even have her wanting to communicate with someone unless she wanted information out of them. But she found her interest always seemed to return to the oddly dressed man that was now walking towards her. She knew he had often been mistaken for women, but the men here weren't the brightest the Bass District had to offer. She was not fooled by the man's soft features simply because his Adam's Apple was plain to see. Sure, he didn't exude manliness from every orifice, but his hips were not the same as a females, and his shoes were slightly too big for a woman his size.

When he stopped in front of her, she had the excuse to look at him directly so she picked up things her direct eyesight did not. Such as he simply wasn't from the Bass District, but his fashion of clothing just wasn't around here. He must be one of those odd summons that the Elegies called forth for help. Honestly, he didn't look like the cream of the crop, but Dax's scrawny frame had other people thinking that as well. "Not many people notice my clothes apart from everyone's." Dax's tone was pretty neutral, though she was honestly a little annoyed by it. She specifically picked out her clothes so they did not seem noteworthy or special in the slightest--though today's outfit did have a little more color in it that normal simply because her victim this evening had been expecting an attack, but not from a girl and from one that looked so small and young. "I am quite interested about your clothing. It's not from around here." She didn't phrase it like a question, because it wasn't. She knew that they weren't. His entire style wasn't something she'd seen in any district. She couldn't say much about the school because she was not permitted entry there-nor did she wish to enter.

And by 'here' she did not mean this district, or any other. He just simply wasn't from here, but from whatever place the Elegies' plucked him from. She was mildly curious about that, but generally the normal public did not cast there eyes at such a thing and instead did quite a good job of ignoring it. People didn't like to bring to attention there was a problem unless it was an emergency--so they liked to live in these thinly constructed lies that made them feel safe. Just trust the Elegies. Their solutions will save us, with no work on our part. Fuck them. Dax would feel nothing if half the population melted away over night.

Good riddance.

She smiled faintly at the man. "Would you like to sit down?"

[Phoenix Psyche]

It was somewhat pleasant that the girl wasn't confused, yet there was so much more to it and Phoenix knew it would take time to unravel. When it came right down to it it was likely she was a painfully observative type, which somewhat put off Phoenix. Since his palingenesis, Phoenix had become somewhat worried at being observed beyond skin depth even if he knew it couldn't really be helped. There was almost a slight trepidation when it came to the matter. At least the man thought he'd welcome a little trepidation considering how the flirts weren't doing it for him that particular night. Phoenix decided he'd look into the girl to distract himself for a time.

The way she spoke seemed a little queer in a dark way. Perhaps even upset somewhere within, but she had kept her tone neutral so he had no place saying a word about it. One thing he caught that was curious however was that she used the term interesting even though she didn't sound interested in the slightest. That too sounded somewhat accusatory and riddled with something that Phoenix couldn't exactly pin down. Softly he uttered, "You are correct. My clothing is from nowhere about here. Though you know that already, don't you?" His eyes took her in as his voice prodded lightly. He wasn't being impolite or passive aggressive, he was just rather confused about her.

After he only grew more confused, seeing the faintest of smiles cross her face. Being asked to sit down wasn't nearly as odd as the smile she produced because at least being asked to sit was a general obligation. Though when he put even more thought into it that too was somewhat note-worthy when she could have just as easily cast him off with a swift dismissal. Phoenix responded to her question with a light nod, taking a seat gracefully. The young man smiled slightly, interested in where his conversation might take him with the young woman who caught his eye.

"I must admit you are the first to comment on my clothing. Flowing dressed are often rather un-noteworthy. Or at least there were where I came from. Perhaps people are too polite to comment on to someone of my appearance..." Phoenix let his words trail off, playing with his hair lightly. "Where I come from your clothing would be rather unusual indeed though. Perhaps not here. I enjoy it though. I can imagine you have very specific taste in attire, but I could be wrong." It seemed a harmless enough conversation and Phoenix really did take an interest in what she was wearing.

Phoenix leaned against the table, holding his face in his hands as he hunched over the table. "You see it's only my second day here. You may have guessed already that I am a student though." It still felt weird to Phoenix every time he recalled the situation he found himself in. The leader of the Elegies, the one with the sweet eyes, assured him that in time he would come to appreciate life once more. The woman must have apologized ten times in their first encounter.

Why am I really even here?

[-Hey so in your last post you did a little description of how your character realized that Phoenix was a really a man. For all intensive purposes his appearance is that of a female, mostly because in all of the images of him it's a flawless charade, so could you refrain from picking how he'd appear? Sorry if I sound a little like nit-picky or something-]