tabula_rasa

"You haven't been here long," she said again, "and from what I understand, we're a little different than your last team. We're not as social in a group, I suppose."

She frowned at his expression. He seemed uneasy about whatever he saw through the window. Maybe one of Miles' charity cases was looking for a place to sleep. "Something out there?"

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"I'm not sure..." He approaches the window, trying to peer through the darkness.

"Even for a blackout, this seem awfully quiet to you?" His instincts were still screaming at him, but he couldn't figure out what it was in response to.

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"It gets quiet in here. We're just outside the Quarter." She looked through a window anyway, just to make sure. "Maybe the city magic is playing with you. Corey's friend from the Defenders said the magic here is strong enough to tickle her if she's not careful."

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"It's not magic." Vincent says with grim certainty, emptying the rest of his teacup. "I'd know if it was magic. This is something... else."

He turns to Jenny. "I think we should head home."

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Nerves or magic, neither affected her like it was Vincent. "All right, it'll take a moment to put out the lamps. Just hold on."

In five minutes she had the rest of the shop closed for the night and the open sign turned over to 'Come Back for Coffee'. She grabbed her bag from under the front desk. "Let's go."

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"Thank you." He tries to stay out of the way as she takes care of closing, then holds the door for her as they exit. It takes Vincent a moment's deliberation to keep from offering his arm or hand to her. It had been a while since he'd hung out with a female just as a friendly acquaintance, not as an ex or someone he'd grown up with.

He gives a cursory glance up and down the street as they start moving. Nothing. Maybe he's just on edge because of his submission deadline.

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Jenny locked the door, then tucked her hands in her pockets and strolled off down the street. Maybe his anxiety was rubbing off but now the night did feel blacker. Thicker, too.

If it was so black, why did she think she saw a shadow detach from the corner of the shop and follow them? Why? Because she was tired and had plenty of caffeine after 6pm, that's why.

She started a conversation instead. "What did I interrupt with my phone call?"

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Vincent's head cocks, seeming just a tiny bit startled as he realizes the answer to her question.

"Oh... um... promise not to laugh?"

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"That bad, huh? How about I promise I won't laugh out loud?"

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"Not... necessarily that embarrassing, just something I don't talk about much.

I was working on a story submission to Caverns & Chimeras. It's a fantasy lit magazine.

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"Why would I think that's funny? Plenty of people come to the shop to write and talk about their ideas. If you enjoy it, why not?"

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"It's a long story..." Vincent collects his thoughts, using that to push his unease aside.

"Kristoff, my brother, insisted I have some of my education in a more typical school environment, for the social experience. It took about four weeks for him to start covering my math and science lessons... apparently teachers don't take to it well when eight year olds start correcting them. The humanities though, I was left to my own devices. Straight A's everywhere... except when it came to any creative writing assignments.

To say I was resentful of the subject was putting it mildly.

When I started college, I took writing courses for my electives just out of spite, as if to prove there wasn't anything I couldn't be perfect at; and... I ended up sort of enjoying it at some point.

Still don't know if my work is any good though."

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"You won't know unless you try, and you're trying. Nothing embarrassing about that. Plenty of people try just for the sheer pleasure of doing something they love."

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He gives a gentle noise of affirmation, even as he looks behind them again. He could swear he saw something around a corner.

"Think you'd be willing to beta-read one for me?"

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"Sure, I'd be happy to read one. Can't say I'm all that much help, but I like to think I know a good story when I read one."

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"Thanks, I'd appreciate it." Vincent nods, seemingly a bit more comfortable now, even if he keeps scanning the area around them. There's still enough light that he can make out the Champions HQ in the distance when they get down the right street.

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Jenny looked around when he did. She didn't see anything but that didn't mean there wasn't something there.

She stopped walking. "What is it?"

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"I... don't know." He frowns. "Maybe I'm just edgy... still a new city to me, after all. I hadn't been away from my desk in hours when you called.

I'll do a divination later to see if there are any presences locally that there shouldn't be. Maybe ask Nicholas as well.

We should get inside, just to be on the safe side."

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"I could take a look around first. One of Argo's fangirls might've taken a walk on the dark side to get his attention..." She looked around again. "Or not. It's late and unless there's a real danger to someone out here, it's time to rescue my cat from all the love and snacks and go to bed."

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Vincent groaned. "Let us all hope it hasn't come to that."

He manages a smile at the mention of her cat. "Another one I don't think I've met."

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