Secret Lives

Penelope It might be strange that the first place she visited when she was back in town was the Mission, but no matter how wealthy Penelope was still from Mexico and the Mission helped bring that quaint familiarity of her home back to her. The sights, the smells, it made her feel comfortable. The girl might have grown up in a mansion removed from the rest of the world but this was where life happened and now and again she found herself drawn to it. Her car was parked a couple blocks down, the kin who accompanied her everywhere were relaxing themselves. She had been away for some time, and the time to simply put her feet up and relax was finally here. She was hungry, the smells called to her. It didn’t matter if the food was healthy or not, right now her only concern was stuffing her face full of something that would load her up with much needed calories. Izzy Montoya They wanted her to hide. They wanted her to remove herself, to make herself completely fucking useless. Needless to say, she – as always – refused. This is who she is, what she is, [i]why[/i] she is. She is loud and brash, she smokes too much, drinks too much, cusses too much, insists she be accepted by merit, not because of her birth. She has fought to make sure she succeeds in this male dominated field – and has done so with honors. She has the commendations to prove it. But right now, she is simply hungry. She steps from her car – a car of the unmarked variety that does nothing to hide the fact it’s police issue – and locks the door behind her. Her steps are even and strong, her mode of dress business casual, with a blazer to hide the bulge of her weapon at the small of her back. She pauses to drop the butt of her cigarette into the gutter, and then continues toward the restaurant she’s decided to dine at tonight. Mexican. Tequila. Win/Win Penelope She had decided on a location across the street from Izzy, but the sight of the kin out of the corner of her eye drew the attention of the Half-Moon, a tilt of her head as she found the memory of who she was looking at returned. That is when she decided to follow… She had never had a chance to speak to the kin after the last time they spoke. So now seemed as good a time as any. She followed into the restaurant perhaps a minute behind Izzy. She took the time to note the kind of establishment this was, and took in the faces of the various patrons before noting exits and other features of the building. The place had a bar and that is where she headed… How better to start a conversation than by ordering a drink. Izzy Montoya There’s no surprise she heads for the bar. The possible surprise is that she doesn’t have to order the drink, only catch the eye of the bartender and lift her chin in a nod. Practically before she has settled into her seat, the drink arrives in front of her. conversation is low, unhurried, as she places a food order too. she’s a regular. Obviously. And she’s also watching her surroundings. It takes exactly .02 seconds for her to place the woman who follows into the bar. There is no outward sign of recognition, bar the slight tightening at the corner of her mouth, the barest clench of her jaw. Penelope She walks up to the bar and glances first at the Bartender before glancing towards Izzy.”You have a few minutes to speak? I’ll buy you a drink.”She says in offering to the woman, in her own little way it was an attempt to extend an olive branch to the woman. A peace offering… She didn’t present a smile, nor did she seem to be offering any sign that she was pleading with the woman. It was a simple offering of peace, and perhaps a chance to speak. Penelope was all business when it came down to such matters. Izzy Montoya “You will not.” Buy her a drink, that is. She wants nothing from the woman, and pays her own way – always. She does, however, take her own and with a tip of her head moves toward a table in the back. She presumes this will need some privacy. And that it is inevitable, so she does not fight it. It’s not exactly an invitation, but it’s not telling her to fuck off either. Yet. Penelope She nods her head understanding the gesture from the other woman. Self reliance was important to many, and this was why Penelope simply did not pay the way for the garou in the City. There was too much pride involved in the matter… She watched Izzy move for the table and she ordered herself a drink as well then moved to follow her. Once Izzy was seated she seated herself across the table from Izzy. Her eyes met the Kin’s own. She waited some time before speaking back to the woman in a soft and even tone.”The last time we spoke was on poor terms and I apologize for that. It was not how I would have wished our first meeting to be.”She says back to the woman plainly.”I might appear heartless at times but sometimes in a position like mine you need to be cold. However I assure you my intention was in no way to cause you pain.”She continues. She didn’t want to dwell on the matter or bring back painful memories for the woman but she did want to be clear since they had never really spoken. Izzy Montoya She snorts. “Bullshit.” She doesn’t play games. She doesn’t mince words, she never, ever watches her mouth. It’s no wonder the rumors that spread about her, it’s no wonder she fosters such irritation and outright hatred in so many. she reaches for he cigarettes, then tosses them back on the table because she knows she can’t light up in here. “What the fuck do you want.” Penelope Her face remained surprisingly still through the entire thing. She seemed to have no trouble taking the harsh words from the woman. Hell, she probably expected it.”Derek was betrothed, he was lying to you and he was lying to his mate to be. Derek knew what he was doing, and in the process he made his decisions.”She says back to the woman.”I am sure you will not believe me but I am sorry that you had to be hurt in his selfish little game. He dishonored his family, his mate, and you all at once and this behavior is not something my tribe can condone.”She continues. “Believe me or don’t that is not why I am speaking to you. I am speaking to you because you were his superior, and more importantly you are important to us.”She says back to the woman.”I would like to find a way that we might be able to find peace and work on even terms because I cannot stress the importance of the work you do and it’s relation to our own.”She says back to the woman. “It is that simple. You are useful to us and that is a fact. I will not have someone so valuable alienated or removed.” Izzy Montoya She starts to go on about Derek, and Izzy makes a sound, again. It’s dismissive, as if anything said will not matter, does not make any difference. “I don’t give a fuck what he did, why he did. He proved himself to be a chickenshit bastard and not the man I thought he was – like so many before him.” She reaches for her cigarettes, but shifts her hand to he drink instead. Penelope goes on about how useful she is, and she snorts. “That’s not the popular opinion when it comes to me.” Penelope She shrugs her shoulders.”I don’t care what the popular opinion of you is. It isn’t my place to worry about what other people think about you. It is my responsibility to assess the situation and try to find the best solution to any given situation. We are better off so long as you are working with us.”She says in a “matter of factly” tone. “I am here to see what you need to make that a possibility.”She continues.”No games, no lies, no backstabbing, no clever little wordings. I want peace between us all, not conflict, I want you to be on our team, so what will it take to ensure that?”She continues letting Izzy set her terms. This is what a Philodox is supposed to do. Izzy Montoya She does the unthinkable. She chuckles. “See, that’s where you prove how little you know of me.” She leans forward, and meets Penelope’s gaze straight on. No flinch, no reservation, and absolutely no backing down. Ever. “I never fucking stop working for you assholes, no matter what you fucking do to me. I know my duty, Penelope. I never waver from it.” Ethan Hargrave ((Open?)) Izzy Montoya [It’s up to Penelope – I don’t mind :) ] Penelope She nods her head slowly.”It is nice to see your loyalty is still in tact. I would expect nothing less from the Fenrir.”She says with a nod of her head and a slight curl of her lips into a smile.”I do not know who is speaking for you, or looking after you, however if you find yourself in any trouble I would like you to be able to bring up my name or, otherwise, contact me.”She continues. “We are in a very dark place right now and we need to stand with one another as much as possible. If you are willing to stand beside us then I assure you I will do what I can to stand beside you.”She says back to Izzy, an offer of, what will hopefully be, peace. Penelope [I will let Lessa decide!] Ethan Hargrave *Mexican food. Mexican food is good. No one should be on this level of calm, especially pushing his way into the barlike scenario. But he finds a table. Straight for a table, and not the bar. He’s not here to drink – he’s here to eat.* *Three things are clear from the way he walks. 1. He is rather defensive of his location, and is attentive to his surroundings, 2. He is absolutely alone on a Wednesday night in the city, and seems comfortable that way, and 3. His suit jacket is large enough to conceal weaponry.* *Not that he carries himself like someone who is about to go mad and shoot up the place. He just wants a burrito.* Izzy Montoya “I look after myself.” There’s a decisiveness there. It’s the way she prefers it. It’s been made clear to her over and over that there is no one else she can trust. So she simply doesn’t. ever. She doesn’t answer the I am going stand by you speech. It’s just grandstanding, posturizing. None of them would spare her a thought should she be captured. Again. Penelope She nods her head.”You have strength, and I understand that, and you are independent and I am not offering to pay your way or carry you while you can still stand. You will stand on your own two feet and I will too.”She says with a nod of her head. Her eyes are drawn towards Ethan a moment as the man enters. It doesn’t take much for her to take notice of his breeding as well before she turns her eyes back towards Izzy. “But in the end we are made stronger because we are not afraid to depend on one another when our strength is not enough.”She says with a nod of her head.”You stand with us and we stand with you it is that simple.”She finishes before finally offering a little smile.”Can I exchange numbers with you in the event either of us needs something?” Izzy Montoya And there it is. Couched between grandiose ideas and self-importance, as is typical, but it comes to be as all things do one way or another. Izzy, simply snorts, and reaches into her pocket, pulling out a small case and liberates a business card from it and tosses it negligently to skitter across the table toward the fang. She tucks the case back into her pocket, and only then does she let her gaze travel along the room, noting the new arrivals – lingering on the too big coat wearing Ethan, noting how easy it would be to hide weapons on his person, before she turns back to the Fang. Ethan Hargrave ((Also… Izzy WAS told that Sid is dead, right? She didn’t have to find out on her own? Cuz I tried finding you IC and just dropping a Jeff in to tell her, but that didn’t work at ALL well.)) Izzy Montoya (Uh. no. no one told her. I haven’t been around enough – so much so they’re gonna pull izzy at the end of the month.) Ethan Hargrave *It isn’t that he doesn’t notice the women chatting – he does. He really, really does. But enthusiasm for food, especially spicy food, is right on his level. Especially a good sauce.* Ethan Hargrave ((Wait, what? Why? You’re playing her now… she shouldn’t get pulled!)) Izzy Montoya [I don’t play her enough. they don’t define what enough is- but since she’s pb 3, it needs to be more than I do. But whatever. *shrugs* Its my punishement for deciding to cultivate a social life. sex is more fun than rp. *LOL* I’ma keep seeking it. :P ] Penelope Penelope pulls out a Cell Phone and holds it up for Izzy projecting her phone number to the other woman in the event she wants to mark it down! She takes the card and her attention shifts back to Ethan when Izzy looks. When Izzy looks back she gestures with her eyes.”He’s one of us… Not a true born though.”She notes to the other woman.”Though I’ve never met him before. So I would exercise caution in speaking to strangers.”She says with a shrug of her shoulders. She draws her glass to her lips and takes a drink. Ethan Hargrave ((Okay, I can NOT blame you for that one. That’s why I’m on here so much. HAH! But. Before she goes, she would get told of Sid’s demise by a very morose satyr.)) Izzy Montoya [she will be very sad. she liked sid. :( ] Ethan Hargrave ((Jah – Jeff is still depressed about it. At least he’s ACCEPTED it. Which was the hard part. So he might get all crying on her shoulder. And she might get hugged. For which I apologize.)) Izzy Montoya She pulls out her phone, puts the number in the “wouldn’t piss on if on fire” group of contacts, and slips the phone back into her pocket. she just looks at Penelope as she gives the ‘beware of strangers” comment, and arches a brow. “Really.” Oh so very dry. the fang really doesn’t know a damn thing about her, does she? Izzy Montoya (hahaha! Izzy’d take his mind off for a bit. Again. :P) Ethan Hargrave *He looks rather dangerous as his humongous burrito is delivered, and his eyes brighten only slightly. It seems, however, his emotions are low, as he eats the thing with physical enjoyment, even if his face doesn’t respond. More hot sauce is added, however. It’s vastly more important.* *He does frown slightly in mid-bite, however. His eyes flick over to the women once more.* Penelope She shrugs her shoulders.”We could invite him over if you wanted…”She notes to Izzy, he was pretty enough to look at and it couldn’t hurt to draw him in to the community. Izzy Montoya she snorts. “You can do whatever the fuck you want.” somehow, that has oh so many layers in it – and none of them good. “i’m gonna eat my fuckin’ dinner.” a beat, as she takes the plate as it’s delivered,, and scoops up a bite, hesitating just before taking it… “We done?” Ethan Hargrave ((Jeff will just wanna tell her. He won’t tell her who was responsible, and he will even pretend he doesn’t know. Mostly because he’s afeared of getting found out that his green card expired. And a little because he’s hoping to kill him himself. But he WILL … well. Upset. And he’ll accept any comfort. He will likely not sleep with her, however. He’s been in a mood lately.)) Ethan Hargrave *His eyes flick at the profanity, but he just keeps on eating. He frowns slightly. Apparently he has the same belief about trusting strangers. One never knew, after all.* Penelope She can’t help but smile just a hint when Izzy speaks. She was a bitch, that much was to be certain, but she was Fenrir and that spark of intensity glowed in her eyes as Izzy spoke.”Has anyone ever told you that you would have made a wonderful Modi?”She asks the woman with a look of bemusement in her eyes. Penelope was actually, genuinely, smiling which Izzy wouldn’t likely ever realize, or care, was actually fairly rare to get out of the cold hearted bitch seated across from her. “I’ve always enjoyed the honesty and directness of the Fenrir. No games, no smoke and mirrors, what you see is what you get.”She says with a nod of her head.”It’s refreshing to see a little honesty for a change here. Yes we’re done…”She says. “You enjoy your meal.”She says before standing and offering a farewell nod of her head. Izzy Montoya [aww, poor Jeff. :( ] Izzy Montoya she snorts – most of the time she’s been told exactly that – if only she’d changed, she’d have been a hell of a hero. Instead, she’s simply a kin – one who faught her way through a male dominated field and made a name for herself (many names, according to some) and served the nation at the same damn time. One who was captured, tortured, and survived. One who lost her damn mind to the wyrm, and survived. One. who. survives. She doesn’t bother to say goodbye, simply digs into her meal as if she hasn’t eaten all day. Because she hasn’t. Penelope Penelope makes her way over to Ethan and gestures with a hand towards one of his seats.”My I sit?”She asks the man boldly and directly. She wasn’t concerned with what he might think or feel on the matter. She wanted to know who she was speaking to. It was only natural the Half-Moon would be curious about a newcomer. Especially when there was a possibility he could be a threat. [Truth of Gaia] Dice: 6 d10 TN5 (4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7) ( success x 5 ) Ethan Hargrave *He finishes chewing.* Uhh… If you want to. *His eyes flick back to Izzy.* Is your friend okay? She looks a little… *He looks for the word, through so many words that he could use.* Down. *That’s the understatement of the effing year.* Izzy Montoya Oh she’s not down at all. she’s simply… Izzy. Nor is she friend of the Fang. She can be called a lot of things, Izzy, but as far as it looks to the rest of the world right now… She’s hungry. And as she eats, she pulls out he phone once more and flicks through it, seeming to have forgotten the rest of the room exists. [Oh she hasn’t forgotten. She NEVER forgets.] Penelope She looks back towards Izzy a moment before nodding her head.”I think she will be fine.”She says as she takes a seat.”So do you have a name?”She asks the man across the table. Ethan Hargrave I do, *he says idly, and he takes another bite. Smartass. But it seems… he’s not being snarky when he says it. He’s just being careful. He watches her carefully. Should he reach for the gun, or shouldn’t he?* Penelope She tilts her head slightly and doesn’t laugh. Instead she watches the man, and her fingers begin to tap lightly on the table expectantly as her fiery eyes seem to burrow into his skull. Oh how heavy the weight of a half-moon could be on the unsuspecting! Ethan Hargrave *He sighs faintly, and he puts his fork down.* Ma’am. Please speak frankly? I have had a long day of work, and if I’ve done something wrong, I’d prefer to know now before I stumble into something I do not need to. Penelope “I was asking you for your name. If you have one perhaps you should share it with me?”She asks the man curiously.”I don’t have all evening and I would like to know precisely who it is I am speaking to.” Ethan Hargrave *He sighs faintly.* My name’s Ethan. *Not a last name. Still wary, although in the city, that might be why he was still alive. He still doesn’t take another bite, not while she’s sitting there.* Penelope She nods her head.”I am Penelope… So tell me Ethan what brings you to my city. Do you seek to do harm to anyone within the city?”She asks the man curiously as she eyes his food for a moment then her eyes snap to his own.”I’ve never met you before and so I am going to assume you are new here, and I just want to be certain if you are friend or foe…”She notes in a cold tone that was intended to reveal just who, or rather what, he was speaking to. Ethan Hargrave I don’t intend to, no, *he says calmly.* Well. Maybe harm to some. I’m a bodyguard. It’s bound to happen. *Despite his calm veneer, Penelope is QUITE intimidating.* And I’ve been here for a little while. I’m set up with a job. A good livelihood, a home, and I’ve made it this far with a low profile and caution. *He lowers his voice, keeping it soft.* I don’t even know who you are. So I can’t say if we have disagreements about how things are done. *Wary. On edge.* Penelope She was being forward and direct with the man. While this wasn’t as direct as it could be they were in a public place so she wanted to be as discreet as she could be.”You are Kin…”She notes to the man.”I am a member of the Nation. You are either a member of the nation or you are not. So which is it? Are you a member of the nation?”She asks the man curiously.”Do you wish to harm the nation? Spy on the nation? Gather information which you will exchange to others about the nation? Or are you here to offer your aid?”She asks the man softly enough. The barrage of questions was deliberate, she was checking to see if he was lying when he answered. Izzy Montoya She finishes her meal, and stands, flips out a couple bills on the table, enough for her meal plus tip. she swipes up her phone and her cigarettes – the first goes into her pocket, the other is opened in order to get to her addiction inside. anyone betting that she’ll light up the minute she steps outside – wins. She doesn’t bother to look at Penelope as she walks by, and merely gives Ethan a glance. Then, she slips out the door, lights up, and heads toward her car. [Thanks for the play – i have to pack! later.] Ethan Hargrave I am a member of the nation. I wish to spy FOR the nation, *he almost whispers. There is a slight twitch in the corner of his eye. One can’t deny the Shadowlord in him. But his mother’s hot blood runs through his veins. The full moon.* As I’ve done for my whole life. Making a difference here is difficult, however, when they don’t look. Ethan Hargrave ((Enjoy packing!))