I got no excuse. Is that all right?

[touchme_n_die]

It's different when the day ends and night begins, right when the light starts to fall. Lately, it's different all the time, but night always carries something else in it. Rogue supposes it's simply a part of the dark and shadows, not seeing things clearly or knowing what's out there until it's closer than it should be. It's a lack of control,

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[yourwonderings]

Jo's been given some of the earlier shifts at the bar along with the rest of the Wanderers. It pisses her off that the owner might think she's not capable of taking care of herself, but she gets he means well. He feels responsible for them, since he gave them a job knowing what they were and where they came from. The video has unsettled everyone, to varying degrees.

She's walking back to the Kashtta instead of going anywhere.

She might later go out on patrol, but for now she's just walking back towards the building.

Not really looking forward to the conversation that awaits her.

[swallowmyblood]

Nikolas catches a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye and he immediately shifts his attention away from the door. Pushing off of his car, he walks over casually, one hand swinging at his side, the other in his pocket. There's the tiniest hint of a smile on his face.

When he gets close enough to see smaller details, things that blend from a distance, he stops. He takes a breath and waits several moments before speaking.

"Hello, Jo." He looks away for a moment, and if his hand tightens on his keys, it's only enough to give him a reminder. "I've been waiting to speak with you, but I think it's important that we talk now. Do you have a minute?"

[yourwonderings]

The voice gives way to a pause, though Jo doesn't appear to be uneasy in any way. From day one, the guy never inspired confidence. At first he was just Mr. Moneybags, the dude with the worker that wanted to get away with not paying her. Then he was...well, someone suspect with really warm hands that she doesn't trust for a minute. Either way, Jo doesn't want to find out.

"Kind of in a hurry here," she says, keeping her voice neutral. She's not inviting invitation and for once, she's not inviting trouble, either.

She's already got plenty of that. All of the Wanderers do, for that matter.

[swallowmyblood]

There's a slow nod at her response, and any and all amusement falls away. This is a serious subject, and he's going to treat it as such.

"It won't take long," he assures her, "and I think it will answer a few questions you might have had. If it doesn't, I'll gladly answer any you have." Probably.

He'll step back, just once, to give her more room. He's giving himself more room.

In case her interest isn't piqued, however, he adds a little something. "That day in the park? When you were injured? I knew it was you without previously knowing you were a shifter. I already knew."

[yourwonderings]

The step back helps. Helps her regroup. Helps her find her footing. She's not the kind of girl that's easily taken aback.

Jo doesn't know how to feel about the fact he knew just what to say to drive the curiosity home. It's more than that. More than curiosity and more than interest or she wouldn't be so hellbent on not listening. She wouldn't have sneaked into his office to steal files that ultimately say nothing.

It's given her nothing.

She stands there, teetering on the edge of rancor and annoyance and something far more burning.

"Start talking."

[swallowmyblood]

There it is. She wants to know.

Just knowing it's there burns in his throat, and the words are simpler and more difficult when they come simply because of the importance he's placing on it.

'Start talking.'

He presses his lips together for a moment, then cocks his head to the side. "I knew it was you because there's an immediate connection that was formed when we first met. It's not something I chose or tried to create." He shrugs just slightly. "It's not something that can be broken." It's said without any apology. "I have a calling, Jo, and it involves you now."

"I'll assume you've heard of demons?"

[yourwonderings]

Jo's spoken to Jane about certain types of demons. She isn't about to forget that conversation, or how it piqued her interested in the woman in general.

But nothing that they discussed reminds Jo of a type that would form an immediate connection. At least, none she can think of off the top of her head. She'd have loved to know already, so she could be one step ahead and get this ridiculous conversation out of the way.

He's stalling, deliberately at that, and enjoying every second of it.

Niko, Jo kind of wants to punch you in the face right now.

"Yeah, and I knew you were one from the time I shook your hand and it was too warm to be human. I may be new to this business, but I'm not stupid. Whatever you got to say, spit it out."

[swallowmyblood]

He is enjoying it, though it's not amusement. It's something entirely different, and he doesn't want to be rushed.

It's really not something he imagines she'll stick around to listen to for too long, however, so he inclines his head just slightly.

"There are angels," he says, the corner of his mouth twisting down, "guardians. Upon meeting their ward, they need to protect them. Yes? Easily understood." Nikolas lifts a hand and places it against his chest. "I'm a Charun. We're --"

He tilts his head to one side, then to another, his mouth twisting a bit as he thinks. "The flip side. When we find our one person, we need to kill them. It's nothing we can control." He huffs out a small laugh. "It's nothing I'd want to control. I embrace who and what I am. And, Jo." He looks directly at her. "You are my mark. You're the one."

He makes no moves, none at all. He simply looks at her. "I need to kill you, and I will." He gives her a charming smile. "Not right now, of course, but soon. I have to."

[yourwonderings]

Jo tilts her head along with him, the expression on her face meant to convey she's merely tolerating his presence and therefore, doesn't find his words all that important.

Whether she believes him or not doesn't matter. He, for whatever reason, wants to kill her. Of that much, she has no doubt. She doesn't think to question him.

In this world you're a lion or you're a lamb, and she doesn't make the mistake of believing for one moment he's not the former. "Much as I love this moment we're havin' here--"

Not right now, of course, but soon. I have to.

Her lips press into a thin line. There's defiance, but it's more than that. It's disbelief at his expense.

She smiles back at him, the edges of it capable of cutting. "You can try."

[swallowmyblood]

He doesn't expect her to fully understand.

How could she, after all?

It really doesn't matter, however, if she understands or not. The only thing that matters is the continued beating of her heart, and the fact that it will need to stop. The longer he waits, the harder it becomes to hold off. There's still so much he could draw from this, and he knows it, but there's something within him that's stronger than anything else.

He won't fight it, he'll fight with it.

Just being this close, his fingertips itch. They want to dig into the skin around her neck and close tighter and tighter. He needs to see that awareness that comes with the simple spark of life go blank. It's the only thing that will ease the tightness in his chest, and allow him to breathe.

Every breath right now is incomplete, and the thing keeping each breath at bay is so close.

'You can try.'"I know," he says quietly, and takes another step back. His eyes never leave hers. "I appreciate that about you, Jo. I really do." The greatest wins, of course, are

[yourwonderings]

It takes every amount of effort to stop the shift she can feel coming. It takes concerted energy, and she uses every bit of it while standing there, deceivingly stoic.

There is no shift, and there isn't much else. Jo isn't going to give anything away. Nothing that can be used against her will be given to him. She thinks he's nuts, but she'll soon verify what he's saying is true.

Charun. Of course. Of course.

He's taking steps back, at least. If he'd been taking steps forward, there would be nothing to keep Jo from trying to tear his face off. There's anger encasing the warm of her skin. It burns.

"Go to hell, you twisted fuck."

Jo finally tears her gaze away from his, but it's only to walk away.

The breath she's been holding hasn't been released, and it isn't released at all until she's inside the Kashtta.