[Jacob]

*Setting: Abraham sat comfortably, drinking his coffee and watching passers by go about their daily routine as he spoke to his fiancé on the phone. He was taking advantage of his recently acquired position, and had given himself some much needed time off. He was now relaxing in a coffee bar, sat at one of the tables next to the window, he stared intently as hovercars gently flew past.*

Abraham: "No - they don't suspect a thing. Apparently the Assassin made an amateurish job of the kill, and forensics found a strand of hair from Adele Morgan at the scene. God knows how that got there, but it's, probably, thanks to that, that i got the job."

He spoke confidently, yet quietly, not wanting any of the Cartel staff to overhear him as he spoke. For nobody quite knew he was taking over from Gianni yet, and thus he had to keep a low profile until the big dinner.

Abraham: "No, Kowloon said that the Assassin had left the paperwork in her locker. So i'm guessing that the Council thought that the murderer was Adele and hired me in hopes that i'll be next...Hm? No, don't worry, sweetness. I've got the boys covering my back. Heh."

As he said this he turned and looked over his shoulder, sitting a couple of seats behind him were a group of three Orkhids, all dressed in plain clothes. These were Abrahams most loyal and trusted friends, and they looked upto him much like they would a father. All three of them looked prepared and ready to move, and although they weren't as bulky as their superior, they were definatly as deadly.

Abraham: "Really? You should buy it then - it's not like we can't afford it, besides, we have a dinner to go to in a couple of nights, so you'll be able to wear it then."

A faint smile grew across his face as he listened to his fiancé on the other end of the phone. He knew that the first couple of months were going to be hard, he'd have to watch his back for Wyles and Jaxxson, who would be by no means happy that 11 of their friends and collegues had been brutally despatched. As his fiancé carried on talking about the dresses she had seen in a few other shops, Abraham drank the last of his coffee and stood up, walking to the exit. Reaching into the back pocket of his combats, he pulled out a $5 note and slammed it down on top of the till as he walked past, not bothering about the change. Walking out, Abraham then strided gently to his car and prepared himself for work - having a feeling it was going to be a long and hard day.

***

*Setting: Standing up wearily, Alexie wandered gently over to the toilet, ruffling his long, black hair as he did so. Opening the door, he slowly turned on the light and yawned, squinting as the sudden brightness caused his eyes to ache for a couple of seconds. Turning on the cold water tap, he then ran his left hand underneath it, hunched over the sink and splashed the water on his face. Attempting to wake himself up for work. He yawned once more, looking around the smallish bathroom for his toothbrush and toothpaste.*

Alexie: "Amelia, have you seen my toothbrush and toothpaste?"

He shouted through into the bedroom, poking his head around the corner of the door as he did so. Stirring in her slumber, the female Mudokon raised her head groggily.

Amelia: "Hm? What?"

Gently pulling the duvet to her side of the bed, she wrapped it around herself, only leaving her head visible.

Alexie: "My toothbrush and toothpaste, you seen them?"

Nodding slowly she then rolled over to her side.

Amelia: "Check the drawer on your side of the bed, you were brushing your teeth last night in bed, you might've put them in there."

Wandering back through the bedroom, only wearing his grey boxers, he then began rummaging through the bedside drawer. Finally he found them, the toothpaste top oozing its white, minty substance. He couldn’t remember much of last night, only that, once again, he had been utterly wasted. Picking up his toothbrush and paste, he then wandered through into the bathroom again, ran the bristles of the toothbrush under the cold water and squeezed a large amount of toothpaste on them, he then proceeded to brush his teeth.
The bar was partially empty, only the few regulars lounged around, drinking their alcoholic beverages as they leered at the barmaids talking behind the bar. Stepping into the bar area from the back of the room, Alexie slowly made his way towards the bar, ready for work. He was wearing a pair of old jeans and a white t-shirt. Both were bought for him by the bartender who, also owned the bar, as were any other necessary items he now owned. Smiling groggily as he walked towards the bar, he nodded and acknowledgement to the bartender, who in turn nodded back.

Bartender: "You have a good night last night?"

He said this with a faint smile, knowing full well that he did, but also knowing that the same thing would probably happen later in the day. Alexie nodded a reply, smirking as a flashback flickered before his eyes. He was thankful to the bartender, he didn’t really have to give Alexie a job. Nor did he have to give him a place to live. But he had done. More importantly, however, he gave Alexie the means to forget memories past. And even though certain flickers of violence still managed to creep into his mind every so often, these occurances were becoming less and less frequent, and for that, Alexie was greatful.

Alexie: "So, what’s there to do today?"

Bartender: "We have a new order of Ale coming in shortly, fifteen barrels, plus fifteen crates of Vodka. If you could sign for them and bring them in, it’d be a great help."

Alexie nodded, knowing full well that he was the strongest out of all the bar staff and that he would cut the usual time it took to bring the alcohol in, in half.

Bartender: "How’s Midian? She settling in okay?"

Alexie’s eyes flicked to the eyes of the Mudokon bartender, staring intently into them as he tried to work out what exactly he had said, and if it was what he had thought it was.

Alexie: "W…What?"

He swallowed hard, his throat and mouth suddenly drying up quicker than a drop of water in a desert.

Bartender: "Amelia, is she settling in okay? It must be hard, you know, starting a new relationship. A new life, practically. How is she taking it?"

A sudden unease was quickly relieved from Alexie's Heart, even though merely thinking of her name was still making his Heart flutter like a frightened Bird in a moving cage. It was getting to the stage so that he couldn't even muster a smile when thinking of her, still stricken with guilt over leaving her behind.

Alexie: "S-She’s good, yeah. Hanging in there. Heh."

He mustered a nervous chuckle, before being startled by the clattering of glass' being placed on the bartop next to him. The Slig glass collector turned and nodded Alexie a 'hello' before going to the next table which was cluttered with glass' and picking them up.

Bartender: "You okay, Alexie? You look a bit pale. Though, I can’t blame you, the amount you drank last night…"

Alexie nodded a reply, sluggishly walking over to a nearby chair and then sitting on it, rubbing his brow with the back of his hand, and realising just how much he was actually sweating.

(OOC: Bit crap, not alot of action, unlike the other version, but i think it's better than the last, since the last just had something utterly dire about it. Sorry for the change!!)