Holiday

[Jaden Kalen]

((Please anyone feel free to post here with me. I just wanted something to do with Jaden.))

It felt strange to feel the warmth of the sun upon his skin, after his years of living in Edgehaven he'd almost forgotten what it felt like. Jaden had taken the recent months of relative peace as an opportunity to get away for a while and take some well earned R & R. He was sure that Austin had had his grievances about one of his second officers taking some time off but he hadn't refused Jaden's request.

So far he was two days into the seven that he had requested and today he found himself sat outside a small cafe just around the corner from the B&B he was staying in. He had spied this place upon his arrival two days ago and had only now found the time to come in and have a pot of tea. So far Jaden had done little on his holiday bar read nearly half of one of the hundreds of books that he had been meaning to get round to reading but never quiet seeming to have the time to, and walking the streets of Bellepheron taking in the sights and scenery of Edgehaven's nearest neighbour.

Although Bellepheron was only a short distance away from Edgehaven the difference in the place was startling for someone so used to life in The Town Of The Dead, and it wasn't just the absence of the perpetual dark. For a start the lack of Vampires was noticeable. Except for the odd Daywalker or Vampires such as himself that had no aversion to daylight he hadn't seen any others and even they were few and far between. Being that Edgehaven was so close Jaden assumed that most must have already made the short distance to the town that had become a haven for his kind. Although he saw more Lycans than Vampires even there numbers were few.

The thing that struck him as oddest of all however was that very few people seemed to be carrying any form of weapon. Having originally come from outside Edgehaven he had known that people outside the town didn't usually carry weapons and so he had left his twin Colt.45's and his pair of daggers with Alucard asking his good friend to look after his most treasured possessions. Truth was that he felt naked and vulnerable without his weapons, so used to the reassuring weight of his guns and knives at his belt had he become that without them he found himself panicking when he noticed they were not with him.

So taking a sip of tea in an attempt to try to take his mind off Edgehaven and The Night Watch and to try and enjoy his holiday. He let out the customary "Ah." sound that everyone seemed to make after a mouthful of tea. He then closed his book and lounged back in his chair letting the warm rays of the sun soak into him, looking as if he was storing them up for a time when he wouldn't look up and see the sun but the dark of Edgehaven.

[Elizabeth Beaumont]

Sometimes, the only cure for a string of bad luck was going out and having a day under the sun in which to not only pamper yourself but by all of the things. Well, the ones you liked anyway, Lizzie admitted to herself with a private giggle as she hefted the multitude of bags she had in her hands from her rather... whirlwind shopping exhibition.

Hadrian would have five fits from Friday when he found out, but mainly because of her not telling him and then proceeding to leave Edgehaven. Bless him, he was a good boy but he worried entirely too much about her. She always walked the streets with at least a rapier and her shotgun but out here she only kept a small lady's handgun within her purse. Not that she would particularly need it if she got home before nightfall.

Still, it was times like this she missed her daughters. Fae would be grumpy and withdrawn in the beginning but after an hour or so Lizzie could always draw her out of that and get her to stop worrying about her Bad Girl image and giggle over lacy frocks with her and oooh over the various shinies at the jewellery stores (even if her own stock was much superior, they were still shiny and all women were part magpie).

Shaking off her lonely thoughts, the dark haired woman made her way to a quaint little cafe she'd passed by earlier in the day, they looked like they had some rather wonderful cakes sitting there in the window and she was quite certain they were calling her name in a most insistent manner.

[Jaden Kalen]

Opening his eyes so as not to fall asleep in the pleasant early afternoon sunlight. Jaden rolled his shoulders making his back crack and loosening the built up tension that always gathered there, before reaching to pour himself another cup of tea. Finding the pot empty and surprised that he had drunk so much already and yet was still thirsty Jaden got up from his choice spot and joined the small queue of people waiting to be served.

As he waited in line his eyes ran over the variety of coffees and teas on sale which boggled his mind. He hadn't been in a café in years and when last he had the choice had been simple, tea or coffee. Now though as he scanned the menu he came across things he couldn't even guess what they were. What on earth was a Mocha Frappuccino? To him it sounded almost painful.

Taking his eyes off of the drinks menu Jaden found his gaze drawn to the cakes. It was still too early for lunch but late enough that the breakfast he had eaten seemed like a distant memory. The cakes in his opinion were much easier to understand though some did take a bit of creative guesswork.

After a few minutes of staring at them Jaden was aware that he was holding up the line and that people behind him were getting rather impatient. But considering he had waited patiently while people had ordered strange beverages he thought that others could do the same while he decided on what cake best suited him.

[Elizabeth Beaumont]

((Sorry Jaden, XDDD I wasn't sure how to continue from that post.))

Setting her bags down at a table, the brunette let out an explosive sigh and stretched, idly cracking her spine with a very satisfied moan that drew more than a few looks from surrounding patrons. Paying them no mind, she dug into her handbag for her purse before making her way to the cakes and eyeing them carefully.

She'd heard some militant grumbling regarding the man holding up the queue but again, ignored them. There were more important things. Like cake and any man who could appreciate that important to take the time to choose properly clearly had more common sense than those who wanted to ruin their palate with that swill this place called Chai Lattes.

She hummed as she raked her eyes over the choices before her eyes landed on the most holy of all, raspberry cheesecake.

Mind made, she glanced down at the young man holding the queue up, "Do you mind if I slip in front since you're still choosing?" she asked politely. If those fools didn't have the manners to ask, or the patience to wait, then more the fool them in her mind. You didn't get anything in life without at least making some kind of effort.

And she wanted that last slice of cheesecake!

[Jaden Kalen]

((That's alright. You've kind of left me in the same quandary... Also calling Jaden a young man. He's 3 years older than Elizabeth! Or was that flattery on your part? ))

With his mind almost made up. Jaden found himself debating between either a particularly large slice of carrot cake or the last piece of a raspberry cheesecake that due to its obvious popularity spoke volumes as to how good it was. Indeed he had already seen several people eating slices of it since he had arrived at the café earlier this morning.

Hearing a feminine voice apparently addressing him, Jaden turned to regard a particularly attractive young woman stood at the cake display beside him. He had been aware that someone had been there but he had ignored them as best he could, just like all the other customers.

He was about to give her a curt reply but as he looked at her he thought better of it. She looked the type to be able to shoot you down in a heartbeat.

"Not at all." he said moving aside so she could make her way to the head of the queue. "I'm sorry but I haven't been into a café in years and the choices are a little overwhelming." He stated by way of excuse then paused as he wondered why he felt the need to explain himself to this woman.

[Elizabeth Beaumont]

She gave him a grateful smile as she quickly slid herself in front, waiting for one of the Baristas to finish with previous orders and see to her. "Understandable. Both the Cheesecake and the Shortbread slices are very nice here. Though I would recommend avoiding the lattes and the cappuccinos. For all the delicious cakes, their drinks aren't quite as fantastic," she warned. It was nice to chat to a complete stranger about cake and drinks without having to worry if they were going to make a lunge for her throat or have her fingers itching for her shotgun. And even though this was Bellephrone, she was still armed. It was close enough to Edgehaven that she could still spot the odd Daywalker and Lycan that meandered down the streets.

[Jaden Kalen]

"Thanks for the advice." Jaden replied then realizing that his reply sounded a bit frosty he decided to add more, after-all the woman was just being friendly. "I think I'll stick with the tea. It took me ten minutes to explain to the waitress that all I wanted was a normal cup of tea and not some herbal or fruit nonsense." He said before noticing that the young woman he was addressing hadn't ordered her beverage yet so as not to offend her he quickly added. "Not that theirs anything wrong with them mind you. It just that the last time I came to a café the choices were rather limited, just plain tea or coffee." he blathered aware that it might be wise to stop talking.

With a slight shake of his head Jaden confirmed to himself something that he had long suspected but had become painfully obvious to him while he had been on this holiday. He had spent too long living in Edgehaven and too long with people knowing him as a member of the Night Watch. Meaning the only people for him to socialize with were other members of the same organization that were just as isolated as he was. He just wasn't very good at talking to 'Normal People'. In Edgehaven people generally didn't discuss cakes and coffee with him. Most of the time they either did what he asked without response or were trying to shoot at him. A normal conversation was a rare and strange thing for the Dhampire Assassin.

As the young woman moved passed him Jaden's training made him aware that by the way she moved that she was armed, a peculiarity outside of Edgehaven. After he became aware of that he took a closer look at the attractive young lady. By the way she carried herself she was used to being armed meaning that she was probably from Edgehaven or frequented it often enough to know that being armed was an almost necessity. She was dressed in expensive clothing and jewelery, not something someone wears on the streets of Edgehaven that wants to continue owning them for long. Meaning she probably didn't frequent Edgehavens underbelly too often.

Moving slightly to get a better look at her, Jaden's eyes ran over both her hands checking for any sign of a Lémartes crest, seeing none he became somewhat more relieved. As with the demise of Vincent a revenge attack on an isolated member of the Night Watch by either Kana or Belle Thorne could be rather successful.

Quickly his eyes darted to her face and something tugged at his memory. He felt he recognized this woman, but he didn't know where from or why. Swiftly his mind raced through as many of the profiles of the big names in Edgehaven that he could remember quite suddenly it came to him at the same moment he realized he was staring at the poor woman.

"Sorry about this but aren't you Elizabeth Beaumont?" Jaden asked.

[Elizabeth Beaumont]

Her smile became a little plastic. Please, please, please let this not be another ass kisser, Gold Digger or hacked off husband hoping to get a discount so his missus would stop forcing him to sleep on the couch. Please let this not be someone who was later going to kidnap, hold to ransom or attempt to rob her. She hated dealing with the regular police afterwards because there would be so many court cases deciding whether or not it was self defence and - she was regretting stepping out of Edgehaven for once. If she got attacked there she could put a bullet in them and no one would care, called it Self Defence before the body had even finished cooling - if something didn't eat it before the EHPD got to it.

"Ah, yes," she admitted, ignoring the sudden sharp stare of both the man in front of her and the Barista at the counter. "Excuse me a moment," she begged the scarred man before turning her attention to the waiting young woman, placing an order for a cup of milk tea and a slice of the cheesecake. She then turned her attention back to him.

((I am operating under the assumption that the Night Watch members aren't well known outside the Night Watch and it's most well known members - such as Austin and Azrael.))

[Jaden Kalen]

((I understand, I guess to most people, that had no real dealings with the Night Watch. They would assume it was a mysterious organization and only really be able to identity one or two of the better know members.))

Almost as soon as he asked Jaden could see that he had made her uncomfortable as well as feel the sudden change that came over the café as the news started to spread and circulate like Chinese whispers. If this had been Edgehaven he could have well understood her and everyone elses reactions, a lone woman with that much wealth could be easily robbed or worse. At that Jaden now understood why she was armed.

As the startled muttering and looks of interest and shock continued around him Jaden once more realized that he had indeed become so used to being a member of the Night Watch, and asking people direct to the point questions, that he didn't even think that this woman might not have wanted people to know just who in fact she was.

Quickly he decided that he should explain himself, though how? He knew that outside Edgehaven the Night Watch were known but not understood. If the Revelation that one of the café customers was a wealthy business woman had caused such a reaction. What would the announcement that a member of Edgehaven's notorious Night Watch was also there do to the place?

Seeing he had little choice in the matter if he wanted to put the young woman at ease he decided to just come out and say it. "I thought I recognized you. Its a pleasure to meet you Mrs Beaumont, I myself am Jaden Kalen, Second officer in Edgehaven's Night Watch." he said as courteously and as loud and clearly as he could managed so that everyone in the small Café could hear him. The silence that followed that announcement was almost palpable as everyone stared at him in open mouthed astonishment.

Quite suddenly Jaden found he had lost his appetite and that all thoughts of tea and cake had gone. He considered bidding Mrs Beaumont good day and leaving the now silent café but he didn't know how the young lady he had outed would fare after he had left. Someone might try and take advantage of her vulnerable state. Although knowing that Bellepheron was considered practically peaceful compared to Edgehaven and knowing that the young woman in question was armed Jaden still felt that he had a duty to stay and make sure no harm became the woman he had brought to everyones attention.
He doubted that anyone would try to harm her when there was a member of The Night Watch so close at hand.