Nikolaos O'Rourke. That was her.

Her ivory hands set the small blue boombox- containing a very special CD in it.... Was it called a boombox- that's what she heard but she wasn't sure.

She sighed and seated herself on the dirty ground outside the abandoned warehouse. Silly little drug dealers weren't a threat. Teenagers looking for a thrill weren't a threat... Vampires- let them come- she had no quarrels with anyone...
She was prepared anyways.

As she sat- dirt clung to her ratty jeans- with expressive holes in them. On her feet she wore a pair of black nikes and her shirt- was a big baggy black t-shirt but it did not demean her beauty none the less. Her green eyes still haunted the night and her red hair still lay perfectly straight- a few strands falling over her catching eyes.

She turned to the boombox and pushed the play button, leaning back to listen:

We both lie silently still in the dead of the night
Although we both lie close together
We feel miles apart inside
Was it somethin' I said or somethin' I did
Did my words not come out right
Tho' I tried not to hurt you
Tho' I tried
But I guess that's why they say

Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings a sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn....

Nikki sat, head resting on her hands as she leaned forward- looking into the night- just- thinking- living- loving him- being who she was- with no masks- no facades- she was free- free to do what she wanted... and what did she want?

Claude stared out the window of the greyhound bus that he had been stuck on for nearly a day and a half. He couldn't wait to get off. He knew they were almost there, if the 'Welcome to Demaitre' sign was any indication. He sat up and pulled his duffel bag up, placing it in the empty seat next to him. Only a few more miles...

When the bus finally stopped and he took his first step and first breath of that Demaitre air, he knew that he had finally found what he had been looking for: freedom. He wouldn't let the cold bring him down, after all it was January, and he'd spent his entire life in Canada. He was used to the cold. Nevertheless, he tightened his jacket around him and slung his bag over his shoulder. Time to walk or get walked on.

The bus stop appeared to be in the middle of nowhere. All he could see from where he stood were tall abandoned buildings and dirty concrete. He trudged along regardless, pulling out a map he had printed before leaving Toronto. The had a long walk before he made it to the university campus, and even longer to the hotel he had made reservations in. Bloody inconvenient drop off point, but what could he do about it now?

Several minutes into his trek, Claude crossed the path of young woman who looked to be about his age, sitting on the side of the road next to a blasting CD player. She had a pretty face, and a sort of quaint sad gaze. His first impression was that she was one of the homeless that Demaitre was known for harboring, but she didn't dress as though she were poor, nor could he justify her possession of the boom box.

His steps slowed as her walked past her, giving her a once over, sizing her up in his mind. "Poison..." He said to her with a shy smile, "Nice." It was the only lame comment he could think to make as he hesitated a step... And then began to walk away. God save him the day he learned to talk to women.

Vincent lounged on the warhouse roof, he was high, as usual. It wasn't addiction, it just helped his thoughts.
He had been hanging around her for somet time, hoping Nikolaos would turn up, he wanted to talk to her, he thought... He wasnt sure if he would do any good... But...

He hid his pressence from Nikolaos, trying to make himself invisible, not to the eye, but from the mind.

Nikolaos arched an eyebrow at the boy and grabbed a red bubble jacket from beside her boombox and put it on. She had to look cold. Good thing her face was so pale. It would help the illusion.

"Yeah- I'm a big fan. And you are to I assume?" she replied with a sweet yet sad smile. She had been falling into an abyss for some time now, losing touch with reality and all. None of her friends seemed to understand- not even Nechelle, who still wanted to date Nikolaos. Sure, Nikki knew she was beautiful, but she wasn't worth dating. Vincent had taught her this.

It was pathetic that she had sunk so low, fallen into such a self-pity. She was drowning and there was no one to save her from herself. It was- all and all depressng, but she figured she'd get over it eventually... You don't live for almost nine hundred years if you can't take a few blows. Unfortunately, this blow in particular really hurt.

As the boy began to walk away, Nikki chuckled. "Not good with girls are you? Not most Canadian guys are." She smiled at him and motioned for him to sit by her. "You can stay and listen if you don't liek the cold. I'm Nikki."

Claude turned back around to face her, his lips pursing to a small oval shape as he tried to form the words he wanted to say. "I'm... Well," he made a slight gesture over his shoulder, his feet still carrying him in that direction, though quickly dragging to a stop. "N-no, not really."

He smiled softly and took another step toward her and stood next to her for a few moments before he put down his bag and sat with her. Already, he'd have a new experience to write about in his journal: sitting on a side street, listening to Poison with a beautiful stranger. Had a poetic ring to it. He smiled again. "I'm Claude," he said to her, extending his hand. He really did have places to go and things to do concerning his housing and registration at the university, but all work and no play gave Claude headaches.

"Actually, I like Guns N' Roses better. Axel and Slash make a fantastic duo, in my opinion. Brett Michaels always seemed to be an Axel wannabe."

"Claude, a very artistic name. I like it" Nikolaos nodded her approval, long red hair falling over her emerald eyes.
"Understandable. I guess Bret could be considered a wannabe, Still I think he has quite a few hits." Nikki smiled at the boy.

"You look like the college type- Are you attending the university?" she asked, gesturing towards his bag, which looked heavy. "Looks pretty full for an overnighter or a local." Nikolaos turned the volume down just a little bit so that she could listen more intently to Claude.

"I really do like that name- Claude. Please tell me you're artistic- otherwise I think my fancy to your name will disappear." she chided with a laugh. "See? You're talkin' to a girl right now- It's not so hard."

A full smile broke out across Claude's face. He loved talking about his work. "Yes, actually, I'm a writer. DU's got one of the best writing programs in the province, and I've just recently gained admittance for next year."

He eyed her carefully. She was very observant, even moreso than him. He prided himself on that ability of his, but never had he met somebody who was better at figuring people out than himself. What was she doing in around here anyway? There were some shady people around and some shady business between them.

"Are you a cop?" he asked softly, her praise only answered by the color in his cheeks. How embarrassing it would be if his assumption was correct, and yet it was the only thing he could attribute to her presence. Unless she was a prostitute... The color in his cheeks darkened and his grip in his duffel bag tightened.

"Writer? Really? Tell me about your style." she prodded.

He studied her intently and she cocked her head to the right slightly as he examined her, considered her. What was he contemplating? Was he trying to read her? Was he trying to figure her out? Well, he should give up. Nikolaos O'Rourke was one complicated woman, a history of mistakes and triumphs.

"A cop?" she laughed out loud, throwing her head back slightly. "Oh that's good- No I work at the coffe house downtown and I paint in my spare time. I'm an artistic fool and could never be a cop. They're not very creative." she explained with a smirked. Actually, Nikki had no job. She got money from those she killed. But she didn't need a lot of money, just enough to get clothes and the occasional glass of alcohol.

"Whatever made you think that?" she inquired with good nature, and a sparkle in her eyes.

"I like to write stories about the things that I experience in life. I like to take common things and make them fantastical, or take the same thing and make it simple and plain. I like to take ideas and expand them and form new things that have never been considered before. There is so much to be said for such minuscule things in life and I am the one saying it with a pen and some paper." Claude's eyes shone as he spoke to her, his hand snaking into his duffel bag for his notebook. He drew it out of the pack, looking down as he finished, and produced a pencil from his pocket.

"Hold on a sec," he whispered, writing down what he had just told her, smiling softly to himself. He then shuffled through the pages and closed the journal, looking up to regard her once more. "My writing is my pride. It goes where I go, and is the best and worst part of me." He looked down and slowly placed his notebook back into his bag.

He took a deep breath as he considered how best to explain his assertion. "I couldn't reason why someone like you would be sitting around in a dump like this. It's dark and cold and not exactly the safest place for... A woman to be sitting around." He blushed a bit, his lips twitching into a smile. "Unless... You were a cop, trying to catch someone foolish enough to fall for such a cover. It was also the only case in which I could excuse that stare of yours. You're quite observant. Not so many are anymore. The gaze of an artist, I can now see, but I still cannot discern why you would be hanging around here." He smirked, hoping his words would not adversely offend her, as it was not his intention. "So why are you here?"

Nikolaos smiled as he talked about his writing style. She could tell he was very passionate about his work.
"Well, will you add me into your writings? I just want to know- just in case you get famous someday" she said with a grin.
"Well, that's different- morphing every day life- I rather like it. Have you any publications or are you still too young yet?"

She smiled once more as they came back to the cop gag. "Ah well- the abandoned is home to many inspirations of mine." she smiled. "I find a beauty in it's solidarity- like myself, the lonely posesses a uniquie attraction does it not?" she smiled again, this time secretively. "And I don't really fear being here, as a woman- because I can kick any man's ass." Nikolaos took off her coat and pulled up her sleeve to reveal her arm. She flexed and rippling muscle danced underneathe her skin, a long scar running from shoulder to wrist. She rolled the sleeve down and put on her coat before giving Claude a smirk.

"There is no human in this city who can hurt me, but there have been others who have gotten to me- but that's emotional. Now- Claude- if you're worrying about my emotional well being, this place is the best for me- alone and away from all things sentimental."

"I make no promises, and most of my writing is private. I have been publicly noticed for some, but nothing great. I used to write for the Toronto paper when they would allow high school students space to write. The best is saved for when I am great, for what greatness is there in a one hit wonder?"

Claude took the rest of her words in silence, his expression hardening as she spoke, a brief forced smile lighting his features as she flexed her arm, his eyes following the scar on her arm.

He was quiet for several minutes, still, listening to the music as he gazed around his surroundings. "I would like to see your art some time," he told her gently, breaking the silence.

"Are you a student here too? Do you know the way to the school?" He felt rather anxious to leave all of a sudden.

Nikolaos smiled brightly. "Right. There is not much fame in being a one hit wonder." She shrugged. His eye follwoed her scar and she inwardly wondered if he was afraid of her. He should be. Poor Claude had no idea the danger he could be in right now.

But she liked Claude- and saw fit that he should live. God, her powers gave her such an ego-boost. And she needed an ego boost. Yeah... confidence was at an all time low, but she could fake it.

Fake it. Yeah she was good at that. Hypocrites- that's what they all were: every human, every vampire, every slimball male that walked the earth... Theyw ere all hypocrites.

She smiled.

"Yeah... I'd love to show you my work- but I'm warning you- it's heavy on the mind" she said with a smirk. "Very thought provoking- deep ya know?" She paused and answered. "Yeah- I'm a student, but I only take the night classes." She flashed brilliant with teeth at him as he asked the way.

"Sure I'll show you Claude- c'mon." She stood after turning off her boombox and slipping it under her arm. "You seem- nervous- You okay?" she asked him. He wanted to get away from here- why? Why so anxious? Was it her?

"That is the way that art should be. Not only pleasing to the eye, but tempting to the mind. What other use is there? You can only admire something's beauty for so long if there is no substance behind it to make it so."

Claude smirked and got to his feet. He could talk about art until the end of time, but when it came to life, especially his own, his words and mood always ran sour. Claude didn't like to talk about himself, unless it pertained to his writing. And very rarely did he delve into the personal business of others. Nikki's scars... Loneliness... Yes, he was curious, but it was none of his business, and he wasn't about to ask.

"Oh, no, I'm fine. New city, new life. I've got a lot of work ahead of me. I'm anxious to get started." That at least was the truth... Half of it at least.

Nikolaos smiled wickedly. "True. I would say you can compare art to women." Nikki nodded, not feeling sexist in the least. If anything, her comment was feminist.
"A man may tire of a blonde ditz, even if he left an intelligent and captivating woman behind. A man will always return to the woman who confuses him, merely because she is confusing and that interests him- There's no fun in kisses if they are not won."

Nikolaos smiled thoughtfully and pursed her lips as she reflected on her words. Sure, she had been overlooked many a time, but she knew that her eyes had something captivating in them. She knew that one day, someone would want to see those captivating eyes at all times. She hoped that one day she would have a fantasy, or as close to a happy ending as she could get (being a walking corpse).

Unfortunately, that person hadn't arrived yet. She had thought for a while that it could have been Vincent, but he was hiding something- and he had ran away from her. He told her nothing yet proclaimed his love for her. Bullshit. He couldn't prove his love- and she needed proof, because words meant nothing. She had learned that the hard way and she wasn't bound to forget it.

"You're anxious to get started? So you're nervous to get started? I think you mean eager-" she teased. "As a writer you should know these things." Nikki flashed him a playful smile that said she was only kidding, but truly- he had used anxious in the wrong connotation. It was strange for a writer- ah well, he was going to school. He would learn there.

Claude gave her a curious look. "The written word is much different than the words we speak on a regular basis. Besides, anxiousness inspires many feelings like uneasiness and eagerness. It is a common phrase. I am apprehensive and eager at the same time." He couldn't help but feel a little bit insulted by her correction, even though he was sure she didn't mean it in such a way. His writing was his pride and any ill comment about it was like a stab at his ego. "It is just like how what you may put on canvas is different than the image you hold in your mind, or the sketch you make before hand."

Nikki tossed aside his discomfort and gave him a dead smile, her eyes very much alive.
"So Claude- are you planning on getting a part time job in the city? I hear the clubs are bursting at the seams. They always need new employees- Got any talents mixing booze?" she teased with a smirk.

Nikolaos walked with a strange electric step, as if she had metal blaring in her ears and her body was dancing to the music.
In fact- that was exactly it, Nikolaos danced the rythm of her own music, enjoying the fluid catlike grace of her body. Being dead was so amazing, her muscles so smooth and strong- unbeatable by any mortal. She sighed with happiness, eyes alight with a tiger's satisfaction.

Claude watched her curiously as they walked, taking in every movement that she made, smirking softly to himself. He had hardly heard what she said as he conjured phrases in his mind of how to describe her walk. He shifted his pack to his other shoulder, and put his free hand in his pocket. He was starting to get a little chilly. How she could stand the cold, he didn't know, but all he really wanted to make it to his destination.

"Ehm... Well, I've only just come of age to drink... I know how to open beer cans," he grinned, "Just like soda pop." He made a gesture of popping the top off of a can and made a hollow pop sound in his mouth. Oh my god, I'm such a dork. He looked down and laughed nervously. "But I'm sure it's not hard to learn, right? Know of any places that are hiring?"

Nikolaos looked over her shoulder and grinned.
"Nice... OPening cans is a good start." She didn't think him a dork in the least. The boy needed some confidence. Maybe he's find it at a bar? She always felt confident at bars/ Well- she was unnaturally prety- and able to confund minds and make her seem all the more gorgeous. Well, okay- Maybe she had a bit more of an advantage when it came to confidence. But what could she say? She had a big ego and too much pride? Yep. Hit the nail right on the head.

"Well- I know a bartender down at the White Mice- and I might be able to get him to pull a few strings for you if you're up to meeting him sometime.
"His name's Konrad Durr- Oh- and I forgot to tell you, my last name is O'Rourke- just in case you ever need to find me- I believe my number is in the phone book- and if you get my answering machine it lists my cell. Anywho- Yeah, you could totally learn from Konrad how to serve drinks up- It really is easy. You- smart college boy- can definitely do it." She flashed him a reassuring confident smile.

See? He wasn't a dork? He was merely- unique. And unique made you special. At least- that's what Nikki thought.

Claude smiled sincerely at her. "Thank you. I would really appreciate that." He walked on for a few more minutes without saying anything and then chuckled softly. "Konrad Durr. Nikki O'Rourke. This must be a pretty diverse town. I've never heard such interesting names in all my life. And the White Mice? That's a club here, is it? Hmph," he finished with a thoughtful sound. "Yeah, I think I might look into that. Can't be any harder than serving coffee, right?" he gave her a playful wink and then glanced around. "So where are we heading?"

Nikolaos smiled. "Wel- as far as I know, I'm Irish- he's German. There's a lot of different nationalities here- as in any place with such great atmosphere." She teased.
If only he knew- it'd terrify him. This city was the center of the vampire world. This was where the coven houses were. This was where everything was organized. This was a vampire's holy land. Well, maybe not that extreme.

"And I have no idea why the White Mice Club is called that- anyways- drunks tip good-" She smiled. "Yep- not as hard as coffee. You get 'em drunk. I get 'em sober. Funny how that works isn't it?" she said, smiling. His company was nice.

"Where are we going? I thought you wanted to go to the University?" she asked. That had been the way she'd been heading.

Claude nodded, "Yeah, I know, but I was just wondering how far along it was." He frowned lightly," I don't mean to seem unappreciative of your guidance but I haven't eaten since..." He paused to think. "Ten this morning and... Well aren't you cold?" he asked, trying to turn the subject on her. The man couldn't let out all his weaknesses. Hungry, cold, and ticklish. The three things that always got him down.

(I'm sorry that just seemed like a fun thing to add. Makes me laugh a little.)

Nikki smiled. "Nah, I don't get cold much." She nodded. "I have myself a fine circulatory system." Too bad it didn't work. Lies. All lies.
"Well, if you're hungry we can stop somewhere along the way hmmm? What kind of food do you like? Chinese? American? Mexican? We've really got it all in this city- very diverse." She laughed.

"I like all food- so it's your choice." She smiled at him as she caught a thought about being ticklish. She wondered where.....

"Anyways- we'll stop. If you're hungry Claude- you need to learn to speak up. Otherwise people you hang out with will forget to feed you- including me. I had no idea you starved yourself today? Why didn't you eat?" It was Nikki's impression that humans loved food so much nowadays they never stopped thinking about it.

Maybe his feet were ticklish?

Claude smiled. "Chinese sounds good. Is it authentic or fast food? The fast stuff always tastes better. Authentic is too spicy." He smirked.

He couldn't help but chuckle as she scolded him for not speaking up before. "Umn... Because I was on a bus..?" he tried to keep his twitching lips in a straight line, but it curled into a smile as he looked at her. He couldn't remember the last time he had kept the attention of a woman for this long. She looked really pretty when she smiled. "A man can only eat so much beef jerky and trail mix before everything starts tasting like sand." He wanted to make her smile again. Maybe even get her to laugh a little bit.

Nikolaos nodded. "Sure- we can get it fast- Oh- so you don't like spice- That's too bad. Chinese authentic here is amazing." She shrugged. "I'm just big into spice some days- Fridays actually." She lied, making up more stories- inventing a persona who didn't exist. She was pretending to live- when every day she died a little more.

"Ha!" Nikki laughed. "You can't eat on a bus? What about twinkies? What about cookies? Why didn't you pack those? It'd dull the sandy taste." she retorted, laughing a little more and chasing a smile onto her full lips.

Inwardly she groaned, feeling something puling at her from the boy. He wanted to make her smile? Damn. All she needed was a hopeless human following her around. She hoped they remained just friends- for Bill's sake and her own. God, things were getting muddled. Damn drama.

"Well, the trail mix has m&m's in it..." he shrugged, smiling as he succeeded in getting her to laugh. There was nothing sweeter in the world than laughter. Lord knows he didn't laugh enough. He tried to be easy going but some days it was just too hard. For now... For tonight, he'd enjoy it.

"It's Saturday sorry. No spicy Friday meals today." He took his hand from his pocket and checked his watch. It was getting late. "Do you think it'd still be open? Wait... What's the time zone here?" he get his tickets out from his pocket and looked at his arrival time, and then adjusted his watch accord to the hour of his arrival. "Alright, it's not as late as I thought."

"Heh- chocolate, gotta love it." she purred with a smirk before nodding. Nikki pouted.
"Haven't you heard? Every night is Friday." she rolled her eyes, laughing inwardly at her own ridiculousness. Damn Friday's commercial- got her thinking of stupid jokes. She was losing her edge. She needed some better sarcasms. Really, she did.

"It's okay. I can deal. I'm too spicy sometimes." she flirted with a small laugh, cut off quickly. She might as well keep some lines open- just in case she ever needed a bite.
Nikolaos licked her lips at the thought. "I'm thirsty too- and sake might not do the trick." she commented, grinning wickedly. Now. That was dramatic irony at it's best. Ten out of ten at least.
Nikolaos arched her eyebrow at him, turning to look at him curiously. "Too late for a college boy? Man, you're gonna have to get used to being a night owl if you're gonna pass your classes- studying ya know?" Nikki shrugged. "I take night classes so I'm usually sleeping during the day. However, tonight you got lucky- saturdays I don't have class."

Claude chuckled softly at the jokes she made, though he wasn't sure what she meant about the sake. He preferred beer to liquor, though he doubted that was what she was referring to.

"Nah, it's not late. I just want to find a place to stay tonight before everything closes. Even if it is Saturday night, not all place are open until dawn." He had obviously never been to Demaitre before.

(Sorry it's such a lousy post, but I couldn't think of anything and didn't want to leave you hanging.)

See? She was funny! She made him laugh. Whoopdie doo. Brownie points for her. Extra if she made him pee in his pants while laughing.
Nikki shook the silly-ness out of her head and noted she was a bit dillusional- probably too much blood flow from her last feed.

Nikolaos turned slowly as he said that everywhere wasn't open until dawn.
"Claude dah-ling, You'd be surprised how many people in this city are night cats like myself. We love the night life here. Some actually say it's the only life to have." she gave him a smirk. "Most places are open until dawn- if you know where to go."

Nikki led him down a street and up to a formidable looking resturant called Bob's China Dragon.
It wasn't authentic, but Claude said he wanted it to go.
She started at the rather small white building, a purple dragon bilboard above it. A funny black mustache had been painted below the drangon's nose. Nikki laughed.
The words "Bob's China Dragon" flashed in a neon purple in front of the billboard.

"You okay with this place?" she asked Claude under the purple lights. "They're all right- if you don't want authentic- I mean c'mon. BOB'S China Dragon?" she smiled. "I don't think I can get you anything less Chinese than that."

Claude stared up at the gaudy building, his mouth dropping open as he gazed up at the lights and billboard. He laughed, glancing over at her. "Ching-Bob, maybe? It's possible." He peered into the window, wiping off the steam of his breath as he looked around inside. "Yeah this place'll do."

He opened the door and motioned for her to go in ahead of him, and then followed in behind her. To be honest, he didn't like Chinese that much. He always said he did but he truthfully only liked a few things.

"I wonder how their orange chicken is... If it has that melted lollipop flavor or the spicy, tangy kind." He rubbed his hands together as he stared up at the menu on the wall. "What do you like to get here?" he asked, although in truth he didn't really care; he just wanted to make conversation while he mulled over what to order.

Nikolaos smiled as he took in the spectacle of the inauthentic Canadian Chinese Restuarant Take- Out Diner!
"Well, I'm a big rice girl- white rice. It's not spicy day remember? But I'm not very hungry so I'm gonna pass- Hey, don't get the sake here by the way- I swear it's laced with date rape drugs."

She had his attention then. Before he really hadn't cared about what she wanted to eat. She could feel it, sense it- every little thing his tiny human mind thought. Wow- ultimate cosmic power, what a rush.

She laughed and nodded. "Oh- but nothing else is tainted don't worry Claude- Oh God.. I was just kidding about the drugs- don't look so shocked!" Nikki smiled.

Claude stepped forward to order, glancing at her over his shoulder, nodding absently at her comment. However, at the last one, he turned to look at her. He tilted his head to the side and furrowed his brows. "Yeah... Well it's a good thing that sake is Japanese, then isn't it?" He chuckled and then ordered himself some chow mien and fried chicken.

He watched as the waiters prepared it, rocking back and forth on his heels. "So what all is there to do in town? I mean besides go to bars and all that?"

Nikki smiled inwardly as he bought it. "Oh--" she frowned. "I must be thinking of the wrong resturant." She couldn't blush so she looked down, as if embarrassed.
"So stupid of me.." she forced, before looking up at him- a timid smile on her expression. "Guess I don't know my food very well."

Well, she shouldn't know food. She didn't eat food. The only human made thing besides blood she could put in her mouth was alcohol. Granted, Nikki missed food. However, food had never reall been that good- the last thing she ate was.... roasted pig and potatoes. It wasn't that great. The potatos were always moldy and the pig wasn't very fat, but that's what happens when you're kidnapped by an Irish nobleman who spends more money on his house and henchmens than on his food. Well- she killed him so she supposed all was fair. Her mother's cooking though- that was well. They always had some sort of yummy on the table.

Nikki returned from her reverie to find Claude ordering. It was strange sometimes- to remember the human life one had. She wished she could go back to that time period, see her mother again-- perhaps kill Seamus one more time.

Claude rocked back and forth on his heels as he waited for his food, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, whistling a quiet tune. Different conversational pieces buzzed around in his head. He didn't really know what to say to her. As good as he was with words, he was just bad at talking to people sometimes.

"So... This bar you were talking about... I think I might look into a job there. It could be really helpful. I mean, bartenders make pretty good tips, right? Plus, to get a job once I get into town." He shrugged. "It'd be pretty convenient. Plus I'd get to meet a lot of people, which is a good thing for a newcomer."

He paid for his meal and took the bag from the clerk. "Thank you."

He turned to her, heading to sit down at a table. "Do you think you could show me the place?"