Victoria shuddered as a cold breeze swept by quickly. The nights were getting longer, in more ways then one really...

Pulling her old jacket tighter, she sighed and stuck her hands in her pockets. It was getting colder too... And of course, the bill would go up, because Jason couldn't stand it below seventy in the apartment at all.

"Scuse me Miss!" Came a young cheerful voice. A young red headed girl passed her a small flier and scampered off to another person to hand them one as well. Looking at it, her heart gave a little jerk. Oh... Yes, it was getting that time of year again.

"We're starting to sell tickets already! We've been practicing since June for this too!" The girl had come back, noticing that Victoria was reading the flier.

"Of course! The Nutcracker is a very hard piece to do." Victoria said with a smile. "So, you're a ballerina? What part are you playing?"

"I'm playing one of the flowers! And my Big sister is actually playing Clara this year! She was the understudy, but the girl playing Clara had to move... Her dad's job." She said nodding.

"Wow!" Victoria said with a smile, kind and caring. "Those are both very big roles! Well I'm sure I'll come to see your school perform! I was a ballerina too when I was your age. I was supposed to be in The Nutcracker too, but I got sick a week before and couldn't dance." She said. "So you two take care of yourself and practice hard."

"Oh, we will!" Said the girl with a grin as she ran off to a woman standing a little ways away, taking her hand and skipping down the path with her.

Victoria smiled as she watched the two of them walk away.

The sun had set not too long ago, she they were probably heading home...

And so was she really... Well... Was she? Jason would probably be drunk again... And if he wanted something, she'd have to get it for him... Luckily they couldn't afford cell phones, so he couldn't call her to come home... She could just tell him she had been working... Yeah. That would do.

Checking her battered watch, she sighed. Seven Forty-Five... She had a few dollars in her pocket... She could get something to eat. But payday was a week away, and she'd probably need that twenty in her pocket for real food. She could wait. Yeah... Wait until he was asleep, go home and have some cereal for dinner. If the milk wasn't spoiled already.

Sighing she sank down on to a bench. Pulling the flier from her pocket she smiled. The shows were starting in about a month... It would be nice to go, even if she didn't have anyone to go with. It was twenty dollars, but she was sure she could set some money aside for the show. Jason wouldn't want her 'wasting the money'. But then again, buying toilet paper, milk, clothes were all a waste of money. She'd go. Maybe even find someone to go with. Who knew.

“Hey Jinx, I’m heading out…” Cracking his knuckles, Jon waited for a reply that never came. Well it hadn’t come in the next six minutes, which meant in all likelihood that it never would.

Jinx was a workaholic when he wanted to be, which never seemed to be when it would be best; like when it would get that last bit that they couldn’t finish done on time, but eh they did alright. It wasn’t like their division wasn’t getting things done, so as long as that was the case nobody gave them heat.

Looking back into the cubical, Jon noted the bespectacled thirty something with brown hair and white stock in the front, it was something of a birth mark. All that mahogany hair and kiss of white, the hair was all Jon could see for a minute as he man hunched over his desk, scribbling something like a mad scientist.

Then he looked up and the light of his computer screen shimmered his lenses silver.

“I’m heading out.” Jon repeated.

All that got him was a head nod.

“Jeez.” Was his sullen reply.

Of course he wasn’t sullen for long. Nope. Grabbing his back pack and the skateboard that sat waiting at the edge of his desk, Jon slipped out of the office building and never looked back as he hopped his board and slipped into the square.

The slight movement of wind shuffled his black curls as he glided along, shivering. All in all he hadn’t expected it to be this cold, he had on his favorite jacket, which because it was his favorite, it wasn’t very good in the keeping the cold out department. Too many holes, too much wear.

Still closing his eyes and thinking of warmer climits…well he hit a bench head long and was on the ground a minute later.

Wipeout.

“Jeez,” He complained, that is until he’d opened his eyes and realized someone was on that bench.

“Gosh, I’m sorry, crap. Miss. Um…are you alright?” His arm stung from when he’d collapsed on it and he’d landed on his hands as he’d sensed the fall almost instantly, but Jon was alright all in all, he just hoped he hadn’t hurt someone.

Looking about he spotted his bag beside the woman, jeez he really hoped it hadn’t hit her.

Victoria was just about to stand up, making her way to the grocery store to get bread and maybe some lunch meats. Yes, that seemed to be a good idea.

But all of a sudden something hit her thigh hard, falling with a clatter to the ground. But she didn't notice what it was as she sat back down, clutching her leg. Oh damnit... If it bruised...

She winced as she rubbed her leg slightly, looking up to see what and who had hit her. There was a young man, maybe about her age, and a skateboard.

As he stood up she gave him a smile. One that showed no pain, the one VIctoria always wore. "Yeah, I'm okay." She said with a nod. "What about you? That must have been a bad fall." She said as she stopped rubbing her leg, not wanting to draw attention to it. It didn't matter... Really, she'd felt worse.

She picked up the board and handed it towards him.

"You know, you should at least wear a helmet and wrist guards. They really help when it comes to crashes like that." Victoria said with her smile.

Jon gave a simple shrug, even as he dusted his stinging palms together. Just by the feel of them he knew he’d scraped them, and a warm trickle across his left wrist told him that at the very least that hand was bleeding. Still the skater didn’t bother looking at them; the bleeding would stop on its own, besides he wasn’t much for complaining really…not that he’d do it in front of a woman he’d probably almost bowled over.

Taking the offered board with his right hand, Jon gave a shrug and replied to her smile with one of his own. It had the added benefit of contrasting sharply with his mocha colored skin and the almost honey-amber hue of his eyes.

“I’m completely cool.” He responded to her question then. “Besides I’ve had worst, heck practicing when I was a kid I had worst…”

That drew a warm and rich smile up, and he simply shrugged as if shrugging off the matter completely. Then his smile was slightly chagrinned as he added.

“I normally save the helmet and pads when I go out rail riding or tricking, actually I’m good enough that I shouldn’t be falling going in straight lines…” His smile brightened then. “Or at least I thought I was. Really sorry, bout that. I’m such a klutz sometimes.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?” He asked again, quickly adding. “And if you are, still is there some way I can make it up to you…I mean skating with my eyes closed wasn’t exactly a good move.”

The more she looked at him in the growing darkness... The more unusual he seemed. Admittedly, she'd never seen anyone like him before. He was handsome of course, but in a way he was odd.

His skin was dark, but an unusual shade that she had never seen before... His lips were fuller than hers. Well, people always thought she had thin lips.

Victoria shook her head though as he offered to make it up to her some how. "Oh, no. That's okay, really. I'll be fine, I'm tough like that." She smiled. "But I don't know if riding in the dark is a better idea than riding with your eyes closed or not." She said with a chuckle. "But people always fall. No matter how good you are at something, you'll still make mistakes." She wanted to get to know this curious guy...

"Besides, the only thing I can think of is to walk me home, but I dunno how my boyfriend would take it..." She said with a shrug. Boyfriend... Why did she keep calling him that? He didn't really love her... Did he?

Jon laughed at that, giving Victoria a nod.

“If you say so,” He responded to her toughness. “Me I’m a complete baby, I’d be crying if a girl weren’t around…you know manly pride and all that.”

But then he nodded.

“You’re right though,” He admitted. “Still ya know seriously I’m not so bad usually and I guess you just get used to no pads. Plus it would probably be crap to get to work if I had to find all my safety gear in the morning.”

He smiled then at what she said next; “I’ll be glad to…” He began, but ended abruptly at the mention of a boyfriend and said boyfriend not being happy at his appearance. That Jon understood pretty well, but then again, he still felt terrible.
“How about I buy you a cup of coffee, and walk you almost there? I mean I don’t want to get you in trouble or anything, but I’ll be the perfect gentleman…scout’s honor!”

He then proceeded onward to the two fingered salute with his left hand, while his right still kept a careful grip on the edge of his board.

She almost laughed as he said he was a baby and would cry if she wasn't around. And almost laughing for her was a good thing.

But she smiled, this time an honest one that was only slightly different than her mask. And it fell again as he seemed hurt that he couldn't walk her home. He seemed like a nice guy. He really did.

A cup of coffee? Well, she'd been working at the Petit Paris all day... She'd only had too cups while she was there. She could always get some apple cider or something.

"Well... How about we go a few blocks that way," She pointed the direction that she had just come from. "And we won't have to worry about paying for drinks. Longer walk too." She pointed out. "I'm not worried that you'll try something, really. Jason's just a... he's got some jealousy issues. And I don't think he trusts me..." She bit her lips slightly as she stood. There was a pain in her leg from where the board hit her... But she ignored it.

"But I work at the Petit Paris, so we can get free drinks there." She said, changing the topic.

Jon smiled at her smile.

Well okay that was a really weird thought to have, but honest to goodness he was glad that she could smile.

A little part of him was pretty sure that she was hurt more than she was letting on, but then if she wanted to tough it out that was fine too. A smile though, well to him at least, a smile said she wasn’t ready to collapse, that she had no internal injuries, and that well…well he had completely and utterly messed up.

And knowing he hadn’t completely messed up was kind of nice.

He smiled then when she pointed and said they wouldn’t have to pay for drinks…

“Well, that’s kind of a cop out on my part isn’t it…” He laughed then. “I mean don’t get me wrong, free drinks are grand and all, but well I guess it’s kinda unfair if don’t at least make amends somehow…”

He fell silent then and shrugged. Eh, he’d think of something, all jokes aside, he really did want to say he was sorry, and while the walk was in the opposite direction of his apartment, still he was glad for it and nodded.

Though his smile disappeared, his expression became thoughtful as she explained her boyfriend; so he was the jealous type. To tell the truth, Jon wasn’t very fond of guys like that. But of course when she changed the subject, he was sure to do the same.

“That’s that really fancy place isn’t it?” Jon couldn’t remember ever being inside, let alone hitting it up for drinks. Truth be told he worked in a coffee shop too, well when he wasn’t putting up with Jinx and the rest of the similarly and amusingly named staff of his engineering firm. What could he say, most of them were gamers and geeks, the nicknames were sort of a rite of passage. He was even wolfsi. That took some explaining, but Jon quickly brought his thoughts back to the things at hand.

And what was at hand, was him with a flashing smile as he gave a bowing gesture with an arm.

“Putting my pride aside,” His smile was teasing at that. “Sure, that sounds great. After you, dearest madam…” That made him laugh again. “Oh, and my name’s Jon by the way. Um…nice to meet you.”

"Yes. It is a rather expensive restaurant... But they were the first place that would hire me. I bus mostly, but I also serve if they're short handed." She said looking away. "I get free non-alcoholic drinks, everything else half price... Still don't eat there though really." After all, when you still couldn't affor half the things on the menu...

"Or there's the cafe down the other way or half a dozen Starbucks around here if you really want to pay." She said with a smile. But of course, he could be in the same type of situation financially that she was. "I wouldn't want you to waste any money on me though, honest. Maybe... Instead of money, how about time? We could maybe even sit and talk a bit if you've got time. It's been a while since I've actually gotten to hang out with someone." She suggested. Sure she'd just gotten off of work from there, but well...

If it kept her out a bit longer... Well it wasn't like she was using him. It would really be nice to talk with someone outside of work. Maybe even make a friend. Sure she wouldn't be able to tell Jason about him, but oh well.

"I'm Victoria by the way." She said brightly.

And it would be someone who didn't know she was a stripper. That was always a plus. And it wasn't like he would find out. He didn't seem the kind to go into a strip joint.

Jon couldn’t help but smile at the suggestions of the café, which would be the one beside his coffee shop. Well technically they were one and the same, coffee house and café but then try telling that to anyone that worked there. It was like a game of red versus blue in there, café staff and coffee staff, facing off at every turn. Of course their good natured rivalry was, well usually good natured. But the thought of going there and getting haggled by “the guys” most of which were girls by the way, well he just couldn’t bare the title of gigolo or whatever else they could come up with in front of “his new girlfriend” besides Jon was pretty sure that he didn’t want to bother with that teasing, especially when it wasn’t true.

But then again the guys would never believe that he’d fallen on her. Well actually it was just bad to think that, he’d be getting teased until next year behind that one.

He shook his head then, jerking himself out of what he quickly and mentally dubbed “stupid thoughts” and then he smiled, shrugging.

“It wouldn’t be a waste exactly…” He argued. “I mean trust me I’m fine in the pockets, well pretty much. I mean I’ve still got a ton of student loans to pay off, but I moved to Canada for a job and well I do alright by myself I guess.”

He gave another shrug then. He’d been lucky, had been hired by his current firm before he’d even gotten his final diploma. It wasn’t one in a life time or anything, but they paid well and well he worked at the coffee shop because he needed something to do with himself besides videogames and getting chunky…

In short his finances were hardly strained. But finally he nodded then.

“But time’s cool too.” He replied, smiling still. “I’m right there with you. I’ve got buddies on the job, well both of them actually, but I don’t do much otherwise. So I’d love to hang out so long as ya got the time and all.”

His smile widened then, at her name.

“Nice to me you, Victoria,” He said happily trying out the name. He gave a thoughtful shrug then.

“Would I be pushing my luck if I called you Vikki? It's cool if I am, just thought I'd ask ya know.”

Student loans to pay off? So he'd gone to college then... Yeah, she definitely couldn't tell him about her other job then. He wouldn't think much of her at all probably. Victoria had thought of student loans... But her grades hadn't been good enough to get in anywhere.

But Victoria smiled though as he said that it would be okay as long as she had the time. "Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have suggested it." She grinned. All she had to do was go home... And in truth, the longer she went without going home, the better. "I'd love to just hang out a bit, talk and all. I don't even have too many friends through work. They're just... Well. Not people I really want to associate with." She gave a light shrug.

But there was that fact, and the fact that Jason was always trying to keep a tight leash on her... Keep her from having any friends. Any time a potential one came along, he did something to chance them away.

She frowned though, shaking her head as he called her Vikki. "I... I prefer Victoria..." She said quietly. "I used to get teased a lot in school... The whole Icky Vicky thing..." Not to mention it was what all her clients called her at Connie's. "Brings up bad memories..." Vixtoria muttered, sticking her hands in her pockets.

Jon gave a disappointed sigh. Not really, but he was a ham and well a phony sigh had never failed to win him a laugh yet. So he went with it, giving an ironic kinda smile.

“Alrighty…sorry, Victoria then.” That made him smile then, heck if he couldn’t laugh at his own jokes…

Eh.

That was just how he was, some people might call it boisterous, but anyone that knew Jon knew it was just him. All energy was Jonathan Nicon. Well energy and horrid jokes.

Jon nodded then.

“I guess I understand,” He said, voice thoughtful then and his expression at least a bit closer to boarding on serious. “Sorry to bring up bad memories and all…”

He smiled sheepishly then though.

“But you do realize that you’re hardly icky, right? I mean I know the opinion of absolute strangers isn’t something to go on…but…you seem like a really nice person. I’m glad I fell on you…well not glad…but you know…”

That made him smile again, actually it made him chuckle.

“You know, I think I’ll stop talking now. How about we go get those drinks and I can bore you with my long and convoluted life’s journey…then maybe you can tell me about you. That’ll be interesting.”

That said Jon reached out an offered hand.

Then the whole world seemed to disappear:

The moon was like bone, stripped of flesh and left in the sun. It glittered and sparkled with the night flies buzzing just above it. Then there was a ripple as something moved beneath the surface. The moon shattered then, disappearing into a thousand scattered drops as paws smashed it. White-silver flashed.

White-silver, the color of bone in the moon and shadow.

Black; the color of blood in the night.

The ebony hunter flipped his prey from the water watching it flip and gasp, alive, twitching despite the snapping fangs that had severed its spine. It flopped again as the shadow creature moved with the sloshing of water as liquid moved to replace the space cleared within each passing of its four feet. The hunter regarded it’s prey then, opening fangs once more, it took it up, running in search of her.

The hunter would offer it, offer himself, he hoped she would be pleased. He wanted her.

Jon blinked then, blinked as vision or hallucination left him behind. He shuddered, wondering if he was crazy…probably…

“Ready to go?” He asked sheepishly looking at his hand, not sure how much time had passed since he’d offered it. He hoped it hadn’t been much.

She smiled slightly as he tried to make her feel better. "Oh, I know now... But back in High school... I was a bit of a late bloomer, and well... You know how cruel kids can be when someone looks a bit different."

Victoria nodded in agreement as he said they should get going and smiled as she turned to walk towards the restaurant. She wasn't really the touchie physical type, after all, usually she dealt with Jason and he rarely touched her in a kind way...

But she paused as he seemed slightly distracted, popping out of it a moment later.

"Hey, you coming or what Jon?" Victoria smiled. "What's up?" She looked in the direction he was looking but... There was nothing there. Maybe he was just thinking about something. She was know to space out like that a bit too, and it wasn't like he was a statue there for minutes at a time.

"Ready to go whenever you are." She said, still smiling.

“Um sure.” Jon said easily enough, drawing his hand back, but still looking at it a bit strangely. It was odd, crazy. Okay, maybe that wasn’t the right word for him, or at least it was one he didn’t like using. But still it was like his hand didn’t belong, like he should look down and see a paw or claws or whatever…

Jesus…

Jon…pull it together…Jon…come on, Nicon.

With a sigh he put his mental coaching aside and nodded, catching up easily enough, falling into step beside Victoria.

“Nothing really,” He replied again, this time to her second question. “Um, I guess I got a little lost in thought.” The excuse wasn’t the best one, but then what was, he’d gotten lost in a forest in his mind, or that he was remembering something he couldn’t possible remember, or better yet…maybe he could tell her he was a werewolf, the thing he usually told folks, most took it as a joke. Some took it as him just being weird. And then again she might just back away slowly trying to keep the crazy man in her line of sight.

If any of those reactions…well Jon didn’t know why, but he really didn’t want any of that going down with Victoria. Yeah he was crazy, but let it be his private crazy, okay? You listening God?

Please be listening!

“I’m ready.” He said then, walking along with her, trying his best for casual. He didn’t even do to bad a job of it.

"Cool, ya kinda worried me there for a bit." She said with a smile.

But it would be nice to stay out of the apartment for a bit... Get to know someone else... And someone who didn't know what she was. None of her clients would be able to tell her out of the club, her hair was up in a bun, and she was actually wearing her glasses today as she was having a problem with her contacts. But she wasn't nearly as bad looking as she had been back in high school.

These glasses weren't thick wire frames on a chubby face, they were stylish plastic ones on a slender, womanly face. Her hair was not it's dull mousy brown, but a vibrant black that made her eyes stand out, even from behind her glasses.

"So, you came up here for work? What do you do, if you don't mind me asking of course." She said, adding in that last part for safe measure. She had a bad habit of getting a bit defensive when people asked, but maybe that was just because of what she did.

"It's gotta be better than just waitering like me."

Jon shook his head with a nervous smile.

“Umh, no worries, really.” He said as easily as he could manage. Which as it turned out wasn’t that easy really, but despite the first shakiness of his words, they firmed up as he took a deep breath and let his determination fall into place.

Okay, no craziness…

None…

He smiled, meeting Victoria’s gaze. For a moment Jon just looked at her, he hadn’t noticed her doing the same earlier, but he realized a couple of things right then, that he really liked her glasses, and really liked the eyes behind them. Her dark hair seemed to make them shine by contrast, gray they reminded him briefly of the moon, all reflection of light and colors, and that thought made him look away just as quickly as he had looked in the first place.

“Yeah, I came here to work.” He repeated then. He forced another smile. “And of course I don’t mind you asking…”

That came with a thoughtful sort of laugh.

“That is so long as you don’t laugh at me for being a total geek…” That came with another smile, even as he shrugged before speaking again.

“I’m an engineer, well technically I’m only an intern right now, but all things considered, they work me like I’m one of the crew and everybody’s been great, they even pay me standard wages. So I guess the intern thing’s more in title than reality really. Oh yeah, and I also work at The Grindstone Café, where well I serve coffee…”

He gave a shrug then.

“I don’t know how much better that all is, but it’s usually fun, interesting, or totally embarrassing. Sometimes all three at once.”

Slipping his board more comfortably under his arm, careful of his scraped palms, Jon asked.

“So, you not too fond of your job then?”

Victoria almost gaped. He was an engineer? Even if he was still an intern- "Wow! That's totally amazing Jon. So you just work the coffee house on the side? I wouldn't call you a geek. That's really cool it is! And I bet it pays pretty good too." She grinned.

"And I'm sure working at a coffee house is a lot better than The Petit Paris. None of the people there really like me... And the clients leave a lot to be desired. Well... And as I mostly bus, I only get a little of the tip. Sometimes I serve, but only when we're short... And then the clients... They're just horrible sometimes. Because they have money, they think they can get whatever they want. And the worst part is really that they're right..." She gave a soft sigh, sticking her hands in her pockets.

But wasn't that the way things always went? The people who had money had power... The poor were powerless.

And well, same went for her other job at least. Offer the right amount, and you could get anything you wanted.

Her fists clenched slightly in her pockets, but her face didn't betray her emotions. She knew how to keep her expressions blank. She knew too well.

"So, what kind of engineer are you? Computer? Building?" She asked with a smile, the one she forced most of the time. But the question was genuine, as was the interest.

Jon couldn’t help but smile at the offered “Wow” of course that smile came equipped with a casual shrug. All in all, it was no big deal. Or at least that was the way Jon looked at it, true he’d worked his butt off in school and done really well by consequence, but that was all it was really. Well that and a job. A good job. A job that his parents would remind him paid well and could potentially pay better, but really it was no big deal.

Even if Jon really did love it, still no big deal…

He nodded then.

“Yep, the coffee house gets me out of the house…” He smiled then at the less than funny joke, actually he was the only one that it would even register as a joke to, but eh.

Not everyone gets comedic genius.

Or at least that’s what he would have told himself if that wasn’t a joke in and of itself. A little irony went a long way for Jonathan Nicon, even if it was self irony.

“Glad you think so.” He said with a happy little smile. “I don’t know about cool, but thanks. And I do alright.” He said with a nod then. “Like I said, me paying ain’t a big deal really.”

Besides Jon would be the first to admit that he wasn’t a shopper or anything, he didn’t smoke, drink, or anything else that might end weirdly, er weirder than average in his life and well and truly all he did was work. He had a love of electronics that he’d admit to, maybe a gaming habit, videogames that is, but all in all he was probably one of the most boring guys on earth. And boring people just spend money on necessities and college loans.

Jon listened then and frowned as Victoria described Petit Paris.

“That does sound pretty crappy.” Jon admitted. “I can relate though, at the coffee house, well actually we’re more a coffee house and café fusion…well anyway, we get some,” He paused to make air quotes with his fingers. “High end, clientele.”

Jon rolled his eyes at that.

“You can always tell those types…you know, the folks more in love with Gucci, Armani, and BMW than their own kids. The thirty or forty some things. Eh, I’m not fond of them or the business types. Lousy tippers, bad attitudes, and absolutely no home training…”

Jon shrugged then, smiling.

“Actually I guess I’m not too fond of anybody that takes themselves too seriously.”

He gave yet another shrug then.

“As for money getting you anything…” He looked thoughtful. “Naw. Money doesn’t buy the really great things in life…heck it might sound pretty cliché I know. But really Money doesn’t erase problems, it just changes the set of um that ya deal with.”

That was the way Jon felt on the subject, what he didn’t mention was that money or no money, it didn’t do much about being lonely. Lonely had been a lot of his life, it even raised its head now and again, no matter how hard you work at being shallow, at letting things make a life…in Jon’s experience it had never changed anything. His happiest moments were family, were pack…

Blinking, he shook his head. He did not think that last bit, didn’t. Didn’t.

Victoria’s question; brought Jon out of that particular head space and he could have kissed her. Okay, right he’d made a gentleman’s promise, but still he didn’t think he’d been so happy for something to draw his attention in his natural life.

“Computer mostly,” He replied with a slightly embarrassed smile. “I’m not anything fancy; I mean we’re not reinventing the wheel or anything. But we’re working on this processor schematic that while the military gets first crack…well I’ll just say that it’ll be awesome when finished.”

It was only after he’d said that much that he realized he was babbling.

“Um…sorry bout that.” He apologized, quickly shifting gears as he asked. “So what else do you hate?”

Pausing a moment, he smiled as he realized an explanation was in order.

“A great man once told me that it isn’t shared loves that make for great friendships, its shared hates or things that just get you fed up.”

"They think they can solve everything..." She said quietly. Admittedly, tipping was much better at her second job. She would easily double her earnings as a waitress as a dancer and server at Connie's...

But Victoria wasn't going to even mention she had a second job. Only if he asked... And then she'd try to dance around it.

She listened as he spoke, a curious person he was. They did seem a lot a like, or at least had a lot in common. She just about agreed with everything he said. And even though of course she knew that money solved certain problems and caused others, she knew that these people seemed to think that it did.

"Computer? That's really neat though Jon." She said again with a smile. She'd never had a computer before in her life, but she knew how complicated and detailed they were. "It has to be really challenging, you must be really smart when it comes to things like that. I wouldn't be able to do that at all..." She shook her head.

Well, if she had the money to go to a Vo-Tech school she might be able to learn to do something like that. "I barely graduated high school... There was no way I'd ever go to college... But my family never had the money." She shrugged. Even if she had good grades, if she didn't get a scholarship she wouldn't have been able to go anyway. She was stuck in a dead end since she was born. One that she had to fight to get out of, but even then she wasn't going anywhere fast.

"Great man? Who was that." She asked with a teasing smile, assuming it was his father or grandfather.

Jon couldn’t help but smile at her reaction. It was, well it was funny, it made him feel kinda good about what he did. Most people just kinda waved it off or well more annoyingly they went on to question about his wallet. That was annoying. Especially in a girl, maybe that was a little sexist on his part, but he’d ended more than a few dates on that particular over played note. It was a real deal breaker when a relationship started and ended on your wallet.

Still, sharing Victoria’s smile, Jon gave a wry smile and shrug combo.

“Well it’s not a big deal really…” He paused then, just a moment to regard her, his smile turned amused. “Sure you could.” He said easily. “All you need is to kill yourself in a few years of college classes and well bingo. You know all the things you never wanted to know that people do to computers and how exactly to guard against most of the nastiest ones. It really is no big deal.”

His expression changed then. It wasn’t pity; God knows nobody likes to be pitied. But it was just a suddenly more thoughtful expression. It wasn’t far from his easy going smile of before, but it was enough that Victoria would know that her story hadn’t fallen on a completely oblivious goof. Goof maybe, oblivious, never.


“I’m sorry.” He said then, carefully. “Um you know, just that you didn’t have the money. I don’t believe for a minute you couldn’t have done it. I mean trust me I know people that can do more than I can that are total morons. Probably not the smoothest thing to say to a girl, but Victoria you’re not a moron. In fact I say you’re pretty sharp. Yeah I know I’m a stranger and all, but its there in the way you talk. You can always tell smart folks when you talk to them. Kind of a baring I guess, my mom used to talk a lot about carriage and I guess that’s a part of it too.”

He shrugged then.

And his smile returned as he nodded.

“Yep, great man. Mi pa-pa. The same man that told me about how he swept my mother desperately off her feet, only to have her tell me that he actually showed up at a store she almost never went to for a week until he found her and asked her out.”

Jon smiled then.

“He doesn’t know that the owner of that store was really my grandfather’s cousin, and that when he asked about the woman he’d met before. Well she’d thought he seemed harmless enough for an army boy and well mom kinda liked him after that first meeting…”

Jon chuckled then.

“What can I say, the man is a player in his own mind. But he’d my dad, I’ve always loved him and besides he’d not always wrong. Sometimes it’s hate that keeps a relationship together.”

He laughed when he said it this time.

“So Victoria, what do you hate?”

She shook her head as he apologized, then said that she still could have found a way to go. "I... I wish I could have. Done something more with my life than work... But I never had good grades, my family wasn't well off, and the school I went too didn't do much to help students like me. I never even knew about scholarships, I didn't think a Vocational School was even an option." Victoria was sure that they came from separate worlds After all, she didn't even have a computer. The only ones she could use were the ones at the school or library.

"The only thing that I had ever heard growing up, was that if you ever wanted to be anybody, you went to college. If you wanted to have a good life, a good job, a nice family, you went to college." Maybe that was why even though she wanted to get out of the life she had now... Victoria had resigned herself to the fact that she'd never be able to.

Yeah that really didn't sound the best, but well, a person could only fall so many times before they realized it would be less painful just to stick to the low road.

She had to chuckle though as he said she was sharp. Well, sharp and smart were two different things. She could only do basic math, her spelling was often times atrocious, and her book smarts left a lot to be desired. "Sharp perhaps... But that doesn't get you into college. I doubt that they look at potential, the road that could be built. But they look at the job you've already done... And well... They wouldn't be too impressed by the muddy dirt path I've been walking back and forth on."

Victoria smiled though as he talked about his parents. Yeah, she didn't blame her parents for her choices. She knew she screwed up. But then again, they hadn't bothered to help her. It was as if they hadn't noticed anything.

But as he asked what she hated, the young woman frowned almost at once. What could she say to that? Her jobs? Her boyfriend? Her life?

She shook her head. "I can't think of anything really..." She lied softly, looking up and straight ahead of her. It was almost completely dark now but for the street lamps that were coming on now, ready for the night.

Jon nodded, faintly sad. He listened as Victoria spoke and all and all, well it sounded pretty sad to him that she hadn’t had the same kind of opportunities he’d had. That’s not to say that everybody had the same life, just well just that it seemed vastly unfair. Not that life was fair or anything, just still…

“Maybe.” He found himself replying then, actually smiling at the dirt path analogy. Yep, the girl definitely had some smarts. So called “regular people” just didn’t talk like that or at least that’s what the people that had been content not to work harder had told him in his life. For all his successes, Jon was hardly a golden boy, indeed he was perhaps more of an odd ball than most. It was true he wasn’t full blooded Apache, but it was also true that he hadn’t just been contented with the tribe’s education alone. He’d gone to a big university, busted his hump and gotten through things. But that wasn’t the only options open and that was driven home both by Victoria’s story and Jon’s own memories of people from his past.

Still that didn’t stop him from wondering at Victoria briefly. And the question that came to mind was strange, but it was one that had to be asked nonetheless, or maybe Jon was just nosey and annoying…yea probably those last two.

“Umh, Victoria, did you ever think about Community College? I mean I get your grades weren’t great, but community usually doesn’t care. They just want you to take an entrance exam. If you pass you’re in and well once you’re in, you try to get your grades up. A lot of people transfer. And most of them, well the good communities anyway, they can help you out with financial aid, grants, and scholarships.”

Jon shrugged casually then.

“Sorry, I mean I don’t mean to sound arrogant or anything or like college is the answer to all the world’s ills, it’s just well, yeah. I got that same talk growing up, about how it’s good to go to college and well they aren’t right. It’s not the only way to be happy, or even very high up the list, but it helps to have an education. At least it helped me…”

And that was probably what it was, way down deep inside Jon had gotten to love education and it was a love he hoped to spread so much as he worried about the societal stigmata that went along with lacking college education.

"Sorry I don't mean to be a jerk." He said then.

"Community College? No... Not back then. Before graduation, I hadn't known of them. The counselors had better people to help than me. And after... yeah I thought about it, but then things started going so fast... I wound up here before I knew what had happened... And when I asked Jason about it when I saw a brochure in the mail..." She trailed off slightly. Jason had laughed... Had asked what she would do if she when to school, take cooking classes? Learn how to do house chores?

"Well, I didn't really have time. I was already working two jobs, and money was going out just as fast as it came in." She shrugged.

"I know it's not the only way to be happy... I was ha-" She cut herself off then, quickly before she said something she shouldn't have. "I just think it's probably the easiest."

Victoria shook her head though as he apologized. "Don't worry about it. It's not nearly as bad as some of the things I get at work. They just think I'm trash over there. Apparently to be a waitress you should have a degree of some sort." She gave a soft snort, brushing a stand of hair from in front of her glasses.

"I know I sound like I'm making a lot of excuses, belly aching and whatever... But... Well, to be honest, I know I did it to myself. I... I didn't do well in high school, not because I wasn't smart, I just didn't want to... Looking back, I know it was a bad choice. Probably the worst one I've ever made, and the reason why I'm at where I am now. I... I'd do it all over again if I could. Really." If she had done well, she might have gone to a university rather than running off with Jason... working as a stripper and a waitress.

She could have been someone. "It's only my fault. If I'd tried harder, if I'd asked about things. But I was stupid and young. I just didn't care."

Jon shook his head then, quick and sharp.

“Nope, doesn’t sound like excuses to me…heck I haven’t heard a single one really, just facts, stuff that’s happened to you.”

Jon shrugged then.

“People that make excuses, that’s a whole new level of annoyance.”

Jon looked thoughtful then.

“You know the kind, the folks that have always got to blame someone else.” He paused a moment as if remembering and that was exactly what he did. Even if he wasn’t genuinely African-American, Jon knew how the race card could be played. Then there was the sex card. Or even the reverse racisim card. Jon had run into them all in his life, people down and out, but instead of doing better, it was all about blame. The Man wronged me. That had always made Jon mad. And with that thought he smiled.

“You know I finally have one…” He commented, laughing. “I hate people that don’t take personal responsibility.”

He smiled and then laughed again at that.

“I know what you’re talking about though.” He said with a nod then. “We’ve all been young and stupid. My folks are just always reminding me that ya have to change the stupid part…”

His smile was teasing.

“I think they aimed that a little bit my way. After all as you’ve no doubt guessed, on top of being a total jeark to women I just meet, I am also a hopless idiot. Sorry Victoria. Really. And besides everybody makes mistakes. The thing is, sometimes ya have to fight for your second chance…”

He looked thoughtful again, or at least as thoughtful as he could with neutral sort of smile on his face and his hands slipping into his pockets as they continued to walk and talk. His board was still tucked safely under one arm, but his palms stung a bit the moment the rubbed against the fabric covering his legs.

His expression didn’t change at the sting though as he said.

“You ever thought about trying to go back? I mean a lot of folks don’t know, there are all kinds of government programs to help with that…some are kinda hard to get, but then again some of aren’t. People just don’t know about them..”

"Fight... I'm tired of fighting..." Victoria said softly. She'd been fighting since high school... She fought to keep her jobs, to keep her spirits up, to keep her pride, her soul intact. "I mean... I've been doing it for so long, and I can't do much more now... Just need time to regroup I suppose."

And gather her courage. Victoria knew that if she wanted to go back to school, she'd have to leave Jason. If he left Jason, she'd have no place to go. Not to mention he'd be pissed as hell, probably try to find her.

"If there's something like that... Yeah, I'd like to. But... Jason... My boyfriend, he doesn't have a job right now... So I'm working two jobs right now. I really don't have time. I work... Maybe sixteen hours a day on average? I don't have time for classes right now. And... I don't know exactly when He's going to be able to find a new job."

Truth was, he hadn't had a job since she moved in with him... Well a few weeks after she moved in, he was fired.

That had been a couple years ago now.

"But, you're not stupid. And I know jerks Jon, you're no where close." She said with a reassuring smile. Walking on her leg though now she could feel a dull, throbbing pain. It was sore, maybe not a bruise, but it was definitely sore. "Trust me. I don't like jerks. If you were one, I wouldn't be here now." In truth, she was with him to avoid jerks. Jason. Matt, Evan... Trent was probably over too... He was the worst of all, always trying to catch her alone when he could, trying to force himself on her.

It was times like those she was grateful Jason was the jealous type.

"But anyway... I have no clue what I'd go to school for. Every time I mentioned it, Jason would always ask me what I would go for... And I never knew." She shrugged.

Jon smiled, it was a bit sad, but a smile nonetheless.

"Well that's good to know," He commented. "You know that I'm not a jerk. Still I do have a habit of acting like one. So sorry for that, alright? As for all the fighting, I can’t imagine what you go through. I mean I’m not exactly Richey Rich or anything, more of an army brat really, but I’ve never really had it that hard.

Know people that have, but not me. And if it sounded like I was trying to put that down before, I’m sorry again. I got a whole lot of respect for people that make it with their own two hands.”

And that was an understatement.

Jon was, well while he wasn’t a street kid, he had never dealt much really with the city in his youth. Still he’d grown up in a place that you worked with your hands. Hard work, fighting, these weren’t foreign concepts. Nor was catching your breath and regrouping.

He smiled then, actually chuckled.

“Good to know that too,” He commented on her statement about being with him. “Good to know that you’re not just humoring the odd ball that almost ran you down.”

He gave a shrug then, considering what had been said between them. He looked thoughtful and well…

“If you’re ever getting ready to go back, give me a call would ya. I mean it’s been a while and all, but I can at least head you in the right direction with scholarships and grants. Heck I’ll even help you study for the entrance exam if you want. You see I’m kinda of a bored guy. I love the job and all, but man was not meant to be alone and all that…”

His smile was playful.

“Really Victoria, it’s just good to meet people really. I don’t do a whole lot of hanging out and well believe it or not, even being an idiot I really enjoy talking to you.”

Victoria smiled graciously as he said he had respect for people like her. Granted... It was her own fault she was in this mess...

She smiled though as he offered to help her get in somewhere. "Really? Thanks. I mean... I don't know if I would be able to for a while... I mean I'd have to quit one of my jobs, and I don't know if we'd be able to get by... But I'll definitely keep you in mind though." She smiled earnestly now as he did. It was like it was contagious. "I like hanging out with you too Jon. I don't get out a whole lot either really And you're a lot of fun to talk to." She had to blush though as he said that Man wasn't meant to be alone.

He would be a much better boyfriend, even roommate than Jason. He at least had a job to pay rent... He didn't seem like he smoked or drank, and he definitely wouldn't beat her. Well unless it was on accident.

The thought made her smile.

"Well, some men should be alone... To be honest... I... I'm only with Jason still, because I have no other choice. I... I don't have any people in this city that I could live with... And no way to get back home. And if I did leave, he'd probably come after me." Victoria's smile was gone by now, her eyes back down at the sidewalk. He probably didn't want to hear about that. No one really did. "And I don't want anyone else to get hurt for me.... And it would probably be easier to stay where I am now, then try to get out. I know it sounds weak... But I don't even know how to start getting away from him."

Jon nodded, smile still in place as he shrugged by way of reply to Victoria’s first statement.

“Oh, it’s cool. Whenever you’re ready, really. I’m not going anywhere, promise. I mean I understand, well not really. What I mean to say is that, well whenever you get things straightened out and are ready, just tell me. I’ll help out however I can Victoria. Heck, even if it’s just trying to help you get by. Don’t get me wrong, I mean I know I’m still a stranger and all and you have no reason to trust me at all…but I just wanna help.”

He gave another shrug then. It was probably a habit as much as it was body language with him. Truth be told, like all ticks, nervous or otherwise, Jon really didn’t notice and probably wouldn’t until somebody pointed it out to him.

His smile became a grin then. Yeah, it was kinda goofy, but hey.

“Awww, thanks Victoria.” His grin became a bit teasing then. “I feel the love. Thanks darlin.” That last was said with a little bit of the old Midwest seeping back into his tone. It was more inflection than accent, something that had been surprisingly prevalent back on the reservation and its adjoining lands. Actually it was probably one of the things Jon got picked on most about when his parents first moved, and that was probably the reason he’d never allowed himself to lose it.

Not exactly spite, just not giving into pressure.

Jon was glad to see her smile then. Actually he’d admit that he liked making people smile. And being the goofy idiot that he was, well yeah that was pretty assured. Still laughing at him or with him, Jon had stopped caring a while ago. His skin had thickened and well aside from all the weirdness that the full moon brought…

Jon’s thoughts derailed like a freight then, everything was just gone, and so was his smile, the lightness of his manner, all of it. Instead he looked at Victoria softly. His eyes were hard, dang hard, but the look was soft. Jon was pissed, but not at her, nope not by a long shot.

“Nope, that doesn’t sound weak at all.” Jon found himself saying. “It just sounds like you’re in a bad situation that you need a way out of…”

A sigh.

“Jesus. I’m sorry Victoria, really. I mean is there anything I can do? I mean I’m not too shabby when it comes to fighting…” Actually the last time he’d fought had been in high school, some gangbang jerk off had pulled a knife on him. He hadn’t been trying, but Jon remembered breaking the guy’s jaw and elbow.

He’d tried again with some of his buddies, and well while Jon had gotten banged up, sending four guys to the hospital got him a wider berth in the hallway. It also technically got him a criminal record, but since it had been proven self-defense, charges were dropped, the year went on and well things were back to normal or at least as normal as they ever got. Jon’s mom wasn’t happy that he’d been fighting again, especially after all the martial arts training he’d had just to avoid useless aggression, but then dad being a military man, he’d gone to bat for him. Some fights ya can’t avoid he’d said, and Jon wondered briefly if this was one of those? After all if it came down to it, Jon wasn’t gonna leave Victoria to be hunted down by some crazy sociopath boyfriend. She seemed to have enough on her plate without that kind of crap.

Jon believed in letting people catch a break. God wasn’t that cruel. God loves, men kill. That was something his mother had said once.

She shouldn't have said anything... Victoria knew it the moment she opened her mouth. But it was too late now.

"No. Jon... Please.... Don't do anything. I don't want to cause any problems. Well more than there are already. And... Well It's not like he's bad all the time. He sometimes drinks too much, and that's when he gets bad. Otherwise he's really nice... A bit jealous, but nice." Excuses, excuses.

"But no... Fighting him will only make things worse for me Jon... Especially if he knows you know me." Victoria pointed out. Even of Jon managed to hurt him, he couldn't protect her from Jason after he got better. And then there were always Jason's buddies...

"If you wanna help... Just... Just maybe, be my friend? It would be nice to have someone I could talk to... Spend time with when I don't want to go home. That's really what I need. I don't want to try anything, because if something doesn't go right... It'll just come back to bite me." She said before chewing on her lip slightly.

"I know you don't seem like the kinda guy to sit and watch things happen... But please... Don't try to do anything to him or his friends." She said, looking up with pleading eyes.

A sigh, a really sad one, but it was followed by a nod.

"Alright, he's your...um well crap; I just don't want to make things hard on you Victoria, so sure I won't do anything. But I can’t promise anything if he hurts you.” And that was true. All of this was Victoria’s decision when it came right down to it and Jon would try to be her friend like she asked, but she couldn’t ask him to get that kind of crap waved in his face. So long as Jason was just a jerk, good, but when he was a dangerous jerk, well that changed things.

That was just the way Jon was. The way he’d always been. You stuck up for people when they were in trouble, you never let your friends down if you could help it, and loyalty had always been paramount.

That was the place he’d come from, the values he’d always had instilled, and oddly enough even the completely crazy part of him that he wasn’t always sure of was on board when it came to that kind of thing.

A man stood up for those that needed it: people that couldn’t help themselves, his friends, his family, his pack.

Alright, now really wasn’t the time for that last part. Really, really, really wasn’t the time.

“Alrighty Victoria, let’s change the subject okay?” He smiled then when he said that, a peace offering of sorts, he was glad just to have a new friend and somebody that he enjoyed talking to. Then he looked thoughtful. “So what’s your other job like?”

"Thank you Jon..." She said with a relieved smile. "I... I just have a feeling it would make things worse. But... He won't hurt me. He knows he can't bruise me up or anything." Well, he did anyway, he just made sure they would stay hidden or were light enough to be covered with makeup.

Victoria felt bad though... knowing he really wanted to help her... Knowing that he might be able to... And yet he couldn't. She couldn't let him get involved for his own sake. He might be able to take on Jason by himself, but with all the other guys around... And they didn't exactly play fair.

She was glad and relieved though as he asked if they could change the subject. "Of course." But Victoria's eyes fell as he asked about her second job. "Well... It... It's just another waitressing job... Nothing special." She said as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.

"Pay's a bit bettter... Clients are a different sort, but still just as bad." She added with a mutter. "I only stay there for the money and it works with my hours at the restaurant. Co-Workers treat me okay too." If it had just been a waitressing job, or a tending Job... That would have been fine. The tenders there were all women who use to be dancers but had gotten a little too old.

"But what exactly do you do at your engineering job? What kind of things do you work with?" Sure she didn't know a lot about computers, but hey, it was a learning opportunity.

Jon shrugged at the thank you. He really didn’t feel like he should be getting thanked. If anything he felt angry, but again that angry had nothing to do with Victoria, so just like he should, Jon put it aside for a rainy day. Well actually for whatever day he might get a crack at said boyfriend. A guy just didn’t treat his girl like that, come hell or high water as his grandfather used to say. Yeah, it was a little country, but what did ya expect in the middle of the states and on a Native American reservation no less, but right was right and on this one granddad had been right on the money.

Jon’s smile was bright then.

“Whatever you say Victoria, as long as he doesn’t get rowdy. That case, tell me. I mean it. And you said something about his friends…just to let you know, I don’t care how man friends he’s got.”

And that was the simple truth. Jon wasn’t a martial artist, not really. Not how you really defined a martial artist. He was a fighter, always had been since that first day, or maybe he’d just been born one and that day was when he realized it. But whatever the case, friends or no Jon was pretty sure he’d chew them up and spit them back out. Who knows? Maybe even, literally.

Alright, that last thought…geez. What was wrong with him sometimes? He was nuts, had to be. But then again he was a nut perfectly capable of beating the fear of God into another nutjob and eight or nine of his closest friends. Something inside of Jon just broke when he fought, obviously the reason him mom had always told him not to. He’d probably hurt them, but it couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of guys, at least in his opinion from what he’d heard.

Jon’s smile returned then as Victoria started telling him about her other job, actually his smile had never left, but now all of a sudden it matched the look in his eyes and thoughts of fighting slipped away as easy as mist caught in the rising of the sun. Kinda poetic, well not really.

Jon nodded.

“Doesn’t sound glamorous, but you’re right at least it pays the bills. I mean I understand making ends meet. I wasn’t poor like I said, but where I grew up money didn’t grow on trees either.”

He smiled a goofy kinda smile then.

“Actually where I’m from not a lot does grow on trees. Not really that many trees to speak of.” It was strange, Jon knew he hadn’t lived on the reservation for years, but always, just always it had felt like home.

A sigh then. Not sad, just well a sigh.

“Well I do a little of everything really, I mean I’m an intern technically, so they scoot me around a whole lot. Sometimes I’m working with someone on schematics and planning and next thing ya know I’m working on type zeroes and stuff. Mostly though I just do brain work or systems debugging though.”

It was about that time that Jon realized all of that probably sounded a lot like the proverbial technobabble; so he paused, rewound, and chuckled about it.

“That’s to say that I plan stuff out with the computers we’re engineering. Usually it’s just the blue prints and the like, but sometimes they actually have me in their jury-rigging the prototypes. It’s exciting, if you’re a nerd. Which I have no trouble admitting that I am.”

"Okay... He usually doesn't get too rowdy..." She lied. "And I try not to give him too many opportunities. That usually works out best." At least he wasn't still interested in her second job... She already had one person that she thought of as a friend who found out... She didn't want that happening again...

Well, she wasn't going to say that she was only hanging out with Jon to get away from her boyfriend. Because well, that wasn't the case. It was a bonus for sure, but Jon was fun to be around anyway. Jason sometimes got rough with her... But usually she tried to wait until he was asleep to come home. That always worked fairly well. As long as she was quiet.

But no... She wouldn't tell him if anything happened. It wasn't like she didn't trust him to do anything... Or to take care of the situation, but she knew... She knew it would only make things worse.

Victoria nodded, listening as he spoke about his job. She understood some of it, but admittedly she didn't know much about computers at all. She knew the ones at work, the ones they used to keep track of tables and all, but other than that she was clueless.

But she nodded again, her smile more noticeable this time, as he re-explained about his job. Okay, that she could understand.

"Wow, sounds like it could be really challenging. But I take it you're good at it." She grinned. Looking up and actually paying attention to the things around her, she noticed that they were only a few doors down from the restaurant. Time flies huh?

“Yeah, I guess…” Jon found himself saying by way of Victoria’s final statement. “Um actually not trying to sound like a total jerk, but I try not to really think of it as challenging. That’s not to say that we don’t run into stuff that is a total pain in the old backside, but mostly.”

He paused then, considering his words. Actually Jon was pretty sure he’d sound like a total dork no matter what he said, but then again he wasn’t cool to begin with, so what was a little dorkieness when you were already a confirmed nerd.

“Well mostly, it’s just kinda fun.” He smiled when he said it. “I mean I know that sounds kind of stupid and all, but well my mom told me that I should find something I like for a major. Going into the whole college thing I had no idea what I wanted to do, actually I guess I kinda wanted to be a vet. But then I’m lousy with animals.”

He shrugged then.

“I mean I like animals, but it’s just like they don’t like me. None of em! I can’t even hold a bunny without it going nuts…so ‘le sigh, I turned to computers. Going in I didn’t know much about them, but I had a few classes. Intro to computers, tech systems development, and well I guess I fell in love.”

Another shrug.

“I know it sounds kinda stupid and whishy washy, but that’s pretty much the way it happened. Well that and a heck of lot of hump busting. And yeah, um actually I never really thought about it, but I guess I am good at it. Least the people I work with think so.”

Jon smiled again then, though this one was a bit teasing. Looking around, he noted that they were almost there and while it was fun to prattle aimlessly; well he was getting tired of hearing himself talk.

“So, not to be nosy or anything…but…” He paused with a wry smile. “Um…actually that’s exactly what I want to be, nosy. I mean I could theortically talk enough for the both of us, but Vikki-er-Victoria, ya gotta give me something. While I love the proverbial woman of mystery, I’m also really nosy, and well I’m just kinda curious about you.”

She listened to him talk, smiling the whole while. It wasn't like he was just rambling on, well to her anyway, and it was interesting to hear what he had to say. She was more of a listener anyway, unless something was really bugging her. But right now, for the first time in a long while, she was happy, even having a little fun.

"Well, it's good that you found something you love to do and you're good at it. Not many people find jobs like that you know." She said with a smile. She didn't care if she was one of those people really. She liked to dance yes, she liked to help people sure, but being a waitress and a stripper hadn't really been her dream job...

"Huh? No. There's really nothing interesting about me." She said as she shook her head. "Nothing to be curious about... Nothing that I could really tel you that you'd be interested in hearing." Well, nothing that she really wanted him knowing... He didn't need to know she was a stripper. She didn't need to tell him that Jason rarely ever let her see any of the money that she made or that he was jobless and just did drugs and drank with his buddies.

"I mean it's not like I went to college, or have any friends, or even an exciting job." She gave a shrug. "I mean, I've basically said everything about me already."

Jon nodded at Victoria’s first statement.

“Yeah, I know. I’m thankful, don’t ever think I’m not.” He of course couldn’t help the small little laugh that came with their next bit of conversation. For a moment he turned, smiling at Victoria, he looked at her with careful eyes the color of rich cocoa. There wasn’t enough light for them to sparkle that off amber brown they had a way of being. All things considered they were decidedly normal and average in a face that wasn’t much more than average, well if a bit exotic by heritage.

“There’s something interesting about you.” He said then with a sudden surety. “I mean don’t get me wrong I don’t know you well enough to be poking around your life and well if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s cool too. But really I have a way of reading people, and I think if you told me about how you do your laundry it wouldn’t be something I wasn’t interested in.”

He actually grinned at that one.

“Okay, maybe not laundry, but what I guess I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to be a part time superhero or anything…and college isn’t the only place life happens ya know…”

He gave a thoughtful kinda shrug.

“I don’t know. I’m just no so used to talking about me so much. I guess I’d like to know more about you and I promise that I don’t need thrill a minute stories. How about I just ask you about, well you know what you’d like to do then if you’ve told me everything else. How about dreams? Anything you’ve always wanted to do? Sorry if I sound kinda nosy, but heck I really am…sorry…”

Of course his smile didn't seem to say much for exactly how sorry he was. If anything it just made him out to be the snoop he'd just admitted. But that was okay, he was rather flexible for a snoop. They could save the deep dark secrets for later, right now he just wanted to know a bit more about Victoria. Simply put she seemed a really kind person. Jon was always glad when he got to meet really kind people. Sometimes it was like the world forgot how they were made. Sometimes, but not always.

Victoria laughed as he said that she could tell him about doing laundry if she wanted to. "No, trust me, my life isn't exciting at all. All I do is work and sleep. It's all I have time for. Unless I have the day off and then I'm either cleaning, grocery shopping or doing laundry. Nothing really all that interesting." She said as she pulled the door of the restaurant open for him, bowing slightly with a grin as if he were a customer.

"I do not recommend the escargot... It's rather disgusting actually... I tried it once for grins and giggles... And I can't see how people can enjoy it." She made a little face.

"Well... I mean I'm not opposed to you knowing more about me if you're curious. But... I don't really know what you'd want to know about me." There were always some small two person tables up at the front near the bar where they would be able to sit and just talk, which was where she was leading them.

Looking and the others in the restaurant they were rather under-dressed, but it didn't phase Victoria one bit. And why should it? The restaurant's only dress code was no shorts or t-shirts and they were both wearing jackets and long pants due to the weather.

In the bar area there was a small booth open and so Victoria made here way there, sliding in one side of it.

"But yeah. If you having any burning questions, feel free to ask. I really don't mind. I mean... I just couldn't possibly think of anything you'd want to know about your life really. I mean I really haven't accomplished anything, I don't have a fascinating job, I've never seen anyplace exciting out of my hometown or here."

It was Jon’s turn to laugh then and he did. He also smiled; before giving a wry kinda shrug as he walked forward into the restaurant with a corresponding bow of his own. Almost instantly he felt underdressed. Jeans and a shirt, even paired with his favorite jacket, um actually they probably looked worst paired with his favorite jacket, but whatcha gonna do? Simply put, he decided not to worry about it.

Victoria didn’t seem to worried anyway; and upper class never had really been his cup of tea…actually Jon had always preferred coffee.

He nodded then and smiled as he made a verbal checklist; well of sorts.

“Alrighty, understood Victoria, you’re totally boring and no eating of slimy shelled creatures…” Actually his smile turned into a grin then and he looked thoughtful as they continued making their way through the restaurant.

It wasn’t long before the bar area and the small booth where he followed Victoria and slid into the other side of it as she took the first.

He shrugged then at her words.

“Everybody’s accomplished something…” He heard himself say. “You know most folks just never give themselves enough credit.” Another smile then, this one a bit more gentle.

“Do you mind me asking about your hometown?”

"Good to see you got all that." She chuckled. "Actually they come out of the shells here, but yeah, they still have them. I'm so glad I'm not a cook... I don't think I could stomach a lot of the stuff here before it's cooked." Victoria gave a little shudder and grinned.

But she shook her head almost sadly as he said that everyone accomplished something. "The biggest thing I did was scrape by enough credits to graduate high school. I don't have any wonderful kids to speak of, no volunteering at nursing homes or anything. Well... I guess graduating might not be the biggest thing... Probably changing myself afterwards was. Well, the most helpful anyway." She shrugged.

But she smiled again as he asked about her hometown.

"I was actually born and raised in Halifax, way over on the eastern side of the country." She said semi-fondly. "Kinda weired how I ended up all the way over here. There were five of us kids, and so money was always a bit tight I guess. But we always made due. Had a nice house in a good neighborhood. Never had to worry about any crime or anything. Which was always good."

"What about you?" She asked putting her chin in her hand. "You don't sound like you're from around here."

Jon tried to be manly and not grimace. Well stereotypically manly anyway, but he failed miserably and nodded then to Victoria’s statement with an added “Me too. I’m not that good with raw meat…and if its funky raw things like snails and entrails…awwh.”

Jon shrugged at that.

More or less it was true. Though um he had more problems with raw meat than simply not wanting to handle it; he probably was crazy, cuckoo for cocoa puffs crazy. But sometimes, well sometimes as the moon started waxing, it just looked so good. All the juice and…the red…god he loved red, almost as much as full-moon white….

Jon stopped right there. God, he was sick…either way if it was in his head or not, either way he was sick sometimes.

Jon forced a smile then, wry, kinda amused.

“I wouldn’t go around looking so sad all the time…” He teased at the shake of her head. But after he’d said it his own smile faltered just a bit. Of course that didn’t stop him from listening. He was always listening. He was at his most comfortable then, of course he was also interested in Victoria.

The longer they hung out; the better the vibe he got from her. She might not have any wonderful kids to speak of, or have volunteered at nursing homes, but it was on her list of things that she thought of as accomplishments. Not everybody could say that. Actually not many people were that kind; even about their own children and definitely when it came to other people. Actually she made him smile and it was a silly endeared kind of smile.

Jon knew he definitely wanted this woman as a friend.

Her smile made him smile then; or at least it brightened his smile and he was enraptured. He listened to her talk about her hometown. Truth be told he didn’t know a whole lot about Canada, but then again he was learning more everyday and Victoria’s home town seemed as good a place to start his study as any other.

Then he looked thoughtful at her question; well thoughtful and maybe a bit home sick.

“Well I’m from the states.” He started by way of explanation. “Actually I guess technically it doesn’t count as the states; I was born on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona. It’s where I grew up with my mom. My dad’s well I guess looking at me you can tell; he wasn’t Native American as is the PC word for us Indians. He was from Ethiopia; immigrated and joined the army, so that’s where he was for most of my life.”

Jon smiled then, with a shrug.

“You know this is what happens when I start talking. You asked me about my hometown and well here I go…”

He smiled again then, teasing.

“But as for where I’m from I grew up on the reservation. We weren’t really in a place for casinos so yeah we kinda lived on a patch of desert. Not so bad as you’d think. We were kinda poor; except my dad was military and they paid pretty well even back then. And I’m an only child so aside from growing up in a desert amongst most of my extended family I guess I don’t have much to tell really. Well except I guess I really miss it. I missed it when we moved when my dad left the military and well I guess I still miss it.”

Jon shrugged then What could he say really?