The Nexus

Firuz flicked his arm out to pull his sleeve off his watch and checked the time. He let out a breath through his nose and tried for patience. She wasn't late. He took the cigarette from his lips, having taken the final drag off it and flicked it out of existence with a snap of his fingers while exhaling up into the air. He was dressed sharply, as always, in a smoky grey suit with a black shirt beneath and sleek shoes. His hair was done up in the usually pushed back fluff and his yellow eyes gave off a dim glow under his heavy brow and behind shades.

The demon's tail was shifting restlessly behind him, the shade scraping periodically against the railing he leaned on. He had set up this meeting with Theodora for more than one reason. Sure, he wanted to catch up with his old friend and get in good with the possible next ruler of hell, but he was also plagued with thoughts that might ruin his career, even if they made his personal life much happier.

Theo had just finished braiding her hair and she tied off the end with a clear hair tie, letting the red and black locks fall over her left shoulder. She checked her lip in the cracked mirror of her boyfriend's bathroom; the previous day had proven to be quite a toll on her perfect skin. The once painful looking split lip was practically fully healed, only leaving a faint pink mark behind. In a few more hours it would be completely gone as if nothing happened.

She tool and step back and stepped into a black dress that cut off halfway past her thighs. The back was a lace pattern, resembling a sugar skull. She checked her appearance in the mirror one more time, brushing her bangs to the side and deeming herself acceptible.

It was still early in the morning, according to earth time, and she clopped out of the bathroom and find a half empty notepad in the kitchen which she wrote:

"Gone to a meeting. See you later, foxy ♡" finished with a crude drawing of a fox on a spit being held over a fire.

Leaving the note she opened the portal to her meeting spot and stepped through to meet Firuz. She arrived right before him, letting a toothy smile spread across her face.

"Lookin' sharp, Red!"

Ru's face snapped toward the crackling air that denoted a portal opening. As Theo stepped through, he pushed off the rail and pulled his shades free of his face. There was a swift half bow at Theo and Ru pushed his hand through his hair upon straightening. "Good to see you again, Theodora." He held out a hand to usher her towards the tea shop he'd chosen.

"Likewise" she chimed as she took his hand." It's been quite some time since i've seen you. Still as well dressed as ever" her golden eyes gleamed flirtatiously as they headed towards the tea shop.

Theo two of them entered and the lesser demons hosting the front bowed nervously at Theo; scurrying to gather menus and prepare their table.

Firuz gave her a smile though he wasn't phased by the flirting at all. "Thank you for noticing.Our table should be ready." He held the door for her to go inside and followed himself, sliding his jacket button open as he held out her chair and then took his seat. He didn't seem to notice the nervous demons. "How have you been?"

Theo took her seat and crossed one leg over the other.

"I've been well, no complaints here. How've you been, dear? How's business goin these days?"

A lesser demon stopped by the table and placed a platter of toasted bread and patte on the table, along with menus before bowing and scurrying away.

Firuz crossed his legs at the knee and put his shades away in his inside coat pocket. Once he was settled he picked up a piece of toast with his claws and popped ot into his mouth while he thought how to answer. He swallowed, "Business is well enough. I'm almost to the end of a long term contract..." He shifted his seating, steering the conversation. "I hear you're dating a demon from topside?"

Theo let out a sharp "Hah!" At Ru's statement. "News sure does travel." She grinned and spread some of the patte on a slice of toast. The stuff was red and fleshy, one could say it looked hellish. It was perfect.

"I am. Though he's more human than demon, at least in the way he acts. I guess you could say we complete each others missing halfs." She gave a little chuckle before popping the gory slice of toast into her mouth.

Ru raised a brow ever so slightly to Theo's laugh. This delicacy they were enjoying was almost foreign to his tongue given the amount of time he spent on Earth in the last year. He almost wanted something more... Burger like. There was another brow twitch to her last statement and a slight nod, "How's that working for you? If he's nearly human. I assume it can be... Difficult?"

Theo's ears seemed to perk up at Ru's questioning. "Well, let's see...we'be been dating...5...almost 6 years. So I'd say it's going just fine..."

A little demon hobbled over with a special pot of tea and placed it in the center of the table before giving g both Theo and Ru their respective tea cups.

"I don't think it's that difficult. Sometimes it is...I think more for him. Hell's culure gets a little lost in translation with him I feel. I guess it goes the opposite way for me sometimes too. Even though I spent a great deal of my life topside as a kid. But I think it all falls into place."

She pulled another piece of toast, waiting for their tea to steap. " why do you ask? You thinkin' of dating a human?" She let grinned and let out a throaty chuckle.

Firuz seemed surprised by that. His information trails weren't as good as they used to be, apparently. He hadn't known it was so long. His eyes flicked to the demon serving them tea and he gave a subtle head nod of thanks. Ru let her finish, taking a test sip of his tea. It was properly hot, not like how earth beverages tended to be.

Ru had to clear his throat and put the cup down to take a moment. "I already am," he confessed. "It started as a contract deal. His soul for a year of dating someone. He chose me." Firuz's face betrayed nothing of his inner thoughts on the matter.

"Oh my what an easy deal. That poor human must have been desperate." She grinned at the thought and started to pour her portion of tea, still keeping her eyes on Ru.

"How long has the contract been in place?" Theo spoke a little more seriously then her usual joking tone. It sounded to her like he wanted to talk business, so she would act business. He brought up the topic of contracts after all.

Firuz cleared his throat, maybe a teeny, tiny bit defensive over Theo calling Otto desperate. He never used to be that way. He bit his tongue from saying anything and answered her question quickly, as if the number had been in the forefront of his mind already, "Three hundred and nineteen days." Which left only forty six days before the hounds would be there to collect Otto's soul. The thought made Ru's stomach gurgle and he thought perhaps the patte was bad. "It's almost complete."

Theo smiled and clapped her hands together. "Well congrats on that! Sounds like you've got this settled." She paused and took a sip of tea, still believing Ru was talking business.

"Is there something special about this soul that you wanted to bring up with me?"

Ru inclined his head up. There was a slight curl to his lips, the only indication that might be a good thing. His eyes fell away though, the pride he should have been feeling over closing a deal was not at all present. "Perhaps." He busied himself with sipping the tea, leaving the patte for now as he was still blaming it for his upset stomach. He wasn't quite sure how to delicately broach the subject. He'd poured over books on the matter, old manuscripts, completed contracts and their reports in the archives. There wasn't much to be said about what Ru was considering doing.

"Your boyfriend. You would do anything for him?"

Theo gave a perplexed blink and her ears perked. Pausing halfway between adding patte to a new piece of toast.

"Within reason. I certenly wouldnt become a nun if be asked me to." She put the toast down on the plate and shifted in her seat, eyeing Firuz. He seemed rather uncomfortable.

"What are you getting at here? Is your human getting cold feet?"

Firuz was watching her movements while she spoke, his face a mask. Then Theo seemed to lose interest in the food and refocused on him and Ru fought the urge to fidget under her gaze. His eyes met hers, glinting. "No. He's path bound to lose his soul. When the day comes, the hounds will collect." He sounded cold, mechanical but that couldn't be further away from how he actually felt on the matter. "However...." Firuz sat up and fidgeted now, knowing this was likely not going to be received well. "I am thinking of renegotiating terms."

Theo's brows furrowed when Ru spoke of renegotiating terms and her mouth twisted into somewhat of a sneer.

"Firuz..." her voice was low, almost sympathetic sounding. "Are you the one with cold feet?" Her ears raised in anticipation. If he was about to say what she thought he would say, she would have a lot to talk about.

Ru met her eyes a moment, a harsh look in them. He was defensive immediately, hiding his true thoughts and unsure how she would react if he said yes. He broke their gaze, leaning forward with his elbows on the table and holding his tea cup where it sat. "Perhaps." The word was still hard as if he didn't want to admit he was soft on this. "I gave him a raw deal."

"A RAW deal?" She questioned, squinting her eyes in attempt to figure him out. He was tense, she could see that much.

"What would possess you to leave it like that?" She was not harsh with her questioning, more curious than anything. Firuz was known to be a fantastic soul dealer, but this seamed unlike him.

She felt a twinge in her stomach. Old memories of a human she once cared for. But she pushed them aside. That had nothing to do with him...right?

"You seem tense. Are you thinking of abandoning this case?"