Daymian walks a few blocks from the payphone and takes some cash out of an atm. He scans the area the whole time he stands in front of the machine not wanting to get jumped and mugged the same night he had recovered from the last fight. No one bothers him or even walks by as he grabs his cash and then crosses the street to wait at the bus stop. He takes the 502 which shows up 15 minutes later as it will stop only a block away from Ember. The seats are mostly taken as people are headed home from work or out to the bars and clubs nearby. Heads turn as he steps on the bus and he gives them all a good smile and moves to one of the closest empty seats right next to an older woman. She moves her bag closer to her legs as if to protect it from him and he scoots as far in his seat as he can so she has enough to room to feel safe. The mixture of smells is as interesting as usual, a mixture of sweat, grime, cologne, and soap. There is the usual silence on the bus, no one talking everyone trying to mind their own business and not wanting anyone else in their own. A couple of the girls watch him intently he can see them in the periphery of his vision. But hes used to that. No one really stands out or seems dangerous but his nerves start to rise the closer he gets to his stop. A few more people get on, more get off. Finally his stop and he steps off without looking back, he brushes off his shirt and pants before starting out on the walk. His suit jacket is again laid jauntily over his shoulder rather than being worn and he begins to move. He laughs nervously internally as his eyes scan back and forth trying to penetrate every dark area looking for danger. He had been careful before and it hadnt been enough, as he hits the well-lit parking lot of Ember he lets out a breath he hadnt noticed he had been holding.
Daymian nods to the bouncers and they let him in nodding in return. Good memory since its been so long and they see so many people every night. He steps through the door and the music blasts his eardrums, the smells of so many people out for a good time assault him as do the combination of lights, shaded areas, people dancing, people waving cash in the air, people weaving through the crowd carrying drinks. He wades through the sea of people eyeing the talent on stage, taking turns smiling, nodding, and sometimes hugging with the men and women who recognized him. He shakes off all pursuits of where hes been and what hes been doing as well as when he would be dancing with earnest replies hes here to talk to his boss and needs to go. The ghoul stands aside as Daymian walks up and then past him. Though Daymian at least mouths the words hey and gives him a smile and nod of recognition. Got to pay attention to the staff, they are important too. He hesitates at the door for a split second before knocking. The ghoul hadnt stopped him to tell him he needed to wait so he knocks and then Enters Alices office.
Good evening Maam, I hope Im not disturbing you. He closes the door behind him hoping he was going to be able to open it again under his own power and not be running for his life.
Alice Brown
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