Acting Is My Forte [CLOSED; Oliver]

[attr="class","tbbody"]When Oliver vacationed his usual watering grounds were not one necessarily found in the down town metropolis. His room might be there on occasion but the rest of the area was not really his cup of tea. Shopping. Bus tours. Theater and oh so many types of shows; Variety, magic, comedy, hypnosis, even something called 'Zombie Burlesque'. None of these many choices being advertised in flashing lights appealed to the vacationing hunter.

Though he supposed they played a minor role in his plans. Alcohol seemed to be served everywhere at near all times. Finding a partner for his darker hobby tended to not be too awfully difficult under these circumstances. The only factor that made the area less desirable was the fact it was always so busy. So populated. So many sets of eyes to witness who was helping so and so home only to find out they never made it.

This was why he preferred the red light district to be entirely honest. Yes, it might be busy in its own right but the people who make up those streets understood a particular etiquette. Everyone was there for less than desirable purposes. You might see a face but you didn't necessarily memorize it. You might witness a pair of people exiting a public placing together but that was common there. It wasn't anything that set off mental alarms or threw out red flags.

So it would be in a relaxed manner that Oliver walked the down town area. Wandering without a purpose. Just stretching his legs and enjoying the very noticeable lack of a teenage daughter. (Maia was left home because of her school schedule. Not that she'll abide by it but shrug.) With a lengthy inhale through the nose Oliver would conclude that it was nice in its own right. Red light district wasn't really the place to be taking a casual stroll. Especially while he had a casted arm in a sling. It created the illusion that he was an easy mark. Of course this wasn't accurate but after the fifth thief to get a kick to the temple it got annoying. So here he was. Down town.

There would be minor events that he would witness as his feet continued in the same direction. But none of them caused the narrowing of his eyes like the last one did. From a distance he would watch as children greeted a magi. The scenario seemed to go pleasantly enough. As Oliver passed by he would side eye the magi with the mismatched set he had. That was a fake smile she was wearing. It wasn't too terribly difficult to believe. Perhaps the woman wasn't a kid friendly person. Oliver doubted with little doubt that he'd be one to enjoy children poking and pulling on him, why would another? So it would be with little thought that that he'd walk past and continue on his stroll.

What made him stop however was not the commotion that occurred after that. Not the initial angered yells. This was a city. People were harmed often. Oliver didn't think much of it. No. “P-Please! Don’t touch me! I didn’t do anything!” .... Oliver's stride slowed to a stop. More bitter male yells would occur as would another “Get off of me!”. Slow turning back towards the scene his gaze tunnel visioned onto the magi he'd acknowledged so briefly earlier.

She was faking it.

It was one thing to fake enjoyment or happiness. Normal people did that all the time. Instead of being called a lie in their circumstances it magically was considered etiquette. But to fake a more extreme pain or fear? Was this a set up for a sting? Were these con artists? But that idea melted away as he concluded the anger seemed real from the humans. So it was just the magi faking. That could be ... interesting? Ususally given the circumstances someone would be afraid for themselves and rightfully so. This girl was about to get the crap kicked out of her. And yet there was a purposeful effort to dramatize. How could Oliver not recognize the act? He was a common player of that particular game himself.

Allowing his curiosity to direct his path now Oliver walked back towards the commotion. "Excuse me. Do you have identification as for your handling of an Ethean citizen? Or am I about to write you all up for assualt and battery?"


OOC
Your post was lovely, dear
Vashti Ootari

[attr="class","tbbody"]It was a rare moment. It didn't happen often at all but when it did, there was a clear sharpening of Oliver's mismatched gaze. Tried. To kill me. Everything else said after that would fall to the wayside. That particular phrase had succeeded in a task that was awfully difficult to accomplish.

It irked him.

Of all the insults Oliver had heard in his life, from those beneath his knife and not, this simple sentence was what tipped the man closer to an emotion that could be considered a variance of anger. Walking up to the group of humans with purpose a recognizable glint would cross the red iris of his left eye. "Gentlemen," Oliver would begin with the smallest twitch of a brow. "If a magi wanted to kill you, you'd be dead." The statement was a simple one. It was made up of one sentence total but the message was a clear one to someone who was smart enough to shut up and listen. "Don't belittle my profession thinking you just lived through a life threatening situation. It's asinine."

Of all of the Hunters and fellow Military members to perish in the lengthy clash that occurred following the Relocation Camp breakouts. It was aggravating to think of someone belittling their deaths and the true danger those who survived had lived through was indeed very asinine. Not that Oliver had mourned anyone. He wasn't very easily pushed into those arrayed emotions. But it did however boil his blood ever so slightly that some self-righteous little shit believed that he had been anywhere on the same level of danger as Oliver had.

"Go to the dollar store, buy yourself another cheap polo and cut the losses before you thoroughly insult an active veteran." Regardless of the human reactions he would receive Oliver would turn to the magi woman whose mask he seemed able to see past. "Come on." Would be his short response before he'd turn to continue his walk down the sidewalk. The assumption was clear that he expected the girl to follow him. If any of the men were foolish enough to try to attack him while his back was to them, he'd deal with it then. But if not they wouldn't get a single glance backwards or further word. He was done as far as he was concerned.


OOC
Taketh a Rinny post /o/
If you want Vashti to start noticing that there's a "darker whatever" or mask at this time, you can. Or you can wait until we're walking and talking one on one. In your court, my friend. 
Vashti Ootari

[attr="class","tbbody"]The soft words spoken by the woman would catch his attention. Never turning his head his gaze would merely look out of the corners of his eyes. One brown, one red, they would peer at the magi walking along side him. She wasn't the tallest thing in the world. Couldn't be any taller than five foot five. Amethyst hair, odd eyes, horns. The lady didn't stand a chance with the racists who littered the city. She didn't appear to be very old but then again this was a magi after all. She could be over one hundred years old and still look youthful according to Oliver's experiences with her kind.

The sideways glance would remain in silence for a good few steps. Overall Oliver's facial expression had fallen into a natural state. There was no forced polite smile. Nor was there any sign of anger or annoyance. The word if there was one to best describe it would most likely be apathetic. "You're welcome." Would be his first words to her. "Though I don't think calling it mercy is rather accurate." Not so much as blinking at the pigeons that cooed and fluttered in front of their path, Oliver would blink, maintaining his sideways stare.

The birds knew better than to expect a person to avoid them. Rightfully so they would hop to and fro so Oliver's feet would not kick them as he continued unhinderingly on his way. "I'd call it curiosity if anything." The hunter would say, his voice not really getting across any major emotions either. This was just a fact he was stating and nothing more as far as he was concerned. There was no threatening undertone or wariness. The same voice could be stating that the sky was blue and nothing would differentiate.

"So if you're really thankful," Oliver would begin, tucking his uninjured hand into a jeans pocket. "Why don't you tell me why you were faking literally every single interaction I watched from you just now?"


OOC
Y u b fakin', gurl?
Vashti Ootari

[attr="class","tbbody"]"Oh. 'Maybe'?" Oliver couldn't help but laugh out loud at the choice of words. This magi didn't seem foolish. She knew to pretend enjoying time with children. She knew to proclaim her dismay loud enough when the human men began to give her trouble. She was an intelligent enough little thing in the least. So there had to be a reason for the specific word choice there. Perhaps she was smart enough that there was no actual way of convincing him otherwise. That had to be it.

The magi woman maneuvered herself in order to halt his progression and Oliver would allow this. He wasn't in any position to utilize force even if he wanted to. Sure he could hold his own if it was required but there was no reason to have fire balls thrown his way over something as small as having to pause in his stroll. "You could say I've gained an eye for it over the years." Would be his reply to the young lady's first question. Simple enough to answer that much without showing his hand.

What was meeting his smile now? A familiar facial expression. A very familiar face. Apathy. Blankness. Nothingness. Huh, so she showed him her hand. Her final inquiry was enough to pull the pieces together from there. This person had lived through the camps alright. Probably one of the rougher ones. Hell, it could have been at one of the relocation centers he was stationed at himself. Gods knew what he put certain magi through over those years. Not in the name of feeling superior or ridding the world of a lesser being. On the contrary. They were equals in delight to kill.

Unlike the magi's his mask wouldn't be allowed to lower. Not yet. Possibly never. He had alot riding on his keeping that part of himself hidden. Prison was not on his bucket list. He enjoyed killing people. In there he wouldn't be able to as much. No where near as much. If at all after a while. Him being left in a single cell alone in solitary confinement for so long? He'd go mad. Oliver preferred death over such a lengthy period being left alone with no way of satisfying the dark evil thing that demanded to be fed. The addiction.

So upkeeping that false polite smile that, at this close a range, and considering the facial expression his conversational partner was currently giving him, the magi could probably tell it was as fake as hers was. Normal people tended to, at least under normal circumstances, attempt a mirroring. It helped communication along. "Oh, I know." Oliver would reply, his smile never wavering. Blink. "So, have you been this way since birth or did we make you this way?"


OOC
[boops nose with kitty paw]~
Vashti Ootari

[attr="class","tbbody"]The woman was telling the truth. There wasn't an ounce of falsehood slipping from her tongue. We refined it, but we weren't the ones who caused it. The simple two sentences had a manner of slicing through the walls Oliver always had around him. They became as fragile as paper with the magi's words. There was something about honesty coming from someone like him. It was as if a crisp breeze coming in from the ocean. It was ... refreshing.

The gentle hand upon his cheek would honestly take him by surprise even though it frankly shouldn't have. He treated his victims in the same fashion when he was able to have optimum fun. Soft. Gentle. Not wishing to harm the perfect skin until he purposefully wished to disrupt the flawless nature with a single cut. It was always so beautiful, watching that red spread. So calming. Serene. The only moments Oliver truly felt at peace.

And yet to receive the same treatment he'd given so many others, it was odd. Not necessarily bad. Just different. He'd never been on the opposite end of such a motion. His surprise would be visible through the blink of his eyes. Honesty from someone else dipped in their level of fucked up deserved honesty in return. Call it loyalty, call it whatever. But there was, as far as Oliver was concerned, some sort of comradery between two such people. It was a rarity after all. Vashti was the first in a very long time Oliver truly felt they were at least close to being one and the same.

There would be a pause of consideration. The chance of it being a sting operation through a police force poking him in the back of his head. But that was just the normal routes of paranoia of a serial killer. It was quickly waved away. "Birth." Oliver would answer. It wouldn't be long before the Hunter was asking his next inquiry. "Would you like to have lunch with me?" The smile realigned itself. "It's not every day I meet someone with this in common."


OOC
Wanna continue this talk somewhere more private?
Vashti Ootari

[attr="class","tbbody"]The smile would gain a warmth at the magi's eventual response. Thought had seemingly been needed for her to consider the offer. Which was fair enough. They had only met mere minutes ago. And they had just cemented the belief that neither of them were necessarily following a normalized conscience. Hesitation was understandable. And yet there it was, an accepting of his offer. The smile would shift lightly to formulate a sideways grin. Warmth still present, an amount of humor would bubble up.

Fingers laced, his arm being hugged. This was something he'd seen in those stupid little dramas on the television but had never truly experienced himself. Eraya had held him on occasion but that had been so long ago it felt. And even then it was more she wanted comfort during her time of mourning over the death of her father. Here it was simply to be close to him.

Not even River had really expressed any such behaviors and he was the individual he had the longest sexual relations with in his life. Sex usually pulled out deeper emotional bonds for normal people, didn't it? With the amount of ass Oliver got from the younger hunter, he'd assumed that would have occurred by now.

"Very well." Oliver would say, beginning their shared strides forward. "Well, let's see...." The officer would think out loud, glancing down the sidewalk. It was a city so there was its fair share of traffic and parallel parked cars. "I only visit the area a few times a year for vacation so I'm trying to remember what's around .... Isn't there a Surajan curry place a few blocks down? How does that sound?"


OOC
A short and sweet post made at 3am.
Vashti Ootari

[attr="class","tbbody"]"Well I only make the trip out about five times a year to be fair." Oliver would reply. He was vaguely aware that the two of them were in unison step with each other. "Though when I do I tend to spend most of my time in the Red Light district to be honest." The fact would be stated devoid of any of the usual emotions one would generally share such a sentence in. Shame. Embarrassment. For Oliver it was said in a manner that one would comment on the weather being sunny. A simple fact.

"So that could be why?" He would ask in turn. A seemingly enough innocent 'assumption'. Though in all honesty it acted as a direct question in return. Was this magi the sort to spend time in the Red Light district? Yes, they'd just met but she was still a living breathing body. Sex was never completely off the table. Not really. If her profession was one that was in the habit of sharing herself physically Oliver would most likely share the same in turn. She was a pretty one after all. The horns would take some caution from his side of things but that was a minor factor.

Upon receiving a response (or lack of one) Oliver would come to wait at a curb. The time spent waiting for a traffic light to change would not last long. Mostly because he wasn't one to wait for some green little guy to inform him when was safe to cross. He had eyes, enough said. Oliver would step out into the street shortly afterwards, successfully crossing at his casual pace without so much as a beep from a taxi.

It seemed the young woman was interested in his choice for lunch. That was good. Plus his memory hadn't failed him. An equally positive amount of news. It wouldn't be until the magi would ask her final question that Oliver would smirk. "Why wouldn't I want to be seen with a beautiful woman?" Would be his initial response, their journey still ongoing.

If that one line didn't seem to tide over her curiosity Oliver would shrug lightly his one healthy shoulder. "I'm not one to be racist. I just take advantage of others being racist when it suits me." Simple truth.


OOC
Boop. We can time skip to the curry place if you want~
Vashti Ootari