at babylon

WHO: Eris and Grayson.
WHEN: Evening.
WHERE: Babylon.

It hadn't taken Grayson long to hear about Babylon. Whispers here and there, snippets of conversation he'd overheard, things he wouldn't have caught without a wolf's ears. All of those murmurings and snatches of talk had brought him here tonight, to a place that he wasn't entirely sure about but if he wanted to learn, then he didn't really have a choice. As far as the world of all things not-human went, Grayson had to be honest -- at least with himself -- and admit he was something of a novice. Ignorant, even. He knew there were vampires out there; everyone who believed in werewolves believed in vampires, after all, but he was coming to learn that there were many more things out there in the dark, watching from the gloom of the sidelines, and the more he knew -- and the sooner -- the better off he would be in the long run. Hunting for one wolf in a big wide world was all well and good, but if he didn't know what else waited out there in the shadows, then he was as good as dead, as far as he was concerned.

So, what better place to learn about the variety and range out there than here at Babylon, a place with one hell of a reputation, from what he could gather, and one that he honestly hoped was well-deserved. From what he had been able to gather, it was open to all kinds of preternatural beings and a good mix of them could be found in the place on any night. So when the sun had dipped well and truly below the horizon, Grayson had left his mediocre apartment and headed out to get some answers. Now that he was here, standing at the bar feeling badly out of place and suspecting he looked it, he didn't have the first clue who to get those answers from.

Eris didn't so much have her attention alerted when she sensed another lycanthrope enter. After all, there were a lot of them in the area, and that was all fine and good for her. What caught her attention more was the fact that when she looked over from the shadows and watched for a few moments, she saw a lycanthrope who looked just a wee bit lost. Which, all things told, was amusing in and of itself. So, she took herself a little stroll, and sat down at the bar stool next to Grayson, eyes blatantly on him. "Evening." she said, smile on her lips. She didn't announce herself as the owner, or anything, she could have been anyone in the bar. A patron, even. She'd get to the other stuff later. First she wanted to see what he was all about.

All things considered, given his age and what he had experienced in life so far, he really should have been better at hiding his own weaknesses and misgivings by now. For a dominant wolf to show any sort of vulnerability was reckless, all but suicidal in certain situations. But Grayson had no pack right now, didn't have any potential challengers just waiting for windows of opportunity. Given the state of the bar, all the people within these four walls, he felt he could afford a small lapse. Just a small one. That being said, he hadn't expected anyone to drop themselves down at the stool to his side, and his head turned quickly, as if both sides of him, wolf and man, were expecting an attack at any second. "Hi," he said after a few beats passed, internally telling himself to be steady, calm down. This was a public place, he was fine here. Nothing to worry about.

"OOh. And he looks a little jumpy." she noted aloud, tone an amused purr. Smirking in a lightly humored sort of way, she kept her eyes on him. "Calm down, Tiger." she said. "A little tense for coming to a bar. Isn't that the point of going to one? To relax...have a little fun...or have you not had nearly enough drinks yet to warrant loosing of said tension?" she asked--which she knew for a fact he hadn't had any yet.

Having someone amused at his expense wasn't exactly his idea of a good time, and his brief frown likely showed that quite clearly. This woman didn't seem at all normal, and having her beside him didn't help him 'calm down', not at all. "There's more than one reason to go to a bar," he pointed out, though why he was humouring her, he couldn't say. She was right, in a way; there was no reason to be jumpy or on edge, not yet anyway.

His discomfort didn't kill her amusement at all. Twitchy people were entertaining a lot of the time. They took themselves far too seriously. She was willing to bet he fell into that category. "Lighten up, sweetie. Have a drink." she said. "Also, you're right. Some people come to drown their sorrows in alcohol. It's a valid pursuit, I suppose. And let me guess. You're not actually here for any of those reasons, you're here for something different." she said. "So what is it?" she asked. "Perhaps I can be of service."

It wasn't so much that Grayson took himself too seriously, just that he had learned how painful and dangerous letting his guard down too much could be. That was a lesson he had learned the hard way, so it was bound to follow him through the rest of his days, haunting him in a way. He was simply cautious, and saw that as wise rather than anything else. Right at that moment, a drink sounded like a good idea, but he wasn't interested so much in that suggestion as he was the rest of her words, the way they were ordered and the confidence with which she said them. "I'm new in town," he admitted steadily. "This seemed like a good place to come if I wanted to learn what's what." And who was who.

"Welcome to Marquette, New Person." Eris said, putting slight emphasis on her coining of him, so perhaps he'd drop a name. "And mm. Learning what's what. Well, see, there's a lot of different ways that could be interpreted." she said. "Small town, middle of nowhere, bad winters." she rattled off. "That's Marquette. If you have anything more specific in mind, you'll have to be more specific." she said, dropping a wink at him.

Well, she certainly was different, whoever she was. "Grayson Saunders," he offered, much preferring she have his real name to having her call him 'New Person'. Maybe she would return the favour and maybe she wouldn't, but in the end it didn't matter all that much. He couldn't exactly force her, and it was every individual's choice to divulge that personal information or withhold it. "I was thinking more along the lines of what's what supernaturally."

"Pleasure to meet you, Grayson." Eris said, not giving her name. It was less because she needed it secret--it wasn't--she just liked making people show an interest and ask. So, she witheld it without making it seem like she was witholding it, as her attention was focused on him. Like it might have slipped her mind. "My my. Supernaturally, hmm? Not very subtle, are you sweetie?" she asked rhetorically. "That kind of talk could get you into trou-ble." she tsked, singsonging the last word. "But then something tells me that you're the type that attracts trouble in the first place, so, I'm sure you wouldn't be that adverse to it. As it so happens, I might have information available in your specific area of interest...what did you want to know?"

Grayson noticed that she didn't provide a name, and he didn't take the time to prompt her for one. He was new, it wouldn't pay to make enemies, start off on the wrong foot with too many people. After the way he had introduced himself to Sophie, made himself know to her and those in her social circle, he needed to tread carefully, keep his head down, especially if what the human girl had told him was true. "Subtlety is overrated," he said, contradicting his own thoughts and consciously so. Avoiding her remark about his attracting trouble, he instead said, "That depends." His eyes held on hers, studying, analysing. "Does this knowledge come at a price?"

"Everything comes at a price." Eris said. "However, I'm always open to negotiation." she added. "It never pays to ask for things people can't afford to give. I tend to be generous anyhow." Which was partially true. She was generous so long as you played things her way. And if you didn't wind up on the wrong side of her. "Generally speaking I also don't deal in anything monetary. I have money." she added, to give him a starting point.

"So what am I supposed to offer you?" he asked, not sure he would like the answer. "I'm new in town, I don't exactly have much that I can give." When it came to this sort of thing, Grayson's imagination tended to run dry; prompting for suggestions probably wasn't the best idea, but he needed some kind of foundation to build on if they were going to strike some kind of deal between them. Information wasn't that important, but given what he had learned from Sophie, maybe it was. At least for now.

"That's up to you. What can you offer me?" Eris asked. "Also, it could help to know what you actually wanted to know. You were fabulously vague there." she added. "So, take a minute, think it over, and let me know what you arrive at. I can tell you this--I'm a better source of information about the innerworkings of this town than anyone."

She was answering questions with questions. Normally that would have frustrated him, but here in this unknown place, she had the advantage. She was in familiar surroundings and likely had allies in the room where he had neither. Taking in and releasing a breath, he studied the room around him, taking time to formulate a response. "Someone told me about the recent attacks," he said at last, deciding to delay in a price for the information; it would be best if he knew roughly what he owed after he'd gotten what he could, in order to avoid giving too much for what he learned, if, indeed, he learned anything at all. "They mentioned hunters. Just how worried should a new lycanthrope be about all of that?"

"Any time there's an outbreak of that particular chain of events the hunter population explodes. So, if I were one, I'd be very concerned." Eris replied. "It's a small town, sir. It isn't as if there's a lot of population to disappear into. So, if I happened to find myself in that situation, I'd be keeping my head down." she leaned back against the bar and sipped her wine again. That was simple logic as far as she was concerned. But then again, it wasn't as if this kind of thing happened what one would consider often.

The last thing Grayson needed was to worry about watching his back every waking hour. Still, if it concerned him as much as it should have, it didn't show, at least not obviously. Wolves relied a lot on body language, and in his time, he had learned just how to use his own to mask or convey whatever he pleased. That didn't mean there weren't supernaturals out there who couldn't see right through it, naturally, but it didn't stop him from making the effort to be discreet. Again his eyes roamed the crowd, and he sighed subtly. From the sounds of things, it would be better for him to use that number Sophie had given him sooner rather than later, if only to have some kind of connection to the werewolf population here in Marquette. It was much easier to be missed when there were people to miss you. "And just how long, exactly, would you keep your head down, if you found yourself in that situation?"

"Well, that depends on what they find while they're here, doesn't it?" Eris asked. "One tip, you probably shouldn't go wandering around dropping 'hey, tell me about the supernatural round these parts' where just anyone can hear you. You'll be safe here, but that doesn't mean any one of these people couldn't be clocking you. Why don't we continue this conversation in my office?" she asked. "That is, if you've decided if you're actually going to wager with me, or if you're going to journey forth on your own."

Grayson had to smile at that, not only because she had a point but also because she had the guts to just out and say it. He could respect that, as could the wolf in him. "I appreciate the advice," he told her with sincerity riding through his tone, nodding his head. Whatever advice he could get in a new place was worth something. Considering her for a few moments, he tilted his head in a sort of semi-nod of confirmation. An office. Did that mean she was the owner, or simply one of the higher-ups? Not that Grayson presumed to understand the inner workings of a place like Babylon, but he could hazard a guess here and there. "Let's head to your office," he said by way of response, answering her question as he pulled himself to his full height, but not in an arrogant or otherwise aggressive manner.

Dropping down off of the bar stool, she set her wine glass on the bartop to be taken care of for her, and she led the way to the small hallway that separated the bar from the club. Hidden back there, really only visible when she wanted it to be was a door, which led to a cramped, narrow, steep stairwell that looked like it belonged in a horror movie. At the top of the steps was an ornately carved door, which she opened up into a spacious, lavishly decorated hallway. She led from there to the left, where her office door was. Opening it up, she walked inside. "Shut the door, dear." she said over her shoulder as she entered her office, which was an eclectic mix of old world luxury and the arcane. She did have a wind chime above her desk that was comprised entirely of bones. One that was pretty clearly a human femur. She motioned to the leather couches as she sat on her desk, crossing her legs as she leaned forward, leveling her attention on him. "So, Grayson. Let's talk payment for information." she said.

Following had always felt more comfortable than leading a stranger, at least to Grayson, but that likely had a lot to do with having someone unknown at his back. It was a different matter entirely if he knew and therefore trusted the person. Heading so far from the main bar put him that little bit back on edge, but he reined it all in and kept those nerves where they belonged, well and truly on the inside. Closing the door behind him, he did his best not to stare at that rather in-your-face wind chime and sat on one of the seats to which she had gestured, deciding there was no real harm in following her lead, especially since she seemed to run this place. Then again, for all he knew, every employee of Babylon had an office like this. Not likely, he thought to himself, but he didn't know for sure, so that was that. Where she sat forward, so did he, elbows on his knees, hands knitted together in a manner that came across as casual, belying the wariness deep inside. "What kind of price are we talking about here? How much is this information worth?"

"Well, like I said, that depends what exactly you want to know, and what you want to offer me. I don't really need any money, so that's out. What are you good at? Are you going to be in town long? Do you have any services you could make useful to me?" she prompted, lamenting the fact that no one had any damn imagination anymore. "Do you want a job here...work with me here, dear."

Now there was a question. What skills did he have? He'd worked for his father's business for years, running back and forth and when he'd become Alpha of the pack, he hadn't needed to work; it had been a job in and of itself, and the pack had supported one another, at least until it had broken down and come apart. Since then, he'd been coasting from one job to another, relying on the ones that just about anybody could do. But he did need a job. The money he had would only go so far, and as he sat there considering the edge of her desk as he turned her questions over in his mind, he knew he might have to take what he could get. "I don't have any qualifications or specific skill sets," he told her, "but I can adapt and learn. If you have any positions here that can be filled by someone like me, then I'd be willing to give it a shot."

"It just so happens I might." Eris said. "I already have someone working as my own personal security and the like, but if you wanted to help bounce the bar, that would be acceptable. And if you can learn how to bartend, I can always use those." she added. One thing she was was a good employer. It never paid in this business to be cruel. If you were good to people--they remembered that.

Given his height and overall physical condition, it wasn't the first time Grayson had heard people use terms like those when it came to jobs. And as a werewolf, any kind of bouncer position was more or less ideal; all those instincts and predatory tendencies could be put to good use, and so long as he kept a handle on his more aggressive side, it could help him work off excess hostility. "I'm a fast learner," he told her with the first hint of a smile on his face.

"That'll be a plus." Eris commented. "The job is yours if you want it, keep any violence outside of this establishment, or the consequences won't be very nice. Outside, you can do whatever the hell you want." she told him. "Now, did you actually have any specific questions?" she asked him.

At least that was one thing he wouldn't have to worry about. Grayson could certainly use the money. "Understood," he told her, nodding his head, using that one word and the accompanying action to give her his word that he would do as she said, not only on that issue but on any others. She was, after all, going to be his boss. As much as the wolf side of him might have been reluctant to take orders and play the game by someone else's rules, the fact that she wasn't a werewolf herself helped to keep that reluctance at bay. "Nothing that can't wait," he admitted. If he was going to be here frequently, he didn't need to throw all his questions at her at once.

"Up to you, you have my undivided for the moment. If not, then come see me when you're ready to get more specific." Eris said, smiling at him, an unreadable type of expression. Nothing that gave anything away, but then, she was good at that sort of thing. She'd spent years honing it. And she thought it might needle him just a little, so it could be possible that that had something to do with it.

More specific. That would probably be a good idea. Even with the thoughts and the desire for information running at a swift pace through his head, it wouldn't do to be vague with the one person who had the potential to give him as many facts as were available. Specifics would be better, if only as a courtesy. It might have grated a little if it hadn't been for the offer of employment and therefore numerous opportunities in the future to gather information. "In that case, I'll work on the specifics."

"That's a good boy." Eris said, smirking faintly. "Well, you can start soon, if you have time tonight you can always go downstairs and start learning, or you can come in sometime soon and we'll talk schedules and how often you want to work and when. Obviously, you'll need full moons off, because of your specific circumstances, but that can be factored in easily. Don't piss me off or get into fights inside the walls or you won't be happy with the consequences, but pissing me off is difficult do do in the first place, and the retribution that you'll get slapped with in the event of violence won't be from me. Just keep in mind it's unhealthy for anyone. If you want to intimidate people into falling in line, that's perfectly acceptable. Even threats of violence work, or the implication of it, just so long as the intent isn't in swing. I pay well, you don't exactly have to fill out tax forms, and if you ever need anything special or specific, come talk to me and we'll work something out." she told him, then smiled. "Anything else tonight, dear, or are you good to go?"

Either she did this a lot, or she just had a natural kind of confidence, because that speech had come out fluidically and smoothly. Grayson was actually rather impressed, and the wolf in him acknowledged that kind of confident action and speech respectfully. Working for her wasn't going to be difficult if she kept triggering that kind of reaction from his animal side. A brief glance of his watch had him realising the time, and he admitted, "I don't have anywhere to be right now." As it was, other than the hunt that had occupied the last few years of his life, Grayson had absolutely nothing to do. He might as well spend the free time he had learning the ropes, or talking over the details with his new employer.

"Excellent." Eris said. "Run along then. Head downstairs, ask the person working to start showing you what's what, there won't be a problem with it." she said. She knew there wouldn't be. There never was. Her employees generally speaking liked her, and did what she asked, because she made it worth their while to be loyal to her. She hired quite a lot of people, so everyone was used to randomly needing to train people in. "Have a nice night, dear." she said.

With a tilt of his head that was a semi-nod, Grayson rose from his seat, dustin his hands off on the legs of his jeans. Offering her a smile and a verbal thanks on top of that, he showed himself out and easily found his way back the way they had come, all the way from her office and back down to the main bar to do as she had told him. Time to learn the ropes.