Partnering Up

Who: Manhattan and Aiden
Where: A Casino in Vegas
When: Night Time

This was her second walk through of the casino grounds. Manhattan stopping every so often to drop a couple coins into various slots, the hunter not really paying attention to which slot she momentarily sat at. Her attention was more focused on the wanderings of people moving around the area she'd be stationed in for the moment. Looking for any telltale signs of the targets she was seeking. It was in this hotel that people had come up dead in their rooms over the past couple of months. Different ages, nationalities, gender, etc. No visible connections among that deceased that would linked any of the victims. None except for the twin sets of piercing marks left in their necks. It seemed that the fanged creatures were marking their victims at random. Just about anyone within the casino could find themselves falling prey to the hungry undead.

Small bucket in hand, the bottom barely layered with coin, Manhattan left one machine to walk a few short feet before settling down at another. A couple coins removed from the circular, cardboard like bucket and slipped almost absently into the machine before the arm was pulled down and then released.

Aiden was enjoying Blackjack. He was freshly shaven, his hair combed back and instead of his usual t-shirts, he wore a white button down. It never hurt to blend in with the masses, and it was easier to do his job that way. He hadn't been there long, but already he was thinking this job was going to be over fairly quickly, with very little bloodshed. At least with any blood belonging to him.

Aiden quit while he was ahead, pulling himself away from the table despite the urge to sit there and see how much more money he could win. He told himself that the paycheck coming to him for the completed job would be more than enough to live off of for awhile. Walking through the casino, he let his eyes sweep along the faces, looking for that telltale sign that would reveal his targets to him.

His eyes landed on one familiar face, and admittedly, it threw him off his guard. What the bloody fuck? Aiden continued to walk casually, not wanting to draw any attention to himself - or her. He came up behind her, knowing she would be aware of him - but knowing she wouldn't be rash enough to try and hit him, or pull a gun on him in public. Or at least he hoped she wouldn't. "Are you stalking me now, love?"

"Don't flatter yourself, love" Manhattan slipped another coin into the machine and started everything rolling again before she gave a slow acknowledging glance over her shoulder to the person standing directly behind her. This was just fuckin great. Things had been going smoothly thus far, but that seemed to be about to take a downhill tumble. "Be'd nice to hear that your just in the city enjoying the sights and other pleasures the place has to offer." Yeah right, like he'd travel all the way to Vegas just to get a little bit of gambling in. There was something bigger in the city, one that would offer more of a rush in its fulfillment. It was, after-all, why she had come to the City of Sin. What she hadn't expected was to cross paths with another hunter, least of all one going by the name Aiden Quinlan.

"I'm just in the city, enjoying the sighs and other pleasures this place has to offer," Aiden told her automatically, a slightly obnoxious smirk crossing his lips. "I can't imagine you're here for the same thing." He wondered if she was on the same job that he was and if so, was he going to have to lock her in another closet? Because he sure as hell wasn't letting this one slip him by.

She gave him a slight narrowing of eyes at the smirk and mimic of words he tossed back at her. "Guess you'd be imagining right." She opted to say. Manhattan slid of the stool she had been perched on to stood and give a more direct look to the other hunter. "Enjoy your little stay in town, Irish. Just try to keep out of my way." Grasping the edge of the coin bucket Manhattan made a turn to walk away and continue her surveillance of the casino floor. She wasn't deluding herself with the fact that Aiden was there for reasons other then a hunt. What he might be after she wasn't sure, but the Irishman sure the hell wasn't there to enjoy the offerings of the city. She just hoped he didn't share her reason for being within the city.

He should stay out of her way if he wanted her to stay out of his, but he was never a fan of being told what to do, even if they were right. Aiden followed. He knew that they were both there for the same thing. It was too much of a coincidence otherwise. Would they both have received different phone calls about two different jobs going down in Vegas? In this casino? Doubtful. He fell into step beside her, a smirk on his lips. "How much are they offering you?"

"Enough to have gotten me out here." And then some, but Manhattan wasn't quite up to enlightening Aiden of the exact amount of what she'd be getting for bringing the targets down. Though she was presently in conversation with the other hunter who fell into step beside her Manhattan still maintained a very casual, and an almost unnoticeable one to the casual observer, watch around the casino floor. "What about you?" Not that she was anywhere near expectant of him to share something that she clearly wasn't about to reveal so quickly. But hey, it kept the conversation in motion. Made them appear less conspicuous.

"Same." He shrugged because he was like her and not very forthcoming on his business. Aiden paused and then looked at her. "What do you think it means if we're both here for the same thing? You think they're pitting us against one another? Whoever gets rid of the problem first gets the payout?"

A brief glance was sent his way as the blonde hunter started to speak. "We might not be the only ones here for that specific reason. I think they want the problem resolved as quickly as possible, and who ever manages that will leave the city with quite a nice little bundle of cash." And Manhattan was determined to make sure she left Vegas with a bit more wealth then she arrived with. And she wasn't about to let anyone to stop her from achieving that goal.

"Yeah?" Aiden smirked again and reached out to slip an arm around Manhattan in a friendly gesture. "So what do you think is going to happen this time? Maybe I can give you a key to my room and you can stop by after I'm finished and we can celebrate."

"You know that's a real nice idea you got gonna there, 'cept there's one tiny hitch to your little plan. This is my gig." Manhattan told him as they continued walking the casino grounds still giving the impression of being a normal couple. "So. Why don't don't you have another couple go rounds at the tables. I'll even give you a little spending money." Manhattan halted in her steps and positooned herself in front of Aiden. "Honey, I've got a bit of a headache." She started to coo softly, fingertips stroking lightly along his chest. " Why don't you stay and see if you can win us some big money." Manhattan smirked as she pressed the coin bucket into Aiden's hands before a light kiss was given to the corner of his mouth. "I'm gonna go lay down and when I'm feeling better I'll come find you." With a wink given Manhattan turned and started to walk off.

Despite his hiked irritation, Aiden laughed. She was such a bitch sometimes, but that was probably why he liked being around her - when he was. He caught up to her and slipped his arm around her waist, tugging her tightly against his side. "I think I'll join you." He dipped his head down, pressing his lips against her ear. "You remember what happened the last time we were both on the same job, don't you? Don't presume that I've grown more moral since then." Aiden would have normally relished in this kind of challenge. Beating another hunter to the job - collecting the money. But he had Shannon at home to think about and he couldn't throw caution to the wind and risk walking away with nothing. He stopped Manhattan and stood close to her. "Look, sweetheart, one of two things can happen. One, we can have some fun and see how cruel I can get in order to collect the payout, or we can do this together, split the money evenly and spend the rest of our lovely time in Vegas getting pissed off our arses and enjoying ourselves privately. The choice is up to you, but I'd much rather get this shite done and take you back to my room."

Manhattan bristled visibly at the reminder Aiden threw out at her. The last time she crossed paths with Aiden in Vegas was not something she'd be forgetting for a long time to come. "You're not the only one who knows how to play this game well." She hissed back lowly. If he thought he could be cruel and ruthless to get what he wanted, Manhattan could more then match the guy in that area. And if he might decide to go back on his word, well Manhattan would, for the first time, be doing a hunt that wouldn't have cold hard cash as a payout. "Looks like you've got yourself a partner. This time around." She'd rather get things here tied up nice and neat, and quite quickly, then have to keep watching over her shoulder. Making this job a challenge would only serve in stretching the whole matter out. And then there was the fact that a thrid hunter could snatch the prey, and cash, right out of their hands.

"This is the only time I'll ask for one," Aiden told her. He began to lead her away. "Let's just get this done as quickly and painlessly as possible. Then, if you're a good girl, I'll buy you a drink or two."

"Wow. You're only offering drinks. Don't know if that's worth me being a good little girl." Manhattan teased with a smirk as they moved through the casino, but she was in agreement with him in one aspect, and that was to get this all over with as quickly as possible.