it's been a long day; open

[Caerus]

Sitting in a diner in Illinois and time moved closer to closing time as a young man was sitting at the counter with his head drooped down. The young man ran his hand through his hair multiple times, over and over. He straightened up when the man behind the counter came by him and asked if he wanted another refill on his cup of coffee. His blue eyes brightened as he nodded, "Thanks." and the larger man just smiled. "So, what's your name, kiddo?" The big man asked, filling the cup with warm coffee. Caerus looked up from his cup of coffee at first in a blank stare. Before he had made the mistake in giving someone his real name, Caerus, and the second they gave him the side look and asked, "like the god Caerus?" he had to fake it. He'd chuckle and say, "Yea, of course! Parents were big history buffs." he learned from his mistake. Now he went by the name that his vessel was called, the name on his credit card and ID, Jackson Hawes. "Named Jackson, sir." He gave him a weak smile as he moved his hand from his hair and scratch a spot on his freckle filled cheek. "You've been here for three hours, son, you troubled?" The man asked as he set the pot of coffee down and began straightening up the counter and using a wet rag over the top surface.

Caerus looked at the cup of coffee before him, staring into the darkness in thought. "I guess you could say that.." He nodded once and gave a small shrug. His mind was on multiple things, mostly things from upstairs. "You got a place to stay at? I gotta close up in an hour, I reckon you'll be here still." The man chuckled, cleaning the counter as well. Caerus just smiled lightly, "Yes, sir. I have somewhere to go, won't leave yet, sir." he looked up to the man. "Hope I'm not a bother." All he got was a stifling laugh from the man that seemed to bellow from deep inside. "No bother at all, kid, not at all." Jackson heard the bell on the door ding, signaling a new comer, but he didn't dare to look at them. Instead he gave the man behind the counter another smile and looked back down at his coffee.

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[ZERACHIEL ?!]

Entering the diner, Eli relished the warmth emanating from the restaurant, glad to be out of the cold. On the opposite side of the door snow drifted heavily from the skies, quickly blanketing the sidewalks and streets; snowflakes dusted her shoulders, clinging to her hair and lashes. Her fingers were stiff, feet numb and frozen, and her petite figure trembled. The winter was undeniably the most difficult month to hunt in; especially when her investigations occurred outside. Eli greatly disliked the bitter fall and autumn months. She preferred spring and summer when plant life flourished and the sun’s golden rays brightened the heavens.

The snow gradually melted from her boots, leaving tracks on the floor as she strode to the counter. Eli glanced at the mess she had created, feeling guilty; perhaps she could mop up the stagnant water before she left. “I apologize for my disorderliness,” she told the cashier, motioning to the ground. “I will make sure to clean that up.”

Gingerly, she propped herself up onto one of the stools. Not only was she freezing, she was exhausted. Her last job had proved challenging , leaving her rather fatigued both physically and mentally. She was covered with various nicks and bruises, however she had become used to injury when she willfully joined the business; so far she was fortunate she had been dealt nothing fatal. Very carefully she flexed her wrist, biting her lip as an intense pain reverberated along the length of her arm. She sighed. There was no doubt she had either fractured or broken a bone, aside from the constant throbbing the skin had turned a nasty combination of purple and black. When she acquired the time to spend feely, the young woman decided a trip to the hospital was in order. Her job always came before her wellbeing.

“I would like to purchase a small cup of your hot chocolate, please.” Eli did not have much of an appetite. She simply needed something to warm her up.