<Indie`> <hair dripping, Indonesia walks out of the shower, the water, like small clear pebbles on her dark skin. She loosely ties a towel around her hair, and realizing that she's left her bathrobe in her bedroom, shrugs, not caring, and walks out as she is.>

<Indie`> <she nods to Evan, who sits there wide-eyed on her sofa> What? Don't tell me you haven't seen a woman before?

<Indie`> You're not...you know...

<Indie`> Gay?

<Evan_Cross> Um...no.

<Evan_Cross> I'mnot.

<Evan_Cross> <blushes>

<Evan_Cross> Just...naive. I guess.

<Indie`> <takes the towel out of her hair, dries her hair a bit with it, and then wraps it around her> There, so i won't corrupt your virgin eyes.

<Evan_Cross> <smirks> Whatever makes you more comfortable.

<Indie`> <moves to the couch and reclines. She raises her legs, and rests them on Evan's lap, then reaches over for her lighter and pack of smokes on the coffee table beside her. She lights one, puts the lighter back in it's place and uses a dirty wine glass as an ashtray>

<Indie`> We have a problem.

<Evan_Cross> We do?

<Indie`> Yes. The Hunter Bitch left for home. We have to leave New York.

<Evan_Cross> <shrugs> Why is that a problem?

<Evan_Cross> <places his hands on Indie's legs>

<Evan_Cross> It's not like money's an issue.

<Indie`> because...there's nothing to do in North Carolina.

<Indie`> You've been there, it's like....not like New York.

<Indie`> But whatever. The job needs to be done.

<Evan_Cross> <nods>

<Evan_Cross> Absolutely.

<Indie`> <one well manicured foot plays around with the material of Evan's pants> Yes. And you're coming with me. You know the place better than I.

<Evan_Cross> Yes, I do.

<Indie`> besides, I seemingly enjoy your company. <takes another puff of her cigarette then puts it out by just dropping it in what remained of the wine>

<Indie`> <gets up abruptly and goes into the kitchen to get two more wine glasses and a new bottle>

<Evan_Cross> <laughs>

<Indie`> <comes back and hands one to Evan, opens the bottle and pours him a glass. SHe then proceeds to pour herself one>

<Evan_Cross> <takes the glass>

<Indie`> To us. The beginning of an odd yet strangely satisfying relationship.

<Indie`> <clicks her glass with his>

<Indie`> <takes a sip>

<Evan_Cross> <sips the wine>

<Evan_Cross> When do we go?

<Indie`> mmm...<puts the glass down and then goes back into her reclining position> in a few days. I'd like to sort out a few things here in New York.

<Evan_Cross> <nods> I should check out of my hotel.

<Indie`> do a bit of shopping, have one more good meal in a gourmet restaurant, you know, the real important things in life that we often don't have time to do.

<Evan_Cross> I agree. North Carolina can be quite...backwards.

<Indie`> Tell me Evan, where were you the 6 months you went away?

<Evan_Cross> Here mostly. I changed hotels a couple of times, but most of the time I spent here in New York. Working.

<Indie`> And what possessed you call Miss Hunter again?

<Indie`> A sudden change of heart?

<Evan_Cross> <shrugs> I heard she was in town. I thought...I don't know what I thought.

<Evan_Cross> ...after the way things went at the Institute, I...hoped...that not everything had changed.

<Evan_Cross> But, then again, I shouldn't have been suprised. That's about par for the course for Reve.

<Indie`> <laughs>

<Indie`> Men, they think a woman will wait forever.

<Evan_Cross> <smirks>

<Evan_Cross> Not THAT one.

<Indie`> Do you want to hear my story?

<Evan_Cross> <nods> Sure.

<Indie`> <takes another sip of her wine>

<Indie`> 20 Plus years ago, I'm not sure how many, I stopped celebrating my birthdays, the woman who gave birth to me had her body sold to a man who sired me. This was done by her uncle.

<Indie`> The man, whose lucky genes I inherited was Egyptian, the woman, Malaysian.

<Indie`> He was an archeologist working on differnet sites in South East Asia.

<Indie`> I was dropped with some illiterate note on this man's doorstep

<Evan_Cross> <nods>

<Evan_Cross> So. When began your association with the Hunters?

<Indie`> the hunters came later.

<Indie`> i ended up moving to egypt, this man's home country. And i began to resent him with a passion.

<Evan_Cross> <sips the wine>

<Indie`> If anything i credit to him, it's the education. Sent me to good schools, because he was always on some excavation.

<Indie`> other than that, I have no business calling him father, so i don't. He wasn't one to me.

<Indie`> I evenutally moved out, and moved to the city of Cairo, where I did odd jobs.

<Indie`> My knack for languages and my keen sense of how people work, landed me the job with a couple of rich business men who....needed a job done.

<Indie`> to cut a long story short, these men eventually got me hooked up with this stint.

<Indie`> a few dead bodies, stolen jewels, fallen companies later.

<Evan_Cross> ...funny how things work out sometimes.

<Indie`> didn't want to send you sleeping.

<Indie`> yes.

<Evan_Cross> <finishes the glass>

<Indie`> I've been watching the hunters for a while now.

<Indie`> been toying around with that young hunter, Herusu.

<Indie`> Got some girl he was eyeing in an old warehouse.

<Indie`> She's alright, i normally don't resort to torture. <takes a sip, and then decides to down the rest> that is unless of course if it's necessary.

<Evan_Cross> <eyes widen>...you have someone in a warehouse?

<Indie`> yes.

<Evan_Cross> Why?

<Indie`> she's in a 10x10 cell...she gets the basics, food, water, a toilet.

<Indie`> so that i can watch the hunters scurry around trying to save the day.

<Evan_Cross> <nods>

<Evan_Cross> I...see.

<Indie`> I find it amusing how they try to always come out on top. Not all stories have the good guys win. Especially the ones that I read.

<Evan_Cross> I can imagine.

<Indie`> <looks at Evan> Listen. You don't have to stick around if you don't want to. I think i may be too much for your sensitive upbringing. Why don't you just go? Perhaps save you some trouble.

<Indie`> <is actually be considerate>

<Evan_Cross> <laughs>

<Indie`> I'll just watch you and kill you if you tell people where i am.

<Evan_Cross> No. Actually, I think you just may be exactly what I need.

<Indie`> <is actually surprised> and why is that?

<Indie`> most people don't want the likes of me around them.

<Evan_Cross> I think I've maybe...been too nice for too long. Lived too sheltered of a life.

<Evan_Cross> Anyway...I should go back to my hotel. Get checked out, get my things.

<Indie`> <nods> you know evan. i like you. except you're probably going to get me killed. anyone who thinks they've been too nice for too long is still nice. You don't choose to be bad. It's called someone made the choice for you.

<Indie`> I didn't have a choice.

<Indie`> You're just stupid.

<Indie`> Anyway, <lifts her legs from of his lap> go on, i'll wait around for ya.

<Evan_Cross> You're probably right. But, at the same time, I think I just need to do this.

<Evan_Cross> <stands>

<Evan_Cross> I'll...be back this evening.

<Indie`> <walks to the door with him, still in her towel, as the door opens a small kid sees her in the hallway and runs away>

<Indie`> little brat.

<Evan_Cross> <grins>

<Evan_Cross> <steps out into the hall>

<Indie`> hey wait.

<Evan_Cross> <stops>

<Evan_Cross> <turns>

<Evan_Cross> Hm?

<Indie`> <walks out into the hallway, pulls him close, her face almost touching his. Evan can feel her calm even breathing>

<Indie`> Tell anyone about me. I kill you.

<Evan_Cross> <shakes his head> I'm naive. Not stupid.

<Indie`> <releases him and walks back to her apartment, as she closes the door, the towel falls it remains there in the hallway>

<Evan_Cross> <stares at the towel for a moment, then turns and leaves>