10th December - Booze

All eyes snapped to the door as it opened to admit her, the cold breeze slicing through the air and guttering the candles lining the dim and dark bar. She strode into the centre of the room like she owned the place, hands planted on her hips with the air of a woman who meant business. The monkey on her shoulder hissed and muttered as it crawled into the warmth of her hair and hood. She raised a hand to scratch its head as her glare swept the bar. Suddenly under scrutiny, its patrons immediately found something highly engrossing in the glasses and mugs clasped in their shaking hands, edging their chairs surreptitiously away from the beautiful, yet undoubtedly dangerous woman in their midst.

Fortunately for them, her gaze passed over them completely until it found what she was looking for. Her eyes narrowed in disgust as she picked her way delicately across the floor, a path opening up for her between the bar's occupants until she came to the man she was looking for. He didn't look up as she approached, thoroughly enraptured with the pretty blonde on his arm, until his companion broke off her sentence with a squeak, staring beyond his face. He didn't like that.

"Klaud."

"Marian." The monkey on her shoulder growled suddenly, its red eyes glinting in the dark folds of her hood. The girl squeaked again and got up rapidly, almost tripping over herself as she curtseyed and moved quickly behind the bar.

"Do sit. Do you know, this place actually carries some quite fine wines? It's no Margaux but..." General Cross Marian raised a glass to her, eyes half-lidded in the shade of his hat, irritatingly nonchalant.

Klaud Nyne ignored the proffered glass and remained standing, carefully concealing her impatience with the rake before her.

"You called me here for some cheap, rotted, vine juice?"

He feigned shock. "This is not cheap, madam! Rather, it is costing our employees a considerable amount." Smirking, he offered her the glass again. "Call it a Christmas bonus."

She took it with a sigh. "I doubt the Vatican will see it that way, Marian."

He smiled broadly and took a sip of his own glass as she sat next to him stiffly, refusing to let herself relax in the presence of such an inveterate womaniser.

"I assume you were lying when you said there were Akuma here?"

He remained silent, savouring the wine with his eyes closed, arm creeping around to sit round her waist. She shifted abruptly, glaring over the rim of her glass until he backed off again.

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"You're impossible, Marian."

He winked at her. "Finish your wine, quickly now."

Curious, she obeyed, staying silent as Cross did the same, before corking the bottle and placing it back under his seat. After a moment's delicate searching in his jacket he pulled out a pocket-watch and held it open.

"What -" He held up a finger, silencing her abruptly. Lau Jin fidgeted on her shoulders, sensing her tension as her frustration with the tawdry flirt grew.

"Five... four... three..."

An explosion rocked the ground and shattered the glass in her hand, sending it skittering across the floor. A warm explosion of air threw her to her feet, ducking swiftly as debris clattered into the tables. Lau Jin chattered angrily next to her, prepared for battle.

Cross appeared barely ruffled, carefully stowing the bottle behind the sofa. "Tch. They're early."

"Exooorciiiistsss..."

Glancing over the ruined chair, Klaud spotted the mangled grey form that had plummeted through the roof of the tavern, struggling to heave itself out of the wreckage of the floor. Civilians screamed and panicked, running through any open door to escape.

Cross grinned again, pulling Judgement from his pocket.

"Early Christmas present, my dear. Let's make it quick, it would be a crime to waste the evening like this with such a fine bottle awaiting us."

She ducked her head, concealing a smile as she activated her Innocence.

A/N: Cross would hate me for using such a crude word to describe his drinks. Ah well. Merry 10th people, do you know what you're getting yet? :D