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Benji is on stall on the balcony of the bar chatting with Jean and drinking a bit. And Maria walk in. So Maria goes over to Jean and says:

Jean. Get me a vodka.

And Jean replies:

Ooh, touchy. All right Maria, I'll be right back.

Benji just look her slightly and face back to his glass And Jean says, as he is leaving:

Hey Benji, I'll be back in a second. Why don't you chat with Maria?

And Benji toss at Jean a glare and Jean say:

Two of you are moody and you two can chat over it.

Maria mutters, sitting down across from Benji:

I'd prefer not.

And Benji say to Jean:

I don't like to talk about my problems with strangers Jean. I don't talk about then not even with my friends. No offence intended miss.

Maria responds casually:

None taken. I'm the exact same way…

Jean mutters before Maria shoots him a glare:

Oi. You two are both so stubborn.

She asks with cold eyes

My vodka?

Jean says, rushing off:

Right...I was just walking that way...

And Benji toss a look at Jean as saying 'why he just didn't go and didn't said that?' and he say to Maria in a neutral tone pushing a small bowl of salty peanuts on her direction:

Want some?

Maria shrugs and say:

Sure, why not.

And she takes a few. Her eyes trail to Benji's hand. She asks, trying not to sound too concerned.

Hey, um, are you okay? That looks like a pretty bad cut.

And he say casually:

Is nothing serious. I already passed some alcohol on it.

And Maria say:

I see...well then there's nothing to worry about, is there?....

And he say:

No. This is only a superficial cut.

Maria murmurs:

Oh...

And just then, Jean appears with the largest glass he has, full of vodka. Maria mutters as she takes it from him:

Thanks Jean.

And Benji say to Jean:

Refill.

And Jean say:

Coming. So what the two people that I have never seen together before. Well taking out last night are doing in here on the same night again?

And Benji and Maria say together:

Bad day!

And Jean say:

Bad day? What you two have trained to say that in the same time?

And Maria and Benji both say at same time again:

No!

And Jean say:

You two are beginning to scare me.

Maria mutters:

Good.

And Benji say with a small smile:

Where is the refill?

And Jean say filling up his glass:

Here.

Jean I need one too.

And Jean looks at her like she's gone crazy Maria says plainly:

What? I'm done, I need a refill.

And Jean say:

You drank all that so fast?!

And Benji say:

You drink well

And Maria say:

I was thirsty.

And Benji say:

I know the feeling.

Maria chuckles lightly. Benji smile a bit. And Jean say:

You two have taken the day to make fun of me?

Maria nods and gives her glass to Jean:

Refill?

Jean pick a large vodka bottle and a large sake bottle and say:

Help yourselves. It seen that will be too much work for me.

And give then the bottles, Maria smirked and say:

Thanks Jean. Very smart move.

Benji finish his and refill it and he say:

So Jean is Ted in here? I wanted to beat him some more on the billiards.

And Jean say:

He stopped playing after the I forget how many times you beated him on a row.

Maria smirks inwardly. And say:

I'll play you.

And Benji say:

Okay. But don't expect that I will cut slack on you because you are a woman.

Maria replies:

I was hoping you'd say that.

And he pick up his bottle and say:

After you miss.

Maria picks up her bottle as well, lays down a 5 dollar bill on the table and says to Jean: For mine and his, since he's been gracious enough to be my billiards partner.

And they move to the billiards room on the back of the bar, Maria set her bottle on one of the tables and smiles saying:

You're not going to go easy on me, right?

And he say:

No. But since you are a woman I let you go first. After that the courtesy is over. Sounds good?

Maria's smile gets wider and she say:

Sounds perfect.

Benji take out his coat 'Benji sword is hidden in two layers of cloth' and he set the balls on the billiards table. And say:

So get your cue.

And Maria say:

All right. Do you want me to get yours too?

And he say:

Okay. Anyone is good for me.

And she say:

Okay then. Here.

Maria hands him a cue.

He pick it and say putting some chalk on the tip:

Thanks. So give the first move. Simple rules. Fifteen balls each one is a point. The one with more in the end wins. And if the white falls on the pocket you lose one point.

Maria smiles and say:

With pleasure.

Maria hit the white ball and break the tight formation of the others balls but she don't get any on the pockets and she say:

Damn. That was one of my worst shots.

And Benji say with a small friendly smile:

Happens. And is not very easy score on the opening shot.

Maria raises an eyebrow and say:

How poor of a player do you think I am?

And Benji say:

Not a poor player. Everyone have bad nights.

Maria shakes her head and say:

Whatever. Your turn.

She walks over to the table, and takes a drink out of the vodka bottle. He go to behind the white ball aim and hit two balls that hits the corners and fall in the pockets.

Maria is even more determined now to win say:

Nice shot.

And he say moving again:

Thanks.

And he score another. And miss the next. Maria picks up her cue as Benji steps aside for her. He drink some of his own bottle and say:

Calm down we have time and we are not betting anything.

Maria replies with a wry grin:

Perhaps you're right. But that's just the way I am...well, my roommate says I'm  high strung, but that doesn't count.

And he drink some more and say:

Well is good be competitive but not always.

Maria winked saying:

I'm not always that competitive...just when I've had a lousy day...which is practically every day when you're living in a very noisy apartment building.

And Benji say:

I know how it is. I once was on a place where all my roommates only want to party and party every day.

Maria hits the white ball and makes one ball fall into the pocket she muttered:

That sounds exactly like where I live.

And he say:

Nice shot

And she say:

Thank you, but it was an easy one.

And he say:

In any case is a point.

And she say:

True.

Maria aims at the white ball once more and it hits another ball.

And he say in a friendly tone:

So you are not on a bad night after all.

And he drink some more of his bottle and she say:

Just got a bad start. That's all.

And Benji say:

Okay I still have one point on the lead. You got to get two more if you want to take the lead.

Maria smiles, aims at the white ball and shoots, hitting two balls, which both make it into the pocket. She say:

I believe I just did.

The smile still on her face, but it is a friendly smile, not competitive.

And he smile and say:

That was a really nice one.

Maria's smile grew wider and she say:

I always make sure to have some tricks up my sleeve.

And Benji say:

Same here. Is still your move.

Maria takes aim, but misses and she say:

Guess my luck has worn out. Your turn.

And he say:

That happens.

He move to the white ball and aim and hit two balls that move to different pockets and are making the others get easier. And he get the two on the pockets. And Maria says as she walks to the table and takes another drink of the vodka bottle.

Nice shot.

And he say:

Thanks.

He shot again and pocket another two. Maria thinks:

Now I'm behind 4, he is a good player

Benji aim and miss the target and the white fall in the pocket and he say:

There goes one point. And my turn. I guess that my luck worn out too,

Maria smiles and say:

Well that didn't take very long for it to happen.

She aims and knocks two balls in the corner.

There is only one more and then the score will be seven for him and seven to her. And Benji say:

Well happens with everyone. And nice shot

And she say

Thanks. Only one more to go...

Maria takes a deep breath, aims, and hits the ball into the pocket, all with a smile of satisfaction on her face.

And Benji say after take a sip from his bottle:

So that is seven for you. And I also am on seven thanks to that bad shot. Nice game.

Maria responds, putting her cue back up and taking a drink from her bottle.:

Same to you.

And he put his cue on the table and he say:

Well miss it was sure fun. Way better than my usual partners. Want to play another?

Maria smiles sympathetically and say:

Sorry, not tonight. My roommate changes the locks after 12:30, and it's already 12:15.

She pauses and say:

How about a couple nights from now, say 4?

And he smile and say:

Sounds good. Well miss...(he make a pause and say) I apologize but I didn't catch your name.

Maria smiles and say:

I'm Maria, and yours is?

And he smile and say:

I am Benji. Nice to meet you

And he stand his hand on her direction. Maria takes his hand and shakes it. And he say:

Next time the drinks are on me.

And she say:

Fine with me. I just happened to have a little extra cash on me tonight. That's all.

And he say:

In any case next time I repay the courtesy.

And she say:

All right then.

And he pick his coat and the remaining bottle and they leave the room to the main room of the bar. And Jean look at them and grin and say:

All you guys did was play billiards right?

Maria shoots him a glare and she snaps saying:

Shut up!

And Benji toss his bottle on Jean and hit his stomach and he say:

Don't make stupid comments Jean.

The bottle hit precisely and strong on the bartender stomach and he fall kneeled on the floor panting, Maria mutters:

That's got to hurt.

Before leaving and giving Benji a small smile as a goodbye

And Benji smile back as she walk away and walk to Jean and say:

Think before say something.

Jean replies:

Yeah, I think I will.

And Benji say:

Good.

Benji pick the bottle that is still in one piece and leave the bar. Maria, who has just lit a cigarette, puts her lighter in her pocket and grins at Benji saying:

You didn't hurt him too badly, did you?

And Benji say:

No. Jean is a nice guy. So I only tossed to hurt. It will not even leave a bruise. But it will teach him to not make stupid comments.

Maria nod and say:

Serves him right for making that kind of remark.

And he nod and say:

Unfortunately he acts a lot like a old room mate.

And she say:

All of mine act like that, so I suppose I can kind of relate.

She looks at Benji. She asks, referring to her cigarette:

You want one?

And he say:

I don't smoke. But thanks.

Maria nod and say:

It's an awful habit, I know. But I haven't had one for a while.

And he say smiling:

And what make you come back with it? If is the room mates I have a technique that works well.

And she say:

It's not them, I can tell you that. I'm the only one that smokes regularly. Perhaps it's just a nervous habit.

And he say:

Well then try to calm down. That thing can kill you. And is not a pretty death.

Maria chuckled as she knows that the cigarette would be the least cause of her death. And say:

Perhaps I'll try that.

He smile and say:

Okay. As for your room mates. If they don't behave very well hit then with a sock with a large soap bar on it. It worked on mines.

Maria laughs and say:

I will definitely do that. It's not within my personality to do something like that, so I will do it when they are least expecting it.

And he say:

 And that hurts a lot. Since technically that is not a weapon you can excuse yourself easily. Back then when they are too noisy I used to go over the halls knocking then out of cold with that.

And Maria say:

That will keep them off my back for a while.

And Benji say:

Sure will

Maria sighs and looks at the sky, not knowing what other small talk she could muster. And Benji say in a normal tone:

Is better you go or your roommate will lock you out.

Maria smiled and say:

Okay. Goodnight Benji.

He smile and say:

Good night Maria see you on four days.

Maria gives Benji a small kiss on the cheek and winks saying:

Thanks for being my billiards partner tonight. But that was just a friendly kiss, so don't think otherwise.

And he say smiling:

You are welcome. And I am not like Jean I am not thinking on anything like that.

Maria smiles back, and walks away, knowing full well that Ravina probably wouldn't let her back in until 1, but it really doesn't matter. Her bad night had gone rather well, and she made a new friend out of it too.

Benji see the blonde walking away and smile to himself. he turn back and walk away and he stop on an alley and toss the bottle in a fire exit. but there is no smashing sound. And Benji say:

Get out of there Julietta I know that you are there!

And a red haired woman leap down the fire exit holding the bottle, she is wearing green pants and jacket make of some thick cloth. And with a small scar on her left cheek. And she say:

Well, well isn't that our Benji get some luck tonight?

And Julietta points to his cheek to a light red lipstick mark and say:

She have left a nice mark on you lover boy.

And he say cleaning it:

First we didn't do anything. Second we just met. Third what the hell you are doing in here?

And she say:

Well I was asked by Al to keep an eye on you. You are calling much attention lately. I am here to make sure that you behave. And to pest you a bit.

He sigh and say:

Finish that and leave me alone. I am going back to my place.

And she say sexily:

Is that an invitation?

And Benji say:

Hell no! I want sleep a bit. And don't try that puppy eyes on me Julietta and I am not going to sleep with you.

And she say:

I was joking Himura. I will escort you to your place to make sure that you will not beat the shit out some poor idiots thief's again tonight.

And Benji say:

You could have stopped me. I knew that you was there.

And she say:

 It was fun watch. But once is enough.

And they walk away.