Just because Serena had a hand in saving the world, that didn't mean she couldn't keep experimenting with spells just for the heck of it. Or in this case, for later use. She had pulled out some big cards in the battle at the Mansion, and was still learning the ropes on summoning Hercules too. But tonight was back to the basics: hanging out in a bar, on a full moon night, nursing a cocktail, waiting for someone to come along. Someone she didn't mind experimenting on. Which was most people.

This bar was one of the more high-end places. Serena, for all the tailored elegance of her suit and the jewelry she sported, did not stick out. The loose gems in the handbag were probably a bit over the top, but no one was going to see those. They were just there for security. Serena ordered a second cocktail, loading it with the truth spell. For all intents and purposes, she looked like a wealthy, bored woman, just stood up by a date.

It had been a rather boring time for Charles Red Fish. How could it not be? After the fiasco at the mutant manor (he had seen it all over the internet), everything seemed just utterly dull by comparison. Yeah there were still criminals, and super-powered despots running about trying to conquer things, but nothing really felt like the same level of crisis and worldwide attention. It was especially good for Charles. That day he managed to pick so many pockets while everyone watched the news that he managed to book a week at the Plaza Hotel in one of the fanciest rooms they had. It was pure bliss.

But, like snow on a July sidewalk, it didn't last forever. Not wanting to burn that bridge, Charles left when the money ran out and paid for things in full. He really wanted to go back to that hotel in good terms. But, for now, he was on the prowl again.

Money had to be made one way or the other.

Today location was some swanky bar by the name of Le Fete (The Feet? He didn't know French), but despite the highclassed name, the place certainly ripe for targeting. Dancing, drinking, and a few lonely hearts dotted the place. Easy money for someone young and handsome like him.

So, dressed to the casual nines (designer torn jeans, leather jacket, and a slightly unbuttoned shirt), Charles made his way through the bar, eagerly looking for the perfect target. It was hard as there were just so many cherries to pick from: Professor (guy with glasses and a bad combover trying to chat with all the pretty, much younger girls), Ginger (midtown wife, maybe a teacher trying hard to not let go of her youth), but oooooh, what was this? Business Cougar? Charles eyes zeroed in on the lonely, dark-haired MILF sitting near the bar, nursing a drink. She looked disappointed, like maybe some missed meeting had occurred. Jackpot.

With the warmest smile, and a slightly arched brow, Charles casually made his way to the bar and slid into a seat nearby.

"I am so, so, SO very sorry," He says as he turns to address this mystery woman. "A beautiful woman such as yourself, sitting alone? That has to be illegal, right?"

Serena turned her head, looking the man over. Just for that line, he deserved what he had coming. But he looked like a snack, so at least she would have fun with him. Depending on what the truth cocktail was about to reveal.

"What should be illegal is pickup lines like that" she noted with an eye roll. "But I did just order a cocktail for someone who was moron enough to stand me up, so you get a second try."

Whether he would take it or not, was up to him. In Serena's experience, few men could resist being a knight in shining armor.

Oh yes, Charles felt like he was in the zone now. He looked good, he smelled nice, and he had landed the goofiest, most stupid pick-up line imaginable. While it seemed counter productive, in truth it afforded Charles a little self-deprecation credit in front of a prospective target. People tended to loosen up when someone spoke to them and didn't fully embody the bull**** that was so cringe to listen to. By playing it off as simply a bad pick up and tease, it helped to break the ice and lower the defenses.

As Charles could see now that the seat and drink were offered. His face maintained that well meaning smile while inside his mind he was already counting down how long till victory. She would be an easy target now. She seemed like the kind of woman who paid in credit but still had enough cash and jewelry on her to make this venture worthwhile.

Feigning injury, Charles held his hand over his heart before he leaned and "fell" into the seat offered to him. "Oh you are much too kind," he says with earnest. "I'll just have to make up for such an awful opening in other ways." He straightens up then, offers his hand formerly and nods. "Name's Charles. And I really do think you're too gorgeous to sit by yourself. And whomever was fool enough to stand you up certainly doesn't know what they are missing."

"Oh, believe me, they don't" Serena smirked, taking the handshake, wondering if the man would note the gemstone rings she wore. One thing better than being a stood up woman was a rich stood up woman. "Nice to meet you, Charles. I'm Sylvia." She wasn't, but this was not actually an evening to pick someone up. Still, he was eye candy. All the better. She nodded at the cocktail waiting next to hers. "Feel free to take up the mantle if you feel like it. Unless you are also waiting for someone else..."

All it took was a quick flick downward of the eyes and Charles found the gorgeous gemstone rings glaring up at him. Ah! Utter perfection. Just one of those could fetch him some good money but he had a feeling a woman like this probably had a lot more like them. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, maybe even piercings. Charles was fairly sure that some flattery and a few drinks would warrant him all the opportunities he needed.

"Slyvia. Just as lovely as I imagined," Charles chuckles a bit as he looks to the offered seat, then back to her. "Well, I could say that I've been waiting for you all my life..." He says with a cheesey grin. "But I have a feeling saying such will grant me another strike." Charles then bows his head graciously and slips into it with ease. "Waiting for no one. Just out looking for a bit of...harmless fun tonight, is all."

"Smart man" Serena smirked. She didn't offer the other cocktail again, simply leaving it between them on the counter. Pushing too much would have been weird. And she had time to do the whole song and dance. Or at least, nothing better to do. The guy took a seat. Harmless fun, indeed. As much as Serena knew she was a catch by any standard, in her experience young and obviously handsome guys rarely sidled up to her unless they had an unusually conflated ego, or an agenda of some sort. She had time to find out. She sipped her own cocktail with a chuckle. "So Charles... what do you do when you are not searching for damsels to rescue?"

Oh this would be easier than finding corruption in a police force. The conman had to inwardly chuckle a bit at his luck. He expected to have to do a bit more hunting tonight before finding a good target and low and behold, he stumbled across the mother lode. Well, more like MILF lode. In any case, despite the massive ego he was now sporting, Charles slid fully into his form of seduction as he settled into his seat and fully turned to face the attractive woman.

"I'm a dancer, actually," he said with a wink. "Nothing major, yet, but I have definitely have the moves and the...uh...limberness too." A small wink followed. Not a big one, he didn't want to come off as a complete scuzbag, after all. "Aside from that, I model from time to time as well." Another grin before he nods back to her. "Yourself? Clearly a model, just trying to remember what I saw you in."

His hand drifts to the cocktail already on the counter...

>>"I'm a dancer, actually. Nothing major, yet, but I have definitely have the moves and the...uh...limberness too."

Well, that was one point for the ego.

>>"Aside from that, I model from time to time as well. Yourself? Clearly a model, just trying to remember what I saw you in."

Kill me now.

Serena quirked an eyebrow, pointedly not watching his hand move for the cocktail. He could take his time. It was entirely likely that he had seen her somewhere - being the face of a Wealth 500 and all - but the way he said it suggested that he probably had not. Serena's fingers played around the rim of her cocktail glass. "Nothing of importance, I'm sure. Have I seen you somewhere maybe?"

The quirked eyebrow. Charles had caught sight of that. He knew it could only mean one thing -- she was watching his hands because she was into him. Oh yeah, he knew that he had an in now. These cougars were all the same and so easy to get into their good graces if you knew what you were doing. Charles did. This wasn't his first time seducing a lonely old woman desperate for companionship. While 'Serena' was pretty he could see that same need for attention from a handsome young man that he had seen on the faces of many others before.

Shhhh, worry not, kitten. Be patient for Charles. It'll be worth it.

His hand wraps around the glass on the countertop. He goes to lift it to his lips but stops as he cracks a devilish grin and smile towards her. Had she seen him somewhere before? The answer was obvious.

"Maybe in your dreams?" he asked with the most shit-eating, flirtatious grin he could muster.