Although Grim's food had arrived, he had not touched it yet, neither had he touched his silverware that was still carefully placed in their correct positions next to his plate. Instead, he was staring at the young starlet. It was mostly at of habitat. With his hood up, no one could see his eyes so he was used to staring without a reaction, but he had not replaced his hood since the little fight. He thought it rude at the present moment, especially when his future employer might be standing before him.

"What exactly does this entail? Are you planning on leaving the city to travel the country? If so, I can not go. I have too many ties here in New York to leave for an extended period of time." Grim said, his eyes never leaving the woman.

"Your offer is a good price, but is it stable? How long will my services be needed? Singers can gain and lose popularity very quickly." Shade swirled the liquid in his glass before taking a sip.

"Finally, there are times that I might not be available for security purposes. Personal business, but it might interfere with your plans. However, if you are fine with those restrictions, I think might be able to work together." He said, flashing his favorite evil smile.

“I shall be honest with you. No, I have no desire to tour again, once was enough for me.” She picked at her food at this point, and looked down, “I can also honestly tell you that it would not just be for when I do my work, but there might be times when I need you with no questions asked. I will not say that you must work at my side twenty-four hours a day, but there are times when being me is just hazardous to me.” She took a sip of water, and speared a piece of broccoli. “I am not doing this… thing for popularity. I do it because I love to sing, and to be on stage. I own a company that my poppa passed to my family, whom decided to forfeit it to me to do as I please with it. I have no want for money and I don’t really desire to be rich, yet I run the company anyhow so that I have no need for money. So you see, it wouldn’t be just to stand outside my door and keep the creeps out, and there is not really any travel.” She was trying to explain it, and didn’t feel confident in her explanation, she looked a little frustrated with herself for over explaining. “You would be kind of like my bodyguard. You show up to work, you get paid, simple as that. I will not fire you unless you do something that really upsets me and as long as I have my company, you have no need to worry about being broke.”

Xavia took the broccoli between her teeth and pulled it off the fork, then chewed in that thorough manner again. Once she swallowed, she went on, “I am sorry if what I say is over explanation, I am sometimes bad with English… As much as I wish to say I have mastered the language, I obviously have not.” A half smile formed on her lips and she peered at him..

"Well, if we can settle on those terms, then I do not like we will have a problem. When would you like me start?" Grim replied with a small chuckle. Then with business done, the shadow mutant quickly turned to his food and began to gross himself on the tasty pasta.

Grim's behavior may have seemed odd to some people. However, the shadow mutant was accustomed to people not witnessing his presence or not caring. In addition, Grim was very strict in distinguishing work from pleasure. Although he might take pleasure in tossing rude customers out of their faces, he always made sure to have a clear separation between what was appropriate at work and how he acted outside of work. This was no difference now that he was employed by the tree creating woman.

"May I ask a personal question?" Grim asked after swallowing a large mouthful of pasta and had returned his silverware to their proper places.

“You start immediately, and we can work out any details later, like paper work and what not.” Tofu was speared next, she ate that quickly. Her eyes diverted to her plate and she looked thoughtful in her silence. Her fork is then set on the napkin next to her plate, and she leaned her elbows on the table and steepled her fingers once again. “What is it you wish to ask me?” She gazed at him once again.

The waitress came by again and she leaned over to quietly ask for her second course, and requested that the current course be boxed for later. She also asked for a rare glass of wine for herself, then offered to have a glass poured for him as well… “White wine? Or if you would prefer, imported beer…”

It didn’t take long for the waitress to retrieve the bottle she requested, which was one of their more expensive options. She did not feel guilty in this case, she rarely bought these kind of things. She just felt like having a glass to try and relax after such a stressful afternoon. She had a lot to think about later on, like the hiring of a new manager. Hell, perhaps she would try for a Broadway audition or two…

In the meantime, however, she would share drink with her new body guard. If he accepted that offer, anyhow.

"While I was engaged with your stalker, I noticed you were able to produce a vine. What else does your mutation include, if you don't mind me asking? It could be usually for me to know your strengths and weaknesses in case we ever to fight off someone together."

Grim retrieved his silverware from the table and had another bite of pasta before the waiter arrives for their alcoholic chooses.

"A bourbon will be great." The shadow mutant replied. When their drinks had arrived, Grim gave the glass a nice whiff, allowing the intoxicating liquid to invade his nostrils before taking a sip. The dark liquor gave the common burning flavor of alcohol with charred oak.

"Hmm, delicious." Grim said, replacing his glass back on the table.

“I would rather we not discuss my gift here. It isn’t that I am being secretive, it is that I would prefer not to deal with the drama of too many people asking questions all at once. I will be happy to tell you all you need to know about me in a more private setting.” She took a drink of her wine, and then relaxed back into her chair. Her gaze kind of drifted of its own accord. Then she turned it back toward him, brow puckering a little.

“Why did you agree to come dine with me, anyway? I am curious. I mean, it was out of the blue.” She gave a half smile, “Not every day you get someone you don’t even know offering to buy you dinner.”

"Ah, I understand." Shade replied. He grabbed his glass and raised a small toast, taking a slip of his liquor as Xavia enjoyed her wine. He swirled the ice around in the glass as he savored the strong kick of the alcohol. Although Shade heard Xavia ask her question, the shadow mutant did not look at her while she talked. Instead, he was looking off into the distance. It was the first time he had not looked at her while she was talking. He stayed frozen for a moment as if lost in thought before suddenly breaking his trance and returning his gaze to Xavia.


"Well that is precisely the reason I agreed. I had a reason to leave that boring club so I took it. Although it isn't like I can't leave every night without them noticing..." Grim said, trailing off. However, it was obvious there was more to the story than the shadow mutant was letting on.

Xavia lifted a brow ever so slightly, “Well, now you do not have to worry about them anymore. No?” Then she flashed a smile at him. She sipped her wine and looked at him over her glass, and the waiter soon showed up to offer dessert. She declined, but gestured toward her new security guard. “Whatever he wants.” She had hardly touched her food as it was.

With a sigh, she glanced around. “I don’t know why, but I have no appetite. Perhaps I should take it easy for the night.” She leaned her head back and sunk against the chair. “But I digress. There is obviously more to it than that. I won’t push you to tell me, seeing as I just with-held some information from you.” A chuckle is given, and she took another sip, closing her eyes and enjoying the wine.

"True, I never have to worry about that club anymore. Although, I will be sure to collect my last paycheck tomorrow." Grim replied with a grin. He took another drink from his glass before emptying it. As the waiter asked about desert, the shadow mutant only asked for another whiskey before the waiter disappeared to fetch the order. Sweets and whiskey were not a good combination.

Grim was unsure by what the young woman meant by 'take it easy'. However, it seemed clear that she was not taking it easy on the wine as she took another sip from her glass. He also noticed some tell tale signs that she might already be feeling the effects of the alcohol. The waiter returned with his new glass, and Grim chuckled with Xavia as he glanced at her over his glass.

True, she was enjoying the wine. It wasn’t often she indulged with imbibing. She was starting to feel it, and was glad she decided not to ride the Harley today. She wouldn’t know if she trusted the staff to watch over it for the night or not, despite being a regular. She relaxed even further and nursed her glass, not particularly drinking fast. Her mind was on the stress of the day.

When she decided that she should slow down, she set the glass on the table and pushed it forward some, sighing a little. “You have your work cut out for you there. What a rowdy crowd that was.” Her lips pursed and she opened her eyes halfway, relaxed more than she had been all day.

She wasn’t drunk, but she was definitely tipsy enough to be flushed. Her cheeks took on a rosy tone, and the smell of roses kind of grew heavy around her. She was a happy plant mutant, obviously. Even her stress melted away.

Grim's tongue was beginning to be loosened by the effect of alcohol, even if he hadn't noticed it yet. He took another sip as his thoughts returns to the battle at Xavia's words.

"It wasn't too bad. We have had worse. Last week, we had to take down a fire mutant who nearly burned the entire club down. Luckily, we had a water nymph there that hit him before he got too out of control. And luckily, you were able to help me before the reinforcements arrived. Tell me, do you always have such crazy fans?" Grim asked, finding himself smiling genuinely.

The alcohol was causing Grim to take larger and larger drinking. As he took another drink from his whiskey, he came up with only ice for the second time tonight. He placed his drink down before glazing over at the woman across from him with his blue eyes.

That was a loaded question. Her pupils dilated as she looked up to him from her glass of wine. With a sigh, she kind of bit her lip and closed her eyes. “I… I am used to eh, a reaction of certain desire from men that I do not exactly promote on purpose.” She gave a shrug. “Perhaps it is because of how I smell. I do not know why else I would get such reaction.” She was actually being meek, now! Here she was, someone who possessed certain looks that she seemed so unaware of it could be mind boggling to some.

“There was one time that I was held in captivity because an old man grew obsessed. I thought, perhaps, that it was just because we were in Romania. Anyway, I was… In his possession for a long time, it felt like. I am lucky to be alive.” And with that, she finished off the half glass of her wine, and then put her hand over it when the waiter noticed it was empty. “No more for me.”

She knew her limits. Now. “Why do you ask?” Her head tilted, her eyes were half closed by that point, cheeks flush. The scent of damask was cloying and drifted around the area as her guard was let down. That partially answered his earlier question, as the scent was not synthetic in the least. It smelled like they were sitting in a garden, and the closest flora were rose bushes.

“I mean, it is an odd question.”

"Smell?" Grim asked. He took a moment as he tested the air with his nose. It smelled flowery, like his nose was led against a bouquet of roses. His reaction was to wrinkle his nose at the smell. Flowers were not his preference as a scent. However, it was enjoyable, compared to the usual dirt and grime his nose was used to.

Then he listened as she opened up about a past 'relationship'. It did not sound pleasant, almost like slavery. Anger rose in the pit of Grim's stomach. He never understood why mutants were subjected to such ill treatment. However, the shadow mutant did not want his anger to ruin the atmosphere so he pushed it back down.

"I only ask so that I will know how many heads I will have to crack each night." Grim replied with a grin. It was obviously a joke, and he gave a little chuckle as he took another slip of alcohol.

“I am pretty sure it will be at least one per night. Sometimes I get lucky and there are none, but it is rare.” Sigh… “But that is what I get for choosing this profession, no?” With that, she gave a lopsided grin and reached to caress a flower in the centerpiece. The whole bouquet reacted accordingly. After a minute, she grabbed for her notepad, something she used to scribble lyrics onto, and flipped a few pages in to a blank sheet. Xavia scribbled down information he needed, like her number, the days she worked, and even the extent of her mutation that she had left out in conversation because she wasn’t comfortable flaunting or talking openly about it in public. (refer to profile)

“How much did you get paid by your former employer anyway? I never did ask.” Her eyes met his by that point, and she ran her fingers through her hair at the side of her head. She tended to do that a lot when she was starting to get tired and such.

Grim leaned forward off of the back of his chair that he had been resting against in order to receive the piece of paper that led all the information he would need for his future employment. It was weird how his night had started with him taking on what appeared to be just a ruddy drunk and now, here he was, getting a new job. And a better job! The shadow mutant had to think for moment as he tried to add up what he usually made at the bar.

"About a hundred, most of it was from the bartender's tips though. They threw us some when we take care of any rough customers."

Grim took another swig from his liquor, finishing it off. He placed it back on the table with a sigh.