open // i don't wanna be lonely no more

[ATLANTA MAE TISZA]

OUTFIT

Atlanta wasn't singing at the bar tonight till late, so she had to stay up, but she refused to spend it in her house staring at the walls. So she made herself up and went out, feeling the fall air on her face. It had grown rather cold as of late, and she found herself pulling her leather jacket around her chest to zip it up.

She realized she hadn't eaten dinner and since it was so cold, maybe she'd duck into the diner for some soup, or at least a hot sandwich. Atlanta was welcomed by the sound of a little ringing bell and she down down at the counter, not being one to eat at the booth alone. It was fairly quiet, but most people here had dinner as a family.

Atlanta wasn't one of those people.

She ordered the chili. It wasn't the most romantic of dishes, and she usually hyped up her sexualized energy, but today she felt like comfort food. Growing up in the south meant that beans were a classic, and since chili was beats and meat, it pretty much fell into the same category.

As she waited, she drummed her fingernails lightly on the fake marble counter-top. A TV droned from behind her. A football game judging by the sound of it. She turned to see who was playing, hoping it would distract her until her food came.

[AJAX HYPERION DEVICE]

Ajax pulled his uniform on over his t-shirt. He rugged the hairnet over his dark hair, and got himself psyched to start cooking for the day. He looked at the little slip of paper hooked up to the board. “Chilli, right” he mumbled and began to prepare the ingredients. He lined the ingredients up, all in the order he liked. He frowned for a moment, then rolled his sleeves up and began cooking. He worked quickly, carefully using his control over fire to light the gas oven. A small flame sprung from his finger. It was doused almost immediately.

“Order's up” he called, and looked around. The servers were probably busy. So the young man, picked the dish up, only after pulling the hairnet off, tying his hair back and unbuttoning the chef's robe. He read the number on the order form, and swept through the doors. Walking to the table, he placed the dish down, “Here ya go ma'm freshly cooked for you” he grinned and on the spur of the moment, sat himself down opposite her.

“Well, tell me what you think of my cooking then?” he asked, urging her to taste the food he had prepared. His hands quickly moved under the table, so that he could unroll the sleeves till the scars on his arms were covered again. He didn't feel like explaining. He looked up at the TV and was entranced for a moment or two, if he hadn't been so in love with cooking, he thought he might have gone into sports. Maybe football. He didn't particularly have a favourite game.

[ATLANTA MAE TISZA]

At the sound of a voice, Atlanta turned around. It was a male voice, as opposed to her female waitress and she noticed his kitchen garb, a cook of some kind? Atlanta wasn't very knowledgable about the variety of positions held in kitchens, and so far it hadn't ever been needed. "Thanks." She said with a little smile. She was always taught to be polite after all. Most who knew who she was never expected it. She was the siren of the local bar, getting everyone in the mood for love, and was generally a ball of pure sex appeal, but she was a person, too.

As it was, the guy looked like jailbait, but he was cute. Atlanta was surprised when he sat down and demanded she try his food in front of him. It was a bit rude of him, but she wasn't going to lie if she didn't like it. Atlanta chuckled a little flirtatiously, "A bit forceful aren't you?" Granted that wasn't always such a bad thing.

Atlanta picked up her spoon and tasted some of a chili, making sure to slowly and seductively take the spoon back out of her mouth. Her powers focused on sex, and as such, she was prone to flirt, regardless of if she intended to follow through. But the chili reminded her a little of home, a different world from here and now and she set the spoon in the bowl.

"It's good thanks." Was he going to sit there and awkwardly watch her eat?

[AJAX HYPERION DEVICE]

“No problem darlin'” he chuckled, and leant forward, his elbows resting on the table, waiting for her response. He loved hearing what people thought of his cooking, unless it was bad. Then he couldn't wait for them to piss off, he tried not to be so angry any more though, mostly he would just go out to the home his mother owned, go down to the basement and let his anger out there.

“Guess so” he shrugged with a cheeky grin. The girl was cute for sure, but he wasn't there because he wanted to get in her pants. He was sitting there because he'd just cooked her meal. He did however gulp when she seductively took the spoon from her mouth, and then shifted on the seat. Contrary to popular belief he wasn't gay. Well he was, a little. He itched his neck before chuckling away. “Thanks, nice to hear” he said, saluting her as he did. He had no reason for saluting her, mostly because he felt like doing so.

“You want anything else, I make a mean smoothie” he laughed. “Or I can just get you a drink of some kind? Some of the wossy people think I put too much chilli in the meal, but I mean... it's called chilli?” he rambled. Honestly he had no intention of moving, he could be rather inappropriate at times, and he was taking the chance to steal a break from work.

[ATLANTA MAE TISZA]

It would be an understatement to say that this boy was a bit strange. She wasn't exactly sure what to make of him, or his ramblings on chili. Being called "darling" was no surprise, nor did that bother her. But generally she wasn't a fan of eating with an audience. She held up her water glass and shook it lightly. "I've got the drink bit covered." She said flatly.

Atlanta hated being out of her element. She wanted to be up on her stage, singing everyone into a lustful stupor. They felt good and she could feed off their lust. It was a win-win, really. This boy was just making things feel awkward. He did have cute hair though...

She ate another spoonful of chili, hoping it would mean she didn't have to do much more talking. Whenever she opened her mouth, she ended up flirting, and that would have the opposite effect she was looking for. But what could she do while he just sat there?

"Since you seem to not be good at hints, what's your name?" She asked, letting him know she wasn't in the mood for company, but giving in a bit all the same.

[AJAX HYPERION DEVICE]

“Good... water... waters healthy” he commented, with a wave of his hand across his face. He wasn't a fan of water, he liked the sugary drinks, like pepsi or tango, wine was often a drink he liked to drink when he could.

“No more food? I could make some” he paused to think of a quick dish “custard up for you... with fish fingers” he laughed at the reference to a Doctor Who episode he'd seen. Fish fingers and custard, though he wasn't sure she'd get the reference. She didn't look the type to watch Doctor Who. He though that he had best explain “It's from Doctor Who... the first episode of Series 5” he grinned at her, and watched as she ate more of her meal.

“You've like gotta spell everything out for me. I was never the brightest crayon in the box” he giggled. “Ajax Device at your service, what's your name?” he replied, unperturbed by what she'd said. He ruffled his fringe which was still hanging loose, and could feel the elastic of the hair band in his hair giving way, so he quickly tightened it.

He didn't want the customers to feel that he was wandering around with his quite long hair falling out into the food. He prized himself on his kitchen hygiene. He'd probably be sacked as well if he just came into work without a hairband. Most guys would probably feel weird buying hairbands, not Ajax, he was used to it, plus his little sister like to play hairdresser on him.

[ATLANTA MAE TISZA]

Atlanta nodded slowly. Yes, water was healthy. She had an affinity for it, she loved swimming almost as much as singing or sex-- and that was saying something. She continued to eat her chili quietly, puzzled by his incessant chatter. Was it really so surprising that a girl only wanted one course at her diner meal? It was a hearty portion anyway, and if he took any time to notice her shapely figure, it took work to keep a waist like that. She just shook her head.

Ajax. A strange name for a strange guy, how fitting. She sighed and replied, "Atlanta." Obviously he didn't frequent the bar or he would have recognized her, or certainly the effect she had on the customers. The whole town thought she was a bit of a slut, which might have been accurate, but they couldn't deny that they liked how she could make them feel with her song.

She stirred her chili quietly watching him. Was he clueless or just rude? "So you cook then, hm?" She asked trying to make the most of her undesired company.

[AJAX HYPERION DEVICE]

Ajax grinned at her, completely oblivious to her irritation towards him. Well he was a little aware, but he didn't care. So many people got annoyed at him that he just shrugged it off and ignored it. He laughed to himself, not exactly sure what he was laughing at. He just laughed. He often did things like that the worst was how often he talked to himself.

“Atlanta that's a pretty name, very unique” he commented, scratching his nails gently over the fake marble table. Ajax didn't often go out to places that had lots of people. He preferred to sit in the cemetery or something and smoke. It was one way he calmed himself down. He needed to be calm, being angry only lead to bad things happening.

“Yup. I love it, I like being in the kitchen” he chuckled. Why did you think I randomly took a job cooking for strangers all day. I wouldn't be in cooking if I didn't like it” he added with a thoughtful look on his face. “I wasn't good enough at school to be a scientist or what not i'm afraid. As I said. I'm not the brightest of crayons” he loved to use that metaphor.

[ATLANTA MAE TISZA]

"Thanks," She said. Atlanta liked her name, she was born by the ocean and the name had come to her mother as some sort of divine intervention. That had been the thought until her family thought her possessed... but that was not a story for Ajax. "Ajax is a unsual name too," She pointed out, though she wasn't really fond of the name herself. It sounded like a company that manufactured car wax or something.

Atlanta didn't bother to point out that most people got jobs at diners to pay their way to a better job. No one aspired to be a short order cook right? Then again, she was content to sing to the same crowd even though she could go national, so maybe it was the same deal. Hard to say. Atlanta pushed the question to the corners of her mind so she wouldn't have to think about it.

Atlanta rolled her eyes but gave a half chuckle as he repeated his beloved crayon simile. He really wasn't very bright. She spooned more chili into her mouth carefully.

[torifan9877]

Lily was walking into the diner to get something to eat. Sadly, she didn't have any friends. She thought it was a whole lot more fun to eat with some nice people instead of by herself. When she saw some a lady at a table with a cook she walked over to them. Lily put her hand on a empty seat. ''May I sit here?'' She asked. Lily wondered if any of them was a fire bender like her. She didn't know anyboody that was a elemental like her. She stood there waiting for a resopnse. Lily put her hand up and created a smll flame from her hands. Some people might call her a showoff, but she just wanted to see wha the response would be about her fire bending. She watched them wondering what they would think of her creating fire. Lily was a powerful fire bender. It was just she didn't want to burn down the diner, so that is why she only made a small flame. Lily stood there waiting for their answer.

[AJAX HYPERION DEVICE]

“Not a problem” he said, pretending to tip an non-existent hat. He smiled at her politely. “I prefer to call myself Jax” he shrugged offering her the choice to call him his beloved nickname. “It is very unusual. No idea why my mother chose it, I think she was drunk” he laughed, “Its to do with some Greek myth” he shrugged his shoulders, he had never bothered to read the myth himself. He just wasn't into that stuff.

Ajax loved his job, it had good hours and an okay pay. It helped that he didn't pay any bills or anything. He was shocked by the sound of another voice. “If it's okay with my lovely new friend here” he chuckled, “I don't mind, but it's her table” he added and watched as she ate more of his chilli. He called it his chilli because he had cooked it.

He raised an eyebrow at the outright display of her powers. “Girl, you don't wanna burn my work place down now do ya” he said, teasing her. He didn't particularly like show-offs. He never showed off with his powers. He was tempted to retaliate and show her what he could do, but that just wasn't him.

He used it for his job and to cool off, that was pretty much it. Unless he was with friends, who knew that he was an elemental. So he just stared at Atlanta, unsure what to do.

[ATLANTA MAE TISZA]

Atlanta chuckled, against her better judgment, she was amused by Ajax's comment about his mother having been drunk when she named him. "If she were drunk, that might explain why you aren't the brightest crayon in the box." She said flatly, using his favorite expression.

She went back t her chili when Lily showed up. Atlanta only knew her in passing because they both sang at the bar, but usually not on the same nights. Atlanta was a fantastic singer, but due to her powers, people didn't order as many drinks while she was singing, so she couldn't sing every night. Tonight she was supposed to go in a few hours though. She couldn't wait to hypnotize her audience, lull them into a lustful stupor. She certainly had her own annoyances to burn off tonight.

Atlanta sighed and threw her hands up. "Whatever." Obviously, alone time wasn't on the menu.

Lily started to make flames in her hand and Atlanta rolled her eyes before spooning more food into her mouth so she didn't have to talk to these clowns. She really should have been more careful, its not like everyone in power had skills, and they did get the occasional visitor. They kept this place off the radar so it was safe for people like them, and they did so by keeping to themselves.

[AJAX HYPERION DEVICE]

Ajax giggled at the use of his phrase. So she got it. “Probably, but it's probably more to do with my father, he was a 'no good lay about'” he shrugged, his mood fell slightly as he mentioned that man who left his mother before he was even born, he hated the man, and he hadn't even met him. His mother had told Ajax's all about it.

Ajax itched the side of his neck rather awkwardly. “I can do that” he said in a quieter volume to his normal talking voice, gesturing towards Lily. “I'm just not such a show off” he laughed, speaking towards Atlanta. “You do anything like that?” he asked curiously, wondering whether she was an human or not?

He checked his watch a little nervously. He'd been sat down for a while, he would be sacked if he stayed much longer. But he was genuinely enjoying talking with Atlanta even if she wasn't enjoying it. He could wait a little while, he supposed, he wasn't being egotistical, but he was one of the better cooks there.

As Lily walked off after a moment of no one talking to her. He watched her leave. Wondering what had got her actually walking over to the duo in the first place. Had it just been the chance to show off?

[ATLANTA MAE TISZA]

Atlanta only nodded. He dad wasn't a lay about, but he was no good by her estimation. A bible belt baptist priest who would beat his own daughter for being sexually appealing. Granted, she had been young the first time her gift came to light, but none the less, she ran from her family and her past and had no intention of going back.

So, they were both fire manipulators, that was interesting, but it made sense why her food stayed warm longer. She stirred her chili blankly as Lily walked away. She'd always been strange.

"Well, not exactly like that," Atlanta said with a half smile. She was rather proud of her powers but out to context it felt dirty. "I sing at the bar, I'm due in later tonight, if you stop by, you'll definitely find out what it is I do." She said with a little smile. It really was a marvelous trick.

Maybe Ajax deserved a real answer, so with a sigh she explained. "When I sing, I make everyone listening feel... sexually aroused... for 15 minutes per every minute I sing. I, in turn, feed off their sexual energy, which keeps my voice good, my face pretty and my flirting tenancies going." She laughed and sipped her water. She was to blame for many marriages in this backwater town. People just couldn't keep their hands to themselves. "Like a siren, minus the drowning." She laughed with a wink.

[AJAX HYPERION DEVICE]

Ajax smiled at her, before ruffling his already fluffy hair. He sighed to himself. His mother had Sable now. A man who was now a father figure for him, as well as the father of his half siblings. He often wished that he was his father not just a sort of step father. He forced the drab thoughts to the back of his mind, and focused on where he was now.

He had a knack of doing that. Making the food stay warm. He often didn't mean to. He just wanted people to eat it how he would want to eat food. Warm. So he constantly kept his dishes warmed. He grinned at her half answer. “I'll drop in.” he laughed. He had never thought to go to the bar, he didn't frequent that scene often.

“Very nice power to have, you are very pretty” he commented, she was pretty. Incredibly so. “So you are a siren out of water?” he asked, laughing. He'd always been intrigued by the idea of Sirens. It was quite a powerful female creature. He wondered if there were male sirens. He had never been bothered enough to look for 'male' sirens.