--- bars

@Hayley Atwell Miru laughed as she nodded. "That sounds good. I bet they will love to joke around with you once they get to know you. They love doing that kind of stuff since it is fun and they get to be a little mischievous," Miru said as she looked at her. "Yeah, it always good to change it up when you feel that feeling inside of your stuff to do something new or different," She said with a smile. "I know you'll get something great, and something that you love," She said as she shook her head. "No problem, you're welcome. Abuse it as much as you want - we are friends, right? Or well, friends in the making - so don't be afraid to use it," Miru nodded to her as she followed behind to the door. "Goodnight to you too," Miru waved to her as she headed out of the bar just heading home.

@Shiroma Miru “Alright, I will try and be good then and not give them a fright. This time. Maybe another time I will mess with them just because I’m an agent of chaos.” The wolf said with a cheeky grin as she regarded the kitsune and then the card offered to her. “Because it’s time to change, I think. Instincts are telling me something I don’t understand yet so I will figure it out eventually. Thanks for the number though I will try not to abuse it.” Hayley smiled at her once more as she took the card and then headed towards the door. “Goodnight and sweet dreams.”

@Hayley Atwell "Yes, even though you are a wolf," Miru nodded to her with a smile. "We are trying to teach the kits that even though wolves do hunt foxes or sometimes they aren't the nicest to us - not all wolves are like that like you," Miru said as she looked at her. "Plus, at the sharehouse, we welcome all types of creatures that need a home to stay, so we've had a couple of wolves in the sharehouse," Miru said with a nod. "Oh, well I mean if it does playfully then they might laugh along with you - kitsunes are tricksters, they might even scheme to get you back. Kits can be scarier than us full-grown," Miru warned as she looked at her. "Yeah, we should totally do it again! I will totally let you know. What? Why do you have that suspicion?" Miru asked as she patted around her coat for something as she pulled out one of her business cards so that Hayley would have her number. "Here is one of my business cars, so you can have my number and stuff so if we aren't on the app then we can reach each other," Miru held it out to her.

@Shiroma Miru “Even though I’m a wolf? My gosh the urge to scare them is entirely too high, that should be a red flag. I’d do it for giggles.” Hayley half-joked even though there was an actual nugget of truth to her statement. She decided not to lean into it though and instead stood up, sliding money across the slick top of the bar to pay for her drinks. “I had fun too so I hope we can do it again. Anytime you see me in chat or around and you want to get together, just let me know. I have the sneaking suspicion I am going to be jobless before too long.”

@Hayley Atwell "Well, I take them to the park all the time, I think you'll run into us at some point. I think they might be a little wary of you at first, but once they know we're friends then you'll be their friend. Plus kits love making friends, so I think you'll do fine," Miru chuckled as she looked at Hayley. Miru looked around as Hayley brought up that it was getting late. Miru took out her phone as she looked at the time as it was late which meant she should be getting back home so she'd get enough sleep for tomorrow. "Sadly, yes, we'll have to - but I enjoyed it while it lasted and would love to do it again," Miru smiled at her as she pulled out her wallet as she paid for both for their drinks. "Thank you for talking me with tonight, I really enjoyed it," Miru nodded to as she stepped off her stool as she pulled on her jacket.

@Shiroma Miru What had started out as idle conversation had become quite deep. So deep, in fact, that she had failed to notice the patrons of the bar had slowly been filtering out as the two females were discussing the depths of the soul. Hayley might have continued to have been oblivious if she had not stretched her back and gotten a good look around the interior. For some reason that made her smile a bit as she returned her attention to the kitsune. "Well, maybe one day if you bring the kids to the park when I am there we can see how well I do then but I do warn you that I am not the most child friendly." she intoned half-seriously before finishing off her bourbon. "It is getting late though so we may have to postpone the rest of this conversation for another time."

@Hayley Atwell Miru nodded in agreement. "That is very true. If you can check yourself, then how are others supposed to check you?" Miru said as she sipped on her drink as she returned the smile. Miru nodded as she agreed. "Yeah, us being immortal beings we can get stuck in this idea of ourselves that doesn't always work in the current situation. We can only better ourselves after we kind of kick ourselves to actually do it and feel like we need to get better," Miru said as she understood her that she was sharing a bit about herself, but she didn't want to pry or anything. She figured that Hayley would share when she was ready or when they got to know each other better. "I think you'd do better around kids than you think. Kids can help you improve yourself in ways that you never knew that they could," Miru nodded at her. "But of course, if you don't feel comfortable, it's okay not to be around kids. You have to know your boundaries and others have to respect that," Miru said

@Shiroma Miru "Fighting ourselves is very important. How can we expect anyone else to try and keep us in check if we can't even do it?" Hayley agreed lightly, smiling at the kitsune before taking another slow sip of her bourbon. "Being hard on yourself keeps you from being complacent and corrupt. If we lose that struggle, that desire to be better, then what are we even doing with these long lives of ours?" This time it was the werewolf offering a bit more of herself than she had maybe intended with that statement but she was pretty sure that the other would understand it anyway. "That's another reason I don't think it's the best idea for me to be around children. I am too much of a mess for that. The responsibility would be crushing."

@Hayley Atwell Miru always had been checking herself to keep her emotions in check as emotions were always the worse enemy for a kitsune. Plus, she always has to check her behavior so that she tries to be a good role model someone for the younger kits to look up to so that they do become successful in whatever that they do. "That is very true, but I think fighting ourselves helps us improve as people so that we change for the better," Miru said as she looked at Hayley with a short nod. "Thank you for saying that, but I'll always be hard myself. I don't think that I know how not be hard on myself," Miru confessed as she sipped on her drink. "Well, children are pretty impressionable so you have to know when you when you wrong so that you can show them what is right or make yourself better for them," Miru nodded.

@Shiroma Miru There certainly seemed to be quite a bit of ambivalence in the kitsune beside her that the fox herself only seemed to be partly aware of. That sort of thing wasn't uncommon, everyone had their own blindspots regarding their behaviors and she figured that was what was going on for Miru too. The unfortunate thing was that Miru had limited control over her own situation and that made Hayley's heart ache for her. "Fighting ourselves is sometimes the hardest thing to do. I mean, hell, I lose a fight with myself for three days every month that I have no way of winning by myself." she commiserated. "And I would say you are doing much better than decent, that you are being hard on yourself. Facing and owning up to being imperfect in the eyes of children is scary on a huge number of levels but you do and you keep trying to be better. That's pretty damn good."

@Hayley Atwell Miru sighed as she shrugged. "I am not too sure how I balance it out in my mind. I think it is the guilt and fear that comes from if I leave them. It would eat me alive if I left them when I knew there wasn't left at the house that could give them a life that I had," Miru told her as she sipped on her drink as her eyes flashed a short red-golden color for a second. "I don't know if I can justify my actions. I know screw up, acknowledge that you mess up, and try as hard as you can to not screw up again next time," Miru added as she leaned on her elbow. "It's hard to balance it and things like that. I think I just take it day by day, see where things take me. Some days I don't want to be my situation, but we can't pick how our lives go, you know? Besides, I turned out decent," Miru shrugged a bit.

@Shiroma Miru It was unusual to hear that someone could be selfless and then selfish at any given moment and it took Hayley a moment to wrap her head around the concept. In some ways it made a lot of sense given the actual nature of the kitsune as well as her situation but at the same time it made her seem like two totally different people. "How do you balance it out in your mind? How do you justify these drastic changes?" she asked, decided to just go for it with what was on her mind. The worst the kitsune could do was set her on fire or something and she would live through that and if she managed to touch on a nerve to offend the girl, then it was probably for the best anyway. "I don't think I could do that myself which is why I don't want to be in that situation. I would drive myself crazy trying to do so."

@Hayley Atwell "So true, there would so many more scientists," Miru agreed as she sipped on her drink. Miru had always had selfless things done for her when she was younger by past older kitsunes at the house or the old lady that used to own the house, so she wanted to give that back so the kits around had that the same love and support that she was given. Miru gave her a look as she leaned on her elbow just wondering what was inside the head of the wolf across from her. "Oh, believe me, I mess up all the time lately. I am pretty sure, they are wondering when big sister Miru isn't coming back again since lately I've been skipping out on them for weeks just trying to find something to feel the void or I do something that is stupid - so don't worry I am not perfect in any way," Miru told her as she nodded. "But, doing what I do at the sharehouse isn't for everyone. I sometimes think about running away and not coming back - but I always come back. I can't leave them," Miru nodded.

@Shiroma Miru "If experiments were more fun then there would be a lot more scientists, that's for sure." The wolf posited with a wry chuckle as she asked the bartender for another drink, not bothering to change it up. Hayley's mind was somewhere between risks and family when she heard what Miru had to say about her ability to do something as selfless as the kitsune with the sharehouse when something about that struck her as amusing. She tilted her head to the side slightly and fixed the fox with a rather curious and penetrating gaze, almost playfully challenging the other. "No, no. I know me and I am less good the closer I am to something. High and lofty ideals, sure, I can do that. They don't have big eyes and pouts to make me feel bad if I mess up. That kind of stuff, the disappointment of another..." Hayley trailed off and in a long slow breath before shaking her head. "Nope. That's the kind of thing that would keep me running and never look back."

@Hayley Atwell "Games are always so much more fun than experiments," Miru nodded as she looked at the other woman. "Exactly, the more risk then the better fun you'll have," Miru said as she chuckled a bit. Miru loved games as there was that risk, and you could never know what the outcomes are. There could be many different outcomes and so many different risks when it came to games. Miru raised up her glass as she clinked it against Hayley's glass. "Yes, to risk as they say no risk, no return," Miru smiled to her.

Miru drank a little over half of her drink, which was fine since it didn't have any alcohol in this one. Miru didn't always like talking about the share house depending on the day since at times she didn't want to be there and sometimes that is all she thought about. She loved every part about it since it kept her alive, and let her get where she wanted. "Somedays I do want to leave when I get stressed or too lonely - but then I think about what the share house did for me then I can't leave. They need someone to look out for them like I had," Miru nodded as she smiled a bit while thinking about it. "Oh, I am sure that you could with right people around you," She said

@Shiroma Miru Upon hearing Miru's suggestion, a wry grin pulled at her full lips and she nodded appreciatively. "Game seems like it would be much more fun than an experiment so I think we should go with that idea instead. It's much higher stakes in a game anyway, thus more risk and more fun. An experiment may fail to prove a premise but the data is still useful and so nothing is really lost. A game you can actually lose and has other consequences which makes it more risky, especially from a personal standpoint." Hayley reasoned, the two of them seemingly on the same page in that regard which caused the wolf to lift her glass to the Kitsune. "To risk."

She was quick to down a good portion of her newly filled bourbon with the toast though she was also just as hasty at flashing Miru a warm smile as she spoke of her family. Something of an orphan herself nowadays she could see the value in what the sharehouse meant to those who lived there and she was happy for them. Hayley was also fast to dismiss most if not all praise lobbied her way and instead focused in on making sure the Kitsune also felt appreciated. "What you do for your family is special too. I can see a lot of reasons to want to leave it, to abandon others and keep recreating the cycle because it's easier to look after oneself but you don't do that." She said with a genuinely praising tone. "I know I am not good enough for such a task."

@Hayley Atwell Miru chuckled as she listened to the other. "Oh, I don't think it would be that boring nor would you have to jettison yourself off to another planet. I guess we can just keep this experiment to ourselves and it can be like a game instead of an experiment," Miru suggested as she shrugged a bit. "That is true, science can take out the risk and unknown to where we won't be interested in it anymore if there isn't any mystery in it anymore. Drinking will become borning in that sense, I suppose if there wasn't anymore risk in seeing how much we could handle or not," Miru said as she glanced over to the other.

"We are, or well we try to be a close nit family since we are the only family some of them will ever have for a long time. It can be hard sometimes to watch them grow up and then leave - but then it is great to see what the accomplish when they do," Miru mumbled as she could see Hayley thinking about to say or if she was going to answer but she did. It just let Miru know that she should pick and choose her questions, well personal ones as Hayley didn't seem to like to talk about herself yet, which was fine. "I think that it. is pretty special - not a lot of people would want to do that. So thank you for keeping everything clean and such. I take the little ones there sometimes to play or shop if they have money to spend from doing their chores," Miru nodded

@Shiroma Miru The idea of writing a full paper made Hayley laugh deeply and crinkle her nose, completely dismissing the whole thing entirely. "If I ever tried that then I think I would bore myself and possibly the entirety of the world to tears. I would have to even vote for a proposal to jettison me off of the planet or something. Talk about taking the whole fun out of drinking. The risk." she mused aloud, chuckling to herself. "I think there needs to always be that risk, that unknown, and if we boil it down into science too much then it loses that."

"Sounds like a neat and close family unit you have there, even if it isn't what others might consider a traditional family." Hayley replied warmly, only to pause a bit at the questions about herself. She tilted her head from side to side as if weighing her response before answering honestly. "I am more or less a janitor. I walk around the parks along the Promenade, cleaning and caring for them. Nothing special."

@Hayley Atwell "Well then, you have a lot of data to go off on. I bet you could even maybe write a paper from it," Miru answered with a nod. She didn't think this conversation or ideas were boring. She had always liked experiments or tests, or things like that besides art. Science and things like that were her favorite subject in school besides art - so she actually did think it was interesting and fun to talk about.

"Hm, that's true. I guess that I have never thought about it that way. I have just thought about well know I have the money to get this, that, or the next thing on my list," Miru nodded as she sipped on her drink. "I mean, I am not the only that uses their money to get things for the house - but I tend to take care of the little ones the most since I do make the most," Miru nodded as she was usually thinking about the amount and who needed things the most. "Alright, and I'll let you know when I am uncomfortable too. You'll probably know noticed quicker since us kitsune's eye change color when we experience a lot of fo emotion whether it be negative or positive," Miru added as she thanked the bartender for her next drink. "So, you know a lot about what I do for work - what do you do? If you don't mind me asking?" Miru asked as it hadn't really been brought up yet.

@Shiroma Miru It would not be the first time that she had ever been accused of making something a little bit drier and more methodical, nor would it be the last. Her very logical thought processes often brought that part of her personality out in the strangest of ways but she could at least relax knowing that she wasn't boring Miru. "Maybe it is my ongoing experiment for the last 80 years or so?" she asked, mostly to herself. "Goodness knows I have had a lot of experience drinking and buying my own drinks."

"Whether you use them yourself or purchase them as part of your position at the house that is still you trading for the things you need in my eyes. It's the same way I would view things my father purchased for myself and the family with what he made. He is part of the whole in the same way you are and any contribution to the whole in which he is part also helps him." Hayley mused, sharing her thoughts aloud with the other. "There's not a lot that I don't talk about so you don't really have to worry about it and any time you broach a subject that might make me uncomfortable, I will tell you in no uncertain terms."

@Hayley Atwell "I mean, yeah you would save a lot of money - but shouldn't you drink what you like? What if you don't like the fruity cheap drinks then you are wasting money because you aren't enjoying them or like them," Miru pointed out as she nodded at Hayley. Miru shook her head as she laughed a bit. "You didn't make it burning - more a little business and philosophical, or maybe like a science experiment - but not boring," Miru answered as she looked at her. "It could be fun to figure out that like an experiment or something - an expensive one but it could be fun," Miru shrugged.

"Oh, no - none of those things really are for me. They are for the kits at the sharehouse. Most of my money goes to them so that they can good lives as well. I am one of the main people and the first person that they go to when they need something - I am basically the mom of the house really," Miru laughed as she shrugged as she finished her drink as she ordered another one without the vodka this time. "It usually doesn't bother me that much, sometimes it does if I am in a mood or if its something I don't like to talk about - but I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable about talking about things," Miru said

@Shiroma Miru "But think of the savings! In order for me to get tipsy, just a little buzzed, I have to get around four high-alcohol drinks in quick succession. Shots are typically my best friend for that but they aren't exactly the most pleasing to drink. I have to try and navigate the space between taste and the desired level of inebriation while also being on budget. Wow, I just made drinking sound boring as heck." Hayley realized with a light laugh and shook her head as if dismissing further similar thoughts from her head.

The apologies from the kitsune were a bit of a surprise and left Hayley feeling a little bit confused, wondering if she had come off as offended or anything while she understood the other was just being nice. "Well, art is your profession so I am not surprised that you swap the pictures for things you need. This is the way of commerce." she reasoned and ordered another bourbon from the bartender. "Just talking about things doesn't really upset me that much. I am not particularly bothered by discussion and can typically distance myself emotionally from nearly any topic. No need to apologize, dear."

@Hayley Atwell "Usually three or four of these knocks me off my , so I have to pace myself with a couple with no vodka if I want to stay out late or at all some nights," Miru said as she nodded. "You want to be more like me? Oh no, I wish I could drink more - try all the fancy cocktails and not be teased for being the baby that won't drink more two drinks. Or be able not to worry how many drinks I've had each night," Miru said as she looked at her. "Though, oh trust me fancy cocktails with customization get pretty pricy too," Miru told her with a small nod.

Miru nodded as she sipped on her drink. "Oh, then I am sorry about pushing it on you or seeming like that I was pushing it on you that wasn't my intention at all. I can understand always picking the microwave over the art pieces - I still do it today. The art I sold today is going to two doctor visits, a pair of glasses, new shoes, and food for the rest of the month. I just get excited when someone actually thinks art is interesting," Miru told her "Looking is just as good a buying." She added. Miru sighed as she nodded. "I wish I could feel it just one time rather than all the time," Miru mumbled under her breath as she shook her head again. "I am sorry if this brought up anything negative. We don't have to talk about it," Miru added as she glanced over to Hayley.

@Shiroma Miru The werewolf chuckled upon hearing what the other was drinking, not at all surprised by the contents of the cocktail. "I could probably drink a half dozen of those before I felt anything. I wish I was more like you, to be honest, I would save a fortune in bar tabs." Hayley replied brightly. "The way that I drink and what I drink costs a pretty penny and my wallet hates me for it more often than not."

"To be honest, I never really went looking for art. Nor do I have any. It's nice to look at but I am ultimately a practical woman on a budget so I can either invest in art or a new microwave. I will pick the microwave every time. Or whatever other thing needs fixed or replaced." She admitted with a slight shrug only to fall silent as she listened to the Kitsune. "We aren't that different. Wolves are meant to be in packs, to be together, and we feel so much lesser without that. The beast in us knows. The difference is that those negative emotions only come out with the moon whereas you have to deal with them all the time."

@Hayley Atwell Miru nodded as she chuckled as well. "Oh, I am drinking sparkling water with lemon and strawberry juice with a splash of vodka. I can't have much alcohol so I usually just cocktails or little mixes like this. It is really good, and you can nurse for a long time," Miru answered as she looked at her. "But the classics are good too. Drink what you like is what I always say," She added

"Of course, no problem. Oh, really? I love doing that. It can be a lot of fun to find pieces that make your heart happy. Plus I've been known to be a good negotiator," Miru smiled as it had been a long time since anyone really wanted her help on art. Most people thought that she didn't know much since she does anime and game art, but she does have a traditional art education and degree along with digital and graphic design. "Yeah, us kistunes have trouble with that, especially the ones that have void or attachment issues. Our bodies are built to search out for a mate and partner and always feel empty until we get that, then we have to be extremely careful with the emotions around us too, so it can be much for people who don't understand it," Miru said. "Then when people leave or don't like you anymore - that is worse than not having anyone to begin with," Miru shook her head. "Sorry, about me droning on. I do that sometimes," Miru told her.

@Shiroma Miru "You have been mourned." Hayley declared for the bourbon and then chuckled before downing the rest of her glass. "So what is it that you're drinking? Is it some kind of fruity concoction? I know some of those kinds of drinks are supposed to be super yummy but I tend to prefer the old standards and classics, thus the bourbon neat. Maybe I should try something else though."

It was sweet the way Miru offered to help Hayley purchase art and she was touched by it but she didn't know how to tell the Kitsune that she wasn't really in the market for such things. Hayley barely had an apartment with what could only be described as near-spartan conditions because she was saving up to do something better. "Thanks. Maybe once I get my new place I will contact you to help decorate it." she replied honestly, even if it wasn't entirely the full truth of what she meant. "Managing is pretty good. Just be careful of the pressure you might put on a potential partner without even meaning to. Sometimes its easy to get lost in these kinds of things."

@Hayley Atwell Miru chuckled as she nodded. "Yes, we should. It is a shame that you couldn't enjoy those sips of good bourbon, and it is a shame that bourbon couldn't fulfill it's life purpose to be drank and enjoyed by someone," Miru sighed as she shook her head as she closed her eyes for a moment then opened them back up. "It is truly the real crime," Miru agreed.

"That's fine, I'd thought I'd offer. I know that my style isn't everyone's. I think the art museum might have some paintings in that style soon or they are getting ready to put on some shows in that style from what I've heard around the scene," Miru nodded to her as she wasn't disappointed or offended. She was pretty used to it by now, and everyone had their own tastes. "If I see anything in that style then I'll snap a picture and send it your way," Miru added with a nod. "It is, but it's the only way I've found that fills the void. It if was that easy then I would do that, but sadly, it's not. I am working on it though instead of chasing guys to fill the void or doing some dangerous or stupid, I am doing something safer. Just enjoying a friend's company by enjoying a drink and talking to you." Miru nodded as she looked down at her drink then back to Hayley.

@Shiroma Miru Hayley chuckled as the other played right along with her jokes and nodded a few times. "I think at this moment I would like to take a few seconds to mourn what was at least a sip of perfectly good bourbon that we lost today. What a shame that you couldn't have been enjoyed to your fullest." She jokingly lamented and pretended to wipe a tear from her cheeks. "That I think has been the real crime."

While Hayley was touched by the offer the other had made, she wasn't going to feign interest or lie to her. To a fault, the werewolf was as honest as she could be when dealing with people. "I do appreciate it but the anime look really isn't my style, no offense. My look or genre of choice would be either impressionist or the sort of raygun gothic, mid century modern, art deco and atomic era mix. Very 1950's retro and less modern art." she explained her tastes, hoping the other wouldn't be too offended by it. "As for filling a void with other people, that is always dangerous. I'd recommend filling it yourself if you can so that the person doesn't have to always be that for you."

@Hayley Atwell "And you've got every right to change how you think of yourself - just do whatever feels right to you. Pixelized person, a clump of pixels, liquid human goo, or whatever you want, I'll support you," Miru answered with a nod. "And hey, sometimes being a piece of digitized energy can be better than being a flesh monster - cause like you mentioned you won't have other flesh monsters bumping into you and spilling drinks on you," Miru smiled as she looked at her.

Miru always tried to be caught up on the time as she didn't like to be left behind on anything. She liked to be updated to date, and social media was really the only way she was able to make the money adn get the fans or audience for her art - so she had to get up with the times to even try to make any lively hood for herself if she wanted to do what she really loved to do. "Oh, that's true. Makes me feel a little better that I can sell to more than my family friends," Miru laughed a bit as she sipped on her drink again. "If you ever want some art then just hit me up, I can give you some prints or make you something - no charge for friends," Miru smiled to her. "That's fair and understandable. Yeah, sometimes I want those lazy days, but other days the void is too big so I just need to fill however I can, and sometimes the danger is the only way to fill it, Miru sighed a bit. "I hoping that this app can help me fill that void forever, so I don't have to end up in danger to fill it or wonder how many people I need to be around to feel okay," Miru shrugged.

@Shiroma Miru "Well, in this case you are right but that could change. I prefer to think of myself is matter-fluid. Sometimes I feel like a solid and sometimes I feel like digitized energy that can't be fully pinned down." The werewolf continued the joke before sipping on her bourbon once more. "Most of the time I feel entirely too solid though. Especially when someone bumps into me and spills my drink, ya know?"

As much as Hayley wanted to think she was caught up with the times, she really wasn't. The social media thing was not her preferred method of interaction but her point of view was being outdated and so she was begrudgingly doing more and more with technology and the internet. "That all makes sense. And, to be fair, Van Gogh was a miserable failure while alive. He only ever sold one piece and it was to a family friend so..." Her voice trailed off and she shrugged a little bit, hoping that the little fact about the painter would affirm the Kitsune's confidence even if she didn't seem to need it.

"Danger is overrated. I done lived through enough war and I don't want to have anything to do with another. Boring is fine with me." She commented and chuckled. "In fact, the more boring the better. Bring on the lazy afternoons on a porch swing."