The Devil You Don't Know (Bronwyn)

[Faith Winters]

Faith was up earlier than she was comfortable with, but the extra energy inside of her helped her prepare for the day. Though yesterday her dress was far too colorful and bright, she had done an excellent job of observing her surroundings and blending in. She had on a subtle sun dress and had her hair pulled up in a ponytail.

She was waiting in the Lobby at precisely 7:00 waiting for Bronwyn.

[Bronwyn Dare]

Bronwyn had no idea what she'd been thinking. She agreed to go to breakfast with the girl only because it seemed to annoy the man she was with. She wasn't really all that interested in making friends, after all. It wasn't a good idea in her line of work. Anything that could make her identifiable was dangerous. On the other hand, she did have to blend in to a certain extent, and nothing could be more suspicious than someone who was always alone, skulking about in the shadows. There had to be a balance, right?

Still, she debated with herself for much of the night. It wouldn't cost anything if she just didn't show up, would it? Aside from the possible awkwardness that would come if she happened to run into the girl again, there was no consequence for not showing up. But then she thought of the man she was with, and imagined how he would condescendingly tell the girl that he'd warned her about the strange woman she met in the lobby.

When she woke up the next morning, she still hadn't decided whether she would meet the girl for breakfast or not. She got ready, showered and dressed and fixed her hair so that it was tied back in a simple braid, but it wasn't until the last minute that she decided to go down to the lobby and meet Faith.

As she got out of the elevator, Bronwyn could see the girl already waiting there. She was only a couple of minutes late, but still Faith had beat her there. Clearly, she had been looking forward to this. Realizing this was almost enough to make her turn around and go back upstairs, but it was too late... she'd already been spotted.

[Faith Winters]

" Good morning." she said with a light smile. She was adept at reading people and for a moment she could have sworn that Bronwyn was regretting her decision to meet with Faith. Faith was going to have to be a perfect companion for the day so that the woman would change her mind.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked politely, "Thank you for offering to take me into town."

[Bronwyn Dare]

Almost in spite of herself, Bronwyn could feel herself relaxing. The girl could charm just about anyone. Maybe it was because she reminded Bronwyn of her sister in a way, or maybe being back in London had brought out the softer side of herself. She didn't really want to think too deeply on the subject, though, and she gave the girl a smile.

"Good morning. Yes, I did sleep quite well, thank you. It's a nice hotel, isn't it?"

Much nicer than Bronwyn was used to, actually. She had learned to sleep in all kinds of conditions, so luxury like this was unexpected bonus.

"Well, are you ready for some coffee? If I remember correctly, most coffee in London is pretty bad, but the place I'm thinking of is actually really good. It's run by an American... the Americans really know their coffee."

[Faith Winters]

Coffee...good American Coffee, usually in one of those coffee shops...that had all sorts of pastries. Yes Faith was excited though she kept it mostly to herself, " Can't wait." She laughed, " I could use it after last night. I'm afraid I'm still a bit jetlagged." she nodded toward the woman and motioned for her to lead the way.

She knew Valerius didn't like her making friends or branching out, but he tolerated it she supposed because he loved her. In turn Faith was careful she always had tricks up her sleeve just in case.

[Bronwyn Dare]

Although Bronwyn generally chose to travel through magical means (it was harder to trace her identity that way), she was familiar with the term "jetlag", and had even experienced it once herself on a few occasions in which it had been necessary to travel the muggle way. So she didn't react strangely to hearing the word. Still, it made her wonder a bit about the girl. The hotel was supposed to be open to both muggles and wizards, and it suddenly occurred to her that the girl might not be of magical blood.

Ultimately, though, it didn't matter. Bronwyn was well trained to blend in, whether among muggles or wizards. She would have to watch what she said, just in case, but even that didn't worry Bronwyn. She always played everything close to the vest anyway.

"Mmm, yes, I know what you mean. I just came in from Thaliand. Not only is the time change a bit of an adjustment, but the cold gray English weather is a shock to my system. Where did you fly in from?"

This was a lie, of course. She had actually come from the Mediterranean. But she never admitted the last place she'd been... just in case. She usually had a cover story with false paperwork, just in case someone decided to ask.

[Faith Winters]

"The States." she answered. Like Bronwyn she never revealed the truth behind her whereabouts, she had actually been in India with Valerius. She had really enjoyed herself there, the bright colors, the exotic beauty from every view. They had lived in a palace or close to one anyway, and she spent her days romanticizing while Valerius took care of business she wasn't allowed to know about.

"Not as bad of a shock but still different."

[Bronwyn Dare]

If she were really curious, Bronwyn could have asked where in the States she had come from. It was a big country, after all, and Bronwyn had seen quite a lot of it in her own travels. But she let it pass for now.

"Ah, that's nice. I like traveling in the States. It's not as exotic, of course, but each area has its own sort of individual culture. I think my favorite city is New Orleans. It seems like they're always celebrating something."

[Faith Winters]

"Really?" she asked genuinely surprised, "That's mine as well. We stopped there for only a small while, but I love the culture." she explained.

It was surprising to think that Bronwyn would like a city like New Orleans, still Faith hardly knew the woman, and it was foolish to make assumptions.

"Do you travel often?"

[Bronwyn Dare]

What Bronwyn actually liked about the city was the way it was so easy to slip into the shadows. New York was good for that, too, but there even the shadows seemed over-crowded. But in New Orleans, everyone was so busy having a good time that they usually didn't notice the dark things going on around them.

"I've been there a few times," she replied, shrugging lightly. "The food is good."

Whenever someone asked about her traveling, she had a cover story ready. She traveled so often that the road was literally her home, but whenever she revealed that to anyone, it usually made people curious.

"Yes, I do travel a lot... all the time, actually. I don't even really have a home... I'd never spend any time there. I move from one hotel to another. I'm a photographer, you see, and I travel where ever the work takes me. I'm supposed to be doing a piece on London in the spring... that's why I'm here."

The cover story usually worked, although if ever anyone asked, she usually did take pictures in each city, just so she would have something to show.

[Faith Winters]

"Must be nice." she smiled. " We move around a lot, but that's just Valerius's business which takes him all over. Half the time I don't even know where we are, or why we're there." she sighed, " Sometimes I think what it would be like to just settle down somewhere and stay, but I couldn't leave him. He'd be lost without me."

She shrugged and continued walking wondering how much further it would be. Her thoughts were now on Valerius and truly wondering if she would ever be able to settle down, or if this nomadic lifestyle would haunt her forever.

[Bronwyn Dare]

Bronwyn bit back a remark about this. In her opinion, the only reason Valerius would be lost without Faith was because he wouldn't have anyone to bark orders at. But she knew that wasn't entirely fair of her. She didn't really know the man, and she supposed it was possible that he had a softer side. She doubted it, but it was possible.

"If you could settle down and stay somewhere, where would it be?" she asked in a conversational tone. It was actually a question she'd asked herself many times before, when the stress of constant travel seemed to wear on her.

[Faith Winters]

Faith didn't have a ready answer for her, the truth was she wouldn't be the person she was if she hadn't been so many different places and seen so many different things.

"Honestly...I don't know...but it'd be nice to have roots somewhere...a place to call home." she caught herself daydreaming about that often, but she too had a restless spirit that begged to travel, wherever the wind took her usually.

"It's not that I'd want to stop traveling completely. I'd just like to have a "home" to come back to."

[Bronwyn Dare]

Bronwyn could easily identify with that feeling. Even now, technically, she was home, but she didn't feel like she belonged here. This was where she had been born, where she had grown up, where her sister still lived. But she was out of place here... not civilized, not sophisticated... she was nothing like her sister. Lindsay belonged here, but Bronwyn had no place in her life.

Not for the first time since arriving in London, Bronwyn thought about the possibility of visiting her sister. Lindsay was married now, with a husband and a little boy. Bronwyn had missed the wedding, and the boy's birth... She wasn't even sure how old Warren was now. Certainly he wouldn't recognize her if he met her. Maybe he didn't even know she existed. It was probably better if he didn't know.

"Sometimes home isn't a place... it's the person you're with," Bronwyn said softly. "Maybe Valerius is your home."

She doubted it, actually, and it was a far more sentimental thing than Bronwyn would ever usually say. But if it made Faith feel better, then it was worth it.