ears. Rose wasn't putting up with shit though, and simply snorted and turned away from me. Then it was Erol's turn to come down the stairs.
"See, I told you that they'd both come around to you."
"They're good company. How was work last night?"
"Well, I got caught up on some problem. I keep running into the same wall, but it's all right. I've got to take a rest on that for now."
"Oh, really? Mind sharing why?"
"Not that I'd rather be doing something else, but I gotta pay the bills, just like everyone else. My line of work is a bit unusual, which means I have to take on clients when I get them."
"Do tell," I said, stretching my spine upward into the air.
I was probably flashing him both nipples at this point, but I didn't even care. Soon enough this entire relationship would be nothing more than a thing of the past. If he was attracted to me between now and then, that was his problem, not mine. In fact, it would probably only make my job easier.
"So, I guess I can get you some breakfast, and you'll be on your way..."
He popped my ego right out of the sky. I practically sagged to the ground for a moment, and then caught myself.
"You can feed me if you like, but I want to hear about this gig that you got."
He nodded, and I pushed forward through the layers of hesitation and space he was attempting to orchestrate between the two of us. I rolled my eyes, and lead the way upstairs while Erol and the two dogs followed.
Dude doesn't understand what he's up against...
"Kitchen is to the left."
"Got it. What's this job about?"
Turns out the weirdness didn't exactly stop with manic spurts of researching portal technology into the early hours of the morning. In addition to obsessive occult research, Erol was also a paranormal investigator, psychic, and certified exorcist. He shared his brief resume with me, and I practically spit out my orange juice laughing.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," I smiled. "It's just when you go at something, you dive in all the way. I mean you're basically trolling the bottom of the ocean of occultism. No shallow waters with you."
"Well, I don't like to half ass things, and I've found that I've got a natural talent for this sort of thing."
"Can I come?"
"What do you mean come?"
"Come with you. Come to see your client today."
"You don't even know what I'm going to be doing. I could be exorcising a demon from a saw mill for all you know."
My memory actually flashed back to the hell realms for a minute, and I thought about the tentacle creature that had dragged me beneath the surface of the tar sands. Then I thought about the Fae Revolution. The montage of prior experiences passed through my mind in a few moments, which allowed Erol to believe that I actually took him seriously.
"I can handle it," I said, taking another mouthful of cereal to my face, "but we need to stop somewhere first. These fucking clothes aren't going to put a very professional image on for your client."
"Professional?"
"Well, sure. I'm going to help you out."
I laughed. This whole thing was too much fun.
"I like you, Erol," I said, bringing my bowl to my lips and savoring the last sugary mouthful of breakfast. "I'm ready when you are."
Sometimes, you have to be a bit forceful with these types. I knew what I was doing, and the whole goal was to mix flattery and a bombardment of desire to share company with a lonely man. That's what gets them every time. Eventually, you end up getting on their nerves, but by that time, you've usually got them hooked. At least that's been my experience.
I got up and washed my glass and bowl out, indicating that while I was persistent and imposing. At least I wasn't a bad guest. Then, the two of us made our way out the front door.
"So, tell me about this job."
Erol had let me bully him straight into the car, where I promptly began interrogating him about his employment.
"This one is a long time client for me. She's a woman named Rita. Late sixties, and pretty well off. She is forever
"See, I told you that they'd both come around to you."
"They're good company. How was work last night?"
"Well, I got caught up on some problem. I keep running into the same wall, but it's all right. I've got to take a rest on that for now."
"Oh, really? Mind sharing why?"
"Not that I'd rather be doing something else, but I gotta pay the bills, just like everyone else. My line of work is a bit unusual, which means I have to take on clients when I get them."
"Do tell," I said, stretching my spine upward into the air.
I was probably flashing him both nipples at this point, but I didn't even care. Soon enough this entire relationship would be nothing more than a thing of the past. If he was attracted to me between now and then, that was his problem, not mine. In fact, it would probably only make my job easier.
"So, I guess I can get you some breakfast, and you'll be on your way..."
He popped my ego right out of the sky. I practically sagged to the ground for a moment, and then caught myself.
"You can feed me if you like, but I want to hear about this gig that you got."
He nodded, and I pushed forward through the layers of hesitation and space he was attempting to orchestrate between the two of us. I rolled my eyes, and lead the way upstairs while Erol and the two dogs followed.
Dude doesn't understand what he's up against...
"Kitchen is to the left."
"Got it. What's this job about?"
Turns out the weirdness didn't exactly stop with manic spurts of researching portal technology into the early hours of the morning. In addition to obsessive occult research, Erol was also a paranormal investigator, psychic, and certified exorcist. He shared his brief resume with me, and I practically spit out my orange juice laughing.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," I smiled. "It's just when you go at something, you dive in all the way. I mean you're basically trolling the bottom of the ocean of occultism. No shallow waters with you."
"Well, I don't like to half ass things, and I've found that I've got a natural talent for this sort of thing."
"Can I come?"
"What do you mean come?"
"Come with you. Come to see your client today."
"You don't even know what I'm going to be doing. I could be exorcising a demon from a saw mill for all you know."
My memory actually flashed back to the hell realms for a minute, and I thought about the tentacle creature that had dragged me beneath the surface of the tar sands. Then I thought about the Fae Revolution. The montage of prior experiences passed through my mind in a few moments, which allowed Erol to believe that I actually took him seriously.
"I can handle it," I said, taking another mouthful of cereal to my face, "but we need to stop somewhere first. These fucking clothes aren't going to put a very professional image on for your client."
"Professional?"
"Well, sure. I'm going to help you out."
I laughed. This whole thing was too much fun.
"I like you, Erol," I said, bringing my bowl to my lips and savoring the last sugary mouthful of breakfast. "I'm ready when you are."
Sometimes, you have to be a bit forceful with these types. I knew what I was doing, and the whole goal was to mix flattery and a bombardment of desire to share company with a lonely man. That's what gets them every time. Eventually, you end up getting on their nerves, but by that time, you've usually got them hooked. At least that's been my experience.
I got up and washed my glass and bowl out, indicating that while I was persistent and imposing. At least I wasn't a bad guest. Then, the two of us made our way out the front door.
"So, tell me about this job."
Erol had let me bully him straight into the car, where I promptly began interrogating him about his employment.
"This one is a long time client for me. She's a woman named Rita. Late sixties, and pretty well off. She is forever
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