Dawn was at their usual place, a bit early, but that was to be expected because to her surprise she had been warned via text that their normally scheduled meeting would either have to be rescheduled or a substitute would have to go in his place. Since it was at the end of the month, and while she wasn’t as tight as last time, she would prefer not to go hungry for a week just to pay her rent so Dawn assured Benitoite it was alright with her if the person she met wasn’t him. He had earned that much of her trust at least. It had only been a few weeks already but he had been nothing but a gentleman, nothing like that officer from the past who was definitely more violent than polite.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous, not really knowing who to expect or what they would be like. Just that they were one of Benitonite’s people. Someone he trusted and to not worry, ‘she’ would be there shortly. Like that would keep Dawn from doing just that. Could it be a trap? But why? Why do something like that now? It made no real sense, and while she couldn’t forget about that spear there had been nothing that told her that her officer was that other one. It was still very possible she was just mixing the two up in her head. Memories were fallible after all.

Mara sighed and finished braiding her hair. She had been contacted by her cousin and asked to do him a favor. Apparently something came up and he couldn’t get out of it, but that also left him skipping out on one of other obligations. It wasn’t until he explained what he wanted her to do that Mara agreed, it was just too intriguing not to. Who knew her cousin was keeping a pet… an expensive pet if the packet of money she had tucked away was any indication. Her instructions were clear; go in, exchange the money, gather the energy, and make sure the girl got into her cab safely. Simple. Easy. But above all she needed to be nice. She had to be personable and polite. Mara could not, absolutely could not, scare the girl away.

The corrupt senshi understood, logically at least, that the pet was practically easy energy. Who wouldn’t want that? That explained why Beni was so damn protective of this little secret. She hadn’t even known about it, her, until that night. She doubted anyone else in his life knew either. That made her feel special, knowing that Beni trusted her with this secret. So of course she agreed, it was also why she was there, just shy of the clearing, checking for any interlopers even as she eyed the young woman sitting on the bench. After securing the braid, the long hair was just such a nuisance, Mara pasted on a smile and slowly approached the civilian.

A sound in the darkness had Dawn turning to look, eyes widening slightly at the tall woman who strode out of the shadows. There was no mistaking that outfit for anything but a Corrupt Senshi. She tensed and was ready to run, or fight if needed, when the corrupt paused in her approach and stated that she was there on Benitonite’s behalf. That made this woman, either a basic or a super since she didn’t sport any wings, his proxy. She still remained leery even when asked if the other woman could join her on the bench. With a nervous smile Dawn nodded, “Of course.”

Why was she so nervous? Why did this tall woman shake her so? Sapphire blue eyes observed every part of the corrupt, from her dark hair to her outfit. Her gaze lingering on the mark on the corrupt’s forehead and chest. The mark of a Corrupt Senshi. “Does it hurt?” she asked absently as the other female settled on the bench.

Mara had moved slowly, approaching deliberately and cautiously, as the civilian took her in. To her surprise the redhead, it was a nice strawberry blonde color, hadn’t gotten up to run but was still more skittish than a feral cat. Apparently Beni’s pet wasn’t as house broken as he thought. But that didn’t stop her, she had a job to do after all, it just meant she was more deliberate in her actions. Slower in her movements. Nothing fast, nothing startling. “May I sit?” She asked politely, only coming around to join the petite woman, she couldn’t have been much bigger than Beni, on her bench.

“Pardon?” Mara asked surprised at the random question. Confused until the civilian gently tapped her own chest. “Oh!” She almost mirrored the other’s action only stopping to hover her own nails over the hole in her chest. “No, not at all.” It had hurt like a MFer at first but it was necessary. It had been required. Besides, a little pain never hurt anyone, not when the reward was important enough. “I’m Mara and Beni,” She quickly corrected herself, “Pardon, Benitoite wanted to make sure you got this first.” Mara grinned even as she passed over the packet of money. The ‘slip’ wasn’t as accidental, it was done to help the civilian feel more at ease with her. Afterall, if she was still wound as tight as a watch when she tried to gather the energy something might happen. “Do count it if you wish.”

“Oh, that's good,” Dawn absently nodded but not really taking her eyes off of the hole in the corrupt’s chest. It was there that the starseed was. There that chaos had been forced in and had irreparably damaged this senshi. And if Dawn wasn’t horridly careful she could be in that exact same position one day. She was startled from her inner thoughts when the corrupt introduced herself before pressing the now familiar envelope into her hands. “Oh, ummmm, thank you.” She murmured quietly, glancing away and after a quick check of the envelope, shoving it into her pocket.

“Beni?” She asked, curious even as she extended her hand the same way she had with Benitonite. “You call him Beni?” And he is alright with that? she mentally added.

“Of course,” Mara assured the child. The young woman really wasn’t a child but that was the vibe Mara was getting. “Benitonite is such a mouthful so I call him Beni, but lets just have that as our little secret ok?” She winked, grinned, and gently took the girl’s offered hand. “What should I call you dear? Beni just asked me to assist for the night but didn’t fill me in on the important parts… just like a man.” She sighed dramatically, inviting the young girl to join her in her disappointment of ‘men’, before carefully beginning to gather the little ball of energy. She wasn’t as good at it as he was, but then again she wasn’t trying to keep it secret or gathering it from an unwilling participant.

“Ah. I guess I never really thought about it,” Dawn was a little confused but she smiled, if a bit hesitantly, at the corrupt. “Beni is a much shorter name, at least compared to Benitonite. Um, just call me Dawn. No need for a nickname, it's short enough as it is,” She smiled a bit brighter then, giggling slightly. “It’s alright. It seemed like something really important came up so I’m not that surprised he didn’t tell you my name.” The strawberry blonde watched as the ball of energy started to form before finding herself staring at Mara once again. It wasn’t until the corrupt looked up that Dawn realized something, blurting out, “Oh. You have the same color eyes!”

“Still, it was a shame he didn’t pass on such a pretty name,” Mara assured the child, glancing up only to have her eyebrows rise in shock at the comment about her eyes. “Um…” She wasn’t entirely sure how to respond to that. “Thank you?” After a split second she added, “They are pretty common color but I appreciate the compliment.”

“Common? Ah, yeah, sure-” Dawn trailed off both as tiredness dragged at her and as her mind swirled with the idea that those blue eyes were ‘common’. She had only met two… three people with those colored eyes. Benitonite and Mara… and that officer with the spear. But she had assumed that Beni, it really was a nice nickname, had been that officer that had tried to kill her. What if he really hadn’t been? What if he just had the same color eyes? It wasn’t like he had been anything but nice to her over the past few weeks. Could it just have been a case of mistaken identity? Was her memory that wrong?

She tried to smother a yawn but ended up only covering it with her free hand. “Sorry,” She murmured even as her head slowly filled with cotton.

Mara kept an eye on the civilian’s reaction so when the yawn happened she wasn’t surprised, just wrapped up the gathering process. The senshi tucked the little orb of light and literally energy away before making a call. After a moment she put away the phone and smiled at the drooping girl. “Your cab is on the way. Come, I’ll help you to the park’s entrance.” She climbed to her feet and offered an assisting hand, pleased when the shorter woman… she really had to be around Beni’s height, only hesitated for a second before taking her hand.

She would make sure Beni’s little pet got into her ride safely before searching out her cousin. She had some questions for him, nothing that couldn’t wait… but she would be getting answers. One way or another.

How could he keep such a little pet from her? Rude! That is what it was. Down right rude.

[Dawn wordcount: 804; Mara wordcount: 849]