"Thanks." Any changes of expression were not caught, Chu-e too busy scribbling his name on the merchant's copy of the recipe. A tip was given, because he could do that now. With a smile he handed it back and moved away in line, ignorant to Jayden's dilemma.

But Jayden would have a chance to study Chu-e if he wanted. Unlike most of the people here who needed to rush back to work, Chu-e sat at one of the booths when he got his drink. He would sip, make a face, realize this wasn't his overly sweet and sugary drink but something more flavorless and bitter.

He had been one of the last in line and by now the place was almost cleared out. Approaching the counter again, he gave a half apologetic smile and sat the drink down. "Hey, I don't think my order was right. Could I get some sugar and cream?" Wrong or not he didn't want to waste.

But now he took in the guy at the counter, realized he hadn't seen him around before. The island was small, and while Chu-e didn't know everyone he could at least recognize most of the people in this area. Yet he also seemed vaguely familiar, too, just in a different way. "... have we met before?"

Chu-e Choi was a predator.

It was easy for a lot of people to miss with his current appearance. As delicate as a lamb with bones ripe for the picking; many had tried to rend into tender flesh only to be bitten back by something snarling and dangerous. Like that man who tried to rob him. Or the thieves who thought they could take him captive.

Which was why it was a bit surprising to see the nerves in the barista. To see how he froze, indecisive, a deer choosing between the jaws of the wolf or shattering itself on incoming traffic. Chu-e's eyes were sharp and he was clever. He took a breath, sharp, but was cut off by the woman, his eyes snapping to her instead.

And he shifted, letting himself be something small and sweet and soft again, a small and apologetic smile on his face. "Ah, I'm sorry. You reminded me of someone." He pulls the cup to himself again, glances down almost shyly. "Everything's fine. I just wanted a little extra sweetness today."

He glances back up at Jayden, cheeks slowly pinking, glancing between him and the woman. "Actually... I don't want to be one of... those customers, but..." picking up one of the pens and a napkin, he scribbled down his phone number before sliding it over. "Ah... s-sorry."

Then he turned and went to exit. Chu-e did not leave, not entirely, he simply moved from his indoor booth to one of the outdoor seats, still in view of the counter through the window.

Jayden would most likely be able to parse out the basics of Chu-e's true intentions. He could see the wolf under the lambskin.

But the coworker, when the door clicked shut, let out a soft little huff and gave Jayden a small slap on the back. "That guy is fucking loaded, Michail. Congrats." No customers around to impress for the moment, she snickered at his expense. "Take a fifteen. I'll handle the counter. Bag us a rich one, dude."

When Jayden appeared, Chu-e placed his coffee down (with a slight wrinkle of the nose; even with the added whipped cream it was still too bitter). "Take a seat." Was said plainly as he motioned to the chair across from him. His face was kind but there was an intensity to his eyes, studying and assessing the other closely. He would wait for the other to sit before continuing.

"You know, my New Year's Resolution was to be nicer to people." A sigh, as if he was very put out. "But people keep recognizing me." Idly, Chu-e played with his cup, unsure what to do with his hands but needing to fidget. "Name, rank, station, and status. And don't call me 'sir'; I'm 'Ki' in public." He needed to know if this guy was in with the current Rocket or if he was one of the roaches left behind when they all scattered. Also to see if he would cause any problems until he could decide if he was ready to call Cillian Quinn to his home. 'Michail' seemed to be under the impression that Chu-e had more sway than just his namesake and he also intended to make sure he kept thinking that.

"Don't look so much like a scared kitten, too. You're here on the pretense I'm a lovestruck idiot who would accost minimum wage workers just doing their jobs. You're here to encourage my advances or let me down easy. Act like it."

Chu-e clicked his tongue. This was most likely a bad thing.

"Please," He started, and it was clear despite the niceties it was not a request. "Don't call me 'sir' again." His tone was only slightly clipped. There was a quick and cursory glance at the paper. A clear bit of disgust showed when he snarled his upper lip at the names. Ugh. The Cross family. Another glance at Jayden, more to take in his features. Face as blank as a sheet of fresh paper. Well, it was not the violent one. So this one must have been the 'soulless' one he had heard whispered about.

Chu-e did not particularly think he seemed soulless. Just... reserved. With a father like Nikolai he could understand that. He wondered if he had ever even met him before. For a lifetime member, he was pretty unremarkable to have been on people's lips from time to time. Idle gossip had never been something he was interested in but he wasn't deaf to it.

He bit his lip as he tried to reach for words. Something about Jayden's aura stole any fleeting thoughts. The man was so goddamn unremarkable. He had been so eager to please, so willing to out himself at Chu-e's request, then having to deal with that father... a monster; and Chu-e was quite the expert, being one himself.

Ah. Something clicked.

"Cross," His voice was low and calm, angled more like a question than a request this time. "If I told you to go kill your coworker right now, for the good of Rocket, to prove your loyalty... would you do that?"

Oh, Chu-e caught the movement. His eyes were sharp. You didn't last long in the belly of old Rocket unless you joined those skills sharper than your blades. Yet he did not move, did not flinch, did not even dip his eyes in that direction. Control.

"Alright." His intensity did not let up as he continued to stare the other down, eyes set with steel and ice. "And if I asked you to use whatever you're hiding to slit your own throat? Not even for Rocket. Just because I would want to see it."

Chu-e snapped his mouth closed, teeth clinking as if to bite his own words, lips pressed into a thin line. He would stay still and simply watch for a time. To see if this would finally make the withering bud of the other's face bloom.

But Chu-e already knew the answer before he could even ask.

Leaning back, he hummed and relaxed a bit, some of his sharp edges once again being tucked under the false wool of 'Ki'. "Don't do either of those things, by the way." He started, idle. "You've been broken to pieces, haven't you? Then those pieces forced back into a new shape."

He picked up his coffee, took an idle sip.

"We've not known each other for fifteen minutes and I can see that. It's sad." The tone he used was not pitying; he spoke like he was stating a fact. "You're useless to Rocket. You're a pretty toy that will be snapped in two and thrown away. Sad, pathetic, and you'll be happy to have it happen, won't you?"

He smiled and it was anything but pleasant. "What's hiding under that veneer, I wonder? What do you think you could have been, Cross?"

A laugh was startled out of Chu-e. An ugly thing.

"Hmm... Maybe I was wrong? Interesting." And his eyes took on a deadly glint- a very bad thing for jayden cross. Catching the interest of someone like Choi was rarely a good thing. Taking the time to tuck a stray hair behind his ear, almost demure in how he glanced from under his lashes now, he picked up a napkin and took out his pen. His writing was soft enough to not rip the delicate paper, loopy and large. When he was done, the paper was pushed at the other.

"When your coworkers ask, you were charmed by me and agreed to go on a date. Maybe my ass helped. Feel free to drip whatever lewd little words in there you want; I don't really care what they think of me." The paper was a date, time, and location. "You're going to help me with a little something. A test. Don't be late."

Chu-e closed his eyes and took a breath, features softening even more so, the spines tucked down down down so only the soft and raw skin remained. When he opened them again, Choi was gone. Ki took his place fully, not the in between it had been before, and his cheeks were tinted with a soft pink. This was why he had picked a seat with his back to the window.

He waited until one of Jayden's coworkers had opened the door, a breath on their lips to call for the blank man to come back in. "Micheal," Ki interrupted them before they could speak, a show for the audience of one. "T-thank you... I..." He glanced to the side, the flush deepening a bit. He stood up quickly, awkwardly, and started to leave. Paused besides of Jayden.

"I'll... see you?" And Chu-e's voice sounded so sweet and hopeful, stars dancing in his eyes. Leaning over, he pressed a quick kiss to the other's cheek. A searing brand. Then he ducked away, pretended to notice the coworker, and dashed off down the street.

When Chu-e was out of view, he laughed again. An ugly thing.