"And there she was..." (Cereza/Open)

---  First impressions are also a huge misdirection at times depending on the individual. Some people are fairly easy to break down visually then there are those who are much harder to read. Cereza Nova Grey was one of the exceptions. Outwardly she screamed a variety of scenarios. Typical pretty popular girl. Probably completely vain, etc. Well the popularity part was rather a bit on point, but that's completely superficial. She didn't force herself into being popular, it just came along naturally. Guess it didn't hurt that there were some who attended the school that had ties to the underground mafia's in some form or another who knew she was De Luca's step daughter, despite her no longer bearing his last name. Which he was quite receptive to ironically enough. Though maybe it could hurt a little because that meant she more than likely had enemies already without personally making them. Oh but she more than welcomed the challenge they would provide for her.

--- So the cafeteria really wasn't the place you would normally find Cereza or rather expect to find her should be said. But hey that's where all the gossip was no? Where everyone conjugated and swapped their daily findings.  Cereza more than stood out in the crowd, she practically emulated a glow. She wore a white suit jacket paired with a light cream colored undone button down shirt and a black tank underneath showing from the openness of the shirt. Today she wore the pants to match while on her hands she wore a pair of white leather knuckle gloves. Upon her head rested her most important accessory; a white hate with a black strip. The way her chocolate brown hair was tucked into her hat, yet peeked in just the right area's gave the illusion that she had short hair, which is a common misconception. Grey hues shifted around the room as she sat with her back against the table oppose to the proper form. There were a few people around her chatting with each other and in some ways towards her but nothing they said was truly peeking her interest. Just as she turned her face away someone walked over and placed himself just a few inches from her. Naturally Cereza turned to look at him catching his goofy smile as he bluntly spoke and then tried to correct himself. Oh she heard it alright.

"If it was I doubt it'd still be there no?"

--- Cereza quipped back at him with a smirk as she leaned back against the table more, her elbows resting against it. Whether he understood her remark or not wasn't her concern.

"You say it like you've seen me before. By the way just own it." 


--- Referring to the clear sign that he was trying to cover his words but failed.

--- He was a chipper fellow. There was always something about those overly happy ones that made Cereza watch them even closer. You never knew with those kind of people. They could be the most deceitful. This little happy go lucky facade just to draw people into believing they were innocent in some form or another. Her way of thinking was a little problematic in a way. She usually suspected everyone of something. Of wanting something, hiding something. It made having the truest of friends difficult. But then again Cereza was no better herself was she? As her sat next to her she gazed at him from her peripheral. A brow perked briefly as he mentioned never seeing her before.

"I didn't say you did."

--- As his hand outstretched towards her, she turned her head just a little to get a better look at him. Usually when someone stuck a limb out to her that limb was rendered useless. Of course that was in a fight or when attempting to grab her hat. Internally she smiled at his response. Did he really say what she heard? Oh Cereza could find use in that by taking him for his word. In other words despite her caution she would see how far she could run with that.

~Oh the web you've tangled yourself in.~

--- Cereza decided to softly smile.

"At my service huh? I won't be paying hope you're aware, Angel."

--- No she hadn't taken his hand, nor did she provide her name. He hadn't ask and she didn't see it as an obligation to give hers just because he willingly provided his own.

--- Well Angel certainly seemed pleased with himself for his response. For her the way he made it sound it was like he was some hooker. Maybe he was. You never know about people these days. They had a tendency to surprise you.

"Aside from the fact you offered without the ask of payment from the beginning, you now sound like a hooker."

--- Cereza said with a smirk before glancing at his hand which was still up.

"Are you really gonna hold it up the whole time? And what would you come up with?"

--- He peaked her curiosity briefly. She had many nicknames from various individuals. It wasn't always a lack of her giving her name but just what they deemed fitting. She accepted most of them and allowed it. Sometimes it was a little game that she found interesting to play. To see what it is they show.

-- Angel's pout was duly noted. Had she offended him? It seemed very possible. Did she particularly care that she had? In truth not one bit. He set himself up for her response. He would need to learn to just take the punches and roll with it. As for his hand he seemed really serious about keeping it extended. This caused a mischievous tingle in the exotic beauty. She wondered for just how long would he truly keep it up. Was it that important for her to shake his hand? Well for whatever his reasoning in being so persistent Cereza would test his resolve. His nickname for her came at a small shock, yet not, though it wasn't written on her face whatsoever. The one to originally dub her that was her uncle and for more or less the reasoning that Angel had listed. Yeah she wasn't an easy girl to read but that's what made saying she seemed shrouded in a cloud of mystery easy to say above all else.

--- His response lingered in the air for a bit before he broke into laughter and changed his reasoning. A cute little bunny rabbit. This Angel was a trip. He exuded such a cheerful disposition that it was kinda just loud. It seemed like a hell of a lot of energy to be that perky all the time. But alas Cereza would smirk and give a small snicker in response.

"Is that so? Well don't accept any nose wiggling here or any 'what's up doc'. "

--- She seemed to quip back at him once more.

"Are you this perky all the time?"

--- This one was something else. Cereza could immediately tell that he was going to be a persistent fellow. That could be rather irritating at times. Hopefully he didn't try to constantly interfere with anything she was to do if he somehow magically ended up showing up almost everywhere she was. She'd probably kick his ass if he did. Let's hope not, she despised being frustrated. She continued to watch as he seemed rather proud of himself. Why? Was it because she laughed a little? Cereza wasn't one devoid of laughing at something she found in the smallest bit comical so in truth it wasn't much of a victory, unless he could manage a real hearty laugh then he could claim it. A brow rose at his gesture of closing up his jacket following his words. What was the reasoning behi-- Oh! 

~He's a shoe in for class clown.~ 

--- She let out a low chuckle with a nod in agreement to weddings. At least he was providing her some entertainment at lunch. Hey maybe he could be her little court jester.

"Indeed."

--- There was a loud shout from across the cafeteria, a male's voice saying 'De Luca!' Now there was no certainty who the male was speaking to considering he was across the room for one; at least to everyone else that is. For two it depended who the hell was named De Luca. Though she was facing Angel, from her peripherals she took a small glance and returned her eyes to the clown before her. That wasn't her name. No matter who her step father was, she didn't carry his name so she refused to grace the loser with a response. Surely he was eventually making his way towards the pair but again she didn't care.

"So Angel, you gonna be holding that arm out for awhile right?"

--- Odd question it was.

"Isn't that adorable. "

--- His words were amusing. It was like she was some kind of royalty and he was a lowly peasant just wanting to at least touch. Be acknowledge by the princess. It was rather cute really, yet all the same it could get quite annoying after sometime. Usually the persistent ones were more than true to their titles and that was problematic in some cases. If he just stayed out of her way there wouldn't be any issues, but that still remained to be seen. Currently mister shouter was nearing closer, walking heavy with a purpose. Cereza caught him pushing people aside from the corner of her eyes as some protested angrily at his bully like nature. Whilst Angel spoke on he would find Cereza leaning up from her previous position, stretching her arms over her head and her legs outwardly. Similar to a cat waking from their nap. Her eyes were closed as she twisted her neck left to right to get the kinks out. The man shouted again and she would sigh as she fixed her leather knuckle gloves. For a girl that did like the fight there were times she just rather not, but alas as Angel said some kids all they wanted to do was brawl.

"Be a doll will you?"

--- She spoke as she casually slipped off her jacket and shirt together and hung it on his extended arm. Normally she would keep it on even in a potential brawl but that's because there wasn't any coat racks around. Angel so kindly was providing one so why not utilize it. She stood up without care taking a step forward away from the table as the guy just about a foot or two taller than herself arrived. 

"You have no business being here, De Luca bitch."

"One, I go where I please. Two that's not my name."

"I couldn't give two shits what you call yourself.. I plan on sending a message to yo-"

"Like an obedient mutt to his master naturally."

"What did you say?!"

--- She smirked as his anger overwhelmed him. Her provocation was deliberate naturally, along with the fact she just didn't want to hear him blab on and on. She had better things to do. Besides with a quick assessment he wasn't going to be a fun fight for her to bother wasting energy dragging it on. He came in hot already. All he was gonna do was spit nonsense and make tons of mistakes to the point of it being no fun. Just as she figured he reeled back with his right arm going for a hard straight punch trying to put all his power into it. The punch came and Cereza would side step slightly to her left whilst grabbing his wrist with her right hand. Using the momentum of him going forward, she would help lead him forward into the table with her left hand pushing hard against his upper back. All the while she had twisted his right arm behind him and outstretched it into a stress position. His face would hit the table hard as he grunted. Had she been the type to hesitate or yap he might've found some time to react, but Cereza really wasn't. With his arm still suspended she removed her left from his back and with a palm strike struck at the elbow joint.

--- Did the following need describing? Or was his scream and the sound of something snapping enough to fill the imagination? She wasn't always so ruthless but what was done was done. No turning back now, nor did she care. At least he wouldn't be able to personally bother her for awhile. She let go rather roughly with a sigh fixing her gloves again and then shifting her hat a little better. Naturally the murmurs started but Cereza just looked back at Angel and grabbed her things from him with a smile.

"As much as I agree, sometimes you just can't escape it. Some people just walk around like wild animals. Well I for one have grown bored. I don't about you but I'll be taking my leave now."

--- Turning her back she would begin to walk away, whether he followed her or not was of no consequence to her. The White Rabbit wouldn't be surprised if he did indeed follow her. It would be typical no considering. Besides he seemed like the type that just might wanted to know what that was all about.

--- She had forgotten something? More than likely not. She had her jacket and shirt which was draped over her shoulders currently. Got her hat, gloves, keys, wallet. Nope not missing anything. Yet Angel came forward dragging along the guy who was thriving in pain still. She watched him with the faintest perk in her right brow as he neared and spoke. 

"Well isn't that noble."

--- Honestly it almost sounded a little mockingly despite she really was praising his noble gesture. Ok she was mocking a little too. But there was a passion in his eyes and his voice. A fire that made her smirk. He was a hero type there was no denying that. One that would probably nurse his enemy back to health even. His reasoning was understood but it held no effect on her. She wasn't going to carry her attacker so he could go get better. She wouldn't aid in that. Cereza found herself chuckling looking at Angel.

"The devil was once an angel. "

--- She said through her chuckle and a bit low, probably inaudible. Shaking her head she gazed upon him moving a little ways forward to his position.

"Funny you say that. I never placed myself on that pedestal. If I recall you wanted me to deem you worthy of a handshake. So who really put that notion out there?"

--- She tilted her head forward a little with an expression that read 'am I right?'.  Sometimes one needed to be careful with what they said. Still she snickered and moved past him a little before turning back to him and his charity case.

"We come from two different worlds sweetheart. You might not give a shit but it matters. Your rules, your ways will never be mines. I'm not gonna aid in his recovery. He knew what he was asking for when he approached me and vice versa. If you think me so wrong you're welcome to teach me a lesson, I'm sure you could find me with no problem....Alice. "

--- The change in name was deliberate. He called her the white rabbit. Alice always seemed to stumble upon the white rabbit no? Besides Cereza wasn't walking that fast anyways. So if he felt like it he had all the time to take him to the infirmary and locate her somewhere in the halls. The decision was his, otherwise she'd probably completely disappear. The thing was she gave him a wink and smile before she would leave him to his devices.