I. Verse

         Some time after midnight, sky as dark as it had been three hours before - as dark as it'd be three hours from now.

         Trees dancing with the night's breeze.

         From the living room, a mean baseline comes into play.

         A few birds chiming their verse. Earlier than they'd usually, though, their lone listener - sitting out on his balcony - welcomed such a tune

         Inhale; his face glowed with a - faint - red hue.

         Inhale; once more.

         Ronin - smoking Mai Tai from a stone carved pipe he once kept. Tallulah he called it. A newer strain, sure to be a favorite. Citrus flavor - oranges. He had a peculiar disdain for them - the color, the taste, the smell. Though, as he took another hit, this would make him reconsider.

         Only for a moment.

         His flat - one among few he rented, in the area. Not much in this one. A few paintings he'd hung, some virgin canvas; furniture and appliances that he procured. A duffel bag sat by the front door. Amid some folded clothes - a firearm and an equally capable wakizashi calling it home.

         Ronin slid his way indoors; making it to the kitchen he opened the freezer, his hand reaching inside.

         Out he pulled an ice cream bar. Its golden wrapper dancing in the kitchen's fluorescent light. Wasn't until he sat himself back outside - where he removed the aesthetic packaging.

         Ronin sunk his teeth into the white chocolate coating. Belgian - no doubt.

         Hitting a vanilla bean extract underneath, he finished his initial bite; such flavors intensified from what illegal substance that took shelter in Tallulah's bowl - sitting on the table in front of him. Between now and then, they'd come come looking. For him - for the girl.

         No doubt.

         His fate had been sealed some time ago. Though, hers...

         What events that transpired before this night - nothing; mere showmanship, sleight of hand. Not a doubt in chance either parties would part ways, peacefully.

         Ronin took his last bite from the bar. It would be time to leave - soon...

         Eyeing the parking lot, from his second floor view - a car pulls into the complex.