Who: Rebekah and Teruko What: Matchup When: Thursday morning Where: Starbucks Rating: PG-13 at most Status: Closed; Complete
It was a rarity that Rebekah ever picked up her own coffee. However, she was heading into the office early that day and was in desperate need of a little caffeine to get her day started. So, the vampire decided to make a quick stop at Starbucks for a latte. Obviously Rebekah did not carry blood on her so that part of her morning routine would have to wait, but she’d had a little before dashing out the door at least. It would be enough to hold her till she made it to the museum.
Entering the store, the blond quickly claimed a spot at the back of the line. She slipped her phone from her purse and idly perused the network as she waited for the person in front of her to inch forward. Because it was early, at least it was not that crowded yet.
Teruko probably looked a little out of place getting coffee since she was currently twelve. Most twelve year olds probably drank juice or sodas. Teruko wasn't a fan of either, especially sodas considering how unhealthy they were. She mostly stuck to water or sports drinks. And coffee once in a while. Today she felt like getting some caffeine, so here she was.
The lineup wasn't terrible but it was still slow enough to make her a little impatient. She sighed and turned only to spot someone familiar. It took her a moment to remember it was the woman she had ran into at the museum while she'd been tailing Chuuya. She wondered if the blonde had mentioned anything to him. The last thing she needed was for Chuuya to know she'd been keeping an eye on him. (Though little did she know, he was already well aware.)
But she couldn't exactly just come out and ask. Instead, she just said, "anything interesting on the network?"
Rebekah hadn’t paid attention to who else was in line around her until a familiar voice reached her ears. The blond looked up from the phone and her blue eyes landed on the face of the young woman who’d been asking after Chuuya a few months back. Chuuya said her name was Teruko and he hadn’t seemed surprised when Rebekah mentioned her poking around the museum looking for him.
Rebekah still didn’t know all that much about Chuuya and she knew even less about the young woman in front of her. Why was she following Chuuya? Rebekah was obviously curious, but she couldn’t just outright ask her. They weren’t close. Instead, Rebekah offered the young woman a smile.
“The usual. Say, I remember you from the museum. You were asking after Chuuya. Did you ever manage to catch up with him that day?”
Unlike Chuuya, Teruko wasn't as secretive about her job back home. That and she was a terrible liar. She'd try at first, but after a while she could never keep up with the lie. So while she hoped it wouldn't happen, she'd probably tell the truth if Rebekah ever decided to ask.
"No new kidnapped victims of the dome?" she asked with a slight smirk. She had been here for quite some time now but she still felt trapped in this small town. She shook her head. "Oh, no. I still haven't but I forgot what I wanted to ask him anyway," she shrugged. A little lie but hopefully the blonde didn't ask about it.
Rebekah chuckled. “Not at the moment.” It seemed that if the Dome “kidnapped” people, if it “kidnapped” at all, the event happened once a week. Today did not seem to be that day. Rebekah wasn’t complaining. As someone who had originally been less than thrilled with being here, she empathized with those that were brought here. She would never wish this place upon anyone.
The blond had been around a long time and she knew that it was a lie. A tiny lie, but one nevertheless. What was the young woman hiding? Why was she tailing Chuuya? Rebekah tucked her phone back in her purse and folded her arms upon her chest.
“It wasn’t that important? It seemed rather important when I ran into you in the museum,” Rebekah replied carefully.
Teruko wasn't sure what else to call it. But she certainly didn't like being taken from her world against her will. Especially when there was a vampire outbreak that spread across the world at rapid speed and she and the other Hunting Dogs had to deal with it.
"Nope," she shook her head. "You sure you weren't imagining it?" She looked casual on the outside, but inside she was panicking a little. Please don't ask more about it. Please drop it. Because if Rebekah asked again about Chuuya, then she might just end up telling the truth. Teruko could only keep up a lie for so long.
While Rebekah had managed to find happiness where most only found misery, she still did not like the idea of being pulled from her world for no reason. She didn’t like the lack of control. She knew others felt the same. It made one feel vulnerable.
Rebekah arched a brow at the young woman’s words. She was really trying to avoid talking about this. Why? What was the connection between her and Chuuya? Rebekah was curious, especially since she really didn’t know too much about Chuuya’s world or what he was like back home. He played his cards close to his chest.
“Maybe. Or maybe you are trying to avoid telling me,” Rebekah countered smoothly, tilting her head. “Which makes me wonder what this secret is even more.”
It didn't seem like the blonde knew, which didn't surprise Teruko. Being a criminal wasn't really something one shouted out loud to the world. But while she didn't know Chuuya personally, she had a feeling he would still be secretive even if he wasn't in the mafia.
She pursed her lips as if keeping them shut would help her not blurt out anything. But she eventually sighed in resignation. "Okay, fine. I don't know what he told you about our world, but some people have Abilities. Chuuya is the most dangerous and his Ability is quite powerful. Like god-like powerful. Not only that but he's in the mafia and has done lots of crimes, including mass murder. I'm just keeping an eye on him, make sure he doesn't hurt anyone." Not that she was too worried about that. Chuuya wasn't the type to kill anyone unless there was a reason.
Honestly, Rebekah was surprised when the young woman sighed and then promptly told her why she’d been following Chuuya. By the time the brunette finished, Rebekah’s head the spinning and she had plenty of questions for her niece’s boyfriend. He was in the mafia and had a god-like ability. It was not comforting. However, Rebekah wasn’t aware of Chuuya using any abilities outside of the fight he had with Kol…twice.
“Well, I suppose it is true. You learn something new everyday,” Rebekah replied carefully. She swallowed. “Do you have abilities as well? I’d assume so if you needed to stop him from hurting someone.” Did Teruko had god-like abilities? Rebekah was an original vampire and was quite powerful, but she knew she was not on the same level as a god.
Teruko hated that she couldn't keep up a lie for very long. But it was out and she wasn't surprised that the blonde had no idea about Chuuya. Again, it wasn't information he'd shout out to the world.
She nodded. "Yes, I can manipulate the age of anyone I touch and can change my own age as well." So no, not quite as powerful as Chuuya's Ability but she was good with it nonetheless. "So probably not enough to stop him, but I still like to keep an eye on him." Not even the enhancement surgeries she'd undergone through to gain more strength, speed, agility could match Chuuya. "Good thing he's not the type to kill anyone unless they hurt someone he loves." Despite his short temper, Teruko knew he was mostly level-headed. She could see why he was one of the mafia's executives.
"So how do you know Chuuya?" she asked. She'd only seen them speak a couple times, but she didn't know if they were friends or just acquaintances.
“That’s still a useful ability,” Rebekah pointed out. It could be both defensive and offensive if need be. Rebekah only knew about Chuuya’s abilities from what Kol had described to her. Unfortunately, Teruko’s power did not sound like enough to stop Chuuya if he decided to hurt someone. At least he didn’t tend to kill unless someone hurt a person he cared for. He could have been an honorary Mikaelson with that viewpoint.
“At least there is that,” Rebekah added. “Even if it isn’t very comforting.” It was no wonder that he’d gone after Kol following her brother’s rash decision to snap Irina’s neck like a twig.
“I know Chuuya because he is dating my niece,” Rebekah continued. “We’re not close, but I do talk to him on occasion.” And Chuuya still came by the museum to see Claudia.
"It is," Teruko nodded. She mostly used it for interrogation, but she also had used it to sneak around on various missions.
"Yeah, at least none of the other mafia members are in town." From what she heard, most of them were pretty violent but unlike Chuuya, were quick to kill with no questions asked. The only time they would back down was if their boss said to, or one of the executives, which included Chuuya himself.
"Right, the snobby brunette?" It was just a guess, but she had noticed Chuuya spending most of his time with some woman with dark hair. "Does she know everything about him?" She wouldn't put it past Chuuya not to mention every single detail, even to someone close to him.
“Small miracles,” Rebekah replied. Madison Valley was unpredictable and they could show up at any time, but right now, Rebekah would be thankful for their absence.
At the Teruko’s description of Irina, Rebekah chuckled and nodded. “That’s her. Her name is Irina. As for what he told her? I have no idea. I’m assuming he hasn’t spilled all of his secrets.” But knowing Irina, she hadn’t spilled all of hers either.
To be honest, Teruko had a few, less nice descriptions of Irina but she decided not to say so in front of her aunt. Who honestly didn't look much older than her, now that she thought about it.
"Hm," she said. "Well, he obviously cares about your niece, so at least you won't have to worry about him hurting her." She quickly turned to grab her coffee from the barista. "Anyways, I should get going." She gave the blonde a quick nod before she left.
At the young woman’s words, Rebekah laughed again. “If he tried, he’d have a hell of a fight on his hands,” she replied. And it wasn’t just because she was technically part of the Mikaelson family either. Irina could hold her own.
But then the young woman was leaving and Rebekah offered her a smile. “See you around.” Rebekah gave the young woman a wave as Teruko departed. Well, at least she understood something more about the young woman’s motives.