Jay nodded at Michael's statement about him being stronger than the city.
"True, true. But no one here knows that." She said, walking onto a platform that was just beyond the doors.

Jay waited until Michael stepped onto the platform before she pushed the button that made it go down. As they slowly descended deeper into the Under city, many people stopped their work and tipped their hat or said 'hello' to Jay. A few of them, mostly men, winked at Michael and then returned to their work.

The platform slowly came to a stop in front of a simple wooden door. Beside the door was a keypad and Jay punched in the numbers '39-370-7739' and the door swung open. Jay motioned for Michael to follow her once more down a hallway, but this time, there were many different passageways leading off from the one that Jay and Michael walked.

Only a few minutes later, Jay came to a door marked 'second branch leader'. She turned the handle and opened the door. The inside was much more high-tech then the outside. There were computers almost everywhere, and people running form one computer to another in a very organized and practiced fashion. Jay turned to Michael.
"This, is the secondary branch."

A metallic ring floated through the air as they walked, heels tapping the metal walkway. Michael stayed close to Jay. He knew she could take care of herself down here, but he was a bit uncomfortable. He put an arm around Jay, hoping to give the onlookers a hint that he was taken. His other hand subtly slid to his knife. He could have it free within seconds, but being closer to it made him feel better, and the few seconds it shaved off the time was a bonus, too.

He followed her through the passageways, his face calm and emotionless. Finally, they entered the secondary branch, and Michael let Jay lead him in.

He gazed around the place, noting all the computers. He kept his arm around Jay. "Lovely," he said through clenched teeth. "What is your purpose for bringing me down here, exactly?"

"So you can meet my family. Come on. It's not as bad as it looks. Then we can go back up to the surface and do something you want. 'Kay?" She asked, giggling and dragging him further into the room. Jay took Michael into a clearer part of the room. Three people were sitting at a table there, one woman and two men. They saw Jay and Michael and stood up.
"And who's the lucky one?" The woman asked, nodding towards Michael. She was tall and muscular with red hair and black eyes. The two men, who looked liked identical twins, just laughed.
"Wow Jay, you sure do seem attached." They said, almost at the same time. Jay just shook her head. She rarely came down here with men she had met.
"Guys, this is Michael Isi. Michael, these are Megan, Ven and Vace." She said, introducing them.
"I just need you to know them. Alright?" She said, looking up to Michael with a sweet and innocent-like face. These three people were her only family and they'd be all up in her life once she and Michael got married. So Jay thought that Michael should meet them now instead of later.

Michael grimaced. He hated meeting people. And the look on Jay's face was one of the things that made him dislike females. So manipulating. He glared at Jay and sighed. "Fine, I'll try not to kill anyone," he told her, reluctantly. He held out his hand to shake Megan, Ven, and Vace's hands. "Nice to meet you," he growled.

Michael lowered his hand to the small of Jay's back, protectively. He was suspicious of her family. What did they have to do with the secondary branch? Most families didn't all work on the same branch. There must be somethign different about them, special. Or one of them must be pretty high up in the leadership chain.

After an awkward silence, Michael figured he had better get to know them. Pulling up a chair, he pulled out his pack of cards. "Cards, anyone?" He said, trying to smile.

Jay bit her lip and looked down. Michael obviously didn't like this. "You're really great Jay. Y'know that?" She told herself sarcastically. Megan and the twins sat back down around the able as Michael pulled out a pack of cards. Jay leaned up on the back on Michael's chair and watched as he dealt the cards. Megan looked up.
"So, Michael..." She started.
"How did you and our little Jay come to meet? I mean, she's a hard one to catch." Megan said in a tone that said that she was the older sister in a way.
"Thats our business Megan." Jay said before Michael could answer, knowing that Michael would only be more put off if he had to answer. Jay was now regretting taking him down here. The sent coming off him was strong and was filled with uneasiness. Ven and Vace just looked to one another. They were ghosts. Completely in tune with her thoughts, if Jay thought them loud enough and they both understood that Michael didn't want to be down here with them.
"Not to be rude, but I just remembered that Vace and I have a few things to clear up in the senenth branch. And Megan, you've got a meeting with the fifth one." Ven said, standing and returning Michael's cards.
"As I said before, I'm sorry for being rude and running away. But things still tend to get a little.....Troublesome down here." Ven said heading for the door with Vace right behind him. Megan sat there for a moment, cards in hand. But then she seemed to catch on to Ven's message and apologized for having to go.

Once they had left Jay sat down.
"I'm sorry Michael....." She said sadly. This wasn't what Jay wanted to happen.
"I guess I just got carried away. Probably something to do with what Ki-rel granted me..."

Michael stared at teh cards in his hand, perplexed to why they were all leaving. Jay had wanted him to meet her family, and now they were all leaving. Taking a breath, he placed his cards back in his pocket.

When they had all left, Michael took Jay's hand. He hadn't meant to be so rude and chase away all her family. And he hadn't meant to cause her grief. "Please, don't apologize." He had never cared about the feelings of other women he had the chance to meet, but he really didn't find pleasure in hurting Jay. "You did nothing wrong. I should have been nicer. I'm sorry." He reached up and stroked her cheek.

((Sorry for all the twists and turns. I just couldn't come up with anything else :sweat:))

Jay smiled and leaned her head into the palm of Michael's hand.
"It's alright. Maybe another time would be better. Like when we know each other more?" She said, cheering up. Michael was a sweet guy. Unlike half the men she knew.

[[It's okay.]]

Michael nodded and said slowly, "Yes, that would be best." He gently, yet reluctantly, pulled his hands away from her face. Taking her by the hand, he stood up. "Where to now?" he asked, knowing he had nothing better to do and he needed her to lead him out of here anyway. This place had almost as many twists and turns as Ki-Rel's mansion.

Riley rolled out of her bed, blinking against the light. She glanced at her clock, 7:30 it read. 'ugh' Riley thought but got up and dressed anyway.

((Sorry for taking soooo long. Homework has been like a noose around my internet life T_T))

Jay stood,
"Well... We could go to your place of residence or favorite hangout. You've been to both of mine." She said, walking back to the door and out into the hallway.

[[YES!!!!!!!!! We are back in business baby! It's okay. But I am glad to have you back. Oh, and I changed from Lt. Summers to my new name.]]

Michael followed her. He shrugged his shoulders. It might be a good idea to show her his shop, let her know what he does. "That's fine with me," he grinned sheepishly. "I mean, if you like broken down old cars, that is."

When they finally made it to ground level and left the building, Michael hailed a cab. "25th street Auto Shop, please," he said, still grinning. He could finally share his passion with someone he cared about. He gently pulled Jay into the cab after him, and she fell on top of him. Michael laughed. He hadn't felt this good in a long while.

((Whew :sweat: I as afraid you were going to scream at me or something >3<. And I was about to comment you on your new name. It's pretty cool!))

Jay showed Michael up to the ground level and out of the building. She waited as Michael called a taxi and told it where he wanted it to go. As Michael led Jay into the cab, Jay tripped on something and fell on top of Michael on her way in. She laughed and got up off him.
"Sorry 'bout that." Jay said, smiling.

[[Oh, I don't scream at people fro not being on in a while....except I apparently threatened to kill Lark if she sat in her chair and fell asleep. But I don't remember that. I thought I threatened to injure her..............o.0 Anyway, thanks.]]

Michael couldn't stop smiling. "It's okay." And really, it was. He was perfectly fine with her falling on him. It was a new sensation for him, not absolutely hating a girl.

The cab pulled up to his shop. Michael got out of the cab and rushed to the other side, to open the door and help Jay out of it. "Here we are," he said, with a sweep of his hand. He paid the cabby and watched as it drove off, scowling at the rattling sound it made. "It needs a new muffler," he commented. Michael wiped his hands on his jeans and led Jay into the shop, pointing out various things, naming the cars for her.

Jay smiled at Michael. For once in her life, Jay felt like she'd be able to stay happy with a man.

As the taxi stopped, Jay watched as Michael almost jumped out of the cab and opened Jay's door for her. Jay thanked him and giggled as Michael commented on the taxi's broken muffler.

Jay followed Michael around his shop, asking about this and that, staring at all the cars.
"Y'know, I'd never be able to remember all of that. Cars and such just never made to much sense to me. But maybe you could teach me a little?" She asked Michael, examining a car that looked like some sort of convertible, but it just might have had the top taken off of it.

Michael nodded, turning red a little. It wasn't that easy for someone with his skin tone to turn red, either. "I suppose I could teach you a few things." Michael moved up to his current project, a '67 El Camino. He was totally re-doing everything on it. It needed a new engine, and the upholstery was damaged. It needed a new paint job, and several other things needed to be fixed. He looked at the clock. It was almost 9:00 PM. He still had time. He pulled off his shirt, stuck it in his back pocket and reached for a wrench. Then he looked back at Jay. He felt guilty, working on something with her there. He tossed the wrench back down and pulled his shirt back on. "We can do this later. Maybe when I'm actually getting paid to do it, you can watch. How about getting something to eat?"

Name: Ken
Age: looks 25,but is really around five hundred years old
Race: Drake-part dragon/part human
Looks: Long crimson hair,violet eyes that glow,and slightly built with a crescent moon shaped scar on his chest.
Personality: Easy going,a ladies man,but protects his friends fiercely
Extra:He's an artist,meaning that he can pretty much find beauty in anything.

Walking down the street as a light drizzle fell from the sky,Ken sighed to himself,a small clump of steam rolling from his mouth as a gloved hand pushed back his crimson hair into a semblance of neatness."Where the heck is this place?"he asked quietly,catching a few glares from people that were walking by.