Warm air blew past Violet, tussling her hair. It was a stark difference from the cool, damp environment she came from before the vortex. All she could do was stare at Hisoka with furrowed brows and disbelief. Laughter in the distance pulled her from her pondering as three people passed on the crisp gravel path leading around the park. It was dark but early enough in the evening that people were still active.

He didn't just try to pick me up like that, did he? Or is he just toying with me? Both?

A mischievous expression painted Hisoka's features and streaked across his shining golden eyes. She wrinkled her nose at his offer's hidden meaning before recomposing the indifference mask. The toothy smile told her all that was needed about the amusement the dangerous jester reaped from her reactions.

Both. Definitely both.

A coy smile lit her features, acting as camouflage against Hisoka's attempts to rattle her. The drive to beat him flamed her more competitive nature, for better or infinitely worse. Even though he set the rules, she wanted the win. This was a game she had played before, and experience dictated it would only last a short while.

Physical fighters tended to leave much to be desired in mental fights. The fact of life was that those who honed their bodies to perfection often neglected their minds. The same was true in reverse. It was why she was so meticulous about balancing physical training and feeding her insatiable thirst for knowledge. To Violet, there was power in both.

Hisoka was a well-established fighter in Heaven's Arena, and his likeness littered the screens of multiple monitor ads and shelves within the gift shops. It was not a fact she paid much notice to before meeting the source material. With his unavoidable presence, an arm's breath from her position on the bench, all the once-ignored information aligned.

"I don't know if that would be a great arrangement for either of us," she stated with the sweetest tone. "How could you possibly be certain I'm not a psychopath drawing you in with the intent to murder you in your sleep?" The words didn't match the voice used to deliver them; there was acid under the sugar.

However, the moment the words entered the air, the energy surrounding Hisoka changed to overpowering darkness. It affected her, prompting alarm bells in her mind to scream for her to shy away as the hair across her skin stood on end.

What if this is still him holding back with that power? Well, too late now. Let's see where this goes.

Hisoka leaned in with hooded eyes that unnerved her. His energy continued to swirl and occupy the space between them, unrelenting in its nature. Despite that, she found her inner voice saying yes, push more, and excitement coursed in her veins.

"Ohhh, I look forward to the challenge~♥"

Took the words right out of my mouth, bloody thief.

Inches from his face, Violet held her position. Ultimately, she couldn't resist the twitching in her lips as she tried to contain a smile. The energy was terrible, but she felt worse in her job as a government supernatural hunter. Something about the whole man seemed to attract against her better judgment.

Violet maintained the coy expression for some time, but her wrist began twitching, marking the beginning of her loss in the battle. Almost the second it began to wobble, the redhead's energy changed to lightness, and he pulled back. The tension lifted but never fully broke.

Shit. I think I lost. Did I overestimate myself? Or was that excitement...? She grumbled and shook her head before responding to Hisoka, "Women don't usually go home with men they don't even know. The only thing I know about you is your name and that you're a top fighter." And that you're absolutely not someone to mess with if I was smart.

The night air and the sight of people strolling through the park distracted her. Watching the tree branches sway in their dark silhouette dance calmed her. Every design of the area worked perfectly to that effect, from the spacing of the trees to the well-crafted garden bed that she couldn't fully appreciate in the darkness. However, the fighter's presence was too close and impossible to overlook. 

Maybe I should just head back to the Arena and stay awake? It will be difficult, but one day should be possible. Violet felt the amber eyes scrutinising without respite. I cannot figure him out. Is he looking for weakness? No, it feels like more than that. 

"If you just wanted to get to know me better, all you had to do was ask, darling~♥"  

"My name is not darling, thank you," Violet snarled without turning to face him.

"Well, I feel quite disadvantaged. You know my name, but I don't know yours. So, darling, it is~♥" He smiled mischievously.

It was a trap and challenge. Knowing as much caused Violet to contemplate the option of avoiding relinquishing the information Hisoka was seeking just for the game's sake. However, she didn't like the 'darling' term. It was condescending, at best. 

"I have many names and aliases, but you can call me Violet," she answered, smiling sweetly.

"How fascinating ~ ♥" He beamed with a genuine interest but continued to scrutinise and follow her every movement. 

Shaking him is so much harder than I thought. He seems patient enough, but I also don't want to be on his bad side. I bet he has a temper like none other. So, am I still going to continue this game? Absolutely. The world began to spin as dizziness returned for a short visit, but Violet ensured all her movements were carefully planned. "You must have been headed back to Heaven's Arena. Don't let me keep you," she stated while thinking, Go find someone your own size to play with, buddy!

Hisoka bolted upright in his sitting position, startling Violet into giving him her full attention. "Yes. Excellent observation, darling. Some important guests will be arriving shortly, and I wanted to ensure I was there before they arrived~ ♥" he declared matter-of-factly. "However, I'm returning from successfully completing the professional Hunter exams, and I don't have any immediate business. On the two hundred floor, fights run by quite different rules."

"Oh, I see. Pretty sure I said my name isn't 'darling'." Violet narrowed her eyes in agitation. Her nose wrinkled for a split second. "I think—" 

Violet was cut off mid-thought by the most embarrassing sound escaping her stomach. It protested the long-standing and sufficient lack of nutrition over the last few days. Burning heat raced to her cheeks, and she knew it coloured from her neck to forehead. In an attempt to curb further outbursts and calm the raging nerves, her arms wrapped around the mutinous abdomen.

Now. Now of all times?! Isn't stress supposed to suppress appetite! Come on, body!

Hisoka's amused chuckle rang through the air, which he attempted to curb with a hand over his face. This only served to send further heat to Violet's cheeks.

"Hungry, darling? I believe you did mention it earlier," he remarked. "How about this arrangement? I'll take you to dinner. We can get to know each other better and then decide if you still need a room or not~ ♦"

A restaurant would be public and safer. I definitely could use a meal, but... Still holding her stomach, Violet eyed him earnestly, considering the offer. "I don't know... some might say if you buy me dinner, I would be in your debt for certain things, and I don't like being indebted to anyone for any reason." Violet looked at him thoughtfully. "If I agree to go, and I'm not saying I will. I'll pay for myself."

A smile brightened Hisoka's lips, but there were hints of darkness in his eyes. "That's fine, dear. You don't strike me as the type to care about others' opinions. Am I wrong? How about we make it a bit of an exchange of sorts? ~ ♦" he proposed. 

"What kind of exchange?"

"I will take you to dinner and happily cover the costs, but I want a bit more information from you, and you need some as well. I'll only ask for information in return. Sound acceptable? ~♣" 

Violet cocked her head while raising her chin, trying to figure out the catch. "Fine. It will be an exchange of information, but I'm still paying for my own dinner."

"Excellent~♥" he declared and started to stand from the bench.

"Wait." Hisoka stopped mid-air between standing and sitting before looking back. Violet couldn't hold back a small chuckle at the unusual position. "How did you know I'm not a local and lack information about my surroundings? Is it that obvious?" There was slight concern in her voice and expression.

Hisoka moved into a squatting position directly in front, catching Violet off guard and forcing a shift in her weight backwards into the bench. 

"Your aura is very telling," he answered with a smile. "Mostly, it was a guess that you confirmed with your last question." An expression of achievement twinkled in his eyes. 

With her stubborn nature in check, Violet couldn't resist opening her mouth a touch before snapping it closed. Dammit, he's already playing me, and I fell right into it.

Another pitiful growl escaped Violet's body, causing heat to return to her cheeks. The redhead responded with a small chuckle and offered his hand while standing. 

"Let's get you fed before it's too late. If you faint, dinner won't be nearly as amusing a distraction now, will it?"