Quade McMurphy. 21, male, shapeshifter. Most distinguishable by his red-brimmed black cap, the man takes on countless forms and appearances in his daily life and has made a living using his ability to its fullest. As one of Giichi Hasegawa's closest and most trusted friends, he finds himself occasionally involved in her adventures. When he isn't fighting demons and helping "the Squad", as Giichi calls it, the man goes to work one of his main jobs: the jobs of other people's.

With the ability to shapeshift, Quade can take on the appearance and voice of anyone he wants. As a result, he reaches out and offers to take their identities for a period of time, often granting them days off when necessary. This ranges from covering for people in need of a day off to anyone who need additional help for each day. He's worked as a driver, a handyman, a restaurant chef, a tailor, and so on.

Right now, "Mr. Parker" - a regular at his restaurant, and someone who needed to work to support his granddaughter - was the identity Quade took on. Their arrangement has Quade accepting 15% of the taxi fare in exchange for driving the taxi as him, thereby allowing Mr. Parker to gain an hourly paycheck as well as the fare. This was not a lot of money, sure, but Quade was more than happy to work this job.

Plus, he's good at it. Driving in Starveil was in high demand, especially with the high traffic congestion. Quade has the city's map memorized by heart, understanding the intricacies of road safety laws and the optimal stops to drive. This job simultaneously gives him the opportunity of patrolling the city for any sort of immediate trouble, like crime or sudden anomalies that the D'Erricos are on constant watch for. Quade shares the same love of Starveil that Giichi has, finding the urban scenery comforting and pleasing to travel through.

Of course, that only applies for when he doesn't feel like he's being watched by someone who can hide their entire body in shadows.

"... so are you coming out of hiding now, Nyx...?" Quade speaks over his shoulder, using the voice of Mr. Parker to express mildly annoyance. "I know you're back there, no use pretending like you aren't back there."

Confirming what Giichi had previously stated, a head peeks out from behind Quade's seat. Revealing a woman with a devilish aura emanating from her body, her red eyes blink as she peers at Quade's neck. "One problem. The sun is out," she informs Quade, a hint of elegance to her voice as she was playing innocent. "I hope that you remember my condition with... being in direct sunlight, dear."

Quade lets out a sigh. "Would you believe me if I told you I prepared for this?" Reaching into the glove box of the taxi, taking out a light-reflecting blanket. "Here."

Nyx looks at the blanket and- accepts it. Promptly crawling through the window separating the front and back of the taxi, her entire body contently seated in the passenger-side seat while she wraps herself up in the blanket. It was more than enough to cover her body, and she manages to use a corner of it as a makeshift hood.

Nyx quietly stares at Quade with a calm look on her face, her eyes blinking at that statement.

"..." Quade... uncomfortably shivers. The way Nyx stared at him, he felt her red eyes practically peering into his soul. Like a wolf or a bear, staring at a rabbit.

"... Nyx, if I didn't know any better, I'd assume you were out for my blood like a vampire," Quade tells her, chuckling lightly in an attempt to joke in honesty as he continues to drive. "What's up?"

"Nothing..." Nyx answers, looking out the window. "Nothing is up, Quade."

"A... Alright, then," Quade responds, letting out a resigned sigh. Nyx was always vague like this. It was probably nothing, as she said.

But in truth, it was not nothing. In the time Nyx has stared at Quade - passionately stared, by the way - she has proceeded to concoct an entire novel in her head about a vampiric story. In ten to twelve seconds, she has lived through a sort of romantic, twisted fantasy where Quade has been turned into a vampire and has been pursuing the fair maiden (her).

The fantasy had a slow build up for the first half of it, progressing to the ending where the two of them [REDACTED INFORMATION OMITTED] and [MORE REDACTED INFORMATION INFORMATION] as Quade bites into her neck, claiming her mortality and [AGGRESSIVELY REDACTED INFORMATION OMITTED] in a shared heat of love and passion.

Needless to say, Nyx needed to bury this fantasy after living through it. Shifting in her seat, biting her lower lip. It was not time yet, she needed the moment to be right, to be ready for Quade...

"... listen, Nyx," Quade says to Nyx, eyes shifting to the right and in search of anyone calling for the taxi.

Nyx, regaining her composure, interrupts him immediately. "I know. I am certain you are going to complain about my presence here once again, and will first inquire: why is it a problem that I am with you in this taxi, Quade?"

"Well- first and foremost," Quade begins to explain, holding up a finger. "Even though I guessed you'd be following me anyway, you hid away back there and didn't say a thing whatsoever. Not a single hello or anything. Got a reason for that?"

Nyx nods, and promptly answers with her prepared excuse - refraining from telling Quade she wanted to bask in his candid presence. "... Quade," Nyx speaks, looking to the man with a calm look on her face. "One human's nature. Blossoms in the light of man. All are beautiful. I did not want to disrupt your work by making my presence known, which- is why I kept secrecy of my presence."

"... profound haiku, as usual, but- you did disrupt me, and now we're here, so two:" Quade continues, gesturing to his old man face. "I am currently disguised as a different man. If anyone saw you with me like this, suspicion will occur. Someone could accuse an innocent man of cheating on his wife with a woman decades younger than him."

Nyx is briefly fascinated at the thought of Quade being caught with her in public regardless of which form he was in, but- promptly shakes her head. "Well. I will concede that an affair is an issue. However, if I am counting the years appropriately, I am several centuries old. That issue alone could be-"

"Not the point. Look, I'm-" Quade begins to speak, as their conversation is promptly interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing.

Mr. Parker's smartphone was positioned in the phone holder on the dashboard, secured for any personal calls or work calls. Quade was holding onto it to really sell the Mr. Parker shift, giving the man assurance that he would maintain character.

Though, the call wasn't coming from that phone. Quade's own cellphone was ringing in his coat pocket, a flip phone that was currently beeping and ringing. "Oh, that's mine..." Quade says, his voice shifting back to his normal one as he reaches for the phone, briefly glimpses at the unknown number on the display, and hands the phone to Nyx. "... Nyx, mind openin' this up? Too busy drivin' to open it myself."

Nyx looks between Quade's face and his phone a couple of times. "... very well." Taking his phone and opening it up. However, instead of holding it to Quade... she gets the idea to hold it up to her own ear. "Hello? To whom am I speaking?"

Quade immediately tenses up as Nyx does this, mild annoyance turned to irritation. "D-Don't answer on my behalf, give me the phone!" he demands.

Nyx pulls the phone away, contently pressing herself against the door to keep herself far and distant from Quade. "Yes, yes, it's me. Mhmm. Yes. Of course, he and I are currently exchanging an intimate moment. What is it? Oh. I see, well-"

Quade grits his teeth as he pulls the taxi into a conveniently free parking spot in front of a frozen yogurt place, exhibiting his perfect parallel parking skills. Putting the car into park, before turning to Nyx and lunging his arm out to snatch the phone back. "I said, give it here!" he shouts aggressively. Holding his hand over the phone's microphone, he promptly shouts at her. "If you ever do that again-!"

Nyx is frozen still. Her hands trembling from feeling the warmth of Quade's hand, even if the hand was not in the shape of his true form. Staring intensely at Quade with a blank gaze, processing the fact that Quade's hands have taken something from hers. "..."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Quade stares at Nyx's hands, feeling... a little bad for shouting at her. It was enough to scare her, and- he believes he went too overboard, now. "... I- I didn't mean to- ... sorry for shouting, just- quiet down for a bit..." he tells her.

Quade then holds the phone up to his ear. "... anyway, sorry, please disregard my secretary-" he begins to lie as an excuse, before pausing and sighing with relief. "Oh, Giichi. It's you. Done grocery shopping already? Ah." It was fortunate that Nyx didn't speak into the phone with any of his other contacts.

Nyx just stares at Quade speak into the phone, continuing to stare at him. The way he could just... switch from a fierce and scolding tone all the way to casual tenderness and familiarity. Hands folding on her lap, keeping herself together as her distant stare conceals the overwhelming obsession and infatuation flowing through her head.

"I didn't recognize the number, why- oh. You're using a payphone? Ah. Yeah. Mhmm, Nyx was answering my phone, I'm still driving, yeah. Do you need a-? ..." Quade responds, about to ask if she needed a ride, but then pausing as Giichi interrupted him. "Wait, hold on, Cyan is... what?"

Nyx blinks for a brief moment, returning to reality. "... Cyan? Is there an issue with Verness Cyan?"

Quade holds a finger up at Nyx, listening to Giichi. "I- I see, okay. Cotton Valley... alleyway between Orchid and Chestnut- sounds good. I know a locksmith. Mind knocking on the door of the building this machine's at? It's good to get permission from whoever's in there, and-"

The man was immediately interrupted by something approaching the car, the distant sounds of police sirens approaching. Quade's immediate guess was that it was... another speeder, and slowly brakes to be cautious.

Quade then looks to the left, his eyes glancing at a passing Caspian dashing past the taxi. In one split second, as Quade was processing the sight, the two just look at each other in an indescribable silence divided between the taxi's window. Then Caspian disappears with a blur, and a police car makes a sharp turn to chase Caspian.

"............"

Nyx looks to Quade, blinking at his silence. "So, what-"

"Nyx. Seatbelt," Quade interrupts immediately.

"Ah." Nyx reaches for the seatbelt and pulls it over herself, securing it with a click.

Once Nyx was locked in, Quade promptly makes a swift U-turn and proceeds to continue driving. Going a little faster as he was now heading to the alleyway. "Giichi- you there? You said Caspian was with you? ... uhuh, got it. Just-" Quade audibly sighs into the phone. "Stay safe, I'm coming over there right now. Okay? Okay..." Pressing the end call button, and letting out another sigh.

"Nyx, long story short, here-" Quade explains, handing Nyx his phone. "I need to make several emergency calls. Just press the numbers I tell you to. Keep quiet the entire time."

Nyx, looking at the flip phone, nods. She gulps a little, feeling what semblance of a heartbeat she had as Quade was commanding her to operate the phone. It took every inch of her self discipline to refrain from responding how she instinctively would, simply just going: "U... Understood."

Quade begins reading off various numbers, currently at least 15 minutes away from the alleyway. After Nyx dials the number, Quade's locksmithing friend answers as the first number.

"Huh? Quade? You sound panicked, I- ... oh, okay. Well, you called me at an inconvenient time, but- listen, you already know how to get into my place. To the left, second shelf from the right for the vending machine supplies."

That's on the way. Okay. Quade turns left and plans a stop there. "I see. Alright, Harvey, thanks. I owe you one."

"Yep. I'll call you later tonight."

Quade then hangs up, and instructs Nyx to dial a second number. This time, a police officer speaks as the second number. One of his friends on the force.

"... what? McMurphy, how did you know about- Okay- okay. Yeah, an officer saw a guy matching that description. He's suspected of trapping a little girl in a- ... oh, you- know both of them? Okay. Okay, listen, I'll try what I can, but don't get your hopes up. This case reached up to the police commissioner, a child being stuffed in a vending machine is grave."

Quade shakes his head and sighs. "Thank you anyway, Matts..."

"Anytime. Are you free later tonight? I need a drinking buddy, the guys are really-"

"We'll talk later. Six O'Seven, I'm free to plan then." Hanging up and reading off a new number.

Nyx wasn't unfamiliar with the fact Quade had several... useful acquaintances. He has chatted like this before, but- this is one of the rare times Quade was urgently calling and cashing in his favors with clients. The sheer professionalism. Nyx just stares in pure admiration as she dials the next number, and-

"W-What? Hold on, McMurphy? W-why are you calling me?"

Nyx hears the voice on the other end, glaring at the phone immediately. It was a woman's voice.

In a fit of jealousy, she looks to Quade and was about to speak- prompting Quade to respond by reaching his hand out to block the phone and aggressively shush at Nyx. Glaring straight back at her, a deadly serious look as he wanted to make sure Nyx doesn't say a single word.

"..." Nyx just takes a deep breath and nods, keeping quiet.

Quade raises his hand off of the phone. "... I'm calling in a favor. I need your husband to call the police commissioner, officers are chasing one of my friends."

"W... Well, I- I mean, this is unexpected? I don't know if-"

Quade takes a deep breath, looking to Nyx and calmly saying: "Remember. Valentines Day dinner."

"............ o... okay... I'll- I'll call him. S-So we're good now, right?"

"Yes, yes, we're good," Quade responds, nodding as he hangs up. Continuing to drive as he pauses in silence. Giving Nyx ample time to ask questions.

"So. Explain who-" Nyx immediately begins to ask, a hostile tone to her voice. The way Quade was familiar with this strange woman, this secretive one, it- spoke volumes to her. This woman was special to him for some reason, her blood boiling with overwhelming jealousy.

Quade immediately interrupts Nyx, already knowing the question. "Wife of Starveil's current mayor, happily married and has no intentions on changing that," Bluntly admitting one of his most powerful connections. "Went to their house on Valentine's Day to cook a several course dinner for the two of them. She was self conscious about cooking dinner, and I let her take credit. It was romantic, they loved it, saved a favor with her the morning after."

"... oh." Nyx blinks idly at this, starting to calm down. "I... I see. The way it seemed, I thought-"

"Hold that thought, Nyx, we're here," Quade instructs as he parks at the locksmith's place. "Listen, stay here and keep watch over the car. Anyone calls on this phone, it's a taxi job and you're a taxi driver. Do not give your name. Answer and memorize EVERYTHING they tell you. Do you need a notepad?"

Nyx- nods at all of this information. "Yes, I believe I need-"

Quade immediately reaches for the glove compartment, opening it up and handing Nyx the notepad and pen. He writes something at the very top of the page, first, before he leaves the taxi. "Counting on you." Rushing straight into the building and urgently searching for the locksmithing kit.

Nyx just... sits in the taxi, her eyes lighting up and sparkling as she was contently waiting for Quade. He- he trusted her with handling the calls. - looking at the phone as it promptly rings. "O-Oh!" Squinting at the screen... and pressing the green circle after some time.

A deep breath as she stares at what Quade wrote. "Uhm- yes, hello. You have reached..." Squinting her eyes. "... Starveil's Starwheels. Are you requesting a taxi?"

"... uhm, I'm- this- this is Ernest Parker's number, right?"

Nyx blinks at the phone. Quade instructed her to be nameless. "... Ernest Parker cannot come to the phone right now. If you are in need of his services- please leave your name and phone number and we will get back to you shortly."

"Well- uhm. Okay. It's- Dahlia. 95 Clockwork Avenue. Can I leave a message?"

"Yes, you may," Nyx responds to the caller, writing down the name and address. "What is your message?"

"I love you. Please take me back."

Nyx's eyes widen at this. She remembers prior information Quade told her, how she couldn't be seen with Quade because of a potential cheating scenario. Tensely staring at the phone, wondering how to respond. Having no clue whatsoever on how to handle this. Was Dahlia some sort of secret lover? Was this a part of the man's personal life that not even Quade knew about? "... alright. Please hold for one moment. He- will be available shortly." Starting to write the message on the notepad.

As Nyx was writing this, Quade- silently approaches the car, seeing Nyx speaking to someone on Parker's phone. He waves to Nyx through the window, and points to the notepad as a signal.

Upon Nyx showing the notepad and him seeing what Nyx wrote down, Quade's eyes grow wide as he opens the door and quickly enters the car. Holding the lockpicking toolbox out to Nyx and placing it in her lap, before grabbing the phone and pulling it off of the holder.

"Dahlia," he speaks into it, using his normal voice to Nyx's surprise. A grim look on his face, visibly stressed. Trying to keep it together.

"A-Ah! Quade, you're- I thought you couldn't- y-you got my message, right? Did-"

"Don't ever call this number again." Hanging up the phone immediately. Furiously sitting in place, before letting out a deep sigh... and starting to drive.

Nyx blinks at that interaction, processing the entirety of what happened in that conversation. The person that called wasn't- calling for the taxi driver. They were calling for Quade. And this infuriates her immensely. "... so, who is this Dahlia that-"

"I don't want to talk about it yet," Quade responds, staring forward as the car drives along. Determined to get Verness out of the vending machine and clear Caspian's name and- "Other important problems take charge right now. I need to focus."

"..." Nyx would- feel conflicted, looking to Quade with unease. His hesitance to answer... concerns her. She urgently needed to know about this woman, to know what connection she had with Quade. It wasn't just of a client, she said she loved him. It was a confession. "Well, I simply want to know-"

"Not." Quade firmly grips the steering wheel, a growl escaping as he grits his teeth. "Now."

This effectively shuts Nyx up, and renders her speechless. She... begins to understand the full gravity of the situation, of how upset Quade was. Nyx desperately wanted to know who this "Dahlia" was, but...

... not now.

And she can respect that. The two remain silent as Quade is driving to the alleyway. Nyx found herself temporarily unable to look in his direction, giving him all the space he needs. A solemn look on her face as she stares out at the passing buildings.

"..." 95 Clockwork Avenue. Nyx makes sure to remember this.