c h a n c e.

[Martyyy]

<sub>She looked at her reflection in the mirror partially with amusement, partially with bemusement. Her bright eyes were fixated primarily on her jagged, untidy fringe, which flopped over her forehead rather inelegantly. She looked like a right idiot, with her spikey hair going out in all directions AND dripping at the same time. The look was only added to when she raised her hair-drier to her head.

"Rune, I'm growing old here," called a voice from an adjacent room. "We're going to a freakin' cemetary. There's no need for you to do your hair." She merely giggled in response, turning the said hair-drier on. The voice that had spoken had obviously been planning on contuining its little speech, because she then heard a disagreeable sound coming from the same direction.

"Gabriel, I wash my hair because I wash my hair. Is that such a crime? I don't see wandering around with a load of grease on top of your head," she yelled over the noise, throwing a glance at the head that had poked out from behind the doorframe via the mirror.

"That's because I shower at appropriate times," Gabriel commented, pouting slightly at Rune. "C'mon. I need to see that you remember something, because then you'd go back to staying in one place, and I wouldn't have to rely on my old friends to help me track you down. You're one hell of a loose cannon, y'know." Rune just giggled again, much to Gabriel's irritation.

"Thank God short, fine hair dries quickly then, eh?" Rune had already switched off the drier. "I'm not even going to bother trying it completely. Just enough so that my fringe didn't like like a very badly positioned wig." She shrugged, running a hand through her semi-dry hair, leaving the mirror and grabbing both her jacket and bag in one deft swoop. "Are we going then?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes, tossing a pair of keys to her. "I can't actually be arsed to drive," he commented. "You're going to have much more fun doing it than I am." He had nothing else to say to the ecstatic expression now on his friend's face. "Go on then, otherwise we'll be staying here all day exchanging goofy faces." Despite the bored tone to his words, Gabriel grinned, bouncing over to shove Rune towards the door.

"Okay, okay, going, Mr Busy-Body. Off to the cemetary!"

She said it in such a cheerful way that Gabriel was momentarily worried about the rest of her mental health.

---

"No names?"

"Not yet," Rune murmured, trying to level out her voice. "Stop asking me every few seconds. It's annoying." She continued to wander along before the rows upon rows of gravestones, her lips pursed thoughtfully. For those unaware of Rune De Royteur's situation, I regret to tell you that she has few memories of her life before two years ago. Charming, eh?

"Well I can't help it," Gabriel replied indignantly. "I've got to have something to do apart from watch you look at slabs of stone." Gabriel Dresden, ladies and gentlemen, is a recovering alcoholic and ex-assassin. Interesting pair they make, wouldn't you say? The details of their meeting involve drinking, brawls and a lot of bluffing about substantial amounts of money, but I won't go and bore you with the entire sordid story.

Let's just say it was as unusual as they were.</sub>

[Jay]

"OH MY GOD, IT MOVED!" A voice squealed, its owner concealed in the inky darkness that surrounded the Cemetary.
"Tick Tock, shut the hell up. It's a friggin BIRD. Of course it moved."
"Meany."
"Idiot."
"Meaniepoopoohead."
"...You're crazy, you know that?"
"Yes, very well."

Rolling his dark eyes around in their red-rimmed sockets, Dean resisted the urge to reach over the tombstone he was standing in front of and strangle the skinnier man standing across from him.
He was never asking favors from friends again.
Shoulders hunched over the notebook clutched in his scarred hands, he sighed. Three weeks straight looking for this particular demon, and he was still coming up short. His leather jacket creaked as he breathed, dusky jeans blending in perfectly with the shadows around them. Running a hand through his spiky brown hair while he put the book down gently onto the tombstone, he frowned down at his workboots.

"Dean, this is going nowhere." His 'partner in crime' whined, his normally moderatly pitched voice hitched up in a child's yowl. "You said you needed me to bring firepower. Well, here I am, with all my favorite toys, and there's nothing for me to play with."
Putting his hands on his hips, Ticky, aka Tick Tock the Time Bomb, aka Holy CRAP it's HIM! RUN!, glared at the other man, one long fingered hand whipping up to smack black hair out of his hazel eyes. Dressed comfortably in a baggy- bullet hole ridden as it was- black suit with a matching tie and a white undershirt, he was certainly a sight to see. Slicked back by a combination of Panama-ian rain and dirt was equally dark hair, and two grey eyes sparkled insanely in the dim lighting of the atmosphere surrounding them.

"Don't make me hurt you, Ticky." Resting his hand on the ivory handle of his favorite handgun, Dean, aka The Hunter, glared down at the gravestone ontop of which he stood. "It's bound to show up sometime."

[Jay]

Jay:

Wow, that was SO BAD.
-hides-
I swear, I don't usually write like that. Jay's just tired...and a bit sick.
T-T

[Martyyy]

_{ooc|
Don't be a twit, Jay.
-snugs-
You're a fantastic writer whether you're tired, sick or intoxicated. x) For the last one, I'm not quite sure, but for the other two, I'm certain.}

[Martyyy]

<sub>"Are you sure this works? This technique, that is." Gabriel shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing sideways at Rune. "Seeing, hearing or touching stuff can actually make you remember something about who you were?" He was quite sure that this activity of grave reading wouldn't do that much. "Have you ever managed it before?"

"Well, technically, no," Rune admitted, shrugging, "but it never hurts to try, eh? Plus, I don't really know how I'm supposed to remember things. Like, would it come to me in a flash, like a premotion on Charmed or whatever. This is currently my only option. I don't want a huge public thing about this," she added, because she knew Gabriel was about to say that she got her passport checked out and connected to someone. "My passport is not going to be involved."

Gabriel snorted. "Putting it that way, you make your passport sound like a witness to a crime that's too freaked to come and report what they saw." Rune gave him a withering look coupled with a smile. "What? It's just a thought."

"You know me, I prefer doing things independantly, so getting professional or serious help would jus-" Having been so engrossed in both talking, reading and walking at the same time, Rune was quite unaware of a man standing on top of a gravestone that was in the same row. Due to the added effect of the dim lighting, Rune was quite surprised when she quite forcefully walked into him. By accident completely, y'know.

Rune stumbled back, her shoulders tensed, her eyes wide, noting a second man with the one she'd just so kindly crashed into. "Shit. Sorry. Crap."

"How articulate," Gabriel remarked helpfully.</sub>

[Jay]

“Ticky, I swear to god, if you don’t shut the fu—“ The threat, intelligently worded as it was, was cut short as a female body came crashing into his already battered side.
Run ins with nasty ghosties controlled by an even nastier demon tended to bruise a guy up like that. So when he let out a very loud groan and his chocolate eyes rolled back in his head?
He was justified. At least he didn’t give into the urge to scream like a little girl.
“Yeah, sorry too. No problem. Ooookay, back away from me before I kill something.” Taking a step sideways and off of the grave, Dean bent over until he could rest his hands on his knees, taking deep, easy breaths. In and out, in and out, until the pain in his side turned to a dull throbbing.
He was not going to start whining like a kicked puppy. He was just going to stay down and breath.
Ticky, on the other hand, had different ideas.

The dull click of a safety being pulled off sounded in the air as the Time Bomb straightened, two automatics held confidently in each hand. Aiming one at Rune and the other at Gabriel, he took a step closer to the hunter, an oddly happy smile on his face.
“Sweet! I only had to be here for a half hour, and we found your demons. Can I just shoot them like the poltergeist in Louisiana? Or do we have to behead them? Crap, ‘cause I left my machete in the car…but I do have a few extra automatics tucked in my—“
“Shit, Tick Tock, put the guns away!” Dean growled. Forcing himself to straighten, he placed himself between the soldier and the two strangers.
With a whine, the skinny man lowered his arms, though he didn’t move to put the guns away. “Aw, c’mon, Dean! Don’t hog all the action! You said if I came, I could try these babies out.” He nodded at his ‘lovelies’.
“They aren’t demons, you idiot.” The hunter hissed. Turning around to face the woman and other man, he held his hands out in an appeasing manner, a tight smile on his face. “Um…folks, I’m sorry to tell you, but this cemetary’s closed for…uh…a police investigation.”
…Yeah, it was an obvious lie. And with Tick Tock standing behind him, an evil little smile on his face?
He was so screwed.

[Martyyy]

<sub>"Shit," Rune repeated, pressing her fingers to her mouth. "I'm so sorry, I didn't notice you there at all." She had a rather wiry, light body shape - how she could have caused as much damage as she appeared to have done to a man who was probably much more well built that she was. Well, he felt like he did, in any case, during the collision. She sort of hovered, half wanting to crouch down and ask if there was anything to do to help, but basic instinct told her that that was a bad idea. So she just continued to hover, stopping for a moment to slap Gabriel hard on the arm as he tried to disguise his laughter and giggles, much to his dismay.

Guns. Ooh, this was interesting. Gabriel knew he was outweighed with the whole deal of there being two guns on the second bloke (he hadn't exactly been counting on a confrontation), but he flipped out his own Desert Eagle semi-automatic, aimed right for the man's head. Then he heard another movement and another safety being clicked off.

"Rune? Where the- a gun? What the fuck? Where did you get that?" Gabriel's stammering didn't suit his grim grin, but somehow he managed to pull off both the voice and expression at the same time.

"You taught me how to shoot," Rune said with an offhand shrug. "So I bought a gun. Mind you, I had to save up for about half a year. "It's a vintage Glock. Lovely model, to be honest." Gabriel could barely stop himself from going into shock. Yeah, he'd taught Rune how to shoot a gun, but still. She wasn't the gun type! She was innocent and sweet, and the damsel in distress kind! Not a gun-toting damsel, for Christ's sake!

As the apaprently somewhat injured man stepped in between them all, Gabriel relaxed ever so slightly, while Rune remained tensed and ready. They both listened carefully to the snippets of information, both hearing the word "demon" several times. Gabriel stole a quick glance back at Rune; she looked just as perplexed as he did.

"Demons?" Rune's voice was tentative, now that she had been put on alert. "What about demons?" She was trying to take it as objectively as she could. Gabriel just stood there, maintaining his position. "And you so don't look like police-men. Demons, guns pointed randomly at us?" She snorted. "Yeah, right."

Gabriel was wondering, all the while, where this rather tough attitude was coming from.</sub>

[Jay]

“We’re detectives.” Dean replied easily, palms still out. His eyes, which had been opened wide in surprise, were now sporting some twitching lower lids. Great. They were in a rerun of Scarface.
Why didn’t he just stay in bed like he wanted?
“Tick Tock,” He said over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on the stranger in front of them. “Put. The damn. Guns. Down. And you two,” He squinted a bit at Rune and Gabriel. “Do the same thing. While I love being the center of attention, I draw the line at having two sets of guns pointed at my head.”

Tick Tock, a pout on his face, stuck out his tongue at the back of Dean’s head. “You’re no fun, you know that?”
Dammit, he wanted some action today! So far, all he’d gotten to do was shoot up some lowly drug dealers and get a deal on in Panama later that month. Yeesh…even his old boss was getting more action than him, and the man was RETIRED!
Glaring at the two strangers, he sighed dramatically before putting the guns back into the holsters at his hip and back. Well, at least he’d gotten to show them off. Now, he supposed it was time to meet the natives.
Whoohoo.
“Heeey, is that an army issue automatic, or one of the store bought ones? ‘Cause if that’s the model I’m thinking of, you’ve gotta get some connections and get yourself a new gun. The triggers stick like there’s no tomorrow.”
Ah, now the little psycho was in his element; guns.
Yes, he was a soldier, and yes, there wasn’t much known about his past track record…but if there was one thing that was obvious, it was the fact that, among other things, Tick Tock was an arms dealer.
Lord help the world.

Clearing his throat, Dean moved a bit backwards. It was clear that he was more concerned about keeping his ‘partner’ in check, than the two standing in front of them with their guns cocked.
Talk about irony. But, then again, none of them knew the Time Bomb.
“So, folks, show’s over. Why don’t you guys just move along? Go about your business, and come back to visit your loved ones during the day. When it’s safe. There’s a murderer on the loose, you know.”

“Going too far there, D.” Tick Tock muttered. Turning his back to the two others, he put his hands on his hips and surveyed the shadows around them, looking for danger.
‘Cause he was just so damn bored, and this demon had to show up sometime.

[Martyyy]

<sub>Rune was the first to drop her hands and gun, and Gabriel followed the suit. Rune tucked her weapon back the small, indiscreet holster around her waist, raising her brows at the man, apparently named Tick Tock. Talk about unusual names. She still didn't believe these two; since when did the police dabble with demons? Whatever, she didn't believe it. She moved forward slightly, standing by Gabriel, who seemed to be lost in thought about something, his brows furrowed.

"It's an army issue, as far as I know," Rune replied, jerking her hand at Gabriel. "I got them from his dealer, who is, I quote, "the best bloody dealer I have ever come across". Hence why I've got a rather good model that was so pricy." She shrugged. "When your main job is standing on a street corner busking, it's hard to come across money like that. Then again, there are connections that I can use to my benefit-"

"Yes, Rune, we'll be sharing life-stories over tea next if you keep up at this rate," Gabriel said bitingly, but was duly ignored. Rune placed one hand on her hip, leaning the majority of her weight onto the opposite leg. Gabriel wasn't sure where all this audacity was coming from; maybe she was really that intent on getting her memories back? Well, if he'd been her, he'd've been pretty damn eager himself.

"Sorry, but I have read the names on the graves. I lost my memory four years back, and I have no intention of putting off looking for any triggers." Rune's voice was somewhat hard, edged with irritation. This confirmed to Gabriel that she really had her mind set to this. "Look me in the eye and tell me that you wouldn't be doing exactly the same in my situation."

"Jesus Christ, girl," Gabriel began. "You're becoming a regular mobster here. Mind telling me why you're not so relaxed on the subject of no memories all of a sudden?"

"Four years going with just a name and nationality? I'm getting tired of just being Rune. I need to be Rune with a background, with a history."

Gabriel was still a bit uneasy about Rune's mood. She seemed a little trigger-happy today, and since they'd come to the cemetary, she'd lost her usual bounciness. The atmosphere around her was heavy and brooding. Perhaps there really was something here that she needed to know about? Hell, maybe a demon stole her memories. Gabriel tried not to laugh at that.</sub>

[Martyyy]

_{ooc|
Ack.
I'm sorry, Jay, I'm doing so much rambling.
>>;}

[Gambets]

Speaking of demons, as the others were so intently taking about, one had slipped into the Cemetery.

Well, she wasn't really a demon, more like the grim reaper who had been tricked into the job, but that's a story for another time.

The slim blue figure slowly walked row by row, watching the names on each tomb-stone, ticking off how many of them she had 'reaped' and had to watch met their end in one way or another.

God, how Maraya hated her job.

She shuck her head slightly, her short, black hair moving and covering her stark white eyes that were lowered and scanning the marble slabs.She moved like a shadow, and dressed as one, a black cloak covered her frame, and her wings which were tucked neatly underneath.Her tail dragging in the dirt and grass, the end tipped with black spikes that dug into the ground.

There was another reason she was there, to visit the grave of one of her past friends, just to say good bye to them again, and pay her respects.

[Gambets]

ooc:

You guys don't mind if I join,
do you?

[Jay]

Jay:

I'm so sorry, dahling Gambets, but Marty and I basically carried our onexone roleplay from neo here.

I'd be happy to start up another thread just for ya, if you're interested.
I can pull in Dean, Ticky...or one of my other characters.
^^

[Jay]

‘The best bloody dealer I’ve ever come across’. Oh, that was a laugh; a huge, stomach-cramping, eye watering laugh!
“Well, you’re fabulous dealer doesn’t know his ass from his elbow, if you ask me.” Tick Tock said, turning suddenly. Strolling loose-legged over to the trio, he stood beside Dean, his hands tucked in the pockets of his rumpled, dirty slacks. With a sideways glance at Gabriel- and a wink; the little devil was having MUCH too much of a good time, here- he sidled up to Rune, bending down as if to inspect her stomach. “I mean, the thing’s obviously an army issue, but that muzzle has evidence of use, and the powder smell? Not supposed to be there. Lord, could I hook you up with a nice piece—“

With a growl, Dean snagged the back of the younger man’s collar, yanking him back. “I’m so sorry,” He said, with a pointed glare at Ticky, who- the little bastard- stuck his tongue out in reply. “My partner’s a bit…strange. Don’t listen to anything he says. And…em…what?”
So, it seemed that the two people wanted to argue with each other than talk to them? SWEET! Maybe he didn’t have to fish out those fake IDs and get into his ‘professional character’; aka his Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry impression.
Lord, how he loved those movies. The grit, the grime, the angst. It was like his life, in a modern, less fantastical light.
Yeah, make his day. He dared ya.
“So, if you two would care to come back tomorrow—“

“You lost your memory?” Tick Tock interrupted. With as much dignity as he could manage, he made a show of straightening out his bullet hole ridden jacket, a lip curl in the hunter’s direction. “That’s sad. I lost my past too. Poor thing; it’s buried under more red tape than the file on JFK’s real murderer.” Ducking a swat from Dean, he shook his head at his partner.
“Really, Dean, it’s obvious they aren’t leaving. Why don’t we just team up? I’m getting bored, and they have guns- bad guns, but hell, I’m not picky- and this thing’s supposedly a bad boy. I mean, I’ve got some nice toys, but you wouldn’t let me bring the REAL goodies. They have a glock, and snubs. And training.” He cast another sideways glance at Gabriel, a curious glint in his eyes. It was obvious that some kind of calculations were being made behind those dark little orbs of his.
They say that the eyes are windows into a person’s soul.
…Then again ‘they’ didn’t know our Tick Tock.

Running a hand through his hair in an agitated manner, Dean sighed. He didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to be talking to these people, and didn’t want to keep stopping himself from strangling Tick Tock. Turning a cool glare at Rune- and ignoring Gabriel; it was obvious he was just an accessory from here on out- he crossed his arms over his chest.
“We aren’t cops, and you aren’t tourists. Why don’t we do a swap; information for information. You tell me why you’re here, and I’ll answer a question for you.”
There. And who ever said he couldn’t be civil?

[Martyyy]

<sub>"Whatever," Rune muttered. "This is a good model, and I don't need the running commentary. Anyway, it's vintage, and of course it's been used." She made to poke Ticky in the forehead, to push him away, but never got the chance to, as he was yanked back by Dean. "Not saying that I'm not interested in any offers. The training I got from Gabriel here's made me quiet interested in the whole gun business." She ignored her companion's seemingly pained expression, continuing with a dry smile. "I'm sure you have the resources, so give me a call sometime if the offer'll still be open after tonight."

At this point, Gabriel gave up on Rune, not caring if she decided to go all Layer Cake like on him. He relaxed considerably, letting himself slide back into his normal, nonchalant frame of mind, just in time to catch Ticky's wink to him. He couldn't resist winking back, a lazy grin flopping onto his features. Honestly, with you first look at Gabriel, you wouldn't think that he was in his late twenties. More his late teens.

"Thanks for taking our side, more or less," he commented, shrugging slightly. "We won't interfere with your demon hunting or whatever it is, unless you'd like a like help. After all, wandering around reading names on graves is so much more fun than looking for things that shouldn't exist." The sarcasm was plain in his voice. Rune simply rolled her eyes, copying Dean as she ran her own hand through her jagged black hair.

While she had been ignoring any questions about her sudden change in attitude, Rune had been questioning herself. Whatever it was that was making her feel so on edge was close, and that was worrying her a bit. She could feel something, and it was making goose bumps show up all over her skin. She glared icily right back at Dean, her lip still curled ever so slightly to one side.

"We're here because I'm looking for a name to jog my memory," she said, matter-of-factly. "As for loosing it in the first place, God only knows how it happened. I seemed to open my eyes and there I was - wandering along down some street somewhere, with nothing but a passport and some essentials." She exchanged glances with Gabriel - who was continually glancing back at Ticky with an equally interested look - before continuing. "Now, what's this deal about demons? If you need help, we need facts."

“And in case you hadn’t realised already, that’s Ryuunaiy-” Rune made a strangled sound. “Otherwise known as Rune, and I’m Gabriel. It’s a pleasure to meet you?”</sub>