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Post by Trix on Sept 10, 2017 19:59:31 GMT
The Innocent The East was no place for a shy girl, a girl who had been sheltered her whole life because of the bad things that her family was involved in. Charlotte was not stupid, nor was she entirely ignorant despite what her brother had intended. People got killed for things that shouldn't matter and people got killed for others survival. Her parents were killed and her brother had been hunting their killers for years. He had killed. And while William never said it and he wouldn't dare admit it to anyone, she knew because he was the only family she had and she knew him better than he knew himself.
Despite him being a killer, he wouldn't even consider teaching her how to use a gun. She was allowed to sell them, but never ever use one. She was to leave that to him and to their guardian. Charlotte never left the confines of their business alone, despite being an Easterner and everyone knowing she was off limits. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that their family was dangerous and not to be messed with. Will wanted to take no chances though, and she supposed she couldn't blame him. He'd likely go out of his mind if he lost her too. But Lottie couldn't just keep being locked away in a tower like some princess of a broken kingdom. She grew restless and curious, so she tested her boundaries. Today it was the alley across the street from the weaponry shop. Still close enough for someone to 'rescue' her, but also far enough away that she could breathe in the musty, smoke-filled air.
Lottie did her best to fit in with the Easterner look. They all dressed in spikes and leather, but here Will often had her in whatever cotton t-shirts and baggy jeans he could scrounge up. She was never allowed to dress like an Eastern girl. So, she took it upon herself to invade her guardian's clothing. They did not have the same bust, and Lottie was much shorter, but that was nothing a little tissue paper and heels couldn't fix. Before slipping out, she pulled on a leather jacket to cover her bare shoulders and checked her surroundings. If Will caught her, she could only imagine the lecture she'd get.
Quietly and swiftly, she snuck out the back door and across the street, eyes cast down as to not make eye contact with the wrong person.
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Post by Nu on Sept 10, 2017 22:08:11 GMT
Hunter Caphorn lit a cigarette and took a long drag as he ignored the muffled trashings from the owner of the store inside, stepping off the steps and walking towards home. The alarm from behind him alerted him to the arrival of the police and he turned to find two officers turning a corner and immediately spotting him.
"Don't move, Caphorn." One of the officers brought his gun up, which was Hunter's cue to run.
Turning a corner, he found himself staring down another grimy market street with fishheads strewn all over the ground. He peeked down the street he had just escaped and saw the cops halfway down so he went through the street, looking for an alleyway to hide in.
He bumped into a young woman in a leather jacket and successfully found an alley. Without a moment's thought, he grabbed the woman, pulled her into the alley and pushed her against the wall. "Hi," he breathed before pressing his lips against hers, one hand gripping her neck while the other moving down her waist, pulling her close.
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Post by Trix on Sept 11, 2017 4:53:08 GMT
The Innocent Charlotte hadn't had much time to think before she was whisked up by someone in the alley, pushed against the wall and kissed. She heard sirens, although that was nothing out of the norm, but she guessed that by their proximity and the current predicament she found herself in, he was the one they were after. Charlotte was entirely engulfed by him for what felt like forever. She felt the scruff on his face against her chin. She could smell the smoke from his cigarette lingering. And she could taste the burning tobacco against his lips. And while Lottie knew that he was a total stranger, she felt exhilarated. If Will saw her, he'd likely blow a gasket.
When he finally pulled back, his hands still lingering on her waist, Lottie placed her hand on his chest to give herself some distance and took a deep, shaky breath. "Uhm..." Lottie brushed her hair out of her face with her free hand and looked away from his eyes, already feeling lost and dazed.
She'd never been kissed like that, nor had she been kissed period. Her heart was fluttering violently in her chest and she thought she might puke. A criminal had just come out of nowhere and kissed her. And she wasn't hitting him, clawing his eyes out or even acting like it was something crazy. She just felt...confused. Thoroughly confused. "I'm sorry, I..." She couldn't even figure out what she was apologizing for, but she thought she should have.
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Post by Nu on Sept 11, 2017 7:06:20 GMT
Hunter wasn't usually aware of the people he made out with but given the circumstances, he couldn't help but stare. Her eyes were a striking blue and her lips were soft and pliant under his. His hand had slid up underneath her leather jacket and the other was currently stroking her cheekbone.
When he was sure that the cops were gone, the blonde stepped away and properly assessed the girl he had accosted. She looked far younger than his normal conquests, which caused him pause. He realised he was still stuck to her by her waist and neck so he pulled his hands away and gave her a smile.
"Why are you sorry?" He asked, pocketing his hands in his jeans. "Thanks for the cover."
He took a deep breath and peeked out from the alley to make sure he was safe. Once he was confident that they wouldn't have doubled back, he turned back to the girl and gestured for her to follow him. "Grab a drink with me? Least I could do after that assault."
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Post by Trix on Sept 11, 2017 15:21:29 GMT
The Innocent He disengaged himself from her and yet Lottie could still feel his hands as if they'd seared into her skin. Her eyes were wide as they looked at each other, both clearly assessing the other and he smiled. Her heart attempted to leap out of her throat uncomfortably which caused her to choke on an answer to his question. He thanked her and all he could manage was a small nod. Once she was sure she wouldn't pass out, she took a deep breath and looked around. She half expected the haze of a dream to be coloring the edges of her vision, simply to prove that there was no way it was real. And yet as she looked around, the cold and murky streets were clear as day. It had actually happened.
He turned back to her after observing his surroundings, making sure that he was in the clear. And next thing she knew he was asking her to grab a drink with her.
Charlotte had only been twenty-one for a couple of months and Will had hardly let her enjoy it. Lana occasionally snuck her a sip of wine, but outside of that, she'd not taken advantage of legally being allowed to drink. Here he was giving her that chance. Lottie looked up at the window where she knew her brother was sitting in his room reading. The moment he found out she wasn't in her room, he was going to send a search party and she could only imagine what he would do if he found her with the man in front of her. This was likely to be her only chance though and as she looked back at the blonde, she knew she wasn't going to be able to say no. "Th-that would be good I think. Th-thanks," she straightened her jacket and closed it around herself as the wind picked up. She was about to explore the side of the city she'd grown up in and been sheltered from with a total stranger who had just kissed her in an alley. She just hoped no one pinched her and woke her up.
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Post by Nu on Sept 11, 2017 19:13:16 GMT
Knowing this part of town instinctively made Hunter reach for the girl's hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. He tugged her close and started walking to the only nice place in town.
"I'm Hunter by the way." He introduced himself, a smile on his face as he looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "You don't look like anyone I've seen around here. But you can't be new." He assessed her once more and grinned. "Dad hide you from the world or something?" He joked, not realising how close to the truth it was.
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Post by Trix on Sept 11, 2017 19:30:35 GMT
The Innocent Charlotte felt her heart leap again when he took her hand. Her lips twitched into a smile, and she wrapped her other hand around his arm. She huddled close to him, settling for looking straight ahead and occasionally up at him. While she might not have known much about the area, she knew that there was reason for Will not wanting her to wander alone.
"Charlotte," She responded, meeting his smile with one of her own. It was infectious, he seemed so laid back and cool-headed. Much different than her uptight brother. "Uhm, brother actually," Lottie kind of laughed and bit her lower lip. "He's just protective, for obvious reasons I'm guessing." But it wasn't as though she really knew any of the real dangers that were likely lurking around each corner. For all she knew, he was one of those dangers. But she felt comfortable with him, safer than she would if she was on her own for sure.
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Post by Nu on Sept 11, 2017 20:01:55 GMT
"Suits you." He said with a nod. A pretty name for a pretty girl. He was pretty sure he shouldn't be doing all this. If her brother was the type to keep her shielded from the world, he must have had good reason. And he would probably also be a danger to Hunter at some point.
"He's not a cop, is he?" He chuckled, praying to whatever deity was looking down on them that Charlotte's brother was not an authority figure he had to evade. He liked her face, he didn't want to stop having to look at it anytime soon.
"So Charlotte, was your brother feeling generous today letting you out?" He asked before pausing to grin. "Or uh...he doesn't know you're out?" He continued. Judging by how she dressed, he knew it was the latter. While the clothes looked good, it somehow didn't look right on her. Whoever owned the clothes clearly had a little more meat on her.
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Post by Trix on Sept 11, 2017 20:16:53 GMT
The Innocent Lottie looked down and away to hide the way her face burned. Her skin was so pale any type of coloring in her face showed like a beacon. She didn't quite think Charlotte fit her though, she always kind of thought that it was too sophisticated and she often felt awkward and bumbling. She supposed she was intelligent and she knew she was well-versed in literature. She'd been named from a poem that William was in love with.
"No, not a cop," Quite the opposite, but she didn't quite know how opposite that was. "He sells antique weapons to collectors," at least that was what she'd been told. Lana dealt with the paperwork, Will kept the weapons in excellent condition and she was the secretary of sorts. "I don't think you have to worry about him hunting you down or into an alley," Charlotte let out a short laugh, "Well, at least, not in uniform."
Her eyes widened and she coughed, "Uh, well, he sort of doesn't have any idea. He will probably kill me when he finds out." Lottie looked up at him and gave a small frown, "If you want to bail, I totally understand. He's kind of...protective." And crazy, she was pretty certain he was crazy. But she wasn't going to let him hurt Hunter. If she got between them, Will wouldn't pursue him, but she couldn't be sure what would come of her. Maybe he'd keep her out on the street?
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Post by Nu on Sept 11, 2017 20:32:54 GMT
There was only one weapons dealer he knew and the owner was one he was sure he shouldn't be trifling with. But when has that really ever stopped Hunter from acting on his whims? He may only just be a lowly thief but he knew his way around a fight.
Her little joke made him smile and he looked at her, charmed by her laugh.
He gave a laugh and shook his head. "Not the type to bail on a sweet smile." He reached a hand out to graze his knuckle against her jaw. "So Charlotte. What is your role in your brother's antique weapons front?" He asked, not quite aware that Charlotte knew close to nothing of her brother's operations.
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Post by Trix on Sept 11, 2017 22:52:03 GMT
The Innocent Charlotte's face warmed where he touched her jaw and she found herself staring at him while he spoke. All signs were telling her that this was a bad idea. Hunter could have been a psycho for all she knew. Maybe he was one of the men that Will was trying to protect her against. He had the perfect smile, one that was hard to argue with. He was so easy to talk to, which came at a price in these parts. If she told too much, she could be putting someone in danger. That much she'd learned all on her own. She was pretty sure information is what killed her parents.
"I just keep inventory and research them so that we have as much information for the buyer that we need," Charlotte shrugged. It wasn't a particularly interesting job. Of course she often took it overboard and she knew everything right down to the area it was manufactured, all its faults, the ways it worked. She knew more than Will, easily. But she had never used one before and she didn't think she ever would. Will wasn't quite forthcoming with instruction despite her constant asking. "It's kind of boring really."
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Post by Nu on Sept 12, 2017 1:54:00 GMT
"Information is pretty invaluable right now." He said, turning a corner and avoiding a particularly keen eye as they moved toward the nicer part of town. Which wasn't saying much as it still smelled like someone died. And was more than likely also a place where someone did die. "I'd say your part of the job is as important as any thing else."
Finally spotting the little hole in the wall, he held up two fingers to the big man behind the counter before sliding on to the stool. His hand slid down her arm and squeezed hers and he smiled. This girl seemed to like his smile. He intended to keep it that way. "I recommend the bodega special. Unless you're vegan. Which I truly hope you're not." He chuckled lightly.
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Post by Trix on Sept 12, 2017 3:47:39 GMT
The Innocent As he spoke the very thoughts she had just had, she looked away. Same page, totally different books. They might have both been Easterners, but he was the scrappy kind that everyone expected in these parts. If it weren't for the way she dressed, she'd likely pass as a Westerner. She was smart, stayed out of trouble and doe-eyed. No one would expect any danger from her, nor did she really think she was capable of being dangerous. One look at Will and Lana and she knew they were, everyone did. But one look at her, and she was certain their enemies would laugh. Even Hunter, beautiful as he was, had an underlying danger to him. Behind his smile, she knew he was more than capable of taking care of himself on this side of the wall.
Lottie let the conversation about her family business flatline as they walked into the bar. He ushered her towards a couple of stools and she sat beside him while he gestured for someone to wait on them. His hand squeezed hers and she finally looked at him again. Lottie was an analyst, just like her brother. She thought things through before doing them, but she seemed to be having an out of body experience. Never would she have done something like this if she was actually using her brain. Something else was tugging at her to take her along with him. Instinct maybe? Whatever it was, she was both terrified and excited by it.
Charlotte laughed, "Definitely not a vegan." She bit the inside of her cheek and pulled her hair over her shoulder. "Do you come here often? It seems like you know your way around pretty well." Then again, she was also assuming that was normal if he didn't have some lunatic locking him up in a tower the way she did. Ah, Will, he was going to be furious.
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Post by Nu on Sept 13, 2017 3:39:53 GMT
Even the way she pulled her hair over her shoulder made him want to reach out and touch her. He smiled and nodded at the man behind the counter, gesturing to him to give her what he ordered.
"Hard not to know this place inside out. Tiny as it is." He chuckled. "But yeah, I live not a block from here and this place is the only place I trust with my meats. In that they actually cook it." It was a joke, sure, but there weren't a lot of eating establishments in these parts that quite care about how their food was presented.
"I feel honour bound to show you everything since who knows when else you might get to go out again." He turned to face her, cocking his head slightly to regard her. "Is that something you feel like doing?"
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Post by Trix on Sept 13, 2017 4:05:06 GMT
The Innocent Lottie took in his laugh and found herself smiling as he spoke. She looked around and did her best not to make eye contact with anyone else but Hunter. It was small, but it was nice enough. Rough-looking, but not extremely terrifying. She met his eyes again and nodded. It was nice to know that he lived nearby, at least she was learning something about him. She needed to learn more so that it wasn't completely outrageous that she was so infatuated with him already.
He turned towards her and she bit down on her lip, concentrating on what he was saying instead of the proximity. Lottie nodded, "Exploring sounds good in theory, but I uh, I don't know when Will is going to notice that I'm gone. And it would probably be bad if he caught me with you." She sort of laughed and tucked her hair behind her ear. All she could hope was that if anyone noticed her absence, it was Lana. They'd both worry, but Lana was a bit more level-headed than her older brother.
The more she thought on it, the more she figured that she might not get another chance. Lottie squeezed his hand, "Ya know what? Lets do it! It sounds like fun."
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