Breath Of A Last Cigarette (Elizabeth)

[JAMES HUGHES]

Nightime was when he really shined. During the day James had time to scope out places to go and hunters to eliminate but it was the night that brought out the true animal in him. The light kept his secrets at bay, and he tried to blend into the area around him like some average joe. The more he kept his head down during the day the easier it was to sneak around at night and fufill his darkest wishes. Occassinally he couldn't help himself and a pretty girl would wink his way and his inner desires would be intrigued. Sex, booze and killing. That was the life.

At first he thought this night would be a drag. The dance clubs weren't as full as he would have liked and this town was small and irritating. Nothing to do and somehow it was like an itching reminder of his hometown and what like had been for him once upon a time. Everybody in this place was intent on trying to be good, a whole place full of suckered saints who didn't understand what true joy was and how to really get enjoyment. The dark side of life was where it was at and these fools would never figure that out. Not anytime soon anyway.

James passed the dimly lit streets and smirked at a lady of the night. She was dressed modestly but he could tell the instant they made eye contact that she wasn't what she appeared to be. She cocked her head at him and then to the side, making some incomprehensible gesture- possibly a code to let him know she was free- and waited for his response. He gave her a charming smile but walked away without even giving her a way or a response. Although she was quite beautiful with short golden curls, she reminded him too much of Gwen. Or at least the new appearance the angel had taken.

He needed something to distract him from his...work and from the normal playing around was momentarily satisfying but also could get dreary and stale. James needed a challenge. Something fun and exciting and fresh!

[ELIZABETH]

Peace though pain

[/color]

The lamps along the street flickered and faded as if the city was going through a slight power outage. One of the bulbs shattered as the lamps light up more than they were supposed to. The sound of shattering glass falling upon the concrete rang out sharply. A shadow draped over one of the buildings as the light exploded. It looked like the silhouette of a large eagle wing.

As quickly as it appeared, the shadow was gone. A woman walked out of an alley way and onto the sidewalk. She looked to both sides and shifted herself close to the lamp. Her boots clicked against the concrete and crunched some of the glass underneath. The sound made her smile, reminding her of cracking bones. She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and lit one up. Brushing her curls away from her face she looked around, wetting her lips. The coppery taste of blood still lingered there.

She reached up to pat at the split lip she had gotten. She had finished a meeting with a lower demon. She had done too much playing around and he had gotten in a few good swings. The skirmish had gone in her favor though. She only had a few bruises and a stab wound. Already she was in the process of mending the damaged tissue. Blood still dribbled down her purple v-neck shirt. Elizabeth lifted a corner of the article of clothing and watched as the skin repaired in a few seconds time. The blood stain remained but she could fix that in a minute or two.

Right now she just wanted to smoke that cigarette. She fiddled with her lighter and leaned against the lamp as the fire curled against the end of the cigarette. She smiled as she saw the smoke float off in a silvery blue wave. Taking in a deep breath she rested her head against the cold mental of the lamp pole. It was about the fifth hit of the cigarette that she noticed that she was not alone. There was somebody here…but she hadn’t seen them yet. She looked around and wiped some of the blood out of her hair with a hand as she spotted the man.

Is precious

[/right] [/blockquote]

[JAMES HUGHES]

In the distance there was a woman by a lamp post. Her silhouette startled him for a moment but once he caught his bearings he noticed her curves and the dark hair. Smoke sifted up into the air, dissipating as it was released from her breath. Warm breath, no doubt. A hot, delicious mouth that held deep and dark secrets was even more likely. Ah, and all this fantasizing and he didn’t even know what she looked like. This was because the lack of adrenaline rushes in his life and a few more nights than necessarily keeping off the crazy sex he liked.

Even from this distance she was a looker. James approached slowly, but it wasn’t because he was being cautious. He didn’t want to spook the lovely beauty if she wasn’t inclined to company at night. Some girls got a little prickled with anxiety when dealing with strangers in the dark but soon James was able to really examine her face. She had attractive features but the way in which she stood and even the expression on her face spoke volumes to her strength and will. A little blood on her lip and after more examination some on her shirt. A nasty wound? A fight with someone around here?

James caught her eye, and then smirked realizing she was watching him just like he was watching her. Well, more like an animal watching a potential enemy on her end… he was just examining the goods. With a wink he came in closer. “What’s a pretty belle like you doing out here all alone in the middle of the night?” The words could be taken mockingly but he meant them in a more teasing fashion. Girls could take care of themselves as this generation loved to yell and shout about. James knew that. Gwen was able to run around and do hunts all on her own…without him…. His gut clutched at the thought of her with other people, laughing and smiling at them.

To push those thoughts aside James came even closer to the woman. He smiled at her, giving it his usual charming flair. Better to be welcoming and open than seen shady. Even if she was a tough broad he wanted things to go smoothly at least at first.

[ELIZABETH]

I’ve got this time on my hands

[/color]

Elizabeth never responded well to, being hit on as it were. She had only experienced such things from Loki, and even half the time it only made her vessel laugh. The angel had much to learn about human social responses, cues, and phrases. She continued to smoke her cigarette in peace for a while. She watched him stride over and her brows furrowed slightly as he came closer. She had not called him here. Maybe he was lonely? She didn’t understand most humans.

She shifted against the pole she was leaning against. Plucking the cigarette from her lips she flicked the excess ash with a tap of her nail. Her eyes flicked away from the cigarette as she listened to James speak up. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she was confused. Belle? Well that was not anywhere near her name. Maybe he had mistaken her for somebody else. Elizabeth shook her head slightly and popped the filter back into her mouth, taking a slow drag from the cigarette.

“I’m just enjoying the evening,” she said coolly to him.

She pulled the object from her mouth and flicked it again. She straightened her spine slightly. He was a human, no true threat. Still, she could sense something…strange about him. All her years in Heaven had helped her gauge souls over her many years.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, boy?” she asked him after a moment of still silence between them.

You are the one to abuse

[/right] [/blockquote][/font]

[JAMES HUGHES]

James put his hands in his pockets, steeling himself although he was amused rather than worried at all. She had a strangeness about her…she was off from most people he met. Usually he could tell about a hunter or a creature but this woman…well, he just couldn’t pinpoint what she was. Not anything pleasant, most likely. “Enjoying the evening?” He felt a bit taken aback by that. Sure, he loved a good fight but he generally took care of his injuries right after with an almost neurotic amount of cleaning and antibacterial products.

“Shouldn’t you?” Maybe not the finest retort but James had a point. She had a young look to her face, a sort of ethereal beauty. Although he was almost positive this girl wasn’t anything remotely human James considered her about his own age- appearance wise at the very least. “It seems a bit cold tonight and strange to be on one’s own.” There were prostitutes in this part of town marking the part where the good ol’ people where and the rough and tough thugs most likely hung out. James’ wasn’t concerned for himself considering he had enough combat experience to kill a man with something as ridiculous and tiny as a nail. It all depended on the strategic place of contact.