A Different Kind of Shooting

[Remi]

Remi headed into one of the pool halls in Veyyard owned by the mob he was owned by. He was wearing a long sleeve black silk shirt and black pants and shoes. Because it was night time and a very warm night, Remi simply hide his guns under the length of his shirt, having left his trademark trench coat back at his place. Still, he wore a pair of lightly tinted black shades to hide his pale eyes. Most of the lower level members couldn't recognize him by face, so he knew that he would be safe at this bar without much trouble.

He lit a cigarette as he entered the already smoke-filled building and walked up to the main counter. "I'll take a table." He said to the bartender as he slipped him two hundred dollars. "I'll also have some vodka. Make sure to keep my glass full."

He then headed over to the one last empty pool table at the back, took in and released a puff of smoke. He looked over the table, noticing that the balls were already filled into the triangle and the white ball was on the other side of the table. He took another puff of his cigarette, sticking it in his lips after he released it.

Remi walked over to the wall by the table where the pool sticks were and pulled the one off that suited him. He used the blue resin on the end of it then moved back towards the table. He rested the stick against it as he leaned over and pulled off the triangle, then hung it up on the wall.

Remi then let out another puff of smoke as he pulled the cigarette from his lips then put it out in an ash tray by the wall. He then walked back towards the table and picked up the pool stick as a waiter brought around his drink, placing it on one of the table edges.

Remi nodded at the waiter as they left and he picked up the glass of vodka and quickly downed a good portion of the glass. He let out a quiet deep breath of air as he put the glass down then moved over to where the white ball was. He leaned over the table and set up the stick, aiming and shot the white ball to break the triangle formation.

He stood up and took another drink of vodka as he watched the balls rolling about on the table, some of them falling into the pockets. Finishing off his glass, he put it down on the table edge again then moved towards where the white ball had gone. As he was moving, a waiter came by and replaced his empty glass with a full one. He didn't acknowledge the waiter this time but was aware of him as he made his next shot.

[Hunter]

"God, save my ass..." Hunter mumbled, his hand massaging his head as he placed his pool stick on the floor and leaned it against his table. "Are you fucking kidding me..? You're actually expecting me to bail you??"

This is what he's afraid of when he became a bounty hunter. Living his whole life in Veyyard, he had owed a lot of people as he grew up, even for the things he didn't need to be owed with. Lots of people had trciked his raw childish mind back then into thinking that they helped him way more than they actually did.

So now here he is, sneaked in by an underground friend of his inside this pool hall that was owned by the very mob his HQ peeps have histories with. Actually, he cannot believe he's casually playing pool here with one of the people he had met during his terrible childhood. Funny how he's currently the bounty hunter and his grown-up buddy here is a mob member.

[NPC: Male]

Tarnez immediately placed a finger on his lips as he shushed to keep Hunter quiet, he can't believe the idiot actually spoke the word 'bail' out loud. "Shut up, shut up, there's fucking people here..!" He whispered from across the table, almost smacking his pool stick towards Hunter.

Just then, his eyes caught a silver haired man circling the empty pool table behind Hunter, hoping the guy didn't hear what Hunter just said. Shifting his attention back to his friend, Tarnez sighed, "Believe me HT, I will take the heat for your ass, if need be.”

They're using namecodes to decipher each other and the people they were discussing about. He seriously needed to get his girlfriend from being a suspect in the most recent case, if either the head of the bounty hunter or his mob hears about his mistake of getting her caught up in this, she will be both caught and dead.

"I'm begging you, please, you're my only hope here. Come ooonnnn, for your old buddy's sake..?"

[Hunter]

Hunter held a half-cold half-unbelievable expression as the man begged him, he seriously could not believe this guy is trying to use his position in the bounty hunters to do this. So Hunter simply held up his middle finger at him as an answer.

"So you dragged me all the way here in a position for me to potentially get killed, just for this? Hah. No." There is a limit in when people can use him for their own benefit, this is not one of those times that he'll easily let them.

"Look TZ, I know you're a friend and all, but seriously? After all this? After joining this? You know you're screwed, so why are you involving me in your mess?" Hunter picked back up his stick angrily, leaning himself forward on the table as he shoots in quite a force that the balls almost bounced off the table.

"I'm not some fucking sacrificial lamb for you to make peace with the world, holy shit TZ, just please have some spine and get through this on your own, man." He knows he's being mean, but there really is nothing he could do. Like hell he can delete some friend of his from the suspect list, that's like betraying Jean and the whole bounty hunting members.

[NPC: Male]

Tarnez frowned as he watched the balls rolling on the table after Hunter's shot. He stood in a sort of defeated weak stance at Hunter's rejection to help him, and frowned even more at what the guy said further after that.

"...Just look at me, HT." He placed his hands on the edge of the table and gave a good long stare at the man across him, his pool stick under his hands and stretched along the edge. "I've been through some serious shit, you know about it. Only you. Now tell me. Does NP fucking looks like a suspect to you?"

A sad glint passed his eyes as he said that. "It's my fault, and I'm ready to take her place for the punishment, but please just-- Just please protect her from all of this, PLEASE." He nearly teared up just thinking about that girl being caught, jailed and assassinated, all within one night.

His history is long and filthy. He had killed someone long ago, and the lover of that someone happens to be his current love's half-sibling. It's a confusing circle of connection if he thinks about it; NP's half-sibling found out about it, threatened NP and then actually framed her for the half-sibling's death.

That damn crazy half-sibling of hers knows this was going to happen and planned ahead. The other problem is that half-sibling is a mob member of this place, ranked quite high in it actually.

"Fuck HT, I'm scared out of my mind.... What's going to happen to her.." Tarnez clenched his pool stick as he mumbled that out.

[Hunter]

Hunter paused everything once he heard the codename NP. He did not expect that girl to be involved in this, he didn't even know she's the suspect Tarnez was talking about. He thought Tarnez was the one in a pinch, not his girlfriend.

After hearing more of the story, Hunter's jaw loosened open. "..Wh..what?" He whispered out, clearly shocked. He cannot believe this is happening. There is no way in hell that girl is a suspect. She can't even break a biscuit to half, how the heck can she even kill someone.

"O-okay, shit, I did not know-- God, seriously, NP? Our NP?" He scratched one of his eyebrow as he thought of the girl, then a memory came in his head. "Wait. Shit. I think that case was handled by my partner. Shit."

Zero's quite serious in his investigation, he only listens to proof, and that means NP is as good as dead in this case if she's been framed by a mob member. ...But there's still hope. Hunter lights up when he remembers Zero can't read, which mean he'll be asking Hunter quite a lot of questions regarding this case later after he's done his solo investigation.

Just as he's lifting his eyes to tell Tarnez about this, said man hunched down in defeat from his past. Hunter let out a sigh and shook his head. "...Killing VK will haunt you forever. Don’t even try to pretend it won’t, especially not in front of me. I’m an asshole, but I’m not a fool."

He explained and scratches the back of his head, then gestured for Tarnez to make a move already in the game. "But... that’s life. Shit haunts you. That’s what you have each other for, and for the love of God just smile and nod, please. This sentimental shit is giving me indigestion. Just make sure NP doesn’t get culled and go on living your merry lives."

Hunter feels like hitting himself for agreeing to help this guy out. But not for Tarnez, this is for that sweet girl who had unluckily fell in love with the bastard.

[NPC: Male]

There was a grave frown on his face now that Hunter understands who's life is at stake here. Tarnez knows that Hunter's a man who stands for the truth, and this is exactly what he's trying to explain to Hunter. The truth is NP's simply being accused for his own mistake.

Then, Hunter signalled him to play since its his turn, so Tarnez trudged his way around their pool table nearest to the white ball. Just as he's about to shoot it, Hunter's words about his past halted his stick from hitting the ball. He hit the ball though after that sudden pause and pulled himself straight up.

Tarnez narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Hunter and slowly says, “How long have you been wanting to tell me that?” It's rare for Hunter to even speak like that, and hell, even being that observant.

That's when Hunter spoke again, hinting that he will give him a hand in saving NP, and a wide smile grows on Tarnez's face. "A...are you serious..?" He nodded at Hunter's order for him to smile and nod, a smile is already on his face. "I... I can't thank you enough.."

It's rare for Tarnez to even smile, and he can feel his cheeks hurting from the wide one he's currently beaming. He's way too preoccupid by lots of crap to even smile, that's why it hurts when he does. Still, he feels this one smile is worth it.

"Hey, while you're on that, what do you say if you could delete me from the blacklist over there, eh?" He joked.

[Hunter]

“Too fucking long, that’s how,” Hunter grins and sips noisily at his vodka. "This isn't about VK anymore. She's long gone, get over your guilt. Only thing that matters is who's left, and that would be you and NP." He twirled his glass a bit as he spoke before downing it whole.

Placing his glass back, Hunter signalled a waiter who walked by to fill his glass while Hunter circled his table to reach the white ball. He didn't notice the waiter moving to the table behind him after filling his glass.

Hunter was busy plotting in his mind on how the hell can he even convince Zero that girl is innocent, perhaps tying Zero to a chair in front of NP and make him listen to her side of the story wholly despite the investigation being against her is a good enough plan.

He shot the white ball, scoring in getting a ball inside a hole, and just as he's pulling his pool stick back, he heard Tarnez asking him for another favour. "WHAT?!" Totally missing the joke, Hunter accidentally pulled his stick a bit too fast that it hits the unsuspecting waiter behind him. The sound of glass breaking echoed on cue.

"Ack!" He outbursts, turning around and then sees the liquor that waiter was handling slipped and spilled quite a lot on the pool table behind him. Not only that, the man's glass broke too. "Oh shit, I am so very sorry.." He patted the waiter on the shoulder and looked over the silver-haired man who's currently playing at the ruined pool table.

"Damn... If it's okay man, you can use our table. He'll be paying for your game." Hunter said to the man, his thumb pointed over his shoulder right towards Tarnez. "I'll pay for your booze. I'll even double your booze. Shit, sorry about this.."

Hunter looked back at Tarnez with an angry glare, signalling the guy to clean up their table for a new game for the stranger. They're done with the discussion anyway, so leaving their table for this man is of agreement.

[Remi]

Remi let out a quiet breath of air as he watched a couple balls rolling into pockets on the pool table after his last shot. He glanced at the new glass of vodka that was brought to him, picked it up and moved towards where the white ball had gone as he took another sip of vodka. He placed the glass down and aimed, shooting another couple balls into the pockets.

It was around that time while he was watching them fall into the pockets when he heard the voice clearly of someone at the next table who, at quick glance, was wearing a cowboy hat. Not entirely interested in their conversation, Remi picked up his glass, taking another sip as he moved to where the white ball was now. Remi hit the ball again, now more often only knocking one in at a time as he continued his game with a sip of vodka inbetween each shot.

As requested, he was brought a full glass each time. The waiter was already beginning to notice a pattern in Remi's drink depletion levels. While not acknowledging the waiter more than an occasional glance, Remi was grateful for the fast service on his drink. He continued playing, able to hear bits of the conversation at the table next to him while not really paying too close attention.

As he was going to take another shot, however, Remi paused momentarily at something one of the men said. He stared at the balls on the table a moment longer before shooting one into the pocket across the table. So... it's about a girl... He thought as he took another sip of vodka, glancing over the four balls left on his table aside from his white ball.

The first thing that comes to Remi's mind at any mention of a female is the young orange haired girl he had helped to take care of while he was growing up with her in Veyyard in a family of thieves. As their conversation became associated with her image in his mind, Remi felt a moment of empathy towards the man that was worried about a girl who was apparently a suspect for something.

After another moment, Remi walked towards the white ball's new location while taking another sip of vodka again. He placed the glass on the edge again and took another shot, now sinking two more balls, leaving two left. He stared at the two balls left as he finished his glass again and placed it on the table edge once more.

He heard the other man say that killing some person would haunt him forever. Remi let out a small breath of air as he headed towards the white ball again, sympathizing very much with that statement. Remi killed people for a living. Not just one, but hundreds; it might even go up into the thousands someday. This man at the other table only killed one person. Remi figured that man should consider himself lucky to have only one other person's burden on his shoulders.

The waiter brought a new glass of vodka to Remi's table, placing it on the edge again as Remi took his second-to-last shot. Before Remi could take a sip from his new glass of vodka, however, it was suddenly broken and spilled all over his pool table, hindering his ability to take the final shot.

Staring at the new mess on the table for a moment, Remi slowly lowered his stick to the ground, holding it almost as if it were a walking stick. He let out a quiet breath of air as he turned towards the man in the cowboy hat that was now talking to him. Remi seem to pay no attention to the waiter who was apologizing for the spill then immediately left to get him a new drink and to clean up the mess.

After the waiter left, Remi lifted the pool stick from the floor and walked over towards the table those two were playing at. "My expenses are already covered for the night." He said, his eyes looked towards the one in the cowboy hat from just above his somewhat low and lightly tinted sunglasses, partially revealing his pale eyes. He then glanced back at the other person briefly before looking back at the one who caused him to be unable to make his last shot due to the spill.

"Not too many people in this area are very keen on apologizing and making up for their mistakes." Remi stated calmly, not appearing to be angry at all. "You can call me Ray." Remi said, moving the pool stick to his left hand and extending his right hand to shake the hand of the man in the cowboy hat.

[Hunter]

Hunter was pretty sure guns are going to get involved for his mistake even after he apologized, so to be seeing this silver-haired man here calmly made his way to their pool table after his invitation surprised Hunter.

The man said that he had already paid for his game, and Hunter was quick to come up with the idea to just repay the man but just as he's opening his mouth to speak, Hunter froze in seeing the man's lightly colored eyes behind his shades.

His mouth was still opened, but somehow he couldn't get his voice to come out. That's when the strange man spoke again, saying that it's rare for anyone to apologize in these parts. "Y..yeah, I'm not...from this area, to begin with.." He felt a chill running down his spine, yet he doesn't know why.

"This guy here surely won't say anything, so I'll just be a man and apologize for the both of us." Hunter was quick to catch himself from that strange feeling and his voice immediately gained that easy-going momentum. He glanced to Tarnez when mentioning about him, and then nodded at the man once he had introduced himself.

"Hey, Ray.. I'm Hunt." Catching Ray's waiting hand with his own, Hunter gave a firm shake of his hand. There's something about Hunter that if you shake his hand, then he would never forget that feeling your hand gave off.

"That's TZ." He motioned his head to Tarnez across the table, who had just finished arranging the balls. After releasing Ray's hand, Hunter called in a waiter nearby to transfer whatever drink Ray will have into Hunter's account.

Then, just as Hunter was about to excuse himself and TZ so Ray could play their pool table peacefully, that damn Tarnez opened his mouth.

[NPC: Male]

"So, Ray." Tarnez spoke up, bringing up his pool stick to rest on the edge of the table as he looked up at their new companion. "Just a random question. Do you have a girlfriend?"

He can practically feel the glaring daggers coming from Hunter, but Tarnez continues anyway. "Well, not necessarily a girlfriend I guess, just...someone you care so much about that you'd give your life to." Cautiously looking up back at Ray, Tarnez tries to see if he can detect anything from his facial expression.

[Remi]

After shaking hands with the man in the cowboy hat, Remi glanced over at Hunt's friend while he was being introduced. When he heard Hunt speaking to a waiter about transferring Remi's tab to Hunter's, Remi looked back at him again. He didn't bother rejecting the action despite the fact that Remi had already given the place $200 prepaid for his bill.

Looking down at the table that TZ had reset, Remi pulled out a cigarette and popped it in his mouth. As he was starting to light it, TZ suddenly spoke up. Remi's eyes glanced up at TZ as the man spoke, while Remi finished lighting his cigarette and put his lighter back in his pocket. He puffed on the cigarette while listening to TZ's question. It was a seemingly random question if Remi had not overheard a decent amount of their conversation just before.

He exhaled some smoke as TZ continued with his question. Remi inhaled on the cigarette again as TZ finished his question, then glanced to the side of the table as a waiter dropped off another glass of vodka. He wondered if there was any point to speaking truthfully or not. Either way, the orange haired girl he thought of should be long gone from Veyyard anyway, so it shouldn't even matter.

As he decided on what to say, Remi's eyes looked back up over at TZ as he exhaled more smoke. "I do have someone like that," he began in a cold and monotone voice, "but she's long gone from here." As he finished his response, he put the cigarette back in his mouth and inhaled once more then exhaled as he reached for his glass of vodka and took a sip.

After putting the glass back down, Remi put the cigarette back in his mouth and lifted his pool cue onto the table near the white ball. He leaned over while lining up his shot and took the first shot, breaking the triangle of balls, spreading them all across the table. One of the solid and one of the striped balls both went into different sockets. Remi stood back up and pulled the cigarette out of his mouth, exhaling the smoke, then took another sip of his vodka.

[NPC: Male]

Tarnez awaits Ray's reply with bated breath. He's yearning for a third person's view of his problem, to know that he isn't suffering alone in this circumstance.

Once Ray did respond, a positive response at that, Tarnez looks visibly relieved. He released a breath he never knew he was holding and spoke with that same breath, "I'm glad she's safe. But what would you do on the occasion that she is not?"

[Hunter]

There is something about this stranger that gives Hunter the wrong vibe, but he doesn't wish to pursue that intuition further. He feels that way about anyone with a slightly intimidating persona, and unless they put a barrel in between his eyes, then Hunter would go out of his way to be at least accomodating and at most, friendly.

However, that damn Tarnez starts mouthing off about this clearly dangerous guy's girl on the assumption on what would he do if she's in danger. "Hey! Dumbass." Hunter smacks Tarnez upside the head and locks his head in his arm. His cowboy hat bobbed as he flips his head down to Ray apologetically, "Sorry 'bout this guy, you don't have to answer that. Say bye now, TZ."

The tall man then physically drags his friend to the exit, gave him an earful, then finally bids him goodbye. With a loud heave of sigh, Hunter removes his hat just to scratch his messy brown hair. He had to wonder why he cares so much, and when did it happen. He knows he used to be pretty merciless back then in his youth... 'Ah.' As if struck by a sudden realization, Hunter stood near the entrance quietly.

His thoughts went directly to the young girl from Sougen he used to talk to. Immediately, his intention to leave the building was quashed because he desperately needed a drink now. Turning around to head back to the pool table with the pale-eyed stranger, Hunter tips his head to him. "Continue your game, but mind if I drink with you?"

By his voice, one can tell he sounds way more exhausted than earlier. Without expecting a reply, Hunter signals the waiter for a glass of whatever Ray is having and starts leaning on the ruined pool table that Ray occupied earlier, watching over the stranger's strangely calming game.

There was a moment of quiet from the two, with Hunter quietly watching while sipping his drink, and Ray minds his own business. His eyes are on Ray's game, but his mind is elsewhere. With a quiet sigh, Hunter spoke softly, without any prior context. "I'd like to believe that she's thriving." He's thinking about his friend Grace, but it can also apply about the person Ray mentioned earlier.

"Some people are born free like that, y'know?"