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Aaron Eveans

He pushed his way through the crowds that thronged within the marketplace, gun tucked in his pocket as he tried to find the weapons merchant that would have the ability to clean the thing without damaging it. Aaron sighed, fingers tracing over the sticky silver with a grimace. If it couldn't be cleaned then he'd have to buy a new one and really? He couldn't afford another one without a quick job that would allow some breathing room in his wallet.

"Where are you?" he muttered darkly, his eyes darting around the shouting merchants and deals being made. Finally he caught sight of the small stall with the weapons lying on the table, the broad shouldered man sitting behind it glaring menacingly at any pick pockets who dared to even look at the wares.

"Ronz!" Aaron called out, slamming the gun onto the table after finally making his way over to the table with a breathless request. "Can you fix it?!" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice as he fixated on the shining silver even beneath the sticky mess which leaked from the inner mechanisms. Ronz only sighed, rubbing his brow as he faced the familiar customer and most of all the familiar weapon that lay leaking on his table. "Yes, probably," he replied shortly, glaring at the piece and then at the owner. Slipping a pair of worn, leather gloves, Ronz picked up the piece with a look of disgust as another drop of the goop dripped down the barrel of the gun. "What'd you get on it this time?" he asked, beginning to take apart the old gun and lay the parts across his table.

With a careless shrug, now knowing the safety of his weapon, Aaron replied lightly, chuckling at the memory, "Some blood and some saliva from some ogre I guess, I don't really know what it was really." Groaning, the weapon merchant glared at the bounty hunter, his eyes narrowing as he pointed away from the stall. "Away. I need time, and I don't need you hovering over me," he growled before turning back to the mess ignoring Aaron as he shuffled off to wait somewhere else.

Aaron Eveans

Considering the measly amount of money he had left in his wallet, Aaron cringed, quickly tucked it back into the pocket of his trench coat and left for a nearby bounty board, maybe there'd be a small quest he could finish off before his gun was ready. The roaring of a motorcycle stopped in his tracks. He turned, partly in curiosity, no one really used motor vehicles around here and anyone who was that reckless...well who knows what would happen. Aaron stood among the crowd, balanced on the balls of feet, waiting for something to happen. The woman riding the high tech vehicle seemed to be looking for something...or someone.

The motorcycle seemed to melt off of her as she skidded to a stop, scanning the crowds. A frown pulled at the corners of his lips as the turret appeared from the motorcycle, so armed, dangerous, and potentially reckless. Not the best mix. The mystery woman seemed able though, that motorcycle of hers was handled well he had to admit. Aaron sighed slightly, reaching automatically for the empty space where his gun ought to be and cringing when he found nothing. Well he still had his rifle with a decent amount of ammo. Would that be enough though if it led to violence? Crap sometimes he really did have the worst luck.

Reaching for a cigarette he lit it, sucking in the nicotine as he casually reached back for the black bag he wore over his trench coat, hoping to get to the gun before the lady would notice. Just to be on the safe side.

Aaron Eveans

She was approaching him. Ah crap, why were people always after him? What did he ever do to deserve this sort of attention? Well whatever, a lot of people came looking for him (and the end of his life) and he had survived all of them, why not her? As she drew closer, he could see her a bit more clearly and examined where her legs melded with the machine and shuddered. It seemed almost unnatural how in tune she was with the machine. Maybe that came with the whole modern age. Him? He would stick to the tried and true method of guns, metal and simple physics.

He stiffened when she called his name, and straightened up, bringing the gun out of its case and into view for the woman to see clearly. "Yeah that's me. What do you want?" he asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion and hand clenching tightly around the grip of the gun. Aaron took in a deep breath, trying and nearly failing to calm himself down. He leaned back though, taking an easy stance and reluctantly loosening the grip he had on his gun. "You seem to know my name but I don't seem to know yours," he commented with a smile that toed the line between shark like and charming.

Aaron Eveans

Somewhat perturbed by her cordial response from her polite speech to her introduction. Huh, maybe she wasn't trying to kill him. What a pleasant surprise. And a quest, maybe he wouldn't have to go save some stupid princess for money now, this day just kept getting better and better. Aaron's frame stiffened for a moment as she reached for something in her armor, hands reflexively tightening around the gun for a moment before staring at the piece of glass she held in her hands.

"Ah crap," he muttered glaring at the images portrayed on the piece of innocent glass. "I've only killed half of those and the other half I've heard in legends where they kill stupid guys like me," he muttered. Running a frustrated hand through his still damp hair, Aaron sighed, glaring at one of the images in particular, the familiarity of it making him scowl. "And one of them I killed last night which is why I'm here now," he huffed, as he considered the two unsavory options.

He could either get the very necessary money and decrease his already low chances at a long life or he could go have a nice long life until a monster or one of his enemies got the best of him. Another pensive frown tugged at his lips. "How much this entailing?" he asked the woma-- Leah with a sigh, annoyed at his own sense of curiosity--and greed.

Aaron Eveans

That was a tempting offer...but was his possible death worth it? But all that money and the idea of some new equipment was the best part. Worrying at the frayed edge of his shirt, Aaron finally sighed, extending the glass tablet like thing to the women. He really hated his greed. "Fine, I accept," he said, wry smile tugging at a corner of his lips. Running his hand through his hair once more, Aaron slipped the gun back into its carrying case and began to move through the crowd. "Just let me get my other gun, see if the merchant's done with it," he said, half to himself.

As he walked off to go talk with Ronz, he peered out the corner of his eyes to appraise Leah a second time. She seemed at home on her bike or in a sci fi film with an almost otherworldly appearance with the tech that she lived with. When compared to him, a scruffy bounty hunter who always had stubble shadowing his jaw and looked more at home on the streets she might as well be an alien to him.

"Hey Ronz you done yet?" he called into the small stall, hoping to see his gun safe and in working order. A snort could be heard from the back as the broad shouldered merchant came out, cleaned gun in his beefy hands. "You better be thankful," muttered the man, throwing the gun over and self consciously wiping his hands on the leather apron he was wearing. "That took forever to clean," the merchant grumbled, allowing disgust to show on his face. Feeling slightly guilty at having the man do the distasteful job, Aaron laid down the money he owed the merchant and shuffled off, the familiar weight at his hip cheering him up slightly as he made his way back to Leah. "So where are we headed for this quest?" Aaron asked.

Aaron Eveans

Bergrisok...wonderful, was he banned from that city? No not yet, which city was he banned from? That was irrelevant, it was years back and it was all just a big misunderstanding, it wasn't him who crushed that house, it was the troll that lived under the bridge, he'd go clarify if he ever remembered the name. But moving past that, he considered his ammo and weapons and nodded to himself, it'd be enough for the time being. Meeting Leah's eye, he listened carefully to the route and nodded once. She seemed a bit more agreeable now, maybe the quest wouldn't be too bad with some decent company.

Then she reminded him of the transportation arrangements. Aaron resisted the urge to swear. He was in the presence of a lady. Glaring at the backseat which seemed to mocking him, he seriously considered the possibility of walking to Bergrisok before discarding the notion. It was a stupid idea though the protection of his masculinity...aww screw it. Letting an easy smirk hang from his lips, he swung his way onto the motorcycle, leaning back and throwing off that appearance of nonchalance again.

"Nope, no personal car for me, I walk everywhere," he started with a shrug, "thanks for the ride," he added on with a drawl, an indifferent look upon his face. He didn't care about his masculinity! Of course he didn't, that wasn't the reason he had pulled the cigarette out of his rapidly depleting pack to light it up. Sometimes he wondered what he'd do without his nicotine. Maybe go insane, he considered briefly.

Aaron Eveans

Pointedly ignoring the indignant voice that echoed in his mind, Aaron waited patiently as Leah boarded her vehicle, her hair long and somewhat pointless in his eyes but he couldn't help seeing it in a new light as the wind caught it just right. Then the motorcycle moved to clamp over his feet. He nearly jumped out of his seat, and would have if the firm mechanisms of the motorcycle hadn't kept him where he was. Dang it, today really wasn't the day for his manly pride.

Then Leah laughed and commented on his cigarette and just as he was about to put it out, they were off.

He didn't hesitate to cuss this time. Eyes wide and cigarette forgotten entirely, Aaron was about five seconds off from jumping ship before the steady tug of the clamps reminded he was to stay on board. He could do this...probably. It was so...fast though! For a man used to walking (or running--usually from something) this was the fastest he had ever gone. It was terrifying but certainly an adrenaline rush and after his initial terror of churning stomachs and crashing into something, he almost enjoyed the wind that blew in his face...almost. There was something about the speed that would always keep his stomach in his throat.

(OOC: Do we head to a different thread now?)