Meeting to change life

[darin]

*Darin had been in France for about a month. With no work and his money running dry. He had to find work soon, or he might just have to go back home. They were probably missing him by now. He wondered how many people were looking for him. He was only the air to being a Duke. He wasn't the only one though. He had a sister. True she would have to marry, but she could take the family name. Living under the name of Taylor Jacobs actually felt good. He was free to do what he wanted. He didn't have to smile for any cameras, or worry about tabloids following him. He loved living the "free" life. The only worry he felt was when he was going to get caught.*

*Darin sat on a bench that had a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower. There were so many people there and he had seen it hundreds of times, but it still didn't cease to amaze him. He could look at this site forever. But he knew that he couldn't. He saw the care free people and wished that he was one of them. He wished that he didn't have these responsibilities to go back to. With a heavy sigh Darin closed his eyes and hoped that a solution would come.*

[mero]

Merfonde had only been a full member of the order a little less then 6 months, so in all reality, she was still a fairly new 'Bounty Hunter', but that didn't mean she was an idiot or likely to make mistakes. Quite the opposite, she still had her youth, making her faster, and stronger then the aging veterans. Sure, she lacked field experience, but all she had to do was rack up enough jobs...

Her job at the moment? Well you could imagine her surprise when she was given the assignment! Returning the only male heir to some Dukedom to his family. Okay, that was a little boring. Why they'd chosen her? Because she'd been the only available girl around his age. Great. They were using her just because guys liked girls! What happened to female rights?! It made her want to hit something...

Her... well stalking was the best word, had led her to Paris, where a man looking uncannily like the future Duke had been spotted several times. Really? Paris? He couldn't have thought of somewhere more remote? Merfonde just sighed, shaking her head as she wandered the streets. She wore regular street clothes, a pair of tight jeans, with tall black boots over the bottoms and almost touching her knees. A low cut black tank top covered her torso, revealing many ornate tattoos all across her arms, shoulders, and upper back. Her dark hair was left hanging straight. What people didn't know though was that on her face was a tattoo similar to the ones on her body, but it was covered by a concealer, invisible to anyone.

As she walked, her feral like gaze wandered, going from right to left, searching the crowds until.... She finally spotted him... Her steps slowed to a stop, her gaze focused on him. If he just opened his eyes he'd stop the dark haired woman just around his age watching him.

[darin]

*Darin walked over to a news stand. He asked for a newspaper and payed the cost. He walked back to the bench and looked through the classified. He didn't look like he was really intent on finding a job, but he actually was. He didn't exactly have a resume that was desirable for anyone. He had no references and a fake name. That wasn't suspicious in the least. Great, there's no way this would work. Dang why didn't he think of this more before he left home?!*

*He was sure that his parents had payed for some elite group to come after him. Not in his wildest dreams would he think that they would send a woman. Not because he thought that they were weaker and more inferior. He just thought that his parents were more likely to send two older men in black to capture him and harshly drag him back to England.*

*He looked up from the paper to scan the crowd. He didn't know what he was looking for but he was sure that he wouldn't see it. He then went back to the paper, turning it to the funny pages. They always had a few good jokes in there. Plus Darin was always up for a good laugh. Especially since life was hard at this point.*

[mero]

Merfonde just watched him for a time, her gaze slowly following him as he purchased a newspaper, then moved back to that same bench as before. If someone were to see her, it might look like she was checking him out, which is what it was supposed to look like, but no. She didn’t have much of an interest in men… Well… She did, but she tried to suppress the female urges when she could. Well, there was always one good thing to the urges, it made it easier to flirt, and if her target just happened to fall for female charm easily… It only made her job a hell of a lot easier.

Mero had no idea what he was doing. Checking to see if he was in the paper? Probably. Nobles were stuck up, or so she’d heard. She’d never exactly dealt with a noble before, so this was an entirely new experience for her. With another sigh, she finally decided what to do, picking up her steps once more and working her way through the crowd towards the noble. She ran her fingers through her hair, messing it up a little, guys seems to like somewhat messy hair after all, something about it being ‘sexy’.

It didn’t take long to reach him, Mero putting on a small, shy smile, her eyes softening a touch from that intense, almost feral look to a somewhat less feral, but still uncannily cat like. “Enjoying yourself?” Her accent sounded a faint French, as if she were born in the country and spent much of her life there, then moved to another country. She’d never lived in France, but she the Order taught them how to fake near perfect accents. Now, if she’d gone for a full accent, it’d be obvious it was fake, the way it was now? It was impossible to catch the lie.

[darin]

*Darin looked up, almost shocked by the voice. There was a beautiful woman. He wondered what she was like. She seemed like a nice girl, maybe a little shy. He smiled at her, it wasn't a full smile, but seemed to be the only kind he had.*

A little, I was looking for a job.

*It was sad but true. He would rather be working than sitting there, having everything being done for him. He had a fairly strong British accent. It was obvious that he was born and raised there. He closed the paper and folded it fairly nicely and set it aside. He knew his manners and if someone was talking you gave your full attention to them. What he did was aromatic it just happened. Manners were driven into him so hard that he actually did them now with out thinking, at least a few of them. He had been working on that.*

You man have some reason for coming up and talking to me. You don't have to tell me. By the way I'm Taylor.

*He had used his fake name so many times that he didn't have to think about it anymore. Thankfully it came fairly quickly, because he knew the consequences of using his real name.*

[mero]

Yup, this was definitely Darin Lloyd, the heir she was looking for. She’d done her studying, she’d know that voice just as well as his family would. Not to mention he hadn’t done anything to disguise his accent. Quickly though Mero faked interest, not obviously faked, but he might realize she was pretending, which was intentional. After all, he’d probably just think she was talking to him because she thought he was attractive, so the subject wouldn’t interest her, but she’d do anything to keep talking. Ah, men. So easy to figure out.

“Really? You know, the best way to find a job is to go from shop to shop and just ask if they are hiring.” She spoke as if she knew from having done it herself. Of course she’d never done it, but she wasn’t an idiot. “They like it when you go meet them face to face.” She kept that shy smile on her lips, but made it brighten just a touch.

Again, she faked surprise when he spoke. Of course someone would have a reason for talking to him. No one just talked to complete strangers without a reason… right? But, she could always use this to her advantage, making her smile shrink back to that small, shy thing it’d been before, forcing her cheeks to blush just a touch, as if embarrassed he’d ask that, that the answer was obvious. She didn’t give an answer though, because she was playing the shy girl after all!

“I’m Mary. It’s nice to meet you Taylor.” She made that smile brighten a little. Like him, she was using a fake name. Unlike his though, her’s was so close to her real nick name that she didn’t have to worry about not responding to it. It sounded close enough that she’d look no matter what.

[darin]

*Darin was glad to meet this girl. But her sujestion wasn't new. He had tried that, but most people either weren't highering or just thought he looked like he had never worked a day in his life. Which to his dismay was true. He wished it wasn't. He hated that it was true. But he didn't want to sound rude to the girl.*

I'll try that. Thanks for the advice.

*It was a good lie, he sounded polite and considerate. Also like he had just been informed. This girl was shy, and by her reaction probably thought that he was cute. Or something like that. It also could be that she knew that he looked like an English duke. Before he ran away girls would act like this all the time. Drove him nuts. For once he just wanted a girl who didn't care who he was or what sort of petagree he had. Also someone who would understand his pain. He smiled politely at the girl, but only looked half interested.*

*His eyes gazed around to his surroundings. He was looking away from Mary and then he spotted it. A man that was fairly tall with a very strong build. He looked like he could be a bouncer at some fancy club. But Darin knew that man from anywhere. It was one if his fathers personal body guards. Probably sent here to look for him. Darin knew that Paris was a bad place to go. Why didn't he listen to his gut? He looked back at the girl, as calm as he was before.*

I'm sorry but I just remembered that I have to do something. Thank you for the advice. I hope to see you around again.

*And then he got up and started to calmly head in the opposite direction as the man. He also was heading away from his apartment in case he was being followed.*

[mero]

Merfonde knew he was lying. After all, what sort of Bounty Hunter couldn’t tell when someone was lying? That’d be disgraceful! She felt like rolling her eyes. Yup, definitely some noble. Probably didn’t even know how to make his own bed. Maybe she was being stereotypical, she didn’t care though. She’d never been given a reason to think otherwise after all.

When his gaze wandered, hers followed his, a little more subtly though, in case he noticed. If he did, she could always just say she was wondering what he was looking at. Instantly though, she spotted what had caught his eye. A large, burly man, older then the two with a much more…. Well intimidating look then to fit into the crowd. Hmph. The idiot. Didn’t he know how to be subtle? She recognized him though, some stupid muscle man. Great. The idiot Duke had sent one of his men. That infuriated her, but her expression didn’t show it.

Mero returned her gaze to him a split second before he’d looked back, putting that smile back on her lips, but frowned a little, as if disappointed when he said he had to go. “Oh, okay. If you say so.” She purposely spoke in a disappointed tone, as if asking if he really had to go. She didn’t want to push him though, he might realize something was up if she did. “I’ll see you around then?” She smiled a little, waving as he left. A second passed before her smile vanished, that soft look in her eyes going intense and intimidating.

Turning away from where he left, she stalked her way through the crowd towards the ‘bouncer’ looking man. She stopped behind him, grabbing him by the arm and holding him away from her as she spoke. “If I see another one of you muscles trying to claim my bounty, I’ll gut you like the vermin you are.” She released him, vanishing in the crowd before he could react, pulling out her phone and dialing a number as she headed off in the direction her target had gone, hot on his trail. The phone picked up after only two rings. It was the Duke who answered. “You hired me to get your son back. If you want me to do my job, you keep your idiot grunts in England. If they get in my way again, I’ll cut them down.” She hung up before he could say a single thing, picking up her pace.

[darin]

*Darin found a nice coffee shop to stop at. He went in and ordered a small coffee. He needed a kick start and hopefully this would give him what he needed. Once he was given his order he went to the far corner where not many people would notice him. Or they would just overlook him.*

Dang, why does he have to get so close. Bechya he doesn't even care why I ran off. He only cares about his special title.

*He spoke as a quiet whisper. He then took a drink of his coffee. Wishing he had gone to a bar or something. He could use a nice strong drink. Life was horrible and it wasn't going to get better. He sighed heavily pulling out a cell phone. It was his and it was off. It had been off for the last month. When he had time like this he pulled it out and wondered if he should call. His mother was probably worried sick and his father was worried about his heir. His sister was probably missing her big brother. But he couldn't call. He hid his emotions well as he put the phone away.*

[mero]

It hadn’t taken Mero much time at all to get the future Duke in sight once more. She kept far behind though, out of sight from him. If he spotted her, he’d know something was up. That was the last thing she needed. It’d cause a whole mess of troubles, like him running for help or even resorting to trying to attack her. Sure, both attempts would fail, it’d still cause a scene!

So, she was the silent, invisible observer. Following at a safe distance, never letting him out of sight but always making sure she’d be obscured if he looked back. He’d entered a coffee shop. She dare not enter, but she did have other ways on keeping an eye on him. Reaching into her purse she pulled out a pair of darkly tinted sunglasses and what looked like a pin, shaped like a butterfly. She leaned up against the wall by a window, the only part of her visible from inside the room the arm holding the pin. Mero seemed to relax, as if waiting for someone, as she carefully and subtly moved the pin in her hand just enough that she could see the heir. It was a ‘pin camera’, with the feed going to the lenses of her sunglasses. Now, she could keep a close eye on him without him even realizing she was there.

[darin]

*Darin finished his coffee, he was good at hiding his emotions but it was hard when you had no one who understood, no one to talk to. Bottling it in was hard enough, but keeping it there for years...even harder. Thanking the people he thew away his cup and headed out the door. He had a strange feeling like he was being followed so he led himself, and his follower into an ally way. This one just happened to be a dead end. He stopped a few feet from the wall, but didn't look back. A man who looked like he was possibly homeless came up and pointed a gun at Darin. Darin had been charged up for a while. He knew something would happen sooner or later, but he didn't know that this was going to happen.*

*The man seemed distressed. He ordered for Darin to hand over his wallet and anything else valuble. If he did then he wouldn't get hurt.* I cant do that. I don't have that much, and it wont help you. You can shoot, but it's not a smart idea. *It wasn't smart ofr two reasons. One, he was the only male heir to a line of nobles. But the more important, two, his power would bounce it back and kill the man.* If you value your life, you will leave, and we can just forget that this ever happened.

*Darin turned to face his attacker and the man shot. With little effort the bullet was deflected and shot back at the man. Darin looked away as it hit into his heart. He hated the sight of death, but had to stay alive. He then walked out of the ally way, and once he was out he started to run. Away. Just away from everything. He hated this curse. Being a mutant was one of the worse things that could happen to him.*

[mero]

Merfonde just watched until he finished, never detectable, but always there. This was why people didn’t like dealing with Bounty Hunters, you never really knew when, or where they were watching. She ignored any and all who passed, her attention only on her target. Maybe she should have watched the surrounding a bit more, she might have spotted the grungy looking man sooner.

As it was, if she had spotted him, what would she have done? She could have taken him out to avoid scaring the heir like a rabbit. Or maybe him being as scared as a rabbit was a good thing. Wouldn’t it make capturing him easier? He knew he was a danger to society, wouldn’t he just assume that he should go back to where he was out of harm’s way, and there for couldn’t hurt others? That was usually a mutants thinking… Right?

She followed her target and his other, far more desperate pursuer from a safe distance once more. This time though, it seemed the Heir seemed to realize he was being followed and led the man into an alley. Well that was a stupid idea. If he’d stayed out in the open the man never would have approached him. The desperate man never would have wanted to cause a scene in public. Still, the Heir was probably curious as to who was following him.

Mero didn’t interfere, keeping an eye at the entrance the same way she had at the coffee shop. She’d only get involved if things started to look like he’d get hurt. After all, they cut a chunk of her payment if she brought him back injured… Or… Injured enough that he’d need treatment. He was bound to get hurt a little, since no one went down without a fight.

As expected, she didn’t get involved. He had it… somewhat handled, and was terrifying himself in the same instance. Better for her, he wouldn’t listen to his own common sense. Stepping away from the entrance and into the crowd, she waited until he was on his way again before following once more. He was in a dead run now, as expected. Merfonde just sighed, breaking into a jog to keep up, it looked far less suspicious then a dead run, after all.

[darin]

*Darin soon returned to a normal walk. He found his way to a bar. He needed a drink. Two close calls in one day...that was more than enough. He ordered himself a drink and went to a table. He stared into the drink. Wondering what kind of "excitement" was going to happen next. He had a feeling that this wasn't going to be the end. He didn't know what to call it, but he hadn't felt it like this before. It was strange. It felt like someone was...watching him. But it was different. Much different.*

*Darin took a few deep breaths and took a swig of his drink. It made him feel a little better, and a little drunk. It wasn't effecting him that much but with his emotional things happening, it felt good to have something like this to calm his nerves. He looked around to the people, all flirting with girls, being loud. Not a care in the world. They all seemed so happy...and drunk. But he wasn't either.*

If only...

*He didn't dare finish that sentence. People might let on. But besides that he staired back down at his drink, it looked so inviting.*

[mero]

A bar? Merfonde just about smiled, wanting to laugh, she held it back though. That was one of the absolute best places to get her mark. If she got him drunk, how was he supposed to fight back in any way? Sure, it might not work, but if it did she wouldn’t have to go to a whole lot of trouble returning him.

She couldn’t help but wonder though… The Heir was 26! Her own age, and his parents were treating his leaving like it was a runaway! It was a little… obsessive to say the least… Finally she just sighed, deciding that she’d enter the bar and approach him once again after he finished his first drink. Get him a little tipsy, and his judgement wouldn’t be as strong.

A few minutes of waiting outside the door after he entered… And she finally followed suit. Entering the bar, running her fingers through her hair and getting a virgin drink from the bartender. She rarely ever drank, so she had no idea how she might react to alcohol, better safe then sorry. Her gaze scanned the room, until she finally spotted him alone at a table. She smirked a little, waiting until he’d downed another gulp of the drink before approaching. “Rough day?” She paused, that same shy smile on her lips again. “Taylor, right? We met earlier, by the Eiffel Tower.” She’d downed the faint accent again, keeping up with her ‘Mary’ persona.

[darin]

*Alowing his problems slightly drown into the alcohol. He heard a familiar voice, when he looked up. He nodded and smiled at "Mary." The term "rough day" was only the beginning of it. But he wasn't going to tell her about his problems.*

You could say that.

*He looked back to his drink, and took a sip from it. The last thing he wanted to do was to get drunk. One in the standing like him wasn't allowed to give the press any reason to bash them in the tabloids. And that included getting drunk. He didn't know his entire limit. But luckily he could feel how much effect it was giving him.*

What brings you to a bar. You don't strike me as that type of girl.

*He would always think of girls in bars being willing to do anything to meet a guy. In other words...a whore. The type of women that got men drunk, had sex then took all the money they could get out of the mans wallet. But she didn't seem like that type of girl. Maybe she had "two lives." Yet, she seemed like she might be able to understand his problems...but he wasn't going to talk. He wasn't that type of guy.*