( autoplay ) collar full of chemistry.

     There’s a certain sick part of him that loves the feeling of fear that’s emanating from the other. He could almost smell it; dealing with fear was the main part of his career. When he decided to take matters into his own hands, of course. Sure, he’s had plenty of people begging for their lives throughout the years, when they’d gotten the chance. It’s not like any of them got what they asked for; money does talk louder than the pathetic simperings of a name on a list.

     But all of them had a certain sense of fear about them that Jacks could’ve gotten off on if he had the time. And it’s the same sense that he’s getting from the other; the sense that’s causing a wicked sort of grin to play on his lips as he presses the blade of the knife deeper against his neck. He’s not going to stop. Not now.

        ` that's because-- ` and his voice is muffled; he has a face         full of dirty red brick, after all, ` --i didn't say anything. ` as         he speaks, he can feel the blade of the knife press itself         closer to his throat, to his jugular, where one fell slice could         send him to a slow and painful death. that's why he refrains         from calling this guy an idiot, an asshole, anything to anger         him.

        theo manages to roll his head back in the other's grip, to         move his neck the tiniest bit away from the threatening blade.         brown eyes are sharp, narrowing just slightly to the man that         now holds him captive. the death of one soldier won't start a         gang war, but it'll definitely raise tension.

{{  The hum changed into a whistle and Azrie halted, straightening up      despite the cold. It had to be a coincidence, right? There have been      times before, times when she heard similar songs only for it to be a      false alarm.

     Still, that did not stop her heart from hammering in her chest, that      old hope beginning to rise from the pit she’d thrown it into. Maybe      this time…

        a smile curls at his lips. it's then he hears someone else, a-         nother voice adding onto his own. they harmonize as they         hum, as if they've done this together for years. he can't see         who it is, but there's a familiar presence in the air.

{{  Humans are awfully hardy, stubborn and unwilling to leave an area      even when the temperatures drop dangerously. But they have things      to warm them; heaters, drinks, even other bodies. Clever little outlets      of heat, one or another set on every block.

     There’s one nearby that she likes, one that allows musicians in to      play their music. She’s on her way there now, taking a shortcut,      wondering if maybe she’d missed whoever was playing tonight.      Had anyone even showed up?

     She’d always been so confident, unshakable, solid. She had not forgotten      her name, had not forgotten where she’d been in her long life on this      pale blue dot. But she has never flaunted it, instead letting herself      settle into the changes of this world, letting herself get swept away, her      name forgotten by others, but never by her.

        ice crunches beneath his boots. theo keeps his head down,         the tune still ever present and unwavering. it's the tune of a         song he used to sing a long time ago. a song he used to sing         to someone he loved so dearly, so dearly he'd tear the heav-         ens down and create new ones for her with his song and writing.

        something in the atmosphere shifts, changes. theo's tune stops,         and so does his walk. he lifts his head. brown eyes scan his su-         rroundings. he doesn't see anything out of place just yet. but he         keeps his guard up, adjusting his guitar on his back before he         resumes his walk.

{{  His excitement is endearing, a smile pulling at her lips. If only she     could meet more people who could embrace things like this with     such enthusiasm.

    A laugh escapes her, breathy and a little unsure, trying to pick out     the right words for this.  }}

                ”  That’s because I’m not a sorcerer. You know what                    a… what are we called now.. A deity. You know what                    that is, right?  ”

        ` really?! you're amazing! `

        all nervousness now gone, he's practically bouncing in place.         but then he pauses, looking thoughtful and a little unsure of         something.

i like cheech-a-cheech-chee-roni like they make at home or a healthy fish with a big backbone. i’m abraham de lacy giuseppe casey thomas o’malley

{{  She’s silent for a moment, eyeing skeptically, wondering how much      he’s actually able to handle. He looks like he’s barely keeping himself      together as it is. But she’d come here for a reason, and she’s got his      attention. Might as well make good on it.  }}

                ”  Would you like to see?  ”

{{  She waved him over, bringing the little sphere back out, fingers curling      around the stone. Then it began to glow, dimly at first, growing brighter      as if gathering strength. It was warm too, setting out a comforting heat.      A small sun, colored slightly red, small spouts of flame reaching out from      the main core and nearly licking at her hands.

        theo nods a few times before hastily moving over to her,         blinking a few times. the light glitters in his brown eyes as         it strengthens and brightens before him. it's pleasantly         warm in the chilly air, he finds himself not wanting to leave         the area in which she stands.

        ` it's a sun, ` he realizes the longer he looks at it. theo's         almost tempted to ask if he can touch it, but he's worried         that it will possibly burn him.

{{  Her fingers closed over the light, over the small sun, extinguishing      the glow and leaving just a warm sphere in her palm. The moon made      up for the lost light, illuminating down on them both. The deity shifted,      putting her hands behind her back.

     Is he.. afraid? Shocked? Surely he’s seen something like that      before?  }}

        ` i'm willing- willing t-to believe just... just about anything. `

        he swallows. hopefully she doesn't think his sudden nervous-         ness comes from her magic, no, it just comes from her being...         her. not to mention she radiates an oddly powerful atmosphere         that would make anyone cower.

"Jesus christ, do you have like a sniper rifle too?"

        ` i have money, and i know people. `

{{  Something small, glowing, pulsing gently between her fingers. Small      bits of something fell from the bigger something, flizzling out as it      spiraled toward the ground. A palm covered the light, as if it were a      candle, the beams shooting down towards the ground.

     Her face was half illuminated, set into a stern frown as she ventured      down the alley, gaze picking at the dark corners for anyone who might      be looking. Her pace was brisk, hurried, though she seemed to glide      along the ground.

     A noise behind her and the light dimmed, the woman turning to the way      she came.  }}

        and he stands there slack-jawed. he'd been coming out of         a side door just as she passed, and his foot had kicked a-         gainst the lid of a garbage can lying on the ground. but it         was just in time to see the light illuminating from her palm.         a flashlight? no. flashlights didn't look like that.

        theo seems taken aback that she acknowledged his presence         at all. face heats up, flushing bright red, and he shrinks back.         if his coworkers saw him acting like this, they'd surely laugh in         his face.

        ` ... how'd you do that? `

   She joked, shoving a fry into her mouth. Clearly this  guy wasn’t a hunter. Too much of an expensive taste to be one of hers.

        ` beretta pico. not the most deadly i can get my hands on, but         great if i'm in a pinch. `