[FIN] Where The Air Is Sweet & Stale

[Blood_Goddess]

It had been a long recovery, way, way too long, and it had only been recently occurring to Jerome, just how horrible it had felt to be cooped up for that long, or even worse, to have been unable to move the way he usually did, the way he loved.
Trapped in his own skin, it was horrible.

The air was stale, as it always was in the lower arias of Camphoreon City, but the ex-gangster was finding it preferable to the air inside the HQ, it was open at least, he couldn't see a single wall, or a single obstacle that he couldn't get over now. Freedom, utter freedom was his again, and this stale air, never tasted sweeter.
Though, seeing as the man was filling his lungs with smoke, the quality of the air seemed a bit of a moot point.

He know where to avoid, so he didn't feel like he was going to get jumped at every turn, this part of the city was a nicer part, for being the lower section that is.
Here, street level was okay, but he never kept more then a few strides away from something he could climb or scale easily to get out of reach.  

[Tori Honoo]

After much consideration, and a thorough study of some maps to make absolutely sure she knew where she was headed, Dove had made her way through the city--in broad daylight-- and into the lower area, in search of the center Yuri had led her to Christmas day, curious to know if they would allow her to come back and visit the children, maybe cook dinner-- anything to let her get involved and help. Though she had thought of returning some day, the occasion was called for now more than ever, now that Yuri had steered her back to it.

After a successful talk with the few people in charge, and a few arrangements made, Dove left to return home, her spirits already lighter. It was rare that she was able to see and interact with children, and being able to do so had quite literally made her day, even if she had found herself in a less showy side of town.

She now made her way up the street, Sparky's pokeball at her wrist, pausing only at the smell of smoke, blinking and stilling her breathing, hoping it wouldn't disturb her asthma. When she looked up to the source, she froze, blinking widely at the man there a few more steps in front of her.  

[Blood_Goddess]

Jerome had been minding his own business, just staring off down the street and silently appreciating the collection of lights that ran down its length, the contrast they had against the darkness.

In the middle of taking a long drag from his cigarette when something moved in front of him, and stopped.
blacked out eyes slid away from the lights, to meet... a women, standing a few feet in front of him, looking rather surprised.

Jerome didn't move from where he was leaning against the building, though an eyebrow did arch as he lowered the cigarette to his side, letting the ploom of smoke drip out of his mouth.
He looked over her for a moment. speaking once the last of the smoke left his mouth.
"y'don't look like y'er from down here." His voice, coming out deep and smooth, remained as calm and nonchalant as his expression.

He didn't seem at all surprised by her look, Jerome was used to it, the weather was warm enough to be able to wear sleeveless shirts, allowing the sprawl of tribal markings along his arms and chest to be seems more clearly, but despite that, a good half of his face was tattooed, not to mention the unnatural blackness of his sclera, contrasting with the light brown of his eyes.
And this chick? Looked as sheltered and as upright high city life as ya could get. He honestly wouldn't expect someone like that to be in this aria of the city.

from behind him, the large face of a purple Gengar poked out of his shadow, one eye squinting as if to see what Jerome was talking about, his toothy mouth turned down in a confused frown.  

[Tori Honoo]

She broke from her frozen state to look at the man more clearly, her stance cautious, but not unwilling to talk. "I'm not... just visiting some friends," she told him, nodding toward a building close by. She kept a safe distance, doing her best not to breathe in the smoke around him. "Are you from around here?"

Her hand stayed ever ready near Sparky's ball, just in case, her eyes flicking to the gengar as it emerged.  

[Blood_Goddess]

Oh this girl was transparent, He could read the concern on her face and in her posture as she talked to him. Years of experience made it way too easy to pick out.
Why wouldn't she be though, clearly a well kept girl, talking to an inked out gangster.
"Y'cn chill out." he grunted, pushing himself off of the building and with a casual toss, flicked the cigarette out of his fingers and onto the street, looking back at the girl.
"I ain't ganna hurt ya"

He glanced over at the building she had been talking about, but otherwise made no comment, nor answer her question.
The Gengar seemed to take what the gangster had said with great humor, as his frown turned into a wide grin, and he cackled boisterously as he floated up completely out of Jerome's shadow.
Ahhhh sometimes people were so funny.  

[Tori Honoo]

She watched the Gengar move out of the shadow and forced herself to relax as the man straightened, though more than half of her conscious was screaming for her to run. Still, she shifted her weight to her hip for a casual stance, her hand still loosely wrapped around the ball chained to her wrist.

She looked him over a little more closely as he stepped further into the lit street, her brows furrowing in curiosity as she looked his tattoos over. "That's... a lot of ink," she laughed nervously. "Not even Zane's got that much on him, and he's the most I've seen, since I came to Kodo."  

[Blood_Goddess]

Yeah, he didn't exactly expect his words to do that much good, hard when it was coming from someone like him, but whatever, she wasn't running away screaming 'rape' so he didn't have to worry about leaving in a rush.

He would have been just content to move along on his way, expecting the same from her, but she stayed, and instead made a comment about his tattoos.
He glanced down at them.
Jerome had just gotten a lot of them touched up, it was part of the reason he was down in this city to begin with. covered up some of the bullet hole scars he had from his last encounter with a gun. Though it was the tattoos on his shoulders, that displayed the name of his old gang that he left torn out, still unsure of what to do with those.
"Yeah." He muttered in agreement, running his hand over the shaved half of his face.
She mentioned someone by name, though he had no idea who that person was, nor really cared.
"why? Y'got any ink?" He asked,  

[Tori Honoo]

She shook her head, watching as he ran his hand across his face, and noting the odd color of his eyes. "I don't, personally, because I wouldn't be able to handle having them do it." And her contract wouldn't allow it. Ever. "My ex did, though. A whole wingspan of tribal tattoos, a lot like yours."

She nearly shuddered at the memory of going with him to get it. Never in her life had she had to look at a needle for so long, and honestly, she was surprised she had stayed the full length of time it took them to do it.

"Do they mean anything?"  

[Blood_Goddess]

She started talking again, more about people he didn't even know, just surrounding the concept of his tattoos.
At her question about what his Tattoos mean, he glanced down at one of his arms, then back up at her,
"Kinda" He replied and as mellow as he had been since she walked over to him "Hood s**t" The hand moved over his arm.

Bro in the meantime has floated right up next to Jerome, his stubby arms crossed over his chest as he eyed the women talking to his best friend.  

[Tori Honoo]

She watched uneasily as the pokemon drew closer, then looked back to Jerome. "Ah." Though her face fell a little at his choice of language, she brushed it off, instead attempting to find something else to talk about. "I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Dove."  

[Blood_Goddess]

Jerome tilted his head a little, crossing his arms over his chest, but staying
"Ya' always jus go throwin' out yer name t'every banger ya meet after about five second's?"
He asked.
He was certainly no high class citizen, not answering with his own name.He didn't take on my threatening stance or tone, seeming more surprised then anything, though mildly so.  

[Tori Honoo]

She simply blinked back, her facing selling to that of annoyance, though not directed at him. "My name is pretty much public knowledge everywhere but Kodo..." she sighed, pushing her hair back.

With a quirk of an almost smile, she added, "You don't think that's my real name, do you?"  

[Blood_Goddess]

While Jerome seemed to remain mostly the same, It was Bro, who was next to him who blinked, and gawked openly at the girl.

Jerome paused for another moment, trying to put together what she had just said, and coming to the conclusion that she obviously really, should never, ever ever be in this part of town.
"Didn't say that," He grunted, when she accused him of not saying her real name. "What, ya famous or something?"  

[Tori Honoo]

She shook her head, looking up the street again. "Not here," she offered quietly. She furrowed her brows at the pokemon beside him, her hand again going to the ball at her belt.  

[Blood_Goddess]

Jerome's brow furrowed, and he shifted his posture up a little, licking his lips as if trying to find words to say, to explain to this girl why what she's doing it a terrible idea.

Bro seemed to handle most of it, as the Gengar had burst out into rolls of laughter, tossing himself back a little as he couldn't seem to contain him.
Jerome shifted his stance to glance over at ********' S'not helpin'"

Bro just waved his hand at Jerome's comment, trying to stifle his laughter before he floated back up and suddenly over toward Dove, circling her with a growing smirk. reaching down to pluck up some of her hair.

"Bro, Knock that s**t off." Jerome looked exasperated at the half glowing ghost.