Oh, What A Shame(Open)

[nero morgenstern]

xx

The town had barely even been up yet, but it’s not like it mattered, the trail to the city wasn’t exactly traveled, and it also screamed of ruinsLike the rest of this sad excuse of a planet The sun had just began to rise on the planet, few birds flew around because the remainder of the birds had been asleep, what a small population it would appear. Soft footsteps echoed through the pathway,just outside the town’s limits.

A woman loomed over the small town, a hand on her hip. The woman had been fairly attractive, her short dark raven hair, jagged but framed her face perfectly. She wore sunglasses most of the time making her eye color appear to be an interesting orange, however just her eyes a lone told several stories about the girl, she had heterochromia, a genetic anomaly when each eye is a different color, one eye had been a captivating blue that could be compared to the ocean, and the other eye a crimson that matched the intensity of the blood, the glasses also hid another thing, a scar that ran across her face and the bridge of her nose, which her glasses so conveniently cover up- a girl should know how to accessorize.

The woman was dressed scandalous, but if some one would ask her it was simply all apart of a plan- how can a guy focus on attacking one, when his eyes are on something else a clever technique, her outfit spoke that this woman had been daring, she had been wearing an all white suit-type outfit, that seemed to grip the curves right. Her eyes scanned over the town, it seemed more so a sad place, this whole planet use to be something beautiful- at least; that’s what she had heard. The woman leaned forward as if the town had hidden something beautiful in it- but nothing caught her eyes.

No wonder her mother had run away.

" What a shame.."

This woman who had been deep in thought, had been Nero Morgenstern,a native of mars and of course a bounty hunter, and even though it seemed she was unaware of her surroundings she was completely aware, even if she was sure she’d be the only one up at this hour.

[grayson king]

→ OH, WHAT A SHAME // -
Grayson hadn't been on the planet of Earth very long. He had just been lurking about, doing one thing or another. He hadn't found a lot of work so it wasn't as if much traveling was an option. But the gun toting bounty hunter had found a place to rest in a small town. He had held up in an abandoned building, leaving his MONO ship outside of town for the moment. He remained patient, figuring there had to be bounty heads hidden away on Earth. It didn't have a lot of people after all, it was the perfect hiding spot. But during that time, Grayson had grown bored. He absolutely despised the planet and many of its inhabitants. Grayson had been asleep in the abandoned building, only to be woken up by the wind. He crawled over to the window and peeked out.. Only to see a peculiar woman heading in the direction of this place.

He eyed her curiously, hoping to be unseen. Just what was this ones story? Why come here of all places? He stood up and slowly pulled on his helmet, grabbed his stuff and exited. It was time he move on before anyone knew he had been there, anyway.

With only one person in town awake, or so it seemed, it was the perfect opportunity. Grayson slowly walked down the stairs, pushing the door open. Of course he made a lot of noise, the whole building was in complete disrepair. Once on the street, he gazed off in the direction of the woman he had seen heading towards town. He immediately noticed her state of dress, he couldn't help that fact, it was quite peculiar. Though, who was he to talk? He remained leaned against the wall, observing.. Though he kind of stood out like a sore thumb, being the only person around other than her. That and the mask. He slowly reach into his pocket, grabbing his pack of cigarettes and beginning to light one up. Though he noticed she had previously seemed to be looking around for something.. Perhaps a tourist? Though who'd come here?

"You lost?" He said in a cold, stern sounding voice. He didn't want to ask, but, sometimes a man had to give in to his own curiosity. Maybe it was the small town, maybe it was the fact this was the first person he had seen that didn't look like they wanted to off themselves in a while. Something had gained his interest.

[nero morgenstern]

xx

Her ears twitched, had she been hearing things? Her eyebrow rose to herself as she stood up straight, her eyes narrowing, she had been listening now, she began to roll her shoulders back. She had not brought her weapon, but she was better at hand to hand anyways, and a typical thug wouldn’t be able to put up a match against her. Pride was her greatest fault. She paused, turning as some one spoke. Lost, no she was just staring down at the city, smart cookie- of course she knew he wouldn’t know that.

She turned, a her lips twitched, a smirk. This was some sort of joke right. A man stood in front of her, he had worn a mask, so mysterious. She couldn’t help to snicker, grabbing at her sunglasses, as she took them off, blinking a few times. ”...Seriously?” she spoke amusement swimming in her eyes, that seemed to sparkle to him, he’d notice the two different coloring of her eyes, Red and blue, and the scar across her nose.

She laughed shaking her head. Earth had really topped it, just the fact it existed made it crazy, but this- this would be nothing she could forget, even if she could forget him. However her eyes scanned over the man, looking at every detail. She scratched the back of her head, ”I didn‘t know earth had directional vigilantes.“ she spoke in a tone mocking his own cold voicequiet horribly at that too, then blinked, covering her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers, as her tongue stuck out- rather childishly.

” Sorry, masked vigilante.”- well she had just about seen it all.

She couldn’t help it, this man had been masked, really? ”To answer you’re question, I am not lost.” she spoke cooly as her hands fell from her face, she still held an entertained smirk on her face though. She took steps forward, bold steps as she looked up to him. This girl showed no fear in meeting a masked stranger in the woods, even though that would probably send any senseable female to be wary- if she had been wary, she hadn’t showed it.

She leaned up, inspecting his mask, and probably pushing a person’s comfort zone, if she had been allowed. ”So..are you like..disformed or some generic sob story like that?” she asked rather curiously, as she tilted her head. If this was some sick prank, she’d have to just pull a better prank. She rested her hands on her hips, ”..Or is that part of your mistique” she spoke, mocking his tone again, a playful glint in the woman’s eyes, however Nero wasn’t completely senseless, she was sure about this guy, a person only hid there face for a few reasons.

One: To hide from some one or something- in which case this could be the law, she’d however have to look up on it when she got to her home- her own ship. Two, some disformity, or three- well this was the simpliest, he could have been entirely insane. She raised her eyebrow to him, which one had he been, oh she’d love puzzles and secretes, maybe she could figure this one out! She smirked, of course she wouldn’t let him know that. Her smirk however, was plain and it shouted one thing.

This girl was up to something.

[grayson king]

→ OH, WHAT A SHAME // -
This woman.. She was quite.. talkative. That was the only thing that ran through Grayson's head as he was assaulted with comments from this female. Questions, comments, all that. He was bombarded with it all. He had a hard time keeping track of everything she had said, in fact. But her comments about his mask just made him sigh. His facial expression reflected his annoyance, as it had morphed into a slight scowl. But after her comment about vigilantes, she had revealed she was indeed not lost. But then? She decided to invade his personal space, observing the gray mask he wore. His eyes glared down at her from under his mask, and he took notice to her eyes.. Strange coloring, he thought.

But he didn't have a whole lot of time for that thought to run through his head. Mostly because of all of her mockery of him, and that smirk.. ugh. "You talk a lot.." He said in a almost bored sounding voice now. He didn't exactly know where to begin with this. Grayson took a puff of his cigarette and then after a moment, he dropped it to the ground and proceeded to put it out with his boot. "One. I'm not a vigilante. And two, no, I'm neither deformed or a sob story. What the purpose behind my mask is, is no concern of yours. I'm just a simple bounty hunter. No mystique." Well.. other than the mask. A rather rude statement indeed, but, the purpose of his mask wasn't for her to know. It was simply something that was a part of him. It had essentially became his face. And it would remain as such.

"Considering you asked me some questions, and I answered most of them.." Grayson briefly paused for a moment, stepping over in front of her, invading her personal space now. He looked her over closely, paying particular attention to her strange state of dress. "What exactly are you? His cold blue eyes glared over her, maybe he was just as curious about her as she had been about his mask.. "From your state of dress and the fact you've got your breasts hanging out for everyone to see, I can only assume there's a strip club nearby?" He threw his own false assumption right back at her, based on her attire. After her vigilante thing towards him, it was only fair, right? In what was a rare state of some emotion other than annoyance, a smirk slowly appeared across his face. But now, giving off his rather smug look, he stood there, waiting for a response.

[nero morgenstern]

xx

She watched with curious eyes as the man answered all of her questions, well- almost all of them. She paused, as he spoke. What was she? What sort of question was that, she smirked at his next comment. Ohohoh, this was going to be fun, curiosity turned into amusement. ”Sorry to get your hopes up, “ she said quiet coy like as she tilted her head to him. She should have guessed bounty hunter, they tended to be more colorful at times. She crossed her arms staring at him, wait..if there was a bounty hunter, that meant, maybe there had been bounties.

She grinned, her hands resting on her hips. ”The name’s Nero, and sir- I am also a bounty hunter”her grin never faltering, her eyes had been shining proudly, she truly thought she was one of the best, she was proud of herself, she smirked. She stared up to the hunter, she didn’t really care much for personal space. This guy would be interesting to bother a bit, she crossed her arms. Her eyes narrowing, that might mean, maybe he had run across a friend. Nero’s eyes seemed to narrow upon him, and he would notice her taking a step back from him, as she grinned.

”Now, “ she began with a smirk, ”Even though I can tell, your a hit with the ladies.” she said with a snicker, ”This is normally the time you tell me your name, but.” she spoke glancing to the sky, then back to him, her eyes going over her mask, she pulled her glasses back over her eyes, well so far this was for real and not some trick show or whatever. She crossed her arms, ”Or should I just call you Mv“ She seriously wasn’t funny She laughed to herself, ”A.k.a The masked vigilante.”

She was good at being the bully, per say- she just enjoyed messing with people. Although, even though she so far had no issue against the man- the fact that he had hid his face was just unnerving to her, she couldn’t tell if she was bothering him, she wouldn’t be able to be sure if her antics had been working. She crossed her arms to the man.

[grayson king]

→ OH, WHAT A SHAME // -
After Grayson's quip about her dressing as if she were a stripper, he waited patiently for the woman to speak. Her initial response was something he sort of expected. But then she proceeded to introduce herself. He listened closely as she revealed her name to be Nero. He'd never heard the name before, but she was also a bounty hunter? Weird. Major coincidence. Then again, I guess bounty hunters weren't an uncommon thing in this day and age. But still, it was something Grayson hadn't really expected to run into, given the town he found himself in.

Before he could complete that thought, there went Nero speaking again. The girl sort of had a mouth on her, he could see that much. Which made him sort of uneasy, given the fact he didn't like to talk as much as one should. He casually puffed upon the cigarette as he listened to her make a comment about the him and the ladies, maybe an attempt to be funny perhaps? He didn't know. But then she asked for his name. He thought about it for a moment, and just as he was ready to utter a response, she spoke once more. At this point, it was all Grayson could do to keep an annoyed look off his face, but he persevered and listened to her joke about him being some sort of masked vigilante.

"If your career as a stripper fails, you should try being a comedian. I'm sure you'll do amazing at either." Grayson said in a calm almost bored sounding tone, as he continued to smoke soon after that sentence had been completed, then exhaling the smoke once he was ready to continue with the thought. "Now about me introducing myself.." Against his better judgment he would answer her question. Only because of his own curiosity. Why was this woman here? Was there a bounty or something around he didn't know about? "I guess you've got me backed into a corner.. The names Grayson, and since you'll ask me anyway, I'm from Mars."

He let out another sigh as he spoke yet again, figuring he may as well play along for a little bit. "You're a bounty hunter, huh, little girl? You a native of this mess of a planet, Scarface?" He gave particular reference to the scar he had noticed across her face when she had gotten so close to him earlier, a sly little smirk appearing across his face as those words escaped his lips. He grew curiouser, and curiouser about this so called bounty hunter.

[nero morgenstern]

xx

Nero stayed quiet as he spoke, her eyes had scanned over the man too many times already. She had been almost staring at him, he had been the first interaction with anyone that she had in a while, and she would have never guessed that the person she’d interact most would have more issues then herself. She wasn’t one to normally judge- on a serious note. But she was certain, there was something different about the man, he was wearing a mask. She rested her hands against her hips, as she stared to him through a darkened point of view-due to her sunglasses.

Birds began to sing, causing Nero’s eyes to scan around the area. The sun had been rising slowly, just barely peeking over the horizon now, sending a sense of tranquility over this broken planet. She glanced towards the forest, before her eyes fell back towards the man. Grayson she put his name on his face-er mask. She frowned, suddenly irritated about the mask, she didn’t like secrecy, and at the same time she loved to figure out the secretes. She gave a sigh, oh he was that type of bounty hunter, she could tell be the tone of his voice- he might have been one of those serious types.

A playful glint sparkled in her eyes, and perhaps he could even see it through her sun glasses. ”Well,Grayson..” she spoke, mocking his own bored tone, but only when she spoke his name, but she seemed to freeze as he spoke of mars, the woman’s eyes narrowed upon the masked man, before a small smirk appeared on her face. She took a step towards him, as if trying to see under his mask- this woman had no sense of personal space.

”If I had you backed in a corner..” a toothy grin. ”..You wouldn’t realize it.” She shrugged her shoulders, pride was one thing this girl had, and she wasn’t afraid to show it, she’d even admit it. She then gave a soft laugh, covering her mouth with her hands. ”Scarface..huh..?” she gave another laugh, rubbing at her nose a bit, letting her fingers run over her scar slightly.

”Where am I from..” she murmured, her tone seemed to falter a bit. So this girl wasn’t all arrogance, that could be a blessing in disguise. ”I guess, I‘m from Mars also.“ she spoke, not really liking this topic. She turned her back to him, had she completely trusted him, or was she a fool who didn’t really fear him. She took a few steps away from him to stare back down to the little town. ”Y‘know...i heard one time, long ago this place was brilliant.“ she spoke in a soft tone, before glancing back to him.

”So, Mr.Vigilante, any bounty heads on this area, or ...” she turned to him, her back now to the town. ”...do you plan on keeping them for yourself..” she spoke in a pouty tone, staring to him. What an interesting meeting.

[grayson king]

→ OH, WHAT A SHAME // -
This woman was.. interesting. She seemed to be growing more and more curious about his mask, or at least that was what he could put together from her mannerisms. Though her answers to his questions continued to add upon his curiosity about her.. Another person from Mars? On Earth of all places? It was a weird coincidence. But it seemed she quickly jumped off the topic of Mars and went towards a new route. The planet Earth and how it had once been something special.. All he could respond with was a simple shrug. He didn't know what it once had been, all he knew was what the planet was now. But then? She got to the real point, bounties. It was what everyone happened to be interested in, he noticed her staring at him and listened to her tone of voice and sighed.

"Well Scarface.." He uttered the title he had dubbed her moments ago, in a bit of a sarcastic manner. He wasn't a vigilante, but, if she wanted to call him that? He'd dub her some sort of a name of her own in response. "I haven't heard of any bounties right just yet." He had kept his eyes open, but no sign of crime to speak of. In fact, up until now? The only suspicious character he had seen happened to be this Nero woman. "So no, there hasn't been any to keep for myself. In fact, you're the first beyond average looking individual I've laid my eyes upon since coming here. And you turned out to be a bounty hunter."

He said in an annoyed tone.. It seems his trip to Earth had been a total bust. Instead of finding any bounties, he simply ended up wasting far more time than he'd of ever wanted on a planet that disgusted him. "So stripper girl.. I guess we've both wasted our own time. Nothing 'fun' in sight. Guess that's why I'm stuck chatting with you, sweetheart." That last statement may of come off as a bit rude, but, it wasn't intended. His annoyed tone he had at almost all times didn't give any indication to that idea though.. But to the other point he had a strange idea of fun. He loved bounty hunting, it was like a passion for him. He almost had a one track mind about it, it was almost his sole focus. It was one of the only things he actually enjoyed, so, that made a lot of sense. But now Grayson threw his cigarette on the ground and stomped it under his foot, having grown tired of the smoking. Then he awaited her response.. It sort of looked like they were both in the same boat, in a location where neither of them really had a job to do at the moment.