On the other side of town

[ms-tique.livejournal.com]

Some things never change.

Ramon lights up another cigarette. Half a dozen butts litter the street by his feet.

He knew the minute he saw Issac's body. The additional data Mr. Lensherr sent along only confirmed it. This shouldn't be possible. Isaac's killer has been dead for over twenty years.

Ramon stares at the juggling rooster on the Cock and Balls bar sign. He doesn't have to do this. He could send in Mortimer or Dominic instead. They've never met the man.

He doubts they'd survive.

The broken glass outside the window, layers of peeling paint on the badly repaired doorsill, and strong stench of whiskey and cigar smoke are like a set piece from the worst part of his past. They should've stayed in Europe. America is too cold, too hard.

He takes one last drag on the cigarette and lets it fall to the ground. Time to go to work.

Comments

[canadiansixpack.livejournal.com]

A bevy of shot glasses line up along the dirty counter. He's been here a few hours now, mentally entrenched in the events that took place in the Wundagore. It's too much to go home - more memories lie in wait there to assault him. And to put the proverbial icing on the cake, the news rags are all filled with the latest news: the two families he's spent most of his life attempting to take down are about to be one. With their resources combined, they'll be near-unstoppable. Xavier can do what he wants to do with impunity.

But all his thoughts keep coming back to Raven. The barkeep gives him a look. He holds up three fingers for more bourbon. "An' leave th' bottle this time," he adds.

There are some days he wishes he didn't have to fight his healing factor. Getting wasted would be a welcome diversion. And yet, he doesn't stop trying. Better to get it out of his system before he goes back home to Marion. She doesn't need to see him like this.

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

"So..." one of the patrons stares uncomfortably into his beer. "Guess that explains why you ain't gotta woman."

[ms-tique.livejournal.com]

They're still a tangle of limbs. One hand absently strokes his hair. She kisses her way down his forehead, over his nose, her lips brushing lightly over his.

"You know I came here to kill you tonight."