1x1 w/ taelende and Unashamed

[Taelende]

(Yeah, let's do that.)

Constantine was patient, as his job demanded of him. He stood in a dark spot nearby the restaurant, but was far enough away to avoid being caught on surveillance footage. He kept the place within his scope, all the while focusing on what he was going to do to the woman once he'd spotted her. While he waited, he'd decided to fashion himself a silent weapon. This time, it was a garotte, and he'd used a section of cloth from his cloak to make it. A knot on either end for him to hold onto, and a knot in the center was all it took to make it an effective weapon. All he needed now was to wait for her to show herself so he could get this over with.

[Unashamed]

(Okay)

Juliette
Finally, my lunch-break comes along, after what seems like hours of nonstop working. Lily, one of the other waitress and the manager's niece, still hasn't showed up today. It's usually her job to take over for me, so I'm afraid I won't get to leave, like several other days recently. But thankfully, Riley, the only waitress here that I'm actually friends with, offers to take over my tables while I go. I give her a grateful smile, and untie my apron, folding it and placing it behind the counter, before I grab my bag, and walk out. It's gotten a little warmer since I left this morning, but it's still pretty cold out. One of the very reasons I love New York... I tell myself as I walk down the sidewalk.

[Taelende]

There was a hint of movement at the restaurant's door, and Constantine locked his eyes onto it. He had done this many times throughout the day, but each time it had turned out to be nothing more than a customer leaving the establishment. Nonetheless, he couldn't afford to be lazy and let any of those instances go by without paying close attention. And lucky for him he didn't. Because this time, it was her.

Lowering himself into a stealthy crouch, he followed her movements briefly, keeping to the shadows. When he saw that she was about to walk in front of an alley, he sprung into action. Skulking across the street and falling into step loosely behind her to play it off, he waited for the opportune moment. Once she was in front of the alley and there appeared to be no people who could be watching, Constantine pulled out his makeshift garotte and swiftly rushed the woman. Maneuvering the strip of cloth around her throat, he dragged her into the alleyway and pulled his weapon taut.

..........
But, then he hesitated.

He could have killed her right there, but instead, he paused. He paused, and he didn't know why.

While he held her there, he crept further into the alley so that no one would happen upon them like that. He had to think about what he was going to do now. He knew he had to kill her, but for some reason, he didn't want to. It was a conundrum. But, while he pondered this, he completely forgot that he was still choking her, and that she could only survive so much longer if he didn't stop...

[Unashamed]

Juliette
I hum softly under my breath as I walk, hands tucked inside my jacket pockets to help keep them warm. Once again, I feel as though I'm being watched, the thought sending a chill down my spine. Just as I'm finally able to start pushing it to the side, I feel something being wrapped around my throat from behind, and someone pulls me into an alley. My breath escapes in a gasp and I try to pull myself free, as the stranger drags me further back into the shadows. But it's no use. Whoever it is, is too strong for me, and is holding the tied cloth too tightly for me to be able to scream for help. My thoughts are all a jumble of what to do, and my vision is blurring, as I feel myself growing weaker, my knees barely able to support my weight now.

[Taelende]

Constantine was lost in his thoughts, and he didn't emerge from them until he felt a sudden weight tugging down at the cloth around the woman's neck. She had lost consciousness, but she was still alive. He loosened the garotte and eased her down against the alley's back wall. He knew why he was hesitating then. It was because he wasn't sure this stranger was deserving of death. The obscure phone call wasn't enough. He wasn't convinced he could rightfully kill this woman and not walk away from it with a heavy conscience. And no amount of money was worth that.

Everyone he had killed had it coming to them - or so he was told and lead to believe. But, without evidence against her, he couldn't say for certain that this woman was in the same boat as those people. And he couldn't do it. He couldn't kill her.

Instead, Constantine sat and waited for her to wake up so that he could explain himself. He stayed beside her so that when she did, he would be prepared to cup a hand over her mouth so that she wouldn't scream. He wanted to talk to her to get things straight. And if he thought she was lying to him about anything... or if his client was justified in hiring him...

Then, he would kill her.

[Unashamed]

Juliette
After a while of laying unconscious, my eyes open slightly. My throat is sore from having been choked, and my head hurts a little. I look around, my hazel green eyes landing on the face of a man just a few years older than me, and they grow wide. Memories of what had happened just before I passed out come to mind, my hands balled into fists to keep them from shaking. (wb, sorry)

[Taelende]

Constantine immediately threw a hand to her mouth, not sure if she was going to scream, but not waiting to find out. He remained silent for a while, his eyes glancing down to her hands and a sigh forcing its way between his lips. "I'm planning on sparing your life, so I need you to calm down a little," he told her, his voice harsh. "Don't scream, or I won't hold back this time." He removed his hand from the stranger's mouth and then stood, blocking her exit from the alley with his looming figure.

"I was hired to kill you, you know," he began to explain. It felt odd, explaining himself to his target. He had never done it before. He'd never explained himself to anyone. He always just swooped in for the kill and cleaned up the scene as necessary. But, this time was different. "Someone named Ross hired me," he continued after a short pause. "Ring any bells?"

Honestly, he was still really tense, himself. He was leaving himself open to a lot of possibilities, here. If she decided to scream while he was standing away from her, he wouldn't be able to silence her in time before someone could hear. And if she decided to make a break for it, he could catch her, but there was a risk of someone seeing them. So, he had to be prepared. He just hoped the woman would make the right choice and not try anything slick.

[Unashamed]

Juliette
My eyes stay glued to him as I listen to his words, slowly scooting back away from him when he finally removes his hand from my mouth. When I hear the name Ross, my face loses it's color, and I can't hear anything else he says. Instead, I just stare ahead, my eyes wide, but even emptier than usual. I thought I'd gotten away. How did he find me? Why can't he just leave me alone? Hasn't he done enough to me as is? Thoughts and questions once again make a mess of my brain, unable to focus, or think straight. I'm no longer aware of the man standing right in front of me, ready to kill me at a moment's notice.

[Taelende]

Constantine crossed his arms, watching the woman's reaction. "Hey..." he sounded, hoping to get her attention. When it didn't work, he tried again, this time louder. "Hey!"

She was in a trance, it seemed. A trance triggered by the name Ross. She knew him then, and she knew that he was a threat. It was obvious she was unsettled by the fact that that name had been brought up, so Constantine figured it was safe to assume he had done something to her before. Possibly multiple 'somethings'. But, was she worried because she was frightened of the man? Or was she worried because she was frightened he knew of something she'd done? Constantine cared about nothing else other than proving this woman's innocence or guilt.

When he realized she wasn't going to respond - deep in thought over whatever it was the man's name had triggered in her mind - he approached her again and knelt down in front of her. He took her jaw in his hand and forced her to look at him. "Hey," he repeated, this time with a far more powerful boom to his voice. "You need to tell me why he wants you dead."

[Unashamed]

Juliette
Juliette
Tears spring into my eyes and I'm snapped back to reality, blinking several times when the man cups my jaw and I'm forced to look up at his face. When he tells me to say why I'm wanted dead, I shake my head. My mouth opens slightly to answer, but not a sound escapes. I still relive that evening every night in my sleep, and the next year following that day. "Y-you... you have to..." I stammer, my voice shaky and quiet. "Do what he hired you for... p-please...."