Wolf in Sheep's Clothing ((open))

[Iris 'Mara' Ariyadi]

Mara smiled sweetly at the receptionist as she walked past.

Closing her eyes, the demon breathed in deeply, reveling in the familiar smells of the place, that clean, crisp, sterile scent that one only found in a hospital. There was something so fantastic about that scent, almost intoxicating for Mara, though not nearly so delicious as the subtle smell of desperation that hung in such places as well. She had learned a long time ago that hospitals and similar locations were prime places to meet potential... clients.

Business was good, too. In just over a month Mara had managed to finalize three deals with grief-stricken family members of patients here. It was almost too easy, truth be told, but the demon didn't really care. A deal was a deal, and whether there was a grand game of cat and mouse involved or the deed was done quick and dirty, it didn't matter in the end.

A soul was a soul was a soul, after all.

Taking a moment to replace her look of cunning with one of innocent concern, Mara took a deep breath and slipped into the waiting room. Ah, yes. She could immediately sense the despair and sadness from any number of the people here, both those seated and those pacing about uneasily. She closed her eyes again, reveling in the feeling of hopelessness that seemed to permeate this place. This was, truly, what Mara loved doing.

And, in fact, this was what separated her from her co-workers, as it were. So many other crossroads demons were content to just wait around for some fool to bumble along and perform the necessary ritual at a crossroads, then they'd swoop in for the kill, so to speak. Not Mara, though. She took a very proactive approach to their trade, going out and finding those individuals who were at their weakest and then subtly leading them along until the deal was made. It was a game to her more than a job, and one that she was very good at. Too good sometimes...

This same enthusiasm that netted her so many clients also happened to be one of the reasons she found herself in trouble with her superiors, more often than not. Sometimes her ambition just got the better of her, and before she knew it, she was plotting treason or planning some other way to knock off those on the ladder above her. Mara didn't want to be a lowly crossroads demon for ever. She wanted power, and authority, and she'd do anything to get it.

Shaking her head a bit to clear it, the demon resumed her caring, smiling facade, moving to take a seat and watching the brooding, frowning, blubbering sheep around her. And, not for the first time, she smiled slyly as a single thought flitted through her mind.

This is just too easy...

((TAG anyone!))

[Ever Goodman]

Ever cursed under his breath and moved to punch the wall, stopping just before his fist struck the gypsum. He balled his hands tighter, smacking his head against the partition instead, wishing this time had been different from the last.
But as far as the doctor was concerned, it might never be different. It was possible the young man would never regain his memories and the headaches would never cease.

Not that Ever wasn’t happy. Truth be told he couldn’t fathom being more content with the life he and Rumour had made for themselves, but the past was a constant storm in the distance; a weight on his shoulder he found he simply couldn’t not bear.
The what if’s were too great; those unknown things keeping him from really moving on completely. The amnesiac had come to the doctor today hoping that once and for all he would finally be able to put the past behind him and progress to the next stage of life.

Besides the amnesia, the headaches had gotten much, much worse. Sometimes they lasted a few hours, sometimes laying him low for two days.
Not only had the migraines worsened, the black outs had been happening more and more frequently, and the nightmares had begun to take shape when he wasn’t even asleep, manifesting as hallucinations that were just as unsettling as the dreams that plagued him during the night.

Just what kind of life had he led before? What kind of person had he been that now his memories seemed to be haunting him like a poltergeist?

Sighing in defeat Ever slumped his shoulders and made his way slowly back out into the waiting area, hoping his forgotten Polaroid camera was still sitting where he’d unintentionally left it earlier.

Finding it there he picked it up and slung it around his neck, ready to head back to the little flat on the beach where he and Foxy stayed.
But he found he could not move. He couldn’t go back to the apartment like this! It was hard for the woman he loved to understand why he just couldn’t move on and he loathed going back in this kind of mood. Maybe…maybe if he just talked to the doctor one more time. Maybe they could try something different…like hypnotism or some kind of medication…

He turned back towards that long white hallway planning to demand something more, but accidently ran into a pretty brunette female he hadn’t seen before.
“Fuck…sorry. I didn’t even see you there.”

[Iris 'Mara' Ariyadi]

Mara had just zeroed in on a particularly pathetic-looking old man when she caught sight of Ever.

The aura of gloom and disappointment that hovered around the young man was nearly palpable, and Mara couldn't help the shiver of excitement that passed through her. There was something different about Ever, something that set him apart from the demon's usual prey... She couldn't exactly put her finger on what it was, but it was something very personal for him, and it lent him a distinctly fascinating air that Mara couldn't help but find intriguing.

So, as he distractedly gathered up his camera and prepared to leave, Mara made sure to "accidentally" get in his way.

"Oh!" she exclaimed as Ever bumped lightly into her. She put on her best embarrassed look, the one that had won her numerous souls in the past, and blushed a deep crimson as she looked up at his face, then lowered her eyes demurely. Chewing her lip a bit and making the perfect picture of a shy young woman, Mara finally spoke, her voice tremulous.

"No, its my fault," she said, blinking and looking up at him again with a smile. "I've never really been good at looking where I'm going..." Blushing again, she looked down, fidgeting a little. "Ummm... I don't mean to pry, but are you okay? I mean..." Her voice trailing off, Mara covered her face with her hands before continuing. "I must sound like such a freak! Can we start over?"

Peeking out from between her fingers, she watched Ever a moment before finally showing her face again and hesitantly extending a hand toward him.

"I'm Mara, and I volunteer here as sort of a... councilor I guess. Like... I talk to people if they need to, and that kind of thing."

[Ever Goodman]

The amnesiac was easily distracted thanks to the damage to his brain and the memory loss. Forgotten was his mission to trudge down the hall and burst into the doctors office, demanding something more.
Ever’s hand went up to rub absently at the back of his neck, the other shoved into the pocket of his jeans. He needed a cigarette real bad, and his dark chocolate gaze drifted ephemerally to the window beyond the young woman; where just through the glass he saw a portico where the smokers were gathered inside a gray vapor. Ah…he could practically smell that cloud…

When sound of the woman’s voice drew his attentions back Ever let loose a nervous chuckle and shook his head in silent negation. It was as much her fault as it was the poor doctor the young male wanted to pummel for not helping enough.
His rubbing hand had moved unbidden to the place pounding at his temple, and his brow shot up in surprise when the brunette seemed to notice his preoccupation, inquiring about his wellbeing just before turning apprehensive and inhibited.

A soft snort escaped his nose and a side-ways half smile appeared on Ever’s face. Her little panic attack had succeeded in making the man just a little bit more at ease. He wasn’t perfect. She wasn’t either. It was a moment of honesty.

He shrugged before bringing his rubbing hand down to shake hers, and the easy smile was still in place on his visage. “Hey Mara. I’m Ever.” The young man began and then out of habit, immediately came up with a story to add to the introduction. “I’m just visiting a…friend. I’ll be fine. Once I get some nicotine I mean.”

Ever pulled the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and waved them in the air. “Do councilors smoke?”

[Iris 'Mara' Ariyadi]

The demon took Ever's hand in both of hers and shook it vigorously.

"Ever? That's sort of a strange name," she said, then winced and shook her head. "That was rude. I'm sorry..." Looking up at him, she smiled a bit, releasing his hand and slipping hers into her pockets, fidgeting slightly.

Flicking her eyes in the direction of the smokers' patio when Ever mentioned it, Mara bit her lip uncertainly, and made her "thinking" face. Of course, she'd been out there a dozen times, and was completely unaffected by the smoke, but she figured that playing the innocent, demure young woman seemed to be her best way of snaring Ever. At least, it looked like it was working so far...

"Ummm... I don't smoke, no, but I don't mind accompanying you, if that's okay?" With that she began meandering down the hallway toward the exit, looking back to see if Ever was following her and smiling when she found that he was.

Perfect...

Turning so she was walking backwards and facing Ever, Mara continued to speak.

"So, is your friend going to be okay?" she asked, looking concerned. "I mean... I could to him--or her--if you want me too? It really wouldn't be a problem at all, I promise."

[Ever Goodman]

Ever couldn’t help the quiet snort that escaped him at her frank comment about his name, but it really didn’t bother him. He’d heard remarks about it from the day he had chosen the pseudonym, and honestly, being as uncommon as it was, only made it feel more…him. He had chosen it for him self. It had become the person that he was.
He merely shook his head and let the remark and following apology pass without comment, slipping his hand into the pocket of his low slung jeans to retrieve the little rectangular pack of smokes.

Walking slowly behind her, the young man tapped a cancer stick out of the pack and laughed quietly as he slid it between his lips. The female counselor walking backwards in order to face him as he spoke seemed almost too young to be in such a profession; too innocent in a way…

Mara’s back was pressed against the door leading to the smoker’s patio when Ever reached past to push it open. He immediately pulled out his lighter, put fire to the end, and dragged the inhale deeply into his lungs. To the chain smoker it was like a junkie’s hit, and instantly the young man felt much calmer; able to cope.

Her offer to help drew a slow, easy smile across his visage, and Ever inhaled again and blew the drag out of his nose, shaking his head just a little. Leaning back against the red brick of the building the amnesiac flicked the nonexistent ashes from the butt sheepishly, wondering if he could get some advice from her about his -problem- without her really knowing it was his -problem-.

“He’ll be fine.” Ever assured her awkwardly, lifting the hand to rub absently at the back of his neck. “He had a brain injury that left him without his memory…so…we’re just kind of …letting him know we’re here.” The amnesiac cleared his throat and lowered the hand, flicking the ashes again. “They say he might never get them back….”

The confession hung in the air like a bad smell, and his gaze went kind of distant. Ever wasn’t the type of man to speak openly to a stranger like this, but the confession was like the weight of the world lifted from Atlas’ shoulders.

[Iris 'Mara' Ariyadi]

Mara slipped out behind him, coughing and waving her hand in front of her face as she stepped out onto the patio.

She looked around a bit then went over to lean against the wall beside Ever, scuffing the toe of her shoe on the concrete absently and nodding as he spoke. Oh yeah, this guy was definitely ripe to be picked, so to speak. A little more of her shy, demure act and a gentle nudge in the right direction, and he'd be hers.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought, and was glad her face was downcast and that Ever couldn't see it. The expression--one of pure, wicked satisfaction--would have been utterly out of place on the kind young woman's face, after all.

"I wouldn't put too much stock into what doctors say," Mara said, looking up at him and making a face. "I mean... There are all kinds of things out there that they don't understand, right? I'm sure there's a way to get your... friend's memories back." Smiling brightly, she wandered away from the wall, pacing around aimlessly and humming to herself.

"Of course, the question would be whether or not your friend is willing to do what's necessary, you know?" She looked back at Ever again, biting her lip. "Unfortunately, nothing's ever free, right? That's just sorta the way things go..."

[Ever Goodman]

Mara’s statement caught the young man off guard, and he choked a little on the inhale of smoke he’d just drawn into his lungs. Glancing up at her and absently tapping the ashes from his coffin nail again he snorted quietly; listening as she added to her declaration. It was surprising that a woman in her profession would admit something that he had known since waking up and getting jack shit for information from the physicians supposedly treating him; but then again Ever suspected that councilors often times had to clean up the messes left over after a surgeon wasn’t able to save someone’s life. Talking to the family of the deceased certainly couldn’t be an easy task. He assumed it must weight heavy on a person’s shoulders…just like living without a past. His wall came down just a little bit more. Ever’s russet eyes trailed Mara as she paced back and forth before him, taking in another drag from his cigarette and flicking again. Mara’s latter statement had his head tilting to the side in confusion, and his brow creased just slightly to reveal the curiosity that followed. “What do you mean by that?” He asked frankly, and dropped the cigarette on the cement ground before crushing it out with the toe of his boot. “I am doing all that I can…all that is necessary, and they still can’t tell me fucking shit.” The young man didn’t even realized he’d just revealed the friend was really him, and continued forgetfully. “Whatever I can’t pay for the insurance would kick in, right? I mean they take money out of my check every week so it should, shouldn’t it?” -- I'm so sorry for taking so darn long. If you'd rather just let it die, lemme know-- [bg=black][atrb=border,0,true]

[Iris 'Mara' Ariyadi]

Mara had to work to hide the sly smile that was tugging at her lips.

She was close now, very close. The man's change in demeanor, as well as his unconscious admission that his "friend" was actually just a cover for himself told Mara all she needed to know. And, if she played her hand just right, soon she's have him. One more conquest... One more soul under her belt, so to speak.

Looking around at the other people milling about the smoking patio, Mara leaned in close, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper.

"Do you believe in miracles, Ever?" she asked, wide eyes darting here and there, as if afraid someone might be listening in. "I mean, they happen all the time, right? Someone's hurt, or sick, and then suddenly they're just... better?"

Smiling innocently, she backed away a little and let her voice return to it's normal volume, hand behind her back as she tilted her head, looking up at him.

"They do happen, Ever. I know it. I've seen it." Biting her lip a bit, Mara lowered her eyes shyly, adding quietly, "I can show you, if you want..."

((Gah, I'm soooooooo sorry! I don't know how this thread slipped under my radar!!!))