Film Noir Meme

[ammmusebox]

- Post a character, and say which of mine you'd like, if you have a preference
- Random number generator, if you want it

Settings:

1. Crime Scene: Dead body? Burglary? Whatever the crime, the area's been sectioned off for officers to investigate this nefarious deed, and you're getting front row seat.

2. Bar: There's always some hole-in-the-wall frequented by all sorts. The bartender keeps an eye out for trouble, and other things. Of course he keeps an ear to the ground, but it'll cost ya. Perhaps a cop or two will show up demanding answers, but no one ever takes that seriously.

3. Docks at Night: The breeze caressing your face, the sound of the water, the boats passing by...maybe you were called here, or maybe you just like the peace it brings.

4. Alleyway: There's only one way in and out of this little corridor, and what happens in it is up to you and the other character. Just watch for the shadows, if you can see through the fog.

5. Detective's Office: Not too clean, not too messy. Just perfect for the person that's needed to get this mystery cleared up.

6. Rooftop: The wind dramatically blowing about, it's the perfect place to get that person to come and meet you so you can tell them what you want. Or if you're evil, why not kill them up here? It'll be hard to escape you.

7. Dressing Room: For some reason, you're backstage after a performance, and you've gotten into one of these. The mirrors, the costumes, the flowers from fans and the various personal affects...all are present and will be your silent witnesses to whatever occurs.

8. Hideout: You've gotten to the antagonist's spot of choice. Is this a glitzy nightclub with a private room, or is this an abandoned warehouse where they-or you-carry out their plot? The choice is yours.

9. Nightclub: Someone's showcasing their talent tonight, and you may or may not care about it. But it's classic, dimly lit, and it's easy to hide in here.

10. Free choice

Possible relationships:

1. Friends: Maybe you're an unstoppable team, or perhaps your relationship is getting strained. But whatever the situation, you know this person, and you'd be there for them.

2. Coworkers/teammates: You might not be friends, but you know this person well enough to remember their name. And right now you're being thrown together for a reason.

3. Lovers: This is the one you wanted to stay with for now. Married, dating, or maybe an affair, but you two care about each other enough.

4. Enemies: Utter hatred flows through your veins when you hear this person's name. This is the one you want to take down, and you just might stop at nothing to achieve your goal.

5. Family: Perhaps it's a sibling you're meeting. Or your parent, or some form of relative. Remember that phrase "blood is thicker than water"? It just might apply here.

6. Mysterious Stranger: Someone's been eyeing you from across the room, or you've been eyeing them. Will you two speak, or shall they float out of your life? Do they hold information you seek, or do they want something from you?

7. Femme Fatale: You are or have encountered a mysterious and seductive woman, whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. Watch out, you might just get yourself into a real mess of trouble, hot stuff.

8. Free Choice
Originally from easycompany via bakerstreet, with some modifications; image by Flickr user i k o

Comments

[toooldforlosing]

He gives her a sidelong look, but one that includes a smile. "I don't believe you're ever off-duty, to be frank."

Which is an enormously audacious instance of the pot calling the kettle black.

[gotbottle]

Her mouth curves, entirely amused, half a second before her eyebrows go up. She's aware of this whole pot-kettle thing going on, truth be told. But if they both know it, why point it out?

"I appreciate your candor. And your skills of observation. So let me rephrase that: just because a fella stumbles into my bar doesn't mean I'm going to take advantage and pepper him with work questions all night. How's that?"

[toooldforlosing]

"Good enough. Or probably not, but I really don't want to go find another bar. I could bribe you by buying you a drink?" Or they could just have a drink together, since they're both already there.

[gotbottle]

"Bribery," she intones, with (mock) surprise. "My reputation. Your reputation. But I'm not a girl who's gonna pass up a drink or a kind offer, so I guess this is just gonna have to stay between us."

[toooldforlosing]

"Well, I guess it will at that. What're you having?" He knows letting his down around her is probably not ideal, but he can't help it. He likes her, for all she can be a headache.

[gotbottle]

"A whiskey sour, please and thank you." She settles in, comfortably. More comfortable than she ought to make herself, she knows. But much as he can't help letting his guard down around her, she can't help feeling more open around him. As much as he's a frequent roadblock or obstacle, she genuinely likes him.

[toooldforlosing]

Once they both have their drinks, he leans on the bar a bit.

"So. Off-duty, huh? I wasn't entirely sure you ever took a night off, tell you the truth." Which is an astonishing case of the pot and the kettle, really, but there they both are.

[gotbottle]

"A girl's gotta have a few drinks once in a while, right?" She grins, wry. "Can't write stuff that's gonna win me a Pulitzer if I'm three sheets to the wind. So here and there, I take a night off."

She raises an eyebrow. "So how is it you're off-duty? I didn't think they let cops entertain the idea." She's teasing. Mostly.

[toooldforlosing]

"It isn't always, strictly speaking, 100% voluntary," he says with a shrug that makes it half a joke. "But they shove us out the door and tell us to take a hike, sometimes."

Or maybe that's just Raylan.

[gotbottle]

"They bodily shove you out?"

Rachel's silent for a thoughtful moment.

Well.

For certain values of thoughtful.

"Where does a girl sign up for a job like that? I'm sure I'm qualified to manhandle a lawman, and I like to keep my options open."

[toooldforlosing]

"Now, how many lawmen do you feel a need to manhandle?" he asks, mock serious.

[gotbottle]

Rachel laughs, her chin dropping, her lip momentarily caught in her teeth.

"...I'm afraid the answer to that would only serve to incriminate me."

[toooldforlosing]

Raylan laughs too, shaking his head. "Well, I suppose I'll let that answer speak for itself." Still, he's effectively relaxed, at least some.

[gotbottle]

"That does," she points out, because she can't ever not poke at a thing, "raise the question as to whether you'd want to be manhandled. At all, by the likes of me...?"

[toooldforlosing]

"I can tell you, with perfect honesty, that I've never been manhandled by anyone half as easy on the eyes in my life."

Which is not, entirely, an answer.

[gotbottle]

It's not quite an answer, but it's enough of one. For the moment.

She smiles, the color rising a little across her cheeks. "I'll keep that in mind," she teases.

[toooldforlosing]

"Do that," he says with a crooked grin.

"So here with both are, with a night off at the same time. What are the odds?" Pretty poor, considering they are both married to their respective jobs.

[gotbottle]

"Watch me," she tosses back, grinning.

She pauses to sip from her drink, shrugging. "Astronomical, I'm sure. If I believed in fate I'd say it was that. I don't really, though. Guess it's just good luck."

[toooldforlosing]

"Not just luck, but good luck. Well." Raylan leans on the bar a bit. "I suppose I should take that compliment now, before it's qualified somehow."

[gotbottle]

"Qualified?" She grins, pausing for a sip of her drink, her expression still amused when she sets the glass down. "Like how? 'You're lucky I don't sock you in the mouth'? You haven't done anything to earn those kinds of qualifications, don't worry."

[toooldforlosing]

"Like maybe you'll get sick of my company and revise your assessment of the evening," he says, but he's still smiling. "It has been known to happen."

[gotbottle]

She laughs. "All right, but: first of all, the evening is young. And secondly: I've never spent any part of any evening in your company that didn't involve a crime scene or your headquarters or mine."

Her grin softens a bit. "Let's just see how the evening goes before you get all worried."

[toooldforlosing]

"I'm just trying to maintain realistic expectations, here," he says. "Old habits."

[gotbottle]

"Tell you what," she replies, faintly grinning. "Why don't we start the evening with letting me manage my own expectations?"

[toooldforlosing]

"Yes ma'am." He considers her a moment, then says: "You had dinner yet?"

[gotbottle]

She shakes her head, smiling up at him. "I haven't. You?"

[toooldforlosing]

"Nah. What say we blow this place after this drink and get some real grub?"

[gotbottle]

She grins her approval, nodding. "Sounds like a great plan. I guess as much as I might like to some nights, you can't really drink your dinner."

[toooldforlosing]

He laughs. "Hard as you try."

Before he can continue, though, he glances up as another man enters the bar. The briefest hint of a frown appears. But he shakes his head and says, "Shall we?"

[gotbottle]

"Just a second."

She didn't miss that flicker in his expression. Is it trouble? Could it be?

"Everything okay? You need me to hang back a minute and meet you outside so we aren't seen leaving together?" She can't imagine the rest of his boys would be all right with him being seen with a reporter, one they regularly chase off crime scenes.

[toooldforlosing]

"No - nothing like that." He leans in, as if to say something flirtatious, but he says, "The guy who just came in. I may have... arrested his brother. A little."

[gotbottle]

"Oh." She smiles, as if flattered by his supposed flirtation. "So little that there won't be trouble, or...?"

[toooldforlosing]

"Well, I suppose that depends on how forgiving a heart our friend possesses." Raylan sounds skeptical, but then adds, "On the bright side, I think he's too smart to try and plug me with witnesses around."

[gotbottle]

She nods, thoughtful, casting another quick glance the other man's way, her playful smile still in place.

"What do you think? Do we chance leaving, or do you want to wait it out a bit?"

[toooldforlosing]

"I think let's maybe just go. If he's not here for me, particularly, he might decide it's not worth the trouble." ...maybe.

He stands up, fetching his hat. "If I'm wrong, you get out you need to get out," he says in an undertone.

[gotbottle]

Rachel nods, sparing another glance at the potential troublemaker as she gets to her feet. "I hear you. I'll get out."

Probably.

She'll at least consider it.

[toooldforlosing]

He gives her a look that suggests he's skeptical of that claim, but he just nods. As they get up to go, the man leans back in his chair and gives them a look, evaluating. He's older than Raylan, but bigger in build.

"Enjoying your night at liberty, officer?" he asks as they approach.

Raylan frowns. "Just moving along, actually." The tone is almost a warning.

[gotbottle]

He's right to be skeptical. It's probably a combination of his good instincts as a cop and his past experience chasing her off crime scenes. She's got a mildly alarming tendency to get right into the fray if the fray stands between her and something she wants.

Rachel keeps her attention, if not her gaze (she doesn't want it to seem like a challenge) on the man as they get near. There's clear tension there; she wants to be ready if there's trouble.

[toooldforlosing]

"Course you are. Had your drink, have your pretty dame. Going out to take in the night air. Real pretty, being a free man."

Raylan doesn't quite pause. "Sure is. You have a nice evening."

But he stops when the man gets up, smooth. (Sober.) With a fake smile.

[gotbottle]

This feels like trouble. Like it could burst forth into something worse any moment now. Maybe the guy would be swayed by another person's presence? Wouldn't want to act up in front of a dame?

Something in her gut tells her no, but it's worth a try all the same.

"Come on," she says softly, curling her arm around Raylan's.