She said, heaven's on one shoulder, and hell is on the other

Gwen had been having such a great day. She hadn't had any idiots question her, she hadn't had to go and deal with any clients personally trying to complain about her service, and she didn't have to keep her girls in check by making any sorts of examples out of them. It was a pretty good day, in all honesty. And in the end of it, she wasn't really sure that there was much she was gonna need to do to really improve on it. She thought that, maybe, perhaps, she could relax for a bit. After all, relaxation was usually key to keeping herself from losing it. It wasn't like she was really all that hungry, either. She still had a few weeks before she would absolutely need her next meal and, after the Texan style omelette she'd had that morning, even though it didn't quite have what she really liked about her meals nowadays, she was pretty filled up. However, the effects of the last brain she had had that week were still effecting her.

So why, then, did she decide to hang out around a graveyard then? Would you believe that miss High and Mighty was missing home? Even if you didn't, it was pretty much true. She spent a good few of her nights alone in graveyards, looking at the fresh graves, occasionally digging them up for a quick snack. But really, these graveyards gave her a bit of piece of mind. Because this was where her aunt had spent so much of her time. She didn't have many memories, but being here, with her fingers around her pendent, images of Gwendolyn walking with her through the tombstones, Ellie floating by her, filled her head. What was sad was it wasn't even the right cemetery and yet she felt like it was, like she was back home in Eugene rather than wandering the dead of Gotham.

Silent like the rest of the dead that were in the ground, Gwen moved through the graveyard until she finally came to a stop by a crypt. She didn't have to be dead to feel the ghosts that were floating around it. There was something about this crypt that just didn't feel right. And it made her almost curious. "Wonder what's hidden in here," she said to herself as she started trying to get it open. She almost wished that the effects of the overly curious dead she'd gotten her nutrients from would wear off already but hey, there really wasn't much complaining she could do. This could even prove to be a nice little niche in the wall for her to bury herself in when she wants to get away. But that's not what this brain really wanted. This brain wanted a mystery. Or a bit of treasure. "Just a few more days before these urges die away..."

479	@open
Someone bug Gwen while she's still in adventure time mode!

I needed space, with soul, so that we may die there

✿

Chaz was off tonight. Well he was off most nights. His boss had a very lenient schedule, well aside from during the full moon. Chaz had to work during the full moon, but he also didn't ask any questions. But tonight it was only a half moon and Chaz was feeling like a walk. Of course it could also have something to do with the wandering brain he'd eaten earlier in the day. But he figured that was bound to happen when you snack on a drifter. He wasn't feel like being in one place for too long. But he also knew the brain in his fridge was mostly gone. It was then he came upon a cemetery.

"Nothing wrong with a little shopping."

He used his telekinesis to break open the flimsy lock on the shed and found a shovel. Throwing it over his shoulder he began to stroll along the cemetery. As he walked he began reading the headstones.

"John Christianson? Too boring. Miranda Blake? Hmm....sounds juicy, perhaps. Veena Nonopthaam? Ohhh...exotic. I haven't had some good curry in....well ok, that was probably before I died."

He said before he began digging. He used his telekinesis to aid him in power, moving some dirty out of the way. He soon stopped however when he heard a very familiar voice. He stopped digging and went to go investigate, shovel still over his shoulder. He watched her try and get it open and raised an eyebrow. He looked over her shoulder into the darkness that lay beyond.

"Jinkies, sure looks spooky. Let's skedaddle."

He said with a laugh before quickly stepping back. He'd been hit by her enough time to know to be ready for it. Of course for someone so small she did have one hell of a range. He knew his telekinesis wasn't good enough to actually make any decent sort of forcefield, he'd already tried it anyways. It just slowed her down slightly, she probably hadn't even noticed it.

"What do you think's in there? It's a crypt. It's some poor sap's final resting place. Or is supposed to be. Not sure. The crypt looks familiar. Might've had a snack here before."

He said looking it up and down. He did occasionally get his brains the honorable way, namely digging them up. But damned if Gwen didn't have some delicious brains in her service.

"But ya know what they say. Eaten from one crypt you've eaten from them all."

She said, heaven's on one shoulder, and hell is on the other

Now, she usually wasn't skittish. Things didn't usually make her jump like this but the sudden sound of Chaz's voice behind her made her nearly jump right out of her shoes. Figures the adventurer would also be a pansy. It almost made her sick just knowing that. And yet, the brain was a lot stronger than she thought it would be. After taking a short breathe, she turned to look at her... friend was such a strong word. Ally? Acquaintance? Utterly annoying puppy? Yeah, that last one sounded about right. She turned to look at the annoying little puppy she just couldn't seem to shake with a sort of happy look in her eyes. God, why was she even smiling? Stupid, stupid brain. "Skedaddle? But Scoob, we haven't even gotten the chance to check out yet! I'd suggest we split up but, well, that never seems to end well." Oh god... this had just made it that much worse. She had actually gotten the reference. But not only that, but she'd replied making another similar one. 'Just a few more days,' she thought to herself. She was gonna end up making it her mantra at this rate.

She felt underneath her skin her muscles twitch, wanting so badly to do some form of bodily harm to him, but those natural instincts were being drowned out by, ugh, happiness and a sort of adventure sense. "You never know what treasures you might find in a crypt!" She retorted. "They can be quite spacious and, on occasion, they can hold such awesome secrets. Like, you have no idea, Scoob. Besides, where's your sense of adventure?" Her head fell into her hands then as she pinched her nose. "Because my sense of adventure was apparently in my last meal..." She was seriously regretting her life choices at the moment. But as her eyes closed, she saw a short flash of memory. Her body froze, growing almost rigid for a moment. It wasn't even a good memory, just a short one. One of the memories from the girl she'd eaten. She could see kids maybe seven or eight all around her. One of them was dragging her. Or at least, it felt like he was dragging her. But she was scared for some reason. She didn't want to go. She almost fell over because of the boys dragging her. And then those words. "Where's your sense of adventure, Meghan?" She could hear herself... er, Meghan stammering over her words before finally conceding.

A shudder passed through her as she shook her head. "I wouldn't mind those so much if they were ever useful. Why can't it ever be about what their rich parent's bank account numbers are?" She said with a shake of her head. What she didn't expect was the giggle that followed because of Chaz's words. "That's a good one but I don't think anyone says that, Chaz, sorry to break it to you." She turned her eyes back to the crypt. "What's the trouble of looking inside, anyway. Who knows, we might find something of value in her. And if not, was it really that much of a waste of time? I mean, it's not like we won't be living for centuries to come." So long as SHIELD never caught on, that is.

552	@shaw
xD I knew you'd throw either him or roxy into this

I needed space, with soul, so that we may die there

✿

He laughed lightly as she returned the reference. He actually hadn't expected her to return it, let alone get it. However she did, which was good. But he also had a feeling that it may be due to her last meal. Either way she was much more fun to be around. That was all he cared about. So far she hadn't even tried to hit him. Of course he knew it would fade eventually and she'd be swinging at him. But no matter, he'd survive. It was hard to kill him, that's what counted. Of course he also knew it wasn't impossible by any stretch of the imagination. Hell one good shot to the head should do it, he assumed.

"I've been in a bunch of crypts and all I've found were a few meals. Well one guy had a sweet watch that I sold for a couple hundred. Some heirloom said it was to my loving blah de blah or something. Some decomposing flesh made it hard to read."

He said with a shrug. Ok so he wasn't the most honorable person and he was far from a moral compass. However he knew there were worse people, like her. Well, they were actually bad in their own ways. He simply sold stuff from the bodies he dug up or 'stumbled across'.

"You're gonna keep calling me Scoob ain't ya Gwenyth?"

He asked with a laugh. However the laugh faded when he noticed the vision hitting her. He knew that feeling, it was terrible. It was disorienting and extremely annoying. Namely because they never hit at a decent time. Never when he was just relaxing watching TV or something. No, always mid-conversation or mid-anything really.

"Tell me about it. The most useful thing I've ever learned from a vision is how to properly assemble a treadmill. Although I gotta say, the jerk fitness instructor I ate is quite useful."

He said before lifting up his shirt.

"I mean seriously, look at these abs."

He said with a laugh. She did have a very good point. They had nothing but time to kill. If anything they'd always be around. Well, he assumed. Namely since as long as they continued to eat they didn't die.

"Good point."

He said before focusing his telekinesis on the lock but to no avail. With a groan he swung the shovel and snapped the lock off.

"Stupid telekinesis. Ladies first."

He said before opening the gate for her. They really needed to figure certain things out about their physiology. They were the first of their kind, as far as they knew.

"Speaking of centuries. Do you think we can get fat or are our bodies like stuck this way? Because if so then I'm going to invest in a bunch of Twinkees and Ben & Jerry's and just go nuts. Although a zombie with brain freeze is mildly concerning."

She said, heaven's on one shoulder, and hell is on the other

Gwen gave a small shrug to that. "So? What's your point? Those crypts weren't thins crypt and i got a reeeeeally good feeling about this one. There's something in here. I can just feel it!" She chirped. She couldn't seem to wipe the grin off of her lips and she hated it. She was going to have to make a note to beat up on Chaz a bit extra after all of this passed. The sad part, was that she was pretty sure he would understand why. She also had a big feeling that he was genuinely pleased with this change in her personality. It meant that she was being such the pansy assed little good girl no one knew. And she hated it so much. But there was no reason for such self-loathing, not at the moment at least. Her personality had much more important things to do!

She gave a thoughtful look at his question before grinning again and nodding. "Yeah, i think i might. Seems pretty fitting for you, don't you think, Scoob?" she asked with a chuckle. Stop stop stop, she kept shouting in her head. She wanted to just call him a dumbass and go into the crypt on her own. If he followed, that was on him. But something in her just wouldn't let herself be that mean. No, she had to be nice. "Especially if you're gonna call me Gwenyth. You know that's not my name!" The teasing tone underlying her own words made her sick.

She started to chuckle again as he said something about a treadmill and directed her eyes to his abs. She was pretty sure they were like that well before he was ever a revenant, though. She didn't comment on it, simply waiting until he was done to go into the crypt. "Thanks!" She moved in through the gateway, her eyes flicking around. Another flash of something happened in her mind but it wasn't from the brains this time. No, this time she saw the quick apparition of the woman in her locket before it faded. She shook her head lightly at it. She was sure it wasn't important.

She glanced over her shoulder a moment at Chaz. "I don't think we're ever gonna gain weight, no. We'll be like this forever. But what's the point of eating twinkees or ice cream if you can't really taste it?" A sombering thought, really. Probably one of the worst parts of being one of her kind. She could only really taste certain things. Like spice. And brains. And, occasionally, the horomones, drugs, or alcohol that diluted the person before they died. They did add a nice taste to things, a pleasant texture.

She started pushing further into the crypt before stopping, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. She didn't look back this time as she opened her mouth to speak. "Hey Chaz... how much do you remember before... everything happened?" She supposed she had always wanted to ask but, well, stubbornness and a distaste for the man had kept her from doing so. Maybe something good would come out of this brain after all. She would never admit it, though.

###	@shaw
i know, i took way too long for this and I'm sorry. I just couldn't get the muse buuuut, she's finally working right again so hope this is okay!

I needed space, with soul, so that we may die there

✿

He ignored her comment about how this crypt was special. She thought this crypt was something special and would hold untold fortunes. She sounded like the gambler betting his last dollar on red and hoping for a miracle. Which meant this crypt would likely end up just like that last crinkled dollar, worthless. He ignored her comment and turned his attention back to the feisty blonde in front of him.

"Scoob? Well I suppose of all the names you've called me that's the most flattering. At least you're up to five letter names. So I'll take it for a small victory....Gwendolyn."

Calling her the wrong name was always a fun little game he played. He liked keeping her angry, even though commons sense said they should try to get close. They were potentially the top two of their kinds. They'd never really explored any other potential members of their kind, or he hadn't. But he liked keeping her at arm's length, despite the occasional coaxing from his occasional meal. She did have a point about binging though. There wasn't the same feel as there used to be, provided he remembered it right.

"Yeah, yeah, I suppose you're right. If I need to fill a Twinkie with some mega hot sauce it kinda defeats the purpose. But I suppose knowing I don't need to work out is a plus. Although it is a good way to kill time what with the not sleeping. But bless their hearts your girls do help."

He said with a wink. As they made their way inside he glanced over at her. It was something their kind always talked about, but also didn't like to. He hated the idea of trying to remember, especially when it came to his past. His mind was muddy and he couldn't trust most of the memories. Primarily because a few had proven inaccurate.

"I...I don't remember anything Gwen. I'm not even certain my name is actually Chaz, I know the last name is off. As for everything else, a few bits and pieces. That tattoos are the biggest mystery. Especially the rose one with an 'X' and Tiff. Like who is she? Mother, sister, girlfriend? Could be anyone. WHat about you?"

His usual humor and playfulness was gone. If anything it was more serious and a little somber. He didn't like that part about himself. He liked the humor and arrogance. It was a powerful shield to hide behind and protected him well.

She said, heaven's on one shoulder, and hell is on the other

Gwen's fingers twitched at that one. Gwendolyn. The name meant something to her, more than just it being the first name version of her full name. She didn't know just what it meant to her necessarily, but she thought she should know. Her fingers curled into tight little fists for a second before slowly going back to normal. A smile wasn't present on her lips, but it almost sounded like there was one in her voice. "Oh Chaz, you don't need to call me by my full name!" she teased. The tone itself made her twitch again. And her fingers started to curl into fists again at the mention of her curls. It seemed no amount of prissy little explorer brains she ate could keep her temper completely at bay. She twisted around and, for a moment, even she thought she was going to punch him. But she didn't. She managed to hold that urge back as dhe spoke. "Keep talking like that, Scooby, and my sweet, darling girls are going to start removing things I'm sure you want to keep!" Her voice, despite the threat, kept that sweet tone. A small smile finally pulled at her lips and, with a bit of pep in her step, she moved towards what looked like stone coffin that was housing whatever poor old soul was in here.

Hopping up onto the edge, she turned her eyes back to her annoyance. She didn't really care much for the food talk. It was the talking about the past she was interested in. She watched and listened, one of her hands instinctively reaching up to the little locket she practically refused to take off. It was tucked under her shirt, but she still did her best to curl her fingers around it. It was actually weird hearing him all serious, but even the girl inside thought it was a nice change of pace. Maybe if he was serious more often, she wouldn't mind him so much. She wondered if Chaz even was his real name. Hell, she wondered if Gwen Dylan was even hers. Sounded like a pretty weird name to have, after all but something about it did seem right. Like she was at least close to what it was supposed to be. She had flashes of memories, different names in her head that she knew but just couldn't put a face, too. Actually, she had a few faces in her head she didn't have the names to as well. She just knew they meant something to her. Or, at least, she thought they did.

Gwen looked away from him, staring down towards her chest so she could see where she was holding the locket. Her hand moved up to pull it from under her shirt and gently touched the edge of the silve heart. "I remember things in flashes sometimes. People, names, places. They come and go." She gently opened the locket up, staring down at the pictures inside. "Like these people, i know i know them, i know they mean something to me, but i don't know what. Occasionally, i think i know their names. And then i lose them again..." She paused, shaking her head lightly. "I have another picture of them, too. On my desk. I like to think they're my family but... even if they are, i couldn't see 'em anyway, you know?" She remembered flashes of the facility, too, occasionally, but she didn't think she needed to mention that.

###	@shaw
ta da~

I needed space, with soul, so that we may die there

✿

"Please Gwen, your girls love me. The only thing that gets removed around me is clothing. Hell, half the time I never even get some words out before they're on me."

He said with a light laugh. He was trying to make some jokes, like he usually did, but then his smile faded. He could be serious if need be, he just often wasn't.

"We've agreed, it's one of the few times we actually feel normal. No zombie, revnant, science experiment or whatever. Just two, or sometimes more..."

He said with a wink and a nudge.

"...people with a basic need. You should try it sometime Gwennie."

He knew that name alone was likely to get him hit. Truth be told, he was ok with that. He had nothing anymore. No real name, no history, his powers were drastically weaker (that much he knew). But basic feelings, lust, anger, pain, those were things he could hold onto. Not to mention there was the occasional moment of clarity. At the apex of pain or love he'd get the occasional memory. WHich if that was jogging his memory maybe he didn't want to remember his life. Maybe there was a reason his face wasn't on any missing person posters. He was essentially no one right now.

"I feel ya, but often times the hardest thing to figure out is are these memories yours or some deep memory from your meal? Not to mention with the argument of reincarnation, it opens up a whole other series of questions...."

His eyes went wide as he got a flash of a memory. He was sitting, cuffed to a table being interrogated by a pair of cops. Eventually the questions faded and the hitting began. Just as it began the image faded and he came back.

"Great, my last drifter meal was wanted by the cops, corrupt ones at that."

She said, heaven's on one shoulder, and hell is on the other

"I honestly don't care how much they like you. Talk like they're nothing more than your stress relief and i can assure you that they'll be more than happy to listen to my orders to attack," she retorted in the sweetest voice she could must up. She was trying her best to take advantage of this personalities niceness now so that she wouldn't reflexively try and attack Chaz. He really made it hard to not do that, though. Honestly, she thought it might kill her to keep being this nice but the brain was telling her it was what she had to do, because it was the right thing. Little goody two shoes. As he kept talking, her fingers started to curl up into little fists. It wasn't helped by his closeness now, and the way he nudged her. Another small growl escaped her, predatory in nature. To anyone else, they'd probably think there really was a wild animal in there. But Chaz and her clientele all knew better. However, no amount of nice brains could really stop her from reaching out to smack him hard with the back of her fist as he called her 'Gwennie'.

Feeling much better after that, Gwen brought her hands back to her lap and lightly rested them there, letting her fingers uncurl as she did so. Really, she didn't need to indulge in those things, they didn't help relieve anything. Not in the way that beating up on Chaz did. And, quite honestly, there was no feeling more exhilarating, than taking someone's life when she went out to hunt or 'shop' for new and exciting people to put on the menu. For a moment, she considered explaining that to Chaz but it would be wasted. He wouldn't understand. For a zombie, he certainly was a bit of a good guy. He didn't let loose, give in to those animalistic urges in the same way she and a good number of her girls did. No, if he didn't have to kill someone, he wouldn't. He didn't mind eating from what she's killed, though. Without her, she was almost certain he wouldn't survive. And he did provide a nice bit of muscle for her whenever she actually did need him, probably the only plus she had to keeping him around.

"Yeah, i know what you mean. But... you know, with the few faint memories I do have... when they flash... they're, i don't know, different some how. Like they feel much more personal to me than the ones that come from them." She emphasized the word them, not caring to go into details. She paused as he noticed his eyes. Oh joy, more useless flashes of memories. "Sounds like your kinda guy, Chaz."

###	@shaw
NOTES

I needed space, with soul, so that we may die there

✿

He couldn't help but laugh lightly. It was rather humorous to him though. She acted like she hated him, and yet they'd stuck together ever since the lab. Sure their relationship was definitely more business than anything. No one would ever call them friends, primarily because they themselves didn't see each other as friends. If anything they were more allies of use. Sure, she likely wouldn't tell her girls to kill him, but they would mess him up. He may be a zombie but he was also a gentleman, usually. He did occasionally get some jerk brains, likely thanks to his beloved benefactor.

"C'mon Gwen, you know I'm all talk. I mean sure I likely won't be strolling down the aisle with any, but still. Ya know, that whole, 'Till Death Do Us Part' thing, we're already dead. Besides, not so sure anyone sees me as the 'Forever' type."

He said with a shrug. He smiled briefly as she hit him. Were he alive it likely would've hurt some. But now, well he could get stabbed or shot and move on. Something he'd had happened to him before, occasionally at her hands.

"I don't know, I don't get a lot of those I guess. The flashes aren't like the dinner flashes. It'll be a name or a face. I mean maybe there's something my mind is trying to forget. Ya know. I was dumped in that cell and it's not like there's been a flood of people looking for me. I'm just trying to make the best of my new life, or un-life."

He said with a shrug. He didn't know exactly how to phrase it but it was accurate, sort of.

"Well not all my meals can be teachers and other pillars of the community. Although it explains my desire to get out of the city. But I stayed because I knew you would miss me."

He said with a wink.

"So did ya find anything of interest in here? Some doubloons, jewels, even a sweet gold candelabra?"