Silence Is Golden

Zeke Barlow. The ever handsome people watcher. Weird title, but it comes with the territory. Trust me, it's good to stick on the sidelines. It's amazing what you learn when no one's paying attention. A shame, really, I'm quite the catch. It's a sacrifice...

[professionalpersona]

does hunting immortals ever weigh on your conscience?

Oh, I think it’s too late to think about that after all these years.

Look, it’s not like I go after those who are innocent. I keep an eye on those who pose a threat or downright too dangerous to live. The welfare of humanity is my top priority-- of any hunter. We can’t second guess our conscience every time when lives are on the line.

Did I once believe that both humans and immortals could have found a better way to coexist? I did. Is it realistic? Not likely.

[professionalpersona]

something you're most proud of?

There was this one immortal that had been racking a pretty amount of hunter bodies for years. I watched them for a long time and finally got them backed into a corner.

It’s kinda sad. All they were looking for someone to listen to their problems and, well, I’m a good listener. That was their downfall. 

[professionalpersona]

how do you spend your weekends?

It depends. If I’m not out on stakeouts or training my precious student, I’m doing at least one unnecessary thing. It’s a thing I do to keep me on my toes. I don’t become  Reading, lounging, drinking, knitting-- anything really.

[professionalpersona]

how long have you been hunting?

Excluding early childhood training? More than twenty years? That sounds about right.

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

“Oh I sense we’re heading into some very cliché waters here,” Katya teased as he told her the statistic. It rang true to her, something she would have picked up in a magazine or a web article. It also rang familiar.

“Is this the part where you point out my blown pupils, or the way I recross my legs, maybe perhaps the fact that I’m leaning in closer to tell me I’m nonverbally communicating my sexual desire for you?”

She tilted her head at him and smiled, “cause that’d be awfully disappointing. I am just starting to have fun, do try not to ruin it.”

[professionalpersona]

Zeke actually laughed; throwing his head back and everything. So quick witted. Katya Jordans was something else. 

“What was it that you said? ‘Is that not how most people find out if others are into them anyway’?” Zeke repeated innocently-- feeling mischievous. 

“I would hate to be a disappointment, Jordans,” Zeke supplied while he waved down the bartender for more drinks, “I was just getting starting.”

[professionalpersona]

It’s Time || Zeke & Muse

[theoneandonlymuse]

Muse rubs his forehead and shakes his head slightly. He gestures for Zeke to sit down at the chair. “Sit down. Black right?”

[professionalpersona]

Zeke did as he was told and made himself comfortable. “Yep,” Zeke answered while popping the p in the end. Looking down at his left wrist, Zeke followed every curved of the faded names.

Felicia. Rafael. Connor. Jojo.

“Keeping it old fashion,” Zeke commented lightly.

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

“Very rarely in my experience,” Katya countered before another sip of her drink. She’d been alive since the 9th century, so she had a lot of experience already. A man that was anything smart was rare enough.

But Zeke wasn’t bluffing. He definitely sounded like he knew his stuff. 

“Bit too deep for the first date,” she remarked with a grin before she laughed.

“Is that not how most people find out if others are into them anyways?”

[professionalpersona]

Huffing out a laugh, Zeke traced the glass with his finger. “Makes it all the more interesting,” Zeke said nonchalantly.   

What Katya said was true. He really didn’t go down the route he’s taking when he’s flirting. Katya just brought that out of him.

Most of the time, yeah,” Zeke agreed, a smile slowly creeping on his face, “people also take account to body language. About fifty-five percent of communication is through physical behavior.”  

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

He wasn’t wrong. Confidence was absurdly sexy, and most loved compliments. The moment it started to sound insincere, however, was the moment everything went to shit. Hopefully that wouldn’t be the issue here.

“And you wouldn’t want to be rude,” she teased.

Her eyebrows arched in surprise, “really?”

Katya set her drink down and grinned, “I wouldn’t have taken you for the scholarly type. Is your flirting just a whole bunch of psychoanalysis then?”

[professionalpersona]

Zeke made an agreeing noise and pointed to her whilst holding his glass, “Exactly.”

“There’s such a thing as being both street smart and book smart,” Zeke told her with mirth.

“Not really since psychoanalysis is mostly an investigation of the conscious and unconscious mind,” Zeke explained almost automatically. People have used the term slightly out of context, but it was mostly what people think it is. “talking out your feelings, interpreting dreams, figuring out the root of your negative thoughts, etc.”

“Besides, do you know how exhausting it would be if I have analysis every single word just to find out it someone is into me?” He made a show of exhaling and taking a drink.

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

Katya chuckled, her exhale filled with bemused exasperation. This man had a line for every occasion, didn’t he? He always had something to say. It would make it doubly satisfying for her when she left him speechless.

“Hmm, don’t push your luck. Besides, one could get old waiting for you and your stars,” she replied after a sip. Her smirk was semi-visible behind the glass.

“So if not astronomy, then what did you study?” This was suddenly a date, after all. She did want to know more about him.

[professionalpersona]

“The key is confidence,” Zeke explained to her as if he was revealing a secret. “People find it sexy and who doesn’t like being complimented?”

Shrugging his shoulders, Zeke leaned his head in a little closer, “I’ve relied on the stars for so long. It seems rude to just through it all the way.” 

In his experience, the best way to tell a lie is the truth. “Psychology,” Zeke answered smoothly. He was not going to outright say that he was an immortal hunter. That would be stupid. Plus it never works (he’s tried). “I really wanted to pick at people’s brain.”

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

Let’s see a shy girl do that, Katya thought as she accepted his compliment with a tilt of her head. 

She laughed again at the mention of the stars, head tilting back and her eyes looking up as if she were beholding them right then. The only thing she saw was ceiling with dimmed lights. Looking back at his blue eyes, however, she saw a twinkle. 

“Oh, Barlow, don’t you realize it by now? I shine brighter and am hotter than any star in the sky.” And he had no idea how literally she meant it.

When their drinks were placed in front of them, Katya picked it up, “Cheer  

[professionalpersona]

“I should have studied to be an astronomer then. At least I would be able to properly observe you and your wonder,” Zeke declared confidently, even if the line was cheesy. It was too good to pass up.

Her description of herself was not far off. She certainly stood out-- this dazzling and everlasting figure that one could stare for a long time. He would not take his eyes off of her even if he wanted to.

Inclining his head, Zeke grabbed his glass and lightly touched her glass with his. “Cheers,” Zeke echoed as he drank his whiskey. “Just you know, you totally asked me out.”

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

“Shy,” Katya repeated, plain amusement on her face at his outward lie. Who on earth could possibly consider Katya shy? Even as a human, her brashness got in her trouble more often than not. And after she was literally killed by misogyny, Katya wasn’t one to just sit back and let things happen to her. 

Well, that settled it didn’t?

She finished her martini and without taking her eyes off Zeke, she caught the bartender’s attention.

“Two whiskeys on the rocks,” she ordered, “my date is paying for them.” She smirked, eyebrows rising almost in challenge. 

[professionalpersona]

He knew that his comment would hit a nerve. From their past encounters and the way their banter would usual flow, he knew that Katya was far from being shy. No person in their right mind would ever use that word to describe her.

Raising both of his eyebrows, Zeke stared back at her unabashedly. “Bold move, Jordans, bold move,” Zeke complimented her with a small smile.

“Keep it up and the stars might work in your favor,” Zeke finished with a shit-eating grin.

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

“Would you like some cheese to go with that ham?” Katya smirked at his theatrics, even as she felt her own ego preen. Come on, who didn’t love to be complimented, even if it was in exaggeration? Well, in her case it wasn’t an exaggeration. Just look at her.

“Ask you out?” Katya laughed. She considered him and shook her head. He was hot, that was true, but Katya didn’t usually ask out men, or women. She was always the one asked out first. Then again, she hadn’t gone on an actual date in years. Her relations with mortals were…purely carnal. 

She took a sip and said instead, “Don’t you think if I wanted to ask you out, I would have already, Mr. Stars-In-Position?”

[professionalpersona]

He humored her by nodding his head in confirmation. Truth be told, Zeke did not know how this would turn out. His romantic life was relatively non existing. It was preferred. In his family, having a relationship that did not benefit his work was frowned upon. Which was fine because one night stands did not count.

Placing his glass down, Zeke pretending to look contemplated. He rubbed his bread with his fingers and look upwards as if seeking for a divine intervention. “You see I figured that you were just shy and waiting for the right moment to ask,” Zeke told her mischievously.

“Luckily, I checked the stars and my rising moon sign-- which assured my worries by telling me that all I had to do was wait for the right moment,” Zeke fibbed with a wide grin

[professionalpersona]

It’s Time || Zeke & Muse

[theoneandonlymuse]

“It’s nice to see some evidence of creativity dying down with age.” Muse says dryly. Being called some form of tall structure isn’t new to him. “It’ll give hope to the kids out there.”

Taiki, who was managing the desk today, snickers. Muse rolls his eyes. A dollar added to the betting pool. 

“I have never seen you before.” Muse answers honestly. “There’s a bar down the street if you want to soothe your broken heart.” he nods for Zeke to follow him to one of the ink rooms. “Retouching, right?”

[professionalpersona]

“Just paving the way for the new generation,” Zeke shrugged nonchalantly,  “circle of life,and all.” This was not first time people have dismissed his jokes. It was much more funny to see their reactions.

Zeke let out an amused huff. “Dully noted,” Zeke drawled, following the man.

“Right! Or well, left in this case,” Zeke confirmed as he held up his left hand.

[mementomori--rp]

Zeke Barlow / Age: 40 / Face claim: Michael Ealy / Weapons: Sniper Rifle / Status: Human / Position: Hunter / CLOSED

Biography: Zeke was definitely the apple that fell far from the tree. Zeke grew up in Albany, New York with the ambition of not following in his family’s footsteps. His family resented his decision of not being an immortal hunter. He would be the third generation of his family, along with his older sister Regina, to take up on the mantle to protect the human race from the immortals. Zeke understood growing up that there were people who could cause hell with a flick of their wrists, but Zeke was what you call an idealist. There were two sides to every story, so Zeke held in his beliefs that the immortals were not the monsters that his family claimed them to be.

As soon as he graduated high school, Zeke moved out and attended Colombia University to study in Psychology. He had hoped to become a Forensic Psychologist. Twenty years ago, he lost a few friends from a bomb exploding by an immortal. The war between the immortals and humans brought him back to the world he so desperately tried to escape. His family contacted Zeke and implored him to come home to begin his hunter training. They needed able body hunters after the immortals declared war.

Giving into his family’s demands, Zeke dropped out of the university and started his new life as an immortal hunter. Zeke had a small condition. He would apply his knowledge to gather information and behaviorism from immortals. Should the situation arise, Zeke would join in hunting down immortals who would pose as a threat. For the next twenty years, Zeke became the one thing he did not want to be.

Personality: Zeke has many different faces. When he’s on hunter business, Zeke is a ruthless information gather who seems to make light in killing. When Zeke wasn’t, he would just be another person you might bump into the street and forget all about them as you part ways. While he is very charismatic and endearing, Zeke has trouble not being his true self in both his personal and professional life

Possible or Current Relationships: Zeke has a good circle of friends, but none know of his “interesting” career. Zeke’s been hesitant about making strong friendships and relationships ever since he lost people to immortals. He can be very amicable and no one would deny that his company is refreshing. When he’s with his fellow hunters, Zeke keeps things as professional as they could be—despite making inappropriate jokes.

Current Activity: Being stationed in Westlore for the past few months to gather any immortal activities.

 Bringing a whole new meaning to the term “Private Dick in a Coat”

Main / Plot / Applications / Characters / Message

[professionalpersona]

did you know Mabel twenty years ago?

Knew more of her family. I wasn’t into the hunter business back then, but I ran into her a couple of times. She was genuine-- kind. The news of her death...it was rough.

No one caught the bastard who killed her. What a great job we’re doing.

[professionalpersona]

It’s Time || Zeke & Muse

[theoneandonlymuse]

Muse usually doesn’t do touch ups. Not that he’s above doing that it’s just that 99.9% of his clients want a fresh tattoo from him. Why else would they wait almost a year? His skill is well-known within the state and a couple states around. 

Although some people have lied about the retouch, thinking the quick procedure will get them higher on the list and when they come, they say they want fresh ink. 

Muse usually sends those people away with a reminder to not waste his time. 

“Zeke Barlow?” 

[professionalpersona]

His attention snapped away from whatever he was observing-- he really was out of the game today. That was dangerous. Not like he was supposed to keep his guard up in a tattoo parlor, but it would not be the first time he was attacked in a seemingly safe place.

“Hey there, Tower,” Zeke greeted the tall man, using two fingers for a fake salute. What, he some times has nicknames for people that stood out-- and Muse really stood out. “it’s been a while. Please tell me you remembered me, it would break my fragile heart.”

[professionalpersona]

Shaken, Not Stirred|| Zeke & Katya

[silkwieldingsteel]

Oh the male ego. So insufferable and so limitless.

“You should consider it a compliment that I even think of you at all,” Katya countered, enjoying the act he put on display entirely for her benefit. Well, perhaps not entirely. Zeke seemed like the type to be dramatic ‘just because’.

“I don’t believe in fate,” she replied, picking up the olive garnish to eat.

“So you should stop relying on fate to ask me out- just do it already so I can either accept or reject you.” 

What? Did he really think she was going to make it so easy on him and assure him the date from the get go? Please, as if.

[professionalpersona]

“And I thank the heavens for that very blessing which you have bestowed upon me,” Zeke chimed in with a small smirk.

At this point Zeke was yanking at her chain, but he continued his antics. “Really? No red string of fate? That we were destined to meet? That the stars are in position, foretelling our luck?”

Oh. So that’s how it was going to be. He knitted his eyebrows together in mock confusion. “Ask you-- oh my. You see, now this is embarrassing. I was under the impression that you were going to ask me out,” Zeke told her as he drank, hiding the smile on his face.