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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 17:53:46 GMT
Around four o'clock in the morning the city looked deserted and abandoned. The power had been cut over half a year ago by the Reboot's technopaths and the citizens were suffering for it. Summer was nearly over and the cool of the night threatened the onset of fall and winter weather. Building looked like they had been bashed around with a massive hammer, holes big enough to pass busses through revealed ransacked homes and businesses and rubble blocked the roads from being passable by vehicles. That didn't seem to phase the young man walking down the street at this early hour, toting a bulky sack over his shoulder.
Rapid stepped over a section of column and looked over his shoulder to see if he was being watched, then stopped and with one hand he pushed the column aside to make a little path through the rubble. He straightened up and dusted his hand off on his thigh. He heard the rumble of distant thunder overhead and pulled his hood up over his head, just in case before heading down the street once more.
"What's in the bag!" a stranger jumped down from the building to his right. Rapid turned and raised his free hand to show he wasn't armed.
"Just some supplies. I don't want any trouble."
"Supplies! You been robbin' the district! I know your gang!"
"Gang? I'm in no gang." Rapid frowned as it started to rain. "Did you ned something or can I go on my way?"
"You're not going anywhere!" The stranger pulled a gun from the inside of his sweatshirt and Rapid sighed out heavily.
"What's this going to cost me? I need these supplies."
"Well give me it all or I'll shoot!" The stranger demanded.
"YOu'll shoot, I'll just get annoyed and I don't want to hurt you." Rapid pointed out "Bullets don't harm me." He set down the bag and reached inside and pulled out a loaf of bread and walked over. "Here, that's all I can spare, there's a lot of people waiting for me."
The stranger glared at him and looked like he wanted to shoot him, but snatched the bread and proceded to climb up the side of the building rapidly like some sort of parkour lizard. Rapid sighed out in relief and hefted his massive bag easily back over his shoulder and headed down the street as the rain picked up.
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Post by raine on Aug 29, 2014 20:12:16 GMT
Only a few alleys behind the man with the bag, Gabriel watched. He'd been rummaging through an abandoned building a few blocks down when he noticed the larger man with his suspicious bag. He didn't plan on robbing him, at least that's what he told himself. His hands shook and even though he'd been on the streets for six years now, he wasn't sure he could do it. The rain drowned out the conversation between the stranger and the man with the bag, but he expected some kind of tousle. When the stranger scurried off with something in his hands, he questioned if they were in the same gang. This guy's a thug. He's just gonna hurt other people. You need to survive too. This month, food had been hard to find and he fought off a viral infection. He hadn't eaten in a few days and the hunger was starting to drive him crazy. If he was in his right mind he wouldn't have even thought of attacking a man for supplies, especially if he didn't know the stranger's story. But, he wasn't himself. He was hungry. With that thought he ran towards the man, the rain hiding his footfalls. At close enough range, he jumped.
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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 20:15:30 GMT
Rapid flinched when he was jumped on and turned grabbing his attacker by the front of the shirt, holding him up like a troublesome kitten three feet off the ground. "I thought I said!--- wrong person..." he blinked in confusion. "What was that for? You don't just run around jumping on people! What if I was a lightning slinger? Or had laser vision? I could have killed you!" he set him down gently. "Who are you?" he asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously, he swore, if one more person attacked him tonight he was going to huck a taxi!
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Post by raine on Aug 29, 2014 20:24:01 GMT
Gabriel's mouth was set in a grim line and his eyes narrowed at his easy defeat. "You couldn't have killed me, even if you tried," he mumbled under his breath, not meeting the stranger's face. He highly doubted he was a thug now. Most thugs would've slit his throat by now and run away when they realized he didn't die. This guy was different. His concern made Gabriel flush in embarrassment. He definitely wasn't a thug. "I'm.. uh... sorry." His stomach still churned with emptiness, but he finally regained his senses. He wouldn't steal from this man.
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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 20:27:46 GMT
Rapid tugged his hood down to see him better, revealing his shaggy mess of dark hair. This kid seemed scared out of his wits, he shouldn't be so surprised, being out on the streets in the dark didn't much make him feel safe either, but he knew his odds were better than most. They started falling harder and thunder boomed overhead, making him flinch, he nudged the smaller person's shoulder to get them under a lopsided awning that hadn't collapsed yet. "I'm not gonna ask what side you're on." Rapid told him. "Cause I'm tired of the judging form both." he set down his bag, it mad a dull thunk which told of its heaviness. "What are you doing out wandering around in the middle of the night... er... very early morning? This isn't one of the safe zones."
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Post by raine on Aug 29, 2014 20:33:53 GMT
Gabriel allowed himself to be nudged under the cover. He had no clue what side he was on. Reboot was terrorizing the city, but he didn't hold much love for the Alliance either. When the hood was off, he finally took in the full sight of the man. He realized that he didn't seem that old at all, maybe a few years older than himself. From farther away, Gabe thought he seemed in his thirties, but now he looked rather youthful. "Uh... looting." He admitted. There was no point in lying.
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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 20:39:17 GMT
Rapid shrugged and glanced aside, he wasn't going to scold him for that, not when he'd just robbed half a convenience store himself. Before all the bad stuff had gone down in the city, he told himself he'd never steal, he lived on the streets, worked whatever jobs he was offered, placed bets on who could beat him in strength contests and tried to live off that and handouts. but with the city in disarray he was forced to sink lower. But he told himself after this was all over, if it was ever over, he'd give back to those he'd taken from. "Well, I can't blame you for that, but you shouldn't be skulking around by yourself." he looked behind them and across the street, he could feel the eyes of the hungry, desperate scavengers watching from behind broken windows and black doorways. He'd overstayed his welcome on this part of town. "Where are you staying?" he asked after a few seconds, he didn't like the idea of leaving him out here alone.
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Post by raine on Aug 29, 2014 21:03:58 GMT
Gabriel tried to act nonchalant, but he also felt unease at being in the open for this long, "I'm not alone. I'm meeting someone." It wasn't a complete lie, he had lost one of his friends in a raid awhile back and was actually on his way to the place they said they'd meet. At the question of where he was staying, Gabe looked up in surprise. "I was in a place on the other side of town, but a couple of Reboot thugs came in and either captured or killed everyone," he paused, "so I guess nowhere right now."
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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 21:14:45 GMT
Rapid glanced at the ground, so this kid wasn't with Reboot, he'd figured at least that much, but he still didn't want him to be out here alone. He could see faint gray light ahead, dawn was coming. "I'll wait with you, I don't like the idea of you being here in the light either. Not that its much safer." he picked up a flatted bus bench, crushed under a black of stone that had once ben part of a corner office 20 floors above. He tipped it and shook a few hundred pounds of rubble off of it then bent it back into a usable bench-like shape and set it down under the awning. He sat on the far side by his bed and gave the kid some space to have to himself if he wanted to use it too. "I'm Rapid." he said after a moment. "Brooks."
Emery was asleep in his cot underground in the evac on-call chambers. He'd been on shift for the last 18 hours and was eager for some sleep. But he had had to settle for nightmares. A high ceilling, a man with a noose, screams, searing pain in his head and arms. He flinched and woke up only to tumble three feet out of the air and land on his bunk and stiff as a startled cat. He swore loudly and sat up, rubbing his eyes. Sleep hovering, brilliant. He couldn't lift himself while he was concious but knock him out and he was a regular balloon. He waved his hand at the light switch across the room and summoned his jacked from the hook by the door. He ground, some much for sleeping. He tried to calm his pounding heart, but he'd never be able to get those horrible images out of his head. He might as well stay awake.
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Post by raine on Aug 29, 2014 21:23:55 GMT
Gabriel just watched in silent amazement. He'd only ever seen his brother use super strength and he was a pompous jerk, so the mix of Rapid's gentle nature and incredible strength was rather endearing. Though it also served to remind him he hadn't seen his jerk of a brother in six years. With a heaviness in his body, he sat down as far as possible from the man while still remaining on the bench. He was trying to give him room. "It's... nice to meet you... Rapid." He shifted, "I'm Gabriel... Fredrick." He held out a hand for the other man to shake, "But you know, I'm not a kid... I don't need to you stay with me. By the looks of it," he motioned to the bag, "you've got some others to take care of."
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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 21:32:29 GMT
Rapid looked warily at his hand, he tried not to touch other people, not having gone to the academy he didn't have the control over he strength that he would like, and he'd broken many people's hands, fingers and wrists trying to give them that 'firm handshake' they were always telling him to give. He hesitently held out his hand and took ginger hold of his sleeve with a pinch of his fingers, giving the tiniest shake and then letting go quickly. "Yes, but people looked out for me when I was in trouble, so I try to do the same when I can." He pushed his hand into his pocket and looked down the street. "How are you and your friend getting on? After the raid I mean, its not easy to find a new safe space anymore."
Emery walked into the dimly lit hall, underground was so stuffy, this was ridiculous. He yawned and made his way into the rec room, it was a pathetic cement room with a slouched pingpong table, and a tv that still used a VCR, the only video they had was a worn out version of Space Jam and a documentary on the history of the Academy. He spotted Molly and Piper sitting on the couch. "You guys are still up." he groaned.
"Nice to see you too, I thought you went to sleep, you know your shift starts in four hours." Molly frowned. "you should rest while you can."
Emery made a face, voicelessly mocking her words and summoned the armchair over and slouched into it. "Sleep is for those who can actually get it."
"I could knock you out?" Molly offered smugly.
"I could suspend you eight feet off the floor for the next four hours and make you spin like a top." Emery countered.
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Post by raine on Aug 29, 2014 21:41:22 GMT
Gabriel was a bit put off on the strange handshake, but didn't mention it. "Way before the power went out and the attacks started, we used to live in a shabby one bedroom apartment together, but it was trashed in the attack. We've just made a habit of being nomads, never really staying in the same hideout long. We loot, we take care of ourselves, we hide. It's as simple as that." From the bench he could see the meeting spot, a block away at most. It was a fountain at one point in time, but had been so abused it looked like the remains of some art sculpture gone horrible wrong. If Ren showed up, he'd see him.
Piper's voice cut through the air, strong like steel, but as cool as the ice she controlled, "I could turn you both into ice sculptures. This room could use a bit more decoration." She raised her eyebrow in a coy manner, a thin smirk carved on her face. Her voice was sharp, but her relaxed posture gave away her true intentions.
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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 21:50:22 GMT
Emery raised a hand and flung a pillow into Piper's face, not in the mood to deal with her taunts, his skin was still crawling from his nightmare. Before the fight could escalate into something serious the door opened and a child peered around the corner. In normal world, he probably would have been black, but his skin was mottled purple and green at the moment, his tufty hair stood up in soft points all over his head and he was in size too large pajamas. "Piper?" he squeaked.
Emery looked over. "Leon? what are you doing out of bed this early?" He sat up as the young kid came slowly into the room.
"I had a nightmare." Leon's skin flickered blue, his viens stood out green then black, then melted into the same color as the rest of his skin. "I got scared."
Emery stood up. "Its ok, Leon, everyone gets nightmares." he walked over and picked him up, setting him on the couch, Molly instinctively scooted away to give him space, after she'd accidentally burned Haruka last week she was worried about hurting another child with her searing hot flesh. Leon crawled into Piper's lap. "I wanna go home." he mumbled.
"I know about that." Rapid nodded. "I've been living on the streets of this city for years, but its good to know people. Now I'm taking care of the people that took care of me. They've got kids to feed, elderly. They're getting caught in the crossfire of this whole mess. Most of them are lessers and normals too, its the least I can do for them." he heard a siren in the distance and stiffened. "Sounds like Commandos coming this way." he looked down the street. "They can't get through this block since the street's a mess but if they catch me with this bag I could get arrested again." he stood up. "Are you sure you're friend's coming?"
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Post by raine on Aug 29, 2014 22:05:33 GMT
Piper said nothing as the child crawled into her arms. This was a normal occurrence. She wasn't very good at finding the words to comfort the child, so instead stroked his tuff of hair and let him cuddle with her. Her voice was stuck in her throat, but her hold on the boy tightened to convene a 'I know' and 'I'm sorry.' She placed a light kiss on his temple as her other hand stroked his back. She peered over at Molly and Emery over Leon's head, giving them a small frown. She wished she could tell him he'd be home soon, but that would just be a lie.
Gabriel froze, begging for Ren to show up. "He'll be here." He whispered harshly, whether to himself or Rapid, he didn't know. That's when he spotted the figure approach the fountain. He shot up and off the bench, his hand raising in the air when the pain exploded in his chest. He grunted in pain and reached over to touch the now-healing wound.
The figure's arm was outstretched, hold a gun- no his arm was a gun. He took brisk steps forward, a hood over his head to conceal himself. There was a tremble in his body, but he moved toward's them, getting close enough to make out details of their figures. His arm started to drop, "G-Gabe?" The voice trembled and the gun turned back into an arm at the recognition that it was indeed Gabe. Throwing off his hood, he nearly tackled the shorter man.
Gabriel sighed in annoyance, his wound nearly closed. "Ren, you're such an idiot." He wrapped the kid in a one-armed hug.
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Post by Skidar on Aug 29, 2014 22:15:23 GMT
Rapid gasped seeing Gabriel get shot, he rushed forward and grabbed the attacker from where he was, what was he doing to Gabe? He didn't care, but he threw thirty feet backwards and grabbed a hunk of rubble the size of washing machine and stormed over to crush him like a roach. "Get BACK, Gabriel!" Rapid snarled raising the rubble to smash the offender. He didn't know how much time Gabe had, he'd seen him shot, he wasn't a doctor! He'd have to hurry, but he wasn't going to let this attempted-murderer walk away!
Emery leaned against the ping pong table and smirked. "Hey Leon." he said, summoning all the ping pong balls out of the spares bucket and spinning them in a circle above the couch. "Pretty cool, huh?"
Leon looked up and his skin warmed to yellow and orange in curiosity. "Whoa." he sat up and Emery concentrated, making them take the shape of a triangle.
"Can you make a fish??" Leon bounch slightly, orange stripes appeared on his cheeks and he smiled as Emery made a crude looking fish shape.
"Sorta?" Emery shrugged. He glanced at Piper and Molly. "Lets go get you some hot chocolate from the mess, that sound good?" he smiled.
"Can we put marshmallows in it?" Leon jumped down.
"If we can find some you can have four, but we have to make sure to save some for the other kids, alright?" Molly assured him.
"Can you toast them like you did that one time??" Leon asked Molly.
Molly blushed, more of a glow under his skin from real heat. "That was an accident, but I could do that again." she nodded. "Lets go." she stood up and headed for the door. Leon bounced after her leaving Emery and Piper to bring up the rear.
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sometime after ten, hope you'll be up! also.... WILL PROFILE thatisall 
