|
|
Post by Skidar on Dec 22, 2017 7:24:24 GMT
Angani shivered as they got out of the cab near the heart of the city. It was freezing and they still had a ways to walk but he wanted to stop by the grocery store before they headed back to their apartment. He tugged his hat down over his ears, bright red from the cold. "So what's on the menu, Kai?" he asked, linking arms with him to walk towards the store.
--
Molly dropped her keys into the dish by the door and flicked on the lights to her and Nailah's apartment. He sighed and threw her jacket over the back of the couch and walked over to the window, raising the blinds to look out over the city. It was winter, and already the sky was dark in the late afternoon. No snow yet, she was fine with that. She sat down on the floor in front of the tall window and hugged her knees to her chest.
--
Piper slipped into the barracks and rapped her knuckles smartly on the door across from hers in the hall.
"Go 'way." a voice grumbled.
"Oh come on you can't be that tired!" Piper drummed on the door. "And you gotta eat so up up. Come on."
Emery opened the door, groggy eyed and bed-headed. "I just fell asleep."
"Food, then sleep." Piper tugged his wrist and he groaned loudly before fumbling for his jacket.
"Fine. But we better be getting a ride. I hate basic, I think I pulled my everything." he yawned and pulled his hood over his head, yanking the strings tight as they headed down the long hall.
|
|
|
|
Post by noodlerface on Dec 22, 2017 9:34:54 GMT
Kaiser squeezed his arm in response to Angani's hold, letting him steer him forwards. "Yannow, I'm dying for a hot curry," he said, adjusting the mitts on his hands. "A good old fashioned home made one. It's a little late for the naan, but I'm not fussy." He peeked a smile up at Angani from under his beanie. Paired with a little wine, that meal should keep them warm for a good while, more than enough to make up for all the wandering around in the snow.
---
Nailah sprinted up the stairs, seeing that Molly had beaten her home, by the light filtering through the crack in the door. She supposed there was no avoiding it, the city was packed with last minute Christmas shoppers, and the traffic was painful on a good day. She bit her lip, still disappointed she hadn't had the chance to clean up. She shifted the bottles of wine in her hand to twist the door open, kicking the worn wood with a boot as she shuffled in. She saw Molly hunched over by the window, her usual spot for when she was down or feeling introspective. Nailah stood for a moment wondering which it was tonight. She decided she knew, and whose fault it was. She placed the wine bottles carefully on the table beside the discarded keys, and walked to her girlfriend, bending to plant a quick kiss to her cheek. She pulled the bouquet from behind her back. "I'm sorry for causing trouble today," she murmured into her hair. "I wasn't the right person to talk with him, and I should have consulted you beforehand. Next time I'll do better. I'm sorry."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skidar on Dec 22, 2017 9:47:56 GMT
Molly sighed and leaned against her, resting her head on her shoulders. "I miss him." she sighed. "And not like, being together just, all us being friends. Everything being alright and open." she squeezed her hand. "I know you were trying to do your job. Thanks for understanding though." she laced her fingers with hers. "Just been an off day, usually is when we have to go to the academy." she grumbled then saw her wine and reach for it. "This should help."
--
Angani grabbed a basket as they walked the aisles. "Sounds like a plan. Hopefully there'll be enough for some left overs." He picked up their ingrediants and paused, he felt like the man at the end of the aisle had been there when they got out of the cab... now he was behind them. Still, probably just a coincidence. He traveled a few aisles over to get their naan and when he glanced back the man was there, lingering on the end of the previous aisle. He wasn't carrying any greceries. He was watching them. Angani's back tensed and he cleared his throat, steering Kaiser towards the checkout. "Kaiser I think we should call another cab..." he murmured nervously.
|
|
|
|
Post by noodlerface on Dec 22, 2017 10:13:17 GMT
Nailah smiled, handing her the wine. "It usually does," she snorted. She didn't bother to fetch glasses, crossing her legs to sit next to Molly and look out at the lights of the city. It felt like a straight-from-the-bottle kind of night. "I think things are tense right now," she started carefully. "But today...giving him his privacy back would have meant a great deal to him. You know that. I think - if it's ever going to go back to the way things were - I think this was a good step in the right direction." Nailah looked at Molly, a spark of fear twisting her mouth slightly as she reached for the bottle, raising it to her lips to hide it. Molly and Elroy had been inseparable. She remembered their time in the Academy. It hadn't been bad, then, not when they were an item, and Nailah had only known her as a friend. The bond that he and Molly had shared...it was deeper than anything she had ever seen. She knew she didn't have that with Molly, that ability to think as one unit. Nailah was afraid of what it would mean for them if they ever did reunite. If it came down to it, in that position...who would Molly choose?
Nailah drew the bottle from her mouth, swiping her lips with the back of her hand. She passed the bottle back to Molly, careful to mask her features. "I, uh. I sort of miss those drinking nights. Maybe not all the places Johnny and Sheila used to take us, but...the camaraderie. It's more lonely, now."
---
Kaiser tutted. "Now listen, you know I don't know my portion sizes," he laughed. "No more teasing, I'm sensitive about it. But probably, definitely, there'll be enough of this to last a week of lunches." He didn't notice Angani's tense movements until they were at the cashier's and he heard the strain in his voice. He trusted Angani's intuition implicitly. His voice pitched low, he bent his head towards him casually. "What is it? What are you seeing?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Skidar on Dec 22, 2017 18:50:28 GMT
Molly leaned back against Nailah, using her as a chair and took a very non-dainty swig from the bottle, big enough to make a glub-sounding bubble inside. She sighed. "I hope you're right." she smiled thinking to some of the bizarre themed beach bum bars that Johnny and Sheila dragged them to and smiled. "I dunno, I kinda miss listening to your daiquiri-drunk karaoke of Margaritaville." she twisted her head to smile up at her.
--
Angani paid and looked over his shoulders, his eyes flashes pinky-rose-colored and he peered under the man's jacket. Rope, knife, gun. This guy was loaded, from behind dark sunglasses Angani's powers showed he was looking right at them. He swallowed nervously. "I think he's following us..." he gripped his house keys tight as they walked towards the door. "What should we do?" he hissed as the man started slowly following them towards the exit, staying about 20 feet away.
|
|
|
|
Post by noodlerface on Dec 23, 2017 2:59:00 GMT
Nailah snickered, stealing the bottle and taking a deep draught. "God, don't remind me," she groaned, rubbing her temple with the knuckles of her free hand. "I like to pretend I've grown up but...put a daiquiri in my hand and I know I'll end up doing the same damn thing," she snorted. They used to have fun like that. Things with the Rebels made it hard, made things difficult. It wasn't safe to be caught wandering home drunk in the early morning, not even for Commando captains. With a slow grin, she cocked her head, tapped Molly on her collar bone. "Why wait for the bar? Up, move over," she ordered, carefully untangling herself from Molly's limbs. She stood up, swaying as the alcohol hit her. Chugging a bottle of wine in less than a half hour was good work, even for them. Stumbling towards their stereo system, Nailah hit the switch with clumsy fingers, and cranked the music up. The Proclaimers came on, and Nailah spun around with an outstretched hand to Molly with an audacious grin. "Dance with me?"
---
Kaiser grit his teeth, body tense, as he scanned the local area. Seeing the suspicious figure, he turned and tried to relax his frame. "We stay in the public. No dark streets, we need bright lights. How busy was it outside on the walk over?" And what did he want? A shard of fear pierced him, catching his breath. How long had he been following them? Angani had only noticed in the supermarket - what if they'd been tailed before that? "We can't go home," he muttered quietly, mulling their best course over. "Worst case scenario he already knows where that is, but it's better not to hand it to him if he doesn't. For now our best option is to lose him in a crowd. We'll head towards the police station, so that if we can't, we should be closer to help. I don't...I know basic fighting tactics, but I don't know what kind of heat he's packing. I'd rather not bite off more than we can chew." He squeezed Angani's wrist. He wasn't doing a very good job of calming him down. "It's fine, we'll be okay. I'm being over-cautious, dude's probably a common street delinquent."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skidar on Dec 23, 2017 3:29:56 GMT
Angani was getting more and more stressed the more Kaiser talked and he glanced over his shoulder as they were leaving the store, definitely following them. And no longer worried about them seeing him. Angani tensed, heart pounding. He headed further down the street moving faster but holding Kaiser close to keep him from stumbling. The crowd was thinning at the end of the street and he looked around to try and hail an open cab. He raised his arm only to have it twisted back behind his shoulder blades.
"Move and you're dead." the man growled, the barrel of his gun pressing Angani's back through the man's sweater pocket. Angani's grip tightened like a vise around Kaiser's arm. "I'm not moving..." he gasped in fright as the Man steered them towards the nearest alley.
--
Molly snorted a laugh and smiled, taking her hand and pulling herself up to her feet. She hugged her arms around her neck. "You're so goofy." she hugged herself tight against her, her cheek pressed against her shoulder. Maybe she was a little tipsy, but far from being 'lit.'
|
|
|
|
Post by noodlerface on Dec 30, 2017 2:04:00 GMT
Kaiser froze in fear, hearing the click of safety being released. He tightened his grip on Angani's hand as they were lead into the alley, his mind racing with the ways this could go down. Any evasive tactics were lost the second he'd come into contact with them, and he was in no position to attack with Angani at risk. For now all he could do was follow the man's orders. He knew they couldn't be too far from the station, if he could just stall him for a short while...
Angel you there? Angani and I are at the market road a couple blocks from the station, we're being held and gunpoint and taken down Paraffin Alley. Could use some help if anyone's got the time.
He grit his jaw, heart pounding. "Look, if it's money you want, my wallets in my back pocket. Just let me hand it to you, and we can all walk away from this just fine."
---
Nailah laughed, slow dancing with Molly to the Safety Dance. She tucked her head down into the crook of Molly's neck, arms encircling around her middle. "I really do love you," she murmured softly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skidar on Dec 30, 2017 2:14:11 GMT
"Hands where I can see 'em!" The man swatted Kaiser with the flat side of the gun and pushed them both against the wall. Angani hit the bricks hard with his shoulder, shaking hard, he tried to cling to Kaiser as the man rooted through their jackets, pocketing their wallets, phones, Anagani's bridge pass to the Academy! Angani made a grab fro the pass. He couldn't let that fall into the wrong hands! The man pistol whipped him hard with his gun, slicing a gash on his temple and flecking Kaiser's hands with the hot blood as Angani crumpled to the cold pavement.
"Try that again and you're dead!" the man snarled."
--
On the other side of the City, Angel stumbled into his condo and was immediately set upon by his two massive, wriggling yellow mutts. They knocked him down, thick tails banging loudly against the wall as they tried to lick his face.
"Rambo! Duke! Off!" he laughed and ruffled their ears before standing. He paused hearing a faint Tpath. He tried to shush his dogs but he couldn't stop their romping and jumping long enough to hear it especially well. Then there was silence. He groaned, without knowing he sent it he couldn't respond! He poured some dog food into the kitchen bowls then wandered out onto the balcony and strained his senses, hoping for a second Tpath...
--
Emery and Piper headed down the street after stuffing their bellies at the Asian Buffet. Piper was in a tshirt and jeans, unaffected by the cold and swirling snow, she danced ahead and slid across the ice in her boots leaving swirling arcs and spirals of frost in her wake.
"Show off." Emery mutter, cracking open his fortune cookie and following with a more cautious pace. He'd already fallen on his ass twice. No need for a third time.
--
Moly smiled and snuggled under her chin. "I know, and I love you too."
|
|
|
|
Post by noodlerface on Dec 30, 2017 2:26:28 GMT
Kaiser squeezed his eyes shut as they were shoved against the street wall, heart stuttering. No reply from Angel. ANGEL! COULD USE SOME HELP!
Hearing Angani struggle and fall to the ground, his breath caught in a helpless cry as he felt the blood hit him. He wasn't sure what state Angani was in, but he couldn't spare a thought to that now. The man had his attention focused on Angani, now would be the time to make a move. Kaiser wasn't much of a fighter, but he knew enough to make things difficult. Hopefully he could hold him off long enough for help to arrive. He took quick stock of the scene, before spinning and dropping low, sweeping his leg around the mugger's to knock him off balance. The gun was in a steadfast grip in his hand, but Kaiser lunged forward to slam the mugger's wrist against the wall in an attempt to knock it loose. "Don't you touch him!" he snarled.
|
|
|
|
Post by beffalumps on Dec 30, 2017 3:42:08 GMT
The bar was quiet aside from the normal, dull drone of the few conversations in the corners and the mumble of the old television. He stood behind the counter, lazily cleaning a glass with a towel. He glanced over at the man passed out on the bar, mumbling incoherently with his drink tipped over and staining his shirt sleeve. He sighed and shook his head when suddenly someone cried out. "Ah damn," a man sitting near the door slurred. "'Ere's a couple'a guys goin at it out there, a'think!"
Zeke frowned and set down his glass. "Great," he grumbled as he started out the door, his fists already beginning to ignite. Usually just the sight of the flames was enough to send brawling drunks running. "Hey," he growled, rounding the corner. "Listen no fighting outside my b--" He halted, his eyes widening once the three men and a gun. "Hey break it up," he snarled storming forward, the flames around his hands fluttering to life and weaving up around his forearms.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skidar on Dec 30, 2017 3:49:50 GMT
Rapid was wiping down the empty tables in the back and followed Zeke out the back door still holding his spritz bottle and rag. "What's going on, boss?" he stepped outside, so tall he loomed over him, able to take in the whole scene. "Uh oh."
The man whirled and fired the gun, missing Zeke and hitting Rapid's massive shoulder. Rapid flinched and stumbled back from the hit. The gunman ran down the ally shooting sporadically over his shoulder. On the ground Angani covered his head, flinching and yelping at the sound of every shot.
Rapid hugged a bear-like arm around Zeke's trunk and smushed him against the wall like a sizzling panini. Another bullet ricocheted off his head and struck the dumpster across the alley from them. He squeezed open one eye then noticed he was holding his flaming boss like a teddy bear and set him down before walking towards the other two in the alley.
Angani had blood streaming down his face from the gash in his temple and he sat up shakily. "K-Kaiser??" he looked around in the dark for him worriedly.
|
|
|
|
Post by noodlerface on Dec 30, 2017 3:58:44 GMT
Lorenzo pushed the door to the backroom open with his shoulder, swinging inside the room with a crate of beer tucked under his arm. "You want me to just chuck these in the fridge Ze - " he cut himself off, seeing Zeke rush out the back door. A crowd had followed him and were loitering by the door to, shouting into the alley. "What in the hell," Lorenzo muttered, dropping the crate by the bar. He began to push onlookers out of the way, struggling to follow Zeke and see what the commotion was about.
---
Kaiser flinched at the gunshot, flaring out a sonar to track its path. He collapsed next to Angani as the gunner fled, running his hand across Angani's cheek, feeling the blood tracking a path down his face. "Angani, Angani," he moaned, tears catching at the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry, he hurt you, I'm sorry I couldn't stop it." He turned his head, hearing the crowd yelling around them. "Someone call the ambulance! He's hurt, he's bleeding!" Kaiser turned back to Angani, unable to decide where his hands should be. He quickly pulled his sweater from his back, and took off his shirt from beneath it, pressing it against Angani's wound. "What do I do? Should you be sitting up or lying down? How do I help you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by beffalumps on Dec 30, 2017 4:12:47 GMT
"Nnn...thanks..." Zeke huffed, peeling himself away from Rapid. The flames around his arms slowly withered away to weak sparks and he slumped against the wall, struggling to catch his breath. "Good thing you showed up...not sure what I was plannin' on doing." He smacked his lips--he always got thirsty after using his powers. He looked around, torn between Lorenzo's voice and the bleeding man on the ground. "I'm fine," he promised his boyfriend before digging in his pocket for his phone. He dialed and brought the phone up to his ear. "Hi, uh, there was just...I think it was a mugging but...yeah I think we need an ambulance..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Skidar on Dec 30, 2017 4:17:28 GMT
Angani was shaking so much he was practically vibrating. "I... I think I'm ok." he held the wadded t-shirt against his head, flinching at the contact to his throbbing skull. He pressed close to him and tugged the hoodie back around him to keep him warm. He trembled looking up at the mountainous muscle head and flame slinger that had come to their aide. "Th-thanks."
--
Across the town at the station, Alfonse sent his possessed officers into the Commando headquarters, firearms drawn by their sides as they entered.
Lilah was walking down the hall and paused seeing them in the entryway. "Wallace? Kirk? Where have you two been? We've been waiting for your report all d--" Then there was gunfire and and earth-shattering explosion.
--
Angani tried to shake his head. "N-no I'lm a nurse I don't need an abulence." Angani clung to Kaiser like he was afraid he might leave."
Rapid jogged to the edge of the alley. "He's gone..." he called back. "Should I go after him?" he asked, then he was cut off by the deafening sound of a huge explosion across town. "What... was...that??" he breathed as a mushroom cloud grew up into the falling snow-filled sky.
--
Alfonse sent a Tpath to Audrey. "Do it."
|
|
sometime after ten, hope you'll be up! also.... WILL PROFILE thatisall 
