[ QUOTE ]
Sirrah blinked and cocked her head to one side, regarding Nyte with a quizzical expression.
"I have not seen you before," she remarked in a soft, whispery voice. "You have wings. They are pretty."
[/ QUOTE ]
Nyte paused in her actions, snapping her cell shut and regarding the women in front of her more closely. Self conciously she ruffled her feathers at the compliment as though trying to tuck the wings closer to her body - which was silly but while Nyte was used to stares and the occasional comment...but very few compliments.
"thank you...you have a lovely voice"
And she did, it was a voice that got ones attention without needing to be loud, or perhaps it was simply the matte of fact statements she had made which got nytes attention.
"I just moved in not to long ago"
[ QUOTE ]
Nyte paused in her actions, snapping her cell shut and regarding the women in front of her more closely. Self conciously she ruffled her feathers at the compliment as though trying to tuck the wings closer to her body - which was silly but while Nyte was used to stares and the occasional comment...but very few compliments.
"thank you...you have a lovely voice"
And she did, it was a voice that got ones attention without needing to be loud, or perhaps it was simply the matte of fact statements she had made which got nytes attention.
"I just moved in not to long ago"
[/ QUOTE ]
Sirrah smiled slowly, though it didn't seem to reach her eyes. It was almost as though she were merely copying the expression without fully knowing what it meant.
"Welcome," she said in her soft, almost dream-like voice. "My quarters are number 201. They are nice, except for the woman with the dog. I do not like her."
Blake listened to the proposition and frowned, but said nothing. He thought about it and didn't move until he reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, white package. He opened it and withdrew a cigarette, sticking it in his mouth and lightning it with a snap of his fingers. "Sorry, hope you don't mind," he said, blowing a puff off to the side to attempt to keep the smoke from Erik's face. He kept quiet for another couple of seconds, thinking about it solemnly, then finally shrugged.
"Yeah, sure, I'll help. Just want to know, though, why ask me, and not, say, Positron or somebody a heckuva lot more important than me," Blake would keep to his word and do it, but it was an honestly curious question.
[ QUOTE ]
"Yeah, sure, I'll help. Just want to know, though, why ask me, and not, say, Positron or somebody a heckuva lot more important than me," Blake would keep to his word and do it, but it was an honestly curious question.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Because Positron has not killed any of the pack. The leader will not be trying to hunt him down any time soon. It could be months before we run into another person who has managed to take one of these monsters down, and frankly we do not have that kind of time." Erik explained. "I will warn you right now though. Only you and I can pull this off. If any others get involved, there is a chance the leader might run. And whoever or whatever it is, it has already killed four veteran heroes."
Erick got up off the bench.
"If you lose interest, remember that as long as you do not attack the leader when it appears, you should be fine. If you still want to help, meet me in the Southernmost warehouse in Constellation row at Midnight. It is out of the way, and secluded, so innocents will not be involved."
Blake blew out a small puff of smoke and grimaced. Four veteran heroes? He ignored the fear in the pit of his stomach and got up, nodding. "I'll be there," he said confidently enough, wondering who the other heroes of the task force were. Figuring he would find out soon enough, he took a last puff of his cigarette, stomped it out and took to the air, flying back towards the apartments. As he was flying, he thought about what he had gotten himself into.
Blake arrived at the building and entered. He started making his way towards his apartment when he remembered he said he would hang out with Alex. He concluded to at least take a shower first and continued towards his apartment.
The teen walked in, and to his small relief, his sister was sitting on the couch. She was slightly short for her age, twelve, and had brown hair that went just below her shoulder. She had small earrings in each ear, a plain green shirt and a pair of tight jeans. She was skinny like Blake, although you could see she wasn't frail. "Sup," said Blake, going towards the bathroom. Candice went to say hi, but stopped and wrinkled her nose. "Geez Blake, I hope you're taking a shower, you smell," Blake sneered and said "Thanks," that couldn't have more sarcasm on it.
Blake went in and out of the shower fairly quickly, coming back out with a black sweatshirt and another pair of jeans on. "See ya," he said quickly, opening the door and heading towards Alex's apartment.
He arrived and knocked on her door for the second time that day, rocking back on the heels of his shoes while he waited.
Alex was lying on her stomach across the living rooms worn-down sofa, writing notes in a beat-up, red five-subject notebook. She was making notes on her Galaxy City route; notes about deliveries she made, open bargains that were negotiated, and pre-arranged pick-up times for later dates. If anything, this notebook was the journal for all the Homeless Trade Markets activities; she created this system so that people in need could exchange, or barter, goods and services, basically using the philosophy that one mans trash is another mans treasure. To some, it has earned the nickname The White Market, due to its similarities in structure, but difference in purpose to the Black Market.
Sadly, she placed a circle with a slash through it next to the Pizza Ports name, to remind her that until further notice any deliveries from the Port were cancelled until it returned to business
she also reminded herself that shed need to try to contact Paul and Maria Summerfield, the Ports owners. Alex then flipped the pages to the rear subject where she kept separate notes of the apartments' residents
which she learned included an incredible number of heroes, seven times more than she would have thought. Absentmindedly, she kept darkening the P in Pyrokinetic that she wrote under Blakes section, though her thoughts came back into focus when she heard the knock on the door.
Alex closed the notebook and shoved it inside her backpack before scrambling to the door. She beamed a smile at Blake when she saw him, Hi, youre all cleaned up.
Blake looked around the corridor, still rocking back on his heels when Alex answered the door. He smiled in return "Yeah, I don't look half-bad when I'm not covered in wolf hair and blood." He let out a small laugh and looked over Alex's shoulder into her apartment. "Nice place," he said, although he was mildly interested in the backpack. He hoped schoolwork wasn't what she did in her spare time.
-------------------------------
Deputy Director Jones jotted down some things on a piece of papaer as Hunter talked, nodded, and asked a question. This went on for a while, the questions seeming to get more unimportant as the time went on. Eventually, Jones stopped. "Alright, Hunter, here's the deal," he said, tossing his pen on the table "There are a lot of blanks here. And I intend to fill them, with your help. I want you to find Chen, and I want you to play spy. Gather any information possible, even the smallest things. We'll keep you out there for a week and a half, then we'll check in and see how you're doing. Depending if your report is good or not, you may stay there, you may not."
The Deputy Director sighed and picked up his papers. "Well, that was fun," he muttered under his breath as he stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it, but before leaving, he turned back to Hunter. "A week and a half. Make it worth my while," he said, then closed the door and returned to his office.
[ QUOTE ]
Deputy Director Jones jotted down some things on a piece of papaer as Hunter talked, nodded, and asked a question. This went on for a while, the questions seeming to get more unimportant as the time went on. Eventually, Jones stopped. "Alright, Hunter, here's the deal," he said, tossing his pen on the table "There are a lot of blanks here. And I intend to fill them, with your help. I want you to find Chen, and I want you to play spy. Gather any information possible, even the smallest things. We'll keep you out there for a week and a half, then we'll check in and see how you're doing. Depending if your report is good or not, you may stay there, you may not."
The Deputy Director sighed and picked up his papers. "Well, that was fun," he muttered under his breath as he stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it, but before leaving, he turned back to Hunter. "A week and a half. Make it worth my while," he said, then closed the door and returned to his office.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hunter sat where he was for a moment after Jones had left to think about what the other man had said. In a way he was glad he had been given an excuse to contact Chen. He would have to be careful with his reports, but if he played it right he could help his old mentor again. He slowly stood and left the building. It was late afternoon now and the sun was getting low in the sky. He walked quickly back to the apartment complex, hoping to get there before nightfall. Hunter never did like the dark.
Erik left Freedom Court and headed to Constellation row. It was still early, (to him, at least) and he planned on sleeping through the rest of the day to wake up around 11:00, completely refreshed and ready to do battle with a murderous unknown monster with Blake, if he decided to show up.
Erik reached the Southernmost warehouse, one of the largest in Galaxy City, yet also condemned and abandoned going on several years. A sorry sight in Paragon City. Erik went inside, sat at the desk right through the front doors, and drifted off while his umbrella kept guard in the soothing darkness.
[ QUOTE ]
Hunter sat where he was for a moment after Jones had left to think about what the other man had said. In a way he was glad he had been given an excuse to contact Chen. He would have to be careful with his reports, but if he played it right he could help his old mentor again. He slowly stood and left the building. It was late afternoon now and the sun was getting low in the sky. He walked quickly back to the apartment complex, hoping to get there before nightfall. Hunter never did like the dark.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hunter quietly walked down the hall to 207. He didn't hear Mabel or her dog and preferred to keep it that way. His door was unlocked, as he expected. His sister had said she would be there. He carefully and quietly slipped inside, locking the door behind him.
((Heh, sorry about the delay, life hit me with a sledgehammer, didn't have the time to right a well-thought out post))
Alex opened the door wider and extended her arm in invitation into her abode. The place looked like it was hardly lived in, so much that dust has been left undisturbed on much of the furniture giving it a grey glaze. Otherwise, everything else was tidy and unused.
"Sorry about how dirty the place is," Alex began blushing slightly, running a finger along a desk top, "Mom and I rarely spend any time in here... So what do you want on your pizza? It's on me." Alex headed over to the phone.
-----------------
As Hunter opened the door, the smell of spice, sauce, and meat wafted out of the apartment. Meaghan was leaning over a large pot on the stove, gently stirring the contents.
"Hmm, you were kept longer than expected," Meaghan addressed her brother, "I stopped by the grocery on my way here...Last time I remember, your favorite meal was mother's recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, or was that just me? It was well over half our lifetime ago."
She turned off the stove top and turned her head, "Your timing is impeccable though, dinner's ready."
[ QUOTE ]
As Hunter opened the door, the smell of spice, sauce, and meat wafted out of the apartment. Meaghan was leaning over a large pot on the stove, gently stirring the contents.
"Hmm, you were kept longer than expected," Meaghan addressed her brother, "I stopped by the grocery on my way here...Last time I remember, your favorite meal was mother's recipe for spaghetti and meatballs, or was that just me? It was well over half our lifetime ago."
She turned off the stove top and turned her head, "Your timing is impeccable though, dinner's ready."
[/ QUOTE ]
"I haven't had spaghetti and meatballs in...well, a while," he stated quietly. Hunter went to a cabinet and got out dishes and silverware which he set on the bar. While she was busy with the food, he set his weapons back on their stand. "When did you learn how to cook?"
[ QUOTE ]
"I haven't had spaghetti and meatballs in...well, a while," he stated quietly. Hunter went to a cabinet and got out dishes and silverware which he set on the bar. While she was busy with the food, he set his weapons back on their stand. "When did you learn how to cook?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Meaghan drained the spaghetti then returned it to the pot; she sent a sideways glare at her brother as he was replacing his weapons on the rack when he asked the question, but corrected herself before he would see.
"I was ten when you left," Meaghan responded, "I've learned a lot of things in the past eleven years. Feel free to serve yourself first." That last part wasn't spoken spitefully, but it was a habit she picked up that the cook always chose their portions of the meal last.
[ QUOTE ]
Meaghan drained the spaghetti then returned it to the pot; she sent a sideways glare at her brother as he was replacing his weapons on the rack when he asked the question, but corrected herself before he would see.
"I was ten when you left," Meaghan responded, "I've learned a lot of things in the past eleven years. Feel free to serve yourself first." That last part wasn't spoken spitefully, but it was a habit she picked up that the cook always chose their portions of the meal last.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hunter paused for a moment. Then he took off his gloves and jacket and picked up the plates with his burn-scarred hands.
"I am sorry," he said very quietly as he dished an equal amount of noodles, meatballs, and sauce on each plate. "What did he tell you? About why I left..." He looked at her as he handed her one of the plates, his sadness showing in his eyes as he let his walls down a bit. He was tired of being on guard all the time.
As Blake stepped into the room, the difference in the air struck him. It wasn't like it was poisoned or very different at all, it just seemed like it was stale, or un-used. He shrugged it off and sat down on the couch Alex had been sitting on moments earlier, leaning back and stretching. "I'll just take some of the barbecued wolf from earlier on mine," he said, twisting his head around to see her as she went to the phone. "Nah, I'll have whatever you like, cheese or pepperoni or whatever,"
The boy frowned and patted his pockets, sighing. He had forgotten his wallet in his other pocket. "I'll pay for it, just have to run back to my apartment real quick and grab some cash, I still owe you that pizza from earlier."
Alex smirked at Blake for his response, "Heh, no worries there. Debt is always fun to have when you're the one collecting."
She hit the speed dial that called the local Pizza Cut and ordered a large stuffed crust, pineapple and pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. The sweet juices always mixed perfectly with the cheese...it was pure heaven. Alex was briefly put on hold, but took the moment to talk to Blake.
"Feel free to turn the T.V. on to whatever, or pick a movie if you'd like." Then the pizza-guy came back and continued asking her a bazillion questions. I just want the freakin' pizza, blast it!
-----------------------------------------------------
Meaghan looked directly into Hunter's eyes and grabbed the plate he offered her. She moved forward and embraced him in a warm hug, carefully balancing the plate behind him.
"Nothing," She responded to his question, though it was a heavily veiled lie, "He didn't say anything at all about you when you disappeared...it was almost as if you fell off the earth." She didn't want to tell Hunter the truth. Father never ceased to praise her for her brilliance, her skill, or her ability to adapt and learn new ways to use old tactics; but his praise always was followed by a sharp insult of her missing brother.
Truth was Hunter never left the household...his memory tore at both their minds in its own way.
Meaghan looked directly into Hunter's eyes and grabbed the plate he offered her. She moved forward and embraced him in a warm hug, carefully balancing the plate behind him.
"Nothing," She responded to his question, though it was a heavily veiled lie, "He didn't say anything at all about you when you disappeared...it was almost as if you fell off the earth." She didn't want to tell Hunter the truth. Father never ceased to praise her for her brilliance, her skill, or her ability to adapt and learn new ways to use old tactics; but his praise always was followed by a sharp insult of her missing brother.
Truth was Hunter never left the household...his memory tore at both their minds in its own way.
[/ QUOTE ]
Hunter gave her a careful hug. Of course the old man would tell her nothing, he thought bitterly. He turned set his plate in front of one of the bar stools.
"We should eat before it get's cold," he stated. "So do you have a place to stay? You're welcome to stay here if you don't. It's not much, I know, but I'd be just as comfortable on the sofa as in a bed. To be honest, I don't know what they put in the bedroom. I haven't checked it out yet beyond a quick glance this morning."
Meaghan sat down at the bar stool beside him and sat straight with poise. She pulled a hair-tie from her pocket and pulled her long hair back into a ponytail before grabbing the utensils, which she held carefully.
"Thank you...Hunter," She let out a slight laugh, it was strange calling him by that name, "Sorry... Thank you for the offer, but I have my own place, somewhere where I'm not being watched by our friends." She took a moment to point out where five cameras were carefully hidden, giving a three-finger wave to the last one. She then sliced open a meatball with a knife and ate the steamy morsel.
Hunter crossed himself and bowed his head for a moment. Then he crossed himself again before picking up his fork.
"Yes, I noticed," he stated, looking around. "They should appreciate the fact that I haven't destroyed them yet."
"Or scarred their sensitive eyes yet? You might as well take your showers in a swimsuit." Meaghan gave another short laugh before slicing a cluster of noodles into smaller bits. "So how was Jones? Ask you anything interestingly boring?"
"There are no cameras in the bathroom," he smirked. "I checked." Then he frowned at his food.
"He didn't ask me anything he didn't already know," he told her. "Except locations of bases, which I denied any knowledge of and he let it go. I can't figure out his game. He's given me an assignment that...is best not discussed here." He glanced briefly at a camera before turning his attention back to his plate.
(wow i've been gone a while I'll try to read everything as soon as i can a post up ASAP)
((sadly, I'm going to have to bow out. I can't really afford to keep playing right now and I haven't been playing much as it is.))
[ QUOTE ]
Nyte had intended to return to her apartment after the others had gone thier own way..but had been sidetracked by text message from one of her comrades. she was in the process of replying when the expanding pressence of another person caughth er attention.
Normally such a thing was not worth noticing..afterall people were constantly moving in and out of Nytes mental radar, for the most part she ignored it..filtered it out as background noise...once in a while however something would catch her attention. Something like someone approaching her from above in the middle of an alley and clearly not useing the noisy fire escape.
Glancing over she quirked an eyebrow at the person landing apparantly under her own willpower, not that that was unusual in Paragon.
"Sneaking out?"
She questioned the new arrival.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sirrah blinked and cocked her head to one side, regarding Nyte with a quizzical expression.
"I have not seen you before," she remarked in a soft, whispery voice. "You have wings. They are pretty."