Monsters [IC]

[Valik Sparks]

Introduction


GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Bi0sRREzE)


It is the 17th of October. The air is crisp, with a small chill that has been setting in during the evenings, foretelling of a cold future ahead. It's Monday night, 7:15pm. The sky is fading fast as the sun retreats, replaced by the luminescent glow of man-made light as it sparks to life across the city. Manhattan, New York. Home to diversity. Be it dark or light, rich or poor, barbaric or posh, classy or uncouth, dirty or clean, quiet or noisy, earthy or industrial...

...man or Monster...

This city had it all. Not that everyone was fully aware of that.. yet.



***


Penelope Turner walks heavily into her apartment, feet dragging, eyes aching, body limp. Another Monday. The jarring switch from free and easy weekends to the rigid scheduled weekdays never got any easier. And her eerily empty home offered little comfort.

Though her body craves stillness, rest, and something soft and fluffy, her grumbling stomach will not allow her the pleasure. After an autonomous routine of transitioning from workplace to homeplace, she finds herself in the kitchen, observing her many grand options for nourishment.

Then she hears a mewl.

First soft, then louder and more frantic. There's scratching at the kitchen window. A cat. Wide-eyed, mouth hanging open, heavy breathing. Grey fur, ragged from grime, weathered with age, but she'd recognize those big, glassy yellow orbs anywhere.

It was Spite. Come back for a visit, after two years.



***


"Better update the old roster, Gabe. You're gonna be down to one after tonight!" Alistair, or just Al as most people called him, gave his signature grin, toothy, but missing teeth, and cackled loudly as he swatted Gabriel on the shoulder and marched on by.

Gabriel stood by a large steel door in the dingy underground complex. Tooth & Nail was just barely beginning setup procedures. There would be some sparring and warm up matches occurring soon, and some earlybirds were already trickling in to watch and size-up competitors for betting odds, but the real fighting wouldn't commence for hours yet.

He was waiting for the Door Man. One of the Club's staff who was wholly responsible for keeping the fighters in their quarters. Because he alone held the keys, that ensured that anytime a fighter were to be accessed, there would be at least two bodies present. A safety precaution.

With saintly reliability, Dylan the Door Man arrived, precisely on the dot, 7:30pm. He gave a nod to Gabriel, then unlocked the door and pushed it open. He waited only a few moments to ensure everything was in order, and then moved on to attend to Al and Reichstahn, the other two 'Zookeepers', as their position was satirically titled.

As the door swung slowly open, and light poored into the dull, cold, cell-like room, the shadows were chased away, and the two dirty mats could be seen on the floor, along with two bowls, crusty food remains plastering the insides. There were no utensils.

Gabriel had only two fighters left. He had three, but his strongest had just been abruptly killed a few nights ago by Alistair's new catch -some kind of freakish crab mutant. Gabriel's potentially-second-best, Helen, or "Hell N' Fire" as the Ring Master titled her, has been undergoing training, but not long enough yet. The past few fights Gabriel has been trying to rely on the third (now second) Cub, as he spends every spare moment vigorously training Helen to face Al's new champion. But Cub has never been the best fighter, despite his bear-like attributes; he lacks ferocity. He took a bad hit in the last match, and fainted from blood loss.

And so Gabriel had to make a choice; and this choice could cost a life.

Al's passive threat just moments ago meant only one thing. He was going to bring out his crab again tonight. Gabriel could send Helen, but was she ready? They were mid-training, nowhere near where he wanted to be with her. And if she got hurt in this match, it would seriously affect their training, and could leave him with two disabled Fighters until he could make a new catch.
Or he could send Cub back into the ring.. which would almost certainly mean death. But it would give him precious time, and increase Helen's chances in further fights.


Cub was laying on his back on his mat, a huge, red-stained bandage around his gut. His shaggy dark hair was plastered around his young, but matured face as he snored. His mutations weren't as bad as some Gabriel had seen. Cub's hands and feet were largely oversized, covered in a thick, black hide, calloused, strong, and wielding huge bear claws. Other than that, he just had really bad back hair.
Helen was awake. Sitting against the wall with her knees pulled in, staring, but when Gabriel's shadow stretched into the room, she snapped to attention and leapt to her feet, gazing at him. She stood in a half-squat on her extra-long legs, posture somewhat hunched. Her skin was pale and moist, with large dark spots, and her eyes were huge, and mostly black, with a small brown iris that had a disjunct texture of mottled black shapes throughout it. Her arms were thin, and her hands large, with awkwardly long fingers, all with fat, padded tips. But those tips allowed her stick to walls, which was an invaluable ability during cage matches. She had thin, light-grey hair, unkempt, and longer on one side than the other. There were bags under her eyes, and holes on either side of her head instead of ears; she had a tiny nose, a large mouth, which could open very wide, and sported an incredibly long, sticky tongue. She was eighteen years old as of two weeks ago. She was small, light, but a surprisingly capable fighter. She was fast, agile, and typically underestimated; she had the ferocity Cub lacked. If Gabriel could continue to build up her strength -her weakness- he could round her out into a work of art.

"Master." Helen (http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs45/f/2009/094/5/7/Frog_Girl_by_RachelCurtis.jpg) said quietly, gazing placidly at Gabriel, with a hint of reverence.

She had come into this place kicking and screaming, terrified, terror which quickly grew into hate. But being thrown into a ring and left to do or die changes a person.. and when Gabriel offered to train her.. something more changed. The fights, the adrenaline, the blood and sweat and pain..it had done something to her. Made her forget the outside world, perhaps. She was just trying to survive, and Gabriel's help was an unexpected gift, which she clung to desperately; it was the closest thing to hope she'd felt in a long time. She seemed to have forgotten it was Gabriel who put her here. She now saw him as the one who was going to make her strong enough to get out. Or maybe she didn't want out anymore.. back to that life of running and hiding. Maybe she wanted to feel like she was accomplishing something. Maybe she liked the cheers and the spoils of a win.

Maybe...



***


Alexander awoke to the cold, wet, sniffing feeling of a dog's nose brushing against him and nuzzling his skin. The sun was going down, but that was generally when he was up and about. The nocturnal life seemed to be.. safer, usually.

He was currently nestled down in Central Park, an area of thicker brush which had plenty of good hiding spots, and just seemed.. homey. For some reason. The mutt near him, a Border Collie, looked suspiciously healthy to be a stray. Then he heard the faint jingling, and saw the flicker of a reflection from its neck. A collar.

"Ruuuuufuuuuus!"

It was a boy's voice, young, barely a teenager perhaps, and he was very near. Alexander's sharp ears could pick up the exact direction the voice was coming from, but he didn't need to, as the nicely-dressed, bowl-cut sporting preteen boy pushed through the brush and squinted into the darkness.

"Rufus? Rufus is that you?"



***


Klatch took to the skies, soaring over the New York skyline and taking in a view most people only dreamed of. A brilliant purple sky, darkening to deep blue, and eventually black, as the skyscrapers lit their grids of perfect, glowing squares, and the traffic below started to look less like an annoyance, and more like a brilliant light show.

His feet touched down on one of the sleek gargoyle perches jutting from the Chrysler building. It was almost like they were crafted just for him. Who else could reach such a height?
As his eyes slipped shut, he felt the wind sift gently through his down beneath the feathers, tickling his skin, relaxing his muscles. The night air was fresh. After a long day.. moments like these were welcome relief. Rolling his shoulders, scratching his wing with his nose, a loose feather slipped from his massive flying instruments, and drifted gracefully to his feet. His curious gaze watched it as it rested next to another feather. Then he looked away.

--another feather?

Klatch's head snapped back and he looked to his feet once more. Yes, there were two feathers. But they were his right? But, no.. the other was distinctly different shade. It was dark like his, but he was a blue-black; this.. was purple. A deep violent amidst the black that almost sparkled against the light. It wasn't his. But surely it was just a common bird? He blinked, staring, analyzing. It was just as large as his own feathers.. much too big to be a raven or a crow. So then...

Where did it come from?

[Shadon]

Gabriel

Baring his teeth in an animal-like snarl, Gabriel pins Alistair with a scathing glare as the older man passes by him, not lowering himself to answer the implied threat. His fists clenched agitatedly at the butchering of his name though, and it took most of his self-control to hold himself back from decking the man. Leaning against the wall near the door, he stared straight ahead until his muscles slowly relaxed and his posture could return to normal, straight and intimidating but not tight and immobile. His teeth ground together still though, the movement of his jaw the one telltale sign of remaining agitation.

Curious onlookers, early and trying to get a peek in at the matches of the night, passed by and he offered them nothing, not playing up to the crowd as he usually would. Of course, to the regular customer, this would be a sign – he was only known to choose not to give an amicable grin or wave to onlookers if the matches would be especially tense and gruesome that night. A good sign for some, bad for others. Catching sight of Dylan, he pushed off from the wall and shook off what he could of the remaining tension, returning the man’s nod unconsciously and then heading inside. With the heel of his foot, Gabriel inched the door slightly more closed, discouraging onlooker from wandering in. Every couple of months an idiot just had to come check the stables.

Squinting in the near-darkness that was caused from taking away most of the light that had been flooding, he made out the sorry figures in the room. Cub was still out for the most part, figure pathetically curled over and caked in blood – didn’t the damn beast have any pride left to at least take care of himself? At least it made for a good show – and snoring away. A simple check to the beast’s food bowl showed that he hadn’t eaten more than half of his meal, either. Damn. Recovery wasn’t going well. Turning his attention from the ursine figure, he moved nearer to the crouching girl, mind grasping at what they had been training for, where she was, even though he knew no matter which way it was looked at, it wouldn’t be enough.

A grunt escaped his lips in response to her greeting, more than he’d offer most of his fighters. Helen had potential, but she was raw and green, still not refined. She hadn’t had to take on anything really challenging yet, and that was part of the problem. She wouldn’t take it seriously. Sour annoyance built up in the back of his throat as he considered the vaguely glistening figure, eyes narrowed and mouth pulled down in a frown as was his usual expression with deep thought. Sending her in could get her killed, sending Cub in would get him killed – optimism was useless – but either way he had to take a loss. He was loathe to lose either of his two remaining fighters after Claw had been taken down, that boy had been good, but he had to do something. And retreat was not an option.

As he considered sending in the younger creature, regret pushed into his mind at the thought of losing her. The slimy creature wasn’t something he held any affection for, same with all of the other freaks, but she was the most promising he had now. And her spunk, the way she never backed down, it, well – his teeth ground together again roughly at the almost-thought – it was to be used effectively. Losing her would be a much bigger impact than losing Cub. However, it was bad luck to go without a backup fighter. ‘All fight, no fodder’ was a saying they used for that state, and it was a sorry one to be in.

Contemplating his options and repeatedly hitting brick walls of where he wanted to be, a particularly loud snuffle from the sleeping form broke him from his thought. Cub swatted at the air, an unusually savage expression on his face as he dreamt, and Gabriel couldn’t help but wonder why that never could come out in the living world. He heaved a sigh through ground teeth, looking between them. Both would be a loss.

“Tadpole,” he started, using the nickname that had first arisen as a taunt for Helen, turning towards her. He stopped though, a new idea blooming from the recesses of his mind. “Time for training,” he calls out, excited agitation creeping into his voice. “Let’s give the crowds something to watch while they wait.”

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch reaches down and picks up the feather, turning it over in front of his face. A whistle escapes his beak, just four notes.
What's this? What's this?
It's a rather nice color, truth be told. Klatch likes that he can see colors. He'd like to stay here and stare down at the pretty ones below, reflections off cars and windows. How nice. But nonono, no time for that now. There's a mystery that's cropped up right at his feet (both the most and least convenient place!). He thinks back to what he remembers. He's been here before, and around it most of the day, dropping off some of the shinies he thought deserved new owners. Minor day on the opposite end, besides his daily meal all he had to show for himself was a lonely half-dollar he'd need to polish up. Oh, but back to his apparent neighbor. He's been around and seen nothing, so what to do now? Check again, of course!
He stands up, balancing himself with his wings as he walks the ledge around the square of the building. What shall he find now? Just one little feather drop, could be a passing visit, a curiosity, a perch. Ooh, but another, that would mean a second trip, or a thorough look? Hmmm. He's not likely to find anything with such plumage at this time of day. The same shade that makes it safe from him to stand here without passerby below spotting him would keep them hidden, too. Still, no hurt in trying, right? Might as well make the effort, make his rounds.
I mean, it's not like he's got anything better to do. But time is time, and there's only so much in a day. If he can't turn anything up, he should head home to his hideaway soon. He'd like to get some sleep, and it's always unsafe, flying at night; you can just never see those antennas coming. He's certainly no bat. Kwah! he laughs at silly bats and their big, silly ears. Ah, yes, checking, back to that. Staying on track is probably preferable.

[babel_matrix]

The fluorescent lighting out in the hall, with all its charm, failed to invigorate Penelope after the unexpected hour of overtime. Where they had failed, and truly their failure was catastrophic, the sight of the least loyal household pet in Manhattan succeeded. "Stupid little--!" Penelope began to hiss as she closed the refrigerator. She had kicked off her shoes at the entrance, where she always left them, and now hovered over her kitchen sink, dress shirt unbuttoned at the top, while balancing on one foot. After a bit of stretching, she got a finger on the latch for the narrow window and released it. "You're lucky I don't throw anything away..." Penelope muttered as she pushed the window open. "... Wait, does cat food expire?" The cat didn't bother returning her gaze. Well, it was probably like milk, times a hundred: might not taste fresh, but it wouldn't kill the creature.

Looking at the ragged feline, Penelope concluded that if Spite survived whatever put her in that state, she'd survive a bowl of old chow. Once the "beloved" cat let herself in, (feral as she looked now, Penelope wasn't quite ready to try and grab or pet the thing,) Ms. Turner began to open empty cabinets on the hunt for the single bag of cat food. She got on her knees, scuffing her already ink-marked suit pants on the dirty, laminated floor. The breeze from outside was nice enough, and the window was far too narrow for a burglar to leap in and surprise her; these facts, combined with the fact that she was still saving up to get her A/C unit repaired, (and threaten a suit against the landlord for not paying for it himself, immediately,) kept the window open.

At last, stuffed under the sink, (isn't it bad to keep edible stuff in here?) Penelope found her prize: a rolled up, wrinkled bag of cat food, complete with a far healthier-looking cat's face on the bag and an "best used by" date that passed some months ago. With a prayer to no God in particular, Penelope poured Spite the stagnant meal.

[Valik Sparks]

GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV2KZPGUb9I)


As Klatch slinks around the ledge, teetering on the small rim, hundreds of feet off the ground, he walks step after step in perfect confidence, his taloned feet built for such precision movement, and his wings freeing his mind from the fear of falling.
The cityscape sweeps before him as he turns another corner, and the lights catch his eyes, growing ever-brilliant as the sky is enveloped in complete darkness. But as his gaze turns back to the ledge, and what lie ahead, his feet are stopped in their tracks, his body frozen with a sudden tension, eyes locked on one spot.

She is perched, crouched, at the tip of a gargoyle head, stretching out from the corner of the building, across the way from Klatch. Her form is small, frail, and mostly concealed...behind feathers. Her arms are wrapped around herself, and long feathers growing out from the pale skin drape against her, ruffling in the wind. They are black, with the same, subtle, violet sheen as the feather he'd spotted earlier. Her gaze is fixed ahead, face shadowed by locks of long, black hair. And beneath the curtain of feathers around her, scaley black toes with shining black talons grip the perch securely.
She stands. Slowly, stretching her arms out to either side. The feathers start just below her shoulders, and reach all the way to her wrists, turning her arms into capable instruments of flight, and her fingertips, while mostly human, are tipped with large, claw-like nails. At some point just above her knees, her human flesh is melded in a rather messy fashion -heavy scarring and discoloration- with the scaley black skin of a bird's legs; from the melding point down, her legs and feet are identical to that of a bird's. She even has tail feathers, protruding from a hole she must've had to cut into her clothes. She wears a strange outfit, a sleek, black top made of a reflective material, stretching down past her hips, donned with black shorts, and her body is decorated in angsty teenage accessories with lots of black and shiny silver metal, including bracers, a belt, a garter, and additional bands on her arms. It seems shinies are her thing too.

She turns her face towards the wind. She hasn't spotted Klatch, but he catches a glimpse of her eye, large, shining against the moonlight with its strikingly violet (http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/194/7/a/violet_the_harpy_by_valiksparks-d3pawr5.jpg) color. Then she tips forward...falling gracefully from the ledge, wings outstretched, she plummets downward for a few seconds before the updraft catches her feathers and she launches off into the night sky.



***


Helen's brow rose as she watched Gabriel intently. She seemed to be analyzing him, confused by the mixed emotions that had played across his face. But that confidence she was ever-familiar with was back, and she followed him without question out of the Stable and into the Ring.

There weren't a lot of spectators yet, but when she and Gabriel entered the ring, voices lowered, and heads turned. Everyone loved a good fight. Especially when a Monster was involved. Crowds had never been anywhere near this good when it was just regular humans pounding on each other.

Helen poised herself for the fight, pacing slowly around Gabriel as she watched him, wondering if he'd make the first move, but knowing in the back of her mind that she would have to. She let herself breathe for a few moments, preparing herself, then her eyes narrowed and her muscular legs tensed. She leapt, high and far, twirling in the air and sweeping a large, webbed foot at Gabriel's head.
He evaded. She knew he would. She wasn't throwing her best at him just yet. That was a warm up, and her momentum allowed her to pass him by and avoid any counterattack. She quickly launched a few more defensive attacks, watching Gabriel block and dodge them with ease. Then she turned up the heat.

Gritting her teeth, Helen sprung up and over Gabriel's head, landing on the elastic ropes at the edge of the ring, and using them to launch herself back with a massive amount of momentum backing her. She poised her body feet first as she shot through the air, and she twisted her torso, aiming one leg at Gabriel's neck, and the other at his back, attempting to catch him in a scissor lock, where she planned to use her powerful leg muscles to slam him brutally into the ground with just a twist of her hips.

It was well-devised...but Gabriel always had his surprises.


((The attack is enough to force Gabriel to actually exert himself and his fighting capabilities, so roll, with a target of 6, using Gabriel's Agility, or fighting skill, both D8; use your result to narrate battle. Using his fighting skill means he's blocking and counterattacking, which is a logical possibility against this kind of head-on maneuver. Otherwise, Agility would just be a dodge, and any further attack would allow Helen to take her own Agility roll to dodge -whereas a counter will deny her that.))



***


An initial rustling from somewhere outside caught Penelope's attention. But when she peered out the window. There was nothing. Not like rustling was enormously unusual. Could be anything.

When she scrounged up a meal for the disheveled cat, Spite aggressively launched into facial assault on the ancient grub, not looking at Penelope once, no meow of thanks, not even a purr to acknowledge his delight. She just ate away, like it was her property and her divine right to be served by this woman.

Then there was a knock at the door.

Penelope was halted by the suddenness of it. Receiving visitors was not exactly the norm...
When the confusion wore off and allowed her to move again, she came within sight of the entry door, only to find it swinging open, a young girl standing on the other side.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I just tried the handle and it was unlocked..."

That was a load of crap. A single woman living alone in the city of New York did not simply forget to lock her door when she came in for the night.

But the girl knew how to put on a show. Her soft, ivory cheeks were even blushing red as she gave a nervous smile. She wore a poofy brown cap on her head, pulled low at the back, over her ears; long bangs of red hair encased her face on either side. A pasty look to her skin was evidence of heavy makeup and her irises were yellow, with a thin, cat-like slit for the pupils. Her lipstick was a bold green. She wore a big coat overtop of a party skirt and flashy top, along with full stockings and huge combat boots, and her hands were covered by gloves.

"I was looking for my cat... I saw her jump through the window.." The girl kept up her smile and started pulling her hair through her fingers nervously.

[babel_matrix]

Ah, youth.

That might have been Penelope's usual train of thought upon seeing a girl with feline contacts and an original fashion sense. The fact that this lady was effectively breaking and entering put everything in a very different light, however, and Penelope wondered how she knew about Spite before seeing her. Finding the dress to be a bit too attention-grabbing for the common burglar, Penelope decided to humor her, all while moving towards her purse. The taser would serve well, too, but really she was just worried that girl was clever enough to steal small while talking big.

Plus, she wasn't about to wave a weapon at the girl's face just for this circumstance. What would that make her? A Conservative, most likely, and Penelope would have none of that, at least until the girl revealed something more dangerous than her ass-kicking boots.

"Really, now? Spite's been with you? Do you live in this building?" Penelope liked to believe she'd know such a unique-looking gal, particularly one who dressed like this on Mondays. Penelope found herself staring more at the girl's played-with hair than her eyes. Those contacts were damn impressive, no fifty-dollar cheap-o's from the sex toy shops around here, certainly. "She certainly doesn't look... well, she looks like she's been through Hell and back, to be honest."

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander groans at being woken, he rarely had good rest, but he had to get up at some point. He pushes the dog away long enough to sit up and takes a look at it. Someone's pet, better shoo him off. Too bad, he looks nice. Petting the dog, he rises and looks to the sky, Looks late enough to be up I guess He picks up his bag and starts to shoo the dog away when he hears the boy, Too late already, time to run

He darts off through the bushes opposite the direction of the boy, running without looking back. Hope he's satisfied with the dog, I'm starving

[Shadon]

Meeting her analyzing looks with a stone-cold one of his own, thoughts back under control now that he had a plan in mind, Gabriel quickly leads the way from the Stable. Moving through the crowds, he watches as they mostly part for them, easily pushing through where they don’t and offering a tight-lipped smile of apology as they pass. Nearing the ring, he motions for Helen to go in first. As she does, he reaches down and peels off the shirt he’s wearing, unwilling to get it possibly bloodied if he can avoid it, and hangs it over one of the poles marking the edges of the ring. Then, slowly getting his mind into focus, he slips between the ropes and drops into the ring, facing the frog-girl straight on.

Tracking her as she paces, the man easily falls into a readied stance, head turning slowly to match her movements. A small quirk from the corner of his mouth formed for a moment as he recognized that she was waiting, hoping he would make the first move. He shakes his head minutely. Nice try, Tadpole. I wouldn’t give you the pleasure, the phrase comes back from many of their training sessions where she’d tried the same thing. Alert, he quickly notices the muscles in her legs tensing and prepares for the incoming attack, quickly sidestepping as her foot comes launching towards his head. Spinning around, knowing there’s no way to get in a counter, he waits once more for her to come into range.

The small flurry of moves she throws his way are obviously to test him, see his defenses and get warmed up herself. He expects them, allows them, and blocks for the most part – though on one particularly sloppy one he strikes back, landing a solid but restrained blow against her abdomen. Pulling back, the fighter waits once more, noticing the change in her manner quickly. She was finally getting into the game. His lips tightened into a thin line as he really concentrated now, though his expression showed excitement. Time for things to get interesting.

The jump was sudden and the fighter lost track of his opponent for a moment, but the sound of her springing off of the ropes was a good way to pinpoint. Turning, his eyes focus on to the incoming attack, movements coming naturally as his mind barely has time to process what is going on. (1d8 = 1) Continuing in the turning motion, he brings an arm up, bent at the elbow, and crashes it into the crook of her leg behind the knee, effectively knocking her off-balance in the attack. Not waiting for her to have a chance to recover, Gabriel completes the spin and brings his other arm around, swinging down with fist, forearm, and elbow in a hammer-like motion across her upper thigh, using his superior weight and positioning to attempt a slam towards the ground.

[Deathkeeper]

A mystery solved, another opened. Klatch was very intrigued, very intrigued indeed. He wasn't so sure he liked the look of that girl. Somehow on folks like her it just seemed more apparent that there was something off about them. He really couldn't tell what it was. I mean, most people don't have talons, but he does, and very few people have a beak, but he does. He could at least say that those scars certainly weren't supposed to be there, so he has to be at least partially right, but he certainly can't judge more than that. It would just be rude.
But he can't let her get away, not when he has questions! He's suddenly very upset he doesn't have any loot to share today besides the coin, but he hopes she understands his present lack of suitable presents.
He takes a step back before lunging forward and diving off his perch, falling for a moment before snapping his wings open. He shouldn't have any trouble catching a draft and following her. She, on the other hand, probably won't have much trouble hearing him whistling again. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm2fA9atMNQ) He thought it was the best course of options, as shouting questions to strangers and saying nothing are both liable to get misinterpreted.

[Valik Sparks]

"Oh.. well see, I lost her..."

The girl sticks her finger against her lips and chews softly at the tip of her glove, where a nail might be, gazing at Penelope with astounding innocence. "A few days ago, she ran away. I put up posters all over, and finally someone called and said they thought they saw her near this building.. I came looking, and I saw her! But she looked really scared, and she ran when I came near, and climbed up to your window." Suddenly the girl stops, cocking her head. "Wait, Spite? You called her Spite? Is that her name? Was she your cat?" Casually stepping forward through the doorway, the girl kept talking, brow knit sympathetically. "I'm so sorry! I picked her up months ago, I didn't think she had an owner!"

She pauses, glancing around. "Mm.. I didn't even introduce myself.. Silly. I'm Ava." She extends her hand in a friendly gesture, yellow eyes flashing as she smiles warmly.



***


Helen gasps sharply as Gabriel easily catches her blow, then slams her leg and takes her straight to the ground. She lands with a heavy thud, body bouncing and rolling to the side, writhing. Her leg spasms and she grips it tightly, face contorting with pain as she seethes through clenched teeth. She rolls onto her back, gaping, eyes wide, but she knows she can't stay there for long. Gabriel wouldn't go easy on her, and if this was a real match, she might already have the opponent on top of her.

And so, despite the sharp pain coursing through her leg, Helen pushes herself from the ground and staggers back, limping, growling through her teeth. Then she charges. Keeping her injured leg back, she feints, dropping, sweeping her good leg at Gabriel's ankles, and continues the spin all the way around, following with two strikes towards his abdominal region as she rises back up.

But it was sloppy. Impaired by her aching thigh. And Gabriel hardly even needed to focus to evade her assault. And now he was ready to launch his own.


((Should Gabriel choose to attack, you'll use his D8 for fighting, and depending on your level of success, that will be the target for her dodge, but she may suffer additional penalties to her roll thanks to her bad leg, and/or the cleverness of Gabriel's attack.))



***


The Collie bolted after Alexander barking excitedly, panting as it kept up with his pace. When a moment of advantage came, it dashed around in front of him, leaping and barking happily, forcing him to skid to a temporary halt to avoid tripping over the ecstatic puppy.

"Rufus? Rufus! Where'd you go!" The boy calls in the distance. Alexander can faintly hear his footsteps as he pushes through the brush.. He's going off course. His steps shift from soft (grass) to scratchy (concrete). There's a bridge nearby going over a lake; he must've stumbled onto that.
A new scent catch's in Alexander's nose. Alcohol. And the stench of a man who's too familiar with grime and sweat, and not familiar enough with soap and breath mints.

"Hey, kid.. watcha doin' out here so late? You lost?" The new voice is thick, scratchy, matured. The young boy yelps with surprise. "Hey hey hey.." The smelly man continues. "Calm down, I ain't gonna hurt yah, be careful now or you'll--"

Frantic breathing, feet scuffing, stumbling, voice cracking nervously. Then a slip, a flop, a shriek, a splash. Thrashing, water roiling, choking, sputtering, crying out.. "HELP! HELLLP!" The boy gasps and chokes in the distance.

The man on the bridge makes no move to aid.



***


She glanced back once at the odd whistling tailing her. Then she did a double-take, eyes like saucers as she stared incredulously back at Klatch. Her mouth opened and closed, gaping like a fish out of water, before words finally managed to squirm out, choppy and stuttered. "Y-you're.. you're a.. No.. nononono.. You can't be here! You can't follow me! You, you, you can't! GO! GO AWAY! You can't be near me! Don't be near me! GO!"

She spun back around front, flapping harder, with added panic. She was fast. Perhaps faster than Klatch, but she didn't seem to know the city like he did. In an attempt to evade him, she dove between two apartments, gasping as she nearly clotheslined herself on, well, a clothesline. But as she ducked too sharply under the thin string, she careened to the side, knocking into a fire escape, but continuing on, flapping and wobbling in the air.

She continued to the end of the alley and sharply bolted around the corner. He heard her shriek. He knew that direction was a dead end, and he could hear her talons scraping against brick and her body knocking into the wall as she gave an exasperated, "OOF!"

[babel_matrix]

The girl laid it on thick, certainly, but Penelope had attended one-too-many fetish nights to immediately buy the sickening degree of innocence. Still, the girl could have been sincere in her words, and her apology was almost genuine save that she was using it to walk into Penelope's house, uninvited. This began to reek something awful, and Penelope knew it wasn't the cat using the previously-unoccupied litter box.

"You can call me Pen..." Penelope moved forward to intercept the girl as she entered, both to put a stop on the advance and to accept the handshake, keeping her fingers pointed to avoid a joint lock and poised to throw the girl in turn. Of course, nothing of this grip screamed offense to the casual observer; Penelope was only preparing herself because the door was left ajar, as if there for a quick escape, an accomplice's entrance, or worst. If she was shaking hands with Bonnie, she'd have her on her ass long before Clyde had a chance to jump her.

Her sensei might have been proud of the use of that particularly specific lesson on handshakes, if she had been able to pay for the last month of training.

As the two women met halfway, the light played on the girl's eyes in a manner that was too impressive. Penelope kept telling herself that they were the best damn contacts she had ever seen, Hollywood-grade stuff, while her instincts had her on edge with a different theory. It started to feel like she was being watched by some predator, invited into her abode... and she didn't even invite her in!

Trying to diffuse her base discomforts, she tried to withdraw her hand while continuing. "... to be honest, Spite's quite the free spirit." Certainly, open windows were no barrier to her adventures. "Um... I'm sorry I sorta had you taking care of her up until now, but I actually took quite a liking to her before she ran and got lost." Penelope thought about how to shoo away the girl. Money? Sure, if she had any to offer. Arrogant claims of ownership? Frankly, the girl had Spite longer than Penelope did, even if Penelope picked her out... Guilt? Claiming the cat ran away from her as proof of dislike was leaning too heavily on the psychology of a cat; it'd be easier to probe and decipher the thoughts of a schizophrenic. If that were easy, she and her neighbor would be best chums by now.

Penelope was growing increasingly aware of the awkward silence that she was leaving between them.

[Deathkeeper]

See? Now that's the exact thing he was trying to avoid causing. People can be just silly sometimes. Not to mention the whole "go away even though I won't give an explanation" is pretty much the least effective persuasion method ever devised. Klatch shook his head a bit as he winged his way into the alley from above. He hovers for a moment before dropping down, hanging by one hand from a nearby fire escape a short bit away from the girl. He thought she'd want her space after that outburst.
"Hey, you okay? That didn't exactly sound pleasant."
His voice sounds surprisingly normal considering he doesn't have any lips.

[Demented Dragon]

He skids to a halt a bit too late and stumbles over the Collie. Legs hurting, he groans, "Is this what humans train dogs to do? Don't you already have a friend?" Getting back up a bit wobbly on his feet, he hears the exchange and looks over to the bridge, Agh nononono, I can't get involved. If I yell they might look at me and then I'll be running all night. Maybe Rufus can- Alexander freezes at the sound of the kid falling into the water and then looks at Rufus, "Go get him! Go Rufus!" He grabs a nearby stick and throws it in the direction of the river, "Maybe you'll notice him now. And... save him or something?" Alexander whines, his isn't going well, what am I supposed to do?! Wavering indecesively for a moment he darts into some bushes to hide and watch, Maybe the man will go, maybe the kid will be grateful or they won't believe him.... He looks nervously from man, to dog, to boy, waiting for something to happen so he didn't have to be responsible.

[Shadon]

The normally sickening thud of flesh on earth, smacking against it in what could only bring agonizing pain to the recipient, brings a self-satisfied grin to the fighter’s face as he watches his trainee writhe on the ground. The contortion of pain on her face and the writhing of limbs, the anger that wells behind her eyes, the flash of hatred – hatred? Not in this one – all added to the welling of tainted joy Gabriel felt over the temporary victory. As she rolls over, he buries down the perverse pleasure that comes from pain and quickly moves back, giving her one small allowance while also helping assure he is in place for her next attack.

Assessing the situation of his opponent once she rises, he gives a low growl of his own, but for a much different reason – now that she was injured, at least sore from it, the practice would be much less engaging. From the beginning, they both knew the outcome, but the time it would last had probably just halved, in his favor. He restrained a sigh as the fingers of his right hand twitched, itching for a cigarette.

Rocking back on his heels as the frog begins her charge, he then drops a bit lower, hands brought up into a ready stance as he evades her attacks, snorting derisively at her feeble attempts. With an annoyed pang, though, he realizes the injury may be worse than he suspected, which would not bode well for future matches. Biting back ridicule at himself, with the assurance that it was good training for her, he catches her on the way back up, dodging first one way then the other to move from her attacks and coming in fast with a feint towards her head followed by an uppercut to the abdomen, restrained though to try and stop from seriously injuring her. (1d8 = 5)

[Valik Sparks]

Ava pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. Smiling as she shook hands with Penelope in the most pleasant manner -no attempted grabs or throws or wrist-breaking. Just a dainty shake of the hand. Though Penelope could feel something hard at the ends of her fingers, within the gloves; like nails. Long ones. Thick ones. Must be extensions.

After the warm handshake, Ava slowly stepped to Penelope's side, laying a hand lightly against her shoulder in a respectful manner as she very carefully took slow, timed steps forward, looking repeatedly back to Penelope and chewing at her lower lip.

"Mm.. um.. I.. understand.. that she was your cat and all. And.. and you can have her. I know what it's like. To lose an animal. I won't make you give her back. But do you think I could.. just see her? Give her a pet and a kiss, and.. say goodbye?" Ava smiled softly, fingers in her free hand fiddling awkwardly.



***


As Alexander peers out from the bushes, the scene becomes clear. The boy is still shouting, intermixed with choking and gurgling, as he thrashes about haplessly in the small lake. He clearly doesn't know how to tread water.
An older man with ragged clothes and a beard is leaning over the bridge, then looks around.. and then leaves. Quickly. Without another glance over his shoulder.
Rufus seems to recognize the cries of his master, and rushes over the waters edge, barking, and dashing back and forth.. rushing towards the water, but skidding and jumping back as soon as his paws get too deep. He yelps and whimpers, unfamiliar with the cold mass of wetness.

The boy goes under once. Then claws his way back to the surface, sputtering. Then he goes under again. Alexander recalls some information he read in a book once. It was about safety and whatnot. They say that once your head goes under the water three times... you're not just struggling anymore. You're drowning.

The boy's head slipped beneath the water for a third time.



***


When Gabriel charges, Helen's eyes go wide.. then sharply narrow. She spots the feint. Darting backward, she sinks into a full squat, winding up her long legs like a spring, and then leaps up, bringing her whole body high above Gabriel's fist. With a yell, she sharply snaps out her legs in mid-air and shoots down at Gabriel's upper body with a powerful downward drop-kick.

Her leg was flaring with pain, but she fought past it, and executed with motion with near perfection, making a counterattack by her opponent risky, as she was packing a lot of force behind the streamlined strike.



***


The violet-eyed girl flapped and clawed until she finally managed to snatch the top of the brick wall and haul herself up. She whirled half way around, staring at Klatch, shoulders bobbing with her frantic breathing.

"Run."

She spun back around and leapt from the wall, gliding low and fast through the next alleyway. Klatch might've moved to follow, but something small and glowing red flashed by in his peripheral and caught his attention for just a moment. Then he heard footsteps, moving fast, padded, surprisingly quiet. To his right. Then metallic releasing noises, which sounded much akin to multiple switch blades popping open. Further right, behind him. Then a sudden rush of wind, now to his left. Klatch found himself turning full circle, and yet not spotting the source of the--WHAM!

A figure (http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/196/b/6/assassin_by_pho3nix8000-d3rhmcx.jpg), clad in dark-colored, tight-fitting, body armor of a very solid material, slammed heavily and suddenly onto Klatch's back, tearing his grip from the fire escape and sending them both plummeting the few remaining feet to cold, hard, grimey ground.
Klatch's head had a jarring meeting with the asphalt, and his eyes watered, head spinning, body aching. He felt strong arms throw him over, onto his back, and the armored figure mounted him. The man's helmet fully covered his face, the armor was sleek, with many sharp ridges and points, and there was a glowing red visor where his eyes lay somewhere behind. On each of his forearms, three large, curved blades protruded, and he raised up a large knife in his hand, the thick steel glinting against the night sky.

Then he stopped. Suddenly frozen, gazing down at Klatch. Perhaps he was caught off guard by something. But whatever it was.. this was Klatch's only moment of advantage.

[babel_matrix]

Alright, she had to draw the line somewhere. As the sparse furniture and occasional boil in the paint on the walls would attest, she didn't entertain house-guests too often. In an attempt to return the girl's gesture, she turned to keep facing her, placing her own hand on the girl's leading shoulder, forceful enough to both imply and enforce denial of entry. "Hey now. Sure, I see nothing wrong with that, but if you come in now she'll fly out the window again. Wait in the hall for a minute while I spruce the place up." And close all the windows.

If allowed, Penelope closes the door, locks it again, and takes her purse with her as she begins closing and locking all the windows, checking on Spite, and preparing for the oddball waiting outside. Much as her gut told her to get rid of the girl as quickly as possible, it felt unforgivably cruel to not even let her say goodbye to the ungrateful beast she kept alive all this time. Given these allowances, and after hiding her purse under the sink while pocketing her taser, Penelope goes back to the door to invite the girl in properly.

[Shadon]

Eyes following as she leaps, a sort of thin pride surges through Gabriel at the near-perfectly executed attack done while in pain. Letting his fist continue forward, he allows his weight to pull him forward and into a roll to drop under her attack, trying to dodge her. (1d8 = 2) Assuming it works, he goes upright again and quickly turns to face her, choosing not to counter but to gain range instead, moving backwards quickly so that she has to make the first move again, into his territory. Settling into a comfortable position, balling and unballing his fists to test for movement, he then raises one hand and beckons her closer, taunting.

“C’mon Tadpole, is that all you’ve got? Don’t tell me all of this training has been wasted on nothing. Show me your best, give me your best shot,” the words come out laced with mocking, one of his usual forms of goading during a training session. Following speaking, he gives a sideways wink to the gathered crowd, hoping to keep the attention on them for a while longer. Quickly though, he returns to looking at his opponent and pupil, assuming she’ll take the split second advantage, and ready for whatever onslaught she’s prepared.

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch's first instinct is to just hit him, but that wouldn't work. Armored helmet, weak forearms, it just wouldn't go well. But Klatch is light and maneuverable, and that's his one edge when someone grapples him. Pressing his legs and inverted knees as close together as possible, he pushes one arm off the ground and uses the other to loosen the man's free arm's pressure on him. Pumping his wings at the same time, he's trying to simply propel himself backwards out of the man's grip and up enough to stand before taking off. (d6 = 2)
If successful, Klatch can ascend very rapidly over the wall or rooftops.

[Valik Sparks]

Ava gave not a single protest to Penelope's wishes, and she quietly stepped out the door, smiling, and waiting patiently as Penelope went about her series of tasks and precautions.

Upon reopening the door, Ava stepped back in, still smiling and softly said, "Thank you," before walking with measured steps down the entry hall, glancing back at Penelope and pausing, allowing herself to be lead to the cat in the kitchen, still digging intensely into the bowl of stale food.

"Awwwww.." Ava squatted down and sifted her fingers through Spite's fur, making a cooing noise and giving unintelligible utterances. "Poor thiiiinnnnggg.. She's such a cutie. I'm gonna miss her." She looked up at Penelope. "But I'm glad she found her home! This cat's life would make a lovely book don't yah think?" Ava stood up and leaned back against the kitchen sink, giggling.

"Well, thank you so much, Pen." As Ava leaned forward, Penelope caught a glimpse of her arm moving in a strange way behind her back, against the sink -and did the cabinet door below just move?- then as Ava turned, she seemed to be keeping her bicep tight against her side. "It was lovely meeting you!" She strode for the door, looking back to wave at Spite. "Bye bye, Spite!"



***


The armored assailant stumbled back, nearly falling over as Klatch wrenched himself backwards and flapped his way off the ground. The man dropped into a battle-ready stance and looked up at Klatch, but he didn't move. He yanked his head away, swearing harshly, muffled by his helmet. But Klatch could pick up the next few words he hissed out.

"That's the wrong one..."

The attacker looked at Klatch, tossed his knife up, catching it by the blade, then hurled it. It flew right past Klatch's face, with less than an inch to spare. "Get the *@&% out of here." The man growled.

From his vantage point, flapping his way higher into the air, Klatch could see a church in the distance, and in the direction the violet-eyed bird-girl flew. Something about the bell tower at the top just said "roost".



***


When Gabriel turned his eyes from the crowd and back to the fight, Helen was already in full sprint. Naturally, she would take any advantage she could. She learned from the best.
She had one card left up her sleeve. A maneuver that often gave her an edge in battle. But she hated using it. It left a bad taste in her mouth.

Leaping forward with all the tenacity of an enraged frog, Helen dove and spun over Gabriel's head, landing behind him, facing his back, and then letting her jaw fall wide open. Out came a powerful instrument of grapple. Her tongue. Long, thick, sticky, and strong, it snapped forth with lightning speed. Even as he tried to dodge, the tongue had more than enough length to correct its path and reach its target, coiling three times around Gabriel's neck.

Helen then yanked her head back and retracted her tongue, trying to knock Gabriel off his feet, pull him towards her, and into her clutches.

[babel_matrix]

How did she--? She isn't really--? Penelope's brain wasn't really completing thoughts at the moment, but the fact that the girl almost certainly just rummaged under her sink, and now stashed the only valuable thing that was under there, hit home quite well. Trusting that the girl wouldn't try to steal cat food, she was apparently making off with her purse. Eyes narrowed, Penelope sighed while glaring at Ava. It didn't even cross her mind that the girl could be under so many layers because she might be homeless. If Ava was homeless, this would be the second time Penelope invited an unfortunate soul into her humble abode only to get robbed.

"Do I look high to you right now?" She wasn't; her office drug-tested and pot got too expensive roughly two years ago. Turner's voice was low and serious, her body falling into a stance to intercept any sudden movements to get out of the kitchen. "Drop the f#$%ing bag and I won't even think about calling the cops."

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch flinches visibly, but otherwise isn't too bothered by the fact that his face was almost impaled. He's tempted to go pick up the large knife, but he'd prefer not to land and look for it. He mutters aloud, but probably not loud enough for his opponent to hear as he makes his exit.
As you command, it shall be done, Shredder. Kwee! he laughs a bit at his joke, which really wasn't that funny. Still, when you spend enough of your time eavesdropping on families you learn about a few toys. Some of which he remembers for having a thing for blades.
Regardless, he trusts his instincts for stuff like this and heads toward the bell tower.

[Demented Dragon]

He can feel his heart beating, watching the man walk away and whines Why couldn't he just fix his own mess? .

After a long moment of stillness as he watches Rufus stop at the river and the kid go under one last time, Alexander suddenly bolts from the bushes and runs to the river, I can't believe I'm doing this

Tossing his bag at the edge he dives in to save him. He resists the urge to step back at the feeling of the cold water, Ugh I knew there was a reason I never tried this. Jumping into the river in an instant he tries to get used to the new sensation This is not comfortable, but I think I can stay up. Swimming(1d10 = 4) to the kid he grabs him as best he can and tries to pull him back to the shore.


I assumed I needed a check for swimming and assumed strength, will change if needed.

[Valik Sparks]

Ava froze, staring. Her eyelashes batted as she looked into Penelope's eyes, and she touched her fingers to her chest in the most innocent of manners. "What...?" She turned fully towards Penelope... and then lifted her arms. Nothing fell out. She even took the sides of her coat and pulled them open. There was no purse, nothing tucked under her arms or against her sides or in her clothes. "I'm so sorry..." Ava said, pursing her lips for a moment. "I didn't mean to upset you. You must be awful worried, having a stranger in your home..."

She slowly began to step backwards, towards the door. "I'll leave you alone now, I promise. I'm sorry for the intrusion. I hope your cat doesn't run away again." She gave a sweet smile.



***


As Klatch leaves the scene, the armored man does not follow, nor is even a sound heard as he vanishes into the night.
Swooping into the bell tower and landing neatly within the rafters, Klatch's eyes begin to adjust to the darkness with a few blinks. He hears the cooing of sleepy pigeons, and then spots a huddled shape, on the next ledge over, looking out towards the city. Then, as it shifts, he spots the sleek black legs, the dark feathers with the violet sheen, and the glassy purple eyes, one hidden behind a cascade of dark hair, as she turns, looking right at Klatch. She blinks once, staring.

"You're... you're alive..?"



***


The cold, liquid substance that is water surrounds Alexander, molding to his form, and dragging against his limbs as he fights through it, causing a sensation like it wanted to pull him down to its depths. He now had a better understanding of the boy's plight, and Rufus' hesitation.
As he grabbed him, the boy frantically clambered onto Alexander's back, wrapping his arms around his neck, pushing his weight down on the wolf-man in an attempt to keep his own little head above the water.
The panicky movement was extremely detrimental to Alexander's swimming capabilities, but the shore wasn't far, and though his head was pushed below the surface multiple times, and water slipping up his nose caused a terribly uncomfortable burning feeling, and he was choking and sputtering on the liquid that attacked his throat...he made it.

Limbs aching from the strenuous fight with the killer body of water, Alexander dragged himself ashore. The boy flopped onto the ground, on his back, mouth agape, coughing and choking. Rufus yelped and went in circles around his master, repeatedly stopping to lick the child's face. The boy's head lulled side to side, then his eyes fluttered open. He stared. "R-Rufus... why are there.. two of y--..?" He blinked. Rubbed his eyes. Then sat up straight, gaze widening, mouth hanging open dumbly. "Whaaa..!?" He stared at Alexander.

"A werewolf!"


((Normally, unless a character is specifically bad at swimming, I'd say no check needed, unless the conditions are strenuous. Though I didn't know that Alexander had no swimming experience XD, so good to make that a die roll in that case.))

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch provides a sweeping bow. "But of course, Madam. You expected any less of me?" He's mimicking a gentleman he remembers from a film he saw by looking through someone's window (d8=2)
...
Okay, even he knows that's a little creepy.
Anyway, he pauses for a second before going over and crouching down near her. He gives her a serious look, this time talking in his normal voice, which actually sounds somewhat normal, if a bit scratchy.
"He's looking for you, not me. I'm fine. Any reason in particular you've got a guy dressed straight out of a comic book on your tail? "
He keeps looking at her, although he changes the angle somewhat in that jerky movement that birds do.
He decides not to go into detail. He's not particularly good at reading people, but he can tell she'd rather not hear that he only got away because the guy really wasn't trying at all and then almost impaled him just to send a message.

[babel_matrix]

OOC: If at any point the purse is not there, or something from the purse is missing, this dialogue gets cut-off for obvious reasons.

Unsatisfied, Penelope marched towards Ava and the cabinet as she held her jacket open. "Then why the heck are you rummaging through my-" Penelope opened the cabinets wide, spotting the purse. "- ... kitchen?" Hearing Ava's comments, Penelope sighed while checking her possessions. "C'mon now, no more games. I don't get alot of strangers who go sperlunking into my cabinets..."

[Shadon]

The frog moved fast, really fast, that was one of her strong points. Gabriel couldn’t follow as she moved and leapt, only knowing one moment she was in front of him and the next, something was coiling around his neck. Something sticky and taut. Damn girl, no tongue, he growled inwardly to himself, though he would have chuckled at his own joke if he weren’t currently being choked and reeled backwards. Stumbling backwards, he can feel the amphibian’s presence looming behind him, something that took him some time to get used to sensing with no body heat to base his guessing from.

Struggling only minimally against the restraint, enough to hopefully give off the illusion of effort, the fighter knows there’s nothing he can do to stop himself from being pulled back at this point and instead bides his time, even as the edges of his vision begin to grow hazy. Being pulled back at a quick speed, when he feels her body close enough behind him the fighter steps back with one foot heavily to try and land on her own bare one, as well as throwing his weight backwards in an attempt to take her to the ground. Hopefully, this will leave her prone as well as causing her to reflexively pull back the tongue, if not stun her as well. (1d8 = 3)

[Valik Sparks]

"What?? I didn't go rummaging through anything! I would never!" Brow raised, mouth agape, eyes wide, she was the picture of disbelief. As Penelope bent over in front of the cabinet and yanked open the doors, Ava quickly slid towards the exit, keeping her back to the doorway, face towards Penelope, and taking small steps backwards, hands still held up in a submissive manner.

But something caught Penelope's eye.

Even though it was small, distorted, distant.. that chunky gold doorknob had a pretty clean reflection, and as Ava moved closer.. there was definitely something off. There seemed to be a...bulge, at her backside, beneath the coat. Like something was stuffed back there. Yet strangely it was able to maintain a stable position around her middle back even as she moved.



***


The girl flinched, shifting away at first when Klatch started to advance, but she stopped, allowing him to come beside her, but not too close. She sat very hunched, shoulders high, wrapping her arms around her knees and cocooning herself in feathers.

"I.. I didn't know there were others. Like me. Like you. I mean, I thought, maybe...but I've never seen any.." She stared at Klatch's face, the big violet eye glinting with wonder. Then her brow sunk with concern and she looked away. "But then.. I don't understand.. Why didn't Razor go after you? And how did you get here? How did you get out?" She blinked, looking back at Klatch, staring.

"You did.. get out.. right?"



***


Gabriel's heel connected sharply with Helen's oversized, webbed foot. She yelped, nearly biting her own tongue, and the sticky, saliva-coated grip loosened just barely. She had intended on grappling him from behind, but before she could get her arms into position, he was already throwing himself right into her.
His back slammed into her chest, and her small frame was taken off the ground, she hit the floor, Gabriel landing harshly on top of her.

Helen's tongue retracted as she gagged and choked, unable to properly vocalize the pain she felt thanks to his hefty weight crushing down on her lungs.
Gabriel was free, able to peel himself off the dazed Helen with ease, and reposition for a counterattack--

"GABE--! Uh, riel! GABRIEL!"

He knew that voice. A short, stocky man with an ugly, worn golfer's cap, and equally shabby trench coat, pushed his way through the small crowd that had gathered to watch the fight. He had an aged, weathered face, with bushy eyebrows and a mouth that seemed permanently turned down, but now, his dull gray eyes were widened with a rare excitement.
It was Seymore Bragg, a cranky old Scott with a love for the spirits and a major grudge. He had beef with Al. It was one of Al's Monsters that put Seymore out of the fighting business a couple years back; bit of foul play considering that Seymore wasn't ready for it, and hadn't ever fought the bestial kind. Seymore's convinced that Al purposefully instructed the Monster to disable him, not kill him, just to take a stab at his pride. In any case, Seymore now has legs full of metal bolts and bars that will never work the same, and tend to give him a lot of pain that he loves to gripe about. But the one thing he loved more than griping and drinking, was getting back at Al. And the best way he could do that was by offering tips and information to Gabriel, to help him rise in the ring, and force Al down from his pedestal.

Seymore hurried over to the ring's edge, beckoning repeatedly for Gabriel with growing impatience. "Hey!" He hissed. "I got somethin'... One a' my boys, he just contacted me.. We got a Sighting. Not far. Central Park. If yah get your arse movin', I'll bet ye can nab it and bring it on over before the fights get started! Yer roster's low lad, I wouldn't let this one slip." He grinned, showing off the mix of blackened and yellowed teeth -those that still remained anyways.

[Deathkeeper]

There's a chunk missing from that question.
"Out of where, exactly?"
Klatch turns his head to the side, perplexed. He doesn't remember anything about people needing to come out of places, and she's certainly not talking about just now because he was just outside. Except the place where women go to have their kids but he's pretty sure she's not talking about hospitals.
"I've just been out here, in the city, for as long as I can remember. Just me, and the generic people, and a few other different folk. They don't talk to me, though. So few give me the chance. And sometimes they do but it would be a bad time because just walking up to someone and starting to talk is kinda rude and the beak sort of freaks people out and-
She may need to stop him.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope had to move and think fast, and she was pretty good at doing one of those at a time. Unfortunately, she tried both, and the intent to come off as non-threatening fell before her more honest instinct. She was damn near menacing in her approach, half a snarl already working its way on the left side of her mouth.

"Well, I guess you wouldn't," Penelope started, noting the trick of the eye in what she was seeing in the reflection of the doorknob. Regardless of how the bag was actually stuffed behind the girl, that was most certainly her stolen bag. She stepped forward a bit too hastily, her hands raised a bit too far from her hips. She was ready to throw this girl down and get the bag herself if need be.

Ava, if that was really her name, had a chance to come clean. Now, Penelope would just have to get her bag back herself. Penelope throws her hands up, ready to grab the lithe thing--

[Shadon]

As soon as the tongue goes slack, Gabriel rolls off of the frog and pushes himself up, quickly readying to throw another attack. His head whipped around when his name was called though, and the fighter held up a hand - signaling for an end to the training. Ignoring Seymore's summons for a second, he looks down, checking over the amphibian for any major injuries that would keep her out of a fight. Once satisfied, he turns to the other man, allowing her to get up and brush off herself and her pride on her own time.

"A sighting?" Gabriel repeats back to the older man, leaning against the railings and looking out at him, catching his breath between words. "This isn't like that time you had a Sighting and it turned out to be a pigeon, is it?" His eyes narrow in a mixture of mock- and real-suspicion, but he gives a nod as the details are given. "I'll head over as soon as I lock the tadpole up, thanks. I'll get him good for you tonight, yeah?" He knocks his fists against the railing and turns back, collecting his fighter and bringing her back to the cage.

After securing her in, he makes a quick stop by his locker to grab a new shirt, and then heads out of the club. Making his way back towards a more lively part of the city, the man finds his way to a main street and hails a cab, giving out his destination and a large sum of money up-front with the instructions to find their way there fast.During the ride, he leans back against the worn seat, staring up at the ceiling of the vehicle as his heart beats out a fast rhythm in his chest. Adrenaline was still thrumming through his veins, wiring his senses to hyperactivity and making it impossible for him to relax and take stock, see what injuries he had sustained that would last more than a few hours of pain.

When the cab pulls to a stop, Gabriel runs out, having already paid, and makes his way into the park, all senses on high for the normal tells of a monster sighting.

[Valik Sparks]

As Penelope approached with the subtlety of a killer with knife in hand, Ava's wide-eyed, innocent expression sharpened into a glare. Her eyes narrowed, the slit-pupil shrinking thin as her yellow irises flashed with irritation. "It just had to be one of the paranoid ones didn't it..." She muttered, freezing in her tracks and lowering her hands.

She stared at Penelope. Then she lunged. Her lips peeled back, and she moved with surprising speed, throwing a hand at Penelope, swiping at her shoulder with... Claws. Thick, black claws tore through the fingertips of Ava's gloved hand, and aimed to tear across Penelope's tender flesh.

(Agility roll, target of 6, to avoid Freddy Krueger slash)



***


"The Lab..."

She said quietly, distantly, cutting off Klatch's ramblings without entirely meaning to. She looked at him, staring. "Isn't that.. where you came from? Don't you remember..? The bright lights... steel walls.. the.. the tools, and needles and sounds and.. pain." She flinched, shaking her head quickly and looking away.

"They didn't strap me in tight enough.. I got out. I can barely remember how.. I just.. I can't go back. I'm.. terrified. And that man.. they call him Razor. He's been hunting me. For days.. I don't even know how long it's been. Just.. running.. every day.." The fellow feathered creature gave Klatch a curious look. "I don't understand.. You look.. like me. I mean sort of.. but.. you're.. allowed to be free...? I don't understand.."

After a long pause, she softly said, "My name's.. Violet. I know that much. I don't know much. But I know that much."



***


Bolting through the eerie dark of Central Park after sundown, Gabriel found nothing but grass and trees and a couple making out on a bench. Until he ran into what could accurately be described as.. a hobo.
The man was short and round, with a terribly scraggly, dirty beard, and ancient, smelly, worn clothes. He smelled like alcohol.

"Hey! Hey! Yer the fighter guy right! 'Ahm one a' Seymore's coooontacts!" He drawled the word like it was some kind of fancy title that required emphasis. "Mm, 'ahm the one who called, yes I did. I spotted one of 'em! A Monster! Is' like a big an' scary like.. Mean face and claws, teeth real good too. What like a big 'ol wolfman somesuch. Mhm. He's uh.. he's by the lake that thar..." The man waved his arm around drunk-like, then finally rested in one spot, pointing on down a path. Then he looked at Gabriel, stuck out his hand, and made the universal thumb-rubbing-fingers sign of a man who expected some extra sugar for his coffee.

[Demented Dragon]

Coughing and gasping for air, Alexander kneels on the shore for a while and shivers uncomfortably. Well I'm alive and wet, just need to stay that way. Alive that is. After a quick shake he grabs his bag and looks at his fur sadly Bit wet for reading tonight I think. He turns to face the kid cautiously, ready to flee at the usual reaction to his appearance Wait for it... And hey wait I don't look like a *dog*! When the kid reaches the conclusion of 'werewolf' Alexander grabs his bag and sprints as quickly as possible, Knew it

As he gets closer to the edge of the park to move on to safer places with few humans and no kids he slows down a bit Humans, always the same reaction. Even the kids. Even the kids you SAVE

(OOC: Sorry for the long time guys, was fairly busy the past couple of days since the forums came back)

[Deathkeeper]

If she lets him Klatch will scoot over and put a hand on her shoulder. He's not great with people, but he's pretty sure that's what you're supposed to do. He's pretty sure he's older than she is. He's definitely larger. And that means he has to be the big brother here. And nestmates don't let each other get all sulky. Even if they're competing for fo- wait, no, that's eagles. Scratch that last part.
That's all you need to know. It's almost all I know. Over a decade and a half, no past, just scrounging for food and things to know. I don't always understand things, but that's not something to focus on. Focus on anything, but not on pain. After all, of the two of us you're the one who can smile.
He pauses for just a second.
Oh, right. I'm Klatch. Almost forgot.
His "oh" was more of a coo, but regardless.
He supposes that he must have come from some sort of lab if she did. If he was normal, he'd have seen people like him. Somewhere. Anywhere. But he doesn't. Just a few folks scared out of their minds, hiding, crazy, or all three. That's not normal. So that means he might have had some sort of story like that. He certainly would have remembered having, *ahem* flown the coop the way Violet did. So maybe they just kicked him out as a hatchlling. Wouldn't be the first time. Actually, that would make it the first time, but still...

[babel_matrix]

Penelope was already set for a rough'n'tumble, and unconsciously slid her feet as the strike came, following her sensei's constantly-drilled first step in self-defense: get the Hell out of the way. Her eyes went wide when her mind caught up with what she had just evaded: the huge black claws, animalistic and unsheathed through those gloves, the way the woman's lips peeled back, her stance and agility... realization slowly soaked into Penelope, shattering the world as she knew it before her eyes--

This crazy hobo tied animal claws to her fingers to mug people!

Aware of how dangerous the more tried-and-true grapples would be against such a foe, she sunk and ducked in deep, her left hand wrapping around Ava's forward foot while simultaneously rocking all the kinetic force of her body into a downward punch into Ava's gut. Kibisu gaeshi without a gi was a risky maneuver... when you weren't willing to punch a person in the intestines at an angle with several hundred pounds per square inch. Penelope exhaled with the strike, and inhaled as she withdrew almost a full foot, Ava's shin in her grasp, with the full expectation of Ava's back and, with any luck, skull cracking on her floor.

Pen didn't even consider that her phone and other possessions were still back there.

[Shadon]

Used to this type of company by this time in his life, Gabriel is able to push away any vestigial thoughts of repulsion from the dirty little man, stopping and letting his arms drop to his sides, hands closed somewhat. "Yeah, that's me," he replies warily, watching the fidgeting hobo as he talks. A wolfman? Big claws, sounds like a real tough one...this could be something I need. Gabriel gives the man a tight-lipped grin, looking down the path. "Thanks," he adds belatedly as he reaches into his pocket and draws out some spare cash, putting it into the expectant hand. "Call Seymore if you hear anything else, 'lright? I'll give you double next time if this one's good."

With that, he starts off at a brisk walk down the way, relaxing into a guise of 'late-night wanderer' as he begins his search for the wolf.

[Valik Sparks]

The yellow eyes went wide. The open jaw fell slack. The entire musculature went tense, desperately trying to reverse its momentum, escape the position Ava had just thrown her body into. But there was no way out now.

Penelope's fist sunk deep into Ava's gut, and the air was blasted out of her lungs as she gave a wheezing cry of pain. Ava's body felt surprisingly durable against the brutal hit, but nonetheless, she was sent careening into the floor. Penelope caught sight of something flickering out from the not-so-innocent house guest's mouth. Her tongue.. but it seemed.. just a little too long, and...forked? But in an instant, it was gone, and Ava's body was crashing against the floor with a painful thud and crackling noise. She tried to keep her skull upright, but the whiplash forced her head down, and she mopped the floor with the side of her face, an odd scraping sound ensuing.
Ava's coat was thrown open from the motion as well, and something came wriggling out from behind her... It was long, green, shimmering as the light struck it. A tail. A long, scaly, reptilian tail protruding from Ava's lower back, now writhing against the floor. And low and behold, wrapped around the tail was Penelope's missing purse.

Ava sucked in desperate breaths of air, her back arching, eyes squinted with pain, and an eerie, inhuman hissing noise escaping from her open jaws. As she turned her head side to side, light glistened against partially visible green scales on her cheek. A smudge of thick make-up was left on the floor, where she'd hit her face.



***


Violet eyed Klatch warily, but allowed him to place his hand on her shoulder, even seeming to relax as he did so. She watched him as he spoke, then looked away, pale cheeks tinting just slightly red at his last mention. A soft, brief laugh escaped her mouth and a small smile forced it's way onto her face.

"Thank you.. Klatch." Her gaze drifted out to the cityscape. "I can't believe you've lived here so long, all by yourself.. like this." She gave a glance between them, particularly at all the feathers. There was a moment of silence as her gaze held longingly on the night sky. Her clawed fingers brushed gently against his arm. "Come on.. let's fly." She flashed a small smile, then stood precariously on her scrawny bird-toes, stretched out her feathered arms, and fell into a swan dive from the steeple tower.


The fresh air was good for any bird. The wind sifting between and through their feathers was soothing; and there was nothing quite like slapping gravity in the face.
As Violet lead the way, Klatch watched the scenery below him shift from shining metal buildings to flourishing greenery. Central Park. Sadly its visual appeal was not always matched by its olfactory offerings. The thick scent of alcohol wafted up into the keen bird's-nostrils set in Klatch's beak. There was another smell too...something like..wet dog.

Violet slowed suddenly, arcing to the side and swooping into a wide circle, her gaze trained on the ground below. A dark shape was moving, fast. Then it halted. As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting cast from the full moon above, Klatch could make out a strong, hunched form. Thick hands and feet, claws, a warped face with a snout, fur covering the entire body, and pair of ears...ears like a dog. Or a wolf.

Then, suddenly, there was rustle in a bush a ways behind the wolf-man. Then a muted popping sound. The wolf flinched, giving a quiet, garbled yelp, like a surprised dog.



***


Alexander heard the slight rustling in the bushes, somewhere behind him, but it was too late. By the time he heard the muted pop that followed, the pin-prick sensation was always already stinging in his thigh. A small, silver dart with a red tuft of fur was stuck securely in his leg. He could feel heat spreading from his leg through his body, and his head was already feeling light.

His heart rate began to climb on instinct, but he knew how this worked. He'd read about it...somewhere. When an animal was hit with a sedative, its instinct to fight or flee actually worked in the hunter's favor, because the exertion and the adrenaline helped the drugs move faster through the target's system.
So if he exerted himself and allowed his adrenaline to spike, he could collapse any second. But if he didn't run.. then what could he do?

And what's more, there was a new scent nearby. Just a human, likely male from the smell of the perspiration. He had smelled it earlier, while running, but it wasn't of consequence. The problem now was that this was the same smell...and it was coming towards him...quickly.


Gabriel swept out of the darkness like a wraith, emerging from the foliage and into Alexander's direct line of sight. His movement was hastened by the pop of the silenced weapon, which could very well mean competition for him.

The stone-cold gaze of the hardened pit fighter met with the snouted face of the monstrous walking wolf.


Klatch and Violet circled the scene far above, silent, and at least so far, invisible witnesses to the impending showdown.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope had already recovered to stand over her opponent, ready to withdraw from any other swipes of the person's makeshift weapons. As the coat fell away and Penelope absorbed the sight before her, it slowly came to mind that the claws were not tied or glued on at all. The tail, wagging the bag safely away from the impact of the floor, moved too fluidly, to in-tune with Ava's body to be another fake appendage. There, on the mostly bare (and slightly dirty) living room floor, was the last piece of the masquerade now broken: the heavy smear of make-up, a patch of a fluid mask that once hid the scaled flesh now apparent on Ava's twisted, inhuman face.

Aha, so she did have my purse! came the triumphant, matter-of-fact cry of the tiniest voice in the sea of screams and gasps in Turner's brain. Penelope intended to get down to the floor and grapple the enemy, getting her purse and kicking Ava out once and for all. But her body couldn't advance on the thing that had dropped its charade. Instead, with her guard up and her body hesitant to advance, Penelope half-whispered the only thing she could muster. "What... what the Hell..." The perverse anatomy, the effigy of both a human and beasts known to her, drew Penelope's eyes away from Ava's glare. "... are you?"

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch circles, watching. His brain has immediately switched to tactical mode. Which really just means he's trying to sound like they do in movies. He speaks quietly,
One or two humans, one wolf. Let them have it out before we go in. I don't want to know what they plan on doing with him. Stay out of sight.
Klatch's plumage and dark jeans should keep him from being seen against the night sky, but Violet's lighter skin may make it a bit harder for her.

[Demented Dragon]

Can't run... Alexander turns towards the bushes while pulling out the dart and trying to remain calm. Why did I even bother for a human. I just get this for it He breathes slowly, trying to be ready to confront whatever might come out of those bushes next. Maybe if I beat him, if I go out I might recover first

He looks warily to the side at the new scent, Could be nothing. Or maybe they'll fight. Just need to keep calm and see what happens He tenses involuntarily, stressed at the encounter though he still tries to keep calm. He snarls, "Come on out and tell me what you want. This doesn't have to be violent" though everything about him says otherwise. His posture, his eyes, his tone.

[Valik Sparks]

"Just like the rest of them."

Another scratchy hiss escaped Ava's lips as she peeled her back off the ground and hoisted herself upright, face still tight and wincing with pain. Her tongue hung lazily out of her mouth, the forked tips flickering against her shiny, green-painted lips. Her yellow eyes gazed fiercely at Penelope.

"I've seen that look more times than I care to remember. What am I... heh.." She bit the finger of her already-torn glove, tearing it from her hand, and she shrugged off the loosened coat. More scales sparkled in the light. Just below her shoulders, the pale flesh was speckled at first with little green scales, amassing more further down, to the point her entire forearms and hands were indistinguishable from the scaly green flesh of a lizard. "You ask it, but you already answer yourself in your head..."

"Monster," she spat. "Thing."

She rose to her feet, a little wobbly, but defiantly composing her injured body. She kicked off one boot, then the other. They were oversized for a reason. Her feet as well were fully scaled, and grossly malformed; a thick, enlarged, animalistic shape, split into three giant toes sporting dagger-like claws. "TAKE A GOOD $#&%@^% LOOK!" She swept her hands angrily across her face, smearing away the makeup in a messy fashion, revealing a breakout of scales that spread from the back of her neck to her cheeks, and even some on her forehead.

Ava (http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs6/i/2005/039/3/6/Waithing__Xynovia_by_oragie.jpg) stood rock solid, bearing down on Penelope, glaring, lips peeled back to show gritted teeth...


...and a flicker of pain in her eyes.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope slowed her breath and calmed herself manually as the creature spoke. Despite the hostility in Ava's throat, it seemed she was in a talking mood, and that gave Penelope's mind time to cope with the unknown. The facts were made clearer with every shedding of a piece of clothing, and Penelope was growing more alarmed that the girl might strip nude in her apartment. A fair part of Penelope knew it was bizarre in the extreme to slowly come to terms with reptilian humanoids yet stand steadfast against brazen nudity.

As Ava shouted the invitation to take the good luck Penelope had been doing this entire time, her words finally processed in Penelope's heart. Ava clearly switched gears from acting innocent to instilling shameful, prejudiced guilt of the most unique sort.

It was working.

"Hey! Well, I mean, I was expecting skin condition or... something... But there's no such thing as monsters! You're talking, thinking... sapient! That's the word. So you're obviously a person, so... yeah. We'll go with person for now." Penelope raised an eyebrow, but she kept her guard up just in case. "And hey, that still doesn't excuse stealing my purse! I don't care if you grow ten heads and breathe fire, my rent is overdue and I need to do groceries tomorrow!" Not that Ava likely cared. Being a lizard-person, and all. Dammit, Pen, that's racist! .... Wait, is it? Yes, yes, now stop being an idiot. "... There must be a way to deal with this that doesn't involve a scene out of Buffy, nor me losing my home." Unintentionally implied, of course, was that Penelope was Buffy, and she was so going to kick Ava's ass in that event. Wait, isn't that also racist? Shut up, Pen.

[Shadon]

Dashing into the clearing, Gabriel is quick to pull to a stop, watching as the wolf-man in front of him yanks the dart out of his side. Likely it is competition, then. Or some poor sap from animal control that's gotten in way over his head. Listening to the freak's words, the fighter puts on his mask of a smile, eyes blazing as his face remains passive. The words may be calm, but the beast isn't. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out his switchblade, flipping it open and letting his arm hang by his side. Easily, comfortably. It's one thing to defend yourself - another to openly threaten. And while there's competition in the area, he doesn't want to be the bigger threat.

"Get gone, little pup," he grins at the mutant, gesturing with his unoccupied hand. "I'm guessing that's not just a practice bit you pulled from yourself, so you'll be no good in a fight. Let me take care of this." And find you after. Not like you'll get far. With that, he turns to face the direction he supposes the opponent will be coming from, letting his body fall into the loose stance he likes to begin a tussle with. "And you, c'mon out. I'm ready for ya."

[Valik Sparks]

"Aye. Put 'cher dukes down, lad."

The bush rustled with movement, and a short, burly man came out, toting a long, sleek rifle in hand, and a rare smile on that grisly, familiar face. He looked at Gabriel with a triumphant twinkle in his dull eyes.

"It's only old Seymore coverin' your arse. Wanted to make sure ye didn't let this one go. Yer gonna need 'im tonight." Seymore motioned loosely at Alexander, as though the wolf man had no say in the matter. Perhaps he didn't. Flanked by two men who have clearly weathered the darker storms of life, and sedatives coursing through his system...options were going down faster than Lindsay Lohan's popularity.

Seymore held his toothy grin, eyeing Gabriel, then nodding to the wolf. "Well..? Give 'im the what for, eh?" He cackled darkly.


Up above, Violet stared, eyes wide with a mix of interest, worry, and turmoil. She flitted side to side, brow furrowing with sympathy as she watched the drugged wolf-Monster. She gave frequent glances to Klatch, as though he knew what to do and was forgetting to tell her.



***


Ava blinked.

"Did you just call me a...?" Her voice was low, trailing off, question left unfinished as Penelope started going off about ten heads and fire or something.
When the sparky young woman had finally had her say, Ava let silence hang in the air a few moments as she continued staring. Her tail slowly lifted up from behind her, the purse hanging from it. With a quick snapping motion, the purse hurtled right into Penelope's chest, causing her arms to snap up and catch it instinctively.

Ava looked at the floor, then glanced to the side. Her tongue flickered out of her mouth in a creepily reptilian manner.

"Can I use your bathroom?"

[babel_matrix]

Oh hey, my bag! Thank you, I'm really happy we could resolve this peacefully, said no part of Penelope's brain.

Her hands were still scooping the purse to her chest, the faux-leather bag feeling like an anchor to how real right now really was. Penelope could only nod dumbly at Ava's request, eyes hovering between her eyes and her mouth. Though these were normal visual cues, Penelope was actually fighting hard to look the girl in the eyes instead of getting mesmerized by the inhuman tongue. "Second door on the left," Penelope almost whispered. The bizarre atmosphere had finally peaked.

A moment after Ava excused herself to the restroom, Penelope's bag vibrated, indicating a call or some strange human-lizard baby Ava had sneakily spawned into the purse. Penelope tried hard to throw out that image as she answered her phone.

"Hey Dae." Penelope continued to stare where Ava no longer was, through that spot and down the hall. Her voice had been monotone; things calming down had allowed Penelope to be properly stupefied by the circumstance.

"Pen!" Daemonette's voice blared into Penelope's ear, the girl clearly excited into a frenzy. "Holy ****, you will NOT believe the crazy **** I just saw!"

"Try me."

[Shadon]

Identifying the supposed competition as old Seymore instead, the fighter drops from such an aggressive stance. "You move fast for a geezer," he calls out with a flick of the knife in his hand, readjusting for grip. It wasn't good to get too tight. "How'd you beat me here?"

It's evident he's not listening though. Rounding on the wolf now, Gabriel takes a step towards him, not getting in easy range though. He could take him on now, sure, but too rough of a fight would put him out of the game for later that same night. That wasn't what he needed. "How you wanna do this?" He locks eyes with the beast, want to fight still evident in his posture and the glint in his eyes. "Come easy or go down hard?"

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander walks forward slowly, breathing as calmly as he can in the situation. Circling away from the apparently more combat ready Gabriel he slowly maneuvers his way towards Seymore, Get him out of the way first. Maybe if I threaten him the other will back off. Keep the violence to short bursts, can't stay worked up.

Trying to distract them Alexander replies, "Easy way, none of us need to die over this, right?" Again, his tone is utterly insincere, as if he was just trying to appease a child for the time being.

Suddenly, and probably not unexpectedly, he darts for Seymour trying to take advantage of his superior speed to claw his throat.

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch remains where he is, looking on. He's just waiting for now. And while that might seem a bit cold, letting the wolf-man fight for his life on his own, Klatch hasn't lost the sense of altruism he showed for Violet. He's just trying to go about this in the most efficient way possible. After all, he'd do them all no good if he got stabbed trying to help the guy.
He might have done alright but one of those darts would have us out real quick. I'll Go in after that guy's taken-
And suddenly there's a wolf at that guy's throat. Huh. Alright, with both the humans together this is getting interesting. And by that I mean bad. Battle plan: uuuuhhhh- think, down-for-brains! Okay, he can't go for the guy with the dart gun, he'd just get in the way. Better keep Knife Guy off his tail. Okay, focus on that guy. If he makes a move, then I drop-kick him from fifty feet up. That'll knock his lights out. Hold on, buddy. I just need a little more time.
Klatch positions himself to pounce on Gabriel, assuming that the wolf-man is more than capable of taking care of the old one.
He really hopes there's not too much blood. He so detests hurting people.

[Valik Sparks]

With a mix of a shout and a growl, Seymore found his large rifle flying from his hands. He brought it up to bear just in time to keep the claws from embedding into his neck, but the force of the blow took the gun right from his hands and sent it skidding in the dirt. He stumbled off balance and landed heavily on his butt.

"Yeargh!" With an angry scowl, Seymore snatched something from his belt and threw it in a high arc over Alexander's head. It seemed metallic, and was roughly arch-shaped. "Oi!" He called out to catch the other fighter's attention.

Gabriel knew very well what that device was. The ends of the arch connected into a very secure collar...a shock collar. For Monsters.


As Klatch primed himself, Violet nervously snuck closer to the action, swooping into the large branches of a nearby tree.



***


After a few minutes, Ava returned. Face washed clean of all make-up (except her green lipstick that she seemed fond of), the emerald scales shined ever more brilliant against her pale cheeks. She even managed a small smile when her eyes met Penelope's once more.

She glanced at the phone, then shrugged, walking casually back towards the kitchen, padded feet moving with eerie silence. She knelt by Spite and ran her claws gently through his fur. As his tail swished back and forth..so did her long, scaly counterpart, in the same, autonomous, animal-like fashion.

[Deathkeeper]

Well, that guy looks taken care of. And then gadgets! Gadgets are bad! At least in this situation they can't be good. On the plus side, Knife guy will probably be distracted trying to catch that thing with his free hand. And that means it's time to go on the offensive! Klatch goes into a dive and turns in mid-air, which will likely result in a pair of taloned feet slamming quite painfully into Gabriel's back. Regardless of the result he'll try to flap his wings and go airborne to catch the flying semi-circle. If he does he'll be trying to break or lock it into place. The more weapons he can take out of the fight, the better.
Oh and if he actually kicks him hard enough to incapacitate him (as in, he doesn't immediately get back and start swinging) he'll whistle just a few notes of a song he finds appropriate. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ryWaqCQlU)

[babel_matrix]

"... and then the taller one bit the little guy! He didn't even peep, not even a grunt! Then he jammed his finger into the other's eye just to get him to stop biting, and neither cried out, not a word! I mean they just kept going at it, more than enough time for me to record the last half of it. There was blood all over the sidewalk by the time the cops showed up, I mean--! I tell you, you wouldn't think mimes could put up such a fight, but the dedication these two had while trying to kill each other was..."

Penelope nodded at Ava as she passed, her left hand still clenching the purse to her chest and the phone in her right. "Yeah, that sounds like it was pretty... wild. Hey, I don't want to cut you off, but I really... eh... I mean I really have some **** to deal with today. Later, maybe?"

Daemonette huffed at her phone, clearly unimpressed with the excuse. "Yeah, I suppose... I'll e-mail you the fight video tonight, if I don't put it up on Facebook first."

"Got it. Later, Dae."

"Mmmm-hmmm." The phone clicked off, and Penelope was grateful to have had that insanely normal moment with the scaled woman passing by her. Penelope had never had so much to ask and be so hesitant to ask it, and the simple smile from Ava reminded her that the moment was very real, and this oddity was still very much in her house. Pen's heart was a cast iron pot, filled with a whirling pool of confusion and the two worlds that now existed for her: the world she had always known, had slowly learned and accepted, and this new, violent, inhuman world, the only one that Ava could come from.

Penelope decided that as a fact. Ava was a person, as she had accepted, but human? Well, at least partially...

Oh **** it.

Turner looked down at the purse and phone she had been holding onto for dear life, and made a face. She looked as bewildered as she felt, and decided shedding both would help her gather her wits. Discarding them on the couch, she marched towards the kitchen after her guest-turned-thief-turned-mugger-turned-guest, checking the front door one last time before doing so. There, as Ava brushed their cat with gentle, clawed caresses, Penelope stopped just short of entering her own kitchen, her eye instead entranced by the mirrored dance of their tails. "Right, sorry about the call. So... I bet you know what comes next, right?"

If Ava replied with curiosity or genuine confusion, Penelope would continue, her voice low as she tried to control her voice. "I mean, the most basic question, I guess..." Penelope hunted the words down, trying to find an easy, familiar frame to put on this person in her kitchen. The words came out in a messy torrent, speeding up and slowing down as she lost and regains confidence in them throughout. "...are you an alien? From outer space, I mean, not like... Canada. Though Canada's cool, I guess, nothing wrong with it... and I mean, nothing's wrong with outer... space... either?"

[Shadon]

Hearing the yell of the other fighter, Gabriel snaps around and reaches up, hand grasping for the flying object. As it nears his fingers though, something catching his notice, some sound maybe, or just a fighting instinct. Shock collar put out of his mind, the man drops low to the ground and rolls out of the way, back on his feet in barely a breath. The rhythm of the fight is still scattered, messy, but he's beginning to feel it play out before him. A new challenger has entered, it seems.

With a click of his teeth, he prepares to move on to the offensive, noting his fingernails biting into the fleshy heel of his hand and forcing himself to relax. Catching the bird-thing in his eyes, there's a glint of annoyance, but he doesn't have time to think. A part of him wants to go for the thing. Break it, then go after the wolf. But Seymore. Seymore.

He turns, fast, and lunges towards the wolf-man, knife slashing dangerously at its back as he tries to tackle the beast. No shock collar, fine. He'll have to use good old-fashioned fighting skills. (1d8 = 1)

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander snarls triumphantly over Seymore, "How do you like being the prey?" Almost noticing Gabriel in time he tries to evade the knife*, half turning to face him as he's knocked away from his prey. Reacting to the pain of the knife cutting into him he lets loose another savage snarl as he tries to bite Gabriel's face. (1d10 = 3)



*(1d6 = 2)
Health for damage: 1d8 = 5


Up to the GM to decide how much damage the knife does here?

[Valik Sparks]

A flurry of motion, a hectic, indiscernible mess of flesh, fur, and feathers to the onlooking eye.

Klatch's claws snap the shock collar into his clutches, but as he continues his downward assault, he finds only grass and soft dirt is pummeled by his attack. The shiny glint of a knife catches his eye, but Gabriel darts right past Klatch, continuing the attack on the wolf-man.

And the blow connects. Harsh, stinging pain streaks across Alexander's back as the cold steel hungrily draws his blood from his flesh. It's hardly a winning blow, but it sure hurts, and flares with further pain with every twist of his back.

In an instant, Gabriel finds himself face to face with a giant, fanged, saliva-coated maw, snapping dangerously at his face.


But in the midst of the excitement, Seymore wastes no time in making good on freedom Gabriel bought him. He slips to the side, scooping his rifle in his arms and putting his eye to the sights.


And somewhere up in a tree, Violet waits, paralyzed with uncertainty and fear, eyes wide, silently begging Klatch not to get himself hurt.



***


Ava watched Penelope with what mostly seemed like amusement playing across her face. She chuckled quietly, eyes turning away, towards Spite, then the floor. "An alien..?"

"I have no freaking idea."

The small smile fell from her face, and she continued to stare blankly downward. "I don't even know where I came from. Where I was born. Who my parents are. If I have parents? I've been a vermin on the streets for as long as I can remember. No better than the cockroaches or rats that people scream at and stomp on the second they dare to come out of their holes." She paused, letting out a small sigh and dropping the solemn tone. "But you deal with it I guess. I started learning how to use these looks to my advantage. It's easy to rob people when they think you're gonna eat them. They usually don't put up much a fight; more hiding and screaming. Well you know, the helpless-looking ones, such as a skinny little single lady like yourself." Ava looked up at Penelope and smirked. "This is the first time I've got my ass handed to me. You're not what I expected..."

"Not at all."

[babel_matrix]

Penelope leaned against the kitchen counter and folded her arms as she listened. It was high fiction, the kind that spawned strange and extraordinary beings such as the one living, breathing and speaking in her apartment. Which probably meant it was true. But then, what wasn't true anymore? It was so massive, so essential a question, that Penelope found herself doing what everyone had to do to stay sane: stop asking it, for now.

"That's... awful. Since it hasn't been headline news, I'm guessing you also haven't tried going public or trying to get protection from the government... which is probably wise, considering how hostile they are just when people were born in a different place. Holy Hell, they'd probably-" She clenched her teeth, throwing her glance at Spite to look at anything else. "Sorry. Well... given all this, you can't very well that up."

Without another word, Penelope went to work. She moved past Ava to the fridge and took out the chicken she was defrosting. So much for leftovers. Dragging the plastic-wrapped contained from the rack and onto the counter, she moved on to the plain white cabinets, rummaging through them in a fluid manner as she plucked out the needed spices and salt. A pair of cans in hand, she began gauging the portions for her guest, given the unknowable appetite of what sounded like a starving homeless person. She didn't bother asking Ava for help or explaining the meal to come; given scarcity, there weren't many alternatives anyways.

[Shadon]

Triumph. His hit had landed, not the best hit, but it hit. Withdrawing his arm, Gabriel was ready to wind up for another slice, this time to more accurately hit the beast, when a sudden gaping mouth filled with teeth and dripping saliva and smelling of dog. Just what he needed to smell right now. A big, wet, smelly, doggy scent right in his face and why was he considering this when he was about to be bitten?.

Having wasted precious milliseconds in hesitating, Gabriel's attempt to twist away from the bite proves rather unsatisfactory. 'It's just going to be one of those days, isn't it.' (1d8 = 7) The mutant's fangs bear down on the fighter, scraping over his brow and leaving nasty but shallow marks while landing more deeply on his cheek, raking into the flesh and leaving what would most definitely be a permanent mark.

[Demented Dragon]

Reveling in his successful strike back, Alexander finds himself enjoying the taste of Gabriel's blood. His confidence increases as he loses himself in the violence and his tongue scrapes across the newly opened wound. Good blood. Stupid, what does he even think he's doing getting this close to me? Now let's see who should be hunting who Taking advantage of the successful strike he follows up by putting his hands around Gabriel's neck, trying to choke him into submission. He stares into his victims' eyes with his own, startlingly green and human, very much at odds with the rest of his features. Fangs bared in an odd grin, he breathes heavily, forgetting about the tranquilizer as he enjoys what he considers a likely victory. (Strength: 1d10 = 4)

[Deathkeeper]

Gah, and then his target is back in Wolf-Man's range. He does not want to join that tangle. Which means it's time to switch targets again. He pumps his wings, this time aiming for Seymour, although he's fully expecting having to dodge more projectiles; who knew how much gear this nutter was packing? He wished it didn't have to go with so much blood, but it isn't the time to worry, this is life and death time. Klatch keeps one hand on the knife at his belt. He'd prefer not to use it, but he'd also rather not try to catch an opponent's blade with his bare hands if one gets pulled.
He swoops up and gets ready to charge at Seymour, hoping his natural colors will make it difficult for the human to tell where the bird ends and the night begins.

[Valik Sparks]

The battle rages on. With blood now gushing from Gabriel's cheek, and the thick, clawed, hands of Alexander constricting viciously around his neck. Gabriel's heart was pounding, and perhaps a rare flicker of fear shot through his system. But Alexander's blood was pumping hard as well. His frenzied rage kept him from being wholly aware of it, but his energy was sapping from the very muscles he was using to constrain Gabriel, and the corners of his vision were beginning to blur.


Meanwhile, Seymore found a feathery obstruction lunging into his line of sight. He shifted the aim of his weapon just slightly..

POP!

The weapon discharged, muted by the thick silencer, and a dart bolted into the night. But it didn't hit Klatch. It shot somewhere directly over his shoulder and off towards--

"OW!"

Violet cried out, floundering off balance and tumbling out of her perch in the tree, flailing, squealing, and then landing in a messy heap of feathers upon the ground. Her hand stretched across the grass, claws gripping into the dirt. She tried to push herself upright...but her body gave out. Then she was still. The dosage of sedatives had been intended for a husky, brutish wolf, not a frail little raven-girl.



***


Ava watched Penelope move with wide, interested eyes. Very interested.. Soon, she was on her feet, quietly shadowing the small woman as she busied herself about the kitchen. Ava's tail swished back and forth lightly, and Penelope caught a glimpse of the lizard girl's tongue stretching all the way to her cheekbone before swiping back down and wiggling on its way back into her mouth in an anticipating manner.

Her nostrils flinched as the spices were brought out. "That.. that smells really good.." She said quietly. And after waiting a few more anxious minutes, the moment the food was set onto a plate, she plunged in without reserve. Claws holding the chicken steady, she mauled it viciously with her teeth, swallowing large chunks, and not seeming to mind when bones crackled between her jaws.

"Mm.. mmm.. mm.." Her tongue flashed across her lips to clean off the oily residue. Her vibrant yellow eyes held on Penelope as she started slipping her claws into her mouth one by one; clearly the chicken was finger-lickin' good. "Thank you.. I.. haven't eaten like that since--well.. actually I've never had a homecooked meal in my life.."

[Shadon]

Numbness began to spread to the man’s extremities as his oxygen was slowly cut off, his mind becoming too fuzzy for even fear to be properly felt. It was only with some amount of instinct that he managed to reach up and grasp at the wolf’s hands, knife falling from his own as he tried desperately to pry them off. (1d10 = 1) Slowly, surprisingly, he made progress, pushing back with as much strength as he could muster until he had fully broken free and then immediately pushing back from the enemy, catching his breath as quick as he could. Knife long-forgotten, he then dove in for the best counter-attack he could think of: a beating of the beast’s snout. (1d8 = 4)

Not thinking clearly, he began to attempt to pummel him, not caring what damage he did to himself or the other creature. Something akin to revenge was fresh in his mind, but he couldn’t recognize it. Gabriel had gone fully on survival mode now.

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch doesn't turn to see her fall- he's too far away to catch her, and he's not exactly in the mindset to go back for her, because as soon as what happened gets processed through his brain his thoughts went something like this:
okaywhatthecrapwasthat****there'slikethreehundreds ixtyhorizontaldegreesandonehundredeightyverticalde greesandTHAT'SwhereheshootsImeanwhatthecraparetheo ddsofthatsinceitreallymakesnosensetacticallysinces hootingciviliansgainshimabsolutelynothingsothegist ofitisSTABSTABSTABSTAB
Which is to say that Klatch's survival knife is promptly whipped out, as he finishes the charge he was already in the middle of as he lands directly in front of Seymour and going into a crouch, then immediately lunging up, using part of the horizontal momemtum he already had from the charge and now the upward momentum of his legs for a very fast and strong thrust, his free hand going to push the gun aside as his armed one attempts to plunge his weapon into the man's jugular. (Agility= 2)

[babel_matrix]

Added song to character sheet for Relaxing at Home (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64liF2VuLxI).

Ava's attention, and her bizarrely adorable mannerisms, made Penelope want to giggle while cooking. She kept it in, for fear of insulting her guest, but the way Ava wore her appetite on her sleeve put a smile on Turner's face.

She had put the plate of herb-spiced chicken, mixed vegetables and beans in front of Ava, watching her devour the plate, the vegetables and beans mere accessories to what was clearly her guest's favorite part. Penelope had eaten her own portion in mostly silence, trying to figure out how best to manage the new situation, this unique discovery. As the once-famished Ava licked her claws, Penelope was reminded that she still a person too, not just a revelation of what hid beneath the city. No one on Manhattan was lonelier, if Ava's story was true.

"Right, well, this has been a more exciting day than most..." Turner sighed aloud. "I've got some writing to do, so help yourself to the television and whatnot..." She contemplated where this girl would sleep. My sheets wouldn't last with those claws...! She wouldn't dare say that aloud, of course. Penelope eyed the couch, already half-ruined by Spite's previous, short-lived stay. Wait. Who said she wanted to stay? The girl had put that make-up and outfit on somewhere. Maybe she's already got some cool, sewer hideout, like a Batcave... for a homeless, sad and lonely lizard-woman... Hmmm...

"Are you staying the night? I don't mind... y'know, long as it's just you. I don't have much air to house more than two people, and as is I've only got one couch..."

[Demented Dragon]

Despite being taken aback by Gabriel's escape, Alexander still manages to dodge his retaliation (1d6 = 2). In desperation, feeling the tranquilizer kick in, he starts to go wilder in his attack, slashing at Gabriel's face with his claws (1d10 = 4). Thoughts clouded by the tranquilizer he can only see one way out of this. Have to go fast, can't take me if he's dead. In a panic he starts panting more, and barks out "Just go away, go away or I'm going to kill you. Not going to let you take me. You or me"

[Shadon]

The asphyxiation-addled part of his brain manages to drag up a thought of This dog is good, he’ll make the night for me.[i] The rest of his mind seems rather occupied with trying to stay alive, though, so this thought doesn’t get much attention. As the beast dodges his hits, a beastial growl slips out between his teeth. “Shut u-“ before he can finish the sentence, the claws come raking across his face, aggravating the wound that was still bloodied and tearing some new skin across his forehead, spilling blood into his eyes and effectively blinding him. Still, he lashes out again towards where he had last seen the dog, anger beginning to boil in his stomach.

[i]I’m not going to be taken down by some mangy mutt.

[Valik Sparks]

GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gxjl1NSiSQ)

The relentless attacker roars as the claws dig through his flesh. Yet even the thrashing of battle begins to fade.. echo.. until the sounds are muted, as though far off. And finally.. Alexander can hear nothing but his own heartbeat. Beginning to slow against his will.

Thump thump... Thump thump...

Gabriel's hits are still coming, blindly struck as they may be, Alexander finds himself stepping back to evade. He blinks. Just a blink. But his eyes are slow to reopen, and suddenly a heavy fist is digging into his rib cage. A howl escapes his lungs, yet he can't hear it, and as he doubles over, his head is knocked jarringly to one side. Was he struck again? He didn't even feel pain. Numbness crept over his body.

Thump thump...

In a flurry of instinct-driven rage, Alexander throws his claws about wildly, staggering towards Gabriel. The seasoned fighter might have scoffed at such wild, unrefined movement...were he not bleeding intensely from the face, assaulted with growing pain from his open wounds, and more than half-blinded from the gobs of blood that stung his eyes. Claws tore across the side of his calf, and with a yell, he found his body falling as his leg gave out. One knee ground into the dirt, and his hands came down hard on the ground, sparing his face the impact. Another soft 'thud' resounded right next to him...

Thump... Thump...

Alexander could fight it no longer. For the harder he tried, the more it seemed to overtake him. Managing only one step, he found his toes missing the ground below him, and his body falling like a brick. His knees hit the ground, then his body followed, stopped abruptly as he dug his claws deep into the earth. His head dropped limply between his arms and his jaws remained loosely open as he took long, ragged breaths.

The two crippled warriors were on their knees, only inches from each other. Blood dripped methodically from Gabriel's face, sinking into the ground to be drunk up by the grass that children would roll and play in the very next morning. For Alexander, this fight had ended before it even started. The sedatives had now completely robbed him of his senses, and before he knew it, his eyes rolled back into his head and his body flopped heavily onto its side.



***


Meanwhile, Seymore was having some serious second thoughts about not pinning the beak-face first. Not that he had much time for thinking as his gun was shoved away -though he managed to keep ahold of it- and a glinting piece of steel was jabbed right towards his throat. He couldn't get his body moving in time, but he managed to twist his head to one side, craning his neck just enough to keep from being wholly impaled by the knife; but it's blade still ran across the side of his neck, slicing a deep cut along its path.

Seymore fell backwards, crying out, one hand latching over the fresh wound as he kept himself partially upright, propped on his elbow. His teeth were clenched, eyes wide, staring at Klatch.

"Aye, that's my friend yer makin' a mess outta'!" The voice, it wasn't the other fighter. There was a new character on the scene. And he smelled like alcohol and rancid sewage. "I don't suppose ya want me ta return the favor? It is the Golden Rule after all..." He cackled, a terrible scratchy, wheezing noise.

Upon turning towards the source of the voice, Klatch finds a tubby older man wearing an ancient, soured coat, and sporting the scraggliest sort of beard. He grinned, showing off teeth that came in choices of yellow, black, or missing altogether. He held up Violet's unconscious body in one arm, his other hand holding a knife casually against her throat.

Seymore coughed from behind, voice low and strained by pain. "I spotted her earlier... Shot her down for leverage. That always seems to.. simplify things." He winced, taking in a long breath. "So here's how it works..."

"You make one move. And he waters the lawn with her blood."



***


Ava stared for a long, long moment at Penelope.

"You.. you mean... I could stay? Really? Here? With you?" She blinked. Then resumed staring. "I... don't know what to say.. No one's ever... I mean.. well, except my old boyfriend, but he..." She stopped. Her voice went very low and her gaze fell downward. "That's a long story.."

"...Thank you." Ava said, quickly lifting her eyes again to meet Penelope's. "Thank you.. I.. I would love to stay." Then she stood, glancing around. She reached in her coat pocket and took out a small make-up kit, opening it and beginning to dab some skin-color over those scales on her face. Before Penelope had a chance to question the action, Ava turned to her, forked tongue sweeping autonomously over her lips and cheek. "Penelope... Would you come out with me first? I.. want to show you something. It won't take more than an hour, I promise, I just.."

"Just.. it'll be worth it, Ok? I promise.."

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch's rage has calmed down considerably. For just a second he tries to understand what just happened. While not his primary donor, it seems he has enough of predatory bird to have those kind of instincts. Huh. Anyway, now he can think clearly, even if his blood didn't suddenly go cold at the sight of the blade at Violet's throat. He has to go back to thinking fast. So he went back on what he knew about getting out of these situations. These people were dangerous, he couldn't show any hint that they had dominance on him or they wouldn't stop at just asking his surrender. Time to start acting. He'd seen police dramas before. Those are accurate, right? These folks were too well prepared, they had to have done this before. Just going around, hunting down and capturing folks. It's sick, but it gives him an advantage- they don't think if him as a human.
Klatch drops his voice, trying to sound raspy and just a little psychotic, as he adjusts his body language to be of complete nonchalance (Acting roll = 2).
"That b****? Please. I talked to her once and she's been following me around like a lost puppy. I was planning on keeping her around for her pretty face, but that's about it. But that's not the point. I'd say the point is you two pieces of filth. Think you're hot s***, rounding up folks who haven't done a thing. Clearly never had a problem before with those fat guts; you've been able to afford plenty of booze at least while people like me scavenge for water. He's turning up the subtle anger at this point.
So maybe I should let my people get even tonight? Send a message to trash like you to quit f***ing with us, with your blood for my ink. You, he gestures towards Seymour with his knife.
Are going to shut your little piece-of-s*** mouth.. And you, he says to the other.
smell worse than people I've seen crossed with pigs, but I'd be willing to pretend you're just a lackey with no real part in any of this. Drop my girl and I'll let you walk off, be the messenger for my little note. I can tell you right now, you cut her and I'll do the same to you. But o'course I'll drag it out. Do it reeeeal slow-like. If you think you can outrun these wings, you'd be dead wrong. Kwah-ha!
He doesn't necessarily have a face that screams "intimidation" but the bloody knife and psychotic laugh have to be worth something, right? He hopes he's not over-playing his part.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope nodded to Ava's half-rhetorical question. Well, under that unspoken agreement that you'll stop trying to steal my s***, of course. Then she mentioned a boyfriend... Wait, what? I mean, that's gotta be a human boyfriend... right? Ava dodged the question before it was even delivered, and Penelope knew better than to pull on "long stories" regarding lovers... at least while sober.

Penelope was getting ready to retire to her room when she saw Ava putting the make-up on, once again getting her questions cut off as Ava pounced on her with a request to head out on one last errand. Turner's feet were already killing her, she had spent a great deal of energy on their first encounter and cooking and, really, "writing" was destined to become "laugh at pictures of cats and pirate a movie." Still...

"An hour? I suppose we've got a few of those left tonight... sure. But I've got work in the morning, so I'm afraid we can't drink to celebrate just yet." Presuming the girl had ever had liquor. Presuming alcohol wasn't poison to her. Penelope shook her head as she went to get her coat. She was thinking too much about it again. Relax, and go out with your new mini-Godzilla friend. It'll be worth it, or so Ava had guaranteed.

[Shadon]

A wave of pain hits the fighter as the dog's claws swipe into his calf, sending him sprawling into the grass gracelessly, not salvaged by the wobbling kneeling position he manages to take up. Wondering if he'll have to drag himself up one more to keep on fighting - there was no way in hell he was going down this easy - he's startled by the accompanying body that goes with the additional thump. The beast had been felled. Fitting.

Looking down at the ground and twisting his head this way and that, trying desperately to ignore the blood covering his left eye as well as the soaking wet shirt he was now wearing thanks to the soaking wet dog and it's saliva, he cranes his neck until he spots his knife on the ground, not far away. Scrambling a few feet to grab it, he then pockets it again. Never lose the knife. Never.

Staring back at the beast, he scowls. "If you're more trouble than you're worth..." He trails off though as fatigue starts to take him. He couldn't move the dog alone, not in this state, so he'd need Seymore - who was off with his own problems. Knowing he had nothing to do on his own, he simply flops backwards on to the grass, laying in a comically comfortable position near the thing that had been trying to kill him.

[Valik Sparks]

The bird was convincing. Seemed downright crazy. In fact Seymore wasn't sure if he'd seen a Monster run its mouth quite like that in all his time with them. But the fowl-mouth made one mistake. And that was all it took.

GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSa8IR0rpLg)

Klatch had addressed Seymore first, then he turned, pointing his attention to the accomplice with the knife at Violet's throat.
But Seymore's hand had never left his rifle. And he may have been injured, but not so badly that he couldn't bring the weapon to bear, aiming it point blank at Klatch's torso. He had never been so thankful for spending the extra cash on a three-shot cartridge. No need to reload. He still had one in the chamber, and that was all he needed.

POP!

Klatch's body was too close, too easy a target, and with his attention turned in the opposite direction, it was impossible to dodge the speeding dart. A sharp, pricking sensation bit into his lower back, and immediately a wave of dizziness swept through his body. His skin felt warm; the world started to turn on it's side. He was seeing double.. triple.. He tried to move. Perhaps to fly, to attack, anything.. all he could see was the ground.. closer, closer, the thick smell of grass...

THUMP.


Nothing but black.



***


Ava was a peculiar mix of anxious and somber as she waited for Penelope, and then quickly led her out of the apartment and back to the streets. One taxi ride and another brief walk through some particularly shabby streets later, Penelope found herself led into the parking garage of an apartment complex, into the stairwell, and then down a level. At first glance, there was nothing but breakers and water pipes. But Ava slipped between two large pipes and into the darkness beyond.. Following closefully, Penelope finds herself led to a hidden doorway, and down a long set of stairs...

"I know this is weird, just.. go with it.."

Noises began to rise from the bottom of the stairwell.. Voices, commotion..cheering? Shouts and screams, high pitched, excited...a roar of applause. And a...roar? A snarling, bestial noise erupts somewhere within the mass of cheering. Light blasts into Penelope's eyes, temporarily blinding her as Ava pushes open a wide set of double doors.

GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GDKRvWmfxQ)

The noise floods about Penelope, drowning her in wild screaming and shouting. Ava has clasped her hand tightly, and begins leading her into a sea of bodies. They're of all shapes and sizes and walks of life; one great big mosh pit. But all eyes are turned towards one spot, and as Penelope's senses fight to regain composure after the sudden, brutal assault, she spots something huge and red and glistening raise up above the heads of the crowd.
Ava worms her way closer, dragging Penelope along, until the scene becomes all too clear. At the center of the crowd, is a stage...a ring. A fighting ring. Huge and sturdy, lit with bright spotlights, and stained with splotches of blood.. red..green? Purple?

A large, shell-like fragment of something is lying on the stage, along with a membranous...wing? Like a beetle's wing... A really big beetle's wing. Shifting from there, Penelope's eyes follow a trail of green blood, until she finds..a figure. Doubled over, green blood dripping from his body; a body that is grossly malformed. His skin all over is partially human flesh and partially insect-like exoskeleton, fused together in a most sporadic, splotchy, and disgusting manner. One hand has two fingers and three thick claws, while the other hand has only one human finger and one thick claw. Spines jut from the back of his neck, leading in a row all the way up his skull, over his head, and down to his nose, whereupon the last spine is extra large and long; a horn, stained with purple blood. The bug-man's eyes are completely black, and his back is sporting only half a beetle-shell, and one wing. Exposed, raw, bloodied, green flesh makes up the other half of his back.

Across from the bug-man, the challenger, who is clearly winning, is another monstrous man, double the size of the average human male. He's the biggest freaking crab Penelope has ever seen in her life.
From the waist down, his body is indistinguishable from that of a gigantic saltwater crab. A thick, spiny, orange-white exoskeleton that branches out into six, huge legs, tipped with sharp points. Upwards from the waist, he has the body-structure of a man, but his skin is completely covered in the same crab-shell armor, and his arms are gigantic, ending in massive pincers. Even his head was covered in the exoskeleton, with just an inch-wide slit across the front for his very human eyes.

The crab roars in a deep, guttural, vibrating manner, raising up it's claws, and then lashing out towards the beetle-man. The Beetle had no chance to dodge, not with the wounds he'd sustained. The massive pincers caught him right at his midsection, hoisted him high into the air, and held up perfectly still for a moment, like a trophy, waiting until the entire crowd had their eyes fixed on the scene...

SQUELCH!!

With a mighty clamp, the pincers bit completely through the bug-man's body, splitting it in half with a terrible squishing, crunching noise. Blood sprayed out across the ring. A warm splatter of green, sticky liquid found it's way onto Penelope's cheek. Each half of the once-competitor landed back onto the ring with a squishy thud.

The crab-monster roared victoriously. The crowd screamed their ecstatic approval.



***


GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VaWGF9_-JE)

Gabriel stood, leaning against the heavy steel door of his Stable, Seymore beside him. The two fighters had bandages wrapped over their wounds, and in the distance, they listened to the raging sounds of the battle, and the excited screams of the massive crowd that had gathered.

Seymore rubbed the bandage on his neck, letting out a long sigh. "Aye.. that was nae what I 'spected.. But'cha got three fer the price a' one, eh? But a' don't 'spect much from the li'l birdies...'specially the girl. But they'll make ya good fodder, should ya like. Buy ya time."

They could hear the crunching squelching noise all the way from the Stables, and the roar of the crab confirmed that the battle had been won. Seymore pursed his lips and looked at the Gabriel out of the corner of his mind. "The Announcer's going to start asking for a new challenger soon...and you're expected to provide." He clapped the sturdy fighter on the shoulder and gave a nod, "Happy choosing," he said, before pushing himself off the wall and heading off down the hall.


And just behind the five inches of solid steel door...


Alexander, Klatch, and Violet have awoken from their sedative-induced sleep.

They find themselves in a dingy, dim, musty room, though spacious enough. They are each laid upon straw mats, with a bowl of water and a bowl of...some sort of soft, porridge mix. Though chunks of raw meat are included in Alexander's bowl. And they quickly realize.. they are not alone.

Off to the side, a young man covered in fur, with shaggy hair, and huge bear paws, with thick claws match, sits on a mat, cross-legged, rubbing his side, which has a large amount of bandages wrapped around it. And in the far back corner, a pale, clammy-skinned girl with extra-long legs, and huge feet, and webbed toes, is crouched, eyes wide, staring at the wolf and the birds. Her lips part, her eyes hold on them with a sad stillness. She utters a whisper.

"I'm sorry..."

[Deathkeeper]

Well, that could have gone better. Still his fault for not looking. Ah, to have a rabbit's near all-around vision. That'd be useful. Too bad you have to be food to get those kinds of adaptations. Kwah!
He's a little bit numb at this point, so the fact that he should probably care about what's going on hasn't quite hit yet. Although even if it did his reaction wouldn't have changed much. In this case it's to fold his arms behind his head and cross his legs in the most comfortable position possible.
Not a thing to be sorry for. My own damn fault for not figuring out they have thingies for dart guns.
The word he's looking for is magazine.
Alas, now we shall know why the caged bird sings. Probably the same reason every other one does. It's fun. Kwah!

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander sits up, grabbing the bowl of water as he moves. Between moments of lapping up water he grunts out a few words, "Thanks and sorry, birds. N'what're you sorry for? Haven't met." Cool water after an unpleasant fight and being drugged was always good. Wasn't the place I was expecting. Better or worse, who knows? Not me, and I should find out. After having a nice long drink he takes his bowl of porridge and meat then stands. Speaking more politely, but somewhat awkwardly he addresses no one in particular, "Better than what I'm used to." Sidling up to the door, he leans against the steel while he eats. Maybe I can hear if anyone's out there.

[Shadon]

Taking in what Seymore says, the words manage to mostly slip through the fighter’s mind and go out without being processed, consumed by thoughts of the earlier fight as he is. The fact that the untrained mutt had almost gotten the best of him, and that he’d been saved by sedatives grate heavily on the man’s pride. Turning to regard the door as if that would somehow help him make a decision, he turns to fast and aggravates the still-open wounds on his face, hissing under his breath as pain crosses over his features. A burning sensation fills in the bottom of his stomach, quiet rage building.

With a scowl, he motions to the door guard to watch his back as he turns to the steel door and opens it, stepping inside and hovering in the sliver of light – coming fairly close to face-to-face with the mutt. “Back!” he barks, immediately grabbing his knife and holding it at the ready as he can hear the other man’s footsteps drawing nearer outside, in case anything goes downhill.

[Valik Sparks]

Helen, the frog-girl, looks away as the others get settled into their new accommodations. "I just.. I mean I'm sorry you ended up here... Monsters don't generally come here by choice. And...well I don't know if you have any idea what this place is, but--"

The heavy steel creaked loudly as Gabriel opened it from the outside, and bright light poured in. Thoughts of escape might've crossed the Monsters' minds, but if Gabriel himself didn't deter them, the man standing outside with a fully automatic rifle, locked and loaded, might be cause for hesitation. He was pointing his weapon towards Alexander in particular.

Helen was silent, staring at Gabriel. Cub still wasn't all there, giving a lazy look to the door, and then going back to staring at the floor. And Violet jolted at the sudden noise and change in lighting. She shrunk back against the wall, curling into herself, eyes wide, darting about, though wherever her gaze went, it consistently snapped back to Klatch.

[babel_matrix]

The surreal scene that opened wide with those double doors bathed Penelope in a haze, as if the roars of the crowd and the scene at the center were but a dream, disconnected and impossible. She looked to Ava, trying to find an explanation, finding the painted woman fixated on the ring below. Penelope followed her gaze, and stared wide-eyed at the crab-man that dominated the scene. It had to be fake. But that suspicion, that hope was dashed once she saw how very convincing the beetle-man's wounds appeared, his green blood splashed across the dirt floor to add to the technicolor horror of this place.

The crab's motion, the very real and brutal way it hoisted the beetle-man up in a single claw, the "Oooooh!" that ran through the crowd like electricity, it all made Penelope finally realize that this man, creature, whatever was going to be killed.

"NO-!"

SQUELCH.

The crowd exploded, and the wounded man fell in two, more real, more visceral than any acting could ever accomplish. Penelope looked, wide-eyed in horror, a splash of the man's emerald ichor now dribbling down her cheek.

She looks around in a daze at the roaring crowd. It could be an Ozzy concert, Family Values 2009 when she went, that one football game she stomached for her ex-boyfriend. The crowd was the same, only the bodily fluid on her face was warm, and the beetle man was bisected on the floor at the crab beast's feet.

Penelope stared down at the ring, paralyzed in shock.

That man was murdered!

A man nearby made a joke about "the office girl" losing big money on the beetle. The crowd's roar camouflaged the gay laughter he shared with a companion.

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch, at this point, realizes that what he's about to do is a terrible idea. One that is likely to get him killed. Then again, he's likely to get killed in here anyway, and there's no point in not having any fun with it. No point at all. There's no way he's going to let anyone here see him cower.
Aw, isn't that sweet? Psycho Slaver Number One came to check up on us. Well, I'm sure you'll be happy to know we're doing just fine in your comfy little hellhole. I'd say I hope your messed up face gets better, but I really don't.

[Demented Dragon]

With his gaze focused on Helen as she replies, Alexander stumbles almost dropping his bowl of food when the door opens. He turns, annoyed, towards the door, "Watch it" Oh him. For a while he doesn't back up, he simply stares at Gabriel wondering about his chances. Until he notices the man with the assault rifle. Okay maybe not. Back away slowly, don't let him think he's won "Fine, got enough food here anyway, don't need you too". Falling back down on his straw mat, he stares at Gabriel sullently while Klatch speaks. I like that bird

[Shadon]

Staring into the mutt’s eyes until he backs off, giving an amused-annoyed snort at the dog’s words when he goes back to his mat. You’re lucky I didn’t string you up already, he growls inwardly to himself, forcing himself to try and appear relaxed, with a high degree of success. “Glad to know your stay at Hotel Hellhole is enjoyable!” He laughs at Alexander, incorporating the bird’s nickname for the stable. He actually kind of liked that. Might keep it. Nice ring, might make future fighters’ skin crawl. “And I’m Slaver Number One? Oh that’s just great, I’ll call my mom and tell her!” Sarcasm drips into the sentence, starting from the beginning and increasing in potency until every word is dripping with it.

“And I’d say I hope your chances of survival go up, but who actually cares?” ‘Calm down Gabe, you’re being rude,’ a distant voice, a distant memory, sounds off in his head. He barely resists scowling, though the snark dies down somewhat. “So,” he starts again, taking one leisurely step forward. “Who wants to get some exercise tonight?”

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander carefully places his bowl to the side, "Almost as enjoyable as chewing your face." Smelling Gabriel's agitation he grins in a wolfish way, the sullenness replaced by amusement. That is, if anyone coudl really read his face all that well to tell. Knowing Gabriel's state and having won the fight fills Alexander with confidence. Far too much most likely. In response to the question he stretches back, leaning against the wall, and licks his lips while pointedly looking at Gabriel, "What kind of exercise?" If he wants another fight I'll be sure to tear the rest of his face off.

[Deathkeeper]

Truth be told, the sick bastard that he is, Klatch definitely does prefer this guy. He actually has evidence of taking a bath in the past decade. And almost a sense of humor, which makes it much more fun.
Well, if I was going by efficiency I'd probably give the title to the other guy since he's the one who actually did something besides get mauled by a drugged lupine, but since you decided to drop by first you're One. Nice, that. Tell me, how'd you get your aptitude for profit from the pain and death of others? Did daddy beat you as a kid? Oh, or did you just start it on your own family until you ran out of victims?
He's apparently completely ignoring what he actually said.

[Valik Sparks]

Ava gazed with blank apathy at the scene in the arena. But as she noticed Penelope, the shock and horror on the young woman's face, her own expression began to change. Her skin paled and disgust crawled across her face; she swallowed hard. She had been so...used to this. She had forgotten how utterly...horrible...it truly was...

"WOW!" An announcer cried out loudly, absolutely jubilant. "What a match folks! We're definitely coming to the climax of the evening! There were high hopes for Shellskin, but it looks like some folks have lost a lotta bucks! Ouch! But for our next match, we'll have a hand-picked competitor from the legendary Gabriel Mae! Could one of his have what it takes to defeat, the one and only...!"

"KING. CRAAAAAB!"

A chorus of cheering arose as "King Crab" threw his pincers into the air and turned in a full circle, carelessly spearing parts of Shellskin's corpse with his pointed legs.

At a nearby betting counter, people were already collecting and dishing out dollar bills like candy on Halloween.



***


The Announcer's voice was distant, but audible from the Stables. Gabriel knew he didn't have much more time to waste. And while Klatch was only aware of the shouting voice, Alexander's nose picked up the heavy scent of fresh blood somewhere beyond the open door.

Two scowling men with heavy handguns in hand entered the room rather abruptly. They carried metal collars as well. "You try anything and we'll shoot you. In the legs." One of them said, as they approached Alexander first and shoved the semi-circle against his neck. A light blinked, and the steel circle clamped shut on its own, sealing tightly, a permanent collar. Swiftly, they moved on to Klatch, giving him the same treatment, although seeming less tense.

"You're a threat; you get the collar. If you show us otherwise, maybe you'll lose it. But Monsters like you don't earn trust so easily." With that, the men left curtly, scowls never leaving their faces as they vanished as quickly as they came.

[Shadon]

Crossing his arms as the men came into the room, a perverse sense of satisfaction crossed Gabriel’s mind. The dog had been collared; all it needed was a little tag that said ‘Fido’ and it would be perfect. He’d need to pick one up next time he saw a Petsmart. Waiting for the men to leave, and knowing his time was running out, he bared his teeth in a mock-vicious grin. “Oh you know, the between-the-bed sheets kind of exercise.” He did his best to keep the sarcasm from his voice, waiting for the dog’s reaction before letting out a laugh. What the hell, he might as well go for broke. If things went wrong, well…he had a back-up plan.

“Fido, with me. Iago, Robin, Tadpole, Cub, sit tight.” Like you have a choice. With a wave of the hand, he motioned to the door man, turning around. “Got my fighter, let’s bring him out and get ready.”

[Deathkeeper]

Huh. That's one of the plays Klatch actually stole read. Huzzah for understanding the reference. Well, that or he's making a reference to the children's movie. Which is also cool, because it's a good children's movie. But he's going to go with Shakespeare. Because he's a classy bird. Yeah, classy is definitely the best word.
Best watch it, then. Iago dies at the end, but not before taking Othello and almost everyone else with him! Kwa-ha!
He's getting almost too good at the crazy laugh. Still, now that all the jerkwads are gone.
Well, that was fun. So, what's up now? Just sitting here starving? Seems rather boring.

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander simply sits still while they put the collar on him, Once I'm free I'm going to gnaw your leg off instead. He watches the men carefully as they depart, making a mental note on who else to hate.

With the lack of immediate obvious sarcasm from Gabriel, Alexander starts to worry a bit. "THAT is what you brought us...?!" His relief is palpable when Gabriel laughs, and he buries his face in his hands in embarrassment. Why did I take that seriously?

Gabriel's command goes unanswered as Alexander sits there slightly puzzled, face still in his hands. Fido? Someone's getting sent to fight?

[babel_matrix]

Penelope finally turned away from the scene, eyes still wide and a hesitant hand twitching near the blood. She needed to get it off, but it was still warm, still technically a piece of...

She walked back out through the double doors in a daze, anything to get away from the buzz of the crowd, if only to be able to think again.

She doesn't even notice Ava's grimace, and doesn't check if she follows; she's intent on keeping her stomach tight and trying to rationalize what this meant. There were more than one beings like Ava. That man was murdered! How many? How many walk the streets, how many are fighting in this arena? Do they even have a choice? Once she's out in the underground hallway, she takes a moment to swallow deep chunks of air, foul-smelling as they may be. That man was murdered! Her breath began to pick up, and Penelope struggled with her first anxiety attack in ages.

Calm down. Don't lose it. Just breathe, focus on breathing, keep your feet steady. Guard up. Penelope regained her composure in seconds, focusing on her breath and taking a guarded stance, something that snapped her into relaxation on instinct. There was power in that relaxed pose, tranquility forged by years of training. Even then, her mind was reeling. Looking over, she saw that Ava had followed her through the double doors, her painted face clearly unhappy. How can she stomach this? Despite her relaxing, Penelope's eyes were still wide, her skin pale in the light from the arena as the double doors slowly closed.

[Shadon]

Amusement seeps even deeper as the dog takes the joke seriously. Oh this one would be fun, if he survived. He waits. And waits. And then Gabriel stares at the mutt for a long moment and then rolls his eyes. “You, dog-boy,” he crooks a finger at Alexander, motioning him to come. “They want a fight, we’ll give them a dog-fight. That is, unless you’d rather take me up on my other offer.” Disgusting creature, thinking he’d really mean that. He waits impatiently for the mutt to come along, wondering if he should put a leash on him for good measure. They had plenty of them. It would also be amusing.

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander stands up to follow, grumbling, "Wolf," as he rises. Not that I should expect him to care. He starts to walk to follow, then pauses for a second at Gabriel's 'offer'. Wait no, don't fall for it again. Despite being rather unaccustomed to joking, and in a pretty bad situation, he tries anyway, "I'd love to take you up on your other offer, but maybe I should try something safer."

[Valik Sparks]

GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4xgeDmNMSk)

Dyland the Doorman stares at Alexander, one eyebrow lifting quizzically as the Wolf said something that apparently had a more confusing affect than anything. The man's automatic weapon lowered to a more relaxed position as he shut the steel door and watched the Wolf and his Keeper head off down the hallway.

Bright lights assault Alexander's vision as he's lead out of the hallway and into a big..big room. Excited screaming and shouting rings in his ears, and an unpleasant plethora of smells swarm his sensitive nostrils; perspiration, body odor, dirt and grime, leather, musky air...and blood.

Crowds of people cheer from all around the room, eyes turned towards the center, where Gabriel is leading Alexander onto a massive stadium. Posts at each corner, connecting ropes around the stage...Alexander knew exactly what this was. A Fighting Ring. And he could see his challenger, hulking at the other end of the stage. A massive man-beast, with crabshell armor, giant pincers, and six, thick legs, ending in deadly spear-like points. His vibrant blue eyes held a blank, icy stare across the stage at Alexander, peering through the visor-like slit in the natural armor that covered his head.

The opposing teams stood in opposite corners of the ring, Gabriel with Alexander, and Alistair with King Crab -along with a couple groupies in skimpy outfits that were scrubbing the blood from the crab's shelling. Alistair leaned in close to King Crab, whispering words even Alexander with his sharp canine ears couldn't pick up over the noisy masses all around. The match would begin at any moment... The Referee, standing at center-stage, glanced at Gabriel, nodding, and waiting a moment to allow the Keeper a chance to offer his Fighter a few words.



***


In the dark, the sounds of the arena now muted, Ava lingers somewhere behind Penelope, but no words are spoken. Not for a long moment.

"I'm sorry... I just.. wanted you to know. So few people...know. And the ones that do... Don't care."

Silence hung in the air again. Perhaps Penelope might've spoken up, but a sudden rush of noise washed through the hall, along with a shaft of light. The doors. They opened, only briefly, and then shut again. Footsteps. As Penelope turned, she caught Ava jolting as a figure passed by, but he ignored her, walking straight towards Penelope, sporting worn jeans and a black hoodie, hood up, hands stuffed in his pockets. He stopped directly in front of Penelope, and then casually reached up and tossed the hood off his head.

"I've never seen someone run out like that before..."

He was young, looked to be mid-late twenties. Long, shaggy, dirty-blond hair, a rigid jaw, sharp nose and his eyes...they were a vibrant golden color. His hands as well, Penelope noticed, sported thick, black...well they could hardly be called nails, more like claws tipping each finger. He gazed at Penelope, expression..soft, sympathetic.

"I've never seen someone run..." He repeated, a look of...hope? -brimming in his eyes.



***


GRMM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i64rNjIYWb0)

When the steel door shuts with a heavy latching sound, an eerie silence washes over the room. The screaming from the arena is still audible to Klatch, but it's distant and muffled. Violet pulls her knees in tighter, and at the back of the room, Helen slides down into a sitting position, head hanging.

"I was supposed to fight today.." Helen muttered. "Gabriel's been training me.. That wolf guy is probably going to die.. just so that I'll have more time to train." She pauses. "It's been so long since--"

The steel door suddenly opened, light blasting into the room, enveloping a tall, male figure, turning him into a mysterious silhouette, until he pushed the door shut again behind him. He was strong and sturdy, a thin, black mustache sprouting from his upper lip, and slick, black hair, combed straight back, hanging down behind his ears, just brushing the base of his neck. His hands were thick and calloused, and he stood with excellent posture, eyes small, dark, nondescript, peering at the Monsters before him. His mouth was firm, lips pursed in a flat, neutral line, set against a solid, square jaw.

"My name.. is Reichstahn..."

He spoke clearly, with a deep voice, and a heavy European accent, particularly Russian-sounding. Striding further into the room, he stopped beside Klatch, clasping his hands behind his back and peering down at the bird with an indeterminable expression. "You have been..ahkwainted..with Gahbriel. Here, they khall him a..Zhookheeper. I am of the same...profezhun." He lifted his head, slowly stepping away from Klatch. "When I heard that Gahbriel had khaught two burhds...I had to kom see." He pauses, looking over his shoulder, back at Klatch. "You see, I... have a thing..for burhds..." The slightest of smiles tugged at one corner of his mouth.

He stepped softly...towards Violet. Squatting down in front of her, he gazed at her, eye-to-eye..though she couldn't look him in the eyes, her gaze constantly flickering about. A shiver passed through her body. Reichstahn exhaled a long breath, slowly reaching a hand to her face. He brushed her temple. She flinched. He smiled. His knuckles dragged softly down the side of her face. Her lips trembled lightly.

"You are so... beautifohl...little one.."

[babel_matrix]

Penelope stood tall, her composure returned in the face of an unknown. The claws were easy to spot and understand, now: so there were some of their... kind in the audience. Their words offered some background, both bearing heavy hints of disapproval, yet still the bets were being taken inside. Her voice was hard, a false wall that hid the confused, awful emotions welling inside. "Yeah? Well, some people are just less ****ed up in this city." Penelope looked at the doors again, making sure that no one else was going to join their conversation. She didn't turn back to meet the mysterious man's eyes, instead keeping her peripherals on him. "So, how far does this go, hmm? Police know and they don't care, maybe the governor comes in to put a bet now and again...? There's no PR firm in the country that could keep this sort of-" She wavered, but steeled herself once more. "-blood sport right under Manhattan."

She closed her eyes for a moment, but the man was still there, his alien eyes desperate and wide, the noise his body made as it was crushed in half, his blood that was now cold on her cheek-

Her eyes snapped open, and she stared at the golden-eyed creature who had been standing in the crowd. She looked back and Ava, finding the same thing: certainly concern, like soldiers who knew they were losing a war. But they were both used to it. The well of emotion bubbled into indignant rage. "How long has this been going on? How many are dead because no one has done anything?"

[Deathkeeper]

Well ain't that just perfect? First a psycho who makes a joke about being a pervert, and now a joke of a psycho who actually is one. Wonderful.
Klatch steps forward, putting a hand on top of the man's wrist and pulling it away. He does so slowly as to not provoke the watching guards, but forcefully enough that it's not a suggestion.
You can look, but don't touch. She's been through enough today that she doesn't need some pervert feeling her.
Seriously, it's as if humanity decided to drop all its filth in one place on a single date. If he didn't love their entertainment so much he'd be at risk of becoming racist, himself.

[Shadon]

Exchanging a cursory glance with Dylan, Gabriel gives him a shrug to indicate not to worry about it. Just some new meat getting used to things. Not looking back as they walk, Gabriel isn’t worried about the dog following or not, since if he tries to run, he’ll be gunned down. And if he gets lost, they’ll know where to bring him. Word will have spread by now about who the new pup belongs to. Pulling near the center of the crowd, Gabriel puts on his crowd-pleasing smile, maintaining the persona he’s built up and become over the last several years. Fierceness tugs at the corners of his mouth and in his eyes as he gives the friendly yet predatory grin. The bandages change the effect, though he’s not sure if they add or take away. It probably depends on the person.

At the ring’s edge, he holds the rope up for the dog to go through first, waving to the crowd once before following suit and standing off in their corner. He does his best to ignore the crab and his handler, though he can’t keep down the rage. If this crab wasn’t taken down tonight, he’d be a lot more trouble than he was worth. On the other hand, a knock-out would be an assurance of pleasing the crowd.

Watching the other keeper whisper to his charge, Gabriel turns and brings a hand up to curl into the dog’s fur on the side of his neck, giving a tug – not meant to hurt, but to bring him down to the man’s level. Whether he complies or not, Gabriel looks into his eyes and growls out in a low voice. “Fight to kill. Damn the crowd, they’ll be shouting all sorts of slurs or encouragements at you. With those ears, you’ll hear every one. Ignore them. If you want to live, kill that crab. Or he’ll kill you first.” Staring into the eyes of the beast a moment longer, he might notice Gabriel’s expression appears to be the least hostile it has been the whole encounter they’ve had. With that, he pulls away, raising his arms and turning to the ref and the other man.

“Ready.”

[Demented Dragon]

As he enters the room he starts to get nervous and walk more hesitantly. Oh god so many people... He doesn't even think about Gabriel letting him go first as he enters the ring. Way too many people for me.

Allowing himself to be pulled down, mostly out of nervousness, he just looks at Gabriel blankly. Why are there so many people? Wait, what does he mean kill?! His blank look quickly changes to alarm as he registers what he's being told.

He assumes a defensive posture and waits. I'm not going to be the one to start anything here. His tongue hangs out nervously as he stares into his opponent's eyes.

[Valik Sparks]

At Penelope's last comment, Ava turned away, eyes downcast. But the blond man held fast, gaze steady and unwavering. "It hasn't gone so far...yet." He said, calmly, but with bitterness rooted deep in his voice. "The.. 'Monsters', as they call us.. still live in rumors and conspiracy theories as far as the general public and the media knows. Everyone you saw down here.. No one just stumbled upon this place. It's spread from person to person, beginning with those who run this facility... So only the most twisted sickos ever get an invitation. Only people they think are...'suitable target audience'. You.. obviously don't belong in that group." He pauses, looking over to Ava.

"Looks like someone has been brave enough to do something after all.."

Looking back at Penelope, he hesitated a moment before speaking again. "Uh.. my name's Kyle. I.. found this place not too long ago. I've been trying to figure out a way to get these dogfighters out of here.." His eyes narrow as he quickly adds, "They're not here by choice."

"If I asked... Would you help me?"



***


Reichstahn shot an irritated, dark look at Klatch. He yanked his hand from the bird's grip, but obliged the bold command. He stood, taking a step back, and then waved his hand towards the steel entry door. The guard nodded and shut the door.

Stony gaze set on Klatch, Reichstahn leaned over, poising his eyes directly across from Klatch's, and nearly touching his pointy nose to the bird-man's beak. "You...are... khwite.. intheresting..." With a crooked smile, he began to pace in a slow circle around Klatch, looking him up and down, like he was inspecting a piece of hardware before purchase. He abruptly took hold of one of Klatch's wings, lifting it, lowering it, pulling it back, moving his head all around to view it from every angle, drawing his eyes quite near to the feathers, and even..smelling them. "Mmmm.. lovely tekture.. Strong.. And I find it fahcinating.." He let go of the wing and snatched Klatch's arm, twisting it palm-up and pulling the hand closer to inspect the claws. "Your wings do not replace your arms..."

Finally letting go, Reichstahn stared at Klatch, chin propped on his hand in a thoughtful matter. "Show me some.. skhill... Demohnsterate your worthiness to me."



***


The referee nodded at Gabriel, then looked across the way at Alistair. Face stoic, even a little grim, he brought his hands up, then quickly swung them down...and booked it off the stage.

When Alexander assumes a defensive position, King Crab wastes no time in bringing on the offense. His pointed feet skitter across the ground with a dangerous, scraping noise, pincers clamping with anticipation as a strange, gurgling roar rumbles from his throat, and bubbles begin to foam out from the creases in the shelling around his face.

Cheers and screams fill Alexander's sensitive ears... unfortunately they all seem to be in favor of the crab.

"YYEEAAHH! KING CRAB! CHOP HIM UP!" - "SCREW DOGS! CRABS ARE MAN'S BEST FRIEND!" - "WHEN HE KILLS YOU I'M GONNA SELL YOU AS SOUP IN CHINATOWN!" - "YOU ARE SO DEAD PUPPY DOG!" - "WOOF WOOF WOOF; HAHAHAHAAA!"

And next thing he knew, a gigantic, spiny pincer was launching towards him, trying to catch his furry neck right in the between the deadly clamps.


(Agility, Target: 3; on failure -Health, Target: 4)

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch does flinch quite a few times at being pulled and prodded, but if it keeps this freak off Violet he'll indulge his obsession. His creepy, creepy obsession. Still, the guy certainly isn't good at making friends.
And why, pray tell, would I care at all about seeming worthy to you?
Because in some way he'd rather die in the arena next week that be stuck for years with this psycho.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope visibly calmed down with Kyle's request. "Perhaps... can we talk elsewhere? This place is..." The cheering and jeering echoed through as another victim was brought before the beast she witnessed. "... unless you've got something planned for tonight? I'm not sure what I could do, but..." Glancing at Ava, she tried to read the girl's eyes. She had brought Penelope here for this, hadn't she? It wasn't a very subtle manipulation, but Penelope would be damned if it didn't work. "... I'll do what I can."

[Shadon]

Watching as Alistair’s hands fall, Gabriel turns, not sparing another look to his fighter as he makes his way between the ropes and then hovers right outside of the stage. Possibility of blood getting thrown his way be damned, he’d never left a fighter alone before and he wasn’t going to start now. Even if the dog was green as could be. Seeing the crab getting ready to bring it, Gabriel smacks a hand against the stage.

“Don’t defend! Move! Keep moving and hit him!”

[Demented Dragon]

Ducking under the claw, Alexander darts to the other side of the crab and looks at it, perplexed. How do you hurt this guy? He stares at his opponent uneasily, unsure of how to attack, and takes far too long. Sparing a glance at Gabriel, he manages a panicked, "HOW?!" Aren't there tools for this?! I thought I read that in a book once...

[Valik Sparks]

Alexander's confusion and hesitation gives the monstrous crab plenty of time to recover from his miss. Spinning around, his legs clack angrily against the ground as he gets himself within easy range of his target once again. He bends low, one gigantic arm shielding his face as the other snaps menacingly at the wolf's knees. But the attack is slow, predictable, and with some simple footwork, Alexander evades the deadly, scissoring claws.

"Hey the dog can move!" Someone exclaims from amongst the crowd.
"Shuttup! King Crab is totally gonna tear him to pieces! GO KING CRAB!"


Just out of the ring, at the opposite end, Alistair was eyeing Gabriel, a big, sick smile on his face, and that haughty look that said, You're gonna lose.


(With the crab's current defensive stance, hitting his face/eyes is at Target: 3; but he has limited himself to one active hand, and is hindering his own vision with the other.)



***


Reichstahn shrugs. Face sagging in a highly exaggerated frown. "Ohhh I dhon't know... I was jahst hohping..." He slowly walks between Klatch and Violet, holding one hand in the air, fingers dancing aimlessly as his gaze traces the room. "I dhon't want you to fight, frehnd... I jahst want... what would you khall it... A..mahscott." He swipes his hand across the air as though highlighting a banner. "The face.. of Reichstahn!" Looking back at Klatch, he smiles. His head slowly turns back to Violet and he steps towards her. She scrunches closer to the wall. He reaches out his hand...towards her face...then lifts his palm...and then drops it lightly on her head and pats her hair.

"If you rehfuse...I khood always find a dhifferent... Personal... Ahssistant..."



***


A small smile crossed Kyle's face. The first show of positive emotion since Penelope had met him...granted, just a few minutes ago. He looked at Ava. Her face was a little..blank. "She doesn't know me...but I've guessed by now she's like me." He glances between Penelope and Ava. "You two haven't known each other long have you..."

Ava steps forward, finally speaking, quietly. "I just.. brought her here because I wanted.. to see someone care. I never actually thought.. we could do anything... I mean.. what can we do..?"

Smile persisting, Kyle motioned for the girls to follow. He led them back out of the tunnels, up the stairs, and into the parking garage. He moved to the far end, then sat himself on the hood of a rusty old Honda. Seemed to be his. He clasped his hands, twiddling his...claws. "So...I haven't got it all figured out yet, but.. I've got some information. I know the layout of the place real well, and I know how things pretty much seem to go as far as schedule and who does what and goes where. But there's.. there's something I could really use someone like you for..." He looked at Penelope, chewing softly on his lower lip. "It's uh.. well... there's this Keeper. The guy who owns the crab actually.. his name's Alistair. He kind has a thing for... the young and nubile party-scene girls.. He regularly takes girls on tours, showing off his Monsters, and even the other Keeper's Monsters if they're not looking. Basically your typical stupid-with-a-girl kinda guy. And if we could get a Keeper to do some stupid things, well... we could go places."

He pauses, particularly looking Ava's direction. "I've got.. a safehouse too. It's.. it's just me there. But it's big. I've got food stocked up, electricity. It's out of the way, nobody knows about it. I.. want to start bringing people in. Giving them somewhere safe to stay, for a while, or forever you know.. a home."

[babel_matrix]

Kyle quickly went from enigmatic, heroic rebel to shady as f@#$ fairly quickly, and it was a wake-up call from the fugue of tonight's events that Penelope desperately needed. Penelope narrowed her eyes as Kyle spoke, already expecting where his line of reasoning was going right up until it got there. "Like Hell."

She gave them a moment to absorb that answer. "You expect me to... what... flirt my way into the cages and figure out a way to free them before I have to sleep with... correction, beat the crap out of the creep? That's a crapsack plan, even with the safehouse... How'd you find all this out, anyways? If you learned that much, I'm sure we can come up with a better plan."

One that doesn't involve me in a God-damned miniskirt. Another pause. "Hell, I'll come up with a better plan, if you just tell me everything you know about this place."

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch was beginning to expect this was all a ploy to get him mad, because this guy seems to have a laser-guided targeting system for pushing his buttons (My words, not Klatch's).
"What did I just say, creepshow? Hands off. And truth be told I'd rather be a bloody mess on the floor than perform for you or anyone you could possibly know. And something tells me she doesn't want any part in the assistance you're looking for, so save yourself the time and get out now."
This whole mess is just infuriating. It's completely unlike him to have to act tough for this long, but he just doesn't know what else to do. He can't let either of them leave with this freak. If not for the fact that he has no intention of letting him molest Violet any longer there's a much better chance of getting out of here with the many other monsters, crowds, and urban location that whatever manse this arrogant guy probably got for himself.

[Shadon]

Gabriel doesn't catch Alistair's glance as his eyes are glued to the ring, alternating between the dog, the crab, and the open space as he figures out the movements they're making and potential ones they might. Alright, so the fight doesn't look great, but good news, the dog isn't cut in half yet. So that's a plus. The crab's moving slow, also a plus, as long as the dog is fast. Dogs are fast, right? The other lupine-fighters he'd seen usually were, fast and with a strong bite. Same with in the actual dog-fighting ring. All of this would be helpful, if he could figure out how to use it. What was the crab's weakness? Boiling? That would sure help.

Letting his eyes flit around the opponent, he glances to the eyeslit, which seems the predictable spot to go to. And predictable will get you killed in a ring. His view travels, taking in the monstrous claw (avoid), the smaller claw (avoid that too), the shell (avoids the dog), and the slow motion (can't avoid). His eyes finally settle, and he barks out an order.

"Go for the joints! Snap them!"

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander starts for the eyes tentatively, but surprised by the order he switches for the joints at Gabriel's command. And surprising himself, he connects and attempts to snap it with all his strength.


1d10 = 1 to hit,
1d10 = 3 for strength(?)

[Valik Sparks]

"Looks like we've got ourselves a little lost puppy folks! He doesn't know what to do! --wait, wait a minute, what's this now?"

The announcer's stream of verbalized observations goes quiet as he stares with the rest of the crowd at the action in the bloodied ring.

A blur of dark grey streaked towards the giant crab-man. Thick, fur-coated arms wrapped tightly around one of the six legs, claws scraping against the hard exoskeleton. The leg lifted off the ground, the wolf's lips pulled back into a snarl, fangs glinting off the bright stage lights. Alexander's muscles trembled. The leg joint creaked. Then with one final wrench--

CRACK!

A watery snapping noise resounded, and King Crab wailed terribly as his leg was wrenched up at an impossible angle, connected to his body only by a thin membrane now. Squealing in a strange manner, the crab-man skittered backwards, broken leg dragging along the ground, both claws raised and held against its face.

"WOWEE!" The announcer cried out. "Looks like somebody's got a thing for crab legs!"

King Crab apparently wasn't familiar with pain, and his wailing was giving Alexander plenty of time for a follow-up attack.



***


Reichstahn whirled around, face twisted into a snarl as he glared sharply at Klatch. "If you had ANY eenkling of who I am and what I am capahble of, you would NOT be taking up such a tohne with me, Mohnster.."

He took a breath through clenched teeth, allowing that statement to hang in the air a moment. "You know.. many birhds choose one mate for liefe.." He gives a wistful look upwards, as though there were a starry sky to see. "It is... trooly touching. Beautifohl. I would never wish to disturhb such a thing. So..." His gaze comes back Klatch, steely and unblinking. "I am going to make your choice for you."

Reichstahn snaps his fingers. The giant steel door opens, and the machine-gun wielding guard stands at the ready. Reichstahn snatches Klatch by the wrist with a vice grip, twisting sharply, abruptly -the man clearly has combat experience. Klatch's elbow is nearly touching his beak, and searing pain shoots through his arm, from which the only escape is to move forward...with Reichstahn. "I am taeking this birhd. If it attehmpts to eskhape, you will shoot it, no?"

The guard kept the gun trained on Klatch. "Are you sure Gabriel's Ok with this..?"

Reichstahn narrowed his eyes. "If.. Gahbriel.. has a prohblem with this. He can kom speak to me pehrsonally." With Klatch in tow, he moved out of the holding area and the guard shut the door behind them. The machine gun followed them as they moved down the hall, around a corner, screams and shouts echoing from the arena somewhere nearby. Then they came to another steel door. Klatch could hear some kind of violent, metallic, wrenching noise on the other side. Sporadic, but constant. Then a loud snap.

"Oh dhear."

Reichstahn, a sudden flash of concern on his face held his hand on the door handle for a moment. The guard unlocked it and stepped back. Reichstahn looked down at Klatch. "You are ghood with worhds, no?" Without warning, he suddenly yanked open the door, shoved Klatch inside, and slammed it shut again.

Klatch found himself stumbling on another dusty, cold, hard floor in a dimly-lit room and--

HHIIISSSSSSSSSSS!

Blurred by lightning-fast motion, a creature lunged towards him, tall, arms poised threateningly, dragging the tails of broken chains behind them. Green eyes, long golden hair, something dull-gray, metal, covering the mouth and jaw region? And from the waist down.. a long, thick, dark green appendage stretching out, winding in S-patterns, propelling the entire body forward with tremendous force.

Klatch's presence was not deterring her collision course.


(Agility, Target: 6 to avoid speeding snake-girl. Health, Target: 6 on failure.)



***


Kyle blinked. Then stared. His once stony, collected, heroic(?) expression had been smacked right off his face, and his lips parted, moving lightly before he managed to stutter out a few words in response to Penelope. "I--uh...sorry--I.. it's just, I don't know... It seemed like a good idea. I mean I haven't done this before, I just.. I suppose not all girls would want to, uh... but in the movies..." He glanced away, scratching at the back of his neck. "Yeah, that was.. uh, that sounds dumb.. I mean that was dumb, that idea. Well it could work. But.. Yeah, something else..." He pauses, shifting his weight, sniffing and rubbing his noise, and working the cool back into his voice. His claws rapped lightly on the metal car frame.

"I've been coming here for weeks... You learn a lot, actually, just having your eyes open... annnnd 'accidentally' going where you may not be supposed to go." He smirks. "So here's the basics... The whole thing was organized and constructed by a few guys with money and spare time and a twisted sense of entertainment. They sorta took an informal underground fight club and turned it into a...gladiatorial tournament-style entertainment business, or something. Three dudes from the fight club, Gabriel, Alistair, and Reichstahn, now act as..'Zookeepers'. They find Monsters, take 'em down, and bring them in, and then throw them into the arena to fight. Gabriel actually trains some of his Monsters though. He also seems to treat them the best. But he's still an ass." Kyle shrugs, then continues. "The captive Monsters are held in big rooms called Stables, with one-way entrances, big old steel doors. One guy holds the key, guy called Dylan, keeps a machine gun on hand and guards the doors 24/7. He's always there when anybody needs to get in or out. The Monsters are kept healthy enough, three meals a day, 7am, 1pm, and 8pm -unless they're fighting, then they get dinner earlier. The guys here like to pretend the fights are random, but things are actually pretty planned out, as far as who's fighting who and all. You can find out the rough fight schedule just by getting chummy with Alistair or Reichstahn, they both like to hear themselves talk. Gabriel not so much. He'll probably just give you a mean look. There's actually not a lot of security measures though.. A few of the old fighters hang around, maybe like four or five. And then there's.. I think only four actual guard kinda guys? They carry automatic rifles. A couple of them hang out near the exit, and another two around the stage area in case things get rowdy. Pretty low-key stuff.. I don't think they plan on anyone trying to break the Monsters out.. and the Monsters themselves--" Kyle stops, frowning suddenly. "Collars.. I forgot about that. Any Monsters that give even a little trouble get shock collars stuck on 'em. That might be a problem if we were to try and rescue them and the collared ones start getting shocked and stuff.."

Pausing, Kyle glances between Penelope and Ava. "So.. got any.. better ideas?"

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch's responses are as follows:
"Like I give a damn who you are" (muttered)
"Wha-? Mate? The crap are you... (confused)
Awk! (startled)
"I'm a HE you s.o.b.!" (frustrated)
"Wait what- (confused again)
I'm sure you can figure out what goes with what.

And then he's locked in the room with a psychotic naga. He easily sidesteps as she charges.
"Woah, hey, calm down. Now's not the time to go on a murderous rampage now. They'll either blast your face with machine gun rounds or stun you into submission if you keep this up, and neither of those options are going to get you any closer to freedom. Although if you really want to, try to rip out the unarmed one's throat before you get blown to bits, it'd be really nice of you."

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander rushes in, eager to get things over with. If I take all the legs on the same side that might end it. And I won't have to kill him. Just barely grabbing another leg, Alexander snarls and yanks upwards again, "Just give up!"



To hit: 1d10 = 4
Strenght: 1d10 = 6

Assumed a 4 would grab since it was 3 to get past the claws to the face, will edit if he evades?

[Shadon]

Gabriel watches with mounting satisfaction as the strategy works. "Keep it up, Fido! Move while he's stunned and you'll be good. Use your speed," he half-shouts, half-growls. "You're doing great," it comes out more at a normal level. A whisper, in all of this noise, though the dog might hear it. It had been a long while since he'd given genuine praise to a fighter. Especially to a freak like that. But seeing Ali put in his face - that would be worth it. Maybe tonight would turn out for the best. A thin grin stretches across his lips. Time would surely tell.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope got her phone out when she started to realize the wealth of information this man was giving her. Taking notes digitally was almost what she did for a living, and with deft taps on her smartphone she had a sheet full of those details and names rattled off one by one. The occasional paranoid look around, worried that someone might hear this tell-all, was all that kept Penelope from her phone.

When at last he was finished, she reviewed the notes in full. Christ. Shock collars? Assault rifles? It made sense, she supposed, after seeing something like the crab man and what he did... She blinked away the memory, unconsciously numbing herself to it. "Seven A.M." She repeated it mentally. "Dinner early for fights... so the fights are only at night, right? Everyone's ready to go by morning... and all the supporters leave, so we just have those people you mentioned, if they're even around during the day, and the..." She didn't want to say monsters. The very word disgusted her, made her feel as if uttering it would make her an accomplice to the cold-blooded, shouting mob she had just escaped. "... the prisoners locked under armed guard..." Penelope pursed her lips as she contemplated her options.

"So.. got any.. better ideas?"

"Maybe. I need to know what this place is like during the day... and I need to find out who these people are when they aren't here. From there, we can work something out." Putting her phone away, she took a deep breath, regretting the bitter taste of the air. "These creeps live at night, and the reasons are obvious: they, or their clientele, all work in the day, live lives that might not involve capturing and torturing and... killing these people." She forced a tight smile. "I say we hit them during the day, but we do it smart, piecemeal. They won't expect it... and with any luck, we can get those shock collars off before they end up killing the people we're trying to save." She kept a brave face, hiding the absolute terror that the very idea gave her. It was too big for her. But Hell, so was the government and the status quo... Didn't you fail against those, Pen? "We're going to need to scope the place out tomorrow morning, see what's what... Can you two handle that, safely? I've got to go to work, but I've got more access to public records, enough that I might get some more dirt on these guys... last names would help, Kyle. What's your number?" She remembered how Ava had to live. She suddenly felt very uncouth. "Eh... I mean, if you have one. Else, can you meet us tomorrow night, at Charles' Diner?" It was close to home, familiar, and usually deserted by virtue of the crappy cooks they kept for the night shifts.

[Valik Sparks]

Alexander snatches another leg with ease...

And his maneuver is rewarded with another loud crack and a wail from King Crab. This time though, the voice is a bit less monstrous and gurgly; instead...words even manifest within the scream..

"OOOWWWWW it huuuuuurts!" The voice is shrill, high-pitched, undertoned with a strange reverberation, but human enough to be eerie. It's definitely male, but the tone sounds almost...prepubescent. It is then that both Alexander and Gabriel realize they have no idea how old this creature is, and with a body hidden in an exoskeleton, there's no way to tell.

The crab was tilting to one side, skittering and swaying, attempting to recover his balance. Alexander might've pounced again...but a loud whistle blew. The referee leapt between the two contestants...though he looked ready to leap away again just as fast.

"TIME!"

Two women accompany Alistair onto the stage, helping to drag King Crab to his corner, setting up a big stool for him. Alistair just remains in his face the entire time and is shouting and flailing his arms furiously at the crab.


The crowd screams their approval, but within the mass of faces, there are many dark looks and grim stares. King Crab has gone undefeated thus far, and a healthy amount of cash is at stake if that record is broken.


Round 2 will soon be underway.



***


As Klatch steps aside, the snake-girl continues her launch forward, undeterred.

CLANNNNGGGGG!!!

The steel door is slammed shut. And she slams right into it. Ricocheting off the door, she sprawls onto the dusty ground for a short moment, and Klatch gets a brief, but better look at her. Fair skin, blonde hair, with red highlights, slitted, reptilian pupils, dark-blueish colored shirt, bracelets, one glove, all not in bad condition at all. And a muzzle... An iron clamp is locked over her mouth and wraps all the way around her jaw, sealing at the base of her skull. Behind small bars, her teeth are bared angrily; the canines are a little extra long, like fangs. But Klatch's sharp bird's eyes pick up more..

A smudge black near one eye, a few glittery sprinkles here and there, a splotchy look on one cheek where parts of the skin look a little too smooth... And the clothes, there are designs on them, flowers, roses, indented, smooth material, it would show up better in good lighting... stage-lighting, perhaps.

And then she's off. Hissing wildly, the girl slams herself against the door again, and again, raking her fingernails against the metal and making terrible scratching noises.



***


"The day.." Kyle repeated, nodding his head. "Yeah, yeah! That'd be good. I can definitely do some snooping tomorrow. I'm pretty good at passing as...uh, normal." He shrugs and looks at the claws. "I guess I got off lucky.. not much to hide." With a look at Ava he adds, "If you're not comfortable, don't come; I'll be fine on my own -lasted this long!" He slides off his car and brushes his hands. "Ok so, I know the Zookeepers' last names at least... Gabriel Mae. Alistair Zaldo. And Reichstahn actually goes by his last name. Full name's Moronios Reichstahn."

He flips some keys from his pocket and opens the door of his car, leaning over the frame lazily. "Yeah I got a phone." He smirks. "Like I said, I can pass off pretty well... Number's 426-5529. Local. Also. I work with uh, the U-Haul company. You know? Help move people's stuff. And.. I'm pretty sure I could get us a truck.. If that helps?" With a shrug he slides into his car, almost shuts the door, then stops.

"Uh.. do you two want a lift..?"

[babel_matrix]

Penelope takes her phone out again, quickly amending the notes. First AND last name? This would be cake... presuming they were real names, presuming these people were anywhere ON the grid.

TracersInfo wasn't free, but it was cheap... she'd talk to Susie about it in the morning, presuming Susie wasn't being a complete jerk tomorrow. Offered the ride to spare them the walk back, and to spare them more standing, Penelope can only look to Ava, trying to gauge her opinion of Kyle's help.

[Demented Dragon]

I don't care how old that guy is, I'm not going to die here. With claws like that... If he doesn't want to get hurt he needs to give up. Alexander broods in the corner, sparing a glance at Gabriel to see if he has anything then thinking better of it and looking back to the crab. What does it even matter what he thinks? Anxious and unable to just remain inactive, Alexander tries to listen in on what Alistair is telling the crab through the noise of the crowd.

[Deathkeeper]

Poor girl. Must have just gotten nabbed then; Klatch can't imagine someone dressing her up on purpose. Well, he can see her liking it but not these sick bastards.
Hey! HEY! Knock it off, you're just going to get yourself killed, and that will do you no good. Please calm down.
He's trying to save this girl's life, but he's still keeping out of arm's reach. Wouldn't want to get smashed himself.

[Shadon]

Pulling himself in through the ropes, Gabriel turns his head to give Alistair a scathing glance, highlighted with a cold smile. Turning, he faces his own fighter, snapping to get his attention as he sees the dog's ears swiveling, probably taken in by the crowd now that the adrenaline's a bit down. Planting himself in the dog's direct line of sight, he stares at him, waiting to see if he can get his attention, and then deciding it doesn't matter anyways. He'll hear, or he won't. "If I know Alistair, he's going to tell that thing to go for the kill or go home. And by home, I mean die. You need to take him down. If you keep going for the joints, he won't be able to move soon, and the ref will probably call it. The crowd doesn't like boring fights. However," he debates over whether to tell the beast or not. The crowd might call for an execution. He gives a shake of the head. Never mind. "Just watch yourself."

[Valik Sparks]

The crashing and clanging stopped abruptly. The snake-girl twisted her upper body, green eyes aflame, gaze latching fast to Klatch.

She hesitated, but her eyes did not waver. Her forked tongue flickered out from her lips, then she glanced away once, briefly. A soft sigh hissed through her fangs and her eyelids drooped with irritation.

"For a moment I considered taking you hostage and threatening to kill you to get myself out of here... but I'm sure they'd just let you die."

With a snarl, she whirled one arm about, swiping the chain against the door and tearing a ragged scratch across its surface. Her shoulders rose and dipped as her breathing became long and heavy, the adrenaline draining from her system. The end of her tail slithered aimlessly against the dusty floor, tip swishing side to side. Her gaze snatched his again in a most..uncomfortably predatory manner. "You look raw... Is this your first time in a cage?"

Her nostrils flared and her tongue flickered out again. "You know this place isn't unique right? I've been locked up before. In a place a helluva' lot worse than this. Run by a freak psychopath who calls himself Klaw... I only escaped him three days ago.. but I had to go back." She pauses, gaze drifting away. "I have a sister back there. With him. She didn't make it out. I was going back for her when these bozos grabbed me. Some idiot saw me and they pounced me in my sleep -cowards. And now every second that I'm stuck here...my sister is out there, with that.. monster.."

Her fangs bit down hard, and her hands curled into tense fists.



***


The crowd was a'riot, but Alistair wasn't making much effort to quiet his voice, and Alexander's sharp ears picked up his aggravated scolding as he pointed accusingly at King Crab.

"YOU! I expect better out of you! We all just watched you cut that last freak in half! So what seems to be the problem, pea-brain??" He stretched up and knocked his fist hard against the crab's head. "Get it together! Tear that mutt to pieces, you hear me?! It's do or die now!" Bubbles began to foam and leak profusely from around the crab's facial armor and out from his eye-slit as he made a strange, gurgling, high-pitched droning noise. Alistair growled and slapped the crab across the side of the face. "Quit yer blubbering!"

Nothing new came from Alistair, and shortly after Gabriel gives his advice, the referee blows the whistle, calling for the stage to be cleared and the next round set to begin. Alistair moved away, watching Gabriel darkly with a sideways look. The referee stood at the center, King Crab slowly advanced, two legs dragging limply across the arena floor. The whistle blows. The referee bolts off the stage. The crab raises its claws into attack position.. but with much less gusto this time, clattering towards Alexander at a moderate pace, but seeming to maintain a more defensive attitude.. clearly watching its left side, where only two legs remain supporting it.


(King Crab is not making the first move, and is instead prepared to counter -unless you beat him in a Reaction(Initiative) roll. Since Alexander's abilities have no descriptors that particularly affect his reaction time, it will be average, D12. But King Crab rolled 12, so you auto-beat his reaction time because your Agility is higher... XD -after that, it's Target: 5 to hit him. And Target: 6 Strength to break a joint.)



***


Ava looked at Penelope and just nodded. Kyle gave a small smile and waited for the girls to climb into the back together before starting off. He got Penelope's address, or at least the location she wanted to be dropped off at, and remained silent, if not a little awkwardly so, for the remainder of the drive... partially because Ava started speaking in a hushed tone to Penelope, quiet enough that it was clearly intended to be a private conversation, out of reach of Kyle's ears, hidden beneath a layer of rumbling car engine.

"Hey, um.. Pen?"

Ava leaned in close, yellow eyes flashing in the sporadic lighting of the city lights darting by outside. Her gaze turned downcast. "Um.. I.. I'm... scared." She pulled back just slightly. "I.. want to help.. I do.. but I just.. I always thought.. well what could I do? I see this going on, and I.. I just do everything I can to.. not get caught myself.. and I, I want to help the others, I really, really do, but... I.. I'm scared of what might happen.. I don't want to end up in a cage... I just can't.."

"But I feel like such a coward.. You and Kyle.. you're both so brave.... I'm not."

[Deathkeeper]

Well, that's just disheartening. Klatch makes a soft avian noise at the back of his throat.
"I thought so, but I'd really been hoping this was the only place. Make more noise though. If it gets quiet they'll come to drag me out. And the longer I can avoid being sold the better. Psychopaths. I don't suppose there's anything to do? They'll just kill me with the collar if I do anything openly."

[Shadon]

At the whistle blow from the ref, Gabriel shoots on last look at the dog before slipping back under the rope, hovering near the edge again. At this point, all he can do is wait, and hope the monster doesn't mess it up. Of course, if worst came to worst, he could always take more dire measures. But he hoped it wouldn't have to come to that. Keeping his hands clenched on the ropes and going white-knuckled as he watches, he begins to mutter under his breath. "C'mon, go for him, incapacitate."

[Demented Dragon]

Alexander starts off ignoring Gabriel, paying more attention to what Alistair says, up until he hears the word 'kill', that is. When he continues with less exciting words after 'die', Alexander returns his attention to Alistair and the crab. I think I hate that man. So what if...

Looking pensive, or perhaps to others just out of it, Alexander dashes for one of the crab's remaining legs at the first chance. He ducks beneath the crab's far too slow counter and smiles. Prematurely perhaps because he misses his target. Oops, need to be careful... I don't want to end up like the last guy... He stares at the crab challengingly, He's too slow, I can do this.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope stared at Ava for a beat before her face twisted. The smile finally broke through the puckered lips and, for the first time that night, Pen laughed gaily, right into Ava's frightened face. She reached over to Ava, and for the briefest moment her hand hovered over Ava's, her fingers trembling as she held them there. Before Ava could comment, the girl had grabbed her clawed hand in a tight squeeze, temporarily masking the nervous energy in her fingers.

"I'm not brave," Turner sighed with a smile. I'm starting to wonder if I ever was.

The ride back to her building was thankfully uneventful, Kyle redeeming his earlier plan by not segwaying the ride home with a trip to God-knows-where. Waving their goodbyes and whispering their reminders of the plan, the conspirators broke away from each other, ready to sleep away the night. To Ava's questions, of bravery and of the plan, Penelope simply smiled it away, waving it off as if it were hardly a big deal. "Soon as I wake up tomorrow, I'll bounce to work and take care of my end... Hell, I could do it from home, but there just isn't enough time today..." Penelope turned the key in her doorknob as she contemplated that sliver of normal.

The door opened to her apartment, Ava just behind her, Spite lurking somewhere in the shadows of the kitchen. It was painfully mundane. The windows of her life, stuck in the crack-riddled plaster that made the farthest wall, had forever framed Manhattan in a grimy, dog-eat-dog light, lit up occasionally by the sight of innocence or the glamour of Hollywood. As Penelope took her first step back into her apartment, into that chamber of a world she could never return to, the arena came back to her: the screams of the monsters, their inhuman cries and bleating, and how those monsters, the monsters that truly terrified her, the only monsters she saw, filled the bleachers surrounding the killing floor of their chosen victims.

And it was all taking place just a dozen or so blocks away from her home.

It was too heavy, that first step, and Ava's question about something was so far away that Penelope had to strain her ears against the sound of wind, of air rushing past her ear as the apartment tipped sideways. With her defenses finally down, the full of the night fell upon Penelope Turner, and drove her to faint at the foot of her apartment.

[Valik Sparks]

"NOW! NOW, TAKE HIM NOW!"

Alistair rushed towards the edge of the arena, face red as he roared at King Crab, jamming his hand downward, poised like a pincer.

The crab gurgled in response, raising a massive claw, snapping it open like a pair of jaws, and jamming it down hard and fast, attempting to catch Alexander's torso right in the middle.

(Agility Target: 3 to dodge. On failure, claw clamps shut to pin, initial damage, Target: 6, and Target: 1 Strength to break out. In case of miraculous tie on Alexander's part, re-roll Target would be: 8.)

The crab roared as it moved with renewed vigor. Alistair grinned sadistically. "Bleed, dog.. bleed.."


"This...mhay be a bhad time..." Reichstan's heavily accented voice crept up behind Gabriel. "But if you're not too enghaged at the mohment... I was whondering if we cood talk ahbout you're... birhd. The male." Reichstan sidled up beisde Gabriel and began stroking his chin. "I would like to buy him from you. Or pehrhaps both of them, if there's anywhay that cood be ahrranged.."

He smiled. "It's jahst.. you know how long I've bheen looking.. and how much I.. love.. birhds.."



***


The snake-girl hissed quietly under her breath, then spun towards the door and gave it another thrashing. She stopped, leaned close to the door, stared.. tongue flickered in and out a few times. Then she sunk back. "They're gone.."

She was still for a moment. She eyed Klatch. Then she slithered closer.. A portion of her tail remained on the ground in front of him, supporting her elongated body as she eerily 'floated' around behind him, and further until her upper torso was leaning around his opposite shoulder and she was face to face with him again -only now he was completely encircled by snake.

A slight smile played across her face.. her tongue flickered close enough enough to just tickle the tip of his beak. Her vibrant green eyes gazed intently into his avian orbs. "I've never ssseen a bird one, like you.. You.. ssmell good.. It's a shame they put thiss..muzzle over my mouth." She grinned, showing off her fangs. Then pulled her head back just a little.

"I'm kidding. I don't eat street trash." She paused. "My name's Miranda (http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s278/creepkake/Pose1_zps4af89e32.jpg)."



***


Penelope woke up to the smell of...something.. but it sure smelled good. There was a crackling, sizzling noise coming from the kitchen; something frying on the pan. She was still in her same clothes from last night, and laying in a sprawled, floppy manner on her bed.

Her vision was blurry, head light.. her eyes fluttered, meaning to close for just a few more minutes of rest...when her work alarm began blaring. It was time for another glorious session at the daily grind. Going about her normal, drowsy routine, whenever she manages to stagger her way out of her room, she finds Ava scooping some sort of egg dish onto a plate. Ava turns around, flashing a smile at Penelope. "Morning, Pen! I...uh.. made you breakfast!" She holds out the plate, beaming, yellow eyes bright, smile toothy and wide, and scaley, green tail swishing back and forth behind her. The scales on her face and coating her hands and feet glinted in the bright, morning light.

The egg dish seemed to be.. scrambled eggs, mixed up with a marginal amount of sauteed veggies taken from the fridge, and some sort of...meaty stuff? It was brownish, chunky, and looked generally meat-like in texture and shape, but Penelope couldn't recall anything of the sort in her fridge. Though her mind was a bit fuzzy still. And Spite was brooding on the countertop so...yeah it wasn't anything like that.

Ava tugged at her lower lip with her teeth. "I, I hope you like it! It's good, I promise! My own special recipe I figured out." A hint of pride crept in there. -It did smell very good. Seasoned with salt and pepper to accompany its natural savory whiff.

And if she dared bite into the dish... she would find it tasted even better than it smelled.

[Demented Dragon]

After another speedy dodge, right to where he wanted to be, Alexander's eyes briefly dart to Alistair. Oh yes this will be good... if I can manage it. "Sorry kid, you can't just kill people!" He grabs the crab's legs once more... but this time he also lifts under him as well with another hand, and uses all his strength to shove him to the edge of the ring.

Laughing despite the exertion, Alexander yells "GOODBYE TO BOTH OF YOU" as he shoves the crab over the edge of the ring down at Alistair. He turns around and walks to the middle of the ring before turning back to observe the results of his work.


Caught Valik on Skype to get all the rolls done at once

[Valik Sparks]

"Oh.. my... GaaAAAAAHHH!"

The huge, jagged shadow loomed over the edge of the arena, completely enveloping Alistair and dimming him a shade darker as he stared upwards, eyes wide, jaw hanging slack. He tried to move, but that was a lot of crab coming down, and a claw struck his backside as he turned to run, knocking him prone. And then, with a loud--

CRUNCH!

The crab landed harshly on the ground, and atop Alistair's legs. A crack split across the exoskeleton on the crab's backside, and Alistair gave a mighty, pained roar.

And then he said many foul things at very high decibel levels.

Alistair was pinned. And King Crab wasn't helping as he rolled side to and flailed his arms and legs, making a ragged wailing noise.
The referee and a couple of Alistair's buddies rushed over and starting pushing and shoving to get the crab upright. The crowd was roaring with excitement and approval, ones who were higher up, sitting, now jumping energetically. But a fair number of still bodies and soured faces could be seen amidst the chaotic mass...

"WOWEE!" The announcer shouted. "That's a total ring-out! Can the King Crab continue to take this kind of punishment from our rookie? Is Alistair in any condition to continue overseeing his fighter? Can the crab act on its own? We're on baited breath here! Is this fight over? Or is our reigning champion going to pull through?!"

[Deathkeeper]

"You can call me Klatch. Not a fantastic name, but it's mine. And I think I'm more along the lines of rooftop trash than street trash.
Somehow, after all of this, he wasn't the least bit frightened by the snake playing predator.
And I'd say it's nice to meet you, but I'm pretty sure I'd be much happier if we had done so in better circumstances. Unless you have a magnificent plan to get out while the guards aren't paying attention to us?"

[Shadon]

Focused intently on the match, Gabriel didn't realize Reichstan had approached him until the other man spoke up. "Not now," he snarled, shaking his head sharply, waiting with breath half-held. It came out in a hiss, satisfied, as he watched the dog dodge the crab. He was actually rather impressed. But they weren't out of the woods yet. Watching with the other keeper, he tracked his monster's movements and blocked out the sounds, wondering what the hell the beast was up to at first, and then watching with his good eye opened in surprise. That was a ballsy move. And it got even more so. Roaring in encouragement, he expects a slam to the ground for the crab, but what he sees is better. Threw the crab over the edge. The dog threw the crab over the edge on to Alistair. Oh, they were going to get on just fine if he kept this up.

Smirking as much of the crowd erupts into cheers, he tries to catch the dog's eyes with his functioning one and gives him a satisfied grin and nod as he does, then turns to the man. "What was that? You wanted my bird?"

Normally, he would be bursting with anger at the thought of someone else going into his stables without his permission, but Reichstan was an...interesting case. The man was known for doing as such, and Alistair was known for not being friendly about it. Anyone Alistair didn't like, Gabriel did. So it worked out in a very odd arrangement, but it worked.

Watching the man, he clicks his tongue against his teeth as he thinks. It was true, he'd been looking for such a long time, and now Gabriel had two. Birds weren't really his type of fighter, he usually went for the tougher kind, more built like Cub or Fido. But then again, he was low...could he afford to give the man both?

"The male, huh?" He draws out, gears spinning in his head. "I don't know if I can spare both, Reich. Who knows how long this," he jerks a thumb over towards Alexander, "pup will last. And the male's the better built of the two." He didn't directly want to scorn the man, he would be willing to make a deal - but he wasn't going to give it free, either. "I'm willing to sell, but I might need more than money. Do you have any fighters that are my type?"

[Valik Sparks]

"Akshually..." Reichstahn grinned widely. "I may jahst have something for you... A snake. She's new, so I don't think you've been acquhainted... She is.. ekstremely violent and tenacious. One of the men I hired to help me katch her is dead, and two others whounded." He paused, pinching his fingers together near his lips thoughtfully. "A pretty face.. mahsking a deadly bheast..."

Meanwhile, the crab was finally shoved off of Alistair, who quite flusteredly staggered to his feet, wincing, gritting his teeth, barely standing on his wobbly legs. He took a limping step forward, but nearly fell over, caught by the referee. "Hey, hey," the ref started, "you need to see the doc and get those legs checked out." Alistair growled in return, casting a death-glare Gabriel's direction, and then stumbling off with the help of a couple friends. He looked back at the crab and shouted in a ragged voice, "Get back up there and FINISH IT."

As Alistair limped off, King Crab made a quiet, concerned whining noise. He tried to skitter in the direction Alistair was going, but he stopped very suddenly, wailing in pain and doubling over, claws coming up and trying hopelessly to protect his neck as his shock collar punished him with voltage. The referee was shouting at him, and he scuttled backwards, twitchy, almost tripping over himself thanks to the broken legs. He was guided back onto the stage, whirling around as the crowd screamed excitedly.

"EXECUTION!"

It was just one voice, but it rather quickly sparked a chorus of similar demands.

"KILL HIM!" "SNAP THAT CRAB IN HALF!" "BREAK HIM!" "EXECUTE HIM!" "FINISH IT!" "DEATH TO THE CRAB!" "DEATH! DEATH! DEATH DEATH!"

"DEATH!" "DEATH!" "DEATH!" "DEATH!" "DEATH!" "DEATH!"

Alexander stood just feet away from his opponent. King Crab still seemed to be out of it, suddenly distracted by all the shouting, and throwing constant glances towards the area Alistair had disappeared. Clacking and gurgling and soft, fearful noises sputtered from the crab's hidden mouth as he twitched and made tiny half-movements in random directions.



***


Miranda gave Klatch a dull, less-than-amused look. "You're a real chatterbox aren't you..." She sighed, gaze falling away. "And no.. I don't have a plan.. I've barely been in here for 48 hours.. I don't know the layout, the system, the weak points, security holes.. It took me 37 days to break out of Klaw's.. Abyss." Her eyes go stony cold and her fangs show as she flickers her tongue.

"Klatch the bird..." She stares off thoughtfully. "Tell me about yourself. Talents, skills..intelligence. I need to know if you have any use aside from Bullet-Shield." Miranded flashed a grin at the bird boy.

[babel_matrix]

Right. The arena.

The tidal wave of memories, each one a bad dream, did not lose the foggy, almost hallucinogenic quality they possessed. The quirky, tell-tale tail behind Ava made sure Penelope could never confuse those memories for the feverish dreams they resembled; the smells, the sounds of the audience, the dead beetle man all came back, somewhat muted and lightened in her mind. A finer coping mechanism had never been crafted before, and it was all that kept young Ms. Turner walking towards the table. By the time she fully accepted what she had to do today, the first fork-full was in her mouth.

It was divine! She never would have thought Ava was this good... Hell, she should have had her cook last night! Certainly a favor to yank on from her new... roommate? Roommates paid rent. Penelope raised her eyes to Ava, watching as she consumed her own plate of the delightful meal. No, not a roommate... A victim. A runaway. Asylum seeker. Immigrating from humanity itself, because humanity wants to put her in a cage, no matter what facet of humanity she approaches. Penelope stabbed her fork into a piece of the mystery meat, and scooped some of the veggies along with it. Beneath the table, Spite eagerly showed false love at Penelope's legs, a hungry mewl fluttering pitifully into the air. Near the kitchen entrance, the food bowl was still full.

This is really great, Pen wanted to tell her erstwhile mugger. "This is pretty damn good," Penelope reporter to her erstwhile mugger. She wanted to force a smile, but couldn't find the will for it; she was too busy thinking about the two-bit plan they made yesterday with a complete stranger, the fact that they were going to go up against a small army of automatic weapon-wielding goons led by the madmen who ran this show, the fact that the cages down there, and the audience, was apparently brimming with quasi-humans. Ugh, that's even worse than "hybrids"... What about... metahumans....? Ooo, I like that... I hope it's not copyrighted...

Penelope took another, eager bite. Her mouth half-full, she spoke in slurred syllables. "Dish ish great!" Swallowing the mouthful before continuing, Penelope paused the feast to give Ava a long look-over. An uncomfortable five seconds passes between them, and at the edge of Ava's ability to tolerate the stare Penelope finally gets to the most urgent matter. "I remember what you said in the car... not much afterwards, but I remember. Ava, I need your help." Another fork-full. "Dish ish biggur den-" Swallow. "-bigger than just me and that Kyle guy..."

Penelope continued to feast on the meal before her, though the warmth of the morning was taken a few degrees lower. I wonder if I should get Dae in on this...

[Demented Dragon]

Quite pleased with his handiwork, Alexander grins at the limping Alistair. He is much less pleased to see the crab return. Really? Well at least he's not gonna be in that condition... Alexander just stares at him. Until the crowd starts asking for an execution that is. What... no... I'll just stand here. He'll probably pass out from all that. So while the crab twitches, Alexander just continues to stare on, rather uncomfortable and fearing consequences for not doing what was expected of him.

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch responds with a serious look, even if she did just technically question his intelligence,
"So far they haven't done anything to my wings, so I can still fly, cramped as it is in here. I'm very fast by human standards even if I'm not as strong. I'll admit I don't always know things I should but I'd like to say I'm rather sharp. And I can remember almost anything I hear and if it's a voice I can mimic it exactly. Oh and I have pretty good aim with throwing things."

[Shadon]

A snake, huh? It’d been a long time since he’d had a reptile that was worth his while. Most of them were sluggish, brutal but slow, which was something he was used to training. But one that encompassed the qualities of strength and potential speed as well? It more than piqued his interest. “Sounds like a good trade,” he grins, nodding slowly. “Bring her over to my stable, will you? If you’ll give me her and some cash, I’ll even let you take both. We can talk price later, right now,” he jerks his head in the direction of the ring. Besides, he knew Reich would pay up, and fairly, so there wasn’t much to worry about. If there was any problem, well, he would handle that.

Turning back just in time to catch Alistair’s death glare, Gabriel lets his own expression darken as he regards the other man. He wanted to push the crab? Death it would be, then.

Or death it would be, if his pansy-assed wolf would stop acting like a Chihuahua and strike already. “Fido!” He barks out, slamming a hand against the stage to get his attention. “Listen to them!” There was a sinking feeling though that the dog wouldn’t be able to handle it. What, had something so carnivorous never killed before? The thought was ridiculous, but he had to consider it with the way he was acting.

[Valik Sparks]

"Ecksellent, ecksellent!"

Reichstahn clapped his hands together, an ecstatic grin plastered across his rigid face. He happily left Gabriel's presence, completely indifferent towards the ongoing match, and all the excited screaming it was causing.

Of course that screaming wasn't exactly cheering.. It was a relentless torrent of demands. But they were all the same demand. They were calling for execution.

Over.. and over.. and over again.


The screams for death and shouts for murder rung mercilessly in Alexander's ears. King Crab had stopped looking for Alistair and seemed to finally take in exactly what was going on. He took a long look at Alexander, and then skittered back, thrashing his claws about in what might have looked like a dangerous manner to the untrained eye... But Alexander could smell his fear. The movement was wild, erratic. Nothing like the previous calm, tactical motion. It would be almost too easy to land a hit on the panicking crab.

(Hit Targets, 10: Body, 8: Joint, 6: Eyes)



***


The giant metal door gave a sudden creak. The heavy lock on the inside popped open.

Miranda's attention was instantly snagged away from Klatch. She looked at the door, hissing vehemently through her teeth. She gave a quick glance to the bird-boy. "That voice thing could come in handy.. keep your ears open and pay attention to faces and names. Now let's see how fast this guy is.." She slithered into a readied position, right near the entry door..

BZZZZTTTT! "GYYAAHHHGGGHH!!"

Miranda snatched the collar around her neck, mouth agape, eyes wide, as she shrieked and swayed back and forth, falling onto the ground, struggling to rise again, and again.

The door opened. Reichstahn casually stepped inside, a finger pressed against his watch. He moved his finger just slightly. Miranda's shock collar seemed to deactivate. "I am noht stupid you know.."

Miranda looked about to jump, but with just a tiny nudge of his finger, Reichstahn had her screaming and writhing again. "Kom." He said plainly, giving a pointed look at Klatch. "Both of you." He walked out the door, letting off on Miranda's collar long enough for her to slither dizzily outside the holding cell. She lunged, but he was already zapping her again, and she flew across the hallway and straight into the wall, collapsing on the ground, twitching. Reichstahn gave a disapproving sigh. "I would prefher you to be in ghood kondition when Gahbriel inspekts you." He pointed down the hall, back towards where Klatch had originally came from.

"Go on." Under scrutiny of Reichstahn, Miranda slithered forward blearily. And a little ways behind them, Dylan, holder of keys and M16, watched with his finger on the trigger.



***


As she watched Penelope eat, Ava smiled proudly. "I'm really glad you like it.." She inserted quietly after Pen's initial compliment. But she was silent for a long moment after the next part.

"I.." She paused, glancing away. "I want to help, really, I do.. I just.. well I'm scared.. and.. I guess I don't know what I can do. But if.. if I could really.. if you really think.. I could help. Like really.." She hesitated, using a bite of food as an excuse hold off on saying what she was afraid to say. But that didn't last.

"Penelope.. if you.. if you asked me to help, in some way.. If you asked me to do something." She looked her in the eyes. "I would." Then her gaze got dodgy again. "It's.. it's the least I could do.. after you.. I mean you've been.. so nice..." Ava's gaze fell on the cat, and she smiled warmly.

It was then that Penelope noticed something.. In the trash can. A freshly opened can of chunky cat food. And judging by Spite's sparkly-clean bowl, he probably hadn't been fed yet this morning...

[Deathkeeper]

Klatch shakes his head. He had warned her about the shock collars.
"You may not be stupid but if you want to stop sounding like it I would invest in a speech therapist. Kwah."
He eyes the man with the assault rifle (he has to turn his head very little due to his eye placement). He's vaguely sure he remembers a film where privates got yelled at for doing that. Trigger discipline or something.

[babel_matrix]

Penelope swallowed her mouthful down hard, racing against her own realization to avoid spitting it into Ava's face. Right. Life on the streets. You do what you can... that totally does not excuse feeding other people cat food! Really, it was rather foolish of her to forget she didn't have any more meats in the kitchen. She kept focused on Ava's plight, an emotional confession of cowardice she was willing to ignore, trying not to ruin it with a queasy face. "Look, this was never going to be easy. I mean, it wasn't easy out there, was it? It wasn't, and that's because sh!t like this club," she lectured, pointing a thumb back at the windows, "is being ignored. That's the kind of thing we need to blow up with the media, news outlets and such... well, more blogs and webcasts, these days." Places they could go with the truth were few and far in between, if they still existed at all. Best skip that part of the lesson.

Putting her fork down, and leaving a few choice bits for anyone else to have, Penelope sighed as she leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head. Eyes squeezed shut, she turned her head, cracking a few bones in the process. "If you want out, then I'm just about flying blind here, except with this Kyle kid that I don't even know... Ava. You brought me into this, and I need you to help me get out... preferably with you and everyone in those cages." Penelope rose from her chair, shrugging in an attempt to lighten the mood. She rummaged through her purse, checking her tools and the notes on her phone. "I don't want you doing anything dangerous, anyways. Just a bit of snooping, enough to get tidbits I can use. I'll take care of the dirty work, if you don't think you've got the stomach for it..." ... even if you did try to mug me. She shook her head violently. Bygones be bygones.

Yeah, she was definitely going to need Daemonette on this. Combat mimes be damned, this was important.

[Demented Dragon]

Inching forward, Alexander considers his next move carefully, I can't kill him. Won't. But he's going to try to kill me... If I... Well this is going to be stupid and make the crowd disappointed but...

Now quicker, he goes forward and and grabs the crab carefully, trying to flip him over on his back. Now stop struggling, I don't want to keep hurting you...


1d10 = 5 to hit
1d10 = 2 for strength

[Shadon]

With Reichstan out of the way, Gabriel is able to fully refocus on the match now. He waited, breath baited and hoping that the dog would do something to appease the crowd. Relief floods through him as his monster starts to move, at first slowly but then picking up speed. However, the feeling is short-lived as he watches the dog moving clumsily, trying to do something obviously stupid and not at all related to killing. White-hot anger flares from the pit of his stomach but he forces it back down. This isn’t the place for an outburst of that sort.

Gripping the ropes around the arena, he leans in, voice pitched so that only those around him will hear the fairly quiet voice he uses. And hopefully the dog. “Kill him. They’re not going to let you end it until you do, or someone does.” His hopes for the promising-looking fighter were buzzing around in his head, and he knew that sometimes the first kill was hard. But he just didn’t have time for this kind of performance against King Crab. An idea, the same as earlier, crawls its way up his spine before situating firmly into the front of his brain, refusing to be whisked away. He lowers his voice further, hoping dogs really can hear as well as they say.

“If you can’t do it, give me some sort of signal.”

[Valik Sparks]

Ava stared down at her food for a while. "I..." She hesitated, then gulped, eyes narrowing firmly. "I'll do it. I wanna help." She met eyes with Penelope. "I wanna help get everyone out of there." She paused, nodding lightly as if to reassure herself. "What do you need me to do, exactly? Go back and take some pictures, or videos or something?" Lifting her plate, she absent-mindedly ran her long, vibrant-red, forked tongue along the glass, cleaning off every last remnant of food.



***


The crab squealed as he landed harshly on his back. Alexander could hear the hairline fractures splitting through his exoskeleton. The crowd roared. Screams for execution continued.

"Bash his face in!" "Stab his eyes out!" "Show me is tongue--! If he even has one!"

Gabriel's barely-audible words haunt softly in the sensitive canals of the Wolf's ears.


Kill him...



***


The steel door opened, and Klatch and Miranded were more or less herded inside, at gun point, before the door slammed shut behind them, leaving them with the muffled sound of Reichstahn's cackling on the other side. Violet leaned forward from her position, huddled against the wall, eyes growing wide as she stared at Klatch. "Klatch..? You're back! You're Ok.."

At the back, Helen stood with her hair hanging in her face, and across from Violet, Cub was laying on the ground, on his side, half-curled, facing the wall. Klatch smell something putrid.. festering. One of Cub's paws was moving near his abdomen, but whatever he was doing was rather suspiciously hidden by the way he positioned himself on the floor. A shudder ran through his bulky body, then a wince, and a sharp gasp escaped his mouth.. like he was in pain.

Helen suddenly perked up, blinking, looking back and forth, then settling on Cub. "Cub..? Cub what are you doing?" She darted over, Cub curled up small, his eyes closed tightly, but his nose twitched and his lips were parted, revealing gritted teeth.

"Cub?!"

She tugged at him, rolling him over onto his back. Dirt spilled from his paw, pouring over the raw, bloody wound on his abdomen. He'd pulled away his bandages enough to scoop dust, dirt, and grime onto the wound.

Helen staggered back, clamping a hand over her mouth. Cub groaned weakly. "What.. what the hell..." She stuttered out.

Cub spoke in a whispery, ragged tone. "It.. it's better this way... It's better to die...here. I don't wanna go back out there... I can't go back out there..."



***


"Twenty-three, now twenty-four, twenty-three now twenty-four! Do I hear twenty-four! Anybody! Annnybody? We've got prize product here folks! Not a lot a these on the shelf if yah know what I mean! Yours not for a night, but for the rest of your lives! That's twenty-three, do I a hear a twenty-four? Going once...!"

Glazed pairs of eyes watched from all about the crowd. Some cigar butts ground furiously into ash trays, fingers tapped and drummed with indecisive anxiety. Twenty-four million was a hefty sum to hand over. Was the item worth that much? And wouldn't Sigmund just up it again?

"Going twice...!"

"...and SOLD to Mr. Sigmund Alcardo! Congratulations, sir! I can guarantee she will serve you well in your estate --after all, aren't ten arms better than two? Talk about a maid who can multitask!"

[babel_matrix]

Penelope very politely decided against continuing her meal, doing her best to act full. At the very least her appetite was satiated, as she had none left to feed. "Just the odd picture and video of these bastards entering and leaving the place... no need to go in, and once you've got one or two samples of that, or the moment you think they might've noticed you, get out and come back here..." Penelope realized that would mean giving her spare key to this almost-stranger... yet her gut told her that knowing someone at least twenty-four hours before giving them the key to the house they just tried to rob was mostly nonsense; nothing more than modernity corrupting good, human spirit.

"Anyways, it's time I get ready... if I'm going to get any peace at the office to do my end of the research, I'll need to show up early." Penelope almost passed Ava before pausing in place, taking a moment to look down at her with an amused smile. "You're doing the right thing... do it smart, and we can be some big damn heroes for those people in there." With their final exchange, Penelope jumped into the shower to begin preparations for another awful, soul-crushing day at work... interrupted, ever so slyly, with her private investigation.

[Deathkeeper]

Despair hit Klatch like a brick to the face. He's been gone for five minutes, how had it gotten so bad so quickly. Klatch squeezes his hands shut; his nails come close to breaking the scaly skin of his palms. He goes over to Cub, ignoring the smell.
"You really shouldn't have done that. But you already did. So at least let me do something for you. Anything. "
He'd sing him a damn dirge if he asked for it. No one deserved to have to do this to themselves. By whatever being gives a crap about bird folk, there will be he'll to pay for this.

[Valik Sparks]

With all the courage and determination she could muster, Ava set seemingly to prepare herself for her own excursions for the day. When Penelope returned from her room, she found the kitchen completely cleaned, and the lizard-girl back in her excessive layers of covering clothing, and thick make-up on her face. She gave Penelope a small smile. "So.. I'll... see you later." She waved, her tongue flickered out from her lips and she hurried out the door.



***


Cub managed a weak smile. "Hey.. I've been doing this for...the past three days. I probably sealed the deal after the first time. I'm just...hoping it'll go faster if I keep doing this. I'm.. I'm ready to sleep now..."

His head flopped onto the ground, shaggy, long hair falling across his face. His glazed eyes gazed out blankly. "I'm ready to sleep now..."

Helen shuffled back, staring, whimpering, shaking.

Cub was still for an uncomfortable amount of time...then his head moved just slightly. He looked up at Klatch. "I don't think...there's anything you can do for me...but..." His gaze faltered. "Don't kill... when they ask you to do it.. no matter what they say, or what they threaten... Don't kill. It never stops. And it never goes away. Ever... not ever.."

He let his eyelids close, and his bulky frame heaved softly with ever-weakening breaths.

[Demented Dragon]

They're... they're disgusting...

He paces back and forth in front of the crab for a while, looking down at him. He's just a kid. I didn't want to hurt him, but I had to. But I won't kill him when he's helpless. He probably didn't even want to hurt me, it's these humans. So bloodthirsty. No.

Alexander walks to the edge of the ring and folds his arms, looking down at Gabriel in wordless defiance and holds his position, waiting for a reaction.

[Deathkeeper]

No words. No words.
This will be it. The first and last person that Klatch is going to have to watch idly die because of these SOBs. Humans aren't scum, but they can make it.
Klatch kneels down to look Cub in the steadily falling eyes as he lets himself slip into an old habit.

"And there's nothing I can say,
There's nothing I can do now,
No, there's nothing I can say,
There's nothing we can do now.
Good Night.
Travel Well."

and so on. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLLCVb-7oZU) His voice is very soft, and it's unlikely to be audible from the other side of room, let alone through the door.

[babel_matrix]

The shower helped Penelope realize one last bit of insurance for their amateur spy work. Standing there, still in her underwear and the white shirt she would wear under her jacket, she looked at the heavily disguised reptilian woman with a strange sense of awe. Perhaps it was only because she knew the truth, but... ... how was I ever fooled by it? "Just to be safe, be back before 5:00PM, and make sure to give me a call when you're done... that part's really important. We need to know where we're at... if I don't pick up, I'll text you in response when I get a chance." Penelope tried to end on a high note, with a smile and a half-hearted wave... but the moment Ava left, she kicked into overdrive, throwing herself into her bedroom and dialing quick on her cellular while picking out her shoes. The black flats she picked out did well with the woven gray jacket and slacks, every piece selected to be both business appropriate and to allow full freedom of movement. After all, who knows how deep these guys are... I could get attacked at the-- no, no, stop it Pen, you're being paranoid.

While she soaked herself in fear and doubt, the cheery voice of her best half shouted into her ear. "G'morning, bitch!" Oh, Daemonette was very happy this morning. "How'd your guest treat you last night?" Her voice lowered, as if she were attending some high-level business meeting, as opposed to loitering in the mess of her own bedroom. Like Penelope knew she was doing. "Is he still there?"

"There's no he, actually, and it's not like--"

"Holy ****... Pen, are you... did you finally sleep with a girl?"

"No!"

"Are you sure? Because back in 11th grade-"

"Dae. Please... I actually, seriously need your help."

There was a long silence at the other end, and Penelope was confident she had finally pierced through the morning haze that normally took her friend. "Is she refusing to leave your bed? She scrambled eggs for you, didn't she? And now she-"

"No, I... I mean, she did, but that's-"

"OH MY GOD!"

"Dae!"

* * * * *

After a great deal of convincing Daemonette that she had not spent the night sleeping with a woman, Penelope eventually got to invite Daemonette to come over that night, to meet with her new friend and to understand the... situation that Penelope wanted her help on. Daemonette was a barista for a locally-owned coffee shop down in the Village, just a few blocks south of Penelope's own neighborhood. Thankfully, the girl was off today, which meant she could be introduced... certainly less violently... to the world Penelope had just discovered.

But for now, in her steady march towards the subway entrance, Penelope had to plan on precisely how she'd make her searches look alot like work for the firm.

[Shadon]

Gabriel watches as the dog paces, itching for the kill to come so the fight can end and he can tend to the deal he just struck with Reich. When the monster finally stops and turns to Gabriel, he hones in on the glance his way. It’s obvious, but this must be the signal he asked for. Stupid animal, no subtlety. He doesn’t dwell on it though, just jumps forward and pulls himself in through the ropes, motioning the dog back and giving the ref a raised fest and a grin.

“A new fighter doesn’t make for a good showdown,” he grins, speaking loudly so that the crowd can hear him even as they’ve quieted a little bit at his arrival in the ring. “How about we finish this, just you and me, King Crab?” By the last words, he’s shouting and he knows it, but he doesn’t care. This will finally be the end of the crustacean.