[Administrator] Kitteh, welcome to Magnificent Mile (North Side) (Now)
[Jack Castellano] She grabs at him, the slight mexican girl's frame darting quickly for the man's throat or his face. He moves though and it's just by his own position maybe that he's able to lean effectively enough to get out of the way. She barks out orders at him and it seems to him as if he can feel the intensity of her anger on him as though something like that were possible.
All of it has him on his feet like a flash, and his head shakes out his own loss of control. His hand draws back to strike her solidly across the face, thankfully though the bulk of the force had been delivered to her cheek and had caused only a superficial blossoming of a darker hue on her skin that's only yet appearing. She though is a trained warrior, and one with talents hes not even aware of. It seems impossible the way she brings her other hand up directly between them for the side of his face. It's only the small distance he'd put between them by standing on the bottom step that she'd just scored a glancing blow. "Fucking buccioc!"
The New York sounding man in the suit is screaming at the Mexican girl, it's come to blows. People stare, people turn quietly the other way as the walk up the street.
Wonderful.
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Rage: He pimpslapped me?! ))
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 (Success x 1 at target 7)
[Danicka Musil] "Alligators," is Danicka's gentle correction, her eyes now carefully avoiding the side of the street where Soledad and Jack are having their little altercation. Her BMW is parked alongside the street, about half a block north, and that's the direction she heads. "And no, not so far as I've seen. I'm surprised to even see people with --"
Fucking buccioc!
She doesn't know what that means. She's heard it before, though. She knows it's bad. Danicka grimaces with affected distaste and keeps walking. "-- pets in this city. Have you been in many metropolitan areas crawling with wild animals?"
[Administrator] Kitteh has left Magnificent Mile (North Side)
[Soledad Gutierrez] Once upon a time, this was the reason Soledad just couldn't go anywhere without being accompanied. A few years back she was practically glued to Oscar Taggart's side, or vice versa, primarily because of the Uktena's inability to control her temper. She had learned how to keep it at bay, no doubt, but once her fuse was lit it seemed impossible to stomp it out until she had pummelled whatever guilty party held the fuse-lighting match in their hand into the dirt. This, predominantly, was the case today, though if someone was present to tell her to stop or pull her back, she may be able to calm down.
Maybe.
But, unfortunately, her Alpha was nowhere to be seen to wrangle her, and the Kinfolk man had just slapped her. Her cheekbone would bruise, but she didn't notice that. Her fist shot up, caught his cheek in return, but with knuckles rather than open palm, and Gaia knew that it wouldn't stop there.
He screamed a name in a language she didn't understand, and were she any calmer she may have returned the favor in a language he didn't understand. But no, she was too far gone now. In a Frenzy? No. In a rage? Oh yes. Her jaw was set, her eyes were flashing, and she was bearing down on him with an intensity and intent that suggested she was seeking blood.
[Jack Castellano] 5+
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 5 (Failure at target 6)
[Soledad Gutierrez] 6+
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 4
[Jack Castellano] [Action: Block
thassit!]
[Evan McCollach] He had been patient for the time being, hoping that maybe the altercation was not going to escalate to levels that might need his attention. Maybe it was just a bit of heated words and nothing more. That would be fine, he could continue to enjoy the fine architecture of the wonderful church and all its trappings.
Then again that was not the case, the situation was staring to heat up and the smell of the upcoming brawl was thick in the air. People turned and watched for a second before running off. It would still be several minutes (more like 30) before anyone would call the police and 10 minutes on top of that before they arrived.
And as the pair of women seemed to rush off in the other direction, away form the boiling fray. That clued him into what they probably weren't. If they were true born, they certainly were not half-moons. A philodox could not walk away from this without ensuring everything was fully under control.
He laws broken, not his territory. He would only watch until it became necessary to move in.
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Action: Split Punch/punch+wp Rage Action: Kick ))
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Punch 1: Dex + Brawl -2 ))
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 (Failure at target 6)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Punch 2: Try that again... -3 ))
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 5, 6, 7, 8 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Jack Castellano] [Block, Dex+Brawl diff. 6]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 9 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Ohhell. Forgot to add the WP bonus to my second punch. *Pegs that on there, cackles* ))
[Jack Castellano] [ARRRGH! HAHAHAHA!]
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Damage ))
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 5, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Liadan Whelan] Liadan affects a chuckle, unconsciously following her companion's lead by keeping her eyes focused straight ahead. “I haven't, actually, but you never know. Some Old World cities believe the craziest shit, y'know?” She is covering ground quickly with a long, easy gait. Every few steps she tries to consciously slow her footfall to avoid outdistancing Danicka. Someone is fighting, and from the sounds of it her occasional lessons at various dojos around the world had not prepared her well enough. If she and Danicka are caught in this fight somehow, then unless the classy blonde has a black belt holding up those snug fitting jeans, they were probably going to be ripped to pieces.
The convertible is visible just up ahead. Slightly breathless, Lee turns a smile that doesn't go anywhere near her eyes on Danicka. “Know any good bars? I don't know about you, but I could really go for a beer right about now.”
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Across the street from St. Michael's in Chicago is a wholly different sort of religious bastion: one where god is replaced by the dollar, liturgical robes by suits and ties, and crucifixes and idols by stock charts and wall clocks set to NYC time.
It's a Morgan Stanley branch office, and it's the end of the business day, and it's dusk, and the glass door flashes the last of the sunlight over the street as it opens. Lukas steps out, and if someone took a picture of him right now, looked at it later, anyone would agree that yes, he belongs here in this hallowed world of affluence and privilege, this world of commerce and trade, investment firms where you made your money and banks where you stored it and stores, expensive fucking stores, where you spent it. Anyone would see a young man, early to mid 20s, in distressed designer jeans, dark ashen blue, and a button-up woven shirt, pale green, and a well-cut vest; a tie, even, though it's too narrow to be anything but for the look. Anyone would see someone with money, a little style, and the good sense to invest what he made, however he may have made it.
Which doesn't explain why, when Lukas steps out of the Morgan Stanley office and onto the broad sidewalks of the Mile, pedestrians instinctively flinch away from him. They look at him as though what lay beneath the polished exterior was something entirely unpolished, entirely raw, entirely unhinged.
And they are, of course: right.
Lukas has a messenger bag slung over his shoulder; some papers in his hand. He's twisting about to put the latter into the former when fucking buccioc! rings over the street. This is a nice part of town. People didn't scream obscenities at each other here. His head comes up; he frowns down the street, and now bystanders are stopping to gawk at the fistfight (which is bizarre enough in this area), and not only a fistfight but a fight before a man and a woman (which is almost unheard of), and ...
... isn't that Hatchet's beta?
There's a second where Lukas wants to look the other way and pretend he didn't see it, nope, didn't see it, didn't see anything. Then, with a brief exhale through his teeth, he moves the strap of his messenger back more securely over the opposite shoulder, the strap crossing his chest now, and picks up his pace to jog across the street.
"Hey. Hey!" It's a short, sharp shout, like a bark, subsiding quickly as he comes up on the sidewalk. "Soledad, what the hell are you doing?"
[Jack Castellano] [SOAK!]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 1, 3, 6 (Failure at target 6)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (if this continues into next round, put me into the inits rotation!)
[Evan McCollach] (Same here, Evan will move in if it starts to get out of control)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Rage Kick-- To floor ya. ))
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 2, 6, 6, 8, 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 7)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Damage ))
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 3, 4, 4, 8, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Jack Castellano] [SOAK! HAIL!]
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 2, 5, 9 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Just so ya know-- Soledad and Jack are brawling on the front steps of the St. Michael's Cathedral, and Evan's watching whistling dandy. :D ))
to Lukas Wyrmbreaker
[Soledad Gutierrez] This sight was indeed something that did not belong in Chicago's Old Town, it was entirely too nice a neighborhood for such things to occur. Honestly, though, it'd be weird anywhere. Jack was a man in an expensive suit with the features of the highest realm of human breeding, dripping confidence, money, and ruthlessness. And he was fist-fighting a mixed-race (Mexican + Native American + God Knows) girl in jeans and a red hoodie, both faded and probably pulled from a Salvation Army bin.
What's worse? Suddenly the lean girl was winning.
Soledad bared down upon Jack, and all he had time to do was defend himself, or try to at least. In a flurry, she'd thrown two fists, a quick one-two. The first fist missed, the second pushed through the arm that came up to block, to defend, and caught him on one side of his chest. Then, immediately following, her heavy booted foot lifted, drove forward, and thumped him square in the gut. The fist at his chest cracked something underneath, one bone or another. The foot knocked the wind out of him good, but not a whole lot more.
And the whole while her lips were curled away from her teeth, bared, and that terrible electric-cold feeling that her particular brand of Rage had was spilling down the steps and expanding to reach the sidewalk as well.
[Soledad Gutierrez] Lukas, along with the red-haired man-boy in front of the Cathedral and the (wisely) fleeing Kinfolk and all others, was ignored completely. She had eyes only for Jack, and not in the cute fluttery-eyelashes way either.
[Danicka Musil] You can always tell someone who has lived in a crime-ridden city before: they don't make a lot of eye contact. You don't look across the street at the altercation happening because you're curious, and you walk the fuck on when you see police cars. Only an idiot stops and gawks. Danicka and Liadan don't stop and gawk, or look over their shoulders, or any of that.
They keep walking, Danicka's stride lengthening. She's used to keeping up with people who are taller than her, even though her height is right at average for a North American woman. It's Liadan that's the giantess. At 5'10".
Danicka is opening her mouth to answer, to say that why yes, she knows of quite a few bars, and there's plenty of nice ones that are not The Brotherhood of Thieves, when someone behind them yells Hey. Hey! That would not be enough to get her to turn around, not enough to get her recognize the voice, not until the rest comes out of Lukas's mouth. That's when Danicka, mid-breath, looks over her shoulder. Her eyebrows hop up on her face, and she blinks, but then turns back and nods to Liadan.
She doesn't go back to watch the brawl. She takes her new roommate, her precious and -- she assumes -- mortal roommate, and gets the fuck out.
[Administrator] Liadan Whelan has left Magnificent Mile (North Side)
[Administrator] Danicka Musil has left Magnificent Mile (North Side)
[Administrator] liar, welcome to Magnificent Mile (North Side) (Now)
[Jack Castellano] It only takes one look at her after her closed fist glances from his chin to know she's coming back for more. It's only instinct that lets him get his arm up to block the next one to come in on target. Again she moves in a manner to make one's eyes widen and again it's like he can feel the way she hates in the air between. The foot connects right in his abdomen, producing a heave as the man's eyes fight not to roll back in the sickened look that's all over him.
His arms fly to his side and his body twists, his face returning to raw hatred when he looks over his shoulder and sprints up the steps as best he can to get away.
"Jesus... crazy...fuck!"
It's exclaimed breathlessly through gritted teeth, and he heaves on the words like cottonballs in the chest.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (ok, kenna sez Sol's gonna chase his ass down, so -- inits!)
[Soledad Gutierrez] 6+
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 4
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (+7)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 5 (Failure at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (6+)
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 10
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Action: Chase the fucker down ))
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (action: lukas swings his bag off and use its strap to entangle soledad. (basically a chain entangle))
[Jack Castellano] 5+
Dice Rolled:[ 1 d10 ] 7 (Success x 1 at target 6)
[Jack Castellano] [Action: Run, WP]
[Evan McCollach] (1 Rage used. Chase sole. Rage action subdue Sole)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (entangle: chain attack (dex/melee diff 5) +1 diff (for entangle))
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 2, 6, 6, 7, 9, 10 (Success x 5 at target 6)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (forgo damage roll -- he's not trying to hurt her. yet. *LOL* i think soledad's entangled now, so -- partially immobilized? wanna change your action, kenna?)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Hells no. ))
[Evan McCollach] (change rage action to activate persausion. Add wp).
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 1, 5, 9, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6) [WP]
[Evan McCollach] (dammit that should be diff 7)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Don't matter. Same results either way. ))
[Administrator] the devil, welcome to Magnificent Mile (North Side) (Now)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Jack breaks and runs, which is likely the wisest course of action at this point. Soledad's not done yet. She starts after him. Lukas doesn't stop to think -- he swings the messenger bag off his shoulder and, in the same heartbeat, flings the strap around Soledad. Yanks her to a stop. In the next second Lukas gives the bag itself three rapid spins, twisting the tough nylon strap tight, pinning Soledad's arms to her sides.
People are hurrying away. Half a block away, some people are still gawking. Others are getting cell phones out, ready to call the cops if the crazy fuck! gets loose again. The Shadow Lord's biceps are bulging through his shirt, his forearms corded with the strain of holding onto a furious Ahroun, but his jaw is set and his face is neutral. He speaks directly into Soledad's ear, low and tight, mindful of her feet -- just in case she decided to mule-kick him in the knee.
"What the fuck are you doing, Soledad? Do you know where you are? No matter what he did, you beat him to a bloody pulp here and there'll be cops crawling up your ass in ten seconds."
[Evan McCollach] His eyes had been carefully focused on the interaction between the pair. It seemed at first like an evenly matched fight. A dispute that would sooner or later draw to a simple conclusion of one person going down and the other person stopping. After that it would end and nothing would have to be done.
This was not the case it seemed. The Mexican woman, seemingly obviously one of his own kind was not interested in stopping. Teeth bared and ready to go into worse acts should it not be stopped. And he could no longer stand by and allow that too happen. It seemed someone else was on the way to stop the attack, a blur that ran by as he took off as well. He was a split second behind, chasing down the enraged true before she killed the poor guy. And before he was even able to get to the woman, she was already wrapped up and cursing from the man's
"Enough."
It did not come out as a normal human command. But that of a primal, gutteral growl to ensnared woman. His breeding and the gift wrapped about him like a coat of leadership. Silver fang breeding was quite a potent deterrent to any altercation and for all they knew he was. Even if they got that feel something was off. Then there was his posturing, his eyes held higher than her own. Puffing out his chest. The guy was barely getting away after the beating he sustained at her hands.
[Soledad Gutierrez] Jack's eyes widened with recognition of the fact that he was outmatched. He should have known better than to try and fight a Werewolf, he really should have. He cursed, sputtered, held his side when she kicked him, and then spun about to try and run away. Soledad, riled up as she was, viewed this not as a win, not as him submitting to her will, but as a chase. The prey running from the preadator. She tensed up to give chase, and moved perhaps two steps before being stopped.
Lukas was at her side out of nowhere. Like an expert, he had his bag strap around her, lassoed her and twisted it around so her arms were pinned to her sides. Have no doubt that she flipped the fuck out. She struggled, twisted her shoulders this way and that, stamped her feet to try and catch his toes with her heel, to get him to relent, loosen his grip, and let her go. She growled at him, tossed her head when he put his mouth close to her ear to mutter words of logic to her. It was like trying to hold a stray tom cat by the scruff of his neck-- she was going to break free if she snapped her spine doing it.
Enough.
...Or until that happened. She went still when Evan's hard, commanding voice touched her ears, and wild black eyes flew from Lukas to Evan, from Evan to Jack's retreating back, then to Evan again. She panted, her shoulders heaved with her breaths, and she was still hunched over and tensed, halfway through trying to break loose when she stilled. She didn't speak, didn't seem to really gather or collect herself either, but at least she wasn't fighting anymore.
[Jack Castellano] There aren't any words that escape as he pedals and sprints altertantely as his feet turn up the steps. At the top, where the landing leads to the large doors of the church he stops. Somone else had grabbed the woman, and another man is now demanding that she stop.
It seems like a much better idea suddenly.
His feet quite moving and he swallows hard wincing as he brushes himself off. One hand pressing down finally on his chest and bending him in a brief comic step at the waist and back up with a hiss through still gnashed teeth. Her subdued he takes one step then another back toward the doors. One hand hurriedly grasps the handle and he grits out a fuck you smile.
"We'll see you around, Sol."
He rushes into the religious house and disappears at least for now as the large door swings shut behind him. Those words hangs in a way practiced and threatening. He wheezes some but only uses that to his advantage. It's obvious in those brief seconds before he goes he's trying to cow the young woman being attended to by her own kind.
[Administrator] Wreck has left Magnificent Mile (North Side)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas is not a bad man. He's not an evil man, a selfish bastard out for nothing but himself. But he has two of the coldest eyes in the city; in the whole goddamn state. They're pale, they're blue, they're clear as ice.
He looks at the unknown man for a second as he turns around for a final fuck-you. His eyes fix on the other. He speaks very quietly, cutting Jack off mid-sentence.
"Shut up. Turn around. Leave."
(annnd persuasion)
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 5, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 3 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] Jack thought he was safe at that moment, heading into the church. Looking for some divine savior to take pity on him and save him from the hell that a true born could bring down. That excuse that a human's rule out did their own in his pleas for sanctuary were little in his mind. The man had enough of a beating. It was time for him to lick his wounds.
And then he decided to provoke the predator standing before him. And well that was not going to fly in his mind. No, he would not get a free out at this moment. His arm extended out to the fleeing man, dark green eyes lock on him before he could close the doors behind him. Locking in on the young man. He may not respond to breeding or rank, but the gift still held him and that was enough to grip most kinfolk.
"YOU. Come. Now."
He was not so disinclined in letting the woman go with such a cowardly act. And if he did try and continue his route, the coggie might just do that.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (grr. delete last post. i'm keeping my roll though. *LOL*)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas is not a bad man. He's not an evil man, a selfish bastard out for nothing but himself. But he has two of the coldest eyes in the city; in the whole goddamn state. They're pale, they're blue, they're clear as ice.
He looks at the unknown man for a second as he turns around for a final fuck-you. His eyes fix on the other. He says nothing to Castellano; Evan's spoken up by then.
Instead, he lays a steady hand on Soledad's shoulder and turns her around. "Let's go," he says -- quietly, but firmly.
[Soledad Gutierrez] Soledad may have been calming down. Slowly but surely. She straightened up a little, though her breathing was still labored under the effort to reign a temper fueled by Rage and violence that was in full swing when Lukas immobilized her and Evan snapped her more logical mind back to the forefront. But...
We'll see you around, Sol.
...that just blew it.
She pulled away from Lukas again, lunging forward to try and get up the steps. She leaned all of her weight into the effort to break free, but was too distracted with yelling at the shit-grinning Kinfolk to be trying to smash Lukas's face and feet to break away. If anyone there spoke Spanish, they'd understand that she was begging him to come try, to give it his best shot. That she was exclaiming that she would see his father dead and his mother hanged naked and prone by a tree in his front yard. That she would have Pestulance at his doorstep and Death in his bed.
Pleasantries like that.
Evan demanded the man come back in the same tone that had gotten her to calm down (a little). Lukas put his hand on her shoulder and suggested they leave. She didn't seem to hear him. Though she'd finished yelling, was quiet again, and (surprisingly) still again as well, though she was still pulling faintly against the strap around her, she glared very hard at the man at the church doors (or the doors themselves if he manages to get inside), breathed heavily, and trembled with Rage.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Soledad," there's force behind his grip now; he turns the Ahroun around to face him, locks eyes with her. "Let's go."
A beat.
"Please."
[Evan McCollach] (Intimidation. With Eagle's boon)
Dice Rolled:[ 8 d10 ] 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 (Success x 3 at target 5)
[Jack Castellano] [Temp WP]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 5, 6, 6, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Jack Castellano] As the door swings shut behind him a voice runs right through his body, tickling right in the bruises. He turns to look through the rapidly swinging portal and sees the person calling out to him. Just ocks hiead sideways, a pained and humored expression on his lips.
And disappears.
[Soledad Gutierrez] She could only stare at a heavy wooden door for so long. Especially when she was physically turned about by the Shadow Lord Ahroun that she shared quarters with but rarely interacted with-- except for one time to battle and slaughter a cluster of Fomori. And, as was the case with most all Garou, particularly Ahroun, respect and some ghostly spider-silk-strand of commradery was forged that night. She couldn't know for sure if it went both ways, but when Lukas forced her to turn, locked his cold blue eyes onto her normally-cold-but-currently-flashing black ones, she stared right back and listened.
Please.
Had it not been for that word, she may well have growled and ignored him. May have thrown sanctuary to the wind and walked into a trap with Jackie standing behind the doors, gun aimed directly at them, waiting for the girl-monster to follow him in and bite his bullet. But that one word had her narrowing her eyes some, taking a deep breath, then nodding.
"Fine..."
[Evan McCollach] Jack seemed to be beyond the doors within a few seconds. But Evan caught sight of his pained face just before he disappeared. He would remember that face as for the moment. Let him lick his wounds. Let him enjoy his life for one more day. But it seemed that next time the kin would not get as much quarter from him. He took the cowards way out, he took a final cheap verbal shot at the almost enraged true born. Next time he was lucky if he survived.
And then it was back to the screaming, or at least at the time, woman. He watched her as she struggled against the strap, cursing and looking for vengance. He pondered letting it, but that would ruin the veil if she went too far. Looking at her one more time, still using what little wrap of his breeding he could have left.
"Now let's go before the police come. I need some answers."
He moved up to her, waiting for her to start off from the door and away for the scene of the crime.
He started to move
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] When Soledad speaks -- a single word, but a word nonetheless -- Lukas' penetrating stare relents. He was waiting for this: some sign that her mind has returned to her, some sign that she wasn't about to claw down the doors (literally) and wreck some shit.
He lets go her shoulder and, quickly and efficiently, untangles her from his messenger bag. He slings the bag back over his own shoulder, crosswise, and as Evan falls in on her other side, asks, "So what was that all about?"
[Evan McCollach] He stood to the other side of Soledad for the time being. Flanking her if she were to go out on another brawling spree. One beating was enough to keep her in shape for the night. And he wanted to know what exactly sparked the incident. But it was more important that they leave the scene.
And as Lukas just starts in on the questioning, he listens. He didn't need to repeat the question to make it a valid point.
[Soledad Gutierrez] Lukas she knew, so she didn't mind him flanking her when he detangled her and they started walking. However, she had no idea who Evan was, so having him pressing in on her other side, keeping her in check just in case (and she didn't blame them, honestly, she knew she could be a right pain in the ass when in that sort of a mood), she was a little... well, uncomfortable wasn't the word, but she wasn't completely happy or cool with it either. She lifted a hand to touch lightly at the bruise on her cheeck, then press two fingers against it to test the damage underneith. It stung, but she'd be perfectly fine. Fucker hit pretty hard, though. She'd guessed him to be all bolster, useless without his gun and people cowing to his stare.
Half-growling, half-grunting, she walked with them, away from the cathedral and up the sidewalk. Evan said he needed answers and she glanced to him but said nothing. When Lukas asked what that was abut, though, she answered very simply.
"He slapped me."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Why'd he slap you?" Lukas is a rarity amongst Ahrouns: he's patient.
[Soledad Gutierrez] "I tried to strangle him."
Just as flat-toned as he was patient at the moment.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] There's a faint huff of surprised laughter. "And why'd you try to strangle him?"
[Soledad Gutierrez] The laughter was ignored. Any looks or expressions of protest that may come from Evan were ignored as well. She answered just as simply and flatly as she had done before, and reached up to pull the hood of her hoodie back over her head, then jammed her hands back in the stomach pocket-pouch of the same garment. "He sassed me."
[Evan McCollach] He would just continue to listen as they walked. They seemed to know each other and it was enough to just listen and learn what he needed to know. The fight didn't go too far, nothing was broken, at least law wise. And... once again it wasn't his sept or territory.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Lukas is having trouble holding back his grin now; he has to turn his head away to get it under control.
"Well, in the future, try to restrain yourself until you can get him somewhere secluded." He glances over his shoulder, casually, but his eyes are alert; he's making sure cops haven't been called. "Who was he, anyway? Kin, or a particularly brave sheep?"
[Evan McCollach] His ears perked up a little bit at that last question. This was really what he wanted to learn, if the guy she just wailed away on was kin or if he was just an abnormal mortal. If he was kin, well that would be a completely different can of worms than if it was a regular freak who could resist the gifts of Gaia.
[Soledad Gutierrez] He could grin all he pleased. He could probably grin to her face and laugh about the situation and she'd be just fine. He was forgetting who her Alpha was and what she lived with on a daily (not anymore...) basis. They walked, and she was a quarter of a step behind the other two. She didn't know where they were walking, and didn't particularly care when it came down to it either. Eye contact wasn't offered to either man at this point, just kept forward without being focused or trained onto anything in particular.
"A Kinfolk whose knowledge on his roots needs to be refreshed."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Simple: "Whose kin?"
[Soledad Gutierrez] Her answer was simple and wordless-- an upward shrug of the shoulders.
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Manip + Sub: I don't know what you're talking about! *Whistle!* ))
Dice Rolled:[ 3 d10 ] 2, 5, 5 (Failure at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] (Read the lies)
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 3, 4, 6, 8, 8, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6)
[Evan McCollach] Her wordless response caught him and he looked at her. Stared at her.
"Strike one. Now answer truthfully."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] Hard to say what exactly gives Soledad away. To say the woman was unrevealing and taciturn is the understatement of the century. But perhaps it's exactly that: the fact that she stares straight ahead; the fact that she's so careful not to say anything or even look at Lukas when she gives that little shrug.
Lukas has stopped, his eyebrows drawing together. Evan speaks up. The irony is the Coggie is far harsher than Lukas would have been.
The Ahroun adds, quietly: "I think you do know, Soledad."
[Soledad Gutierrez] Now she looked at Evan. Turned her head so that she was peering with one eye around the faded red fabric of her hood. With her Rage drained out some, exhausted, and the object of her ire out of sight and reach, she had returned to the Soledad that could be found silent in the corner of the common room at the Brotherhood, so rarely seen with her Alpha these days. No doubt rumors may be circulating that they were a pack no more. She wouldn't be surprised.
So now, rather than flashing with Rage and hot and piercing, her eyes were cool and almost dull looking, like she was hardly interested in what was happening in front of her, flat like a shark's. Lukas spoke next, and she glanced over to him the same way, then shook her head and bared her teeth. No sense in beating around the bush, that wasn't her style anyways.
"He has no breeding, so it's difficult to tell. When I called him Kin, though, he asked me if I was a Shadow Lord, so I assume that's who found him first, who he 'belongs' to." Beat. "...But I claim him."
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] For what it's worth, Lukas steps in front of Soledad so she can stop whipping her head back and forth between him and the Philodox.
Or maybe he's just cutting off her path.
"Sorry, Soledad." He speaks gently; he sounds genuinely apologetic. "Evan can give you the letter of the law, but I don't think the rules work like that. Breeding makes a good kin. It doesn't make a kin. If he's ours, he's ours. You'll have to take up your challenge with Milo Maevsky." The Shadow Lord swings his messenger bag around in front of him, undoing the top zipper to look for a pad of paper, a pen. "Do you need his number?"
[Evan McCollach] It was an oddity that Evan was not in a talkative mood today. Probably because he was hoping to enjoy a small piece of good natured happiness, or at least hope. But that was quickly squished by a fight right out on the church steps.
"If he is shadow lord kin, he is their tribe's claim. Did you make a formal claim to the Lord Elder?"
[Administrator] Milo Maevsky, welcome to Magnificent Mile (North Side) (Now)
[Soledad Gutierrez] Lukas stepped in front of her, cut her off, and her steps came to a halt. But he didn't appear to be challenging her, frowning at her, or anything of that sort. He apologized, and while she wasn't the most perceptive person on the front of empathy or intent, she figured it was sincere enough. Sounded like it. And he was offering the person to talk to's phone number. So she didn't growl, didn't snarl, didn't even glower. She just nodded, then cut a glance over to Evan. Her eyes narrowed a little at him, and in a low, almost rumble-grumble tone of voice, she answered him. "I will be now."
Then, to Lukas, she glanced at his bag, then to his face. "Do you have a phone?"
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Yeah. Let me get him on the phone for you."
Milo's phone rings.
[Milo Maevsky] The ringing stops after only two of the noises comes through the electronic connection, and then the man on the other end speaks in an even tone. "Milo here," having read Lukas' name on the caller identification.
[Evan McCollach] Part of his head wanted to sink down when he heard that. Why couldn't this be a simple sort of night. You know, the good old days. Killed a few dozen wrymlings, polished the skulls along the boarder and head home to see his mate.
No there always seemed to be a problem. Always seemed to need a mediator. Damn sometimes he wished that Danny was around somewhere, or maybe princess or hell anyone else.
[Administrator] cricket, welcome to Magnificent Mile (North Side) (Now)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Milo, it's Lukas." The Ahroun walks a short distance away, turning side-on to the others. "It seems we've got a new 'little brother' in the city. Soledad wants to lay claim. Do you have a minute to discuss this? We could meet you someplace."
[Evan McCollach] "Possibly someplace private... and on neutral ground. For everyone present."
Evan added. There was the possibility of them wishing to meet in the bawn, someplace he could not go. And he wanted to make sure this situation was resolved properly. He unfortunately got himself involved. Now he had to see it through
[Soledad Gutierrez] Through all of this, Soledad is silent and waiting patiently, hands in her hoodie pocket and jaw working over nothing at all. But Gaia, if she knew that Evan was seperated from the Caern... That may change that silence.
[Milo Maevsky] Milo releases a sigh, but there's also the sound of a smile in it, almost as if he's less frustrated and more amused. "We should have a beauty pageant. Even the Amazons are getting in on the action," well aware of the female Garou's tribe, it's more a comment on her warrior status. His voice takes a shift for the serious, though, as he continues, saying, "I do," in an answer to his availability. "We'll meet out in the boonies, if that's alright with you," already one step ahead of Evan. He rattles off coordinates and directions for an area that should be unpopulated at this hour, out near the city limits. "Sound alright to the relevant parties?"
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] There's a short, answering laugh. "I'm not sure this is a love match," he replies, wry. Then -- "I'll let them know. See you in about ... forty minutes."
(shall we switch rooms?)
[Milo Maevsky] [ IC sound good for everyone? ]
[Evan McCollach] (cool)
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Good to me. ))
[Administrator] Soledad Gutierrez has switched to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] Soledad Gutierrez, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] Milo Maevsky has switched to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] Milo Maevsky, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] Evan McCollach has switched to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] Evan McCollach, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] Jack Castellano has left Magnificent Mile (North Side)
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[Administrator] Lukas Wyrmbreaker, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] mayfly, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Administrator] the devil, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (OK -- on the way over in his car, Lukas would call Milo up and fill him in on a few more details:
1. When he ran across them, Soledad and Jackie were in a fistfight. Soledad blew rage and started beating the crap out of Jackie, and Lukas had to physically restrain her before she'd stop.
2. Jackie then threw off a final taunt before ducking out.
3. Soledad claims Jackie started the fight by mouthing off, which Lukas wholly believes.
4. Soledad attempted to lie about not knowing Jackie's tribe initially.
All in all: Lukas thinks Jackie might be a handful, but that he probably has SOME worth to make the Uktena who can't even stand him want to keep him.)
to Milo Maevsky
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (oh and also: if Milo wants to hang onto this kin, Lukas would be willing to fight Soledad on his behalf. But he thinks it might be easier just to set a more subtle, possibly spirit-based challenge.)
to Milo Maevsky
[Administrator] liar, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Milo Maevsky] The obsidian Navigator is waiting in the field, everything but the gravel and dust paved road connecting two service access roads overrun in high grass and weeds. His interior light is on, a discreet beacon to the rendezvous point. He leans back against the grill of the car, his Armani suit jacket open to show the vest and white dress shirt beneath. A gray wool tie is stuffed into the vest, a slight puff to it that makes him look especially Old School.
The Shadow Lord holds the stud's mark of breeding, of heroes humping away at their stock to replenish the Grandfather's numbers, Russian features, pale skin, a large nose and satellite ears. He is not particularly attractive or ugly, his face slightly wrinkled, crow's feet at the corners of his eyes and light lines around a mouth that has forgotten how to smile deeply enough to do the upkeep. They are deeper fissures on his forehead, a scowl casting down shadows to harden his already dark cobalt blue eyes. Milo looks to be somewhere in his late twenties or early thirties.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] By some odd coincidence both Shadow Lords tonight drive Lincolns. Lukas' is what would be termed a midsize sedan in this day and age of expanding waistlines, but as recently as ten years ago would've been considered a pretty big fucking car. It is black, with HID headlights that cut the night in blue-white swaths.
When he shuts the lights off, everyone's nightblind for a moment. Then the light of the stars and the moon begins to give vague definition to the shadows.
Lukas crosses to the Fostern of his tribe and grips the other's arm in a brief, solid greeting. Then he takes his place beside the Theurge, waiting for the rest to arrive.
"A Philodox of your rank and the Children of Gaia is also coming," he says in lieu of greeting. "He helped me break up the dispute, and I think will agree to oversee the challenge -- if there is one."
[Soledad Gutierrez] Soledad had opted to take the backseat. Though it was difficult to tell at times, she was Homid-born, so she did live like a human once. She knew the rule of shotgun, people of higher status got to sit up front. She recognized the Silver Fang in his blood, and while she was unaware of his rank she did know that he had spoken with authority, so she assumed he had some sort of leader's position tacked onto his formal name and introduction.
So, upon arriving, she took her time getting out of the car, let Lukas get a bit of a leg's lead over her, to greet his tribal elder and speak with him a little before she arrived at the Navigator's grill herself. But this didn't mean that she loitered or idled. She just walked slowly from one car to the next, and when she brought herself to stand in front of Milo her hands were in her hoodie pocket and her chin was dipped just a little, a 'head lowered' gesture that showed recognition of rank and status.
But she said nothing, not just yet. She'd wait until addressed to do so.
[Evan McCollach] Once they were outside of the city, away from the prying eyes and the potential onlookers who could ruin proper introductions and cause problems should they be discovered. Lukas he had met before, it was along with Kemp. However this one, this woman that he had to just break a fight up on and now it seemed that she claimed a kin out of tribe after she just beat the crap out of him.
And then their was the tribal Elder. A shadow lord Elder it seemed. Someone named Milo. It seemed that the Sept was starting to actually turn around since the Eagles left. Maybe they were able to stand on their own. One can hope Kemp got them to work together.
The Silver Fang, turned Child of Gaia would surely stick out like a sore thumb. His fiery-red hair seemed to contrast against his skin, even in the darkness it stood out. His black mariner's coat seemed to wrap about him, even if the chill did not seem to affect him in the slightly. And then there was his own touch of breeding, only seemingly outdone by that of Lukas.
Kings upon Kings, Silver wrapped about in all its glory The effects would soon dissapate once they knew of his true tribe now. But for the time being it cloaked him in a more regal attire, something that maybe Evan would have fit into nicely, if it were suited. He stood outcast from the three of them. He held no alligence to the Lords' nor this woman and therefore was his own place, aloft of the sept. Just to mediate.
"I assume that proper introductions are in order. I will defer to you, being Tribal Elder."
And once and if he so wished to introduce himself, Evan would speak. His posture strong and proud, a mantle he wears well in these meetings.
"I am Evan "Judgement of Sterling Silver" McCollach, Fostern Philodox of the Child of Gaia. One of Eagle's Chosen."
And then onward.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] "Lukas Wyrmbreaker," Lukas says, brief and to the point. "Cliath Ahroun of the Shadow Lords, Beta to the Unbroken Circle."
[Soledad Gutierrez] Well, it seemed they'd be doing a roundabout, like what was done at moots around these parts when new faces were noticed. Her dark eyes touched on Evan when he introduced himself (Eagles? Wasn't that the pack that left the Caern? ....Oh hell no. Whatever, she'd worry about that later. This was a time for other matters.), then followed to Lukas when he spoke.
She figured that meant it was her turn.
"Muerte Fría, Cliath Uktena Ahroun, Beta of Weasel's Gang."
Beat.
"I come seeking to claim one of your kin, Jack Castellano."
[Milo Maevsky] "Milo Maevsky," given as he looks toward Soledad, having heard Lukas' report without looking over at him, though he does turn to regard the stranger with a measure of respect. That of equals of rank- but with a Shadow Lord twist. Certainly not submissive, far from aggressive, but testing his lines and character as he looks him up and down. "Fell Prayer, Fostern to the Nation, Tribal Elder of the Shadow Lords and Theurge of Gaia and Grandfather Thunder," listening to the various other introductions, even from those he knows.
"You run with Decker. A good warrior," giving a nod to the other Fostern, though looking between his hair and features with the turn of his head.
If you can't say something nice... Milo leaves it at that expression, curious but not pressing. And then, his scowl goes back to arrest itself firmly on Soledad. "To claim one of my kin. I see an error there, if you will follow," follow his words, because he doesn't move as he folds his arm. "He is Shadow Lord kin. You know this. But you knew this, and told a week lie regarding your knowledge. So, you don't seek to claim him. You seek to challenge for the claim my tribe has laid on him, perhaps even since his birth. That last fact should help you understand why such a challenge cannot go unanswered," unswerving logic, convincing and sharp in his words.
And then, "Jack Castellano," running the name over his tongue, and then repeating it one more time. "From New Jersey," said with familiarity. "No, a challenge that must be answered," looking to Soledad for her response.
"First, can I ask why you were whupping his ass? And why you seek to claim one whose ass you would," a pause, then resigning to the word that must come, "whup."
[Administrator] Peek, welcome to In Character Room (Now)
[Evan McCollach] He looked to her when she said she wished to lay claim onto the kinfolk of the shadow lord straight to the Elder. This was fine and all. But he knew that would be all too simple. He stood there watching and waiting. Should his position be called into play.
[Lukas Wyrmbreaker] (skip me -- I'll post if Lukas has something to say)
[Soledad Gutierrez] Milo spoke, and Soledad listened.
He pointed out the difference between claiming and making a tribal claim, and though dialogue and arguments ran through her mind -- I never did say what I was claiming him for, did I? -- she stayed silent and continued to listen. One may percieve it as respectful, another may say that the way she looked at him with that bland, almost uninterested gaze was disrespectful, but most that have encountered Soledad before know that's just the way she is, regardless.
It was only when a question was asked of her that she spoke, her low alto voice hardly softspoken, but hardly brash or loud or commanding. It was nearly as flat as her eyes were.
"Because he smartmouthed me and managed to evoke my temper by doing so." Pause. "And I seek to claim him because, despite that, I respect and see potential in him. He doesn't quail from Rage like many do."
[Milo Maevsky] "Smartmouthed you, stirred up your temper, got your blood just," mocking a shiver, now, "going crazy, did he? So you decided to beat down the kinfolk of another tribe, for this? You know, I was once mated to an Uktena kin. In Louisiana. Beautiful countryside. Hard, but beautiful. You really see a balance of life and death in those swamps. I didn't earn her by beating her when she got mouthy."
"You see potential in him. As what, a punching bag? Your intentions are to mate with him?" His hands hang loosely at his side, fingers slightly curled, as he continues to stare at the Uktena.
[Soledad Gutierrez] (( Pause ))
[Administrator] Soledad Gutierrez has left In Character Room
celebration.
11 years ago