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Archive 23 / end-game
Triggers: Violence, murder, gang activity, drug use, discrimination, torture, abuse, and strong language. More may be added as the RP goes on!
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no_faced_angel 04-May-23 03:19 PM
TW: Violence, murder, gang activity, drug use, descrimination, torture, abuse, and strong language. More may be added as the RP goes on!
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 04-May-23 03:20 PM
“Great job on a first day team!” The conference hall to the brand new branch of Quills and Ink Publishing was full of all the brand new workers; from the janitors, to the new building manager, they were all there to celebrate. In the front of the room, holding a glass of champagne, was a taller woman dressed in her typical office attire; a warm smile on her face that didn’t quite reach her icey blue eyes. It didn’t seem that anyone noticed though, the loud cheering almost drowning the young woman out. Some of the older workers seemed apprehensive, unsure how someone so young could run this company so successfully. However, if she knew about their apprehension, she never addressed it. Sure, 23 was rather young, but she’d be damned if her age was something to hold her back. “If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me, or the new building manager Sable. I’ll be working from this building for a few months, so my office door is always open!” Lenora wasn’t sure if anyone was even listening to her at this point, but it didn’t matter. Even if she felt no one was watching her, or even paid her any attention, she knew she was wrong; the biggest lesson she’d learned in her short life was that there was always somebody watching, waiting for one misstep to bring her down. The celebrations continued, and after her appearance wouldn’t be missed, Lenora slipped out of the office party, into the cold winter air. She glanced at her watch, seeing that she still had some time. While she had never visited this town, she knew the layout and exactly where everything was. After all, it’d be irresponsible for her not to know, especially with her plans. Tonight, however, was not the time to work on her plans. It was Friday, she wouldn’t have work tomorrow...She paused for a second, reflecting on what tomorrow was. It was her birthday, but also...
15:20
She shook her head, shaking the memory out of her mind. She started walking forward again, face as cold as the snow around her. Survivor’s guilt tried creeping into her mind, but she did her best to keep it at bay. She glanced over to her side, a sign catching her eye. She paused again, looking at the gaming store in front of her. When had she picked up a new game last? She’d buried herself so deep in her work, she almost forgot the enjoyment she got from gaming; the late night sessions, fingers flying as she kept with the rhythm... Fuck it. The chime of the bell above the door signaled her entrance. Not that she noticed, instead making a beeline for the console section. She walked with purpose, and looked slightly out of place in her business attire. She adjusted her glasses, looking at the choices in front of her. @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 06-May-23 09:43 PM
The sound of the bell chiming and the store owner calling out a greeting caused Ajack to shift his attention away from the Switch console that was hooked up to allow customers to play newly released or popular games. His brow immediately knitted together, not expecting someone to enter the store at this time of night in those kind of clothes. Compared to his disheveled attire which consisted of a black jacket, a storm grey shirt, blue jeans, and black and white sneakers, the woman seemed very out of place in her tidy business-like appearance. He stared at the young woman only for a second longer before returning his attention back to the game he was playing. Instead of immediately jumping back into the game though, he simply glared at the screen with a frown as if he was contemplating something. “What’s on your mind, Aj?” The store owner, Vern, called out from the counter he was behind. The lad let out an audible hum from the back of his throat in return. “Nothing much. Just thinking.” He answered after a moment. “Does it have something to do with that game you’re designing?” The middle aged man questioned with a light chuckle. Despite being in town for only three months, Ajack’s daily visits to ‘Vern’s Video Games’ allowed him and the store owner to get a mutual friendship between each other. The younger man let out a sigh before casually walking over to the counter. “You could say that,” he answered as he leaned over and rested his elbows on the countertop, “I’ve been having trouble getting an art style down.” He grumbled. .
21:43
Vern flashed an amused smile before heading his way toward the door that led to the store’s storage. “I’ve got something that might help ya. Stay put.” He called out over his shoulder before vanishing. While Ajack waited, he casually looked around the store, trying his best to look like he absolutely wasn’t sneaking glances at the woman from behind her back. Why in the name of hell is someone dressed like that coming into a video game store at this time of night?
21:43
@no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 07-May-23 01:58 AM
Rows of colorful game cases were all Lenora was focused on, scanning each one as the world continued around her. She was vaguely aware of people chatting amongst themselves, but she didn't pay it any mind. It seemed that there were more games that had released in the span of her putting her nose to the grindstone; she picked one game up to look and see what songs would be on the rhythm game. Hm, not enough good songs. She thought, gently placing the game back on the shelf. She was about to reach for another game, but paused, feeling like she was being watched. For a brief second, a flash of panic went through her. Had she been found already? Where they going to finally finish her off so the whole Emmerson family would be dead? She took a shakey breath, going back to picking up the game. That's ridiculous. Scolding herself, she eventually did look around herself casually. It wasn't too long after that that her eyes landed on Ajack. She had just caught him looking away, as if he were just staring at her. She cocked an eyebrow up, but gave a shrug as she went back to the games. She grabbed the two rhythm games she had been looking at, and a third one that she quickly stuck between the other two. The movement was quick, as though she were trying to hide exactly what that game was. Head held high, she walked to the counter with her games, setting them down as she fished for her wallet. Once she retrieved it though, she just stared ahead, not sparing a glance at Ajack. She didn't realize how out of place she looked in her attire, or if she did she didn't show it. Instead, she just kept still, not revealing anything she was thinking @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 09-May-23 11:10 AM
When the lass turned around and caught sight of him, Ajack quickly averted his gaze onto one of the counter displays that advertised some trinkets of an anime he’s never heard of. Fuckin hell ya dumbass… could you be any more obvious?? He mentally scolded himself while glaring at the little character toys within the box. It didn’t take much time before the lass appeared to have found the games she wanted and made her way over to the counter. With how still and stiff she held herself, Ajack couldn’t not look at her now. Especially considering how close she was to him. He no longer tried to hide the fact that he was staring at her with a look of amusement. This chick sure is an oddie... As he took in her features, he realized that he’s never seen her before. Granted, he was still fairly new to the town and he rarely mingled with pristine business folk. Despite her fairly normal, albeit thin appearance, she seemed to hold herself with an air of purpose. “If you’re trying to look normal, you’re doing a shit job at it.” He informed her with a tilted head. His gaze flickered toward the games she planned on getting. “What games you planning on getting?” He asked curiously, not even stopping to think that he just insulted her a second ago. He didn't care if she answered him or not. He was bored and simply wanted to see if he could stir up some entertainment to appease his mind.
11:10
@no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 09-May-23 02:12 PM
Lenora kept staring ahead, almost appearing as though she didn't hear him. Her face didn't show any signs of registering what he said at least; instead, she just kept looking as though she were a guard dog. "I do not care about looking normal," She said eventually, after a slightly awkward amount of time had passed. "And my game choices are none of your concern." Her tone wasn't arrogant as much as flat, almost monotone. All the acting she had done during the company party had drained her; she didn't have the energy to play nice with a random stranger who was staring at her. Despite that, her hands did shift some, revealing the three games she had picked out. The two rhythm games sandwiching the dating sim. She hadn't heard about it before, but it looked cutesy enough. Besides, it had to do with a literature club, what wasn't there to like for the owner of a publishing company. She glanced back over at him, icy blue eyes peaking over her glasses. "Why are you talking to me anyway?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow up as she gave him a once over. "If I look so out of place to you, wouldn't it make more sense to avoid me?" @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 10-May-23 07:15 PM
When the lass didn’t bother to answer him right away, Ajack glanced back at her with a raised brow, waiting for her to speak. Right as he thought that she wouldn’t answer him, she spoke. As she mentioned about not caring how she looked, he couldn’t help but softly chuckle in understanding. Once she shifted her games in a way that he had a better view, he tilted his head slightly to get a better reading on them. A low hum escaped the back of his throat as he started to check them out. “Ehh, curiosity killed the cat and boredom overrides logical thinking.” He answered with a shrug. It was pretty clear that doing stuff like this was a common thing of his. “Mmm.. I suck at those kinda games…” He muttered to himself a few seconds later as he took note of the rhythm games. Once he caught a glimpse of the dating sim, his expression lit up with recognition. “You’ll get a kick out of Doki Doki Literature Club.” He said with a small chuckle. Before the lass could say a word, Vern came through the doors with a couple of video game art books. He set the moderately sized stack of books down on the counter in front of Ajack - who had risen to his full height once the man returned - with a huff. “Take a look through these. Might help.” He said as he patted the stack before turning his attention toward his new customer. “Good evening! I hope you found everything alright?” He asked with a friendly smile as he checked the game titles she purchased in order to retrieve their discs from a locked compartment on his side of the counter.
19:15
@no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 11-May-23 02:30 AM
For once, a slight flash of emotion crossed her stone face. Not much, but a hint of a blush creeped on her face and even the tips of her ears. However, before she could get a word in edge wise, the store owner had reappeared handing a stack of books to the man she was talking to. However, when he had returned, her demeanor seemed to change. At least, slightly; she had a smile, and her posture-while still formal-seemed more so in a polite way. "I did!" She said, her voice slightly warmer than with Ajack. "Just these please, I'm excited to try them!" Despite smiling, it again didn't seem to reach her eyes; they seemed to be as cold and flat as ever. As Vern went to grab the disks, she started fishing around in her purse for her wallet, eventually pulling out a few 20s. This was a new city, and with her plan, she didn't want to leave a paper trail where she didn't have to. Cash was her best friend here; it wouldn't rat on her like card statements would. She didn't know what the gang here was capable of, and she knew a lot of the gangs she'd seen were at least competent enough to look at anything a potential member had. Once she had finished her transaction, she'd glance back over at the man she had been talking with earlier, sharp eyes also glancing at the art books he had been given. "Game art, huh?" She asked, an eyebrow going up. "I have to admit, the art is one of the best parts of a game, if not the most important. How the game presents itself is what sells customers; appearances are all that matters to people."
02:30
Without waiting for a reply, she took her games and walked back into the cold winter air. She just wanted to get back to her hotel room and play her games; at least one night of respite before the true work began. Snow again crunched underneath her feet, and the unwanted memories tried to get in her head again. She tried not to pay them any mind, not even noticing when a few rogue tears started to well up in her eyes. Rather, she just kept staring ahead, walking with the same sense of importance she always did @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 13-May-23 03:28 PM
Ajack stared at the young woman as she left, eyes wide with surprise. Pfft. I knew that. He mentally scoffed after a second as he watched her walk off down the sidewalk through the large windows at the front of the building. It was only after she was no longer in view that his attention turned back toward the art books, muttering under his breath about how she was stating the obvious and how he was a game designer and he already knew that crap. Vern merely smirked in amusement at the lad’s complaining. ---- It was only a building or two after Lenora started her trek back to her hotel that two motorcycles rode past her. Unlike the common unmuffled motorcycles in the town, their bikes were. The riders each had one other person holding onto them, making four people in total. They came to a stop beside an emerald green and black Kawasaki Versys that was parked in the small parking section for the game store. The passenger on the white and red Suzuki got off and entered the store in a hurry. ----
15:28
“Aj, I’ve been trying to contact you for the past hour! We’ve got a meeting to go to, remember?!” The man who spoke appeared to be in his late 20s, a few years older than the brunette. He had dirty blond long hair that was stylized in a way that had the left side of his head braided and the right not. Alongside that, he sported a close cut goatee and two pierced ears; the left had two, and the right had one. Aj turned his attention to the man with an audible sigh. He really didn’t want to go to this meeting just to listen to gang leaders chat about allying and what deals were to be made, but he and the other four were the only ones available when the meeting started. After waving to the man that he was on his way, the lad gave the art books a longing look before pushing them toward Vern, who was silently watching the two. “Keep ‘em for me, yeah?” He asked with a hopeful look. The older man smiled and shooed him along before grabbing the stack once more. It wasn’t long before Ajack was on the surprisingly well plowed road, following behind his companions on their way to the meeting.
15:28
@no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 13-May-23 03:46 PM
After seeing the motorcycles drive past her, Lenora stopped walking. Had they been the normal obnoxious ones that paid no mind to peace and quiet, she'd probably just mutter about the things and keep walking. These were quiet however; and it was something worth thinking about. She glanced behind her, seeing the two bikes stopped by a green car. She wanted to keep watching, to see what would happen, but she continued to walk. If she stood around just looking at things, she might draw attention to herself. So instead, she kept walking, her eyes facing straight ahead. Not tonight, She thought, quickly stealing a glance to the games she'd managed to get. I'll make a note of it, but I won't focus on it until tomorrow. It was nice to have at least something to work with once her true work began tomorrow, but for her birthday, she just wanted to mash buttons to pretty songs. However, her walk was interrupted again by the bikes, along with that green car from the parking lot. She studied the vehicles carefully, trying to remember at least one of the plates, but just as quick as they appeared, they were down the road again. She cursed slightly under her breath, but didn't stop. The warmth of the hotel lobby was welcoming, especially after how the bitter cold bit at her nose and ears. She quickly made her way to the check in desk, once again putting on a friendly face as she gave her reservation details. "Lenora Emmerson...Ah yes! You'll be staying on the top floor. Aren't you that business owner?" The lady at the desk was rather chatty, and Lenora internally twitched at the annoyance. However, on the surface she gave a cheerful nod. "That's me!" She said with a chuckle, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I'd love to continue chatting, but today was a long one, I just wanna relax." After saying goodbye, Lenora walked quickly to her room, taking the stairs for the exercise. Once she had gotten into her room, she flopped face down on the bed. @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 18-May-23 09:16 PM
Despite driving at a speed a bit too fast for winter roads, Ajack immediately noticed the woman from the store walking down the sidewalk as they advanced down the road. When they passed her, he spared her a glance through one of his side mirrors as they drove away. Weirdo… It was almost midnight by the time they got to the meeting’s location, a popular bar called The Oasis. The five of them parked their bikes right as one of their leaders, Lane, came walking up. She was an average height, well toned, mixed woman who seemed to be around her early 40s. She had hazel colored eyes and slightly wavy brown hair that was currently in a french braid. Both of her arms were covered in tattoos that took various forms of plants and flowers. Once the members greeted one another, Lane led everyone into the building. Once they were inside and in the private room they reserved, it didn’t take long for the other gang, Silent Night to arrive and the meeting to start. Ajack didn’t pay much attention to the conversation. His job there was merely to make sure the Silent Night members didn’t pull any stunts and that he was the getaway driver in case something went south. After an agonizing amount of time, the meeting finally concluded with both leaders agreeing to the terms of allying with one another. To put it shortly, Silent Night would be able to transport and spread their very ‘legal’ merchandise across the states with the help of Tap Dancers due to their gang being spread throughout the country. In return for spreading their goods, Tap Dancers would be getting some of their profit from whatever Silent Night manages to sell. Along with that, both gangs were allowed into one another’s territory. For the first couple of months, everyone had to have an escort, but after those months were up, free range was permitted. More things changed of course, but the brunette didn’t care to remember. With the time being 2 in the morning, the meeting finally came to an
21:16
end and everyone was free to leave. The six members of Tap Dancers drove back to base camp. Once Lane informed everyone of what happened, Ajack was finally able to drive back home. @no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 19-May-23 02:33 AM
After laying in bed for a few moments, she finally lifted her head. She had to put on that friendly face far too much for comfort today; it was exhausting. For a moment, she considered maybe forgetting about the game; maybe it'd be better to sit at her laptop, looking up who makes custom bikes that make them quiet. However, she shook her head, getting up to go to her suitcase. No, no more work. It was time to game. Grabbing her handheld, she sat back down on her bed and looked at her games. She considered the rhythm games, but she just wanted something sweet and fluffy. Grabbing the copy of the dating sim, she popped it in and started playing. After a couple hours, Lenora was underneath her blanket, glaring at the handheld that betrayed her. She was looking for fun, for wholesome, not a complete mindfuck of a game. Despite the slight tremble, she wasn't scared. She was just frustrated; she thought the warning before the game was just a joke. Sighing, she eventually made her way out of the blankets. Who the hell disguises a horror game with a dating sim? She thought bitterly, quickly removing the game and putting it back in its box. She looked at the clock; it was around 1 in the morning. She wouldn't have work tomorrow, so she could try one of the rhythm games to calm down. She debated between playing and sleeping, and playing won out. She popped the cartridge in her hand held, and began to finally mash buttons to pretty songs like she wanted. It wasn't until the sunlight started to peak through her curtains that she realized she'd stayed up all night playing her game. She looked at the window, glaring some before sighing. Her birthday was over, and no one even knew what it was in the first place. Giving a bit of a shrug, she sighed and powered off her handheld. Now is where her real job begins. @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 26-May-23 05:47 PM
Once his bike was parked in the back of the house, Ajack quietly made his way inside. With it being so late at night, he knew his mother would be fast asleep in her bed. Despite not wanting to wake her, he had to remind her to take the medication that was prescribed to her by the doctor. She had to take it every four hours. His mother insisted that she could keep track of when to take the medication, but after a few slip ups and a sudden nose dive in her health, he took it upon himself to remember the nightly dosages. Despite having a ‘bad boy’ demeanor, the very few people he allowed inside his walls were able to see that he genuinely was a soft hearted and caring man. After grabbing the medication from the kitchen, he gently woke his mother up to give her her meds before returning to the kitchen to put the cup in the sink. With that out of the way, he made his way into his room. Ajack’s room was nowhere near perfect. It was fairly small. There wasn’t much furniture aside from a closet, a large desk, and his bed. The main thing that occupied his room were the dozens of illustrations and game posters that were taped up on his walls. On the desk rested two expensive looking monitors, a pc, and an old yet well kept morse code telegraph machine. With the time now being 3 in the morning, he threw off his shoes and socks before flopping onto his bed, not bothering to change out of his clothes. Even though today wasn’t super strenuous, Ajack was dead asleep in a matter of minutes. Only four hours into blissful slumber was he startled awake by his phone alarm. He normally got up with a groan before sluggishly making his way to the kitchen, but once his eyes landed on a particular text message, he was scrambling around the house like a chicken with its head cut off. He was out the door and riding off in a matter of minutes. @no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 29-May-23 04:08 PM
Rolling out of bed with a groan, Lenora shuffled over to the laptop on the table in her hotel room. She almost got comfortable, but then the sunlight hit her eyes once again. She grit her teeth, standing up to quickly pull the curtains closed. She knew it would be beneficial to go get some breakfast, or even coffee, but she shook the idea off. She didn't want to waste any time with that nonsense; she'd pulled all nighters for work before, so this was nothing new. She stared at her screen as the laptop booted up, and yet again she was thankful for having a newer model. It booted up like nothing, and she was quickly on the internet looking up the bikes she saw the previous night. At first, she couldn't find anything worthwhile. There were a few dealerships who sold that particular brand of motorcycle; that lead was too large of a net, it'd take weeks to comb through the paperwork and look up every person who bought a bike. So, she changed her tactics a bit, looking up the local mechanics to see if anyone did custom bike work. Unfortunately again, there were quite a few; she felt a twinge of frustration as she tried to think of exactly how she was going to find what she needed. However, after clicking on a few local articles, she found her breakthrough. There was a tiny, random forum she found; it seemed it was a local group of motorcycle enthusiasts. However, it was only one post that caught her attention. (C)
16:08
Yea man, Buzz does real good custom work! My buddy's muffler is so much quieter now, his girlfriend doesn't complain about him coming home late now! Dude, he's a godsend around here; don't know anyone else willing to do that sorta work. I gotta buy him a beer. A small smirk curled on Lenora's lips. Bingo. That had to be her lead. She yawned a little bit, stretching as she stood up. Seemed like she was going to have to pay Buzz a visit, and she had to get ready. She looked through her secondary suitcase, pulling together an outfit consisting of stonewashed blue jeans, a teeshirt with some heavy metal logo on it, and a pair of black shoes. She threw on a baseball cap for good measure, then looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't really recognize herself, which was a good thing. The last thing she needed was someone recognizing her as some hotshot business owner. That would just throw a huge wrench in her plans. After stopping in the hotel lobby for a cup of lukewarm, burnt coffee, she was making her way to the address she saw for the mechanic. It was probably a good couple of miles to get there, but she didn't mind the walk. The less she had to interact with people, the better; she didn't need to leave a paper trail, and nowadays everything did if she wasn't careful. @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 01-Jun-23 08:56 PM
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me…” Ajack growled out in disbelief. Wes, the gangmate who hauled him out of Vern’s, shook his head. “Fraid not. Lily and Iris came back this morning from their patrol with a Nightingale. Based on the quick glance I saw, the kid looked like he saw some serious shit. I haven’t seen the news yet, but apparently, it made it onto there too already.” Despite it still being early in the day, the news of the destruction of the Nightingale was spreading like wildfire amongst the local gangs. They were on their way to becoming one with the top three gangs that prowled around this particular part of town. They were a force to be reckoned with and one who needed to be shown respect. If any of the smaller gangs tried picking a bone with them, they’d be torn to shreds. “I just don’t get it… how can a gang like theirs get destroyed in one fucking night? To top it off, what did they do to draw so much attention that they’d make it onto the news like that?” Ajack questioned as he stared out at the forest surrounding their base with a conflicted look. “Vail and Lane assume that something between the members is what made them go at each other’s throats and shoot up the place. How else could an organization like them get destroyed so easily?” Wes’s words were concerning. Destroyed from the inside… If a group that organized and well put together could fall from their own men turning against one another, what’s not to say theirs could too? It was a terrifying thought for the brunette. Not wanting to dwell on the thought of seeing his family betray one another, Ajack said his goodbye and set off to do some work around the base. He needed a distraction. .
20:56
It wasn’t long before he was once again on the road headed toward their mechanic’s shop. There were some simple tool supplies for them at the shop that needed to be retrieved. Luckily enough it was located in one of the spots that was a neutral zone, he didn’t need to worry about watching out for rival gang members. Though it was far enough that he needed to drive past a few rival territories to reach it… Luckily though it seemed as if the gangs in which he was needing to pass were equally in shock and trying to figure out what happened to Nightingale to send out proper patrols.
20:56
@no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 03-Jun-23 05:57 AM
Snow crunched underneath Lenora's feet, the sound of vehicles whizzing by being her only company. She just kept staring ahead; despite her now casual appearance, she still had the stoney look of a tired businesswoman. She never cared too much to look casual on her own, her mother's words etched in her mind like an epitome on a gravestone. You're never alone, Lenora. Her words echoed in her mind, and she could smell the faintest traces of cigarettes and wine accompanying the older voice. Someone's always watching, waiting for a moment of weakness to tear you down and destroy you. Never give them the opportunity. "Yea yea," She mumbled, as if she were still talking to the woman. Somewhere in her mind, she knew it wasn't a healthy outlook to have; however, she’d be damned if it wasn't true. Enough people had come into her life just to prove she was too young, too inexperienced to run the family business. They'd tried to coerce her into giving the business to them, only to be told they'd have to tear it out of her cold dead hands. So what if she'd been called a bitch over it, or told she'd ruin her family's legacy? She was going to run the company for years to come, and it would run just fine when she finally died. More vehicles whirred past her, the wind causing her hair to whip around her face. She ignored it though, trying to think of her cover story, on why she was going to Buzz's shop in particular. Maybe asking about rates? She questioned, adjusting her glasses. This was an area she had no clue about; she wasn't a vehicle person. She had no idea how to appear casual while finding out the info she needed. She could pretend a friend sent her maybe? She kept trying to think, starting to get too absorbed in her thoughts rather than her surroundings as she checked her phone for the directions again. @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 06-Jun-23 12:33 PM
While at a light jamming to his music, Ajack suddenly heard his ringtone that indicated someone was calling him. Knowing that the light wouldn’t change right away, he slipped off his glove and took out his phone to see who it was. Lane. He tilted his head slightly, wondering why she was calling. With a shrug, he accepted the call before returning his phone to his pocket and replacing his glove. “What’s up?” ‘I caught wind you’re going to Buzz’s. I just got a message from him that there have been copper dogs swarming about. I figured you’d like the heads up in case you didn’t know.’ She informed him. A surprised hum vibrated the back of his throat to this. “Roger that. Thanks.” He simply said before Lane hung up. Why would the fuzz be stalking around Buzz’s? That’s leagues away from Nightingale’s base… Ajack scrunched his nose with annoyance as he started driving again. He didn’t think too much of it though. He’d just ask the mechanic himself once he got to the shop. ------ A little over halfway through his drive, he was met with another stoplight at a four way intersection around a slightly busier part of town. While he was swaying around on his bike to the beat of a song, movement caught the corner of his vision, and glanced to the right. It was some chick walking on the sidewalk busy on her phone. She was approaching the crosswalk with not a care in the world. She ain’t even looking… “Hey, watch out!” He tried calling out, but the sound of other vehicles alongside his helmet must have suppressed his voice, for she didn’t even look up. He glanced toward the road she was approaching and his heart leaped to his throat with alarm as he saw cars approaching. “Hey! You’re gonna get hit!” He yelled out. .
12:33
Before he knew it, he was off his bike and yanking the woman back by her elbow right before she stepped in front of a car speeding by while honking its horn. “What are ya? Fuckin’ deaf?!” He snapped, glaring at her through his visor. With how close they were and his yelling, she could hear his words perfectly clear albeit slightly muffled.
12:33
@no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 06-Jun-23 01:18 PM
What model would I even ask about? Lenora thought bitterly, still trying to figure out her cover story. She couldn't for the life of her think of something even remotely convincing. Why couldn't this have been an easier lead? If it was something to do with books, or even games, she'd be set. She knew plenty about those, but bikes and other vehicles? She might as well have been walking into a college final for a class she never took. She looked back down at her phone, checking her directions. Someone was shouting something about watches, but she couldn't be bothered to notice. She was on a mision, and she
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 06-Jun-23 01:34 PM
'd be damned if-- Suddenly, there was honking and something grabbed her by the elbow. "The hell??" She shouted, startled before registering what was going on. "Why'd ya grab me?" She asked, her tone authoritative. She hand't realized the honking was because she was about to be roadkill, and her eyes narrowed when the man had asked if she was deaf. "Excuse you?" She snapped back. She tried to see his face, but it was hidden behind the tinted visor. However, it seemed like her attitude changed on a dime. She shut herself down, quickly stifling the annoyance as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Sorry about that, I shouldn't have snapped like that." In the commotion, her baseball cap had flown off, landing in the road. She calmly pulled her arm back, bending down to grab her cap, as well as her phone. She frowned a bit, seeing the screen had completely shattered when it had fallen out of her hand. "Shit," She mumbled, trying to turn it on. Of course, of course one simple drop would cause it to crap out on her. She took a deep breath, trying not to show how shaken she was at the realization that her one way of finding her way around town was busted. She bit the inside of her cheek, then took a deep breath. She looked back over at the guy with the visor, then noticed the bike he'd left in the road. It looked like the bikes from last night, and she had an idea. "I'm sorry to ask," She said, her tone more lukewarm than the coldness she had before. "I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction? I have a friend who wanted me to scope out a mechanic for them; they heard about the shop, but wanted me to scope it out to see if it's a rip off or not." @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 06-Jun-23 05:01 PM
Behind the tinted visor, Ajack’s eyes narrowed as the woman spun around and shouted at him. He felt his grip around her arm automatically tighten as he felt a new surge of annoyed anger rise within him, though it only lasted for a split second as he took in her features. His harsh glare shifted to one of confusion. She looked eerily familiar… but he couldn’t quite place his tongue on why… When she removed her arm and went to grab her phone and hat, he settled on stealing a glance at the light. He knew this light luckily ran longer than most, but that time was counting down at a speed that he didn’t want to stop traffic for. When he returned his gaze to her, he noticed her phone wasn’t working. Must have broken when she dropped it. His head cocked to the side subconsciously as she announced that she had a question for him. When she asked her question, a frown marred his face, though it was hidden by the helmet. “Why couldn’t your friend simply go look and do research? Makes more sense to me that they’d go look themselves rather than someone else.” There was no snark in his tone. He was genuinely curious to know. Personally, if he were looking for a new mechanic, he’d do his own research and go by it himself rather than rely on someone else. @no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 07-Jun-23 02:16 AM
When he asked why her nonexistant friend wasn't checking the shop themselves, Lenora sighed a little bit. She didn't think of that question, so she started scrambling a bit. "Well, they live out of town," She admitted, trying to look at least a little embarrassed. "I have to admit, I don't know much about bikes or vehicles. They're looking to move here within the next year, so they wanted me to scout ahead of them." She hoped the lie was convincing enough to be bought, but didn't wanna hold her breath. So, she straightened up a little bit, and flashed a small warm smile. "But I think the light's going to change soon, so I'll leave you be. Sorry for troubling you." With that, she walked back to the sidewalk. She hated that she looked stupid to some stranger, but it was the only way she could see getting out of that situation. Now came the hard part; finding the shop with her terrible sense of direction. She tried to remember where her phone had said to turn, but she couldn't remember. There were still people around though, and she didn't want to look as though she was bumbling about, so she started to walk down another sidewalk. The downside to this was it was the complete opposite direction of her goal, but she didn't seem to know this. @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 10-Jun-23 08:01 PM
Ajack hummed in response to hearing her reason. I guess that makes sense… Before he had time to open his mouth to ask her where she was headed, the blond had spoken and was already walking away. “Well damn…ok then.” He huffed before turning back around to mount his bike. The lass was indeed correct about the light changing soon, for it switched right as he got comfortably settled within his seat. With a fluid jerk of his wrist, he revved his bike and took off, though not before glancing back toward where he saw the young woman walk off. Once he realized where she was headed, a frown marred his face. She was headed toward the border of Poison Dart; a gang that was highly territorial and attacked on their own whim. He learned that the hard way… He drove a block or two down without actually paying much attention to the road. He was too busy battling internally with himself on whether or not he should go back and help her out or not. “For fucks sake!” He blurted, throwing back his head in frustration. After a quick glance to make sure there weren't any blind sighted pedestrians, he made a quick turn that would allow him to intercept the woman if she struck with the path she chose. Once spotted, he made a beeline toward her. Not caring about following the law at that moment, he skidded to a stop a yard or two away right in front of her, promptly blocking her path with his bike. “I wouldn’t continue down this road if I were you. Where you headed?” He asked before pulling off his helmet and resting it casually in front of him. While he waited for a response, he subtly took in her features once more, hoping to once again scratch that itch of why she looked so familiar. @no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 11-Jun-23 02:42 AM
As she was walking, Lenora quickly got sucked back into her own thoughts. Sure, now she had a slight disadvantage now without her phone, but it would be short lived. She could always grab a new one once she was done here. It was just a matter of finding a phone shop within walking distance to Buzz's shop...which she couldn't look up without her phone. Her eye twitched in annoyance as she thought that, not knowing the danger she was putting herself in. She hadn't realized just how useless she was without technology, and it pissed her off. She made a mental note of learning how to read paper maps as she kept walking. After a few moments of being consumed by her thoughts, someone blocking her path snapped her out of them. She faintly recognized the bike, but once the rider took off his helmet, the puzzle pieces clicked into place. "...gaming store guy, right?" She asked, still having a bit of a flat tone. Sure, girl was lost without technology, but she was still sharp as a tack; she always tried to remember her surroundings and the people she'd met just in case. "You were looking at the art books?" However, after a second, she finally registered his question.
02:43
"Oh, some mechanic's shop my friend asked me to go to." She was quiet for a moment before sighing. That wasn't very helpful, judging by how many shops there were around here. "A guy named Buzz." She added, adjusting her glasses. "My friend said he's the best around here, so they wanted me to check his shop out to see if it's really as good as the internet says." She was quiet for a little bit again, debating on asking him for a ride. She went over some facts; she didn't know this guy, she never rode a bike before, and the more exposure she had with someone outside of her plans, the higher likelihood of someone realizing the owner of the fastest growing publisher company was slumming around in unsavory places. Sure, the first two were an issue now, but that last fact could damage her reputation irrepably if someone from her social circles noticed. It might be a big enough deal to start a whole smear campaign, a coup even. But, she didn't have much of a choice; she needed to take down the gangs around here, and if Buzz could give her the answers she needed, then she had to take the risk. "You...wouldn't happen to mind giving me a ride, would you?" She asked, a subtle sheepishness snaking it's way into her voice unintentionally. "I'll give you gas money; even more if you can show me where the closest place to get a phone is." @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 21-Jun-23 06:53 PM
That annoying itch in the back of his mind finally got relieved once the young woman mentioned Vern's Game Store and the art books. His eyes widened with recognition as he finally started to see the similarities between the fancy business woman within her now blended-in appearance. I’m surprised I didn’t recognize that bland ass voice of hers… “Yeah, I’m the ‘gaming store guy’. You must be the business chick.” He paused for a moment before flashing a quick smirk, “I gotta say, I almost didn’t recognize ya with how normal ya look.” When she told him that she was headed to Buzz’s as well, Ajack cocked his head to the side, eyes wide with surprise. “You’ve gotta be kidding me…” He muttered to himself. He stayed silent for a moment, debating if he should help her out even further than he already has. His gut instinct told him to just write down the directions and leave her to it, but he could hear his mother and the gang scolding him to Timbuktu if they found out that he left a girl stranded to fend for herself next to Poison Dart territory. “Color me surprised… I’m actually headed to the best bike mechanic in town too.” He leaned back on his bike slightly as he noticed her silence. It didn’t take a genius to know what she was thinking. She was debating on asking him for a ride. Normally he’d say no, but seeing how close this lady was to nearly getting hit by a car and nearly walking to a place where she most likely wouldn’t return from, she’d probably end up in an even worse situation if he just left her. He couldn’t ruin his reputation of being a gentleman after all. .
18:53
A genuine grin of amusement flashed across his features once hearing her sheepish request. He straightened back up into his seat and held out his helmet toward her. “I’ll take ya to Buzz. But you gotta wear the helmet. No exceptions. Mount the bike from the left side. Any sudden movements, shifting about, or looking behind will cause instability. So the best advice for you is to stay centered in the seat and be relaxed. You can hold onto the rear grab handles next to your seat.” He instructed before jokingly adding, “If you’re a good passenger, I’ll even take ya to the store to get a new phone… maybe.”
18:53
@no_faced_angel
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Lenora Emmerson BOT 22-Jun-23 04:31 AM
A faint, amused smirk crossed her face when he finally recognized her, giving a slight nod as he called her "business chick." Even if she wasn't easily amused, the interaction was admittedly kind of humorous. "I didn't just get done with work today is all." She responded when he mentioned how he almost didn't recognize her. That was a plus at least; she wanted to blend in, and it seemed the attire did its job well. She couldn't help but give another bit of a chuckle at his reaction to where she was going, once again adjusting her glasses. However, she tried to keep it to a minimum. She wasn't raised to reveal her emotions on such a abhorrent fashion. However, when he showed his own amused grin, she had an easier time suppressing her amusement. It was always easier for her to be stern and level headed if someone else was acting carefree in her eyes. She took the helmet from him when he held it out, trying to ignore a twinge of panic she felt. She'd never ridden a bike, and the idea of being so close to someone was nerve wracking she had to admit. She listened to his instructions carefully, nodding once he was done with his explanation. "Thank you," She said, putting the helmet on. "Just let me know what I owe you when we're done; I'm sure I have enough cash to pay you for gas." On the way to Buzz's shop, she managed to sit perfectly still. It was partly because of the instructions he'd given, but also out of fear. She wasn't used to riding anything other than the family car, so feeling the wind whip around her was nerve wracking to say the least. While she didn't show any of that fear plainly, her knuckles were a bit white as she clutched onto the rear grab handles. @bluehound180
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Ajack BOT 26-Jun-23 09:37 PM
Ajack grunted when she mentioned paying him back. “The only thing that you owe me is making sure ya don’t go trying to get yourself killed again.” He answered back as he made sure she was all situated once she mounted his bike. He slowly started to turn back into the road, checking off the mental list of requirements for riding two-up. Luckily enough for him, due to having to drive Lane back to base last night and being in a rush to get out of the house, the rear suspension didn’t have to be modified. On the ride to Buzz’s, the desire to just gun it the rest of the way was painfully strong. The only thing that was holding him back was the constant mantra he told himself of there being an inexperienced rider behind him. Despite having to go the exact speed limit and taking turns more carefully, he actually enjoyed the more leisurely experience of simply taking everything in. It didn’t take them too long to reach the shop. As Buzz’s shop came into view, an irritated yet confused frown slipped across Ajack’s face as he saw two police cars driving along the road a street or two away. Lane wasn’t kidding about the fuzz… He swiftly directed the bike toward one of the opened garage doors and stopped inside. He only just killed the engine when a man who looked like a ginger version of Tony Stark called out to him behind the shop counter with a frantic wave. “Did you see the news, man!? Shit, it’s unbelievable!” He yelled out to the brunette as he gestured to the tv mounted above him, clearly not having the patience to wait for the lad to walk on over. The footage that was currently showing was an aerial view of the Nightingale’s base. There were ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars scattered around the outside of the building. Coming from one of the entrances were two people carrying a black body bag. They seemed to be headed toward a slowly accumulating pile near one of the ambulances. .
21:37
The header read "No Found Survivors to Former Gang ‘Nightingale’ Massacre.” The news anchor went on to talk about how the cause of this event was currently unknown, but they speculate it could have been due to a quarrel within the gang itself. How many victims there were, who the leaders were, the possible time the skirmish took place, etc., was also discussed. (edited)
21:37
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21:38
@no_faced_angel
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