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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 7, 2016 19:57:56 GMT -7
The cafe had been slammed today, up until closing time. He wasn't even able to start cleanup until the last employee other than himself had already left for the night. By the time that he was finally locking up the place the sun had long since set and the after work rush was already long home. The streets this time of night were quiet. Well, quiet for this part of town. It was still near the docks so there was some spillover from the typical nightlife that one could find there, along with some shops that were still open. But Alex wasn't interested in the type of fun the street callers were offering, and he had no desire to spend what little time remained of his day shopping. Not today at least, all he wanted was a nice hot meal and to unwind at home and catch up on some of his work. After a day like today a hot shower and a cup of tea sounded like heaven.
And so he's just shove his hands in his pockets, thankful for the long sleeved shirt that he normally wore keeping some of the evening chill at bay, though the days were steadily growing warmer. Not that you could tell it from tonight. It looked like rain might be in their near future with how black clouds were blocking the stars and the moon. The evening and his path home was only illuminated by flickering street lamps and the occasional storefront window leaving the surroundings outside of these pools of light shrouded in shadow...
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Post by inkblot on Jun 8, 2016 18:23:48 GMT -7
Emerald's Diamond. A pretentious name for a pretentious store, full of snooty employees and decent clothing brands sold for three times their worth. It was a high end clothing store, with full glass windows and an interior pristine enough to be mistaken for a hospital. Inkblot had been inside a few different times, wearing her civilian persona, and hated every inch of the place. They were rude, intentionally antagonizing, and overpriced their products to an extreme degree. She wanted nothing more to go inside and splatter every designer piece in paint, but she had a far better idea at the moment.
Two large duffel bags fell onto the counter, a pair of employees glancing up at the dripping figure with concern and disdain. "Hello sir and madam, I'm here to rob you."
The announcement was direct and to the point, just like she how she liked it. Villains should be up front about their orders, if only not to waste the time of everyone involved. It was a simple courtesy. The employees were glancing at each other nervously, but didn't make any sort of move to follow her orders. Not that there had been more direct orders than to 'be robbed', she supposed. "I'm sorry, can we help y-"
In a single swift movement, Inkblot plucked one paintbrush from her belt and flung a glob at the windowed front. The glass shattered on impact, the bullet still propelling out until it slammed into the building across the way. Rocks crumbled under the assault, the new hole dyed a bright yellow and pink. "So, we're doing this the hard way?" she questioned. "I'm okay with that. It would've been boring if you cooperated immediately." From outside the shattered window she could see a shadow crossing the sidewalk, and it was dark enough they wouldn't see her coming. Perfect.
With an easy flick of her wrist, the villain painted a black circle on the ground before her. Out of sight in the dark, an exactly identical one appeared only a step behind the walking civilian. With a two fingered salute, she hopped through.
"Hey, buckaroo," she called out as she emerged, reaching out to grab the back of his collar. Hm, they looked vaguely familiar. "I find myself in need of a hostage. Chop chop, time is traumatized employees."
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 8, 2016 21:49:56 GMT -7
He jumped reflexively at the figure that had materialized out of seemingly nothing but shadow. A figure that seemed to be made of nothing but color, or covered in it at least. He tried to shrink away from the figure before it grabbed the back of his collar, effectively trapping him in it's grasp.
"Oh God!"
The hint of panic his voice carried was not very convincingly hidden as his eyes darted around, almost like he was looking for some kind of escape. Or something that he could use, or someone to help save him. His body, stiff as a board, joint's locked up were only kept from trembling based on how stiff and rigid he seemed to be holding himself.
"Don't hurt me! Please, I'm nobody important."
He didn't want to be a hostage. He didn't know what It meant by traumatized employees. He just hoped that this didn't end with him behind used as a human shield from the police or thrown into a dark alleyway with his throat slit open.
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Post by inkblot on Jun 9, 2016 8:42:24 GMT -7
"Such interesting points that I'd never thought of. You truly are a master of conversation, kid." She didn't even bother waiting for a response before yanking him sharply backwards, the two of them falling through her hole of ink and back into the nearby store. Having long grown used to this form of travel, Inkblot had little trouble landing gracefully on her feet. Twirling the brush just once between her fingers, she pointed it directly at the spot her chosen civilian had landed.
Well, it looked like she'd recognized him after all. Small world.
"Okay pals, let me lay out real clear how this is going to go down," she spoke each word clearly, as if talking to a classroom full of preschoolers. "You are going to fill up these bags with all of today's profits, and whatever high end stock you've got in this dump. You are not going to call the cops, or cause me trouble. Fulfill these simple conditions, and both you two and Blondie here will make it out of here breathing."
Her left hand was steady and unwavering, pointed directly at Alex's head without drifting for a second. With her free hand, Inkblot plucked two more brushes from her belt and leveled them at the employees. "Trust me, this paint will do more than give a much needed makeover. You don't want to try me."
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 9, 2016 12:29:39 GMT -7
He flinched when he was yanked backward through the hole. Falling onto his butt if Inkblot didn't keep hold of him when they appeared back into the store. It was hard to judge who appeared to be the most freaked out, but if asked Alex would probably say he was considering he was the hostage and was being dragged into this whole affair.
Attempting to swallow the huge lump in his throat that was forming he tried to remain as still as he could, unsure of just what she could do with that paint. Obviously a Super, there was no way of telling what she could do. Or why. Why take hostages, why do petty robbery. Surely with a power like that she could do so much more good in the world. If it wasn't for the threats to his life he may have asked, he may still ask. Maybe it would distract them. Or maybe it would get him killed.
Though he wasn't convinced if they did what the Super told them that they would all walk out of here unharmed anyways.
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Post by inkblot on Jun 9, 2016 19:57:08 GMT -7
The employees were obviously scared out of their minds at this point, fumbling with keys to pop open the drawers of their registers. All Inkblot did was stand there casually, her battle stance lowered now that the point had been made. It didn't look like there was going to be any resistance at all, which was actually a bit disappointing. She'd been hoping for a nice show, but for now at least she was ruining the day for a few people. At least their stuttering panic was fun to watch, the duffel bags crinkling as they were filled.
Sometimes crime just wasn't fun when everything went smoothly. It meant that she didn't get to feel the adrenaline of a fight, or watch walls crumble with one flick of her wrist. Some part of her heart vaguely hoped that some hero, with the Bulwark or not, would come crashing through the door and demand she halt her nefarious activities. Well she'd just have to make her own fun here.
"So then. What's your deal, sundrop?" Her tone was flippant, reaching out to paint a large red splotch onto his forehead. "Just walking in the area? Off to do commune with the birds or donate to the fund to help little old ladies get their cats from trees?" She laughed at her own jokes, only pausing to be sure the employees hadn't stopped their work. "You were just unlucky enough to get caught by the big bad super. Man, that's gotta smart. I'd offer my condolences but I think it's obvious that I'm the one here who minds the least."
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 9, 2016 20:13:37 GMT -7
His eyes continued to frantically move about as he barely kept himself from trembling in her grasp as the employees started filling up bags with cash and expensive items. He flinched as the Super put a splotch of paint on his head, having expected it to hurt. But when it didn't he just furrowed his eyebrows in slight confusion.
"I was just walking home from work, and they are just trying to do their jobs. Please, promise me that you won't hurt anyone here."
He ignored her jokes, and her laugh. She could make fun of him. She was the one with super powers and he was nothing but a hostage. He didn't have a lot of leverage in this situation at all. But she was talking to him. And she didn't hurt him. Maybe she wasn't as bad as she was pretending to be? Maybe she could be reasoned with?
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Post by inkblot on Jun 10, 2016 5:16:20 GMT -7
Somehow she was able to give the impression of a cocked eyebrow without her face even being visible, slowly starting to circle him like a shark. "Given the current situation, that is the weirdest thing I ever heard. Why on earth are you trying to make a literal super villain promise you something?" Carefully, as if she wanted to be sure she got it right, Inkblot pressed the bristles of her brush against his neck and dragged it across the front. It was like the agonizingly slow action of slitting his throat, but only red paint dribbled downward.
"So no, I don't think that I'm going to be promising anything to the rando civilian who just thinks everyone is doing their job. Here's an idea, Fresh Prince. This is my job too, and I happen to enjoy it very much. Do you know what makes me enjoy it even more?" Swiping her paint brush through the air, a large pastel blue bullet slammed into the nearest clothing rack and sent it flying into the back wall. The employees jumped, only rushing even more to fill her bags.
"Don't forget what's in the safe!" she called out over her shoulder, before turning back to the conversation at hand. "I like causing a mess." The grin could be heard in her voice, even without a clear view of her face. "And boy, I'm afraid I can't help who gets caught in the crossfire. Regretfully it's all in my nature."
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 10, 2016 8:19:05 GMT -7
His body tensed up when she dragged the brush over his throat, he could feel the paint dripping down his neck and clothes, it could have been blood except for the lack of pain. When she swiped the brush, firing the paint bullet into the clothing rack he jumped along with the employees who began to rush faster.
All he could hope for was a distraction. Something to help him get away, or to take her by surprise. It would depend on what he got, but right now either would do. Though the idea of running set a black pit in his stomach. If he ran what would happen to the employees? Probably one of them would become a hostage instead.
"If you can't promise not to hurt or kill us then why should we cooperate?"
He tried to stand a little straighter, putting on a brave face as he addressed the paint covered Super. Maybe he could be the distraction and keep her talking. Maybe the employees could call the cops or something. Trigger an alarm. Or just slip away.
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Post by inkblot on Jun 10, 2016 13:11:03 GMT -7
"Hey now, I never said that I wouldn't hurt you," she reprimanded him, shaking one finger like a disappointed school teacher. "I only ever said that if you cooperate, I won't kill any of you. And that's true enough. If everything goes smoothly, every single one of you will walk out of here alive. I'm not the type to kill if things are all running my way." Honestly she wasn't the killing type period, but she wouldn't let that secret out and ruin her own street cred. If anyone was going to bring attention to her lack of causalities, it certainly wasn't going to be her.
"Killing you guys without reason is just going to end my fun early. That would be a waste of everyone's time, don't you think? I'm not here to waste time, sugar pop. I'm here to have a good time, not waste it. Do I need to spell it out f-" BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. Inkblot's head snapped up, cursing that she let herself get distracted talking to the dumb civilian boy. There the employee stood, shaking next to the alarm button on the wall. It likely was summoning the police.
Gritting her teeth, Inkblot yanked out her usual array of paint brushes and flung four bullets towards the button. The entire wall seemed to crumble on impact, the villain rushing forward to slam the employee into the wall. "I TOLD you not to do anything sneaky!" she shouted into his face, one hand gripped around his wrist like a vice. Barely even seeming to care about the action, she bent it back until something let out an unnatural sounding snap.
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 10, 2016 15:52:59 GMT -7
One of the employees had the same idea that he had, hopefully it would be enough before the alarm was destroyed. Whether or not the call was answered their attacker seemed to be enraged by the turn of events and turned on the male employee, one hand gripping the man as something snapped. He could only assume it was bones or something.
Alex wasted no time, he'd leap on the paint covered Super's back without thinking. Looping his arms around her neck to try and distract her and stop her from killing the guy. Not that he would likely be getting away after that snap.
"Get out of here!"
He yelled to the employees as he started this poor idea of a grapple.
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Post by inkblot on Jun 10, 2016 21:28:21 GMT -7
"W... What are you doing?" The question was vaguely concerned, but hardly containing any traces of the anger she'd been presenting only a moment before. She'd been yanked back a bit sure, but this didn't really feel like a show of strength. Suddenly all of her attention was back onto Alex, the employees taking the opportunity to bolt for the door. "Is there a point to this, or did you just get the overwhelming urge to wrestle me? Because let me tell you, giving a paint being a bear hug is the worst way to keep yourself clean. This stuff gets everywhere."
Now this was a situation. Inkblot's back was bent at a weird angle as she was hung onto, but she wasn't quite sure how to go about ridding herself of the annoyance. She was reluctant to shoot his arms off, but the police would likely show up any time now. Holding the one paint brush still tight in her hand, large globs of black paint dripped down beneath her feet to form a circle. Without another word, she fell through the created hole and appeared behind the counter.
"You know, I can't help but think you look familiar," she mused, dripping paint into the bag full of clothes. It was true, he looked familiar in this shadowy light (and besides in the obvious sense). Pulling the duffel of money over one shoulder, she tossed the one of clothing to Alex carelessly. "Come on then, pretty boy. You're covered in paint, and I'm leaving that bag with you. You can stick around and be thoroughly questioned by the cops if you want, but I couldn't care less." Turning on her heel, Inkblot sauntered carelessly towards the busted up doorway.
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 10, 2016 21:40:41 GMT -7
He had to admit surprise when she didn't stab him or throw him through a wall or something. Especially after what she had done to the male employee who had sounded the alarm. And she said that he looked familiar? That was... interesting. Very interesting. When she dropped through the hole in the ground that she had painted Alex would fall and land with a thud and a groan as the wind was knocked out of his lungs. The clothes landed next to him, sliding across the floor. Giving it a quick glance before looking back up toward the paint covered thief, he ignored the clothes and pushed himself up onto unsteady legs.
"Wait!"
He called, reaching forward, though nowhere near enough to actually touch her.
"Who are you?"
And why did she spare him?
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Post by inkblot on Jun 11, 2016 20:32:37 GMT -7
Oh my goodness, was she really getting this moment? Standing with her back to the other, the streetlights giving her a dramatic silhouette, broken glass crunching under foot, and sirens in the distance as the civilian asked who she was. This was the sort of scene that only ever happened in the movies, giving the hero or villain their chance to say the perfect one liner that would be printed on all the tee-shirts and merchandise. No one ever actually got this moment in real life, and now Inkblot of all people had the chance. She'd have to brag about this later to Sanduleak.
But what should she say? She was the villain, so it had to be something cool and edgy, while still striking fear into the hearts of those she left behind.
I am the night? No wait, that was Batman. Your worst nightmare? No, way too cliche. Someone you wished you never met? Now she was just trying too hard, and it was showing in how wordy they were getting. Sometimes it was best to keep it simple.
Steps pausing for only a moment, her head tilted back just the tiniest bit. Not enough to actually see Alex as he pulled himself up, but just so little she was acknowledging him. "Inkblot," was her simple answer, free hand raising in a lazy wave. "Smell ya later."
Now what to do with all the money? Her current idea was to burn it in the middle of Viridian Park.
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jun 11, 2016 21:10:30 GMT -7
He managed to keep his expression neutral as Ink paused where she was was contemplating what to do with the opportunity he had given her. The line had been delivered and he was just waiting for his leading lady to deliver her line. A moment too late and lacking in emotion. Still, he kept his awe struck, if fearful expression as she left him to his fate. Sirens closing in and now left alone Alex's expression dropped to one of sourness as he debated on the best way to get out of this situation. Especially while covered in paint.
"Annnnd scene..." He muttered to himself now that he was alone.
The alleyways would be his best bet for now he decided. And so he'd bolt off into the night, looking to put as much distance between himself and the scene as he could. He didn't doubt that he would be fine if the police had questioned him. He was the victim after all. And there were witnesses to back that up, but frankly he just didn't have time to deal with that tonight.
Or any night. And so Alexander would run off into the night, leaving the scene of broken glass and paint behind as the sirens arrived, too late for an encore but just in time to clean up the mess after the show.
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