capeandcowllogs | Chance encounters

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Chance encounters

WHO: Geddoe and Blue-chan
WHERE: some alley near some bar, midtown
WHEN: Saturday latenight
WARNINGS: psh the violence won't even be that violent
SUMMARY: anti-Import sentiment, Blue to the rescue, and maybe some chatting
FORMAT: ELLE

Sometimes, Geddoe just wanted a quiet drink, and sometimes the best bars in which to do so had the idea to have drink specials, bands, and massive crowds on just the wrong night. The one he frequented most, where the owner was cool with his sword, was unexpectedly busy this particular weekend, so he gave it a miss and kept walking, looking for somewhere else more to his liking. The seedier neighborhoods were more likely to have seedy joints where no one looked up and wouldn't notice a big guy in leather armor, but those locations naturally featured an increased number of drunks wobbling around the sidewalk looking for fights. To those also harboring a burning anti-Import feeling, Geddoe was a walking target.

"Hey, you!" Geddoe heard the accusatory snarl behind him, and knew exactly who was being hailed. He didn't acknowledge it or turn around until someone shoved him in the back. "Yeah, you! Tough guy! Think you're hot shit and all. C'mon, let's see you use that sword! C'mon!"

The mercenary turned slightly, but did not draw Wild Geese. He didn't want to give these sorts the satisfaction. His glare darkened at the situation; there were four of them, all reeking of alcohol. One pointed at him. "Haha! Look, he's a pirate! C'mon, Captain Jack! ARR!"

Disgusted, Geddoe turned to continue on his way. But one of them went too far, grabbing his arm. He swung around so fast that the fist was in the guy's face before he even saw it coming. But alcohol fueled courage, so instead of fleeing, they swarmed on him. The flash of orange light in the midst of the melee was the reflection of the street lamp on the blade of a sword.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Soldier Blue's proximity to the scuffle was, perhaps, simply chance. Partially routine, but only for the fact he took to the skies nightly; the direction altered time to time, day to day. Chance. Fate, if one believed in such things...but Blue wasn't quite so sure about ideas of fate versus chance. Not with the way his time played...would play out in the Earth that was not Terra.

One way or the other, he was close enough to sense the heat of the scuffle. From his altitude, it was only a flash of heightened energy among the softer colors of the more passive minds in that neighborhood. It was like a flash of bright orange on black, or the sound of a door creaking loudly in a silent room. Blue couldn't avoid the tug on his attention, already veering in its direction before truly understanding what it was.

Closer, the muddled anger and broad hatred became more apparent. Flickering through the instantaneous stream of thought and emotion at play, Blue could see the flashes of fists and metal, knew the danger...he bent into a dive, hastening to the scene.

Alcohol slurred more than speech and staggered movement: It rattled streams of thought, sparked and dimmed emotions in ways erratic compared to the sober mind. He knew it had to be one of the sources of the problem, if not the root, though it was going to make discerning the true cause of the fight hard.

Such things for later – someone could get killed.

His feet settled on the edge of a roof nearby, close enough to see but far enough to be unseen – just another faint light in the City. From there his eyes narrowed, refocusing on each body in turn. His suggestions were subtle and without voice; a swing too far off-target, a step hesitated and ultimately not taken...it kept those warm bodies from meeting an untimely end, though there would be sore days ahead for many. If it could be left at that, then...

The sword was a sign that he meant business, enough so that the drunkards gave it room. But they were still intent on messing him up, moreso now that one of their buddies was on the ground. Geddoe fended them off for the most part with just his elbows, so as not to run any of them through, but their bravado was getting out of hand, magnified by the impression that he didn't actually know how to use that sword. He justified nothing with a reply or retort, but began murmuring the chat for a Soaring Bolt. They needed to learn a hard lesson, apparently.

The screech of tires caught all of their attentions at the same time. The first man Geddoe had punched had gotten to his feet during all the commotion, but instead of doing something smart like walking away, he went and got his car from where it was parked up the street. Whether he was attempting to rescue his pals or run down their assailant, it wasn't clear. The only thing any of them knew was that there was a Toyota barreling straight for the sidewalk, lights blazing. For a split second Geddoe hesitated: which target needed the spell first? Could he even damage the car with True Lightning or was now a really good time to dodge? One of the other idiots grabbed his sleeve, then, almost pulling him into the path, while the rest scattered.

That wasn't going to do at all.

Quickly aware of the intent behind the move before foot hit the pedal, Blue pushed off his perch, vanishing and suddenly filling space between Geddoe and the rushing car. Soldier extended his arms, draped in a blue glow which soon encompassed the car and its frantic driver. It no longer advanced, but lifted from the pavement just enough for spinning wheels to be of no use (though the man did try shifting to reverse rather quickly).

It was not simple, holding that much weight even a little aloft, and it was not practical to keep it there for so long; with a creased brow and thin-lipped frown, Blue's focus shifted, and his body, in a way, did as well, shifting the detached weight to one arm. It slowly bent him to one side as his other hand curled and then flattened, slowly moving down.

The engine began to quiet from its accelerated roar as the driver was coaxed unconscious; Blue let the car land heavily from its couple inches off the ground with an exhale.

With the car no longer a spectacle, the remaining men seemed to reanimate, most eager to flee with those that had already had the sense to, while a few, flustered and confused, hesitated.

Even Geddoe could do nothing for a moment but stop and stare, unused to seeing that level of sorcery so vivid and so close to him. But he snapped out of it quickly, seeing that the threat was being neutralized, and moved to complete his task. He rushed the last remaining couple of drunkards, hoping that a charge with raised blade would scare them off. The one who stupidly moved toward him instead of away got the Soaring Bolt point-blank. He went down like someone tased, unconscious but not damaged. The rest finally scattered, wanting to put as much distance between themselves and superpowers as they could.

Geddoe stopped and stood with his back straight, making sure the battle was over before sheathing Wild Geese. "Thanks," he muttered without turning around.

Freed from the burden of the car, Blue exhaled, slouching for the few seconds it took to recollect, straighten up, and acknowledge the other soldier's remark. A soft sound, but no words to accept it; with the spectacle over, it would hardly be silence to follow. Already, Blue felt the frightened or outraged minds of those nearby who had no part in the brief fight.

"It's unwise to linger," he said, turning to face Geddoe. "We should leave while the way is clear."

"Agreed." Geddoe knew this part all too well. About half a block up, it looked like there was an alley that cut through the buildings, a safe enough escape for two such as they. He strode off briskly, heading up the sidewalk and then cutting down the alley, intent on getting at least a block or two of distance from the scene of the fight before even thinking of letting a fraction of his guard down. He was also not very keen in fielding questions from police officers, not with his general comradeship with Jack Bauer known all too well thanks to certain chats on the network.

Two streets away, no one had any inkling that there had just been a fight involving Imports nearby. Geddoe looked one way and then the other, and finally heaved a tired sigh. "Damn," he growled. "That was not how I intended to spend my evening."

Blue followed two steps behind, his eyes trained on the ground, fluttering shut now and then as he listened to the troubled minds around them. It was hardly wildfire, but one worried neighbor calling another was all it really took to get a whole building buzzing with activity. All directed toward the street the two no longer occupied, of course; he sensed no immediate danger for the time being.

Assured of that, he took on an air of empathy, slowing to stop just within Geddoe's peripheral. His smile was apologetic and small.

"No one was severely injured," he pointed out, his smile growing just slightly. "And there are duller ways to pass time, though those would probably appeal to you less."

Geddoe turned to him, to keep his blind side directed away from anywhere he needed to pay attention to. "Your assistance was timely. You have my thanks." His heavy brow furrowed, then. "Do you know me, so well?"

The stern stare was countered with a gentle bowing of Blue's head, eyes downcast.

"I only know what you project," he replied, slowly lifting his gaze once more. "Your words and your mood. And of what I know of you, having spoken and heard you before. It's built up."

Geddoe was not used to being read so easily, he did not realize the nature of the power. He kept his body language tight for a reason. "I mean no harm," he assured, still stoic. He didn't remember the specifics, but he started to recall speaking to an individual like this once before. "I'm simply not accustomed to someone taking the measure of me so easily."

Blue's mouth had pursed to echo the assurance, but quieted, letting the man continue. Only after did he speak.

"It's my nature to do so," he explained, a hand settling on his own chest. "I receive more than what five senses tell."

And there was more than one being to bear witness to in that moment, though Blue did not yet realize; it was the sort of thing one did not actively go looking for until it was found.

Realization slowly dawned on Geddoe, though his expression changed only slightly, almost imperceptibly. He understood, but it didn't improve his mood much. "There are secrets that must remain so," he said gruffly. "But seeing as you just saved me from serious injury, I would hope to trust that that won't be a problem."

The figurative closing of such doors was something Blue couldn't truly be offended by; it was a very human reaction. Natural. Saddening, perhaps, but not unexpected. And given the abuses of power many had displayed in the City...not something he could truly condemn, even if his own intentions were good.

"I do not actively pry," Blue assured, in motion once more. "That, too, is in my nature. You've no need to fear for your secrets. I promise."

Geddoe lowered his head a little. "The secrets are not mine, but others'," he said quietly. He would not have Jack betrayed by a mind-reader catching an errant worry.

"Nevertheless, you have my gratitude. I wasn't sure my spell could handle that car. If it exploded, we could all be dead."

"I'm grateful I sensed the danger in time."

Soldier Blue had let a fair few steps' distance space them out before he slowed and turned to regard him again. Physical distance was something, perhaps, that could alleviate the unease his powers caused others. He hoped so, in any case. Especially since he had interest to know just why there was even cause for any fight at all. His expression shaded with that layer of concern as it came forth aloud.

"...What reason did they have to attack you?"

Edited 2012-06-10 23:14 (UTC)

Geddoe sighed, a very heavy and put-upon sigh. "Given their taunts, I expect it's because I'm not from around here," he replied. "They saw my sword, and my eyepatch, and decided to make sport with me I suppose."

And boy did he hate those pirate jabs. The irritation roiled off him, there was no need to hide it.

Blue's frown drew heavy with the injury – not even his, but all the same. Such things weighed on him – bad omens, all of them. It did nothing but draw him back to those terrible little theories he had about the world – his and others. The one they inhabited, especially. Humans being so...

"I'm sorry," he said, earnest. "Though...my saying so matters very little, doesn't it? All the same. No one ought to endure such things."

"It doesn't bother me," Geddoe said bluntly. "They're like children, mocking what they don't understand, nothing more. If they must take out their frustrations on someone, better a man who can handle it than some less-skilled of our kind."

Annoyances aside, he really didn't want to see others assailed, trusting in his abilities and magic to put the offenders in their places. Some might not be so fortunate. Imports tended to be both the rescuers and the rescued alike.

He regarded Blue, and then added, "Sympathy is not necessary. I'm fine. I would be more concerned about those who'd be so stupid as to jump a man with a very real and very sharp blade."

"There are levels of...disillusionment at work," Blue said at length, having given Geddoe a moment of regard on his own behalf. "For all these people have been subjected to, the levels of danger and terror at times present..."

His somber thought trailed along with his gaze, flickering to something more absent, hearing something inaudible. When it drew back, though, there was something faintly lighter in his tone.

"But I'm of the belief the amount of substances muddling their minds was more the cause than that. That was what I smelled, wasn't it? Alcohol..."

Geddoe grunted in the affirmative. "They were rather drunk. A bit early if you ask me. Still, I've been in enough bar fights to know that alcohol tends to give one the courage to act on those thoughts they would otherwise keep hidden and nurse in private."

He looked up vaguely, at the street lamps and high rise buildings, the light and metal blocking out the sky and stars. "Their whims change like the wind. We save them, and they love us. A little property damage, and we become the devil. It's best just to shrug and continue on with one's business."

Blue's expression grew somber once more, his bangs grazing his cheeks as he shook his head slightly.

"It is much more than that. For us, as well as them...Slowly but surely, it's becoming much more."

If he had more to say on the matter, he silenced it, his head tilted once more in distraction. Looking back at Geddoe, he gestured with a tilt of his head.

"We should move further away from that spot. Many are gathering."

Nodding, Geddoe moved into place beside him, striding evenly. It wouldn't do to look like they were fleeing. He didn't mind keeping company with the somber Blue, he had no other real plans for the night and figured there was more to this youthful-looking fellow than met the eye. He may have appeared the same age as any of the kids he tended to pick up (unwillingly), but there was something about him...

"They will be looking for a man with a sword," he muttered under his breath. "You may escape notice, but I tend to stand out."

"While you are with me," Blue said, eyes still staring straight ahead with a focus on something unseen, "no one will even notice you carry a sword. Or regard you at all."

That much would be true the moment they left the alley behind for open streets; Blue did not even hesitate, turning to follow the trail of streetlights in a direction furthering them away from the scene. At the hour, there were few wandering the streets openly, but those that did didn't even bat an eyelash in their direction – no more than they would any stranger they'd no wish to communicate with. It was not hard for Blue to gently coax a passerby's mind to glance elsewhere, subtly assured there was no need to even give the two of them even the slightest concern.

It was how he managed to walk the streets unharmed, unnoticed despite his unusual appearance.

At first Geddoe thought it was an idle remark, but as they walked, he realized it was true. A state of fact, a warning. It was disconcerting, for someone used to brushing off the sidelong glances and outright stares. Even after two years, he still got surreptitious double-takes often enough. But no one looked at them, no one gave them a second thought. It was like being invisible.

"You must be quite powerful," he murmured so quietly that only Blue could have heard him.

"I couldn't tell you how I rank among the hundreds of forces at play here," Blue said, speaking in a less hushed volume to assure Geddoe of their security. "There are powers here that will never exist in the world I am from, doing things I could never dream of."

He did, however, silence himself when passing by too many people at once.

"I can only speak accurately of myself and what my power meant in the world I was born in."

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