|
Starsky tilts his head slightly, and frowns a bit, "But I'm not a kid," he says, "Obviously I'm here because everyone needs to be kind to one another and have fun," he says happily, twirling around once, "And I'd really like to help," the Riftwalker sighs, "And they don't like how I look, because of the wings and tail," he says, even though both would currently be under the robe, so what he's alluding to might not be so specific with his phrasing, both Starsky and Alhambra in front of Spirit Ink.
"...um. Yeah. I'm just gonna tell you straight out, if you don't want folks to think you're a kid, stop acting like one, and there ain't no 'be kind to everyone and have fun' department," Al rumbles, shaking her head. "Maybe you ought to go, I don't know, learn more about where you're at first. Eiru is a rough place, not a place for... folks with wings and tails who act like kids and then insist they're not, all right? That's kinda a fairy story, and the last fairy we had here was kinda crap."
Ambling along from the direction of the Landing Pad comes Raisa, grumbling expletives to herself as she reviews a pda message again. As she sweeps through the downtown area, green eyes flicker from left to right before landing on Alhambra, one hand lifting. "Hey, Alhambra," she calls. "Where is the jail at? For such a small place, sure is easy to get lost."
Starsky turns to look at Raisa, tilting his head curiously, smiling, "Hi," he says simply, and observers her, "Don't only bad people go to jail, why would you want to go there?" he asks.
Alhambra looks up. "Huh? The Jail? The hell's goin on around here, Missy Raisa? I'm not entirely sure, thankfully enough, as I ain't never had cause to go there, but it's probably in the government building... uh, maybe. Suppose we could find some folks there to ask." She waves at Starsky. "Good luck figuring yourself out, little fella."
"Now that isn't really any of your business, now is it?" Raisa replies shortly to Starsky, rolling her eyes. "What is it with everyone and getting into my business lately." She gives a short huff and then smiles to Alhambra. "Not rightly sure what's going on. Diri sent me a message asking me to head over but didn't give real clear directions. Something seemed on his mind though. Wanna help me find it?"
Starsky frowns slightly, and stares at Raisa, "Why does everyone have to be mean?" he asks, "I should just start hurting bad people," the Riftwalker says as he focuses on Raisa for the moment, not really doing anything in particular, except observing, and seeming distrustful.
"Yeah that ain't gonna help your case, little fella," Al drawls, falling into step with Raisa. "Yeah, I have no damn idea what the hell's been going on lately, all this crazy shit on the news... I mean if I wanted this crap I'd go live on the mainland with the tourists and the freaks."
"Ain't about being mean," Raisa replies to Starsky, eyes rolling. "Matter of not poking your nose into other people's business. It'll getcha killed real fast." She ignores the threat and waits for Alhambra to join her instead. "Been gettin' awfully spooky around here," she mutters. "Someone's got it out for Diri. I think most of this crazy stuff is an after effect of that..."
Starsky follows along with the two silently for now, and he doesn't seem like he will let up either on doing so, keeping his attention on Raisa moreso than Alhambra.
"Oh Christ on a bike, is it that crazy-ass witch again?" Alhambra grouses. "I told her to keep her goddamn wendigo ass outta here but she just cried. Whut the -hell-." She looks at their little follower, and grunts, "Dude, let's not go there..." Her PDA bleeps, and she wrenches it out of its holster. "And now Diri's sending me messages, son of a..." She starts hamfistedly working at the device. "Stupid piece of beeping shit. Why the hell can't folks just -call- each other?"
Raisa shakes her head, "Seems the time for the crazies to come out," she muses and strolls down the street toward the government building. "Whatever it is, Diri must want us there now. Let's get a move on."
Government/Law Enforcement Building - <Eiru, Pyracan>
Clean and spacious, the lobby area of this office building is of functional, unpolished dark-gray basalt and painted white panels, with a few skylights letting light in from above. There is a large space for some kind of centerpiece like a fountain or some greenery, but nothing has yet been set up. A large office right next to the front doors is dedicated to the law enforcement wing, with Eiru Police stenciled on the glass swinging door. A bit further back, a crisscrossing warren of corridors pass the offices of various government divisions, from sanitation to parks and recreation, to electrical workers. A back exit is propped open for much of the day, where the mionta smokers congregate on breaks.
Raisa and Alhambra are walking through the Government building, looking for the Police Department. "For such a little island, this place is kinda big," she mutters to herself.
Starsky follows along with Raisa and Alhambra with curiousity as they enter the building, and it seems he's trying to not get too close to them to be a bother for the moment.
Dirionis steps out of the building with Vessa in tow. "Some bullshit." He mutters under his breath as he glances back at Vessa, removing a cigarette and perching it between his lips, lighting it with a flick. He puffs out an exhale, looking around. Spotting Raisa and Al, he starts towards them, craning his head as he peers past them towards Starsky with a raised brow.
Vessa Harden follows along with a grin, "Oh certainly. Even still, caution is wise." seeing Raisa and Al she nods a greeting to both, far less energetic then is her norm.
Alhambra rubs her head. "Man I'm just tired, can somebody tell me what the fuck is going on here? Please?"
Upon spying Diri, Raisa moves across the open space to join the other Lunite, wrapping her arms around him in greeting. "What's going on? Something to do with that crazy bitch, Tracy?" she asks quietly.
Starsky observes for the moment, and smiles to Dirionis when he notices the peering, curiousity in his eyes as he takes in the surroundings, Pretty building," the Riftwalker says.
Rowland Parnell puffs on his oak pipe despite the rather obvious rules, leaning on a counter nearby. "Some big native-looking bludger shot a women right in the leg! From what I've heard, anyway. Just caught wind of it."
Vessa Harden shows mild surprise at Rowland's words, "Is that so? What else have you heard?" she asks as she moves over, "I am Vessa by the way, nice to meet you."
"Yeah." Diri mutters back, taking the cigarette from his lips into his gloved hand, exhaling away before planting a peck on Raisa's cheek. "When we were in the tavern. She tried to plant a chip on Nix, he retaliated, and now he's in jail." A frown shows Diri doesn't like the idea of it, stepping towards Al, "This woman named Tracy. We think she has some sort of vendetta against me. She bumped into Nix in the tavern and tried to tag him with some sort of neural chip. He...Defended himself. She should be the one in the cell. She already planted one on Raisa," A look towards the other Lunite. Starsky just gets a glance before the merc takes another puff of his cigarette.
Alhambra blinks several times, and tilts her head. "Wait... what? When the hell did this happen? And why the fuck didn't anybody call me? He's been gone for fucking -days-, man, I thought it was off doing some kind of macho bullshit. Who the fuck's this Tracy bitch? Did she get away?" She makes a low, subvocal noise in her throat, and starts rummaging around in her own coat for cigarettes. "What the hell's a bludger? Is that insulting? Should I be fucking insulted?"
Raisa shudders a little at the explanation and inches a bit closer to Diri. "That woman really is a royal pain in my ass. Going after everyone by the looks of it. Still haven't quite seen the extent of what these chips will do to a person." She frowns in Alhambra's direction. "Al, not the place," she intones quietly. "We'll get him out." She gestures back toward the other Lunite. "Let's just get outta here for right now."
Rowland Parnell shakes his head, wagging his pipe at Vessa, then Dirionis, "Well there you have it, miss Vessa. I didn't handle this case, I imagine Sherriff Lyddmull will have a say in it at some point. He-" And then Alhambra rumbles and he suddenly clears his throat. "Pardon my language, ma'am... No insult intended. He seems tame enough..."
Vessa Harden nods to Rowland with a smile, "Thanks, that about does it." she looks between Al and the cell then nods, "I agree Diri, moving would be advisable."
Starsky looks about at all the commotion, and walks over to where Vessa and Rowland are, tilting his head slightly, "Can I help?" he asks with simplicity, and smiles a bit.
Alhambra yells down the hallway in the direction of the cells, "Why the HELL didn't you call me, you goddamn proud macho jackass?! Son of a b..." Canting her head back towards the rest of the group, like a large animal, she looks between Diri and Raisa. "...nnnnh," she growls, softly. "Fine. Fuck's sake."
Raisa moves forward to try and gently take Alhambra by the arm to lead her back out of the building. "You can call him a jackass as many times as you'd like after we get him out," she says lightly. "For now, let's go before we make a scene and wind up joining him in the cell." She looks over her shoulder. "Love?" she inquires and then starts walking back toward the exit.
Vessa Harden follows along in behind Al and Raisa assuming Diri will be joining along as well.
Dirionis stares down Rowland a moment and takes another inhale before removing the glove on his hand and ashing his cigarette out on one of his cybernetic fingers, the middle one, and then proceeds to tuck the cig short behind his ear. He looks to Starsky, wiping away the ash on his metal digit before putting his glove back on. "No." He eyes the group. "Lets go then." Eyes dart to Rowland, "You law enforcement? Find this Tracy Fargon. She's the real criminal. God bless us if we could get a decent law enforcement force that doesn't arrest the wrong fuckin' people." The merc looks away then, towards Al, "Who knows if he even got a phone call. Im suprised the cells weren't made of sticks." Diri starts stepping away then with a frown, one hand resting on Raisa's lower back as joins her, "I'm here." He looks back to Al, "C'mon Al. Lets get a drink and figure this shit out."
"Hrn," Rowland grunts, putting out his smoke. "Oh lad, I assure you they've got people on it. If the big fellow hasn't done wrong, he'll be free soon enough. Though you can't simply run around waving barkers about, now can you! He, ah, turned himself in, at least. That's in his favor." He lingers, watching them depart, simply shrugging at Starsky.
Starsky blinks as most ignore him, or give simple replies, and frowns thoughtfully, "This is a really bad dream," he says, and should the group leave he might follow, for now however he stares angrily in turn to everyone gathered, "Just as bad as those you claim to be the bad guys," he says simply.
Vessa Harden looks over her shoulder at Starsky, "Eh? Bad dream is it?" she seems to think a moment, "Sometimes I wonder if you may not be right." still heading off with the rest of them as she says this.
"Take it easy with the touchy feely, Missy Raisa," Al replies, but follows along docilely enough, with only a bewildered, "What the hell is a barker? Where did they get this guy, Crumpetville?" Her boots clomp along the floor. "Aw, shove off, Princess Sparklepony. There's got to be a teddy bears picnic you can crash."
"I'll buy ya dinner before I go any lower," Raisa replies with a wink to Alhambra before guiding the tall woman out of the building. She seems to relax a touch at the physical contact between herself and Diri, offering him a smile before stepping outside. "First round's on me, Al. And I promise I won't grope you or anything."
Starsky frowns at the comment, however he continues to follow along.
Bull and Hawk Tavern - <Eiru, Pyracan>
The large first floor of is home of the Bull and Hawk Tavern, built entirely of dark woods. Walls have been paneled in the same wood as the bar, polished and kept free of dust or grime that could come from daily interactions. High on the walls, near the ceiling are carvings of the hawk in silent flight or the stampeding bull. The designs make their way around the entire border, lending to the establishment's name. A C-shaped bar sits against the back wall with cushioned stools lining the entire length.
A hearth is located on against the right wall, with a large marble mantle carved with six figures - a wildcat, a raven, a mongoose, a horse and rider, a bear and in the center, a rampaging bull. Freestanding tables dot the open the floor, about a dozen in total, some near the hearth. In colder weather, a fire roars there, but during the warmer months, it remains empty, or has decorative baskets lying inside. Hanging above the mantle is a banner of brown silk with a rampaging bull featured prominently. Flying overhead and just slightly smaller is the image of a striking hawk.
Lining both left and right walls are luxurious booths. Each of these booths is more of a cocoon of wooden warmth, lined by velvet cushions of a deep red. Instead of merely just a place to eat a meal and talk, the booths are literally carved from wood, with unique tables settled inbetween two high backed bench-liked structures that curve upwards to the ceiling. The outline of the two seats as they face each other is roughly oval shape, but each booth has its own small variation to create a uniqueness to each spot. To add to this uniqueness, designs have been painted on each of the wood frames, each depicting something different. Some are just flower designs, while others repeat the figures on display along the hearth's mantle. Gauzy red curtains are tied back at each booth, easily released in case the diners prefer a more intimate experience.
On the left side of the bar is a door that leads into the kitchen, succulent smells drifting outwards at all times of the day from featured cuisines of many different cultures. To the right is a large staircase that leads to the second floor, the railing carved with a pattern of roses.
Electricity has very subtly been brought into play through the whole tavern and inn, soft and subtle lights hidden high in the ceiling.
"Lets get fucked up, honestly. That shits stupid." Diri grumbles, stepping inside and holding the door for everyone. A look to tender, "Round of shots?...Whatever your special is today." The merc looks to Al, "And to answer you, Tracy is still out and about. So its up to us to deal with her ass." The tavern is quite lively around this time, but theres available tables, booths and spots at the bar.
Vessa Harden walks in through the open door and nods a thanks to Diri for holding it, she then heads to the bar and quietly asks for a beer before waiting for everyone else to get their drinks and figure out where they will settle.
"Well, that's good 'cause I got a headache tonight," Al drawls in reply to Raisa, mirthlessly, trailing around after the Lunites like an unhappy circus bear. She beelines for the bar. "Yeah? Where the hell is she, I will bounce her offa the floor like a motherfucking rubber Macy's mannequin, I tell you what. She tries to put a chip in my head I'll make her eat it. And I mean god-dammit- Nix, the hell's he thinking -shooting- somebody? Jesus H Rice Krispies Christ, what is this world coming to? Ought to just get in my goddamn car and start driving."
Starsky follows everyone along into the Tavern, and to the general area of the bar, observing them for the moment and tilting his head slightly, "Why is everyone using such horrible language?" he asks.
Raisa opens her mouth to reply to Alhambra and Diri but stops as she observes Starsky. "Because we're fucking pissed about a damned woman and her screwing with our heads," she replies hotly to the Riftwalker. "Try and understand emotion for a sec and then maybe you'd understand why we express it with swearing." She roll sher eyes. "And if you don't like our language, no one is forcing you to stay here. Get lost. Actually, no one /wants/ you hanging around and eavesdropping on our conversations so beat it, ya freak of nature."
Vessa Harden looks a bit surprised but too tired to say anything on the matter and simply takes a long pull of her beer quietly. Settling near the others to offer what insight might occur to her should the need arise but not really feeling the energy to do more than that.
"The bitch is crazy," Diri explains to Alhambra, moving for the bar and starting to dole out shots to the group, one is slide to Vessa, Al and Raisa. As Starsky speaks up, the merc shakes his head and responds, "Why are you followin' us? You can tell we're not in a good mood, and as far as I understand, you've been trailin' one of my best friends and my girl to the jail too. I don't appreciate that, and i'm in a fantastic mood to dish out some ass whoopin'. So right. What my girl said." He sits on a barstool then and breathes out, relaxing just a tad. "Ready another round." He says to the tender. A look to the group, and he raises his shot glass. "To gettin' Nix back." He throws back the liquer, eyeing the others to see if they follow suit. The bartender quietly readies four more.
"Oh for crap's sake. I thought you said you weren't a kid, Princess. What are you gonna do, man, make the world better shoving daff-o-dills and rainbows and puppies up people's noses? Gimme a break, man. You're not gonna HELP anybody by not listening to 'em. Why don't you hit the mainland, maybe the Nu Auberge has got a birthday party you can go put on that sparkly joy-joy fairy act at," Al grouses, knocking back a shot and then swallowing the entire thing with another one of her subvocal growls. "Fuck," she rumbles. "Ain't even got him back from the LAST bullshit, now I got some bitch trying to chip him like he was a goddamn Schnauzer? I'ma flip her like a ragdoll." She knocks on the bar. "Again."
Starsky growls deeply at the words, tired of the constant barrage of words, "Freak of nature, ass-whuppin?" he asks, and sprouts his wings and tail from his robe, his eyes staring right towards Dirionis and Raisa, the wings spread menacingly outwards to full span, "Do not insult me in the realm that is my own," the Riftwalker says, "I could easily destroy you two with merely my thoughts!" he yells loudly, "Who are you to call me freak?" with wings spanned out, and his words, he seems to try to and intimidate the two, a stare given to Alhambra as well on the side.
Vessa Harden eyes the riftwalker with a raised eyebrow and seems interested in the display, she takes up the shot and eyes it a moment before raising the glass and repeating Diri's toast quietly before downing it with a sigh at the burn.
Raisa returns Starsky's stare blandly, and then breaks out laughing. She nudges Diri in the gut, "Y'hear him, love?" she asks with a chortle. "'Don't insult me in the realm that's my own,'" she mimics, continuing to snicker. "What the hell is wrong with you?" The spreading of the wings just seems to amuse the Lunite woman even more. "Y'gonna fly away like a pretty little bird?" Her eyes roll. "Don't fuck with me." The bouncer Jaren strides over to the group, clearing his throat. "Hey, keep it civil in here or we're gonna have to ask you to leave. Understand me?" He looks at everyone, from Raisa and Alhambra, over to Starsky. "We don't want any fighting happening in here."
Alhambra cringes away from all the yelling and the display. "Oh Judas Priest," she rumbles, frantically pawing at her PDA to get it out of the holster. "I'ma call the cops on this..." She trails off as the bouncer gets involved, and just scoots her barstool farther away from the mess. "Let the pros take care of it, then. Get that fruit bat out of here, he seems right dangerous."
Dirionis clinks his empty shot glass down a couple times on the counter top, getting a bit more agitated as he glances at Starsky, unimpressed. "Fuck off. This is my last warnin'."
"Everybody relax here," The bartender tells the group, as another shot is set in front of Al, Vessa, Raisa and Diri. "We don't want any trouble. Can I get anyone another drink?"
Diri drinks his shot down again and smirks just a bit at Raisa, chuckling. "Jesus." A look to the tender. "Gunwale ale, another round of shots." He just drums fingers on the counter, agitated.
Vessa Harden looks just as carefully at the next shot before deciding it would go the same way as the first, knocking it back with another sigh, she takes another sip of her beer and seems to be content to watch and listen for the moment.
Starsky stares at the group again, and frowns, this time his voice calmer as he speaks, and a strangely honest smile places itself on his face, "Please take back those rude comments," he says, curling his wings back in, and sliding his tail back inside his robe to curl it around himself again, "I am with the nice kind men who don't want anyone to get hurt, and all I did was try to be nice," although he's smiling, if he could possibly cry his face would express that he would possibly be doing so, and he stands a bit closer between the group where they are, "We should all be friends."
"Do I look like I want any goddamn trouble..." Al starts to say to the bartender, and then trails off. "...well I suppose as if I do..." She just shakes her head at Starsky, reaching for the latest presented drink with obvious unease. "Uh, no dude, you just showed your teeth, and now you wanna be pals? That ain't right. I don't want to be nowhere near you as you are an openly frightening creature. That show just there? Made me wanna call the cops. You just get back please."
"I'm not friends with weirdos," Raisa replies shortly. "You've been told repeatedly to get lost and you haven't listened. So I'll say it again. Go the hell away. We don't want you here. You're annoying and a total creeper to just follow us around the town. You keep this up, I'll file a fucking stalking claim with the Sheriff." Her eyes roll and she picks up her shot, downing it.
The bartender raises brows and moves to speedily fill more shots at the constant request, eyeing the situation still.
Diri knocks down the third shot and looks towards the ceiling. "Lord give me strength." His beer arrives and he chases the liquer with a long sip. The quick injection of alcohol into his system allows him a small smile and he looks across the counter, pointedly ignoring Starsky. "So. I say next time we find this Tracy, we don't let her get away. Figure out what this is about and go from there." A glance at Al, "...I don't know what the courts gonna rule, but...I can hire a decent lawyer for him. Problem is his...Stubborn honor isn't helpin. Admirable as it is." He exhales lightly again, looking to Vessa. "So. A cop? You don't think you'll be overwhelmed? Thats a lot of obligations." Finally, eyes rest on Raisa, small smile forming. "Always some shit goin' down preventin' us from a normal night." A weakly amused smile.
Vessa Harden sighs looking rather tired at this point, "I was just figuring it would be the best way to get the info we need and also take the heat and attention from REM. The woman is more than dangerous, she seems like a psychopath and frankly she scares the shit out of me. I figure that while Eiru might be small they have to be connected to a larger source of information that by being a cop, however long for, I could have access to that information and give it to you."
Starsky frowns, and tilts his head slightly, "I'm not a freak," he says, and gives Dirionis and Raisa a slight shove with his hands on either side, and growls slightly, moving away from between them a bit he sits on a seat not far and looks around, smiling now and admiring the architecture.
As the hand comes down to shove at Raisa, the Lunite snarls in anger and bats aside the attack and brings a hard strike down to try and break the offending wrist. Of course, she comes face to face with an unseen shield. "Coward, hiding behind your fucking mind games," she growls. "You stay the fuck away from me, you hear?"
The bouncer seems to have had enough of this fighting and everyone can hear the sound of two weapons being cocked and pointed at both parties. "Now I asked nicely and no one seemed to listen. You two-" And he motions towards Diri and Raisa. "And you-" Other gun at Starsky. "Get the fuck out of here and /stay/ out until you get permission to come back in by Miss Katrin. Or I'm calling the cops."
Alhambra grunts, knocking the next shot back with a wince. "I ain't had a normal night in months, and I ain't admiring Nix's stubborn honor any more, either. An' me without any emergency vodka or anywhere else to go..." She just trails off with a furrowed brow and an expression of sheer bewilderment. "...did a goddamn fight just break out?" Shrug. "Somebody beer me."
"That's it," Diri grumbles, catching the arm about the same time Raisa does and stepping off the stool with an obviously pissed off look. "Don't fuckin' touch us." He growls out, striking in unison with Raisa towards Starsky's throat. It too is blocked. He glares towards the bouncer. "Fine. But you saw that bullshit. C'mon." A look to the tender, he sets a credit chit down, looking to Vessa and Alhambra. "Wanna bar hop? As long as we get away from this fuck." He starts taking a couple steps towards the exit.
The bartender just sighs, wiping the counter and forking over a beer to the half Qua woman.
Vessa Harden looks up then shrugs, "I think I will catch you lot later, I think I am going to hit the sack for a bit but I will come find you later." she takes out a bottle of pills, pops a few then puts them back, with a final drink of her beer she heads upstairs.
Starsky growls deeply as the two attempt to attack him, holding his shield in just enough time to catch both strikes and deflect them, and as they both seem to turn to leave afterwards, his rage begins to start peaking, and he focuses on them with a hand held out, attempting to knock them both to the ground with force behind it as he does.
The force knocks Raisa hard to the ground and hard enough to slam her into the side of the bar. Didn't even see that one coming with her back turned as she was sneaking in one last shot. Yep, there's blood trickling down from a cut and she's not moving. At least not yet. Might have been knocked momentarily unconscious.
This sends the bouncer over the top and both guns are now pointed at Starsky. "Sir, please come with me. We are going to the Sheriff's office for a blatant assault. Both of them were leaving and you attacked them when their backs were turned. Completely uncalled for. But I'm gonna let the Sheriff decide what to do."
Alhambra chokes on her beer as all hell proceeds to break loose. "What the -hell-? Man, somebody get that guy outta here, I think his goddamn idea of making the world a better place is all jackboots and crazy." She plants her hand on the back of a chair, levering herself around the fracas to try and get to Raisa from the perimeter and drag her out of gun/psych/whatever range.
Dirionis is sent reeling as well from the attack, thumping against the wall and simply lying there a moment. He looks like he's seeing stars, eyelids falling and rising. "Fuck," He grumbles, trying to get his bearings. "Al?" He asks quietly as he sees a blurry verson of her beside him, getting Raisa. "What the fuck..." He grumbles.
Starsky stares about, and panics for a bit, and looks to the Bouncers that have guns pointed at him, and he frowns, "No more violence," he says, and backs up against the bar, making a noise of crying although not seeming to have tears at the moment from his Riftwalker form, "Please no more violence," he says as he holds his hand out to the two with guns in case they should try anything, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt them, but don't make me do it again," he says to them.
The female Lunite isn't moving. Good thing she isn't heavy because Alhambra should have no trouble in moving her. Her pulse is steady and breathing a normal rate.
The bouncer's heart rate is steadily climbing, however. "No more violence, you little fucktard?" he half-sputters. "You just attacked two people with no warning and without provocation." His partner in crime - the other bouncer - comes up with a shotgun in hand. "Cops are called. You're going to jail. Now you can come quietly or make a fuss. But either way, you're going."
Alhambra unsnaps a medkit from her belt as she bends to check Raisa's vitals, unrolling a blue fabric collar gently around Raisa's neck. With the press of a button and a soft hiss of air, it inflates to serve as a stabilizer. After leaning down to make sure that she's breathing, Al heads over to Diri and braces herself to move him out of danger as well. "Stay with me, D. Stay conscious. C'mon now."