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Post by swapgo on Sept 5, 2024 16:45:13 GMT
 There's too many buildings in New York to count, but there's always people counting. Running water and a Wi-Fi signal are nice and all, but sometimes the best place to hang out at is the most decrepit, frozen, unappealing slab of concrete there is, that way, there's no distractions when counting up the loot. The Daily Bugle will have the scoop by tomorrow for sure, a gang of burglars storming into a jewelry store just as they were closing shop. One person was knocked out cold and might not wake up if not taken to the hospital in time, the other was kidnapped and forced to help with the thorough smash and grab. It was over in less time than it would take an elderly man pick out his anniversary gift, and there was nothing left to pick from, quite the incredible foresight for ruffians that were behind bars for what feels like a couple of hours ago.
Jackson Creek and Yiqing "Jockey" Yun had a lot in common, and a lot of time to discuss it in the time they spent in prison, despite being there for somewhat different reasons. They liked similar sports, held contempt for similar groups of people, and both didn't really have respect for authorities, given that they somehow never seemed to learn despite being their 3rd and 4th rodeo in the slammer respectively. It was almost too convenient that they both got out the same day, and they both already had a gig set up for them. That seemed quite disrespectful to more consummate crime syndicates.
Four people got down from a vehicle that parked near the building, three very suspicious looking men in layers of black to protect them from the cold and from prying eyes, and a fourth, less haggard looking young adult with a single black coat over their bright work clothing. For having been allegedly kidnapped, he seemed to walk quite at ease with these criminals. The building inside was pitch black, save for a small light coming in from a window on the third floor, far away from the fire exit. You ask people to keep a low profile but someone always pulls out their damn phone anyways.
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 7, 2024 17:16:50 GMT
It wasn't hard to track criminals that had just stepped out of prison, especially if they had a hit on them since day dot. Maggia wanted them dead, or captured, and that meant they needed someone who could track them, contain them, and do what they needed to do.
That was Janice Lincoln.
She did her research. When you have a reputation to uphold, you do your research. Jackson Creek and Yiqing "Jockey" Yung had been on the books for a while, and were both up for release. Same day, same minute. Curious indeed. Janice reckoned they probably had a car waiting for them on their release. When she rocked up to the prison's discharging car park, sure enough there was another vehicle waiting. Someone had set these two up with something. That was clear enough.
"No, please, don't hurt me!"
Not her best point of acting, perhaps, but Civilian in a Jewellery Shop wasn't the most sought after role, and allowed Janice to get a better look at the two. Made up to a four, it seemed. How convenient for them. Once the car tires died down, she slunk out the back while the chaos descended. A satchel revealed a hue of purple, and she took a total of two minutes and four seconds to change.
In the dying light of New York, Beetle took to the skies.
That's where she found herself, perched low on a rooftop near an old abandoned building. The four individuals were heading towards it, and a light attracted attention like a moth to a... light. Beetle rolled her eyes behind her mask.
"Amateurs."
She waited for a moment. The time would come, the exact second which she could launch the next phase of her plan. Janice had everything plotted out to perfection. There was nothing that could go wrong.
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Post by Countess on Sept 9, 2024 1:00:39 GMT
Janice isn't the only hunter out tonight on the rooftops. A good hunter, just as she had done, makes sure to research. These two, Jackson Creek and Yiqing "Jockey" Yun, had the tell tale signs of escalation. Professionals, when they are good at what they do, don't typically use lethal force. Get in, get what they want, get out. There's no need to add messy attempted murder, or outright murder, charges to their docket. Means more time on the inside, less time using their ill gotten gains. Some people just don't care, however. Matias' quarry has all the hallmarks of the ones who don't care. Next time, they will hurt more, maybe even kill outright. They've already been to prison once, and tonight is a testament of the rehabilitative nature of their stay. Matias knows the system is one that sets up criminals to fail- recidivism keeps the people who own these private institutions rich. At this point, though these two are far beneath him, and his abilities... He is here to put down rabid dogs. Suffering creatures, that will hurt others if he doesn't. Someone has to.Matias isn't alone on this rooftop. The Instinct rolls in the pit of his stomach, but it isn't outright... danger. It could be. It has the potential. Matias shifts, stalking low on the ground towards this other person... They could be with the criminals that now seem to have gathered followers... The Instinct disagrees. Quietly, he moves. He has always been an adept stalker, moving with sounds of the concrete jungle to mask himself. The individual's voice tells him where they are, and he moves closer... ever closer.... Ambush? Put her head in his jaws and crush it? Feel the hot blood of her thoughts spill down his throat? No, no... not yet. This person has all the marks of a hunter, too. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, for a time."I mean you no harm, as long as you mean me none," Matias says from the darkness. He likes these moments. "Why are you here, mija?" he asks, stepping forward with his hands raised. He wants to get help- better than happening on each other too late, and their attention get split. Matias is in his full uniform as Agent X. It cuts for an intimidating, if not out of place, figure.
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 9, 2024 11:33:13 GMT
Beetle spun around, palms raised, her repulsor beams glowing in the dim light. Then she lowered them as swiftly as she had put them up. Who was she to talk about amateurs? Caught talking to herself again, idiot. She took in the figure before her, a fairly terrifying apparition to sneak out of the shadows.
"God. I think you nearly gave me a heart attack."
Beetle shrugged, crouching again to peer over the building's edge. Her targets would be at their location soon.
"I figure you're not here for some stargazing all dressed up like some kind of haunted house extra. I'm assuming you're here for the same reason I am."
Beetle pointed a finger at the four figures below. Intuition told her that there was a spark of understanding between them. They both had the same job, it seemed. Still, never trust a killer, that's what she always said. Janice dealt with them on a daily basis, after all.
"I've only got two names on my list of people I'm gonna hurt today. How about you, Jason Vorhees from Friday the 13th Part 2?"
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Post by Countess on Sept 10, 2024 2:31:18 GMT
"Shame, I'll try harder next time," Matias growls, keeping to where he is and leaning back against a wall. He folds his arms over his chest, amusement rolling off of him. A deep chuckle emanates from him- it does not seem kind.
This one is curious, especially with the get up. He isn't sure the deal, but will be fun to learn. Someone to keep an eye on- if they do the same work as him, he may make an offer, should the Instinct approve. If they are just a regular mercenary, killing whomever the paying hand points at, well... All the better to learn more about them.
"Got a name?" he asks, idly. What shall we know you as? What shall we work with you as? What shall we hunt you as, mayhaps?
The Friday the Thirteenth reference earns another chuckle, something more genuine. He hasn't gotten that one before... "Two, as well. The others..." he starts, shrugging his shoulders. "They made their choices to get here. If they die, they die. I won't be holding back, but I won't be trying," he says. In all actuality, he might pull some punches on them. Scared straight works sometimes, especially if you lose your knees.
Blood for the blood gods.
"What is your... expertise?" Matias says, trying to gauge how they can approach this.
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 11, 2024 19:14:16 GMT
Janice looked up at the man. Direct and to the point. Still not trustworthy, but he might not get in the way.
"Beetle."
She said it matter-of-fact, daring opposition. Her attention was not just on the men below, but the building opposite. Janice took a fee moments to think of a plan before she rose up, turning to Matias.
"Seeing as you've got the costume department down, I've got strategy. I can fly, enter a building in silence and make sure my target either meets their hunter or their maker. I also don't take kindly to people getting in my way."
Beetle took a step forward, jutting out a hand. The voice wasn't exactly unpleasant to listen to. Perhaps there was a handsome man beneath that mask. Or perhaps he truly was Jason. That wasn't a risk Janice was willing to take, but he could come in handy.
"So. How about a truce? I've given you my name, so how about yours?"
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Post by Countess on Sept 13, 2024 1:15:52 GMT
"Agent X," Matias says, moving closer to her. For a moment, his bulkiness is intimidating as he quickly shakes her hand. He isn't too strong with the shake, but almost respectful. Then, he ends up bypassing her to get to the edge of the building. Reaching into one of his many pockets, he pulls out binoculars, compact.
"Truce sounds good. I am a practical man. I don't want to fight on two fronts, and I am guessing neither do you," he says, looking over the building. "Would you rather have me close quarters, or covering you from a distance?" he asks, already willing to play to her talents. He doesn't need to take control- his ego doesn't demand that sort of thing. He wants a job done, and done well.
"I cannot fly, but I am good with stealth. I excel with a sniper, as well as hand to hand. I can make people afraid, and I can snap their necks without much effort. You lead, I will follow," he says, then reaches into another pocket. He pulls out an ear piece. "For if you want to stay in contact," he murmurs, placing it on the railing next to him.
"I only have one request, if you allow it. When you kill them..." Matias says, then pulls his head up so she can see his eyes through his mask. He has taken charcoal or something similar around his eyes to darken them, but his eyes themselves are a warm brown. "Make them bleed."
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 16, 2024 16:55:38 GMT
Beetle looked Agent X up and down, feeling parts fear and parts wonder. This guy was the real deal, all right. Not that she wasn't, but he was the proper stalking-in-the-jungle, PTSD, psychopathic murdering shadow-type assassin. The kind that would probably skin his target alive and hang them up on a flagpole so their friends know he's coming. Beetle didn't mention all this to him, of course. Someone like that, you didn't let them in on your true thoughts about them.
She straighted up, and her wings unfolded to their full extent. The suit listened to her so intently that Janice often wondered if it was more than bio-organic machinery. She swore the thing knew what she was thinking.
"If that's the case... keep me covered over here. I'll enter the other building high, quietly move down until I'm on the same level. When you see my signal, start taking them out. Those who fight won't last long. The remaining should get flushed out the main entrance. Keep it covered, and pick off the stragglers."
Janice gave him another look, a closer focus.
"My pay gets delivered dead or alive. I'm not here for a personal vendetta, so if I can take them out without a kill, then I will. Pinky promise you won't turn that rifle on me if that's the case, alright? My boss wants them himself... probably for similar reasons that you do. They won't be alive for too long after I drop them off, whatever the case."
Janice took the earpiece, navigating it into her ear beneath the mask. Her wings hummed, and she hovered off the ground for a moment.
"I'm a woman of honour, so I'll split whatever afterwards if you help out. Don't prove that little voice at the back of my brain right by double crossing me, alright, mister Halloween?"
With that, Beetle shot into the air. She crossed the distance between the buildings, landing on the roof and heading towards the stairwell.
"Keep me posted if you see anything worse than a two-bit criminal and his friends. I don't want tonight to end with me facing Superman or something. That would really put a dampener on our first date, Mr. X."
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Post by swapgo on Sept 17, 2024 0:38:00 GMT
Janice's only resistance at the rooftops was the snow, and a slightly ajar door that might make too much noise if not handled delicately. She was 4 stories above target, which was plenty of space to move around. The top floors were barren, but the staircase had a locked gate, flimsy thing, but it would slow her down. From the hollowed echo inside, she could hear the elevator moving in this derelict building, somehow they managed to utilize the elevator shaft for moving around the building rather than the locked doors, quite inventive for two bit criminals, even though Janice had her targets, perhaps there was a bit more to this operation. Perhaps once the ricketing of the elevator ceased, she could listen into what she was dealing with better.
Matias had more time to scout the outside of the building. The windows near the fire exits were barricaded, heavily. Surely one could bust through them, though hardly without the entire block knowing about it. The tantalizing, illuminated window was not so inviting. Amidst the backdrop of the pale light on it, Matias could notice a tripwire of some description. That entryway was a trap as well. Beetle could confirm to Matias that their target was on the move to the third floor, but he could still vaguely see movement on the first floor, perhaps they left someone to do rounds.
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