Current Energy: 18
Current Training: Dragon Warrior (5/10) Cost 5 to Complete
Thursday, January 13th, 2011
Abandoned Trainyard, Brockton Bay
'I think I can target Skidmark from here if you keep an eye on him. I can't see well when I go that fast but if I use you as my point of view then-' Taylor immediately begins, analyzing the situation and deciding on a course of action immediately.
It takes you a few seconds to realize that her intent is to charge from her current position to this 'Skidmark' with such speed and strength that all the intervening obstacles are likely to be scattered to the four winds in her wake. Now, as cool as it would be for your Master to explode through a steel wall like the monster in a horror movie, you have some qualms with this particular approach.
'How do you know to stop?' You ask pointedly.
'I'll probably manage?' She asks you hesitantly, as though unsure why you are meeting her proposal with anything less than your utmost approval. The answer to the question being, quite obviously, that you are not a psychopath. The fact that that particular answer seems to be rather common for you nowadays is something you don't like thinking about.
'And if you don't?' You point out, gently guiding your Master to the conclusion you want.
'I might hit him but... oh. He'd... probably die.' Your Master thinks at you slowly, as though the idea that she could kill someone by mere accident so ludicrous that she had to travel through several other possibilities before it occurred to her.
'Correct.' You answer, using this Emulations 'Teacher' tone.
Despite ostensibly being the greatest warrior of his people and teacher to dozens of students, it is a tone he uses surprisingly little.
'Now!' You fire back, once more jovial sounding. 'See that corner over there? I bet you could get there and walk out from behind it really quick, all mysterious like!'
'...and then ambush them?' Taylor asks hesitantly.
'No! Where's the drama in that?! Announce your presence by jumping into the conversation all like 'or you could join me'." You explain to her.
'...Won't they just attack me?' Taylor asks, annoyed. Clearly she doesn't understand the mysterious ways of the Kung Fu Master. Showing up unannounced to disrupt things with mysterious wisdom is just the basics!
'Well if they do, then you can attack them! Now come on, go!' You prod her, walking over to stand next to the weird goblin looking guy in your Spirit Form.
"Say I do join ya. What's in it for me?" The ironclad Cape asks, leaning against a container with one shoulder and crossing his metallic arms.
"We're the fucking Merchants! The fuck do you want? You barely even gotta do fuck all. Show up and fight once in a while and I'll hook you up with more drugs and bitches than you know what to do with! Look at this fucking guy, he look fucking pretty to you? He never goes to sleep alone you know?" The blueclad one - Skidmark you suppose from Taylor's statements - brags proudly.
"Or." Your Master calls out awkwardly, stiffly walking around the corner you had indicated and presenting herself in a nearly robotic manner, her face screwed up in concetration so deep it made her expression appear as though she was scowling.
"You can join me." She says, crossing her arms insecurely in front of herself. You seriously don't understand your Master sometimes. If you had told her to enter the scene by suplexing one of these guys, you're pretty sure she would have done it with a smile, but the second she has to talk she just falls to pieces.
"Who the fuck are you?" Skidmark asks in confusion.
"Bit young." The metal cape adds thoughtfully, his voice low and gravelly.
"Wha- I'm not a prostitute!" Your Master spits back indignantly, tightening her arms around herself.
"Then what the fuck are you doing here? What, didja see me come in and figured maybe I had the goods on me? Fuck it. Here. Piss off rugrat." Skidmark says snidely, withdrawing a baggy of something from a back pocket and throwing it at your Master like he might toss a dog a treat.
Ah. You see what's going on here.
'It's because you aren't wearing a costume.' You explain belatedly to your Master as the realization comes to you. Well, that, plus your Master's wardrobe is often only just barely one step above looking like she might be a vagabond, but you refrain from saying that.
"Hey, I beat the shit out of Lung! Also! My team won't be full of crack heads!" Your Master yells at them as her ire is peaked.
Everyone present seems momentarily stunned, before the Case 53 turns to Skidmark, jerking a thumb over one shoulder at your Master with a shrug.
"Point." He says conversationally.
"Bitch are you- No fucking way you're the cunt who iced that silvery turd!" Skidmark scowls, pointing at your Master.
The Case 53 turns back to your Master, and makes a so-so gesture with one hand before speaking.
"Eh. Might be kinda weird to take orders from a preteen." He admits.
You get the impression he finds the entire situation amusing somehow.
"See? Listen, if you've got powers you're gonna wanna join up too. I mean, it's us or the Nazi's legs." Skidmark says, leering at your Master in a way that is decidedly inappropriate.
This, your Master apparently decides, is quite enough for her. With a quick nod towards your target and a quickly spoken apology, her Aura flares up, and the menacing image of a black widow spider bursts into existence, dwarfing the small area everyone is speaking in and illuminating everything around it.
Skidmark and the Pink goblinoid hit the ground basically immediately. They didn't strike you as particularly physically resilient in the first place, so this doesn't surprise you. What does surprise you, is the way the metal man maintains a standing position, although he does have one hand firmly burrowed into the metal plating of the wall he is leaning on for support.
"What kind of name is Skidmark anyway?" You ask curiously as your Master ceases her oppression of the area and you materialize behind Skidmark. With a deft hand, you pinch his shoulder, the acupuncture point there immediately forcing the malnourish man into unconsciousness. Another deft set of steps takes you to his companion, who has begun to collect a shell of jagged metal about himself, and you repeat the process.
"So... do you have a benefits plan or are we just going with 'or else' here?" The Case 53 asks, his gruff tone slightly more polite than it was previously.
"What? No! I- I'm starting a Hero team!" Taylor complains, the blue aura of her spirit dying around her as she withdraws her Burner phone and begins to call the Protectorate.
"Huh. Do I gotta sign anything?" He asks again.
"Uh. Maybe?" Taylor says hesitantly.
"Do I gotta leave my place?" He continues.
"...Maybe?" Taylor answers again.
"...Do you wanna come back when you can answer any of my questions?" He asks, seeming kind of confused now.
"Wait no! Look, I have another guy I'm working on recruiting and I have this really cool idea for a union kind of and-" Taylor begins to blurt out then clamps her mouth shut.
"You think I'm stupid don't you?" She asks after a couple seconds of silence pass. The man lifts a hand to place his forefinger and thumb about an inch apart in answer.
"...Fine. I guess everyone I talk to today is going to tell me I'm too inexperienced for this. Do you have a name so I can immortalize this moment properly or what?" Taylor sighs dejectedly. You watch on in a mixture of amusement and amazement at your Master's defeatist attitude.
"Nah. Was thinking 'Trainwreck' though. I never said no either you know." Trainwreck says, apparently taking pity on your Master.
"Really!?" She blurts out again, whipping around to stare at him.
"Eh. No memories. Don't wanna join the government stooges - ain't my bag. I live in a junkyard. Trainwreck ain't just my name, it's my state of being." He says with a shrug.
"If you find me somewhere to sleep and help beat the shit outta anyone that wants to fuck with me then I'm on board." He finishes.
Your Master, to the accompanying tune of oncoming sirens, does an awkward shimmy that you take to be a victory dance, then turns towards Trainwreck with a mismatched sort-of-but-not-quite smile on her face. You can tell she's trying to restrain her overwhelming joy at this first actual success because the waves of happiness and achievement radiating off of her are literally starting to overwhelm you, but she appears to be adamantly trying to keep that expression off of her actual face.
"She always like this?" Trainwreck asks you.
"No. But I wish she was." You answer fondly. Then a thought occurs to you and you turn to the other man.
"So are you married to being called Trainwreck because I was thinking 'Iron Fist'..."