[b][u]Mia Jones[/u][/b] She was poised for a finishing strike. The first was a crippling blow that had brought her adversary down groveling, and the second would ensure her victory. However, even through the beast's bemoaning, its cries and growls of pain as it sought to stands itself back up, she heard groups of people rushing out from the bar. Their feet slapped against the pavement, approaching ever closer towards her. She let up on her poise, and the moment she felt one of their hands touch her, she stepped back from the damaged beast as they circled around her. Oh, cute. So they send one of their own to her death and they start to care when the damage is already done? What kind of people was she dealing with? Were these the people that have been wreaking havoc upon Mendel? Were they really so soft? It was a little disappointing. Regardless, Skeleton admitted his defeat. He even went so far as to compliment her and admit his fault. So he wasn't a total dumbass like she suspected the Skulls leader of being... he could still hold his boys to a higher standard, at least. She wondered how many of them were high-school boys with daddy issues. "I can hold my liquor." Mia replied dryly. Figuratively, at least. Actual liquor, not so much. Not since the Riots. She had to take care of the one kidney she had, lest she finally kicked the bucket... which was less of an option. She was holding herself to too many duties as of now. One of them was supposed to be finishing off Reiko. The Skulls should think of her as doing a favor for the gang. An animal is only worth by how healthy they are. She should've put the huntress out of her misery. Mia sighed, "wouldn't coddling the wounded weaken the pack in the end?" It was barely audible though, at least under the bellowing of the young man she came across earlier. The boy. Mia's smirk gave hint to her amusement. Mingled in was some pity. She can sympathize with loss, but with stupidity... well, those sorts on their own. Mia raised her head and crossed her arms, unimpressed by Matthew's threats. "Are you dumb, boy?" She asked him. "The woman - Reiko? She volunteered and she lost. Respect her decision. If you can't take it like a man, I suspect you don't deserve to be here. You can go home." Her words received support from Reiko's, who had insisted that she didn't need the boy's pampering or protection. How admirable. She blew him off quite briefly and demanded a drink from him. Still has her pride, eh? So Mia didn't beat it out of her yet? Fairly admirable. She had to hand it to the old beast, she was stubborn. There was the faintest glimmer of an amused smiled on her face. She faced her head down, to where she assumed Reiko was laying. "Shake it off, beast. I'll let you try again later." Mia told her as she listened in on the others around. You could hear it in Reiko's trembling voice: she was a proud woman, and this was shameful. This was killing her. The blind woman didn't much care, but she did feel for her. "Leave her alone," Mia said to the surrounding Skulls. "Let Reiko fight her own battles. She doesn't need any dead-weights holding her down... isn't that right, beast?" --------------- [b][u]Baron Moreau[/u][/b] The man had about jumped off the bar stool - not quite, as an actual stunt like that would provide some complications on his leg, but he eagerly trekked through the bar despite it. As he pushed the door open and found refuge under the green awning, he didn't hesitate to procure his lighter and set flame to the end of the cigarette propped in his mouth, barely heeding Ivan and Tobias as they came from behind. He took in a puff of smoke, and a wave of ease relieved the tension that had seized his body. He exhaled, two billowing stream of smoke exiting through his nose and joined the air. It looked delightfully dreadful outside; a typical Louisiana rainy day. "Whatever you have in mind." Baron said as he continued to stare downward. Whether he was fixated by the cigarette or the pavement itself was unclear, and ultimately somewhat strange. But never having been an easy man to read, it has always been figured that it was best to leave the psychologist to his own devices. In most circumstances, a critical error on behalf of his enemies. Fortunately, he had no enemies here this day. Baron continued, "what's a favorite around here?" As he looked up to properly communicate with his companions, his eye was caught by an old car. Rather, an old car model that has been exceptionally taken care of. A black Thunderbird, just lying around a shitty town like Mendel? Who knew how much this antique was worth? It was such a shiny, well taken care of vehicle, he couldn't help but take a closer look. Walking up to the curb, away from the shelter Tobias' umbrella had provided, he approached the Thunderbird. Even the inside of the car was pampered! It looked so cozy and well designed. Was this a new model? He didn't hear about any Thunderbirds coming out, and this thing looked like it performed beautifully. "Check out [i]this[/i] beautiful girl." Baron chimed with a smile back at Ivan and Tobias. Sure, it was old fashioned. But Baron [i]loved[/i] old fashioned. In fact, he had to take a closer look. He didn't want to ruin the wax job, and he was far more a gentleman than to just set his hands on someone's car. He leaned over to take a peak, his leg brushing up against the car door he peered inside the vehicle to take a closer look at the HUD kit inside...